Sumitra Consoles Kausalya

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.44.1)

विलपन्तीं तथा तां तु कौसल्यां प्रमदोत्तमाम्। इदं धर्मे स्थिता धर्म्यं सुमित्रा वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ 44.1 ॥

vilapantīṃ tathā tāṃ tu kausalyāṃ pramadottamām| idaṃ dharme sthitā dharmyaṃ sumitrā vākyamabravīt

To Kausalya, that foremost of women, lamenting thus, Sumitra, herself steadfast in righteousness, spoke this righteous word.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.44.2)

तवार्ये सद्गुणैर्युक्तः स पुत्रः पुरुषोत्तमः। किं ते विलपितेनैवं कृपणं रुदितेन वा॥ 44.2 ॥

tavārye sadguṇairyuktaḥ sa putraḥ puruṣottamaḥ| kiṃ te vilapitenaivaṃ kṛpaṇaṃ ruditena vā

"Noble lady, that son of yours, endowed with excellent virtues, is the very best among men. What use is there in this piteous wailing, or in weeping so?"

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.44.3)

यस्तवार्ये गतः पुत्रस्त्यक्त्वा राज्यं महाबलः। साधु कुर्वन् महात्मानं पितरं सत्यवादिनम्॥ 44.3 ॥

yastavārye gataḥ putrastyaktvā rājyaṃ mahābalaḥ| sādhu kurvan mahātmānaṃ pitaraṃ satyavādinam

"That mighty son of yours, noble lady, who has gone forth having renounced the kingdom, has thereby done a noble deed, making his great-souled, truth-speaking father true to his word."

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.44.4)

शिष्टैराचरिते सम्यक् शश्वत् प्रेत्य फलोदये। रामो धर्मे स्थितः श्रेष्ठो न स शोच्यः कदाचन॥ 44.4 ॥

śiṣṭairācarite samyak śaśvat pretya phalodaye| rāmo dharme sthitaḥ śreṣṭho na sa śocyaḥ kadācana

"Rama stands firm and foremost in that righteousness which the virtuous ever rightly practice, and whose fruit ripens even after death — such a one is never to be grieved for."

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.44.5)

वर्तते चोत्तमां वृत्तिं लक्ष्मणोऽस्मिन् सदानघः। दयावान् सर्वभूतेषु लाभस्तस्य महात्मनः॥ 44.5 ॥

vartate cottamāṃ vṛttiṃ lakṣmaṇo'smin sadānaghaḥ| dayāvān sarvabhūteṣu lābhastasya mahātmanaḥ

"And Lakshmana, ever sinless, compassionate to all beings, conducts himself toward Rama with the highest devotion — this indeed is that great soul's own true gain."

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.44.6)

अरण्यवासे यद् दुःखं जानन्त्येव सुखोचिता। अनुगच्छति वैदेही धर्मात्मानं तवात्मजम्॥ 44.6 ॥

araṇyavāse yad duḥkhaṃ jānantyeva sukhocitā| anugacchati vaidehī dharmātmānaṃ tavātmajam

"Though well aware of the suffering that forest life holds, and though accustomed only to comfort, Vaidehi still follows your righteous-souled son."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.44.7)

कीर्तिभूतां पताकां यो लोके भ्रमयति प्रभुः। धर्मः सत्यव्रतपरः किं न प्राप्तस्तवात्मजः॥ 44.7 ॥

kīrtibhūtāṃ patākāṃ yo loke bhramayati prabhuḥ| dharmaḥ satyavrataparaḥ kiṃ na prāptastavātmajaḥ

"That lord who carries the very banner of fame throughout the world, devoted wholly to righteousness and to his vow of truth — what has your son not already attained?"

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.44.8)

व्यक्तं रामस्य विज्ञाय शौचं माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्। न गात्रमंशुभिः सूर्यः संतापयितुमर्हति॥ 44.8 ॥

vyaktaṃ rāmasya vijñāya śaucaṃ māhātmyamuttamam| na gātramaṃśubhiḥ sūryaḥ saṃtāpayitumarhati

"Clearly knowing Rama's purity and his supreme greatness, the sun himself will surely not dare to scorch his body with his rays."

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.44.9)

शिवः सर्वेषु कालेषु काननेभ्यो विनिःसृतः। राघवं युक्तशीतोष्णः सेविष्यति सुखोऽनिलः॥ 44.9 ॥

śivaḥ sarveṣu kāleṣu kānanebhyo viniḥsṛtaḥ| rāghavaṃ yuktaśītoṣṇaḥ seviṣyati sukho'nilaḥ

"The gentle breeze, wholesome at every hour, blowing forth from the woodlands, tempered rightly between cold and heat, will attend upon Raghava in comfort."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.44.10)

शयानमनघं रात्रौ पितेवाभिपरिष्वजन्। घर्मघ्नः संस्पृशन् शीतश्चन्द्रमा ह्लादयिष्यति॥ 44.10 ॥

śayānamanaghaṃ rātrau pitevābhipariṣvajan| gharmaghnaḥ saṃspṛśan śītaścandramā hlādayiṣyati

"As he lies at night, that sinless one — the cool moon, dispeller of heat, embracing him like a father and touching him gently — will bring him delight."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.44.11)

ददौ चास्त्राणि दिव्यानि यस्मै ब्रह्मा महौजसे। दानवेन्द्रं हतं दृष्ट्वा तिमिध्वजसुतं रणे॥ 44.11 ॥

dadau cāstrāṇi divyāni yasmai brahmā mahaujase| dānavendraṃ hataṃ dṛṣṭvā timidhvajasutaṃ raṇe

"He to whom Brahma, that being of immense power, gave celestial weapons, upon seeing him slay in battle the son of Timidhvaja, that lord among danavas..."

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.44.12)

स शूरः पुरुषव्याघ्रः स्वबाहुबलमाश्रितः। असंत्रस्तो ह्यरण्येऽसौ वेश्मनीव निवत्स्यते॥ 44.12 ॥

sa śūraḥ puruṣavyāghraḥ svabāhubalamāśritaḥ| asaṃtrasto hyaraṇye'sau veśmanīva nivatsyate

"...that hero, that tiger among men, relying upon the strength of his own arms, will dwell in the forest without fear, as though in his own house."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.44.13)

यस्येषुपथमासाद्य विनाशं यान्ति शत्रवः। कथं न पृथिवी तस्य शासने स्थातुमर्हति॥ 44.13 ॥

yasyeṣupathamāsādya vināśaṃ yānti śatravaḥ| kathaṃ na pṛthivī tasya śāsane sthātumarhati

"How could the earth not deserve to stand under the rule of him, at whose very arrow's range enemies go to their destruction?"

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.44.14)

या श्रीः शौर्यं च रामस्य या च कल्याणसत्त्वता। निवृत्तारण्यवासः स्वं क्षिप्रं राज्यमवाप्स्यति॥ 44.14 ॥

yā śrīḥ śauryaṃ ca rāmasya yā ca kalyāṇasattvatā| nivṛttāraṇyavāsaḥ svaṃ kṣipraṃ rājyamavāpsyati

"By that splendor, that valor, and that auspicious inner strength which are Rama's own, he shall, when his forest-dwelling ends, soon regain his own kingdom."

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.44.15)

सूर्यस्यापि भवेत् सूर्यो ह्यग्नेरग्नः प्रभोः प्रभुः। श्रियाः श्रीश्च भवेदग्र्या कीर्त्याः कीर्तिः क्षमाक्षमा॥ 44.15 ॥

sūryasyāpi bhavet sūryo hyagneragnaḥ prabhoḥ prabhuḥ| śriyāḥ śrīśca bhavedagryā kīrtyāḥ kīrtiḥ kṣamākṣamā

"He is the sun of the sun, the fire of fire, the lord of lords; he is the very glory of glory, the highest fame of fame, the forbearance of forbearance."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.44.16)

दैवतं देवतानां च भूतानां भूतसत्तमः। तस्य के ह्यगुणा देवि वने वाप्यथवा पुरे॥ 44.16 ॥

daivataṃ devatānāṃ ca bhūtānāṃ bhūtasattamaḥ| tasya ke hyaguṇā devi vane vāpyathavā pure

"He is the deity of the very gods, and the noblest of beings among beings — what shortcomings, O queen, could ever be his, whether in the forest or in the city?"

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.44.17)

पृथिव्या सह वैदेह्या श्रिया च पुरुषर्षभः। क्षिप्रं तिसृभिरेताभिः सह रामोऽभिषेक्ष्यते॥ 44.17 ॥

pṛthivyā saha vaidehyā śriyā ca puruṣarṣabhaḥ| kṣipraṃ tisṛbhiretābhiḥ saha rāmo'bhiṣekṣyate

"That bull among men, Rama, shall soon be consecrated together with these three — the Earth, Vaidehi, and Royal Fortune."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.44.18)

दुःखजं विसृजत्यश्रु निष्क्रामन्तमुदीक्ष्य यम्। अयोध्यायां जनः सर्वः शोकवेगसमाहतः॥ 44.18 ॥

duḥkhajaṃ visṛjatyaśru niṣkrāmantamudīkṣya yam| ayodhyāyāṃ janaḥ sarvaḥ śokavegasamāhataḥ

"He, on seeing whom depart, all the people of Ayodhya, struck by a surge of grief, shed tears born of sorrow..."

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.44.19)

कुशचीरधरं वीरं गच्छन्तमपराजितम्। सीतेवानुगता लक्ष्मीस्तस्य किं नाम दुर्लभम्॥ 44.19 ॥

kuśacīradharaṃ vīraṃ gacchantamaparājitam| sītevānugatā lakṣmīstasya kiṃ nāma durlabham

"...that unconquered hero, going forth clad in bark and kusha-grass, followed by Fortune herself in the form of Sita — what indeed could be difficult for him to attain?"

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.44.20)

धनुर्ग्रहवरो यस्य बाणखड्गास्त्रभृत् स्वयम्। लक्ष्मणो व्रजति ह्यग्रे तस्य किं नाम दुर्लभम्॥ 44.20 ॥

dhanurgrahavaro yasya bāṇakhaḍgāstrabhṛt svayam| lakṣmaṇo vrajati hyagre tasya kiṃ nāma durlabham

"He, before whom walks Lakshmana himself, best of bow-bearers, carrying arrows, sword, and every weapon — what indeed could be difficult for him to attain?"

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.44.21)

निवृत्तवनवासं तं द्रष्टासि पुनरागतम्। जहि शोकं च मोहं च देवि सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते॥ 44.21 ॥

nivṛttavanavāsaṃ taṃ draṣṭāsi punarāgatam| jahi śokaṃ ca mohaṃ ca devi satyaṃ bravīmi te

"You shall see him again, his forest-dwelling ended, returned once more. Cast away your grief and your confusion, O queen — I speak the truth to you."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.44.22)

शिरसा चरणावेतौ वन्दमानमनिन्दिते। पुनर्द्रक्ष्यसि कल्याणि पुत्रं चन्द्रमिवोदितम्॥ 44.22 ॥

śirasā caraṇāvetau vandamānamanindite| punardrakṣyasi kalyāṇi putraṃ candramivoditam

"O blameless one, you shall again behold your son, rising like the moon, bowing his head to touch your feet in reverence, O gracious lady."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.44.23)

पुनः प्रविष्टं दृष्ट्वा तमभिषिक्तं महाश्रियम्। समुत्स्रक्ष्यसि नेत्राभ्यां शीघ्रमानन्दजं जलम्॥ 44.23 ॥

punaḥ praviṣṭaṃ dṛṣṭvā tamabhiṣiktaṃ mahāśriyam| samutsrakṣyasi netrābhyāṃ śīghramānandajaṃ jalam

"Seeing him return once more, consecrated and endowed with great splendor, you will at once let flow from your eyes tears born of joy."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.44.24)

मा शोको देवि दुःखं वा न रामे दृष्यतेऽशिवम्। क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि पुत्रं त्वं ससीतं सहलक्ष्मणम्॥ 44.24 ॥

mā śoko devi duḥkhaṃ vā na rāme dṛṣyate'śivam| kṣipraṃ drakṣyasi putraṃ tvaṃ sasītaṃ sahalakṣmaṇam

"Let there be no grief, no sorrow, O queen; no ill omen is seen concerning Rama. Soon you shall see your son again, together with Sita and with Lakshmana."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.44.25)

त्वयाऽशेषो जनश्चायं समाश्वास्यो यतोऽनघे। कमिदानीमिदं देवि करोषि हृदि विक्लवम्॥ 44.25 ॥

tvayā'śeṣo janaścāyaṃ samāśvāsyo yato'naghe| kamidānīmidaṃ devi karoṣi hṛdi viklavam

"It is you, O sinless one, who should be consoling all these people now — why then, O queen, do you harbor this distress in your heart?"

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.44.26)

नार्हा त्वं शोचितुं देवि यस्यास्ते राघवः सुतः। नहि रामात् परो लोके विद्यते सत्पथे स्थितः॥ 44.26 ॥

nārhā tvaṃ śocituṃ devi yasyāste rāghavaḥ sutaḥ| nahi rāmāt paro loke vidyate satpathe sthitaḥ

"You have no cause to grieve, O queen, you whose son is Raghava himself; for in all the world there is none established more firmly on the righteous path than Rama."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.44.27)

अभिवादयमानं तं दृष्ट्वा ससुहृदं सुतम्। मुदाश्रु मोक्ष्यसे क्षिप्रं मेघरेखेव वार्षिकी॥ 44.27 ॥

abhivādayamānaṃ taṃ dṛṣṭvā sasuhṛdaṃ sutam| mudāśru mokṣyase kṣipraṃ megharekheva vārṣikī

"Seeing your son, together with his friends, bowing before you in salutation, you will soon shed tears of joy, like a line of rain-clouds in the monsoon."

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.44.28)

पुत्रस्ते वरदः क्षिप्रमयोध्यां पुनरागतः। कराभ्यां मृदुपीनाभ्यां चरणौ पीडयिष्यति॥ 44.28 ॥

putraste varadaḥ kṣipramayodhyāṃ punarāgataḥ| karābhyāṃ mṛdupīnābhyāṃ caraṇau pīḍayiṣyati

"Your boon-granting son, soon returned to Ayodhya, will press your feet with his own soft and full hands."

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.44.29)

अभिवाद्य नमस्यन्तं शूरं ससुहृदं सुतम्। मुदास्रैः प्रोक्षसे पुत्रं मेघराजिरिवाचलम्॥ 44.29 ॥

abhivādya namasyantaṃ śūraṃ sasuhṛdaṃ sutam| mudāsraiḥ prokṣase putraṃ megharājirivācalam

"As that heroic son, with his friends, salutes and bows to you in reverence, you will bathe him with tears of joy, as a line of clouds sprinkles a mountain."

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.44.30)

आश्वासयन्ती विविधैश्च वाक्यैर्वाक्योपचारे कुशलानवद्या। रामस्य तां मातरमेवमुक्त्वा देवी सुमित्रा विरराम रामा॥ 44.30 ॥

āśvāsayantī vividhaiśca vākyairvākyopacāre kuśalānavadyā| rāmasya tāṃ mātaramevamuktvā devī sumitrā virarāma rāmā

Thus consoling Rama's mother with words of every kind — she who was blameless and skilled in the art of speech — the lovely queen Sumitra, having spoken so, at last fell silent.

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.44.31)

निशम्य तल्लक्ष्मणमातृवाक्यं रामस्य मातुर्नरदेवपत्न्याः। सद्यः शरीरे विननाश शोकः शरद्गतो मेघ इवाल्पतोयः॥ 44.31 ॥

niśamya tallakṣmaṇamātṛvākyaṃ rāmasya māturnaradevapatnyāḥ| sadyaḥ śarīre vinanāśa śokaḥ śaradgato megha ivālpatoyaḥ

Hearing those words of Lakshmana's mother, the grief in the body of Rama's mother, the king's own queen, at once melted away, like an autumn cloud thinned of its little water.