Reaching the Tamasa

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.45.1)

अनुरक्ता महात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्। अनुजग्मुः प्रयान्तं तं वनवासाय मानवाः॥ 45.1 ॥

anuraktā mahātmānaṃ rāmaṃ satyaparākramam| anujagmuḥ prayāntaṃ taṃ vanavāsāya mānavāḥ

Devoted to that great-souled Rama, whose valor was ever true, the people followed after him as he set out for his dwelling in the forest.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.45.2)

निवर्तितेऽतीव बलात् सुहृद्धर्मेण राजनि। नैव ते संन्यवर्तन्त रामस्यानुगता रथम्॥ 45.2 ॥

nivartite'tīva balāt suhṛddharmeṇa rājani| naiva te saṃnyavartanta rāmasyānugatā ratham

Even when the king, through the duty owed to a friend, was made to turn back by main force, those who had followed Rama's chariot did not turn back at all.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.45.3)

अयोध्यानिलयानां हि पुरुषाणां महायशाः। बभूव गुणसम्पन्नः पूर्णचन्द्र इव प्रियः॥ 45.3 ॥

ayodhyānilayānāṃ hi puruṣāṇāṃ mahāyaśāḥ| babhūva guṇasampannaḥ pūrṇacandra iva priyaḥ

For that man of vast renown, endowed with every virtue, had become as dear to the people dwelling in Ayodhya as the full moon itself.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.45.4)

स याच्यमानः काकुत्स्थस्ताभिः प्रकृतिभिस्तदा। कुर्वाणः पितरं सत्यं वनमेवान्वपद्यत॥ 45.4 ॥

sa yācyamānaḥ kākutsthastābhiḥ prakṛtibhistadā| kurvāṇaḥ pitaraṃ satyaṃ vanamevānvapadyata

Though entreated then by those subjects, Kakutstha, in order to make his father true to his word, went on into the forest all the same.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.45.5)

अवेक्षमाणः सस्नेहं चक्षुषा प्रपिबन्निव। उवाच रामः सस्नेहं ताः प्रजाः स्वाः प्रजा इव॥ 45.5 ॥

avekṣamāṇaḥ sasnehaṃ cakṣuṣā prapibanniva| uvāca rāmaḥ sasnehaṃ tāḥ prajāḥ svāḥ prajā iva

Gazing upon them with affection, as though drinking them in with his eyes, Rama spoke lovingly to those people, as though they were his own children.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.45.6)

या प्रीतिर्बहुमानश्च मय्ययोध्यानिवासिनाम्। मत्प्रियार्थं विशेषेण भरते सा विधीयताम्॥ 45.6 ॥

yā prītirbahumānaśca mayyayodhyānivāsinām| matpriyārthaṃ viśeṣeṇa bharate sā vidhīyatām

"Whatever love and esteem the people of Ayodhya hold for me — let that, for my sake, be shown in special measure toward Bharata."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.45.7)

स हि कल्याणचारित्रः कैकेय्यानन्दवर्धनः। करिष्यति यथावद् वः प्रियाणि च हितानि च॥ 45.7 ॥

sa hi kalyāṇacāritraḥ kaikeyyānandavardhanaḥ| kariṣyati yathāvad vaḥ priyāṇi ca hitāni ca

"For he, of auspicious conduct, the increaser of Kaikeyi's joy, will do for you all that is pleasing and all that is beneficial, exactly as it should be done."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.45.8)

ज्ञानवृद्धो वयोबालो मृदुर्वीर्यगुणान्वितः। अनुरूपः स वो भर्ता भविष्यति भयापहः॥ 45.8 ॥

jñānavṛddho vayobālo mṛdurvīryaguṇānvitaḥ| anurūpaḥ sa vo bhartā bhaviṣyati bhayāpahaḥ

"Mature in wisdom though young in years, gentle yet endowed with valor, he will be a fitting lord for you, one who dispels all fear."

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.45.9)

स हि राजगुणैर्युक्तो युवराजः समीक्षितः। अपि चापि मया शिष्टैः कार्यं वो भर्तृशासनम्॥ 45.9 ॥

sa hi rājaguṇairyukto yuvarājaḥ samīkṣitaḥ| api cāpi mayā śiṣṭaiḥ kāryaṃ vo bhartṛśāsanam

"He, endowed with kingly virtues, has been appointed as the crown prince; and moreover, I too instruct you, along with the wise, to carry out your lord's commands."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.45.10)

न संतप्येद् यथा चासौ वनवासं गते मयि। महाराजस्तथा कार्यो मम प्रियचिकीर्षया॥ 45.10 ॥

na saṃtapyed yathā cāsau vanavāsaṃ gate mayi| mahārājastathā kāryo mama priyacikīrṣayā

"So act, out of desire to please me, that the great king may not suffer torment on account of my going to dwell in the forest."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.45.11)

यथा यथा दाशरथिर्धर्ममेवाश्रितो भवेत्। तथा तथा प्रकृतयो रामं पतिमकामयन्॥ 45.11 ॥

yathā yathā dāśarathirdharmamevāśrito bhavet| tathā tathā prakṛtayo rāmaṃ patimakāmayan

The more the son of Dasharatha showed himself devoted solely to righteousness, the more his subjects longed to have Rama as their lord.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.45.12)

बाष्पेण पिहितं दीनं रामः सौमित्रिणा सह। चकर्षेव गुणैर्बद्धं जनं पुरनिवासिनम्॥ 45.12 ॥

bāṣpeṇa pihitaṃ dīnaṃ rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha| cakarṣeva guṇairbaddhaṃ janaṃ puranivāsinam

Rama, together with Saumitri (Lakshmana), drew the wretched, tear-veiled townsfolk after him, as though they were bound and pulled along by his very virtues.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.45.13)

ते द्विजास्त्रिविधं वृद्धा ज्ञानेन वयसौजसा। वयःप्रकम्पशिरसो दूरादूचुरिदं वचः॥ 45.13 ॥

te dvijāstrividhaṃ vṛddhā jñānena vayasaujasā| vayaḥprakampaśiraso dūrādūcuridaṃ vacaḥ

Those brahmins, venerable in three ways — by knowledge, by age, and by spiritual power — their heads trembling with age, cried out this word from afar.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.45.14)

वहन्तो जवना रामं भो भो जात्यास्तुरंगमाः। निवर्तध्वं न गन्तव्यं हिता भवत भर्तरि॥ 45.14 ॥

vahanto javanā rāmaṃ bho bho jātyāsturaṃgamāḥ| nivartadhvaṃ na gantavyaṃ hitā bhavata bhartari

"O you swift, well-bred horses, who carry Rama — turn back! Go no further! Be well-wishers to your master!"

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.45.15)

कर्णवन्ति हि भूतानि विशेषेण तुरङ्गमाः। यूयं तस्मान्निवर्तध्वं याचनां प्रतिवेदिताः॥ 45.15 ॥

karṇavanti hi bhūtāni viśeṣeṇa turaṅgamāḥ| yūyaṃ tasmānnivartadhvaṃ yācanāṃ prativeditāḥ

"For all beings possess ears, and horses especially so; having now been made aware of our entreaty, turn back therefore."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.45.16)

धर्मतः स विशुद्धात्मा वीरः शुभदृढव्रतः। उपवाह्यस्तु वो भर्ता नापवाह्यः पुराद् वनम्॥ 45.16 ॥

dharmataḥ sa viśuddhātmā vīraḥ śubhadṛḍhavrataḥ| upavāhyastu vo bhartā nāpavāhyaḥ purād vanam

"That hero, pure of soul by righteousness, firm in his auspicious vow — your master ought to be borne back into the city, not carried away from it into the forest."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.45.17)

एवमार्तप्रलापांस्तान् वृद्धान् प्रलपतो द्विजान्। अवेक्ष्य सहसा रामो रथादवततार ह॥ 45.17 ॥

evamārtapralāpāṃstān vṛddhān pralapato dvijān| avekṣya sahasā rāmo rathādavatatāra ha

Beholding those aged brahmins uttering such anguished laments, Rama at once got down from the chariot.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.45.18)

पद्भ्यामेव जगामाथ ससीतः सहलक्ष्मणः। संनिकृष्टपदन्यासो रामो वनपरायणः॥ 45.18 ॥

padbhyāmeva jagāmātha sasītaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ| saṃnikṛṣṭapadanyāso rāmo vanaparāyaṇaḥ

Then, with Sita and with Lakshmana, Rama, intent upon the forest, went on foot alone, his stride shortened to match theirs.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.45.19)

द्विजातीन् हि पदातींस्तान् रामश्चारित्रवत्सलः। न शशाक घृणाचक्षुः परिमोक्तुं रथेन सः॥ 45.19 ॥

dvijātīn hi padātīṃstān rāmaścāritravatsalaḥ| na śaśāka ghṛṇācakṣuḥ parimoktuṃ rathena saḥ

For Rama, so tender in conduct and compassionate of eye, could not bear to abandon those brahmins who walked on foot, by riding on ahead in his chariot.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.45.20)

गच्छन्तमेव तं दृष्ट्वा रामं सम्भ्रान्तमानसाः। ऊचुः परमसंतप्ता रामं वाक्यमिदं द्विजाः॥ 45.20 ॥

gacchantameva taṃ dṛṣṭvā rāmaṃ sambhrāntamānasāḥ| ūcuḥ paramasaṃtaptā rāmaṃ vākyamidaṃ dvijāḥ

Seeing Rama thus continuing on his way, the brahmins, their minds distraught and deeply afflicted, spoke this word to him.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.45.21)

ब्राह्मण्यं कृत्स्नमेतत् त्वां ब्रह्मण्यमनुगच्छति। द्विजस्कन्धाधिरूढास्त्वामग्नयोऽप्यनुयान्त्वमी॥ 45.21 ॥

brāhmaṇyaṃ kṛtsnametat tvāṃ brahmaṇyamanugacchati| dvijaskandhādhirūḍhāstvāmagnayo'pyanuyāntvamī

"This entire brahmin community follows you, who are devoted to brahmins; and here, borne upon the shoulders of these twice-born, even our sacred fires accompany you."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.45.22)

वाजपेयसमुत्थानि च्छत्राण्येतानि पश्य नः। पृष्ठतोऽनुप्रयातानि मेघानिव जलात्यये॥ 45.22 ॥

vājapeyasamutthāni cchatrāṇyetāni paśya naḥ| pṛṣṭhato'nuprayātāni meghāniva jalātyaye

"Behold these our parasols, earned through the Vajapeya sacrifice, following behind us like clouds at the close of the rainy season."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.45.23)

अनवाप्तातपत्रस्य रश्मिसंतापितस्य ते। एभिश्छायां करिष्यामः स्वैश्छत्रैर्वाजपेयकैः॥ 45.23 ॥

anavāptātapatrasya raśmisaṃtāpitasya te| ebhiśchāyāṃ kariṣyāmaḥ svaiśchatrairvājapeyakaiḥ

"For you, who have no parasol of your own and are scorched by the sun's rays, we shall provide shade with these, our Vajapeya parasols."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.45.24)

या हि नः सततं बुद्धिर्वेदमन्त्रानुसारिणी। त्वत्कृते सा कृता वत्स वनवासानुसारिणी॥ 45.24 ॥

yā hi naḥ satataṃ buddhirvedamantrānusāriṇī| tvatkṛte sā kṛtā vatsa vanavāsānusāriṇī

"That intellect of ours, which was ever devoted to following the Vedic mantras, has now, dear child, for your sake, been turned to follow you into the forest."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.45.25)

हृदयेष्ववतिष्ठन्ते वेदा ये नः परं धनम्। वत्स्यन्त्यपि गृहेष्वेव दाराश्चारित्ररक्षिताः॥ 45.25 ॥

hṛdayeṣvavatiṣṭhante vedā ye naḥ paraṃ dhanam| vatsyantyapi gṛheṣveva dārāścāritrarakṣitāḥ

"The Vedas, our supreme wealth, dwell within our very hearts; and our wives too, guarded by their own virtue, shall remain safely at home."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.45.26)

पुनर्न निश्चयः कार्यस्त्वद्गतौ सुकृता मतिः। त्वयि धर्मव्यपेक्षे तु किं स्याद् धर्मपथे स्थितम्॥ 45.26 ॥

punarna niścayaḥ kāryastvadgatau sukṛtā matiḥ| tvayi dharmavyapekṣe tu kiṃ syād dharmapathe sthitam

"There is no need to reconsider — our resolve to go with you is well made. Yet if you insist on righteousness, what then remains upon the path of dharma?"

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.45.27)

याचितो नो निवर्तस्व हंसशुक्लशिरोरुहैः। शिरोभिर्निभृताचार महीपतनपांसुलैः॥ 45.27 ॥

yācito no nivartasva haṃsaśuklaśiroruhaiḥ| śirobhirnibhṛtācāra mahīpatanapāṃsulaiḥ

"Entreated by us, O steadfast one, turn back — by these our heads, white-haired as swans, and soiled with the dust of our falling to the ground before you."

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.45.28)

बहूनां वितता यज्ञा द्विजानां य इहागताः। तेषां समाप्तिरायत्ता तव वत्स निवर्तने॥ 45.28 ॥

bahūnāṃ vitatā yajñā dvijānāṃ ya ihāgatāḥ| teṣāṃ samāptirāyattā tava vatsa nivartane

"The sacrifices begun by many of the brahmins who have come here still stand unfinished; their completion, dear child, depends upon your turning back."

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.45.29)

भक्तिमन्तीह भूतानि जङ्गमाजङ्गमानि च। याचमानेषु तेषु त्वं भक्तिं भक्तेषु दर्शय॥ 45.29 ॥

bhaktimantīha bhūtāni jaṅgamājaṅgamāni ca| yācamāneṣu teṣu tvaṃ bhaktiṃ bhakteṣu darśaya

"All beings here, both moving and unmoving, are devoted to you; show your devotion in turn to these devotees who entreat you."

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.45.30)

अनुगन्तुमशक्तास्त्वां मूलैरुद्धतवेगिनः। उन्नता वायुवेगेन विक्रोशन्तीव पादपाः॥ 45.30 ॥

anugantumaśaktāstvāṃ mūlairuddhataveginaḥ| unnatā vāyuvegena vikrośantīva pādapāḥ

"Unable to follow you, held fast by their roots, the trees, bent and tossed by the force of the wind, seem to be crying out to you."

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.45.31)

निश्चेष्टाहारसंचारा वृक्षैकस्थाननिश्चिताः। पक्षिणोऽपि प्रयाचन्ते सर्वभूतानुकम्पिनम्॥ 45.31 ॥

niśceṣṭāhārasaṃcārā vṛkṣaikasthānaniścitāḥ| pakṣiṇo'pi prayācante sarvabhūtānukampinam

"Even the birds, motionless now, having ceased their search for food, fixed to their single perch upon the trees, entreat you, O compassionate one to all beings, to return."

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.45.32)

एवं विक्रोशतां तेषां द्विजातीनां निवर्तने। ददृशे तमसा तत्र वारयन्तीव राघवम्॥ 45.32 ॥

evaṃ vikrośatāṃ teṣāṃ dvijātīnāṃ nivartane| dadṛśe tamasā tatra vārayantīva rāghavam

While those brahmins were thus crying out to turn him back, the river Tamasa appeared there, as though itself trying to stay Raghava's course.

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.45.33)

ततः सुमन्त्रोऽपि रथाद् विमुच्य श्रान्तान् हयान् सम्परिवर्त्य शीघ्रम्। पीतोदकांस्तोयपरिप्लुताङ्गानचारयद् वै तमसाविदूरे॥ 45.33 ॥

tataḥ sumantro'pi rathād vimucya śrāntān hayān samparivartya śīghram| pītodakāṃstoyapariplutāṅgānacārayad vai tamasāvidūre

Then Sumantra too unyoked the weary horses from the chariot, and having quickly rolled them, let them, once watered and their bodies bathed, graze not far from the Tamasa.