The Night by the Tamasa

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.46.1)

ततस्तु तमसातीरं रम्यमाश्रित्य राघवः। सीतामुद्वीक्ष्य सौमित्रिमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥ 46.1 ॥

tatastu tamasātīraṃ ramyamāśritya rāghavaḥ| sītāmudvīkṣya saumitrimidaṃ vacanamabravīt

Then Raghava, having reached the lovely bank of the Tamasa river, looked at Sita and spoke these words to Lakshmana.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.46.2)

इयमद्य निशा पूर्वा सौमित्रे प्रहिता वनम्। वनवासस्य भद्रं ते न चोत्कण्ठितुमर्हसि॥ 46.2 ॥

iyamadya niśā pūrvā saumitre prahitā vanam| vanavāsasya bhadraṃ te na cotkaṇṭhitumarhasi

Saumitri, this is the first night since we were sent forth to the forest; the life of the forest has begun. May you fare well — there is no cause for you to be anxious.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.46.3)

पश्य शून्यान्यरण्यानि रुदन्तीव समन्ततः। यथानिलयमायद्भिर्निलीनानि मृगद्विजैः॥ 46.3 ॥

paśya śūnyānyaraṇyāni rudantīva samantataḥ| yathānilayamāyadbhirnilīnāni mṛgadvijaiḥ

See how these empty woods seem to weep on every side, now that the deer and birds have gone back and hidden themselves in their familiar haunts.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.46.4)

अद्यायोध्या तु नगरी राजधानी पितुर्मम। सस्त्रीपुंसा गतानस्मान् शोचिष्यति न संशयः॥ 46.4 ॥

adyāyodhyā tu nagarī rājadhānī piturmama| sastrīpuṃsā gatānasmān śociṣyati na saṃśayaḥ

Today, without doubt, Ayodhya — my father's capital — with all its men and women, will grieve over our departure.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.46.5)

अनुरक्ता हि मनुजा राजानं बहुभिर्गुणैः। त्वां च मां च नरव्याघ्र शत्रुघ्नभरतौ तथा॥ 46.5 ॥

anuraktā hi manujā rājānaṃ bahubhirguṇaiḥ| tvāṃ ca māṃ ca naravyāghra śatrughnabharatau tathā

Tiger among men, the people are as devoted, for their many virtues, to the king as they are to you, to me, and to Shatrughna and Bharata alike.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.46.6)

पितरं चानुशोचामि मातरं च यशस्विनीम्। अपि वान्धौ भवेतां तौ रुदन्तावभीक्ष्णशः॥ 46.6 ॥

pitaraṃ cānuśocāmi mātaraṃ ca yaśasvinīm| api vāndhau bhavetāṃ tau rudantāvabhīkṣṇaśaḥ

It is my father and my glorious mother for whom I grieve — I fear the two of them may even lose their sight from ceaseless weeping.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.46.7)

भरतः खलु धर्मात्मा पितरं मातरं च मे। धर्मार्थकामसहितैर्वाक्यैराश्वासयिष्यति॥ 46.7 ॥

bharataḥ khalu dharmātmā pitaraṃ mātaraṃ ca me| dharmārthakāmasahitairvākyairāśvāsayiṣyati

Yet the righteous Bharata will surely comfort my father and mother with words rooted in dharma, in their true welfare, and in affection.

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.46.8)

भरतस्यानृशंसत्वं संचिन्त्याहं पुनः पुनः। नानुशोचामि पितरं मातरं च महाभुज॥ 46.8 ॥

bharatasyānṛśaṃsatvaṃ saṃcintyāhaṃ punaḥ punaḥ| nānuśocāmi pitaraṃ mātaraṃ ca mahābhuja

Mighty-armed one, when I think again and again of Bharata's gentle, compassionate nature, I no longer grieve for our father and mother.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.46.9)

त्वया कार्यं नरव्याघ्र मामनुव्रजता कृतम्। अन्वेष्टव्या हि वैदेह्या रक्षणार्थं सहायता॥ 46.9 ॥

tvayā kāryaṃ naravyāghra māmanuvrajatā kṛtam| anveṣṭavyā hi vaidehyā rakṣaṇārthaṃ sahāyatā

Tiger among men, by following me here you have done me a great service — otherwise I would have had to seek some other help for guarding Vaidehi.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.46.10)

अद्भिरेव हि सौमित्रे वत्स्याम्यद्य निशामिमाम्। एतद्धि रोचते मह्यं वन्येऽपि विविधे सति॥ 46.10 ॥

adbhireva hi saumitre vatsyāmyadya niśāmimām| etaddhi rocate mahyaṃ vanye'pi vividhe sati

Saumitri, tonight I shall live on water alone. Though the forest offers fruit and roots of many kinds, this is what pleases me for now.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.46.11)

एवमुक्त्वा तु सौमित्रिं सुमन्त्रमपि राघवः। अप्रमत्तस्त्वमश्वेषु भव सौम्येत्युवाच ह॥ 46.11 ॥

evamuktvā tu saumitriṃ sumantramapi rāghavaḥ| apramattastvamaśveṣu bhava saumyetyuvāca ha

Having said this to Lakshmana, Raghava then said to Sumantra as well, Gentle one, look after the horses with care.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.46.12)

सोऽश्वान् सुमन्त्रः संयम्य सूर्येऽस्तं समुपागते। प्रभूतयवसान् कृत्वा बभूव प्रत्यनन्तरः॥ 46.12 ॥

so'śvān sumantraḥ saṃyamya sūrye'staṃ samupāgate| prabhūtayavasān kṛtvā babhūva pratyanantaraḥ

When the sun had fully set, Sumantra tethered the horses, gave them abundant fodder, and came and stood close by.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.46.13)

उपास्य तु शिवां संध्यां दृष्ट्वा रात्रिमुपागताम्। रामस्य शयनं चक्रे सूतः सौमित्रिणा सह॥ 46.13 ॥

upāsya tu śivāṃ saṃdhyāṃ dṛṣṭvā rātrimupāgatām| rāmasya śayanaṃ cakre sūtaḥ saumitriṇā saha

The charioteer, having offered his evening devotions and seeing night draw near, prepared Rama's bed together with Lakshmana.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.46.14)

तां शय्यां तमसातीरे वीक्ष्य वृक्षदलैर्वृताम्। रामः सौमित्रिणा सार्धं सभार्यः संविवेश ह॥ 46.14 ॥

tāṃ śayyāṃ tamasātīre vīkṣya vṛkṣadalairvṛtām| rāmaḥ saumitriṇā sārdhaṃ sabhāryaḥ saṃviveśa ha

Seeing that bed of tree-leaves spread on the bank of the Tamasa, Rama, together with Lakshmana, lay down upon it with his wife.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.46.15)

सभार्यं सम्प्रसुप्तं तु श्रान्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य लक्ष्मणः। कथयामास सूताय रामस्य विविधान् गुणान्॥ 46.15 ॥

sabhāryaṃ samprasuptaṃ tu śrāntaṃ samprekṣya lakṣmaṇaḥ| kathayāmāsa sūtāya rāmasya vividhān guṇān

Seeing his brother, weary, asleep beside his wife, Lakshmana told the charioteer of Rama's many virtues.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.46.16)

जाग्रतो ह्येव तां रात्रिं सौमित्रेरुदितो रविः। सूतस्य तमसातीरे रामस्य ब्रुवतो गुणान्॥ 46.16 ॥

jāgrato hyeva tāṃ rātriṃ saumitrerudito raviḥ| sūtasya tamasātīre rāmasya bruvato guṇān

That whole night Saumitri kept awake, and the sun rose upon him still awake, while the charioteer, on the bank of the Tamasa, went on speaking of Rama's virtues.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.46.17)

गोकुलाकुलतीरायास्तमसाया विदूरतः। अवसत् तत्र तां रात्रिं रामः प्रकृतिभिः सह॥ 46.17 ॥

gokulākulatīrāyāstamasāyā vidūrataḥ| avasat tatra tāṃ rātriṃ rāmaḥ prakṛtibhiḥ saha

At some distance from the Tamasa's bank, thronged with herds of cattle, Rama passed that night there together with the citizens.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.46.18)

उत्थाय च महातेजाः प्रकृतीस्ता निशाम्य च। अब्रवीद् भ्रातरं रामो लक्ष्मणं पुण्यलक्षणम्॥ 46.18 ॥

utthāya ca mahātejāḥ prakṛtīstā niśāmya ca| abravīd bhrātaraṃ rāmo lakṣmaṇaṃ puṇyalakṣaṇam

Rising, and seeing those citizens, the resplendent Rama spoke to his brother Lakshmana, whose form bore auspicious marks.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.46.19)

अस्मद्व्यपेक्षान् सौमित्रे निर्व्यपेक्षान् गृहेष्वपि। वृक्षमूलेषु संसक्तान् पश्य लक्ष्मण साम्प्रतम्॥ 46.19 ॥

asmadvyapekṣān saumitre nirvyapekṣān gṛheṣvapi| vṛkṣamūleṣu saṃsaktān paśya lakṣmaṇa sāmpratam

Saumitri, look — so devoted to us are these people that, careless even of their own homes, they now lie asleep here at the roots of trees.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.46.20)

यथैते नियमं पौराः कुर्वन्त्यस्मन्निवर्तने। अपि प्राणान् न्यसिष्यन्ति न तु त्यक्ष्यन्ति निश्चयम्॥ 46.20 ॥

yathaite niyamaṃ paurāḥ kurvantyasmannivartane| api prāṇān nyasiṣyanti na tu tyakṣyanti niścayam

By the resolve with which these citizens insist on turning us back, it seems they would sooner give up their lives than abandon their determination.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.46.21)

यावदेव तु संसुप्तास्तावदेव वयं लघु। रथमारुह्य गच्छामः पन्थानमकुतोभयम्॥ 46.21 ॥

yāvadeva tu saṃsuptāstāvadeva vayaṃ laghu| rathamāruhya gacchāmaḥ panthānamakutobhayam

Therefore, while they are all still asleep, let us at once mount the chariot and set out swiftly by a road free of danger.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.46.22)

अतो भूयोऽपि नेदानीमिक्ष्वाकुपुरवासिनः। स्वपेयुरनुरक्ता मां वृक्षमूलानि संश्रिताः॥ 46.22 ॥

ato bhūyo'pi nedānīmikṣvākupuravāsinaḥ| svapeyuranuraktā māṃ vṛkṣamūlāni saṃśritāḥ

This way the citizens of Ikshvaku's city, devoted as they are to me, need not go on sleeping at the roots of trees, night after night, on my account.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.46.23)

पौरा ह्यात्मकृताद् दुःखाद् विप्रमोच्या नृपात्मजैः। न तु खल्वात्मना योज्या दुःखेन पुरवासिनः॥ 46.23 ॥

paurā hyātmakṛtād duḥkhād vipramocyā nṛpātmajaiḥ| na tu khalvātmanā yojyā duḥkhena puravāsinaḥ

It is for the sons of kings to free the people from suffering the people have brought on themselves — never to burden the citizens with sorrow caused by the princes themselves, as is happening now because of us.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.46.24)

अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणो रामं साक्षाद् धर्ममिव स्थितम्। रोचते मे तथा प्राज्ञ क्षिप्रमारुह्यतामिति॥ 46.24 ॥

abravīllakṣmaṇo rāmaṃ sākṣād dharmamiva sthitam| rocate me tathā prājña kṣipramāruhyatāmiti

Lakshmana said to Rama, who stood there like righteousness itself embodied, Wise one, this seems right to me — let us mount the chariot at once.

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.46.25)

अथ रामोऽब्रवीच्छ्रीमान् सुमन्त्रं युज्यतां रथः। गमिष्यामि ततोऽरण्यं गच्छ शीघ्रमितः प्रभो॥ 46.25 ॥

atha rāmo'bravīcchrīmān sumantraṃ yujyatāṃ rathaḥ| gamiṣyāmi tato'raṇyaṃ gaccha śīghramitaḥ prabho

Then the glorious Rama said to Sumantra, Let the chariot be yoked; I shall proceed to the forest — go quickly, good sir, let us leave this place.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.46.26)

सूतस्ततः संत्वरितः स्यन्दनं तैर्हयोत्तमैः। योजयित्वा तु रामस्य प्राञ्जलिः प्रत्यवेदयत्॥ 46.26 ॥

sūtastataḥ saṃtvaritaḥ syandanaṃ tairhayottamaiḥ| yojayitvā tu rāmasya prāñjaliḥ pratyavedayat

Thereupon the charioteer swiftly yoked the excellent horses to the chariot and, with joined palms, reported this to Rama.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.46.27)

अयं युक्तो महाबाहो रथस्ते रथिनां वर। त्वमारोहस्व भद्रं ते ससीतः सहलक्ष्मणः॥ 46.27 ॥

ayaṃ yukto mahābāho rathaste rathināṃ vara| tvamārohasva bhadraṃ te sasītaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ

Mighty-armed one, finest of charioteers, your chariot is now ready. Mount it, with Sita and Lakshmana beside you — may fortune attend you.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.46.28)

तं स्यन्दनमधिष्ठाय राघवः सपरिच्छदः। शीघ्रगामाकुलावर्तां तमसामतरन्नदीम्॥ 46.28 ॥

taṃ syandanamadhiṣṭhāya rāghavaḥ saparicchadaḥ| śīghragāmākulāvartāṃ tamasāmatarannadīm

Raghava, with all his belongings, mounted that chariot and crossed the swift-flowing Tamasa, thick with eddies.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.46.29)

स संतीर्य महाबाहुः श्रीमान् शिवमकण्टकम्। प्रापद्यत महामार्गमभयं भयदर्शिनाम्॥ 46.29 ॥

sa saṃtīrya mahābāhuḥ śrīmān śivamakaṇṭakam| prāpadyata mahāmārgamabhayaṃ bhayadarśinām

Having safely crossed that stream, the glorious, mighty-armed Rama came upon a broad highway, free of thorns and safe even for those who dread danger.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.46.30)

मोहनार्थं तु पौराणां सूतं रामोऽब्रवीद् वचः। उदङ्मुखः प्रयाहि त्वं रथमारुह्य सारथे॥ 46.30 ॥

mohanārthaṃ tu paurāṇāṃ sūtaṃ rāmo'bravīd vacaḥ| udaṅmukhaḥ prayāhi tvaṃ rathamāruhya sārathe

To mislead the citizens, Rama said to the charioteer, Charioteer, mount the chariot and drive northward.

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.46.31)

मुहूर्तं त्वरितं गत्वा निवर्तय रथं पुनः। यथा न विद्युः पौरा मां तथा कुरु समाहितः॥ 46.31 ॥

muhūrtaṃ tvaritaṃ gatvā nivartaya rathaṃ punaḥ| yathā na vidyuḥ paurā māṃ tathā kuru samāhitaḥ

Go swiftly for a short while, then turn the chariot back again — do it with such care that the citizens cannot discover where I have gone.

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.46.32)

रामस्य तु वचः श्रुत्वा तथा चक्रे च सारथिः। प्रत्यागम्य च रामस्य स्यन्दनं प्रत्यवेदयत्॥ 46.32 ॥

rāmasya tu vacaḥ śrutvā tathā cakre ca sārathiḥ| pratyāgamya ca rāmasya syandanaṃ pratyavedayat

Hearing Rama's words, the charioteer did exactly as told, and on returning informed Rama that the chariot was ready again.

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.46.33)

तौ सम्प्रयुक्तं तु रथं समास्थितौ। तदा ससीतौ रघुवंशवर्धनौ। प्रचोदयामास ततस्तुरंगमान्। स सारथिर्येन पथा तपोवनम्॥ 46.33 ॥

tau samprayuktaṃ tu rathaṃ samāsthitau| tadā sasītau raghuvaṃśavardhanau| pracodayāmāsa tatasturaṃgamān| sa sārathiryena pathā tapovanam

Then the two increasers of Raghu's line, together with Sita, mounted that yoked chariot, and the charioteer urged the horses along the road leading to the ascetics' forest.

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.46.34)

ततः समास्थाय रथं महारथः। ससारथिर्दाशरथिर्वनं ययौ। उदङ्मुखं तं तु रथं चकार। प्रयाणमाङ्गल्यनिमित्तदर्शनात्॥ 46.34 ॥

tataḥ samāsthāya rathaṃ mahārathaḥ| sasārathirdāśarathirvanaṃ yayau| udaṅmukhaṃ taṃ tu rathaṃ cakāra| prayāṇamāṅgalyanimittadarśanāt

Then the mighty charioteer-warrior, son of Dasharatha, mounted that chariot with the charioteer and set out for the forest, having turned it to face north as a favourable omen for the journey.