The Wives of the Citizens Lament

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.48.1)

तेषामेवं विषण्णानां पीडितानामतीव च। बाष्पविप्लुतनेत्राणां सशोकानां मुमूर्षया॥ 48.1 ॥

teṣāmevaṃ viṣaṇṇānāṃ pīḍitānāmatīva ca| bāṣpaviplutanetrāṇāṃ saśokānāṃ mumūrṣayā

Having gone with Rama and now returned, dejected and listless, the citizens' hearts were sorely wounded — their eyes brimming with tears, overcome with grief, as if ready to give up life itself.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.48.2)

अनुगम्य निवृत्तानां रामं नगरवासिनाम्। उद्गतानीव सत्त्वानि बभूवुरमनस्विनाम्॥ 48.2 ॥

anugamya nivṛttānāṃ rāmaṃ nagaravāsinām| udgatānīva sattvāni babhūvuramanasvinām

After following Rama and turning back, the citizens seemed to lose the very life out of them; disheartened, they became as though their spirits had departed.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.48.3)

स्वं स्वं निलयमागम्य पुत्रदारैः समावृताः। अश्रूणि मुमुचुः सर्वे बाष्पेण पिहिताननाः॥ 48.3 ॥

svaṃ svaṃ nilayamāgamya putradāraiḥ samāvṛtāḥ| aśrūṇi mumucuḥ sarve bāṣpeṇa pihitānanāḥ

Reaching their own homes, surrounded by their sons and wives, all of them wept, their faces veiled in tears.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.48.4)

न चाहृष्यन्न चामोदन्वणिजो न प्रसारयन्। न चाशोभन्त पण्यानि नापचन्गृहमेधिनः॥ 48.4 ॥

na cāhṛṣyanna cāmodanvaṇijo na prasārayan| na cāśobhanta paṇyāni nāpacangṛhamedhinaḥ

No one felt joy or delight; merchants did not lay out their wares, nor did their goods look inviting, and householders did not even trouble to cook.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.48.5)

नष्टं दृष्ट्वा नाभ्यनन्दन्विपुलं वा धनागमम्। पुत्रं प्रथमजं लब्ध्वा जननी नाभ्यनन्दत॥ 48.5 ॥

naṣṭaṃ dṛṣṭvā nābhyanandanvipulaṃ vā dhanāgamam| putraṃ prathamajaṃ labdhvā jananī nābhyanandata

No one rejoiced even at recovering lost wealth or gaining abundant riches; no mother felt joy even on the birth of her first child.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.48.6)

गृहे गृहे रुदन्त्यश्च भर्तारं गृहमागतम्। व्यगर्हयन्तो दुःखार्ता वाग्भिस्तोत्रैरिव द्विपान्॥ 48.6 ॥

gṛhe gṛhe rudantyaśca bhartāraṃ gṛhamāgatam| vyagarhayanto duḥkhārtā vāgbhistotrairiva dvipān

In house after house, women wept and reproached their returning husbands with words that stung like the goad that pricks an elephant, so afflicted were they with grief.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.48.7)

किं नु तेषां गृहैः कार्यं किं दारैः किं धनेन वा। पुत्रैर्वा किं सुखैर्वापि ये न पश्यन्ति राघवम्॥ 48.7 ॥

kiṃ nu teṣāṃ gṛhaiḥ kāryaṃ kiṃ dāraiḥ kiṃ dhanena vā| putrairvā kiṃ sukhairvāpi ye na paśyanti rāghavam

For those who cannot see Rama, what use are houses, or wives, or wealth, or sons, or any pleasure at all?

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.48.8)

एकः सत्पुरुषो लोके लक्ष्मणः सह सीतया। योऽनुगच्छति काकुत्स्थं रामं परिचरन्वने॥ 48.8 ॥

ekaḥ satpuruṣo loke lakṣmaṇaḥ saha sītayā| yo'nugacchati kākutsthaṃ rāmaṃ paricaranvane

Lakshmana alone is truly fortunate among men — for he it is who follows Kakutstha Rama, with Sita, and serves them there in the forest.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.48.9)

आपगाः कृतपुण्यास्ताः पद्मिन्यश्च सरांसि च। येषु स्नास्यति काकुत्स्थो विगाह्य सलिलं शुचि॥ 48.9 ॥

āpagāḥ kṛtapuṇyāstāḥ padminyaśca sarāṃsi ca| yeṣu snāsyati kākutstho vigāhya salilaṃ śuci

Blessed indeed are those rivers, lotus pools, and lakes in whose sacred waters Kakutstha will bathe.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.48.10)

शोभयिष्यन्ति काकुत्स्थमटव्यो रम्यकाननाः। आपगाश्च महानूपाः सानुमन्तश्च पर्वताः॥ 48.10 ॥

śobhayiṣyanti kākutsthamaṭavyo ramyakānanāḥ| āpagāśca mahānūpāḥ sānumantaśca parvatāḥ

The forests with their lovely groves, the rivers rich with water, and the mountains with their charming peaks will all be graced by Kakutstha's presence.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.48.11)

काननं वापि शैलं वा यं रामोऽभिगमिष्यति। प्रियातिथिमिव प्राप्तं नैनं शक्ष्यन्त्यनर्चितुम्॥ 48.11 ॥

kānanaṃ vāpi śailaṃ vā yaṃ rāmo'bhigamiṣyati| priyātithimiva prāptaṃ nainaṃ śakṣyantyanarcitum

Whatever forest or mountain Rama approaches will surely be able to honour him, as though welcoming a beloved guest.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.48.12)

विचित्रकुसुमापीडा बहुमञ्जरिधारिणः। अकाले चापि मुख्यानि पुष्पाणि च फलानि च॥ 48.12 ॥

vicitrakusumāpīḍā bahumañjaridhāriṇaḥ| akāle cāpi mukhyāni puṣpāṇi ca phalāni ca

Trees crowned with strange and colourful blossoms, laden with many clusters, will show forth choice flowers and fruits even out of season.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.48.13)

अकाले चापि मुख्यानि पुष्पाणि च फलानि च। दर्शयिष्यन्त्यनुक्रोशाद्गिरयो राममागतम्॥ 48.13 ॥

akāle cāpi mukhyāni puṣpāṇi ca phalāni ca| darśayiṣyantyanukrośādgirayo rāmamāgatam

Out of compassion, the mountains will display their choicest flowers and fruits, even though out of season, in welcome of Rama's coming.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.48.14)

प्रस्रविष्यन्ति तोयानि विमलानि महीधराः। विदर्शयन्तो विविधान्भूयश्चित्रांश्च निर्झरान्॥ 48.14 ॥

prasraviṣyanti toyāni vimalāni mahīdharāḥ| vidarśayanto vividhānbhūyaścitrāṃśca nirjharān

The mountains will pour forth pure waters, again and again showing many wondrous waterfalls.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.48.15)

पादपाः पर्वताग्रेषु रमयिष्यन्ति राघवम्। यत्र रामो भयं नात्र नास्ति तत्र पराभवः॥ 48.15 ॥

pādapāḥ parvatāgreṣu ramayiṣyanti rāghavam| yatra rāmo bhayaṃ nātra nāsti tatra parābhavaḥ

The trees on the mountain-crests will delight Raghava — for where Rama is, there is neither fear nor defeat.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.48.16)

स हि शूरो महाबाहुः पुत्रो दशरथस्य च। पुरा भवति नो दूरादनुगच्छाम राघवम्॥ 48.16 ॥

sa hi śūro mahābāhuḥ putro daśarathasya ca| purā bhavati no dūrādanugacchāma rāghavam

That heroic, mighty-armed son of Dasharatha will soon come into our sight, not far off — let us go and follow after Raghava.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.48.17)

पादच्छाया सुखा भर्तुस्तादृशस्य महात्मनः। स हि नाथो जनस्यास्य स गतिः स परायणम्॥ 48.17 ॥

pādacchāyā sukhā bhartustādṛśasya mahātmanaḥ| sa hi nātho janasyāsya sa gatiḥ sa parāyaṇam

To rest in the shade of that noble lord's feet is happiness in itself — he alone is this people's protector, their refuge, their final resting-place.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.48.18)

वयं परिचरिष्यामः सीतां यूयं तु राघवम्। इति पौरस्त्रियो भर्तॄन्दुःखार्तास्तत्तदब्रुवन्॥ 48.18 ॥

vayaṃ paricariṣyāmaḥ sītāṃ yūyaṃ tu rāghavam| iti paurastriyo bhartṝnduḥkhārtāstattadabruvan

We shall wait upon Sita; you attend upon Raghava — so, again and again, the anguished city-women said to their husbands.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.48.19)

युष्माकं राघवोऽरण्ये योगक्षेमं विधास्यति। सीता नारीजनस्यास्य योगक्षेमं करिष्यति॥ 48.19 ॥

yuṣmākaṃ rāghavo'raṇye yogakṣemaṃ vidhāsyati| sītā nārījanasyāsya yogakṣemaṃ kariṣyati

In the forest Raghava will look after your welfare, just as Sita, for her part, will look after ours here, the welfare of us women.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.48.20)

को न्वनेनाप्रतीतेन सोत्कण्ठितजनेन च। सम्प्रीयेतामनोज्ञेन वासेन हृतचेतसा॥ 48.20 ॥

ko nvanenāpratītena sotkaṇṭhitajanena ca| samprīyetāmanojñena vāsena hṛtacetasā

Who indeed could find contentment in this uncertain city, full of restless, anxious people, its charm gone, its heart taken away?

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.48.21)

कैकेय्या यदि चेद्राज्यं स्यादधर्म्यमनाथवत्। न हि नो जीवितेनार्थः कुतः पुत्रैः कुतो धनैः॥ 48.21 ॥

kaikeyyā yadi cedrājyaṃ syādadharmyamanāthavat| na hi no jīvitenārthaḥ kutaḥ putraiḥ kuto dhanaiḥ

If Kaikeyi's rule should come to pass, it would be lawless, as if the kingdom had no protector at all — then what use would our lives be, let alone our sons or our wealth?

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.48.22)

यया पुत्रश्च भर्ता च त्यक्तावैश्वर्यकारणात्। कं सा परिहरेदन्यं कैकेयी कुलपांसनी॥ 48.22 ॥

yayā putraśca bhartā ca tyaktāvaiśvaryakāraṇāt| kaṃ sā pariharedanyaṃ kaikeyī kulapāṃsanī

That Kaikeyi, who for the sake of power forsook both her own son and her husband and brought disgrace on her line — whom indeed would she not abandon?

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.48.23)

कैकेय्या न वयं राज्ये भृतका निवसेमहि। जीवन्त्या जातु जीवन्त्यः पुत्रैरपि शपामहे॥ 48.23 ॥

kaikeyyā na vayaṃ rājye bhṛtakā nivasemahi| jīvantyā jātu jīvantyaḥ putrairapi śapāmahe

We swear even by our own sons — as long as Kaikeyi lives, and we live, we will never dwell in this kingdom as her servants.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.48.24)

या पुत्रं पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य प्रवासयति निर्घृणा। कस्तां प्राप्य सुखं जीवेदधर्म्यां दुष्टचारिणीम्॥ 48.24 ॥

yā putraṃ pārthivendrasya pravāsayati nirghṛṇā| kastāṃ prāpya sukhaṃ jīvedadharmyāṃ duṣṭacāriṇīm

Who could live happily under that pitiless woman, who banished the king's own son to exile without a trace of mercy — that wicked, lawless creature?

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.48.25)

उपद्रुतमिदं सर्वमनालम्बमनायकम्। कैकेय्या हि कृते सर्वं विनाशमुपयास्यति॥ 48.25 ॥

upadrutamidaṃ sarvamanālambamanāyakam| kaikeyyā hi kṛte sarvaṃ vināśamupayāsyati

This whole realm, now leaderless and without support, is beset with calamity — because of Kaikeyi alone, all of it will come to ruin.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.48.26)

न हि प्रव्रजिते रामे जीविष्यति महीपतिः। मृते दशरथे व्यक्तं विलोपस्तदनन्तरम्॥ 48.26 ॥

na hi pravrajite rāme jīviṣyati mahīpatiḥ| mṛte daśarathe vyaktaṃ vilopastadanantaram

Once Rama has gone into exile, the king will not long survive — and the moment Dasharatha dies, ruin will surely follow close behind.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.48.27)

ते विषं पिबतालोड्य क्षीणपुण्याः सुदुर्गताः। राघवं वानुगच्छध्वमश्रुतिं वापि गच्छत॥ 48.27 ॥

te viṣaṃ pibatāloḍya kṣīṇapuṇyāḥ sudurgatāḥ| rāghavaṃ vānugacchadhvamaśrutiṃ vāpi gacchata

So drink poison, stirred and ready, you whose merit is spent and fortune spent with it — or else follow Raghava to the forest, or go where even your name will never be heard again.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.48.28)

मिथ्या प्रव्राजितो रामः सभार्यः सहलक्ष्मणः। भरते संनिषृष्टाः स्मः सौनिके पशवो यथा॥ 48.28 ॥

mithyā pravrājito rāmaḥ sabhāryaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ| bharate saṃniṣṛṣṭāḥ smaḥ saunike paśavo yathā

Rama, with Sita and Lakshmana, has been driven out into exile by deceit; and now we have been handed over to Bharata, as beasts are handed over to the butcher.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.48.29)

पूर्णचन्द्राननः श्यामो गूढजत्रुररिन्दमः। आजानुबाहुः पद्माक्षो रामो लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः॥ 48.29 ॥

pūrṇacandrānanaḥ śyāmo gūḍhajatrurarindamaḥ| ājānubāhuḥ padmākṣo rāmo lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ

Rama, whose face is like the full moon, dark of hue, his collar-bones hidden by flesh, a subduer of foes, his arms reaching to his knees, his eyes like lotuses, the elder brother of Lakshmana —

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.48.30)

पूर्वाभिभाषी मधुरः सत्यवादी महाबलः। सौम्यः सर्वस्य लोकस्य चन्द्रवत्प्रियदर्शनः॥ 48.30 ॥

pūrvābhibhāṣī madhuraḥ satyavādī mahābalaḥ| saumyaḥ sarvasya lokasya candravatpriyadarśanaḥ

who speaks first in gentleness, who is sweet and truthful of speech, mighty of strength, benign, and a sight as dear to all the world as the moon —

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.48.31)

नूनं पुरुषशार्दूलो मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः। शोभयिष्यत्यरण्यानि विचरन् स महारथः॥ 48.31 ॥

nūnaṃ puruṣaśārdūlo mattamātaṅgavikramaḥ| śobhayiṣyatyaraṇyāni vicaran sa mahārathaḥ

that tiger among men, that great warrior, moving with the majesty of a rutting elephant, will surely fill the forests with his splendour as he wanders through them.

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.48.32)

तास्तथा विलपन्त्यस्तु नगरे नागरस्त्रियः। चुक्रुशुर्भृशसन्तप्ता मृत्योरिव भयागमे॥ 48.32 ॥

tāstathā vilapantyastu nagare nāgarastriyaḥ| cukruśurbhṛśasantaptā mṛtyoriva bhayāgame

So lamenting, the women of the city cried out, overwhelmed with grief, as though death itself had come near.

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.48.33)

इत्येव विलपन्तीनां स्त्रीणां वेश्मसु राघवम्। जगामास्तं दिनकरो रजनी चाभ्यवर्तत॥ 48.33 ॥

ityeva vilapantīnāṃ strīṇāṃ veśmasu rāghavam| jagāmāstaṃ dinakaro rajanī cābhyavartata

While the women in their houses went on lamenting for Raghava in this way, the sun sank down and night set in.

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.48.34)

नष्टज्वलनसंपाता प्रशान्ताध्यायसत्कथा। तिमिरेणाभिलिप्तेव तदा सा नगरी बभौ॥ 48.34 ॥

naṣṭajvalanasaṃpātā praśāntādhyāyasatkathā| timireṇābhilipteva tadā sā nagarī babhau

Its household fires unkindled, its Veda-recitation and sacred storytelling fallen silent, the city then looked as if it had been smeared over with darkness.

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.48.35)

उपशान्तवणिक्पण्या नष्टहर्षा निराश्रया। अयोध्या नगरी चासीन्नष्टतारमिवाम्बरम्॥ 48.35 ॥

upaśāntavaṇikpaṇyā naṣṭaharṣā nirāśrayā| ayodhyā nagarī cāsīnnaṣṭatāramivāmbaram

Its markets fallen still, its joy gone, left without support, the city of Ayodhya then looked as dim as a sky from which the stars had vanished.

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.48.36)

तथा स्त्रियो रामनिमित्तमातुरा। यथा सुते भ्रातरि वा विवासिते। विलप्य दीना रुरुदुर्विचेतसः। सुतैर्हि तासामधिको हि सोऽभवत्॥ 48.36 ॥

tathā striyo rāmanimittamāturā| yathā sute bhrātari vā vivāsite| vilapya dīnā rurudurvicetasaḥ| sutairhi tāsāmadhiko hi so'bhavat

Stricken with anguish for Rama's sake, the women wept as one would weep for a son or brother sent into exile; grieving, they cried out in many ways — for Rama was dearer to them even than their own sons.

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.48.37)

प्रशान्तगीतोत्सवनृत्तवादना। व्यपास्तहर्षा पिहितापणोदया। तदा ह्ययोध्या नगरी बभूव सा। महार्णवः संक्षपितोदको यथा॥ 48.37 ॥

praśāntagītotsavanṛttavādanā| vyapāstaharṣā pihitāpaṇodayā| tadā hyayodhyā nagarī babhūva sā| mahārṇavaḥ saṃkṣapitodako yathā

Its songs, festivities, dancing, and music all fallen silent, its joy departed, its shops shuttered, the city of Ayodhya then became like a great ocean whose waters had dried away.