Rama's Night of Grief for His Father

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.53.1)

स तं वृक्षं समासाद्य संध्यामन्वास्य पश्चिमाम्। रामो रमयतां श्रेष्ठ इति होवाच लक्ष्मणम्॥ २-५३-१ ॥

sa taṃ vṛkṣaṃ samāsādya saṃdhyāmanvāsya paścimām | rāmo ramayatāṃ śreṣṭha iti hovāca lakṣmaṇam

Reaching that tree, and having performed the evening rites facing west, Rama, foremost of those who give delight, spoke thus to Lakshmana.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.53.2)

अद्येयं प्रथमा रात्रिर्याता जनपदाद् बहिः। या सुमन्त्रेण रहिता तां नोत्कण्ठितुमर्हसि॥ २-५३-२ ॥

adyeyaṃ prathamā rātriryātā janapadād bahiḥ | yā sumantreṇa rahitā tāṃ notkaṇṭhitumarhasi

"This is the first night we have spent outside our own realm, one without Sumantra beside us; you should not long for what is past."

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.53.3)

जागर्तव्यमतन्द्रिभ्यामद्यप्रभृति रात्रिषु। योगक्षेमौ हि सीताया वर्तेते लक्ष्मणावयोः॥ २-५३-३ ॥

jāgartavyamatandribhyāmadyaprabhṛti rātriṣu | yogakṣemau hi sītāyā vartete lakṣmaṇāvayoḥ

"From today the two of us must keep watch through the nights without slackness, for Sita's safety and welfare rest upon us both."

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.53.4)

रात्रिं कथंचिदेवेमां सौमित्रे वर्तयामहे। अपवर्तामहे भूमावास्तीर्य स्वयमर्जितैः॥ २-५३-४ ॥

rātriṃ kathaṃcidevemāṃ saumitre vartayāmahe | apavartāmahe bhūmāvāstīrya svayamarjitaiḥ

"Somehow, Saumitri, we shall pass this night; let us spread out, upon the ground, the leaves we have gathered ourselves, and lie down there."

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.53.5)

स तु संविश्य मेदिन्यां महार्हशयनोचितः। इमाः सौमित्रये रामो व्याजहार कथाः शुभाः॥ २-५३-५ ॥

sa tu saṃviśya medinyāṃ mahārhaśayanocitaḥ | imāḥ saumitraye rāmo vyājahāra kathāḥ śubhāḥ

Though fit for the costliest of beds, Rama lay down upon the earth and spoke these fair words to Lakshmana.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.53.6)

ध्रुवमद्य महाराजो दुःखं स्वपिति लक्ष्मण। कृतकामा तु कैकेयी तुष्टा भवितुमर्हति॥ २-५३-६ ॥

dhruvamadya mahārājo duḥkhaṃ svapiti lakṣmaṇa | kṛtakāmā tu kaikeyī tuṣṭā bhavitumarhati

"Surely, Lakshmana, the great king sleeps tonight in sorrow, while Kaikeyi, her desire fulfilled, must be well content."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.53.7)

सा हि देवी महाराजं कैकेयी राज्यकारणात्। अपि न च्यावयेत् प्राणान् दृष्ट्वा भरतमागतम्॥ २-५३-७ ॥

sā hi devī mahārājaṃ kaikeyī rājyakāraṇāt | api na cyāvayet prāṇān dṛṣṭvā bharatamāgatam

"For the sake of the kingdom, that queen Kaikeyi, seeing Bharata arrived, might even take the great king's very life."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.53.8)

अनाथश्च हि वृद्धश्च मया चैव विनाकृतः। किं करिष्यति कामात्मा कैकेय्या वशमागतः॥ २-५३-८ ॥

anāthaśca hi vṛddhaśca mayā caiva vinākṛtaḥ | kiṃ kariṣyati kāmātmā kaikeyyā vaśamāgataḥ

"Helpless, aged, and now bereft of me, overcome by desire and fallen under Kaikeyi's sway, what will he be able to do?"

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.53.9)

इदं व्यसनमालोक्य राज्ञश्च मतिविभ्रमम्। काम एवार्थधर्माभ्यां गरीयानिति मे मतिः॥ २-५३-९ ॥

idaṃ vyasanamālokya rājñaśca mativibhramam | kāma evārthadharmābhyāṃ garīyāniti me matiḥ

"Seeing this calamity and the king's confusion of mind, it seems to me that desire alone outweighs both wealth and duty."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.53.10)

को ह्यविद्वानपि पुमान् प्रमदायाः कृते त्यजेत्। छन्दानुवर्तिनं पुत्रं तातो मामिव लक्ष्मण॥ २-५३-१० ॥

ko hyavidvānapi pumān pramadāyāḥ kṛte tyajet | chandānuvartinaṃ putraṃ tāto māmiva lakṣmaṇa

"What man, however foolish, would forsake, for a woman's sake, an obedient son - as our father has forsaken me, Lakshmana?"

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.53.11)

सुखी बत सुभार्यश्च भरतः केकयीसुतः। मुदितान् कोसलानेको यो भोक्ष्यत्यधिराजवत्॥ २-५३-११ ॥

sukhī bata subhāryaśca bharataḥ kekayīsutaḥ | muditān kosalāneko yo bhokṣyatyadhirājavat

"Happy indeed, and blessed with a fine wife, is Kaikeyi's son Bharata, who alone shall enjoy the flourishing land of Kosala like a sovereign."

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.53.12)

स हि राज्यस्य सर्वस्य सुखमेकं भविष्यति। ताते तु वयसातीते मयि चारण्यमाश्रिते॥ २-५३-१२ ॥

sa hi rājyasya sarvasya sukhamekaṃ bhaviṣyati | tāte tu vayasātīte mayi cāraṇyamāśrite

"Now that our father is aged and I have taken refuge in the forest, he alone shall enjoy the happiness of the whole kingdom."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.53.13)

अर्थधर्मौ परित्यज्य यः काममनुवर्तते। एवमापद्यते क्षिप्रं राजा दशरथो यथा॥ २-५३-१३ ॥

arthadharmau parityajya yaḥ kāmamanuvartate | evamāpadyate kṣipraṃ rājā daśaratho yathā

"One who forsakes both wealth and duty to follow desire alone falls swiftly into calamity, just as King Dasharatha has now fallen."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.53.14)

मन्ये दशरथान्ताय मम प्रव्राजनाय च। कैकेयी सौम्य सम्प्राप्ता राज्याय भरतस्य च॥ २-५३-१४ ॥

manye daśarathāntāya mama pravrājanāya ca | kaikeyī saumya samprāptā rājyāya bharatasya ca

"Gentle one, I think Kaikeyi came into being only for Dasharatha's ruin, for my banishment, and for Bharata's kingdom."

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.53.15)

अपीदानीं तु कैकेयी सौभाग्यमदमोहिता। कौसल्यां च सुमित्रां च सा प्रबाधेत मत्कृते॥ २-५३-१५ ॥

apīdānīṃ tu kaikeyī saubhāgyamadamohitā | kausalyāṃ ca sumitrāṃ ca sā prabādheta matkṛte

"Even now, drunk with the pride of her good fortune, Kaikeyi might, for my sake, bring trouble upon Kausalya and Sumitra."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.53.16)

मातास्मत्कारणाद् देवी सुमित्रा दुःखमावसेत्। अयोध्यामित एव त्वं काले प्रविश लक्ष्मण॥ २-५३-१६ ॥

mātāsmatkāraṇād devī sumitrā duḥkhamāvaset | ayodhyāmita eva tvaṃ kāle praviśa lakṣmaṇa

"Lest our mother, the queen Sumitra, come to grief on our account, Lakshmana, return now, in due time, to Ayodhya."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.53.17)

अहमेको गमिष्यामि सीतया सह दण्डकान्। अनाथाया हि नाथस्त्वं कौसल्याया भविष्यसि॥ २-५३-१७ ॥

ahameko gamiṣyāmi sītayā saha daṇḍakān | anāthāyā hi nāthastvaṃ kausalyāyā bhaviṣyasi

"I alone shall go with Sita into the Dandaka forest; you shall become the protector of Kausalya, now left without support."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.53.18)

क्षुद्रकर्मा हि कैकेयी द्वेषादन्यायमाचरेत्। परिदद्याद्धि धर्मज्ञ गरं ते मम मातरम्॥ २-५३-१८ ॥

kṣudrakarmā hi kaikeyī dveṣādanyāyamācaret | paridadyāddhi dharmajña garaṃ te mama mātaram

"O knower of dharma, Kaikeyi, of base conduct, might out of malice do some wrong - she might even give poison to my mother."

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.53.19)

नूनं जात्यन्तरे तात स्त्रियः पुत्रैर्वियोजिताः। जनन्या मम सौमित्रे तदद्यैतदुपस्थितम्॥ २-५३-१९ ॥

nūnaṃ jātyantare tāta striyaḥ putrairviyojitāḥ | jananyā mama saumitre tadadyaitadupasthitam

"Surely, dear Saumitri, in some former life my mother must have parted women from their sons; that very fate has now come upon her."

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.53.20)

मया हि चिरपुष्टेन दुःखसंवर्धितेन च। विप्रयुज्यत कौसल्या फलकाले धिगस्तु माम्॥ २-५३-२० ॥

mayā hi cirapuṣṭena duḥkhasaṃvardhitena ca | viprayujyata kausalyā phalakāle dhigastu mām

"Kausalya, who nursed me so long and, enduring hardship herself, raised me to manhood - she is parted from me now, just as the fruit was ripening. Shame upon me!"

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.53.21)

मा स्म सीमन्तिनी काचिज्जनयेत् पुत्रमीदृशम्। सौमित्रे योऽहमम्बाया दद्मि शोकमनन्तकम्॥ २-५३-२१ ॥

mā sma sīmantinī kācijjanayet putramīdṛśam | saumitre yo'hamambāyā dadmi śokamanantakam

"Let no fortunate woman ever bear a son like me, Saumitri, who brings such endless grief upon his own mother."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.53.22)

मन्ये प्रीतिविशिष्टा सा मत्तो लक्ष्मण सारिका। यत्तस्याः श्रूयते वाक्यं शुकपादमरेर्दश॥ २-५३-२२ ॥

manye prītiviśiṣṭā sā matto lakṣmaṇa sārikā | yattasyāḥ śrūyate vākyaṃ śukapādamarerdaśa

"I think, Lakshmana, that pet mynah my mother reared loves her more than I do, for it is always heard crying, 'Bite the enemy's foot, parrot!'"

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.53.23)

शोचन्त्याश्चाल्पभाग्याया न किंचिदुपकुर्वता। पुत्रेण किमपुत्राया मया कार्यमरिंदम॥ २-५३-२३ ॥

śocantyāścālpabhāgyāyā na kiṃcidupakurvatā | putreṇa kimaputrāyā mayā kāryamariṃdama

"What use, O tormentor of foes, is a son like me - who does her no good at all - to my grieving, ill-starred mother, now as good as childless?"

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.53.24)

अल्पभाग्या हि मे माता कौसल्या रहिता मया। शेते परमदुःखार्ता पतिता शोकसागरे॥ २-५३-२४ ॥

alpabhāgyā hi me mātā kausalyā rahitā mayā | śete paramaduḥkhārtā patitā śokasāgare

"Parted from me, my ill-fated mother Kausalya, sunk deep in an ocean of grief, lies now in the utmost sorrow."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.53.25)

एको ह्यहमयोध्यां च पृथिवीं चापि लक्ष्मण। तरेयमिषुभिः क्रुद्धो ननु वीर्यमकारणम्॥ २-५३-२५ ॥

eko hyahamayodhyāṃ ca pṛthivīṃ cāpi lakṣmaṇa | tareyamiṣubhiḥ kruddho nanu vīryamakāraṇam

"Alone, Lakshmana, in my wrath I could conquer with my arrows both Ayodhya and the whole earth as well; but valour is no cause of good in the world beyond."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.53.26)

अधर्मभयभीतश्च परलोकस्य चानघ। तेन लक्ष्मण नाद्याहमात्मानमभिषेचये॥ २-५३-२६ ॥

adharmabhayabhītaśca paralokasya cānagha | tena lakṣmaṇa nādyāhamātmānamabhiṣecaye

"Sinless one, it is from fear of unrighteousness, and fear for the world to come, that I do not this day consecrate myself."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.53.27)

एतदन्यच्च करुणं विलप्य विजने बहु। अश्रुपूर्णमुखो दीनो निशि तूष्णीमुपाविशत्॥ २-५३-२७ ॥

etadanyacca karuṇaṃ vilapya vijane bahu | aśrupūrṇamukho dīno niśi tūṣṇīmupāviśat

Having thus lamented long and piteously in that lonely place, Rama, his face full of tears, sat down in silence and sorrow through the night.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.53.28)

विलापोपरतं रामं गतार्चिषमिवानलम्। समुद्रमिव निर्वेगमाश्वासयत लक्ष्मणः॥ २-५३-२८ ॥

vilāpoparataṃ rāmaṃ gatārciṣamivānalam | samudramiva nirvegamāśvāsayata lakṣmaṇaḥ

Lakshmana comforted Rama, now grown still after his lament, like a fire whose flame has died, or a sea whose surge has stilled.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.53.29)

ध्रुवमद्य पुरी राम अयोध्यायुधिनां वर। निष्प्रभा त्वयि निष्क्रान्ते गतचन्द्रेव शर्वरी॥ २-५३-२९ ॥

dhruvamadya purī rāma ayodhyāyudhināṃ vara | niṣprabhā tvayi niṣkrānte gatacandreva śarvarī

"Surely today, O Rama, best among the wielders of weapons, the city of Ayodhya, with your departure, has grown dark as a moonless night."

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.53.30)

नैतदौपयिकं राम यदिदं परितप्यसे। विषादयसि सीतां च मां चैव पुरुषर्षभ॥ २-५३-३० ॥

naitadaupayikaṃ rāma yadidaṃ paritapyase | viṣādayasi sītāṃ ca māṃ caiva puruṣarṣabha

"This is not fitting, O bull among men, that you torment yourself so; in doing this you grieve both Sita and myself."

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.53.31)

न च सीता त्वया हीना न चाहमपि राघव। मुहूर्तमपि जीवावो जलान्मत्स्याविवोद्धृतौ॥ २-५३-३१ ॥

na ca sītā tvayā hīnā na cāhamapi rāghava | muhūrtamapi jīvāvo jalānmatsyāvivoddhṛtau

"Without you, Raghava, neither Sita nor I could live even a moment - like fish drawn out of the water."

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.53.32)

नहि तातं न शत्रुघ्नं न सुमित्रां परंतप। द्रष्टमिच्छेयमद्याहं स्वर्गं चापि त्वया विना॥ २-५३-३२ ॥

nahi tātaṃ na śatrughnaṃ na sumitrāṃ paraṃtapa | draṣṭamiccheyamadyāhaṃ svargaṃ cāpi tvayā vinā

"Without you, scourge of your foes, I have no wish today to see our father, nor Shatrughna, nor Sumitra, nor heaven itself."

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.53.33)

ततस्तत्र समासीनौ नातिदूरे निरीक्ष्य ताम्। न्यग्रोधे सुकृतां शय्यां भेजाते धर्मवत्सलौ॥ २-५३-३३ ॥

tatastatra samāsīnau nātidūre nirīkṣya tām | nyagrodhe sukṛtāṃ śayyāṃ bhejāte dharmavatsalau

Then, seated there, and looking not far off, those two lovers of dharma took to the well-made bed beneath the banyan tree.

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.53.34)

स लक्ष्मणस्योत्तमपुष्कलं वचो निशम्य चैवं वनवासमादरात्। समाः समस्ता विदधे परंतपः प्रपद्य धर्मं सुचिराय राघवः॥ २-५३-३४ ॥

sa lakṣmaṇasyottamapuṣkalaṃ vaco niśamya caivaṃ vanavāsamādarāt | samāḥ samastā vidadhe paraṃtapaḥ prapadya dharmaṃ sucirāya rāghavaḥ

Hearing Lakshmana's excellent words, spoken with such regard for the life of the forest, Raghava, scourge of his foes, embraced that dharma and resolved to hold to it for all the years to come.

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.53.35)

ततस्तु तस्मिन् विजने महावने महाबलौ राघववंशवर्धनौ। न तौ भयं सम्भ्रममभ्युपेयतुर्यथैव सिंहौ गिरिसानुगोचरौ॥ २-५३-३५ ॥

tatastu tasmin vijane mahāvane mahābalau rāghavavaṃśavardhanau | na tau bhayaṃ sambhramamabhyupeyaturyathaiva siṃhau girisānugocarau

Thereafter, in that lonely great forest, those two mighty increasers of the Raghu line came to know neither fear nor agitation, like two lions ranging the mountain heights.