Sumantra Returns to a Grieving Ayodhya

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.57.1)

कथयित्वा सुदुःखार्तः सुमन्त्रेण चिरं सह। रामे दक्षिणकूलस्थे जगाम स्वगृहं गुहः॥ २-५७-१ ॥

kathayitvā suduḥkhārtaḥ sumantreṇa ciraṃ saha| rāme dakṣiṇakūlasthe jagāma svagṛhaṃ guhaḥ

When Rama had reached the southern bank, Guha, grief-stricken, talked long with Sumantra and then, sorrowing, went back to his own home.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.57.2)

भरद्वाजाभिगमनं प्रयागे च सहासनम्। आगिरेर्गमनं तेषां तत्रस्थैरभिलक्षितम्॥ २-५७-२ ॥

bharadvājābhigamanaṃ prayāge ca sahāsanam| āgirer gamanaṃ teṣāṃ tatrasthair abhilakṣitam

Their visit to sage Bharadvaja, their sitting with him at Prayaga, and their onward journey to the mountain — all this those who were there had observed.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.57.3)

अनुज्ञातः सुमन्त्रोऽथ योजयित्वा हयोत्तमान्। अयोध्यामेव नगरीं प्रययौ गाढदुर्मनाः॥ २-५७-३ ॥

anujñātaḥ sumantro 'tha yojayitvā hayottamān| ayodhyām eva nagarīṃ prayayau gāḍhadurmanāḥ

Given leave to depart, Sumantra harnessed the finest horses and, his heart heavy with sorrow, drove on toward the city of Ayodhya.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.57.4)

स वनानि सुगन्धीनि सरितश्च सरांसि च। पश्यन्नतिययौ शीघ्रं ग्रामाणि नगराणि च॥ २-५७-४ ॥

sa vanāni sugandhīni saritaśca sarāṃsi ca| paśyann atiyayau śīghraṃ grāmāṇi nagarāṇi ca

Passing sweet-scented woods, rivers and lakes, villages and towns, he pressed swiftly onward.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.57.5)

ततः सायाह्नसमये तृतीयेऽहनि सारथिः। अयोध्यां समनुप्राप्य निरानन्दां ददर्श ह॥ २-५७-५ ॥

tataḥ sāyāhnasamaye tṛtīye 'hani sārathiḥ| ayodhyāṃ samanuprāpya nirānandāṃ dadarśa ha

Then, on the evening of the third day, the charioteer reached Ayodhya and found it joyless.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.57.6)

स शून्यामिव निःशब्दां दृष्ट्वा परमदुर्मनाः। सुमन्त्रश्चिन्तयामास शोकवेगसमाहतः॥ २-५७-६ ॥

sa śūnyām iva niḥśabdāṃ dṛṣṭvā paramadurmanāḥ| sumantraścintayāmāsa śokavegasamāhataḥ

Seeing it silent as though deserted, Sumantra, deeply dejected and struck by a surge of grief, fell to brooding.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.57.7)

कच्चिन्न सगजा साश्वा सजना सजनाधिपा। रामसंतापदुःखेन दग्धा शोकाग्निना पुरी॥ २-५७-७ ॥

kaccinna sagajā sāśvā sajanā sajanādhipā| rāmasaṃtāpaduḥkhena dagdhā śokāgninā purī

"Can it be that this city — with its elephants, horses, people, and king — has been consumed by the fire of grief born of anguish for Rama?"

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.57.8)

इति चिन्तापरः सूतो वाजिभिः शीघ्रपातिभिः। नगरद्वारमासाद्य त्वरितः प्रविवेश ह॥ २-५७-८ ॥

iti cintāparaḥ sūto vājibhiḥ śīghrapātibhiḥ| nagaradvāram āsādya tvaritaḥ praviveśa ha

Lost in such thoughts, the charioteer, borne by his swift horses, reached the city gate and hastened inside.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.57.9)

सुमन्त्रमभियान्तं तं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। क्व रामेति पृच्छन्तः सूतमभ्यद्रवन्नराः॥ २-५७-९ ॥

sumantram abhiyāntaṃ taṃ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ| kva rāmeti pṛcchantaḥ sūtam abhyadravan narāḥ

Seeing Sumantra approach, people in their hundreds and thousands ran up to the charioteer, crying, "Where is Rama?"

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.57.10)

तेषां शशंस गङ्गायामहमापृच्छ्य राघवम्। अनुज्ञातो निवृत्तोऽस्मि धार्मिकेण महात्मना॥ २-५७-१० ॥

teṣāṃ śaśaṃsa gaṅgāyām aham āpṛcchya rāghavam| anujñāto nivṛtto 'smi dhārmikeṇa mahātmanā

He answered them: "At the Ganga, having taken leave of Raghava, I returned, sent back by that righteous, great-souled prince."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.57.11)

ते तीर्णा इति विज्ञाय बाष्पपूर्णमुखा जनाः। अहो धिगिति निःश्वस्य हा राम इति च चुक्रुशुः॥ २-५७-११ ॥

te tīrṇā iti vijñāya bāṣpapūrṇamukhā janāḥ| aho dhig iti niḥśvasya hā rāma iti ca cukruśuḥ

Learning that they had crossed the river, the people, faces streaming with tears, sighed, "Alas, shame on us!" and cried aloud, "O Rama!"

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.57.12)

शुश्राव च वचस्तेषां वृन्दं वृन्दं च तिष्ठताम्। हताः स्म खलु ये नेह पश्यामोऽति राघवम्॥ २-५७-१२ ॥

śuśrāva ca vacas teṣāṃ vṛndaṃ vṛndaṃ ca tiṣṭhatām| hatāḥ sma khalu ye neha paśyāmo 'ti rāghavam

He heard the words of the crowds standing in clusters: "Ruined indeed are we, who can no longer see Raghava here."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.57.13)

दानयज्ञविवाहेषु समाजेषु महत्सु च। न द्रक्ष्यामः पुनर्जातु धार्मिकं राममन्तरा॥ २-५७-१३ ॥

dānayajñavivāheṣu samājeṣu mahatsu ca| na drakṣyāmaḥ punarjātu dhārmikaṃ rāmam antarā

"Never again shall we see the righteous Rama at almsgivings, sacrifices, weddings, or grand assemblies."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.57.14)

किं समर्थं जनस्यास्य किं प्रियं किं सुखावहम्। इति रामेण नगरं पितृवत् परिपालितम्॥ २-५७-१४ ॥

kiṃ samarthaṃ janasyāsya kiṃ priyaṃ kiṃ sukhāvaham| iti rāmeṇa nagaraṃ pitṛvat paripālitam

"What suits this people, what pleases them, what brings them happiness" — with such care did Rama guard this city as a father guards his own.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.57.15)

वातायनगतानां च स्त्रीणामन्तरापणम्। रामशोकाभितप्तानां शुश्राव परिदेवनम्॥ २-५७-१५ ॥

vātāyanagatānāṃ ca strīṇām antarāpaṇam| rāmaśokābhitaptānāṃ śuśrāva paridevanam

Driving through the market streets, Sumantra heard the laments of women at their windows, consumed with grief for Rama.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.57.16)

स राजमार्गमध्येन सुमन्त्रः पिहिताननः। यत्र राजा दशरथस्तत्रैवोपययौ गृहम्॥ २-५७-१६ ॥

sa rājamārgamadhyena sumantraḥ pihitānanaḥ| yatra rājā daśarathas tatraivopayayau gṛham

That Sumantra, his face covered, drove straight down the royal road to the very house where King Dasharatha dwelt.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.57.17)

सोऽवतीर्य रथाच्छीघ्रं राजवेश्म प्रविश्य च। कक्ष्याः सप्ताभिचक्राम महाजनसमाकुलाः॥ २-५७-१७ ॥

so 'vatīrya rathāc chīghraṃ rājaveśma praviśya ca| kakṣyāḥ saptābhicakrāma mahājanasamākulāḥ

Alighting swiftly from the chariot, he entered the royal palace and passed through its seven courtyards, thronged with people.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.57.18)

हर्म्यैर्विमानैः प्रासादैरवेक्ष्याथ समागतम्। हाहाकारकृता नार्यो रामदर्शनकर्शिताः॥ २-५७-१८ ॥

harmyair vimānaiḥ prāsādair avekṣyātha samāgatam| hāhākārakṛtā nāryo rāmadarśanakarśitāḥ

Seeing him arrive, women peering from mansions, high towers, and terraces — worn thin with longing to see Rama — broke into cries of "Alas, alas!"

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.57.19)

आयतैर्विमलैर्नेत्रैरश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः। अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्तेऽव्यक्तमार्ततराः स्त्रियः॥ २-५७-१९ ॥

āyatair vimalair netrair aśruvegapariplutaiḥ| anyonyam abhivīkṣante 'vyaktam ārtatarāḥ striyaḥ

Those women, overwhelmed with anguish, gazed at one another dimly through wide, clear eyes brimming with tears.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.57.20)

ततो दशरथस्त्रीणां प्रासादेभ्यस्ततस्ततः। रामशोकाभितप्तानां मन्दं शुश्राव जल्पितम्॥ २-५७-२० ॥

tato daśarathastrīṇāṃ prāsādebhyas tatas tataḥ| rāmaśokābhitaptānāṃ mandaṃ śuśrāva jalpitam

Then, from the terraces here and there, he heard the faint murmurs of Dasharatha's queens, all consumed with grief for Rama.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.57.21)

सह रामेण निर्यातो विना राममिहागतः। सूतः किं नाम कौसल्यां शोचन्तीं प्रति वक्ष्यति॥ २-५७-२१ ॥

saha rāmeṇa niryāto vinā rāmam ihāgataḥ| sūtaḥ kiṃ nāma kausalyāṃ śocantīṃ prati vakṣyati

"He who set out with Rama has returned here without him — what indeed will the charioteer say to grieving Kausalya?"

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.57.22)

यथा च मन्ये दुर्जीवमेवं न सुकरं ध्रुवम्। आच्छिद्य पुत्रे निर्याते कौसल्या यत्र जीवति॥ २-५७-२२ ॥

yathā ca manye durjīvam evaṃ na sukaraṃ dhruvam| ācchidya putre niryāte kausalyā yatra jīvati

"As I see it, to live on so is surely no easy thing — yet even with her son thus torn from her, Kausalya somehow lives."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.57.23)

सत्यरूपं तु तद्वाक्यं राज्ञः स्त्रीणां निशामयन्। प्रदीप्तमिव शोकेन विवेश सहसा गृहम्॥ २-५७-२३ ॥

satyarūpaṃ tu tadvākyaṃ rājñaḥ strīṇāṃ niśāmayan| pradīptam iva śokena viveśa sahasā gṛham

Hearing these words of the king's wives, so plainly true, Sumantra entered the house at once — a house that seemed ablaze with grief.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.57.24)

स प्रविश्याष्टमीं कक्ष्यां राजानं दीनमातुरम्। पुत्रशोकपरिम्लानमपश्यत् पाण्डुरे गृहे॥ २-५७-२४ ॥

sa praviśyāṣṭamīṃ kakṣyāṃ rājānaṃ dīnam āturam| putraśokaparimlānam apaśyat pāṇḍure gṛhe

Entering the eighth courtyard, he saw, in that pale white chamber, the king — wretched, sick at heart, wasted by grief for his son.

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.57.25)

अभिगम्य तमासीनं नरेन्द्रमभिवाद्य च। सुमन्त्रो रामवचनं यथोक्तं प्रत्यवेदयत्॥ २-५७-२५ ॥

abhigamya tam āsīnaṃ narendram abhivādya ca| sumantro rāmavacanaṃ yathoktaṃ pratyavedayat

Approaching the seated king and offering his salutation, Sumantra delivered Rama's message just as it had been given.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.57.26)

स तूष्णीमेव तच्छ्रुत्वा राजा विभ्रान्तचेतनः। मूर्च्छितो न्यपतद्भूमौ रामशोकाभिपीडितः॥ २-५७-२६ ॥

sa tūṣṇīm eva tacchrutvā rājā vibhrāntacetanaḥ| mūrcchito nyapatad bhūmau rāmaśokābhipīḍitaḥ

Hearing this in silence, the king's senses reeled; overwhelmed by grief for Rama, he fainted and fell to the ground.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.57.27)

ततोऽन्तःपुरमाविद्धं मूर्च्छिते पृथिवीपतौ। उद्धृत्य बाहू चुक्रोश नृपतौ पतिते क्षितौ॥ २-५७-२७ ॥

tato 'ntaḥpuram āviddhaṃ mūrcchite pṛthivīpatau| uddhṛtya bāhū cukrośa nṛpatau patite kṣitau

When the lord of the earth swooned, the women's quarters were thrown into turmoil; and as the king fell to the ground, they cried out, flinging up their arms.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.57.28)

सुमित्रया तु सहिता कौसल्या पतितं पतिम्। उत्थापयामास तदा वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्॥ २-५७-२८ ॥

sumitrayā tu sahitā kausalyā patitaṃ patim| utthāpayāmāsa tadā vacanaṃ cedam abravīt

Kausalya, together with Sumitra, raised up her fallen husband and spoke these words:

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.57.29)

इमं तस्य महाभाग दूतं दुष्करकारिणः। वनवासादनुप्राप्तं कस्मान्न प्रतिभाषसे॥ २-५७-२९ ॥

imaṃ tasya mahābhāga dūtaṃ duṣkarakāriṇaḥ| vanavāsād anuprāptaṃ kasmān na pratibhāṣase

"Great one, why do you not speak to this messenger, who has come back from the forest, from him who has undertaken so hard a task?"

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.57.30)

अद्येममनयं कृत्वा व्यपत्रपसि राघव। उत्तिष्ठ सुकृतं तेऽस्तु शोके न स्यात्सहायता॥ २-५७-३० ॥

adyemam anayaṃ kṛtvā vyapatrapasi rāghava| uttiṣṭha sukṛtaṃ te 'stu śoke na syāt sahāyatā

"Having done this wrong, Raghava, you now shrink in shame — rise up; let it yet be turned to good. There is no help to be found in grief."

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.57.31)

देव यस्या भयाद्रामं नानुपृच्छसि सारथिम्। नेह तिष्ठति कैकेयी विश्रब्धं प्रतिभाष्यताम्॥ २-५७-३१ ॥

deva yasyā bhayād rāmaṃ nānupṛcchasi sārathim| neha tiṣṭhati kaikeyī viśrabdhaṃ pratibhāṣyatām

"My lord, Kaikeyi, for fear of whom you dare not ask the charioteer about Rama, is not here. Speak freely."

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.57.32)

सा तथोक्त्वा महाराजं कौसल्या शोकलालसा। धरण्यां निपपाताशु बाष्पविप्लुतभाषिणी॥ २-५७-३२ ॥

sā tathoktvā mahārājaṃ kausalyā śokalālasā| dharaṇyāṃ nipapātāśu bāṣpaviplutabhāṣiṇī

Having thus spoken to the great king, Kausalya, overcome with grief, her words drowned in tears, sank at once to the ground.

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.57.33)

एवं विलपतीं दृष्ट्वा कौसल्यां पतितां भुवि। पतिं चावेक्ष्य ताः सर्वाः सुस्वरं रुरुदुः स्त्रियः॥ २-५७-३३ ॥

evaṃ vilapatīṃ dṛṣṭvā kausalyāṃ patitāṃ bhuvi| patiṃ cāvekṣya tāḥ sarvāḥ susvaraṃ ruruduḥ striyaḥ

Seeing Kausalya thus lamenting, fallen to the ground, and seeing the king too in such state, all the women wept aloud.

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.57.34)

ततस्तमन्तःपुरनादमुत्थितं समीक्ष्य वृद्धास्तरुणाश्च मानवाः। स्त्रियश्च सर्वा रुरुदुः समन्ततः पुरं तदासीत् पुनरेव संकुलम्॥ २-५७-३४ ॥

tatas tam antaḥpuranādam utthitaṃ samīkṣya vṛddhās taruṇāśca mānavāḥ| striyaśca sarvā ruruduḥ samantataḥ puraṃ tadāsīt punareva saṃkulam

Hearing that outcry rising from the women's quarters, old and young alike, and all the women, wept on every side, and once more the whole city fell into turmoil.