Dasharatha's Lament

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.59.1)

मम त्वश्वा निवृत्तस्य न प्रावर्तन्त वर्त्मनि। उष्णमश्रु विमुञ्चन्तो रामे संप्रस्थिते वनम्॥ २-५९-१ ॥

mama tvaśvā nivṛttasya na prāvartanta vartmani| uṣṇam aśru vimuñcanto rāme saṃprasthite vanam

"When Rama had departed for the forest, even my own horses, on the homeward road, shed hot tears and would not move forward.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.59.2)

उभाभ्यां राजपुत्राभ्यामथ कृत्वाहमञ्जलिम्। प्रस्थितो रथमास्थाय तद्दुःखमपि धारयन्॥ २-५९-२ ॥

ubhābhyāṃ rājaputrābhyām atha kṛtvāham añjalim| prasthito ratham āsthāya tad duḥkham api dhārayan

"Then, having saluted both the princes with joined palms, I mounted my chariot and set out, bearing that grief within me.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.59.3)

गुहेन सार्धं तत्रैव स्थितोऽस्मि दिवसान् बहून्। आशया यदि मां रामः पुनः शब्दापयेदिति॥ २-५९-३ ॥

guhena sārdhaṃ tatraiva sthito 'smi divasān bahūn| āśayā yadi māṃ rāmaḥ punaḥ śabdāpayed iti

"I stayed there with Guha for several days, hoping that perhaps Rama would send for me again.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.59.4)

विषये ते महाराज रामव्यसनकर्शिताः। अपि वृक्षाः परिम्लानाः सपुष्पाङ्कुरकोरकाः॥ २-५९-४ ॥

viṣaye te mahārāja rāmavyasanakarśitāḥ| api vṛkṣāḥ parimlānāḥ sapuṣpāṅkurakorakāḥ

"In your realm, great king, even the trees have withered, wasted with grief for Rama — bare now of flower, shoot, and bud.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.59.5)

उपतप्तोदका नद्यः पल्वलानि सरांसि च। परिशुष्कपलाशानि वनान्युपवनानि च॥ २-५९-५ ॥

upataptodakā nadyaḥ palvalāni sarāṃsi ca| pariśuṣkapalāśāni vanāny upavanāni ca

Rivers, pools, and lakes run with heated waters; groves and gardens stand with their leaves all parched and withered.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.59.6)

न च सर्पन्ति सत्त्वानि व्याला न प्रसरन्ति च। रामशोकाभिभूतं तन्निष्कूजमभवद्वनम्॥ २-५९-६ ॥

na ca sarpanti sattvāni vyālā na prasaranti ca| rāmaśokābhibhūtaṃ tan niṣkūjam abhavad vanam

No living creature stirs, no wild beast roams; that forest, overwhelmed by grief for Rama, has fallen utterly silent.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.59.7)

लीनपुष्करपत्राश्च नरेन्द्र कलुषोदकाः। संतप्तपद्माः पद्मिन्यो लीनमीनविहंगमाः॥ २-५९-७ ॥

līnapuṣkarapatrāśca narendra kaluṣodakāḥ| saṃtaptapadmāḥ padminyo līnamīnavihaṃgamāḥ

The lotus-lakes, O king, have their leaves shrunk close, their waters turned murky, their lotus-blooms scorched, their fish and water-birds all vanished from sight.

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.59.8)

जलजानि च पुष्पाणि माल्यानि स्थलजानि च। नाद्य भान्त्यल्पगन्धीनि फलानि च यथा पुरम्॥ २-५९-८ ॥

jalajāni ca puṣpāṇi mālyāni sthalajāni ca| nādya bhānty alpagandhīni phalāni ca yathā puram

Garlands of flowers, whether born of water or of land, no longer shine as before; their fragrance has grown faint, and even the fruits are not as they once were in the city.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.59.9)

अत्रोद्यानानि शून्यानि प्रलीनविहगानि च। न चाभिरामानारामान् पश्यामि मनुजर्षभ॥ २-५९-९ ॥

atrodyānāni śūnyāni pralīnavihagāni ca| na cābhirāmān ārāmān paśyāmi manujarṣabha

Here the gardens stand empty, their birds all vanished, and I no longer find the groves delightful, O bull among men.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.59.10)

प्रविशन्तमयोध्यां मां न कश्चिदभिनन्दति। नरा राममपश्यन्तो निःश्वसन्ति मुहुर्मुहुः॥ २-५९-१० ॥

praviśantam ayodhyāṃ māṃ na kaścid abhinandati| narā rāmam apaśyanto niḥśvasanti muhur muhuḥ

As I entered Ayodhya, no one greeted me; not seeing Rama, the people only sighed again and again.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.59.11)

देव राजरथं दृष्ट्वा विना राममिहागतम्। दुःखादश्रुमुखः सर्वो राजमार्गगतो जनः॥ २-५९-११ ॥

deva rājarathaṃ dṛṣṭvā vinā rāmam ihāgatam| duḥkhād aśrumukhaḥ sarvo rājamārgagato janaḥ

My lord, seeing the royal chariot return without Rama, every person along the royal road stood with a face streaming with tears of grief.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.59.12)

हर्म्यैर्विमानैः प्रासादैरवेक्ष्य रथमागतम्। हाहाकारकृता नार्यो रामादर्शनकर्शिताः॥ २-५९-१२ ॥

harmyair vimānaiḥ prāsādair avekṣya ratham āgatam| hāhākārakṛtā nāryo rāmādarśanakarśitāḥ

Watching the chariot arrive from mansions, towers, and palace terraces, women, wasted by their longing to see Rama, cried out in anguish.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.59.13)

आयतैर्विमलैर्नेत्रैरश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः। अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्ते व्यक्तमार्ततराः स्त्रियः॥ २-५९-१३ ॥

āyatair vimalair netrair aśruvegapariplutaiḥ| anyonyam abhivīkṣante vyaktam ārtatarāḥ striyaḥ

The women, in their anguish, gazed openly at one another through wide, clear eyes flooded with tears.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.59.14)

नामित्राणां न मित्राणामुदासीनजनस्य च। अहमार्ततया कंचिद्विशेषं नोपलक्षये॥ २-५९-१४ ॥

nāmitrāṇāṃ na mitrāṇām udāsīnajanasya ca| aham ārtatayā kaṃcid viśeṣaṃ nopalakṣaye

Whether among foes, friends, or those indifferent, I can find no distinction in their common grief.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.59.15)

अप्रहृष्टमनुष्या च दीननागतुरंगमा। आर्तस्वरपरिम्लाना विनिःश्वसितनिःस्वना॥ २-५९-१५ ॥

aprahṛṣṭamanuṣyā ca dīnanāgaturaṃgamā| ārtasvaraparimlānā viniḥśvasitaniḥsvanā

The people are without joy, the elephants and horses seem miserable, everywhere are the sounds of anguished cries and long, weary sighs.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.59.16)

निरानन्दा महाराज रामप्रव्राजनातुला। कौसल्यापुत्रहीनेवायोध्या प्रतिभाति मा॥ २-५९-१६ ॥

nirānandā mahārāja rāmapravrājanātulā| kausalyāputrahīnevāyodhyā pratibhāti mā

Cheerless with the grief of Rama's banishment, Ayodhya seems to me, great king, just like Kausalya herself, bereft of her son.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.59.17)

सूतस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा वाचा परमदीनया। बाष्पोपहतया राजा तं सूतमिदमब्रवीत्॥ २-५९-१७ ॥

sūtasya vacanaṃ śrutvā vācā paramadīnayā| bāṣpopahatayā rājā taṃ sūtam idam abravīt

Hearing the charioteer's words, the king, his voice choked with tears and utterly wretched, spoke to him thus:

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.59.18)

कैकेय्या विनियुक्तेन पापाभिजनभावया। मया न मन्त्रकुशलैर्वृद्धैः सह समर्थितम्॥ २-५९-१८ ॥

kaikeyyā viniyuktena pāpābhijanabhāvayā| mayā na mantrakuśalair vṛddhaiḥ saha samarthitam

"Compelled by Kaikeyi, whose intent was so evil, I did not deliberate over this with the elders skilled in counsel.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.59.19)

न सुहृद्भिर्न चामात्यैर्मन्त्रयित्वा न नैगमैः। मयायमर्थः संमोहात्स्त्रीहेतोः सहसा कृतः॥ २-५९-१९ ॥

na suhṛdbhir na cāmātyair mantrayitvā na naigamaiḥ| mayāyam arthaḥ saṃmohāt strīhetoḥ sahasā kṛtaḥ

"Without consulting friends, ministers, or the city's elders, I did this thing rashly, in a moment of infatuation, for the sake of a woman.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.59.20)

भवितव्यतया नूनमिदं वा व्यसनं महत्। कुलस्यास्य विनाशाय प्राप्तं सूत यदृच्छया॥ २-५९-२० ॥

bhavitavyatayā nūnam idaṃ vā vyasanam mahat| kulasyāsya vināśāya prāptaṃ sūta yadṛcchayā

"Surely, Suta, this great calamity has come upon us either as fate ordained, or has fallen upon us by chance, for the ruin of our line.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.59.21)

सूत यद्यस्ति ते किंचिन्मयापि सुकृतं कृतम्। त्वं प्रापयाशु मां रामं प्राणाः संत्वरयन्ति माम्॥ २-५९-२१ ॥

sūta yady asti te kiṃcin mayāpi sukṛtaṃ kṛtam| tvaṃ prāpayāśu māṃ rāmaṃ prāṇāḥ saṃtvarayanti mām

"Suta, if ever I have done you any kindness, then take me quickly to Rama — my very life is hurrying me on.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.59.22)

यद्यदा वाप्यहमेवाज्ञा निवर्तयतु राघवम्। न शक्ष्यामि विना राम मुहूर्तमपि जीवितुम्॥ २-५९-२२ ॥

yadyadā vāpy aham evājñā nivartayatu rāghavam| na śakṣyāmi vinā rāma muhūrtam api jīvitum

"If my royal command still carries any force, then let it bring Raghava back — for I cannot live even a moment longer without Rama.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.59.23)

अथवापि महाबाहुर्गतो दूरं भविष्यति। मामेव रथमारोप्य शीघ्रं रामाय दर्शय॥ २-५९-२३ ॥

athavāpi mahābāhur gato dūraṃ bhaviṣyati| mām eva ratham āropya śīghraṃ rāmāya darśaya

"Or perhaps that mighty-armed one has already gone too far — then set me upon the chariot, and show me to Rama at once.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.59.24)

वृत्तदंष्ट्रो महेष्वासः क्वासौ लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः। यदि जीवामि साध्वेनं पश्येयं सह सीतया॥ २-५९-२४ ॥

vṛttadaṃṣṭro maheṣvāsaḥ kvāsau lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ| yadi jīvāmi sādhv enaṃ paśyeyaṃ saha sītayā

"Where is he now, the great archer with the rounded jaw, Lakshmana's elder brother? If I am to live, let me see him well, together with Sita.

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.59.25)

लोहिताक्षं महाबाहुमामुक्तमणिकुण्डलम्। रामं यदि न पश्यामि गमिष्यामि यमक्षयम्॥ २-५९-२५ ॥

lohitākṣaṃ mahābāhum āmuktamaṇikuṇḍalam| rāmaṃ yadi na paśyāmi gamiṣyāmi yamakṣayam

"If I do not see Rama again — red-eyed, mighty-armed, wearing his jewelled earrings — I shall go to the realm of Death.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.59.26)

अतो नु किं दुःखतरं योऽहमिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनम्। इमामवस्थामापन्नो नेह पश्यामि राघवम्॥ २-५९-२६ ॥

ato nu kiṃ duḥkhataraṃ yo 'ham ikṣvākunandanam| imām avasthām āpanno neha paśyāmi rāghavam

"What could be more painful than this — that I, fallen into such a state, cannot see here Raghava, the delight of the Ikshvaku race?

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.59.27)

हा राम रामानुज हा हा वैदेहि तपस्विनि। न मां जानीत दुःखेन म्रियमाणमनाथवत्॥ २-५९-२७ ॥

hā rāma rāmānuja hā hā vaidehi tapasvini| na māṃ jānīta duḥkhena mriyamāṇam anāthavat

"O Rama! O Rama's brother! O hapless Vaidehi! You do not know that I am dying of grief, forsaken like one without a protector."

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.59.28)

स तेन राजा दुःखेन भृशमर्पितचेतनः। अवगाढः सुदुष्पारं शोकसागरमब्रवीत्॥ २-५९-२८ ॥

sa tena rājā duḥkhena bhṛśam arpitacetanaḥ| avagāḍhaḥ suduṣpāraṃ śokasāgaram abravīt

Overwhelmed by that grief, his mind utterly broken, the king, sunk deep in that ocean of sorrow so hard to cross, spoke on:

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.59.29)

रामशोकमहाभोगः सीताविरहपारगः। श्वसितोर्मिमहावर्तो बाष्पफेनजलाविलः॥ २-५९-२९ ॥

rāmaśokamahābhogaḥ sītāvirahapāragaḥ| śvasitormimahāvarto bāṣpaphenajalāvilaḥ

"Its vast expanse is grief for Rama; its farther shore, separation from Sita; its waves and great whirlpools, my heaving sighs; it is fouled with the foam and water of my tears.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.59.30)

बाहुविक्षेपमीनौघो विक्रन्दितमहास्वनः। प्रकीर्णकेशशैवालः कैकेयीबडवामुखः॥ २-५९-३० ॥

bāhuvikṣepamīnaugho vikranditamahāsvanaḥ| prakīrṇakeśaśaivālaḥ kaikeyībaḍavāmukhaḥ

The flinging of my arms, its shoals of fish; my loud wailing, its roar; my dishevelled hair, its floating weed; Kaikeyi its submarine fire.

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.59.31)

ममाश्रुवेगप्रभवः कुब्जावाक्यमहाग्रहः। वरवेलो नृशंसायाः रामप्रव्राजनायतः॥ २-५९-३१ ॥

mamāśruvegaprabhavaḥ kubjāvākyamahāgrahaḥ| varavelo nṛśaṃsāyāḥ rāmapravrājanāyataḥ

The rush of my tears, its very source; the hunchback's words, its monstrous crocodiles; the boons demanded by that cruel woman, its shores; and Rama's banishment, the reason for its vast expanse.

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.59.32)

यस्मिन् बत निमग्नोऽहं कौसल्ये राघवं विना। दुस्तरो जीवता देवि मयायं शोकसागरः॥ २-५९-३२ ॥

yasmin bata nimagno 'haṃ kausalye rāghavaṃ vinā| dustaro jīvatā devi mayāyaṃ śokasāgaraḥ

In this ocean of grief, Kausalya, in which I am sunk, there is no crossing it alive without Raghava."

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.59.33)

अशोभनं योऽहमिहाद्य राघवं दिदृक्षमाणो न लभे सलक्ष्मणम्। इतीव राजा विलपन्महायशाः पपात तूर्णं शयने स मूर्च्छितः॥ २-५९-३३ ॥

aśobhanaṃ yo 'ham ihādya rāghavaṃ didṛkṣamāṇo na labhe salakṣmaṇam| itīva rājā vilapan mahāyaśāḥ papāta tūrṇaṃ śayane sa mūrcchitaḥ

"How ill-starred that I, longing today to see Raghava together with Lakshmana, cannot find him here!" So lamenting, the far-famed king suddenly fainted and fell upon his couch.

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.59.34)

इति विलपति पार्थिवे प्रनष्टे करुणतरं द्विगुणं च रामहेतोः। वचनमनुनिशम्य तस्य देवी भयमगमत् पुनरेव राममाता॥ २-५९-३४ ॥

iti vilapati pārthive pranaṣṭe karuṇataraṃ dviguṇaṃ ca rāmahetoḥ| vacanam anuniśamya tasya devī bhayam agamat punareva rāmamātā

As the king, lamenting so, sank once more into unconsciousness, his words now doubly pitiable on Rama's account, Rama's mother, hearing them, was again seized with fear.