The Tale of Shravana Kumara

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.63.1)

प्रतिबुद्धो मुहूर्तेन शोकोपहतचेतनः। अथ राजा दशरथः स चिन्तामभ्यपद्यत ॥ 63.1 ॥

pratibuddho muhūrtena śokopahatacetanaḥ| atha rājā daśarathaḥ sa cintāmabhyapadyata

The king awoke after a moment, his mind still overwhelmed with grief; and Dasharatha then fell prey to anxious thought.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.63.2)

रामलक्ष्मणयोश्चैव विवासाद्वासवोपमम्। आविवेशोपसर्गस्तं तमः सूर्यमिवासुरम् ॥ 63.2 ॥

rāmalakṣmaṇayoścaiva vivāsādvāsavopamam| āviveśopasargastaṃ tamaḥ sūryamivāsuram

Because of the banishment of Rama and Lakshmana, a calamity befell that king, equal to Indra in majesty, as darkness born of the demon Rahu seizes the sun.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.63.3)

सभार्ये निर्गते रामे कौसल्यां कोसलेश्वरः। विवक्षुरसितापाङ्गां स्मृत्वा दुष्कृतमात्मनः ॥ 63.3 ॥

sabhārye nirgate rāme kausalyāṃ kosaleśvaraḥ| vivakṣurasitāpāṅgāṃ smṛtvā duṣkṛtamātmanaḥ

After Rama had gone forth together with his wife, the lord of Kosala, recalling his own past misdeed, wished to speak of it to dark-eyed Kausalya.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.63.4)

स राजा रजनीं षष्ठीं रामे प्रव्रजिते वनम्। अर्धरात्रे दशरथः संस्मरन्दुष्कृतं कृतम् ॥ 63.4 ॥

sa rājā rajanīṃ ṣaṣṭhīṃ rāme pravrajite vanam| ardharātre daśarathaḥ saṃsmaranduṣkṛtaṃ kṛtam

On the sixth night after Rama had been sent into exile in the forest, King Dasharatha, at midnight, lay recalling the evil deed he had once done.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.63.5)

स राजा पुत्रशोकार्तः स्मरन् दुष्कृतमात्मनः। कौसल्यां पुत्रशोकार्तामिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 63.5 ॥

sa rājā putraśokārtaḥ smaran duṣkṛtamātmanaḥ| kausalyāṃ putraśokārtāmidaṃ vacanamabravīt

That king, tormented by grief for his son, remembering his own past misdeed, spoke these words to Kausalya, herself afflicted with grief for her son.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.63.6)

यदाचरति कल्याणि शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम्। तदेव लभते भद्रे कर्ता कर्मजमात्मनः ॥ 63.6 ॥

yadācarati kalyāṇi śubhaṃ vā yadi vāśubham| tadeva labhate bhadre kartā karmajamātmanaḥ

"Whatever a person does, O blessed one, whether good or evil, that very doer, O gracious lady, surely reaps the fruit born of his own deed."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.63.7)

गुरुलाघवमर्थानामारम्भे कर्मणां फलम्। दोषं वा यो न जानाति स बाल इति होच्यते ॥ 63.7 ॥

gurulāghavamarthānāmārambhe karmaṇāṃ phalam| doṣaṃ vā yo na jānāti sa bāla iti hocyate

"He who, in undertaking an action, does not weigh the relative gravity of its consequences, or its fruit, or its fault, is indeed called a fool."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.63.8)

कश्चिदाम्रवणं छित्त्वा पलाशांश्च निषिञ्चति। पुष्पं दृष्ट्वा फले गृध्नुः स शोचति फलागमे ॥ 63.8 ॥

kaścidāmravaṇaṃ chittvā palāśāṃśca niṣiñcati| puṣpaṃ dṛṣṭvā phale gṛdhnuḥ sa śocati phalāgame

"Someone might cut down a mango grove and instead nurture palasha trees, greedy for fruit at the sight of their flowers; he will grieve when the season of fruit arrives."

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.63.9)

अविज्ञाय फलं यो हि कर्म त्वेवानुधावति। स शोचेत्फलवेलायां यथा किंशुकसेचकः ॥ 63.9 ॥

avijñāya phalaṃ yo hi karma tvevānudhāvati| sa śocetphalavelāyāṃ yathā kiṃśukasecakaḥ

"He who pursues action without first knowing its outcome will grieve at the time of harvest, like one who tends kimshuka trees for their fruit."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.63.10)

सोऽहमाम्रवणं छित्त्वा पलाशांश्च न्यषेचयम्। रामं फलागमे त्यक्त्वा पश्चाच्छोचामि दुर्मतिः ॥ 63.10 ॥

so'hamāmravaṇaṃ chittvā palāśāṃśca nyaṣecayam| rāmaṃ phalāgame tyaktvā paścācchocāmi durmatiḥ

"I am that very fool - having cut down the mango grove, I nurtured palasha trees instead; having, in my folly, cast Rama aside just as the fruit arrived, I now grieve."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.63.11)

लब्धशब्देन कौसल्ये कुमारेण धनुष्मता। कुमारः शब्दवेधीति मया पापमिदं कृतम् ॥ 63.11 ॥

labdhaśabdena kausalye kumāreṇa dhanuṣmatā| kumāraḥ śabdavedhīti mayā pāpamidaṃ kṛtam

"O Kausalya, this sin was committed by me as a young prince, bow in hand, when I had earned renown as one who could strike by sound alone."

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.63.12)

तदिदं मेऽनुसम्प्राप्तं देवि दुःखं स्वयं कृतम्। संमोहादिह बालेन यथा स्याद्भक्षितं विषम् ॥ 63.12 ॥

tadidaṃ me'nusamprāptaṃ devi duḥkhaṃ svayaṃ kṛtam| saṃmohādiha bālena yathā syādbhakṣitaṃ viṣam

"This grief, O queen, has come to me by my own doing, just as if some child, in ignorance, had unknowingly swallowed poison."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.63.13)

यथान्यः पुरुषः कश्चित्पलाशैर्मोहितो भवेत्। एवं ममाप्यविज्ञातं शब्दवेध्यमयं फलम् ॥ 63.13 ॥

yathānyaḥ puruṣaḥ kaścitpalāśairmohito bhavet| evaṃ mamāpyavijñātaṃ śabdavedhyamayaṃ phalam

"As some other man might be beguiled by palasha trees, so too, without knowing it, the true nature of shooting by sound alone deceived even me."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.63.14)

देव्यनूढा त्वमभवो युवराजो भवाम्यहम्। ततः प्रावृडनुप्राप्ता मदकामविवर्धिनी ॥ 63.14 ॥

devyanūḍhā tvamabhavo yuvarājo bhavāmyaham| tataḥ prāvṛḍanuprāptā madakāmavivardhinī

"O queen, at that time you were yet unwed, and I was Prince Regent; then came the rains, which stir up excitement and the desire for the hunt."

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.63.15)

उपास्यहि रसान्भौमांस्तप्त्वा च जगदंशुभिः। परेताचरितां भीमां रविराविशते दिशम् ॥ 63.15 ॥

upāsyahi rasānbhaumāṃstaptvā ca jagadaṃśubhiḥ| paretācaritāṃ bhīmāṃ ravirāviśate diśam

"The sun, having drawn up the earth's moisture and scorched the world with its rays, was entering that fearsome quarter roamed by spirits."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.63.16)

उष्णमन्तर्दधे सद्यः स्निग्धा ददृशिरे घनाः। ततो जहृषिरे सर्वे भेकसारङ्गबर्हिणः ॥ 63.16 ॥

uṣṇamantardadhe sadyaḥ snigdhā dadṛśire ghanāḥ| tato jahṛṣire sarve bhekasāraṅgabarhiṇaḥ

"The heat vanished all at once; sleek clouds appeared; and then every frog and deer and peacock rejoiced."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.63.17)

क्लिन्नपक्षोत्तराः स्नाताः कृच्छ्रादिव पतत्रिणः। वृष्टिवातावधूताग्रान् पादपानभिपेदिरे ॥ 63.17 ॥

klinnapakṣottarāḥ snātāḥ kṛcchrādiva patatriṇaḥ| vṛṣṭivātāvadhūtāgrān pādapānabhipedire

"Birds, their wingtips drenched as though just bathed, reached only with great difficulty the trees whose crowns the wind and rain had already stripped bare."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.63.18)

पतितेनाम्भसा च्छन्नः पतमानेन चासकृत्। आबभौ मत्तसारङ्गस्तोयराशिरिवाचलः ॥ 63.18 ॥

patitenāmbhasā cchannaḥ patamānena cāsakṛt| ābabhau mattasāraṅgastoyarāśirivācalaḥ

"Covered by water that had already fallen, and struck again and again by water still falling, the mountain, with its antelopes in rut, glowed like a very ocean."

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.63.19)

पाण्डुरारुणवर्णानि स्रोतांसि विमलान्यपि। सुस्रुवुर्गिरिधातुभ्यः सभस्मानि भुजङ्गवत् ॥ 63.19 ॥

pāṇḍurāruṇavarṇāni srotāṃsi vimalānyapi| susruvurgiridhātubhyaḥ sabhasmāni bhujaṅgavat

"The mountain streams, though crystal-clear, flowed serpent-like, tinged pale and red with ash and mineral earth washed down from the hills."

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.63.20)

आकुलारुणतोयानि स्रोतांसि विमलान्यपि। उन्मार्गजलवाहीनि बभूवुर्जलदागमे ॥ 63.20 ॥

ākulāruṇatoyāni srotāṃsi vimalānyapi| unmārgajalavāhīni babhūvurjaladāgame

"Those same clear streams, once the rains had come, grew turbid and ran red, their waters coursing along paths not their own."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.63.21)

तस्मिन्नतिसुखे काले धनुष्मानिषुमान्रथी। व्यायामकृतसङ्कल्पः सरयूमन्वगां नदीम् ॥ 63.21 ॥

tasminnatisukhe kāle dhanuṣmāniṣumānrathī| vyāyāmakṛtasaṅkalpaḥ sarayūmanvagāṃ nadīm

"In that most pleasant season, bow and arrows in hand, riding my chariot, resolved on the exercise of the hunt, I made my way along the river Sarayu."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.63.22)

निपाने महिषं रात्रौ गजं वाभ्यागतं नदीम्। अन्यं वा श्वापदं कंचिज्जिघांसुरजितेन्द्रियः ॥ 63.22 ॥

nipāne mahiṣaṃ rātrau gajaṃ vābhyāgataṃ nadīm| anyaṃ vā śvāpadaṃ kaṃcijjighāṃsurajitendriyaḥ

"Hoping to kill some wild buffalo or elephant that might come to the river at night to drink, or any other beast, my senses not fully mastered,"

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.63.23)

तस्मिंस्तत्राहमेकान्ते रात्रौ विवृतकार्मुकः। तत्राहं संवृतं वन्यं हतवांस्तीरमागतम् ॥ 63.23 ॥

tasmiṃstatrāhamekānte rātrau vivṛtakārmukaḥ| tatrāhaṃ saṃvṛtaṃ vanyaṃ hatavāṃstīramāgatam

"there, alone in the night, I stood with my bow drawn; and there I struck down a hidden wild creature that had come to the bank."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.63.24)

अन्यं चापि मृगं हिंस्रं शब्दं श्रुत्वाभ्युपागतम्। अथान्धकारे त्वश्रौषं जले कुम्भस्य पूर्यतः ॥ 63.24 ॥

anyaṃ cāpi mṛgaṃ hiṃsraṃ śabdaṃ śrutvābhyupāgatam| athāndhakāre tvaśrauṣaṃ jale kumbhasya pūryataḥ

"and, hearing the sound, yet another fierce animal that had come there. Then, in the darkness, I heard what seemed the sound of a pitcher filling with water."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.63.25)

अचक्षुर्विषये घोषं वारणस्येव नर्दतः। ततोऽहं शरमुद्धृत्य दीप्तमाशीविषोपमम् ॥ 63.25 ॥

acakṣurviṣaye ghoṣaṃ vāraṇasyeva nardataḥ| tato'haṃ śaramuddhṛtya dīptamāśīviṣopamam

"a sound beyond the reach of sight, like the trumpeting of an elephant. Then I drew out a blazing arrow, like a venomous serpent,"

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.63.26)

शब्दं प्रति गजप्रेप्सुरभिलक्ष्य त्वपातयम्। अमुञ्चं निशितं बाणमहमाशीविषोपमम् ॥ 63.26 ॥

śabdaṃ prati gajaprepsurabhilakṣya tvapātayam| amuñcaṃ niśitaṃ bāṇamahamāśīviṣopamam

"and, hoping to hit the elephant, took aim toward the sound and let it fly; I loosed that sharp arrow, like a venomous serpent."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.63.27)

तत्र वागुषसि व्यक्ता प्रादुरासीद्वनौकसः। हा हेति पततस्तोये बाणाभिहतमर्मणः ॥ 63.27 ॥

tatra vāguṣasi vyaktā prādurāsīdvanaukasaḥ| hā heti patatastoye bāṇābhihatamarmaṇaḥ

There, at dawn, arose a clear cry from that forest-dweller falling into the water, his vital part struck by the arrow, crying, "Ah! Ah!"

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.63.28)

तस्मिन्निपतिते बाणे वागभूत्तत्र मानुषी। कथमस्मद्विधे शस्त्रं निपतेत्तु तपस्विनि ॥ 63.28 ॥

tasminnipatite bāṇe vāgabhūttatra mānuṣī| kathamasmadvidhe śastraṃ nipatettu tapasvini

As soon as that arrow struck home, a human voice arose there: "How could a weapon fall upon one such as I, an ascetic?"

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.63.29)

प्रविविक्तां नदीं रात्रावुदाहारोऽहमागतः। इषुणाभिहतः केन कस्य वा किं कृतं मया ॥ 63.29 ॥

praviviktāṃ nadīṃ rātrāvudāhāro'hamāgataḥ| iṣuṇābhihataḥ kena kasya vā kiṃ kṛtaṃ mayā

"I had come by night to this lonely river only to draw water - who has struck me with an arrow? What wrong have I done, and to whom?"

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.63.30)

ऋषेर्हि न्यस्तदण्डस्य वने वन्येन जीवतः। कथं नु शस्त्रेण वधो मद्विधस्य विधीयते ॥ 63.30 ॥

ṛṣerhi nyastadaṇḍasya vane vanyena jīvataḥ| kathaṃ nu śastreṇa vadho madvidhasya vidhīyate

"How can killing by a weapon be ordained for a sage like me, one who has laid aside all violence and lives in the forest on its wild produce?"

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.63.31)

जटाभारधरस्यैव वल्कलाजिनवाससः। को वधेन ममार्थी स्यात्किं वास्यापकृतं मया ॥ 63.31 ॥

jaṭābhāradharasyaiva valkalājinavāsasaḥ| ko vadhena mamārthī syātkiṃ vāsyāpakṛtaṃ mayā

"Who could wish to kill me, one who bears only a mass of matted hair, clothed in bark and deerskin? What harm have I done him?"

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.63.32)

एवं निष्फलमारब्धं केवलानर्थसंहितम्। न कश्चित्साधु मन्येत यथैव गुरुतल्पगम् ॥ 63.32 ॥

evaṃ niṣphalamārabdhaṃ kevalānarthasaṃhitam| na kaścitsādhu manyeta yathaiva gurutalpagam

"An act begun thus, fruitless and fraught only with harm, none will ever call good - no more than one who defiles his own teacher's marriage-bed."

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.63.33)

नाहं तथानुशोचामि जीवितक्षयमात्मनः। मातरं पितरं चोभावनुशोचामि मद्विधे ॥ 63.33 ॥

nāhaṃ tathānuśocāmi jīvitakṣayamātmanaḥ| mātaraṃ pitaraṃ cobhāvanuśocāmi madvidhe

"I do not grieve so much for the loss of my own life; it is for my mother and father, both, that I grieve, in a plight such as mine."

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.63.34)

तदेतन्मिथुनं वृद्धं चिरकालभृतं मया। मयि पञ्चत्वमापन्ने कां वृत्तिं वर्तयिष्यति ॥ 63.34 ॥

tadetanmithunaṃ vṛddhaṃ cirakālabhṛtaṃ mayā| mayi pañcatvamāpanne kāṃ vṛttiṃ vartayiṣyati

"This aged couple, whom I have long sustained - by what means will they live, once I have gone to my death?"

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.63.35)

वृद्धौ च मातापितरावहं चैकेषुणा हतः। केन स्म निहताः सर्वे सुबालेनाकृतात्मना ॥ 63.35 ॥

vṛddhau ca mātāpitarāvahaṃ caikeṣuṇā hataḥ| kena sma nihatāḥ sarve subālenākṛtātmanā

"My aged mother and father, and I too, are struck down by a single arrow - all of us slain by some rash youth without self-mastery."

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.63.36)

तां गिरं करुणां श्रुत्वा मम धर्मानुकाङ्क्षिणः। कराभ्यां सशरं चापं व्यथितस्यापतद्भुवि ॥ 63.36 ॥

tāṃ giraṃ karuṇāṃ śrutvā mama dharmānukāṅkṣiṇaḥ| karābhyāṃ saśaraṃ cāpaṃ vyathitasyāpatadbhuvi

Hearing that pitiful cry, being one ever devoted to righteousness, I was so stricken that the bow and arrow fell from my hands to the ground.

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.63.37)

तस्याहं करुणं श्रुत्वा निशि लालपतो बहु। संभ्रान्तः शोकवेगेन भृशमास विचेतनः ॥ 63.37 ॥

tasyāhaṃ karuṇaṃ śrutvā niśi lālapato bahu| saṃbhrāntaḥ śokavegena bhṛśamāsa vicetanaḥ

Hearing his piteous lament, long and loud in the night, I was so overcome by the surge of grief that I lost my senses again and again, utterly bewildered.

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.63.38)

तं देशमहमागम्य दीनसत्त्वः सुदुर्मनाः। अपश्यमिषुणा तीरे सरय्वास्तापसं हतम् ॥ 63.38 ॥

taṃ deśamahamāgamya dīnasattvaḥ sudurmanāḥ| apaśyamiṣuṇā tīre sarayvāstāpasaṃ hatam

Reaching that place, my spirit crushed and my mind in utter distress, I saw the ascetic lying struck by the arrow on the bank of the Sarayu,

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.63.39)

अवकीर्णजटाभारं प्रविद्धकलशोदकम्। पांसुशोणितदिग्धाङ्गं शयानं शल्यपीडितम् ॥ 63.39 ॥

avakīrṇajaṭābhāraṃ praviddhakalaśodakam| pāṃsuśoṇitadigdhāṅgaṃ śayānaṃ śalyapīḍitam

his mass of matted hair scattered loose, his water-jar flung aside and spilled, his limbs smeared with dust and blood, lying there tormented by the arrow's shaft.

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.63.40)

स मामुद्वीक्ष्य नेत्राभ्यां त्रस्तमस्वस्थचेतसम्। इत्युवाच वचः क्रूरं दिधक्षन्निव तेजसा ॥ 63.40 ॥

sa māmudvīkṣya netrābhyāṃ trastamasvasthacetasam| ityuvāca vacaḥ krūraṃ didhakṣanniva tejasā

Looking up at me with his eyes - at me who stood terrified, my mind unsettled - as though he would consume me with his own fiery power, he spoke these harsh words:

Shloka 41 (ayodhya.63.41)

किं तवापकृतं राजन् वने निवसता मया। जिहीर्षुरम्भो गुर्वर्थं यदहं ताडितस्त्वया ॥ 63.41 ॥

kiṃ tavāpakṛtaṃ rājan vane nivasatā mayā| jihīrṣurambho gurvarthaṃ yadahaṃ tāḍitastvayā

"What harm have I done you, O king, dwelling as I do in this forest, that you should strike me while I sought only to carry water for my parents?"

Shloka 42 (ayodhya.63.42)

एकेन खलु बाणेन मर्मण्यभिहते मयि। द्वावन्धौ निहतौ वृद्धौ माता जनयिता च मे ॥ 63.42 ॥

ekena khalu bāṇena marmaṇyabhihate mayi| dvāvandhau nihatau vṛddhau mātā janayitā ca me

"By a single arrow, striking my vital part, you have in truth slain two others besides - my blind, aged mother and father."

Shloka 43 (ayodhya.63.43)

तौ नूनं दुर्बलावन्धौ मत्प्रतीक्षौ पिपासितौ। चिरमाशाकृतां तृष्णां कष्टां संधारयिष्यतः ॥ 63.43 ॥

tau nūnaṃ durbalāvandhau matpratīkṣau pipāsitau| ciramāśākṛtāṃ tṛṣṇāṃ kaṣṭāṃ saṃdhārayiṣyataḥ

"They, weak, blind, and thirsty, must even now be waiting for me, nursing with difficulty a thirst kept alive so long only by hope."

Shloka 44 (ayodhya.63.44)

न नूनं तपसो वास्ति फलयोगः श्रुतस्य वा। पिता यन्मां न जानाति शयानं पतितं भुवि ॥ 63.44 ॥

na nūnaṃ tapaso vāsti phalayogaḥ śrutasya vā| pitā yanmāṃ na jānāti śayānaṃ patitaṃ bhuvi

"Surely my austerities and my learning have borne no fruit at all, since my father does not even know that I lie fallen here upon the ground."

Shloka 45 (ayodhya.63.45)

जानन्नपि च किं कुर्यादशक्तिरपरिक्रमः। छिद्यमानमिवाशक्तस्त्रातुमन्यो नगो नगम् ॥ 63.45 ॥

jānannapi ca kiṃ kuryādaśaktiraparikramaḥ| chidyamānamivāśaktastrātumanyo nago nagam

"And even if he knew, what could my helpless, immobile father do? - as powerless as one tree to save another being felled."

Shloka 46 (ayodhya.63.46)

पितुस्त्वमेव मे गत्वा शीघ्रमाचक्ष्व राघव। न त्वामनुदहेत्क्रुद्धो वनं वह्निरिवैधितः ॥ 63.46 ॥

pitustvameva me gatvā śīghramācakṣva rāghava| na tvāmanudahetkruddho vanaṃ vahnirivaidhitaḥ

"Go quickly yourself, O king, and tell my father what has happened, lest his anger burn you up, as a roaring fire consumes a forest."

Shloka 47 (ayodhya.63.47)

इयमेकपदी राजन् यतो मे पितुराश्रमः। तं प्रसादय गत्वा त्वं न त्वां स कुपितः शपेत् ॥ 63.47 ॥

iyamekapadī rājan yato me piturāśramaḥ| taṃ prasādaya gatvā tvaṃ na tvāṃ sa kupitaḥ śapet

"This single footpath, O king, leads to where my father's hermitage stands; go there and win his grace, lest, enraged, he curse you."

Shloka 48 (ayodhya.63.48)

विशल्यं कुरु मां राजन् मर्म मे निशितः शरः। रुणद्धि मृदु सोत्सेधं तीरमम्बुरयो यथा ॥ 63.48 ॥

viśalyaṃ kuru māṃ rājan marma me niśitaḥ śaraḥ| ruṇaddhi mṛdu sotsedhaṃ tīramamburayo yathā

"Draw out this arrow-head from me, O king; this sharp shaft tears at my tender vital part, as a river's current wears away a raised bank."

Shloka 49 (ayodhya.63.49)

सशल्यः क्लिश्यते प्राणैर्विशल्यो विनशिष्यति। इति मामविशच्चिन्ता तस्य शल्यापकर्षणे ॥ 63.49 ॥

saśalyaḥ kliśyate prāṇairviśalyo vinaśiṣyati| iti māmaviśaccintā tasya śalyāpakarṣaṇe

With the arrowhead in him, he would suffer on, still clinging to life; without it, he would die at once - this thought seized me as I set about drawing out the shaft.

Shloka 50 (ayodhya.63.50)

दुःखितस्य च दीनस्य मम शोकातुरस्य च। लक्षयामास हृदये चिन्तां मुनिसुतस्तदा ॥ 63.50 ॥

duḥkhitasya ca dīnasya mama śokāturasya ca| lakṣayāmāsa hṛdaye cintāṃ munisutastadā

That son of the sage then perceived, in my grieving, wretched, sorrow-stricken heart, the very worry I bore.

Shloka 51 (ayodhya.63.51)

ताम्यमानः स मां दुःखादुवाच परमार्तवत्। सीदमानो विवृत्ताङ्गो वेष्टमानो गतः क्षयम् ॥ 63.51 ॥

tāmyamānaḥ sa māṃ duḥkhāduvāca paramārtavat| sīdamāno vivṛttāṅgo veṣṭamāno gataḥ kṣayam

Overcome with anguish, sinking, his limbs contorted, writhing as he neared his end, he spoke to me in the manner of one in extreme pain:

Shloka 52 (ayodhya.63.52)

संस्तभ्य धैर्येण स्थिरचित्तो भवाम्यहम्। ब्रह्महत्याकृतं पापं हृदयादपनीयताम् ॥ 63.52 ॥

saṃstabhya dhairyeṇa sthiracitto bhavāmyaham| brahmahatyākṛtaṃ pāpaṃ hṛdayādapanīyatām

"Steadying myself with fortitude, I am growing calm again. Let the burden of having killed a brahmin be lifted from your heart."

Shloka 53 (ayodhya.63.53)

न द्विजातिरहं राजन् मा भूत्ते मनसो व्यथा। शूद्रायामस्मि वैश्येन जातो जनपदाधिप ॥ 63.53 ॥

na dvijātirahaṃ rājan mā bhūtte manaso vyathā| śūdrāyāmasmi vaiśyena jāto janapadādhipa

"I am not twice-born, O king; let there be no torment in your mind. I was born of a Vaishya father through a Shudra mother, O lord of this land."

Shloka 54 (ayodhya.63.54)

इतीव वदतः कृच्छ्राद्बाणाभिहतमर्मणः। विघूर्णतो विचेष्टस्य वेपमानस्य भूतले ॥ 63.54 ॥

itīva vadataḥ kṛcchrādbāṇābhihatamarmaṇaḥ| vighūrṇato viceṣṭasya vepamānasya bhūtale

Speaking thus with great effort, his vital part pierced by the arrow, he rolled upon the ground, writhing and trembling.

Shloka 55 (ayodhya.63.55)

तस्य त्वानम्यमानस्य तं बाणमहमुद्धरम्। स तपोधन उद्वीक्ष्य मां संत्रस्तो जहौ प्राणान् ॥ 63.55 ॥

tasya tvānamyamānasya taṃ bāṇamahamuddharam| sa tapodhana udvīkṣya māṃ saṃtrasto jahau prāṇān

As he sank down, I drew that arrow out of him; and that son of the sage, looking up at me in terror, gave up his life.

Shloka 56 (ayodhya.63.56)

जलार्द्रगात्रं तु विलप्य कृच्छान् मर्मव्रणं सन्ततमुच्छसन्तम्। ततः सरय्वां तमहं शयानं समीक्ष्य भद्रे सुभृशं विषण्णः ॥ 63.56 ॥

jalārdragātraṃ tu vilapya kṛcchān marmavraṇaṃ santatamucchasantam| tataḥ sarayvāṃ tamahaṃ śayānaṃ samīkṣya bhadre subhṛśaṃ viṣaṇṇaḥ

Seeing him there in the Sarayu, O gracious Kausalya, his body drenched in the water, lamenting in his anguish, breathing on and on with the wound in his vital part, I was overcome with the deepest grief.