The Death of Dasharatha

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.64.1)

वधमप्रतिरूपं तु महर्षेस्तस्य राघवः। विलपन्नेव धर्मात्मा कौसल्यां पुनरब्रवीत् ॥ 64.1 ॥

vadhamapratirūpaṃ tu maharṣestasya rāghavaḥ| vilapanneva dharmātmā kausalyāṃ punarabravīt

Raghava, that righteous soul, lamenting over the unbefitting slaying of that great sage, spoke again to Kausalya.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.64.2)

तदज्ञानान्महत्पापं कृत्वा सङ्कुलितेन्द्रियः। एकस्त्वचिन्तयं बुद्ध्या कथं नु सुकृतं भवेत् ॥ 64.2 ॥

tadajñānānmahatpāpaṃ kṛtvā saṅkulitendriyaḥ| ekastvacintayaṃ buddhyā kathaṃ nu sukṛtaṃ bhavet

"Having thus, in ignorance, committed a grave sin, my senses in turmoil, I pondered alone: how, indeed, might good come of it now?"

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.64.3)

ततस्तं घटमादाय पूर्णं परमवारिणा। आश्रमं तमहं प्राप्य यथाख्यातपथं गतः ॥ 64.3 ॥

tatastaṃ ghaṭamādāya pūrṇaṃ paramavāriṇā| āśramaṃ tamahaṃ prāpya yathākhyātapathaṃ gataḥ

"Then, taking up that pitcher full of the purest water, I made my way, by the path he had shown me, to that hermitage."

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.64.4)

तत्राहं दुर्बलावन्धौ वृद्धावपरिणायकौ। अपश्यं तस्य पितरौ लूनपक्षाविव द्विजौ ॥ 64.4 ॥

tatrāhaṃ durbalāvandhau vṛddhāvapariṇāyakau| apaśyaṃ tasya pitarau lūnapakṣāviva dvijau

"There I saw his parents, feeble, blind, aged, and without any guide, like two birds whose wings had been clipped."

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.64.5)

तन्निमित्ताभिरासीनौ कथाभिरपरिक्रमौ। तामाशां मत्कृते हीनावुदासीनावनाथवत् ॥ 64.5 ॥

tannimittābhirāsīnau kathābhiraparikramau| tāmāśāṃ matkṛte hīnāvudāsīnāvanāthavat

"They sat there, unable to move, speaking only of him, deprived now, through my act, of that hope, sitting helpless as though without a protector."

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.64.6)

शोकोपहतचित्तश्च भयसंत्रस्तचेतनः। तच्चाश्रमपदं गत्वा भूयः शोकमहं गतः ॥ 64.6 ॥

śokopahatacittaśca bhayasaṃtrastacetanaḥ| taccāśramapadaṃ gatvā bhūyaḥ śokamahaṃ gataḥ

"My mind stricken with grief, my heart trembling with fear, on reaching that hermitage-ground once more, I sank deeper into sorrow."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.64.7)

पदशब्दं तु मे श्रुत्वा मुनिर्वाक्यमभाषत। किं चिरायसि मे पुत्र पानीयं क्षिप्रमानय ॥ 64.7 ॥

padaśabdaṃ tu me śrutvā munirvākyamabhāṣata| kiṃ cirāyasi me putra pānīyaṃ kṣipramānaya

"Hearing the sound of my footsteps, the sage spoke: 'Why do you delay, my son? Bring the water quickly.'"

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.64.8)

यन्निमित्तमिदं तात सलिले क्रीडितं त्वया। उत्कण्ठिता ते मातेयं प्रविश क्षिप्रमाश्रमम् ॥ 64.8 ॥

yannimittamidaṃ tāta salile krīḍitaṃ tvayā| utkaṇṭhitā te māteyaṃ praviśa kṣipramāśramam

"'Whatever the reason you played so long in the water, my child, your mother here is anxious - come into the hermitage quickly.'"

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.64.9)

यद्व्यलीकं कृतं पुत्र मात्रा ते यदि वा मया। न तन्मनसि कर्तव्यं त्वया तात तपस्विना ॥ 64.9 ॥

yadvyalīkaṃ kṛtaṃ putra mātrā te yadi vā mayā| na tanmanasi kartavyaṃ tvayā tāta tapasvinā

"'Whatever offense your mother or I may have caused you, my son, you, an ascetic yourself, should not hold it in your mind.'"

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.64.10)

त्वं गतिस्त्वगतीनां च चक्षुस्त्वं हीनचक्षुषाम्। समासक्तास्त्वयि प्राणाः किं चिन्नौ नाभिभाषसे ॥ 64.10 ॥

tvaṃ gatistvagatīnāṃ ca cakṣustvaṃ hīnacakṣuṣām| samāsaktāstvayi prāṇāḥ kiṃ cinnau nābhibhāṣase

"'You are the refuge of us who have no refuge, the eyes of us who are without sight; our very lives depend on you - why do you not answer us at all?'"

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.64.11)

मुनिमव्यक्तया वाचा तमहं सज्जमानया। हीनव्यञ्जनया प्रेक्ष्य भीतो भीत इवाब्रुवम् ॥ 64.11 ॥

munimavyaktayā vācā tamahaṃ sajjamānayā| hīnavyañjanayā prekṣya bhīto bhīta ivābruvam

Looking upon that sage, I, terrified, spoke to him in a faltering, broken voice, indistinct, like one truly afraid.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.64.12)

मनसः कर्म चेष्टाभिरभिसंस्तभ्य वाग्बलम्। आचचक्षे त्वहं तस्मै पुत्रव्यसनजं भयम् ॥ 64.12 ॥

manasaḥ karma ceṣṭābhirabhisaṃstabhya vāgbalam| ācacakṣe tvahaṃ tasmai putravyasanajaṃ bhayam

Steadying, by an effort of will, the power of my speech, I told him of the calamity that had befallen his son.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.64.13)

क्षत्रियोऽहं दशरथो नाहं पुत्रो महात्मनः। सज्जनावमतं दुःखमिदं प्राप्तं स्वकर्मजम् ॥ 64.13 ॥

kṣatriyo'haṃ daśaratho nāhaṃ putro mahātmanaḥ| sajjanāvamataṃ duḥkhamidaṃ prāptaṃ svakarmajam

"'I am the kshatriya Dasharatha, not the son of that great soul; this grief, condemned by the virtuous, has come to me as the fruit of my own deed.'"

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.64.14)

भगवंश्चापहस्तोऽहं सरयूतीरमागतः। जिघांसुः श्वापदं किं चिन्निपाने वागतं गजम् ॥ 64.14 ॥

bhagavaṃścāpahasto'haṃ sarayūtīramāgataḥ| jighāṃsuḥ śvāpadaṃ kiṃ cinnipāne vāgataṃ gajam

"'O holy one, bow in hand, I had come to the bank of the Sarayu, meaning to kill some wild beast or elephant that might come there to drink.'"

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.64.15)

तत्र श्रुतो मया शब्दो जले कुम्भस्य पूर्यतः। द्विपोऽयमिति मत्वा हि बाणेनाभिहतो मया ॥ 64.15 ॥

tatra śruto mayā śabdo jale kumbhasya pūryataḥ| dvipo'yamiti matvā hi bāṇenābhihato mayā

"'There I heard the sound of a pitcher filling with water; taking it for an elephant, I struck at it with an arrow.'"

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.64.16)

गत्वा नद्यास्ततस्तीरमपश्यमिषुणा हृदि। विनिर्भिन्नं गतप्राणं शयानं भुवि तापसम् ॥ 64.16 ॥

gatvā nadyāstatastīramapaśyamiṣuṇā hṛdi| vinirbhinnaṃ gataprāṇaṃ śayānaṃ bhuvi tāpasam

"'Going then to the riverbank, I saw the ascetic, his breast pierced through by the arrow, lifeless, lying upon the ground.'"

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.64.17)

भगवञ्शब्दमालक्ष्य मया गजजिघांसुना। विसृष्टोऽम्भसि नाराचस्तेन ते निहतः सुतः ॥ 64.17 ॥

bhagavañśabdamālakṣya mayā gajajighāṃsunā| visṛṣṭo'mbhasi nārācastena te nihataḥ sutaḥ

"'O holy one, marking the sound and wishing to kill an elephant, I loosed an arrow into the water - by that, your son has been slain.'"

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.64.18)

ततस्तस्यैव वचनादुपेत्य परितप्यतः। स मया सहसा बाण उद्धृतो मर्मतस्तदा ॥ 64.18 ॥

tatastasyaiva vacanādupetya paritapyataḥ| sa mayā sahasā bāṇa uddhṛto marmatastadā

"Then, at his own bidding, going up to him as he lay in agony, I at once drew that arrow out from his vital wound."

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.64.19)

स चोद्धृतेन बाणेन तत्रैव स्वर्गमास्थितः। भगवन्तावुभौ शोचन्नन्धाविति विलप्य च ॥ 64.19 ॥

sa coddhṛtena bāṇena tatraiva svargamāsthitaḥ| bhagavantāvubhau śocannandhāviti vilapya ca

"'As soon as the arrow was drawn out, he ascended to heaven there itself, having lamented, saying, "Alas for you both, my blind parents!"'"

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.64.20)

अज्ञानाद्भवतः पुत्रः सहसाभिहतो मया। शेषमेवं गते यत्स्यात्तत्प्रसीदतु मे मुनिः ॥ 64.20 ॥

ajñānādbhavataḥ putraḥ sahasābhihato mayā| śeṣamevaṃ gate yatsyāttatprasīdatu me muniḥ

"'Unknowingly I struck down your son in an instant; whatever remains to be done now that this has happened, may the sage forgive me.'"

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.64.21)

स तच्छ्रुत्वा वचः क्रूरं निःश्वसन् शोककर्शितः। नाशकत्तीव्रमायासमकर्तुं भगवानृषिः ॥ 64.21 ॥

sa tacchrutvā vacaḥ krūraṃ niḥśvasan śokakarśitaḥ| nāśakattīvramāyāsamakartuṃ bhagavānṛṣiḥ

"Hearing that cruel report, sighing, wasted with grief, the holy sage could not help but fall into intense anguish."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.64.22)

सबाष्पपूर्णवदनो निःश्वसन् शोककर्शितः। मामुवाच महातेजाः कृताञ्जलिमुपस्थितम् ॥ 64.22 ॥

sabāṣpapūrṇavadano niḥśvasan śokakarśitaḥ| māmuvāca mahātejāḥ kṛtāñjalimupasthitam

His face full of tears, sighing, wasted with grief, that man of great splendour spoke to me as I stood before him with joined palms.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.64.23)

यद्येतदशुभं कर्म न स्म मे कथयेः स्वयम्। फलेन्मूर्धा स्म ते राजन्सद्यः शतसहस्रधा ॥ 64.23 ॥

yadyetadaśubhaṃ karma na sma me kathayeḥ svayam| phalenmūrdhā sma te rājansadyaḥ śatasahasradhā

"'Had you not yourself told me of this evil deed, O king, your head would this instant have split into a hundred thousand pieces.'"

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.64.24)

क्षत्रियेण वधो राजन् वानप्रस्थे विशेषतः। ज्ञानपूर्वं कृतः स्थानाच्च्यावयेदपि वज्रिणम् ॥ 64.24 ॥

kṣatriyeṇa vadho rājan vānaprasthe viśeṣataḥ| jñānapūrvaṃ kṛtaḥ sthānāccyāvayedapi vajriṇam

"'For a kshatriya to kill a forest-dwelling ascetic, O king, and to do so knowingly, is an act that could unseat even Indra, wielder of the thunderbolt, from his own place.'"

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.64.25)

सप्तधा तु फलेन्मूर्धा मुनौ तपसि तिष्ठति। ज्ञानाद्विसृजतः शस्त्रं तादृशे ब्रह्मचारिणि ॥ 64.25 ॥

saptadhā tu phalenmūrdhā munau tapasi tiṣṭhati| jñānādvisṛjataḥ śastraṃ tādṛśe brahmacāriṇi

"'The head of one who, knowingly, looses a weapon against such a brahmachari, a sage established in his austerities, splits into seven pieces.'"

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.64.26)

अज्ञानाद्धि कृतं यस्मादिदं तेनैव जीवसि। अपि ह्यद्य कुलं नस्याद्राघवाणां कुतो भवान् ॥ 64.26 ॥

ajñānāddhi kṛtaṃ yasmādidaṃ tenaiva jīvasi| api hyadya kulaṃ nasyādrāghavāṇāṃ kuto bhavān

"'But because this was done unknowingly, you live even now; had it been otherwise, the entire line of Raghu would perish this day - what then of you alone?'"

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.64.27)

नय नौ नृप तं देशमिति मां चाभ्यभाषत। अद्य तं द्रष्टुमिच्छावः पुत्रं पश्चिमदर्शनम् ॥ 64.27 ॥

naya nau nṛpa taṃ deśamiti māṃ cābhyabhāṣata| adya taṃ draṣṭumicchāvaḥ putraṃ paścimadarśanam

"'Take us, O king, to that place,' he said to me; 'today we wish to look upon our son one last time.'"

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.64.28)

रुधिरेणावसिताङ्गं प्रकीर्णाजिनवाससम्। शयानं भुवि निःसंज्ञं धर्मराजवशं गतम् ॥ 64.28 ॥

rudhireṇāvasitāṅgaṃ prakīrṇājinavāsasam| śayānaṃ bhuvi niḥsaṃjñaṃ dharmarājavaśaṃ gatam

his body drenched in blood, his deerskin garment scattered about him, lying senseless upon the ground, gone now under the sway of the lord of death.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.64.29)

अथाहमेकस्तं देशं नीत्वा तौ भृशदुःखितौ। अस्पर्शयमहं पुत्रं तं मुनिं सह भार्यया ॥ 64.29 ॥

athāhamekastaṃ deśaṃ nītvā tau bhṛśaduḥkhitau| asparśayamahaṃ putraṃ taṃ muniṃ saha bhāryayā

Then I alone led that grief-stricken pair to that place, and made them, the sage and his wife, touch their son.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.64.30)

तौ पुत्रमात्मनः स्पृष्ट्वा तमासाद्य तपस्विनौ। निपेततुः शरीरेऽस्य पिता चास्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ 64.30 ॥

tau putramātmanaḥ spṛṣṭvā tamāsādya tapasvinau| nipetatuḥ śarīre'sya pitā cāsyedamabravīt

Reaching their son and touching him, those two ascetics fell upon his body; and his father spoke these words:

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.64.31)

न न्वहं ते प्रियः पुत्र मातरं पश्य धार्मिक। किं नु नालिङ्गसे पुत्र सुकुमार वचो वद ॥ 64.31 ॥

na nvahaṃ te priyaḥ putra mātaraṃ paśya dhārmika| kiṃ nu nāliṅgase putra sukumāra vaco vada

"'Am I then no longer dear to you, my son? Look upon your mother, O righteous one. Why do you not embrace me, my child? Speak to me, gentle one!'"

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.64.32)

न त्वहं ते प्रियः पुत्र मातरं पश्य धार्मिक। किं नु नालिङ्गसे पुत्र सुकुमार वचो वद ॥ 64.32 ॥

na tvahaṃ te priyaḥ putra mātaraṃ paśya dhārmika| kiṃ nu nāliṅgase putra sukumāra vaco vada

"'Am I no longer dear to you either, my son? Look upon your mother, O righteous one. Why do you not embrace me, my child? Speak to me!'"

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.64.33)

कस्य वापररात्रेऽहं श्रोष्यामि हृदयङ्गमम्। अधीयानस्य मधुरं शास्त्रं वान्यद्विशेषतः ॥ 64.33 ॥

kasya vāpararātre'haṃ śroṣyāmi hṛdayaṅgamam| adhīyānasya madhuraṃ śāstraṃ vānyadviśeṣataḥ

"'From whom now, in the latter part of the night, shall I hear again that sweet, heart-stirring recitation of scripture or other special learning?'"

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.64.34)

को मां सन्ध्यामुपास्यैव स्नात्वा हुतहुताशनः। श्लाघयिष्यत्युपासीनः पुत्रशोकभयार्दितम् ॥ 64.34 ॥

ko māṃ sandhyāmupāsyaiva snātvā hutahutāśanaḥ| ślāghayiṣyatyupāsīnaḥ putraśokabhayārditam

"'Who now, having bathed, performed his twilight worship, and offered oblation to the fire, will sit by me and comfort me, stricken as I am with grief and fear for my son?'"

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.64.35)

कन्दमूलफलं हृत्वा को मां प्रियमिवातिथिम्। भोजयिष्यत्यकर्मण्यमप्रग्रहमनायकम् ॥ 64.35 ॥

kandamūlaphalaṃ hṛtvā ko māṃ priyamivātithim| bhojayiṣyatyakarmaṇyamapragrahamanāyakam

"'Who now will bring roots and fruits and feed me, helpless, guideless, and unable to act, as though I were a cherished guest?'"

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.64.36)

इमामन्धां च वृद्धां च मातरं ते तपस्विनीम्। कथं पुत्र भरिष्यामि कृपणां पुत्रगर्धिनीम् ॥ 64.36 ॥

imāmandhāṃ ca vṛddhāṃ ca mātaraṃ te tapasvinīm| kathaṃ putra bhariṣyāmi kṛpaṇāṃ putragardhinīm

"'How, my son, shall I now support this blind, aged, ascetic mother of yours, pitiable, and yearning always for her son?'"

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.64.37)

तिष्ठ मा मा गमः पुत्र यमस्य सदनं प्रति। श्वो मया सह गन्तासि जनन्या च समेधितः ॥ 64.37 ॥

tiṣṭha mā mā gamaḥ putra yamasya sadanaṃ prati| śvo mayā saha gantāsi jananyā ca samedhitaḥ

"'Stay, my son, do not go yet to the abode of Yama; tomorrow you shall go there with me, together with your mother.'"

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.64.38)

उभावपि च शोकार्तावनाथौ कृपणौ वने। क्षिप्रमेव गमिष्यावस्त्वया हीनौ यमक्षयम् ॥ 64.38 ॥

ubhāvapi ca śokārtāvanāthau kṛpaṇau vane| kṣiprameva gamiṣyāvastvayā hīnau yamakṣayam

"'Both of us, stricken with grief, helpless and pitiable in this forest, shall very soon follow, bereft of you, to the realm of Yama.'"

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.64.39)

ततो वैवस्वतं दृष्ट्वा तं प्रवक्ष्यामि भारतीम्। क्षमतां धर्मराजो मे बिभृयात्पितरावयम् ॥ 64.39 ॥

tato vaivasvataṃ dṛṣṭvā taṃ pravakṣyāmi bhāratīm| kṣamatāṃ dharmarājo me bibhṛyātpitarāvayam

"'Then, on seeing Yama, son of Vivasvat, I shall speak this plea to him: let the Lord of Righteousness forgive me, and let this son of mine still support his parents.'"

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.64.40)

दातुमर्हति धर्मात्मा लोकपालो महायशाः। ईदृशस्य ममाक्षय्यामेकामभयदक्षिणाम् ॥ 64.40 ॥

dātumarhati dharmātmā lokapālo mahāyaśāḥ| īdṛśasya mamākṣayyāmekāmabhayadakṣiṇām

"'That righteous, world-guarding lord of great renown may well grant this one imperishable boon of safety to a son such as mine.'"

Shloka 41 (ayodhya.64.41)

अपापोऽसि यथा पुत्र निहतः पापकर्मणा। तेन सत्येन गच्छाशु ये लोकाः शस्त्रयोधिनाम् ॥ 64.41 ॥

apāpo'si yathā putra nihataḥ pāpakarmaṇā| tena satyena gacchāśu ye lokāḥ śastrayodhinām

"'As you are sinless, my son, though slain by one who committed the sin, by that very truth go swiftly to the worlds reserved for warriors who fight with weapons.'"

Shloka 42 (ayodhya.64.42)

यान्ति शूरा गतिं यां च संग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनः। हतास्त्वभिमुखाः पुत्र गतिं तां परमां व्रज ॥ 64.42 ॥

yānti śūrā gatiṃ yāṃ ca saṃgrāmeṣvanivartinaḥ| hatāstvabhimukhāḥ putra gatiṃ tāṃ paramāṃ vraja

"'Go, my son, to that same supreme path which brave warriors reach, those who never turn back in battle and who fall facing the foe.'"

Shloka 43 (ayodhya.64.43)

यां गतिं सगरः शैब्यो दिलीपो जनमेजयः। नहुषो धुन्धुमारश्च प्राप्तास्तां गच्छ पुत्रक ॥ 64.43 ॥

yāṃ gatiṃ sagaraḥ śaibyo dilīpo janamejayaḥ| nahuṣo dhundhumāraśca prāptāstāṃ gaccha putraka

"'Go, my child, to that same path attained by Sagara, Shaibya, Dilipa, Janamejaya, Nahusha, and Dhundhumara.'"

Shloka 44 (ayodhya.64.44)

या गतिः सर्वसाधूनां स्वाध्यायात्पतसश्च या। भूमिदस्याहिताग्नेश्च एकपत्नीव्रतस्य च ॥ 64.44 ॥

yā gatiḥ sarvasādhūnāṃ svādhyāyātpatasaśca yā| bhūmidasyāhitāgneśca ekapatnīvratasya ca

"'That path which belongs to all the virtuous, which comes by one's own recitation of the Veda, to the giver of land, to the keeper of the sacred fire, to the one vowed to a single wife -'"

Shloka 45 (ayodhya.64.45)

गोसहस्रप्रदातॄणां या या गुरुभृतामपि। देहन्यासकृतां या च तां गतिं गच्छ पुत्रक ॥ 64.45 ॥

gosahasrapradātṝṇāṃ yā yā gurubhṛtāmapi| dehanyāsakṛtāṃ yā ca tāṃ gatiṃ gaccha putraka

"'- that same path which belongs to the givers of a thousand cows, to those who have served their teachers, and to those who have laid down their bodies in sacrifice - to that very path go, my child.'"

Shloka 46 (ayodhya.64.46)

न हि त्वस्मिन्कुले जातो गच्छत्यकुशलां गतिम्। स तु यास्यति येन त्वं निहतो मम बान्धवः ॥ 64.46 ॥

na hi tvasminkule jāto gacchatyakuśalāṃ gatim| sa tu yāsyati yena tvaṃ nihato mama bāndhavaḥ

"'No one born in this our family ever goes to an unhappy end; and he by whom you, my kinsman, have been slain, he indeed shall go there instead.'"

Shloka 47 (ayodhya.64.47)

एवं स कृपणं तत्र पर्यदेवयतासकृत्। ततोऽस्मै कर्तुमुदकं प्रवृत्तः सह भार्यया ॥ 64.47 ॥

evaṃ sa kṛpaṇaṃ tatra paryadevayatāsakṛt| tato'smai kartumudakaṃ pravṛttaḥ saha bhāryayā

Thus he lamented there piteously, again and again; then, together with his wife, he set about performing the water-rite for his son.

Shloka 48 (ayodhya.64.48)

स तु दिव्येन रूपेण मुनिपुत्रः स्वकर्मभिः। स्वर्गमाध्यारुहत्क्षिप्रं शक्रेण सह खर्मवित् ॥ 64.48 ॥

sa tu divyena rūpeṇa muniputraḥ svakarmabhiḥ| svargamādhyāruhatkṣipraṃ śakreṇa saha kharmavit

That son of the sage, by his own good deeds, then assumed a divine form and swiftly ascended to heaven together with Indra.

Shloka 49 (ayodhya.64.49)

आबभाषे च वृद्धौ तौ सह शक्रेण तापसः। आश्वास्य च मुहूर्तं तु पितरौ वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 64.49 ॥

ābabhāṣe ca vṛddhau tau saha śakreṇa tāpasaḥ| āśvāsya ca muhūrtaṃ tu pitarau vākyamabravīt

That ascetic, together with Indra, spoke to the aged pair, and, having comforted his parents for a while, said these words:

Shloka 50 (ayodhya.64.50)

स्थानमस्मि महत्प्राप्तो भवतोः परिचारणात्। भवन्तावपि च क्षिप्रं मम मूलमुपैष्यतः ॥ 64.50 ॥

sthānamasmi mahatprāpto bhavatoḥ paricāraṇāt| bhavantāvapi ca kṣipraṃ mama mūlamupaiṣyataḥ

"'I have attained a great station through my service to you both; and you too shall soon come to join me in that same place.'"

Shloka 51 (ayodhya.64.51)

एवमुक्त्वा तु दिव्येन विमानेन वपुष्मता। आरुरोह दिवं क्षिप्रं मुनिपुत्रो जितेन्द्रियः ॥ 64.51 ॥

evamuktvā tu divyena vimānena vapuṣmatā| āruroha divaṃ kṣipraṃ muniputro jitendriyaḥ

So saying, that self-controlled son of the sage swiftly ascended to heaven in a resplendent, divine chariot.

Shloka 52 (ayodhya.64.52)

स कृत्वा तूदकं तूर्णं तापसः सह भार्यया। मामुवाच महातेजाः कृताञ्जलिमुपस्थितम् ॥ 64.52 ॥

sa kṛtvā tūdakaṃ tūrṇaṃ tāpasaḥ saha bhāryayā| māmuvāca mahātejāḥ kṛtāñjalimupasthitam

That ascetic, having quickly performed the water-rite together with his wife, then spoke to me, that man of great splendour, as I stood before him with joined palms.

Shloka 53 (ayodhya.64.53)

अद्यैव जहि मां राजन्मरणे नास्ति मे व्यथा। यच्छरेणैकपुत्रं मां त्वमकार्षीरपुत्रकम् ॥ 64.53 ॥

adyaiva jahi māṃ rājanmaraṇe nāsti me vyathā| yacchareṇaikaputraṃ māṃ tvamakārṣīraputrakam

"'Kill me too, this very day, O king; I have no fear of death - for with your arrow you have made me, who had but one son, a man without a son at all.'"

Shloka 54 (ayodhya.64.54)

त्वया तु यदविज्ञानान्निहतो मे सुतः शुचिः। तेन त्वामभिशप्स्यामि सुदुःखमतिदारुणम् ॥ 64.54 ॥

tvayā tu yadavijñānānnihato me sutaḥ śuciḥ| tena tvāmabhiśapsyāmi suduḥkhamatidāruṇam

"'Since you, unknowingly, have slain my pure son, for that I now lay upon you a curse - one of extreme sorrow, most terrible.'"

Shloka 55 (ayodhya.64.55)

पुत्रव्यसनजं दुःखं यदेतन्मम साम्प्रतम्। एवं त्वं पुत्रशोकेन राजन्कालं करिष्यसि ॥ 64.55 ॥

putravyasanajaṃ duḥkhaṃ yadetanmama sāmpratam| evaṃ tvaṃ putraśokena rājankālaṃ kariṣyasi

"'This grief that has now come upon me through the loss of my son - by that very grief for a son, O king, you too shall one day meet your end.'"

Shloka 56 (ayodhya.64.56)

अज्ञानात्तु हतो यस्मात्क्षत्रियेण त्वया मुनिः। तस्मात्त्वां नाविशत्याशु ब्रह्महत्या नराधिप ॥ 64.56 ॥

ajñānāttu hato yasmātkṣatriyeṇa tvayā muniḥ| tasmāttvāṃ nāviśatyāśu brahmahatyā narādhipa

"'Because it was in ignorance that you, a kshatriya, killed this ascetic, the sin of killing a brahmin does not at once take hold of you, O lord of men.'"

Shloka 57 (ayodhya.64.57)

त्वामप्येतादृशो भावः क्षिप्रमेव गमिष्यति। जीवितान्तकरो घोरो दातारमिव दक्षिणा ॥ 64.57 ॥

tvāmapyetādṛśo bhāvaḥ kṣiprameva gamiṣyati| jīvitāntakaro ghoro dātāramiva dakṣiṇā

"'Yet such a fate as this shall soon come upon you too, ending your life, terrible as it is - just as a gift, in time, comes home to its giver.'"

Shloka 58 (ayodhya.64.58)

एवं शापं मयि न्यस्य विलप्य करुणं बहु। चितामारोप्य देहं तन्मिथुनं स्वर्गमभ्ययात् ॥ 64.58 ॥

evaṃ śāpaṃ mayi nyasya vilapya karuṇaṃ bahu| citāmāropya dehaṃ tanmithunaṃ svargamabhyayāt

Having thus laid this curse upon me, and having lamented long and piteously, that couple placed the body upon a funeral pyre and then themselves departed for heaven.

Shloka 59 (ayodhya.64.59)

तदेतच्चिन्तयानेन स्मृतं पापं मया स्वयम्। तदा बाल्यात्कृतं देवि शब्दवेध्यनुकर्षिणा ॥ 64.59 ॥

tadetaccintayānena smṛtaṃ pāpaṃ mayā svayam| tadā bālyātkṛtaṃ devi śabdavedhyanukarṣiṇā

"Thinking of all this, O queen, I have myself now recalled that sin which I, in my youthful pride in shooting by sound alone, once committed."

Shloka 60 (ayodhya.64.60)

तस्यायं कर्मणो देवि विपाकः समुपस्थितः। अपथ्यैः सह संभुक्ते व्याधिरन्नरसे यथा ॥ 64.60 ॥

tasyāyaṃ karmaṇo devi vipākaḥ samupasthitaḥ| apathyaiḥ saha saṃbhukte vyādhirannarase yathā

"The fruit of that deed, O queen, has now ripened and come upon me - just as sickness follows when wholesome food is eaten together with what is harmful."

Shloka 61 (ayodhya.64.61)

तस्मान्मामागतं भद्रे तस्योदारस्य तद्वचः। यदहं पुत्रशोकेन सन्त्यक्ष्याम्यद्य जीवितम् ॥ 64.61 ॥

tasmānmāmāgataṃ bhadre tasyodārasya tadvacaḥ| yadahaṃ putraśokena santyakṣyāmyadya jīvitam

"Therefore, gracious lady, that noble one's own word has now overtaken me: that I, through grief for a son, shall this very day give up my life."

Shloka 62 (ayodhya.64.62)

चक्षुर्भ्यां त्वां न पश्यामि कौसल्ये साधु मां स्पृश। इत्युक्त्वा स रुदंस्त्रस्तो भार्यामाह च भूमिपः ॥ 64.62 ॥

cakṣurbhyāṃ tvāṃ na paśyāmi kausalye sādhu māṃ spṛśa| ityuktvā sa rudaṃstrasto bhāryāmāha ca bhūmipaḥ

"'I can no longer see you with my eyes, Kausalya; touch me gently.'" So saying, that lord of the earth, weeping and trembling, spoke to his queen.

Shloka 63 (ayodhya.64.63)

एतन्मे सदृशं देवि यन्मया राघवे कृतम्। सदृशं तत्तु तस्यैव यदनेन कृतं मयि ॥ 64.63 ॥

etanme sadṛśaṃ devi yanmayā rāghave kṛtam| sadṛśaṃ tattu tasyaiva yadanena kṛtaṃ mayi

"'This, O queen, is only a fitting return for what I myself did to Raghava; and what he has now done to me is, in its turn, exactly fitting as well.'"

Shloka 64 (ayodhya.64.64)

दुर्वृत्तमपि कः पुत्रं त्यजेद्भुवि विचक्षणः। कश्च प्रव्राज्यमानो वा नासूयेत्पितरं सुतः ॥ 64.64 ॥

durvṛttamapi kaḥ putraṃ tyajedbhuvi vicakṣaṇaḥ| kaśca pravrājyamāno vā nāsūyetpitaraṃ sutaḥ

"'What wise man on this earth would abandon even an ill-behaved son? And what son, being sent into exile, would not resent his father for it?'"

Shloka 65 (ayodhya.64.65)

यदि मां संस्पृशेद्रामः सकृदद्य लभेत वा। यमक्षयमनुप्राप्ता द्रक्ष्यन्ति न हि मानवाः ॥ 64.65 ॥

yadi māṃ saṃspṛśedrāmaḥ sakṛdadya labheta vā| yamakṣayamanuprāptā drakṣyanti na hi mānavāḥ

"'If only Rama might touch me even once today, or I could have that much good fortune - but mortals who have gone to the abode of death do not behold such things again.'"

Shloka 66 (ayodhya.64.66)

चक्षुषा त्वां न पश्यामि स्मृतिर्मम विलुप्यते। दूता वैवस्वतस्यैते कौसल्ये त्वरयन्ति माम् ॥ 64.66 ॥

cakṣuṣā tvāṃ na paśyāmi smṛtirmama vilupyate| dūtā vaivasvatasyaite kausalye tvarayanti mām

"'I can no longer see you with my eyes, Kausalya; my memory is fading. These messengers of Yama, son of Vivasvat, are urging me on.'"

Shloka 67 (ayodhya.64.67)

अतस्तु किं दुःखतरं यदहं जीवितक्षये। न हि पश्यामि धर्मज्ञं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् ॥ 64.67 ॥

atastu kiṃ duḥkhataraṃ yadahaṃ jīvitakṣaye| na hi paśyāmi dharmajñaṃ rāmaṃ satyaparākramam

"'What could be more painful than this - that, at the very end of my life, I cannot even see Rama, the knower of righteousness, of truthful valour?'"

Shloka 68 (ayodhya.64.68)

तस्यादर्शनजः शोकः सुतस्याप्रतिकर्मणः। उच्छोषयति मे प्राणान्वारि स्तोकमिवातपः ॥ 64.68 ॥

tasyādarśanajaḥ śokaḥ sutasyāpratikarmaṇaḥ| ucchoṣayati me prāṇānvāri stokamivātapaḥ

"'This grief, born of not seeing my blameless son, is drying up my very life-breath, as the sun's heat dries a small pool of water.'"

Shloka 69 (ayodhya.64.69)

न ते मनुष्या देवास्ते ये चारुशुभकुण्डलम्। मुखं द्रक्ष्यन्ति रामस्य वर्षे पञ्चदशे पुनः ॥ 64.69 ॥

na te manuṣyā devāste ye cāruśubhakuṇḍalam| mukhaṃ drakṣyanti rāmasya varṣe pañcadaśe punaḥ

"'Those who, in the fifteenth year, shall again behold Rama's lovely face, graced with its fine, auspicious earrings, are no mere mortals - they are gods.'"

Shloka 70 (ayodhya.64.70)

पद्मपत्रेक्षणं सुभ्रु सुदंष्ट्रं चारुनासिकम्। धन्या द्रक्ष्यन्ति रामस्य ताराधिपनिभं मुखम् ॥ 64.70 ॥

padmapatrekṣaṇaṃ subhru sudaṃṣṭraṃ cārunāsikam| dhanyā drakṣyanti rāmasya tārādhipanibhaṃ mukham

"'Blessed are they who shall behold Rama's face, with its lotus-petal eyes, fine brows, handsome teeth, and shapely nose, radiant as the moon, lord of the stars.'"

Shloka 71 (ayodhya.64.71)

सदृशं शारदस्येन्दोः फुल्लस्य कमलस्य च। सुगन्धि मम नाथस्य धन्या द्रक्ष्यन्ति तन्मुखम् ॥ 64.71 ॥

sadṛśaṃ śāradasyendoḥ phullasya kamalasya ca| sugandhi mama nāthasya dhanyā drakṣyanti tanmukham

"'Blessed are they who shall behold that fragrant face of my lord, resembling both the autumn moon and a lotus in full bloom.'"

Shloka 72 (ayodhya.64.72)

निवृत्तवनवासं तमयोध्यां पुनरागतम्। द्रक्ष्यन्ति सुखिनो रामं शुक्रं मार्गगतं यथा ॥ 64.72 ॥

nivṛttavanavāsaṃ tamayodhyāṃ punarāgatam| drakṣyanti sukhino rāmaṃ śukraṃ mārgagataṃ yathā

"'Happy are they who shall see Rama, his forest exile ended, returned once more to Ayodhya, like the planet Venus reappearing in its course.'"

Shloka 73 (ayodhya.64.73)

कौसल्ये चित्तमोहेन हृदयं सीदतीव मे। वेदये न च समुक्तान् शब्दस्पर्शरसानहम् ॥ 64.73 ॥

kausalye cittamohena hṛdayaṃ sīdatīva me| vedaye na ca samuktān śabdasparśarasānaham

"'O Kausalya, my heart sinks as my mind grows clouded; I can no longer even perceive sound, touch, and taste together as they truly are.'"

Shloka 74 (ayodhya.64.74)

चित्तनाशाद्विपद्यन्ते सर्वाण्येवेन्द्रियाणि मे। क्षीणस्नेहस्य दीपस्य संसक्ता रश्मयो यथा ॥ 64.74 ॥

cittanāśādvipadyante sarvāṇyevendriyāṇi me| kṣīṇasnehasya dīpasya saṃsaktā raśmayo yathā

"'With my mind failing, all my senses too are failing, like the last flickering rays of a lamp whose oil is nearly spent.'"

Shloka 75 (ayodhya.64.75)

अयमात्मभवः शोको मामनाथमचेतनम्। संसादयति वेगेन यथा कूलं नदीरयः ॥ 64.75 ॥

ayamātmabhavaḥ śoko māmanāthamacetanam| saṃsādayati vegena yathā kūlaṃ nadīrayaḥ

"'This grief, born of my own doing, is destroying me, helpless and senseless as I am, as swiftly as a river's current wears away its bank.'"

Shloka 76 (ayodhya.64.76)

हा राघव महाबाहो हा मम आयासनाशन। हा पितृप्रिय मे नाथ हाद्य क्वासि गतः सुत ॥ 64.76 ॥

hā rāghava mahābāho hā mama āyāsanāśana| hā pitṛpriya me nātha hādya kvāsi gataḥ suta

"'Alas, mighty-armed Raghava! Alas, dispeller of my weariness! Alas, beloved of your father, my lord! Alas, my son - where have you gone this day?'"

Shloka 77 (ayodhya.64.77)

हा कौसल्ये नशिष्यामि हा सुमित्रे तपस्विनि। हा नृशंसे ममामित्रे कैकेयि कुलपांसनि ॥ 64.77 ॥

hā kausalye naśiṣyāmi hā sumitre tapasvini| hā nṛśaṃse mamāmitre kaikeyi kulapāṃsani

"'Alas, Kausalya, I am perishing! Alas, ascetic Sumitra! Alas, cruel Kaikeyi, my enemy, defiler of this family's honour!'"

Shloka 78 (ayodhya.64.78)

इति रामस्य मातुश्च सुमित्रायाश्च सन्निधौ। राजा दशरथः शोचन् जीवितान्तमुपागमत् ॥ 64.78 ॥

iti rāmasya mātuśca sumitrāyāśca sannidhau| rājā daśarathaḥ śocan jīvitāntamupāgamat

Thus lamenting, in the presence of Rama's mother and of Sumitra, King Dasharatha came to the end of his life.

Shloka 79 (ayodhya.64.79)

यथा तु दीनं कथयन्नराधिपः प्रियस्य पुत्रस्य विवासनातुरः। गतेऽर्धरात्रे भृशदुःखपीडितः तदा जहौ प्राणमुदारदर्शनः ॥ 64.79 ॥

yathā tu dīnaṃ kathayannarādhipaḥ priyasya putrasya vivāsanāturaḥ| gate'rdharātre bhṛśaduḥkhapīḍitaḥ tadā jahau prāṇamudāradarśanaḥ

Even as that lord of men, tormented by the exile of his beloved son, spoke thus so piteously, at the passing of midnight, overwhelmed with grief, that noble-hearted king gave up his life.