The Discovery of the King's Death

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.65.1)

अथ रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां प्रातरेवापरेऽहनि। वन्दिनः पर्युपातिष्ठंस्तत्पार्थिवनिवेशनम् ॥ 65.1 ॥

atha rātryāṃ vyatītāyāṃ prātarevāpare'hani| vandinaḥ paryupātiṣṭhaṃstatpārthivaniveśanam

Then, as the night passed and dawn broke on the following day, bards and panegyrists came and took their places at the emperor's residence.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.65.2)

सूताः परमसंस्काराः मङ्गलाश्चोत्तमश्रुताः। गायकाः स्तुतिशीलाश्च निगदन्तः पृथक्पृथक् ॥ 65.2 ॥

sūtāḥ paramasaṃskārāḥ maṅgalāścottamaśrutāḥ| gāyakāḥ stutiśīlāśca nigadantaḥ pṛthakpṛthak

Highly cultured, deeply learned charioteer-bards, reciters of benedictions, and singers skilled in eulogy, each proclaimed his praises in his own distinct manner.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.65.3)

राजानं स्तुवतां तेषामुदात्ताभिहिताशिषाम्। प्रासादाभोगविस्तीर्णः स्तुतिशब्दो ह्यवर्तत ॥ 65.3 ॥

rājānaṃ stuvatāṃ teṣāmudāttābhihitāśiṣām| prāsādābhogavistīrṇaḥ stutiśabdo hyavartata

The sound of their praises, uttering lofty benedictions and eulogizing the king, filled the entire expanse of the palace halls.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.65.4)

ततस्तु स्तुवतां तेषां सूतानां पाणिवादकाः। अवदानान्युदाहृत्य पाणिवादान्वादयन् ॥ 65.4 ॥

tatastu stuvatāṃ teṣāṃ sūtānāṃ pāṇivādakāḥ| avadānānyudāhṛtya pāṇivādānvādayan

Then, as those bards were singing their praises, the clappers struck up their claps, calling out the king's glorious deeds.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.65.5)

तेन शब्देन विहगाः प्रतिबुद्धा विसस्वनुः। शाखास्थाः पञ्जरस्थाश्च ये राजकुलगोचराः ॥ 65.5 ॥

tena śabdena vihagāḥ pratibuddhā visasvanuḥ| śākhāsthāḥ pañjarasthāśca ye rājakulagocarāḥ

At that sound, the birds that dwelt about the royal household - those perched on the branches and those in their cages - awoke and began to twitter.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.65.6)

व्याहृताः पुण्यशब्दाश्च वीणानां चापि निस्स्वनाः। आशीर्गेयं च गाथानां पूरयामास वेश्म तत् ॥ 65.6 ॥

vyāhṛtāḥ puṇyaśabdāśca vīṇānāṃ cāpi nissvanāḥ| āśīrgeyaṃ ca gāthānāṃ pūrayāmāsa veśma tat

Auspicious words spoken aloud, the notes of the vina, and songs of blessing woven in verse, filled that entire palace.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.65.7)

ततः शुचिसमाचाराः पर्युपस्थानकोविदाः। स्त्रीवर्षवरभूयिष्ठा उपतस्थुर्यथापुरम् ॥ 65.7 ॥

tataḥ śucisamācārāḥ paryupasthānakovidāḥ| strīvarṣavarabhūyiṣṭhā upatasthuryathāpuram

Then, as before, those of pure conduct, skilled in attending upon the king - mostly women and eunuchs - came forward to serve him.

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.65.8)

हरिचन्दनसंपृक्तमुदकं काञ्चनैर्घटैः। आनिन्युः स्नानशिक्षाज्ञा यथाकालं यथाविधि ॥ 65.8 ॥

haricandanasaṃpṛktamudakaṃ kāñcanairghaṭaiḥ| āninyuḥ snānaśikṣājñā yathākālaṃ yathāvidhi

Those responsible for the royal bath brought water mixed with yellow sandalwood in golden pitchers, at the proper time and in the proper manner.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.65.9)

मङ्गलालम्भनीयानि प्राशनीयानुपस्करान्। उपनिन्युस्तथाप्यन्याः कुमारीबहुलाः स्त्रियः ॥ 65.9 ॥

maṅgalālambhanīyāni prāśanīyānupaskarān| upaninyustathāpyanyāḥ kumārībahulāḥ striyaḥ

And likewise other women, mostly young maidens, brought all things pleasing to the touch, delicacies to be tasted, and various ornaments.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.65.10)

सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नं सर्वं विधिवदर्चितम्। सर्वं सुगुणलक्ष्मीवत्तद्बभूवाभिहारिकम् ॥ 65.10 ॥

sarvalakṣaṇasaṃpannaṃ sarvaṃ vidhivadarcitam| sarvaṃ suguṇalakṣmīvattadbabhūvābhihārikam

All that was brought before him was complete with every auspicious mark, duly consecrated according to rite, and altogether graced with beauty.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.65.11)

ततः सूर्योदयं यावत्सर्वं परिसमुत्सुकम्। तस्थावनुपसंप्राप्तं किंस्विदित्युपशङ्कितम् ॥ 65.11 ॥

tataḥ sūryodayaṃ yāvatsarvaṃ parisamutsukam| tasthāvanupasaṃprāptaṃ kiṃsvidityupaśaṅkitam

Then, until sunrise, that whole assembly, filled with eager anticipation yet unable to approach him, waited on, wondering, 'What can this delay mean?'

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.65.12)

अथ याः कोसलेन्द्रस्य शयनं प्रत्यनन्तराः। ताः स्त्रियस्तु समागम्य भर्तारं प्रत्यबोधयन् ॥ 65.12 ॥

atha yāḥ kosalendrasya śayanaṃ pratyanantarāḥ| tāḥ striyastu samāgamya bhartāraṃ pratyabodhayan

Then those women who alone had free access to the king's bedchamber came near and tried to wake their lord.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.65.13)

तथाप्युचितवृत्तास्ता विनयेन नयेन च। न ह्यस्य शयनं स्पृष्ट्वा किंचिदप्युपलेभिरे ॥ 65.13 ॥

tathāpyucitavṛttāstā vinayena nayena ca| na hyasya śayanaṃ spṛṣṭvā kiṃcidapyupalebhire

Even so, those women, well-mannered through modesty and prudence, though they touched his bed, could sense nothing at all from him.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.65.14)

ताः स्त्रियः स्वप्नशीलज्ञाश्चेष्टासंचलनादिषु। ता वेपथुपरीताश्च राज्ञः प्राणेषु शङ्किताः। प्रतिस्रोतस्तृणाग्राणां सदृशं संचकम्पिरे ॥ 65.14 ॥

tāḥ striyaḥ svapnaśīlajñāśceṣṭāsaṃcalanādiṣu| tā vepathuparītāśca rājñaḥ prāṇeṣu śaṅkitāḥ| pratisrotastṛṇāgrāṇāṃ sadṛśaṃ saṃcakampire

Those women, well versed in the signs of sleep from its movements and gestures, grew apprehensive for the king's life, and, trembling, quivered like reed-tips standing against a current.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.65.15)

अथ संवेपमानानां स्त्रीणां दृष्ट्वा च पार्थिवम्। यत्तदाशङ्कितं पापं तस्य जज्ञे विनिश्चयः ॥ 65.15 ॥

atha saṃvepamānānāṃ strīṇāṃ dṛṣṭvā ca pārthivam| yattadāśaṅkitaṃ pāpaṃ tasya jajñe viniścayaḥ

Then, looking closely at the king, as those women trembled in growing doubt, certainty arose in their minds about the very calamity they had feared.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.65.16)

कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च पुत्रशोकपराजिते। प्रसुप्ते न प्रबुध्येते यथा कालसमन्विते ॥ 65.16 ॥

kausalyā ca sumitrā ca putraśokaparājite| prasupte na prabudhyete yathā kālasamanvite

Kausalya and Sumitra, overwhelmed by grief for their sons, lay sleeping and did not wake, as though completely possessed by death itself.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.65.17)

निष्प्रभा च विवर्णा च सन्ना शोकेन सन्नता। न व्यराजत कौसल्या तारेव तिमिरावृता ॥ 65.17 ॥

niṣprabhā ca vivarṇā ca sannā śokena sannatā| na vyarājata kausalyā tāreva timirāvṛtā

Kausalya, her radiance gone, pale, wasted and dispirited with grief, no longer shone as before, like a star swallowed by darkness.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.65.18)

कौसल्यानन्तरं राज्ञः सुमित्रा तदनन्तरम्। न स्म विभ्राजते देवी शोकाश्रुलुलितानना ॥ 65.18 ॥

kausalyānantaraṃ rājñaḥ sumitrā tadanantaram| na sma vibhrājate devī śokāśrululitānanā

The queen Kausalya, closest to the king, and Sumitra beside her, no longer shone in splendour, their faces disfigured with tears of grief.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.65.19)

ते च दृष्ट्वा तथा सुप्ते शुभे देव्यौ च तं नृपम्। सुप्तमेवोद्गतप्राणमन्तःपुरमन्यत ॥ 65.19 ॥

te ca dṛṣṭvā tathā supte śubhe devyau ca taṃ nṛpam| suptamevodgataprāṇamantaḥpuramanyata

Seeing those two gracious queens asleep in that manner, and the king too, the people of the inner apartments thought he had merely lost consciousness in his sleep.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.65.20)

ततः प्रचुक्रुशुर्दीनाः सस्वरं ता वराङ्गनाः। करेणवैवारण्ये स्थानप्रच्युतयूथपाः ॥ 65.20 ॥

tataḥ pracukruśurdīnāḥ sasvaraṃ tā varāṅganāḥ| kareṇavaivāraṇye sthānapracyutayūthapāḥ

Then those lovely women cried out miserably, their voices breaking, like female elephants trumpeting when their herd-leader has been driven from his place in the forest.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.65.21)

तासामाक्रन्दशब्देन सहसोद्गतचेतने। कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च त्यक्तनिद्रे बभूवतुः ॥ 65.21 ॥

tāsāmākrandaśabdena sahasodgatacetane| kausalyā ca sumitrā ca tyaktanidre babhūvatuḥ

At the sudden sound of their wailing, Kausalya and Sumitra were startled out of their sleep and regained consciousness.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.65.22)

कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च दृष्ट्वा स्पृष्ट्वा च पार्थिवम्। हा नाथेति परिक्रुश्य पेततुर्धरणीतले ॥ 65.22 ॥

kausalyā ca sumitrā ca dṛṣṭvā spṛṣṭvā ca pārthivam| hā nātheti parikruśya petaturdharaṇītale

Kausalya and Sumitra, on seeing and touching the king, cried out, 'Alas, my lord!' and fell to the ground.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.65.23)

सा कोसलेन्द्रदुहिता वेष्टमाना महीतले। न बभ्राज रजोध्वस्ता तारेव गगनच्युता ॥ 65.23 ॥

sā kosalendraduhitā veṣṭamānā mahītale| na babhrāja rajodhvastā tāreva gaganacyutā

That daughter of the king of Kosala, rolling upon the ground, no longer shone, like a star fallen from the sky, covered in dust.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.65.24)

नृपे शान्तगुणे जाते कौसल्यां पतितां भुवि। आपश्यंस्ताः स्त्रियः सर्वा हतां नागवधूमिव ॥ 65.24 ॥

nṛpe śāntaguṇe jāte kausalyāṃ patitāṃ bhuvi| āpaśyaṃstāḥ striyaḥ sarvā hatāṃ nāgavadhūmiva

As the king, his virtues now stilled forever, lay so, all the women saw Kausalya fallen upon the ground, like a slain she-elephant.

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.65.25)

ततः सर्वा नरेन्द्रस्य कैकेयीप्रमुखाः स्त्रियः। रुदन्त्यः शोकसंतप्ता निपेतुर्गतचेतनाः ॥ 65.25 ॥

tataḥ sarvā narendrasya kaikeyīpramukhāḥ striyaḥ| rudantyaḥ śokasaṃtaptā nipeturgatacetanāḥ

Then all the king's women, Kaikeyi foremost among them, wept and, overcome with grief, fell down senseless.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.65.26)

ताभिः स बलवान्नादः क्रोशन्तीभिरनुद्रुतः। येन स्फीतीकृतो भूयस्तद्गृहं समनादयत् ॥ 65.26 ॥

tābhiḥ sa balavānnādaḥ krośantībhiranudrutaḥ| yena sphītīkṛto bhūyastadgṛhaṃ samanādayat

That great outcry, swelled further by their wailing, made the whole house resound all the more.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.65.27)

तत्समुत्त्रस्तसंभ्रान्तं पर्युत्सुकजनाकुलम्। सर्वतस्तुमुलाक्रन्दं परितापार्तबान्धवम् ॥ 65.27 ॥

tatsamuttrastasaṃbhrāntaṃ paryutsukajanākulam| sarvatastumulākrandaṃ paritāpārtabāndhavam

That place, thrown into terror and confusion, thronged with anxious people, with tumultuous wailing on every side, its kinsfolk stricken with anguish,

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.65.28)

सद्यो निपतितानन्दं दीनविक्लवदर्शनम्। बभूव नरदेवस्य सद्म दिष्टान्तमीयुषः ॥ 65.28 ॥

sadyo nipatitānandaṃ dīnaviklavadarśanam| babhūva naradevasya sadma diṣṭāntamīyuṣaḥ

its joy suddenly fallen away, presenting a sight of misery and despair - such did the residence of that king become, now that he had met his appointed end.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.65.29)

अतीतमाज्ञाय तु पार्थिवर्षभं यशस्विनं संपरिवार्य पत्नयः। भृशं रुदन्त्यः करुणं सुदुःखिताः प्रगृह्य बाहू व्यलपन्ननाथवत् ॥ 65.29 ॥

atītamājñāya tu pārthivarṣabhaṃ yaśasvinaṃ saṃparivārya patnayaḥ| bhṛśaṃ rudantyaḥ karuṇaṃ suduḥkhitāḥ pragṛhya bāhū vyalapannanāthavat

Learning that the glorious, most excellent of kings had passed away, his queens gathered around him, weeping bitterly and piteously in their deep sorrow, and, clasping each other's arms, lamented like orphans.