Kaikeyi's Terrible News

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.72.1)

अपश्यंस्तु ततस्तत्र पितरं पितुरालये। जगाम भरतो द्रष्टुं मातरं मातुरालये॥ 72.1 ॥

apaśyaṃs tu tatas tatra pitaraṃ pituṛālaye| jagāma bharato draṣṭuṃ mātaraṃ mātur ālaye

Not finding his father there in his father's palace, Bharata went on to his mother's apartments to see his mother.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.72.2)

अनुप्राप्तं तु तं दृष्ट्वा कैकेयी प्रोषितं सुतम्। उत्पपात तदा हृष्टा त्यक्त्वा सौवर्णमासनम्॥ 72.2 ॥

anuprāptaṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā kaikeyī proṣitaṃ sutam| utpapāta tadā hṛṣṭā tyaktvā sauvarṇam āsanam

Seeing her long-absent son returned, Kaikeyi was overjoyed and at once sprang up from her golden seat.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.72.3)

स प्रविश्यैव धर्मात्मा स्वगृहं श्रीविवर्जितम्। भरतः प्रेक्ष्य जग्राह जनन्याश्चरणौ शुभौ॥ 72.3 ॥

sa praviśyaiva dharmātmā svagṛhaṃ śrīvivarjitam| bharataḥ prekṣya jagrāha jananyāś caraṇau śubhau

The righteous Bharata, upon entering his own house — now stripped of its splendor — beheld it, and then bowed to grasp his mother's blessed feet.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.72.4)

सा तं मूर्ध्नि समुपाघ्राय परिष्वज्य यशस्विनम्। अङ्के भरतमारोप्य प्रष्टुं समुपचक्रमे॥ 72.4 ॥

sā taṃ mūrdhni samupāghrāya pariṣvajya yaśasvinam| aṅke bharatam āropya praṣṭuṃ samupacakrame

Kissing the head of the illustrious Bharata and embracing him, she drew him onto her lap and began to question him.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.72.5)

अद्य ते कतिचिद्रात्र्यश्च्युतस्यार्यकवेश्मनः। अपि नाध्वश्रमः शीघ्रं रथेनापततस्तव॥ 72.5 ॥

adya te katicid rātryaś cyutasyāryakaveśmanaḥ| api nādhvaśramaḥ śīghraṃ rathenāpatatas tava

"How many nights has it been today since you left your grandfather's house? Has the swift journey by chariot not tired you at all?

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.72.6)

आर्यकस्ते सुकुशलो युधाजिन्मातुलस्तव। प्रवासाच्च सुखं पुत्र सर्वं मे वक्तुमर्हसि॥ 72.6 ॥

āryakas te sukuśalo yudhājin mātulas tava| pravāsāc ca sukhaṃ putra sarvaṃ me vaktum arhasi

Is your grandfather in good health, my son? And your uncle Yudhajit? Were you happy while away from home? You must tell me everything."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.72.7)

एवं पृष्टस्तु कैकेय्या प्रियं पार्थिवनन्दनः। आचष्ट भरतः सर्वं मात्रे राजीवलोचनः॥ 72.7 ॥

evaṃ pṛṣṭas tu kaikeyyā priyaṃ pārthivanandanaḥ| ācaṣṭa bharataḥ sarvaṃ mātre rājīvalocanaḥ

Thus lovingly questioned by Kaikeyi, the lotus-eyed prince Bharata told his mother everything.

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.72.8)

अद्य मे सप्तमी रात्रिश्च्युतस्यार्यकवेश्मनः। अम्बायाः कुशली तातो युधाजिन्मातुलश्च मे॥ 72.8 ॥

adya me saptamī rātriś cyutasyāryakaveśmanaḥ| ambāyāḥ kuśalī tāto yudhājin mātulaś ca me

"This is the seventh night since I left grandfather's house. Your father and my uncle Yudhajit are both well.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.72.9)

यन्मे धनं च रत्नं च ददौ राजा परंतपः। परिश्रान्तं पथ्यभवत्ततोऽहं पूर्वमागतः॥ 72.9 ॥

yan me dhanaṃ ca ratnaṃ ca dadau rājā paraṃtapaḥ| pariśrāntaṃ pathy abhavat tato'haṃ pūrvam āgataḥ

Those carrying the wealth and jewels the enemy-scorching king gave me grew weary on the road, so I came on ahead of them.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.72.10)

राजवाक्यहरैर्दूतैस्त्वर्यमाणोऽहमागतः। यदहं प्रष्टुमिच्छामि तदम्बा वक्तुमर्हसि॥ 72.10 ॥

rājavākyaharair dūtais tvaryamāṇo'ham āgataḥ| yad ahaṃ praṣṭum icchāmi tad ambā vaktum arhasi

I came in haste, urged on by messengers carrying the king's word. Now, mother, tell me what I wish to ask."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.72.11)

शून्योऽयं शयनीयस्ते पर्यङ्को हेमभूषितः। न चायमिक्ष्वाकुजनः प्रहृष्टः प्रतिभाति मे॥ 72.11 ॥

śūnyo'yaṃ śayanīyas te paryaṅko hemabhūṣitaḥ| na cāyam ikṣvākujanaḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ pratibhāti me

"This gold-adorned couch of yours, meant for rest, lies empty. And these people of the Ikshvaku house do not seem joyful to me at all.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.72.12)

राजा भवति भूयिष्ठमिहाम्बाया निवेशने। तमहं नाद्य पश्यामि द्रष्टुमिच्छन्निहागतः॥ 72.12 ॥

rājā bhavati bhūyiṣṭham ihāmbāyā niveśane| tam ahaṃ nādya paśyāmi draṣṭum icchann ihāgataḥ

Father usually spends much of his time here in your house. Yet today I do not see him, though I came here longing to see him.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.72.13)

पितुर्ग्रहीष्ये चरणौ तं ममाख्याहि पृच्छतः। आहोस्विदम्ब ज्येष्ठायाः कौसल्याया निवेशने॥ 72.13 ॥

pitur grahīṣye caraṇau taṃ mamākhyāhi pṛcchataḥ| āhosvid amba jyeṣṭhāyāḥ kausalyāyā niveśane

I wish to touch my father's feet — tell me, since I ask, where he is. Or, mother, is he perhaps in the house of my eldest mother, Kausalya?"

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.72.14)

तं प्रत्युवाच कैकेयी प्रियवद्घोरमप्रियम्। अजानन्तं प्रजानन्ती राज्यलोभेन मोहिता॥ 72.14 ॥

taṃ pratyuvāca kaikeyī priyavad ghoram apriyam| ajānantaṃ prajānantī rājyalobhena mohitā

Deluded by greed for the kingdom, Kaikeyi — who knew everything full well — spoke to Bharata, who knew nothing, telling him that terrible, dreadful news as though it were something pleasant.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.72.15)

या गतिः सर्वभूतानां तां गतिं ते पिता गतः। राजा महात्मा तेजस्वी यायजूकः सतां गतिः॥ 72.15 ॥

yā gatiḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ tāṃ gatiṃ te pitā gataḥ| rājā mahātmā tejasvī yāyajūkaḥ satāṃ gatiḥ

"Your father has gone the way that all beings must go — that noble, radiant king, ever devoted to sacrifice, the refuge of the good."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.72.16)

तच्छ्रुत्वा भरतो वाक्यं धर्माभिजनवाञ्शुचिः। पपात सहसा भूमौ पितृशोकबलार्दितः॥ 72.16 ॥

tac chrutvā bharato vākyaṃ dharmābhijanavāñ śuciḥ| papāta sahasā bhūmau pitṛśokabalārditaḥ

Hearing those words, Bharata — of noble lineage, righteous, and pure — struck down by the crushing grief for his father, suddenly collapsed to the ground.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.72.17)

हा हतोऽस्मीति कृपणां दीनां वाचमुदीरयन्। निपपात महाबाहुर्बाहू विक्षिप्य वीर्यवान्॥ 72.17 ॥

hā hato'smīti kṛpaṇāṃ dīnāṃ vācam udīrayan| nipapāta mahābāhur bāhū vikṣipya vīryavān

"Alas, I am undone!" — crying out these pitiful, wretched words, the mighty-armed, valiant Bharata flung up both his arms and fell.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.72.18)

ततः शोकेन संवीतः पितुर्मरणदुःखितः। विललाप महातेजा भ्रान्ताकुलितचेतनः॥ 72.18 ॥

tataḥ śokena saṃvītaḥ pitur maraṇaduḥkhitaḥ| vilalāpa mahātejā bhrāntākulitacetanaḥ

Then, wrapped in grief, anguished at his father's death, his mind reeling and confused, the great-splendored Bharata lamented profusely.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.72.19)

एतत्सुरुचिरं भाति पितुर्मे शयनं पुरा। शशिनेवामलं रात्रौ गगनं तोयदात्यये॥ 72.19 ॥

etat suruciraṃ bhāti pitur me śayanaṃ purā| śaśinevāmalaṃ rātrau gaganaṃ toyadātyaye

"This beautiful couch of my father used to shine, as the clear night sky at the end of the rains shines with the moon.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.72.20)

तदिदं न विभात्यद्य विहीनं तेन धीमता। व्योमेव शशिना हीनमम्भःशुष्क इव सागरः॥ 72.20 ॥

tad idaṃ na vibhāty adya vihīnaṃ tena dhīmatā| vyomeva śaśinā hīnam ambhaḥśuṣka iva sāgaraḥ

That same couch, now bereft of my wise father, no longer shines — like the sky without the moon, like an ocean run dry.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.72.21)

बाष्पमुत्सृज्य कण्ठेन स्वात्मना परिपीडितः। आच्छाद्य वदनं श्रीमद्वस्त्रेण जयतां वरः॥ 72.21 ॥

bāṣpam utsṛjya kaṇṭhena svātmanā paripīḍitaḥ| ācchādya vadanaṃ śrīmadvastreṇa jayatāṃ varaḥ

Tormented within by profound anguish, that foremost of the victorious covered his face with his fine garment and, his throat choked, let his tears flow.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.72.22)

तमार्तं देवसंकाशं समीक्ष्य पतितं भुवि। निकृत्तमिव सालस्य स्कन्धं परशुना वने॥ 72.22 ॥

tam ārtaṃ devasaṃkāśaṃ samīkṣya patitaṃ bhuvi| nikṛttam iva sālasya skandhaṃ paraśunā vane

Seeing him, god-like in form but stricken with pain, fallen upon the ground like a sala tree's trunk felled by an axe in the forest,

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.72.23)

मत्तमातङ्गसंकाशं चन्द्रार्कसदृशं भुवः। उत्थापयित्वा शोकार्तं वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्॥ 72.23 ॥

mattamātaṅgasaṃkāśaṃ candrārkasadṛśaṃ bhuvaḥ| utthāpayitvā śokārtaṃ vacanaṃ cedam abravīt

like a rutting elephant, like the very moon and sun — Kaikeyi lifted her grief-stricken son up from the ground and spoke these words:

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.72.24)

उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ किं शेषे राजपुत्र महायशः। त्वद्विधा न हि शोचन्ति सन्तः सदसि सम्मताः॥ 72.24 ॥

uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha kiṃ śeṣe rājaputra mahāyaśaḥ| tvadvidhā na hi śocanti santaḥ sadasi sammatāḥ

"Rise, rise, O highly renowned prince! Why do you lie there so? Men of your kind, honored in every assembly, do not grieve like this."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.72.25)

दानयज्ञाधिकारा हि शीलश्रुतिवचोनुगा। बुद्धिस्ते बुद्धिसंपन्न प्रभेवार्कस्य मन्दिरे॥ 72.25 ॥

dānayajñādhikārā hi śīlaśrutivaconugā| buddhis te buddhisampanna prabhevārkasya mandire

"O wise Bharata, your intellect — which follows good conduct and the word of scripture, and holds the authority to give and to sacrifice — shines on, like radiance in the very abode of the sun."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.72.26)

स रुदित्वा चिरं कालं भूमौ विपरिवृत्य च। जननीं प्रत्युवाचेदं शोकैर्बहुभिरावृतः॥ 72.26 ॥

sa ruditvā ciraṃ kālaṃ bhūmau viparivṛtya ca| jananīṃ pratyuvācedaṃ śokair bahubhir āvṛtaḥ

Having wept for a long while and rolled upon the ground, Bharata, wrapped in many sorrows, said this to his mother:

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.72.27)

अभिषेक्ष्यति रामं तु राजा यज्ञं नु यक्ष्यति। इत्यहं कृतसंकल्पो हृष्टो यात्रामयासिषम्॥ 72.27 ॥

abhiṣekṣyati rāmaṃ tu rājā yajñaṃ nu yakṣyati| ity ahaṃ kṛtasaṃkalpo hṛṣṭo yātrām ayāsiṣam

"I had thought that the king was either about to anoint Rama, or perform some sacrifice — with that thought I set out on this journey full of joy.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.72.28)

तदिदं ह्यन्यथाभूतं व्यवदीर्णं मनो मम। पितरं यो न पश्यामि नित्यं प्रियहिते रतम्॥ 72.28 ॥

tad idaṃ hy anyathābhūtaṃ vyavadīrṇaṃ mano mama| pitaraṃ yo na paśyāmi nityaṃ priyahite ratam

But everything has turned out otherwise, and my heart is torn apart — for I no longer see my father, who was ever devoted to my welfare and happiness.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.72.29)

अम्ब केनात्यगाद्राजा व्याधिना मय्यनागते। धन्या रामादयः सर्वे यैः पिता संस्कृतः स्वयम्॥ 72.29 ॥

amba kenātyagād rājā vyādhinā mayy anāgate| dhanyā rāmādayaḥ sarve yaiḥ pitā saṃskṛtaḥ svayam

Mother, of what illness did the king die before I could arrive? Fortunate indeed are Rama and the others, who themselves performed our father's final rites.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.72.30)

न नूनं मां महाराजः प्राप्तं जानाति कीर्तिमान्। उपजिघ्रेद्धि मां मूर्ध्नि तातः संनम्य सत्वरम्॥ 72.30 ॥

na nūnaṃ māṃ mahārājaḥ prāptaṃ jānāti kīrtimān| upajighred dhi māṃ mūrdhni tātaḥ saṃnamya satvaram

Surely the illustrious great king does not know I have arrived; otherwise my father would at once have bent down to kiss my head.

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.72.31)

क्व स पाणिः सुखस्पर्शस्तातस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। येन मां रजसा ध्वस्तमभीक्ष्णं परिमार्जति॥ 72.31 ॥

kva sa pāṇiḥ sukhasparśas tātasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ| yena māṃ rajasā dhvastam abhīkṣṇaṃ parimārjati

Where is that gently-touching hand of my father, tireless in every deed, with which he used again and again to wipe the dust from me?

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.72.32)

यो मे भ्राता पिता बन्धुर्यस्य दासोऽस्मि धीमतः। तस्य मां शीघ्रमाख्याहि रामस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः॥ 72.32 ॥

yo me bhrātā pitā bandhur yasya dāso'smi dhīmataḥ| tasya māṃ śīghram ākhyāhi rāmasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ

He who is to me brother, father, and kinsman all at once, that wise Rama whose servant I am — go quickly, tell that tireless one of my arrival.

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.72.33)

पिता हि भवति ज्येष्ठो धर्ममार्यस्य जानतः। तस्य पादौ ग्रहीष्यामि स हीदानीं गतिर्मम॥ 72.33 ॥

pitā hi bhavati jyeṣṭho dharmam āryasya jānataḥ| tasya pādau grahīṣyāmi sa hīdānīṃ gatir mama

For a noble man who knows righteousness, an elder brother indeed becomes a father. I shall clasp his feet — for he alone is now my refuge.

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.72.34)

धर्मविद्धर्मनित्यश्च सत्यसन्धो दृढव्रतः। आर्ये किमब्रवीद्राजा पिता मे सत्यविक्रमः॥ 72.34 ॥

dharmavid dharmanityaś ca satyasandho dṛḍhavrataḥ| ārye kim abravīd rājā pitā me satyavikramaḥ

Noble one — my father the king, who knew righteousness, was ever devoted to it, true to his word, firm in his vows, and truly valiant — what did he say at the end?

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.72.35)

पश्चिमं साधु संदेशमिच्छामि श्रोतुमात्मनः। इति पृष्टा यथातत्त्वं कैकेयी वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ 72.35 ॥

paścimaṃ sādhu saṃdeśam icchāmi śrotum ātmanaḥ| iti pṛṣṭā yathātattvaṃ kaikeyī vākyam abravīt

I wish to hear clearly his very last message to me." Thus asked, Kaikeyi told him, exactly as it had happened, the following words.

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.72.36)

राम इति राजा विलपन् हा सीते लक्ष्मण इति च। स महात्मा परं लोकं गतो गतिमतां वरः॥ 72.36 ॥

rāma iti rājā vilapan hā sīte lakṣmaṇa iti ca| sa mahātmā paraṃ lokaṃ gato gatimatāṃ varaḥ

"Crying out 'Rama! O Sita! O Lakshmana!' — even so lamenting, the king, that great soul, foremost among those bound for the beyond, departed for the other world."

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.72.37)

इमां तु पश्चिमां वाचं व्याजहार पिता तव। कालधर्मपरिक्षिप्तः पाशैरिव महागजः॥ 72.37 ॥

imāṃ tu paścimāṃ vācaṃ vyājahāra pitā tava| kāladharmaparikṣiptaḥ pāśair iva mahāgajaḥ

Snared, like a great elephant caught in ropes, by the workings of time and death, your father uttered these final words.

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.72.38)

सिद्धार्थास्तु नरा राममागतं सीतया सह। लक्ष्मणं च महाबाहुं द्रक्ष्यन्ति पुनरागतम्॥ 72.38 ॥

siddhārthās tu narā rāmam āgataṃ sītayā saha| lakṣmaṇaṃ ca mahābāhuṃ drakṣyanti punar āgatam

"Fortunate indeed are those who shall live to see Rama return with Sita, and mighty-armed Lakshmana come back too."

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.72.39)

तच्छ्रुत्वा विषसादैव द्वितीयाप्रियशंसनात्। विषण्णवदनो भूत्वा भूयः पप्रच्छ मातरम्॥ 72.39 ॥

tac chrutvā viṣasādaiva dvitīyāpriyaśaṃsanāt| viṣaṇṇavadano bhūtvā bhūyaḥ papraccha mātaram

Hearing this, a second piece of unwelcome news, he sank deeper into despair, and with a downcast face asked his mother once more.

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.72.40)

क्व चेदानीं स धर्मात्मा कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः। लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा सीतया च समं गतः॥ 72.40 ॥

kva cedānīṃ sa dharmātmā kausalyānandavardhanaḥ| lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā sītayā ca samaṃ gataḥ

"Where has that righteous one, the joy of Kausalya, gone now, together with his brother Lakshmana and with Sita?"

Shloka 41 (ayodhya.72.41)

तथा पृष्टा यथातत्त्वमाख्यातुमुपचक्रमे। मातास्य युगपद्वाक्यं विप्रियं प्रियशङ्कया॥ 72.41 ॥

tathā pṛṣṭā yathātattvam ākhyātum upacakrame| mātāsya yugapad vākyaṃ vipriyaṃ priyaśaṅkayā

Thus questioned, his mother began to tell him, exactly as it stood, that whole unwelcome tale in one breath, as if it were something pleasant.

Shloka 42 (ayodhya.72.42)

स हि राजसुतः पुत्र चीरवासा महावनम्। दण्डकान् सह वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणानुचरो गतः॥ 72.42 ॥

sa hi rājasutaḥ putra cīravāsā mahāvanam| daṇḍakān saha vaidehyā lakṣmaṇānucaro gataḥ

"That prince, my son, has gone clad in bark-garments to the great forest of Dandaka, with Vaidehi beside him and Lakshmana following."

Shloka 43 (ayodhya.72.43)

तच्छ्रुत्वा भरतस्त्रस्तो भ्रातुश्चारित्रशङ्कया। स्वस्य वंशस्य माहात्म्यात्प्रष्टुं समुपचक्रमे॥ 72.43 ॥

tac chrutvā bharatas trasto bhrātuś cāritraśaṅkayā| svasya vaṃśasya māhātmyāt praṣṭuṃ samupacakrame

Hearing this, Bharata, alarmed at any doubt cast upon his brother's conduct, and mindful of the greatness of his line, began to ask further.

Shloka 44 (ayodhya.72.44)

कच्चिन्न ब्राह्मणधनं हृतं रामेण कस्यचित्। कच्चिन्नाढ्यो दरिद्रो वा तेनापापो विहिंसितः॥ 72.44 ॥

kaccin na brāhmaṇadhanaṃ hṛtaṃ rāmeṇa kasyacit| kaccin nāḍhyo daridro vā tenāpāpo vihiṃsitaḥ

"Has Rama, surely, taken any brahmin's wealth? Has he, surely, harmed any innocent person, rich or poor?

Shloka 45 (ayodhya.72.45)

कच्चिन्न परदारान् वा राजपुत्रोऽभिमन्यते। कस्मात्स दण्डकारण्ये भ्रूणहेव विवासितः॥ 72.45 ॥

kaccin na paradārān vā rājaputro'bhimanyate| kasmāt sa daṇḍakāraṇye bhrūṇaheva vivāsitaḥ

Has the prince, surely, desired the wife of another? Then why has he been banished to the forest of Dandaka, as though he were guilty of killing an unborn child?

Shloka 46 (ayodhya.72.46)

अथास्य चपला माता तत्स्वकर्म यथातथम्। तेनैव स्त्रीस्वभावेन व्याहर्तुमुपचक्रमे॥ 72.46 ॥

athāsya capalā mātā tat svakarma yathātatham| tenaiva strīsvabhāvena vyāhartum upacakrame

Then his fickle mother, moved by that very nature of women, began to relate, exactly as it was, her own deed.

Shloka 47 (ayodhya.72.47)

एवमुक्ता तु कैकेयी भरतेन महात्मना। उवाच वचनं हृष्टा मूढा पण्डितमानिनी॥ 72.47 ॥

evam uktā tu kaikeyī bharatena mahātmanā| uvāca vacanaṃ hṛṣṭā mūḍhā paṇḍitamāninī

Thus questioned by the noble Bharata, foolish Kaikeyi, who thought herself wise, spoke up gladly.

Shloka 48 (ayodhya.72.48)

न ब्राह्मणधनं किंचिद्धृतं रामेण कस्यचित्। कश्चिन्नाढ्यो दरिद्रो वा तेनापापो विहिंसितः॥ 72.48 ॥

na brāhmaṇadhanaṃ kiṃcid dhṛtaṃ rāmeṇa kasyacit| kaścin nāḍhyo daridro vā tenāpāpo vihiṃsitaḥ

"Not the slightest bit of any brahmin's wealth has been taken by Rama, nor has he done harm to any innocent person, rich or poor.

Shloka 49 (ayodhya.72.49)

न रामः परदारांश्च चक्षुर्भ्यामपि पश्यति। मया तु पुत्र श्रुत्वैव रामस्यैवाभिषेचनम्॥ 72.49 ॥

na rāmaḥ paradārāṃś ca cakṣurbhyām api paśyati| mayā tu putra śrutvaiva rāmasyaivābhiṣecanam

Rama does not even look upon another's wife with his eyes. But, my son, the moment I heard of Rama's coronation,

Shloka 50 (ayodhya.72.50)

याचितस्ते पिता राज्यं रामस्य च विवासनम्। स स्ववृत्तिं समास्थाय पिता ते तत्तथाकरोत्॥ 72.50 ॥

yācitas te pitā rājyaṃ rāmasya ca vivāsanam| sa svavṛttiṃ samāsthāya pitā te tat tathākarot

I begged your father for the kingdom for you, and for Rama's banishment. And your father, holding fast to his own word, did exactly that.

Shloka 51 (ayodhya.72.51)

रामश्च सह सौमित्रिः प्रेषितः सह सीतया। तमपश्यन्प्रियं पुत्रं महीपालो महायशाः॥ 72.51 ॥

rāmaś ca saha saumitriḥ preṣitaḥ saha sītayā| tam apaśyan priyaṃ putraṃ mahīpālo mahāyaśāḥ

So Rama was sent away, together with Saumitri and Sita. Unable to bear the sight of his beloved son gone, that most illustrious king,

Shloka 52 (ayodhya.72.52)

पुत्रशोकपरिद्यूनः पञ्चत्वमुपपेदिवान्। त्वया त्विदानीं धर्मज्ञ राजत्वमवलम्ब्यताम्॥ 72.52 ॥

putraśokaparidyūnaḥ pañcatvam upapedivān| tvayā tv idānīṃ dharmajña rājatvam avalambyatām

wasted away with grief for his son, and passed into death. Now, O knower of righteousness, let the kingship be taken up by you.

Shloka 53 (ayodhya.72.53)

त्वत्कृते हि मया सर्वमिदमेवंविधं कृतम्। मा शोकं मा च संतापं धैर्यमाश्रय पुत्रक॥ 72.53 ॥

tvatkṛte hi mayā sarvam idam evaṃvidhaṃ kṛtam| mā śokaṃ mā ca saṃtāpaṃ dhairyam āśraya putraka

It is all for your sake that I have done this thing. Do not grieve, do not despair, my son — take hold of your courage.

Shloka 54 (ayodhya.72.54)

त्वदधीना हि नगरी राज्यं चैतदनामयम्। तत्पुत्र शीघ्रं विधिना विधिज्ञैः वसिष्ठमुख्यैः सहितो द्विजेन्द्रैः। संकाल्य राजानमदीनसत्त्वम् आत्मानमुर्व्यामभिषेचयस्व॥ 72.54 ॥

tvadadhīnā hi nagarī rājyaṃ caitad anāmayam| tat putra śīghraṃ vidhinā vidhijñair vasiṣṭhamukhyaiḥ sahito dvijendraiḥ| saṃkālya rājānam adīnasattvam ātmānam urvyām abhiṣecayasva

This city, and this untroubled kingdom, are now yours to command. Therefore, my son, quickly summon Vasishtha and the other foremost brahmins learned in ritual, and, with unshaken spirit, have yourself duly consecrated as king over this earth.