Sloka & Translation

[Wailing of all mothers on seeing Rama offering libations to his father in Mandakini.]

वसिष्ठः पुरतः कृत्वा दारान्दशरथस्य च।

अभिचक्राम तं देशं रामदर्शनतर्षितः।।2.103.1।।


वसिष्ठः Vasistha, दशरथस्य Dasaratha's, दारान् wives, पुरतः in front of, कृत्वा having placed, रामदर्शनतर्षितः longing to see Rama, तं देशम् that place, अभिचक्राम set out on foot.

Longing to see Rama, Vasistha, headed by the wives of Dasaratha, set out on foot
(where Rama was offering libations).
राजपत्न्यश्च गच्छन्त्यो मन्दं मन्दाकिनीं प्रति।

ददृशु स्तत्र तत् तीर्थं रामलक्ष्मणसेवितम्।।2.103.2।।


राजपत्न्यश्च king's wives also, मन्दाकिनीं प्रति towards the river Mandakini, मन्दम् slowly, गच्छन्त्यः while proceeding, तत्र there, रामलक्ष्मणसेवितम् frequented by Rama and Lakshmana, तत् तीर्थम् that bathing place, ददृशुः beheld.

The wives of the king while proceeding slowly towards the river Mandakini beheld the bathing place frequented by Rama and Lakshmana.
कौसल्या बाष्पपूर्णेन मुखेन परिशुष्यता।

सुमित्रामब्रवीद्दीना याश्चान्या राजयोषितः।।2.103.3।।


कौसल्या Kausalya, बाष्पपूर्णेन filled with tears, परिशुष्यता emaciated, मुखेन with her countenance, दीना in desolation, सुमित्राम् to Sumitra, याः अन्याः the other, राजयोषितः to wives of the king, अब्रवीत् said.

Kausalya, with eyes filled with tears and her face emaciated, addressing Sumitra and
the other wives of the king sadly said:
इदं तेषामनाथानां क्लिष्टमक्लिष्टकर्मणाम्।

वने प्राक्कलनं तीर्थं ये ते निर्विषयीकृताः।।2.103.4।।


इदम् this one, ये ते those, निर्विषयीकृताः expelled from the country, तेषाम् their, आक्लिष्टकर्मणाम् men performing deeds with untiring energy, अनाथानाम् unfortunate ones, क्लिष्टम् sufferings, प्राक्कलनम् to the east of, वने in the forest, तीर्थम् sacred place.

This is a sacred place to the east of the forest used by the unfortunate Rama, and Lakshmana of untiring energy and Sita expelled from the country and undergoing suffering.
इत स्सुमित्रे पुत्रस्ते सदा जलमतन्द्रितः।

स्वयं हरति सौमित्रिर्मम पुत्रस्य कारणात्।।2.103.5।।


सुमित्रे O Sumitra, ते पुत्रः your son, सौमित्रिः Lakshmana, मम पुत्रस्य my son's, कारणात् on account, सदा always, अतन्द्रितः without indolence, इतः from this place, जलम् water, स्वयम् himself, हरति carries.

O Sumitra, your son Lakshmana, free from laziness, always carries water from here for the sake of my son.
जघन्यमपि ते पुत्रः कृतवान् न तु गर्हितः।

भ्रातुर्यदर्थरहितं सर्वं तद् गर्हितंं गुणैः।।2.103.6।।


ते पुत्रः your son, जघन्यम् servile task, अपि although, कृतवान् has done, गर्हितः तु is indeed contemptible, न not, यत् the service, भ्रातुः to brother, अर्थसहितम् for the benefit of, तत् सर्वम् all that, गुणैः with virtues, विहितम् is endowed with.

Your son, though engaged in servile tasks (like bringing water), is not to be held contemptible because all the services intended for the benefit of his brother are
prompted by virtue.
अद्यायमपि ते पुत्रः क्लेशानामतथोचितः।

नीचानर्थ समाचारं सज्जं कर्म प्रमुञ्चतु।।2.103.7।।


क्लेशानाम् of suffering, अतथोचितः unaccustomed, अयम् this, ते पुत्रः अपि your son also, अद्य now, नीचानर्थसमाचारम् mean and distressing, सज्जम् commenced, कर्म work, this service, प्रमुञ्चतु cease to perform.

This your son unaccustomed to, and undeserving of, any suffering may now give up this mean and distressing duty entrusted to him.
दक्षिणाग्रेषु दर्भेषु सा ददर्श महीतले।

पितुरिङ्गुदिपिण्याकं न्यस्तमायतलोचना।।2.103.8।।


आयतलोचना largeeyed, सा that Kausalya, दक्षिणाग्रेषु pointed towards south, दर्भेषु blades of darbha grass, महीतले on the ground, पितुः father's, न्यस्तम् placed, इङ्गुदिपिण्याकम् cakes of ingudi pulp, ददर्श beheld.

That largeeyed Kausalya beheld the cakes of ingudi pulp placed by Rama for his father on a spread of darbha grass whose blades pointed toward the south.
तं भूमौ पितुरार्तेन न्यस्तं रामेण वीक्ष्य सा।

उवाच देवी कौसल्या सर्वा दशरथस्त्रियः।।2.103.9।।


देवी queen, सा कौसल्या that Kausalya, आर्तेन distressed, रामेण by Rama, पितुः to father, न्यस्तम् placed, तम् that pinda (pindaofferings made to the departed soul), भूमौ on the ground, वीक्ष्य seeing, सर्वाः all, दशरथस्त्रियः to wives of Dasaratha, उवाच said.

Seeing the pinda (edible offering made to the departed soul) placed on the ground for his father by the distressed Rama, queen Kausalya, addressing all the wives of Dasaratha, said:
इदमिक्ष्वाकुनाथस्य राघवस्य महात्मनः।

राघवेण पितुर्दत्तं पश्यतैतद्यथाविधि।।2.103.10।।


राघवेण by Rama, इक्ष्वाकुनाथस्य for the sake of lord of the Ikshvaku race, महात्मनः of the magnanimous, पितुः father, राघवस्य for Dasaratha, यथाविधि according to tradition, दत्तम् given, इदम् this pinda, पश्यत look at.

Have darsan of this pinda offered by Rama according to tradition to his magnanimous father, Dasaratha, lord of the Ikshvaku race.
तस्य देवसमानस्य पार्थिवस्य महात्मनः।

नैतदौपयिकं मन्ये भुक्तभोगस्य भोजनम्।।2.103.11।।


देवसमानस्य of a man equal to god, भुक्तभोगस्य of one who enjoyed every luxury, महात्मनः of the magnaniouous, तस्य पार्थिवस्य of that lord of the earth, एतत् this, भोजनम् food, औपयिकम् is appropriate, न मन्ये I don't think.

I do not think that this is an appropriate food for that godlike and great lord of the earth who enjoyed all luxury.
चतुरन्तां महीं भुक्त्वा महेन्द्रसदृशो विभुः।

कथमिङ्गुदिपिण्याकं स भुक्ते वसुधाधिपः।।2.103.12।।


महेन्द्रसदृशः resembling Indra, विभुः king, सः वसुधाधिपः that lord of the earth, चतुरन्ताम् with four corners, महीम् the earth, भुक्त्वा having enjoyed, इङ्गुदिपिण्याकम् the cake of pulp of ingudi, कथम् how, भुक्ते can he eat?

How can Indralike Dasaratha, having ruled the earth bounded by four oceans, eat a cake of ingudi pulp?
अतो दुःखतरं लोके न किञ्चित्प्रतिभाति मा।

यत्र रामः पितुर्दद्यादिङ्गुदिक्षोदमृद्धिमान्।।2.103.13।।


यत्र at a point, ऋद्धिमान् (formerly) prosperous, रामः Rama, पितुः to father, इङ्गुदिक्षोदम् cake of ingudi nuts, दद्यात् may offer, अतः more than this, लोके in this world, दुःखतरम् more painful, किञ्चित् anything, मा to me, न प्रतिभाति does not appear.

Rama (who was once) highly prosperous, had to offer the cake of ingudi pulp to his father. Nothing appears more painful to me than this in this world.
रामेणेङ्गुदिपिण्याकं पितुर्दत्तं समीक्ष्य मे।

कथं दुःखेन हृदयं न स्फोटति सहस्रधा।।2.103.14।।


रामेण by Rama, पितुः to father, दत्तम् offered, इङ्गुदिपिण्याकम् cake of ingudi pulp, समीक्ष्य on seeing, मे हृदयम् my heart, दुःखेन out of sorrow, सहस्रधा into a thousand pieces, कथम्
how, न स्फोटति not breaking?

Seeing the offering of cake of ingudi pulp by Rama to his father, how is it that my heart does not break into a thousand pieces in sorrow?
श्रुतिस्तु खल्वियं सत्या लौकिकी प्रतिभाति मा।

यदन्नः पुरुषो भवति तदन्नास्तस्य देवताः।।2.103.15।।


पुरुषः man, यदन्नः भवति whatever is his food, तस्य his, देवताः gods, तदन्नाः they have the same food, इयम् this, लौकिकी wellknown in the world, श्रुतिस्तु saying, सत्या as truthful, मा about (to) me, प्रतिभाति खलु occurs to me.

The wellknown saying in this world is that 'whatever food a man partakes, his gods also partake the same'. This dictum appears true (now).
एवमार्तां सपत्न्यस्ता जग्मुराश्वास्य तां तदा।

ददृशुश्चाश्रमे रामं स्वर्गच्युतमिवामरम्।।2.103.16।।


तदा then, ताः those, सपत्न्यः cowives, एवम् in this way, आर्ताम् distressed, ताम् her, आश्वास्य having consoled, जग्मुः went, आश्रमे in the hermitage, स्वर्गच्युतम् fallen from heaven, अमरमिव like a god, रामम् Rama, ददृशुश्च beheld.

The cowives, having thus consoled the distressed Kausalya, went to the hermitage. There they beheld Rama who looked like a god dislodged from heaven.
सर्वभोगैः परित्यक्तं रामं सम्प्रेक्ष्य मातरः।

आर्ता मुमुचुरश्रूणि सस्वरं शोककर्शिताः।।2.103.17।।


शोककर्शिताः emaciated due to grief, मातरः mothers, सर्वभोगैः with all luxuries, परित्यक्तम् devoid of, रामम् Rama, सम्प्रेक्ष्य having seen, आर्ताः overcome with sorrow, सस्वरम् in loud voice, अश्रूणि tears, मुमुचुः shed.

Beholding Rama devoid of all luxury, his mothers afflicted with grief, and overcome with sorrow, cried aloud, tears streaming down.
तासां रामस्समुत्थाय जग्राह चरणान् शुभान्।

मात्रूणां मनुजव्याघ्रस्सर्वासां सत्यसङ्गरः।।2.103.18।।


मनुजव्याघ्रः best among men, सत्यसङ्गरः true to his promise, रामः Rama, समुत्थाय having risen, सर्वासाम् to all, तासां मात्रूणाम् of those mothers, शुभान् auspicious, चरणान् feet, जग्राह clasped.

Rama, the best among men and true to his promise, rose and touched the auspicious feet of all his mothers (in reverence).
ताः पाणिभि स्सुखस्पर्शैर्मृद्वङ्गुलितलै श्शुभैः।

प्रममार्जू रजः पृष्ठाद्रामस्यायतलोचनाः।।2.103.19।।


आयतलोचनाः largeeyed ones, ताः they, सुखस्पर्शैः with pleasant touch, मृद्वङ्गुलितलैः with palms having delicate fingers, शुभैः by auspicious, पाणिभिः with hands, रामस्य Rama's, पृष्ठात् from the back of the body, रजः the dust, प्रममार्जुः wiped.

Those largeeyed queens, their palms with delicate fingers and with auspicious hands with a pleasant touch, wiped the dust from the back of his body.
सौमित्रिरपि ता स्सर्वा मातृ़स्सम्प्रेक्ष्य दुःखितः।

अभ्यवादयतासक्तं शनै रामादनन्तरम्।।2.103.20।।


सौमित्रिरपि Lakshmana also, सर्वाः all, ताः मात्रृ़ः those mothers, सम्प्रेक्ष्य after seeing, दुःखितः overcome with grief, रामात् अनन्तरम् following Rama, शनैः slowly, आसक्तम् with devotion,
अभ्यवादयत् bowed with reverence.

On seeing his mothers, Lakshmana, too, was overcome with grief and with devotion followed Rama and slowly bowed to them with reverence.
यथा रामे तथा तस्मिन्सर्वा ववृतिरे स्त्रियः।

वृत्तिं दशरथाज्जाते लक्ष्मणे शुभलक्षणे।।2.103.21।।


सर्वाः all, स्त्रियः wives, दशरथात् of Dasaratha, जाते born, शुभलक्षणे possessing auspicious qualities, तस्मिन् लक्ष्मणे in the matter of Lakshmana, रामे यथा just as in the case of Rama, तथा similarly, वृत्तिम् conduct, ववृतिरे treated.

All the queens treated Lakshmana, born of Dasaratha and endowed with auspicious qualities, with the same love as they did to Rama.
सीताऽपि चरणांस्तासामुपसङ्गृह्य दुःखिता।

श्वश्रूणामश्रुपूर्णाक्षी सा बभूवाग्रतः स्थिता।।2.103.22।।


सा सीतापि that Sita too, दुःखिता overcome with sorrow, तासाम् by those, श्वश्रूणाम् of mothersinlaw, चरणान् feet, उपसङ्गृह्य grasping, अश्रुपूर्णाक्षी eyes suffused with tears,
अग्रतः before them, स्थिता बभूव stood.

Sita, too, overcome with grief, grasped the feet of her mothersinlaw and stood before them, her eyes full of tears.
तां परिष्वज्य दुःखार्तां माता दुहितरं यथा।

वनवासकृशां दीनां कौसल्या वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.103.23।।


कौसल्या Kausalya, दुःखार्ताम् anguished, वनवासकृशाम् emaciated due to her stay in the forest, दीनाम् poor, ताम् her, माता mother, दुहितरं यथा like a daughter, परिष्वज्य having embraced, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् said.

Like a mother to her daughter, Kausalya embraced the wretched Sita, who was afflicted with sorrow, and emaciated due to her stay in the forest, and said to her:
विदेहराजस्य सुता स्नुषा दशरथस्य च।

रामपत्नी कथं दुःखं सम्प्राप्ता निर्जने वने।।2.103.24।।


विदेहराजस्य of the king of Videha, सुता daughter, दशरथस्य Dasaratha's, स्नुषा daughterinlaw, रामपत्नी Rama's wife, निर्जने in desolation, वने in the forest, कथम् how, दुःखम् grief, सम्प्राप्ता had undergone.

How is it that Sita, daughter of Janaka, king of Videha, daughterinlaw of Dasaratha and wife of Rama, has to undergo such hardships in the lonely forest.
पद्ममातपसन्तप्तं परिक्लिष्टमिवोत्पलम्।

काञ्चनं रजसा ध्वस्तं क्लिष्टं चन्द्रमिवाम्बुदैः।।2.103.25।।

मुखं ते प्रेक्ष्य मां शोको दहत्यग्निरिवाऽश्रयम्।

भृशं मनसि वैदेहि व्यसनारणिसम्भवः।।2.103.26।।


वैदेहि O Sita, आतपसन्तप्तम् scorched by sunshine, पद्मम् इव like lotus, परिक्लिष्टम् withered, उत्पलमिव like waterlily, रजसा by dust, ध्वस्तम् defiled, काञ्चनम् इव like gold, अम्बुदैः with clouds, क्लिष्टम् obscured, चन्द्रम् इव like the Moon, ते मुखम् your countenance, प्रेक्ष्य on seeing, व्यसनारणिसम्भवः kindled from the faggots of calamities, शोकः grief, अग्निः fire, आश्रयमिव like the stick, its refuge, माम् me, मनसि in the mind, भृशम् greatly, दहति burning.

O Sita, after looking at your countenance, which is like a lotus, scorched by the sunshine, or like a withered waterlily or gold defiled by dust or the Moon obscured by the clouds, the fire of sorrow is burning my mind. The grief in my mind is like fire kindled from the arani (sacrificial faggots) that consumes its own souree. (On a circular wood piece, a wooden stick is placed and churned to produce fire specially in sacrifices is called arani.)
ब्रुवन्त्यामेवमार्तायां जनन्यां भरताग्रजः।

पादावासाद्य जग्राह वसिष्ठस्य च राघवः।।2.103.27।।


आर्तायां while in anguish, जनन्याम् mother, एवम् in this way, ब्रुवन्त्याम् while speaking, भरताग्रजः Bharata's elder brother, राघवः Rama, आसाद्य having approached, वसिष्ठस्य Vasistha, पादौ feet, जग्राह clasped.

While Rama's mother was uttering such words in anguish, Rama reached Vasistha and clasped his feet with reverence.
पुरोहितस्याग्निसमस्य वै तदा बृहस्पतेरिन्द्रमिवामराधिपः।

प्रगृह्य पादौ सुसमृद्धतेजसस्सहैव तेनोपविवेश राघवः।।2.103.28।।


तदा then, राघवः Rama, अग्निसमस्य of a man equivalent to fire, सुसमृद्ध तेजसः of exceeding brilliance, पुरोहितस्य family priest's, पादौ feet, अमराधिपः king of the gods, इन्द्रः Indra, बृहस्पतेरिव like Brihaspati's feet, प्रगृह्य clasping, तेन सहैव with him, उपविवेश sat down.

Rama touched the feet of the family priest Vasistha, a man equivalent to effulgent fire like Indra, the lord of the gods, does to Brihaspati and sat down along with him.
ततो जघन्यं सहितै स्समन्त्रिभिः पुरप्रधानैश्च सहैव सैनिकैः।

जनेन धर्मज्ञतमेन धर्मवानुपोपविष्टो भरत स्तदाऽग्रजम्।।2.103.29।।


तदा then, ततः जघन्यम् then behind them, धर्मवान् righteous, सः भरतः सहितैः along with Bharata, मन्त्रिभिः with counsellors पुरप्रधानैश्च with leading citizens, सैनिकैस्सहैव along with soldiers as well, धर्मज्ञतमेन most knowledgeble one in the ways of righteousness, जनेन by men, अग्रजम् elder brother, Rama, उपोपविष्टः sat down near him.

After Vasistha and Rama sat down, righteous Bharata sat close to his elder brother. Behind him sat his companions, leading citizens, soldiers and righteous men.
उपोपविष्ट स्तु तदा स वीर्यवांस्तपस्विवेषेण समीक्ष्य राघवम्।

श्रिया ज्वलन्तं भरतः कृताञ्जलिर्यथा महेन्द्रः प्रयतः प्रजापतिम्।।2.103.30।।


वीर्यवान् extremely powerful, सः that, भरतः Bharata, तपस्विवेषेण dressed as an ascetic, श्रिया with majesty, ज्वलन्तम् radiating, राघवम् Rama, प्रयतः purified by religious austerities, महेन्द्रः great Indra, प्रजापतिं यथा like Brahma, the creator, समीक्ष्य having looked at, कृताञ्जलिः with folded palms, तदा then, उपोपविष्टः तु sat next to him.

Beholding Rama attired like an ascetic but radiant with a majestic glow, the extremely valiant Bharata sat near him with folded palms like the great Indra purified by religious austerities sits near Brahma, the creator.
किमेष वाक्यं भरतोऽद्य राघवं प्रणम्य सत्कृत्य च साधु वक्ष्यति।

इतीव तस्यार्यजनस्य तत्त्वतो बभूव कौतूहलमुत्तमं तदा।।2.103.31।।


एषः this, भरतः Bharata, अद्य now, राघवम् to Rama, प्रणम्य having paid his homage, सत्कृत्य च also honouring him, साधु of good, किं वाक्यम् what words, वक्ष्यति will speak, इतीव thus as if, तदा of that, तस्य those, आर्यजनस्य of nobility, तत्त्वतः truly, उत्तमम् great, कौतूहलम् curiosity, बभूव arose.

All noble people were truly filled with great curiosity as to what Bharata was going to speak, after paying his homage and honouring Rama.
स राघव स्सत्यधृति श्च लक्ष्मणो महानुभावो भरत श्च धार्मिकः।

वृताः सुहृद्भि श्च विरेजुरध्वरे यथा सदस्यै स्सहितास्त्रयोऽग्नयः।।2.103.32।।


सत्यधृतिः steadfast in truth, सः राघवश्च that Rama, महानुभावः a man of great dignity, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, धार्मिकः practising righteouness, भरतश्च Bharata as well, सुहृद्भिः by their friends, वृताः surrounded by, अध्वरे in the sacrifice, सदस्यैः with the officiating priests सहिताः along with, त्रयः the three, अग्नयः यथा like fires, विरेजुः were resplendent.

Rama who was steadfast in truth, Lakshmana of great dignity and righteous Bharata surrounded by their friends were as resplendent as three sacrificial fires encircled by officiating priests.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे त्य्रुत्तरशततमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the one hundredthird sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.