Sloka & Translation

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

vasiṣṭhaḥ purataḥ kṛtvā dārāndaśarathasya ca.

abhicakrāma taṅ dēśaṅ rāmadarśanatarṣitaḥ৷৷2.103.1৷৷


vasiṣṭhaḥ Vasistha, daśarathasya Dasaratha's, dārān wives, purataḥ in front of, kṛtvā having placed, rāmadarśanatarṣitaḥ longing to see Rama, taṅ dēśam that place, abhicakrāma set out on foot.

Longing to see Rama, Vasistha, headed by the wives of Dasaratha, set out on foot
(where Rama was offering libations).
rājapatnyaśca gacchantyō mandaṅ mandākinīṅ prati.

dadṛśu statra tat tīrthaṅ rāmalakṣmaṇasēvitam৷৷2.103.2৷৷


rājapatnyaśca king's wives also, mandākinīṅ prati towards the river Mandakini, mandam slowly, gacchantyaḥ while proceeding, tatra there, rāmalakṣmaṇasēvitam frequented by Rama and Lakshmana, tat tīrtham that bathing place, dadṛśuḥ beheld.

The wives of the king while proceeding slowly towards the river Mandakini beheld the bathing place frequented by Rama and Lakshmana.
kausalyā bāṣpapūrṇēna mukhēna pariśuṣyatā.

sumitrāmabravīddīnā yāścānyā rājayōṣitaḥ৷৷2.103.3৷৷


kausalyā Kausalya, bāṣpapūrṇēna filled with tears, pariśuṣyatā emaciated, mukhēna with her countenance, dīnā in desolation, sumitrām to Sumitra, yāḥ anyāḥ the other, rājayōṣitaḥ to wives of the king, abravīt said.

Kausalya, with eyes filled with tears and her face emaciated, addressing Sumitra and
the other wives of the king sadly said:
idaṅ tēṣāmanāthānāṅ kliṣṭamakliṣṭakarmaṇām.

vanē prākkalanaṅ tīrthaṅ yē tē nirviṣayīkṛtāḥ৷৷2.103.4৷৷


idam this one, yē tē those, nirviṣayīkṛtāḥ expelled from the country, tēṣām their, ākliṣṭakarmaṇām men performing deeds with untiring energy, anāthānām unfortunate ones, kliṣṭam sufferings, prākkalanam to the east of, vanē in the forest, tīrtham 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.
ita ssumitrē! putrastē sadā jalamatandritaḥ.

svayaṅ harati saumitrirmama putrasya kāraṇāt৷৷2.103.5৷৷


sumitrē O Sumitra, tē putraḥ your son, saumitriḥ Lakshmana, mama putrasya my son's, kāraṇāt on account, sadā always, atandritaḥ without indolence, itaḥ from this place, jalam water, svayam himself, harati carries.

O Sumitra, your son Lakshmana, free from laziness, always carries water from here for the sake of my son.
jaghanyamapi tē putraḥ kṛtavānnatu garhitaḥ.

bhrāturyadarthasahitaṅ sarvaṅ ta dvihitaṅ guṇaiḥ৷৷2.103.6৷৷


tē putraḥ your son, jaghanyam servile task, api although, kṛtavān has done, garhitaḥ tu is indeed contemptible, na not, yat the service, bhrātuḥ to brother, arthasahitam for the benefit of, tat sarvam all that, guṇaiḥ with virtues, vihitam 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.
adyāya mapi tē putraḥ klēśānā matathōcitaḥ.

nīcānarthasamācāraṅ sajjaṅ karma pramuñcatu৷৷2.103.7৷৷


klēśānām of suffering, atathōcitaḥ unaccustomed, ayam this, tē putraḥ api your son also, adya now, nīcānarthasamācāram mean and distressing, sajjam commenced, karma work, this service, pramuñcatu 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.
dakṣiṇāgrēṣu darbhēṣu sā dadarśa mahītalē.

pituriṅgudipiṇyākaṅ nyastamāyatalōcanā৷৷2.103.8৷৷


āyatalōcanā large-eyed, sā that Kausalya, dakṣiṇāgrēṣu pointed towards south, darbhēṣu blades of darbha grass, mahītalē on the ground, pituḥ father's, nyastam placed, iṅgudipiṇyākam cakes of ingudi pulp, dadarśa beheld.

That large-eyed 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.
taṅ bhūmau piturārtēna nyastaṅ rāmēṇa vīkṣya sā.

uvāca dēvī kausalyā sarvā daśarathastriyaḥ৷৷2.103.9৷৷


dēvī queen, sā kausalyā that Kausalya, ārtēna distressed, rāmēṇa by Rama, pituḥ to father, nyastam placed, tam that pinda (pinda=offerings made to the departed soul), bhūmau on the ground, vīkṣya seeing, sarvāḥ all, daśarathastriyaḥ to wives of Dasaratha, uvāca 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:
idamikṣvākunāthasya rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ.

rāghavēṇa piturdattaṅ paśyataitadyathāvidhi৷৷2.103.10৷৷


rāghavēṇa by Rama, ikṣvākunāthasya for the sake of lord of the Ikshvaku race, mahātmanaḥ of the magnanimous, pituḥ father, rāghavasya for Dasaratha, yathāvidhi according to tradition, dattam given, idam this pinda, paśyata look at.

Have darsan of this pinda offered by Rama according to tradition to his magnanimous father, Dasaratha, lord of the Ikshvaku race.
tasya dēvasamānasya pārthivasya mahātmanaḥ.

naitadaupayikaṅ manyē bhuktabhōgasya bhōjanam৷৷2.103.11৷৷


dēvasamānasya of a man equal to god, bhuktabhōgasya of one who enjoyed every luxury, mahātmanaḥ of the magnaniouous, tasya pārthivasya of that lord of the earth, ētat this, bhōjanam food, aupayikam is appropriate, na manyē I don't think.

I do not think that this is an appropriate food for that god-like and great lord of the earth who enjoyed all luxury.
caturantāṅ mahīṅ bhuktvā mahēndrasadṛśō vibhuḥ.

kathamiṅgudipiṇyākaṅ sa bhuktē vasudhādhipaḥ৷৷2.103.12৷৷


mahēndrasadṛśaḥ resembling Indra, vibhuḥ king, saḥ vasudhādhipaḥ that lord of the earth, caturantām with four corners, mahīm the earth, bhuktvā having enjoyed, iṅgudipiṇyākam the cake of pulp of ingudi, katham how, bhuktē can he eat?

How can Indra-like Dasaratha, having ruled the earth bounded by four oceans, eat a cake of ingudi pulp?
atō duḥkhataraṅ lōkē na kiñcitpratibhāti mā.

yatra rāmaḥ piturdadyādiṅgudikṣōdamṛddhimān৷৷2.103.13৷৷


yatra at a point, ṛddhimān (formerly) prosperous, rāmaḥ Rama, pituḥ to father, iṅgudikṣōdam cake of ingudi nuts, dadyāt may offer, ataḥ more than this, lōkē in this world, duḥkhataram more painful, kiñcit anything, mā to me, na pratibhāti 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.
rāmēṇēṅgudipiṇyākaṅ piturdattaṅ samīkṣya mē.

kathaṅ duḥkhēna hṛdayaṅ na sphōṭati sahasradhā৷৷2.103.14৷৷


rāmēṇa by Rama, pituḥ to father, dattam offered, iṅgudipiṇyākam cake of ingudi pulp, samīkṣya on seeing, mē hṛdayam my heart, duḥkhēna out of sorrow, sahasradhā into a thousand pieces, katham
how, na sphōṭati 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?
śrutistu khalviyaṅ satyā laukikī pratibhāti mā.

yadannaḥ puruṣō bhavati tadannāstasya dēvatāḥ৷৷2.103.15৷৷


puruṣaḥ man, yadannaḥ bhavati whatever is his food, tasya his, dēvatāḥ gods, tadannāḥ they have the same food, iyam this, laukikī well-known in the world, śrutistu saying, satyā as truthful, mā about (to) me, pratibhāti khalu occurs to me.

The well-known saying in this world is that 'whatever food a man partakes, his gods also partake the same'. This dictum appears true (now).
ēvamārtāṅ sapatnyastā jagmurāśvāsya tāṅ tadā.

dadṛśuścāśramē rāmaṅ svargacyutamivāmaram৷৷2.103.16৷৷


tadā then, tāḥ those, sapatnyaḥ co-wives, ēvam in this way, ārtām distressed, tām her, āśvāsya having consoled, jagmuḥ went, āśramē in the hermitage, svargacyutam fallen from heaven, amaramiva like a god, rāmam Rama, dadṛśuśca beheld.

The co-wives, having thus consoled the distressed Kausalya, went to the hermitage. There they beheld Rama who looked like a god dislodged from heaven.
sarvabhōgaiḥ parityaktaṅ rāmaṅ samprēkṣya mātaraḥ.

ārtā mumucuraśrūṇi sasvaraṅ śōkakarśitāḥ৷৷2.103.17৷৷


śōkakarśitāḥ emaciated due to grief, mātaraḥ mothers, sarvabhōgaiḥ with all luxuries, parityaktam devoid of, rāmam Rama, samprēkṣya having seen, ārtāḥ overcome with sorrow, sasvaram in loud voice, aśrūṇi tears, mumucuḥ shed.

Beholding Rama devoid of all luxury, his mothers afflicted with grief, and overcome with sorrow, cried aloud, tears streaming down.
tāsāṅ rāmassamutthāya jagrāha caraṇān śubhān.

mātrūṇāṅ manujavyāghrassarvāsāṅ satyasaṅgaraḥ৷৷2.103.18৷৷


manujavyāghraḥ best among men, satyasaṅgaraḥ true to his promise, rāmaḥ Rama, samutthāya having risen, sarvāsām to all, tāsāṅ mātrūṇām of those mothers, śubhān auspicious, caraṇān feet, jagrāha clasped.

Rama, the best among men and true to his promise, rose and touched the auspicious feet of all his mothers (in reverence).
tāḥ pāṇibhi ssukhasparśairmṛdvaṅgulitalai śśubhaiḥ.

pramamārjū rajaḥ pṛṣṭhādrāmasyāyatalōcanāḥ৷৷2.103.19৷৷


āyatalōcanāḥ large-eyed ones, tāḥ they, sukhasparśaiḥ with pleasant touch, mṛdvaṅgulitalaiḥ with palms having delicate fingers, śubhaiḥ by auspicious, pāṇibhiḥ with hands, rāmasya Rama's, pṛṣṭhāt from the back of the body, rajaḥ the dust, pramamārjuḥ wiped.

Those large-eyed queens, their palms with delicate fingers and with auspicious hands with a pleasant touch, wiped the dust from the back of his body.
saumitrirapi tā ssarvā mātṛssamprēkṣya duḥkhitaḥ.

abhyavādayatāsaktaṅ śanai rāmādanantaram৷৷2.103.20৷৷


saumitrirapi Lakshmana also, sarvāḥ all, tāḥ mātrṛḥ those mothers, samprēkṣya after seeing, duḥkhitaḥ overcome with grief, rāmāt anantaram following Rama, śanaiḥ slowly, āsaktam with devotion,
abhyavādayat 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.
yathā rāmē tathā tasminsarvā vavṛtirē striyaḥ.

vṛttiṅ daśarathājjātē lakṣmaṇē śubhalakṣaṇē৷৷2.103.21৷৷


sarvāḥ all, striyaḥ wives, daśarathāt of Dasaratha, jātē born, śubhalakṣaṇē possessing auspicious qualities, tasmin lakṣmaṇē in the matter of Lakshmana, rāmē yathā just as in the case of Rama, tathā similarly, vṛttim conduct, vavṛtirē treated.

All the queens treated Lakshmana, born of Dasaratha and endowed with auspicious qualities, with the same love as they did to Rama.
sītā.pi caraṇāṅstāsāmupasaṅgṛhya duḥkhitā.

śvaśrūṇāmaśrupūrṇākṣī sā babhūvāgrataḥ sthitā৷৷2.103.22৷৷


sā sītāpi that Sita too, duḥkhitā overcome with sorrow, tāsām by those, śvaśrūṇām of mothers-in-law, caraṇān feet, upasaṅgṛhya grasping, aśrupūrṇākṣī eyes suffused with tears,
agrataḥ before them, sthitā babhūva stood.

Sita, too, overcome with grief, grasped the feet of her mothers-in-law and stood before them, her eyes full of tears.
tāṅ pariṣvajya duḥkhārtāṅ mātā duhitaraṅ yathā.

vanavāsakṛśāṅ dīnāṅ kausalyā vākyamabravīt৷৷2.103.23৷৷


kausalyā Kausalya, duḥkhārtām anguished, vanavāsakṛśām emaciated due to her stay in the forest, dīnām poor, tām her, mātā mother, duhitaraṅ yathā like a daughter, pariṣvajya having embraced, vākyam words, abravīt 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:
vidēharājasya sutā snuṣā daśarathasya ca.

rāmapatnī kathaṅ duḥkhaṅ samprāptā nirjanē vanē৷৷2.103.24৷৷


vidēharājasya of the king of Videha, sutā daughter, daśarathasya Dasaratha's, snuṣā daughter-in-law, rāmapatnī Rama's wife, nirjanē in desolation, vanē in the forest, katham how, duḥkham grief, samprāptā had undergone.

How is it that Sita, daughter of Janaka, king of Videha, daughter-in-law of Dasaratha and wife of Rama, has to undergo such hardships in the lonely forest.
padmamātapasantaptaṅ parikliṣṭamivōtpalam.

kāñcanaṅ rajasā dhvastaṅ kliṣṭaṅ candramivāmbudaiḥ৷৷2.103.25৷৷

mukhaṅ tē prēkṣya māṅ śōkō dahatyagnirivā.śrayam.

bhṛśaṅ manasi vaidēhi! vyasanāraṇisambhavaḥ৷৷2.103.26৷৷


vaidēhi! O Sita, ātapasantaptam scorched by sunshine, padmam iva like lotus, parikliṣṭam withered, utpalamiva like water-lily, rajasā by dust, dhvastam defiled, kāñcanam iva like gold, ambudaiḥ with clouds, kliṣṭam obscured, candram iva like the Moon, tē mukham your countenance, prēkṣya on seeing, vyasanāraṇisambhavaḥ kindled from the faggots of calamities, śōkaḥ grief, agniḥ fire, āśrayamiva like the stick, its refuge, mām me, manasi in the mind, bhṛśam greatly, dahati burning.

O Sita, after looking at your countenance, which is like a lotus, scorched by the sunshine, or like a withered water-lily 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.)
bruvantyāmēvamārtāyāṅ jananyāṅ bharatāgrajaḥ.

pādāvāsādya jagrāha vasiṣṭhasya ca rāghavaḥ৷৷2.103.27৷৷


ārtāyāṅ while in anguish, jananyām mother, ēvam in this way, bruvantyām while speaking, bharatāgrajaḥ Bharata's elder brother, rāghavaḥ Rama, āsādya having approached, vasiṣṭhasya Vasistha, pādau feet, jagrāha clasped.

While Rama's mother was uttering such words in anguish, Rama reached Vasistha and clasped his feet with reverence.
purōhitasyāgnisamasya vai tadā bṛhaspatērindramivāmarādhipaḥ.

pragṛhya pādau susamṛddhatējasassahaiva tēnōpavivēśa rāghavaḥ৷৷2.103.28৷৷


tadā then, rāghavaḥ Rama, agnisamasya of a man equivalent to fire, susamṛddha tējasaḥ of exceeding brilliance, purōhitasya family priest's, pādau feet, amarādhipaḥ king of the gods, indraḥ Indra, bṛhaspatēriva like Brihaspati's feet, pragṛhya clasping, tēna sahaiva with him, upavivēśa 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.
tatō jaghanyaṅ sahitai ssamantribhiḥ purapradhānaiśca sahaiva sainikaiḥ.

janēna dharmajñatamēna dharmavānupōpaviṣṭō bharata stadā.grajam৷৷2.103.29৷৷


tadā then, tataḥ jaghanyam then behind them, dharmavān righteous, saḥ bharataḥ sahitaiḥ along with Bharata, mantribhiḥ with counsellors purapradhānaiśca with leading citizens, sainikaissahaiva along with soldiers as well, dharmajñatamēna most knowledgeble one in the ways of righteousness, janēna by men, agrajam elder brother, Rama, upōpaviṣṭaḥ 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.
upōpaviṣṭa stu tadā sa vīryavāṅstapasvivēṣēṇa samīkṣya rāghavam.

śriyā jvalantaṅ bharataḥ kṛtāñjaliryathā mahēndraḥ prayataḥ prajāpatim৷৷2.103.30৷৷


vīryavān extremely powerful, saḥ that, bharataḥ Bharata, tapasvivēṣēṇa dressed as an ascetic, śriyā with majesty, jvalantam radiating, rāghavam Rama, prayataḥ purified by religious austerities, mahēndraḥ great Indra, prajāpatiṅ yathā like Brahma, the creator, samīkṣya having looked at, kṛtāñjaliḥ with folded palms, tadā then, upōpaviṣṭaḥ tu 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.
kimēṣa vākyaṅ bharatō.dya rāghavaṅ praṇamya satkṛtya ca sādhu vakṣyati.

itīva tasyāryajanasya tattvatō babhūva kautūhalamuttamaṅ tadā৷৷2.103.31৷৷


ēṣaḥ this, bharataḥ Bharata, adya now, rāghavam to Rama, praṇamya having paid his homage, satkṛtya ca also honouring him, sādhu of good, kiṅ vākyam what words, vakṣyati will speak, itīva thus as if, tadā of that, tasya those, āryajanasya of nobility, tattvataḥ truly, uttamam great, kautūhalam curiosity, babhūva 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.
sa rāghava ssatyadhṛti śca lakṣmaṇō mahānubhāvō bharata śca dhārmikaḥ.

vṛtāḥ suhṛdbhi śca virējuradhvarē yathā sadasyai ssahitāstrayō.gnayaḥ৷৷2.103.32৷৷


satyadhṛtiḥ steadfast in truth, saḥ rāghavaśca that Rama, mahānubhāvaḥ a man of great dignity, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, dhārmikaḥ practising righteouness, bharataśca Bharata as well, suhṛdbhiḥ by their friends, vṛtāḥ surrounded by, adhvarē in the sacrifice, sadasyaiḥ with the officiating priests sahitāḥ along with, trayaḥ the three, agnayaḥ yathā like fires, virējuḥ 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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē tyruttaraśatatamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the one hundredthird sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.