Sloka & Translation

[Rama hears from Kaikeyi about the boons promised by Dasarathaconsents to leave for the forest goes to meet Kausalya.]

तदप्रियममित्रघ्नो वचनं मरणोपमम्।

श्रुत्वा न विव्यथे रामः कैकेयीं चेदमब्रवीत्।।2.19.1।।


अमित्रघ्नः destroyer of enemies, रामः Rama, अप्रियम् unpleasant, मरणोपमम् like death, तत्
वचनम् those words, श्रुत्वा having heard, न विव्यथे was not pained, कैकेयीम् to Kaikeyi, इदम् these words, अब्रवीत् said.

The destroyer of enemies (Rama) did not feel distressed to hear these words painful like death. To Kaikeyi he said:
एवमस्तु गमिष्यामि वनं वस्तुमहं त्वितः।

जटाजिनधरो राज्ञः प्रतिज्ञामनुपालयन्।।2.19.2।।


एवम् अस्तु be it so अहम् I, राज्ञः king's, प्रतिज्ञाम् promise, अनुपालयन् while obeying, जटाजिनधरः wearing matted locks and deer skin , इतः from here, वनम् to the forest, वस्तुम् to live, गमिष्यामि shall go.

Be it so I shall go from here to the forest and live there with matted hair and deerskin to keep the promise of the king.
इदं तु ज्ञातुमिच्छामि किमर्थं मां महीपतिः।

नाभिनन्दति दुर्धर्षो यथापूर्वमरिन्दमः।।2.19.3।।


दुर्धर्षः unassailable, अरिन्दमः subduer of enemies, महीपतिः lord of the earth (king Dasaratha), यथापूर्वम् as usual, माम् me, किमर्थम् why, नाभिनन्दति does not greet, इदं तु this nevertheless, ज्ञातुम् to know, इच्छामि (I) wish.

Nevertheless I would like to know why king Dasaratha, an unassailable subduer of enemies does not greet me as usual.
मन्युर्न च त्वया कार्यो देवि ब्रूमि तवाग्रतः।

यास्यामि भव सुप्रीता वनं चीरजटाधरः।।2.19.4।।


देवि O Devi त्वया by you, मन्युः indignation, न कार्यः should not be expressed, तव your, अग्रतः in front of, ब्रूमि am telling, चीरजटाधरः wearing tattered clothes (bark robes) and with matted locks, वनम् to the forest, यास्यामि shall go, सुप्रीता भव rejoice.

O Devi you should not grieve. I declare in your presence that I shall go to the forest wearing tattered clothes (bark) and matted locks. Rejoice (to hear this).
हितेन गुरुणा पित्रा कृतज्ञेन नृपेण च।

नियुज्यमानो विस्रब्धः किं न कुर्यामहं प्रियम्।।2.19.5।।


हितेन seeking wellbeing, गुरुणा by guru, कृतज्ञेन grateful person, नृपेण च also the king, पित्रा by father, नियुज्यमानः having been ordered, अहम् I, विस्रब्ध without hesitation, प्रियम् what pleases (him), न कुर्यां किम् shall I not do?

Ordered by my father who is my wellwisher, my guru, one with a sense of gratidude and, above all a king, shall I not, without hesitation do what pleases him?
अलीकं मानसं त्वेकं हृदयं दहतीव मे।

स्वयं यन्नाह मां राजा भरतस्याभिषेचनम्।।2.19.6।।


भरतस्य Bharata's, अभिषेचनम् consecration, राजा king, स्वयम् himself, माम् to me, यत् नाह which he did not tell, एकम् that one, मानसम् in my mind, अलीकम् one which hurts, मे my , हृदयम् heart, दहतीव as if burning.

One thing which hurts me is that the king himself did not tell me about Bharata's
consecration. That alone is burning my heart.
अहं हि सीतां राज्यं च प्राणानिष्टान्धनानि च।

हृष्टो भ्रात्रे स्वयं दद्यां भरतायाप्रचोदितः।।2.19.7।।


अहम् I, अप्रचोदितः unurged, हृष्टः pleased, भ्रात्रे to my brother, भरताय for Bharata, सीताम् Sita, राज्यम् kingdom, प्राणान् life, इष्टान् most coveted, धनानि च wealth also, स्वयम् myself, दद्याम् shall give.

Unurged, I would have gladly given to Bharata the kingdom, wealth, my most
coveted life, and even Sita.
किं पुनर्मनुजेन्द्रेण स्वयं पित्रा प्रचोदितः।

तव च प्रियकामार्थं प्रतिज्ञामनुपालयन्।।2.19.8।।


पित्रा by father, मनुजेन्द्रेण by the king, स्वयम् on his own, प्रचोदितः having been ordered, तव your, प्रियकामार्थम् for the sake of (your) pleasure, प्रतिज्ञाम् promise, अनुपालयन् to keep up, किं पुन: needless to say.

In order to keep the promise I shall do everything to fulfil your desire. Needless to say that my father has ordered this.
तदाश्वासय हीमं त्वं किन्विदं यन्महीपतिः।

वसुधासक्तनयनो मन्दमश्रूणि मुञ्चति।।2.19.9।।


तत् further, त्वम् you, इमम् him, आश्वासय console, महीपतिः king, वसुधासक्तनयनः with eyes fixed upon the ground, मन्दम् slowly, अश्रूणि tears, मुञ्चति इति यत् is shedding, इदं this, किं नु why indeed?

Please console him. Why is it that the king with his eyes fixed upon the ground is shedding tears drop by drop?
गच्छन्तु चैवानयितुं दूताश्श्रीघ्रजवैर्हयैः।

भरतं मातुलकुलादद्यैव नृपशासनात्।।2.19.10।।


नृपशासनात् by the king's order, मातुलकुलात् from his maternal uncle's house, भरतम् Bharata, आनयितुम् to bring back, दूताः messengers, शीघ्रजवैः speedy, हयैः horses, अद्यैव (today itself) right now, गच्छन्तु let go.

With the king's orders let messengers go right away on swift horses to fetch Bharata from his maternal uncle's house.
दण्डकारण्यमेषोऽहमितो गच्छामि सत्वरः।

अविचार्य पितुर्वाक्यं समा वस्तुं चतुर्दश।।2.19.11।।


एषः अहम् as for me, पितुः father's, वाक्यम् word, अविचार्य without deliberating, सत्वरः at once, चतुर्दश fourteen, समाः years, वस्तुम् to live, इतः from here, दण्डकारण्यम् to Dandaka forest, गच्छामि will go.

As for me, without deliberating on the propriety of my father's orders, I shall go from here at once to Dandaka forest to live (there) for fourteen years.
सा हृष्टा तस्य तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा रामस्य कैकयी।

प्रस्थानं श्रद्धधाना हि त्वरयामास राघवम्।।2.19.12।।


सा कैकयी that Kaikeyi, तस्य रामस्य such Rama's, तत् वाक्यम् those words, श्रुत्वा having heard, हृष्टा happy, प्रस्थानम् departure, श्रद्धधाना believing, राघवम् to Rama, त्वरयामास hastened (him).

Kaikeyi, happy to hear the words of the son of the Raghus as she was convinced that his departure (to the forest) was certain, hastened him (to set out).
एवं भवतु यास्यन्ति दूता श्शीघ्रजवैर्हयैः।

भरतं मातुलकुलादुपावर्तयितुं नराः।।2.19.13।।


एवं भवतु let it happen, मातुलकुलात् from maternal uncle's house, भरतम् to Bharata, उपावर्तयितुम् to bring him back, दूताः messengers, नराः men, शीघ्रजवैः swiftfooted, हयैः by horses, यास्यन्ति will go.

Let it be so. Messengers shall go at once on swift horses to bring Bharata from his maternal uncle's house.
तव त्वहं क्षमं मन्ये नोत्सुकस्य विलम्बनम्।

राम तस्मादित श्शीघ्रं वनं त्वं गन्तुमर्हसि।।2.19.14।।


तु but, उत्सुकस्य eager (to go to the forest), तव your, विलंबनम् delay, क्षमम् appropriate, अहम् I, न मन्ये do not think, राम Rama, तस्मात् therefore, त्वम् you, इतः from here, शीघ्रम् immediately, वनम् to the forest, गन्तुम् to go, अर्हसि behoves you.

Since you are eager (to go to the forest), I do not think it is proper to delay. O Rama therefore it behoves you to proceed immediately from here to the forest.
व्रीडान्वित स्स्वयं यच्च नृपस्त्वां नाभिभाषते।

नैतत्किञ्चिन्नरश्रेष्ठ मन्युरेषोऽपनीयताम्।।2.19.15।।


नरश्रेष्ठ best among men, Rama, व्रीडान्वित: being ashamed, नृपः king, स्वयम् himself, त्वाम् you, यत् since, नाभिभाषते does not speak, एतत् this one, न किञ्चित् is nothing, एषः this, मन्युः distress, अपनीयताम् you may dispel.

Out of shame the king is unable to speak to you. There is nothing other than this. O Rama, the best of men, dispel this distress (of mind).
यावत्त्वं न वनं यातः पुरादस्मादभित्वरन्।

पिता तावन्न ते राम स्नास्यते भोक्ष्यतेऽपि वा।।2.19.16।।


राम Rama, त्वम् you, अभित्वरन् hastening up, अस्मात् this, पुरात् from this city, यावत् as long as, वनम् to the forest, न यातः do not go, तावत् till then, ते your, पिता father, स्नास्यते will neither bathe, न भोक्ष्यतेपि वा nor will eat.

O Rama, as long as you do not hasten to leave this city for the forest, your father will neither bathe nor eat.
धिक्कष्टमिति निःश्वस्य राजा शोकपरिप्लुतः।

मूर्छितो न्यपतत्तस्मिन्पर्यङ्के हेमभूषिते।।2.19.17।।


राजा king, धिक् fie, कष्टम् what a calamity, इति thus, निःश्वस्य sighing, शोकपरिप्लुतः overwhelmed with sorrow, मूर्छितः having fainted, हेमभूषिते adorned with gold, तस्मिन् पर्यङ्के on that couch, न्यपतत् fell down.

'Fie, what a calamity' sighing thus, the king, overwhelmed with sorrow, fainted and fell back on the golden couch.
रामोऽप्युत्थाप्य राजानं कैकेय्याभिप्रचोदितः।

कशयेवाहतो वाजी वनं गन्तुं कृतत्वरः।।2.19.18।।


कैकेय्या by Kaikeyi, अभिप्रचोदितः urged, रामोऽपि Rama also, राजानम् the king, उत्थाप्य having lifted, कशया by a whip आहतः flogged, वाजीव like a horse, वनम् to the forest, गन्तुम् to depart, कृतत्वरः hastened

Rama lifted up the king and, urged by Kaikeyi, hastened to depart for the forest like a horse flogged by a whip.
तदप्रियमनार्याया वचनं दारुणोदयम्।

श्रुत्वा गतव्यथो रामः कैकेयीं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.19.19।।


रामः Rama, अनार्यायाः of that ignoble (lady), दारुणोदयम् of dreadful consequence, अप्रियम्
unpleasant, तत् वचनम् those words, श्रुत्वा having heard, गतव्यथः bereft of pain, कैकेयीम् to Kaikeyi, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् said.

Rama listened to the dreadful, cruel words of the ignoble woman but, without feeling any sorrow, said to Kaikeyi, these words:
नाहमर्थपरो देवि लोकमावस्तुमुत्सहे।

विद्धिमामृषिभिस्तुल्यं केवलं धर्ममास्थितम्।।2.19.20।।


देवि O Devi, अहम् I, अर्थपरः interested in wealth, न not, लोकम् this world, आवस्तुम् to live,
उत्सहे am striving, केवलम् only, धर्मम् righteousness, आस्थितम् devoted to, माम् me, ऋषिभिः with ascetics, तुल्यम् similar, विद्धि know.

O Devi, I have no desire to live in this world for the sake of wealth. Know me as one with the sages who are devoted only to righteousness.
यदत्र भवतः किञ्चिच्छक्यं कर्तुं प्रियं मया।

प्राणानपि परित्यज्य सर्वथा कृतमेव तत्।।2.19.21।।


मया by me, अत्र भवतः to the venerable (father), किञ्चित् even a little, यत् प्रियम् which pleases him, कर्तुम् to do, शक्यम् is possible, तत् that one, प्राणान् life, परित्यज्यापि even by giving up, सर्वथा in every way, कृतमेव it is done.

If I am able to do anything which pleases my venerable father, it shall be done in every possible manner, may be even at the cost of my life.
न ह्यतो धर्मचरणं किञ्चिदस्ति महत्तरम्।

यथा पितरिशुश्रूषा तस्य वा वचनक्रिया।।2.19.22।।


पितरि in respect of one's father, शुश्रूषा service, तस्य his, वचनक्रिया वा or carrying out orders, यथा as, अतः than that, महत्तरं greater, धर्मचरणम् observing righteousness, किञ्चित् anything, नास्ति हि is not there.

There is no greater observance of righteousness than doing service to one's father or carrying out his orders.
अनुक्तोऽप्यत्रभवता भवत्या वचनादहम्।

वने वत्स्यामि विजने वर्षाणीह चतुर्दश।।2.19.23।।


अहम् I, अत्र भवता by this venerable (father), अनुक्तोपि even without being told, भवत्याः your, वचनात् by your word, इह now, चतुर्दश वर्षाणि fourteen years, विजने solitary, वने in the forest, वत्स्यामि will live.

Though this has not been said by my respectable father himself, I shall live in the forlorn forest for fourteen years in accordance with your word.
न नूनं मयि कैकयि किञ्चिदाशंससे गुणम्।

यद्राजानमवोचस्त्वं ममेश्वरतरा सती।।2.19.24।।


कैकेयि O Kaikeyi, त्वम् you, मम in my affair, ईश्वरतरा सती even though capable of exercising greater authority, राजानम् to the king, यत् अवोचः for which you pleaded, मयि in me, किञ्चित् even a little, गुणम् virtue, न आशंससे do not expect, नूनम् this is certain.

Since in my case you have exercised more authority (than my father) and pleaded with the king, it follows, you, for sure, do not see any virtue in me, O Kaikeyi (Or else, you should not have asked for Bharata's kingship).
यावन्मातरमाप्नच्छे सीतां चानुनयाम्यहम्।

ततोऽद्यैव गमिष्यामि दण्डकानां महद्वनम्।।2.19.25।।


मातरम् my mother, यावत् आप्नच्छे until I take leave, सीतां च Sita also, अहम् I, अनुनयामि console, ततः after that, अद्यैव today itself, महत् great (wild), दण्डकानां वनम् Dandaka forest, गमिष्यामि I shall go.

After taking leave of my mother and consoling Sita, today itself I shall go to that wild Dandaka forest.
भरतः पालयेद्राज्यं शुश्रूषेच्च पितुर्यथा।

तथा भवत्या कर्तव्यं स हि धर्म स्सनातनः।।2.19.26।।


भरतः Bharata, यथा so that, राज्यम् the kingdom, पालयेत् rules, पितुः for father, शुश्रूषेच्च serves, तथा thus, भवत्या by you, कर्तव्यम् it should be done, सः that, सनातनः eternal, धर्मः हि duty indeed.

It is your bounden duty to see that Bharata rules the kingdom and serves father.
स रामस्य वचश्श्रृत्वा भृशं दुःखहतः पिता।

शोकादशक्नुवन्वकतुं प्ररुरोद महास्वनम्।।2.19.27।।


रामस्य Rama's, वचः words, श्रुत्वा having heard, पिता father, सः that (Dasaratha), भृशम् greatly, दुःखहतः hit with grief, शोकात् out of sorrow, वक्तुम् to speak, अशक्नुवन् was not able, महास्वनम् with a loud voice, प्ररुरोद cried.

Father (Dasaratha), too tormented with grief to speak cried out loudly on hearing the words of Rama.
वन्दित्वा चरणौ रामो विसंज्ञस्य पितुस्तथा।

कैकेय्याश्चाप्यनार्यायाः निष्पपात महाद्युतिः।।2.19.28।।


महाद्युतिः effulgent, रामः Rama, विसंज्ञस्य who had fallen into a swoon, पितुः father's, चरणौ feet, तथा and, अनार्यायाः of the ignoble, कैकेय्याश्चापि those of Kaikeyi, वन्दित्वा bowing down with respect, निष्पपात set out.

Effulgent Rama bowed at the feet of his father who had fallen into a swoon. He bowed at the feet of the ignoble Kaikeyi and set out.
स रामः पितरं कृत्वा कैकेयीं च प्रदक्षिणम्।

निष्क्रम्यान्तःपुरात्तस्मात्स्वं ददर्श सुहृज्जनम्।।2.19.29।।


सः रामः that Rama, पितरम् father, कैकेयीं च also, Kaikeyi, प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा having made circumambulation, तस्मात् from that, अन्तःपुरात् from that harem, निष्क्रम्य after stepping out, स्वम् own, सुहृज्जनम् friends, ददर्श saw.

Hardly had Rama withdrawn from the harem after circumambulating his father and Kaikeyi when he saw his friends .
तं बाष्पपरिपूर्णाक्षः पृष्ठतोऽनुजगाम ह।

लक्ष्मणः परमक्कृध्दः स्सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः।।2.19.30।।


सुमित्रानन्दवर्धनः enhancer of the delight of Sumitra, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, परमक्कृद्धः furious, बाष्पपरिपूर्णाक्षः with eyes full of tears, तम् him, पृष्ठतः behind, अनुजगाम ह followed.

Lakshmana, the enhancer of Sumitra's delight, with his eyes brimming with tears, followed him in a rage.
अभिषेचनिकं भाण्डं कृत्वा रामः प्रदक्षिणम्।

शनैर्जगाम सापेक्षो दृष्टिं तत्राविचालयन्।।2.19.31।।


रामः Rama, अभिषेचनिकम् pertaining to consecration, भाण्डम् vessels, प्रदक्षिणम् कृत्वा having circumambulated, सापेक्षः with attention, तत्र there, दृष्टिम् glance, अविचालयन् without moving, शनैः slowly, जगाम moved away.

Rama circumambulated the vessels meant for the consecration ceremony and steadily glancing at them with attention slowly moved away.
न चास्य महतीं लक्ष्मीं राज्यनाशोऽपकर्षति।

लोककान्तस्य कान्तत्वाच्छीतरश्मेरिव क्षपा।।2.19.32।।


कान्तत्वात् because of his loveliness, लोककान्तस्य of the beloved of the people, अस्य his, महतीम् great, लक्ष्मीम् splendour, शीतरश्मेः of coolrayed (of Moon), क्षपा इव like night, राज्यनाशः loss of kingdom, न अपकर्षति did not diminish.

Rama was the beloved of the people. Loss of kingdom did not diminish his splendour just like night cannot diminish the splendour of the coolrayed Moon.
न वनं गन्तुकामस्य त्यजतश्च वसुन्धराम्।

सर्वलोकातिगस्येव लक्ष्यते चित्तविक्रिया।।2.19.33।।


वनम् to the forest, गन्तुकामस्य having determined to go, वसुन्धराम् the earth, त्यजतश्च renouncing, सर्वलोकातिगस्येव who is beyond all worldly affairs, चित्तविक्रिया change of mind, नलक्ष्यते could not to be seen.

Rama was determined to renounce the kingdom and go to the forest. So none could see any change in his mind. (For) he was one beyond all worldly affairs.
प्रतिषिध्य शुभं छत्रं व्यजने च स्वलङ्कृते।

विसर्जयित्वा स्वजनं रथं पौरांस्तथा जनान्।।2.19.34।।

धारयन् मनसा दुःखमिन्द्रियाणि निगृह्य च।

प्रविवेशात्मवान्वेश्म मातुरप्रियशंसिवान्।2.19.35।।


आत्मवान् selfpossessed, शुभम् auspicious, छत्रम् umbrella, स्वलङ्कृते welldecorated, व्यजने च also two fans, प्रतिषिध्य preventing, स्वजनम् (his) own kinsmen, रथम् chariot, तथा and, पौरान् citydwellers, जनान् people, विसर्जयित्वा sending forth, मनसा with mind, दुःखम् sorrow, धारयन् holding, इन्द्रियाणि senses, निगृह्य च having controlled, अप्रियशंसिवान् with a view to communicate the unpleasant news, मातुः mother's, वेश्म residence, प्रविवेश entered.

Selfpossessed Rama held back his sorrow within his mind, abandoned the
auspicious umbrella, welldecorated fans and chariot, sent away kinsmen, citydwellers and others and entered his mother's residence to break the unpleasant news.
सर्वोह्यभिजनश्श्रीमान् श्रीमतस्सत्यवादिनः।

नालक्षयत रामस्य किञ्चिदाकारमानने।।2.19.36।।


श्रीमान् glorious, सर्वः all, अभिजनः people around him, श्रीमतः of the dignified, सत्यवादिनः of the truthful, रामस्य Rama's, आनने in the countenance, किंचित् even a little, आकारम् change, नालक्षयत did not see.

All the glorious people around him did not observe any change in the countenance of that dignified and truthful Rama.
उचितं च महाबाहुर्नजहौहर्षमात्मनः।

शारद स्समुदीर्णांशुश्चन्द्रस्तेज इवात्मजम्।।2.19.37।।


महाबाहुः mightyarmed, समुदीर्णांशुः with profuse radiance, शारदः autumnal, चन्द्र: the Moon, आत्मजम् his own, तेज इव like brightness, आत्मनः his own, उचितम् fitting, हर्षम् cheer, न जहौ did not leave.

The mightyarmed (Rama) did not leave his habitual cheerfulness like the autumnal Moon his own brightness.
वाचा मधुरया रामस्सर्वं सम्मानयञ्जनम्।

मातुस्समीपं धीरात्मा प्रविवेश महायशाः।।2.19.38।।


धीरात्मा firmminded, महायशाः illustrious, रामः Rama, मधुरया वाचा in sweet words, जनम् people, सम्मानयन् honouring, मातुः mother's, समीपम् presence, प्रविवेश entered.

Firmminded and illustrious Rama treated all people with sweet words and approached his mother.
तं गुणैस्समतां प्राप्तो भ्राता विपुलविक्रमः।

सौमित्रिरनुवव्राज धारयन्दुःखमात्मजम्।।2.19.39।।


गुणैः in virtues, समतां equality, प्राप्तः obtained, विपुलविक्रमः with great power, भ्राता brother, सौमित्रिः Lakshmana, आत्मजम् born in his mind, दुःखम् sorrow, धारयन् controlling, तम् him, अनुवव्राज followed.

Mighty Lakshmana as virtuous as his brother held the sorrow in his mind and followed him.
प्रविश्य वेश्मातिभृशं मुदाऽन्वितं

समीक्ष्य तां चार्थविपत्तिमागताम्।

न चैव रामोऽत्रजगामविक्रियां

सुहृज्जनस्यात्मविपत्तिशङ्कया।।2.19.40।।


रामः Rama, अतिभृशम् very great, मुदा rejoicing, अन्वितम् filled with, प्रविश्य having entered, वेश्म palace, आगताम् arrived, ताम he, अर्थविपत्तिम् obstruction to the objective, समीक्ष्य having seen, अत्र there, सुहृज्जनस्य for his friends, आत्मविपत्तिशङ्कया with the fear that they will be distressed, विक्रियाम् change, न चैव जगाम did not obtain.

Rama entered the palace which was full of great rejoicing. He did not disclose the obstruction that had come on the way of achieving his objective for fear of causing distress to his friends.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे एकोनविंशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the nineteenth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.