Sloka & Translation

[Kausalya insists on Rama to take her along with him to the forest --Rama tells her that service to one's husband is the supreme virtue--Kauslaya allows Rama to proceed.]

तं समीक्ष्य त्ववहितं पितुर्निर्देश पालने।

कौशल्या बाष्पसंरुद्धा वचो धर्मिष्ठमब्रवीत्।।2.24.1।।


तम् him, पितुः father's, निर्देशपालने in carrying out the command, अवहितम् determined, समीक्ष्य having perceived, कौशल्या Kausalya, बाष्पसंरुध्दा with choked tears, धर्मिष्ठम् pious, वचः words, अब्रवीत् said.

Having perceived that Rama was determined to carry out his father's command, Kausalya with her throat choked with tears said these words of piety:
अदृष्टदुःखो धर्मात्मा सर्वभूतप्रियंवदः।

मयि जातो दशरथात्कथमुञ्छेन वर्तयेत्।।2.24.2।।


अदृष्टदुःखः one who had never experienced sorrow, धर्मात्मा righteous, सर्वभूतप्रियंवदः one who speaks pleasantly to all, दशरथात् of Dasaratha, मयि to me, जातः born, उञ्छेन by collecting the grains fallen on the ground, कथम् how, वर्तयेत् will maintain.

How will this righteous Rama, born to me through Dasaratha, who speaks pleasantly to all, and who has not experienced any sorrow before live on the grains gleaned?
यस्य भृत्याश्च दासाश्च मृष्टान्यन्नानि भुञ्जते।

कथं स भोक्ष्यतेऽनाथो वने मूलफलान्ययम्।।2.24.3।।


यस्य whose, भृत्याश्च servants,दासाश्च attendants, मृष्टानि delicious, अन्नानि cooked rice,
भुञ्जते enjoy, अथः hereafter, सः अयम् such Rama, वने in the forest, मूलफलानि roots and fruits, कथम् how, भोक्ष्यते will eat?

How will Rama live on roots and fruits in the forest hereafter when his servants and attendants enjoy delicious food (here)?
कः एतच्छ्रद्दधेच्छ्रुत्वा कस्य वा न भवेद्भयम्।

गुणवान्दयितो राज्ञा राघवो यद्विवास्यते।।2.24.4।।


गुणवान् virtuous, दयितः affectionate, राघवः Rama, राज्ञा by the king, विवास्यते इति यत् will be exiled in this way, एतत् all this, श्रुत्वा having heard, कः who, श्रद्धधेत् will believe, कस्य वा to whom, भयम् fear, न भवेत् will not cause.

Who will believe that the virtuous and affectionate scion of the Raghus is exiled this way by the king? Who will not tremble in fear to hear this?
नूनं तु बलवान् लोके कृतान्तस्सर्वमादिशन्।

लोके रामाभिरामस्त्वं वनं यत्र गमिष्यसि।।2.24.5।।


राम O Rama, लोके अभिरामः delight of this world, त्वम् you, वनम् to the forest, यत्र गमिष्यसि if ordered to go, लोके in the world, सर्वम् everything, आदिशन् while ordering, कृतान्तः destiny, नूनम् certainly, बलवान् allpowerful.

O Rama if you, being the delight of the world, are (ordered) to go to the forest, it
has to be said certainly that destiny which rules everything is allpowerful.
अयं तु मामात्मभव स्तवादर्शनमारुतः।

विलापदुःखसमिधो रुदिताश्रुहुताहुतिः।।2.24.6।।

चिन्ताबाष्पमहाधूमस्तवागमनचित्तजः।

कर्शयित्वा भृशं पुत्र निश्वासायाससम्भवः।।2.24.7।।

त्वया विहीनामिह मां शोकाग्निरतुलो महान्।

प्रधक्ष्यति यथा कक्षं चित्रभानुर्हिमात्यये।।2.24.8।।


पुत्र O son, आत्मभवः born from the body, तव अदर्शन मारुतः (my) sighs that will suggest your absence, विलापदुःखसमिधः with fuels of lamentation and affliction, रुदिताश्रुहुताहुतिः invoking with the offering of oblations of (my) wailing tears, चिन्ताबाष्पमहाधूमः with great smoke of vapour arising from anxious thoughts, तव your, आगमन चित्तजः born from the thought of your return, निश्वासायाससम्भवः produced from sighs of exhaustion, अतुलः incomparable, महान् great, अयं शोकाग्नि: this fire of grief, इह now, त्वया by you, विहीनाम् deprived, माम् me, भृशम् very much, कर्शयित्वा having emaciated, हिमात्यये in summer, चित्रभानुः fire, कक्षं यथा like or a bunch of dry grass, प्रधक्ष्यति will burn.

After your departure, O son, an incomparably huge fire of grief with sighs of exhaustion will burst from my body, fanned by the wind of your absence and fuelled by lamentation and affliction. My wailing tears will be the oblations. My anxiety will be the great smoke rising vapour. This fire of grief will leave me very much emaciated and burn me like fire burns a forest of dead trees or a bunch of dry grass in summer.
कथं हि धेनु स्स्वं वत्सं गच्छन्तं नानुगच्छति।

अहं त्वाऽनुगमिष्यामि यत्र पुत्र गमिष्यसि।।2.24.9.।।


धेनुः cow, गच्छन्तम् wandering, स्वं वत्सम् its calf, कथं हि how, नानुगच्छति will not follow, पुत्र son, यत्र whereever, गमिष्यसि you will go, अहम् I, त्वा you, अनुगमिष्यामि will follow.

I shall follow you wherever you go, my son, like a cow following its calf. How is it possible for a cow not to follow its wandering calf?
तथा निगदितं मात्रा तद्वाक्यं पुरुषर्षभः।

श्रुत्वा रामोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं मातरं भृशदुःखिताम्।।2.24.10।।


पुरुषर्षभः best among men, रामः Rama, मात्रा by mother, तथा that way, निगदितम् spoken, तद्वाक्यम् those words, श्रुत्वा on hearing, भृशदुःखिताम् deeply afflicted, मातरम् addressing his
mother, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् said.

At these words of his mother who was deeply afflicted Rama, best among men replied:
कैकेय्या वञ्चितो राजा मयि चारण्यमाश्रिते।

भवत्या च परित्यक्तो न नूनं वर्तयिष्यति।।2.24.11।।


कैकेय्या by Kaikeyi, वञ्चितः was deceived, राजा king, मयि when I, अरण्यम् forest, आश्रिते will be resorting to, भवत्या च by you also, परित्यक्तः deserted, न वर्तयिष्यति he will not live, नूनम् this is certain.

The king was deceived by Kaikeyi. If you also desert him after I have gone to the forest, surely he will not live.
भर्तुः किल परित्यागो नृशंसः केवलं स्त्रियाः।

स भवत्या न कर्तव्यो मनसाऽपि विगर्हितः।।2.24.12।।


स्त्रियाः for a woman, भर्तुः husband's, परित्यागः desertion, केवलम् only, नृशंसः किल is a cruel act indeed, विगर्हितः is abominable, सः that, भवत्या by you, मनसापि even in mind, न कर्तव्यः must not be done.

For a woman, to desert her husband is a cruel act. You must not do that which is contemptible even to think.
यावज्जीवति काकुत्स्थः पिता मे जगतीपतिः।

शुश्रूषा क्रियतां तावत्सहि धर्मस्सनातनः।।2.24.13।।


मे पिता my father, जगतीपतिः lord of the earth, काकुत्स्थः the descendant of Kakutstha, यावत् as long as, जीवति lives, तावत् till then, शुश्रूषा service, क्रियताम् be done, सः that one, धर्मः हि सनातनः it is eternal virtue.

As long as the king, my father, the lord of the earth, a descendant of Kakutshta lives, you shall serve him. This is eternal virtue (in a woman).
एवमुक्ता तु रामेण कौशल्या शुभदर्शना।

तथेत्युवाच सुप्रीता राममक्लिष्टकारिणम्।।2.24.14।।


रामेण by Rama, एवम् thus, उक्ता having been said, शुभदर्शना auspiciouslooking lady, कौशल्या Kausalya, सुप्रीता exceedingly pleased, अक्लिष्टकारिणम् unshakable in actions, रामम् to Rama, तथेति 'Be it so', उवाच said.

At these words of Rama, unshakable in action, auspiciouslooking Kausalya, exceedingly pleased said 'Be it so'.
एवमुक्तस्तु वचनं रामो धर्मभृतां वरः।

भूयस्तामब्रवीद्वाक्यं मातरं भृशदुःखिताम्।।2.24.15।।


धर्मभृतां among upholders of rightcouness, वरः foremost, रामः Rama, एवम् in this way, वचनम् words, उक्तः having been spoken to, भृश दुःखिताम् in deep grief, ताम् her, मातरम् to mother, भूय: again, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् said.

Thus addressed, Rama, the foremost among upholders of righteousness, said to his mother who was in deep grief:
मया चैव भवत्या च कर्तव्यं वचनं पितुः।

राजा भर्ता गुरु श्श्रेष्ठस्सर्वेषामीश्वरः प्रभुः।।2.24.16।।


मया चैव by me as well, भवत्या च by you also, पितुः father's, वचनम् words, कर्तव्यम् fit to be carried out, राजा king, भर्ता supporter husband, गुरुः guru, श्रेष्ठः best, सर्वेषाम् for all, ईश्वरः is the lord, प्रभुः master.

You and I should obey father's words. He is the king, supporter, preceptor, the best (among men) and lord and master of all of us.
इमानि तु महारण्ये विहृत्य नव पञ्च च।

वर्षाणि परमप्रीतः स्थास्यामि वचने तव।।2.24.17।।


इमानि these, नव पञ्च च nine plus five (fourteen), वर्षाणि years, महारण्ये in the wild forest, विहृत्य having roamed, परमप्रीतः with supreme pleasure, तव your, वचने words (obeying your word), स्थास्यामि shall abide by.

Roaming the wild forest for fourteen years I shall abide by your words with supreme pleasure.
एवमुक्ता प्रियं पुत्रं बाष्पपूर्णानना तदा।

उवाच परमार्ता तु कौशल्या पुत्रवत्सला।।2.24.18।।


तदा then, एवम् thus, उक्ता addressed, पुत्रवत्सला affectionate towards (her) son, कौशल्या Kausalya, परमार्ता a greatly distressed, बाष्पपूर्णानना with her face (eyes) filled with tears, प्रियम् beloved, पुत्रम् son, उवाच said.

Thus addressed by Rama, the affectionate Kausalya, deeply distressed, her eyes filled with tears, said to her beloved son:
आसां राम सपत्नीनां वस्तुं मध्ये न मे क्षमम्।

नय मामपि काकुत्स्थ वनं वन्यां मृगीं यथा।।2.24.19।।

यदि ते गमने बुद्धिः कृता पितुरपेक्षया।


राम O Rama, मे for me, आसाम् of these, सपत्नीनाम् of cowives, मध्ये in the midst of, वस्तुम् to live, न क्षमम् not able, काकुत्स्थ scion of the Kakutstha race (Rama), पितुः with regard to your father, अपेक्षया with wish, गमने in going away, ते to you, बुद्धि: decision, कृता यदि if it is made, मामपि also me, वन्याम् relating to the forest (wild), मृगीं यथा like a female deer, वनम् to the forest, नय take me.

O Rama, I am not able to live in the midst of these cowives. O descendant of Kakutstha, if you have resolved to go to the forest as per the wishes of your father take mea wild deeralong with you into the forest.
तां तथा रुदतीं रामो रुदन्वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.24.20।।

जीवन्त्या हि स्त्रिया भर्ता दैवतं प्रभुरेव च


रामः Rama, तथा that way, रुदतीम् wailing, ताम् to her, रुदन् while (himself) sobbing, वचनम् words, अब्रवीत् said, जीवन्त्या for a living lady, स्त्रियाः for a woman, भर्ता husband alone, दैवतम् is god, प्रभुरेव च is also lord (master).

Adding his tears to his mother's who was wailing Rama said As long as a woman lives, her husband is her god and also her lord (master).
भवत्या मम चैवाद्य राजा प्रभवति प्रभुः।

न ह्यनाथा वयं राज्ञा लोकनाथेन धीमता।।2.24.21।।


प्रभुः powerful one, राजा king, अद्य now, भवत्याः for you, मम च for me also, प्रभवति has the authority to command, लोकनाथेन by lord of the entire world, धीमता by sagacious one, राज्ञा by king, वयम् we, अनाथाः without master, न हि are not.

The powerful king has authority over you as well as over me. As long as he is the sagacious lord of the entire world, how can we be without a master?
भरतश्चापि धर्मात्मा सर्वभूतप्रियंवदः।

भवतीमनुवर्तेत स हि धर्मरतस्सदा।।2.24.22।।


धर्मात्मा virtuous, सर्वभूतप्रियंवदः who speaks pleasantly to all beings, भरतश्चापि Bharata also, भवतीम् you, अनुवर्तेत will follow, सः he, सदा always, धर्मरतः हि is attached to righteousness.

Bharata, who is virtuous and speaks pleasantly to all beings and who is always
attached to righteousness will surely remain obedient to you.
यथा मयि तु निष्क्रान्ते पुत्रशोकेन पार्थिवः।

श्रमं नावाप्नुयात्किञ्चिदप्रमत्ता तथा कुरु।।2.24.23।।


मयि me, निष्क्रान्ते having departed to the forest, पार्थिवः king, पुत्रशोकेन with grief for his son, यथा how, किञ्चित् even a little, श्रमम् effort, न अवाप्नुयात् will not obtain, तथा in that way, अप्रमत्ता with attention, कुरु do.

After my departure, you must see that the king is not overpowered by grief for his son and struggles as little as possible.
दारुणश्चाप्ययं शोको यथैनं न विनाशयेत्।

राज्ञो वृद्धस्य सततं हितं चर समाहिता।।2.24.24।।


दारुणः terrible, अयं शोकः this grief, एनम् him, यथा in a manner, न विनाशयेत् will not ruin (his health), समाहिता with composed mind, वृद्धस्य of the old, राज्ञः of the king, सततम् always, हितम् good, चर act.

See that the old king does not succumb to this terrible grief. Serve him with a composed mind.
व्रतोपवासनिरता या नारी परमोत्तमा।

भर्तारं नानुवर्तेत सा तु पापगतिर्भवेत्।।2.24.25।।


या नारी whichever woman, व्रतोपवासनिरता engaged in vows and fastings, परमोत्तमा highly pious, भर्तारम् husband, नानुवर्तेत does not follow, सा she, पापगतिः hell a, भवेत् will get.

A woman may be highly pious engaged in vows and fastings, but if she does not follow her husband, she will be condemned to hell.
भर्तु श्शुश्रूषया नारी लभते स्वर्गमुत्तमम्।

अपि या निर्नमस्कारा निवृत्ता देवपूजनात्।।2.24.26।।


या who, निर्नमस्कारा pays no respect, देवपूजनात् from worshipping gods, निवृत्ता has abstained, नारी अपि woman also, भर्तुः husband's, शुश्रूषया with service, उत्तमम् highest, स्वर्गम् heaven, लभते will attain.

A woman who serves her husband will attain the highest heaven even if she pays no homage to gods and abstains from worshipping them.
शुश्रूषामेव कुर्वीत भर्तुः प्रियहिते रता।

एष धर्मः पुरा दृष्टो लोके वेदे श्रुतः स्मृतः।।2.24.27।।


भर्तुः husband's, प्रियहिते wellbeing, रता engaged, शुश्रूषामेव service alone, कुर्वीत shall do, एषः this, पुरा in ancient times, लोके in this world, दृष्टः is seen, वेदे in the Vedas, श्रुतः is heard, स्मृतः declared in Smritis, धर्मः is truth.

A wife who serves her husband and who is engaged in doing good to him is righteous. This dharma exists in this world since ancient times, declared in the Vedas and the smritis.
अग्निकार्येषु च सदा सुमनोभिश्च देवताः।

पूज्यास्ते मत्कृते देवि बाह्मणाश्चैव सुव्रताः।।2.24.28।।


देवि O devi, मत्कृते for my sake, सदा always, देवताः the gods, अग्निकार्येषु in offering oblations to the firegod, सुमनोभिश्च with flowers, ते to you, पूज्याः worthy of worship, सुव्रताः true to their religious vows, ब्राह्मणाश्चैव brahmins also.

For my sake, O devi worship the firegod with offerings of oblations and flowers, and brahmins who are true to religious vows.
एवं कालं प्रतीक्षस्व ममागमनकाङ्क्षिणी।

नियता नियताहारा भर्तृशुश्रूषणे रता।।2.24.29।।


एवम् in this maner, मम my, आगमनकाङ्क्षिणी looking forward to my return, नियता selfpossessed lady, नियताहारा observing discipine in food, भर्तृ शुश्रूषणे in the service of your husband, रता devoted, कालम् time, प्रतीक्षस्व wait for.

Looking forward to my return, spend your time this way with moderate intake, a mind under control and a life devoted to the service of your husband.
प्राप्स्यसे परमं कामं मयि प्रत्यागते सति।

यदि धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो धारयिष्यति जीवितम्।।2.24.30।।


मयि when I, प्रत्यागते सति having returned, धर्मभृताम् of protcetor of dharma, श्रेष्ठः best, जीवितम् life, धारयिष्यति यदि if he contains, परमम् highest, कामम् desire, प्राप्स्यसे will obtain.

If my father, who is the best among the upholders of righteousness, survives till I come back, you will have your highest desires fulfilled.
एवमुक्ता तु रामेण बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणा।

कौशल्या पुत्रशोकार्ता रामं वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.24.31।।


रामेण by Rama, एवम् in this manner, उक्ता having been said, कौशल्या Kausalya, पुत्रशोकार्ता distressed with grief for her son, बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणा with her eyes filled with tears, रामम् to
Rama, वचनम् these words, अब्रवीत् said.

To these words of Rama, Kausalya, distressed with grief for her son, replied with her eyes filled with tears:
गमने सुकृतां बुद्धिं न ते शक्नोमि पुत्रक।

विनिवर्तयितुं वीर नूनं कालो दुरत्ययः।।2.24.32।।


वीर O valiant one, पुत्रक my child, गमने to go to the forest, सुकृताम् firmly resolved, ते बुध्दिम् your mind, विनिवर्तयितुम् to revert, न शक्नोमि I am not able, नूनम् certainly, कालः time, दुरत्ययः difficult to overcome (pass).

I am unable to dissuade you, O my brave son, from your firm resolve to go to the forest. It is surely difficult (for me) to bide time.
गच्छ पुत्र त्वमेकाग्रो भद्रं तेऽस्तु सदा विभुः।

पुनस्त्वयि निवृत्ते तु भविष्यामि गतव्यथा।।2.24.33।।


पुत्र O Son त्वम् you, एकाग्रः with resolute mind, गच्छ go, विभुः god, ते to you, सदा always, भद्रम् safety, अस्तु be it, त्वयि when you, पुनः again, निवृत्ते तु on your coming back, गतव्यथा relieved of suffering, भविष्यामि I shall become.

Go with a steadfast mind, O my son May god be gracious. Only with your return, I shall be relieved of my suffering.
प्रत्यागते महाभागे कृतार्थे चरितव्रते।

पितुरानृण्यतां प्राप्ते त्वयि लप्स्ये परं सुखम्।।2.24.34।।


महाभागे when the reverend one, त्वयि you, कृतार्थे with your purpose accomplished, चरितव्रते when your vow is fulfilled, पितुः father's, आनृण्यताम् acquittal of debt, प्राप्ते obtained, प्रत्यागते on coming back, परम् supreme, सुखम् happiness, लप्स्ये I will attain.

O reverend one, when you come back after having accomplished your purpose, performed your vows and acquitted yourself of the debt you owe your father, I shall attain supreme happiness.
कृतान्तस्य गतिः पुत्र दुर्विभाव्या सदा भुवि।

यस्त्वां सञ्चोदयति मे वच आच्छिद्य राघव।।2.24.35।।


पुत्र O son, राघव O Rama, यः whichever (destiny), मे my, वचः words, आच्छिद्य cutting
asunder (disregarding), त्वा you, सञ्चोदयति is prompting, कृतान्तस्य destiny's, गतिः course, सदा always, भुवि in this world, दुर्विभाव्या is inconceivable.

O Rama inconceivable is the course of destiny which is inciting you to go to the forest disregarding my words.
गच्छेदानीं महाबाहो क्षेमेण पुनरागतः।

नन्दयिष्यसि मां पुत्र साम्ना वाक्येन चारुणा।।2.24.36।।


महाबाहो O mighty armed one, इदानीम् now, गच्छ go, पुत्र O son, क्षेमेण safely, पुनः आगतः again on your return, साम्ना in a gentle voice, चारुणा by sweet, वाक्येन utterances, माम् me, नन्दयिष्यसि please.

Go now, O my mightyarmed son and come back safe. And on your return, delight me with your sweet, gentle utterances.
अपीदानीं स कालस्स्याद्वनात्प्रत्यागतं पुनः।

यत्त्वां पुत्रक पश्येयं जटावल्कलधारिणम्।।2.24.37।।


पुत्रक O my dear child, वनात् from the forest, पुनः again, प्रत्यागतम् have returned, जटावल्कल धारिणम् wearing matted hair and bark, त्वाम् you, यत् since, पश्येयम् will see, सः कालः that time, इदानीम् now itself, अपि स्यात् can it be now itself?

O my dear child, how pleasing would it be, if today were to be the day of your return
from the forest when I can see you wearing matted hair and robes of bark
तथा हि रामं वनवासनिश्चितं

समीक्ष्य देवी परमेण चेतसा।

उवाच रामं शुभलक्षणं वचो

बभूव च स्वस्त्ययनाभिकाङ्क्षिणी।।2.24.38।।


देवी Devi (Kausalya), रामम् Rama, तथा like that, वनवासनिश्चितम् determined to go to the forest, समीक्ष्य (ददर्श) seeing, परमेण चेतसा with supreme consciousness, शुभलक्षणम् with auspicious qualities (virtues), रामम् to Rama, वचः words, उवाच said, स्वस्त्ययनाभिकाङ्क्षिणी wishing to perform ceremonies for (his) wellbeing, बभूव became.

Seeing Rama full of auspicious qualities resolved to go to the forest and having spoken to him with the fullness of her heart, Devi Kausalya now braced herself up to perform ceremonies in the interest of Rama's wellbeing.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुर्विंशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the twentyfourth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.