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.]

taṅ samīkṣya tvavahitaṅ piturnirdēśa pālanē.

kauśalyā bāṣpasaṅruddhā vacō dharmiṣṭhamabravīt৷৷2.24.1৷৷


tam him, pituḥ father's, nirdēśapālanē in carrying out the command, avahitam determined, samīkṣya having perceived, kauśalyā Kausalya, bāṣpasaṅrudhdā with choked tears, dharmiṣṭham pious, vacaḥ words, abravīt 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:
adṛṣṭaduḥkhō dharmātmā sarvabhūtapriyaṅvadaḥ.

mayi jātō daśarathātkathamuñchēna vartayēt৷৷2.24.2৷৷


adṛṣṭaduḥkhaḥ one who had never experienced sorrow, dharmātmā righteous, sarvabhūtapriyaṅvadaḥ one who speaks pleasantly to all, daśarathāt of Dasaratha, mayi to me, jātaḥ born, uñchēna by collecting the grains fallen on the ground, katham how, vartayēt 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?
yasya bhṛtyāśca dāsāśca mṛṣṭānyannāni bhuñjatē.

kathaṅ sa bhōkṣyatē.nāthō vanē mūlaphalānyayam৷৷2.24.3৷৷


yasya whose, bhṛtyāśca servants,dāsāśca attendants, mṛṣṭāni delicious, annāni cooked rice,
bhuñjatē enjoy, athaḥ hereafter, saḥ ayam such Rama, vanē in the forest, mūlaphalāni roots and fruits, katham how, bhōkṣyatē will eat?

How will Rama live on roots and fruits in the forest hereafter when his servants and attendants enjoy delicious food (here)?
kaḥ ētacchraddadhēcchrutvā kasya vā na bhavēdbhayam.

guṇavāndayitō rājñā rāghavō yadvivāsyatē৷৷2.24.4৷৷


guṇavān virtuous, dayitaḥ affectionate, rāghavaḥ Rama, rājñā by the king, vivāsyatē iti yat will be exiled in this way, ētat all this, śrutvā having heard, kaḥ who, śraddhadhēt will believe, kasya vā to whom, bhayam fear, na bhavēt 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?
nūnaṅ tu balavān lōkē kṛtāntassarvamādiśan.

lōkē rāmābhirāmastvaṅ vanaṅ yatra gamiṣyasi৷৷2.24.5৷৷


rāma O Rama!, lōkē abhirāmaḥ delight of this world, tvam you, vanam to the forest, yatra gamiṣyasi if ordered to go, lōkē in the world, sarvam everything, ādiśan while ordering, kṛtāntaḥ destiny, nūnam certainly, balavān all-powerful.

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 all-powerful.
ayaṅ tu māmātmabhava stavādarśanamārutaḥ.

vilāpaduḥkhasamidhō ruditāśruhutāhutiḥ৷৷2.24.6৷৷

cintābāṣpamahādhūmastavāgamanacittajaḥ.

karśayitvā bhṛśaṅ putra! niśvāsāyāsasambhavaḥ৷৷2.24.7৷৷

tvayā vihīnāmiha māṅ śōkāgniratulō mahān.

pradhakṣyati yathā kakṣaṅ citrabhānurhimātyayē৷৷2.24.8৷৷


putra O son, ātmabhavaḥ born from the body, tava adarśana mārutaḥ (my) sighs that will suggest your absence, vilāpaduḥkhasamidhaḥ with fuels of lamentation and affliction, ruditāśruhutāhutiḥ invoking with the offering of oblations of (my) wailing tears, cintābāṣpamahādhūmaḥ with great smoke of vapour arising from anxious thoughts, tava your, āgamana cittajaḥ born from the thought of your return, niśvāsāyāsasambhavaḥ produced from sighs of exhaustion, atulaḥ incomparable, mahān great, ayaṅ śōkāgni: this fire of grief, iha now, tvayā by you, vihīnām deprived, mām me, bhṛśam very much, karśayitvā having emaciated, himātyayē in summer, citrabhānuḥ fire, kakṣaṅ yathā like or a bunch of dry grass, pradhakṣyati 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.
kathaṅ hi dhēnu ssvaṅ vatsaṅ gacchantaṅ nānugacchati.

ahaṅ tvā.nugamiṣyāmi yatra putra! gamiṣyasi৷৷2.24.9৷৷.


dhēnuḥ cow, gacchantam wandering, svaṅ vatsam its calf, kathaṅ hi how, nānugacchati will not follow, putra son, yatra whereever, gamiṣyasi you will go, aham I, tvā you, anugamiṣyāmi 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?
tathā nigaditaṅ mātrā tadvākyaṅ puruṣarṣabhaḥ.

śrutvā rāmō.bravīdvākyaṅ mātaraṅ bhṛśaduḥkhitām৷৷2.24.10৷৷


puruṣarṣabhaḥ best among men, rāmaḥ Rama, mātrā by mother, tathā that way, nigaditam spoken, tadvākyam those words, śrutvā on hearing, bhṛśaduḥkhitām deeply afflicted, mātaram addressing his
mother, vākyam words, abravīt said.

At these words of his mother who was deeply afflicted Rama, best among men replied:
kaikēyyā vañcitō rājā mayi cāraṇyamāśritē.

bhavatyā ca parityaktō na nūnaṅ vartayiṣyati৷৷2.24.11৷৷


kaikēyyā by Kaikeyi, vañcitaḥ was deceived, rājā king, mayi when I, araṇyam forest, āśritē will be resorting to, bhavatyā ca by you also, parityaktaḥ deserted, na vartayiṣyati he will not live, nūnam 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.
bhartuḥ kila parityāgō nṛśaṅsaḥ kēvalaṅ striyāḥ.

sa bhavatyā na kartavyō manasā.pi vigarhitaḥ৷৷2.24.12৷৷


striyāḥ for a woman, bhartuḥ husband's, parityāgaḥ desertion, kēvalam only, nṛśaṅsaḥ kila is a cruel act indeed, vigarhitaḥ is abominable, saḥ that, bhavatyā by you, manasāpi even in mind, na kartavyaḥ 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.
yāvajjīvati kākutsthaḥ pitā mē jagatīpatiḥ.

śuśrūṣā kriyatāṅ tāvatsahi dharmassanātanaḥ৷৷2.24.13৷৷


mē pitā my father, jagatīpatiḥ lord of the earth, kākutsthaḥ the descendant of Kakutstha, yāvat as long as, jīvati lives, tāvat till then, śuśrūṣā service, kriyatām be done, saḥ that one, dharmaḥ hi sanātanaḥ 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).
ēvamuktā tu rāmēṇa kauśalyā śubhadarśanā.

tathētyuvāca suprītā rāmamakliṣṭakāriṇam৷৷2.24.14৷৷


rāmēṇa by Rama, ēvam thus, uktā having been said, śubhadarśanā auspicious-looking lady, kauśalyā Kausalya, suprītā exceedingly pleased, akliṣṭakāriṇam unshakable in actions, rāmam to Rama, tathēti 'Be it so', uvāca said.

At these words of Rama, unshakable in action, auspicious-looking Kausalya, exceedingly pleased said 'Be it so'.
ēvamuktastu vacanaṅ rāmō dharmabhṛtāṅ varaḥ.

bhūyastāmabravīdvākyaṅ mātaraṅ bhṛśaduḥkhitām৷৷2.24.15৷৷


dharmabhṛtāṅ among upholders of rightcouness, varaḥ foremost, rāmaḥ Rama, ēvam in this way, vacanam words, uktaḥ having been spoken to, bhṛśa duḥkhitām in deep grief, tām her, mātaram to mother, bhūya: again, vākyam words, abravīt said.

Thus addressed, Rama, the foremost among upholders of righteousness, said to his mother who was in deep grief:
mayā caiva bhavatyā ca kartavyaṅ vacanaṅ pituḥ.

rājā bhartā guru śśrēṣṭhassarvēṣāmīśvaraḥ prabhuḥ৷৷2.24.16৷৷


mayā caiva by me as well, bhavatyā ca by you also, pituḥ father's, vacanam words, kartavyam fit to be carried out, rājā king, bhartā supporter husband, guruḥ guru, śrēṣṭhaḥ best, sarvēṣām for all, īśvaraḥ is the lord, prabhuḥ 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.
imāni tu mahāraṇyē vihṛtya nava pañca ca.

varṣāṇi paramaprītaḥ sthāsyāmi vacanē tava৷৷2.24.17৷৷


imāni these, nava pañca ca nine plus five (fourteen), varṣāṇi years, mahāraṇyē in the wild forest, vihṛtya having roamed, paramaprītaḥ with supreme pleasure, tava your, vacanē words (obeying your word), sthāsyāmi shall abide by.

Roaming the wild forest for fourteen years I shall abide by your words with supreme pleasure.
ēvamuktā priyaṅ putraṅ bāṣpapūrṇānanā tadā.

uvāca paramārtā tu kauśalyā putravatsalā৷৷2.24.18৷৷


tadā then, ēvam thus, uktā addressed, putravatsalā affectionate towards (her) son, kauśalyā Kausalya, paramārtā a greatly distressed, bāṣpapūrṇānanā with her face (eyes) filled with tears, priyam beloved, putram son, uvāca said.

Thus addressed by Rama, the affectionate Kausalya, deeply distressed, her eyes filled with tears, said to her beloved son:
āsāṅ rāma! sapatnīnāṅ vastuṅ madhyē na mē kṣamam.

naya māmapi kākutstha! vanaṅ vanyāṅ mṛgīṅ yathā৷৷2.24.19৷৷

yadi tē gamanē buddhiḥ kṛtā piturapēkṣayā.


rāma O Rama!, mē for me, āsām of these, sapatnīnām of co-wives, madhyē in the midst of, vastum to live, na kṣamam not able, kākutstha scion of the Kakutstha race (Rama), pituḥ with regard to your father, apēkṣayā with wish, gamanē in going away, tē to you, buddhi: decision, kṛtā yadi if it is made, māmapi also me, vanyām relating to the forest (wild), mṛgīṅ yathā like a female deer, vanam to the forest, naya take me.

O Rama, I am not able to live in the midst of these co-wives. O descendant of Kakutstha, if you have resolved to go to the forest as per the wishes of your father take me-a wild deer-along with you into the forest.
tāṅ tathā rudatīṅ rāmō rudanvacanamabravīt৷৷2.24.20৷৷

jīvantyā hi striyā bhartā daivataṅ prabhurēva ca


rāmaḥ Rama, tathā that way, rudatīm wailing, tām to her, rudan while (himself) sobbing, vacanam words, abravīt said, jīvantyā for a living lady, striyāḥ for a woman, bhartā husband alone, daivatam is god, prabhurēva ca 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).
bhavatyā mama caivādya rājā prabhavati prabhuḥ.

na hyanāthā vayaṅ rājñā lōkanāthēna dhīmatā৷৷2.24.21৷৷


prabhuḥ powerful one, rājā king, adya now, bhavatyāḥ for you, mama ca for me also, prabhavati has the authority to command, lōkanāthēna by lord of the entire world, dhīmatā by sagacious one, rājñā by king, vayam we, anāthāḥ without master, na hi 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?
bharataścāpi dharmātmā sarvabhūtapriyaṅvadaḥ.

bhavatīmanuvartēta sa hi dharmaratassadā৷৷2.24.22৷৷


dharmātmā virtuous, sarvabhūtapriyaṅvadaḥ who speaks pleasantly to all beings, bharataścāpi Bharata also, bhavatīm you, anuvartēta will follow, saḥ he, sadā always, dharmarataḥ hi 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.
yathā mayi tu niṣkrāntē putraśōkēna pārthivaḥ.

śramaṅ nāvāpnuyātkiñcidapramattā tathā kuru৷৷2.24.23৷৷


mayi me, niṣkrāntē having departed to the forest, pārthivaḥ king, putraśōkēna with grief for his son, yathā how, kiñcit even a little, śramam effort, na avāpnuyāt will not obtain, tathā in that way, apramattā with attention, kuru do.

After my departure, you must see that the king is not overpowered by grief for his son and struggles as little as possible.
dāruṇaścāpyayaṅ śōkō yathainaṅ na vināśayēt.

rājñō vṛddhasya satataṅ hitaṅ cara samāhitā৷৷2.24.24৷৷


dāruṇaḥ terrible, ayaṅ śōkaḥ this grief, ēnam him, yathā in a manner, na vināśayēt will not ruin (his health), samāhitā with composed mind, vṛddhasya of the old, rājñaḥ of the king, satatam always, hitam good, cara act.

See that the old king does not succumb to this terrible grief. Serve him with a composed mind.
vratōpavāsaniratā yā nārī paramōttamā.

bhartāraṅ nānuvartēta sā tu pāpagatirbhavēt৷৷2.24.25৷৷


yā nārī whichever woman, vratōpavāsaniratā engaged in vows and fastings, paramōttamā highly pious, bhartāram husband, nānuvartēta does not follow, sā she, pāpagatiḥ hell a, bhavēt 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.
bhartu śśuśrūṣayā nārī labhatē svargamuttamam.

api yā nirnamaskārā nivṛttā dēvapūjanāt৷৷2.24.26৷৷


yā who, nirnamaskārā pays no respect, dēvapūjanāt from worshipping gods, nivṛttā has abstained, nārī api woman also, bhartuḥ husband's, śuśrūṣayā with service, uttamam highest, svargam heaven, labhatē 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.
śuśrūṣāmēva kurvīta bhartuḥ priyahitē ratā.

ēṣa dharmaḥ purā dṛṣṭō lōkē vēdē śrutaḥ smṛtaḥ৷৷2.24.27৷৷


bhartuḥ husband's, priyahitē well-being, ratā engaged, śuśrūṣāmēva service alone, kurvīta shall do, ēṣaḥ this, purā in ancient times, lōkē in this world, dṛṣṭaḥ is seen, vēdē in the Vedas, śrutaḥ is heard, smṛtaḥ declared in Smritis, dharmaḥ 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.
agnikāryēṣu ca sadā sumanōbhiśca dēvatāḥ.

pūjyāstē matkṛtē dēvi! bāhmaṇāścaiva suvratāḥ৷৷2.24.28৷৷


dēvi! O devi!, matkṛtē for my sake, sadā always, dēvatāḥ the gods, agnikāryēṣu in offering oblations to the fire-god, sumanōbhiśca with flowers, tē to you, pūjyāḥ worthy of worship, suvratāḥ true to their religious vows, brāhmaṇāścaiva brahmins also.

For my sake, O devi! worship the fire-god with offerings of oblations and flowers, and brahmins who are true to religious vows.
ēvaṅ kālaṅ pratīkṣasva mamāgamanakāṅkṣiṇī.

niyatā niyatāhārā bhartṛśuśrūṣaṇē ratā৷৷2.24.29৷৷


ēvam in this maner, mama my, āgamanakāṅkṣiṇī looking forward to my return, niyatā self-possessed lady, niyatāhārā observing discipine in food, bhartṛ śuśrūṣaṇē in the service of your husband, ratā devoted, kālam time, pratīkṣasva 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.
prāpsyasē paramaṅ kāmaṅ mayi pratyāgatē sati.

yadi dharmabhṛtāṅ śrēṣṭhō dhārayiṣyati jīvitam৷৷2.24.30৷৷


mayi when I, pratyāgatē sati having returned, dharmabhṛtām of protcetor of dharma, śrēṣṭhaḥ best, jīvitam life, dhārayiṣyati yadi if he contains, paramam highest, kāmam desire, prāpsyasē 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.
ēvamuktā tu rāmēṇa bāṣpaparyākulēkṣaṇā.

kauśalyā putraśōkārtā rāmaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷2.24.31৷৷


rāmēṇa by Rama, ēvam in this manner, uktā having been said, kauśalyā Kausalya, putraśōkārtā distressed with grief for her son, bāṣpaparyākulēkṣaṇā with her eyes filled with tears, rāmam to
Rama, vacanam these words, abravīt said.

To these words of Rama, Kausalya, distressed with grief for her son, replied with her eyes filled with tears:
gamanē sukṛtāṅ buddhiṅ na tē śaknōmi putraka.

vinivartayituṅ vīra! nūnaṅ kālō duratyayaḥ৷৷2.24.32৷৷


vīra O valiant one!, putraka my child, gamanē to go to the forest, sukṛtām firmly resolved, tē budhdim your mind, vinivartayitum to revert, na śaknōmi I am not able, nūnam certainly, kālaḥ time, duratyayaḥ 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.
gaccha putra! tvamēkāgrō bhadraṅ tē.stu sadā vibhuḥ.

punastvayi nivṛttē tu bhaviṣyāmi gatavyathā৷৷2.24.33৷৷


putra! O Son! tvam you, ēkāgraḥ with resolute mind, gaccha go, vibhuḥ god, tē to you, sadā always, bhadram safety, astu be it, tvayi when you, punaḥ again, nivṛttē tu on your coming back, gatavyathā relieved of suffering, bhaviṣyāmi 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.
pratyāgatē mahābhāgē kṛtārthē caritavratē.

piturānṛṇyatāṅ prāptē tvayi lapsyē paraṅ sukham৷৷2.24.34৷৷


mahābhāgē when the reverend one!, tvayi you, kṛtārthē with your purpose accomplished, caritavratē when your vow is fulfilled, pituḥ father's, ānṛṇyatām acquittal of debt, prāptē obtained, pratyāgatē on coming back, param supreme, sukham happiness, lapsyē 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.
kṛtāntasya gatiḥ putra durvibhāvyā sadā bhuvi.

yastvāṅ sañcōdayati mē vaca ācchidya rāghava!৷৷2.24.35৷৷


putra O son!, rāghava O Rama!, yaḥ whichever (destiny), mē my, vacaḥ words, ācchidya cutting
asunder (disregarding), tvā you, sañcōdayati is prompting, kṛtāntasya destiny's, gatiḥ course, sadā always, bhuvi in this world, durvibhāvyā is inconceivable.

O Rama! inconceivable is the course of destiny which is inciting you to go to the forest disregarding my words.
gacchēdānīṅ mahābāhō kṣēmēṇa punarāgataḥ.

nandayiṣyasi māṅ putra sāmnā vākyēna cāruṇā৷৷2.24.36৷৷


mahābāhō O mighty- armed one, idānīm now, gaccha go, putra O son, kṣēmēṇa safely, punaḥ āgataḥ again on your return, sāmnā in a gentle voice, cāruṇā by sweet, vākyēna utterances, mām me, nandayiṣyasi please.

Go now, O my mighty-armed son! and come back safe. And on your return, delight me with your sweet, gentle utterances.
apīdānīṅ sa kālassyādvanātpratyāgataṅ punaḥ.

yattvāṅ putraka! paśyēyaṅ jaṭāvalkaladhāriṇam৷৷2.24.37৷৷


putraka O my dear child!, vanāt from the forest, punaḥ again, pratyāgatam have returned, jaṭāvalkala dhāriṇam wearing matted hair and bark, tvām you, yat since, paśyēyam will see, saḥ kālaḥ that time, idānīm now itself, api syāt 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!
tathā hi rāmaṅ vanavāsaniścitaṅ

samīkṣya dēvī paramēṇa cētasā.

uvāca rāmaṅ śubhalakṣaṇaṅ vacō

babhūva ca svastyayanābhikāṅkṣiṇī৷৷2.24.38৷৷


dēvī Devi (Kausalya), rāmam Rama, tathā like that, vanavāsaniścitam determined to go to the forest, samīkṣya (dadarśa) seeing, paramēṇa cētasā with supreme consciousness, śubhalakṣaṇam with auspicious qualities (virtues), rāmam to Rama, vacaḥ words, uvāca said, svastyayanābhikāṅkṣiṇī wishing to perform ceremonies for (his) well-being, babhūva 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 well-being.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē caturviṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the twentyfourth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.