Sloka & Translation

[Sita enquires why Rama is distressedRama informs her about his impending banishment and instructs her to stay back in Ayodhya.]

अभिवाद्य च कौसल्यां राम स्संप्रस्थितो वनम्।

कृतस्वस्त्ययनो मात्रा धर्मिष्ठे वर्त्मनि स्थितः।।2.26.1।।

विराजयन्राजसुतो राजमार्गं नरैर्वृतम्।

हृदयान्याममन्थेव जनस्य गुणवत्तया।।2.26.2।।


राजसुतः prince, रामः Rama, मात्रा by mother, कृतस्वस्त्ययन: having been greeted with benedictory rites, कौशल्याम् to Kausalya, अभिवाद्य च after paying obeisance, धर्मिष्ठे in the righteous, वर्त्मनि on the path, स्थितः fixed, वनम् to the forest, सम्प्रस्थितः set out, नरैः (जनैः) by the people, वृतम् surrounded with, राजमार्गम् highway, विराजयन् illuminating (with his lustre), गुणवत्तया by excellent virtues, जनस्य people's, हृदयानि hearts, अममन्थेव मपहीला् (stirred).

After the benedictory rites were performed by his mother Kausalya, Rama paid obeisance to her and staying on the righteous path decided to depart to the forest. He entered the highway thronged with people and illumining it with his lustre and stirred their hearts with (remembrances of) his excellent virtues.
अभिवाद्य च कौसल्यां राम स्संप्रस्थितो वनम्।

कृतस्वस्त्ययनो मात्रा धर्मिष्ठे वर्त्मनि स्थितः।।2.26.1।।

विराजयन्राजसुतो राजमार्गं नरैर्वृतम्।

हृदयान्याममन्थेव जनस्य गुणवत्तया।।2.26.2।।


राजसुतः prince, रामः Rama, मात्रा by mother, कृतस्वस्त्ययन: having been greeted with benedictory rites, कौशल्याम् to Kausalya, अभिवाद्य च after paying obeisance, धर्मिष्ठे in the righteous, वर्त्मनि on the path, स्थितः fixed, वनम् to the forest, सम्प्रस्थितः set out, नरैः (जनैः) by the people, वृतम् surrounded with, राजमार्गम् highway, विराजयन् illuminating (with his lustre), गुणवत्तया by excellent virtues, जनस्य people's, हृदयानि hearts, अममन्थेव मपहीला् (stirred).

After the benedictory rites were performed by his mother Kausalya, Rama paid obeisance to her and staying on the righteous path decided to depart to the forest. He entered the highway thronged with people and illumining it with his lustre and stirred their hearts with (remembrances of) his excellent virtues.
वैदेही चापि तत्सर्वं न शुश्राव तपस्विनी।

तदेव हृदि तस्याश्च यौवराज्याभिषेचनम्।।2.26.3।।


तपस्विनी engaged in religious austerities (for consecration), वैदेही चापि Sita also, तत्सर्वम् all that, न शुश्राव did not hear, तस्याः her, हृदि in heart, तत् that, अभिषेचनम् एव only consecration (was reflecting).

Sita, her mind preoccupied with thoughts about consecration, was engaged in religious austerities and hence could not hear of all this (development).
देवकार्यं स्वयं कृत्वा कृतज्ञा हृष्टचेतना।

अभिज्ञा राजधर्माणां राजपुत्रं प्रतीक्षते।।2.26.4।।


कृतज्ञा grateful (to god), राजधर्माणाम् duties of a king (palace rituals), अभिज्ञा experienced in, हृष्टचेतना with pleased mind, स्वयम् herself, देवकार्यम् worship of gods, कृत्वा having made, राजपुत्रम् prince, प्रतीक्षते was awaiting.

Experienced in palace rituals, Sita, grateful (to God) after performing worship of the deities was awaiting in a happy mood the arrival of the prince.
प्रविवेशाथ रामस्तु स्वं वेश्म सुविभूषितम्।

प्रहृष्टजनसम्पूर्णं ह्रिया किञ्चिदवाङ्मुखः।।2.26.5।।


अथ thereafter, रामस्तु Rama, ह्रिया with embarrassment, किञ्चित् a little, अवाङ्मुखः with his head bent down, प्रहृष्टजनसम्पूर्णम् thronged with excited people, सुविभूषितम् welldecorated, स्वं वेश्म his own residence, प्रविवेश entered.

His head bent down in embarrassment, Rama entered his welldecorated residence thronged with excited people.
अथ सीता समुत्पत्य वेपमाना च तं पतिम्।

अपश्यच्छोकसन्तप्तं चिन्ताव्याकुलितेन्द्रियम्।।2.26.6।।


अथ thereafter, सीता Sita, समुत्पत्य entering suddenly, वेपमाना च a trembling, शोकसन्तप्तम् distressed with grief, चिन्ताव्याकुलितेन्द्रियम् senses agitated due to anxiety, तं पतिम् her husband, अपश्यत् beheld.

Sita got up suddenly, (her limbs) trembling to see her husband distressed with grief and agitated with anxiety.
तां दृष्ट्वा स हि धर्मात्मा न शशाक मनोगतम्।

तं शोकं राघवः सोढुं ततो विवृततां गतः।।2.26.7।।


धर्मात्मा virtuous, सः that, राघवः son of the Raghus (Rama), ताम् her, दृष्ट्वा having seen, मनोगतम् in mind, तं शोकम् that sorrow, सोढुम् to endure (control), न शशाक was not able, ततः for that reason, विवृतताम् गतः manifested.

On seeing her, virtuous Rama could not contain the sorrow in his mind which manifested (through his external appearance).
विवर्णवदनं दृष्ट्वा तं प्रस्विन्नममर्षणम्।

आह दुःखाभिसन्तप्ता किमिदानीमिदं प्रभो।।2.26.8।।


विवर्णवदनम् pale face, प्रस्विन्नम् heavily perspiring, अमर्षणम् indignant, तम् him, दृष्ट्वा having seen, दुःखाभिसन्तप्ता consumed with grief, आह uttered, प्रभो O Lord, इदानीम् now, इदम् this, किम् what?

On seeing Rama with a pale face. indignant and heavily perspiring, Sita, consumed with grief said, My Lord, why are you now like this?
अद्य बार्हस्पत श्श्रीमान्युक्तः पुष्योऽनु राघव।

प्रोच्यते ब्राह्मणैः प्राज्ञैः केन त्वमसि दुर्मनाः।।2.26.9।।


राघव O scion of the Raghu race, अद्य today, श्रीमान् auspicious one, बार्हस्पतः with Brihaspati presiding over, पुष्यः Pushya star, युक्तः as suitable, प्राज्ञैः by learned ones, ब्राह्मणैः by brahmins, प्रोच्यते is declared, त्वम् you, केन for what reason, दुर्मनाः असि are dejected?

O scion of the Raghu race, today has been declared by learned brahmins a suitable and auspicious day for consecration under Pushya star with Brihaspati as presiding deity. Then why are you dejected?
न ते शतशलाकेन जलफेननिभेन च।

आवृतं वदनं वल्गु छत्रेणापि विराजते।।2.26.10।।


वल्गु charming, ते your, वदनम् face, शत शलाकेन with a hundred ribs, जलफेननिभेन (white) like foam in water, छत्रेण by umbrella, आवृतम् having been covered, न विराजते does not shine.

How is it that your charming face shines not today under a hundredribbed umbrella (white) like foam in water?
व्यजनाभ्यां च मुख्याभ्यां शतपत्रनिभेक्षणम्।

चन्द्रहंसप्रकाशाभ्यां वीज्यते न तवाननम्।।2.26.11।।


शतपत्रनिभेक्षणम् eyes resembling lotus, तव आननम् your face, चन्द्रहंस प्रकाशाभ्याम् with the glow of the moon or swan, मुख्याभ्याम् by the excellent, व्यजनाभ्याम् with fans, न वीज्यते is not being fanned.

(How is it that) your face, with its lotuslike eyes is not being fanned by excellent fans of the colour of the Moon or the swan.
वाग्मिनो वन्दिनश्चापि प्रहृष्टास्त्वां नरर्षभ।

स्तुवन्तो नात्र दृश्यन्ते मङ्गलैः स्सूतमागधाः।।2.26.12।।


नरर्षभ O best among men वाग्मिन: eloquent men, वन्दिनश्चापि panegyrists, सूतमागधाः charioteers and bards, प्रहृष्टाः delighted, त्वाम् you, मङ्गलैः with auspicious words, स्तुवन्तः praising, अत्र here, न दृश्यन्ते are not seen.

(How is it that) O best among men eloquent panegyrists, charioteers, bards are not seen singing your praise with auspicious words?
न ते क्षौद्रं च दधि च ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः।

मूर्ध्नि मूर्धाभिषिक्तस्य ददति स्म विधानतः।।2.26.13।।


वेदपारगाः versed in the Vedas, ब्राह्मणाः brahmins, मूर्धाभिषिक्तस्य having been consecrated, ते your, मूर्ध्नि on head, विधानतः conforming to rites, क्षौद्रं च honey also, दधि च curds, न ददति स्म did not sprinkle.

How is it that brahmins versed in the Vedas have not duly sprinkled the mixture of honey and curd on your head (prior to your consecration)?
न त्वां प्रकृतय स्सर्वा श्श्रेणीमुख्याश्च भूषिताः।

अनुव्रजितुमिच्छन्ति पौरजानपदास्तथा।।2.26.14।।


सर्वाः all, प्रकृतयः ministers, श्रेणीमुख्याश्च also the heads of guilds, तथा also, पौरजानपदाः citizens of towns and villages, भूषिताः adorned, त्वाम् you, अनुव्रजितुम् to follow, न इच्छन्ति do not seek.

How is it that welladorned ministers, citizens from towns and villages, heads of guilds and others do not follow you?
चतुर्भिर्वेगसम्पन्नैर्हयैः काञ्चनभूषितैः।

मुख्यः पुष्यरथो युक्तः किं न गच्छति तेऽग्रतः।।2.26.15।।


वेगसम्पन्नैः running swiftly, काञ्चनभूषितैः decorated with gold, चतुर्भिः four, हयैः horses, युक्तः
harnessed, मुख्यः important, पुष्यरथः ceremonial chariot, किम् why, ते अग्रतः preceding you, न गच्छति is not going.

How is it that the chief ceremonial chariot, decorated with gold and harnessed by four galloping horses is not preceding you?
हस्ती चाग्रत श्श्रीमां स्तव लक्षणपूजितः।

प्रयाणे लक्ष्यते वीर कृष्णमेघगिरि प्रभः।।2.26.16।।


वीर O valiant one, तव your, प्रयाणे in your journey, अग्रतः in front, लक्षणपूजितः endowed with good features and revered, कृष्णमेघगिरिप्रभः with the lustre of a dark cloud or a mountain, श्रीमान् auspicious one, हस्ती an elephant, न लक्ष्यते is not seen.

How is it that the elephant, whose lustre resembles that of a mountain or a dark cloud and endowed with auspicious features is not seen leading your procession, O valiant one
न च काञ्चनचित्रं ते पश्यामि प्रियदर्शन।

भद्रासनं पुरस्कृत्य यान्तं वीर पुरस्कृतम्।।2.26.17।।


वीर O heroic one, प्रियदर्शन O one with a pleasant countenance, काञ्चनचित्रम् carved in gold, ते to you, भद्रासनम् throne, पुरस्कृत्य keeping in front of, यान्तम् proceeding, पुरस्कृतम् keeping in front, न च पश्यामि I do not see.

O heroic one O handsome one how is it that I do not see your attendants proceeding in front with the throne carved in gold?
अभिषेको यथा सज्जः किमिदानीमिदं तव।

अपूर्वो मुखवर्णश्च न प्रहर्षश्च लक्ष्यते।।2.26.18।।


अभिषेकः consecration, यथा as, सज्जः arranged, तव your, मुखवर्णः complexion of your face, अपूर्वः unusual, प्रहर्षश्च delightful, न लक्ष्यते not seen, इदानीम् now, इदम् this, किम् why?

How is it that when arrangements are under way now for your consecration, the complexion of your countenance does not look like what it was before? There is no joy on your face.
इतीव विलपन्तीं तां प्रोवाच रघुनन्दनः।

सीते तत्र भवांस्तातः प्रव्राजयति मां वनम्।।2.26.19।।


इतीव in this way, विलपन्तीम् lamenting, ताम् to her, रघुनन्दनः Rama, प्रोवाच said , सीते O Sita,
तत्रभवान् venerable, तातः father, माम् me, वनम् to the forest, प्रव्राजयति banishing.

O Sita my venerable father is banishing me to the forest, said Rama, the scion of the Raghus, the joy of the Raghu race, seeing her thus lamenting.
कुले महति सम्भूते धर्मज्ञे धर्मचारिणि।

शृणु जानकि येनेदं क्रमेणाभ्यागतं मम।।2.26.20।।


महति in a noble, कुले family, सम्भूते born in, धर्मज्ञे knower of righteousness, धर्मचारिणि for an observer of righteousness, जानकि Sita, येन क्रमेण in such course, इदम् this, अभ्यागतम् has befallen, शृण listen.

You were born in a noble family. You know and practise dharma. I shall tell you how this banishment has come about. Do listen.
राज्ञा सत्यप्रतिज्ञेन पित्रा दशरथेन च।

कैकेय्यै मम मात्रे तु पुरा दत्तौ महावरौ।।2.26.21।।


राज्ञा by the king, सत्यप्रतिज्ञेन true to his promise, पित्रा my father, दशरथेन by Dasaratha, पुरा earlier, मम मात्रे to my mother, कैकेय्यै to Kaikeyi, महावरौ two great boons, दत्तौ were given.

My father, king Dasaratha, true to his promise, had earlier granted two great boons
to my mother Kaikeyi.
तयाऽद्य मम सज्जेऽस्मिन्नभिषेके नृपोद्यते।

प्रचोदित स्स समयो धर्मेण प्रतिनिर्जितः।।2.26.22।।


अद्य now, नृपोद्यते the king was getting ready, मम my, अस्मिन् अभिषेके for this consecration, सज्जे in the preparation, तया by her, सः that, समयः promise, प्रचोदितः was urged, धर्मेण in the name of righteousness, प्रतिनिर्जितः has been conquered.

When the king was preparing for my consecration, she reminded him of the promise and in the name of righteousness he has been cornered.
चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि वस्तव्यं दण्डके मया।

पित्रा मे भरतश्चापि यौवराज्ये नियोजितः।।2.26.23।।


मया by me, चतुर्दश वर्षाणि fourteen years, दण्डके in Dandaka forest, वस्तव्यम् am to dwell, मे पित्रा by my father, भरतश्चापि Bharata also, यौवराज्ये as heirapparent, नियोजितः has been appointed.

I am to dwell in the Dandaka forest for fourteen years while father has appointed Bharata princeregent.
सोऽहं त्वामागतो द्रष्टुं प्रस्थितो विजनं वनम्।

भरतस्य समीपे तु नाहं कथ्यः कदाचन।।2.26.24।।

बुद्धियुक्ता हि पुरुषा न सहन्ते परस्तवम्।

तस्मान्नते गुणाः कथ्या भरतस्याग्रतो मम।।2.26.25।।


विजनम् desolate, वनम् forest, प्रस्थितः set to depart, सः अहम् such me, त्वाम् you, द्रष्टुम् to see, आगतः I have come, भरतस्य Bharata's, समीपे in the presence of, कदाचन at any time, अहम् I, न कथ्यः not to be told , बुद्धियुक्ताः intellectuals, पुरुषाः men, परस्तवम् praising others ,
न सहन्ते हि cannot endure, तस्मात् for that reason, भरतस्य Bharata's, अग्रतः infront of, ते those, मम गुणाः my virtues, न कथ्याः should not be mentioned.

I have come to see you before departing for the desolate Dandaka forest. You should never praise me in the presence of Bharata because intellectuals cannot tolerate others being praised before them. You should never extol my virtues before him.
नापि त्वं तेन भर्तव्या विशेषेण कदाचन।

अनुकूलतया शक्यं समीपे त्वस्य वर्तितुम्।।2.26.26।।


त्वम् you, तेन by him, कदाचन at any time, विशेषेण with a special treatment, न भर्तव्या should not be supported, अनुकूलतया तु by being favourable only, अस्य his, समीपे in his vicinity, वर्तितुम् to remain, शक्यम् is possible.

Never expect special treatment from Bharata. You can (continue to) stay with him (here) by conducting yourself in a favourable manner.
तस्मै दत्तं नृपतिना यौवराज्यं सनातनम्।

स प्रसाद्यस्त्वया सीते नृपतिश्च विशेषतः।।2.26.27।।


नृपतिना by the king, तस्मै for him, सनातनम् perpetual, यौवराज्यम् regency, दत्तम् given, सीते O Sita, सः he, त्वया by you, प्रसाद्यः has to be pleased, नृपतिश्च king also, विशेषतः especially.

O Sita the king has conferred the hereditary regency on him. Therefore, O Sita, you must make efforts to win his favour, especially a king's.
अहं चापि प्रतिज्ञां तां गुरोस्समनुपालयन्।

वनमद्यैव यास्यामि स्थिरा भव मनस्विनी।।2.26.28।।


अहं चापि I also, गुरोः father's, तां प्रतिज्ञाम् that promise, समनुपालयन् while fulfilling, अद्यैव now itself, वनम् to the forest, यास्यामि shall go, मनस्विनि highminded, Sita, त्वम् you, स्थिरा भव
keep steady.

I am leaving for the forest right away for fulfilling my father's pledge. O highminded Sita be steady.
याते च मयि कल्याणि वनं मुनिनिषेवितम्।

व्रतोपवासपरया भवितव्यं त्वयाऽनघे।।2.26.29।।


अनघे O sinless one, कल्याणि O auspicious one, मयि me, मुनिनिषेवितम् inhabited by
ascetics, वनम् to the forest, याते when I am gone, त्वया by you, व्रतोपवास परया engaged in vratas and fasting, भवितव्यम् should be done.

O sinless, auspicious one engage yourself in vratas and fasting after my departure to the forest inhabited by ascetics.
काल्यमुत्थाय देवानां कृत्वा पूजां यथाविधि।

वन्दितव्यो दशरथः पिता मम नरेश्वरः।।2.26.30।।


काल्यम् fimely, उत्थाय rising, यथाविधि according to the prescribed rituals, देवानाम् of the gods, पूजाम् कृत्वा having worshipped, मम पिता my father, नरेश्वरः lord of the people, दशरथः to Dasaratha, वन्दितव्यः is worthy of homage (by you).

You must rise in time and with the (household) gods duly worshipped, pay obeisance to my father, king Dasaratha.
माता च मम कौशल्या वृद्धा सन्तापकर्शिता।

धर्ममेवाग्रतः कृत्वा त्वत्त स्सम्मानमर्हति।।2.27.31।।


सन्तापकर्शिता emaciated due to grief, वृद्धा aged, मम माता च my mother, कौशल्या Kausalya, धर्ममेव duty only, अग्रतः कृत्वा placing ahead, त्वत्तः by you, सम्मानम् respect, अर्हति deserves.

You should give importance to duty(dharma) and show respect to my aged mother
who is emaciated due to grief.
वन्दितव्याश्च ते नित्यं या श्शेषा मम मातरः।

स्नेह प्रणयसम्भोगै स्समा हि मम मातरः।।2.26.32।।


शेषाः the rest of them, या मम मातरः my mothers, ते to you also, नित्यम् always, वन्दितव्याः should be respected, मम my, मातरः mothers, स्नेहप्रणय सम्भोगैः with love, affection and service, समाः हि are equal.

In terms of love, affection and service, the rest of my mothers are all equal. Therefore, you must pay them due respect regularly.
भ्रातृपुत्रसमौ चापि द्रष्टव्यौ च विशेषतः।

त्वया भरतशत्रुघ्नौ प्राणैः प्रियतरौ मम।।2.26.33।।


मम to me, प्राणैः more than life , प्रियतरौ dearer, भरतशत्रुघ्नौ Bharata and Satrughna, विशेषतः specially, त्वया by you, भ्रातृपुत्रसमौ as your brother and your sons, द्रष्टव्यौ च are to be looked after.

What is more important is that you should look on Bharata as your brother and Satrughna as your son. They are dearer to me than my life.
विप्रियं न च कर्तव्यं भरतस्य कदाचन।

स हि राजा प्रभुश्चैव देशस्य च कुलस्य च।।2.26.34।।


कदाचन at any time, भरतस्य of Bharata, विप्रियम् disagreeable, न कर्तव्यम् should not be done, सः he, देशस्य च of the country, कुलस्य च of the family also, राजा king, प्रभुश्चैव also the lord.

Now Bharata is the king of the country and head of the family. Therefore, you should never do anything disagreeable to him.
आराधिता हि शीलेन प्रयत्नैश्चोपसेविताः।

राजान स्सम्प्रसीदन्ति कुप्यन्तिच विपर्यये।।2.26.35।।


राजान: kings, शीलेन with good conduct, आराधिताः are gratified, प्रयत्नैः with endeavours, उपसेविताः having been served, सम्प्रसीदन्ति are satisfied, विपर्यये in contrary to that, कुप्यन्तिच are also enraged.

Kings are gratified if they are served with zeal and good conduct. If the contrary happens, they get provoked.
औरसानपि पुत्रान्हि त्यजन्त्यहितकारिणः।

समर्थान्सम्प्रगृह्णन्ति जनानपि नराधिपाः।।2.26.36।।


नराधिपाः kings, अहितकारिणः harmful men, औरसान् पुत्रानपि even their own sons, त्यजन्ति will abandon, समर्थान् capable men, जनानपि even other people, सम्प्रगृह्णन्ति accept.

Kings abandon (even) their own sons if they are harmful and receive capable people even if they are strangers.
सा त्वं वसेह कल्याणि राज्ञस्समनुवर्तिनी।

भरतस्य रता धर्मे सत्यव्रतपरायणा।।2.26.37।।


कल्याणि O auspicious one, सा त्वम् so you, राज्ञः of the king, भरतस्य of Bharata, समनुवर्तिनी an obedient lady, धर्मे in righteousness, रता absorbed one, सत्यव्रत परायणा following the truth and the vows, इह वस live here.

O auspicious one live here by being obedient to king Bharata. Absorbed in righteousness, follow truth and (religious) vows.
अहं गमिष्यामि महावनं प्रिये

त्वया हि वस्तव्यमिहैव भामिनि।

यथा व्यलीकं कुरुषे न कस्य चि

त्तथा त्वया कार्यमिदं वचो मम।।2.26.38।।


प्रिये O beloved one, भामिनि beauty (Sita), अहम् I, महावनम् to the great forest, गमिष्यामि I am going, त्वया by you, इहैव here itself, कस्यचित् to any one, यथा in any way, व्यलीकम् harm, न कुरुषे would not do, तथा in that way, वस्तव्यम् you shall live here, मम my, इदं वचः these words, कार्यम् should be done.

O my beloved Sita I am going to the wild forest. Stay here and never cause displeasure to any one in any way. Could you carry out these words of mine?
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे षड्विंशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the twentysixth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.