Sloka & Translation

[King Dasaratha orders four divisions of the army and a lot of wealth to be sent with Rama ---Kaikeyi objects --Siddhartha appeases Kaikeyi--the king expresses his desire to accompany Rama to the forest.]

tatassumantramaikṣvākaḥ pīḍitō.tra pratijñayā.

sabāṣpamatiniśśvaśya jagādēdaṅ punaḥ punaḥ৷৷2.36.1৷৷


tataḥ then, atra in this matter, pratijñayā by the promise, pīḍitaḥ afflicted, aikṣvākaḥ descendant of Ikshvaku, Dasaratha, sabāṣpaṅ with tears, atiniśśvasya sighing deeply, sumantram to Sumantra, punaḥ punaḥ again and again, idam these words, jagāda uttered.

Afflicted on account of the promise he had made, Dasaratha, descendant of the Ikshvakus heaved deep sighs again and again and with his eyes full of tears uttered these words to Sumantra:
sūta! ratnasusampūrṇā caturvidhabalā camūḥ.

rāghavasyānuyātrārthaṅ kṣipraṅ pratividhīyatām৷৷2.36.2৷৷


sūta! O charioteer, rāghavasya Rama's, anuyātrārtham to follow him in his journey, ratnasusampūrṇā including gems, caturvidhabalā four divisions of, camūḥ the army, kṣipram immediately, pratividhīyatām be arranged.

O Sumantra! arrange immediately four divisions of the army, well-equipped with precious stones to escort Rama in his journey to (the forest).
rūpājīvāśca vādinyō vaṇijaśca mahādhanāḥ.

śōbhayantu kumārasya vāhinīṅ suprasāritāḥ৷৷2.36.3৷৷


vādinyaḥ sweet-tongued, rūpājīvāśca beautiful courtesans, mahādhanāḥ affluent, vaṇijaśca
merchants, suprasāritāḥ with well-spread merchandise, kumārasya son's, vāhinīm army, śōbhayantu make it graceful.

Let the sweet-tongued courtesans, opulent merchants with well spread-out merchandise make the army of my son graceful.
yē cainamupajīvanti ramatē yaiśca vīryataḥ.

tēṣāṅ bahuvidhaṅ dattvā tānapyatra niyōjaya ৷৷2.38.4৷৷


yē ca whoever, ēnam this (Rama), upajīvanti depend for living, vīryataḥ gallantry, yaiśca with whom, ramatē used to sport, tēṣām of all of them, bahuvidham several kinds (of wealth), dattvā having given (incentives), tān all of them, atra in this entourage, niyōjaya employ.

Bestow immense wealth on those who depended on Rama for their living and on the gallant youths with whom he used to sport. Send them along with the entourage.
āyudhāni ca mukhyāni nāgarā śśakaṭāni ca.

anugacchantu kākutsthaṅ vyādhāścāraṇya gōcarāḥ৷৷2.36.5৷৷


mukhyāni main, āyudhāni ca weapons, nāgarāḥ citizens, śakaṭāni ca carts and carriages, āraṇyagōcarāḥ wanderers in the forest, vyādhaśca fowlers, kākutstham Rama, anugacchantu follow.

Main weapons, citizens (bodyguards), carts, wanderers in the forest and fowlers well-acquainted with the forest shall follow Rama.
nighnan mṛgān kuñjarāṅśca pibaṅścāraṇyakaṅ madhu.

nadīśca vividhāḥ paśyanna rājyasya smariṣyati৷৷2.36.6৷৷


mṛgān antelopes, kuñjarāṅśca elephants, nighnan while slaying, āraṇyakam available in the forest, madhu honey, pibaṅśca while drinking, vividhāḥ several, nadīśca rivers, paśyan while beholding, rājyasya of kingdom, na smariṣyati he will not recollect.

Hunting the elephants and antelopes, drinking forest honey, beholding several rivers on the way, Rama will not recollect the kingdom.
dhānyakōśaśca yaḥ kaściddhanakōśaśca māmakaḥ.

tau rāmamanugacchētāṅ vasantaṅ nirjanē vanē৷৷2.36.7৷৷


yaḥ whichever, māmakaḥ mine, dhānyakōśaḥ ca granary, dhanakōśaḥ ca the treasury, tau those, nirjanē in the desolate, vanē in forest, vasantaṅ living, rāmam Rama, anugacchētām both may follow.

Let the entire contents of my granary and treasury follow Rama wherever he lives in the desolate forest.
yajan puṇyēṣu dēśēṣu visṛjaṅ ścāptadakṣiṇāḥ.

ṛṣibhiśca samāgamya pravatsyati sukhaṅ vanē৷৷2.36.8৷৷


puṇyēṣu holy, dēśēṣu places, yajan while performing sacrifices, āptadakṣiṇāḥ appropriate gifts, visṛjaṅśca liberally givng, ṛṣibhiḥ with sages, samāgamya meeting, vanē in the forest, sukham happily, pravatsyati he will live.

Performing sacrifices in the holy places and liberally giving appropriate gifts, Rama will live happily in the forest in the company of sages.
bharataśca mahābāhurayōdhyāṅ pālayiṣyati.

sarvakāmaiḥ saha śrīmān rāmaḥ saṅsādhyatāmiti ৷৷2.36.9৷৷


mahābāhuḥ mighty-armed, bharataśca Bharata also, ayōdhyām to Ayodhya, pālayiṣyati will rule, śrīmān auspicious, rāmaḥ Rama, sarvakāmaiḥ saha with all objects of enjoyment, saṅsādhyatām
furnish, iti thus spoke.

(While) mighty-armed Bharata will rule Ayodhya, Rama be furnished with all objects of enjoyment.
ēvaṅ bruvati kākutsthē kaikēyyā bhaya māgatam.

mukhaṅ cāpyagamacchōṣaṅ svaraścāpi nyarudhyata৷৷2.36.10৷৷


kākutsthē scion of the Kakutsthas (Dasaratha), ēvam in this way, bruvati while saying, kaikēyyāḥ Kaikeyi, bhayam fear, āgatam entered, mukhaṅ cāpi her face also, śōṣam dryness, āgamat obtained, svaraścāpi even her voice, nyarudhyata choked.

While Dasaratha was saying these words, Kaikeyi was gripped by fear and her face looked pale. Even her voice got choked.
sā viṣaṇṇā ca santrastā mukhēna pariśuṣyatā.

rājānamēvābhimukhī kaikēyī vākyamabravīt৷৷2.36.11৷৷


sā kaikēyī Kaikeyi, viṣaṇṇā ca dejected, santrastā frightened, pariśuṣyatā drying up, mukhēna with countenance, rājānamēva to the king alone, abhimukhī facing the king, vākyam words, abravīt spoke.

The dejected and frightened Kaikeyi with a dry countenance, looked at the king and said:
rājyaṅ gatajanaṅ sādhō! pītamaṇḍāṅ surāmiva.

nirāsvādyatamaṅ śūnyaṅ bharatō nābhipatsyatē৷৷2.36.12৷৷


sādhō O virtuous one, gatajanam abandoned by men, śūnyam empty (of wealth), nirāsvādyatamam incapable of being tasted (enjoyed), rājyam kingdom, pītamaṇḍām essence evaporated, surām iva like wine, bharataḥ Bharata, nābhipatsyatē will not receive.

O virtuous king! Bharata will not take charge of the kingdom abandoned by men, drained of wealth and incapable of being enjoyed, like wine with its essence evaporated.
kaikēyyāṅ muktalajjāyāṅ vadantyāmatidāruṇām.

rājā daśarathō vākyamuvācāyatalōcanām৷৷2.36.13৷৷


kaikēyyām when Kaikeyi, muktalajjāyām shameless, atidāruṇam terribly cruel, vadantyām speaking, rājā king, daśarathaḥ Dasaratha, āyatalōcanām large-eyed woman, vākyam these words, uvāca said.

King Dasaratha heard the terribly cruel and shameless words of that large-eyed Kaikeyi, and said:
vahantaṅ kiṅ tudasi māṅ niyujya dhuri mā.hitē.

anāryē! kṛtyamārabdhaṅ kiṅ na pūrvamupārudhaḥ৷৷2.36.14৷৷


hitē O brutal one!, mā me, dhuri in the yoke, niyujya having yoked, vahantam while drawing, kim why, mām me, tudasi goading, anāryē O vile one, ārabdham commenced, kṛtyam act, pūrvam earlier, kim why, na upārudhaḥ did not prevent.

O brutal Kaikeyi, you fastened me to the yoke and when I am drawing forward, why do you beat me? O vile woman! why did you not prevent me in the beginning itself?
tasyaitatkrōdhasaṅyuktamuktaṅ śrutvā varāṅganā.

kaikēyī dviguṇaṅ kruddhā rājānamidamabravīt৷৷2.36.15৷৷


varāṅganā that lovely woman, kaikēyī Kaikeyi, krōdhasaṅyuktam wrathful, tasya that Dasaratha's, uktam uttered, ētat all these words, śrutvā having heard, dviguṇam doubled, kṛddhā furious, rājānam to the king, idam these words, abravīt spoke.

At these wrathful words of Dasaratha, Kaikeyi with redoubled fury replied to the king:
vaiva vaṅśē sagarō jyēṣṭhaṅ putramupārudhat.

asamañja iti khyātaṅ tathāyaṅ gantumarhati৷৷2.36.16৷৷


tava in your, vaṅśē ēva dynasty itself, sagaraḥ Sagara, asamañjaḥ iti as Asamanjasa, khyātam well-known, jyēṣṭhaputram eldest son, upārudhat was prevented (from assuming the kingdom), ayam this Rama also, tathā in the same way, gantum to go, arhati is worthy of.

In your own dynasty king Sagara prevented his well-known eldest son Asamanjasa (from enjoying the kingdom). Rama also should depart in the same manner.
ēvamuktō dhigityēva rājā daśarathō.bravīt.

vrīḍitaśca janassarva ssā ca taṅ nāvabudhyata৷৷2.36.17৷৷


ēvam in this way, uktaḥ having been told, rājā king, daśarathaḥ Dasaratha, dhik ityēva 'shame' only, abravīt said, sarvaḥ all, janaḥ people, vrīḍitaḥ were ashamed, sā ca Kaikeyi, tam that one, nāvabudhyata did not perceive.

Hearing the words of Kaikeyi, Dasaratha could say only 'shame'. All the people felt ashamed, but Kaikeyi could not understand this.
tatra vṛddhō mahāmātrassiddhārthō nāma nāmataḥ.

śucirbahumatō rājñaḥ kaikēyī midamabravīt৷৷2.38.18৷৷


tatra present there, vṛddhaḥ the aged, nāmataḥ by name, siddhārthō nāma named Siddartha, śuciḥ holy, rājñaḥ king, bahumataḥ favourite, mahāmātraḥ minister, kaikēyīm to Kaikeyi, idam this, abravīt spoke.

An aged minister named Siddhartha who justified his name, highly respected by the king said this to Kaikeyi:
asamañjō gṛhītvā tu krīḍataḥ pathi bālakān.

sarayvāḥ prakṣipannapsu ramatē tēna durmatiḥ৷৷2.36.19৷৷


durmatiḥ wicked-minded, asamañjaḥ tu as for Asamanjasa, pathi on the street, krīḍataḥ playing,
bālakān children, gṛhītvā seizing, sarayvā: Sarayu's, apsu in waters, prakṣipan while hurling, tēna with that, ramatē amused.

That wicked-minded Asamanjasa used to seize the children playing on the street and amuse himself by hurling them in the waters of river Sarayu.
taṅ dṛṣṭvā nāgarā ssarvē kṛddhā rājānamabruvan.

asamañjaṅ vṛṇīṣvaikamasmānvā rāṣṭravardhana৷৷2.36.20৷৷


tam them, dṛṣṭvā on watching, sarvē all, nāgarāḥ people of the city, kṛddhāḥ enraged, rājānam to the king, abruvan spoke, rāṣṭravardhana O enhancer of (prosperity of) the kingdom, ēkam one, asamañjam Asamanjasa, asmān vā or us, vṛṇīṣva choose.

Watching it, all the enraged citizens said to the king, 'O enhancer of the prosperity of the kingdom, either you choose Asamanjasa or us'.
tānuvāca tatō rājā kinnimittamidaṅ bhayam.

tāścāpi rājñā sampṛṣṭā vākyaṅ prakṛtayō.bruvan৷৷2.36.21৷৷


tataḥ then, rājā king, tān to them, uvāca said, idaṅ bhayam this fear, kinnimittam why?, rājñā by the king, sampṛṣṭāḥ having been asked, tāḥ those, prakṛtayaścāpi subjects also, vākyam these words, abruvan said.

The king then asked them, 'Why this fear?'. And the citizens responded:
ḍakrīḍatastvēṣa naḥ putrān bālānudbhrāntacētanaḥ.

sarayvāṅ prakṣipanmaurkhyādatulāṅ prītimaśnutē৷৷2.36.22৷৷


udbhrāntacētanaḥ with an insane mind, ēṣaḥ this one, krīḍataḥ while playing, bālān young ones, naḥ our, putrān sons, sarayvām in Sarayu river, prakṣipan while throwing, maurkhyāt in his insanity, atulām incomparable, prītim pleasure, aśnutē deriving.

That insane (Asamanjasa) while throwing our children who were playing around into Sarayu river in his insanity derived incomparable pleasure'.
sa tāsāṅ vacanaṅ śrutvā prakṛtīnāṅ narādhipaḥ.

taṅ tatyājāhitaṅ putraṅ tēṣāṅ priyacikīrṣayā৷৷2.36.23৷৷


saḥ narādhipaḥ that king, tēṣāṅ prakṛtīnām of those subjects, vacanam words, śrutvā having heard, tāsām to all of them, priyacikīrṣayā with the intention of pleasing them, ahitam malevolent, taṅ putram that son, tatyāja banished.

That king (Sagara) heard the words of the citizens and with the intention of doing good to them, banished that malevolent son.
taṅ yānaṅ śīghramārōpya sabhāryaṅ saparicchadam.

yāvajjīvaṅ vivāsyō.yamiti svānanvaśātpitā৷৷2.36.24৷৷


pitā father, Sagara, bhāryam to (his sons's) wife, saparicchadam with the clothes on them (then their, tam him, śīghram without delay, yānam in a carriage, ārōpya got him placed, ayam this one, yāvajjīvam for life, vivāsyaḥ iti shall be banished, svān his servants, anvaśāt ordered.

Then the father made him and his wife climb a carriage with the clothes they had at the time on them and at once ordered his servants to banish him for life.
sa phālapiṭakaṅ gṛhya giridurgāṇyalōḍayat.

diśa ssarvāstvanucaran sa yathā pāpakarmakṛt৷৷2.36.25৷৷


sa: he, pāpakarmakṛt yathā like an evil-doer, sarvāḥ all, diśaḥ directions, anucaran wandering about,
saḥ he, phālapiṭakam a spade and a basket, gṛhya holding, giridurgāṇi impenetrable mountains, alōḍayat spent digging.

Like an evil-doer wandering about in different directions, holding a spade and a basket in his hand, he went about digging the impenetrable mountains.
ityēnamatyajadrājā sagarō vai sudhārmikaḥ.

rāmaḥ kimakarōtpāpaṅ yēnaivamuparudhyatē৷৷2.36.26৷৷


sudhārmikaḥ highly righteous, sagaraḥ rājā king Sagara, iti thus, ēnam him, atyajat abandoned, rāmaḥ Rama, kiṅ pāpam what sin, akarōt has committed, yēna by which, ēvam this way, uparudhyatē should be banished.

Highly righteous king Sagara thus banished his son. What sin has Rama committed to secure a similar banishment?
na hi kañcana paśyāmō rāghavasyāguṇaṅ vayam.

durlabhō hyasya niraya śśaśāṅkasyēva kalmaṣam৷৷2.36.27৷৷


vayam we, rāghavasya Rama's, avaguṇam fault, kañcana even a little, na paśyāmaḥ hi we do not see, śaśāṅkasya moon's, kalmaṣam iva like stain, asya for this Rama, nirayaḥ hell (blemish), durlabhaḥ is difficult to find

We see no fault in Rama. Unlike the stain in the Moon it is difficult to find any blemish in him.
athavā dēvi! dōṣaṅ tvaṅ kañcitpaśyasi rāghavē.

tamadya brūhi tatvēna tadā rāmō vivāsyatām৷৷2.36.28৷৷


athavā nevertheless, dēvi Devi (Kaikeyi), tvam you, rāghavē in the scion of the Raghu race (Rama), kañcit the little, dōṣam fault, paśyasi see, tam about him, adya now, tattvēna truly, brūhi speak, tadā then, rāmaḥ Rama, vivāsyatām will be exiled.

O Kaikeyi! speak truly if you find any fault in this scion of the Raghu race (Rama). Then he will be exiled.
aduaduṣṭasya hi saṅtyāgaḥ satpathē niratasya ca.

nirdahēdapi śakrasya dyutiṅ dharmanirōdhanāt.2.36.29৷৷


aduṣṭasya of an innocent, satpathē on the righteous path, niratasya ca engaged in, saṅtyāgaḥ banishment, dharmanirōdhanāt by restraining righteousness, śakrasya api even Indra's, dyutim brilliance, nirdahēt will be destroyed.

The act of banishment of an innocent one walking the righteous path is like destroying the brilliance of Indra by restraining his righteousness.
tadalaṅ dēvi rāmasya śriyā vihatayā tvayā.

lōkatō.pi hi tē rakṣyaḥ parivādaḥ śubhānanē৷৷2.36.30৷৷


dēvi Devi, tat for that reason, tvayā by you, rāmasya Rama's, śriyā with prosperity, vihatayā has been ruined, alam enough, śubhānanē O one of auspicious countenance, tē to you, lōkataḥ in the world, parivādaḥ api censure also, rakṣyaḥ hi is to be saved.

O Devi, there is no use obstructing Rama's prosperity. O one with an auspicious countenance, save yourself from the censure of the world.
śrutvā tu siddhārthavacō rājā śrāntatarasvanaḥ.

śōkōpahatayā vācā kaikēyīmidamabravīt৷৷2.36.31৷৷


siddhārthavacaḥ Siddhartha's words, śrutvā having heard, rājā king, śrāntatarasvanaḥ in progressively failing voice, śōkōpahatayā grief-stricken, vācā words, kaikēyīm to Kaikeyi, idam these words, abravīt spoke.

Having heard Siddhartha, the king, stricken with grief, said to Kaikeyi in a gradually
feeble voice.
ētadvacō nēcchasi pāpavṛttē! hitaṅ na jānāsi mamātmanō vā.

āsthāya mārgaṅ kṛpaṇaṅ kucēṣṭā cēṣṭā hi tē sādhupathādapētā৷৷2.36.32৷৷


pāpavṛttē O one of vicious behaviour, ētat vacaḥ all these words, nēcchasi do not please you, kucēṣṭā of wicked attempts, kṛpaṇam vile, mārgam path, āsthāya having adopted, mama to me, ātmanō vā or to you also, hitam good, na jānāsi you do not know, tē to you, cēṣṭā actions, sādhupathāt from the right path, apētā devoid

O Kaikeyi of vicious behaviour, you do not aceept even the words of Siddhartha. You woman of wicked acts, having adopted vile ways, and abjured the right path cannot know what is good either for you or for me.
anuvrajiṣyāmyahamadya rāmaṅ

rājyaṅ parityajya sukhaṅ dhanaṅ ca.

sahaiva rājñā bharatēna ca tvaṅ

yathāsukhaṅ bhuṅkṣva cirāya rājyam৷৷2.36.33৷৷


aham I, rājyam kingdom, sukham comfort, dhanaṅ ca wealth, parityajya forsaking, adya today, rāmam Rama, anuvrajiṣyāmi shall follow, tvam you, rājñā with the king, bharatēna sahaiva along with Bharata, yathāsukham happily, cirāya for a long time, rājyam kingdom, bhuṅkṣva enjoy.

Abandoning this kingdom, these comforts and this wealth, I shall follow Rama. Enjoy the kingdom for a long time happily along with king Bharata.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē ṣaṭtriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the thirtysixth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.