Sloka & Translation

[Rama puts on bark--Vasistha blames Kaikeyi--says Sita was not ordained to wear bark.]

mahāmātravacaḥ śrutvā rāmō daśarathaṅ tadā.

abhyabhāṣata vākyaṅ tu vinayajñō vinītavat৷৷2.37.1৷৷

vinayajñaḥ knower of politeness, rāmaḥ Rama, mahāmātravacaḥ minister's words, śrutvā having heard, tadā then, daśaratham Dasaratha, vinītavat humbly, vākyam words, abhyabhāṣata spoke.

On hearing the minister, Rama who knew how to be polite spoke these words to Dasaratha humbly:

tyaktabhōgasya mē rājan! vanē vanyēna jīvataḥ.

kiṅ kāryamanuyātrēṇa tyaktasaṅgasya sarvataḥ৷৷2.37.2৷৷

rājan O king!, tyaktabhōgasya of forsaker of pleasures, sarvataḥ entirely, tyaktasaṅgasya of one who has given up attachments, vanē in the forest, vanyēna available in the forest, jīvataḥ subsisting, mē for me, anuyātrēṇa followers, kiṅ kāryam what is the use?

O king! giving up pleasures and attachments altogether I am going to live on whatever is available in the forest. What is the use of followers?

yō hi dattvā dvipaśrēṣṭhaṅ kakṣyāyāṅ kurutē manaḥ.

rajjusnēhēna kiṅ tasya tyajataḥ kuñjarōttamam৷৷2.37.3৷৷

yaḥ such a man, dvipaśrēṣṭham best of elephants, dattvā having given away, kakṣyāyām rope tied to its girth, manaḥ mind, kurutē will do, kuñjarōttamam best elephant, tyajataḥ of a man while giving up, tasya his, rajjusnēhēna for attachment for the rope, kim why?

Having given away the best of elephants, will any one be interested in the rope tied to its girth? Why should one have any attachment for the rope after he has given up the elephant?

tathā mama satāṅ śrēṣṭha! kiṅ dhvajinyā jagatpatē.

sarvāṇyēvānujānāmi cīrāṇyēvā.nayantu mē৷৷2.37.4৷৷

satām among the virtuous, śrēṣṭha best, jagatpatē lord of the universe, tathā in that way, mama to me, dhvajinyā with the army, kim what use?, sarvāṇyēva all things, anujānāmi am giving away, mē to me, cīrāṇyēva tattered clothes only, ānayantu bring.

O best among the virtuous! O lord of the world, I do not have any use for this army. I am giving away everything (to Bharata). Bring the bark only.

khanitrapiṭakē cōbhē samānayata gacchataḥ.

caturdaśa vanē vāsaṅ varṣāṇi vasatō mama৷৷2.37.5৷৷

gacchataḥ going away, caturdaśa fourteen, varṣāṇi years, vanē in the forest, vāsam dwelling, vasataḥ residing , mama to me, ubhē two things, khanitrapiṭakē a basket and a crowbar, samānayata bring.

I am going to the forest to live there for fourteen years. Bring me two things: a basket and a crowbar.

atha cīrāṇi kaikēyī svayamāhṛtya rāghavam.

uvāca paridhatsvēti janaughē nirapatrapā৷৷2.37.6৷৷

atha thereupon, kaikēyī Kaikeyi, janaughē in the presence of the assembly of people, nirapatrapā without any sense of shame, svayam herself, cīrāṇi bark robes, ahṛtya having brought, parithatsva 'wear', iti saying so, rāghavam to Rama, uvāca said.

Thereupon in the assembly of people, without any sense of shame Kaikeyi herself brought the bark robes and said to the son of the Raghus (Rama), Wear it.

sa cīrē puruṣavyāghraḥ kaikēyyā pratigṛhya tē.

sūkṣmavastramavakṣipya munivastrāṇyavasta ha৷৷2.37.7৷৷

puruṣavyāghraḥ tiger (best) among men, saḥ he, kaikēyyāḥ from Kaikeyi, tē those, cīrē bark robes, pratigṛhya having received, sūkṣmavastram fine apparel, apakṣipya after removing, munivastrāṇi ascetic robes, avasta ha put on

The tiger among men (Rama) received the bark robes from Kaikeyi and putting off the fine apparel wore the robes of an ascetic.

lakṣmaṇaścāpi tatraiva vihāya vasanē śubhē.

tāpasācchādanē caiva jagrāha pituragrataḥ৷৷2.37.8৷৷

lakṣmaṇaścāpi Lakshmana also, tatraiva there only, pituḥ father's, agrataḥ in front (presence), śubhē auspicious, vasanē raiment, vihāya having discarded, tapasācchādanē caiva the clothing of an ascetic, jagrāha accepted.

Lakshmana also removed his auspicious raiment in front (presence) of his father and accepted (put on) the robes of an ascetic.

athā.tmaparidhānārthaṅ sītā kauśēyavāsinī.

samīkṣya cīraṅ santrastā pṛṣatī vāgurāmiva৷৷2.37.9৷৷

atha then, kauśēyavāsinī wearing silk clothes, sītā Sita, ātmaparidhānārtham meant for her to wear, cīram bark robes, samīkṣya having seen, pṛṣatī doe, vāgurāmiva like a (fowler's) snare, santrastā was frightened.

Then Sita in silk clothes glanced at the bark robes meant for her to wear and was frightened like a doe seeing a (fowler's) snare.

sā vyapatrapamāṇēva pragṛhya ca sudurmanāḥ.

kaikēyī kuśacīrē tē jānakī śubhalakṣaṇā৷৷2.37.10৷৷

aśrusampūrṇa nētrā ca dharmajñā dharmadarśinī.

gandharvarājapratimaṅ bhartāramidamabravīt৷৷2.37.11৷৷

sudurmanāḥ with a deeply distressed mind, śubhalakṣaṇā of auspicious nature, dharmajñā knows her duties, dharmadarśinī perceives righteousness, sā jānakī that Sita, vyapatrapamāṇēva as though feeling ashamed, kaikēyī from Kaikeyi, tē those, kuśacīrē garments made of kusa grass, pragṛhya having received, aśṛsampūrṇanētrā with her eyes suffused with tears, gandharvarājapratimam the very image of king of gandharvas, bhartāram to her husband, idam these words, abravīt spoke.

Sita of auspicious nature who knew her duties and understood righteousness, took the garments made of kusa grass from Kaikeyi. With a sense of abashment her eyes suffused with tears, she said to her husband who was the very image of the king of gandharvas.

kathaṅ nu cīraṅ badhnanti munayō vanavāsinaḥ.

iti hyakuśalā sītā sā mumōha muhurmuhuḥ৷৷2.37.12৷৷

vanavāsinaḥ forest-dwellers, munayaḥ sages, cīram (bark) tattered clothe, katham how, badhnanti nu wear them, iti thus, sā sītā that Sita, akuśalā unskilled (unhabituate), muhurmuhuḥ again and again, mumōha was perplexed.

Sita, unacquainted with wearing bark robes, asked Rama, perplexed 'How do the sages who live in the forest wear bark garment?'.

kṛtvā kaṇṭhē ca sā cīramēkamādāya pāṇinā.

tasthau hyakuśalā tatra vrīḍitā janakātmajā৷৷2.37.13৷৷

sā janakātmajā that daughter of Janaka, (Sita), ēkam one end, cīram of garment, kaṇṭhē on
the neck, kṛtvā having placed, pāṇinā with hand, ādāya held, tatra thereafter, akuśalā unskilled (unhabituated), vrīḍitā feeling ashamed, tasthau stood.

The daughter of Janaka, placed one end of the garment round her neck and held the other in her hand, and stood ashamed as she did not know what to do next.

tasyāstatkṣipramāgamya rāmō dharmabhṛtāṅ varaḥ.

cīraṅ babandha sītāyāḥ kauśēyasyōpari svayam৷৷2.37.14৷৷

dharmabhṛtām among protectors of righteousness, varaḥ foremost, rāmaḥ Rama, kṣipram quickly, āgamya having come forward, tat cīram that bark garment, tasyāḥ sītāyāḥ Sita's, kauśēyasya silk garment's, upari upon, svayam himself, babandha fastened.

Rama, foremost among protectors of righteousness, came forward quickly and fastened the bark himself over her silk garment.

rāmaṅ prēkṣya tu sītāyā badhnantaṅ cīramuttamam.

antaḥpuragatā nāryō mumucurvāri nētrajam৷৷2.37.15৷৷

sītāyāḥ of Sita, cīram garment, badhnantam when he was fastening, uttamam excellent, rāmam Rama, prēkṣya having seen, antaḥpuragatāḥ of the inner apartment, nāryaḥ women, nētrajam born of the eyes, vāri tears, mumucuḥ released.

Beholding Rama fastening the bark garment on Sita, the women of the inner apartment shed tears from their eyes.

ūcuśca paramāyastā rāmaṅ jvalitatējasam.

vatsa naivaṅ niyuktēyaṅ vanavāsē manasvinī৷৷2.37.16৷৷

paramāyastāḥ profoundly distressed, jvalitatējasam with burning lustre, rāmam to Rama, ūcuśca also said, vatsa dear child, manasvinī high-minded, iyam this Sita, ēvam thus, vanavāsē to dwell in the forest, na niyuktā was not ordered.

Profoundly distressed, they said to Rama glowing with burning lustre O dear, no one has ordered this high-minded Sita to dwell in the forest.

piturvākyānurōdhēna gatasya vijanaṅ vanam.

tāvaddarśanamasyā naḥ saphalaṅ bhavatu prabhō৷৷2.37.17৷৷

prabhō O lord, pituḥ father's, vākyānurōdhēna in obedience to the words, vijanam desolate, vanam to the forest, gatasya after you have left, tāvat till such time, naḥ for us, saphalam fruitful, asyāḥ her, darśanam bhavatu audience be available.

In obedience to the words of your father, O lord! you are going to the forest. Till you return, please allow us to have her (Sita's) audience.

lakṣmaṇēna sahāyēna vanaṅ gacchasva putraka.

nēyamarhati kalyāṇī vastuṅ tāpasavadvanē৷৷2.37.18৷৷

putraka O son, sahāyēna as companion, lakṣmaṇēna with Lakshmana, vanam to the forest, gacchasva you may go, kalyāṇī auspicious lady, iyam she, tāpasavat like a hermit, vanē in the forest, vastum to live, nārhati is not worthy of.

Go, O son! to the forest with Lakshmana as your companion. (But) this auspicious Sita, will not be able to live in the jungle like a hermit.

kuru nō yācanāṅ putra! sītā tiṣṭhatu bhāminī.

dharmanityassvayaṅ sthātuṅ na hīdānīṅ tvamicchasi৷৷2.37.19৷৷

putra O son, na: our, yācanām prayer, kuru you may accede, bhāminī lovely, sītā Sita, tiṣṭhatu remain here, dharmanityaḥ faithful to your duty, tvam you, svayam on your own, sthātum to remain, idānīm now, na icchasi hi do not desire.

Do accede to our prayer. Let lovely Sita stay with us as you, O son! faithful to your
duty, will not like to remain here.

tāsāmēvaṅvidhā vāca śṛṇvan daśarathātmajaḥ.

babandhaiva tadā cīraṅ sītayā tulyaśīlayā৷৷2.37.20৷৷

daśarathātmaja: son of Dasaratha (Rama), tāsām their, ēvaṅvidhāḥ such ways, vācaḥ words, śṛṇvan listening, tadā then, tulyaśīlayā similar in nature, sītayā by Sita, cīram bark robes, babandhaiva got them fastened.

While Rama was listening to such words uttered by them, he got the bark robes fastened round Sita who was of similar nature.

cīrē gṛhītē tu tayā samīkṣya nṛpatērguruḥ.

nivārya sītāṅ kaikēyīṅ vasiṣṭhō vākyamabravīt৷৷2.37.21৷৷

tayā by her, cīrē bark garment, gṛhītē was worn, nṛpatēḥ king's, guruḥ preceptor, vasiṣṭhaḥ Vasistha, samīkṣya having seen, sītām of Sita, nivārya having restrained, kaikēyīm to Kaikeyi, (vākyam) abravīt said.

When Sita wore the bark garments, Vasistha, the king's preceptor who was watching this restrained her (Sita) and said to Kaikeyi:

atipravṛttē durmēdhē kaikēyi kulapāṅsani.

vañcayitvā ca rājānaṅ na pramāṇē.vatiṣṭhasē৷৷2.37.22৷৷

atipravṛttē exceeding all limits of decency, durmēdhē a woman of evil mind, kulapāṅsani disgrace to the race, kaikēyi Kaikeyi, rājānam to king, vañcayitvā ca having deceived, pramāṇē conforming to the standards (of righteousness ), na avatiṣṭhasē are you not abiding

.
You are exceeding all limits of decency O Kaikeyi! your motive is evil. You are a disgrace to the race! You have deceived the king and your behaviour does not conform to the standards (of righteousness).

na gantavyaṅ vanaṅ dēvyā sītayā śīlavarjitē.

anuṣṭhāsyati rāmasya sītā prakṛtamāsanam৷৷2.37.23৷৷

śīlavarjitē devoid of good conduct, dēvyā by the divine, sītayā Sita, vanam to the forest, na gantavyam need not go, sītā Sita, rāmasya Rama's, prakṛtam present, āsanam royal throne, anuṣṭhāsyati she will occupy.

You are devoid of good conduct, O Kaikeyi! Divine Sita need not go to the forest. Remaining here she should occupy the royal throne of Rama.

ātmā hi dārāssarvēṣāṅ dārasaṅgrahavartinām.

ātmēyamiti rāmasya pālayiṣyati mēdinīm৷৷2.37.24৷৷

dārasaṅgrahavartinām of men who guard their wives, sarvēṣām for all, dārāḥ wife, ātmā hi is the very soul, iyam this Sita, rāmasya Rama's, ātmā iti soul, mēdinīm this earth, pālayiṣyati will rule.

For every householder, his wife is the soul. Since Sita is the soul of Rama, she can rule this earth.

atha yāsyati vaidēhī vanaṅ rāmēṇa saṅgatā.

vayamapyanuyāsyāmaḥ puraṅ cēdaṅ gamiṣyati৷৷2.37.25৷৷

atha otherwise, vaidēhī Sita, rāmēṇa with Rama, saṅgatā united, vanam to the forest, yāsyati if goes, vayamapi all of us also, anuyāsyāmaḥ will follow, idam this, puraṅ ca city also, gamiṣyati will go.

Otherwise, if Sita goes with Rama to the forest, all of us along with the entire city will follow.

antapālāśca yāsyanti sadārō yatra rāghavaḥ.

sahōpajīvyaṅ rāṣṭraṅ ca puraṅ ca saparicchadam৷৷2.37.26৷৷

sadāraḥ with his wife, rāghavaḥ descendant of the Raghus, yatra where (lives), antapālāśca guardians of the harem, sahōpajīvyam living together with the patron, rāṣṭraṅ ca the kingdom, saparicchadam along with the retinue, puraṅ ca the city, yāsyanti will go.

The guardians of the harem, its patron king Dasaratha with his retinue and, the people of this city will go wherever Rama lives with his wife.

bharataśca saśatrughnaścīravāsā vanēcaraḥ.

vanē vasantaṅ kākutstha manuvatsyati pūrvajam৷৷2.37.27৷৷

saśatrughnaḥ Satrughna, bharataśca also Bharata, cīravāsāḥ wearing bark robes, vanēcaraḥ wandering in the forest, vanē in the forest, vasantaṅ living there, pūrvajam elder brother, kākutstham Son of the Kakutstha (Rama), anuvatsyati follow.

Wandering in the forest and wearing bark, Satrughna and Bharata will live in the company of their elder brother (Rama) in the jungle.

tata śśūnyāṅ gatajanāṅ vasudhāṅ pādapai ssaha.

tvamēkā śādhi durvṛttā prajānāmahitē sthitā৷৷2.37.28৷৷

prajānām people's, ahitē in doing harm, sthitā intent upon, durvṛttā with vile behaviour, tvam ēkā you alone, tataḥ after that, gatajanām deserted by men, śūnyām empty, vasudhām earth, pādapaiḥ saha along with trees, śādhi rule.

Intent upon doing harm to the people with your vile behaviour, you alone rule this kingdom full of trees and deserted by men.

na hi tadbhavitā rāṣṭraṅ yatra rāmō na bhūpatiḥ.

tadvanaṅ bhavitā rāṣṭraṅ yatra rāmō nivatsyati৷৷2.37.29৷৷

yatra where, rāmaḥ Rama, bhūpatiḥ king, na not, tat there, rāṣṭram kingdom, na bhavitā hi is not indeed there, yatra where, rāmaḥ Rama, nivatsyati he dwells, tat vanam that forest also, rāṣṭram kingdom, bhavitā will become.

That is not a kingdom where Rama does not rule. If Rama lives in the forest, that shall be the kingdom.

na hyadattāṅ mahīṅ pitrā bharataḥ śāstumarhati.

tvayi vā putravadvastuṅ yadi jātō mahīpatēḥ৷৷2.37.30৷৷

bharataḥ Bharata, mahīpatēḥ of the king (Dasaratha), jāta: yadi if born, pitrā by father, adattām not given, mahīm earth, śāstum to rule, tvayi in you, putravat like a son, vastuṅ vā to live, na arhati is not fit.

If Bharata is truly born to the king, he will not rule the kingdom which has not been bestowed on him (wholeheartedly) by his father. Nor will he live like a son to you.

yadyapi tvaṅ kṣititalādgaganaṅ cōtpatiṣyasi.

pitṛrvaṅśacaritrajñaḥ sō.nyathā na kariṣyati৷৷2.37.31৷৷

tvam you, kṣititalāt from the earth, gaganam to the sky, utpatiṣyasi yadyapi even if you can fly, piturvaṅśacaritrajñaḥ knower of traditions of his father's dynasty, saḥ Bharata, anyathā otherwise, na kariṣyati will not act.

Even if you were to fly from earth to sky, Bharata who knows the traditions of his father's dynasty, will not act otherwise.

tattvayā putragardhinyā putrasya kṛtamapriyam.

lōkē hi sa na vidyēta yō na rāmamanuvrataḥ৷৷2.37.32৷৷

tat therefore, putragardhinyā by a woman greedily guarding her son's interest, tvayā by you, putrasya of your son, apriyam harm, kṛtam is done, lōkē in this world, yaḥ who, rāmam to Rama, anuvrataḥ follows, na not, saḥ he, na vidyēta hi will not be there.

Therefore, by greedily guarding your son's interest you are doing him harm. There is none in this world who will not follow Rama.

drakṣyasyadyaiva kaikēyī paśuvyālamṛgadvijān.

gacchatassaha rāmēṇa pādapāṅśca tadunmukhān৷৷2.37.33৷৷

kaikēyī Kaikeyi, rāmēṇa saha along with Rama, gacchataḥ leaving, paśuvyālamṛgadvijān flocks of cattle, elephants, deer and birds, tadunmukhān bending towards him, pādapāṅśca trees also, adyaiva today, drakṣyasi you will see.

Today you shall see, O Kaikeyi, flocks of cattle, elephants, deer and birds following Rama, even the trees bending towards him.

athōttamānyābharaṇāni dēvi!

dēhi snuṣāyai vyapanīya cīram.

na cīramasyāḥ pravidhīyatēti

nyavārayattadvasanaṅ vasiṣṭaḥ৷৷2.37.34৷৷

atha then, dēvi Devi (Kaikeyi), cīram bark robes, vyapanīya having removed, snuṣāyai your daughter-in-law, uttamāni precious, ābharaṇāni ornaments, dēhi give, asyāḥ her, cīram bark robes, na pravidhīyata was not decided, iti thus, vasiṣṭhaḥ Vasistha, tat that, vasanam garment, nyavārayat prevented.

O Kaikeyi! remove those bark robes and bestow on your daughter-in-law precious ornaments. She was not ordained to wear the bark. Vaisishta, saying so, prevented Sita from wearing that garment.

ēkasya rāmasya vanē nivāsa-

stvayā vṛtaḥkēkayarājaputrī.

vibhūṣitēyaṅ pratikarmanityā

vasatvaraṇyē saha rāghavēṇa৷৷2.37.35৷৷

kēkayarājaputrī O daughter of the king of Kekaya, tvayā by you, ēkasya rāmasya only for Rama, vanē in the forest, nivāsaḥ dwell, vṛtaḥ is sought for, iyam this Sita, vibhūṣitā well-adorned, pratikarmanityā engaged daily in decorating, rāghavēṇa saha along with Rama, araṇyē in the forest, vasatu shall live.

O Kaikeyi, you asked that Rama only should dwell in the forest (wearing bark robes). Therefore let Sita, adorn her body daily, while she lives in the forest with Rama.

yānaiśca mukhyaiḥ paricārakaiśca

susaṅvṛtā gacchatu rājaputrī.

vastraiśca sarvaissahitairvidhānai

rnēyaṅ vṛtā tē varasampradānē৷৷2.37.36৷৷

rājaputrī princess Sita, mukhyaiḥ with excellent, yānaiśca with chariots, paricārakaiśca with attendants, susaṅvṛtā surrounded by, vastraiśca with garments, sarvaiḥ with everything, sahitaiḥ together, vidhānaiḥ necessities, gacchatu let go, tē your, varasampradānē while seeking boons, iyam this Sita, na vṛtā is not included.

Equipped with excellent chariots, attendants, garments, and all other needs let the princess (Sita) go. While seeking boons, you did not include Sita.

tasmiṅstathā jalpati vipramukhyē

gurau nṛpasyāpratimaprabhāvē.

naiva sma sītā vinivṛttabhāvā

priyasya bhartuḥ pratikārakāmā৷৷2.37.37৷৷

nṛpasya king's, gurau preceptor, apratimaprabhāvē possessing incomparable power, vipramukhyē foremost of brahmins, tasmin that Vasistha, tathā in that way, jalpati speaking, sītā Sita, priyasya beloved, bhartuḥ husband, pratikārakāmā to serve him, vinivṛttabhāvā to swerve from her resolve, naiva sma did not agree.

(Though) Vasistha, endowed with matchless power, the preceptor of the king and foremost among the brahmins thus expressed himself, Sita was not willing to swerve from her resolve in order to serve her beloved husband.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptatriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the thirtyseventh sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.