Sloka & Translation

[Grief stricken Dasaratha falls down-- denounces Kaikeyi--reaches the chamber of Kausalya.]

यावत्तु निर्यतस्तस्य रजोरूपमदृश्यत।

नैवेक्ष्वाकुवरस्तावत्सञ्जहारात्मचक्षुषी।।2.42.1।।


तस्य that Rama, निर्यतः as he was going, रजोरूपम् the form of dust, यावत् as long as, अदृश्यत was visible, तावत् so long, इक्ष्वाकुवरः the best of Ikshvaku dynasty, king Dasaratha, आत्मचक्षुषी his eyes, नैव सञ्जहार did not withdraw.

As long as the dust raised by the wheels of the chariot of Rama (who was departing to the forest) was visible, Dasaratha, the best of the Ikshvakus, could not withdraw his eyes (from Rama).
यावद्राजा प्रियं पुत्रं पश्यत्यत्यन्तधार्मिकम्।

तावद्व्यवर्धते वास्य धरण्यां पुत्रदर्शने।।2.42.2।।


राजा king, प्रियम् beloved, अत्यन्तधार्मिकम् exceedingly virtuous, पुत्रम् son, यावत् as long as, पश्यति was able to see, तावत् so long, अस्य his, पुत्रदर्शने for the sight of the son, धरण्याम् the dust on the earth, व्यवर्धतेव appeared growing.

So long as king Dasaratha was able to see his exceedingly virtuous and beloved son (Rama), it appeared that his body kept rising from the earth to have a sight of his son.
न पश्यति रजोऽप्यस्य यदा रामस्य भूमिपः।

तदाऽऽर्तश्च विषण्णश्च पपात धरणीतले।।2.42.3।।


भूमिपः the king, यदा when, अस्य रामस्य that Rama's, रजोऽपि even the dust, न पश्यति could
not see, तदा then, आर्तः च stricken with grief, विषण्णः च with despondency, धरणीतले on the earth, पपात fell down.

When the king could no longer see even the dust, he fell on the ground, despondent and grief stricken.
तस्य दक्षिणमन्वागात्कौसल्या बाहुमङ्गना।

वामं चास्यान्वगात्पार्श्वं कैकेयी भरतप्रिया।।2.42.4।।


अङ्गना wife, कौशल्या Kausalya, तस्य his, दक्षिणं बाहुम् right hand, अन्वगात् reached, ,भरतप्रिया beloved (mother) of Bharata, कैकेयी च Kaikeyi, वामम् left, पार्श्वम् side, अन्वगात् reached.

Kausalya reached for the right hand of Dasaratha (to raise him up) and Kaikeyi the beloved (mother) of Bharata reached for his left.
तां नयेन च सम्पन्नो धर्मेण विनयेन च।

उवाच राजा कैकेयीं समीक्ष्य व्यथितेन्द्रियः।।2.42.5।।


नयेन with rectitude, धर्मेण with virtue, विनयेन च also with humility, सम्पन्नः endowed with, राजा king, तां कैकेयीम् to that Kaikeyi, समीक्ष्य having seen, व्यथितेन्द्रियः one with painful senses reeling, उवाच said.

The king, endowed with rectitude, virtue and also humility, stared at and said to Kaikeyi with pain.
कैकेयि मा ममाङ्गानि स्प्राक्षीस्त्वं दुष्टचारिणी।

न हि त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छामि न भार्या न च बान्धवी।।2.42.6।।


कैकेयि O Kaikeyi, दुष्टचारिणी a woman of evil conduct, त्वम् you, मम my, अङ्गानि limbs, मा स्प्राक्षीः do not touch, त्वाम् you, द्रष्टुम् to look at, न हि इच्छामि do not wish, भार्या wife, न not, बान्धवी relation, न not.

O Kaikeyi you are a woman of evil conduct. Do not touch my body. I do not wish to see you. You are not my wife or my relation.
ये च त्वामनुजीवन्ति नाहं तेषां न ते मम।

केवलार्थपरां हि त्वां त्यक्तधर्मां त्यजाम्यहम्।।2.42.7।।


ये च who, त्वाम् you, अनुजीवन्ति depend upon you for subsistence, तेषाम् their, अहम् I, न not, ते they, मम to me, न not, केवलार्थपराम् seeking your selfish interests alone, त्यक्तधर्माम् deserting righteousness, त्वाम् you, अहम् I, त्यजामि abandon.

Your dependents have nothing to do with me nor I with them. I denounce you since you are a selfseeker without any sense off righteousness.
अगृह्णां यच्च ते पाणिमग्निं पर्यणयं च यत्।

अनुजानामि तत्सर्वमस्मिन् लोके परत्र च।।2.42.8।।


ते your, पाणिम् hand, अगृह्णां (इति) यत् the fact of holding, अग्निम् of (to) fire, पर्यणयं च (इति) यत् the fact of having circumambulated, तत्सर्वम् all that, अस्मिन् in this, लोके world, परत्र च in the next orld also, अनुजानामि renouncing.

I renounce the relationship established with you through marriage by taking your hand and circumambulating the fire, both in this world and in the next.
भरतश्चेत्प्रतीतः स्याद्राज्यं प्राप्येदमव्ययम्।

यन्मे स दद्यात्पित्रर्थं मामां तद्दत्तमागमत्।।2.42.9।।


अव्ययम् imperishable, (इदं) राज्यम् this kingdom, प्राप्य having secured, भरतः Bharata, प्रतीतः स्यात् चेत् if he is pleased, सः he, पित्रर्थम् in the form of funeral offerings, मे to me, यत् which, दद्यात् gives, तद्दत्तम् given by him, माम् me, मागमत् may it not reach.

If Bharata feels pleased to secure this imperishable kingdom, then may his obsequial offerings at my funeral not reach me
अथ रेणुसमुध्वस्तं समुत्थाप्य नराधिपम्।

न्यवर्तत तदा देवी कौशल्या शोककर्शिता।।2.42.10।।


अथ then, रेणुसमुध्वस्तम् coated with dust, तं नराधिपम् to that king, समुत्थाप्य having lifted,
देवी queen, कौशल्या Kausalya, शोककर्शिता emaciated due to sorrow, तदा then, न्यवर्तत returned to her palace.

Then Kausalya, emaciated due to sorrow, lifted the king who was thoroughly coated with dust and returned to the palace.
हत्वेव ब्राह्मणं कामात् स्पृष्ट्वाग्निमिव पाणिना।

अन्वतप्यत धर्मात्मा पुत्रं सञ्चिन्त्य तापसम् ।।2.42.11।।


धर्मात्मा virtuous one, तापसम् wearing the robes of an ascetic, पुत्रम् son, सञ्चिन्त्य remembering, कामात् intentionally, ब्राह्मणम् to a brahmin, हत्वेव as if slew, पाणिना with hand, अग्निम् to fire, स्पृष्ट्वा इव as if touched, अन्वतप्यत plunged in grief.

That virtuous Dasaratha, recalling (the sight of) his son with the robes of an ascetic, burned with remorse as if he had intentionally slain a brahmin or placed his hand in fire.
निवृत्त्यैव निवृत्त्यैव सीदतो रथवर्त्मसु।

राज्ञो नातिबभौ रूपं ग्रस्तस्यांशुमतो यथा।।2.42.12।।


रथवर्त्मसु trail of the chariot, निवृत्त्यैव निवृत्त्यैव turning again and again, सीदतः grieving, राज्ञः the king's, रूपम् countenance, ग्रस्तस्य as if swallowed by Rahu, अंशुमत: यथा like Sun, नातिबभौ did not shine.

Turning back again and again at the trail of (Rama's) chariot, the grieving king appeared lustreless like the Sun in eclipse.
विललाप च दुःखार्तः प्रियं पुत्रमनुस्मरन्।

नगरान्तमनुप्राप्तं बुध्वा पुत्रमथाब्रवीत्।।2.42.13।।


प्रियम् beloved, पुत्रम् son, अनुस्मरन् reflecting, दुःखार्तः tortured with sorrow, विललाप च lamented, अथ then, पुत्रम् son, नगरान्तम् end of the city, अनुप्राप्तम् havng reached, बुध्वा
having realised, अब्रवीत् said.

The griefstricken king began to lament thinking of his beloved son, and (suddenly) realizing that his son had crossed the limits of the city, said:
वाहननां च मुख्यानां वहतां तं ममात्मजम्।

पदानि पथि दृश्यन्ते स महात्मा न दृश्यते।।2.42.14।।


मम my, आत्मजम् son, तम् that Rama, वहताम् carrying, मुख्यानाम् preeminent, वाहनानाम् horses', पदानि hoofprints, पथि in the path, दृश्यन्ते are seen, महात्मा magnanimous, सः Rama, न दृश्यत is not to be seen.

I can see the marks of the hooves of the splendid horses carrying my son on the highway but not that magnanimous Rama.
यः सुखेषूपधानेषु शेते चन्दनरूषितः।

वीज्यमानो महार्हाभिः स्त्रीभिर्मम सुतोत्तमः।।2.42.15।।

स नूनं क्वचिदेवाद्य वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितः।

काष्ठं वा यदि वाश्मानमुपधाय शयिष्यते।।2.42.16।।


यः मम सुतोत्तमः best among my sons, चन्दनरूषितः daubed with sandal cream, महार्हाभिः graceful, स्त्रीभिः by women, वीज्यमानः being fanned, सुखेषु luxurious, उपधानेषु on cushions, शेते was sleeping, सः such Rama, अद्य today, नूनम् surely, क्वचिदेव some where, वृक्षमूलम् at the foot of a tree, उपाश्रितः taking refuge, काष्ठं a log, यदि वा or, आश्मानम् a stone, उपधाय using as pillow, शयिष्यते he will sleep.

Rama, the best of all my sons who, smeared with sandalpaste and fanned by graceful women used to sleep (with his head) on comfortable cushions will surely, from now on, lie down somewhere at the foot of a tree, (his head) pillowed upon a piece of wood or stone.
उत्थास्यति च मेदिन्याः कृपणः पांसुकुण्ठितः।

विनिश्श्वसन् प्रस्रवणात्करेणूनामिवर्षभः।।2.42.17।।


करेणूनाम् of female elephants, ऋषभः lord, bull elephant, प्रस्रवणात् इव like from Prasravana mountain, विनिश्वसन् heaving sighs, पांसुकुण्ठितः crusted with dust, कृपणः unfortunate Rama, मेदिन्याः from the ground, उत्थास्यति च will rise up.

That unfortunate Rama, having been covered with dust, will get up from the ground sighing like a bull elephant rising from mount Prasravana.
द्रक्ष्यन्ति नूनं पुरुषा दीर्घबाहुं वनेचराः।

राममुत्थाय गच्छन्तं लोकनाथमनाथवत्।।2.42.18।।


दीर्घबाहुम् longarmed, लोकनाथं lord of the world, अनाथवत् like without a protector, उत्थाय rising (from the ground), गच्छन्तम् walking, रामम् Rama, नूनम् surely, वनेचराः forestdwellers, पुरुषाः men, द्रक्ष्यन्ति they will see.

Surely the forestrovers will be gazing upon the longarmed Rama, protector of the world, as he rises (from the ground) and wanders in the jungle unprotected.
सा नूनं जनकस्येष्टा सुता सुखसदोचिता।

कण्टकाक्रमणाक्लान्ता वनमद्य गमिष्यति।।2.42.19।।


सुखसदोचिता accustomed to comforts, जनकस्य Janaka's, इष्टा beloved, सुता daughter, सा Janaki, कण्टकाक्रमणक्लान्ता troubled due to piercing of thorns, अद्य now, वनम् to the forest, गमिष्यति will go.

Sita, beloved daughter of Janaka, who is accustomed to comforts, will now wander in the forest troubled by piercing thorns.
अनभिज्ञा वनानां सा नूनं भयमुपैष्यति।

श्वापदानर्दितं श्रुत्वा गम्भीरं रोमहर्षणम्।।2.42.20।।


वनानाम् of the forests, अनभिज्ञा un acquainted, सा Sita, नूनम् surely, गम्भीरम् deep and fearful, रोमहर्षणम् causing horripilation, श्वापदानर्दितम् roaring of wild animals, श्रुत्वा having heard, भयम् fear, उपैष्यति will obtain.

Sita who knows not the forest will now live in terror, listening to the hairraising, horrible roars of wild animals.
सकामा भव कैकेयि विधवा राज्यमावस।

न हि तं पुरुषव्याघ्रं विना जीवितुमुत्सहे।।2.42.21।।


कैकेयि Kaikeyi, सकामा भव desire be fulfilled, विधवा as widow, राज्यम् kingdom, आवस inhabit, पुरुषव्याघ्रम् tiger among men, तं विना without him, जीवितुम् to live, न उत्सहे हि do not desire.

O Kaikeyi, your desire is fulfilled. Rule the kingdom as a widow. Without Rama, the best of men, I don't desire to live.
इत्येवं विलपन् राजा जनौघेनाभिसंवृतः।

अपस्नात इवारिष्टं प्रविवेश पुरोत्तमम्।।2.42.22।।


इत्येवम् in this manner, विलपन् lamenting, राजा king, जनौघेन by the multitude of people, अभिसंवृतः surrounded, अपस्नातः one who has taken inauspicious (funeral) bath, अरिष्टं इव like an ominous, पुरोत्तमम् best of cities (Ayodhya), प्रविवेश entered.

Thus the king, who looked like one after the inauspicious (funeral) bath, surrounded
by streams of people entered the most beautiful city (Ayodhya) which portended misfortune.
शून्यचत्वरवेश्मान्तां संवृतापणदेवताम्।

क्लान्तदुर्बलदुःखार्तां नात्याकीर्णमहापथाम्।।2.42.23।।

तामवेक्ष्य पुरीं सर्वां राममेवानुचिन्तयन्।

विलपन् प्राविशद्राजा गृहं सूर्य इवाम्बुदम्।।2.42.24।।


शून्यचत्वरवेश्मान्ताम् where the courtyards or the mansions were deserted, संवृतापणदेवताम् where temples and marketplaces were closed, क्लान्तदुर्बलदुःखार्ताम् weak and exhausted with with grief, नात्याकीर्णमहापथाम् the highways no longer crowded, ताम् that, सर्वाम् entire, पुरीम् to city of Ayodhya, आवेक्ष्य having seen, राजा king, राममेव about Rama only, अनुचिन्तयन् thinking, विलपन् lamenting, सूर्यः sun, अम्बुदम् इव like clouds, प्राविशत् entered.

There the mansions and squares on the highways were all deserted. The temples and marketplaces were closed. The people were weak, fatigued and tormented with grief. The highways were not much crowded. Having seen such a sight of the city on all sides, lamenting and brooding over Rama, Dasaratha entered his palace like the Sun plunging into a cloud.
महाह्रदमिवाक्षोभ्यं सुपर्णेन हृतोरगम्।

रामेण रहितं वेश्म वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणेन च।।2.42.25।।


रामेण with Rama, वैदेह्या with Sita, लक्ष्मणेन च also with Lakshmana, रहितम् absent, वेश्म palace, सुपर्णेन by Suparna, हृतोरगम् a serpent snatched away, अक्षोभ्यम् an unperturbed, महाह्रदम् इव like a great tank

The palace without Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, stood like a vast, unperturbed lake with serpents snatched away by Suparna (Garuda).
अथ गद्गदशब्दस्तु विलपन्मनुजाधिपः।

उवाच मृदुमन्दार्थं वचनं दीनमस्वरम्।।2.42.26।।


अथ thereupon, मनुजा (वसुधा) धिपः lord of men, गद्गदशब्दः with choked throat, विलपन् lamenting, मृदु gently, मन्दार्थम् in low voice, अस्वरम् feeble, दीनं वचनम् in melancholic tones, उवाच said.

Thereupon Dasaratha lamenting with his throat choked addressed (his attendants) in a low, feeble, melancholic, gentle voice:
कौशल्यायां गृहं शीघ्रं राममातुर्नयन्तु माम्।

न ह्यन्यत्र ममाश्वासो हृदयस्य भविष्यति।।2.42.27।।


राममातुः Rama's mother, कौशल्यायाः Kausalya's, गृहम् apartment, माम् me, शीघ्रम् quickly, नयन्तु be taken, मम हृदयस्य for my heart, अन्यत्र in any other place, आश्वासः solace, न भविष्यति हि not possible.

Take me quickly to the apartment of Rama's mother, Kausalya. There is no other place where my heart can find solace.
इति ब्रुवन्तं राजानमनयन् द्वारदर्शिनः।

कौशल्याया गृहं तत्र न्यवेश्यत विनीतवत्।।2.42.28।।


इति in this way, ब्रुवन्तम् while saying, राजानम् king Dasaratha, द्वारदर्शिनः doorkeepers, कौशल्यायाः Kausalya's, गृहम् apartment, अनयन् brought him, तत्र there, विनीतवत् respectfully, न्यवेश्यत he was made to rest.

Having heard the king, the doorkeepers took him to the apartment of Kausalya and there respectfully made him rest.
ततस्तस्य प्रविष्टस्य कौशल्याया निवेशनम्।

अधिरुह्यापि शयनं बभूव लुलितं मनः।।2.42.29।।


ततः then, कौशल्यायाः Kausalya's, निवेशनम् residence, प्रविष्टस्य having entered, तस्य his, मनः mind, शयनम् couch, अधिरुह्यापि though having climbed, लुलितम् बभूव was tossed about.

His mind tossed restlessly although he entered Kausalya's palace and climbed into the couch.
पुत्रद्वयविहीनं च स्नुषयापि विवर्जितम्।

अपश्यद्भवनं राजा नष्टचन्द्रमिवाम्बरम्।।2.42.30।।


राजा king, पुत्रद्वयविहीनम् without his two sons, स्नुषयापि also by daughterinlaw, विवर्जितम् deserted, भवनम् palace, नष्टचन्द्रम् devoid of the Moon, अम्बरम् इव like the sky, अपश्यत् he saw.

To the king, the palace deserted by his two sons and his daughterinlaw, seemed like the sky without the Moon.
तच्च दृष्ट्वा महाराजो भुजमुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्।

उच्चैस्स्वरेण चुक्रोश हा राघव जहासि माम्।।2.42.31।।


वीर्यवान् valiant, महाराजः the great king, तत् that palace, दृष्ट्वा having seen, भुजम् his hands, उद्यम्य having lifted up, हा राघव Oh Rama, माम् me, जहासि are forsaking, उच्चौः स्वरेण in loud voice, चुक्रोश screamed.

The valiant maharaja looked around that palace, lifted up his arms and shouted in a loud voice, Oh scion of the Raghus (Rama) you have forsaken me.
सुखिता बत तं कालं जीविष्यन्ति नरोत्तमाः।

परिष्वजन्तो ये रामं द्रक्ष्यन्ति पुनरागतम्।।2.42.32।।


ये नरोत्तमाः those fortunate people, तं कालम् till that tme, जीविष्यन्ति will live, पुनः again, आगतम् return, रामम् Rama, परिष्वजन्तः while embracing, सुखिताः happily, द्रक्ष्यन्ति will see, बत
what a pity?

Oh how fortunate are those best of men who will live until that time to see Rama return and embrace him.
अथ रात्र्यां प्रपन्नायां कालरात्र्यामिवात्मनः।

अर्धरात्रे दशरथः कौशल्यामिदमब्रवीत्।।2.42.33।।


अथ then, दशरथः Dasaratha, आत्मनः for himself, कालरात्र्यामिव like the night of death, रात्र्याम् night, प्रपन्नायाम् had set in, अर्धरात्रे in the middle of the night, कौशल्याम् addressing Kausalya, इदम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

In the middle of the night which, for him, felt like the night of death Dasaratha said to Kausalya thus:
रामं मेऽनुगता दृष्टिरद्यापि न निवर्तते।

न त्वा पश्यामि कौसल्ये साधु मां पाणिना स्पृश।।2.42.34।।


कौशल्ये O Kausalya, रामम् Rama, अनुगता having followed, मे दृष्टिः my sight, अद्यापि even now, न निवर्तते has not returned, त्वा you, साधु clearly, न पश्यामि unable to see, माम् me, पाणिना with your hand, स्पृश touch.

O Kausalya, my sight that had followed Rama has not yet returned. I cannot see you clearly. Please touch me with your hand.
तं राममेवानुविचिन्तयन्तं

समीक्ष्य देवी शयने नरेन्द्रम्।

उपोपविश्याधिकमार्तरूपा

विनिश्वसन्ती विललाप कृच्छ्रम्।।2.42.35।।


देवी Kausalya, शयने in bed, रामम् एव Rama alone, अनुविचिन्तयन्तम् one who was continuously brooding, तं नरेन्द्रम् that king, समीक्ष्य having seen, उपोपविश्य sitting by his side, अधिकम् extremely, आर्तरूपा distressed, विनिश्वसन्ती sighing deeply, कृच्छ्रम् being in painful situation, विललाप lamented.

Having seen the king in bed brooding over Rama, the queen, (Kausalya), sitting by his side, sighed and lamented, deeply anguished.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे द्विचत्वारिंशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fortysecond sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.