Sloka & Translation

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

yāvattu niryatastasya rajōrūpamadṛśyata.

naivēkṣvākuvarastāvatsañjahārātmacakṣuṣī৷৷2.42.1৷৷


tasya that Rama, niryataḥ as he was going, rajōrūpam the form of dust, yāvat as long as, adṛśyata was visible, tāvat so long, ikṣvākuvaraḥ the best of Ikshvaku dynasty, king Dasaratha, ātmacakṣuṣī his eyes, naiva sañjahāra 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).
yāvadrājā priyaṅ putraṅ paśyatyatyantadhārmikam.

tāvadvyavardhatē vāsya dharaṇyāṅ putradarśanē৷৷2.42.2৷৷


rājā king, priyam beloved, atyantadhārmikam exceedingly virtuous, putram son, yāvat as long as, paśyati was able to see, tāvat so long, asya his, putradarśanē for the sight of the son, dharaṇyām the dust on the earth, vyavardhatēva 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.
na paśyati rajō.pyasya yadā rāmasya bhūmipaḥ.

tadā৷৷rtaśca viṣaṇṇaśca papāta dharaṇītalē৷৷2.42.3৷৷


bhūmipaḥ the king, yadā when, asya rāmasya that Rama's, rajō.pi even the dust, na paśyati could
not see, tadā then, ārtaḥ ca stricken with grief, viṣaṇṇaḥ ca with despondency, dharaṇītalē on the earth, papāta fell down.

When the king could no longer see even the dust, he fell on the ground, despondent and grief- stricken.
tasya dakṣiṇamanvāgātkausalyā bāhumaṅganā.

vāmaṅ cāsyānvagātpārśvaṅ kaikēyī bharatapriyā৷৷2.42.4৷৷


aṅganā wife, kauśalyā Kausalya, tasya his, dakṣiṇaṅ bāhum right hand, anvagāt reached, ,bharatapriyā beloved (mother) of Bharata, kaikēyī ca Kaikeyi, vāmam left, pārśvam side, anvagāt reached.

Kausalya reached for the right hand of Dasaratha (to raise him up) and Kaikeyi the beloved (mother) of Bharata reached for his left.
tāṅ nayēna ca sampannō dharmēṇa vinayēna ca.

uvāca rājā kaikēyīṅ samīkṣya vyathitēndriyaḥ৷৷2.42.5৷৷


nayēna with rectitude, dharmēṇa with virtue, vinayēna ca also with humility, sampannaḥ endowed with, rājā king, tāṅ kaikēyīm to that Kaikeyi, samīkṣya having seen, vyathitēndriyaḥ one with painful senses reeling, uvāca said.

The king, endowed with rectitude, virtue and also humility, stared at and said to Kaikeyi with pain.
kaikēyi! mā mamāṅgāni sprākṣīstvaṅ duṣṭacāriṇī.

na hi tvāṅ draṣṭumicchāmi na bhāryā na ca bāndhavī৷৷2.42.6৷৷


kaikēyi O Kaikeyi, duṣṭacāriṇī a woman of evil conduct, tvam you, mama my, aṅgāni limbs, mā sprākṣīḥ do not touch, tvām you, draṣṭum to look at, na hi icchāmi do not wish, bhāryā wife, na not, bāndhavī relation, na 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.
yē ca tvāmanujīvanti nāhaṅ tēṣāṅ na tē mama.

kēvalārthaparāṅ hi tvāṅ tyaktadharmāṅ tyajāmyaham৷৷2.42.7৷৷


yē ca who, tvām you, anujīvanti depend upon you for subsistence, tēṣām their, aham I, na not, tē they, mama to me, na not, kēvalārthaparām seeking your selfish interests alone, tyaktadharmām deserting righteousness, tvām you, aham I, tyajāmi abandon.

Your dependents have nothing to do with me nor I with them. I denounce you since you are a self-seeker without any sense off righteousness.
agṛhṇāṅ yacca tē pāṇimagniṅ paryaṇayaṅ ca yat.

anujānāmi tatsarvamasmin lōkē paratra ca৷৷2.42.8৷৷


tē your, pāṇim hand, agṛhṇāṅ (iti) yat the fact of holding, agnim of (to) fire, paryaṇayaṅ ca (iti) yat the fact of having circumambulated, tatsarvam all that, asmin in this, lōkē world, paratra ca in the next orld also, anujānāmi 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.
bharataścētpratītaḥ syādrājyaṅ prāpyēdamavyayam.

yanmē sa dadyātpitrarthaṅ māmāṅ taddattamāgamat৷৷2.42.9৷৷


avyayam imperishable, (idaṅ) rājyam this kingdom, prāpya having secured, bharataḥ Bharata, pratītaḥ syāt cēt if he is pleased, saḥ he, pitrartham in the form of funeral offerings, mē to me, yat which, dadyāt gives, taddattam given by him, mām me, māgamat may it not reach.

If Bharata feels pleased to secure this imperishable kingdom, then may his obsequial offerings at my funeral not reach me!
atha rēṇusamudhvastaṅ samutthāpya narādhipam.

nyavartata tadā dēvī kauśalyā śōkakarśitā৷৷2.42.10৷৷


atha then, rēṇusamudhvastam coated with dust, taṅ narādhipam to that king, samutthāpya having lifted,
dēvī queen, kauśalyā Kausalya, śōkakarśitā emaciated due to sorrow, tadā then, nyavartata returned to her palace.

Then Kausalya, emaciated due to sorrow, lifted the king who was thoroughly coated with dust and returned to the palace.
hatvēva brāhmaṇaṅ kāmāt spṛṣṭvāgnimiva pāṇinā.

anvatapyata dharmātmā putraṅ sañcintya tāpasam ৷৷2.42.11৷৷


dharmātmā virtuous one, tāpasam wearing the robes of an ascetic, putram son, sañcintya remembering, kāmāt intentionally, brāhmaṇam to a brahmin, hatvēva as if slew, pāṇinā with hand, agnim to fire, spṛṣṭvā iva as if touched, anvatapyata 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.
nivṛttyaiva nivṛttyaiva sīdatō rathavartmasu.

rājñō nātibabhau rūpaṅ grastasyāṅśumatō yathā৷৷2.42.12৷৷


rathavartmasu trail of the chariot, nivṛttyaiva nivṛttyaiva turning again and again, sīdataḥ grieving, rājñaḥ the king's, rūpam countenance, grastasya as if swallowed by Rahu, aṅśumata: yathā like Sun, nātibabhau 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.
vilalāpa ca duḥkhārtaḥ priyaṅ putramanusmaran.

nagarāntamanuprāptaṅ budhvā putramathābravīt৷৷2.42.13৷৷


priyam beloved, putram son, anusmaran reflecting, duḥkhārtaḥ tortured with sorrow, vilalāpa ca lamented, atha then, putram son, nagarāntam end of the city, anuprāptam havng reached, budhvā
having realised, abravīt said.

The grief-stricken king began to lament thinking of his beloved son, and (suddenly) realizing that his son had crossed the limits of the city, said:
vāhananāṅ ca mukhyānāṅ vahatāṅ taṅ mamātmajam.

padāni pathi dṛśyantē sa mahātmā na dṛśyatē৷৷2.42.14৷৷


mama my, ātmajam son, tam that Rama, vahatām carrying, mukhyānām pre-eminent, vāhanānām horses', padāni hoof-prints, pathi in the path, dṛśyantē are seen, mahātmā magnanimous, saḥ Rama, na dṛśyata 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.
yaḥ sukhēṣūpadhānēṣu śētē candanarūṣitaḥ.

vījyamānō mahārhābhiḥ strībhirmama sutōttamaḥ৷৷2.42.15৷৷

sa nūnaṅ kvacidēvādya vṛkṣamūlamupāśritaḥ.

kāṣṭhaṅ vā yadi vāśmānamupadhāya śayiṣyatē৷৷2.42.16৷৷


yaḥ mama sutōttamaḥ best among my sons, candanarūṣitaḥ daubed with sandal cream, mahārhābhiḥ graceful, strībhiḥ by women, vījyamānaḥ being fanned, sukhēṣu luxurious, upadhānēṣu on cushions, śētē was sleeping, saḥ such Rama, adya today, nūnam surely, kvacidēva some where, vṛkṣamūlam at the foot of a tree, upāśritaḥ taking refuge, kāṣṭhaṅ a log, yadi vā or, āśmānam a stone, upadhāya using as pillow, śayiṣyatē 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.
utthāsyati ca mēdinyāḥ kṛpaṇaḥ pāṅsukuṇṭhitaḥ.

viniśśvasan prasravaṇātkarēṇūnāmivarṣabhaḥ৷৷2.42.17৷৷


karēṇūnām of female elephants, ṛṣabhaḥ lord, bull elephant, prasravaṇāt iva like from Prasravana mountain, viniśvasan heaving sighs, pāṅsukuṇṭhitaḥ crusted with dust, kṛpaṇaḥ unfortunate Rama, mēdinyāḥ from the ground, utthāsyati ca 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.
drakṣyanti nūnaṅ puruṣā dīrghabāhuṅ vanēcarāḥ.

rāmamutthāya gacchantaṅ lōkanāthamanāthavat৷৷2.42.18৷৷


dīrghabāhum long-armed, lōkanāthaṅ lord of the world, anāthavat like without a protector, utthāya rising (from the ground), gacchantam walking, rāmam Rama, nūnam surely, vanēcarāḥ forest-dwellers, puruṣāḥ men, drakṣyanti they will see.

Surely the forest-rovers will be gazing upon the long-armed Rama, protector of the world, as he rises (from the ground) and wanders in the jungle unprotected.
sā nūnaṅ janakasyēṣṭā sutā sukhasadōcitā.

kaṇṭakākramaṇāklāntā vanamadya gamiṣyati৷৷2.42.19৷৷


sukhasadōcitā accustomed to comforts, janakasya Janaka's, iṣṭā beloved, sutā daughter, sā Janaki, kaṇṭakākramaṇaklāntā troubled due to piercing of thorns, adya now, vanam to the forest, gamiṣyati will go.

Sita, beloved daughter of Janaka, who is accustomed to comforts, will now wander in the forest troubled by piercing thorns.
anabhijñā vanānāṅ sā nūnaṅ bhayamupaiṣyati.

śvāpadānarditaṅ śrutvā gambhīraṅ rōmaharṣaṇam৷৷2.42.20৷৷


vanānām of the forests, anabhijñā un acquainted, sā Sita, nūnam surely, gambhīram deep and fearful, rōmaharṣaṇam causing horripilation, śvāpadānarditam roaring of wild animals, śrutvā having heard, bhayam fear, upaiṣyati will obtain.

Sita who knows not the forest will now live in terror, listening to the hair-raising, horrible roars of wild animals.
sakāmā bhava kaikēyi! vidhavā rājyamāvasa.

na hi taṅ puruṣavyāghraṅ vinā jīvitumutsahē৷৷2.42.21৷৷


kaikēyi! Kaikeyi, sakāmā bhava desire be fulfilled, vidhavā as widow, rājyam kingdom, āvasa inhabit, puruṣavyāghram tiger among men, taṅ vinā without him, jīvitum to live, na utsahē hi 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.
ityēvaṅ vilapan rājā janaughēnābhisaṅvṛtaḥ.

apasnāta ivāriṣṭaṅ pravivēśa purōttamam৷৷2.42.22৷৷


ityēvam in this manner, vilapan lamenting, rājā king, janaughēna by the multitude of people, abhisaṅvṛtaḥ surrounded, apasnātaḥ one who has taken inauspicious (funeral) bath, ariṣṭaṅ iva like an ominous, purōttamam best of cities (Ayodhya), pravivēśa 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.
śūnyacatvaravēśmāntāṅ saṅvṛtāpaṇadēvatām.

klāntadurbaladuḥkhārtāṅ nātyākīrṇamahāpathām৷৷2.42.23৷৷

tāmavēkṣya purīṅ sarvāṅ rāmamēvānucintayan.

vilapan prāviśadrājā gṛhaṅ sūrya ivāmbudam৷৷2.42.24৷৷


śūnyacatvaravēśmāntām where the courtyards or the mansions were deserted, saṅvṛtāpaṇadēvatām where temples and market-places were closed, klāntadurbaladuḥkhārtām weak and exhausted with with grief, nātyākīrṇamahāpathām the highways no longer crowded, tām that, sarvām entire, purīm to city of Ayodhya, āvēkṣya having seen, rājā king, rāmamēva about Rama only, anucintayan thinking, vilapan lamenting, sūryaḥ sun, ambudam iva like clouds, prāviśat entered.

There the mansions and squares on the highways were all deserted. The temples and market-places 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.
mahāhradamivākṣōbhyaṅ suparṇēna hṛtōragam.

rāmēṇa rahitaṅ vēśma vaidēhyā lakṣmaṇēna ca৷৷2.42.25৷৷


rāmēṇa with Rama, vaidēhyā with Sita, lakṣmaṇēna ca also with Lakshmana, rahitam absent, vēśma palace, suparṇēna by Suparna, hṛtōragam a serpent snatched away, akṣōbhyam an unperturbed, mahāhradam iva like a great tank

The palace without Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, stood like a vast, unperturbed lake with serpents snatched away by Suparna (Garuda).
atha gadgadaśabdastu vilapanmanujādhipaḥ.

uvāca mṛdumandārthaṅ vacanaṅ dīnamasvaram৷৷2.42.26৷৷


atha thereupon, manujā (vasudhā) dhipaḥ lord of men, gadgadaśabdaḥ with choked throat, vilapan lamenting, mṛdu gently, mandārtham in low voice, asvaram feeble, dīnaṅ vacanam in melancholic tones, uvāca said.

Thereupon Dasaratha lamenting with his throat choked addressed (his attendants) in a low, feeble, melancholic, gentle voice:
kauśalyāyāṅ gṛhaṅ śīghraṅ rāmamāturnayantu mām.

na hyanyatra mamāśvāsō hṛdayasya bhaviṣyati৷৷2.42.27৷৷


rāmamātuḥ Rama's mother, kauśalyāyāḥ Kausalya's, gṛham apartment, mām me, śīghram quickly, nayantu be taken, mama hṛdayasya for my heart, anyatra in any other place, āśvāsaḥ solace, na bhaviṣyati hi not possible.

Take me quickly to the apartment of Rama's mother, Kausalya. There is no other place where my heart can find solace.
iti bruvantaṅ rājānamanayan dvāradarśinaḥ.

kauśalyāyā gṛhaṅ tatra nyavēśyata vinītavat৷৷2.42.28৷৷


iti in this way, bruvantam while saying, rājānam king Dasaratha, dvāradarśinaḥ door-keepers, kauśalyāyāḥ Kausalya's, gṛham apartment, anayan brought him, tatra there, vinītavat respectfully, nyavēśyata he was made to rest.

Having heard the king, the door-keepers took him to the apartment of Kausalya and there respectfully made him rest.
tatastasya praviṣṭasya kauśalyāyā nivēśanam.

adhiruhyāpi śayanaṅ babhūva lulitaṅ manaḥ৷৷2.42.29৷৷


tataḥ then, kauśalyāyāḥ Kausalya's, nivēśanam residence, praviṣṭasya having entered, tasya his, manaḥ mind, śayanam couch, adhiruhyāpi though having climbed, lulitam babhūva was tossed about.

His mind tossed restlessly although he entered Kausalya's palace and climbed into the couch.
putradvayavihīnaṅ ca snuṣayāpi vivarjitam.

apaśyadbhavanaṅ rājā naṣṭacandramivāmbaram৷৷2.42.30৷৷


rājā king, putradvayavihīnam without his two sons, snuṣayāpi also by daughter-in-law, vivarjitam deserted, bhavanam palace, naṣṭacandram devoid of the Moon, ambaram iva like the sky, apaśyat he saw.

To the king, the palace deserted by his two sons and his daughter-in-law, seemed like the sky without the Moon.
tacca dṛṣṭvā mahārājō bhujamudyamya vīryavān.

uccaissvarēṇa cukrōśa hā! rāghava! jahāsi mām৷৷2.42.31৷৷


vīryavān valiant, mahārājaḥ the great king, tat that palace, dṛṣṭvā having seen, bhujam his hands, udyamya having lifted up, hā rāghava Oh Rama, mām me, jahāsi are forsaking, uccauḥ svarēṇa in loud voice, cukrōśa 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.
sukhitā bata taṅ kālaṅ jīviṣyanti narōttamāḥ.

pariṣvajantō yē rāmaṅ drakṣyanti punarāgatam৷৷2.42.32৷৷


yē narōttamāḥ those fortunate people, taṅ kālam till that tme, jīviṣyanti will live, punaḥ again, āgatam return, rāmam Rama, pariṣvajantaḥ while embracing, sukhitāḥ happily, drakṣyanti will see, bata
what a pity?

Oh! how fortunate are those best of men who will live until that time to see Rama return and embrace him.
atha rātryāṅ prapannāyāṅ kālarātryāmivātmanaḥ.

ardharātrē daśarathaḥ kauśalyāmidamabravīt৷৷2.42.33৷৷


atha then, daśarathaḥ Dasaratha, ātmanaḥ for himself, kālarātryāmiva like the night of death, rātryām night, prapannāyām had set in, ardharātrē in the middle of the night, kauśalyām addressing Kausalya, idam these words, abravīt spoke.

In the middle of the night which, for him, felt like the night of death Dasaratha said to Kausalya thus:
rāmaṅ mē.nugatā dṛṣṭiradyāpi na nivartatē.

na tvā paśyāmi kausalyē! sādhu māṅ pāṇinā spṛśa৷৷2.42.34৷৷


kauśalyē! O Kausalya, rāmam Rama, anugatā having followed, mē dṛṣṭiḥ my sight, adyāpi even now, na nivartatē has not returned, tvā you, sādhu clearly, na paśyāmi unable to see, mām me, pāṇinā with your hand, spṛśa touch.

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

samīkṣya dēvī śayanē narēndram.

upōpaviśyādhikamārtarūpā

viniśvasantī vilalāpa kṛcchram৷৷2.42.35৷৷


dēvī Kausalya, śayanē in bed, rāmam ēva Rama alone, anuvicintayantam one who was continuously brooding, taṅ narēndram that king, samīkṣya having seen, upōpaviśya sitting by his side, adhikam extremely, ārtarūpā distressed, viniśvasantī sighing deeply, kṛcchram being in painful situation, vilalāpa lamented.

Having seen the king in bed brooding over Rama, the queen, (Kausalya), sitting by his side, sighed and lamented, deeply anguished.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē dvicatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fortysecond sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.