[Lamentations of Kausalya.]
tataḥ samīkṣya śayanē sannaṅ śōkēna pārthivam.
kauśalyā putraśōkārtā tamuvāca mahīpatim৷৷2.43.1৷৷
tataḥ samīkṣya śayanē sannaṅ śōkēna pārthivam.
kauśalyā putraśōkārtā tamuvāca mahīpatim৷৷2.43.1৷৷
Sloka & Translation
tataḥ then, putraśōkārtā struck by grief on account of her son's departure, kauśalyā Kausalya, śayanē on the couch, śōkēna due to grief, sannam exhausted, pārthivam king, samīkṣya having gazed, taṅ mahīpatim to that lord of the world, Dasaratha, uvāca said.
Struck by the grief of her son's departure, Kausalya looked at the king who lay on the couch completely exhausted and said to him.
rāghavē naraśārdūlē viṣamuptvāhijihmagā.
vicariṣyati kaikēyī nirmuktēva hi pannagī৷৷2.43.2৷৷
vicariṣyati kaikēyī nirmuktēva hi pannagī৷৷2.43.2৷৷
ahijahmagā moving obliquely like a serpent, kaikēyī Kaikeyi, naraśārdūlē tiger (best) among men, rāghavē in Rama, viṣam venom, uptvā having sown out, nirmuktā casting off the slough, pannagī iva like a she-serpent, vicariṣyati will wander about.
Moving crookedly like a snake, Kaikeyi has released her venom on Rama, the best among men. Now she will move about freely like a she-serpent that has cast off its slough.
vivāsya rāmaṅ subhagā labdhakāmā samāhitā.
trāsayiṣyati māṅ bhūyō duṣṭāhiriva vēśmani৷৷2.43.3৷৷
trāsayiṣyati māṅ bhūyō duṣṭāhiriva vēśmani৷৷2.43.3৷৷
subhagā happly, (Kaikeyi), rāmam Rama, vivāsya having banished, labdakāmā having satisfied her desires, bhūyaḥ again, vēśmani in the house, duṣṭāhiriva like a vicious serpent, mām me, samāhitā accomplished, trāsayiṣyati will torture me.
Having banished Rama, she is now happy with her desires fulfilled. And like a vicious serpent living in the house she will again frighten me.
atha sma nagarē rāmaścaran bhaikṣaṅ gṛhē vasēt.
kāmakārō varaṅ dātumapi dāsaṅ mamātmajam৷৷2.43.4৷৷
kāmakārō varaṅ dātumapi dāsaṅ mamātmajam৷৷2.43.4৷৷
mama my, ātmajam son, dāsam as slave, dātum api even to give, varam is better, atha thereafter, rāmaḥ Rama, kāmakāraḥ discharging the duties, nagarē in the city (Ayodhya), bhaikṣam food obtained by begging, caran moving about, gṛhē in the house, vasēt would have lived.
It would have been better had I offered her my son as a slave. He would have lived on in the house by doing his duties and begging his food in the city.
pātayitvā tu kaikēyyā rāmaṅ sthānādyathēṣṭataḥ.
pradiṣṭō rakṣasāṅ bhāgaḥ parvaṇīvāhitāgninā৷৷2.43.5৷৷
pradiṣṭō rakṣasāṅ bhāgaḥ parvaṇīvāhitāgninā৷৷2.43.5৷৷
kaikēyyā of Kaikeyi, yathēṣṭataḥ according to her whim, rāmam to Rama, sthānāt from his place, pātayitvā having thrown down, ahitāgninā by the sacrificers, parvaṇi on the new moon days, rakṣasām to rakshasas, bhāgaḥ iva like the share, pradiṣṭaḥ is given.
You have thrown away Rama from his place as per the whim of Kaikeyi, like the share of offering meant for gods given away to rakshasas by the sacrificers on the new Moon days.
gajarājagatirvīrō mahābāhurdhanurdharaḥ.
vanamāviśatē nūnaṅ sabhārya ssaha lakṣmaṇaḥ৷৷2.43.6৷৷
vanamāviśatē nūnaṅ sabhārya ssaha lakṣmaṇaḥ৷৷2.43.6৷৷
gajarājagatiḥ having the gait of the king of the elephants, vīraḥ hero, mahābāhuḥ mighty-armed, dhanurdharaḥ archer Rama, sabhāryaḥ with wife, sahalakṣmaṇaḥ with Lakshmana, nūnam surely, vanam forest, āviśatē is entering.
My mighty-armed son, a great archer and a hero, Rama whose gait is like that of the king of elephants, must be entering the forest along with his consort Sita and Lakshmana.
vanē tvadṛṣṭaduḥkhānāṅ kēkayyānumatē tvayā.
tyaktānāṅ vanavāsāya kānvavasthā bhaviṣyati৷৷2.43.7৷৷
tyaktānāṅ vanavāsāya kānvavasthā bhaviṣyati৷৷2.43.7৷৷
adṛṣṭaduḥkhānām who have never seen suffering, kaikēyyāḥ Kaikeyi's, anumatē her desire, tvayā by you, vanavāsāya to dwell in the forest, tyaktānām have been abandoned, vanē in the forest, kā nu what, avasthā bhaviṣyati will be their state.
You have banished them as per the desire of Kaikeyi. What will be their plight in the forest, for they have never experienced any hardship earlier!
tē ratnahīnāstaruṇāḥ phalakālē vivāsitāḥ.
kathaṅ vatsyanti kṛpaṇāḥ phalamūlaiḥ kṛtāśanāḥ৷৷2.43.8৷৷
kathaṅ vatsyanti kṛpaṇāḥ phalamūlaiḥ kṛtāśanāḥ৷৷2.43.8৷৷
ratnahīnāḥ deprived of best of things, phalakālē at the time of fruition (enjoyment), vivāsitāḥ having been exiled, taruṇāḥ young people, tē they, kṛpaṇāḥ living in misery, phalamūlaiḥ fruits and roots, kṛtāśanāḥ for food, katham how, vatsyanti will they live?
Deprived of all costly things they have been banished at the tender age of youth, a time for enjoying their lives. How will they lead a miserable life subsisting on fruits and roots?
apīdānīṅ sa kālassyānmama śōkakṣaya śśivaḥ.
sabhāryaṅ yatsaha bhrātrā paśyēyamiha rāghavam৷৷2.43.9৷৷
sabhāryaṅ yatsaha bhrātrā paśyēyamiha rāghavam৷৷2.43.9৷৷
yat when, sabhāryam with wife, rāghavam Rama, saha bhrātrā with Lakshmana, iha here, paśyēyam I shall see, śōkakṣayaḥ annhilation of sorrow, śivaḥ auspcious, saḥ kālaḥ that time, idānīm now, mama to me, api syāt will it come?
Will there ever be that auspicious moment to end my sorrow? When I can see Rama here along with his wife and brother?
śrṛtvaivōpasthitau vīrau kadāyōdhyā bhaviṣyati.
yaśasvinī hṛṣṭajanā sūcchritadhvajamālinī৷৷2.43.10৷৷
yaśasvinī hṛṣṭajanā sūcchritadhvajamālinī৷৷2.43.10৷৷
vīrau the two heroes, upasthitau having returned, śrutvaiva hearing, yaśasvinī famous, ayōdhyā Ayodhya, hṛṣṭajanā with cheerful people, sūcchritadhvajamālinī uplifted flags, kadā when?, bhaviṣyati will it be?
When will the city of Ayodhya attain that glory when having heard that both the brave brothers have come back the people will rejoice and fill it with uplifted banners?
kadā prēkṣya naravyāghrāvaraṇyātpunarāgatau.
nandiṣyati purī hṛṣṭā samudra iva parvaṇi৷৷2.43.11৷৷
nandiṣyati purī hṛṣṭā samudra iva parvaṇi৷৷2.43.11৷৷
araṇyāt from the forest, punaḥ again, āgatau having come back, naravyāghrau tigers (best) among men, Rama and Lakshmana, prēkṣya having seen, purī the city of Ayodhya, parvaṇi on a full-moon day, samudra iva like the sea, hṛṣṭā overflow (overjoyed), kadā when, nandiṣyati will it rejoice?
When will, like the swelling sea on a full Moon day, the city hail the return of Rama and Lakshmana, the best among men?
kadā.yōdhyāṅ mahābāhuḥ purīṅ vīraḥ pravēkṣyati.
puraskṛtya rathē sītāṅ vṛṣabhō gōvadhūmiva৷৷2.43.12৷৷
puraskṛtya rathē sītāṅ vṛṣabhō gōvadhūmiva৷৷2.43.12৷৷
mahābāhuḥ mighty-armed, vīraḥ hero, vṛṣabhaḥ bull, gōvadhūmiva like cow, sītām Sita, rathē on the chariot, puraskṛtya placing in front, ayōdhyāṅ purīm to the city of Ayodhya, kadā when, pravēkṣyati will enter?
When will the mighty-armed hero (Rama) enter the city of Ayodhya with Sita in front in the chariot, like a bull following the cow?
kadā prāṇisahasrāṇi rājamārgē mamātmajau.
lājairavakiriṣyanti praviśantāvarindamau৷৷2.43.13৷৷
lājairavakiriṣyanti praviśantāvarindamau৷৷2.43.13৷৷
praviśantau when they enter, arindamau subduers of enemies, mama my, ātmajau sons, rājamārgē on the highway, prāṇisahasrāṇi thousands of people, lājaiḥ with parched grain, kadā when, avakiriṣyanti shower.
When will the people in their thousands shower the parched grain on the highway when my sons (Rama and Lakshmana), subduers of enemies, enter the city?
praviśantau kadā.yōdhyāṅ drakṣyāmi śubhakuṇḍalau.
udagrāyudhanistriṅśau saśrṛṅgāviva parvatau৷৷2.43.14৷৷
udagrāyudhanistriṅśau saśrṛṅgāviva parvatau৷৷2.43.14৷৷
ayōdhyām of Ayodhya, praviśantau when they enter, śubhakuṇḍalau wearing auspicious earrings, udagrāyudhanistriṅśau with powerful weapons and swords raised high, saśrṛṅgau with peaks, parvatāviva like mountains, kadā when, drakṣyāmi shall I see?
When shall I see both of them wearing auspicious ear-rings and holding poweful weapons (bows) and swords high, like two mountain peaks?
kadāsumanasaḥ kanyādvijātīnāṅ phalāni ca.
pradiśantaḥ purīṅ hṛṣṭāḥ kariṣyanti pradakṣiṇam৷৷2.43.15৷৷
pradiśantaḥ purīṅ hṛṣṭāḥ kariṣyanti pradakṣiṇam৷৷2.43.15৷৷
hṛṣṭāḥ delighted, kanyādvijātīnām to young girls and to brahmins, sumanasaḥ flowers, phalāni ca fruits also, pradiśantaḥ while offering, kadā when, purīm the city, pradakṣiṇam circling, kariṣyanti will do?
When will I see them delightfully moving round the city with young brahmin girls offering them flowers and fruits.
kadā pariṇatō buddhyā vayasā cāmaraprabhaḥ.
abhyupaiṣyati dharmajñastrivarṣa iva māṅ lalan৷৷2.43.16৷৷
abhyupaiṣyati dharmajñastrivarṣa iva māṅ lalan৷৷2.43.16৷৷
amaraprabhaḥ possessing the lustre of gods, dharmajñaḥ knower of righteousness (Rama), buddhyā in wisdom, vayasā ca in age, pariṇataḥ fully mature, trivarṣaḥ iva like a three year old boy, lalan playfully, mām me, kadā when, abhyupaiṣyati will he reach?
When will Rama, the knower of righteousness, possessing the lustre of gods, and fully mature in age and wisdom come back to me playfully like a three-year-old boy?
nissaṅśayaṅ mayā manyē purā vīra! kadaryayā.
pātukāmēṣu vatsēṣu mātṛṇāṅ śātitāsstanāḥ৷৷2.43.17৷৷
pātukāmēṣu vatsēṣu mātṛṇāṅ śātitāsstanāḥ৷৷2.43.17৷৷
vīra! O valiant one, kadaryayā out of avarice, mayā by myself, nissaṅśayam undoubtedly, purā formerly, vatsēṣu calves, pātukāmēṣu thirsting for milk, mātṛṇām of mothers, stanāḥ udders, śātitāḥ hacked by me.
O valiant one, in my previous birth I must have undoubtedly hacked off the udders of cows when the calves were thirsting for milk from their mothers.
sāhaṅ gauriva siṅhēna vivatsā vatsalā kṛtā.
kaikēyyā puruṣavyāghra! bālavatsēva gaurbalāt৷৷2.43.18৷৷
kaikēyyā puruṣavyāghra! bālavatsēva gaurbalāt৷৷2.43.18৷৷
puruṣavyrāghra O tiger among men, bālavatsā young calf, gauriva like cow, vatsalā having affection
in the calf, sā aham I, kaikēyyā by Kaikeyi, siṅhēna by lion, gauriva like cow, balāt forcibly, vivatsā separated from the calf, kṛtā is rendered.
O best of men! I have been forcibly separated from my affectionate son by Kaikeyi just like a cow from its calf by a lion.
na hi tāvadguṇairjuṣṭaṅ sarvaśāstraviśāradam.
ēkaputrā vinā putramahaṅ jīvitumutsahē৷৷2.43.19৷৷
ēkaputrā vinā putramahaṅ jīvitumutsahē৷৷2.43.19৷৷
ēkaputrā having only one son, aham I, tāvadguṇaiḥ with such virtue, juṣṭam endowed with, sarvaśāstraviśāradam adept in all shastras, putraṅ vinā without my son, jīvitum to live, na utsahē hi I do not desire.
I cannot live without my only son who is adept in all scriptures and endowed with all virtues.
na hi mē jīvitē kiñcitsāmarthyamiha kalpyatē.
apaśyantyāḥ priyaṅ putraṅ mahābāhuṅ mahābalam৷৷2.43.20৷৷
apaśyantyāḥ priyaṅ putraṅ mahābāhuṅ mahābalam৷৷2.43.20৷৷
mahābāhum mighty-armed, mahābalam immensely strong, priyaṅ putram beloved son, apaśyantyā: without seeing him, mē for me, iha in this world, jīvitē in this life, kiñcit little, sāmarthyam ability, na kalpyatē hi is not provided.
Without seeing my beloved son, long-armed and mighty, I have but little strength to live in this world.
ayaṅ hi māṅ dīpayatē samutthitaḥ
tanūjaśōkaprabhavō hutāśanaḥ.
mahīmimāṅ raśmibhiruddhataprabhaḥ
yathā nidāghē bhagavān divākaraḥ৷৷2.43.21৷৷
tanūjaśōkaprabhavō hutāśanaḥ.
mahīmimāṅ raśmibhiruddhataprabhaḥ
yathā nidāghē bhagavān divākaraḥ৷৷2.43.21৷৷
tanūjaśōkaprabhavaḥ born out of the grief of separation from my son, ayam this, hutāśanaḥ fire, samutthitaḥ having arisen, nidāghē in summer, uddhataprabhaḥ immense heat, bhagavān divine, divākaraḥ Sun, raśmibhiḥ with his rays, imām this, mahīṅ yathā like earth, mām me, dīpayatē is burning.
I am consumed by this blazing fire of grief caused by separation from my son like the earth scorched in summer by the Sun-god with his oppressive rays
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē tricatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fortythird sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.