Sloka & Translation

[Sumitra consoles Kausalya.]

विलपन्ती तथा तां तु कौसल्यां प्रमदोत्तमाम्।

इदं धर्मे स्थिता धर्म्यं सुमित्रा वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.44.1।।


धर्मे in virtues, स्थिता abiding, सुमित्रा Sumitra, तथा then, विलपन्तीम् lamenting, प्रमदोत्तमाम् best among women, तां कौशल्याम् to that Kausalya, धर्म्यम् conforming to righteousness, इदं वाक्यम् these words, अब्रवीत् said.

While Kausalya, the best of women was thus lamenting, virtuous Sumitra spoke to her these righteous words:
तवार्ये सद्गुणैर्युक्तः पुत्र स्स पुरुषोत्तमः।

किं ते विलपितेनैवं कृपणं रुदितेन वा।।2.44.2।।


आर्ये O venerable one, सद्गुणैः with every good quality, युक्तः endowed with, तव your, सः पुत्रः such a son, पुरुषोत्तमः the greatest among men, एवम् in this way, ते you, विलपितेन with
lamentation, कृपणम् bitterly, रुदितेन वा or by weeping, किम् what is the use?

My venerable lady, your son Rama is the greatest among men and is endowed with every virtue. Why do you lament in this way? Why do you weep bitterly?
यस्तवार्ये गतः पुत्रस्त्यक्त्वा राज्यं महाबलः।

साधु कुर्वन् महात्मानं पितरं सत्यवादिनम्।।2.44.3।।

शिष्टैराचरिते सम्यक्छश्वत्प्रेत्यफलोदये।

रामो धर्मे स्थित श्रेष्ठो न स शोच्यः कदाचन।।2.44.4।।


आर्ये O noble lady, महाबलः mighty, यः Rama, तव पुत्रः your son, महात्मानम् magnanimous, पितरम् father, साधु worthy of, सत्यवादिनम् as truthful one, कुर्वन् to do, राज्यम् kingdom, त्यक्त्वा renouncing, शिष्टैः by virtuous men, सम्यक् fully, शश्वत् everlasting, आचरिते followed, प्रेत्य in the next world, फलोदये at the time of fruition, धर्मे in virtues, स्थितः stuck, श्रेष्ठः best, सः that, रामः Rama, कदाचन at any point, शोच्यः न not to be grieved over.

In order to vindicate the words of his great and truthful father, O noble lady,your mighty son has renounced the kingdom and has gone (to the forest). He has stuck to the path so scrupulously followed by the wise, the everlasting results of which can be fully realised in the world to come. Such a peerless son is never to be grieved over.
वर्तते चोत्तमां वृत्तिं लक्ष्मणोऽस्मिन् सदानघः।

दयावान् सर्वभूतेषु लाभस्तस्य महात्मनः।।2.44.5।।


अनघः blameless one, सर्वभूतेषु in all creatures, दयावान् compassionate, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, अस्मिन् in the matter (of Rama), सदा always, उत्तमाम् highest, वृत्तिम् conduct, वर्तते doing(showing), महात्मनः great soul, तस्य to him, लाभः is benefit.

Blameless Lakshmana, compassionate to all beings, has acted most nobly in this matter for the benefit of his great soul.
अरण्यवासे यद्दुःखं जानती वै सुखोचिता।

अनुगच्छति वैदेही धर्मात्मानं तवात्मजम्।।2.44.6।।


सुखोचिता used to comforts, वैदेही Sita, अरण्यवासे living in the forest, यत् दुःखम् those hardships, जानती वै knowingly, धर्मात्मानम् virtuous, तव your, आत्मजम् son, अनुगच्छति is following.

The daughter of Videha (Sita) who was used to comforts has knowingly followed your virtuous son into the hardships of forest life.
कीर्तिभूतां पताकां यो लोके भ्रमयति प्रभुः।

धर्मसत्यव्रतधनः किं न प्राप्तस्तवात्मजः।।2.44.7।।


प्रभुः competent, यः who, कीर्तिभूताम् renowned, पताकाम् the banner, लोके in this world, भ्रमयति waving, धर्मसत्यव्रतधनः one who considers righteousness and truth as wealth, तव आत्मजः your son, किम् what, न प्राप्तः did not gain.

Your allcompetent son who considers righteousness and truth as wealth, is waving the flag of fame in this world. What is that which your son did not gain ?
व्यक्तं रामस्य विज्ञाय शौचं माहात्म्यमुत्तमम्।

न गात्रमंशुभि स्सूर्य स्सन्तापयितुमर्हति।।2.44.8।।


रामस्य Rama's, शौचम् purity, उत्तमम् excellent, माहात्म्यम् greatness, विज्ञाय having known, सूर्यः sun, अंशुभिः with rays, गात्रम् body, सन्तापयितुम् to torment, न अर्हति will not be inclined, व्यक्तम् this is evident.

Knowing Rama's sterling purity and greatness the Sun evidently dare not scorch his body with its rays.
शिवस्सर्वेषु कालेषु काननेभ्यो विनिस्सृतः।

राघवं युक्तशीतोष्णस्सेविष्यति सुखोऽनिलः।।2.44.9।।


शिवः gracious, काननेभ्यः from the woodlands, विनिस्सृतः blowing out, युक्तशीतोष्णः with moderate heat and cold, सुखः pleasant, अनिलः breeze, राघवम् of Rama, सर्वेषु कालेषु at all seasons, सेविष्यति will attend.

A pleasant yet moderately hot and cold breeze blowing through the woodlands will serve Rama at all seasons.
शयानमनघं रात्रौ पितेवाभिपरिष्वजन्।

रश्मिभि स्संस्पृशन् शीतैश्चन्द्रमाह्लादयिष्यति।।2.44.10।।


चन्द्रमा the Moon, रात्रौ at night, अनघं sinless man, शयानम् while asleep, शीतैः cool, रश्मिभिः with rays, संस्पृशन् while touching, पितेव like father, अभिपरिष्वजन् while embracing, आह्लादयिष्यति delight.

While that sinless Rama sleeps at night, the Moon will comfort him by touching him with cool beams like a father embracing his son.
ददौ चास्त्राणि दिव्यानि यस्मै ब्रह्मा महौजसे।

दानवेन्द्रं हतं दृष्ट्वा तिमिध्वजसुतं रणे।।2.44.11।।

स शूरः पुरुषव्याघ्रः स्वबाहुबलमाश्रितः।

असन्त्रस्तोऽप्यरणस्थो वेश्मनीव निवत्स्यति।।2.44.12।।


रणे in war, दानवेन्द्रम् lord of demons, तिमिध्वजसुतम् Timidhwaja's son, हतम् having been killed, दृष्ट्वा having seen, महौजसे having great lustre, यस्मै to that Rama, ब्रह्मा like second Bramha, (Viswamitra), दिव्यानि divine, अस्त्राणि weapons, ददौ gave, शूरः brave, पुरुषव्याघ्रः best of men, सः that Rama, अरण्यस्थोऽपि though staying in the forest, स्वबाहुबलम् with the strength of his arms, आश्रितः taking refuge, असन्त्रस्तः without fear, वेश्मनीव like in his own palace, निवत्स्यति will reside.

To the mighty, heroic Rama, that best of men, Brahmalike Viswamitra has bequeathed many divine weapons, seeing him slay Timidhwaja's son (Subahu), lord of demons, in the battle. He will stay fearless in the forest, relying on the strength of his own arms as though he were living in the palace.
यस्येषुपथमासाद्य विनाशं यान्ति शत्रवः।

कथं न पृथिवी तस्य शासने स्थातुमर्हति।।2.44.13।।


यस्य whose, इषुपथम् range of arrows, आसाद्य having received, शत्रवः enemies, विनाशम् destruction, यान्ति will meet, तस्य such Rama's, शासने in the command, पृथिवी earth, कथम् how, स्थातुम् to subordinate, नार्हति is unfit.

When enemies who are targets of his arrows are destoyed, how can this earth, not stay under the command of Rama?
या श्री श्शौर्यं च रामस्य या च कल्याणसत्वता।

निवृत्तारण्यवास स्स क्षिप्रं राज्यमवाप्स्यति।।2.44.14।।


रामस्य Rama's, या श्रीः that splendour, शौर्यं च valour, या कल्याणसत्वता that auspicious strength, निवृत्तारण्यवासः having returned from forest life, सः that Rama, क्षिप्रम् quickly, (स्वं) राज्यम् his kingdom, अवाप्स्यति will regain.

On return from his sojourn in the forest, Rama, endowed with splendour, valour and a strength that brings wellbeing will quickly regain his kingdom.
सूर्यस्यापि भवेत्सूर्यो ह्यग्नेरग्नि प्रभोः प्रभुः।

श्रियः श्रीश्च भवेदग्र्या कीर्तिः कीर्त्याः क्षमाक्षमा।।2.44.15।।

दैवतं दैवतानां च भूतानां भूतसत्तमः।

तस्य के ह्यगुणा देवि वने वाप्यथवा पुरे।।2.44.16।।


देवि O Devi (Kusalya), सूर्यस्यापि for the sun, सूर्यः भवेत् he will act as light of the Sun, अग्नेः for fire, अग्निः lustre of fire, प्रभोः for a ruler, प्रभुः as supreme ruler, श्रियश्च prosperity, श्रीः as prosperity, कीर्त्याः for fame, अग्र्या as supreme, कीर्तिः fame, क्षमा for tolerance, क्षमा as tolerance, दैवतानाम् for gods, दैवतम् as god, भूतानाम् for all beings, भूतसत्तमः as supreme being, भवेत् shall be, तस्य for such Rama, वने वापि even in forest, अथवा or, पुरे or in town, अगुणाः demerits, के हि where are they?.

O Devi Rama is the Sun (light) of the Sun, fire (splendour) of the fire, master (command) of masters, prosperity of the prosperous, the fame of the famous, forbearance of the forbearing, god of the gods and supreme among all beings. Whether he dwells in the forest or in the city, he has no demerit whatsoever.
पृथिव्या सह वैदेह्या श्रिया च पुरुषर्षभः।

क्षिप्रं तिसृभिरेताभि स्सह रामोऽभिषेक्ष्यते।।2.44.17।।


पुरुषर्षभः eminent among men, रामः Rama, पृथिव्या सह with earth, वैदेह्य along with Sita, श्रिया च with the goddess of fortune, एताभिः with these, तिसृभिः सह with three, क्षिप्रम् quickly, अभिषेक्षयते will be consecrated.

Rama, the best among men, will soon be coronated with these three namely the earth, the goddess of fortune and Sita.
दुःखजं विसृजन्त्यस्रं निष्क्रामन्तमुदीक्ष्य यम्।

अयोध्यायां जनास्सर्वे शोकवेगसमाहताः।2.44.18।।

कुशचीरधरं देवं गच्छन्तमपराजितम्।

सीतेवानुगता लक्ष्मी स्तस्य किं नाम दुर्लभम्।।2.44.19।।


निष्क्रामन्तम् when he was leaving, यम् whom, उदीक्ष्य having seen, अयोध्यायाम् in Ayodhya, सर्वे all, जनाः inhabitants, शोकवेगसमाहताः whipped by the speed of sorrow, दुःखजम् caused by sorrow, अस्रम् tears, विसृजन्ति are shedding, कुशचीरधरम् clad in bark and kusa robes, गच्छन्तम् departing, अपराजितम् the unconquerable, देवम् divine one, लक्ष्मीः goddess of fortune, सीतेव like Sita, अनुगता has followed, तस्य to him, किं नाम what, दुर्लभम् is
difficult?

When the people of Ayodhya saw the godlike Rama departing, clad in robes of kusha and bark, they were moved to tears of grief. What is impossible for him who is unconquerable and whom Sita, like the goddess of fortune, follows.
धनुर्ग्रहवरो यस्य बाणखड्गास्त्रभृत्स्वयम्।

लक्ष्मणो व्रजति ह्यग्रे तस्य किं नाम दुर्लभम्।।2.44.20।।


धनुर्ग्रहवरः the most skilled archer, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, स्वयम् himself, बाणखड्गास्त्रभृत् bearing arrows, swords and other weapons, यस्य to whom, अग्रे in the forefront, व्रजति going, तस्य for that Rama, किं नाम what, दुर्लभम् is the difficulty?

What is impossible for Rama ahead of whom moves Lakshmana, the best of archers, weilding swords, arrows and other weapons?
निवृत्तवनवासं तं द्रष्टासि पुनरागतम्।

जहिशोकं च मोहं च देवि सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते।।2.44.21।।


देवि O Kausalya, निवृत्तवनवासम् on completion of exile, पुनः again, आगतम् having returned, तम् that Rama, द्रष्टासि will see, शोकं च sorrow, मोहं च delusion, जहि you may give up, ते to you, सत्यम् truth, ब्रवीमि am telling.

I tell you the truth, Kausalya, that you will see Rama's return when the period of exile is complete. Hence give up your sorrow and delusion.
शिरसा चरणावेतौ वन्दमानमनिन्दिते

पुनर्द्रक्ष्यसि कल्याणि पुत्रं चन्द्रमिवोदितम्।।2.44.22।।


अनिन्दिते irreproachable one, कल्याणि O auspicious one, एतौ चरणौ at these feet, शिरसा with head, वन्दमानम् paying homage, पुत्रम् son, उदितम् rising, चन्द्रमिव Moonlike, पुनः again, द्रक्षयसि will see.

O irreproachable and auspicious one you will see your son, like the rising Moon, touching your feet with his head.
पुनः प्रविष्टं दृष्ट्वा तमभिषिक्तं महाश्रियम्।

समुत्स्रक्ष्यसि नेत्राभ्यां क्षिप्रमानन्दजं पयः।।2.44.23।।


पुनः again, प्रविष्टम् having entered, अभिषिक्तम् enthroned, महाश्रियम् shining in glory, तम् him, दृष्ट्वा having seen, क्षिप्रम् soon, नेत्राभ्याम् from your eyes, अनन्दजम् arising out of joy, पयः water, समुत्स्रक्ष्यसि pour out.

Soon you will see him enthrouned shining in full glory on his return from exile while
tears of joy will flow from your eyes.
मा शोको देवि दुःखं वा न रामे दृश्यतेऽशिवम्।

क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि पुत्रं त्वं ससीतं सहलक्ष्मणम्।।2.44.24।।


देवि O Devi (Kausalya) शोकः grief, दुःखं वा or distress, मा do not entertain, रामे in Rama, अशिवम् inauspiciousness, न दृश्यते is not to be seen, त्वम् you, ससीतम् with Sita, सहलक्ष्मणम् with Lakshmana, पुत्रम् son, क्षिप्रम् soon, द्रक्षयसि you will see.

Desist from grief or tear for Rama, O Devi nothing inauspicious will happen to him you will soon see your son along with Sita and Lakshmana.
त्वया शेषो जनश्चैव समाश्वास्यो यदाऽनघे।

किमिदानीमिदं देवि करोषि हृदि विक्लबम्।।2.44.25।।


अनघे sinless lady, देवि O Devi शेषः the remaining, जनः people, त्वया by you, यदा when, समाश्वास्यः एव are to be consoled, इदानीम् in this manner, हृदि in your heart, विक्लबम् overcome with fear, करोषि doing, इदम् this, किम् what?

O sinless lady, O queen when you are overcome by fear, how can you console
others?
नार्हा त्वं शोचितुं देवि यस्यास्ते राघवस्सुतः।

न हि रामात्परो लोके विद्यते सत्पथे स्थितः।।2.44.26।।


देवि O Kausalya, यस्याः whose, ते to you, राघवः Rama, सुतः as son, त्वम् you, शोचितुम् to grieve, नार्हा are not fit, रामात् compared to Rama, परः superior, सत्पथे on the path of virtue, स्थितः abiding, लोके in this world, न विद्यते हि is not found.

O Kausalya, with a son like Rama, you should not grieve. There is none in this world superior to Rama who stands steady in the path of virtue.
अभिवादयमानं तं दृष्ट्वा ससुहृदं सुतम्।

मुदाऽश्रृ मोक्ष्यसे क्षिप्रं मेघलेखेव वार्षिकी।।2.44.27।।


अभिवादयमानम् one while bowing to you in reverence, ससुहृदम् along with friends, तं सुतम् to your son, दृष्ट्वा seeing, क्षिप्रम् soon, वार्षिकी pertaining to rainyseason, मेघलेखेव like a streak of clouds, मुदा delightfully, अश्रु tears, मोक्ष्यसे you are going to shed.

Like a flake of cloud in monsoon, you are going to shed tears of joy soon seeing your son along with his friends bowing to you in reverence.
पुत्रस्ते वरदः क्षिप्रमयोध्यां पुनरागतः।

पाणिभ्यां मृदुपीनाभ्यां चरणौ पीडयिष्यति।।2.44.28।।


वरदः one who confers boons, ते पुत्रः your son, क्षिप्रम् soon, अयोध्याम् to Ayodhya, पुनः again, आगतः having returned, मृदुपीनाभ्याम् tender and plump, पाणिभ्याम् hands, चरणौ your feet, पीडयिष्यति will press.

Your son, bestower of boons, will soon return to Ayodhya and press your feet with his soft, tender hands.
अभिवाद्य नमस्यन्तं शूरं ससुहृदं सुतम्।

मुदाऽस्रैः प्रोक्ष्यसि पुनर्मेघराजिरिवाचलम्।।2.44.29।।


अभिवाद्य greeting, नमस्यन्तम् offering salutations, शूरम् brave ससुहृदम् with friends, सुतम् to your son, मुदा with delight, अस्रैः with tears, मेघराजिः mass of clouds, अचलमिव like a mountain, पुनः again, प्रोक्ष्यसि will be drenched.

While paying obeisance to you, you will drench your brave son, surrounded by friends, with tears of joy like a mass of clouds drenching the mountain.
आश्वासयन्ती विविधैश्च वाक्यै

र्वाक्योपचारे कुशलाऽनवद्या।

रामस्य तां मातरमेवमुक्त्वा

देवी सुमित्रा विरराम रामा।।2.44.30।।


वाक्योपचारे serving with words, कुशला skilled, अनवद्या irreproachable, रामा cheerful nature, देवी queen, सुमित्रा Sumitra, विविधैः various, वाक्यैः words, आश्वासयन्ती while consoling, रामस्य Rama's, तां मातरम् to his mother, एवम् in that way, उक्त्वा having said, विरराम fell silent.

Irreproachable and skilful in the use of words, queen Sumitra of cheerful disposition fell silent after thus consoling Rama's mother in various ways.
निशम्य तल्लक्ष्मणमातृवाक्यं

रामस्य मातुर्नरदेवपत्न्या:।

सद्यश्शरीरे विननाश शोकः

शरद्गतो मेघ इवाल्पतोयः।।2.44.31।।


तत् that, लक्ष्मणमातृवाक्यम् words of Lakshmana's mother, निशम्य having heard, नरदेवपत्न्या: queen, रामस्य मातुः of Rama's mother, शोकः grief, शरद्गतः relating to autumn, अल्पतोयः with slight moisture, मेघ इव like cloud, सद्यः instantly, शरीरे in the body, विननाश destroyed.

On hearing the words of Lakshmana's mother the grief in the heart of the queen (Kausalya), mother of Rama, instantly disappeared like the autumnal cloud that holds but little rain.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुश्चत्वारिंशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fortyfourth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.