Sloka & Translation

[Rama reaches the banks of Tamasa river.]

anuraktā mahātmānaṅ rāmaṅ satyaparākramam.

anujagmuḥ prayāntaṅ taṅ vanavāsāya mānavāḥ৷৷2.45.1৷৷


anuraktāḥ devoted, mānavāḥ men, vanavāsāya to dwell in the forest, prayāntam setting out, mahātmānam great, satyaparākramam to one whose truth is his power, taṅ rāmam that Rama, anujagmuḥ followed him.

When the high-souled Rama whose strength was his sense of truth set out for the forest, the faithful people followed him.
nivartitē.pi ca balātsuhṛdvargē ca rājani.

naiva tē saṅnyavartanta rāmasyānugatā ratham৷৷2.45.2৷৷


suhṛdvargē when hosts of friends, rājani ca and when the king, balāt forcibly, nivartitē.pi ca
though sent back, rāmasya Rama's, ratham chariot, anugatāḥ followers, tē those people, naiva saṅnyavartanta did not return.

The king and the hosts of friends were forcibly sent back but they did not return. They continued to follow the chariot of Rama.
ayōdhyānilayānāṅ hi puruṣāṇāṅ mahāyaśāḥ.

babhūva guṇasampannaḥ pūrṇacandra iva priyaḥ৷৷2.45.3৷৷


mahāyaśāḥ illustrious, guṇasampannaḥ endowed with virtue of every kind, ayōdhyānilayānām dwelling in Ayodhya, puruṣāṇām for men, pūrṇacandra iva like the full Moon, priyaḥ babhūva hi became dear.

The illustrious and virtuous Rama was as dear to the inhabitants of Ayodhya as the
full Moon.
sa yācyamānaḥ kākutsthaḥ svābhiḥ prakṛtibhistadā.

kurvāṇaḥ pitaraṅ satyaṅ vanamēvānvapadyata৷৷2.45.4৷৷


saḥ that, kākutstha: descendant of the Kakutsthas (Rama), tadā then, svābhiḥ his own, prakṛtibhiḥ by the subjects, yācyamānaḥ although pleaded, pitaram father's, satyam as truthful, kurvāṇaḥ doing, vanamēva to the forest, anvapadyata proceeded.

Although entreated by his subjects (not to go) Rama proceeded to the forest to make his father's vow come true.
avēkṣamāṇaḥ sasnēhaṅ cakṣuṣā prapibanniva.

uvāca rāmaḥ snēhēna tāḥ prajāḥ svāḥ prajā iva৷৷2.45.5৷৷


rāmaḥ Rama, cakṣuṣā with eyes, prapibanniva as if drinking, tāḥ those, prajāḥ people, svāḥ his own, prajāḥ iva like children, sasnēham (snēhēna) with affection, avēkṣamāṇaḥ seeing, uvāca said.

Looking at the people with love as if they were his own children and as though
drinking them with his glances, Rama appealed to them:
yā prītirbahumānaśca mayyayōdhyānivāsinām.

matpriyārthaṅ viśēṣēṇa bharatē sā nivēśyatām৷৷2.45.6৷৷


ayōdhyānivāsinām of residents of Ayodhya, mayi in me, yā prītiḥ which love, bahumānaśca also respect, sā that one, viśēṣēṇa specially, matpriyārthaṅ for endearing me, bharatē in Bharata, nivēśyatām be placed on Bharata.

O citizens of Ayodhya may the love and respect you have shown to please me be bestowed specially on Bharata!
sa hi kalyāṇacāritraḥ kaikēyyānandavardhanaḥ.

kariṣyati yathāvadvaḥ priyāṇi ca hitāni ca৷৷2.45.7৷৷


kalyāṇacāritraḥ one having auspicious character, kaikēyyānandavardhanaḥ enhancer of Kaikeyi's delight, saḥ that Bharata, yathāvat appropriate, vaḥ to you, priyāṇi agreeable, hitāni ca beneficial acts also, kariṣyati hi will do.

Bharata, enhancer of the delight of Kaikeyi, possesses an auspicious character. He will do for you everything appropriate, agreeable and beneficial.
jñānavṛddhō vayōbālō mṛdurvīryaguṇānvitaḥ.

anurūpaḥ sa vō bhartā bhaviṣyati bhayāpahaḥ৷৷2.45.8৷৷


jñānavṛddhaḥ old in wisdom, vayōbālaḥ young in age, mṛduḥ gentle, vīryaguṇānvitaḥ endowed with valour and virtues, saḥ he, vaḥ to you, anurūpaḥ worthy one, bhayāpahaḥ eliminating fears, bhartā bhaviṣyati will be protector.

Though tender in age Bharata is mature in intellect. Gentle, valiant and virtuous, he will dispel all your fears and act as a true protector.
sa hi rājaguṇairyuktō yuvarājaḥ samīkṣitaḥ.

api cāpi mayā śiṣṭaiḥ kāryaṅ vō bhartṛśāsanam৷৷2.45.9৷৷


rājaguṇaiḥ royal qualities, yuktaḥ endowed with, saḥ that, yuvarājaḥ as heir-apparent, samīkṣitaḥ is recognised, api ca also, mayā by me, śiṣṭaiḥ by others, vaḥ to you, bhartṛśāsanam king's order, kāryam should be obeyed.

Endowed with kingly qualities, he is recognised as heir-apparent. Therefore, as I did, all of you should obey the order of the king.
na ca santapyēdyathā cāsau vanavāsaṅ gatē mayi.

mahārājastathā kāryō mama priyacikīrṣayā৷৷2.45.10৷৷


mayi when I, vanavāsam to the forest, gatē had left, asau mahārājaḥ this king, yathā as, na ca santapyēt does not grieve, tathā in that way, mama to me, priya cikīrṣayā with a desire to please, kāryaḥ fit to be done.

If you desire to please me, act in such a way that the king does not grieve after I have gone to the forest.
yathā yathā dāśarathi rdharma ēvāsthitō.bhavat.

tathā tathā prakṛtayō rāmaṅ patimakāmayan৷৷2.45.11৷৷


dāśarathiḥ Dasaratha's son, Rama, yathā yathā such as, dharmē ēva in righteousness only, āsthitaḥ abhavat became committed, tathā tathā in the same way, prakṛtayaḥ subjects, rāmam Rama, patim as king, akāmayan desired.

The more the son of Dasaratha (Rama) committed to righteousness, the more the subjects desired that he should be their king.
bāṣpēṇa pihitaṅ dīnaṅ rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha.

cakarṣēva guṇairbaddhvā janaṅ puranivāsinam৷৷2.45.12৷৷


saumitriṇā saha accompanied by the son of Sumitra (Lakshmana), rāmaḥ Rama, bāṣpēṇa with tears, pihitam concealed, dīnam piteous, puranivāsinam city-dwellers, janam people, guṇaiḥ with his virtues, baddhvā iva as if bound by, cakarṣa attracted.

Rama along with Lakshmana attracted the city-dwellers who, choked with tears, were looking miserable. It appeared they were bound with his virtues.
tē dvijāstrividhaṅ vṛddhā jñānēna vayasaujasā.

vayaḥ prakampaśirasō dūrādūcuridaṅ vacaḥ৷৷2.45.13৷৷


jñānēna in wisdom, vayasā in age, ōjasā in spiritual energy, trividham in all the three ways, vṛddhāḥ aged, tē dvijāḥ those brahmins, vayaḥ prakampaśirasaḥ shaking due to old age, dūrāt from a distance, idam these, vacaḥ words, ūcuḥ spoke.

Those brahmins who were senior (to him) on three counts like age, wisdom and spirtuality spoke to him from a distance with their heads shaking with age:
vahantō javanā rāmaṅ bhō bhō jātyāsturaṅgamāḥ.

nivartadhvaṅ na gantavyaṅ hitā bhavata bhartari৷৷2.45.14৷৷


rāmam Rama, vahantaḥ conveying, javanāḥ swift, jātyāḥ of noble breed, bhō bhō turaṅgamāḥ O horses, nivartadhvam turn back, na gantavyam do not proceed, bhartari in your master (Rama), hitāḥ bhavata be good.

O horses of noble breed, turn back! Do not carry your master swiftyly any farther. Do good to him.
karṇavanti hi bhūtāni viśēṣēṇa turaṅgamāḥ.

yūyaṅ tasmānnivartadhvaṅ yācanāṅ prativēditāḥ৷৷2.45.15৷৷


bhūtāni animals, karṇavanti hi have keen sense of hearing, turaṅgamāḥ horses, viśēṣēṇa especially, tasmāt therefore, yācanām entreaty, prativēditāḥ having known, yūyam you, nivartadhvam turn back.

All animals, especially horses have a keen sense of hearing. Therefore, having listened to our entreaty, turn back.
dharmataḥ sa viśuddhātmā vīraḥ śubhadṛḍhavrataḥ.

upavāhyastu vō bhartā nāpavāhyaḥ purādvanam৷৷2.45.16৷৷


dharmataḥ righteous, viśuddhātmā a purified soul, vīraḥ brave, śubhadṛḍhavrataḥ auspicious and firm in resolve, saḥ vaḥ bhartā your master, upavāhyaḥ should be carried back, purāt from the city, vanam
to the forest, na apavāhyaḥ should not carry.

Your master has a purity of heart. He is righteous, virtuous, brave and firm in resolve, carry him backward and not forward from the city into the forest.
ēvamārtapralāpāṅstān vṛddhān pralapatō dvijān.

avēkṣya sahasā rāmō rathādavatatāra ha৷৷2.45.17৷৷


ēvam in this manner, ārtapralāpān pitiful lamentations, pralapataḥ muttering, vṛddhān aged, tāndvijān those brahmins, avēkṣya having seen, rāmaḥ Rama, sahasā immediately, rathāt from the chariot, avatatāra ha alighted.

Having seen the aged brahmins muttering pitiful lamentations in this manner, Rama immediately alighted from the chariot.
padbhyāmēva jagāmātha sasīta ssahalakṣmaṇaḥ.

sannikṛṣṭapadanyāsō rāmō vanaparāyaṇaḥ৷৷2.45.18৷৷


atha then, sa sītaḥ along with Sita, sahalakṣmaṇaḥ and Lakshmana, rāmaḥ Rama, vanaparāyaṇaḥ
(moving) towards the forest, sannikṛṣṭapadanyāsaḥ with a slow pace, padbhyām ēva on foot alone, jagāma went.

Then Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana began walking on foot with slow steps towards the forest.
dvijātīṅstu padātīṅstān rāmaścāritravatsalaḥ.

na śaśāka ghṛṇācakṣuḥ parimōktuṅ rathēna saḥ৷৷2.45.19৷৷


cāritravatsalaḥ fond of probity, ghṛṇācakṣuḥ compassionate eyes, saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, padātīn those walking on foot, tān dvijātīn those brahmins, rathēna with the chariot, parimōktum to leave them, na śaśāka was not possible.

Rama a man of probity and compassion could not ride off in his chariot while those brahmins were trudging far behind.
gacchantamēva taṅ dṛṣṭvā rāmaṅ sambhrāntacētasaḥ.

ūcuḥ paramasantaptā rāmaṅ vākyamidaṅ dvijāḥ৷৷2.45.20৷৷


dvijāḥ brahmins, gacchantamēva thus going, taṅ rāmam that Rama, dṛṣṭvā having seen, sambhrāntacētasaḥ with agitated mind, paramasantaptāḥ deeply distressed, idaṅ vākyam these words, ūcuḥ said.

Having seen Rama thus going towards the forest, those brahmins, highly agitated and distressed, said to him:
brāhmaṇyaṅ sarvamētattvāṅ brahmaṇyamanugacchati.

dvijaskandhādhirūḍhāstvāmagnayō.pyanuyāntyamī৷৷2.45.21৷৷


sarvam all, ētat these, brāhmaṇyam order of brahmins, brahmaṇyam seeking good of the brahmins, tvām you, anugacchati is following, amī these, agnayaḥ api sacred fires also, dvijaskandhādhirūḍhāḥ mounting on the shoulders of brahmins, tvām you, anuyānti following.

This entire order of brahmins with the sacrificial fires on their hsoulders is following you, their well-wisher.
vājapēyasamutthāni chatrāṇyētāni paśya naḥ.

pṛṣṭhatō.nuprayātāni mēghāniva jalātyayē৷৷2.45.22৷৷


vājapēyasamutthāni acquired while performing Vajapeya sacrifice, naḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ behind us, anuprayātāni are coming, ētāni these, chatrāṇi umbrellas, jalātyayē at the end of the rainy season, mēghāniva like clouds, paśya please see.

See these umbrellas acquired by us while performing Vajapeya sacrifice are following you like the clouds at the end of the rainy season.
anavāptātapatrasya raśmisantāpitasya tē.

ēbhiśchāyāṅ kariṣyāmaḥ svaiśchatrairvājapēyikaiḥ৷৷2.45.23৷৷


anavāptātapatrasya for one without an umbrella, raśmisantāpitasya of a man scorched with the rays of the Sun, tē to you, vājapēyikaiḥ acquired during Vajapeya sacrifice, svaiḥ by your own, chatraiḥ with umbrellas, chāyām shade, kariṣyāmaḥ will extend.

You do not have a royal umbrella and you are scorched by the rays of the Sun. We will offer you shade with the umbrellas acquired during Vajapeya sacrifice.
yā hi naḥ satataṅ buddhirvēdamantrānusāriṇī.

tvatkṛtē sā kṛtā vatsa! vanavāsānusāriṇī৷৷2.45.24৷৷


vatsa! dear child, na: our, yā buddhi: mind, satataṅ always, vēdamantrānusāriṇī follows Vedic hymns that one, tvatkṛtē for your sake, vanavāsānusāriṇī one seeking the forest life, kṛtā is made.

O dear child, our minds always pursue the study of vedic hymns. For your sake now they are made to follow the life in the forest.
hṛdayēṣvēva tiṣṭhanti vēdā yē naḥ paraṅ dhanam.

vatsyantyapi gṛhēṣvēva dārāścāritrarakṣitāḥ৷৷2.45.25৷৷


naḥ our, paraṅ dhanam greatest wealth, yē those, vēdāḥ the Vedas, hṛdayēṣvēva in our hearts, tiṣṭhanti are remaining, dārā api our wives also, cāritrarakṣitāḥ protected by fidelity, gṛhēṣvēva at home, vatsyanti shall stay.

The Vedas are our greatest wealth and they reside in our hearts. Our wives, protected by their fidelity, shall stay at home.
na punarniścayaḥ kāryastvadgatau sukṛtā matiḥ.

tvayi dharmavyapēkṣē tu kiṅ syāddharmapathē sthitam৷৷2.45.26৷৷


punaḥ again (another), niścayaḥ decision, na kāryaḥ should not be taken, tvadgatau on your journey, matiḥ mind, sukṛtā is well set, tvayi in you, dharmavyapēkṣē reluctant to follow 'dharma', dharmapathē in the path of righteousness, kim what?, sthitaṅ syāt is left now?

We are not going to revoke our decision. We have made up our minds to follow you (into the forest). If you have no regard for this decision, then who will adhere to the path of righteousness?
yācitō nō nivartasva haṅsaśuklaśirōruhaiḥ.

śirōbhirnibhṛtācāra mahīpatanapāṅsulaiḥ৷৷2.45.27৷৷


nibhṛtācāra ever firm in duty, mahīpatanapāṅsulaiḥ soiled with the dust fallen on the ground, haṅsaśuklaśirōruhaiḥ having hairs white like the (plumes of a) swan, naḥ our, śirōbhiḥ with our heads, yācitaḥ beg of you, nivartasva you may return.

O Rama, you are firm in your duty.We beseech you, our heads bowed with swan-white hair and soiled with dust, to return to Ayodhya.
bahūnāṅ vitatā yajñā dvijānāṅ ya ihāgatāḥ.

tēṣāṅ samāptirāyattā tava vatsa! nivartanē৷৷2.45.28৷৷


yē who, iha here, āgatāḥ have arrived, bahūnām many, dvijānām brahmins, yajñāḥ sacrifices, vitatāḥ commenced, vatsa! O dear child, tēṣām their, samāptiḥ consummation, tava your, nivartanē returning, āyattā is dependent.

Many of those brahmins who arrived here have commenced their sacrifices. O dear child, their consummation depends on your return.
bhaktimanti hi bhūtāni jaṅgamājaṅgamāni ca.

yācamānēṣu rāma! tvaṅ bhaktiṅ bhaktēṣu darśaya৷৷2.45.29৷৷


rāma! Rama, jaṅgamājaṅgamāni movable and immovable, bhūtāni living beings, bhaktimanti hi are devoted to you, tvam you, yācamānēṣu supplicants, bhaktēṣu in devotees, bhaktim devotion, darśaya show.

O Rama, all these living beings, movable and immovable, are devoted to you and are entreating you with devotion to return. Show consideration to those supplicants.
anugantumaśaktā stvāṅ mūlairuddhatavēginaḥ.

unnatā vāyuvēgēna vikrōśantīva pādapāḥ৷৷2.45.30৷৷


mūlaiḥ with their roots, uddhatavēginaḥ crushed with their speed, pādapāḥ trees, tvām you, anugantum to follow, aśaktāḥ unable, vāyuvēgēna with the speed of wind, unnatāḥ uplifted, vikrōśantīva weeping like.

Although the trees uplifted by the speed of the wind, intend to follow you, their movement is stalled by their roots. Unable, they appear to be weeping.
niścēṣṭāhārasañcārā vṛkṣaikasthānaviṣṭhitāḥ.

pakṣiṇō.pi prayācantē sarvabhūtānukampinam৷৷2.45.31৷৷


pakṣiṇō.pi even the birds, niścēṣṭāhārasañcārāḥ without foraging for food and wanderings, vṛkṣaikasthānaviṣṭhitāḥ perched on the trees at one place, sarvabhūtānukampinam one compassionate to all creatures, prayācantē are imploring.

Even the birds instead of foraging for food are sitting motionless on the trees at one place. They are imploring you, you who are compassionate to all creatures, to return to Ayodhya.
ēvaṅ vikrōśatāṅ tēṣāṅ dvijātīnāṅ nivartanē.

dadṛśē tamasā tatra vārayantīva rāghavam৷৷2.45.32৷৷


ēvam in this way, nivartanē seeking his return, tēṣāṅ dvijātīnām those brahmins, vikrōśatām crying, tatra there, tamasā Tamasa river, rāghavam Rama, vārayantīva as if preventing, dadṛśē appeared.

While those brahmins were thus crying out, river Tamasa came into view as if seeking Rama to turn back to Ayodhya.
tataḥ sumantrō.pi rathādvimucya

śrāntānhayānsamparivartya śīghram.

pītōdakāṅstōyapariplutāṅgā-

nacārayadvai tamasāvidūrē৷৷2.45.33৷৷


tataḥ then, sumantrō.pi Sumantra also, śrāntān fatigued, hayān horses, rathāt from the chariot, vimucya having unyoked, śīghram quickly, samparivartya allowing them to roll and relax, pītōdakān making them drink water, tōyapariplutāṅgān bathing them in water, tamasāvidūrē not far from river Tamasa, acārayat made them graze.

Then Sumantra also unyoked the fatigued horses from the chariot and quickly allowed them to roll and relax on the ground. Having made the horses drink and dip
in water, he released them for grazing not far from Tamasa river.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē pañcacatvāriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fortyfifth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.