Sloka & Translation

[Lamentations of women in Ayodhya.]

तेषामेवं विषण्णानां पीडितानामतीव च।

बाष्पविप्लुतनेत्राणां सशोकानां मुमूर्षया।।2.48.1।।

अनुगम्य निवृत्तानां रामं नगरवासिनाम्।

उद्गतानीव सत्वानि बभूवुरमनस्विनाम्।।2.48.2।।


एवं in this manner, विषण्णानाम् of dejected ones, अतीव deeply, पीडितानाम् distressed, बाष्पविप्लुतनेत्राणाम् of men with their eyes overflowing with tears, सशोकानाम् of those smitten with grief, मुमूर्षया desirng death, रामम् Rama, अनुगम्य having followed, निवृत्तानाम् of those who returned, अमनस्विनाम् of disinterested men, तेषाम् their, नगरवासिनाम् citizens', सत्वानि vital airs, उद्गतानीव were as if leaving the body.

The people afflicted with sorrow followed Rama and returned to the city deeply distressed. Eyes overflowing with tears, they longed for death. Smitten with grief, they lost their highmindedness and looked as if their life had been drained out.
तेषामेवं विषण्णानां पीडितानामतीव च।

बाष्पविप्लुतनेत्राणां सशोकानां मुमूर्षया।।2.48.1।।

अनुगम्य निवृत्तानां रामं नगरवासिनाम्।

उद्गतानीव सत्वानि बभूवुरमनस्विनाम्।।2.48.2।।


एवं in this manner, विषण्णानाम् of dejected ones, अतीव deeply, पीडितानाम् distressed, बाष्पविप्लुतनेत्राणाम् of men with their eyes overflowing with tears, सशोकानाम् of those smitten with grief, मुमूर्षया desirng death, रामम् Rama, अनुगम्य having followed, निवृत्तानाम् of those who returned, अमनस्विनाम् of disinterested men, तेषाम् their, नगरवासिनाम् citizens', सत्वानि vital airs, उद्गतानीव were as if leaving the body.

The people afflicted with sorrow followed Rama and returned to the city deeply distressed. Eyes overflowing with tears, they longed for death. Smitten with grief, they lost their highmindedness and looked as if their life had been drained out.
स्वं स्वं निलयमागम्य पुत्रदारैस्समावृता।

अश्रूणि मुमुचुस्सर्वे बाष्पेण पिहिताननाः।।2.48.3।।


सर्वे all of them, स्वं स्वम् their respective, निलयम् homes, आगम्य having reached, पुत्रदारैः with their sons and wives, समावृताः surrounded, बाष्पेण with tears, पिहिताननाः with their faces covered, अश्रूणि tears, मुमुचुः shed.

The subjects reached their respective homes and surrounded by their sons and wives broke down their faces flooded with tears.
न चाहृष्यन् नचामोदन् वणिजो न प्रसारयन्।

न चाशोभन्त पण्यानि नापचन् गृहमेधिनः।।2.48.4।।


न अहृष्यन् च not rejoiced, न अमोदन् च not delighted, वणिजः traders, न प्रसारयन् did not offer for sale, पण्यानि च marketplaces also, न अशोभन्त did not look graceful, गृहमेधिनः householders, नापचन् did not cook.

The people had no joy in life nor did they find cheer in anything. The merchants did not offer their wares for sale. The marketplace looked graceless (lifeless). (The stocks were empty). The householders did not cook their food.
नष्टं दृष्ट्वा नाभ्यनन्दन् विपुलं वा धनागमम्।

पुत्रं प्रथमजं लब्ध्वा जननी नाभ्यनन्दत।।2.48.5।।


नष्टम् loss, दृष्ट्वा having seen, नाभ्यनन्दन् stood indifferent, विपुलम् vast, धनागमं वा or acquired wealth, जननी mother, प्रथमजम् firstborn, पुत्रम् son, लब्ध्वा having obtained, नाभ्यनन्दत not rejoiced.

Neither loss nor acquisition of wealth mattered (to the people). No mother rejoiced over getting her firstborn son.
गृहे गृहे रुदन्त्यश्च भर्तारं गृहमागतम्।

व्यगर्हयन्त दुःखार्ता वाग्भिस्तोत्रैरिव द्विपान्।।2.48.6।।


दुःखार्ताः afflicted with sorrow, गृहे गृहे in every house, रुदन्त्यः while crying, तोत्रैः with goads, द्विपान् इव like elephants, वाग्भि: with words, गृहम् आगतम् arrival at home, भर्तारम् husband, व्यगर्हयन्त they reproached.

In every house, women wept and in anguish heaped abuses on their husbands on their arrival at home with words (sharp) like goads on elephants:
किं नु तेषां गृहैः कार्यं किं दारै: किं धनेन वा।

पुत्रैर्वा किं सुखैर्वापि ये न पश्यन्ति राघवम्।।2.48.7।।


ये whosoever, राघवम् Rama, न पश्यन्ति do not see, तेषाम् their, गृहैः homes, किम् what use, दारैः with wives, किं कार्यम् what use, धनेन वा with wealth, किम् what use, पुत्रैः वा or with sons, सुखैर्वापि comforts, किम् what use?.

For those who do not see Rama, of what use are the houses or spouses or sons or
fortunes or delight?
एकः सत्पुरुषो लोके लक्ष्मण स्सह सीतया।

योऽनुगच्छति काकुत्स्थं रामं परिचरन् वने।।2.48.8।।


लोके in this world, एकः only, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, सत्पुरुषः is a (fortunate) pious person, यः who, सीतया सह with sita, काकुत्स्थम् of Kakutstha race, रामम् Rama, वने in the forest, परिचरन् attending on them, अनुगच्छति follows.

Lakshmana is the only fortunate person in the world who has followed Rama of the Kakutstha race along with Sita to serve them.
आपगाः कृतपुण्यास्ता पद्मिन्यश्च सरांसि च।

येषु स्नास्यति काकुत्स्थो विगाह्य सलिलं शुचि।।2.48.9।।


येषु in which, शुचि pure, सलिलम् waters, विगाह्य enters, काकुत्स्थ: Rama, स्नास्यति bathes, ताः those, आपगाः rivers, पद्मिन्यः tanks with lotuses, सरांसि च the lakes, कृतपुण्याः for the meritorious acts done (in the past).

The rivers and the lotuspools have done some meritorious acts in the past as a result of which Rama having plunged into their holy waters will make his ablution.
शोभयिष्यन्ति काकुत्स्थमटव्यो रम्यकाननाः।

आपगाश्च महानूपाः सानुमन्तश्च पर्वताः।।2.48.10।।


रम्यकाननाः with beautiful groves, अटव्यः forests, महानूपाः expanse of waters, आपगाः च rivers, सानुमन्तः having slopes, पर्वताः mountains, काकुत्स्थम् scion of the Kakutstha dynasty (Rama), शोभयिष्यन्ति will enhance his lustre.

Forests with beautiful groves rivers with vast expanse of waters, mountains with their slopes will enhance the lustre of the scion of the Kakutsthas (Rama).
काननं वापि शैलं वा यं रामोऽधिगमिष्यति।

प्रियातिथिमिव प्राप्तं नैनं शक्ष्यन्त्यनर्चितुम्।।2.48.11।।


रामः Rama, यम् शैलं वा any hill, काननं वापि or forest, अधिगमिष्यति approaches, they, प्राप्तं having arrived, प्रियातिथिम् इव like a welcome guest, एनम् him, अनर्चितुम् without extending hospitality, न शक्ष्यन्ति cannot.

Whichever hill or forest Rama visits, people will receive him there like a welcome guest and will not fail to render hospitality to him.
विचित्रकुसुमापीडा बहुमञ्जरि धारिणः।

राघवं दर्शयिष्यन्ति नगा भ्रमरशालिनः।।2.48.12।।


विचित्रकुसुमापीडा bunches of colourful flowers, बहुमञ्जरिधारिणः wearing many clusters of blossoms, भ्रमरशालिनः with bees, नगाः trees, राघवम् Rama, दर्शयिष्यन्ति will present themselves.

Trees with bunches of cololurful flowers and clusters of blossoms hovering over with black bees will present themselves to the son of the Raghus (Rama).
अकाले चापि मुख्यानि पुष्पाणि च फलानि च।

दर्शयिष्यन्त्यनुक्रोशाद्गिरयो राममागतम्।।2.48.13।।


गिरयः mountains, अनुक्रोशात् in sympathy, अकालेचापि even out of season, मुख्यानि excellent, पुष्पाणि flowers, फलानि च fruits also, आगतम् arrived, रामम् Rama, दर्शयिष्यन्ति will adorn
themselves.

The hills will exhibit their excellent flowers and fruits off season out of compassion in order to welcome Rama.
प्रस्रविष्यन्ति तोयानि विमलानि महीधराः।

विदर्शयन्तो विविधान् भूयश्चित्रांश्च निर्झरान्।।2.48.14।।


महीधराः mountains, विविधान् various, चित्रांश्च picturesque, निर्झरान् waterfalls, भूयः again and again, विदर्शयन्तः showing, विमलानि pellucid, तोयानि water, प्रस्रविष्यन्ति will flow.

The mountains, displaying various wonderful streams here and there, will flow with pellucid waters (for Rama).
पादपाः पर्वताग्रेषु रमयिष्यन्ति राघवम्।

यत्र रामो भयं नात्र नास्ति तत्र पराभवः।।2.48.15।।


पर्वताग्रेषु on mountain summits, पादपाः trees, राघवम् Rama, रमयिष्यन्ति will enchant, यत्र where, रामः Rama is, अत्र there, भयम् fear, न not, तत्र there, पराभवः disrespect, नास्ति not.

The trees on the mountain summits will enchant Rama. Where Rama goes, there will be no room for fear or dishonour.
स हि शूरो महाबाहुः पुत्रो दशरथस्य च।

पुरा भवति नोदूरादनुगच्छाम राघवम्।।2.48.16।।


शूरः valiant, महाबाहुः strongarmed, दशरथस्य Dasaratha's, पुत्रः son, सः that Rama, नः for us, दूरात् from a distance, पुरा भवति before being away, राघवम् Rama, अनुगच्छाम will follow.

Before that valiant, strongarmed son of Dasaratha goes too far away (from us), we should follow him.
पादच्छाया सुखा भर्तुस्तादृशस्य महात्मनः।

स हि नाथो जनस्यास्य स गति स्सपरायणम्।।2.48.17।।


तादृशस्य such, महात्मनः magnanimous, भर्तुः master's, पादच्छाया shadow of his feet, सुखा is happy, अस्य of these, जनस्य people's, सः he alone, नाथ: हि is the protector, सः he, गतिः
goal, सः he, परायणम् supreme refuge.

The shadow of the feet of this magnanimous lord will give us happiness. He alone is the goal and protector of all these people. He is the supreme refuge.
वयं परिचरिष्यामः सीतां यूयं तु राघवम्।

इति पौरस्त्रियो भर्तृ़न् दुखार्तास्तत्तदब्रुवन्।।2.48.18।।


वयम् we, सीताम् Sita, परिचरिष्यामः will serve, यूयं तु you also, राघवम् to Rama, इति like this, पौरस्त्रियः women of the city, दुःखार्ताः distressed in sorrow, भर्तृ़न् to their husbands तत्तत् that kind of words, अब्रुवन् spoke.

We will serve Sita. You will serve Rama. Such were the words of the distressed women of the city to their husbands. (They continued).
युष्माकं राघवोऽरण्ये योगक्षेमं विधास्यति।

सीता नारीजनस्यास्य योगक्षेमं करिष्यति।।2.48.19।।


राघवः Rama, अरण्ये in the forest, युष्माकम् for you, योगक्षेमम् aquisition and protection of desired objects, विधास्यति will provide, सीता sita, अस्य (नारी) जनस्य of these (womenfolk), योगक्षेमम् security of possessions, करिष्यति will make.

In the forest, Rama will look after your wellbeing and Sita will ensure our, women folk's security.
को न्वनेनाऽप्रतीतेन सोत्कण्ठितजनेन च।

सम्प्रियेतामनोज्ञेन वासेन हृतचेतसा।।2.48.20।।


अप्रतीतेन disagreeable, सोत्कण्ठितजनेन च people who are choked with grief, अमनोज्ञेन not delighted, हृतचेतसा senses seized with distress, अनेन वासेन with this kind of living, कः नु who, सम्प्रियेत who will be pleased?

The people here are choked with grief. Who will like to stay here where life is disagreeable, cheerless, full of despondency and distress?
कैकेय्या यदि चे द्राज्यं स्यादधर्म्यमनाथवत्।

न हि नो जीवितेनार्थः कुतः पुत्रैः कुतो धनैः।।2.48.21।।


अधर्म्यम् unethically, अनाथवत् like orphans (unprotected), राज्यम् kingdom, कैकेय्याः to Kaikeyi, स्याद्यदि if happens, नः for us, जीवितेन on this life, अर्थः purpose, न हि is not there, पुत्रैः by sons, कुतः what use?, धनैः with wealth, कुतः what use?

If Kaikeyi rules this kingdom unethically, we do not want to live here like orphans. What is the use of our progeny or property (in such a place)?
यया पुत्रश्च भर्ता च त्यक्तावैश्वर्यकारणात्।

कं सा परिहरेदन्यं कैकेयी कुलपांसनी।।2.48.22।।


यया by whom, ऐश्वर्यकारणात् for the sake of wealth, पुत्रश्च son's, भर्ता च husband as well, त्यक्ता abandoned, कुलपांसनी a woman who is the disgrace to the race, सा कैकेयी that Kaikeyi, अन्यम् others, कम् whom, परिहरेत् will she spare?

Can Kaikeyi, who has brought disgrace to the race by abandoning her husband and son for the sake of wealth, spare others?
कैकेय्या न वयं राज्ये भृतका निवसेमहि।

जीवन्त्या जातु जीवन्त्यः पुत्रैरपि शपामहे।।2.48.23।।


कैकेय्याः Kaikeyi, जीवन्त्याः while she is alive, वयम् we, जीवन्त्यः living, राज्ये in this kingdom, भृतकाः as servants, जातु never, न निवसेमहि will not live, पुत्रैरपि on our sons also, शपामहे we swear.

We swear on our sons that as long as Kaikeyi lives, or we live, we will never stay in her kingdom as servants.
या पुत्रं पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य प्रवासयति निर्घृणा।

कस्तां प्राप्य सुखं जीवेदधर्म्यां दुष्टचारिणीम्।।2.48.24।।


या that Kaikeyi, निर्घृणा unkind, पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य king's, पुत्रम् son, प्रवासयति has banished, अधर्म्याम् unrighteous, दुष्टचारिणीम् of wicked behaviour, ताम् her, प्राप्य having her (as a ruler), कः who, सुखम् with pleasure, जीवेत् will live?

Who can live with pleasure under the rule of Kaikeyi of unrighteous character and wicked behaviour, one who without compassion banished Rama, son of Dasaratha, king of kings?
उपद्रुतमिदं सर्वमनालम्बमनायकम्।

कैकेय्या हि कृते सर्वं विनाशमुपयास्यति।।2.48.25।।


इदम् this, सर्वम् entire kingdom, उपद्रुतम् is affected by a great calamity, अनालम्बम् without support, अनायकम् without any leader, कैकेय्याः कृते for Kaikeyi, विनाशम् destruction, उपयास्यति will receive.

The entire kingdom, for the sake of Kaikeyi, is under a great calamity. With no support or leader it will definitely go to ruin.
न हि प्रव्रजिते रामे जीविष्यति महीपतिः।

मृते दशरथे व्यक्तं विलापस्तदनन्तरम्।।2.48.26।।


रामे Rama, प्रव्रजिते is banished, महीपतिः king, न जीविष्यति हि will not survive, दशरथे Dasaratha, मृते is dead, तदनन्तरम् after that, विलापः lamentations, व्यक्तम् this is evident.

Now that Rama has been banished, the king will not live (long). After his death there will be evidently only lamentations.
ते विषं पिबतालोड्य क्षीणपुण्या स्सुदुर्गताः।

राघवं वानुगच्छध्वमश्रुतिं वापि गच्छत।।2.48.27।।


क्षीणपुण्याः merits exhausted, सुदुर्गताः in deep troubles, ते you, विषम् poison, आलोड्य seeing this, पिबत drink, राघवं वा or Rama, अनुगच्छध्वम् follow, अश्रुतिं वा unseen (distant) place, गच्छत go there.

Where you are in deep trouble with merits exhausted, it is better to take poison, or follow Rama or walk into the unknown.
मिथ्याप्रव्राजितो राम स्ससीत स्सहलक्ष्मणः।

भरते सन्निसृष्टास्स्म स्सौनिके पशवो यथा।।2.48.28।।


ससीतः along with Sita, सहलक्ष्मणः with Lakshmana, रामः Rama, मिथ्या deceitfully, प्रव्राजितः has been exiled, यथा पशवः like beasts, सौनिके to a butcher, भरते Bharata, सन्निसृष्टाः स्मः have been delivered.

Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana has been deceitfully exiled and all of us delivered to Bharata like beasts to a butcher (for protection).
पूर्णचन्द्रानन श्श्यामो गूढजत्रुररिन्दमः।

आजानुबाहुः पद्माक्षो रामो लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः।।2.48.29।।

पूर्वाभिभाषी मधुर स्सत्यवादी महाबलः।

सौम्यस्सर्वस्य लोकस्य चन्द्रवत्प्रियदर्शनः।।2.48.30।।

नूनं पुरुषशार्दूलो मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः।

शोभयिष्यत्यरण्यानि विचरन् स महारथः।।2.48.31।।


पूर्णचन्द्राननः a man with his countenance resembling the full moon, श्यामः bluehued,
गूढजत्रुः with clavicles, अरिन्दमः subduer of enemies, अजानुबाहुः one with kneelong arms, पद्माक्षः lotuseyed, लक्ष्मण पूर्वजः the elder brother of Lakshmana, पूर्वाभिभाषी the first to address others, मधुरः sweetnatured, सत्यवादी one who always speaks the truth, महाबलः mighty, सौम्यः pleasing, सर्वस्य लोकस्य of the entire world, चन्द्रवत् like the Moon, प्रियदर्शनः of charming appearance, पुरुषशार्दूलः tiger among men, मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः powerful like an intoxicated elephant, महारथ: great charioteer, स रामः that Rama, नूनम् certainly, अरण्यानि in the forest, विचरन् moving about, शोभयिष्यति will add grace.

Rama, elder brother to Lakshmana is a tiger among men, a subduer of enemies, powerful like an intoxicated elephant, and a great charioteer. Blue in complexion, he has a face like the full Moon. He has lotuslike eyes, kneelong arms and fleshy clavicles. Endowed with a sweet nature, he always speaks the truth and the first to speak to others. When he roams the forest, charming like the Moon and pleasing to the whole world, he will surely make it look graceful.
तास्तथा विलपन्त्यस्तु नगरे नागरस्त्रियः।

चुक्रुशु र्दुःखसन्तप्ता मृत्योरिव भयागमे।।2.48.32।।


नगरे in the city, ताः those, नागरस्त्रियः women of the city, तथा in that way, विलपन्त्यः lamenting, मृत्योः at the approach of death, भयागमे इव as if frightened, चुक्रुशुः wept र्दुःखसन्तप्ता affected with grief

Such was the lamentation of the women of the city. Overcome with grief as if frightened at the approach of death, they wept bitterly.
इत्येवं विलपन्तीनां स्त्रीणां वेश्मसु राघवम्।

जगामास्तं दिनकरो रजनी चाभ्यवर्तत।।2.48.33।।


वेश्मसु at home, स्त्रीणाम् women, इत्येवम् like this, राघवम् about Rama, विलपन्तीनाम् while lamenting, दिनकरः sun, अस्तम् set, जगाम् reached, रजनी च night also, अभ्यवर्तत also arrived.

As the women of the city were thus lamenting over the scion of the Raghus (Rama) (sitting) at home, the sun set. Night fell.
नष्टज्वलनसन्तापा प्रशान्ताध्यायसत्कथा।

तिमिरेणाभिलिप्तेव सा तदा नगरी बभौ।।2.48.34।।


तदा then, नष्टज्वलनसन्तापा with the (sacrificial) flames extinguished, प्रशान्ताध्यायसत्कथा with cessation of the study of holy scriptures and sacred recitations, सा नगरी that city, तिमिरेण in darkness, अभिलिप्तेव बभौ looked as if smeared.

With sacrificial fires extinguished and the reading of holy scriptures and sacred recitations stopped, Ayodhya looked as if besmeared with darkness.
उपशान्तवणिक्पण्या नष्टहर्षा निराश्रया।

अयोध्या नगरी चासीन्नष्टतारमिवाम्बरम्।।2.48.35।।


उपशान्तवणिक्पण्या the markets of the traders remaining closed, नष्टहर्षा with delight destroyed, निराश्रया without support, अयोध्या नगरी city of Ayodhya, नष्टतारम् starless, अम्बरमिव sky, आसीत् appeared.

With markets closed, the city of Ayodhya cheerless and shelterless looked like the sky without stars.
तथा स्त्रियो रामनिमित्तमातुरा

यथा सुते भ्रातरि वा विवासिते।

विलप्य दीना रुरुदुर्विचेतस

स्सूतैर्हि तासामधिको हि सोऽभवत्।।2.48.36।।


स्त्रियः women, सुते when a son, भ्रातरिवा or brother, विवासिते exiled, यथा तथा in the same manner, राम निमित्तम् for the sake of Rama, आतुराः grieving, दीनाः dejected, विचेतसः with troubled minds, विलप्य having lamented, रुरुदुः wept, तासाम् for them, सः Rama, सुतैः more than sons, अधिकः more, अभवत् हि became indeed.

The women grieved over Rama as if a son or a brother had been exiled. Depressed and distressed, they wept and sobbed. For them, Rama was indeed more than their sons.
प्रशान्तगीतोत्सवनृत्तवादना

व्यपास्तहर्षा पिहितापणोदया।

तदा ह्ययोध्या नगरी बभूव सा

महार्णव स्सङ्क्षपितोदको यथा।।2.48.37।।


प्रशान्तगीतोत्सवनृत्तवादना with cessation of singing, celebrations, dance and music, व्यपास्तहर्षा pleasure expelled, पिहितापणोदया stalls without display merchandise, सा that, अयोध्या नगरी city of Ayodhya, तदा then, सङ्क्षपितोदकः waters diminished, महार्णवः ocean, यथा like that, बभूव became.

With the cessation of singing, celebrations, dance and music, there was no rejoicing in the city. The markets displaying merchandise were shut down. The city of Ayodhya looked like the ocean with its waters diminished.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टचत्वारिशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fortyeighth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.