Sloka & Translation

[Lamentations of women in Ayodhya.]

tēṣāmēvaṅ viṣaṇṇānāṅ pīḍitānāmatīva ca.

bāṣpaviplutanētrāṇāṅ saśōkānāṅ mumūrṣayā৷৷2.48.1৷৷

anugamya nivṛttānāṅ rāmaṅ nagaravāsinām.

udgatānīva satvāni babhūvuramanasvinām৷৷2.48.2৷৷


ēvaṅ in this manner, viṣaṇṇānām of dejected ones, atīva deeply, pīḍitānām distressed, bāṣpaviplutanētrāṇām of men with their eyes overflowing with tears, saśōkānām of those smitten with grief, mumūrṣayā desirng death, rāmam Rama, anugamya having followed, nivṛttānām of those who returned, amanasvinām of disinterested men, tēṣām their, nagaravāsinām citizens', satvāni vital airs, udgatānīva 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 high-mindedness and looked as if their life had been drained out.
tēṣāmēvaṅ viṣaṇṇānāṅ pīḍitānāmatīva ca.

bāṣpaviplutanētrāṇāṅ saśōkānāṅ mumūrṣayā৷৷2.48.1৷৷

anugamya nivṛttānāṅ rāmaṅ nagaravāsinām.

udgatānīva satvāni babhūvuramanasvinām৷৷2.48.2৷৷


ēvaṅ in this manner, viṣaṇṇānām of dejected ones, atīva deeply, pīḍitānām distressed, bāṣpaviplutanētrāṇām of men with their eyes overflowing with tears, saśōkānām of those smitten with grief, mumūrṣayā desirng death, rāmam Rama, anugamya having followed, nivṛttānām of those who returned, amanasvinām of disinterested men, tēṣām their, nagaravāsinām citizens', satvāni vital airs, udgatānīva 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 high-mindedness and looked as if their life had been drained out.
svaṅ svaṅ nilayamāgamya putradāraissamāvṛtā.

aśrūṇi mumucussarvē bāṣpēṇa pihitānanāḥ৷৷2.48.3৷৷


sarvē all of them, svaṅ svam their respective, nilayam homes, āgamya having reached, putradāraiḥ with their sons and wives, samāvṛtāḥ surrounded, bāṣpēṇa with tears, pihitānanāḥ with their faces covered, aśrūṇi tears, mumucuḥ shed.

The subjects reached their respective homes and surrounded by their sons and wives broke down their faces flooded with tears.
na cāhṛṣyan nacāmōdan vaṇijō na prasārayan.

na cāśōbhanta paṇyāni nāpacan gṛhamēdhinaḥ৷৷2.48.4৷৷


na ahṛṣyan ca not rejoiced, na amōdan ca not delighted, vaṇijaḥ traders, na prasārayan did not offer for sale, paṇyāni ca market-places also, na aśōbhanta did not look graceful, gṛhamēdhinaḥ householders, nāpacan 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 market-place looked graceless (lifeless). (The stocks were empty). The householders did not cook their food.
naṣṭaṅ dṛṣṭvā nābhyanandan vipulaṅ vā dhanāgamam.

putraṅ prathamajaṅ labdhvā jananī nābhyanandata৷৷2.48.5৷৷


naṣṭam loss, dṛṣṭvā having seen, nābhyanandan stood indifferent, vipulam vast, dhanāgamaṅ vā or acquired wealth, jananī mother, prathamajam first-born, putram son, labdhvā having obtained, nābhyanandata not rejoiced.

Neither loss nor acquisition of wealth mattered (to the people). No mother rejoiced over getting her first-born son.
gṛhē gṛhē rudantyaśca bhartāraṅ gṛhamāgatam.

vyagarhayanta duḥkhārtā vāgbhistōtrairiva dvipān৷৷2.48.6৷৷


duḥkhārtāḥ afflicted with sorrow, gṛhē gṛhē in every house, rudantyaḥ while crying, tōtraiḥ with goads, dvipān iva like elephants, vāgbhi: with words, gṛham āgatam arrival at home, bhartāram husband, vyagarhayanta 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:
kiṅ nu tēṣāṅ gṛhaiḥ kāryaṅ kiṅ dārai: kiṅ dhanēna vā.

putrairvā kiṅ sukhairvāpi yē na paśyanti rāghavam৷৷2.48.7৷৷


yē whosoever, rāghavam Rama, na paśyanti do not see, tēṣām their, gṛhaiḥ homes, kim what use, dāraiḥ with wives, kiṅ kāryam what use, dhanēna vā with wealth, kim what use, putraiḥ vā or with sons, sukhairvāpi comforts, kim what use?.

For those who do not see Rama, of what use are the houses or spouses or sons or
fortunes or delight?
ēkaḥ satpuruṣō lōkē lakṣmaṇa ssaha sītayā.

yō.nugacchati kākutsthaṅ rāmaṅ paricaran vanē৷৷2.48.8৷৷


lōkē in this world, ēkaḥ only, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, satpuruṣaḥ is a (fortunate) pious person, yaḥ who, sītayā saha with sita, kākutstham of Kakutstha race, rāmam Rama, vanē in the forest, paricaran attending on them, anugacchati follows.

Lakshmana is the only fortunate person in the world who has followed Rama of the Kakutstha race along with Sita to serve them.
āpagāḥ kṛtapuṇyāstā padminyaśca sarāṅsi ca.

yēṣu snāsyati kākutsthō vigāhya salilaṅ śuci৷৷2.48.9৷৷


yēṣu in which, śuci pure, salilam waters, vigāhya enters, kākutstha: Rama, snāsyati bathes, tāḥ those, āpagāḥ rivers, padminyaḥ tanks with lotuses, sarāṅsi ca the lakes, kṛtapuṇyāḥ for the meritorious acts done (in the past).

The rivers and the lotus-pools have done some meritorious acts in the past as a result of which Rama having plunged into their holy waters will make his ablution.
śōbhayiṣyanti kākutsthamaṭavyō ramyakānanāḥ.

āpagāśca mahānūpāḥ sānumantaśca parvatāḥ৷৷2.48.10৷৷


ramyakānanāḥ with beautiful groves, aṭavyaḥ forests, mahānūpāḥ expanse of waters, āpagāḥ ca rivers, sānumantaḥ having slopes, parvatāḥ mountains, kākutstham scion of the Kakutstha dynasty (Rama), śōbhayiṣyanti 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).
kānanaṅ vāpi śailaṅ vā yaṅ rāmō.dhigamiṣyati.

priyātithimiva prāptaṅ nainaṅ śakṣyantyanarcitum৷৷2.48.11৷৷


rāmaḥ Rama, yam śailaṅ vā any hill, kānanaṅ vāpi or forest, adhigamiṣyati approaches, they, prāptaṅ having arrived, priyātithim iva like a welcome guest, ēnam him, anarcitum without extending hospitality, na śakṣyanti 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.
vicitrakusumāpīḍā bahumañjari dhāriṇaḥ.

rāghavaṅ darśayiṣyanti nagā bhramaraśālinaḥ৷৷2.48.12৷৷


vicitrakusumāpīḍā bunches of colourful flowers, bahumañjaridhāriṇaḥ wearing many clusters of blossoms, bhramaraśālinaḥ with bees, nagāḥ trees, rāghavam Rama, darśayiṣyanti 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).
akālē cāpi mukhyāni puṣpāṇi ca phalāni ca.

darśayiṣyantyanukrōśādgirayō rāmamāgatam৷৷2.48.13৷৷


girayaḥ mountains, anukrōśāt in sympathy, akālēcāpi even out of season, mukhyāni excellent, puṣpāṇi flowers, phalāni ca fruits also, āgatam arrived, rāmam Rama, darśayiṣyanti will adorn
themselves.

The hills will exhibit their excellent flowers and fruits off season out of compassion in order to welcome Rama.
prasraviṣyanti tōyāni vimalāni mahīdharāḥ.

vidarśayantō vividhān bhūyaścitrāṅśca nirjharān৷৷2.48.14৷৷


mahīdharāḥ mountains, vividhān various, citrāṅśca picturesque, nirjharān waterfalls, bhūyaḥ again and again, vidarśayantaḥ showing, vimalāni pellucid, tōyāni water, prasraviṣyanti will flow.

The mountains, displaying various wonderful streams here and there, will flow with pellucid waters (for Rama).
pādapāḥ parvatāgrēṣu ramayiṣyanti rāghavam.

yatra rāmō bhayaṅ nātra nāsti tatra parābhavaḥ৷৷2.48.15৷৷


parvatāgrēṣu on mountain summits, pādapāḥ trees, rāghavam Rama, ramayiṣyanti will enchant, yatra where, rāmaḥ Rama is, atra there, bhayam fear, na not, tatra there, parābhavaḥ disrespect, nāsti not.

The trees on the mountain summits will enchant Rama. Where Rama goes, there will be no room for fear or dishonour.
sa hi śūrō mahābāhuḥ putrō daśarathasya ca.

purā bhavati nōdūrādanugacchāma rāghavam৷৷2.48.16৷৷


śūraḥ valiant, mahābāhuḥ strong-armed, daśarathasya Dasaratha's, putraḥ son, saḥ that Rama, naḥ for us, dūrāt from a distance, purā bhavati before being away, rāghavam Rama, anugacchāma will follow.

Before that valiant, strong-armed son of Dasaratha goes too far away (from us), we should follow him.
pādacchāyā sukhā bhartustādṛśasya mahātmanaḥ.

sa hi nāthō janasyāsya sa gati ssaparāyaṇam৷৷2.48.17৷৷


tādṛśasya such, mahātmanaḥ magnanimous, bhartuḥ master's, pādacchāyā shadow of his feet, sukhā is happy, asya of these, janasya people's, saḥ he alone, nātha: hi is the protector, saḥ he, gatiḥ
goal, saḥ he, parāyaṇam 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.
vayaṅ paricariṣyāmaḥ sītāṅ yūyaṅ tu rāghavam.

iti paurastriyō bhartṛn dukhārtāstattadabruvan৷৷2.48.18৷৷


vayam we, sītām Sita, paricariṣyāmaḥ will serve, yūyaṅ tu you also, rāghavam to Rama, iti like this, paurastriyaḥ women of the city, duḥkhārtāḥ distressed in sorrow, bhartṛn to their husbands tattat that kind of words, abruvan 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).
yuṣmākaṅ rāghavō.raṇyē yōgakṣēmaṅ vidhāsyati.

sītā nārījanasyāsya yōgakṣēmaṅ kariṣyati৷৷2.48.19৷৷


rāghavaḥ Rama, araṇyē in the forest, yuṣmākam for you, yōgakṣēmam aquisition and protection of desired objects, vidhāsyati will provide, sītā sita, asya (nārī) janasya of these (womenfolk), yōgakṣēmam security of possessions, kariṣyati will make.

In the forest, Rama will look after your well-being and Sita will ensure our, women folk's security.
kō nvanēnā.pratītēna sōtkaṇṭhitajanēna ca.

sampriyētāmanōjñēna vāsēna hṛtacētasā৷৷2.48.20৷৷


apratītēna disagreeable, sōtkaṇṭhitajanēna ca people who are choked with grief, amanōjñēna not delighted, hṛtacētasā senses seized with distress, anēna vāsēna with this kind of living, kaḥ nu who, sampriyēta 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?
kaikēyyā yadi cē drājyaṅ syādadharmyamanāthavat.

na hi nō jīvitēnārthaḥ kutaḥ putraiḥ kutō dhanaiḥ৷৷2.48.21৷৷


adharmyam unethically, anāthavat like orphans (unprotected), rājyam kingdom, kaikēyyāḥ to Kaikeyi, syādyadi if happens, naḥ for us, jīvitēna on this life, arthaḥ purpose, na hi is not there, putraiḥ by sons, kutaḥ what use?, dhanaiḥ with wealth, kutaḥ 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)?
yayā putraśca bhartā ca tyaktāvaiśvaryakāraṇāt.

kaṅ sā pariharēdanyaṅ kaikēyī kulapāṅsanī৷৷2.48.22৷৷


yayā by whom, aiśvaryakāraṇāt for the sake of wealth, putraśca son's, bhartā ca husband as well, tyaktā abandoned, kulapāṅsanī a woman who is the disgrace to the race, sā kaikēyī that Kaikeyi, anyam others, kam whom, pariharēt 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?
kaikēyyā na vayaṅ rājyē bhṛtakā nivasēmahi.

jīvantyā jātu jīvantyaḥ putrairapi śapāmahē৷৷2.48.23৷৷


kaikēyyāḥ Kaikeyi, jīvantyāḥ while she is alive, vayam we, jīvantyaḥ living, rājyē in this kingdom, bhṛtakāḥ as servants, jātu never, na nivasēmahi will not live, putrairapi on our sons also, śapāmahē 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.
yā putraṅ pārthivēndrasya pravāsayati nirghṛṇā.

kastāṅ prāpya sukhaṅ jīvēdadharmyāṅ duṣṭacāriṇīm৷৷2.48.24৷৷


yā that Kaikeyi, nirghṛṇā unkind, pārthivēndrasya king's, putram son, pravāsayati has banished, adharmyām unrighteous, duṣṭacāriṇīm of wicked behaviour, tām her, prāpya having her (as a ruler), kaḥ who, sukham with pleasure, jīvēt 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?
upadrutamidaṅ sarvamanālambamanāyakam.

kaikēyyā hi kṛtē sarvaṅ vināśamupayāsyati৷৷2.48.25৷৷


idam this, sarvam entire kingdom, upadrutam is affected by a great calamity, anālambam without support, anāyakam without any leader, kaikēyyāḥ kṛtē for Kaikeyi, vināśam destruction, upayāsyati 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.
na hi pravrajitē rāmē jīviṣyati mahīpatiḥ.

mṛtē daśarathē vyaktaṅ vilāpastadanantaram৷৷2.48.26৷৷


rāmē Rama, pravrajitē is banished, mahīpatiḥ king, na jīviṣyati hi will not survive, daśarathē Dasaratha, mṛtē is dead, tadanantaram after that, vilāpaḥ lamentations, vyaktam this is evident.

Now that Rama has been banished, the king will not live (long). After his death there will be evidently only lamentations.
tē viṣaṅ pibatālōḍya kṣīṇapuṇyā ssudurgatāḥ.

rāghavaṅ vānugacchadhvamaśrutiṅ vāpi gacchata৷৷2.48.27৷৷


kṣīṇapuṇyāḥ merits exhausted, sudurgatāḥ in deep troubles, tē you, viṣam poison, ālōḍya seeing this, pibata drink, rāghavaṅ vā or Rama, anugacchadhvam follow, aśrutiṅ vā unseen (distant) place, gacchata 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.
mithyāpravrājitō rāma ssasīta ssahalakṣmaṇaḥ.

bharatē sannisṛṣṭāssma ssaunikē paśavō yathā৷৷2.48.28৷৷


sasītaḥ along with Sita, sahalakṣmaṇaḥ with Lakshmana, rāmaḥ Rama, mithyā deceitfully, pravrājitaḥ has been exiled, yathā paśavaḥ like beasts, saunikē to a butcher, bharatē Bharata, sannisṛṣṭāḥ smaḥ 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!).
pūrṇacandrānana śśyāmō gūḍhajatrurarindamaḥ.

ājānubāhuḥ padmākṣō rāmō lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ৷৷2.48.29৷৷

pūrvābhibhāṣī madhura ssatyavādī mahābalaḥ.

saumyassarvasya lōkasya candravatpriyadarśanaḥ৷৷2.48.30৷৷

nūnaṅ puruṣaśārdūlō mattamātaṅgavikramaḥ.

śōbhayiṣyatyaraṇyāni vicaran sa mahārathaḥ৷৷2.48.31৷৷


pūrṇacandrānanaḥ a man with his countenance resembling the full moon, śyāmaḥ blue-hued,
gūḍhajatruḥ with clavicles, arindamaḥ subduer of enemies, ajānubāhuḥ one with knee-long arms, padmākṣaḥ lotus-eyed, lakṣmaṇa pūrvajaḥ the elder brother of Lakshmana, pūrvābhibhāṣī the first to address others, madhuraḥ sweet-natured, satyavādī one who always speaks the truth, mahābalaḥ mighty, saumyaḥ pleasing, sarvasya lōkasya of the entire world, candravat like the Moon, priyadarśanaḥ of charming appearance, puruṣaśārdūlaḥ tiger among men, mattamātaṅgavikramaḥ powerful like an intoxicated elephant, mahāratha: great charioteer, sa rāmaḥ that Rama, nūnam certainly, araṇyāni in the forest, vicaran moving about, śōbhayiṣyati 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 lotus-like eyes, knee-long 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.
tāstathā vilapantyastu nagarē nāgarastriyaḥ.

cukruśu rduḥkhasantaptā mṛtyōriva bhayāgamē৷৷2.48.32৷৷


nagarē in the city, tāḥ those, nāgarastriyaḥ women of the city, tathā in that way, vilapantyaḥ lamenting, mṛtyōḥ at the approach of death, bhayāgamē iva as if frightened, cukruśuḥ wept rduḥkhasantaptā 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.
ityēvaṅ vilapantīnāṅ strīṇāṅ vēśmasu rāghavam.

jagāmāstaṅ dinakarō rajanī cābhyavartata৷৷2.48.33৷৷


vēśmasu at home, strīṇām women, ityēvam like this, rāghavam about Rama, vilapantīnām while lamenting, dinakaraḥ sun, astam set, jagām reached, rajanī ca night also, abhyavartata 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.
naṣṭajvalanasantāpā praśāntādhyāyasatkathā.

timirēṇābhiliptēva sā tadā nagarī babhau৷৷2.48.34৷৷


tadā then, naṣṭajvalanasantāpā with the (sacrificial) flames extinguished, praśāntādhyāyasatkathā with cessation of the study of holy scriptures and sacred recitations, sā nagarī that city, timirēṇa in darkness, abhiliptēva babhau 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.
upaśāntavaṇikpaṇyā naṣṭaharṣā nirāśrayā.

ayōdhyā nagarī cāsīnnaṣṭatāramivāmbaram৷৷2.48.35৷৷


upaśāntavaṇikpaṇyā the markets of the traders remaining closed, naṣṭaharṣā with delight destroyed, nirāśrayā without support, ayōdhyā nagarī city of Ayodhya, naṣṭatāram starless, ambaramiva sky, āsīt appeared.

With markets closed, the city of Ayodhya cheerless and shelterless looked like the sky without stars.
tathā striyō rāmanimittamāturā

yathā sutē bhrātari vā vivāsitē.

vilapya dīnā rurudurvicētasa

ssūtairhi tāsāmadhikō hi sō.bhavat৷৷2.48.36৷৷


striyaḥ women, sutē when a son, bhrātarivā or brother, vivāsitē exiled, yathā tathā in the same manner, rāma nimittam for the sake of Rama, āturāḥ grieving, dīnāḥ dejected, vicētasaḥ with troubled minds, vilapya having lamented, ruruduḥ wept, tāsām for them, saḥ Rama, sutaiḥ more than sons, adhikaḥ more, abhavat hi 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.
praśāntagītōtsavanṛttavādanā

vyapāstaharṣā pihitāpaṇōdayā.

tadā hyayōdhyā nagarī babhūva sā

mahārṇava ssaṅkṣapitōdakō yathā৷৷2.48.37৷৷


praśāntagītōtsavanṛttavādanā with cessation of singing, celebrations, dance and music, vyapāstaharṣā pleasure expelled, pihitāpaṇōdayā stalls without display merchandise, sā that, ayōdhyā nagarī city of Ayodhya, tadā then, saṅkṣapitōdakaḥ waters diminished, mahārṇavaḥ ocean, yathā like that, babhūva 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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē aṣṭacatvāriśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fortyeighth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.