Sloka & Translation

[Lakshmana tells Guha about events which might overtake Ayodhya after Rama's exile]

तं जाग्रतमदम्भेन भ्रातुरर्थाय लक्ष्मणम्।

गुहः सन्तापसन्तप्तो राघवं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.51.1।।


गुहः Guha, भ्रातुः brother, अर्थाय for the sake of, जाग्रतम् keeping awake, राघवम् Raghava born in the family of the Raghus, तं लक्ष्मणम् to that Lakshmana, अदम्भेन without any pretence, सन्तापसन्तप्तः tormented with grief, वाक्यम् these words, अब्रवीत् said.

Deeply moved to see Lakshmana, scion of the Raghus, keeping awake all night without any pretence for his brother's sake, Guha spoke.
इयं तात सुखा शय्या त्वदर्थमुपकल्पिता।

प्रत्याश्वसिहि साध्वस्यां राजपुत्र यथासुखम्।।2.51.2।।


तात O dear, इयम् this, सुखा comfortable, शय्या bed, त्वदर्थम् for your sake, उपकल्पिता has been arranged, राजपुत्र O prince, अस्याम् on this, यथासुखम् comfortably, साधु well, प्रत्याश्वसि हि take rest.

O dear prince this comfortable bed has been arranged for you. Rest happily on this bed.
उचितोऽयं जनस्सर्वः क्लेशानां त्वं सुखोचितः।

गुप्त्यर्थं जागरिष्यामः काकुत्स्थस्य वयं निशाम्।।2.51.3।।


सर्वः all, अयं जनः these people, myself, क्लेशानाम् for all kinds of suffering, उचितः accustomed, त्वम् you, सुखोचितः accustomed to comforts, काकुत्स्थस्य for Rama
descendant of the Kakutsthas, गुप्त्यर्थंम् for the sake of protection, वयम् we, निशाम् all
night, जागरिष्यामः will keep awake.

We are used to all kinds of suffering and you, to comfort. We will keep vigil during the night for the protection of Rama, descendant of the Kakutsthas.
न हि रामात्प्रियतमो ममास्ति भुवि कश्चन।

ब्रवीम्येतदहं सत्यं सत्येनैव च ते शपे।।2.51.4।।


मम for me, रामात् more than Rama, प्रियतमः dearer, कश्चन none, भुवि in this world, नास्ति हि not there, अहम् I, एतत् this one, सत्यम् true, ब्रवीमि I am saying, सत्येनैव by word of truth, ते to you, शपे I swear.

For me, there is none dearer than Rama in this world. I speak the truth. I swear by truth.
अस्य प्रसादादाशंसे लोकेस्मिन् सुमुहद्यशः।

धर्मावाप्तिं च विपुलामर्थावाप्तिं च केवलम्।।2.51.5।।


अस्य by this Rama's, प्रसादात् grace, अस्मिन् in this, लोके world, सुमहत् supreme, यशः fame, धर्मावाप्तिं च attainment of dharma, विपुलाम् abundantly, अर्थावाप्तिं च and also acquisition of artha (wealth), केवलम् alone, आशंसे I am seeking.

I am seeking supreme fame in this world through the attainment of dharma and acquisition of abundant artha by the grace of Rama alone.
सोऽहं प्रियसखं रामं शयानं सह सीतया।

रक्षिष्यामि धनुष्पाणि स्सर्वतो ज्ञातिभि स्सह।।2.51.6।।


सः such, अहम् I, ज्ञातिभिः with kinsmen, सह along with, धनुष्पाणिः bow in hand, सीतया सह along with sita, शयानम् resting, प्रियसखं dear friend, रामम् Rama, सर्वतः from every side, रक्षिष्यामि I will protect.

I along with my kinsmen, bow in hand, will protect my dear friend, Rama with Sita from every side.
न हि मेऽविदितं किञ्चिद्वनेऽस्मिंश्चरतस्सदा।

चतुरङ्गं ह्यपिबलं सुमहत्प्रसहेमहि।।2.51.7।।


सदा always, अस्मिन् वने in this forest, चरतः while wandering, मे to me, अविदितम् unknown, किञ्चित् nothing, न हि not there, सुमहत् vast, चतुरङ्गम् four divisions of army, बलम् अपि army also, प्रसहेमहि will endure.

Wandering about in this forest all the time there is nothing unknown to me (here). We can withstand even a vast army of four divisions.
लक्ष्मणस्तं तदोवाच रक्ष्यमाणास्त्वयानघ।

नात्र भीता वयं सर्वे धर्ममेवानुपश्यता।।2.51.8।।


तदा then, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, तम् to Guha, उवाच adressed, अनघ O Sinless me, धर्ममेव rigteousness, अनुपश्यता keeping in view, त्वया by you, रक्ष्यमाणाः being protected, वयं सर्वे all of us, अत्र here, न not, भीताः afraid of.

Lakshmana said to Guha, O sinless one when all of us are under your righteous protection we have nothing to fear.
कथं दशरथौ भूमौ शयाने सह सीतया।

शक्या निद्रा मया लब्धुं जीवितं वा सुखानि वा।।2.51.9।।


दाशरथौ while the son of Dasaratha, सीतया सह along with Sita, भूमौ on the ground, शयाने is sleeping, मया by me, निद्रा sleep, जीवितं वा or life, सुखानि वा or pleasures, लब्धुम् to acquire, कथम् how, शक्या is it possible?

When Rama, son of Dasaratha, sleeps on the ground with Sita how can I sleep or
live or enjoy pleasures?
यो न देवासुरैः सर्वैः शक्यः प्रसहितुं युधि।

तं पश्य सुखसंविष्टं तृणेषु सह सीतया।।2.51.10।।


यः who, युधि in war, सर्वैः by all, देवासुरैः gods and demons, प्रसहितुम् to face him, न शक्यः not possible, सीतया सह with sita, तृणेषु on the blades of grass, सुखसंविष्टम् sleeping comfortably, तम् that Rama, पश्य see.

Look at that Rama whom all the gods and demons cannot face in war sleeps so comfortably on the grass with Sita.
यो मन्त्रतपसा लब्धो विविधैश्च पराश्रमैः।

एको दशरथस्येष्टः पुत्रः सदृशलक्षणः।।2.51.11।।

अस्मिन् प्रव्राजिते राजा न चिरं वर्तयिष्यति।

विधवा मेदिनी नूनं क्षिप्रमेव भविष्यति।।2.51.12।।


यः whoever, दशरथस्य Dasaratha's, सदृशलक्षणः similar traits, एकः only, इष्टः favourite one, मन्त्रतपसा with austerities accompanied by mantras, विविधैश्च various, पराश्रमैः with much efforts, लब्धः obtained, पुत्रः son, अस्मिन् this (Rama), प्रव्राजिते is banished, राजा king, चिरम् for long, न वर्तयिष्यति not live, नूनम् certainly, मदिनां earth क्षिप्रमिव quickly, विधवा widow, भविष्यति will become.

This favourite son of Dasaratha who has similar traits like his father was born after he rigorously practised austerities accompanied by (Vedic) mantras. When he is banished, the king will not live long. Surely this land will soon be widowed.
विनद्य सुमहानादं श्रमेणोपरताः स्त्रियः।

निर्घोषोपरतं चातो मन्ये राजनिवेशनम्।।2.51.13।।


स्त्रियः women, सुमहानादम् loud sound, विनद्य having raised, श्रमेण because of exhaustion,
उपरताः ceased, अतः for that reason, राजनिवेशनम् king's palace, निर्घोषोपरतम् sounds have ceased, मन्ये I consider.

All the women having cried so much must have quietened down out of sheer exhaustion. That is why perhaps the sounds from the royal palace have ceased.
कौशल्या चैव राजा च तथैव जननी मम।

नाशंसे यदि जीवन्ति सर्वे ते शर्वरीमिमाम्।।2.51.14।।


कौशल्या चैव Kausalya also, राजा च and the king, तथैव in the same way, मम जननी my mother, ते सर्वे all of them, इमाम् this, शर्वरीम् night, यदि जीवन्ति if they live, नाशंसे I do not expect.

I doubt whether all of them -- the king, Kausalya and my mother -- can survive this night.
जीवेदपि हि मे माता शत्रुघ्नस्यान्ववेक्षया।

तद्दुःखं यत्तु कौशल्या वीरसूर्विनशिष्यति।।2.51.15।।


शत्रुघ्नस्य Satrughna's, अन्ववेक्षया looking forward, मे माता my mother, जीवेदपि हि if at all may live, वीरसूः valiant son, कौशल्या Kausalya, यत् विनशिष्यति if she perishes, तत् that one, दुःखम् is a sorrowful thing.

My mother may live looking forward to Satrughna. But, alas Kausalya may die, separated from her valiant son.
अनुरक्तजनाकीर्णा सुखालोकप्रियावहा।

राजव्यसनसंसृष्टा सा पुरी विनशिष्यति।।2.51.16।।


अनुरक्तजनाकीर्णा filled with loyal people, सुखा causing pleasure, लोकप्रियावहा that brings happiness to the people, सा पुरी that city, राजव्यसनसंसृष्टा overtaken by sorrow due to the
death of the king, विनशिष्यति will perish.

That city (of Ayodhya) is full of loyal people. It brings them happiness. It is dear to them. It will perish due to the sad demise of the king.
कथं पुत्रं महात्मानं ज्येष्ठं प्रियमपश्यतः।

शरीरं धारयिष्यन्ति प्राणा राज्ञो महात्मनः।।2.51.17।।


महात्मानम् great one, ज्येष्ठम् eldest, प्रियम् beloved, पुत्रम् son, अपश्यतः unable to see, महात्मनः noble, राज्ञः king's, प्राणाः vital air, शरीरम् body, कथम् how?, धारयिष्यन्ति will he hold.

How can the noble king survive unable to see his highsouled, beloved, eldest son?
विनष्टे नृपतौ पश्चात्कौसल्या विनशिष्यति।

अनन्तरं च माताऽपि मम नाशमुपैष्यति।।2.51.18।।


नृपतौ when the king, विनष्टे dies, पश्चात् following that, कौशल्या Kausalya, विनशिष्यति will also die, अनन्तरं च after that, मम मातापि my mother, नाशम् destruction, उपैष्यति will attain.

Subsequent to the death of the king, Kausalya will die and my mother will follow her.
अतिक्रान्तमतिक्रान्तमनवाप्य मनोरथम्।

राज्ये राममनिक्षिप्य पिता मे विनशिष्यति।।2.51.19।।


मे पिता my father, अतिक्रान्तमतिक्रान्तम् past is past, मनोरथम् his desire, अनवाप्य without fulfilling, राज्ये in the kingdom, रामम् Rama, अनिक्षिप्य without installing, विनशिष्यति will die.

Past is past (irreversible). My father, brooding over his desire of installing Rama as king unfulfilled, will perish.
सिद्धार्थाः पितरं वृत्तं तस्मिन्कालेऽप्युपस्थिते।

प्रेतकार्येषु सर्वेषु संस्करिष्यन्ति भूमिपम्।।2.51.20।।


तस्मिन् at that, काले time indeed, उपस्थिते present, सिध्दार्थाः those who accomplished their purpose, वृत्तम् laid in that state, पितरम् father, भूमिपम् lord of the land, king, सर्वेषु for all, प्रेतकार्येषु funeral rites, संस्करिष्यन्ति will perform.

Those who will remain present around the king, my father, at the time of his death and perform the funeral rites have their desires fulfilled (for they could attend the king's obsequies).
रम्यचत्वरसंस्थानां सुविभक्तमहापथाम्।

हर्म्यप्रासादसम्पन्नाम् गणिकावरशोभिताम्।।2.51.21।।

रथाश्वगजसम्बाधां तूर्यनादविनादिताम्।

सर्वकल्याणसम्पूर्णां हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलाम्।।2.51.22।।

आरामोद्यानसम्पन्नां समाजोत्सवशालिनीम्।

सुखिता विचरिष्यन्ति राजधानीं पितुर्मम।।2.51.23।।


रम्यचत्वरसंस्थानाम् with lovely squares laid, सुविभक्तमहापथाम् wellaligned broad highways, हर्म्यप्रासादसम्पन्नाम् rich with mansions and palaces, गणिकावरशोभिताम् graced with the fairest of courtesans, रथाश्वगजसम्बाधाम् thronged with chariots, elephants and horses, तूर्यनादविनादिताम् echoed with the sounds of trumpets, सर्वकल्याणसम्पूर्णाम् with the welfare of all, हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलाम् filled with wellnourished and contended people, आरामोद्यानसम्पन्नाम् endowed with pleasure gardens and parks, समाजोत्सवशालिनीम् splendid with community festivals, मम पितुः my father's, राजधानीम् capital city, सुखिताः happily, विचरिष्यन्ति will be going about.

They will roam about happily in the capital city of my father with its lovely squares, wellaligned broad highways, its mansions and palaces, full of chariots, elephants, horses. It will be echoing with the sound of trumpets. It will be full of the welfare of all. It will be graced by the fairest of courtesans. Filled with wellnourished and contented people, the city dotted with several pleasuregardens and parks, will look
splendid with community festivals and fairs.
अपि जीवेद्दशरथो वनवासात्पुनर्वयम्।

प्रत्यागम्य महात्मानमपि पश्येम सुव्रतम्।।2.51.24।।


दशरथः Dasaratha, अपि जीवेत् if lives, वयम् we, वनवासात् from our exile, प्रत्यागम्य on return, सुव्रतम् observing vows, महात्मानम् magnanimous, पुनः again, अपि पश्येम will we see him?

Will the king be still alive? Will we see the noble king again on our return from exile after the fulfilment of his vows?
अपि सत्यप्रतिज्ञेन सार्धं कुशलिना वयम्।

निवृत्ते वनवासेऽस्मिन्नयोध्यां प्रविशेमहि।।2.51.25।।


अस्मिन् this (Rama), निवृत्तवनवासे after completion of the exile, कुशलिना safe, सत्यप्रतिज्ञेन सार्धं with him who is always true to his promise, वयम् we, अयोध्याम् Ayodhya, अपि प्रविशेमहि will enter?

Will we ever be able, after completion of the exile, to enter the city of Ayodhya along with Rama who is true to his promise?
परिदेवयमानस्य दुखार्तस्य महात्मनः।

तिष्ठतो राजपुत्रस्य शर्वरी साऽत्यवर्तत।।2.51.26।।


महात्मनः of the highsouled, दुःखार्तस्य tormented with grief, राजपुत्रस्य of the prince, परिदेवयमानस्य while he was wailing, तिष्ठतः standing by, सा शर्वरी that night, अत्यवर्तत passed away.

While that noble prince (Lakshmana), tormented with grief, stood thus wailing, the night passed off.
तथा हि सत्यं ब्रुवति प्रजाहिते

नरेन्द्रपुत्रे गुरुसौहृदाद्गुहः।

मुमोच बाष्पं व्यसनाभिपीडितो

ज्वरातुरो नाग इव व्यथातुरः।।2.51.27।।


प्रजाहिते seeking the wellfare of people, नरेन्द्रपुत्रे king'son, गुरुसौहृदात् out of great friendship, तथा like that, सत्यम् truth ब्रुवति telling, गुहः Guha, व्यथातुरः afflicted, व्यसनाभिपीडितः overcome with grief, ज्वरातुरः feverstricken, नागः इव like elephant, बाष्पम् tears, मुमोच shed.

Out of great friendship with Guha, Lakshmana thus told the true story of prince (Rama) in the interest of his subject (Guha). (On hearing it) Guha was deeply afflicted with grief and pain and began shedding tears like an elephant suffering from fever.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्यकाण्डे एकपञ्चाश स्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fiftyfirst sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.