Sloka & Translation

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

taṅ jāgratamadambhēna bhrāturarthāya lakṣmaṇam.

guhaḥ santāpasantaptō rāghavaṅ vākyamabravīt৷৷2.51.1৷৷


guhaḥ Guha, bhrātuḥ brother, arthāya for the sake of, jāgratam keeping awake, rāghavam Raghava born in the family of the Raghus, taṅ lakṣmaṇam to that Lakshmana, adambhēna without any pretence, santāpasantaptaḥ tormented with grief, vākyam these words, abravīt said.

Deeply moved to see Lakshmana, scion of the Raghus, keeping awake all night without any pretence for his brother's sake, Guha spoke.
iyaṅ tāta sukhā śayyā tvadarthamupakalpitā.

pratyāśvasihi sādhvasyāṅ rājaputra! yathāsukham৷৷2.51.2৷৷


tāta O dear!, iyam this, sukhā comfortable, śayyā bed, tvadartham for your sake, upakalpitā has been arranged, rājaputra! O prince!, asyām on this, yathāsukham comfortably, sādhu well, pratyāśvasi hi take rest.

O dear prince! this comfortable bed has been arranged for you. Rest happily on this bed.
ucitō.yaṅ janassarvaḥ klēśānāṅ tvaṅ sukhōcitaḥ.

guptyarthaṅ jāgariṣyāmaḥ kākutsthasya vayaṅ niśām৷৷2.51.3৷৷


sarvaḥ all, ayaṅ janaḥ these people, myself, klēśānām for all kinds of suffering, ucitaḥ accustomed, tvam you, sukhōcitaḥ accustomed to comforts, kākutsthasya for Rama
descendant of the Kakutsthas, guptyarthaṅm for the sake of protection, vayam we, niśām all
night, jāgariṣyāmaḥ 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.
na hi rāmātpriyatamō mamāsti bhuvi kaścana.

bravīmyētadahaṅ satyaṅ satyēnaiva ca tē śapē৷৷2.51.4৷৷


mama for me, rāmāt more than Rama, priyatamaḥ dearer, kaścana none, bhuvi in this world, nāsti hi not there, aham I, ētat this one, satyam true, bravīmi I am saying, satyēnaiva by word of truth, tē to you, śapē I swear.

For me, there is none dearer than Rama in this world. I speak the truth. I swear by truth.
asya prasādādāśaṅsē lōkēsmin sumuhadyaśaḥ.

dharmāvāptiṅ ca vipulāmarthāvāptiṅ ca kēvalam৷৷2.51.5৷৷


asya by this Rama's, prasādāt grace, asmin in this, lōkē world, sumahat supreme, yaśaḥ fame, dharmāvāptiṅ ca attainment of dharma, vipulām abundantly, arthāvāptiṅ ca and also acquisition of artha (wealth), kēvalam alone, āśaṅsē 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.
sō.haṅ priyasakhaṅ rāmaṅ śayānaṅ saha sītayā.

rakṣiṣyāmi dhanuṣpāṇi ssarvatō jñātibhi ssaha৷৷2.51.6৷৷


saḥ such, aham I, jñātibhiḥ with kinsmen, saha along with, dhanuṣpāṇiḥ bow in hand, sītayā saha along with sita, śayānam resting, priyasakhaṅ dear friend, rāmam Rama, sarvataḥ from every side, rakṣiṣyāmi I will protect.

I along with my kinsmen, bow in hand, will protect my dear friend, Rama with Sita from every side.
na hi mē.viditaṅ kiñcidvanē.smiṅścaratassadā.

caturaṅgaṅ hyapibalaṅ sumahatprasahēmahi৷৷2.51.7৷৷


sadā always, asmin vanē in this forest, carataḥ while wandering, mē to me, aviditam unknown, kiñcit nothing, na hi not there, sumahat vast, caturaṅgam four divisions of army, balam api army also, prasahēmahi 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.
lakṣmaṇastaṅ tadōvāca rakṣyamāṇāstvayānagha.

nātra bhītā vayaṅ sarvē dharmamēvānupaśyatā৷৷2.51.8৷৷


tadā then, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, tam to Guha, uvāca adressed, anagha O Sinless me, dharmamēva rigteousness, anupaśyatā keeping in view, tvayā by you, rakṣyamāṇāḥ being protected, vayaṅ sarvē all of us, atra here, na not, bhītāḥ afraid of.

Lakshmana said to Guha, O sinless one! when all of us are under your righteous protection we have nothing to fear.
kathaṅ daśarathau bhūmau śayānē saha sītayā.

śakyā nidrā mayā labdhuṅ jīvitaṅ vā sukhāni vā৷৷2.51.9৷৷


dāśarathau while the son of Dasaratha, sītayā saha along with Sita, bhūmau on the ground, śayānē is sleeping, mayā by me, nidrā sleep, jīvitaṅ vā or life, sukhāni vā or pleasures, labdhum to acquire, katham how, śakyā is it possible?

When Rama, son of Dasaratha, sleeps on the ground with Sita how can I sleep or
live or enjoy pleasures?
yō na dēvāsuraiḥ sarvaiḥ śakyaḥ prasahituṅ yudhi.

taṅ paśya sukhasaṅviṣṭaṅ tṛṇēṣu saha sītayā৷৷2.51.10৷৷


yaḥ who, yudhi in war, sarvaiḥ by all, dēvāsuraiḥ gods and demons, prasahitum to face him, na śakyaḥ not possible, sītayā saha with sita, tṛṇēṣu on the blades of grass, sukhasaṅviṣṭam sleeping comfortably, tam that Rama, paśya see.

Look at that Rama whom all the gods and demons cannot face in war sleeps so comfortably on the grass with Sita.
yō mantratapasā labdhō vividhaiśca parāśramaiḥ.

ēkō daśarathasyēṣṭaḥ putraḥ sadṛśalakṣaṇaḥ৷৷2.51.11৷৷

asmin pravrājitē rājā na ciraṅ vartayiṣyati.

vidhavā mēdinī nūnaṅ kṣipramēva bhaviṣyati৷৷2.51.12৷৷


yaḥ whoever, daśarathasya Dasaratha's, sadṛśalakṣaṇaḥ similar traits, ēkaḥ only, iṣṭaḥ favourite one, mantratapasā with austerities accompanied by mantras, vividhaiśca various, parāśramaiḥ with much efforts, labdhaḥ obtained, putraḥ son, asmin this (Rama), pravrājitē is banished, rājā king, ciram for long, na vartayiṣyati not live, nūnam certainly, madināṅ earth kṣipramiva quickly, vidhavā widow, bhaviṣyati 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.
vinadya sumahānādaṅ śramēṇōparatāḥ striyaḥ.

nirghōṣōparataṅ cātō manyē rājanivēśanam৷৷2.51.13৷৷


striyaḥ women, sumahānādam loud sound, vinadya having raised, śramēṇa because of exhaustion,
uparatāḥ ceased, ataḥ for that reason, rājanivēśanam king's palace, nirghōṣōparatam sounds have ceased, manyē 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.
kauśalyā caiva rājā ca tathaiva jananī mama.

nāśaṅsē yadi jīvanti sarvē tē śarvarīmimām৷৷2.51.14৷৷


kauśalyā caiva Kausalya also, rājā ca and the king, tathaiva in the same way, mama jananī my mother, tē sarvē all of them, imām this, śarvarīm night, yadi jīvanti if they live, nāśaṅsē I do not expect.

I doubt whether all of them -- the king, Kausalya and my mother -- can survive this night.
jīvēdapi hi mē mātā śatrughnasyānvavēkṣayā.

tadduḥkhaṅ yattu kauśalyā vīrasūrvinaśiṣyati৷৷2.51.15৷৷


śatrughnasya Satrughna's, anvavēkṣayā looking forward, mē mātā my mother, jīvēdapi hi if at all may live, vīrasūḥ valiant son, kauśalyā Kausalya, yat vinaśiṣyati if she perishes, tat that one, duḥkham is a sorrowful thing.

My mother may live looking forward to Satrughna. But, alas! Kausalya may die, separated from her valiant son.
anuraktajanākīrṇā sukhālōkapriyāvahā.

rājavyasanasaṅsṛṣṭā sā purī vinaśiṣyati৷৷2.51.16৷৷


anuraktajanākīrṇā filled with loyal people, sukhā causing pleasure, lōkapriyāvahā that brings happiness to the people, sā purī that city, rājavyasanasaṅsṛṣṭā overtaken by sorrow due to the
death of the king, vinaśiṣyati 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.
kathaṅ putraṅ mahātmānaṅ jyēṣṭhaṅ priyamapaśyataḥ.

śarīraṅ dhārayiṣyanti prāṇā rājñō mahātmanaḥ৷৷2.51.17৷৷


mahātmānam great one, jyēṣṭham eldest, priyam beloved, putram son, apaśyataḥ unable to see, mahātmanaḥ noble, rājñaḥ king's, prāṇāḥ vital air, śarīram body, katham how?, dhārayiṣyanti will he hold.

How can the noble king survive unable to see his high-souled, beloved, eldest son?
vinaṣṭē nṛpatau paścātkausalyā vinaśiṣyati.

anantaraṅ ca mātā.pi mama nāśamupaiṣyati৷৷2.51.18৷৷


nṛpatau when the king, vinaṣṭē dies, paścāt following that, kauśalyā Kausalya, vinaśiṣyati will also die, anantaraṅ ca after that, mama mātāpi my mother, nāśam destruction, upaiṣyati will attain.

Subsequent to the death of the king, Kausalya will die and my mother will follow her.
atikrāntamatikrāntamanavāpya manōratham.

rājyē rāmamanikṣipya pitā mē vinaśiṣyati৷৷2.51.19৷৷


mē pitā my father, atikrāntamatikrāntam past is past, manōratham his desire, anavāpya without fulfilling, rājyē in the kingdom, rāmam Rama, anikṣipya without installing, vinaśiṣyati will die.

Past is past (irreversible). My father, brooding over his desire of installing Rama as king unfulfilled, will perish.
siddhārthāḥ pitaraṅ vṛttaṅ tasminkālē.pyupasthitē.

prētakāryēṣu sarvēṣu saṅskariṣyanti bhūmipam৷৷2.51.20৷৷


tasmin at that, kālē time indeed, upasthitē present, sidhdārthāḥ those who accomplished their purpose, vṛttam laid in that state, pitaram father, bhūmipam lord of the land, king, sarvēṣu for all, prētakāryēṣu funeral rites, saṅskariṣyanti 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).
ramyacatvarasaṅsthānāṅ suvibhaktamahāpathām.

harmyaprāsādasampannām gaṇikāvaraśōbhitām৷৷2.51.21৷৷

rathāśvagajasambādhāṅ tūryanādavināditām.

sarvakalyāṇasampūrṇāṅ hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanākulām৷৷2.51.22৷৷

ārāmōdyānasampannāṅ samājōtsavaśālinīm.

sukhitā vicariṣyanti rājadhānīṅ piturmama৷৷2.51.23৷৷


ramyacatvarasaṅsthānām with lovely squares laid, suvibhaktamahāpathām well-aligned broad highways, harmyaprāsādasampannām rich with mansions and palaces, gaṇikāvaraśōbhitām graced with the fairest of courtesans, rathāśvagajasambādhām thronged with chariots, elephants and horses, tūryanādavināditām echoed with the sounds of trumpets, sarvakalyāṇasampūrṇām with the welfare of all, hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanākulām filled with well-nourished and contended people, ārāmōdyānasampannām endowed with pleasure gardens and parks, samājōtsavaśālinīm splendid with community festivals, mama pituḥ my father's, rājadhānīm capital city, sukhitāḥ happily, vicariṣyanti will be going about.

They will roam about happily in the capital city of my father with its lovely squares, well-aligned 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 well-nourished and contented people, the city dotted with several pleasure-gardens and parks, will look
splendid with community festivals and fairs.
api jīvēddaśarathō vanavāsātpunarvayam.

pratyāgamya mahātmānamapi paśyēma suvratam৷৷2.51.24৷৷


daśarathaḥ Dasaratha, api jīvēt if lives, vayam we, vanavāsāt from our exile, pratyāgamya on return, suvratam observing vows, mahātmānam magnanimous, punaḥ again, api paśyēma 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?
api satyapratijñēna sārdhaṅ kuśalinā vayam.

nivṛttē vanavāsē.sminnayōdhyāṅ praviśēmahi৷৷2.51.25৷৷


asmin this (Rama), nivṛttavanavāsē after completion of the exile, kuśalinā safe, satyapratijñēna sārdhaṅ with him who is always true to his promise, vayam we, ayōdhyām Ayodhya, api praviśēmahi 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?
paridēvayamānasya dukhārtasya mahātmanaḥ.

tiṣṭhatō rājaputrasya śarvarī sā.tyavartata৷৷2.51.26৷৷


mahātmanaḥ of the high-souled, duḥkhārtasya tormented with grief, rājaputrasya of the prince, paridēvayamānasya while he was wailing, tiṣṭhataḥ standing by, sā śarvarī that night, atyavartata passed away.

While that noble prince (Lakshmana), tormented with grief, stood thus wailing, the night passed off.
tathā hi satyaṅ bruvati prajāhitē

narēndraputrē gurusauhṛdādguhaḥ.

mumōca bāṣpaṅ vyasanābhipīḍitō

jvarāturō nāga iva vyathāturaḥ৷৷2.51.27৷৷


prajāhitē seeking the wellfare of people, narēndraputrē king'son, gurusauhṛdāt out of great friendship, tathā like that, satyam truth bruvati telling, guhaḥ Guha, vyathāturaḥ afflicted, vyasanābhipīḍitaḥ overcome with grief, jvarāturaḥ fever-stricken, nāgaḥ iva like elephant, bāṣpam tears, mumōca 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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyakāṇḍē ēkapañcāśa ssargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fiftyfirst sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.