Sloka & Translation

[Rama's mind goes back to Kaikeyi and to Kausalya and Sumitra asks Lakshmana to go back Lakshmana declines]

स तं वृक्षं समासाद्य सन्ध्यामन्वास्यपश्चिमाम्।

रामो रमयतां श्रेष्ठ इति होवाच लक्ष्मणम्।।2.53.1।।


रमयताम् among those who bring delight to others, श्रेष्ठः best, सः रामः that Rama, तं वृक्षम् to that tree, समासाद्य having reached, पश्चिमाम् western, सन्ध्याम् sandhya, अन्वास्य having offered oblations, लक्ष्मणम् looking at Lakshmana, इति these words, उवाच ह spoke.

On reaching the foot of the tree, Rama offered oblations to Sandhya of the west. And then he who is the best in keeping people in good humour said to Lakshmana:
अद्येयं प्रथमा रात्रिर्याता जनपदाद्बहिः।

या सुमन्त्रेण रहिता तां नोत्कण्ठितुमर्हसि।।2.53.2।।


अद्य today, सुमन्त्रेण Sumantra, रहिता without, या इयम् this, प्रथमा रात्रिः first night, जनपदात् away from human habitation, बहिः outside, याता will be spent, ताम् about that night, उत्कण्ठितुम् to feel anxiety, नार्हसि does not behove.

We will have to spend this first night without Sumantra and away from human habitation. (Yet) you need not worry.
जागर्तव्यमतन्द्रिभ्यामद्यप्रभृति रात्रिषु।

योगक्षेमौ हि सीताया वर्तेते लक्ष्मणावयोः।।2.53.3।।


लक्ष्मण O Lakshmana, अद्य प्रभृति from now on, रात्रिषु during the nights, अतन्द्रिभ्याम् sleeplessly, जागर्तव्यम् keep awake, सीतायाः Sita's, योगक्षेमौ acquisition and protection, अवयोः on both of us, वर्ते हि depends.

O Lakshmana, from now on we must be sleeplessly vigilant at night. The welfare and safety of Sita depend on us both.
रात्रिं कथञ्चिदेवेमां सौमित्रे वर्तयामहे।

अपावर्तामहे भूमावास्तीर्य स्वयमार्जितैः।।2.53.4।।


सौमित्रे O Lakshmana, इमां रात्रिम् this night, कथञ्चिदेव somehow, वर्तयामहे pass, स्वयम् by ourselves, आर्जितैः procured, भूमौ on the ground, आस्तीर्य spread with, उपावर्तामहे we will lie down.

O Lakshmana, we will have to somehow pass this night, sleeping on the ground spread with whatever we have procured.
स तु संविश्य मेदिन्यां महार्हशयनोचितः।

इमाः सौमित्रये रामो व्याजहार कथाः शुभाः।।2.53.5।।


महार्हशयनोचितः fit to rest on luxurious bed, सः Rama, मेदिन्याम् on the ground, संविश्य lying down, सौमित्रये to Lakshmana, शुभाः beneficial, इमाः कथाः these words, व्याजहार uttered.

Rama who deserved a luxurious bed lay down on the ground and uttered these beneficial words to Lakshamana:
ध्रुवमद्य महाराजो दुःखं स्वपिति लक्ष्मण।

कृतकामा तु कैकेयी तुष्टा भवितुमर्हति।।2.53.6।।


लक्ष्मण O Lakshmana, अद्य at this time, महाराजः the great king, ध्रुवम् surely, दुःखम् with
difficulty, स्वपिति sleeps, कृतकामा with the desires fulfilled, कैकेयी तु however Kaikeyi, तुष्टा satisfed, भवितुम् अर्हति should become.

O Lakshmana, the maharaja must be having a painful sleep tonight. But Kaikeyi with her desires fulfilled, ought to feel satisfied.
सा हि देवी महाराजं कैकेयी राज्यकारणात्।

अपि न च्यावयेत्प्राणान् दृष्ट्वा भरतमागतम्।।2.53.7।।


सा that, देवी queen, कैकेयी Kaikeyi, आगतम् arrived, भरतम् Bharata, दृष्ट्वा having seen, राज्यकारणात् for the sake of kingdom, महाराजम् king, प्राणान् life, न च्यावयेदपि will not deprive of.

After the arrival of Bharata, I hope queen Kaikeyi does not deprive the king of his life for the sake of the kingdom?
अनाथश्च हि वृद्धश्च मया चैव विनाकृतः।

किं करिष्यति कामात्मा कैकेयी वशमागतः।।2.53.8।।


अनाथश्च forlorn, वृद्धश्च aged, मया by me, विना च कृतः separated, कामात्मा that lustful one, कैकेयीवशम् under the influence of Kaikeyi, आगतः having come, किं what, करिष्यति can he do?

That lustful king, having come under the hold of Kaikeyi, has been deprived of my presence. What can that forlorn and aged king do?
इदं व्यसनमालोक्य राज्ञश्च मतिविभ्रमम्।

काम एवार्थधर्माभ्यां गरीयानिति मे मतिः।।2.53.9।।


इदम् this, व्यसनम् calamity, राज्ञः king's, मतिविभ्रमं च mind's aberration, आलोक्य having seen, अर्थधर्माभ्याम् between wealth (artha) and righteousness (dharma), काम एव passion only, गरीयान् is stronger, इति thus, मे मतिः is my thinking.

Reflecting on the calamity and mental aberration of the king, I think passion is stronger than wealth and righteousness.
को ह्यविद्वानपि पुमान् प्रमदायाः कृते त्यजेत्।

छन्दानुवर्तिनं पुत्रं तातो मामिव लक्ष्मण।।2.53.10।।


लक्ष्मण O Lakshmana, तातः father, मामिव as in my case, प्रमदायाः कृते for the sake of a woman, छन्दानुवर्तिनम् obedient, पुत्रम् son, अविद्वानपि even an illiterate man, कः पुमान् who is the man, त्यजेत् will abandon?

O Lakshmana, will even an illiterate man for the sake of a woman ever abandon his son like me who is faithful and obedient, as did my father?
सुखी बत सभार्यश्च भरतः केकयीसुतः।

मुदितान् कोसलानेको यो भोक्ष्यत्यधिराजवत्।।2.53.11।।


यः he, एकः alone, अधिराजवत् like an emperor, मुदितान् with happy people, कोसलान् Kosala country, भोक्ष्यति will enjoy, सभार्यः with his spouse, कैकयी सुतः Kaikeyi's son, भरतः Bharata, सुखी with happniess, बतः may be.

Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, with his wife will alone enjoy like an emperor this kingdom of Kosala full of happy people.
स हि सर्वस्य राज्यस्य मुखमेकं भविष्यति।

ताते च वयसाऽतीते मयि चारण्यमास्थिते।।2.53.12।।


ताते dear one, वयसा with age, अतीते advanced, मयि च I also, अरण्यम् the forest, आस्थिते dwelling, सः that Bharata, सर्वस्य entire, राज्यस्य kingdom, एकम् alone, मुखम् chief man, भविष्यति will remain.

The king is advanced in age and I have to dwell in the forest. Therefore, Bharata
alone will be the chief of this entire kingdom.
अर्थधर्मौ परित्यज्य य काममनुवर्तते।

एवमापद्यते क्षिप्रं राजा दशरथो यथा।।2.53.13।।


यः he, अर्थधर्मौ dharma and artha (prosperity and righteousness), परित्यज्य having abandoned, कामम् pleasure, अनुवर्तते seeks, राजा such a king, दशरथो यथा like Dasaratha, क्षिप्रम् soon, एवम् in this way, आपद्यते will reach such a state.

Any king who abandons dharma and artha and adopts a life of pleasure will very soon reach this state as Dasaratha has attained.
मन्ये दशरथान्ताय मम प्रव्राजनाय च।

कैकेयी सौम्य सम्प्राप्ता राज्याय भरतस्य च।।2.53.14।।


सौम्य handsome, कैकेयी Kaikeyi, दशरथान्ताय for the destruction of Dasaratha, मम my, प्रव्राजनाय च for banishment, भरतस्य Bharata's, राज्याय च for kingdom, सम्प्राप्ता arrived, मन्ये I consider.

O handsome Lakshmana I think Kaikeyi has come to our house for the destruction of Dasaratha, for my banishment and enthronement of Bharata in the kingdom.
अपीदानीं तु कैकेयी सौभाग्यमदमोहिता।

कौसल्यां च सुमित्रां च सम्प्रबाधेत मत्कृते।।2.53.15।।


कैकेयी Kaikeyi, सौभाग्यमदमोहिता intoxicated with good fortune, मत्कृते because of me, कौसल्यां च Kausalya, सुमित्रां च and also Sumitra, इदानीम् now, अपि न संप्रबाधेत will not torment?

Intoxicated with her good fortune will not Kaikeyi torment Kausalya and Sumitra for my sake?
मा स्म मत्कारणाद्देवी सुमित्रा दुःखमावसेत्।

अयोध्यामित एव त्वं काल्ये प्रविश लक्ष्मण।।2.53.16।।


लक्ष्मण Lakshmana, मत्कारणात् because of me, देवी mother, सुमित्रा Sumitra, दुःखम् in sorrow, मा आवसेत् स्म should not experience, त्वम् you, काल्ये in the morning, इत एव from here, अयोध्याम् to Ayodhya, प्रविश enter.

O Lakshmana, because of me mother Sumitra should not live in sorrow. Therefore, tomorrow morning go back to Ayodhya from here itself.
अहमेको गमिष्यामि सीतया सह दण्डकान्।

अनाथाया हि नाथस्त्वं कौशल्याया भविष्यसि।।2.53.17।।


अहम् myself I, एकः alone, सीतया सह along with Sita, दण्डकान् Dandaka forest, गमिष्यामि shall go, अनाथायाः for the helpless, कौशल्यायाः for Kausalya, त्वम् you, नाथः (भविष्यसि) be a protector.

I shall go with Sita into the Dandaka forest and you be the protector of the helpless, Kausalya.
क्षुद्रकर्मा हि कैकेयी द्वेष्यमन्याय्यमाचरेत्।

परिदद्याहि धर्मज्ञे भरते मम मातरम्।।2.53.18।।


क्षुद्रकर्मा one of heinous deeds, कैकेयी Kaikeyi, द्वेष्यम् in hostility, अन्याय्यम् unjust actions, आचरेत् follows, मम my, मातरम् mother, धर्मज्ञे with the righteous, भरते to Bharata, परिदद्याः हि you may entrust.

Kaikeyi who is a woman of heinous deeds may follow, out of hostility, an unjust way in respect of my mother. In that case my mother may be entrusted to the care of Bharata who is righteous.
नूनं जात्यन्तरे कस्मिन् स्त्रियः पुत्रैर्वियोजिताः।

जनन्या मम सौमित्रे तस्मादेतदुपस्थितम्।।2.53.19।।


सौमित्रे Lakshmana, मम जनन्या by my mother, कस्मिन् जात्यन्तरे in some previous birth,
स्त्रियः women, पुत्रैः with sons, वियोजिताः separated, तस्मात् for that reason, एतत् all this, उपस्थितम् befallen, नूनम् certainly.

O Lakshmana, surely in one of her previous births did my mother separate women from their sons. That is why this (calamity) has befallen her.
मया हि चिरपुष्टेन दुखसंवर्धितेन च।

विप्रयुज्यत कौशल्या फलकाले धिगस्तु माम्।।2.53.20।।


चिरपुष्टेन nurtured for a long time, दुःखसंवर्धितेन reared with great dificulty, मया me, कौशल्या Kausalya, फलकाले at the moment of fuition, विप्रायुज्यत has been separated, माम् me, धिक् अस्तु shame on me.

Kausalya nurtured me for a long time and reared me with great difficulty. When she was going to enjoy the fruits of her labour, I have been separated from her. Fie upon me
मा स्म सीमन्तिनी काचिज्जनयेत्पुत्रमीदृशम्।

सौमित्रे योऽहमम्बाया दद्मि शोकमनन्तकम्।।2.53.21।।


सौमित्रे Lakshmana, यः अहम् am I, अम्बायाः to my mother, अनन्तकम् infinite, शोकम् pain, दद्मि am giving, ईदृशम् such, पुत्रम् a son, काचित् सीमन्तिनी (जननी) any mother, मा स्म जनयेत् may not give birth.

O Lakshmana, I am causing endless sorrow to my mother. May no mother give birth to a son like me
मन्ये प्रीतिविशिष्टा सा मत्तो लक्ष्मण शारिका।

यस्यास्तच्छ्रूयते वाक्यं शुक पादमरेर्दश।।2.53.22।।


लक्ष्मण O Lakshmana, यस्याः myna's, शुक parrot, अरेः enemy's, पादम् foot, दश bite, तत् वाक्यम् such statement, श्रूयते heard, सा शारिका that myna, मत्तः more than I, प्रीतिविशिष्टा
more pleased, मन्ये I think.

(On hearing my banishment) her myna would say to her parrot, 'O parrot, bite the foot of the enemy (Kaikeyi)'. I think that bird is a greater source of joy to my mother than I, O Lakshmana
शोचन्त्या अल्पभाग्याया न किञ्चिदुपकुर्वता।

पुत्रेण किमपुत्राया मया कार्यमरिन्दम।।2.53.23।।


अरिन्दम conquerer of enemies, शोचन्त्याः experiencing great sorrow, अल्पभाग्यायाः less fortunate, अपुत्रायाः without a son, किञ्चित् little, नोपकुर्वता could not be helped, पुत्रेण by the son, मया by me, किम् what, कार्यम् can be done?

My mother has less fortune and more grief like a woman without a son, O Lakshmana, subduer of enemies For her, what is the use of a son like me who cannot render any service to her?
अल्पभाग्या हि मे माता कौशल्या रहिता मया।

शेते परमदुःखार्ता पतिता शोकसागरे।।2.53.24।।


अल्पभाग्या less fortunate, मे माता my mother, कौशल्या Kausalya, मया with me, रहिता bereft of, परमदुःखार्ता extremely distressed, शोकसागरे ocean of sorrow, पतिता fallen into, शेते must be lying.

My mother is unlucky as she has been separated from me. Extremely distressed, she must have plunged into an ocean of grief.
एको ह्यहमयोध्यां च पृथिवीं चापि लक्ष्मण।

तरेयमिषुभिः क्रुद्धो ननु वीर्यमकारणम्।।2.53.25।।


लक्ष्मण Lakshmana, अहम् I, क्रुद्धः am enraged, एकः alone, अयोध्यां च Ayodhya, पृथिवीं चापि and also the whole earth, इषुभिः with arrows, तरेयम् will cross, वीर्यम् prowess, अकारणं ननु
without reason.

Once enraged, O Lakshmana I can overpower Ayodhya, even the whole world all by myself with my arrows. But exhibition of prowess without any reason is not desirable.
अधर्मभयभीतश्च परलोकस्य चानघ।

तेन लक्ष्मण नाद्याह मात्मानमभिषेचये।।2.53.26।।


अनघ O sinless one, अहम् I, अधर्मभयभीतश्च with the fear of unrighteous conduct, परलोकस्य च for the other world also, लक्ष्मण Lakshmana, तेन therefore, अद्य at this time, आत्मानम् myself, नाभिषेचये did not get crowned.

O sinless one, I did not get myself coronated owing to fear of unrighteous conduct and fear of the other world.
एतदन्यश्च करुणं विलप्य विजने वने।

अश्रुपूर्णमुखो रामो निशि तूष्णीमुपाविशत्।।2.53.27।।


रामः Rama, निशि in the night, विजने in the desolate, वने in the forest, एतत् all these, अन्यच्च and other, करुणम् pitiful, विलप्य lamenting, अश्रुपूर्णमुखः face filled with tears, तूष्णीम् silently, उपाविशत् sat.

Like this and in many other ways Rama lamented pitifully in that desolate forest. When his face was filled with tears, he sat silently in the night.
विलप्योपरतं रामं गतार्चिषमिवानलम्।

समुद्रमिव निर्वेगमाश्वासयत लक्ष्मणः।।2.53.28।।


विलप्य having lamented, उपरतम् ceased, गतार्चिषम् with extinguished flames, अनलम् इव like fire, निर्वेगम् without moving, समुद्रमिव like the sea, रामम् Rama, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, आश्वासयत consoled.

Lakshmana consoled Rama who ceased to lament like fire with extinguished flames or like a motionless sea:
ध्रुवमद्य पुरी राजन्नयोध्यायुधिनां वर।

निष्प्रभा त्वयि निष्क्रान्ते गतचन्द्रेव शर्वरी।।2.53.29।।


आयुधिनाम् among wielder of weapons, वर foremost, राजन् O king, अद्य now, अयोध्यापुरी city of Ayodhya, त्वयि when you, निष्क्रान्ते had departed, गतचन्द्र without moon, शर्वरीव like night, निष्प्रभा without lustre, ध्रुवम् certain.

O Rama, foremost of warriors, it is certain that since your departure, the city of Ayodhya must be lustreless like night without the Moon.
नैतदौपयिकं राम यदिदं परितप्यते।

विषादयसि सीतां च मां चैव पुरुषर्षभ।।2.53.30।।


राम O Rama, इदम् in this manner, यत् परितप्यते that you are lamenting, एतत् all this, औपयिकम् proper, न not, पुरुषर्षभ foremost of men, सीतां च Sita, मां चैव me also, विषादयसि disheartening.

This is not the way you should lament, O Rama. O foremost of men, by doing so you are disheartening me and Sita as well.
न च सीता त्वया हीना न चाहमपि राघव।

मुहूर्तमपि जीवावो जलान्मत्स्याविनोद्धृतौ।।2.53.31।।


राघव O Rama, त्वया by you, हीना without, सीता Sita, न not, अहमपि I also, न not, जलात् from water, उद्धृतौ removed, मत्स्याविव like fish, मुहूर्तमपि even for a moment, न जीवावः will not survive.

Without you Sita or I will not survive even for a moment like a fish taken out of
water, O Rama
नहि तातं न शत्रुघ्नं न सुमित्रां परन्तप।

द्रष्टुमिच्छेयमद्याहं स्वर्गं चापि त्वया विना।।2.53.32।।


परन्तप O tomentor of enemies, Rama, अहम् I, अद्य now, त्वया विना without you, तातम् father, द्रष्टुम् see, न हि इच्छेयम् shall not desire, शत्रुघ्नम् Satrughna, न not, सुमित्राम् Sumitra, स्वर्गं चापि even heaven.

Without you, O Rama, tormentor of enemies, I wish to see neither father nor Satrughna nor Sumitra nor even heaven itself
ततस्तत्र सुखासीनौ नातिदूरे निरीक्ष्य ताम्।

न्यग्रोधे सुकृतां शय्यां भेजाते धर्मवत्सलौ।।2.53.33।।


ततः thereafter, तत्र there, सुखासीनौ seated comfortably, धर्मवत्सलौ attached to righteousness, नातिदूरे not far (from there), न्यग्रोधे under a banyan tree, सुकृताम् wellmade, तां शय्याम् that bed, निरीक्ष्य having seen, भेजाते lay down.

Thereafter Rama and Sita, the duo, nurturers of righteousness, from their comfortable seats moved to the bed wellmade under the banyan tree not far (from there where they were sitting) and lay down (to sleep).
स लक्ष्मणस्योत्तमपुष्कलं वचो

निशम्य चैवं वनवासमादरात्।

समाः समस्ता विदधे परन्तपः

प्रपद्य धर्मं सुचिराय राघवः।।2.53.34।।


परन्तपः tormentor of enemies, सः राघवः that Rama, एवम् thus, लक्ष्मणस्य Lakshmana's, उत्तमपुष्कलम् excellent and copious, वचः utterances, आदरात् out of love, निशम्य having
heard, सुचिराय for a long period, धर्मम् that code of conduct of forest life, प्रपद्य having obtained, समस्ता: all, समाः the years, वनवासम् life in the forest, विदधे resorted to.

Rama, the tormentor of enemies, listened, out of love, to the excellent and copious words of Lakshmana and permitted him to live in the forest for the entire period of fourteen years by observing the prescribed code of conduct as enjoined on life in the forest.
ततस्तु तस्मिन् विजने वने तदा

महाबलौ राघववंशवर्धनौ।

न तौ भयं सम्भ्रममभ्युपेयतु

र्यथैव सिंहौ गिरिसानुगोचरौ।।2.53.35।।


ततः thereafter, तदा then, विजने in desolation, तस्मिन् that, वने in the forest, महाबलौ very strong, तौ the two, राघववंशवर्धनौ perpetuators of the Raghu race, (Rama and Lakshmana), गिरिसानु गोचरौ dwelling on the slopes of mountains, सिंहौ यथैव like two lions, भयम् fear, सम्भ्रमम् hesitation, न अभ्युपेयतुः did not feel.

Then the two mighty perpetuators of the Raghu race, who were like two lions dwelling on the slopes of mountains, lived in that lonely forest without fear or hesitation.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fiftythird sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.