Sloka & Translation

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

sa taṅ vṛkṣaṅ samāsādya sandhyāmanvāsyapaścimām.

rāmō ramayatāṅ śrēṣṭha iti hōvāca lakṣmaṇam৷৷2.53.1৷৷


ramayatām among those who bring delight to others, śrēṣṭhaḥ best, saḥ rāmaḥ that Rama, taṅ vṛkṣam to that tree, samāsādya having reached, paścimām western, sandhyām sandhya, anvāsya having offered oblations, lakṣmaṇam looking at Lakshmana, iti these words, uvāca ha 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:
adyēyaṅ prathamā rātriryātā janapadādbahiḥ.

yā sumantrēṇa rahitā tāṅ nōtkaṇṭhitumarhasi৷৷2.53.2৷৷


adya today, sumantrēṇa Sumantra, rahitā without, yā iyam this, prathamā rātriḥ first night, janapadāt away from human habitation, bahiḥ outside, yātā will be spent, tām about that night, utkaṇṭhitum to feel anxiety, nārhasi does not behove.

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

yōgakṣēmau hi sītāyā vartētē lakṣmaṇāvayōḥ৷৷2.53.3৷৷


lakṣmaṇa O Lakshmana, adya prabhṛti from now on, rātriṣu during the nights, atandribhyām sleeplessly, jāgartavyam keep awake, sītāyāḥ Sita's, yōgakṣēmau acquisition and protection, avayōḥ on both of us, vartē hi depends.

O Lakshmana, from now on we must be sleeplessly vigilant at night. The welfare and safety of Sita depend on us both.
rātriṅ kathañcidēvēmāṅ saumitrē vartayāmahē.

apāvartāmahē bhūmāvāstīrya svayamārjitaiḥ৷৷2.53.4৷৷


saumitrē O Lakshmana, imāṅ rātrim this night, kathañcidēva somehow, vartayāmahē pass, svayam by ourselves, ārjitaiḥ procured, bhūmau on the ground, āstīrya spread with, upāvartāmahē we will lie down.

O Lakshmana, we will have to somehow pass this night, sleeping on the ground spread with whatever we have procured.
sa tu saṅviśya mēdinyāṅ mahārhaśayanōcitaḥ.

imāḥ saumitrayē rāmō vyājahāra kathāḥ śubhāḥ৷৷2.53.5৷৷


mahārhaśayanōcitaḥ fit to rest on luxurious bed, saḥ Rama, mēdinyām on the ground, saṅviśya lying down, saumitrayē to Lakshmana, śubhāḥ beneficial, imāḥ kathāḥ these words, vyājahāra uttered.

Rama who deserved a luxurious bed lay down on the ground and uttered these beneficial words to Lakshamana:
dhruvamadya mahārājō duḥkhaṅ svapiti lakṣmaṇa!.

kṛtakāmā tu kaikēyī tuṣṭā bhavitumarhati৷৷2.53.6৷৷


lakṣmaṇa! O Lakshmana!, adya at this time, mahārājaḥ the great king, dhruvam surely, duḥkham with
difficulty, svapiti sleeps, kṛtakāmā with the desires fulfilled, kaikēyī tu however Kaikeyi, tuṣṭā satisfed, bhavitum arhati should become.

O Lakshmana, the maharaja must be having a painful sleep tonight. But Kaikeyi with her desires fulfilled, ought to feel satisfied.
sā hi dēvī mahārājaṅ kaikēyī rājyakāraṇāt.

api na cyāvayētprāṇān dṛṣṭvā bharatamāgatam৷৷2.53.7৷৷


sā that, dēvī queen, kaikēyī Kaikeyi, āgatam arrived, bharatam Bharata, dṛṣṭvā having seen, rājyakāraṇāt for the sake of kingdom, mahārājam king, prāṇān life, na cyāvayēdapi 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?
anāthaśca hi vṛddhaśca mayā caiva vinākṛtaḥ.

kiṅ kariṣyati kāmātmā kaikēyī vaśamāgataḥ৷৷2.53.8৷৷


anāthaśca forlorn, vṛddhaśca aged, mayā by me, vinā ca kṛtaḥ separated, kāmātmā that lustful one, kaikēyīvaśam under the influence of Kaikeyi, āgataḥ having come, kiṅ what, kariṣyati 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?
idaṅ vyasanamālōkya rājñaśca mativibhramam.

kāma ēvārthadharmābhyāṅ garīyāniti mē matiḥ৷৷2.53.9৷৷


idam this, vyasanam calamity, rājñaḥ king's, mativibhramaṅ ca mind's aberration, ālōkya having seen, arthadharmābhyām between wealth (artha) and righteousness (dharma), kāma ēva passion only, garīyān is stronger, iti thus, mē matiḥ is my thinking.

Reflecting on the calamity and mental aberration of the king, I think passion is stronger than wealth and righteousness.
kō hyavidvānapi pumān pramadāyāḥ kṛtē tyajēt.

chandānuvartinaṅ putraṅ tātō māmiva lakṣmaṇa৷৷2.53.10৷৷


lakṣmaṇa O Lakshmana, tātaḥ father, māmiva as in my case, pramadāyāḥ kṛtē for the sake of a woman, chandānuvartinam obedient, putram son, avidvānapi even an illiterate man, kaḥ pumān who is the man, tyajēt 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?
sukhī bata sabhāryaśca bharataḥ kēkayīsutaḥ.

muditān kōsalānēkō yō bhōkṣyatyadhirājavat৷৷2.53.11৷৷


yaḥ he, ēkaḥ alone, adhirājavat like an emperor, muditān with happy people, kōsalān Kosala country, bhōkṣyati will enjoy, sabhāryaḥ with his spouse, kaikayī sutaḥ Kaikeyi's son, bharataḥ Bharata, sukhī with happniess, bataḥ may be.

Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, with his wife will alone enjoy like an emperor this kingdom of Kosala full of happy people.
sa hi sarvasya rājyasya mukhamēkaṅ bhaviṣyati.

tātē ca vayasā.tītē mayi cāraṇyamāsthitē৷৷2.53.12৷৷


tātē dear one, vayasā with age, atītē advanced, mayi ca I also, araṇyam the forest, āsthitē dwelling, saḥ that Bharata, sarvasya entire, rājyasya kingdom, ēkam alone, mukham chief man, bhaviṣyati 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.
arthadharmau parityajya ya kāmamanuvartatē.

ēvamāpadyatē kṣipraṅ rājā daśarathō yathā৷৷2.53.13৷৷


yaḥ he, arthadharmau dharma and artha (prosperity and righteousness), parityajya having abandoned, kāmam pleasure, anuvartatē seeks, rājā such a king, daśarathō yathā like Dasaratha, kṣipram soon, ēvam in this way, āpadyatē 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.
manyē daśarathāntāya mama pravrājanāya ca.

kaikēyī saumya samprāptā rājyāya bharatasya ca৷৷2.53.14৷৷


saumya handsome, kaikēyī Kaikeyi, daśarathāntāya for the destruction of Dasaratha, mama my, pravrājanāya ca for banishment, bharatasya Bharata's, rājyāya ca for kingdom, samprāptā arrived, manyē 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.
apīdānīṅ tu kaikēyī saubhāgyamadamōhitā.

kausalyāṅ ca sumitrāṅ ca samprabādhēta matkṛtē৷৷2.53.15৷৷


kaikēyī Kaikeyi, saubhāgyamadamōhitā intoxicated with good fortune, matkṛtē because of me, kausalyāṅ ca Kausalya, sumitrāṅ ca and also Sumitra, idānīm now, api na saṅprabādhēta will not torment?

Intoxicated with her good fortune will not Kaikeyi torment Kausalya and Sumitra for my sake?
mā sma matkāraṇāddēvī sumitrā duḥkhamāvasēt.

ayōdhyāmita ēva tvaṅ kālyē praviśa lakṣmaṇa৷৷2.53.16৷৷


lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, matkāraṇāt because of me, dēvī mother, sumitrā Sumitra, duḥkham in sorrow, mā āvasēt sma should not experience, tvam you, kālyē in the morning, ita ēva from here, ayōdhyām to Ayodhya, praviśa enter.

O Lakshmana, because of me mother Sumitra should not live in sorrow. Therefore, tomorrow morning go back to Ayodhya from here itself.
ahamēkō gamiṣyāmi sītayā saha daṇḍakān.

anāthāyā hi nāthastvaṅ kauśalyāyā bhaviṣyasi৷৷2.53.17৷৷


aham myself I, ēkaḥ alone, sītayā saha along with Sita, daṇḍakān Dandaka forest, gamiṣyāmi shall go, anāthāyāḥ for the helpless, kauśalyāyāḥ for Kausalya, tvam you, nāthaḥ (bhaviṣyasi) be a protector.

I shall go with Sita into the Dandaka forest and you be the protector of the helpless, Kausalya.
kṣudrakarmā hi kaikēyī dvēṣyamanyāyyamācarēt.

paridadyāhi dharmajñē bharatē mama mātaram৷৷2.53.18৷৷


kṣudrakarmā one of heinous deeds, kaikēyī Kaikeyi, dvēṣyam in hostility, anyāyyam unjust actions, ācarēt follows, mama my, mātaram mother, dharmajñē with the righteous, bharatē to Bharata, paridadyāḥ hi 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.
nūnaṅ jātyantarē kasmin striyaḥ putrairviyōjitāḥ.

jananyā mama saumitrē tasmādētadupasthitam৷৷2.53.19৷৷


saumitrē Lakshmana, mama jananyā by my mother, kasmin jātyantarē in some previous birth,
striyaḥ women, putraiḥ with sons, viyōjitāḥ separated, tasmāt for that reason, ētat all this, upasthitam befallen, nūnam 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.
mayā hi cirapuṣṭēna dukhasaṅvardhitēna ca.

viprayujyata kauśalyā phalakālē dhigastu mām৷৷2.53.20৷৷


cirapuṣṭēna nurtured for a long time, duḥkhasaṅvardhitēna reared with great dificulty, mayā me, kauśalyā Kausalya, phalakālē at the moment of fuition, viprāyujyata has been separated, mām me, dhik astu 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!
mā sma sīmantinī kācijjanayētputramīdṛśam.

saumitrē yō.hamambāyā dadmi śōkamanantakam৷৷2.53.21৷৷


saumitrē Lakshmana, yaḥ aham am I, ambāyāḥ to my mother, anantakam infinite, śōkam pain, dadmi am giving, īdṛśam such, putram a son, kācit sīmantinī (jananī) any mother, mā sma janayēt may not give birth.

O Lakshmana!, I am causing endless sorrow to my mother. May no mother give birth to a son like me!
manyē prītiviśiṣṭā sā mattō lakṣmaṇa śārikā.

yasyāstacchrūyatē vākyaṅ śuka pādamarērdaśa৷৷2.53.22৷৷


lakṣmaṇa O Lakshmana, yasyāḥ myna's, śuka parrot, arēḥ enemy's, pādam foot, daśa bite, tat vākyam such statement, śrūyatē heard, sā śārikā that myna, mattaḥ more than I, prītiviśiṣṭā
more pleased, manyē 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!
śōcantyā alpabhāgyāyā na kiñcidupakurvatā.

putrēṇa kimaputrāyā mayā kāryamarindama৷৷2.53.23৷৷


arindama conquerer of enemies, śōcantyāḥ experiencing great sorrow, alpabhāgyāyāḥ less fortunate, aputrāyāḥ without a son, kiñcit little, nōpakurvatā could not be helped, putrēṇa by the son, mayā by me, kim what, kāryam 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?
alpabhāgyā hi mē mātā kauśalyā rahitā mayā.

śētē paramaduḥkhārtā patitā śōkasāgarē৷৷2.53.24৷৷


alpabhāgyā less fortunate, mē mātā my mother, kauśalyā Kausalya, mayā with me, rahitā bereft of, paramaduḥkhārtā extremely distressed, śōkasāgarē ocean of sorrow, patitā fallen into, śētē 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.
ēkō hyahamayōdhyāṅ ca pṛthivīṅ cāpi lakṣmaṇa.

tarēyamiṣubhiḥ kruddhō nanu vīryamakāraṇam৷৷2.53.25৷৷


lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, aham I, kruddhaḥ am enraged, ēkaḥ alone, ayōdhyāṅ ca Ayodhya, pṛthivīṅ cāpi and also the whole earth, iṣubhiḥ with arrows, tarēyam will cross, vīryam prowess, akāraṇaṅ nanu
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.
adharmabhayabhītaśca paralōkasya cānagha.

tēna lakṣmaṇa nādyāha mātmānamabhiṣēcayē৷৷2.53.26৷৷


anagha O sinless one, aham I, adharmabhayabhītaśca with the fear of unrighteous conduct, paralōkasya ca for the other world also, lakṣmaṇa Lakshmana, tēna therefore, adya at this time, ātmānam myself, nābhiṣēcayē 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.
ētadanyaśca karuṇaṅ vilapya vijanē vanē.

aśrupūrṇamukhō rāmō niśi tūṣṇīmupāviśat৷৷2.53.27৷৷


rāmaḥ Rama, niśi in the night, vijanē in the desolate, vanē in the forest, ētat all these, anyacca and other, karuṇam pitiful, vilapya lamenting, aśrupūrṇamukhaḥ face filled with tears, tūṣṇīm silently, upāviśat 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.
vilapyōparataṅ rāmaṅ gatārciṣamivānalam.

samudramiva nirvēgamāśvāsayata lakṣmaṇaḥ৷৷2.53.28৷৷


vilapya having lamented, uparatam ceased, gatārciṣam with extinguished flames, analam iva like fire, nirvēgam without moving, samudramiva like the sea, rāmam Rama, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, āśvāsayata consoled.

Lakshmana consoled Rama who ceased to lament like fire with extinguished flames or like a motionless sea:
dhruvamadya purī rājannayōdhyāyudhināṅ vara.

niṣprabhā tvayi niṣkrāntē gatacandrēva śarvarī৷৷2.53.29৷৷


āyudhinām among wielder of weapons, vara foremost, rājan O king, adya now, ayōdhyāpurī city of Ayodhya, tvayi when you, niṣkrāntē had departed, gatacandra without moon, śarvarīva like night, niṣprabhā without lustre, dhruvam 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.
naitadaupayikaṅ rāma yadidaṅ paritapyatē.

viṣādayasi sītāṅ ca māṅ caiva puruṣarṣabha৷৷2.53.30৷৷


rāma O Rama, idam in this manner, yat paritapyatē that you are lamenting, ētat all this, aupayikam proper, na not, puruṣarṣabha foremost of men, sītāṅ ca Sita, māṅ caiva me also, viṣādayasi 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.
na ca sītā tvayā hīnā na cāhamapi rāghava.

muhūrtamapi jīvāvō jalānmatsyāvinōddhṛtau৷৷2.53.31৷৷


rāghava O Rama, tvayā by you, hīnā without, sītā Sita, na not, ahamapi I also, na not, jalāt from water, uddhṛtau removed, matsyāviva like fish, muhūrtamapi even for a moment, na jīvāvaḥ will not survive.

Without you Sita or I will not survive even for a moment like a fish taken out of
water, O Rama!
nahi tātaṅ na śatrughnaṅ na sumitrāṅ parantapa.

draṣṭumicchēyamadyāhaṅ svargaṅ cāpi tvayā vinā৷৷2.53.32৷৷


parantapa O tomentor of enemies, Rama, aham I, adya now, tvayā vinā without you, tātam father, draṣṭum see, na hi icchēyam shall not desire, śatrughnam Satrughna, na not, sumitrām Sumitra, svargaṅ cāpi even heaven.

Without you, O Rama, tormentor of enemies, I wish to see neither father nor Satrughna nor Sumitra nor even heaven itself!
tatastatra sukhāsīnau nātidūrē nirīkṣya tām.

nyagrōdhē sukṛtāṅ śayyāṅ bhējātē dharmavatsalau৷৷2.53.33৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, tatra there, sukhāsīnau seated comfortably, dharmavatsalau attached to righteousness, nātidūrē not far (from there), nyagrōdhē under a banyan tree, sukṛtām well-made, tāṅ śayyām that bed, nirīkṣya having seen, bhējātē lay down.

Thereafter Rama and Sita, the duo, nurturers of righteousness, from their comfortable seats moved to the bed well-made under the banyan tree not far (from there where they were sitting) and lay down (to sleep).
sa lakṣmaṇasyōttamapuṣkalaṅ vacō

niśamya caivaṅ vanavāsamādarāt.

samāḥ samastā vidadhē parantapaḥ

prapadya dharmaṅ sucirāya rāghavaḥ৷৷2.53.34৷৷


parantapaḥ tormentor of enemies, saḥ rāghavaḥ that Rama, ēvam thus, lakṣmaṇasya Lakshmana's, uttamapuṣkalam excellent and copious, vacaḥ utterances, ādarāt out of love, niśamya having
heard, sucirāya for a long period, dharmam that code of conduct of forest life, prapadya having obtained, samastā: all, samāḥ the years, vanavāsam life in the forest, vidadhē 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.
tatastu tasmin vijanē vanē tadā

mahābalau rāghavavaṅśavardhanau.

na tau bhayaṅ sambhramamabhyupēyatu-

ryathaiva siṅhau girisānugōcarau৷৷2.53.35৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, tadā then, vijanē in desolation, tasmin that, vanē in the forest, mahābalau very strong, tau the two, rāghavavaṅśavardhanau perpetuators of the Raghu race, (Rama and Lakshmana), girisānu gōcarau dwelling on the slopes of mountains, siṅhau yathaiva like two lions, bhayam fear, sambhramam hesitation, na abhyupēyatuḥ 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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē tripañcāśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fiftythird sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.