Sloka & Translation

[Sumantra returns to Ayodhya and reports to king Dasaratha -- Dasaratha and Kausalya fall into a swoon on hearing about Rama in exile.]

कथयित्वा सुदुःखार्तस्सुमन्त्रेण चिरं सह।

रामे दक्षिणकूलस्थे जगाम स्वगृहं गुहः।।2.57.1।।


रामे Rama, दक्षिणकूलस्थे had reached the southern bank (of the river), गुह: Guha, सुमन्त्रेण सह with Sumantra, चिरम् for a long while, कथयित्वा after talking, सुदुःखार्तः tormented with anguish, स्वगृहम् his home, जगाम reached.

Until Rama reached the southern bank, Guha kept talking with Sumantra for long and returned home with great sorrow.
भरद्वाजाभिगमनं प्रयागे च सहाऽसनम्।

आगिरेर्गमनं तेषां तत्रस्थैरुपलक्षितम्।।2.57.2।।


तेषाम् their, भरद्वाजाभिगमनम् arrival at the hermitage of Bharadwaja, प्रयागे at Prayaga, सहाऽसनम् stay with him, आगिरेः till that Chitrakuta mountain, गमनम् journey, तत्रस्थैः by the men waiting there, उपलक्षितम् has been observed.

Positioned there, they could mark their arrival at Bharadwaja's at Prayaga, their stay (nighthalt) and their onward journey to Chitrakuta mountain.
अनुज्ञातस्सुमन्त्रोऽथ योजयित्वा हयोत्तमान्।

अयोध्यामेव नगरीं प्रययौ गाढदुर्मनाः।।2.57.3।।


अथ after this, अनुज्ञातः having been permitted by Rama to leave, सुमन्त्रः Sumantra, हयोत्तमान् best of horses, योजयित्वा harnessing, गाढदुर्मनाः with a heavy heart, अयोध्यां नगरीमेव to the city of Ayodhya, प्रययौ set out.

Permitted by Rama to leave, Sumantra harnessed the best of horses and set out for the city of Ayodhya with a heavy heart.
स वनानि सुगन्धीनि सरितश्च सरांसि च।

पश्यन्नतिययौ शीघ्रं ग्रामाणि नगराणि च।।2.57.4।।


सः that, सुगन्धीनि fragrant, वनानि forests, सरितः च rivers as well, सरांसि च lakes also, ग्रामाणि villages, नगराणि च towns also, पश्यन् seeing, शीघ्रम् swiftly, अतिययौ passed through them.

Beholding the fragrancefilled forests, rivers, lakes, villages and towns on the way, Sumantra quickly crossed them.
तत स्सायाह्न समये तृतीयेऽहनि सारथिः।

अयोध्यां समनुप्राप्य निरानन्दां ददर्श ह।।2.57.5।।


सारथिः charioteer, तृतीये on the third, अहनि day, सायाह्न समये at dusk, निरानन्दाम् cheerless, अयोध्याम् Ayodhya, समनुप्राप्य having reached, ददर्श ह saw.

The charioteer reached Ayodhya on the third day at dusk and found the city cheerless.
स शून्यामिव निश्शब्दां दृष्ट्वा परमदुर्मनाः।

सुमन्त्रश्चिन्तयामास शोकवेगसमाहतः।।2.57.6।।


सः सुमन्त्रः that Sumantra, निश्शब्दाम् silent, शून्यामिव almost empty, दृष्ट्वा having seen, परमदुर्मनाः deeply dejected, शोकवेगसमाहतः afflicted with gushing tears, चिन्तयामास reflected.

Beholding the silent city, almost empty, the deeply depressed Sumantra, afflicted with gushing tears reflected:
कच्चिन्न सगजा साऽश्वा सजना सजनाधिपा।

रामसन्तापदुःखेन दग्धा शोकाग्निना पुरी।।2.57.7।।


सगजाः with elephants, साऽश्वाः with horses, सजनाः with its people, सजनाधिपा with the king, पुरी city, रामसन्तापदुःखेन in the sorrow caused by Rama's suffering, शोकाग्निना by the fire of sorrow, दग्धा burnt.

Has the city along with its elephants, horses, people and its king perished in the fire of grief for Rama?
इति चिन्तापरस्सूतो वाजिभिश्शीघ्रपातिभिः।

नगरद्वारमासाद्य त्वरितः प्रविवेश ह।।2.57.8।।


इति in this way, चिन्तापरः absorbed in this thought, सूतः the charioteer, शीघ्रपातिभिः by the swiftrunning, वाजिभिः horses, नगरद्वारम् entrance to the city, आसाद्य having arrived, त्वरितः quickly, प्रविवेश ह entered.

Absorbed in these thoughts, the charioteer came to the citygate, carried by the swiftfooted horses, and quickly entered the city.
सुमन्त्रमभियान्तं तं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः।

क्व राम इति पृच्छन्तस्सूतमभ्यद्रवन्नराः।।2.57.9।।


अथ thereafter, अभियान्तम् moving towards, तम् that, सूतम् charioteer, सुमन्त्रम् Sumantra, रामः Rama, क्व where?, इति thus, पृच्छन्तः enquiring, नराः people, शतशः in hundreds, सहस्रशः in thousands, अभ्यद्रवन् poured towards him.

Meanwhile as the charioteer was moving towards the city, hundreds and thousands of men came pouring towards him enquiring, 'Where is Rama?'
तेषां शशंस गङ्गायामहमापृच्छ्य राघवम्।

अनुज्ञातो निवृत्तोऽस्मि धार्मिकेण महात्माना।।2.57.10।।


अहम् I, गङ्गायाम् river Ganga, राघवम् Rama, आपृच्छ्य having taken leave, धार्मिकेण by the righteous, महात्मना great (Rama), अनुज्ञातः having been permitted, निवृत्तः अस्मि I have returned, तेषाम् to them, शशंस said.

I took leave of the great, righteous Rama on the bank of the Ganga and have returned with his permission. (replied Sumantra).
ते तीर्णा इति विज्ञाय बाष्पपूर्णमुखा जनाः।

अहो धिगिति निश्श्वस्य हा रामेति च चुक्रुशुः।।2.57.11।।


ते they, तीर्णाः इति crossed the river, thus, विज्ञाय having come to know, जनाः people, बाष्पपूर्णमुखाः faces filled with tears, अहो Oh, धिक् O fie upon us, इति thus, निश्श्वस्य sighing, हा राम इति saying 'Alas Rama', चुक्रुशुः च cried aloud.

Hearing that they had (the trio) crossed the river Ganga, the people, with their faces filled with tears sighed and saying 'Fie upon us Alas, Rama' cried out aloud.
शुश्राव च वचस्तेषां बृन्दं बृन्दं च तिष्ठताम्।

हतास्म खलु ये नेह पश्याम इति राघवम्।।2.57.12।।


ये all of us, इह here, राघवम् Rama, न पश्यामः unable to see, हताः स्म खलु indeed we are lost (deprived), इति thus saying, बृन्दम् बृन्दम् in groups, तिष्ठताम् standing, तेषाम् their, वचः words, शुश्राव च also heard.

He saw them gathering in groups, saying, Henceforth we will not be able to see Rama and without him, we are lost indeed.
दानयज्ञविवाहेषु समाजेषु महत्सु च।

न द्रक्ष्यामः पुन र्जातु धार्मिकं राममन्तरा।।2.57.13।।


दानयज्ञविवाहेषु in acts of charity, sacrifices and weddings, महत्सु in great, समाजेषु च assemblies also, अन्तरा in their midst, धार्मिकम् righteous, रामम् Rama, पुनः again, जातु ever, न द्रक्ष्यामः will not see.

No longer will we see Rama at sacrifices, weddings, great assemblies and at places of charitable activity.
किं समर्थं जनस्यास्य किं प्रियं किं सुखावहम्।

इति रामेण नगरं पितृवत्परिपालितम्।।2.57.14।।


अस्य जनस्य to these people, किम् what, समर्थम् is meaningful, किम् what, प्रियम् pleases, किम् what, सुखावहम् brings happiness, इति in this way, रामेण by Rama, नगरम् this city of Ayodhya, पितृवत् like father, परिपालितम् looked after.

Rama looked after his people like a father always thinking what was good for them, dear to them and comfortable to them.
वातायनगतानां च स्त्रीणामन्वन्तरापणम्।

रामशोकाभितप्तानां शुश्राव परिदेवनम्।।2.57.15।।


वातायनगतानाम् looking through the windows, स्त्रीणाम् women's, अन्वन्तरापणम् in the stalls, रामशोकाभितप्तानाम् burning with sorrow due to Rama's exile, परिदेवनम् bewailings, शुश्राव heard.

(He) heard wailings of women looking through the window and of the people in marketplaces burning with sorrow over Rama's exile.
स राजमार्गमध्येन सुमन्त्रः पिहिताननः।

यत्र राजा दशरथस्तदेवोपययौ गृहम्।।2.57.16।।


सः सुमन्त्रः that Sumantra, पिहिताननः with his face muffled, राजमार्गमध्येन along the highway, राजा दशरथः king Dasaratha, यत्र where, तत् that, गृहम् house, उपययौ reached straight.

Sumantra with his face muffled, drove along the highway straight to the palace of king Dasaratha.
सोऽवतीर्य रथाच्छीघ्रं राजवेश्म प्रविश्य च।

कक्ष्या स्सप्ताभिचक्राम महाजनसमाकुलाः।।2.57.17।।


सः that, रथात् from the chariot, अवतीर्य alighting, शीघ्रम् quickly, राजवेश्म king's palace, प्रविश्य च having entered, महाजनसमाकुलाः overcrowded with people, सप्त seven, कक्ष्याः courtyards, अभिक्राम crossed.

Quickly alighting from the chariot, he entered the king's palace and crossed the seven courtyards overcrowded with people.
हर्म्यै र्विमानैः प्रासादैरवेक्ष्याथ समागतम्।

हाहाकारकृता नार्यो रामदर्शनकर्शिताः।।2.57.18।।


अथ thereafter, नार्यः women, हर्म्यैः from mansions, विमानैः from sevenstoried buildings, प्रासादैः from royal palaces, समागतम् arrived, आवेक्ष्य having seen, रामदर्शन कर्शिताः sad at not seeing Rama, हाहाकारकृताः cried out 'Alas, Alas'.

Women from mansions, sevenstoried buildings and from royal palaces, sighted him and pained at not seeing Rama cried out 'Alas, Alas'.
आयतैर्विमलैर्नेत्रैरश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः।

अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्तेऽव्यक्तमार्ततराः स्त्रियः।।2.57.19।।


स्त्रियः women, आर्ततराः in greater anguish,आयतैः large,विमलैःclean, अश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः flooded with the force of tears, नेत्रैः with eyes, अव्यक्तम् silently अन्योन्यम् one another, अभिवीक्षन्ते were looking.

The women in great anguish stood silently looking at one another, their large eyes
flooded with overflowing tears.
ततो दशरथस्त्रीणां प्रासादेभ्य स्तत स्ततः।

रामशोकाभितप्तानां मन्दं शुश्राव जल्पितम्।।2.57.20।।


ततः then, ततस्ततः here and there, प्रासाद्येभ्यः from palaces, रामशोकाभितप्तानाम् afflicted with
sorrow due to Rama's exile, दशरथस्त्रीणाम् of the wives of Dasaratha, मन्दम् जल्पितम् whispers, शुश्राव heard.

From different spots in the palace, Sumantra heard the sobs and whispers of Dasaratha's wives who were tormented with the sorrow of Rama's exile.
सह रामेण निर्यातो विना राम मिहागतः।

सूतः किन्नाम कौसल्यां शोचन्तीं प्रतिवक्ष्यति।।2.57.21।।


रामेण सह with Rama, निर्यातः went out, विना रामम् without Rama, इह here, आगतः returned, सूतः charioteer, शोचन्तीम् worrying, कौशल्याम् Kausalya, किं नाम what can, प्रतिवक्ष्यति will he say?

The charioteer left with Rama and returned without him. What can he say to the wailing Kausalya?
यथा च मन्ये दुर्जीवमेवं न सुकरं ध्रुवम्।

आच्छिद्य पुत्रे निर्याते कौसल्या यत्र जीवति।।2.57.22।।


पुत्रे when the son, आच्छिद्य severing all connections, निर्याते had set out, कौसल्या Kausalya, यथा in whichever way, यत्र जीवति wherever surviving still, दुर्जीवम् it is difficult to live, मन्ये I consider, एवम् like this, सुकरम् easily, न not, ध्रुवम् certain.

I think it is indeed difficult for Kausalya to live wherever and whichever way she tries as she has been separated from her son. (the queens said).
सत्यरूपं तु तद्वाक्यं राज्ञ: स्त्रीणां निशामयन्।

प्रदीप्तमिव शोकेन विवेश सहसा गृहम्।।2.57.23।।


राज्ञ: king's, स्त्रीणाम् wives, सत्यरूपम् truth embodied, तत् वाक्यम् that word, निशामयन् listening, सहसा immediately, शोकेन with grief, प्रदीप्तमिव as if burning, गृहम् house, विवेश entered.

Listening to the correct words of the king's wives, he immediately entered the palace as if in flames (of grief).
स प्रविश्याष्टमीं कक्ष्यां राजानं दीनमातुरम्।

पुत्रशोकपरिम्लानमपश्यत्पाण्डुरे गृहे।।2.57.24।।


सः he (Sumantra), अष्टमीम् eighth, कक्ष्याम् courtyard, प्रविश्य having entered, पाण्डुरे in pale white, गृहे chamber, दीनम् desolate, आतुरम् anguished, पुत्रशोकपरिम्लानम् withered by sorrow over his son, राजानम् king, अपश्यत् saw.

On entering the eighth courtyard, he saw in a pale white chamber king Dasaratha desolate, anguished and withered with the sorrow of separation from his son.
अभिगम्य तमासीनं नरेन्द्रे मभिवाद्य च।

सुमन्त्रो रामवचनं यथोक्तं प्रत्यवेदयत्।।2.57.25।।


सुमन्त्रः Sumantra, असीनम् seated, नरेन्द्रम् king, अभिगम्य having approached, अभिवाद्य paying obeisance, रामवचनम् Rama's words, यदोक्तम् verbatim, प्रत्यवेदयत् conveyed.

Sumantra approached the king who was seated, paid obeisance to him and conveyed Rama's words verbatim.
स तूष्णीमेव तच्छ्रुत्वा राजा विभ्रान्तचेतनः।

मूर्छितो न्यपतद्भूमौ रामशोकाभिपीडितः।।2.57.26।।


सः that, राजा king, तूष्णीमेव silently, तत् those words, श्रुत्वा having listened, विभ्रान्तचेतनः with a bewildered mind, रामशोकाभिपीडितः tormented by the grief due to Rama's absence, मूर्छितः with senses lost, भूमौ on the ground, न्यपतत् fell.

The king silently listened to Rama's message. Bewildered and tormented by the grief of Rama's absence, he fell down on the ground in a swoon.
ततोऽन्तःपुरमाविद्धं मूर्छिते पृथिवीपतौ।

उद्धृत्य बाहू चुक्रोश नृपतौ पतितेक्षितौ।।2.57.27।।


ततः then, पृथिवीपतौ when lord of the earth (the king), मूर्छिते had fallen unconscious, अन्तःपुरम् inner apartment, आविद्धम् broken down, नृपतौ king, क्षितौ on the ground, पतिते had fallen, बाहू arms, उद्धृत्य having raised, चुक्रोश cried loudly.

The moment the lord of the earth fell down on the ground unconscious, the women in the inner apartment burst into tears, raising their arms.
सुमित्रया तु सहिता कौसल्या पतितं पतिम्।

उत्थापयामास तदा वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्।।2.57.28।।


तदा then, सुमित्रया सहिता together with Sumitra, कौशल्या Kausalya, पतितम् fallen on the ground, पतिम् husband, उत्थापयामास lifted him up, इदम् these, वचनम् words, अब्रवीत् said.

Having seen her husband collapsed on the ground, Kausalya assisted by Sumitra lifted him up and said to him thus:
इमं तस्य महाभाग दूतं दुष्करकारिणः।

वनवासादनुप्राप्तं कस्मान्न प्रतिभाषसे।।2.57.29।।


महाभाग O distinguished one, वनवासात् from the forest, अनुप्राप्तम् returned, दुष्करकारिणः
one who had accomplished arduous tasks, तस्य Rama's, इमम् this, दूतम् messenger, कस्मात् why, न प्रतिभाषसे are not talking.

O distinguished king, why are you not enquiring from the messenger about him (Rama) who is capable of performing arduous tasks?
अद्यैवमनयं कृत्वा व्यपत्रपसि राघव।

उत्तिष्ठ सुकृतं तेस्तु शोके नस्या त्सहायता।।2.57.30।।


राघव O descendant of the Raghus, अनयम् injustice, कृत्वा having done, अद्य now, एवम् in this way, व्यपत्रपसि are feeling ashamed, उत्तिष्ठ rise, ते to you, सुकृतम् the merit (of having fullfilled your word), अस्तु obtained, शोके in this sorrow, सहायता help, न स्यात् will not get.

O descendant of the Raghus are you ashamed of having done an injustice? Arise. you may be a blessed one (for fulfilling your promise). If you grieve, none will help you.
देव यस्या भयाद्रामं नानुपृच्छसि सारथिम्।

नेह तिष्ठिति कैकेयी विस्रब्धं प्रतिभाष्यताम्।।2.57.31।।


देव O king, यस्याः by whose, भयात् from fear, सारथिम् charioteer, रामम् about Rama, नानुपृच्छसि you are not enquiring, कैकेयी Kaikeyi, इह now, न तिष्ठति not here, विस्रब्धम् without fear, प्रतिभाष्यताम् you may speak.

Kaikeyi for fear of whom you dare not ask the charioteer about Rama, O king is not here. You may speak to him without fear.
सा तथोक्त्वा महाराजं कौसल्या शोकलालसा।

धरण्यां निपपाताऽशु बाष्पविप्लुतभाषिणी।।2.57.32।।


बाष्पविप्लुतभाषिणी speaking with a voice choked with tears, शोकलालसा absorbed in grief, सा कौशल्या that Kausalya, महाराजम् to the maharaja, तथा that way, उक्त्वा having said, आशु suddenly, धरण्याम् on the ground, निपपात fell down.

Absorbed in grief, Kausalya spoke to the maharaja in a voice choked with tears and then collapsed on the floor.
एवं विलपतीं दृष्ट्वा कौसल्यां पतितां भुवि।

पतिं चावेक्ष्य ता स्सर्वा सुस्वरं रुरुदुः स्त्रियः।।2.57.33।।


सर्वाः all, ताः स्त्रियः those women, एवम् thus, विलपतीम् lamenting, भुवि पतिताम् fallen on the ground, कौशल्याम् Kausalya, दृष्ट्वा having seen, पतिं च also their husband, अवेक्ष्य having seen, सुस्वरम् in chorus, रुरुदुः wailed loudlly.

All those women saw weeping Kausalya as well as their husband fallen on the ground and wailed loudly in a chorus.
तत स्तमन्तःपुरनादमुत्थितं समीक्ष्य वृद्धा स्तरुणाश्च मानवाः।

स्त्रियश्च सर्वा रुरुदु स्समन्ततः पुरं तदासीत्पुनरेव सङ्कुलम्।।2.57.34।।


ततः thereafter, उत्थितम् rising, तम् that, अन्तःपुरनादम् sound from the inner apartment, समीक्षय having seen, वृद्धा: old, तरुणाश्च young, मानवाः people, सर्वाः all, स्त्रीयश्च also women, समन्ततः all around, रुरुदुः lamented, तदा then, पुरम् city, पुनरेव again, सङ्कुलम् आसीत् was filled (with people).

Having heard the sound emanating from the inner apartment, people, old, young and women, of the city lamented. The city was crowded again.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तपञ्चाशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the fiftyseventh sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.