Sloka & Translation

[Sumantra describes the shadow of sorrow over Ayodhya --- withering plants and flowers, dried-up ponds, immobile animals --- Dasaratha pines for Rama.]

iti bruvantaṅ taṅ sūtaṅ sumantraṅ mantrisattamam.

brūhi śēṣaṅ punariti rājā vacanamabravīt৷৷2.59.1৷৷


rājā king, iti thus, bruvantam while speaking, sūtam charioteer, mantrisattamam best of ministers, taṅ sumantram that Sumantra, śēṣam the rest, punaḥ again, brūhi tell, iti thus, vacanam words, abravīt said.

Listening to the charioteer, the best of ministers (Sumantra), the king asked him to tell the rest.
tasya tadvacanaṅ śrutvā sumantrō bāṣpaviklabaḥ.

kathayāmāsa bhūyō.pi rāmasandēśavistaram৷৷2.59.2৷৷


sumantraḥ Sumantra, tasya his, vacanam words, śrutvā having heard, bāṣpaviklabaḥ overcome with tears, rāmasandēśavistaram details of Rama's message, bhūyō.pi once again, kathayāmāsa narrated.

Having heard him, Sumantra, overcome with tears, related further details of Rama's message.
jaṭāḥ kṛtvā mahārāja! cīravalkaladhāriṇau.

gaṅgāmuttīrya tau vīrau prayāgābhimukhau gatau৷৷2.59.3৷৷


mahārāja! O king, cīravalkaladhāriṇau wearing the bark robes, tau vīrau those heroes, jaṭāḥ matted hair, kṛtvā having made, gaṅgām the river Ganga, uttīrya having crossed, prayāgābhimukhau towards Prayaga, gatau went.

O King! the heroes in bark robes and with matted hair crossed the Ganga and proceeded towards Prayaga.
agratō lakṣmaṇō yātaḥ pālayanraghunandanam.

tāṅstathā gacchatō dṛṣṭvā nivṛttō.smyavaśastadā৷৷2.59.4৷৷


lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, raghunandanam Rama, pālayan protecting, agrataḥ ahead of him, yātaḥ had gone, tathā that way, gacchataḥ going, tān him, dṛṣṭvā having seen, tadā then, avaśaḥ helplessly, nivṛttaḥ asmi returned.

Lakshmana walked ahead guarding Rama, the delight of the Raghus. While I returned helplessly seeing them go.
mamatvaśvā nivṛttasya na prāvartanta vartmani.

uṣṇamaśru pramuñcantō rāmē samprasthitē vanam৷৷2.59.5৷৷


rāmē Rama, vanam for the forest, samprasthitē when setting out, nivṛttasya when I returned, mama my, aśvā: tu as for horses, uṣṇam hot, aśrupramuñcantaḥ shedding tears, vartmani on the path, na prāvartanta did not proceed.

When Rama set out for the forest, and I turned back, my horses shedding hot tears were reluctant to walk the path.
ubhābhyāṅ rājaputrābhyāmatha kṛtvāhamañjalim.

prasthitō rathamāsthāya tadduḥkhamapi dhārayan৷৷2.59.6৷৷


atha thereafter, aham I, ubhābhyām to both, rājaputrābhyām princess, añjalim folded palms, kṛtvā having made, tat that, duḥkham api grief, dhārayan controlling, ratham chariot, āsthāya ascending, prasthitaḥ set out.

Thereafter, controlling my grief and paying obeisance to both the princes with folded
palms, I ascended the chariot and returned.
guhēna sārdhaṅ tatraiva sthitō.smi divasānbahūn.

āśayā yadi māṅ rāmaḥ puna śśabdāpayēditi৷৷2.59.7৷৷


rāmaḥ Rama, punaḥ again, mām me, śabdāpayēt yadi if calls me, iti thus, āśayā with hope, tatraiva there itself, guhēna sārdham with Guha, bahūn many (three), divasān asmi I waited.

There along with Guha I waited for (three) days that Rama might call me back.
viṣayē tē mahārāja! rāmavyasanakarśitāḥ.

api vṛkṣāḥ parimlānāssapuṣpāṅkurakōrakāḥ৷৷2.59.8৷৷


mahārāja! O great king, tē viṣayē throughout your empire, vṛkṣāḥ api even trees, sapuṣpāṅkurakōrakāḥ with flowers, buds and shoots, rāmavyasanakarśitāḥ oppressed on account of the calamity on Rama, parimlānāḥ withered.

O great king! even trees with their flowers, buds and shoots throughout your empire have withered because of the calamity on Rama.
upataptōdakā nadyaḥ palvalāni sarāṅsi ca.

pariśuṣkapalāśāni vanānyupavanāni ca৷৷2.59.9৷৷


nadyaḥ rivers, upataptōdakāḥ with heated waters, palvalāni ponds, sarāṅsi ca lakes, vanāni forests, upavanāni ca gardens, pariśuṣkapalāśāni have their foliage shrivelled.

Water in rivers, ponds and lakes has heated up while all the foliage in the forests and gardens have shrivelled.
na ca sarpanti sattvāni vyāsā na pracaranti ca.

rāmaśōkābhibhūtaṅ tanniṣkūjamabhavadvanam৷৷2.59.10৷৷


sattvāni living beings, na ca sarpanti are not moving, vyālāḥ ca wild animals also, napracaranti not ranging, tat vanam that forest, rāmaśōkābhibhūtam overpowered by grief on account of Rama, niṣkūjam silent, abhavat became.

No living being move about and even wild animals roam no more. Overwhelmed with grief on account of Rama a great silence pervades the forest.
līnapuṣkarapatrāśca narēndra! kaluṣōdakāḥ.

santaptapadmāḥ padminyō līnamīnavihaṅgamāḥ৷৷2.59.11৷৷


narēndra! O king, padminyaḥ lotus lakes, līnapuṣkarapatrāḥ ca with the shrivelled blue lotus leaves submerged in water, kaluṣōdakāḥ with waters turbid, santaptapadmāḥ withered lotuses, līnamīnavihaṅgamāḥ devoid of fishes and birds.

The water in the lotus lakes, O king, has become turbid. The blue lotuses have withered and their shrivelled petals are submerged in water. The fishes and aquatic birds are hidden under waters.
jalajāni ca puṣpāṇi mālyāni sthalajāni ca.

nādya bhāntyalpagandhīni phalāni ca yathāpuram৷৷2.59.12৷৷


jalajāni born in water, puṣpāṇi flowers, sthalajāni born on the land, mālyāni garlands of flowers, phalāni ca fruits, adya now, alpagandhīni with scant fragrance, yathāpuram as before, na bhānti do not shine.

Bunches of flowers grown in water and on land, as well as fruits with their scant fragrance do not shine as before.
atrōdyānāni śūnyāni pralīnavihagani ca.

na cābhirāmā nārāmānpaśyāmi manujarṣabha!৷৷2.59.13৷৷


atra there, udyānāni gardens, śūnyāni are deserted, pralīnavihagāni ca with birds vanished (into the depth of woods), manujarṣabha O (best) among men, ārāmān parks, abhirāman as beautiful, na paśyāmi I do not see.

Pleasure-gardens are all deserted as the birds have vanished. O best of men, as such they do not look beautiful.
praviśantamayōdhyāṅ māṅ na kaścidabhinandati.

narā rāmamapaśyantō niśśvasanti muhurmuhuḥ৷৷2.59.14৷৷


ayōdhyāyām Ayodhya, praviśantam entering, kaścit any one, na abhinandati is not greeting, narāḥ people, rāmam Rama, apaśyantaḥ without beholding, muhurmuhuḥ again and again, niśśvasanti are heaving sighs.

None greeted me when I entered Ayodhya, People heaved sighs repeatedly when they did not see Rama.
dēva! rājarathaṅ dṛṣṭvā vinā rāmami৷৷hāgatam.

duḥkhādaśrumukhassarvō rājamārgagatō janaḥ৷৷2.59.15৷৷


dēva! O lord, vinā rāmam without Rama, iha here, āgatam arrived, rājaratham royal chariot, dṛṣṭvā having seen, rājamārgagataḥ thronged the highway, sarvaḥ all, janaḥ people, duḥkhāt due to agony, aśrumukhaḥ with tears on their faces.

Beholding the royal chariot arrive without Rama, all were on the highway shedding tears of anguish.
harmyairvimānaiḥ prāsādairavēkṣyarathamāgatam.

hāhākārakṛtānāryō rāmādarśanakarśitāḥ৷৷2.59.16৷৷


nārya: women, harmyai: from mansions, vimānaiḥ from seven-storied buildings, prāsādaiḥ from
royal palaces, āgatam arrived, ratham chariot, avēkṣya having seen, rāmādarśanakarśitāḥ afflicted by the absence of Rama, hāhākārakṛtāḥ cried 'Alas, Alas'.

When the women from mansions, seven-storied buildings and from royal palaces saw the chariot without Rama, they, overwhelmed with sorrow, cried, 'Alas, Alas!'.
āyatairvimalairnētrairaśruvēgapariplutaiḥ.

anyōnyamabhivīkṣantē.vyaktamārtatarāḥ striyaḥ৷৷2.59.17৷৷


striyaḥ women, ārtatarāḥ in deep anguish, āyataiḥ with large, vimalaiḥ bright, aśruvēgapariplutaiḥ flooded with gushing tears, nētrai: with their eyes, avyaktam silently, anyōnyam one another, abhivīkṣantē are looking at.

The women, with their large, bright eyes flooded with gushing tears looked in silence at one another in deep anguish.
nāmitrāṇāṅ na mitrāṇāmudāsīnajanasya ca.

ahamārtatayā kiñcidviśēṣamupalakṣayē৷৷2.59.18৷৷


aham I, ārtatayā in great agony, amitrāṇām among those who are not friends, kiñcit even a little, viśēṣam diference, na upalakṣayē could not see, mitrāṇām among friends, udāsīnajanasya of people indifferent, na could not see.

I did not see any difference in the degree of anguish among friends, those who are not friends and and those who are indifferent. (The degree of agony was same in all).
aprahṛṣṭamanuṣyā ca dīnanāgaturaṅgamā.

ārtasvaraparimlānā viniśśvasitanissvanā৷৷2.59.19৷৷

nirānandā mahārāja! rāmapravrājanāturā.

kausalyā putrahīnēva ayōdhyā pratibhāti mā৷৷2.59.20৷৷


mahārāja O great king, aprahṛṣṭamanuṣyā ca people cheerless, dīnanāgaturaṅgamā spiritless elephants and horses, ārtasvaraparimlānā with agonised voices and pale faces, viniśvasita nissvanā with deep sighs, nirānandā depressed, rāmapravrājanāturā distressed due to Rama's exile, putrahīnā deprived of her son, kausalyā iva like Kausalya, mā pratibhāti appears to me.

O maharaja, Ayodhya is filled with cheerless people with deep sighs, agonised voices and pale faces depressed and distressed due to Rama's exile. (Even) elephants and horses look spiritless. For me it (the city) resembles (dejected) Kausalya deprived of her son.
sūtasya vacanaṅ śrutvā vācā paramadīnayā.

bāṣpōpahatayā rājā taṅ sūtamidamabravīt৷৷2.59.21৷৷


rājā king, sūtasya charioteer's, vacanam words, śrutvā having heard, paramadīnayā deeply dejected, bāṣpōpahatayā choked with tears, vācā with a voice, taṅ sūtam to the charioteer, idam these words, abravīt said.

At these words of the charioteer, the king in deep distress replied with a voice choked
with tears:
kaikēyyā viniyuktēna pāpābhijanabhāvayā.

mayā na mantrakuśalairvṛddhaissaha samarthitam৷৷2.59.22৷৷


pāpābhijanabhāvayā by one who has wicked relations and sinful intention, kaikēyyā by Kaikeyi, viniyuktēna having been incited, mayā by me, mantrakuśalaiḥ with men skilled in giving advice, vṛddhai: saha with seniors, na samarthitam was not consulted.

Incited by Kaikeyi of sinful relations and sinful motive, I did not consult expert, elderly counsellers.
na suhṛdbhirnacāmātyairmantrayitvā na naigamaiḥ.

mayāyamarthassammōhāt strīhētō ssahasā kṛtaḥ৷৷2.59.23৷৷


suhṛdbhi: with friends, amātyaiḥ with ministers, naigamaiḥ ca with men of prudence, na mantrayitvā without consulting, mayā by me, ayam this, arthaḥ act, strīhētō: for the sake of a woman, sahasā in great haste, kṛtaḥ committed.

For the sake of a woman, this act was committed in great haste, without consulting friends or ministers or men of prudence.
bhavitavyatayā nūnamidaṅ vā vyasanaṅ mahat.

kulasyāsya vināśāya prāptaṅ sūta! yadṛcchayā৷৷2.59.24৷৷


sūta! O charioteer, vā otherwise, idam this, mahat great, vyasanam calamity, bhavitavyatayā because it was destined to happen this way, asya this, kulasya race's, vināśāya for destruction, yadṛcchayā wilfully, prāptam has befallen, nūnam surely.

Surely it is destiny and this calamity has befallen for the wilful destruction of the (entire) race, O charioteer!
sūta! yadyasti tē kiñcinmayā tu sukṛtaṅ kṛtam.

tvaṅ prāpayā৷৷śu māṅ rāmaṅ prāṇāssantvarayantimām৷৷2.59.25৷৷


sūta O Charioteer!, mayā by me, tē to you, kiṅcit even a little, sukṛtam favour, kṛtam asti yadi if it has been rendered, tvam you, āśu quickly, mām me, rāmam to Rama, prāpaya take, prāṇāḥ life, mām me, saṅtvarayanti are hastening me up.

O Charioteer, if ever I have rendered you any favour, quickly take me to Rama. My life is hastening me (fast running out).
yadyadyāpi mamaivājñā nivartayatu rāghavam.

na śakṣyāmi vinā rāmaṅ muhūrtamapi jīvitum৷৷2.59.26৷৷


adyāpi even now, mama my, ājñaiva by command, rāghavam Rama, nivartayatu be brought back, rāmaṅ vinā without Rama, muhūrtamapi even for a moment, jīvitum to live, na śakṣyāmi am not able.

If my command prevails today, Rama may be brought back. Without Rama I cannot live for a moment even.
athavā.pi mahābāhurgatō dūraṅ bhaviṣyati.

māmēva rathamārōpya śīghraṅ rāmāya darśaya৷৷2.58.27৷৷


athavā or otherwise also, mahābāhuḥ mighty-armed, dūram far away, gataḥ bhaviṣyati must have gone, māmēva me alone, ratham on the chariot, ārōpya placing, śīghram quickly, rāmāya to Rama, darśaya show.

Otherwise if (you think) the mighty-armed (Rama) has gone too far then quickly put me in the chariot, and show me Rama (Carry me to him).
vṛttadaṅṣṭrō mahēṣvāsaḥ kvāsau lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ.

yadi jīvāmi sādhvēnaṅ paśyēyaṅ sītayā saha৷৷2.59.28৷৷


vṛttadaṅṣṭraḥ one with well-shaped teeth, mahēṣvāsaḥ a great archer, asau that, lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ elder brother of Lakshmana, Rama, kva where is he?, ēnam him, sītayā saha along with Sita, sādhu well, paśyēyaṅ yadi if I can see him, jīvāmi I can live.

Where is that Rama, elder brother to Lakshmana who has well-shaped teeth and wields a mighty bow? If I can see him along with Sita I will survive.
lōhitākṣaṅ mahābāhumāmuktamaṇikuṇḍalam.

rāmaṅ yadi na paśyēyaṅ gamiṣyāmi yamakṣayam৷৷2.59.29৷৷


lōhitākṣam one with red-coloured eyes, mahābāhum mighty-armed, āmuktamaṇikuṇḍalam wearing earrings bedecked with gems, rāmam Rama, na paśyēyaṅ yadi if I cannot see him, yamakṣayam kingdom of Yama, lord of death, gamiṣyāmi I will go.

If I cannot see Rama of red-coloured eyes, the mighty-armed one and wearing earrings bedecked with precious stones I shall surely go to the abode of Yama, the god of death.
atō nu kiṅ duḥkhataraṅ sō.hamikṣvākunandanam.

imāmavasthāmāpannō nēha paśyāmi rāghavam৷৷2.59.30৷৷


imām this, avasthām condition, āpannaḥ having reached, saḥ aham such me, ikṣvākukulanandanam Delight of the Ikshvakus, rāghavam Rama, iha now, na paśyāmi see not, ataḥ than this, duḥkhataram greater sorrow, kiṅ nu what more.

What else can be of greater sorrow to me who having reached this state, am still unable to see Rama?
hā rāma! rāmānuja! hā! hā vaidēhi! tapasvini.

na māṅ jānīta duḥkhēna mriyamāṇatamanāthavat৷৷2.59.31৷৷


hā rāma Ah Rama, hā rāmānuja Ah Lakshmana, tapasvini the unfortunate, hā vaidēhi Ah Vaidehi, mām me, duḥkhēna due to grief, anāthavat like an orphan, mriyamāṇam dying, na jānīta you do not know.

Ah Rama, Ah Lakshmana, Ah unfortunate Vaidehi, you do not know that I am dying like an orphan because of my grief.
sa tēna rājā duḥkhēna bhṛśamarpitacētanaḥ.

avagāḍhassuduṣpāraṅ śōkasāgaramabravīt৷৷2.59.32৷৷


tēna duḥkhēna by that sorrow, bhṛśam extremely, arpita cētanaḥ with enfeebled mind, saḥ rājā that king, suduṣpāram difficult to cross, śōkasāgaram sea of sorrow, avagāḍhaḥ immersed, abravīt said.

The king whose mind was extremely enfeebled due to grief and who was immersed in
a sea of tears which he was unable to cross continued:
rāmaśōkamahābhōgassītāvirahapāragaḥ.

śvasitōrmi mahāvartō bāṣpaphēnajālāvilaḥ৷৷2.59.33৷৷

bāhuvikṣēpamīnaughō vikrandita mahāsvanaḥ.

prakīrṇakēśaśaivālaḥ kaikēyībaḍabāmukhaḥ৷৷2.59.34৷৷

mamāśruvēgaprabhavaḥ kubjāvākyamahāgrahaḥ.

varavēlō nṛśaṅsāyā rāmapravrājanāyataḥ৷৷2.59.35৷৷

yasminbata nimagnō.haṅ kausalyē! rāghavaṅ vinā.

dustarō jīvatā dēvi! mayā.yaṅ śōkasāgaraḥ৷৷2.59.36৷৷


dēvi! O queen, kauśalyē Kausalya, aham I, yasmin in which, nimagnaḥ immersed, (asau this,
śōkasāgaraḥ ocean of sorrow), rāmaśōkamahābhōgaḥ sorrow due to Rama's separation as its breadth, sītāvirahapāragaḥ Sita's separation as its other shore, śvasitōrmimahāvartaḥ sighs as its turbulent waves and whirlpools, bāṣpaphēnajalāvilaḥ tears as its foam and turbid waters, bāhuvikṣēpamīnaughaḥ waving of the arms as fishes, vikranditamahāsvanaḥ cries of agony as its roar, prakīrṇakēśaśaivālaḥ dishevelled hair as its moss, kaikēyībaḍabāmukhaḥ Kaikeyi as mouth of Badaba mythical sea-mare, mama to me, aśruvēgaprabhavaḥ source of copious tears, kubjāvākyamahāgrahaḥ the words of hunchback (Manthara) as monstrous crocodiles, nṛśaṅsāyāḥ cruel, varavēla boons as shores, rāmapravrājanāyataḥ exile of Rama as its expanse, ayam this, śōkasāgaraḥ sea of sorrow, rāghavaṅ vinā without Rama, mayā by me, jīvatā with my life, dustaraḥ difficult to cross, bata on what a pity!

O queen Kausalya!, I am completely immersed in this ocean of sorrow. The misfortune due to Rama's separation is its breadth. Sita's separation is the other end of the shore. Sighs are its turbulent waves and whirlpools. Tears are its foam and turbid waters. Waving of arms is its fishes. Cries of agony are its roars. My dishevelled hair is its moss. Kaikeyi is the mouth of Badaba. My copious tears are its source. Words of the hunchback (Manthara) are the monstrous crocodiles. The cruel boons to Kaikeyi are its shores. Without Rama I cannot cross this sea of sorrow alive. Ah, what
a pity!
aśōbhanaṅ yō.hamihādya rāghavaṅ didṛkṣamāṇō na labhē salakṣmaṇam.

itīva rājā vilapanmahāyaśāḥ papāta tūrṇaṅ śayanē samūrchitaḥ৷৷2.59.37৷৷


yaḥ he who, aham I, adya now, didṛkṣamāṇaḥ wishing to see, salakṣmaṇam with Lakshamana, rāghavam Rama, iha here, na labhē unable to get them, aśōbhanam inauspicious, itīva in this way, mahāyaśāḥ of great reknown, saḥ rājā that king, vilapan lamenting, mūrchitaḥ lying unconcsious, tūrṇam immediately, śayanē on the bed, papāta fell.

Though I wish I cannot see Rama together with Lakshmana. Indeed this is very unfortunate. Lamenting thus, king Dasaratha of great reknown fell on the bed, unconscious.
iti vilapati pārthivē praṇaṣṭē karuṇataraṅ dviguṇaṅ ca rāmahētōḥ.

vacanamanuniśamya tasya dēvī bhayamagamatpunarēva rāmamātā৷৷2.59.38৷৷


pārthivē king, rāmahētōḥ for the sake of Rama, karuṇataram in greater grief, dviguṇaṅ ca doubly, vilapati lamenting, praṇaṣṭē losing senses, rāmamātā Rama's mother, dēvī queen Kausalya, tasya vacanam his words, anuniśamya having heard, punarēva once again, bhayam fear, agamat seized.

Wailing, Dasaratha fell unconscious. He was doubly grieved due to his yearning for Rama. Rama's mother was seized with fear hearing those lamentations.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē ēkōnaṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the fiftyninth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.