🏛️ Ayodhya Kanda

Sarga 38

18 shlokas

AK-38-1Ayodhya Kanda 38.1

तस्यां चीरं वसानायां नाथवत्यामनाथवत्। प्रचुक्रोश जनस्सर्वो धिक्त्वां दशरथं त्विति।।2.38.1।।

tasyāṃ cīrṃ vasānāyāṃ nāthavatyāmanāthavat| pracukrośa janassarvo dhiktvāṃ daśarathṃ tviti||2.38.1||

Translation

नाथवत्याम् having her husband, तस्याम् that Sita, अनाथवत् like one without a support, चीरम् tattered (bark) garment, वसानायाम् while wearing, सर्वः जनः all the people, त्वाम् about you, धिक् इति 'fie on you', दशरथम् to Dasaratha, प्रचुक्रोश shouted.

Meaning

Beholding Sita who was wearing a bark garment, like one without a support, though having a husband, all the people cried bitterly exclaiming O Dasaratha, fie on you.

AK-38-2Ayodhya Kanda 38.2

तेन तत्र प्रणादेन दुःखितस्स महीपतिः। चिच्छेद जीविते श्रद्धां धर्मे यशसि चात्मनः।।2.38.2।।

tena tatra praṇādena duḥkhitassa mahīpatiḥ| ciccheda jīvite śraddhāṃ dharme yaśasi cātmanḥ||2.38.2||

Translation

महीपतिः that Lord of the earth (king), तत्र there, तेन प्रणादेन by that shout, दुःखितः distressed, आत्मनः his own, जीविते in life, धर्मे in righteousness, श्रद्धाम् faith, चिच्छेद broke.

Meaning

Hearing that tumult the distressed Dasaratha lost faith in his own life and in his righteousness.

AK-38-3Ayodhya Kanda 38.3

स निःश्वस्योष्णमैक्ष्वाक स्तां भार्यामिदमब्रवीत्। कैकेयि कुशचीरेण न सीता गन्तुमर्हति।।2.38.3।।

sa niḥśvasyoṣṇamaikṣvāka stāṃ bhāryāmidamabravīt| kaikeyi kuśacīreṇa na sītā gantumarhati||2.38.3||

Translation

सः ऐक्ष्वाकः that descendant of the Ikshvakus (Dasaratha), उष्णम् निःश्वस्य heaving hot sighs, भार्याम् to his wife (Kaikeyi), इदम् these words, अब्रवीत् he spoke, कैकेयी O Kaikeyi, सीता Sita, कुशचीरेण with kusa garment, गन्तुम् to go, नार्हति is not worthy of.

Meaning

The descendant of the Ikshvakus (Dasaratha), heaving hot sighs, said to his wife O Kaikeyi, Sita does not deserve to go (to the forest) in garment of kusa grass.

AK-38-4Ayodhya Kanda 38.4

सुकुमारी च बाला च सततं च सुखोचिता। नेयं वनस्य योग्येति सत्यमाह गुरुर्मम।।2.38.4।।

sukumārī ca bālā ca satatṃ ca sukhocitā| neyṃ vanasya yogyeti satyamāha gururmama||2.38.4||

Translation

सुकुमारी च delicate, बाला च young, सततम् always, सुखोचिता accustomed to comfort, इयम् she, वनस्य to dwell in the forest, न योग्या is not fit, इति thus, मम गुरुः my preceptor, सत्यम् truly, अह said.

Meaning

Sita a delicate, young princess accustomed to comforts is not fit to dwell in the forest. This is what my preceptor has truly spoken.

AK-38-5Ayodhya Kanda 38.5

इयं हि कस्यापकरोति किञ्चि त्तपस्विनी राजवरस्य कन्या। या चीरमासाद्य जनस्य मध्ये स्थिता विसंज्ञाश्रमणीव काचित्।।2.38.5।।

iyṃ hi kasyāpakaroti kiñci ttapasvinī rājavarasya kanyā| yā cīramāsādya janasya madhye sthitā visṃjñāśramaṇīva kācit||2.38.5||

Translation

या (सा) Sita, चीरम् bark garment, आसाद्य having received, काचित् obscure one, श्रमणीव like a female ascetic, विसंज्ञा lost senses, जनस्य मध्ये amidst people, स्थिता standing, इयम् this, राजवरस्य कन्या daughter of the greatest of kings (Janaka), तपस्विनी ascetic, कस्य to whom, किञ्चित् even little, अपकरोति has done harm?

Meaning

Sita, daughter of Janaka, the greatest among kings, stands amidst people wearing bark garment like an ascetic with her senses switched off. To whom and what harm has she done?

AK-38-6Ayodhya Kanda 38.6

चीराण्यपास्याज्जनकस्य कन्या नेयं प्रतिज्ञा मम दत्तपूर्वा। यथासुखं गच्छतु राजपुत्री वनं समग्रा सह सर्वरत्नैः।।2.38.6।।

cīrāṇyapāsyājjanakasya kanyā neyṃ pratijñā mama dattapūrvā| yathāsukhṃ gacchatu rājaputrī vanṃ samagrā saha sarvaratnaiḥ||2.38.6||

Translation

जनकस्य Janaka's, कन्या daughter, चीराणि bark garments, अपास्य taking off, आत् afterwards, इयम् this, प्रतिज्ञा promise, मम to me, दत्तपूर्वा न not given earlier, राजपुत्री princess, सर्वरत्नैः सह together with jewels, समग्रा with all needs, वनम् to the forest, यथासुखम् happily, गच्छतु go.

Meaning

Let the daughter of Janaka take off her bark garments. This is not the promise I had made to you earlier. Let the princess happily go to the forest adorned with all jewels and with all other necessities.

AK-38-7Ayodhya Kanda 38.7

अजीवनार्हेण मया नृशंसा कृता प्रतिज्ञा नियमेन तावत्। तवया हि बाल्यात् प्रतिपन्नमेतत् तन्मां दहेद्वेणुमिवात्मपुष्पम्।।2.38.7।।

ajīvanārheṇa mayā nṛśṃsā kṛtā pratijñā niyamena tāvat| tavayā hi bālyāt pratipannametat tanmāṃ dahedveṇumivātmapuṣpam||2.38.7||

Translation

अजीवनार्हेण unfit to live, मया by me, नियमेन with a vow, नृशंसा cruel, प्रतिज्ञा promise, कृता तावत् has been made, बाल्यात् out of childishness (foolishness), त्वया by you, एतत् this, प्रतिपन्नं हि was taken, तत् that one, वेणुम् bamboo, आत्मपुष्पम् इव like its own flowers, माम् me, दहेत् should burn.

Meaning

By giving this cruel promise through importunity, I have rendered myself unfit to live. This promise was made as a child's play and it (now) destroys me like a bamboo destroyed by its own flowers.

AK-38-8Ayodhya Kanda 38.8

रामेण यदि ते पापे किञ्चित्कृतमशोभनम्। अपकारः क इह ते वैदेह्या दर्शितोऽधमे।।2.38.8।।

rāmeṇa yadi te pāpe kiñcitkṛtamaśobhanam| apakārḥ ka iha te vaidehyā darśito'dhame||2.38.8||

Translation

पापे O sinful woman, अधमे O wretch, रामेण by Rama, ते to you, किञ्चित् even a little, अशोभनम् unbecoming, कृतं यदि has been done, वैदेह्या Sita, इह here, ते to you, कः what, अपकारः offence, दर्शितः has been shown.

Meaning

O sinful woman O wretch Rama might have done something unbecoming to you, but what offence has Sita committed?

AK-38-9Ayodhya Kanda 38.9

मृगीवोत्फुल्लनयना मृदुशीला तपस्वीनी। अपकारं कमिह ते करोति जनकात्मजा।।2.38.9।।

mṛgīvotphullanayanā mṛduśīlā tapasvīnī| apakārṃ kamiha te karoti janakātmajā||2.38.9||

Translation

मृगीव like a doe, उत्फुल्लनयना largeeyed, मृदुशीला of gentle ways, तपस्विनी worthy of compassion, जनकात्मजा daughter of Janaka, इह here, ते to you, कम् अपकारम् what offence done, करोति is doing?

Meaning

What wrong has the daughter of Janaka largeeyed like a doe, so gentle and worthy of compassion done to you?

AK-38-10Ayodhya Kanda 38.10

ननु पर्याप्त मेतत्ते पापे रामविवासनम्। किमेभिः कृपणैर्भूय: पातकैरपि ते कृतैः।।2.38.10।।

nanu paryāpta metatte pāpe rāmavivāsanam| kimebhiḥ kṛpaṇairbhūya: pātakairapi te kṛtaiḥ||2.38.10||

Translation

पापे O wicked woman, एतत् this, रामविवासनम् the exile of Rama, ते to you, पर्याप्तं ननु is not enough, भूयः still, कृतैः by those committed, कृपणैः by the wretched, एभिः by these, पातकैरपि sins also, ते to you, किम् why?

Meaning

Rama's exile, O wicked woman, is enough for you. What are you committing further heinous crimes for?

AK-38-11Ayodhya Kanda 38.11

प्रतिज्ञातं मया तावत् त्वयोक्तं देवि शृण्वता। रामं यदभिषेकाय त्वमिहागतमब्रवीः।।2.38.11।।

pratijñātṃ mayā tāvat tvayoktṃ devi śṛṇvatā| rāmṃ yadabhiṣekāya tvamihāgatamabravīḥ||2.38.11||

Translation

देवि O Devi, अभिषेकाय for installation, इह here, आगतम् came, रामम् to Rama, त्वम् you, अब्रवीः had spoken, त्वया by you, उक्तम् what has been said, शृण्वता being heard, मया by me, तावत् to that extent, प्रतिज्ञातम् has been promised.

Meaning

I have heard you, O Devi speaking to Rama when he came here in connection with the coronation. I promised you to that extent only.

AK-38-12Ayodhya Kanda 38.12

तत्त्वेतत्समतिक्रम्य निरयं गन्तुमिच्छसि। मैथिलीमपि या हि त्वमीक्षसे चीरवासिनीम्।।2.38.12।।

tattvetatsamatikramya nirayṃ gantumicchasi| maithilīmapi yā hi tvamīkṣase cīravāsinīm||2.38.12||

Translation

या त्वं such you, तत् एतत् all that, अतिक्रम्य having exceeded, मैथिलीं अपि even the princess of Mithila (Sita) also, चीरवासिनीं one wearing bark garment, ईक्षसे want to see, निरयं hell, गन्तुं to go, इच्छसि wish.

Meaning

Having exceeded all that, you want to behold Sita in bark garment and thereby, wish for hell.

AK-38-13Ayodhya Kanda 38.13

इतीव राजा विलपन्महात्मा शोकस्य नान्तं स ददर्श किञ्चित्। भृशातुरत्वाच्च पपात भूमौ तेनैव पुत्रव्यसनेन मग्नः।।2.38.13।।

itīva rājā vilapanmahātmā śokasya nāntṃ sa dadarśa kiñcit| bhṛśāturatvācca papāta bhūmau tenaiva putravyasanena magnḥ||2.38.13||

Translation

महात्मा noble soul, सः राजा that king, इतीव thus, विलपन् while lamenting, शोकस्य grief's, किञ्चित् even a little, अन्तम् end, न ददर्श could not see, भृशातुरत्वाच्च deeply tormented, तेन that, पुत्रव्यसनेन एव by separation from son only, मग्नः immersed, भूमौ on the ground, पपात fell.

Meaning

The king could not see any end to his lamentation. Immersed in the grief of separation from his son and deeply tormented, he fell down on the ground.

AK-38-14Ayodhya Kanda 38.14

एवं ब्रुवन्तं पितरं रामस्सम्प्रस्थितो वनम्। अवाक्छिरसमासीनमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.38.14।।

evṃ bruvantṃ pitarṃ rāmassamprasthito vanam| avākchirasamāsīnamidṃ vacanamabravīt||2.38.14||

Translation

वनम् to the forest, सम्प्रस्थितः set out to forest, रामः Rama, एवम् in this way, ब्रुवन्तम् speaking, अवाक्छिरसमम् with bowed head, आसीनम् sitting, पितरम् addressing his father, इदं वचनम् these words, अब्रवीत् said.

Meaning

Rama who was about to leave for the forest addressed his father who sat with his head bent once again:

AK-38-15Ayodhya Kanda 38.15

यं धार्मिक कौशल्या मम माता यशस्विनी। वृद्धा चाक्षुद्रशीला च न च त्वां देव गर्हते।।2.38.15।।

yṃ dhārmika kauśalyā mama mātā yaśasvinī| vṛddhā cākṣudraśīlā ca na ca tvāṃ deva garhate||2.38.15||

Translation

धार्मिक O righteous one, देव O lord, यशस्विनी illustrious, मम माता my mother, इयम् कौशल्या Kausalya, वृद्धा aged, अक्षुद्रशीला च does not possess meanness of character, त्वाम् you, न च गर्हते does not reproach.

Meaning

O righteous father O king my aged and illustrious mother, Kausalya possesses neither a mean character nor does she blame you.

AK-38-16Ayodhya Kanda 38.16

मया विहीनां वरद प्रपन्नां शोकसागरम्। अदृष्टपूर्वव्यसनां भूयस्सम्मन्तुमर्हसि।।2.38.16।।

mayā vihīnāṃ varada prapannāṃ śokasāgaram| adṛṣṭapūrvavyasanāṃ bhūyassammantumarhasi||2.38.16||

Translation

वरद O bestower of boons, मया with me, विहीनाम् separated, शोकसागरम् ocean of sorrow, प्रपन्नाम् enter into, अदृष्टपूर्वव्यसनाम् experiencing such unforeseen suffering, भूयः in a greater measure, सम्मन्तुम् to care for her, अर्हसि should.

Meaning

O bestower of boons, separated from me and unaccustomed to suffering, she will be plunged into an unforeseen ocean of sorrow. You should pay her greater attention.

AK-38-17Ayodhya Kanda 38.17

पुत्रशोकं यथा नर्च्छेत्त्वया पूज्येन पूजिता। मां हि सञ्चिन्तयन्ती सा त्वयि जीवेत्तपस्विनी।।2.38.17।।

putraśokṃ yathā narcchettvayā pūjyena pūjitā| māṃ hi sañcintayantī sā tvayi jīvettapasvinī||2.38.17||

Translation

तपस्विनी one who deserves compassion, सा she, माम् about me, सञ्चिन्तयन्ती while constantly thinking, पुत्रशोकम् grief on account of her son, यथा as, न इच्छेत् does not obtain, पूज्येन venerable, त्वया by you, पूजिता honoured, त्वयि in you, जीवेत् shall live.

Meaning

Let her not grieve on account of her son. O venerable father, if she, who deserves compassion is honoured by you, she will live.

AK-38-18Ayodhya Kanda 38.18

इमां महेंन्द्रोपम जातगर्धिनीं तथा विधातुं जननीं ममार्हसि। यथा वनस्थे मयि शोककर्शिता न जीवितं न्यस्य यमक्षयं व्रजेत्।।2.38.18।।

imāṃ maheṃndropama jātagardhinīṃ tathā vidhātuṃ jananīṃ mamārhasi| yathā vanasthe mayi śokakarśitā na jīvitṃ nyasya yamakṣayṃ vrajet||2.38.18||

Translation

महेन्द्रोपम equal to Indra, मयि me, वनस्थे staying in the forest, शोककर्शिता emaciated by sorrow, जीवितम् life, न्यस्य having yielded, यथा how, यमक्षयम् abode of Yama, न व्रजेत् will not go, तथा in that way, जातगर्धिनीम् a woman with a possesive feeling, इमाम् this, मम जननीम् my mother, विधातुम् अर्हसि should do.

Meaning

You are powerful like Indra.You should act accordingly so that my mother who has a possesive feeling towards her son should not, due to emaciation go to the abode of Yama after my departure for the forest. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टत्रिंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the thirtyeighth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

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