Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 20 of 119 · 55 verses
Kausalya Hears the News
As Rama leaves with joined palms, a great wail rises among the women of the inner palace: “He who looked after all of us unasked, who was our refuge, who treated us as he treats his own mother Kausalya, who never grew angry even when cursed and soothed all who were angry, is leaving today. Our king is a fool, abandoning Raghava, the refuge of all beings.” The queens cry out like cows that have lost their calves. Hearing their wail, the grief-stricken king shrinks down on his seat.
Rama, sighing like an elephant, goes with Lakshmana to his mother’s apartments. Old attendants at the door hail him with “Victory!” He bows to the learned old brahmanas in the second court; in the third, women, children and elders guarding the doors bless him and run in with the happy news. Kausalya, who has kept vigil all night, is at the morning worship of Vishnu for her son’s welfare, in linen, offering into the fire, surrounded by curd, rice, ghee, sweets, grain, white garlands, rice-pudding, fuel and full pots. Seeing her son, she runs to him like a mare to her foal, embraces him and kisses his head: “May you have long life, fame and dharma like the royal sages of our line. See your truthful father the king; today he will consecrate you.”
Offered a seat and food, Rama stretches out his joined palms and says: “Queen, you do not know the great danger that has come, a grief for you, for Vaidehi and for Lakshmana. I am going to the Dandaka forest; what is a seat to me? A seat of grass suits me now. For fourteen years I will live in the lonely forest on roots and fruit, giving up meat like a sage. The king gives Bharata the place of crown prince and banishes me to Dandaka as an ascetic.” Kausalya falls like a sala branch cut by an axe, like a goddess fallen from heaven. Rama lifts her and wipes the dust from her. She laments: “If you had never been born, Rama, I would have only the grief of a childless woman. I never knew happiness through my husband; I hoped to find it through my son. Now I, the eldest, must hear the cutting words of my lesser co-wives. Even with you near I was slighted; I have been treated like Kaikeyi’s servants or worse. For seventeen years since your birth I waited for my sorrow to end. How shall I live without seeing your face like the full moon? My fasts and vows were wasted, like seed sown in barren ground. My heart must be iron, that it does not break. Death will not take me before my time, though I wish it. I will follow you to the forest, as a weak cow follows her calf.” She weeps, like a kinnari seeing her child bound.
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तस्मिंस्तु पुरुषव्याघ्रे निष्क्रामति कृताञ्जलौ । आर्तशब्दो महान् जज्ञे स्त्रीणामन्तःपुरे तदा ॥ १ ॥
As that tiger among men went out with joined palms, a great cry of grief arose among the women of the inner palace:
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कृत्येष्वचोदितः पित्रा सर्वस्यान्तःपुरस्य च । गतिश्च शरणं चासीत् स रामोऽद्य प्रवत्स्यति ॥ २ ॥
“He who, unbidden by his father, saw to the needs of the whole inner palace, who was our way and our refuge, that Rama is leaving today.
कौसल्यायां यथा युक्तो जनन्यां वर्तते सदा । तथैव वर्ततेऽस्मासु जन्मप्रभृति राघवः ॥ ३ ॥
“As he always behaves toward his mother Kausalya, so Raghava has behaved toward us from his birth.
न क्रुध्यत्यभिशप्तोऽपि क्रोधनीयानि वर्जयन् । क्रुद्धान् प्रसादयन् सर्वान् स इतोऽद्य प्रवत्स्यति ॥ ४ ॥
“He does not grow angry even when reviled; he avoids what would anger others and soothes all who are angry: he is leaving here today.
अबुद्धिर्बत नो राजा जीवलोकं चरत्ययम् । यो गतिं सर्वभूतानां परित्यजति राघवम् ॥ ५ ॥
“Alas, our king walks the world of the living without sense, abandoning Raghava, the refuge of all beings.”
इति सर्वा महिष्यस्ता विवत्सा इव धेनवः । पतिमाचुक्रुशुश्चापि सस्वनं चापि चुक्रुशुः ॥ ६ ॥
So all those queens, like cows bereft of their calves, cried out against their husband and wailed aloud.
स हि चान्तःपुरे घोरमार्तशब्दं महीपतिः । पुत्रशोकाभिसंतप्तः श्रुत्वा व्यालीयतासने ॥ ७ ॥
The lord of the earth, burning with grief for his son, hearing that terrible cry of grief in the inner palace, shrank down on his seat.
रामस्तु भृशमायस्तो निःश्वसन्निव कुञ्जरः । जगाम सहितो भ्रात्रा मातुरन्तःपुरं वशी ॥ ८ ॥
Rama, deeply distressed, sighing like an elephant, went with his brother, master of himself, to his mother’s apartments.
सोऽपश्यत् पुरुषं तत्र वृद्धं परमपूजितम् । उपविष्टं गृहद्वारि तिष्ठतश्चापरान् बहून् ॥ ९ ॥
There he saw a venerable old man, highly honoured, seated at the door of the house, and many others standing.
दृष्ट्वैव तु तदा रामं ते सर्वे समुपस्थिताः । जयेन जयतां श्रेष्ठं वर्धयन्ति स्म राघवम् ॥ १० ॥
As soon as they saw Rama, all of them came up and hailed Raghava, best of victors, with “Victory!”
प्रविश्य प्रथमां कक्ष्यां द्वितीयायां ददर्श सः । ब्राह्मणान् वेदसम्पन्नान् वृद्धान् राज्ञाभिसत्कृतान् ॥ ११ ॥
Entering the first court, in the second he saw old brahmanas learned in the Vedas, honoured by the king.
प्रणम्य रामस्तान् वृद्धांस्तृतीयायां ददर्श सः । स्त्रियो बालाश्च वृद्धाश्च द्वाररक्षणतत्पराः ॥ १२ ॥
Bowing to those elders, Rama saw in the third women, girls and old women devoted to guarding the doors.
वर्धयित्वा प्रहृष्टास्ताः प्रविश्य च गृहं स्त्रियः । न्यवेदयन्त त्वरितं राममातुः प्रियं तदा ॥ १३ ॥
Having blessed him joyfully, the women entered the house and quickly told Rama’s mother the happy news.
कौसल्यापि तदा देवी रात्रिं स्थित्वा समाहिता । प्रभाते चाकरोत् पूजां विष्णोः पुत्रहितैषिणी ॥ १४ ॥
Queen Kausalya, having spent the night with mind collected, at dawn was performing the worship of Vishnu, wishing her son’s good.
सा क्षौमवसना हृष्टा नित्यं व्रतपरायणा । अग्निं जुहोति स्म तदा मन्त्रवत् कृतमङ्गला ॥ १५ ॥
In linen, joyful, always devoted to vows, her auspicious rites done, she was then offering into the fire with mantras.
प्रविश्य तु तदा रामो मातुरन्तःपुरं शुभम् । ददर्श मातरं तत्र हावयन्तीं हुताशनम् ॥ १६ ॥
Entering his mother’s lovely apartments, Rama saw his mother there, having the fire fed with offerings.
देवकार्यनिमित्तं च तत्रापश्यत् समुद्यतम् । दध्यक्षतघृतं चैव मोदकान् हविषस्तथा ॥ १७ ॥
लाजान् माल्यानि शुक्लानि पायसं कृसरं तथा । समिधः पूर्णकुम्भांश्च ददर्श रघुनन्दनः ॥ १८ ॥
He saw there, made ready for the worship of the gods, curd, unbroken rice and ghee, sweetmeats and offerings, parched grain, white garlands, rice-pudding and sesame-rice, fuel and full jars: the delight of the Raghus saw it all.
तां शुक्लक्षौमसंवीतां व्रतयोगेन कर्शिताम् । तर्पयन्तीं ददर्शाद्भिर्देवतां वरवर्णिनीम् ॥ १९ ॥
He saw that fair woman, wrapped in white linen, thin from her vows and disciplines, offering water to the deity.
सा चिरस्यात्मजं दृष्ट्वा मातृनन्दनमागतम् । अभिचक्राम संहृष्टा किशोरं वडवा यथा ॥ २० ॥
Seeing her son, her joy, come after a long time, she ran to him delighted, as a mare to her foal.
स मातरमुपक्रान्तामुपसंगृह्य राघवः । परिष्वक्तश्च बाहुभ्यामवघ्रातश्च मूर्धनि ॥ २१ ॥
Raghava clasped his mother’s feet as she came; she embraced him with both arms and kissed him on the head.
तमुवाच दुराधर्षं राघवं सुतमात्मनः । कौसल्या पुत्रवात्सल्यादिदं प्रियहितं वचः ॥ २२ ॥
Out of love for her son, Kausalya spoke these loving, kind words to her unconquerable son Raghava:
वृद्धानां धर्मशीलानां राजर्षीणां महात्मनाम् । प्राप्नुह्यायुश्च कीर्तिं च धर्मं चाप्युचितं कुले ॥ २३ ॥
“Gain the long life, fame and dharma, fitting to the family, of the aged, righteous, great-souled royal sages.
सत्यप्रतिज्ञं पितरं राजानं पश्य राघव । अद्यैव त्वां स धर्मात्मा यौवराज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति ॥ २४ ॥
“See your father, the king, true to his promise, Raghava. This very day that righteous one will consecrate you as crown prince.”
दत्तमासनमालभ्य भोजनेन निमन्त्रितः । मातरं राघवः किंचित् प्रसार्याञ्जलिमब्रवीत् ॥ २५ ॥
Touching the seat offered and invited to eat, Raghava, stretching out his joined palms a little, spoke to his mother.
स स्वभावविनीतश्च गौरवाच्च तथानतः । प्रस्थितो दण्डकारण्यमाप्रष्टुमुपचक्रमे ॥ २६ ॥
Humble by nature and bowed with respect, setting out for the Dandaka forest, he began to take his leave:
देवि नूनं न जानीषे महद् भयमुपस्थितम् । इदं तव च दुःखाय वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणस्य च ॥ २७ ॥
“Queen, surely you do not know that a great danger has come, to your sorrow and to Vaidehi’s and Lakshmana’s.
गमिष्ये दण्डकारण्यं किमनेनासनेन मे । विष्टरासनयोग्यो हि कालोऽयं मामुपस्थितः ॥ २८ ॥
“I am going to the Dandaka forest; what is this seat to me? The time has come for me when a seat of grass is fitting.
चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि वत्स्याम विजने वने । कन्दमूलफलैर्जीवन् हित्वा मुनिवदामिषम् ॥ २९ ॥
“For fourteen years I shall live in the lonely forest, living on bulbs, roots and fruit, giving up meat like a sage.
भरताय महाराजो यौवराज्यं प्रयच्छति । मां पुनर्दण्डकारण्यं विवासयति तापसम् ॥ ३० ॥
“The great king gives the place of crown prince to Bharata, and banishes me to the Dandaka forest as an ascetic.
स षट् चाष्टौ च वर्षाणि वत्स्यामि विजने वने । आसेवमानो वन्यानि फलमूलैश्च वर्तयन् ॥ ३१ ॥
“For six and eight years I shall live in the lonely forest, using what the forest gives, living on fruit and roots.”
सा निकृत्तेव सालस्य यष्टिः परशुना वने । पपात सहसा देवी देवतेव दिवश्च्युता ॥ ३२ ॥
Like a branch of a sala tree cut by an axe in the forest, the queen fell suddenly, like a goddess fallen from heaven.
तामदुःखोचितां दृष्ट्वा पतितां कदलीमिव । रामस्तूत्थापयामास मातरं गतचेतसम् ॥ ३३ ॥
Seeing her, unused to sorrow, fallen like a plantain tree, Rama raised up his unconscious mother.
उपावृत्योत्थितां दीनां वडवामिव वाहिताम् । पांसुगुण्ठितसर्वाङ्गीं विममर्श च पाणिना ॥ ३४ ॥
She rose, wretched, like a mare after bearing a load, her whole body covered in dust, and he stroked her with his hand.
सा राघवमुपासीनमसुखार्ता सुखोचिता । उवाच पुरुषव्याघ्रमुपशृण्वति लक्ष्मणे ॥ ३५ ॥
Afflicted with sorrow, used to happiness, she said to Raghava, tiger among men, sitting beside her, while Lakshmana listened:
यदि पुत्र न जायेथा मम शोकाय राघव । न स्म दुःखमतो भूयः पश्येयमहमप्रजाः ॥ ३६ ॥
“If you had not been born, my son, for my sorrow, Raghava, I would not, being childless, have seen any sorrow greater than that.
एक एव हि वन्ध्यायाः शोको भवति मानसः । अप्रजास्मीति संतापो न ह्यन्यः पुत्र विद्यते ॥ ३७ ॥
“For a barren woman there is one grief of the mind, the pain of ‘I am childless’; there is no other, my son.
न दृष्टपूर्वं कल्याणं सुखं वा पतिपौरुषे । अपि पुत्रे विपश्येयमिति रामास्थितं मया ॥ ३८ ॥
“I never saw good fortune or happiness in my husband’s manhood; ‘I may see it in my son’: this was my hope, Rama.
सा बहून्यमनोज्ञानि वाक्यानि हृदयच्छिदाम् । अहं श्रोष्ये सपत्नीनामवराणां परा सती ॥ ३९ ॥
“I, the senior, will hear many unpleasant, heart-cutting words from my lesser co-wives.
अतो दुःखतरं किं नु प्रमदानां भविष्यति । मम शोको विलापश्च यादृशोऽयमनन्तकः ॥ ४० ॥
“What could be more painful than this for women? Such is my grief and lament, endless.
त्वयि संनिहितेऽप्येवमहमासं निराकृता । किं पुनः प्रोषिते तात ध्रुवं मरणमेव हि ॥ ४१ ॥
“Even with you near, I was cast aside like this; what then when you are away, my dear? Surely death alone.
अत्यन्तं निगृहीतास्मि भर्तुर्नित्यमसम्मता । परिवारेण कैकेय्याः समा वाप्यथवावरा ॥ ४२ ॥
“I have been utterly restrained, always disregarded by my husband, equal to Kaikeyi’s retinue, or even lower.
यो हि मां सेवते कश्चिदपि वाप्यनुवर्तते । कैकेय्याः पुत्रमन्वीक्ष्य स जनो नाभिभाषते ॥ ४३ ॥
“Whoever serves me or follows me, seeing Kaikeyi’s son, does not speak to me.
नित्यक्रोधतया तस्याः कथं नु खरवादि तत् । कैकेय्या वदनं द्रष्टुं पुत्र शक्ष्यामि दुर्गता ॥ ४४ ॥
“How, wretched as I am, my son, shall I be able to look at Kaikeyi’s face, always angry and harsh-spoken?
दश सप्त च वर्षाणि जातस्य तव राघव । अतीतानि प्रकांक्षन्त्या मया दुःखपरिक्षयम् ॥ ४५ ॥
“Seventeen years have passed since you were born, Raghava, while I longed for the end of my sorrow.
तदक्षयं महद्दुःखं नोत्सहे सहितुं चिरात् । विप्रकारं सपत्नीनामेवं जीर्णापि राघव ॥ ४६ ॥
“I cannot bear for long this great, unending sorrow, this insult from my co-wives, old as I am, Raghava.
अपश्यन्ती तव मुखं परिपूर्णशशिप्रभम् । कृपणा वर्तयिष्यामि कथं कृपणजीविका ॥ ४७ ॥
“Not seeing your face, bright as the full moon, how shall I live, wretched, a pitiable life?
उपवासैश्च योगैश्च बहुभिश्च परिश्रमैः । दुःखसंवर्धितो मोघं त्वं हि दुर्गतया मया ॥ ४८ ॥
“With fasts and disciplines and many labours you were raised in vain by unhappy me, through sorrow.
स्थिरं नु हृदयं मन्ये ममेदं यन्न दीर्यते । प्रावृषीव महानद्याः स्पृष्टं कूलं नवाम्भसा ॥ ४९ ॥
“I think this heart of mine is hard, since it does not break, like the bank of a great river touched by new water in the rains.
ममैव नूनं मरणं न विद्यते न चावकाशोऽस्ति यमक्षये मम । यदन्तकोऽद्यैव न मां जिहीर्षति प्रसह्य सिंहो रुदतीं मृगीमिव ॥ ५० ॥
“Surely there is no death for me, no room for me in Yama’s abode, since Death does not want to seize me by force today, as a lion a weeping doe.
स्थिरं हि नूनं हृदयं ममायसं न भिद्यते यद् भुवि नो विदीर्यते । अनेन दुःखेन च देहमर्पितं ध्रुवं ह्यकाले मरणं न विद्यते ॥ ५१ ॥
“Surely my heart is hard, made of iron, since it does not break or burst on the ground. My body is given over to this sorrow; surely there is no untimely death.
इदं तु दुःखं यदनर्थकानि मे व्रतानि दानानि च संयमाश्च हि । तपश्च तप्तं यदपत्यकाम्यया सुनिष्फलं बीजमिवोप्तमूषरे ॥ ५२ ॥
“This is the sorrow: that my vows, gifts and disciplines were fruitless, and the austerity I practised wishing for a child was utterly fruitless, like seed sown in barren ground.
यदि ह्यकाले मरणं यदृच्छया लभेत कश्चिद् गुरुदुःखकर्शितः । गताहमद्यैव परेतसंसदं विना त्वया धेनुरिवात्मजेन वै ॥ ५३ ॥
“If anyone worn by heavy sorrow could find untimely death at will, I would go today to the assembly of the dead, without you, like a cow without her calf.
अथापि किं जीवितमद्य मे वृथा त्वया विना चन्द्रनिभाननप्रभ । अनुव्रजिष्यामि वनं त्वयैव गौः सुदुर्बला वत्समिवाभिकांक्षया ॥ ५४ ॥
“Yet what is my life now but vain without you, whose face shines like the moon? I will follow you to the forest, as a very weak cow follows her calf out of longing.”
भृशमसुखममर्षिता तदा बहु विललाप समीक्ष्य राघवम् । व्यसनमुपनिशाम्य सा महत् सुतमिव बद्धमवेक्ष्य किंनरी ॥ ५५ ॥
Unable to bear the great unhappiness, seeing the great calamity and looking at Raghava, she wept much, like a kinnari seeing her child bound.