Chapter [Sarga] 40

Introduction

The departure of Rama from Ayodhya for his exile is depicted. When they are charioted through the streets of Ayodhya the citizenry wails and weeps for Rama's disposition. In his unsurpassable affection towards Rama, King Dasharatha follows the chariot like a commoner, but fails to go further and falls down.


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atha raamaH ca siitaa ca lakSmaNaH ca kR^ita anjaliH |
upasamgR^ihya raajaanam cakrur diinaaH pradakSiNam || 2-40-1

1. atha= then; raamashcha= Rama; seetaacha= Seetha; lakshmaNascha= as Lakshmana; diinaaH= who felt miserable; upasamgR^ihya= bowed down by touching the feet; raajaanam= of the king; pradakshhiNam chakruH= went round him clockwise; kR^itaanjaliH= with joined palms.

Then, Rama Seetha and Lakshmana, who felt miserable, bowed down by touching the feet of the king and went round him clockwise with joined palms.

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tam ca api samanuj~naapya dharmaj~naH siitayaa saha |
raaghavaH shoka sammuuDho jananiim abhyavaadayat || 2-40-2

2. samanujJNaH= after taking leave; tam= of Dasaratha; raaghavaH= Rama; dharmaJNaH= who know what is right; siitayaasaha= along with seetha; abhyavaadayat= bowed; jananiim= to his mother Kausalya; shokasammuudhaH= stupefied by sorrow.

After taking leave of Dasaratha, Rama who knew what is right and stood confounded by sorrow, bowed along with Seetha to Kausalya.

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anvakSam lakSmaNo bhraatuH kausalyaam abhyavaadayat |
atha maatuH sumitraayaa jagraaha caraNau punaH || 2-40-3

3. anvakshham= Immediately following; bhraatuH= his brother; lakshhmanaH= Lakshmana; abhyavaadayat= bowed; kausalyaam= to Kausalya; atha= then; punaH= again; jagraaha= clasped; charaNau= the feet; sumitraayaaH= of Sumintra; maatuH= his mother.

Immediately following his brother, Lakshmana too bowed to Kausalya, then clasped the feet of his mother Sumitra.

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tam vandamaanam rudatii maataa saumitrim abraviit |
hita kaamaa mahaa baahum muurdhni upaaghraaya lakSmaNam || 2-40-4

4. upaaghraaya= smelling; muurdhani= the head; lakshmaNam= of Lakshmana; mahaabaahum= the mighty armed; vandamaanam= who was saluting her; maataa= his mother; hitakaamaa= who wished well of him; abraviit= spoke; rudatii= weeping; soumitrim= to that son of hers.

Smelling (as a token of affection) the head of Lakshmana mighty armed, who was saluting her, his mother Sumitra who wished well of him, spoke weeping, to that son of her (as follows)

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sR^iSTaH tvam vana vaasaaya svanuraktaH suhR^ij jane |
raame pramaadam maa kaarSiiH putra bhraatari gacchati || 2-40-5

5. svanuraktaH= highly fond; suhR^ijjane= of your kinsman Rama; tvam= you; sR^ishhTaH= have been permitted(by me); vanavaasaaya= to dwell in the forest; putra= Oh son! maa karshhiiH= do not; pramaadam= neglect; bhraatari= your half-brother; raame= Rama; gachchhati= who is going ( to the forest)

"Highly fond of your kinsman Rama, you have been permitted (by me) to dwell in the forest(with your eldest half-brother). Do not neglect your half-brother). Do not neglect your half-brother Rama, who is going to the forest, my son!"

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vyasanii vaa samR^iddho vaa gatir eSa tava anagha |
eSa loke sataam dharmaH yaj jyeSTha vashago bhavet || 2-40-6

6. anagha= "Oh, sinless one! vysaniivaa= whether in adversity; samR^iddhovaa= or in riches, eshhaH= he alne; gatiH= is refuge; tava= to you; tava= to you; bhave yat= it should become; dharmaH= code of conduct; sataam= of the virtuous; loka= in the world; eshhaH= that; jyeshhThavashagaH= younger brother should be subject to the control of his elder brother."

"Oh, sinless one! Whether in adversity or in riches, he alone is refugee to you. It should become the code of conduct in the world, that younger brother should be subject to the control of his elder brother."

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idam hi vR^ittam ucitam kulasya asya sanaatanam |
daanam diikSaa ca yaj~neSu tanu tyaago mR^idheSu ca || 2-40-7

7. idam= this; vR^ittamhi= is ideed a practice; uchitam= right; sanaatanam= from ancient times; kulasya= in your race; daanam= of making gifts; diikshhaacha= of dedicating oneself to; yajJNeshhu= performance of sacrificial rites; tanutyaagaH cha= and of forsaking the body; mR^idheshhu= in battles.

"It is indeed a practice right from ancient times in your race, to make gifts, to dedicate onself to performance of sacrificial rites and to foresake one's body to fight battles."

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laksmaNam tvevamktvaa saa samsiddham priyaraaghavam |
sumitraa gachchha gachchheti punaH punaruvaacha tam || 2-40-8

8. evam= thus; uktvaa= speaking; lakshhmanam= to Lakshmana; samsiddham= who was in readiness (to leave the forest); priya raaghavam= and who loved Rama dearly; saa= that; sumitraa= Sumitra; punaH= punaH= again and again; uvaacha= said; tam= to him; iti= thus; gachchha= "fare forth!"

Thus speaking to Lakshmana, who was in readiness to leave the forest and who loved Rama dearly, Sumitra repeatedly said to him, "fare forth, fare forth!"

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raamam dasharatham viddhi maam viddhi janaka aatmajaam |
ayodhyaam aTaviim viddhi gaccha taata yathaa sukham || 2-40-9

9. vidhdhhi= know; raamam=Rama; dasharatham= to be Dasaratha; vidhdhhi= look upon; janakaatmajaam= Seetha the daughter of Janaka; maam= as myself; vidhdhhi= consider; aTaviim= forest; ayodhyaam= as Ayodhya; gachchha= depart; yathaasukham= happily; taata= my son!

"Know Rama to be Dasaratha. Look upon Seetha the daughter of Janaka as myself. Consider the forest as Ayodhya and depart happily, my son!"

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tataH sumantraH kaakutstham praanjalir vaakyam abraviit |
viniitaH vinayaj~naH ca maatalir vaasavam yathaa || 2-40-10

10. tataH= then; sumantraH= Sumantra; viniitaH= the humble man; vinayajJNashcha= who was aware of humility; praaJNjaliH= with joined palms; abraviit= spoke; vaakyam= (these) words; kaakutthsam= to Rama; vaasavam yathaa= as to Indra (ruler of gods) maatalih= Matali(charioteer of Indra)

Then, Sumantra the humble man, who was aware of humility, joined his palms and spoke these words to Rama even as Matali (charioteer of Indra) would to Indra (the ruler of gods).

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ratham aaroha bhadram te raaja putra mahaa yashaH |
kSipram tvaam praapayiSyaami yatra maam raama vakSyasi || 2-40-11

11. aaroha= "mount; ratham= the chariot; mahaayashaH= oh, the highly illustrious; raajaputra= prince! bhadram= may al be well; te= with you! praapayishhyaami= I shall take; tvaam= you; kshhipram= speedily; yatra= wherever; vakshhyasi= you tell"

"Mount the chariot, oh the highly illustrious prince! May all be well with you! I shall take you speedily, wherever you direct me to go."

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catur dasha hi varSaaNi vastavyaani vane tvayaa |
taani upakramitavyaani yaani devyaa asi coditaH || 2-40-12

12. tvayaa= by you; vastavyaani= to be resided; vane= in the forest; chaturdasha= for fourteen; varshhaaNi= years; yaani= which years; choditaH asi= were directed to you; devyaa= by the queen; taani= those; upakramitavyaani= are considered to have commenced

"You have to reside in the forest for fourteen years. Those years, as directed by the queen, are to be considered having commenced."

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tam ratham suurya samkaasham siitaa hR^iSTena cetasaa |
aaruroha vara aarohaa kR^itvaa alamkaaram aatmanaH || 2-40-13

13. kR^itvaa= having; alamkaaram= adorned; aatmanaH= herself; siitaa= Seetha; varaarohaa= with her comely buttocks; aaruroha= mounted; hR^ishhTena= with a delighted; chetasaa= mind; ta ratham= that chariot; surya samkaasham= which was shining like the sun.

Having adorned herself, Seetha with her comely buttocks, mounted with a delighted mind, that chariot which was shining like the sun.

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tathaiva aayudha jaataani bhraatR^ibhyaam kavacaani ca |
ratha upasthe pratinyasya sacarma kaThinam ca tat || 2-40-14

14. atho= thereafter; raamalakshhmaNau= Rama and Lakshmana; bhraatarau= the brothers; tuurNam= quickly; aaruruhatuH= mounted; tam= that chariot; jvalasamkaasham= which was resplendent like fire; chaamiikara vibhuushhitam= and decked with gold.

Thereafter, Rama and Lakshmana the brothers quickly mounted that chariot, which was replendent like fire and decked with gold.

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vanavaasam hi samkhyaya vaasaamsyaabharaNaani cha |
bhartaaramanugachchhantyai siitaayai shvashuro dadau || 2-40-15

15. siitaayai= for Seetha; anugachchhantyai= who was accompanying; bhartaaram= her husband; shvashuraH= the father in law(Dasaratha); dadau= gave away; vaasaamsi= garments; aabharaNaanicha= and jewellery; samkhyaaya= taking into enumeration; vana vaasam= her stay in the forest.

For Seetha who was accompanying with her husband, Dasaratha gave away garments and jewellery, taking into consideration the period for which she had to stay in the forest.

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tathaivaayudhajaalaani bhraatR^ibhyaam kavachaani cha |
rathopasthe pratinyasya sacharma kaThinam cha tat || 2-40-16
siitaa tR^itiiyaan aaruuDhaan dR^iSTvaa dhR^iSTam acodayat |
sumantraH sammataan ashvaan vaayu vega samaan jave || 2-40-17

16-17. tathaiva= In like manner; bhraatR^ithyaam= for the brother; aayudha; pratinyasya= keeping; jaalaani= the sets of weapons; kavachaanicha= armour; kaThinamcha= of hard make; sacharma= with leather= cover; rathopasthe= in the middle of the chariot; sumantraH= Sumantra; dR^ishhTvaa= saw; sitaatR^itiiyaan= the three of whom Seetha constituted the third; aaruudhaan= mounted; aachodayat= drove; dhR^ishhTam= quickly; ashvaan= the horses; sammataan= which were highly admired; jave= with swiftness; vaaynvega samaan= like velocity of wind.

Even so for the two brothers, keeping the sets of weapon, an armour of hard make with leather-cover in the midst of the chariot, Sumantra saw the three of whom Seetha constituted the third mounted and quickly drove the horses which were highly admired, with their swiftness resembling the velocity of wind.

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prayaate tu mahaa araNyam cira raatraaya raaghave |
babhuuva nagare muurcchaa bala muurcchaa janasya ca || 2-40-18

18. raaghave= Rama; pratiyaate= after departing; mahaaraNye= to the great forest; chiraraatraaya= for a long term; muurchchhaa= unconsciousness; babhuuva= prevailed; nagare= in the city; balamuurchchhaacha= (there was) faintness in strength; janasya= of people.

Rama after departing to the great forest for a long term, unconsciousness prevailed in the city. There was faintness in the strength of people.

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tat samaakula sambhraantam matta samkupita dvipam |
haya shinjita nirghoSam puram aasiin mahaa svanam || 2-40-19

19. tat puram= that city; aasiit= became; aakula sambhraantam= filled with flurry; matta sankupita dvipam= with its elephants intoxicated in rut and highly excited (as they were) layashiNjita nirghoshham= resonant with tinkling of ornaments of horses

The city ( of Ayodhya) is filled with flurry, with its elephants intoxicated in rut and highly excited and resonant with tinkling of ornaments of horses.

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tataH sabaala vR^iddhaa saa purii parama piiDitaa |
raamam eva abhidudraava gharma aartaH salilam yathaa || 2-40-20

20. tataH= thereafter; saa purii= that city; sabaala vR^iddhaa= including the youngsters and the old; parama piiDitaa= stricken with, extreme agony; abhidudraava= ran towards; raamam eva= Rama alone; salilam yathaa= like towards water; gharmaartah= the one afflicted with heat (of the sun).

That city, including the youngsters and the old, stricken with extreme agony, ran towards Rama alone, in the same way as the one afflicted with heat of the sun rushes towards water.

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paarshvataH pR^iSThataH ca api lambamaanaaH tat unmukhaaH |
baaSpa puurNa mukhaaH sarve tam uucur bhR^isha duhkhitaaH || 2-40-21

21. lambaamaanaaH= having down toards; paarshvataH= sides; pR^ishhThatashchaiva= and back; sarve= all those people; tadanmukhaaH= with their faces turned towards him; bhaashhpapuurNamukhaaH= with their faces filled with tears; bhR^ishanisvanaah= with loud voices; uuchuH= said; tam= to him(Sumantra)

Having down towards sides and back of the chariot with their faces turned towards Rama and with their faces filled with tears, all those people said with loud voices to Sumantra thus:

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samyaccha vaajinaam rashmiin suuta yaahi shanaiH shanaiH |
mukham drakSyaami raamasya durdarsham no bhaviSyati || 2-40-22

22. suuta= Oh, Charioteer! samayachchha= hold in; rashmiin= the reins; vaajinaam= of the horses; yaahi= (and) go; shanaiH shanaiH= slowly and slowly; drakshhyaamaH= we would behold; mukham= the face; raamasya= Rama; bhavishhyati= which would be; durdarsham= difficult to behold; saH= for us.

"Hold in the reins of the horses and go slowly and slowly, Oh charioteer! We would behold the face of Rama, which would be henceforth difficult to behold for us"

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aayasam hR^idayam nuunam raama maatur asamshayam |
yad deva garbha pratime vanam yaati na bhidyate || 2-40-23

23. hR^idayam= the heart; raama maatuH= of Rama's mother(Kausaly) nuunam= surely asamshayam= undoubtedely; aayasam= is made of iron; yat= since; na bhidyat= it does not get broken; deva garbha pratime= (when) Rama resembling an affspring of gods; yaati= is going; vanam= to the forest.

"The heart of Rama's mother (Kausalya) is surely and undoubtedly made of iron, since it does not get broken when Rama resembling an offspring of gods is going to the forest"

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kR^ita kR^ityaa hi vaidehii chaayaa iva anugataa patim |
na jahaati rataa dharme merum arka prabhaa yathaa || 2-40-24

24. vaidehii= Seetha (the princess of Videha kingdom) kR^ita kR^ityaa= has done what ought to be done; anugataa= by going after; chhayaiva= like a shadow; rataa= delighted; dharme= in virtue; na jahaati= does not leave; patim= her husband; yathaa meru= like Mount Meru; arka prabhaa= the effulgence of the sun.

"Seetha (the princess of Videha kingdom) has done what ought to be done, by going along with him like a shadow, delighted in virtue as she was and does not leave her husband in the same way as Mount Meru does not leave the effulgence of sun"

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aho lakSmaNa siddha arthaH satataam priya vaadinam |
bhraataram deva samkaasham yaH tvam paricariSyasi || 2-40-25

25. lakshhmaNa= Oh, Lakshmana! yaH tvam= since you; paracharishhyasi= are attending; satatam= ever; bhraataram= to your brother, priyavaadinam= who speaks affectionately; devasamkaasham= and in equal to the god; aho= Ah, you are; siddharthaH= the accomplisher of purpose!

"Oh, Lakshmana! You are attending ever to your brother who speaks affectionately and is equal to the god. Ah, you are the accomplisher of purpose!"

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mahati eSaa hi te siddhir eSa ca abhyudayo mahaan |
eSa svargasya maargaH ca yad enam anugacchasi || 2-40-26

26. eshhaa= It; mahatii= is immense; siddhi= fulfilment; te= for you; eshhaH= it; mahaan= is tremendous; abhyandayaH= good fortune; eshhaH= it; maargashcha= is even means; svargasya= to heaven; anugachchhasi iti yat= that you are following; enam= this Rama.

"It is an immense fulfilment for you, it is a tremendous good fortune for you, nay, it is even a means to heaven that you are following this Rama"

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evam vadantaH te soDhum na shekur baaSpam aagatam |
atha raajaa vR^itaH striibhir diinaabhir diina cetanaH || 2-40-27

27. vadantaH= saying; evam= so; te naraaH= those people; na shekuH= were not able; sodhum= to restrain; baashhpam= their tears; aagatam= that come; anugachchhantaH= and followed; tam= the Rama; priyam= their beloved; ikshhvaaku nandanam= delight of the Ikshvaakus.

Saying so, those people were not able to restrain their tears that come and followed that Rama, their beloved delight of the Ikshvakus.

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atha raajaa vR^itaH striibhirdiinaabhirdiinachetanaH |
nirjagaama priyam putram drakSyaami iti bruvan gR^ihaat || 2-40-28

28. atha= then; raajaa= the king; diinachetanaH= with the distressed min; bruvan= saying; dakshhyaaniti= that he would behold; priyam= his beloved; putram= son; nirjagaama= came out; gR^ihaat= of his palace; vR^itaH= surrounded; striibhiH= by women; diinaabhiH= who were dejected.

Then, the king with the distressed mind, saying that he would behold his beloved saw, came out of his palace surrounded by women who were too dejected.

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shushruve ca agrataH striinaam rudantiinaam mahaa svanaH |
yathaa naadaH kareNuunaam baddhe mahati kunjare || 2-40-29

29. agrataH= In front of him; shushruve= was heard; mahaasvanaH= a huge noise; rudantiinaam= of crying; striiNaam= women; naadaH yathaa= echoing like trumpeting; kareNuunaam= of female elephants, mahati kuNjare= (when) a lordly elephant; baddhe= has been pinoned.

In front of him was heard a huge noise of crying women, echoing like trumpeting of female elephants when a lordly elephant has been pinioned.

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pitaa ca raajaa kaakutsthaH shriimaan sannaH tadaa babhau |
paripuurNaH shashii kaale graheNa upaplutaH yathaa || 2-40-30

30. tadaa= then, kaale= at that time; pitaa hi= the father as is well known; shriimaan= as a glorious; raajaa= king; kaakutsthaH= Dasaratha( a scion of Kakutstha) abhavat= becoame; sannaH= shrunk; puurNa shashiiyathaa= like a full moon; upaplutaH= overshadowed; graheNa= by an eclipse.

At that time, the father of Rama as is well known as a glorious king Dasaratha (a scion of Kakutstha) looked shrunk, like the full moon over shadowed by an eclipse.

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sa cha shriimaanachintyaatmaa raamo dasharathaatmajaH |
suutam samchodayaamaasa tvaritam vaahyataamiti || 2-40-31

31. saH= then; shriimaan= glorious; dasharathaatmaJaH= son of Dasaratha, Rama; achintyaatmaa= of inconceivable courage; samchodayaamaasa= directed; suutam= the charioteer; iti= thus; vaahyataam= "Let it be driven; tvaritam= fast"

That glorious son of Dasaratha (Rama) of inconceivable courage, directed the charioteer in the words "Let the chariot be driven fast."

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raamo yaahiiti suutam tam tishhTheti sa janastadaa |
ubhayam naashakatsuutaH kartumadhvani choditaH || 2-40-32

32. tathaa= then; raamaH= Rama(commanded); tamsuutam= that charioteer; iti= with the words; yaahi= "Move on!" janaH= the people, iti= with the words; tishhTha= "stop!" choditaH= urged; adhvani= on the passage; suutaH= the charioteer; naashakat= could not; kartum= do; ubhayam= both.

Rama commanded that charioteer with the words "Move on!" The people said to him "stop!" Urged on the passage, the charioteer could not do both.

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nirgachchhati mahaabaahau raame paurajanaashrubhiH |
patitairabhyavahitam prashashaama mahiirajaH || 2-40-33

33. mahiirajaH= the dust; abhyavahitam= raised on the road; nirgachchhati= due to moving out; raame= of Rama; mahaabaahau= the mighty armed; prashashaama= was suppressed; patitaiH= by the falling; paurajanaashrubhiH= tears of the citizens.

The dust raised on the road due to moving out of mighty armed Rama, was suppressed by the falling tears of the citizens.

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ruditaashruparidyuunam haahaakR^itamachetanam |
prayaaNe raaghavasyaasiitpuram paramapiiDitam || 2-40-34

34. rudiraashru paridyuunam= Wet with wailing tears; haahaakR^itam= (and) loud cries; puram= the city (of Ayodhya) prayaaNe= at that time of departure; raaghavasya= of Rama; aasiit= became; achetanam= unconscious; paramapiiditam= with deep agony.

With full of wailing tears, the citizens of after making loud cries became unconscious with deep agony, at the time of departure of Rama.

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susraava nayanaiH striiNaamasramaayaasasambhavam |
miinasamkshobhachalitaiH salilam paN^kajairiva || 2-40-35

35. asram= Tears; aayaasasambhavam= born of anguish; susraava= flowed; nayanaiH= from the eyes; striiNaam= of women; salilamiva= like(drops of) water; paNkajaiH= from lotuses; miina samkshhobhachalitaiH= by the commation of fist.

Tears born of anguish flowed from the eyes of women like(drops of) water falling from lotuses by the commotion of fish.

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dR^ishhTvaa tu nR^ipatiH shriimaanekachittagatam puram |
nipapaataiva duHkhena hatamuula iva drumaH || 2-40-36

36. dR^ishhTvaa= Seeing; puram= the city; ekachittagatam= with singleness of mind; shriimaan= the glorious; nR^ipatiH= monarch; nipapaataiva= fell down; duHkhena= with agony; drumaH iva= like a tree; hatamuulaH= sain at its root.

Seeing the city with singleness of mind, the glorious monarch Dasaratha fell down with agony, like a tree slain at its root.

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tatao hala halaa shabdo jaj~ne raamasya pR^iSThataH |
naraaNaam prekSya raajaanam siidantam bhR^isha duhkhitam || 2-40-37

37. tataH= thereafter; prekshhya= seeing; raajaanam= the king; siidantam= becoming feeble; bR^ishaduHkhitam= and much distress; halahalashabdaH= the out cry; naraaNam= of the people; jaJNe= rose; pR^ishhTataH= from the rear; raamasya= of Rama.

Thereafter, seeing the king becoming feeble and much distressed, the outery of the people rose from the rear of Rama.

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haa raama iti janaaH kecit raama maataa iti ca apare |
antaH puram samR^iddham ca kroshantam paryadevayan || 2-40-38

38. kachit= some; janaaH= poeple; kroshantaH= crying; haa raameti= "Oh Rama!" apare= and some others, raamamaateti= "Oh Rama's mother!" paryadevayan antHpuram samR^iddhamcha= and made the entire gynaecium to weap.

Some people crying "Oh, Rama!" and some others crying "Oh, Rama's mother!", made the entire women in the gynaecium to weep.

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anviikSamaaNo raamaH tu viSaNNam bhraanta cetasam |
raajaanam maataram caiva dadarsha anugatau pathi || 2-40-39

39. anviikshhamaanaH= looking back; raamastu= Rama; dadarsha= saw; raajaanam= the king; vishhaNNam= sorrowful; bhraantachetasam= and perplexed in mind; maataram chaiva= as well as his mother; anugatau= following(him) pathi= on the road.

Looking back, Rama saw the king sorrowful and perplexed in mind, as well as his mother following (him) on the road.

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sa baddha iva paashena kishoro maataram yathaa |
dharmapaashena samkshiptaH prakaasham naabhudaikshata || 2-40-40

40. saH= Rama; samkshhiptaH= bound; dharmapaashena= by the chord of righteousness, naabhyudaikshhata= could not behold those parents; prakaasham= openly; kishoraH iva= as a (foal); baddhaH= caught; paashena= in a snare; maataram yathaa= its dam.

Rama, bound by the chord of righteousness, could not gaze openly at his parents, as a foal caught in a snare would not properly look at its dam.

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padaatinau ca yaana arhaav aduhkha arhau sukha ucitau |
dR^iSTvaa samcodayaam aasa shiighram yaahi iti saarathim || 2-40-41

41. dR^ishhTvaa= seeing(then) padaatinau= coming by foot; yaanaarhau= (through) worthy of a chariot; sukhochitau= habituated to comfort; avaduHkhaarhau= unworthy of suffering; samchodayaamaasa= commanded; sarathim= the charioteer; iti= thus; yaahi= "Drive; shiighram= fast!"

Seeing them coming by foot, though worthy of a chariot, habituated to comfort and unworthy of suffering, Rama commanded the charioteer with words: "Drive fast!"

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na hi tat puruSa vyaaghraH duhkhadam darshanam pituH |
maatuH ca sahitum shaktaH totra arditaiva dvipaH || 2-40-42

42. purushhvyaaghraH= Rama, the tiger among men; duHkhadam= feeling pained; dvipaH iva= as an elephant; totraarditaH= pricked by a good; na shaktaH hi= was indeed not able; sahitum= to bear; tat= that; darshanam= sight; pituH= of his father; maatushcha= and his mother.

Rama the tiger among men, feeling pained, as an elephant being pricked by a good, indeed was not able to bear that plight of his father and his mother.

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pratyagaaramivaayaantii vatsalaa vatsakaaraNaat |
baddhavatsaa yathaa dhenuu raamamaataabhyaadhaavata || 2-40-43

43. raamamaataa= Rama's mother(Kausalya) abhyadhaavata= ran towards her son; dhanuH iva= as a cow; dhanuH iva= as a cow; baddha vatsaa= whose calf stands tied; vatsalaa= fond of her calf; aayaantii= coming; agaaram prati= home; vatsa kaaraNaat yathaa= for her calf.

Rama's mother (Kausalya) ran towards her son, as a cow fond of her calf and whose calf is tied (in a stall), runs home for her calf.

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tathaa rudantiim kausalyaam ratham tam anudhaavatiim |
kroshantiim raama raama iti haa siite lakSmaNa iti ca || 2-40-44
raamalakshmaNasiitaartham sravantiim vaari netrajam |
asakR^it praikSata tadaa nR^ityantiim iva maataram || 2-40-45

44-45. saH= Rama; askR^it= again and again; praikshhata= saw; taam kausalyaam= that Kausalya; maataram= his mother; rudantiim= who was crying; tathaa= thus; anudhaavantiim= running after; tam ratham= that chariot; mR^ityantiim iva= as though dancing; kroshantiim= shouting; raama raameti= Oh, Rama, Rama!; haa siite= Oh, Seetha! lakshmaNeticha= and Oh, Lakshmana; sravantiim= trickling; vaari= tears; netrajam= descended from the eyes; raamalakshmaNa siitaartham= for the sake of Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha.

Rama again and again saw that Kausalya, his mother who was crying thus, running after that chariot as though dancing, shouting "Oh, Rama, Rama!" "Oh, Seetha!" and "Oh, Lakshmana!" trickling tears descending from her eyes for the sake of Rama Lakshmana and Seetha.

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tiSTha iti raajaa cukroSa yaahi yaahi iti raaghavaH |
sumantrasya babhuuva aatmaa cakrayoH iva ca antaraa || 2-40-46

46. dasharatha= Dasaratha; chukrosha= exclaimed saying; tishheti= "Stop!" raaghavaH= Rama; yaahiyaahi iti= "go on, proceed!" aatmaa= the mind; sumantrasya= of Sumantra; babhuuya= became; antaraa iva= as in between; chakrayoH= two whirl-pools.

Dasaratha exclaimed saying "Stop!" while Rama called out "Go on, proceed!" (In that way) Sumantra's mind became confused, as in between two (opposing) whirl pools.

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na ashrauSam iti raajaanam upaalabdho api vakSyasi |
ciram duhkhasya paapiSTham iti raamaH tam abraviit || 2-40-47

47. raamaH= Rama; abraviit= said; tam= to him; iti= thus; vakshhyasi= "you can say; rajaanaam= to the king; naashraushhamiti= that you did not hear; upaalabdho.api= even when scolded; duHkham= (seeing) their gief; chiram= for a long tiem; paapishhTam= is a very wicked thing.

Rama said to him: "You can say to the king that you did not hear (his call), even when scolded (later). Seeing their grief for a long time is quite unbearbale."

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raamasya sa vacaH kurvann anuj~naapya ca tam janam |
vrajataH api hayaan shiighram codayaam aasa saarathiH || 2-40-48

48. saarathiH= the charioteer; kurvan= doing; raamasya= (as per) Rama's; vachaH= words; anuJNaapya= taking leave of; tam= those; janam= citizens; chodayaamaasa= driven; hayaan= the horses; shiighram= (more) speedily; vrajoto.api= even when they are proceeding.

The charioteer, doing as per Rama's words, took leave of those citizens and drive the horses more speedily even while they are going.

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nyavartata jano raaj~no raamam kR^itvaa pradakSiNam |
manasaa api ashru vegaiH ca na nyavartata maanuSam || 2-40-49

49. raaJNaH= the king's ; janaH= people; nyavartata= returned; pradakshhiNam kR^itvaa; after (mentally) going round; raamam= Rama; maamshham= the mankind; nanyavartata= did not return; manasaa.api= with their mind; ashruvegishcha= or the impulse of their tears.

The king's people returned after (mentally) going round Rama. Their minds did not return. Their impulse of tears also did not get reduced.

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yam icchet punar aayaantam na enam duuram anuvrajet |
iti amaatyaa mahaa raajam uucur dasharatham vacaH || 2-40-50

50. amaatyaaH= the ministers; uuchuH= spoke; vachaH= these words; maahaarajam= to the king; dasharatham= Dasaratha; iti= thus; yam= to who; ichchhet=(we) desire(him) aayantam= to come; punaH= again; enam= to him; naanuprajet= we; should not follow, duuram= to a long distance.

The ministers spoke to king Dasaratha as follows:" We should not follow to a long distance him whom we wish to see come back."

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teSaam vacaH sarva guNa upapannam |
prasvinna gaatraH praviSaNNa ruupaH |
nishamya raajaa kR^ipaNaH sabhaaryo |
vyavasthitaH tam sutam iikSamaaNaH || 2-40-51

51. nishamya= hearing; teshhaam= their; vachaH= words, sarvaguNopapannam= which were befitting with all virtues; raajaa= the king; kR^ipaNaH= felt miserable; vyasthitaH= stopped short; iikshhamaaNaH= gazing; sa bhaaryaH= along with his wife; tam sutam= at that son(Rama); prasvinnagaatraH= with his body pesspiring; pravishhaNNaruupaH= and wearing a dejected appearance.

Hearing their words, which were befitting with all virtues, the king Dasaratha felt miserable, stopped short, gazing along with his wife, at his son Rama, with his whole body perspiring and wearing a dejected look.

 

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe catvaari.mshaH sargaH

Thus completes 40th chapter in the AyodhyaKanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.


Verse Locator for Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya : Chapter 40

 

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Sarga 40 in English Prose

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© June 2002, K. M. K. Murthy