Chapter [Sarga] 45

Introduction

Rama requests the citizens to return to Ayodhya and to show respect to Bharata the prince Regent and Dasaratha the king. The citizens try to persuade Rama to return to Ayodhya, but in vain. Rama along with all of them reach the bank of Tamasa.


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anuraktaa mahaatmaanam raamam satya parakramam |
anujagmuH prayaantam tam vana vaasaaya maanavaaH || 2-45-1

1. maanavaaH=The humans; anuraktaaH= who are fond of Rama; anujagnuH= accompanied; tam raamam= that Rama; mahaatmaanam= the high soled; satya paraakramam= and the truly brave; prayaantam= who is going; vanavaasaasya= for dwelling in the forest.

The people devoted to the high- soled Rama of unfailing bravery accompanied him on his way to the forest for exile.

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nivartite api ca balaat suhR^id varge ca raajini |
na eva te samnyavartanta raamasya anugataa ratham || 2-45-2

2. raajani cha= when the king; balata= by force; nivartite apicha= was turned back; te= those; suhR^idvarge= group of friends; anugataaH= who were following; raamasya= Rama’s; ratham= chariot; naiva samsyavartanta=did not return.

When the king was forced (in the interests of his son) to turn back, the group of friends who were following Rama’s chariot did not return.

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ayodhyaa nilayaanaam hi puruSaaNaam mahaa yashaaH |
babhuuva guNa sampannaH puurNa candraiva priyaH || 2-45-3

3. mahaayashaaH= (Rama) who enjoyed great celebrity; guNasampannaH= and richly endowed with every virtue; puurNachandra iva=resembling the full moon; babhuuvahi= had indeed become; priyaH= the favorite; purushhaaNam= for the people; ayodhyaanilayaanam= living in Ayodhya .

Rama who enjoyed great celebrity and who was richly endowed with every virtue, resembling the full moon, had indeed become the favorite for the people living in Ayodhya.

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sa yaacyamaanaH kaakutsthaH svaabhiH prakR^itibhis tadaa |
kurvaaNaH pitaram satyam vanam eva anvapadyata || 2-45-4

4. yaachyamaanaH= Despite the entreaties ; tadaa= then; prakR^itibhiH=of the people; svabhiH= of his own; saH= that; kaakutstha= Rama( the scion of Kakustha); kurvaaNaH= proving; pitaram= his father; satyam= to be true; anvapa dyata= proceeded; vanameva= to the forest only.

Despite the entreaties of the people of his own, Rama(the scion of the Kakutstha), in order to honor his father’s vow; proceeded towards the forest.

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avekSamaaNaH sasneham cakSuSaa prapibann iva |
uvaaca raamaH snehena taaH prajaaH svaaH prajaaiva || 2-45-5

5. avekshhamaaNaH= fondly gazing on; taaH= those; prajaaH= people; prapibanniva= as though drinking; chakshhushhaa= with his eyes; raamaH= Rama; sasneham= lovingly; uvaacha= spoke; (as follows) prajaa iva= as though children; svaaH= of his own.

Fondly gazing on the people as though drinking with his eyes, Rama lovingly spoke (as follows) as though they were his own children:

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yaa priitir bahumaanaH ca mayy ayodhyaa nivaasinaam |
mat priya artham visheSeNa bharate saa niveshyataam || 2-45-6

6. “yaa= which; priitiH=affection; bahumaanashcha= and respect; ayodhya nivaasinaam= you the people living in Ayodhya; mayi= (have) in me; saa= that ; niveshyataam= be bestowed; visheshheNa= in a special measure; bharate= on Bharata; matpriyaartham= for my satisfaction.

“The respect and affection that has been bestowed upon me by you (the residents of Ayodhya) may for my satisfaction be bestowed in a special measure on Bharata.

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sa hi kalyaaNa caaritraH kaikeyyaa aananda vardhanaH |
kariSyati yathaavad vaH priyaaNi ca hitaani ca || 2-45-7

7. saH= Bharata; kaikeyyaa nandavardhanaH= who enhances the delight of Kaikeyi; kalyaaNacharitraH= and who possessed excellent conduct; karishhyati hi= will indeed do; priyaaNi= pleasing things; hitaanicha=and beneficial things; vaH= to you; yathaavat= properly.”

“Bharata who enhances the delight of Kaikeyi and who possesses excellent conduct, will indeed do pleasing and beneficial things to you appropriately."

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j~naana vR^iddho vayo baalo mR^idur viirya guNa anvitaH |
anuruupaH sa vo bhartaa bhaviSyati bhaya apahaH || 2-45-8

8. saH= That Bharata; N^gyaana vR^iddhaH= who is matured in knowledge; vayobaalaH= and young in age; mR^iduH= who is gentle; viirya guNaanvitaH=and endowed with virility and virtue; bhavishhyati= will become; anuruupaH= worthy; bhartaa= master; bhayaapahaH= who can dispel your fears.”

“Bharata who is matured in knowledge but young in age, who is gentle but endowed with virility and virtue, will become your worthy master who can dispel your fears"

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sa hi raaja guNaiH yuktaH yuva raajaH samiikSitaH |
api ca api mayaa shiSTaiH kaaryam vo bhartR^i shaasanam || 2-45-9

9. saH= That Bharata; yuktaH= who is endowed; raajaguNaiH= with royal virtues; samiikshhitaH= is being marked; yuvaraajaH= as the prince . apicha= And further; bhartR^ishaasanam= king’s command; kaaryam= is to be carried out; mayaa= by me; shishhTaiH=and by the rest; vaH=of you.

“Bharata who is endowed with royal virtues is being marked as the prince. Further, king’s command is to be carried out by me and the rest of you.

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na ca tapyed yathaa ca asau vana vaasam gate mayi |
mahaa raajaH tathaa kaaryo mama priya cikiirSayaa || 2-45-10

10. mayi= (when) I; gate= have gone; vanavaasam= to the forest for exile; yathaa= how; asou= this; mahaarajah= monarch; na santapyet= does not suffer agony; tathaa= in that manner; kaaryaH= to be done; priya chikiirshhayaa= with an intent to please; mama= me.”

“If you desire to please me, see that the king does not suffer agony when I have gone to forest for exile”

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yathaa yathaa daasharathir dharmam eva aasthitaH abhavat |
tathaa tathaa prakR^itayo raamam patim akaamayan || 2-45-11

11. yathaa yathaa= more and more; daasharathiH=Rama, the son of Dasaratha; abhavat= became; aasthitaH= established; dharma eva= in his duty alone; tathaa tathaa= the more and more; prakR^itayaH= the people; akaamayan= wished; raamam= Rama; patim= (as their) master.”

The more Rama the son of Dasaratha, showed himself to be faithful to his duty, the more the people wished to have him as their master “

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baaSpeNa pihitam diinam raamaH saumitriNaa saha |
cakarSa iva guNaiH baddhvaa janam punar iva aasanam || 2-45-12

12. raamaH= Rama; soumitriNaa saha= accompanied by the son of Sumitra; chakarshha= drew; janam= the people (of the city); pihitam=filled with; baashhpeNa= tears; diinam= piteously; baddhvaa iva= as though tied; guNaiH=with cords.

Rama accompanied by son of Sumitra, drew the people of the city, who were weeping piteously, after him as if tied and pulled with cords.

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te dvijaaH trividham vR^iddhaa j~naanena vayasaa ojasaa |
vayaH prakampa shiraso duuraat uucur idam vacaH || 2-45-13

13. te dvijaaH= the brahmanas; vR^iddhaaH= who were elderly; trividham= in three ways; G^yaanena= by knowledge; vayasaa= by age; ojasaa= and by luster; vayaH prakampa shirasaH= with their heads shaking with advanced years; uuchuH= spoke; idam= these; vachaH= words; duuraat= from distance.”

Those brahmanas, who were triply revered for their learning, their age and their spirituality, their heads shaking with advanced years, cried out :

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vahantaH javanaa raamam bho bho jaatyaaH turam gamaaH |
nivartadhvam na gantavyam hitaa bhavata bhartari || 2-45-14

14. “bho bho turaNgamaaH= Oh Noble Steeds! jaatyaaH= belonging to a breed; javanaaH= of speed; vahantaH= who are carrying;raamam= Rama! nivartadhvam= You come off. na gantaryam= Do not proceed. bhavata= Become; hitaaH= friendly; bhartari= to your master.

“Oh Noble Steeds, of speedy breed! You who are carrying Rama, do come back! Do not proceed! Be friendly to your master (since by taking Rama against our wishes, you will be doing a disservice to him)”

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karNavanti hi bhuutaani visheshhaNa turamgamaaH |
yuuyam tasmaannivartadhvam yaachanaam prativeditaaH || 2-45-15

15. bhutaanihi= Indeed all beings; karNavanti= which are endowed with ears; visheshhe Na=more so; turaN^gamaaH= horses; prativeditaaH= stand appraised of; yaachanam= (our) entreaty. tasmaat= Therefore; yuuyam= you; nivartadhvam= return.

“Indeed all things, which are endowed with ears, more so horses, stand appraised of our entreaty. Therefore, you return.”

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dharmataH sa vishuddhaatmaa viiraH shubhadR^iDhapratah |
upavaahyaH tu vo bhartaa na apavaahyaH puraat vanam || 2-45-16

16. viiraH= The hero; vishuddhaatmaa= of the pure soul; dharmataH= of virtuous; subha dR^iDha vrataH= and auspicious firm resolve; saH= that; bhartaa= master; upa vaahyaH= and not to be conveyed away; puraat= from the city; vanam=to the forest.”

“That hero of the pure soul, of virtuous and auspicious firm resolve, that master, deserves to be brought back to the city and not to be taken to the forest.”

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evam aarta pralaapaams taan vR^iddhaan pralapataH dvijaan |
avekSya sahasaa raamaH rathaat avatataara ha || 2-45-17

17. avekshhya=Seeing; taan dvijaan= those brahmanas; vR^iddhaan= who are aged; pralapataH= uttering; evam= those; aartapralaapan= painful words; raamaH= Rama; sahasaa= quickly; avatataaraha= got down; rathaat= from the chariot.

Seeing those aged brahmanas uttering those painful words, Rama quickly got down from the chariot.

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padbhyaam eva jagaama atha sasiitaH saha lakSmaNaH |
samnikR^iSTa pada nyaaso raamaH vana paraayaNaH || 2-45-18

18. atha= thereafter; raamaH= Rama; sa siitaH= with Sita; sa lakshhmaNaaH= and with Lakshmana; sannikR^ishhTa padanyaasaH= taking close strides ; jagaama iva= on foot only; vana paraayaNaH= towards the forest.

Rama with Sita and Lakshmana, taking close strides, proceeded on foot towards the forest.

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dvijaatiims tu padaatiims taan raamaH caaritra vatsalaH |
na shashaaka ghR^iNaa cakSuH parimoktum rathena saH || 2-45-19

19. saH raamaH= That Rama; chaaritra vatsalaH= who was affectionate in his disposition; ghR^iNaachakshhuH= and had compassion in his eyes; na shashaaka= could not; parimoktum= abandon; taan dvijaatiin=those brahmanas; padaatiin= walking on foot; rathena= behind the chariot.

That Rama who was affectionate in his disposition and had compassion in his eyes, could not abandon those brahmanas walking on foot, far behind the chariot.

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gacchantam eva tam dR^iSTvaa raamam sambhraanta maanasaaH |
uucuH parama samtaptaa raamam vaakyam idam dvijaaH || 2-45-20

20. dR^IshhTvaa= perceiving; tam raamam= that Rama; gachchhantameva= still going; (towards the forest) ; dvijaaH= those brahmanas; sambhraaanta chetasaH= perplexed in mind; parama samtaptaaH= and very much distressed; uuchuH=spoke; idam vaakyam= these words :

Perceiving Rama still going towards the forest, those brahmanas perplexed in mind and greatly distressed, spoke the following words :

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braahmaNyam kR^itsnam etat tvaam brahmaNyam anugacchati |
dvija skandha adhiruuDhaaH tvaam agnayo api anuyaanti amii || 2-45-21

21. sarvam= the whole of; etat= this; braahmaNyam= brahmana community anugachchhati= is following; tvaam= you; brahmaNyam= devoted to the brahmanas. Dvija skandaadhiruudhaaH=Bearing on the shoulders of brahmanas; amii= these; agnayo api= sacred fires also; anuyaanti= are following; tvaam= you.

“The whole of this brahmana community is following you, devoted (as you are) to the brahmanas. See, they are bearing the sacred fires on their shoulders”

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vaajapeya samutthaani chatraaNi etaani pashya naH |
pR^iSThataH anuprayaataani hamsaan iva jala atyaye || 2-45-22

22. pashya= look at; etaani= these; chhatraaNi= canopies; vaajapeya samutthaani= (obtained by us when observing Vajpeya sacrifice); anuprayaataani=accompanying; naH=our; pR^ishhTataH= backs; meghaaniva= like clouds; jalaatyaye= at end of the rainy season.”

“Look at these canopies (obtained by us while observing Vajpeya sacrifice*) accompanying our backs like clouds at the end of the rainy season”

*-It is laid down in the Vedas that he who performs a Vajpeya sacrifice must be supplied with a white canopy.

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anavaapta aatapatrasya rashmi samtaapitasya te |
ebhiH chaayaam kariSyaamaH svaiH chatraiH vaajapeyikaiH || 2-45-23

23. te=to you; anavaaptaatapatrasya= who have not got a canopy; rashmisamtaapitasya=and are being scorched with the rays (of the sun); karishhyaamaH= we shall give; chhayaam= shade; chhatraiH= by canopies; svaiH=of ours.”

“With these canopies of ours, we shall give shade to you, who have got no canopy and are being scored with rays (of the sun.)”

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yaa hi naH satatam buddhir veda mantra anusaariNii |
tvat kR^ite saa kR^itaa vatsa vana vaasa anusaariNii || 2-45-24

24. vatsa= oh, dear child! Yaa buddhiH= Which intellect; naH= of ours; satatam= forever; vedamantraanusaariNii= engaged in perusing the study of Vedic Text; saa= that intellect; kR^itaa= has been made; vanavaasaanusaariNii= to follow the course of exile to the forest.”

“Oh, Dear child! The intellect of ours, which was forever engaged in perusing the study of Vedic texts has been now made to follow the course of exile to the forest”

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hR^idayeSv avatiSThante vedaa ye naH param dhanam |
vatsyanti api gR^iheSv eva daaraaH caaritra rakSitaaH || 2-45-25

25. ye= which; vedaaH= Vedas; param dharma=are the excellent riches; naH= of ours; trishhTanti=(they are) established; hR^idayeshhvena=in our hearts alone. chaaritrarakshhitaaH= Protected by their character; daraaH api=our wives too; vatsyanti=remain; gR^iheshhveva= at home.

“We will carry the Vedas in our hearts as our excellent treasure and our wives too will remain at home, protected by their character”

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na punar nishcayaH kaaryaH tvad gatau sukR^itaa matiH |
tvayi dharma vyapekSe tu kim syaat dharmam avekSitum || 2-45-26

26. nishchayaH=” A decision; punaH= again( another one);na kaaryaH= is not to be done. tvadgatou= in the matter our going along with you (to the forest); matiH=determination; sukR^itaa-=has been well done. tvayi dharmavyapakshhe=If you do not pay attention to piety; kim= which; sthitamsyaat= will remain; dharma pathe=in the path of virtue?”

“We shall not revoke our decision. Our mind is fully determined to go along with you (to the forest). If you do not pay attention to piety, what being will remain devoted to the path of virtue?”

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yaacitaH no nivartasva hamsa shukla shiraH ruhaiH |
shirobhir nibhR^ita aacaara mahii patana paamshulaiH || 2-45-27

27. “nibhR^itaachaara= oh, prince of resolute conduct! yaachitaH= We entreat you; shirobhiH=by the heads; naH=of ours; hamsa shukla shiroruhaiH= having gray hair like white plumes of swans; mahiipatana paansulaiH=that are solid with dust as a result of their falling on the ground(in the cause of our prostration to you). nivartasva= Turn back.”

“ Oh, prince of resolute conduct! We entreat you by our heads having gray hair like the white color of the swans, that are soiled with dust as a result of their falling on the ground (in the course of our prostration to you) (pray) turn back.”

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bahuunaam vitataa yaj~naa dvijaanaam yaiha aagataaH |
teSaam samaaptir aayattaa tava vatsa nivartane || 2-45-28

28. “ye=whoever; aagataaH=came; iha=here; (such); bahuunaam= many; dvijaanaam= brahmanas; vitataaH=started; ajaN^yaas= sacrificial rites. vatsa= Oh,dear child! teshhaam= their; samaaptiH= completion; aayattaa= depends; tava= on your; nivartane= return.”

“Sacrifices have been commenced by many of those Brahmanas that have come here. Their completion, oh dear child, depends on your return”

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bhaktimanti hi bhuutaani jamgama ajamgamaani ca |
yaacamaaneSu teSu tvam bhaktim bhakteSu darshaya || 2-45-29

29. “raama= Oh,Rama! Bhuutaani=Beings; jaN^gamaaja^Ngamaani= both animate and inanimate; bhaktimantihi= are indeed devoted to you. darshaya= Show; bhaktim= affection; bhakteshhu= to those devotees; yaachamaaneshhu= who entreat you to return.”

“Beings both animate and inanimate, Oh, Rama, are indeed devoted to you. Show affection to those devotees, who entreat you to return.”

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anugamtum ashaktaaH tvaam muulaiH uddhiR^ita vegibhiH |
unnataa vaayu vegena vikroshanti iva paadapaaH || 2-45-30

30. “paadapaaH= trees; uddhitaha veginaH=which are raised swiftly; muulaiH:by their roots; ashaktaaH=being unable; anugantum= to accompany; tvaam= you; vikroshantiiva= appear to be weeping; unnataaH= hump-backed; vaayuvegena= by the force of mind.”

“The trees held by their roots, unable to accompany you, seen to be weeping, hump-backed by the force of wind”

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nishceSTa aahaara samcaaraa vR^ikSa eka sthaana viSThitaaH |
pakSiNo api prayaacante sarva bhuuta anukampinam || 2-45-31

31. pakshhiNo api= birds too; nishcheshhTaahaara samchaaraaH= which sit motionless and are unable to go out in search of food; vR^ikshhaika sthaana vishhThitaaH=which remain fixed at one spot on trees; prayaachante= are supplicating you (to return); sarva bhuutaanukampinam= compassionate as you are to all created beings.”

“Birds too, which sit motionless and are unable to go out in search of food and which remain fixed at one spot on trees, are supplicating you to return, compassionate as you are to all created beings”

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evam vikroshataam teSaam dvijaatiinaam nivartane |
dadR^ishe tamasaa tatra vaarayanti iva raaghavam || 2-45-32

32. teshhaam dvijaatiinaam= while those brahmanas; vikroshataam= were crying; evam= thus; nivartane= for the return; (of Rama); tamasaa= the river Tamasa; tatra= there; dadR^ishe= appeared; varayantiiva= as though preventing; raaghavam= Rama.”

While those brahmanas were crying thus with a view to persuading Rama to return, the river Tamasa appeared there, as though retarding the progress of Rama “

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tataH sumantro.api rathaadvimuchya |
shraantaanhayaansamparivartya shriighraam |
piitodakaamstoyapariplutaaN^gaa |
nachaarayadvai tamasaaviduure || 2-45-33

33. tataH=thereafter; sumantro api= Sumantra the charioteer also; vimuchya= releasing; shraantaan= the tired; hayaan= horses; rathaat= from the chariot; shiighram= quickly;samparivartya= making them roll; piitodakaan=having drunk water; toya pariplutaaN^gaan= with their bodies drenched in water; achaarayat= allowed them to graze; tamasaa viduure= not very far from the Tamasa.

Thereafter Sumantra the charioteer too released the horses, tired as they were, from the chariot and quickly making them roll, allowed them to graze not very far from the (bank of) Tamasa once they had drunk water and had their body washed in the river.”

 

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe ekachatvaariMshaH sargaH

Thus completes 45th 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 45

 

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Sarga 45 in English Prose

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© Sept 2002, K. M. K. Murthy