Chapter [Sarga] 46

Introduction

Having reached the banks of Tamasa river and thinking of the plight of the people of Ayodhya, Rama passes the night on the banks of Tamasa river. Waking up in the meantime, Rama instructs the charioteer to drive the chariot in such a way as to elude the citizens and lead them to think that the chariot had turned back towards Ayodhya instead of proceeding towards the forest. He then ascends the chariot along with Sita and Lakshmana and went ahead to the forest.


Verse Locator

tt> tu tmsa tIrm! rMym! AaiïTy ra"v>,
sItam! %ÖIúy saEimiÇm! #dm! vcnm! AävIt!. 2£46£1

1. tataH=Then; raaghavaH= Rama; aashritya= taking his position at; tamasaa tiiram= at the banks of Tamasa river; udviikshhya= looking at; siitaam= Sita; abraviit= spoke; idam vachanam= these words; soumitrim= to Lakshmana :

Then Rama taking his position at the banks of Tamasa river and looking at Sita, spoke to Lakshmana as follows :

Verse Locator

#ym! A* inza pUvaR saEimÇe àiSwta vnm!,
vn vasSy -Ôm! te s n %Tki{Qtum! AhRis. 2£46£2

2. soumitre=oh, Lakshmana! prahitaaH= we have been sent; vanam= to the forest. iyam=Today; puurvaa= is the first; nishaa= night; vanavaasasya= of residence in the forest . saH= You as such; na arhasi=are not required; utkaN^Thitum=to regret. Bhadram= blessedness; te= to you.”

“Oh, Lakshmana! We have been sent to the forest. Today is the first night of our residence in the forest .You ought not feel anxious. May all be well with you!”

Verse Locator

pZy zUNyain Ar{yain édiNt #v smNtt>,
ywa inlym! AayiÑrœ inlInain m&g iÖjE>. 2£46£3

3. pashya= look here: mR^iga dvijaiH=animals and birds; aayadbhiH=returning; yathaanilayam= to their respective abodes; miliinaani= seeking for shelter . shuunyaani= woods; rudrantiiva= are crying; samantataH= from all sides”.

“Look here: As the animals and birds are returning to their respective abodes seeking for shelter, the desolate woods seem to be crying from all sides”

Verse Locator

A* AyaeXya tu ngrI raj xanI ipturœ mm,
sôI puMsa gtan! ASman! zaeic:yit n sMzy>. 2£46£4

4. adya= now; ayodhyaa nagarii= the city of Ayodhya; raajadhaanii= the capital; mama pituH=of my father; sa strii pumsaa= with its women and men; shochishhyati=will lament; asmaan= about us; gataan= that have departed. Na= There is no; samshayaH=doubt.”

“Now, the city of Ayodhya the capital of my father with its men and women will lament about us that have departed (to the forest). There is no doubt”

Verse Locator

Anur­a ih mnuja rajanm! b÷i-guR[E>,
Tvam! c mam! c nrVyaº zǹ-rtaE twa. 2£46£5

5. naravyaaghra= oh, tiger among men! manujaaH=The citizens (of Ayodhya); anuraktaaH hi= are indeed having affection; raajaanam=towards the king; tvaamcha=towards you; maamcha=towards me; tathaa=and; shatrughna bharatou= towards Satrughna and Bharata; guNaiH= by our virtues; bahubhiH= which are many.”

“Oh, tiger among men! The citizens (of Ayodhya) are indeed having affection to the king no less than to you and myself, as also to Bharata and Satrughna, for many of our virtues.”

Verse Locator

iptrm! canuzaecaim matrm! c yziSvnIm!,
Aip vanaEx -vetam! tu édNtaE tav-Iú[z>. 2£46£6

6. “anushochaami=I feel repented; pitaramcha=for my father; maataramcha=and my mother; yashasivniim=who is illustrious. tou apivaa bhavetaam= Will they become even; andhou= blind; rudantou= by weeping; abhiikshhashaH= incessantly.”

“I feel repented for my father and my illustrious mother. I fear whether they will become even blind, by weeping incessantly.”

Verse Locator

-rt> olu xmR AaTma iptrm! matrm! c me,
xmR AwR kam sihtE> vaKyE> Aañasiy:yit.2£46£7

7. bharataH= Bharata; dharmaatmaa=the virtuous man; aashvaasayishhyati khalu=can indeed console; me= my; pitaram= father; maataraacha= and mother; vaakyaiH= by words; dharmaartha kaama sahitaiH=(containing)religious merit , material welfare and sense- gratification.”

“Bharata, the virtuous man, can indeed console my father and mother by his kind words.”

Verse Locator

-rtSy Aan&zMsTvm! siMcNTy Ahm! pun> pun>,
n Anuzaecaim iptrm! matrm! c Aip lúm[. 2£46£8

8. “lakshhmaNa=Oh, Lakshmana! vichintya=Thinking of; bharatasya=bharata’s; anR^ishamsatvam= kindness; punaH punaH= again and again; aham=I;naanushochaami= do not grieve; pitaram=for(our) father; maataramcha api=or even (our) mother.”

“Oh,Lakshmana! Thinking of Bharata’s kindness again and again, I do not grieve for our father and mother”

Verse Locator

Tvya kayRm! nr Vyaº mam! Anuìjta k«tm!,
ANveòVya ih vEdeýa r][ AweR shayta. 2£46£9

9. “naravyaaghra: Lakshmana, the tiger among men! anuvrajataa= By following; maam= me; kaaryam= a purpose; kR^itam=has been served; tvayaa= by you. sahaayataa= a help; anveshhTavyaali= would have to be sought; rakshhaNaarthe= for the protection;vaidehyaaH= of Seetha”

“Oh, Lakshmana, tiger among men! You have done well by accompanying me, as otherwise, a help would have to be sought for by me for protecting Seetha”

Verse Locator

AiÑrœ @v tu saEimÇe vTSyaMy! A* inzam! #mam!,
@tΉ ih raecte mým! vNye Aip ivivxe sit. 2£46£10

10. “ soumitre= Oh, Lakshmana! adya= Today; vatsyaami= I shall stay; imaam nishaam= in the night; adbhireva= with water alone. vanye=Wild fruits and roots, vividhe= of various kinds; satyapi= though being present; etat= this is; rochete hi= indeed a preference; mahyam= to me.”

“ Oh, Lakshmana! I shall live on water alone tonight. Though there are various kinds of wild fruits and roots, this is indeed a liking for me”

Verse Locator

@vm! %®va tu saEimÇm! sumÙm! Aip ra"v>,
AàmÄ> Tvm! Añe;u -v saEMy #it %vac h. 2£46£11

11. “evam= Thus; uktvaa= telling; soumitrim= Lakshmana, raaghavaH= Rama; uvaacha ha= spoke; sumantramapi= to Sumitra also; iti= thus: soumya= “Oh,gentleman! Tvam= you; apramattaH= be careful; ashveshhu=about the horses.”

Thus telling Lakshmana, Rama spoke also to Sumantra as follows: “Oh, gentle man! Attend to the horses carefully.”

Verse Locator

sae Añan! sumÙ> sMyMy sUyeR AStm! smupagte,
à-Ut yvsan! k«Tva b-Uv àTynNtr>. 2£46£12

12. saH sumantraH=That Sumantra; suurye= (on)sun; samupaagate=getting; astam=set; samyamya= tied up; ashvaan= the horses; kR^itvaa= causing; prabhuutayavasaan= them to have more grass(to eat);babhuuva=(and)became; pratyanantaraH= the immediate neighbor(of Rama).

The sun having completely set, Sumantra tied up the horses, supplied them with abundant grass and immediately stood nearest (to Rama).

Verse Locator

%paSytu izvam! sMXyam! †òœva raiÇm! %piSwtam!,
ramSy zynm! c³e sUt> saEimiÇ[a sh. 2£46£13

13. upaasya= having worshipped; shivaam= the beautiful; sandhyaam= evening twilight; dR^ishhTvaa=and having seen; raatrim= the night; upasthitaam= come nearer; suutaH= the charioteer; soumitriNaasaha= along with Lakshmana; chakre= made; shayanam= the bed; raamasya= for Rama.

Having worshipped the beautiful evening twilight and having seen the night come nearer, Sumantra along with Lakshmana made the bed for Rama.

Verse Locator

tam! zYyam! tmsa tIre vIúy v&] dlE> k«tam!,
ram> saEimiÇ[am! saxRm! s-ayR> siMvvez h. 2£46£14

14. viikshhya= Seeing; taam shayyaam= that bed; kR^itaam= made; vR^ikshha dalaiH= of leaves of a tree; soumitriNaasaardham=with the help of Lakshmana; tamasaatiire= on the bank of Tamasa river; raamaH= Rama; sa bhaaryaH= along with his wife; samvivesha ha= laid down.

Seeing that bed made of leaves of a tree on the bank of Tamasa river with the help of Lakshmana, Rama along with his wife laid down on it.

Verse Locator

s-ayRm! sMàsuÝm! tm! æatrm! vIúy lúm[>,
kwyam! Aas sUtay ramSy ivivxan! gu[an!. 2£46£15

15. viikshhya= seeing; tam braataram= that brother; samprasuptam= sleeping; sambhaaryam = along with his wife; lakshhmaNaH= Lakshmana; kathayaamaasa= narrated; raamasya= Rama’s; vividhaam= various; guNaan= virtues; suutaaya= to Sumantra.

Seeing that brother sleeping along with his wife, Lakshmana narrated Rama’s various virtues to Sumantra.

Verse Locator

ja¢t> ih @v tam! raiÇm! saEimÇerœ %idt> riv>,
sUtSy tmsa tIre ramSy äuvt> gu[an!. 2£46£16

16. raviH= The sun; uditaH= rose; soumitre= (while) Lakshmana; bruvataH= was recounting; raamasya= Rama’s; guNaaH= excellences; suutasya= to Sumantra; tamasaa tiire= at the bank of Tamasa river;jaagratohyeva= keeping awake; taam raatrim= that (whole) night.

WhileLakshmana was thus recounting Rama’s excellences to Sumantra, keeping awake that whole night at the bank of Tamasa river, the sun rose.

Verse Locator

gae k…l Aak…l tIraya> tmsaya> ivËrt>,
Avst! tÇ tam! raiÇm! ram> àk«iti-> sh. 2£46£17

17. viduurataH= At a good distance ; taamasaayaaH= from Tamasa river; gokulaakula tiiraayaH= whose banks were crowded with herds of cows; raamaH= Rama; avasat= inhabited; tatra= there; taam raatrim= that night; prakR^itibhiH saha= with the citizens.

At a good distance from Tamasa river, whose banks were crowded with herds of cows, Rama passed that night there with the citizens.

Verse Locator

%Tway tu mha teja> àk«tIs! ta inzaMy c,
AävIdœ æatrm! ram> lúm[m! pu{y l][m!. 2£46£18

18. saH raamaH= That Rama; mahaateJaaH= with a great splendor; utthaaya cha= got up; nishaamyacha= saw; taaH= those; prakR^itiiH= citizens; abraviit= and spoke; (as follows); bhraataram= to his brother; lakshhmaNam= Lakshmana; puNyalakshhaNam= who was endowed with auspicious bodily marks:

Getting up from the bed and seeing those citizens, Rama with an extraordinary splendor, spoke to his brother, Lakshmana who was endowed with auspicious bodily marks:

Verse Locator

ASmdœ Vype]an! saEimÇe inrpe]an! g&he:v! Aip,
v&] mUle;u sMsuÝan! pZy lúm[ saMàtm!. 2£46£19

19. pashya= Look at; lakshhmaNa= Oh, Lakshmana; asmadvyapekshhaan= (the citizens) full of longing for us, nirapekshhaan= unmindful; gR^iheshhvapi= even of their homes; sampratam= now; samsuptaan= sleeping together; vR^ikshha muuleshhu= at the roots of trees; soumitre =Oh, son of Sumitra!”

“Observe, Oh Lakshmana, the citizens full of longing for us, unmindful even of their homes, sleeping together at the roots of trees, Oh, the son of Sumitra!”

Verse Locator

ywa @te inymm! paEra> k…vRiNt ASmn! invtRne,
Aip àa[an! Ais:yiNt n tu TyúyiNt iníym!. 2£46£20

20. “yathaa=how; ete pouraaH= these citizens; kurvanti=are making; niyamam= coercion; asminnivartane= to take us back; nyasishhyanti= (they) will lay down; praaNaanapi= even their lives; na tyakshhyanti= but would not give up; nishchayantu= their resolve.”

“From the way in which these citizens are making coercion to take us back (to Ayodhya), it seems they will even lay down their lives, but in no case would give up their resolve”

Verse Locator

yavdœ @v tu sMsuÝa> tavdœ @v vym! l"u,
rwm! Aaéý g½am> pNwanm! Ak…t> -ym!. 2£46£21

21. yaavadeva= till which time; samsuptaa= they are asleep; taavadeva= in that time; vayam= we; laghu = quickly; aaruhya= mount; ratham= chariot; gachchaama= and obtain; panthaanam= a route; akutobhayam= which has no fear from any quarter.”

“Till which time the citizens are asleep, within that time, let us quickly mount the chariot and take a route which has no fear from any quarter”

Verse Locator

At> -Uyae Aip n #danIm! #úvak… pur vaisn>,
Svpeyurœ Anur­a mam! v&:k mUlain siMïta>. 2£46£22

22. ataH= from this; ikshhvaakupura vaasinaH= the citizens of Ayodhya;( the capital of Ikshvaku); anuraktaaH= who are longing; maam= for me; nasvapeyuH= may not sleep; idaaniim= as of now; vR^ikshha muulaani= at the roots of trees; bhuuyo api= again; bhuuyo api= and again.”

“From this the citizens of Ayodhya (the ancient capital of Ikshvaku), who are longing for me, may not sleep as of now, at the roots of trees again and again”

Verse Locator

paEra ih AaTm k«tat! Êhœoat! ivàmaeCya n&p AaTmjE>,
n tu oLv! AaTmna yaeJya Êhœoen pur vaisn>. 2£46£23

23. pouraaH=the residents of city; vipramokshhyaaH hi= should indeed made free; duHkhaat= of their suffering; aatma kR^itaat= brought about by themselves; nR^ipaatmajaiH hi= by the sons of their rulers. puravaasinaH= The citizens; na yojyaaH hi= should not be burdened; duHkhena= with hardship; tu khalu= but indeed; aatmanaa= caused by (princes) themselves.

“The residents of city should indeed be made free of their suffering brought about by (citizens) themselves, by the sons of their rulers. The citizens should on no account be burdened with hardship caused by (princes) them selves as is our case.”

Verse Locator

AävIl! lúm[ae ramm! sa]at! xmRm! #v iSwtm!,
raecte me mha àa} i]àm! Aaéýtam! #it. 2£46£24

24. lakshhmaNaH= Lakshmana; abravit= spoke; iti= thus; raamam= to Rama; sthitam= who is standing firm; dharmamiva= like righteousness; saakshhaat= personified : praaG^ya= Oh, wise brother! rochate= It is agreeable; me = to me; tathaa= thus. aaruhyataam= Let (the chariot) be mounted; kshhipram= quickly.”

Lakshmana replied as follows to Rama, who is standing firm like righteousness personified: “Oh, wise brother! What you say is agreeable to me. (Pray) ascend the chariot quickly”

Verse Locator

Aw ramae=ävICD+Iman! sumÙm! yuJytam! rw>,
gim:yaim ttae=r{ym! gCD ïIºimt> à-ae. 2£46£25

25. atha= Then; shriimaan= the glorious; raamaH= Rama; abraviit= spoke; sumantram= to Sumantra; (as follows);prabho= Oh, capable man! yujyataam= Arrange; rathaH= the chariot; gamishhyaami= I shall proceed; araNyam= to the forest. gachchha=Go; shiighram=quickly; itaH= from here.”

Then, the glorious Rama spoke to the charioteer as follows: “Oh, capable man! Keep the chariot ready. I shall proceed to the forest. Let us go quickly from here.”

Verse Locator

sUt> tt> sMTvirt> SyNdnm! tE> hy %ÄmE>,
yaejiyTva Aw ramay àaNjil> àTyvedyt!. 2£46£26

26. tataH= then; saH suutaH=that chariot; tvaritaH= quickly; yojayitvaa= fastened; syandanam=the chariot; taiH hayottamaiH= with those excellent horses; atha= and thereafter; pratyavedayaT= informed; raamaaya= Rama; praaN^jaliH=with joined palms.

Then, Sumantra quickly fastened the chariot to its excellent horses and thereafter submitted with joined palms to Rama (as follows):

Verse Locator

Aym! yu­ae mhabahae rwSte riwnam! vr,
TvmaraehSv -Ôm! te ssIt> shlúm[>. 2£46£27

27. mahaabaaho= Oh, mighty armed prince! te= Your; ayam rathaH= (this) chariot; yuktaH= is yoked. Rathinaam vara= Oh, jewel among car-warriors! tvam= You; aarohasva= ascend(it); sasiitaH= along with Sita; saha lakshhmaNaH =and with Lakshmana . bhadram= May prosperity be; te= to you.”

“Oh, mighty armed prince! Your chariot is kept ready. You ascend it along with Sita and with Lakshmana, Oh jewel among car-warriors! May prosperity attend you”

Verse Locator

tm! SyNdnmixóay ra"v> spirCDd>,
zIºgamak…lavtaRm! tmsamtrÚdIm!. 2£46£28

28. raaghavaaH= Rama; adhishhThaaya= mounted; tam syandanam= the chariot; sa parichchhadaH= with all necessaries for traveling (viz; his bow, armor, quiver, spade, basket and so on); aatarat=(and) crossed; shiighragaam; the swift flowing; tamasaam nadiim= Tamasa river; aakulaavartaam= thickly set with whirl-pools .

Rama mounted the chariot with all necessaries (like bow, armor, quiver, spade, basket, and so on) and crossed the swift flowing Tamasa river, thickly set with whirl- pools.

Verse Locator

s sMtIyR mhaba÷> ïIman! izvmk{qkm!,
àap*t mhamagRm-ym! -ydizRnam!. 2£46£29

29. samtiirya= Having crossed the stream; shriimaan= the glorious; saH= Rama; mahaabaahuH= the mighty armed; praapadyata= reached; mahaa maargam= a great road; akaN^Takam= free from obstacles; abhayam= and safe; bhayadarshinaam= even for those who are apprehensive of danger.

Having duly crossed the stream, the glorious Rama the mighty armed reached a great road free from obstacles and safe even for those who are apprehensive of danger.

Verse Locator

maehn AwRm! tu paEra[am! sUtm! ram> AävIdœ vc>,
%dn! muo> àyaih Tvm! rwm! AaSway sarwe. 2£46£30
muøtRm! Tvirtm! gTva ingRty rwm! pun>,
ywa n iv*u> paEra mam! twa k…é smaiht>. 2£46£31

30,31. raamaH= Rama; mohanaartham= in order to elude; pouraaNaam= the citizens; abraviit= spoke; vachaH= words; suutam= to Sumantra : “saarathe= Oh, charioteer! tvam= You; aasthaaya= mount; ratham= the chariot; prayaahi= (and) proceed; udaN^mukhaH= northwards. gatvaa= Go, muhuurtam= for a while ; tvaritam= quickly; nivartaya= and bring back; ratham= the chariot; punaH= again; samaahitaH= Remaining careful; kuru= do(it); yathaa= in such a way; tathaa= that; pouraaH= the citizens; na vidyaH= may not locate me.”

In order to elude the citizens, Rama spoke to Sumantra as follows: “Oh, charioteer! You mount the chariot and go northward. Proceed for a while quickly and bring back the chariot again. Remaining careful, do it in such a way that the citizens may not be able to locate me”

Comment:- How can Rama elude the citizens, who came off leaving their homes, showing their immense affection towards him? Love without self-centeredness knows what love is. Then the seemingly untruth is not untruth, the hurt in appearance is not really a hurt and the said deception is not a deception. Rama the knower of love was free to do what was right and whatever he did was righteous.

Verse Locator

ramSy vcnm! ïuTva twa c³e s sariw>,
àTyagMy c ramSy SyNdnm! àTyvedyt!. 2£46£32

32. shrutvaa= Hearing; raamasya= Rama’s; vachanam= advice; saH saarathiH= that charioteer; chakre= made a round; tathaa= as he was told; pratyaagamya= and on returning; pratyavedayat= reported; raamasya= to Rama; syandanam= about the arrival of the chariot.

Hearing Rama’s advice, the charioteer made a round of the chariot as he was suggested and on returning, reported to Rama about the arrival of the chariot.

Verse Locator

taE sMàyu­m! tu rwm! smaisTwaE,
tda ssItaE r"vMzvxRnaE,
àcaedyamas ttSturMgman!,
s sariwyeRn pwa tpaevnm!. 2£46£33

33. tadaa= then; raghuvamsha vardhanou= Rama and Lakshmana, the promoters of the race of Raghu; sa siitou= along with Sita; samaasthitou= ascended; ratham= the chariot; samprayuktam= yoked together. TataH= thereafter; saa saarathiH= that charioteer; prachodayaamaasa= drove forward; turangamaan= the horses; pathaa= along the route; yena= by which; tapovanam= they can reach a grove suited to the practice of austerities.

Then, Rama and Lakshmana(the promoters of the race of Raghu) along with Sita ascended the chariot yoked together. The charioteer urged the horses along the route by which they can reach a grove suited to the practice of austerities.

Verse Locator

tt> smaSway rwm! mharw
ssariwxaRzriwvRnm! yyaE,
%d'œmuom! tm! tu rwm! ckar s,
àya[ma¼ZyinivtdzRnat!. 2£46£34

34. tataH= Thereafter; saH= That Sumantra; chakaara= placed; tam ratham= that chariot; udaN^mukham= facing the north; prayaaNa maaN^galya nimitta darshanaat= for he saw omens auspicious for journey (in that quarter). DasharathiH= Rama (son of Dasaratha); mahaarathaH= the mighty car-warrior; sa saarathiH; along with the charioteer; aasthaaya= mounted; ratham= the chariot; yayou= and proceeded; vanam= to the forest.

However, Sumantra placed that chariot by facing it to the north, for he saw omens auspicious for journey (in that quarter). Rama (son of Dasaratha) the mighty car-warrior, along with the charioteer mounted the chariot and proceeded to the forest.

 

#it vaLmIik ramay[e Aaid kaVye AyaeXy ka{fe òœcTvairMz> sgR

Thus completes the 46th chapter of Ayodhya Kanda in 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 46

 

Top of Page1234
56789
1011121314
1516171819
2021222324
2526272829
3031323334

Sarga 46 in English Prose

Contents

Next Sarga

Previous Sarga

© Sept 2002, K. M. K. Murthy