Chapter [Sarga] 57

Introduction

Sumantra takes leave from Guha, who learns from his spies that Rama departed for Chitrakuta. Sumantra drives back to Ayodhya. Entering the royal gynaeceum, he submits to the emperor what he earlier reported to the citizens who followed his chariot. Dasaratha and Kausalya fall into a faint to hear about Rama’s departure for Chitrakuta. All the inmates of gynaeceum weep loudly in anguish.


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kwiyTva suÊhœo AatR> sumÙe[ icrm! sh,
rame di][ kªlSwe jgam Sv g&hm! guh>. 2£57£1

1. raame= (when) Rama; dakshhiNa kuulasthe= landed upon the southern shore; guhaH= Guha; kathayitvaa= talked; chiram= for a long time; sumantreNa saha= with Sumantra; suduHkhaartaH= and with much distress; jagaama= went; svagR^iham= to his house.

While Rama landed upon the southern shore, Guha conversed for a long time with Sumantra and with much distress, went to his house.

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-rÖajai-gmnm! àyage c shasnm!,
AaigregRmnm! te;am! tÇSwEri-li]tm!. 2£57£2

2. abhilakshhitam= It was gathered; tatrasthaiH= by those (Guha and others) who were there; teshhaam= about their; bharadvaajaagamanam= coming to sage Bharadwaja; sahaasanam= about staying with him; prayaage= in Prayaga; gamanam= and about their going; agire= to Chitrakuta mountain.

It was gathered by those who were there (Guha and others) about Seetha, Rama and Lakshmana coming to sage Bharadwaja, their staying with him in Prayaga and their departure to Chitrakuta Mountain.

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Anu}at> sumÙ> Aw yaejiyTva hy %Äman!,
AyaeXyam! @v ngrIm! àyyaE gaF ÊmRna>. 2£57£3

3. atha= then; sumantraH= Sumantra; anuj~naataH = allowed to depart by Rama; yojayitvaa= tied; haya uttamaan = the excellent horses (to the chariot); gaaDha durmanaaH= and with intense anguish; prayayau= rode towards; ayodhyaam nagariim eva= the very city of Ayodhya.

Sumantra, being allowed to depart by Rama, tied excellent horses to the chariot and with intense anguish, rode towards the very city of Ayodhya.

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s vnain sugNxIin sirt> c sraiMs c,
pZyÚ! AityyaE zIºm! ¢amai[ ngrai[ c. 2£57£4

4. saH= He; pashyan= seeing; sugandhiini= the sweet smelling vanaani= woods; saritaH cha= rivers; saraamsi cha= lakes; graamaaNi= villages; nagaraaNi= (and) towns; atiyayau= crossed (them) shiighram= quickly.

Sumantra, seeing the sweet-smelling woods, rivers, lakes, villages and towns on the way, soon crossed them.

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tt> say Aû smye t&tIye Ahin sariw>,
AyaeXyam! smnuàaPy inranNdam! ddzR h. 2£57£5

5. tataH= thereafter; samanupraapya= reaching; ayodhyaam= Ayodhya; saaya ahna samaye= in the evening-time; tR^itiiye ahani= of the third day; saarathiH= the charioteer; dadarsha ha= saw (it); niraanandaam= joyless.

Reaching Ayodhya in the evening time of the third day Sumantra saw that city, joyless.

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s zUNyam! #v inhœzBdam! †òœva prm ÊmRna>,
sumÙ> icNtyam! Aas zaek veg smaht>. 2£57£6

6. dR^ishhTvaa= beholding; shuunyaam iva= Ayodhya as deserted; nishshabdaam= in silence; sumantraH= Sumantra; parama durmanaaH= becoming very much distressed in mind; shoka vega samaahataH= and having afflicted with intense anguish; chintayaamaasa= surmised (as follows).

Beholding Ayodhya as if deserted in silence, Sumantra becoming very much distressed in mind and having afflicted with intense anguish, surmised as follows:

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ki½n! n sgja saña sjna sjn Aixpa,
ram sMtap Êhœoen dGxa zaek Ai¶na purI. 2£57£7

7. purii kaccin na= was not the city; sagajaa= with elephants; saashvaa= with horses; sajanaa= with people; sajana adhipaa= and with kings; dagdhaa= burnt away; raama samtaapa duHkhena= by blazing grief towards Rama; shoka agninaa= and the fire of sorrow?

“I hope the city of Ayodhya with its elephants, horses, people and the kings was not burnt away by a fire of sorrow and blazing grief towards Rama.

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#it icNta pr> sUt> Tvirt> àivvez h,
ngrÖarmasa* Tvirt> àivvez h. 2£57£8

8. suutaH= the charioteer; iti= thus; cintaa paraH= lost in thought; aasaadya= reaching; nagaradvaaram= the city-gate; shiighrapaatibhiH= by the fast-running; vaajibhiH= horses; praviveshaha= entered (the city) tvaritaaH= quickly.

Sumantra, thus lost in thought, reaching the city-gate through the fast-running horses, entered the city quickly.

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sumÙm! Ai-yaNtm! tm! ztzae Aw shöz>,
Kv ramEit p&½Nt> sUtm! A_yÔvn! nra>. 2£57£9

9. atha= thereafter, (seeing) tam= that; sumantram= Sumantra; suutam= the charioteer; abhiyaantam= approaching; shatashaH= hundreds; sahasrashaH= and thousands; naraaH= of people; abhyadravan= ran towards him; pR^icchantaH= asking; iti= thus; kva= where is; raamaH= Rama?

Meanwhile, seeing Sumantra the charioteer approaching, hundreds and thousands of people ran towards him asking, “Where is Rama?”

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te;am! zzMs gNgayam! Ahm! Aap&½!y ra"vm!,
Anu}at> inv&Ä> AiSm xaimRke[ mhaTmna. 2£57£10

10. shashamsa= he replied; teshhaam= them; aapR^ichchhya= bidding farewell; raaghavam= to Rama; gaN^gaayaam= (at the shore) of Ganga; anuj~NaataH= when sent back; dhaarmikeNa= by that virtuous; mahaatmanaH= and high-souled Rama; aham= I; nivR^ittaH asmi= returned.

He replied them thus: “Bidding farewell to Rama at the shore of Ganga when sent back by that virtuous and high-souled Rama, I returned here.”

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te tI[aR#it iv}ay ba:p pU[R muoa jna>,
Ahae ixg! #it inhœñSy ha ram #it c cu³…zu>. 2£57£11

11. vij~Naaya= knowing; te= (that) Seetha Rama and Lakshmana; tiirNaaH iti= had crossed (Ganga); janaH= the people; baashhpapuurNamukhaaH= with their faces filled with tears; nishshvasya= sighed; iti= thus; aho= Oh, dhik= fie upon us! cukrushuH cha= and cried aloud; haa raama iti= thus= “Alas! Rama!

Hearing that Seetha, Rama and Lakshmana had crossed River Ganga, the people with their faces filled with tears sighed, “Oh, fie upon us! And cried aloud, “Alas, Rama!”

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zuïav c vc> te;am! v&Ndm! v&Ndm! c itótam!,
hta> Sm olu ye n #h pZyamEit ra"vm!. 2£57£12

12. shushraava cha= (Sumantra) also heard; vachaH= words; teshhaam= of those people; tiSThataam= standing; bR^indam bR^idam= in groups; iti= and telling thus; hataaH sma khalu= lost indeed are we; ye= who; na pashyaamaH= do not see; raaghavam= Rama; iha= here!

Sumantra also heard the words of those people standing in groups and telling, “Lost indeed are we, who do not see Rama here!”

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dan y} ivvahe;u smaje;u mhTsu c,
n Ôúyam> punrœ jatu xaimRkm! ramm! ANtra. 2£57£13

13. najaatu= never; punaH= again; drakshhyaamaH= we can see; dhaarmikam= the pious; raamam= Rama; antaraa= on the occasions of; daana yaj~na vivaaheSu = bestowing gifts, sacrificial performances and marriages; mahatsu= large; samaajeshhu cha= meetings.

“Never again can we see the pious Rama on the occasions of bestowing gifts, sacrificial performances or marriages or in large meetings.

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ikm! smwRm! jnSy ASy ikm! iàym! ikm! suo Aavhm!,
#it rame[ ngrm! ipt&vt! pirpailtm!. 2£57£14

14. nagaram= the city of Ayodhya; paripaalitam= was protected; raameNa= by Rama; pitR^ivat= as by a father; iti= in this manner; kim= what was; samartham= appropriate; asya janasya= to these people; kim= what was; priyam= congenial; kim= what; sukhaavaham= brought happiness.

The city of Ayodhya was protected by Rama, as by a father, with due regard to what was appropriate, what was congenial and what brought happiness to its people.

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vat Ayn gtanam! c ôI[am! ANvNtr Aap[m!,
ram zaek Ai-tÝanam! zuïav pirdevnm!. 2£57£15

15. anvantara aapaNam= while driving through bazaars; shushraava= (Sumantra) hard; paridevanam= the lamentation; striiNaam= of women; vaata ayana gataanaam= coming forth from windows; raama shoka abhitaptaanaam= consumed by anguish on account of Rama’s exile.

While driving through bazaars, Sumantra heard the sounds of lamentation of women, coming forth from windows, consumed by anguish on account of Rama’s exile.

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s raj magR mXyen sumÙ> ipiht Aann>,
yÇ raja dzrw> tt! @v %pyyaE g&hm!. 2£57£16

16. saH sumantraH= That Sumantra; pihita aananaH= by covering his face; upayayau= reached; tat= that; gR^iham eva= house; yatra= where; raajaa= king; dasharathaH= Dasaratha (was there); raaja maarga madhyena= going through the middle of the royal highway.

Going through the middle of the royal highway, Sumantra by covering his face, reached the house of Dasaratha.

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sae AvtIyR rwat! zIºm! raj veZm àivZy c,
kúya> sÝ Ai-c³am mha jn smak…la>. 2£57£17

17. saH= He; avatiirya= descended; rathaat= from the chariot; pravishya cha= entered; shiighram= quickly; raaja veshma= the royal palace; abhicakraama= and traversed; sapta= the seven; kakSyaaH= inner apartments of the palace; mahaa jana samaakulaaH= filled with a large number of people.

Sumantra descended from the chariot, entered quickly the royal palace and traversed the seven inner apartments of the palace, filled with a large number of people.

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hMyERivRmanE> àasadErveúyaw smagtm!,
hahakark«ta nayaeR ramdzRnkizRta>. 2£57£18

18. atha= then; avekshhya= seeing; samaagatam= (Sumantra) coming; naaryaH= the women; harmaiH= from large mansions; vimaanaiH= from seven-storied buildings; praasaadaiH= and from royal palaces; raamadarshanakarshitaaH= who had been emaciated in not seeing Rama; haahaakaarakR^itaH= cried “Alas! Alas”

Then, finding the forthcoming Sumantra from their large mansions, from seven-storied buildings and from royal palaces, the women who had been emaciated in not being able to see Rama, cried “Alas! Alas”.

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AaytEivRmlEneRÇErïuvegpirPlutE>,
ANyaeNymi-vI]Nte=Vy­matRtra> ôIy>. 2£57£19

19. striyaH= the women; aartataraaH= extremely confounded with grief; netraiH= with eyes; aayataiH= bright; ashruvegapariplutaiH= filled with a stream of tears; abhiviikshhante= looked at; anyoyam= each other; avyaktam= imperceptibly.

Those women, extremely confounded with grief with their long and bright eyes filled with a stream of tears, looked at each other imperceptibly.

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tt> dzrw ôI[am! àasade_y> tt> tt>,
ram zaek Ai-tÝanam! mNdm! zuïav jiLptm!. 2£57£20

20. tataH= then; shushraava= (Sumantra) heard; mandam= the feeble; jalpitam= conversation; Dasharatha striiNaam= of Dasaratha’s wives; raama shoka abhitaptaanam= absorbed of anguish on account of Rama’s exile; tataH tatatH= from their respective; praasaadebhyaH= inner apartments.

Sumantra also heard the feeble conversation of Dasaratha’s wives absorbed in anguish on account of Rama’s exile, from their respective inner apartments.

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sh rame[ inyaRt> ivna ramm! #h Aagt>,
sUt> ikm! nam kaEsLyam! zaecNtIm! àit vúyit. 2£57£21

21. kim naama= what; suutaH= Sumantra; prati vakshhyati= will reply; kausalyaam= to Kausalya; shocantiim= who is lamenting; niryaataH= (when he) went out; raameNa saha= with Rama; aagataH= and returned; iha= here; vinaa raamam= without Rama?

“What Sumantra will reply to the lamenting Kausalya, when he now returns here without Rama while he formerly went out with Rama?”

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ywa c mNye ÊjIRvm! @vm! n sukrm! Øuvm!,
Aai½* puÇe inyaRte kaEsLya yÇ jIvit. 2£57£22

22. yathaa= In which manner; kausalyaa= Kausalya; yatra jiivati= survives wherever, aachchhidya= in spite of; putre= her son (Rama); niryaate= having left; manye= I think that; dhruvam= surely; na= it is not; sukaram= easy; evam= thus; durjiivitam= a difficult living.

“In spite of her son (Rama) having left Ayodhya, Kausalya continues to survive. I think that surely it is difficult thus to live and it is not so easy to preserve it too!”

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sTy êpm! tu tt! vaKym! ra}> ôI[am! inzamyn!,
àdIÝm! #v zaeken ivvez shsa g&hm!. 2£57£23

23. nishaamayan= reaching to; tat vaakyam= those words; satya ruupam= so credible; raaj~naH= of king Dasaratha’s; striiNaam= wives; sahasaa= (Sumantra) quickly; vivesha= entered; gR^iham= the house; pradiiptim iva= appeared like burning; shokena= with grief.

Hearing those credible words of Dasaratha’s wives, Sumantra all at once entered the house, that appeared to be set ablaze with grief.

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s àivZy AòmIm! kúyam! rajanm! dInm! Aatulm!,
puÇ zaek pir*Unm! ApZyt! pa{fre g&he. 2£57£24

24. saH= that Sumantra; pravishya= entered; aSTamiim= the eighth; kakSyaam= inner apartment; apashyat= (and) saw; raajaanam= king Dasaratha; diinaam= the miserable; aatulam= the sick; putra shoka parimlaanam= and the exhausted man; due to grief for his son; paaNDure= in that white; gR^ihe= house.

Sumantra entered the eighth inner apartment and saw in that white house, King Dasaratha the miserable the sick and the exhausted man on account of the exhausted man on account of the grief for his son.

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Ai-gMy tm! AasInm! nr #NÔm! Ai-va* c,
sumÙ> ram vcnm! ywa %­m! àTyvedyt!. 2£57£25

25. sumantraH= Sumantra; abhigamya= approached; tam narendram= the distressed king; aasiinam= who was seated; abhivaadya cha= offered his salutation; pratyavedayat= and presented; raamavachanam= Rama’s message; yathoktam= as told.

Sumantra approached that king who was seated, offered his salutation and presented Rama’s message as told.

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s tU:[Im! @v tt! ïuTva raja ivæaNt cetn>,
mUicRt> Nyptt! -UmaE ram zaek Ai-pIift>. 2£57£26

26. saH raajaa= that king; shrutvaa= heard; tuushhNiim eva= silently; tat= that message of Rama, vibhraanta chetasaH= was afflicted by grief for his son; muurchitaH= became fainted; nyapatat= and fell; bhuumau= on the ground.

That king heard silently the message of Rama, was bewildered, afflicted by grief, for his son, became fainted and fell on the ground.

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tt> ANt> purm! AaivÏm! mUicRte p&iwvI ptaE,
%ϯTy baø cu³aez n&ptaE pitte i]taE. 2£57£27

27. tataH= then; pR^ithivii patau= the king; muurcchite= having fainted; antaHpuram= the gynaeceum; aviddham= was hurt; nR^ipatau= (while) the king; patite= was falling; kshhitau= on the ground; chukrosha= (the inmates of gynaeceum) wept; uddhR^itya= raising; baahuu= their hands.

The king thus having fainted, the gynaeceum was hurt. While the king was falling on the ground, the inmates of gynaeceum wept, raising their hands in distress.

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suimÇya tu sihta kaEsLya pittm! pitm!,
%Twapyam! Aas tda vcnm! c #dm! AävIt!. 2£57£28

28. tadaa= then; kausalyaa= Kausalya; sumitrayaa sahitaa= along with Sumitra; utthaapayaam aasa= lifted up; patim= their husband; patitam= who fell (on the ground); abraviit ca= and (Kausalya) also spoke; idam= these; vachanam= words.

Kausalya along with Sumitra lifted up their husband, who fell on the ground. Kausalya also spoke these words to Dasaratha.

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#mm! tSy mha -ag Ëtm! Ê:kr kair[>,
vn vasat! AnuàaÝm! kSman! n àit-a;se. 2£57£29

29. mahaabhaagam= Oh, illustrious king! Kasmaat= why; na pratibhaashhase= are you not speaking; imam= to this; tasya= Rama’s duutam= messenger; anupraaptam= dushhkara kaariNaH= and who has done difficult things?

“Oh, illustrious king! Why are you not speaking to this Rama’s messenger who came from the forest and who has done difficult things?”

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A* #mm! Anym! k«Tva VypÇpis ra"v,
%iÄó suk«tm! te AStu zaeke n Syat! shayta. 2£57£30

30. raaghava= Oh, Dasaratha! kR^itvaa= after doing; anayam= an evil act; adya= now; vyapatrapasi= you are feeling shameful; uttishhTha= raise up!; astu= let it be; sukR^itam= a meritorious act; te= for you; sahaayataa= help; na syaat= cannot be obtained; shoke= in grief.

“Oh, Dasaratha! After doing an evil act, you are now feeling shameful. Rise up! Let it be a meritorious act for you. You cannot get a help, when you weep like this.”

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dev ySya -yat! ramm! n Anup&½is sariwm!,
n #h itóit kEkeyI ivïBxm! àit-a:ytam!. 2£57£31

31. deva= Oh, king!; yasyaaH= on whose; bhayaat; fear; na anupR^icchasi= you are not enquiring; raamam= about Rama; saarathim= with the; charioteer; kaikeyii= that Kaikeyi; na tishhThet= is not; iha= here; pratibhaashhyataam= speak; visrabdham= fearlessly.

“Oh, king! On whose fear, you are not enquiring with Sumantra about the welfare of Rama, that Kaikeyi is not here. Speak fearlessly.”

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sa twa %®va mha rajm! kaEsLya zaek lalsa,
xr{yam! inppat Aazu ba:p ivPlut -ai;[I. 2£57£32

32. saa kausalyaa= that Kausalya; baashhpa vipluta bhaashhiNii= speaking excitedly in tears; shoka laalasaa= and entirely given up to uttered; uktvaa= uttered; tathaa= thus; mahaa raajam= to the monarch; aashu= and soon; nipapaata= fell; dharaNyaam= on the ground.

Kausalya, speaking excitedly in tears and entirely given up to anguish uttered thus to the monarch and soon fell to the ground.

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@vm! ivlptIm! †òœva kaEsLyam! pittam! -uiv,
pitm! c Aveúy ta> svaR> sSvrm! ééÊ> iôy>. 2£57£33

33. sarvaaH= all; taaH striyaH= those woman; ruruduH= cried; susvaram= loud voice; dR^ishhTvaa= seeing; kausalyaam= Kausalya; evam= thus; vilapatiim= weeping; bhuvipatitaam= fallen on the ground; avekshhya= and seeing; patim cha= the husband too.

All those women cried in loud voice, seeing Kausalya fallen on the ground weeping as aforesaid and gazing their husband too (lying unconscious).

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tt> tm! ANt> pur nadm! %iTwtm!,
smIúy v&Ïa> té[a> c manva>,
iôy> c svaR ééÊ> smNtt>,
purm! tda AasIt! punrœ @v sMk…lm!. 2£57£34

34. tataH= thereafter; samiikshya= seeing; tam= that; antaH pura naadam= noise in gynaeceum; maanavaaH= persons; vR^iddhaaH= aged; taruNaaH cha= and young; sarvaaH= all; striyaH cha= the women; samantataH= on all sides; ruruduH= cried; tadaa= then; puram= the city; punar eva= again; aasiit= became; samkulam= agitated.

Hearing that crying sound raised in gynaeceum, all aged and young men and women on all sides gathered around weeping. The city then again became disturbed.

 

#Tya;eR ïImÔamay[e AaidkaVye AyaeXyaka{fe sÝpÂz> sgR

Thus completes 57th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda 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 57

 

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Sarga 57 in English Prose

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© Mar 2003, K. M. K. Murthy