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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 16: Rāma accepts fourteen years of exile
Summary. Kaikeyī explains the boons, Rāma agrees, asks for Bharata’s return and leaves to speak to Kausalyā & Sītā
Sequence
- Rāma bows to Daśaratha and Kaikeyī, but his father can only say his name and weep (2.16.1–4)
- alarmed by this unfamiliar silence, Rāma asks whether he has offended him, whether he is ill, or whether something has happened to the family (2.16.5–15)
- he asks Kaikeyī to explain and promises to do whatever his father requires, even at the cost of his life (2.16.16–19)
- she recounts the two boons and tells him that Bharata will receive the Kingdom while he must spend fourteen years in Daṇḍaka, dressed as a tapasvin (2.16.20–26)
- Rāma accepts immediately → he says that what hurts him is his father's inability to tell him directly: he would willingly give Bharata the Kingdom and everything else. (2.16.27–34)
- Rāma asks that Bharata be summoned and Daśaratha comforted → Kaikeyī presses him to leave quickly, saying the King will neither eat nor bathe until he has gone → Daśaratha collapses again, and Rāma helps him up (2.16.35–44)
- Rāma says he values duty above gain and would obey Kaikeyī even without a separate command from his father → he asks only to take leave of Kausalyā and speak to Sītā, and tells Kaikeyī to ensure that Bharata serves their father (2.16.45–52)
- he bows to both parents, walks respectfully around them and the vessels prepared for his abhiṣeka, and leaves → Lakṣmaṇa follows in tears and anger, while Rāma controls his own grief and goes to his mother's still-celebrating household. (2.16.53–61)
Verses 2.16.1–61
2.16.1
sa dadarśāsane rāmo niṣaṇṇaṃ pitaraṃ śubhe
kaikeyīsahitaṃ dīnaṃ mukhena pariśuṣyatā
Rāma saw his father seated on a fair couch together with Kaikeyī, dejected, his face wan and shrunken.
Words: sa — he; dadarśāsane — saw upon a seat; rāmo — Rāma; niṣaṇṇaṃ — seated; pitaraṃ — his father; śubhe — fair, beautiful (couch); kaikeyīsahitaṃ — together with Kaikeyī; dīnaṃ — dejected, wretched; mukhena — with his face; pariśuṣyatā — wan, shrivelling
2.16.2
sa pituś caraṇau pūrvam abhivādya vinītavat
tato vavande caraṇau kaikeyyāḥ susamāhitaḥ
First reverently saluting his father's feet, then, well-composed, he bowed to the feet of Kaikeyī.
Words: sa — he; pituś — of his father; caraṇau — the two feet; pūrvam — first; abhivādya — having saluted; vinītavat — reverently, humbly; tato — then; vavande — bowed to, saluted; caraṇau — the feet; kaikeyyāḥ — of Kaikeyī; susamāhitaḥ — well-composed, attentive
2.16.3
rāmety uktvā ca vacanaṃ vāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇaḥ
śaśāka nṛpatir dīno nekṣituṃ nābhibhāṣitum
Having spoken only the word 'Rāma,' his eyes brimming with tears, the wretched king could neither look at him nor speak.
Words: rāmety — 'Rāma'; uktvā — having said; ca — and; vacanaṃ — the word; vāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇaḥ — his eyes troubled with tears; śaśāka — was able; nṛpatir — the king; dīno — wretched; nekṣituṃ — not to look; nābhibhāṣitum — nor to speak
2.16.4
tad apūrvaṃ narapater dṛṣṭvā rūpaṃ bhayāvaham
rāmo 'pi bhayam āpannaḥ padā spṛṣṭveva pannagam
Seeing that unprecedented, fearsome look of the king, Rāma too was seized with fear, like one who has touched a snake with his foot.
Words: tad — that; apūrvaṃ — unprecedented; narapater — of the king; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; rūpaṃ — form, look; bhayāvaham — fearsome, terrifying; rāmo — Rāma; 'pi — too; bhayam — fear; āpannaḥ — fell into, was seized by; padā — with the foot; spṛṣṭveva — as if having touched; pannagam — a snake
2.16.5
indriyair aprahṛṣṭais taṃ śokasaṃtāpakarśitam
niḥśvasantaṃ mahārājaṃ vyathitākulacetasaṃ
Him, with joyless senses, wasted by grief and anguish, the great king sighing, his mind agitated and distraught—
Words: indriyair — with his senses; aprahṛṣṭais — joyless, cheerless; taṃ — him; śokasaṃtāpakarśitam — wasted by grief and burning sorrow; niḥśvasantaṃ — sighing; mahārājaṃ — the great king; vyathitākulacetasaṃ — his mind afflicted and agitated
2.16.6
ūrmi mālinam akṣobhyaṃ kṣubhyantam iva sāgaram
upaplutam ivādityam uktānṛtam ṛṣiṃ yathā
—like the imperturbable ocean, wreathed with waves, grown turbulent; like the sun in eclipse; like a seer who has uttered a falsehood—
Words: ūrmi mālinam — wreathed with waves; akṣobhyaṃ — imperturbable, unshakable; kṣubhyantam — growing turbulent, agitated; iva — like; sāgaram — the ocean; upaplutam — eclipsed, overwhelmed; ivādityam — like the sun; uktānṛtam — who has spoken untruth; ṛṣiṃ — a seer; yathā — like
2.16.7
acintyakalpaṃ hi pitus taṃ śokam upadhārayan
babhūva saṃrabdhataraḥ samudra iva parvaṇi
—perceiving that almost inconceivable grief of his father, he grew more agitated, like the sea at the turn of the moon.
Words: acintyakalpaṃ — almost inconceivable; hi — indeed; pitus — of his father; taṃ — that; śokam — grief; upadhārayan — perceiving, considering; babhūva — became; saṃrabdhataraḥ — more agitated, perturbed; samudra — the sea; iva — like; parvaṇi — at the turn (new/full moon) of the month
2.16.8
cintayām āsa ca tadā rāmaḥ pitṛhite rataḥ
kiṃsvid adyaiva nṛpatir na māṃ pratyabhinandati
And Rāma, intent on his father's welfare, then wondered: “Why is it that the king does not greet me this day?”
Words: cintayām āsa — pondered, thought; ca — and; tadā — then; rāmaḥ — Rāma; pitṛhite — in his father's welfare; rataḥ — intent, devoted; kiṃsvid — why, what indeed; adyaiva — this very day; nṛpatir — the king; na — not; māṃ — me; pratyabhinandati — greets, welcomes
2.16.9
anyadā māṃ pitā dṛṣṭvā kupito 'pi prasīdati
tasya mām adya saṃprekṣya kimāyāsaḥ pravartate
“At other times my father, even when angry, grows calm on seeing me; why then today does distress arise in him at the sight of me?”
Words: anyadā — at other times; māṃ — me; pitā — father; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; kupito — angry; 'pi — even; prasīdati — grows calm, is pleased; tasya — of him, his; mām — me; adya — today; saṃprekṣya — having looked upon; kimāyāsaḥ — what distress; pravartate — arises, comes forth
2.16.10
sa dīna iva śokārto viṣaṇṇavadanadyutiḥ
kaikeyīm abhivādyaiva rāmo vacanam abravīt
Wretched, as it were, and stricken with grief, the light of his face dimmed, Rāma, saluting Kaikeyī, spoke these words:
Words: sa — he; dīna — wretched; iva — as it were; śokārto — stricken with grief; viṣaṇṇavadanadyutiḥ — the radiance of his face dejected; kaikeyīm — Kaikeyī; abhivādyaiva — having just saluted; rāmo — Rāma; vacanam — the words; abravīt — spoke
2.16.11
kaccin mayā nāparādham ajñānād yena me pitā
kupitas tan mamācakṣva tvaṃ caivainaṃ prasādaya
“I hope I have not, in ignorance, committed some offence for which my father is angry; tell me of it, and do you appease him.”
Words: kaccin — surely (not), I hope; mayā — by me; nāparādham — no offence; ajñānād — out of ignorance; yena — by which; me — my; pitā — father; kupitas — is angered; tan — that; mamācakṣva — tell me; tvaṃ — you; caivainaṃ — and him; prasādaya — appease, propitiate
2.16.12
vivarṇavadano dīno na hi mām abhibhāṣate
śārīro mānaso vāpi kaccid enaṃ na bādhate
saṃtāpo vābhitāpo vā durlabhaṃ hi sadā sukham
“With face discoloured and dejected, he does not speak to me. I hope no affliction, of body or of mind—no torment, no fever—distresses him, for happiness is ever hard to keep.”
Words: vivarṇavadano — with discoloured face; dīno — dejected; na — not; hi — indeed; mām — to me; abhibhāṣate — speaks; śārīro — bodily; mānaso — mental; vāpi — or; kaccid — I hope (not); enaṃ — him; na — not; bādhate — afflicts, distresses; saṃtāpo — torment, anguish; vābhitāpo — or fever, burning; vā — or; durlabhaṃ — hard to obtain, hard to keep; hi — for; sadā — always; sukham — happiness
2.16.13
kaccin na kiṃ cid bharate kumāre priyadarśane
śatrughne vā mahāsattve mātṝṇāṃ vā mamāśubham
“I hope no misfortune of mine has befallen prince Bharata, fair to behold, or the mighty Śatrughna, or any of my mothers.”
Words: kaccin — I hope (not); na — not; kiṃ cid — anything; bharate — concerning Bharata; kumāre — the prince; priyadarśane — fair to behold; śatrughne — concerning Śatrughna; vā — or; mahāsattve — of great strength; mātṝṇāṃ — of the mothers; vā — or; mamāśubham — any misfortune of mine
2.16.14
atoṣayan mahārājam akurvan vā pitur vacaḥ
muhūrtam api neccheyaṃ jīvituṃ kupite nṛpe
“Failing to please the great king, or failing to do my father's bidding, I would not wish to live even a moment while the king is angry.”
Words: atoṣayan — not pleasing, failing to satisfy; mahārājam — the great king; akurvan — not doing; vā — or; pitur — my father's; vacaḥ — word, command; muhūrtam — a moment; api — even; neccheyaṃ — I would not wish; jīvituṃ — to live; kupite — when angry; nṛpe — the king
2.16.15
yatomūlaṃ naraḥ paśyet prādurbhāvam ihātmanaḥ
kathaṃ tasmin na varteta pratyakṣe sati daivate
“A man who sees in him the very source of his own coming into being—how could he fail to serve that visible deity present before him?”
Words: yatomūlaṃ — having its root from whom, as the source; naraḥ — a man; paśyet — would see; prādurbhāvam — coming into being, origin; ihātmanaḥ — here of himself; kathaṃ — how; tasmin — toward him; na — not; varteta — would act, conduct himself; pratyakṣe — visible, present; sati — being; daivate — the deity
2.16.16
kaccit te paruṣaṃ kiṃ cid abhimānāt pitā mama
ukto bhavatyā kopena yatrāsya lulitaṃ manaḥ
“Surely my father was not, out of pride and anger, addressed by you with some harsh word, whereby his mind has been so shaken?”
Words: kaccit — surely (not); te — by you; paruṣaṃ — harsh; kiṃ cid — something; abhimānāt — out of pride, self-regard; pitā — father; mama — my; ukto — addressed, spoken to; bhavatyā — by you (madam); kopena — in anger; yatrāsya — whereby his; lulitaṃ — agitated, shaken; manaḥ — mind
2.16.17
etad ācakṣva me devi tattvena paripṛcchataḥ
kiṃnimittam apūrvo 'yaṃ vikāro manujādhipe
“Tell me this truly, O queen, for I ask you: what is the cause of this unprecedented change in the lord of men?”
Words: etad — this; ācakṣva — tell; me — to me; devi — O queen; tattvena — truly, in truth; paripṛcchataḥ — (to me) who ask; kiṃnimittam — for what cause; apūrvo — unprecedented; 'yaṃ — this; vikāro — change, alteration; manujādhipe — in the lord of men
2.16.18
ahaṃ hi vacanād rājñaḥ pateyam api pāvake
bhakṣayeyaṃ viṣaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ majjeyam api cārṇave
niyukto guruṇā pitrā nṛpeṇa ca hitena ca
“At the king's word I would leap even into fire, would swallow sharp poison, would drown myself in the ocean, if so directed by my father—my guru, my king, and my well-wisher.”
Words: ahaṃ — I; hi — indeed; vacanād — at the word; rājñaḥ — of the king; pateyam — I would fall, leap; api — even; pāvake — into fire; bhakṣayeyaṃ — I would eat, swallow; viṣaṃ — poison; tīkṣṇaṃ — sharp, virulent; majjeyam — I would drown, sink; api — even; cārṇave — and in the ocean; niyukto — directed, commanded; guruṇā — by my guru; pitrā — by my father; nṛpeṇa — by the king; ca — and; hitena — by my well-wisher; ca — and
2.16.19
tad brūhi vacanaṃ devi rājño yad abhikāṅkṣitam
kariṣye pratijāne ca rāmo dvir nābhibhāṣate
“So tell me the word, O queen—whatever the king desires; I shall do it, I promise: Rāma does not speak twice.”
Words: tad — therefore; brūhi — tell, speak; vacanaṃ — the word; devi — O queen; rājño — of the king; yad — which; abhikāṅkṣitam — is desired; kariṣye — I shall do; pratijāne — I promise; ca — and; rāmo — Rāma; dvir — twice; nābhibhāṣate — does not speak
2.16.20
tam ārjavasamāyuktam anāryā satyavādinam
uvāca rāmaṃ kaikeyī vacanaṃ bhṛśadāruṇam
To that Rāma, upright and truthful, the ignoble Kaikeyī spoke a most cruel word:
Words: tam — him; ārjavasamāyuktam — endowed with rectitude; anāryā — the ignoble woman; satyavādinam — truthful, truth-speaking; uvāca — spoke to; rāmaṃ — Rāma; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; vacanaṃ — a word; bhṛśadāruṇam — exceedingly cruel
2.16.21
purā devāsure yuddhe pitrā te mama rāghava
rakṣitena varau dattau saśalyena mahāraṇe
“Long ago, Rāghava, in the war of gods and demons, your father, guarded by me though wounded with darts in that great battle, granted me two boons.
Words: purā — long ago; devāsure — in the (war) of gods and demons; yuddhe — in the war; pitrā — by your father; te — your; mama — by me; rāghava — O Rāghava; rakṣitena — (he being) protected; varau — two boons; dattau — were given; saśalyena — wounded with darts; mahāraṇe — in the great battle
2.16.22
tatra me yācito rājā bharatasyābhiṣecanam
gamanaṃ daṇḍakāraṇye tava cādyaiva rāghava
“Thereupon the king was asked by me for the consecration of Bharata, and for your departure this very day to the Daṇḍaka forest, O Rāghava.
Words: tatra — thereupon, there; me — by me; yācito — was asked; rājā — the king; bharatasyābhiṣecanam — for the consecration of Bharata; gamanaṃ — departure, going; daṇḍakāraṇye — to the Daṇḍaka forest; tava — your; cādyaiva — and this very day; rāghava — O Rāghava
2.16.23
yadi satyapratijñaṃ tvaṃ pitaraṃ kartum icchasi
ātmānaṃ ca narareṣṭha mama vākyam idaṃ śṛṇu
“If you wish to make your father true to his promise, and yourself too, O best of men, then hear this word of mine.
Words: yadi — if; satyapratijñaṃ — true to his promise; tvaṃ — you; pitaraṃ — your father; kartum — to make; icchasi — you wish; ātmānaṃ — yourself; ca — and; narareṣṭha — O best of men; mama — my; vākyam — word; idaṃ — this; śṛṇu — hear
2.16.24
sa nideśe pitus tiṣṭha yathā tena pratiśrutam
tvayāraṇyaṃ praveṣṭavyaṃ nava varṣāṇi pañca ca
“Abide by your father's command, as was promised by him: the forest must be entered by you for nine years and five,
Words: sa — you (as such); nideśe — in the command; pitus — of your father; tiṣṭha — stand, abide; yathā — as; tena — by him; pratiśrutam — was promised; tvayāraṇyaṃ — the forest by you; praveṣṭavyaṃ — is to be entered; nava — nine; varṣāṇi — years; pañca — five; ca — and
2.16.25
sapta sapta ca varṣāṇi daṇḍakāraṇyam āśritaḥ
abhiṣekam imaṃ tyaktvā jaṭācīradharo vasa
“for seven and seven years dwelling in the Daṇḍaka forest; renouncing this consecration, live wearing matted hair and bark.
Words: sapta — seven; sapta — seven; ca — and; varṣāṇi — years; daṇḍakāraṇyam — the Daṇḍaka forest; āśritaḥ — resorting to, dwelling in; abhiṣekam — the consecration; imaṃ — this; tyaktvā — having renounced; jaṭācīradharo — wearing matted hair and bark; vasa — dwell, live
2.16.26
bharataḥ kosalapure praśāstu vasudhām imām
nānāratnasamākīrṇaṃ savājirathakuñjarām
“Let Bharata in the Kosala city rule this earth, strewn with jewels of every kind, with its horses, chariots, and elephants.
Words: bharataḥ — Bharata; kosalapure — in the Kosala city; praśāstu — let him rule; vasudhām — the earth; imām — this; nānāratnasamākīrṇaṃ — strewn with jewels of every kind; savājirathakuñjarām — with horses, chariots, and elephants
2.16.27
tad apriyam amitraghno vacanaṃ maraṇopamam
śrutvā na vivyathe rāmaḥ kaikeyīṃ cedam abravīt
Hearing that unwelcome speech, like unto death, Rāma the slayer of foes was not shaken, and said this to Kaikeyī:
Words: tad — that; apriyam — unwelcome, unpleasant; amitraghno — slayer of foes; vacanaṃ — speech; maraṇopamam — like unto death; śrutvā — having heard; na — not; vivyathe — was shaken, was agitated; rāmaḥ — Rāma; kaikeyīṃ — to Kaikeyī; cedam — and this; abravīt — said
2.16.28
evam astu gamiṣyāmi vanaṃ vastum ahaṃ tv ataḥ
jaṭācīradharo rājñaḥ pratijñām anupālayan
“So be it; I shall go hence to dwell in the forest, wearing matted hair and bark, upholding the king's promise.
Words: evam — so; astu — let it be; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; vanaṃ — to the forest; vastum — to dwell; ahaṃ — I; tv — indeed; ataḥ — hence, from here; jaṭācīradharo — wearing matted hair and bark; rājñaḥ — of the king; pratijñām — the promise; anupālayan — upholding
2.16.29
idaṃ tu jñātum icchāmi kimarthaṃ māṃ mahīpatiḥ
nābhinandati durdharṣo yathāpuram ariṃdamaḥ
“But this I wish to know: why does the lord of earth, unassailable, tamer of foes, not greet me as before?”
Words: idaṃ — this; tu — but; jñātum — to know; icchāmi — I wish; kimarthaṃ — for what reason, why; māṃ — me; mahīpatiḥ — the lord of earth; nābhinandati — does not greet; durdharṣo — unassailable; yathāpuram — as before; ariṃdamaḥ — tamer of foes
2.16.30
manyur na ca tvayā kāryo devi brūhi tavāgrataḥ
yāsyāmi bhava suprītā vanaṃ cīrajaṭādharaḥ
“You need feel no anger, O queen; declare it in your presence: I shall go—be well pleased—to the forest, wearing bark and matted hair.”
Words: manyur — anger; na — not; ca — and; tvayā — by you; kāryo — to be felt, to be made; devi — O queen; brūhi — declare, tell; tavāgrataḥ — in your presence; yāsyāmi — I shall go; bhava — be; suprītā — well pleased; vanaṃ — to the forest; cīrajaṭādharaḥ — wearing bark and matted hair
2.16.31
hitena guruṇā pitrā kṛtajñena nṛpeṇa ca
niyujyamāno viśrabdhaṃ kiṃ na kuryād ahaṃ priyam
“Being commanded, without misgiving, by my well-wisher, my guru, my father, a grateful king—what pleasing thing would I not do?”
Words: hitena — by my well-wisher; guruṇā — by my guru; pitrā — by my father; kṛtajñena — grateful; nṛpeṇa — by the king; ca — and; niyujyamāno — being commanded; viśrabdhaṃ — confidently, without misgiving; kiṃ — what; na — not; kuryād — would do; ahaṃ — I; priyam — pleasing thing
2.16.32
alīkaṃ mānasaṃ tv ekaṃ hṛdayaṃ dahatīva me
svayaṃ yan nāha māṃ rājā bharatasyābhiṣecanam
“Yet one grief in my mind burns my heart, as it were: that the king did not himself tell me of Bharata's consecration.”
Words: alīkaṃ — painful, distressing (grief); mānasaṃ — mental; tv — yet; ekaṃ — one; hṛdayaṃ — heart; dahatīva — burns, as it were; me — my; svayaṃ — himself; yan — that; nāha — did not tell; māṃ — me; rājā — the king; bharatasyābhiṣecanam — of Bharata's consecration
2.16.33
ahaṃ hi sītāṃ rājyaṃ ca prāṇān iṣṭān dhanāni ca
hṛṣṭo bhrātre svayaṃ dadyāṃ bharatāyāpracoditaḥ
“For gladly, and unprompted, would I of my own accord give to my brother Bharata—Sītā, the kingdom, my cherished life, and my wealth.
Words: ahaṃ — I; hi — for; sītāṃ — Sītā; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; ca — and; prāṇān — my life, breath; iṣṭān — cherished, dear; dhanāni — wealth; ca — and; hṛṣṭo — gladly, delighted; bhrātre — to my brother; svayaṃ — of my own accord; dadyāṃ — I would give; bharatāyāpracoditaḥ — to Bharata, unprompted
2.16.34
kiṃ punar manujendreṇa svayaṃ pitrā pracoditaḥ
tava ca priyakāmārthaṃ pratijñām anupālayan
“How much more, then, when prompted by the lord of men, my father himself, and to fulfil your dear wish, upholding his promise!”
Words: kiṃ punar — how much more; manujendreṇa — by the lord of men; svayaṃ — himself; pitrā — by my father; pracoditaḥ — prompted, urged; tava — your; ca — and; priyakāmārthaṃ — for the sake of your dear wish; pratijñām — the promise; anupālayan — upholding
2.16.35
tad āśvāsaya hīmaṃ tvaṃ kiṃ nv idaṃ yan mahīpatiḥ
vasudhāsaktanayano mandam aśrūṇi muñcati
“So do you comfort him; why is it that the lord of earth, his eyes fixed on the ground, gently sheds tears?”
Words: tad — so, therefore; āśvāsaya — comfort, console; hīmaṃ — indeed this; tvaṃ — you; kiṃ — why; nv — indeed; idaṃ — this; yan — that; mahīpatiḥ — the lord of earth; vasudhāsaktanayano — his eyes fixed on the earth; mandam — gently, softly; aśrūṇi — tears; muñcati — sheds, lets fall
2.16.36
gacchantu caivānayituṃ dūtāḥ śīghrajavair hayaiḥ
bharataṃ mātulakulād adyaiva nṛpaśāsanāt
“And let messengers go on swift-paced horses to bring Bharata this very day from his uncle's house, by the king's command.”
Words: gacchantu — let them go; caivānayituṃ — and to bring; dūtāḥ — messengers; śīghrajavair — of swift speed; hayaiḥ — on horses; bharataṃ — Bharata; mātulakulād — from his uncle's house; adyaiva — this very day; nṛpaśāsanāt — by the king's command
2.16.37
daṇḍakāraṇyam eṣo 'ham ito gacchāmi satvaraḥ
avicārya pitur vākyaṃ samāvastuṃ caturdaśa
“Here I go hence in haste to the Daṇḍaka forest, to dwell there fourteen years, without questioning my father's word.”
Words: daṇḍakāraṇyam — to the Daṇḍaka forest; eṣo — here; 'ham — I; ito — from here; gacchāmi — I go; satvaraḥ — in haste; avicārya — without questioning, unhesitatingly; pitur — my father's; vākyaṃ — word; samāvastuṃ — to dwell (there); caturdaśa — fourteen
2.16.38
sā hṛṣṭā tasya tadvākyaṃ śrutvā rāmasya kaikayī
prasthānaṃ śraddadhānā hi tvarayām āsa rāghavam
Kaikeyī, delighted to hear those words of Rāma, and trusting in his departure, urged Rāghava on.
Words: sā — she; hṛṣṭā — delighted; tasya — his; tadvākyaṃ — that word; śrutvā — having heard; rāmasya — of Rāma; kaikayī — Kaikeyī; prasthānaṃ — departure, setting out; śraddadhānā — trusting, confident; hi — indeed; tvarayām āsa — urged on, hastened; rāghavam — Rāghava
2.16.39
evaṃ bhavatu yāsyanti dūtāḥ śīghrajavair hayaiḥ
bharataṃ mātulakulād upāvartayituṃ narāḥ
“So be it; men shall go as messengers on swift-paced horses to bring Bharata back from his uncle's house.”
Words: evaṃ — so; bhavatu — let it be; yāsyanti — will go; dūtāḥ — as messengers; śīghrajavair — of swift speed; hayaiḥ — on horses; bharataṃ — Bharata; mātulakulād — from his uncle's house; upāvartayituṃ — to bring back; narāḥ — men
2.16.40
tava tv ahaṃ kṣamaṃ manye notsukasya vilambanam
rāma tasmād itaḥ śīghraṃ vanaṃ tvaṃ gantum arhasi
“But for you, eager as you are, I think delay unfitting; therefore, Rāma, you should go swiftly hence to the forest.”
Words: tava — for you; tv — but; ahaṃ — I; kṣamaṃ — fitting, proper; manye — I think; notsukasya — not for one eager; vilambanam — delay; rāma — O Rāma; tasmād — therefore; itaḥ — from here; śīghraṃ — swiftly; vanaṃ — to the forest; tvaṃ — you; gantum — to go; arhasi — you ought
2.16.41
vrīḍānvitaḥ svayaṃ yac ca nṛpas tvāṃ nābhibhāṣate
naitat kiṃ cin naraśreṣṭha manyur eṣo 'panīyatām
“And that the king himself, filled with shame, does not speak to you—this is nothing, O best of men; let this vexation be dispelled.”
Words: vrīḍānvitaḥ — filled with shame; svayaṃ — himself; yac — that; ca — and; nṛpas — the king; tvāṃ — you; nābhibhāṣate — does not speak; naitat — this is not (anything); kiṃ cin — anything; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; manyur — vexation, resentment; eṣo — this; 'panīyatām — let it be dispelled
2.16.42
yāvat tvaṃ na vanaṃ yātaḥ purād asmād abhitvaran
pitā tāvan na te rāma snāsyate bhokṣyate 'pi vā
“Until you, hastening, have gone to the forest from this city, your father, O Rāma, will neither bathe nor eat.”
Words: yāvat — as long as, until; tvaṃ — you; na — not; vanaṃ — to the forest; yātaḥ — gone; purād — from the city; asmād — this; abhitvaran — hastening; pitā — father; tāvan — so long; na — not; te — your; rāma — O Rāma; snāsyate — will bathe; bhokṣyate — will eat; 'pi — either; vā — or
2.16.43
dhik kaṣṭam iti niḥśvasya rājā śokapariplutaḥ
mūrchito nyapatat tasmin paryaṅke hemabhūṣite
“Alas! Woe!” Sighing thus, the king, overwhelmed with grief and swooning, fell upon that gold-adorned couch.
Words: dhik — fie, alas; kaṣṭam — woe, misery; iti — thus; niḥśvasya — having sighed; rājā — the king; śokapariplutaḥ — overwhelmed with grief; mūrchito — swooning, fainting; nyapatat — fell down; tasmin — on that; paryaṅke — couch, bed; hemabhūṣite — gold-adorned
2.16.44
rāmo 'py utthāpya rājānaṃ kaikeyyābhipracoditaḥ
kaśayevāhato vājī vanaṃ gantuṃ kṛtatvaraḥ
Rāma too, raising up the king and urged on by Kaikeyī, made haste to go to the forest, like a horse struck by the whip.
Words: rāmo — Rāma; 'py — too; utthāpya — having raised up; rājānaṃ — the king; kaikeyyābhipracoditaḥ — urged on by Kaikeyī; kaśayevāhato — struck as if by a whip; vājī — a horse; vanaṃ — to the forest; gantuṃ — to go; kṛtatvaraḥ — making haste
2.16.45
tad apriyam anāryāyā vacanaṃ dāruṇodaram
śrutvā gatavyatho rāmaḥ kaikeyīṃ vākyam abravīt
Hearing that unwelcome speech of the ignoble woman, cruel at its core, Rāma, unperturbed, said to Kaikeyī:
Words: tad — that; apriyam — unwelcome; anāryāyā — of the ignoble woman; vacanaṃ — speech; dāruṇodaram — cruel within, harsh at its core; śrutvā — having heard; gatavyatho — free of agitation; rāmaḥ — Rāma; kaikeyīṃ — to Kaikeyī; vākyam — a word; abravīt — said
2.16.46
nāham arthaparo devi lokam āvastum utsahe
viddhi mām ṛṣibhis tulyaṃ kevalaṃ dharmam āsthitam
“I am not devoted to gain, O queen, that I should care to live for the world; know me to be, like the seers, wholly devoted to dharma.
Words: nāham — I am not; arthaparo — devoted to gain; devi — O queen; lokam — the world; āvastum — to dwell in, to win; utsahe — I am eager, I venture; viddhi — know; mām — me; ṛṣibhis — with the seers; tulyaṃ — equal, alike; kevalaṃ — solely, wholly; dharmam — to dharma; āsthitam — devoted to, established in
2.16.47
yad atrabhavataḥ kiṃ cic chakyaṃ kartuṃ priyaṃ mayā
prāṇān api parityajya sarvathā kṛtam eva tat
“Whatever pleasing thing can be done by me for his honoured self—that, even at the cost of my life, is by all means as good as done.
Words: yad — whatever; atrabhavataḥ — of his honoured self; kiṃ cic — some; chakyaṃ — can be, is possible; kartuṃ — to do; priyaṃ — pleasing thing; mayā — by me; prāṇān — life; api — even; parityajya — having given up; sarvathā — by all means, wholly; kṛtam — done; eva — indeed; tat — that
2.16.48
na hy ato dharmacaraṇaṃ kiṃ cid asti mahattaram
yathā pitari śuśrūṣā tasya vā vacanakriyā
“For there is no practice of dharma greater than this—service to one's father, or the carrying out of his word.
Words: na — not; hy — for; ato — than this; dharmacaraṇaṃ — practice of dharma; kiṃ cid — any; asti — is, exists; mahattaram — greater; yathā — as, namely; pitari — toward the father; śuśrūṣā — service, obedience; tasya — his; vā — or; vacanakriyā — the carrying out of his word
2.16.49
anukto 'py atrabhavatā bhavatyā vacanād aham
vane vatsyāmi vijane varṣāṇīha caturdaśa
“Even unbidden by his honoured self, at your word, madam, I shall dwell in the lonely forest here for fourteen years.”
Words: anukto — unbidden, not told; 'py — even; atrabhavatā — by his honoured self; bhavatyā — by you (madam); vacanād — at the word; aham — I; vane — in the forest; vatsyāmi — I shall dwell; vijane — solitary, uninhabited; varṣāṇīha — years here; caturdaśa — fourteen
2.16.50
na nūnaṃ mayi kaikeyi kiṃ cid āśaṃsase guṇam
yad rājānam avocas tvaṃ mameśvaratarā satī
“Surely, Kaikeyī, you expect no merit in me at all, since, being more my mistress than the king, you spoke to him directly.
Words: na — not; nūnaṃ — surely, doubtless; mayi — in me; kaikeyi — O Kaikeyī; kiṃ cid — any; āśaṃsase — you expect, you count on; guṇam — merit, virtue; yad — since; rājānam — the king; avocas — you spoke to; tvaṃ — you; mameśvaratarā — being more a mistress over me; satī — being
2.16.51
yāvan mātaram āpṛcche sītāṃ cānunayāmy aham
tato 'dyaiva gamiṣyāmi daṇḍakānāṃ mahad vanam
“As soon as I have taken leave of my mother and reconciled Sītā, I shall this very day go to the great forest of the Daṇḍakas.”
Words: yāvan — as soon as, until; mātaram — my mother; āpṛcche — I take leave of, ask; sītāṃ — Sītā; cānunayāmy — and I conciliate; aham — I; tato — then; 'dyaiva — this very day; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; daṇḍakānāṃ — of the Daṇḍakas; mahad — great; vanam — forest
2.16.52
bharataḥ pālayed rājyaṃ śuśrūṣec ca pitur yathā
tahā bhavatyā kartavyaṃ sa hi dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ
“You must see to it, madam, that Bharata rules the kingdom and serves our father, for that is the eternal law.”
Words: bharataḥ — Bharata; pālayed — should rule, protect; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; śuśrūṣec — should serve; ca — and; pitur — our father; yathā — so that; tahā — so, thus; bhavatyā — by you (madam); kartavyaṃ — is to be done; sa — that; hi — for; dharmaḥ — law, duty; sanātanaḥ — eternal
2.16.53
sa rāmasya vacaḥ śrutvā bhṛśaṃ duḥkhahataḥ pitā
śokād aśaknuvan bāṣpaṃ praruroda mahāsvanam
Hearing Rāma's words, the father, stricken with grief and unable to hold back his tears for sorrow, wept aloud with a great cry.
Words: sa — he; rāmasya — of Rāma; vacaḥ — the words; śrutvā — having heard; bhṛśaṃ — exceedingly; duḥkhahataḥ — stricken with grief; pitā — the father; śokād — from grief; aśaknuvan — unable; bāṣpaṃ — tears; praruroda — wept; mahāsvanam — with a great cry
2.16.54
vanditvā caraṇau rāmo visaṃjñasya pitus tadā
kaikeyyāś cāpy anāryāyā niṣpapāta mahādyutiḥ
Having bowed to the feet of his swooning father, and of the ignoble Kaikeyī too, Rāma of great splendour then went forth.
Words: vanditvā — having bowed to; caraṇau — the feet; rāmo — Rāma; visaṃjñasya — of the unconscious one; pitus — of his father; tadā — then; kaikeyyāś — of Kaikeyī; cāpy — and also; anāryāyā — the ignoble; niṣpapāta — went forth, departed; mahādyutiḥ — of great splendour
2.16.55
sa rāmaḥ pitaraṃ kṛtvā kaikeyīṃ ca pradakṣiṇam
niṣkramyāntaḥpurāt tasmāt svaṃ dadarśa suhṛjjanam
Rāma, having circled his father and Kaikeyī to the right, came out from those inner apartments and saw his own group of friends.
Words: sa — he; rāmaḥ — Rāma; pitaraṃ — his father; kṛtvā — having made; kaikeyīṃ — Kaikeyī; ca — and; pradakṣiṇam — circumambulation to the right; niṣkramyāntaḥpurāt — coming out from the inner apartments; tasmāt — those; svaṃ — his own; dadarśa — saw; suhṛjjanam — group of friends
2.16.56
taṃ bāṣpaparipūrṇākṣaḥ pṛṣṭhato 'nujagāma ha
lakṣmaṇaḥ paramakruddhaḥ sumitrānandavardhanaḥ
Lakṣmaṇa, his eyes filled with tears, exceedingly angry, the increaser of Sumitrā's joy, followed him from behind.
Words: taṃ — him; bāṣpaparipūrṇākṣaḥ — his eyes filled with tears; pṛṣṭhato — from behind; 'nujagāma — followed; ha — indeed; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; paramakruddhaḥ — exceedingly angry; sumitrānandavardhanaḥ — increaser of Sumitrā's joy
2.16.57
ābhiṣecanikaṃ bhāṇḍaṃ kṛtvā rāmaḥ pradakṣiṇam
śanair jagāma sāpekṣo dṛṣṭiṃ tatrāvicālayan
Having reverently circled the vessels prepared for the consecration, Rāma went slowly away, still regarding them, not withdrawing his gaze from there.
Words: ābhiṣecanikaṃ — pertaining to the consecration; bhāṇḍaṃ — the vessels, articles; kṛtvā — having made; rāmaḥ — Rāma; pradakṣiṇam — circumambulation to the right; śanair — slowly; jagāma — went; sāpekṣo — with lingering regard; dṛṣṭiṃ — his gaze, sight; tatrāvicālayan — not withdrawing (his gaze) from there
2.16.58
na cāsya mahatīṃ lakṣmīṃ rājyanāśo 'pakarṣati
lokakāntasya kāntatvaṃ śītaraśmer iva kṣapā
The loss of the kingdom did not diminish his great splendour, any more than the night diminishes the loveliness of the cool-rayed moon, beloved of the world.
Words: na — not; cāsya — and his; mahatīṃ — great; lakṣmīṃ — splendour, majesty; rājyanāśo — the loss of the kingdom; 'pakarṣati — diminishes; lokakāntasya — of the one beloved of the world; kāntatvaṃ — loveliness, beauty; śītaraśmer — of the cool-rayed one (the moon); iva — like, than; kṣapā — the night
2.16.59
na vanaṃ gantukāmasya tyajataś ca vasuṃdharām
sarvalokātigasyeva lakṣyate cittavikriyā
In him, willing to go to the forest and forsaking the earth, no alteration of mind could be seen, as though he had passed beyond all worldly things.
Words: na — not; vanaṃ — to the forest; gantukāmasya — of one wishing to go; tyajataś — forsaking; ca — and; vasuṃdharām — the earth; sarvalokātigasyeva — as of one transcending all worlds; lakṣyate — is seen, is perceived; cittavikriyā — alteration of mind
2.16.60
dhārayan manasā duḥkham indriyāṇi nigṛhya ca
praviveśātmavān veśma māturapriyaśaṃsivān
Bearing his sorrow with his mind and restraining his senses, the self-possessed one entered his mother's dwelling, to tell her the unwelcome news.
Words: dhārayan — bearing, holding; manasā — with the mind; duḥkham — sorrow; indriyāṇi — the senses; nigṛhya — having restrained; ca — and; praviveśātmavān — the self-possessed one entered; veśma — the dwelling; māturapriyaśaṃsivān — about to tell his mother the unwelcome news
2.16.61
praviśya veśmātibhṛśaṃ mudānvitaṃ samīkṣya tāṃ cārthavipattim āgatām
na caiva rāmo 'tra jagāma vikriyāṃ suhṛjjanasyātmavipattiśaṅkayā
Entering the dwelling filled with exceeding joy, and beholding the calamity that had befallen, Rāma yet betrayed no change there, for fear of bringing ruin upon his friends.
Words: praviśya — having entered; veśmātibhṛśaṃ — the dwelling exceedingly (joyful); mudānvitaṃ — filled with joy; samīkṣya — having beheld; tāṃ — that; cārthavipattim — and the calamity of fortune; āgatām — that had come, befallen; na — not; caiva — and even; rāmo — Rāma; 'tra — there; jagāma — went into, betrayed; vikriyāṃ — change, agitation; suhṛjjanasyātmavipattiśaṅkayā — from fear of ruin befalling his friends
← 2.15 Rāma enters the palace · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.17 Kausalyā learns of Rāma’s exile →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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