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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 17: Kausalyā learns of Rāma’s exile
Summary. Rāma tells Kausalyā that Bharata will inherit and he must leave, she collapses and laments their separation
Sequence
- Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa enter Kausalyā's apartments, where she has been praying and making offerings for his welfare (2.17.1–9)
- she welcomes him with blessings, still expecting his abhiṣeka that day (2.17.10–12)
- he tells her that Bharata will be heir and that he himself must live for fourteen years in Daṇḍaka; he says he will give up meat and live like a muni on honey, roots, and fruit (2.17.13–16)
- she faints; Rāma raises and comforts her (2.17.17–19)
- she explains that she had endured neglect as a wife by hoping for happiness through her son, but now fears humiliation and isolation among her co-wives (2.17.20–25)
- she says seventeen years have passed since his birth, spent hoping for an end to her sorrow (2.17.26)
- she laments that her fasting, gifts, and prayers have brought no relief and wishes she could die rather than lose him. (2.17.27–33)
Verses 2.17.1–33
2.17.1
rāmas tu bhṛśam āyasto niḥśvasann iva kuñjaraḥ
jagāma sahito bhrātrā mātur antaḥpuraṃ vaśī
But Rāma, deeply distressed, sighing like an elephant, self-controlled, went with his brother to his mother's apartments.
Words: rāmas — Rāma; tu — but; bhṛśam — deeply; āyasto — distressed; niḥśvasann — sighing; iva — like; kuñjaraḥ — an elephant; jagāma — went; sahito — together; bhrātrā — with (his) brother; mātur — of (his) mother; antaḥpuraṃ — the inner apartments; vaśī — self-controlled
2.17.2
so 'paśyat puruṣaṃ tatra vṛddhaṃ paramapūjitam
upaviṣṭaṃ gṛhadvāri tiṣṭhataś cāparān bahūn
There he saw an aged, highly honoured man seated at the house-door, and many others standing about.
Words: so — he; 'paśyat — saw; puruṣaṃ — a man; tatra — there; vṛddhaṃ — aged; paramapūjitam — highly honoured; upaviṣṭaṃ — seated; gṛhadvāri — at the house-door; tiṣṭhataś — standing; cāparān — and others; bahūn — many
2.17.3
praviśya prathamāṃ kakṣyāṃ dvitīyāyāṃ dadarśa saḥ
brāhmaṇān vedasaṃpannān vṛddhān rājñābhisatkṛtān
Passing through the first courtyard, in the second he saw brahmins versed in the Vedas, aged, honoured by the king.
Words: praviśya — having entered; prathamāṃ — the first; kakṣyāṃ — courtyard; dvitīyāyāṃ — in the second; dadarśa — saw; saḥ — he; brāhmaṇān — brahmins; vedasaṃpannān — versed in the Vedas; vṛddhān — aged; rājñābhisatkṛtān — honoured by the king
2.17.4
praṇamya rāmas tān vṛddhāṃs tṛtīyāyāṃ dadarśa saḥ
striyo vṛddhāś ca bālāś ca dvārarakṣaṇatatparāḥ
Having bowed to those elders, Rāma in the third courtyard saw women, old and young, intent on guarding the door.
Words: praṇamya — having bowed; rāmas — Rāma; tān — those; vṛddhāṃs — elders; tṛtīyāyāṃ — in the third (courtyard); dadarśa — saw; saḥ — he; striyo — women; vṛddhāś — old; ca — and; bālāś — young; ca — and; dvārarakṣaṇatatparāḥ — intent on guarding the door
2.17.5
vardhayitvā prahṛṣṭās tāḥ praviśya ca gṛhaṃ striyaḥ
nyavedayanta tvaritā rāma mātuḥ priyaṃ tadā
Those women, delighted, hailing him with blessings, hurried in, entered the house, and quickly announced the glad news to Rāma's mother.
Words: vardhayitvā — having hailed with blessing; prahṛṣṭās — delighted; tāḥ — those (women); praviśya — having entered; ca — and; gṛhaṃ — the house; striyaḥ — the women; nyavedayanta — announced; tvaritā — hurriedly; rāma mātuḥ — to Rāma's mother; priyaṃ — the glad news; tadā — then
2.17.6
kausalyāpi tadā devī rātriṃ sthitvā samāhitā
prabhāte tv akarot pūjāṃ viṣṇoḥ putrahitaiṣiṇī
Queen Kausalyā too, having spent the night in concentration, at dawn performed the worship of Viṣṇu, desiring her son's welfare.
Words: kausalyāpi — Kausalyā too; tadā — then; devī — the queen; rātriṃ — through the night; sthitvā — having remained; samāhitā — composed, concentrated; prabhāte — at dawn; tv — and; akarot — performed; pūjāṃ — worship; viṣṇoḥ — of Viṣṇu; putrahitaiṣiṇī — desiring (her) son's welfare
2.17.7
sā kṣaumavasanā hṛṣṭā nityaṃ vrataparāyaṇā
agniṃ juhoti sma tadā mantravat kṛtamaṅgalā
Clad in linen, joyful, ever devoted to her vows, having performed the auspicious rites, she was then offering oblations to the fire with mantras.
Words: sā — she; kṣaumavasanā — clad in linen; hṛṣṭā — joyful; nityaṃ — ever; vrataparāyaṇā — devoted to (her) vows; agniṃ — the fire; juhoti sma — was offering oblations to; tadā — then; mantravat — with mantras; kṛtamaṅgalā — having performed the auspicious rites
2.17.8
praviśya ca tadā rāmo mātur antaḥpuraṃ śubham
dadarśa mātaraṃ tatra hāvayantīṃ hutāśanam
Entering then his mother's fair apartments, Rāma saw his mother there making the fire-offering.
Words: praviśya — having entered; ca — and; tadā — then; rāmo — Rāma; mātur — of (his) mother; antaḥpuraṃ — the apartments; śubham — fair, auspicious; dadarśa — saw; mātaraṃ — (his) mother; tatra — there; hāvayantīṃ — offering, causing (oblation) to be made; hutāśanam — the fire (the oblation-eater)
2.17.9
sā cirasyātmajaṃ dṛṣṭvā mātṛnandanam āgatam
abhicakrāma saṃhṛṣṭā kiśoraṃ vaḍavā yathā
Seeing after so long her son come — the delight of his mother — she rushed forward, overjoyed, as a mare toward her colt.
Words: sā — she; cirasyātmajaṃ — after long, (her) son; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; mātṛnandanam — the delight of (his) mother; āgatam — come; abhicakrāma — rushed toward; saṃhṛṣṭā — overjoyed; kiśoraṃ — a colt; vaḍavā — a mare; yathā — as
2.17.10
tam uvāca durādharṣaṃ rāghavaṃ sutam ātmanaḥ
kausalyā putravātsalyād idaṃ priyahitaṃ vacaḥ
To that unassailable Rāghava, her own son, Kausalyā, out of maternal love, spoke these kind and salutary words:
Words: tam — him; uvāca — said; durādharṣaṃ — unassailable; rāghavaṃ — Rāghava; sutam — son; ātmanaḥ — her own; kausalyā — Kausalyā; putravātsalyād — out of maternal love; idaṃ — this; priyahitaṃ — kind and salutary; vacaḥ — words
2.17.11
vṛddhānāṃ dharmaśīlānāṃ rājarṣīṇāṃ mahātmanām
prāpnuhy āyuś ca kīrtiṃ ca dharmaṃ copahitaṃ kule
May you attain the long life, the fame, and the dharma laid up in the family of the aged, righteous, great-souled royal seers.
Words: vṛddhānāṃ — of the aged; dharmaśīlānāṃ — of righteous character; rājarṣīṇāṃ — of royal seers; mahātmanām — of the great-souled; prāpnuhy — attain; āyuś — long life; ca — and; kīrtiṃ — fame; ca — and; dharmaṃ — dharma; copahitaṃ — and laid up; kule — in the family
2.17.12
satyapratijñaṃ pitaraṃ rājānaṃ paśya rāghava
adyaiva hi tvāṃ dharmātmā yauvarājye 'bhiṣekṣyati
Behold your father the king, true to his promise, O Rāghava; for this very day the righteous one will consecrate you to the heir-apparency.
Words: satyapratijñaṃ — true to his promise; pitaraṃ — father; rājānaṃ — the king; paśya — behold; rāghava — O Rāghava; adyaiva — this very day; hi — for; tvāṃ — you; dharmātmā — the righteous one; yauvarājye — to the heir-apparency; 'bhiṣekṣyati — will consecrate
2.17.13
mātaraṃ rāghavaḥ kiṃ cit prasāryāñjalim abravīt
sa svabhāvavinītaś ca gauravāc ca tadānataḥ
Rāghava, extending his joined hands a little, spoke to his mother; naturally modest, and bowed then out of reverence, he said:
Words: mātaraṃ — (to his) mother; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; kiṃ cit — a little; prasāryāñjalim — having extended (his) joined hands; abravīt — spoke; sa — he; svabhāvavinītaś — naturally modest; ca — and; gauravāc — out of reverence; ca — and; tadānataḥ — then bowed
2.17.14
devi nūnaṃ na jānīṣe mahad bhayam upasthitam
idaṃ tava ca duḥkhāya vaidehyā lakṣmaṇasya ca
O queen, surely you do not know that a great danger has arisen; this will bring sorrow to you, and to Vaidehī, and to Lakṣmaṇa.
Words: devi — O queen; nūnaṃ — surely; na — not; jānīṣe — you know; mahad — great; bhayam — danger, fear; upasthitam — has arisen, is at hand; idaṃ — this; tava — of you; ca — and; duḥkhāya — for the sorrow; vaidehyā — of Vaidehī (Sītā); lakṣmaṇasya — of Lakṣmaṇa; ca — and
2.17.15
caturdaśa hi varṣāṇi vatsyāmi vijane vane
madhumūlaphalair jīvan hitvā munivad āmiṣam
For fourteen years I shall dwell in a lonely forest, living on honey, roots, and fruits, giving up meat like a sage.
Words: caturdaśa — fourteen; hi — for; varṣāṇi — years; vatsyāmi — I shall dwell; vijane — in a lonely (place); vane — in the forest; madhumūlaphalair — on honey, roots, and fruits; jīvan — living; hitvā — having given up; munivad — like a sage; āmiṣam — meat
2.17.16
bharatāya mahārājo yauvarājyaṃ prayacchati
māṃ punar daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ vivāsayati tāpasaṃ
The great king gives the heir-apparency to Bharata, and banishes me, as an ascetic, to the Daṇḍaka forest.
Words: bharatāya — to Bharata; mahārājo — the great king; yauvarājyaṃ — the heir-apparency; prayacchati — gives; māṃ — me; punar — on the other hand; daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ — to the Daṇḍaka forest; vivāsayati — banishes; tāpasaṃ — as an ascetic
2.17.17
tām aduḥkhocitāṃ dṛṣṭvā patitāṃ kadalīm iva
rāmas tūtthāpayām āsa mātaraṃ gatacetasaṃ
Seeing her, unused to sorrow, fallen like a plantain tree and swooning, Rāma raised his mother up.
Words: tām — her; aduḥkhocitāṃ — unaccustomed to sorrow; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; patitāṃ — fallen; kadalīm — a plantain (banana) tree; iva — like; rāmas — Rāma; tūtthāpayām āsa — raised up; mātaraṃ — (his) mother; gatacetasaṃ — swooning, senseless
2.17.18
upāvṛtyotthitāṃ dīnāṃ vaḍavām iva vāhitām
pāṃśuguṇṭhitasarvāgnīṃ vimamarśa ca pāṇinā
Turning to her as she rose, wretched, like an overworked mare, her whole body covered with dust, he stroked her with his hand.
Words: upāvṛtyotthitāṃ — turning to (her) risen; dīnāṃ — wretched; vaḍavām — a mare; iva — like; vāhitām — driven, overworked; pāṃśuguṇṭhitasarvāgnīṃ — her whole body covered with dust; vimamarśa — stroked; ca — and; pāṇinā — with (his) hand
2.17.19
sā rāghavam upāsīnam asukhārtā sukhocitā
uvāca puruṣavyāghram upaśṛṇvati lakṣmaṇe
She, afflicted with grief though accustomed to comfort, spoke to that tiger among men, Rāghava, seated near, while Lakṣmaṇa listened.
Words: sā — she; rāghavam — Rāghava; upāsīnam — seated near; asukhārtā — afflicted with grief; sukhocitā — accustomed to comfort; uvāca — said; puruṣavyāghram — the tiger among men; upaśṛṇvati lakṣmaṇe — while Lakṣmaṇa listened (loc. abs.)
2.17.20
yadi putra na jāyethā mama śokāya rāghava
na sma duḥkham ato bhūyaḥ paśyeyam aham aprajā
If, my son Rāghava, you had not been born to my sorrow, I, though childless, would not have seen a grief greater than this.
Words: yadi — if; putra — O son; na — not; jāyethā — you had been born; mama — to my; śokāya — for sorrow; rāghava — O Rāghava; na sma — not (would); duḥkham — grief; ato — than this; bhūyaḥ — greater, more; paśyeyam — I would see; aham — I; aprajā — childless
2.17.21
eka eva hi vandhyāyāḥ śoko bhavati mānavaḥ
aprajāsmīti saṃtāpo na hy anyaḥ putra vidyate
For a barren woman there is but one human grief — the anguish, 'I am childless'; no other, my son, exists.
Words: eka — one; eva — only; hi — for; vandhyāyāḥ — of a barren woman; śoko — grief; bhavati — is; mānavaḥ — human; aprajāsmīti — "I am childless"; saṃtāpo — the anguish; na — not; hy — indeed; anyaḥ — other; putra — O son; vidyate — exists
2.17.22
na dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ kalyāṇaṃ sukhaṃ vā patipauruṣe
api putre vipaśyeyam iti rāmāsthitaṃ mayā
I had never before seen any welfare or happiness in my husband's manly power; 'yet in my son I might see it' — so, O Rāma, I had trusted.
Words: na — not; dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ — seen before; kalyāṇaṃ — welfare; sukhaṃ — happiness; vā — or; patipauruṣe — in (my) husband's manly power; api — even, yet; putre — in (my) son; vipaśyeyam — I might see; iti — thus; rāmāsthitaṃ — O Rāma, (this hope) was held; mayā — by me
2.17.23
sā bahūny amanojñāni vākyāni hṛdayacchidām
ahaṃ śroṣye sapatnīnām avarāṇāṃ varā satī
ato duḥkhataraṃ kiṃ nu pramadānāṃ bhaviṣyati
I, though the foremost of the queens, shall now hear many unpleasant, heart-piercing words from co-wives who are my inferiors; what greater sorrow than this can there be for women?
Words: sā — she (who am I); bahūny — many; amanojñāni — unpleasant; vākyāni — words; hṛdayacchidām — heart-piercing; ahaṃ — I; śroṣye — I shall hear; sapatnīnām — of (my) co-wives; avarāṇāṃ — of the inferior (ones); varā — the foremost; satī — being; ato — than this; duḥkhataraṃ — greater sorrow; kiṃ — what; nu — indeed; pramadānāṃ — for women; bhaviṣyati — will be
2.17.24
tvayi saṃnihite 'py evam aham āsaṃ nirākṛtā
kiṃ punaḥ proṣite tāta dhruvaṃ maraṇam eva me
Even while you were near, I was thus slighted; how much more when you are gone away, my child? Surely death alone awaits me.
Words: tvayi — while you (loc.); saṃnihite — near, present (loc.); 'py — even; evam — thus; aham — I; āsaṃ — was; nirākṛtā — slighted, rejected; kiṃ punaḥ — how much more; proṣite — when (you are) gone away (loc.); tāta — my child, dear; dhruvaṃ — surely; maraṇam — death; eva — alone; me — for me
2.17.25
yo hi māṃ sevate kaś cid atha vāpy anuvartate
kaikeyyāḥ putram anvīkṣya sa jano nābhibhāṣate
For whoever attends on me, or even shows me deference, that person, having regard for Kaikeyī's son, does not so much as speak to me.
Words: yo — whoever; hi — for; māṃ — me; sevate — serves, attends; kaś cid — anyone; atha vāpy — or even; anuvartate — shows deference, follows; kaikeyyāḥ — of Kaikeyī; putram — son; anvīkṣya — having regard for; sa — that; jano — person; nābhibhāṣate — does not address
2.17.26
daśa sapta ca varṣāṇi tava jātasya rāghava
atītāni prakāṅkṣantyā mayā duḥkhaparikṣayam
Seventeen years have passed since your birth, O Rāghava, as I longed for an end to my sorrow.
Words: daśa — ten; sapta — seven; ca — and; varṣāṇi — years; tava — of you; jātasya — born (since you were born); rāghava — O Rāghava; atītāni — have passed; prakāṅkṣantyā — by (me) longing for; mayā — by me; duḥkhaparikṣayam — an end of sorrow
2.17.27
upavāsaiś ca yogaiś ca bahubhiś ca pariśramaiḥ
duḥkhaṃ saṃvardhito moghaṃ tvaṃ hi durgatayā mayā
For with fasts and disciplines and many toils, painfully and in vain, were you reared by me, ill-fated as I am.
Words: upavāsaiś — with fasts; ca — and; yogaiś — with disciplines; ca — and; bahubhiś — with many; ca — and; pariśramaiḥ — with toils; duḥkhaṃ — painfully; saṃvardhito — reared, brought up; moghaṃ — in vain; tvaṃ — you; hi — indeed; durgatayā — by (me) ill-fated; mayā — by me
2.17.28
sthiraṃ tu hṛdayaṃ manye mamedaṃ yan na dīryate
prāvṛṣīva mahānadyāḥ spṛṣṭaṃ kūlaṃ navāmbhasā
I think this heart of mine must be hard, since it does not burst — like the bank of a great river in the rains touched by fresh waters.
Words: sthiraṃ — hard, firm; tu — but; hṛdayaṃ — heart; manye — I think; mamedaṃ — this of mine; yan — that; na — not; dīryate — bursts, splits; prāvṛṣīva — as in the rains; mahānadyāḥ — of a great river; spṛṣṭaṃ — touched; kūlaṃ — the bank; navāmbhasā — by fresh water
2.17.29
mamaiva nūnaṃ maraṇaṃ na vidyate na cāvakāśo 'sti yamakṣaye mama
yad antako 'dyaiva na māṃ jihīrṣati prasahya siṃho rudatīṃ mṛgīm iva
Surely for me alone there is no death, nor is there any place for me in Yama's realm, since Death does not this very day carry me off by force, as a lion drags off a wailing doe.
Words: mamaiva — for me alone; nūnaṃ — surely; maraṇaṃ — death; na — not; vidyate — exists; na — nor; cāvakāśo — and (any) place; 'sti — is; yamakṣaye — in Yama's abode; mama — for me; yad — since; antako — Death; 'dyaiva — this very day; na — not; māṃ — me; jihīrṣati — wishes to carry off; prasahya — forcibly; siṃho — a lion; rudatīṃ — wailing; mṛgīm — a doe; iva — like
2.17.30
sthiraṃ hi nūnaṃ hṛdayaṃ mamāyasaṃ na bhidyate yad bhuvi nāvadīryate
anena duḥkhena ca deham arpitaṃ dhruvaṃ hy akāle maraṇaṃ na vidyate
Surely my heart must be firm, made of iron, since it does not break nor fall shattered to the ground; and though my body is given over to this grief, surely there is no dying before one's time.
Words: sthiraṃ — firm; hi — indeed; nūnaṃ — surely; hṛdayaṃ — heart; mamāyasaṃ — my iron (one); na — not; bhidyate — breaks; yad — since; bhuvi — on the ground; nāvadīryate — nor is shattered; anena — by this; duḥkhena — grief; ca — and; deham — the body; arpitaṃ — given over, delivered; dhruvaṃ — surely; hy — indeed; akāle — untimely; maraṇaṃ — death; na — not; vidyate — exists
2.17.31
idaṃ tu duḥkhaṃ yad anarthakāni me vratāni dānāni ca saṃyamāś ca hi
tapaś ca taptaṃ yad apatyakāraṇāt suniṣphalaṃ bījam ivoptam ūṣare
But this is my grief: that my vows, my gifts, and my restraints have been fruitless, and that the austerity I performed for the sake of offspring is utterly barren, like seed sown in salt soil.
Words: idaṃ — this; tu — but; duḥkhaṃ — grief; yad — that; anarthakāni — fruitless, useless; me — my; vratāni — vows; dānāni — gifts; ca — and; saṃyamāś — restraints; ca — and; hi — indeed; tapaś — austerity; ca — and; taptaṃ — performed; yad — which; apatyakāraṇāt — for the sake of offspring; suniṣphalaṃ — utterly barren; bījam — seed; ivoptam — like sown; ūṣare — in barren salt soil
2.17.32
yadi hy akāle maraṇaṃ svayecchayā labheta kaś cid guru duḥkha karśitaḥ
gatāham adyaiva pareta saṃsadaṃ vinā tvayā dhenur ivātmajena vai
If anyone worn down by heavy sorrow could obtain death untimely at their own will, then this very day, bereft of you as a cow of her calf, I would have gone to the assembly of the dead.
Words: yadi — if; hy — indeed; akāle — untimely; maraṇaṃ — death; svayecchayā — by (one's) own will; labheta — could obtain; kaś cid — anyone; guru — heavy; duḥkha — by sorrow; karśitaḥ — worn down, emaciated; gatāham — I would have gone; adyaiva — this very day; pareta saṃsadaṃ — to the assembly of the dead; vinā — without; tvayā — you; dhenur — a cow; ivātmajena — as (deprived) of her calf; vai — indeed
2.17.33
bhṛśam asukham amarṣitā tadā bahu vilalāpa samīkṣya rāghavam
vyasanam upaniśāmya sā mahat sutam iva baddham avekṣya kiṃnarī
Then, deeply pained and grief-stricken, gazing upon Rāghava and perceiving the great calamity, she lamented long — like a kiṃnarī looking upon her captured son.
Words: bhṛśam — deeply; asukham — painfully, unhappily; amarṣitā — grief-stricken, indignant; tadā — then; bahu — much, long; vilalāpa — lamented; samīkṣya — having gazed upon; rāghavam — Rāghava; vyasanam — calamity; upaniśāmya — having perceived; sā — she; mahat — great; sutam — son; iva — like; baddham — captured, bound; avekṣya — looking upon; kiṃnarī — a kiṃnarī (female kinnara)
← 2.16 Rāma accepts fourteen years of exile · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.18 Resistance or obedience →
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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