← 2.18 Resistance or obedience · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.20 Lakṣmaṇa opposes fate with effort →

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 19: Rāma attributes the reversal to fate

Summary. He cancels the abhiṣeka preparations and asks Lakṣmaṇa to accept Kaikeyī’s change without anger

Sequence

  1. Rāma asks Lakṣmaṇa to stop the abhiṣeka preparations (2.19.1–3)
  2. he wants Kaikeyī's anxiety ended and Daśaratha spared the anguish of breaking his word (2.19.4–9)
  3. he therefore intends to leave promptly in bark garments and matted hair, allowing Bharata's ceremony to proceed (2.19.10–12)
  4. he says Kaikeyī had never previously distinguished between him and Bharata, so her sudden change seems to him the work of fate (2.19.13–16)
  5. he argues that such forces are known through their effects and cannot simply be fought (2.19.17–20)
  6. he asks Lakṣmaṇa to accept the reversal without grief and not blame Kaikeyī excessively. (2.19.21–22)

Verses 2.19.1–22

2.19.1

atha taṃ vyathayā dīnaṃ saviśeṣam amarṣitam
śvasantam iva nāgendraṃ roṣavisphāritekṣaṇam

Then to him—wretched with distress, exceedingly indignant, hissing like a lordly serpent, his eyes flung wide with rage—

Words: atha — then; taṃ — him; vyathayā — with distress, agitation; dīnaṃ — wretched, dejected; saviśeṣam — especially, exceedingly; amarṣitam — indignant, enraged; śvasantam — hissing, breathing hard; iva — like; nāgendraṃ — a lordly serpent; roṣavisphāritekṣaṇam — his eyes flung wide with rage

2.19.2

āsādya rāmaḥ saumitriṃ suhṛdaṃ bhrātaraṃ priyam
uvācedaṃ sa dhairyeṇa dhārayan sattvam ātmavān

—Rāma, approaching Saumitri, his dear brother and friend, self-possessed, holding his firmness steady with resolve, said this:

Words: āsādya — having approached, reached; rāmaḥ — Rāma; saumitriṃ — Saumitri (son of Sumitrā); suhṛdaṃ — the friend, well-wisher; bhrātaraṃ — brother; priyam — dear; uvācedaṃ — said this; sa — he; dhairyeṇa — with firmness, resolve; dhārayan — holding, sustaining; sattvam — his fortitude, steadiness; ātmavān — self-possessed

2.19.3

saumitre yo 'bhiṣekārthe mama saṃbhārasaṃbhramaḥ
abhiṣekanivṛttyarthe so 'stu saṃbhārasaṃbhramaḥ

"Saumitri, whatever bustle of preparation there was for the sake of my consecration, let that same bustle of preparation now serve for calling the consecration off.

Words: saumitre — O Saumitri; yo — which; 'bhiṣekārthe — for the sake of the consecration; mama — my; saṃbhārasaṃbhramaḥ — the bustle of gathering materials; abhiṣekanivṛttyarthe — for the purpose of stopping the consecration; so — that; 'stu — let it be; saṃbhārasaṃbhramaḥ — the bustle of preparation

2.19.4

yasyā madabhiṣekārthaṃ mānasaṃ paritapyate
mātā naḥ sā yathā na syāt saviśaṅkā tathā kuru

She whose mind is tormented over my consecration—that mother of ours—act so that she may not remain in anxiety.

Words: yasyā — of whom, whose; madabhiṣekārthaṃ — on account of my consecration; mānasaṃ — the mind; paritapyate — is tormented, burns; mātā — mother; naḥ — our; sā — she; yathā — so that; na — not; syāt — may be; saviśaṅkā — full of anxiety, apprehensive; tathā — so; kuru — act, do

2.19.5

tasyāḥ śaṅkāmayaṃ duḥkhaṃ muhūrtam api notsahe
manasi pratisaṃjātaṃ saumitre 'ham upekṣitum

I cannot bear, Saumitri, to disregard even for a moment the sorrow born of anxiety that has arisen in her mind.

Words: tasyāḥ — her; śaṅkāmayaṃ — consisting of anxiety; duḥkhaṃ — sorrow; muhūrtam — for a moment; api — even; notsahe — I cannot bear; manasi — in the mind; pratisaṃjātaṃ — arisen, produced; saumitre — O Saumitri; 'ham — I; upekṣitum — to disregard, overlook

2.19.6

na buddhipūrvaṃ nābuddhaṃ smarāmīha kadā cana
mātṝṇāṃ vā pitur vāhaṃ kṛtam alpaṃ ca vipriyam

I do not recall having ever, deliberately or unwittingly, done here even the least displeasure to my mothers or to my father.

Words: na — not; buddhipūrvaṃ — deliberately, knowingly; nābuddhaṃ — nor unwittingly; smarāmīha — I recall here; kadā — when; cana — ever; mātṝṇāṃ — of my mothers; vā — or; pitur — of my father; vāhaṃ — or I; kṛtam — done; alpaṃ — little, slight; ca — and, even; vipriyam — displeasure, offence

2.19.7

satyaḥ satyābhisaṃdhaś ca nityaṃ satyaparākramaḥ
paralokabhayād bhīto nirbhayo 'stu pitā mama

Truthful, faithful to his word, ever of truthful valour, and afraid through fear of the world beyond—may my father be free of all fear.

Words: satyaḥ — truthful; satyābhisaṃdhaś — faithful to his word, true to his promise; ca — and; nityaṃ — ever, always; satyaparākramaḥ — of truthful valour; paralokabhayād — through fear of the next world; bhīto — afraid; nirbhayo — free of fear; 'stu — let (him) be; pitā — father; mama — my

2.19.8

tasyāpi hi bhaved asmin karmaṇy apratisaṃhṛte
satyaṃ neti manas tāpas tasya tāpas tapec ca mām

For if this undertaking were not called off, there would arise in his mind the torment 'my truth is undone'; and his torment would torment me too.

Words: tasyāpi — of him too; hi — for; bhaved — would arise; asmin — in this; karmaṇy — undertaking, act; apratisaṃhṛte — not withdrawn, not called off; satyaṃ — truth, my word; neti — 'is not', is undone; manas — mind; tāpas — torment, anguish; tasya — his; tāpas — torment; tapec — would torment; ca — and; mām — me

2.19.9

abhiṣekavidhānaṃ tu tasmāt saṃhṛtya lakṣmaṇa
anvag evāham icchāmi vanaṃ gantum itaḥ punaḥ

Therefore, Lakṣmaṇa, having called off the arrangement for the consecration, I wish to go straight from here to the forest without delay.

Words: abhiṣekavidhānaṃ — the arrangement for consecration; tu — but, indeed; tasmāt — therefore; saṃhṛtya — having withdrawn, called off; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; anvag — right after, straightaway; evāham — indeed I; icchāmi — I wish; vanaṃ — to the forest; gantum — to go; itaḥ — from here; punaḥ — again, moreover

2.19.10

mama pravrājanād adya kṛtakṛtyā nṛpātmajā
sutaṃ bharatam avyagram abhiṣecayitā tataḥ

Having achieved her aim today by my banishment, the king's consort will then have her son Bharata consecrated without hindrance.

Words: mama — my; pravrājanād — by the banishment; adya — today; kṛtakṛtyā — having attained her purpose; nṛpātmajā — the king's daughter/consort; sutaṃ — her son; bharatam — Bharata; avyagram — undistracted, without hindrance; abhiṣecayitā — will have consecrated; tataḥ — then

2.19.11

mayi cīrājinadhare jaṭāmaṇḍaladhāriṇi
gate 'raṇyaṃ ca kaikeyyā bhaviṣyati manaḥsukham

When I, clad in bark and deerskin and wearing a mass of matted locks, have gone to the forest, there will be contentment of mind for Kaikeyī.

Words: mayi — when I; cīrājinadhare — wearing bark-cloth and deerskin; jaṭāmaṇḍaladhāriṇi — bearing a mass of matted locks; gate — having gone; 'raṇyaṃ — to the forest; ca — and; kaikeyyā — for Kaikeyī; bhaviṣyati — there will be; manaḥsukham — contentment of mind

2.19.12

buddhiḥ praṇītā yeneyaṃ manaś ca susamāhitam
tat tu nārhāmi saṃkleṣṭuṃ pravrajiṣyāmi māciram

This mind by which such a resolve has been formed, and which is well composed—that I ought not to trouble; I shall go forth to the forest, and without delay.

Words: buddhiḥ — resolve, mind; praṇītā — formed, brought forth; yeneyaṃ — by which this; manaś — and the mind; ca — and; susamāhitam — well composed, steady; tat — that; tu — but; nārhāmi — I ought not; saṃkleṣṭuṃ — to trouble, distress; pravrajiṣyāmi — I shall go forth (to the forest); māciram — without delay

2.19.13

kṛtāntas tv eva saumitre draṣṭavyo matpravāsane
rājyasya ca vitīrṇasya punar eva nivartane

It is fate alone, Saumitri, that must be seen in my banishment and in the taking back of a kingdom that had already been granted.

Words: kṛtāntas — fate, destiny; tv — but, indeed; eva — only, alone; saumitre — O Saumitri; draṣṭavyo — to be seen; matpravāsane — in my banishment; rājyasya — of the kingdom; ca — and; vitīrṇasya — granted, bestowed; punar — again, back; eva — indeed; nivartane — in the withdrawal, taking back

2.19.14

kaikeyyāḥ pratipattir hi kathaṃ syān mama pīḍane
yadi bhāvo na daivo 'yaṃ kṛtāntavihito bhavet

For how could Kaikeyī have conceived this design for my affliction, were this disposition not something divine, ordained by fate?

Words: kaikeyyāḥ — of Kaikeyī; pratipattir — the resolve, design; hi — for; kathaṃ — how; syān — would there be; mama — my; pīḍane — in the affliction, harming; yadi — if; bhāvo — disposition, state of mind; na — not; daivo — divine, fated; 'yaṃ — this; kṛtāntavihito — ordained by fate; bhavet — were, would be

2.19.15

jānāsi hi yathā saumya na mātṛṣu mamāntaram
bhūtapūrvaṃ viśeṣo vā tasyā mayi sute 'pi vā

For you know, gentle one, that there has never before been any difference in my regard among my mothers, nor on her part any distinction between me and her own son.

Words: jānāsi — you know; hi — for; yathā — how, that; saumya — O gentle one; na — not; mātṛṣu — among the mothers; mamāntaram — my difference, distinction; bhūtapūrvaṃ — having existed before; viśeṣo — distinction, partiality; vā — or; tasyā — of her, on her part; mayi — towards me; sute — towards her son; 'pi — even; vā — or

2.19.16

so 'bhiṣekanivṛttyarthaiḥ pravāsārthaiś ca durvacaiḥ
ugrair vākyair ahaṃ tasyā nānyad daivāt samarthaye

For those harsh, cruel words of hers, aimed at stopping the consecration and at my exile, I can account for by nothing other than fate.

Words: so — he, that one; 'bhiṣekanivṛttyarthaiḥ — aimed at stopping the consecration; pravāsārthaiś — aimed at exile; ca — and; durvacaiḥ — hard to utter, cruel; ugrair — harsh, fierce; vākyair — with words; ahaṃ — I; tasyā — her; nānyad — nothing else; daivāt — than fate; samarthaye — I account for, explain

2.19.17

kathaṃ prakṛtisaṃpannā rājaputrī tathāguṇā
brūyāt sā prākṛteva strī matpīḍāṃ bhartṛsaṃnidhau

How else could a princess so endowed by nature and of such virtue speak of my affliction, in her husband's very presence, like some common woman?

Words: kathaṃ — how; prakṛtisaṃpannā — endowed with good nature; rājaputrī — the princess; tathāguṇā — of such virtues; brūyāt — would speak; sā — she; prākṛteva — like a common (woman); strī — woman; matpīḍāṃ — my affliction; bhartṛsaṃnidhau — in her husband's presence

2.19.18

yad acintyaṃ tu tad daivaṃ bhūteṣv api na hanyate
vyaktaṃ mayi ca tasyāṃ ca patito hi viparyayaḥ

That fate which is beyond thought cannot be thwarted even among living beings; plainly a reversal has fallen upon me and upon her.

Words: yad — which; acintyaṃ — unthinkable, beyond thought; tu — but; tad — that; daivaṃ — fate; bhūteṣv — among living beings; api — even; na — not; hanyate — is thwarted, struck down; vyaktaṃ — plainly, clearly; mayi — upon me; ca — and; tasyāṃ — upon her; ca — and; patito — fallen; hi — indeed; viparyayaḥ — reversal, overturning

2.19.19

kaś cid daivena saumitre yoddhum utsahate pumān
yasya na grahaṇaṃ kiṃ cit karmaṇo 'nyatra dṛśyate

What man, Saumitri, could dare to fight against fate, of whose working no grasp whatever can be seen except in the effect?

Words: kaś — what; cid — any, some; daivena — against fate; saumitre — O Saumitri; yoddhum — to fight; utsahate — dares, is able; pumān — man; yasya — of which, whose; na — not; grahaṇaṃ — grasp, apprehension; kiṃ — any; cit — -soever; karmaṇo — of the working, action; 'nyatra — elsewhere, otherwise; dṛśyate — is seen

2.19.20

sukhaduḥkhe bhayakrodhau lābhālābhau bhavābhavau
yasya kiṃ cit tathā bhūtaṃ nanu daivasya karma tat

Pleasure and pain, fear and anger, gain and loss, being and non-being—whatever befalls anyone in such a way, surely that is the work of fate.

Words: sukhaduḥkhe — pleasure and pain; bhayakrodhau — fear and anger; lābhālābhau — gain and loss; bhavābhavau — being and non-being; yasya — of whom, for anyone; kiṃ — any; cit — -soever; tathā — thus, in such a way; bhūtaṃ — become, happening; nanu — surely; daivasya — of fate; karma — work, deed; tat — that

2.19.21

vyāhate 'py abhiṣeke me paritāpo na vidyate
tasmād aparitāpaḥ saṃs tvam apy anuvidhāya mām
pratisaṃhāraya kṣipram ābhiṣecanikīṃ kriyām

Even though my consecration has been thwarted, no anguish is found in me; therefore, being free of anguish yourself and conforming to me, quickly call off the rite of consecration.

Words: vyāhate — thwarted, obstructed; 'py — even; abhiṣeke — the consecration; me — my; paritāpo — anguish, torment; na — not; vidyate — is found, exists; tasmād — therefore; aparitāpaḥ — free of anguish; saṃs — being; tvam — you; apy — also; anuvidhāya — conforming to, following; mām — me; pratisaṃhāraya — cause to be called off, withdraw; kṣipram — quickly; ābhiṣecanikīṃ — of consecration, pertaining to anointing; kriyām — the rite, ceremony

2.19.22

na lakṣmaṇāsmin mama rājyavighne mātā yavīyasy atiśaṅkanīyā
daivābhipannā hi vadanty aniṣṭaṃ jānāsi daivaṃ ca tathā prabhāvam

In this obstruction of my kingship, Lakṣmaṇa, my younger mother is not to be too greatly suspected; for those seized by fate speak what is unwished-for—and you know, too, the power of fate.

Words: na — not; lakṣmaṇāsmin — O Lakṣmaṇa, in this; mama — my; rājyavighne — in the obstruction of the kingship; mātā — mother; yavīyasy — the younger; atiśaṅkanīyā — to be excessively suspected; daivābhipannā — seized by fate; hi — for; vadanty — speak; aniṣṭaṃ — the unwished-for, unwelcome; jānāsi — you know; daivaṃ — fate; ca — and; tathā — likewise, so; prabhāvam — the power, might

← 2.18 Resistance or obedience · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.20 Lakṣmaṇa opposes fate with effort →

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.

Plain text: /text/2/19.md · JSON: /data/2/19.json