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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 21: Rāma asks Kausalyā to remain with Daśaratha

Summary. Kausalyā asks to follow Rāma, he persuades her to remain and care for the grieving Daśaratha

Sequence

  1. Kausalyā imagines Rāma, raised in comfort, struggling to live on roots and fruit (2.21.1–4)
  2. she says she will follow him like a cow following her calf → Rāma replies that Daśaratha may not survive if she abandons him too (2.21.5–8)
  3. he asks her to remain and care for her husband (2.21.9–12)
  4. she renews her plea to accompany him, saying she cannot endure life among her co-wives (2.21.13–16)
  5. Rāma, now also weeping, assures her that Bharata will treat her kindly and asks her to prevent their father from being overwhelmed by grief (2.21.17–19)
  6. he urges her to continue her duties and religious observances while awaiting his return (2.21.20–23)
  7. she finally gives him leave and prepares to bless his journey. (2.21.24–25)

Verses 2.21.1–25

2.21.1

taṃ samīkṣya tv avahitaṃ pitur nirdeśapālane
kausalyā bāṣpasaṃruddhā vaco dharmiṣṭham abravīt

Observing him intent on carrying out his father's command, Kausalyā, choked with tears, spoke these most righteous words.

Words: taṃ — him; samīkṣya — having observed; tv — but; avahitaṃ — intent, attentive; pitur — of the father; nirdeśapālane — in carrying out the command; kausalyā — Kausalyā; bāṣpasaṃruddhā — choked with tears; vaco — speech; dharmiṣṭham — most righteous; abravīt — spoke

2.21.2

adṛṣṭaduḥkho dharmātmā sarvabhūtapriyaṃvadaḥ
mayi jāto daśarathāt katham uñchena vartayet

He who has never known sorrow, righteous of soul, speaking kindly to all beings, born of me by Daśaratha — how shall he subsist by gleaning grain?

Words: adṛṣṭaduḥkho — never having seen sorrow; dharmātmā — righteous of soul; sarvabhūtapriyaṃvadaḥ — speaking kindly to all beings; mayi — of me, in me; jāto — born; daśarathāt — from Daśaratha; katham — how; uñchena — by gleaning (grain); vartayet — should he subsist, live

2.21.3

yasya bhṛtyāś ca dāsāś ca mṛṣṭāny annāni bhuñjate
kathaṃ sa bhokṣyate nātho vane mūlaphalāny ayam

He whose servants and dependents eat dainty foods — how shall this lord eat roots and fruits in the forest?

Words: yasya — whose; bhṛtyāś — servants; ca — and; dāsāś — dependents, slaves; ca — and; mṛṣṭāny — dainty, delicious; annāni — foods; bhuñjate — eat; kathaṃ — how; sa — he; bhokṣyate — will eat; nātho — the lord; vane — in the forest; mūlaphalāny — roots and fruits; ayam — this one

2.21.4

ka etac chraddadhec chrutvā kasya vā na bhaved bhayam
guṇavān dayito rājño rāghavo yad vivāsyate

Who, hearing this, would believe it? In whom would fear not arise—that Rāghava, virtuous and dear to the king, is being driven into exile?

Words: ka — who; etac — this; chraddadhec — would believe; chrutvā — having heard; kasya — of whom; vā — or; na — not; bhaved — would be; bhayam — fear; guṇavān — virtuous, endowed with merits; dayito — beloved; rājño — of the king; rāghavo — Rāghava; yad — that; vivāsyate — is being banished

2.21.5

tvayā vihīnām iha māṃ śokāgnir atulo mahān
pradhakṣyati yathā kakṣaṃ citrabhānur himātyaye

Bereft of you here, me the great and matchless fire of grief will burn up, as fire consumes dry brushwood at winter's end.

Words: tvayā — by you, of you; vihīnām — bereft, deprived; iha — here; māṃ — me; śokāgnir — the fire of grief; atulo — matchless, incomparable; mahān — great; pradhakṣyati — will burn up; yathā — as; kakṣaṃ — dry brushwood, grass; citrabhānur — fire (the bright-rayed one); himātyaye — at winter's end

2.21.6

kathaṃ hi dhenuḥ svaṃ vatsaṃ gacchantaṃ nānugacchati
ahaṃ tvānugamiṣyāmi yatra putra gamiṣyasi

How indeed can a cow fail to follow her own calf as it goes away? I will follow you, my son, wherever you go.

Words: kathaṃ — how; hi — indeed; dhenuḥ — a cow; svaṃ — her own; vatsaṃ — calf; gacchantaṃ — going (away); nānugacchati — does not follow; ahaṃ — I; tvānugamiṣyāmi — will follow you; yatra — wherever; putra — O son; gamiṣyasi — you will go

2.21.7

tathā nigaditaṃ mātrā tad vākyaṃ puruṣarṣabhaḥ
śrutvā rāmo 'bravīd vākyaṃ mātaraṃ bhṛśaduḥkhitām

Having heard that speech thus uttered by his mother, Rāma, a bull among men, spoke these words to his sorely grieving mother:

Words: tathā — thus; nigaditaṃ — spoken, uttered; mātrā — by (his) mother; tad — that; vākyaṃ — speech; puruṣarṣabhaḥ — bull among men; śrutvā — having heard; rāmo — Rāma; 'bravīd — spoke; vākyaṃ — words; mātaraṃ — to (his) mother; bhṛśaduḥkhitām — greatly grieved

2.21.8

kaikeyyā vañcito rājā mayi cāraṇyam āśrite
bhavatyā ca parityakto na nūnaṃ vartayiṣyati

The king, deceived by Kaikeyī, when I have gone to the forest and been forsaken by you as well, will surely not survive.

Words: kaikeyyā — by Kaikeyī; vañcito — deceived; rājā — the king; mayi — when I (loc. abs.); cāraṇyam — and the forest; āśrite — have resorted to (loc. abs.); bhavatyā — by you (respectful); ca — and; parityakto — abandoned; na — not; nūnaṃ — surely; vartayiṣyati — will survive, live on

2.21.9

bhartuḥ kila parityāgo nṛśaṃsaḥ kevalaṃ striyāḥ
sa bhavatyā na kartavyo manasāpi vigarhitaḥ

The abandonment of a husband by a woman is indeed utterly cruel and blameworthy; that must not be done by you, not even in thought.

Words: bhartuḥ — of a husband; kila — indeed; parityāgo — abandonment; nṛśaṃsaḥ — cruel; kevalaṃ — utterly, merely; striyāḥ — of/by a woman; sa — that; bhavatyā — by you; na — not; kartavyo — to be done; manasāpi — even in thought; vigarhitaḥ — condemned, blameworthy

2.21.10

yāvaj jīvati kākutsthaḥ pitā me jagatīpatiḥ
śuśrūṣā kriyatāṃ tāvat sa hi dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

As long as Kākutstha, my father, lord of the earth, lives, so long let service be rendered him; that indeed is the eternal law.

Words: yāvaj — as long as; jīvati — lives; kākutsthaḥ — Kākutstha (Daśaratha); pitā — father; me — my; jagatīpatiḥ — lord of the earth; śuśrūṣā — obedient service; kriyatāṃ — let it be done; tāvat — so long; sa — that; hi — indeed; dharmaḥ — law, duty; sanātanaḥ — eternal

2.21.11

evam uktā tu rāmeṇa kausalyā śubha darśanā
tathety uvāca suprītā rāmam akliṣṭakāriṇam

Thus addressed by Rāma, the fair-faced Kausalyā, well pleased, said 'So be it' to Rāma, the tireless doer of deeds.

Words: evam — thus; uktā — addressed; tu — but; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; kausalyā — Kausalyā; śubha darśanā — of fair appearance; tathety — 'so be it'; uvāca — said; suprītā — well pleased; rāmam — to Rāma; akliṣṭakāriṇam — the tireless doer of deeds

2.21.12

evam uktas tu vacanaṃ rāmo dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
bhūyas tām abravīd vākyaṃ mātaraṃ bhṛśaduḥkhitām

Thus addressed with these words, Rāma, the best of dharma-upholders, again spoke to his sorely grieving mother:

Words: evam — thus; uktas — addressed; tu — but; vacanaṃ — (with) the word; rāmo — Rāma; dharmabhṛtāṃ — of the upholders of dharma; varaḥ — best; bhūyas — again; tām — to her; abravīd — spoke; vākyaṃ — words; mātaraṃ — mother; bhṛśaduḥkhitām — greatly grieved

2.21.13

mayā caiva bhavatyā ca kartavyaṃ vacanaṃ pituḥ
rājā bhartā guruḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sarveṣām īśvaraḥ prabhuḥ

The father's command must be obeyed both by me and by you; the king is our supporter, our elder, the highest—the lord and master of all.

Words: mayā — by me; caiva — and; bhavatyā — by you; ca — and; kartavyaṃ — must be done; vacanaṃ — the command, word; pituḥ — of the father; rājā — the king; bhartā — supporter, master; guruḥ — elder, teacher; śreṣṭhaḥ — best, highest; sarveṣām — of all; īśvaraḥ — lord; prabhuḥ — master

2.21.14

imāni tu mahāraṇye vihṛtya nava pañca ca
varṣāṇi paramaprītaḥ sthāsyāmi vacane tava

And having passed these fourteen years in the great forest, I shall abide, most gladly, by your word.

Words: imāni — these; tu — and; mahāraṇye — in the great forest; vihṛtya — having passed, spent; nava — nine; pañca — five; ca — and; varṣāṇi — years; paramaprītaḥ — greatly pleased; sthāsyāmi — I shall abide, remain; vacane — in the word, command; tava — your

2.21.15

evam uktā priyaṃ putraṃ bāṣpapūrṇānanā tadā
uvāca paramārtā tu kausalyā putravatsalā

Having thus spoken to her dear son, Kausalyā then, her face bathed in tears, deeply distressed and full of love for her son, said:

Words: evam — thus; uktā — having spoken; priyaṃ — dear; putraṃ — to (her) son; bāṣpapūrṇānanā — her face full of tears; tadā — then; uvāca — said; paramārtā — deeply distressed; tu — but; kausalyā — Kausalyā; putravatsalā — loving her son

2.21.16

āsāṃ rāma sapatnīnāṃ vastuṃ madhye na me kṣamam
naya mām api kākutstha vanaṃ vanyaṃ mṛgīṃ yathā
yadi te gamane buddhiḥ kṛtā pitur apekṣayā

O Rāma, to dwell in the midst of these co-wives is not bearable for me; lead me too to the forest, O Kākutstha, like a wild doe, if your mind is set on going out of regard for your father.

Words: āsāṃ — of these; rāma — O Rāma; sapatnīnāṃ — co-wives; vastuṃ — to dwell; madhye — in the midst; na — not; me — for me; kṣamam — bearable, proper; naya — lead; mām — me; api — also; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; vanaṃ — to the forest; vanyaṃ — wild; mṛgīṃ — a doe; yathā — like; yadi — if; te — your; gamane — in going; buddhiḥ — resolve, mind; kṛtā — made, set; pitur — of the father; apekṣayā — out of regard for

2.21.17

tāṃ tathā rudatīṃ rāmo rudan vacanam abravīt
jīvantyā hi striyā bhartā daivataṃ prabhur eva ca
bhavatyā mama caivādya rājā prabhavati prabhuḥ

To her weeping thus, Rāma, weeping himself, spoke these words: 'For a woman while she lives the husband is her god and her lord; and today, over you and over me, the king holds sway as master.'

Words: tāṃ — to her; tathā — thus; rudatīṃ — weeping; rāmo — Rāma; rudan — weeping (himself); vacanam — words; abravīt — spoke; jīvantyā — for (a woman) while living; hi — indeed; striyā — for a woman; bhartā — husband; daivataṃ — deity, god; prabhur — lord; eva — indeed; ca — and; bhavatyā — over you; mama — over me; caivādya — and today; rājā — the king; prabhavati — holds sway, has power; prabhuḥ — as master, lord

2.21.18

bharataś cāpi dharmātmā sarvabhūtapriyaṃvadaḥ
bhavatīm anuvarteta sa hi dharmarataḥ sadā

And Bharata too, righteous of soul, speaking kindly to all beings, will attend upon you, for he is ever devoted to dharma.

Words: bharataś — Bharata; cāpi — and also; dharmātmā — righteous of soul; sarvabhūtapriyaṃvadaḥ — speaking kindly to all beings; bhavatīm — upon you (respectful); anuvarteta — will attend upon, serve; sa — he; hi — indeed; dharmarataḥ — devoted to dharma; sadā — always

2.21.19

yathā mayi tu niṣkrānte putraśokena pārthivaḥ
śramaṃ nāvāpnuyāt kiṃ cid apramattā tathā kuru

Act so heedfully that, once I have departed, the king may suffer no distress at all through grief for his son.

Words: yathā — so that; mayi — when I (loc. abs.); tu — but; niṣkrānte — have departed (loc. abs.); putraśokena — through grief for (his) son; pārthivaḥ — the king; śramaṃ — distress, exhaustion; nāvāpnuyāt — may not incur; kiṃ cid — any at all; apramattā — vigilant, heedful; tathā — so; kuru — act, do

2.21.20

vratopavāsaniratā yā nārī paramottamā
bhartāraṃ nānuvarteta sā ca pāpagatir bhavet

Even a most excellent woman, devoted to vows and fasting, if she does not attend upon her husband, comes to an evil end.

Words: vratopavāsaniratā — devoted to vows and fasting; yā — who; nārī — woman; paramottamā — most excellent; bhartāraṃ — husband; nānuvarteta — does not attend upon; sā — she; ca — even, and; pāpagatir — to an evil destiny; bhavet — would come, become

2.21.21

śuśrūṣam eva kurvīta bhartuḥ priyahite ratā
eṣa dharmaḥ purā dṛṣṭo loke vede śrutaḥ smṛtaḥ

Devoted to her husband's welfare and pleasure, she should render him service; this law was seen of old in the world, and is heard in the Veda and recorded in tradition.

Words: śuśrūṣam — obedient service; eva — indeed; kurvīta — should render, do; bhartuḥ — of the husband; priyahite — in (his) pleasure and welfare; ratā — devoted; eṣa — this; dharmaḥ — law, duty; purā — of old; dṛṣṭo — seen; loke — in the world; vede — in the Veda; śrutaḥ — heard; smṛtaḥ — remembered, recorded in tradition

2.21.22

pūjyās te matkṛte devi brāhmaṇāś caiva suvratāḥ
evaṃ kālaṃ pratīkṣasva mamāgamanakāṅkṣiṇī

For my sake, O queen, the brahmins firm in their vows are to be honored by you; thus await the time, longing for my return.

Words: pūjyās — to be honored; te — by you; matkṛte — for my sake; devi — O queen, lady; brāhmaṇāś — the brahmins; caiva — and; suvratāḥ — firm in vows; evaṃ — thus; kālaṃ — the time; pratīkṣasva — await; mamāgamanakāṅkṣiṇī — longing for my return

2.21.23

prāpsyase paramaṃ kāmaṃ mayi pratyāgate sati
yadi dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭho dhārayiṣyati jīvitam

You will attain your highest wish when I have returned, if the best of dharma-upholders still holds onto his life.

Words: prāpsyase — you will attain; paramaṃ — highest; kāmaṃ — desire, wish; mayi — when I (loc. abs.); pratyāgate — have returned; sati — being (loc. abs.); yadi — if; dharmabhṛtāṃ — of the dharma-upholders; śreṣṭho — the best; dhārayiṣyati — will sustain, hold onto; jīvitam — (his) life

2.21.24

evam uktā tu rāmeṇa bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇā
kausalyā putraśokārtā rāmaṃ vacanam abravīt
gaccha putra tvam ekāgro bhadraṃ te 'stu sadā vibho

Thus addressed by Rāma, Kausalyā, her eyes clouded with tears and stricken with grief for her son, spoke to Rāma: 'Go, my son, single-minded; may it be ever well with you, O mighty one.'

Words: evam — thus; uktā — addressed; tu — but; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇā — her eyes troubled with tears; kausalyā — Kausalyā; putraśokārtā — stricken with grief for her son; rāmaṃ — to Rāma; vacanam — words; abravīt — spoke; gaccha — go; putra — O son; tvam — you; ekāgro — single-minded, intent; bhadraṃ — welfare, blessing; te — to you; 'stu — be; sadā — always; vibho — O mighty one

2.21.25

tathā hi rāmaṃ vanavāsaniścitaṃ samīkṣya devī parameṇa cetasā
uvāca rāmaṃ śubhalakṣaṇaṃ vaco babhūva ca svastyayanābhikāṅkṣiṇī

So, beholding with utmost concentration of mind that Rāma was resolved on dwelling in the forest, the queen spoke auspicious words to Rāma, and became eager to pronounce a blessing for his safe journey.

Words: tathā — so, thus; hi — indeed; rāmaṃ — Rāma; vanavāsaniścitaṃ — resolved on forest-dwelling; samīkṣya — having beheld; devī — the queen; parameṇa — with utmost; cetasā — mind; uvāca — spoke; rāmaṃ — to Rāma; śubhalakṣaṇaṃ — auspicious; vaco — word; babhūva — became; ca — and; svastyayanābhikāṅkṣiṇī — eager for a benediction of safe passage

← 2.20 Lakṣmaṇa opposes fate with effort · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.22 Kausalyā’s blessing and amulet →

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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