← 2.29 Rāma’s gifts and Trijaṭa’s staff · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.31 A throne or one more night →

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 30: The walk to Daśaratha’s palace

Summary. Seeing Rāma, Sītā & Lakṣmaṇa without royal honours, citizens propose leaving Ayodhyā to follow them

Sequence

  1. After distributing their possessions, Rāma, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa set out on foot for Daśaratha's palace → the brothers carry their bows, already decorated with garlands by Sītā (2.30.1–4)
  2. people crowd the rooftops and contrast Rāma's former military escort with his present company of only his wife and brother (2.30.5–7)
  3. they worry about Sītā, now publicly visible on the street and soon to face the weather and hardships of the forest (2.30.8–10)
  4. they condemn the banishment of a prince whose conduct has earned everyone's affection (2.30.11–14)
  5. some propose taking their families and possessions after him, leaving Kaikeyī an empty city → wherever Rāma lives, they say, will become their city, while abandoned Ayodhyā becomes a forest (2.30.15–20)
  6. Rāma hears them without changing his decision and asks Sumantra to announce him to the King. (2.30.21–24)

Verses 2.30.1–24

2.30.1

dattvā tu saha vaidehyā brāhmaṇebhyo dhanaṃ bahu
jagmatuḥ pitaraṃ draṣṭuṃ sītayā saha rāghavau

Having, together with Vaidehī, given much wealth to the brahmins, the two Rāghavas, along with Sītā, went to see their father.

Words: dattvā tu — and having given; saha vaidehyā — together with Vaidehī; brāhmaṇebhyo — to the brahmins; dhanaṃ bahu — much wealth; jagmatuḥ — the two went; pitaraṃ — father; draṣṭuṃ — to see; sītayā saha — together with Sītā; rāghavau — the two Rāghavas (Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa)

2.30.2

tato gṛhīte duṣprekṣye aśobhetāṃ tadāyudhe
mālādāmabhir āsakte sītayā samalaṃkṛte

Then the two bows, grasped and dazzling to behold, shone forth — hung with garlands and wreaths, and decorated by Sītā.

Words: tato — then; gṛhīte — the two (weapons) grasped; duṣprekṣye — hard to look upon, dazzling; aśobhetāṃ — the two shone; tadāyudhe — then the two weapons; mālādāmabhir — with garlands and wreaths; āsakte — the two hung, attached; sītayā — by Sītā; samalaṃkṛte — the two well adorned

2.30.3

tataḥ prāsādaharmyāṇi vimānaśikharāṇi ca
adhiruhya janaḥ śrīmān udāsīno vyalokayat

Then the prosperous folk, climbing up to the palace-mansions and the tops of the lofty houses, looked on listlessly.

Words: tataḥ — then; prāsādaharmyāṇi — the palace-mansions; vimānaśikharāṇi ca — and the tops of the tall houses; adhiruhya — having climbed up; janaḥ — the people; śrīmān — prosperous, splendid; udāsīno — listless, dejected; vyalokayat — gazed, looked on

2.30.4

na hi rathyāḥ sma śakyante gantuṃ bahujanākulāḥ
āruhya tasmāt prāsādān dīnāḥ paśyanti rāghavam

For the streets, thronged with a multitude of people, could not be walked upon; so, climbing the palaces, the dejected folk gazed upon Rāghava.

Words: na hi — for not; rathyāḥ — the streets; sma — (past-sense particle); śakyante — are able (to be traversed); gantuṃ — to go, walk; bahujanākulāḥ — thronged with many people; āruhya — having climbed; tasmāt — therefore; prāsādān — the palaces; dīnāḥ — dejected, miserable; paśyanti — look upon; rāghavam — Rāghava

2.30.5

padātiṃ varjitacchatraṃ rāmaṃ dṛṣṭvā tadā janāḥ
ūcur bahuvidhā vācaḥ śokopahatacetasaḥ

Seeing Rāma on foot and deprived of the royal parasol, the people then, their minds stricken with grief, uttered manifold words:

Words: padātiṃ — on foot; varjitacchatraṃ — deprived of the parasol; rāmaṃ — Rāma; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; tadā — then; janāḥ — the people; ūcur — said, uttered; bahuvidhā — manifold, of many kinds; vācaḥ — words; śokopahatacetasaḥ — their minds stricken with grief

2.30.6

yaṃ yāntam anuyāti sma caturaṅgabalaṃ mahat
tam ekaṃ sītayā sārdham anuyāti sma lakṣmaṇaḥ

He whom, as he went, a great army of four divisions used to follow — him now, alone, only Lakṣmaṇa follows, along with Sītā.

Words: yaṃ — whom; yāntam — going; anuyāti sma — used to follow; caturaṅgabalaṃ — the four-limbed army; mahat — great; tam ekaṃ — him alone; sītayā sārdham — together with Sītā; anuyāti sma — follows; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa

2.30.7

aiśvaryasya rasajñaḥ san kāmināṃ caiva kāmadaḥ
necchaty evānṛtaṃ kartuṃ pitaraṃ dharmagauravāt

Though he has tasted the sweetness of sovereignty and is the granter of wishes to those who desire, he will not make his father's word false, out of reverence for dharma.

Words: aiśvaryasya — of sovereignty, lordship; rasajñaḥ — a knower of the relish (of); san — being; kāmināṃ — of those who desire; caiva — and indeed; kāmadaḥ — the granter of wishes; necchaty — does not wish; evānṛtaṃ — indeed (to make) false; kartuṃ — to make; pitaraṃ — his father; dharmagauravāt — out of reverence for dharma

2.30.8

yā na śakyā purā draṣṭuṃ bhūtair ākāśagair api
tām adya sītāṃ paśyanti rājamārgagatā janāḥ

She whom formerly not even the sky-going beings could see — that Sītā the people now behold as she walks upon the royal highway.

Words: yā — she who; na śakyā — was not able (to be); purā — formerly; draṣṭuṃ — to be seen; bhūtair — by beings; ākāśagair api — even by the sky-goers; tām adya — her now; sītāṃ — Sītā; paśyanti — see; rājamārgagatā — standing on the royal highway; janāḥ — the people

2.30.9

aṅgarāgocitāṃ sītāṃ raktacandana sevinīm
varṣam uṣṇaṃ ca śītaṃ ca neṣyaty āśu vivarṇatām

Sītā, accustomed to fragrant unguents and wont to use red sandal-paste — the rain, the heat and the cold will soon bring to pallor.

Words: aṅgarāgocitāṃ — accustomed to body-unguents; sītāṃ — Sītā; raktacandana sevinīm — wont to use red sandal-paste; varṣam — the rain; uṣṇaṃ ca — and the heat; śītaṃ ca — and the cold; neṣyaty — will bring, lead; āśu — soon; vivarṇatām — to pallor, loss of colour

2.30.10

adya nūnaṃ daśarathaḥ sattvam āviśya bhāṣate
na hi rājā priyaṃ putraṃ vivāsayitum arhati

Surely today Daśaratha speaks as though some spirit had entered him; for a king ought not to banish his beloved son.

Words: adya — today; nūnaṃ — surely; daśarathaḥ — Daśaratha; sattvam — a spirit, demon, being; āviśya — having entered into; bhāṣate — speaks; na hi — for not; rājā — a king; priyaṃ putraṃ — his beloved son; vivāsayitum — to banish, exile; arhati — ought

2.30.11

nirguṇasyāpi putrasyā kāthaṃ syād vipravāsanam
kiṃ punar yasya loko 'yaṃ jito vṛttena kevalam

Even for a son devoid of merit, how could there be banishment? — how much less for one by whom this whole world has been won by conduct alone.

Words: nirguṇasyāpi — even of a virtueless one; putrasyā — of a son; kāthaṃ — how; syād — could there be; vipravāsanam — banishment, exile; kiṃ punar — how much more/less, let alone; yasya — of whom; loko 'yaṃ — this world; jito — won, conquered; vṛttena — by conduct; kevalam — alone, merely

2.30.12

ānṛśaṃsyam anukrośaḥ śrutaṃ śīlaṃ damaḥ śamaḥ
rāghavaṃ śobhayanty ete ṣaḍguṇāḥ puruṣottamam

Kindness, compassion, sacred learning, good character, self-control and tranquillity — these six virtues adorn Rāghava, the best of men.

Words: ānṛśaṃsyam — freedom from cruelty, kindness; anukrośaḥ — compassion, sympathy; śrutaṃ — sacred learning; śīlaṃ — good character; damaḥ — self-restraint; śamaḥ — tranquillity, calm; rāghavaṃ — Rāghava; śobhayanty — adorn; ete — these; ṣaḍguṇāḥ — six virtues; puruṣottamam — the best of men

2.30.13

tasmāt tasyopaghātena prajāḥ paramapīḍitāḥ
audakānīva sattvāni grīṣme salilasaṃkṣayāt

Therefore, by the injury done to him, the subjects are supremely afflicted, like water-creatures in summer from the drying-up of the water.

Words: tasmāt — therefore; tasyopaghātena — by the injury to him; prajāḥ — the subjects, people; paramapīḍitāḥ — supremely afflicted; audakānīva — like water-creatures; sattvāni — beings, creatures; grīṣme — in the summer; salilasaṃkṣayāt — from the drying-up of the water

2.30.14

pīḍayā pīḍitaṃ sarvaṃ jagad asya jagatpateḥ
mūlasyevopaghātena vṛkṣaḥ puṣpaphalopagaḥ

By his affliction the whole world of this lord of the world is afflicted, as a tree bearing flowers and fruit is harmed by injury to its root.

Words: pīḍayā — by affliction; pīḍitaṃ — afflicted; sarvaṃ — whole, all; jagad — the world; asya — of this; jagatpateḥ — of the lord of the world (Rāma); mūlasyevopaghātena — as by injury to the root; vṛkṣaḥ — a tree; puṣpaphalopagaḥ — bearing flowers and fruit

2.30.15

te lakṣmaṇa iva kṣipraṃ sapatnyaḥ sahabāndhavāḥ
gacchantam anugacchāmo yena gacchati rāghavaḥ

Let us, like Lakṣmaṇa, quickly follow him with our wives and kinsmen as he goes, by whatever way Rāghava goes.

Words: te — we (these); lakṣmaṇa iva — like Lakṣmaṇa; kṣipraṃ — quickly; sapatnyaḥ — with our wives; sahabāndhavāḥ — with our kinsmen; gacchantam — him as he goes; anugacchāmo — let us follow; yena — by which way; gacchati — goes; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava

2.30.16

udyānāni parityajya kṣetrāṇi ca gṛhāṇi ca
ekaduḥkhasukhā rāmam anugacchāma dhārmikam

Abandoning gardens, fields and houses, sharing one and the same grief and joy with him, let us follow the righteous Rāma.

Words: udyānāni — gardens; parityajya — having abandoned; kṣetrāṇi ca — and fields; gṛhāṇi ca — and houses; ekaduḥkhasukhā — having grief and joy in common; rāmam — Rāma; anugacchāma — let us follow; dhārmikam — the righteous

2.30.17

samuddhṛtanidhānāni paridhvastājirāṇi ca
upāttadhanadhānyāni hṛtasārāṇi sarvaśaḥ

With their buried treasures dug up, their courtyards laid waste, their wealth and grain removed, their valuables carried off entirely,

Words: samuddhṛtanidhānāni — with buried treasures dug up; paridhvastājirāṇi ca — and with ruined courtyards; upāttadhanadhānyāni — with wealth and grain taken away; hṛtasārāṇi — with valuables carried off; sarvaśaḥ — entirely, in every way

2.30.18

rajasābhyavakīrṇāni parityaktāni daivataiḥ
asmattyaktāni veśmāni kaikeyī pratipadyatām

strewn over with dust and abandoned by the household deities — let Kaikeyī take possession of our houses, forsaken by us.

Words: rajasābhyavakīrṇāni — strewn over with dust; parityaktāni — abandoned; daivataiḥ — by the deities; asmattyaktāni — forsaken by us; veśmāni — the houses; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; pratipadyatām — let her take possession, receive

2.30.19

vanaṃ nagaram evāstu yena gacchati rāghavaḥ
asmābhiś ca parityaktaṃ puraṃ saṃpadyatāṃ vanam

Let the forest itself be the city, wherever Rāghava goes; and let the city, forsaken by us, become a forest.

Words: vanaṃ — the forest; nagaram evāstu — let it be the very city; yena — where(by); gacchati — goes; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; asmābhiś ca — and by us; parityaktaṃ — forsaken; puraṃ — the city; saṃpadyatāṃ — let it become; vanam — a forest

2.30.20

bilāni daṃṣṭriṇaḥ sarve sānūni mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ
asmattyaktaṃ prapadyantāṃ sevyamānaṃ tyajantu ca

Let all the fanged creatures take to (our) dens, and the beasts and birds to the hilltops; let them resort to what we have abandoned, and abandon what they had been frequenting.

Words: bilāni — holes, dens; daṃṣṭriṇaḥ — the fanged creatures; sarve — all; sānūni — hilltops, ridges; mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ — the beasts and birds; asmattyaktaṃ — what is forsaken by us; prapadyantāṃ — let them resort to, enter; sevyamānaṃ — what was being frequented, inhabited; tyajantu ca — and let them abandon

2.30.21

ity evaṃ vividhā vāco nānājanasamīritāḥ
śuśrāva rāmaḥ śrutvā ca na vicakre 'sya mānasaṃ

Such manifold words, uttered by all manner of people, Rāma heard; and having heard them, his mind did not waver.

Words: ity evaṃ — thus, in this way; vividhā — manifold; vāco — words; nānājanasamīritāḥ — uttered by various people; śuśrāva — heard; rāmaḥ — Rāma; śrutvā ca — and having heard; na vicakre — did not swerve, waver; 'sya — his; mānasaṃ — mind

2.30.22

pratīkṣamāṇo 'bhijanaṃ tadārtam anārtarūpaḥ prahasann ivātha
jagāma rāmaḥ pitaraṃ didṛkṣuḥ pitur nideśaṃ vidhivac cikīrṣuḥ

Regarding his stricken kinsfolk yet himself showing no distress, almost smiling, Rāma then went on, longing to see his father and eager to carry out his father's command duly.

Words: pratīkṣamāṇo — regarding, looking upon; 'bhijanaṃ — the kinsfolk, retainers; tadārtam — then afflicted; anārtarūpaḥ — himself of unafflicted aspect; prahasann ivātha — then as if smiling; jagāma — went; rāmaḥ — Rāma; pitaraṃ — father; didṛkṣuḥ — wishing to see; pitur — of his father; nideśaṃ — the command; vidhivac — according to rule; cikīrṣuḥ — wishing to do

2.30.23

tat pūrvam aikṣvākasuto mahātmā rāmo gamiṣyan vanam ārtarūpam
vyatiṣṭhata prekṣya tadā sumantraṃ pitur mahātmā pratihāraṇārtham

First of all, the great-souled Rāma, son of the Ikṣvāku line, about to go to the sorrowful forest, then halted, looking at Sumantra, so that he might be announced to his father.

Words: tat pūrvam — first of all, before that; aikṣvākasuto — son of the Ikṣvāku line; mahātmā — the great-souled; rāmo — Rāma; gamiṣyan — about to go; vanam — to the forest; ārtarūpam — of sorrowful aspect; vyatiṣṭhata — halted, stood still; prekṣya — having looked at; tadā — then; sumantraṃ — Sumantra; pitur — of his father; mahātmā — the great-souled; pratihāraṇārtham — for the purpose of being announced

2.30.24

pitur nideśena tu dharmavatsalo vanapraveśe kṛtabuddhiniścayaḥ
sa rāghavaḥ prekṣya sumantram abravīn nivedayasvāgamanaṃ nṛpāya me

But that Rāghava, devoted to dharma, having firmly resolved by his father's command upon entering the forest, looked at Sumantra and said: “Announce my coming to the king.”

Words: pitur nideśena — by his father's command; tu — but; dharmavatsalo — devoted to dharma; vanapraveśe — upon entering the forest; kṛtabuddhiniścayaḥ — having made firm resolve of mind; sa rāghavaḥ — that Rāghava; prekṣya — having looked at; sumantram — Sumantra; abravīn — said; nivedayasvāgamanaṃ — announce the coming; nṛpāya — to the king; me — my

← 2.29 Rāma’s gifts and Trijaṭa’s staff · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.31 A throne or one more night →

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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