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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 31: A throne or one more night
Summary. Daśaratha urges Rāma to take the Kingdom, then begs him to stay overnight, Rāma refuses to delay the promise
Sequence
- Sumantra tells Daśaratha that Rāma has given away his possessions and is waiting to say goodbye (2.31.1–5)
- Daśaratha gathers his wives and has the three travelers admitted (2.31.6–12)
- he rises to meet Rāma but faints before reaching him → Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa lift him, and with Sītā help him onto the couch (2.31.13–19)
- Rāma asks permission for all three to leave, explaining that Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa cannot be persuaded to remain → Daśaratha replies that the boons have trapped him and urges Rāma to disregard him and become King (2.31.20–23)
- Rāma refuses to make his father's promise false → Daśaratha then asks him to stay at least one more night (2.31.24–27)
- Rāma declines the delay and asks that Bharata receive the Kingdom without further grief (2.31.28–31)
- he reassures his father that preserving his truth matters more than Kingship, pleasure, or life, and that he will find happiness among the forest's rivers and mountains. (2.31.32–37)
Verses 2.31.1–37
2.31.1
sa rāmapreṣitaḥ kṣipraṃ saṃtāpakaluṣendriyaḥ
praviśya nṛpatiṃ sūto niḥśvasantaṃ dadarśa ha
That charioteer, sent by Rāma, his senses clouded with anguish, quickly entered and saw the king sighing.
Words: sa — he; rāmapreṣitaḥ — sent by Rāma; kṣipraṃ — quickly; saṃtāpakaluṣendriyaḥ — his senses clouded by anguish; praviśya — having entered; nṛpatiṃ — the king; sūto — the charioteer; niḥśvasantaṃ — sighing; dadarśa ha — saw indeed
2.31.2
ālokya tu mahāprājñaḥ paramākula cetasaṃ
rāmam evānuśocantaṃ sūtaḥ prāñjalir āsadat
But the very wise charioteer, beholding the king with mind supremely agitated, grieving for Rāma alone, approached him with joined palms.
Words: ālokya tu — having beheld; mahāprājñaḥ — the very wise one; paramākula cetasaṃ — with mind supremely agitated; rāmam — for Rāma; evānuśocantaṃ — grieving indeed; sūtaḥ — the charioteer; prāñjalir — with palms joined; āsadat — approached, went up to
2.31.3
ayaṃ sa puruṣavyāghra dvāri tiṣṭhati te sutaḥ
brāhmaṇebhyo dhanaṃ dattvā sarvaṃ caivopajīvinām
“O tiger among men, here your son stands at the door, having given away all his wealth to the brahmins and to the dependants.
Words: ayaṃ sa — here he; puruṣavyāghra — O tiger among men; dvāri — at the door; tiṣṭhati — stands; te sutaḥ — your son; brāhmaṇebhyo — to the brahmins; dhanaṃ — wealth; dattvā — having given; sarvaṃ — all; caivopajīvinām — and to the dependants
2.31.4
sa tvā paśyatu bhadraṃ te rāmaḥ satyaparākramaḥ
sarvān suhṛda āpṛcchya tvām idānīṃ didṛkṣate
May that Rāma of true valour look upon you — blessings on you! Having taken leave of all his friends, he now wishes to see you.
Words: sa — he; tvā — you; paśyatu — let him see; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; rāmaḥ — Rāma; satyaparākramaḥ — of true valour; sarvān — all; suhṛda — friends; āpṛcchya — having taken leave of; tvām — you; idānīṃ — now; didṛkṣate — wishes to see
2.31.5
gamiṣyati mahāraṇyaṃ taṃ paśya jagatīpate
vṛtaṃ rājaguṇaiḥ sarvair ādityam iva raśmibhiḥ
He will go to the great forest; behold him, O lord of the world, endowed with all kingly virtues as the sun with its rays.”
Words: gamiṣyati — will go; mahāraṇyaṃ — to the great forest; taṃ paśya — behold him; jagatīpate — O lord of the world; vṛtaṃ — encompassed, endowed; rājaguṇaiḥ — with kingly virtues; sarvair — all; ādityam iva — like the sun; raśmibhiḥ — with rays
2.31.6
sa satyavādī dharmātmā gāmbhīryāt sāgaropamaḥ
ākāśa iva niṣpaṅko narendraḥ pratyuvāca tam
That truthful, righteous king, deep as the ocean in gravity, spotless as the sky, replied to him:
Words: sa — he; satyavādī — truthful; dharmātmā — righteous-souled; gāmbhīryāt — by depth, gravity; sāgaropamaḥ — like the ocean; ākāśa iva — like the sky; niṣpaṅko — spotless, stainless; narendraḥ — the king; pratyuvāca tam — replied to him
2.31.7
sumantrānaya me dārān ye ke cid iha māmakāḥ
dāraiḥ parivṛtaḥ sarvair draṣṭum icchāmi rāghavam
“Sumantra, bring to me my wives, whoever here are mine; surrounded by all my wives I wish to see Rāghava.”
Words: sumantrānaya — Sumantra, bring; me dārān — my wives; ye ke cid — whoever; iha — here; māmakāḥ — are mine; dāraiḥ — with (my) wives; parivṛtaḥ — surrounded; sarvair — all; draṣṭum — to see; icchāmi — I wish; rāghavam — Rāghava
2.31.8
so 'ntaḥpuram atītyaiva striyas tā vākyam abravīt
āryo hvayati vo rājā gamyatāṃ tatra māciram
Having entered the inner apartments, he spoke these words to those women: “The noble king summons you; go there without delay.”
Words: so — he; 'ntaḥpuram — the inner apartments; atītyaiva — having entered, passed into; striyas tā — to those women; vākyam abravīt — spoke these words; āryo — the noble one; hvayati — summons, calls; vo — you; rājā — the king; gamyatāṃ — let (you) go; tatra — there; māciram — without delay
2.31.9
evam uktāḥ striyaḥ sarvāḥ sumantreṇa nṛpājñayā
pracakramus tad bhavanaṃ bhartur ājñāya śāsanam
All the women, thus addressed by Sumantra at the king's order, understanding their lord's command, proceeded to that palace.
Words: evam uktāḥ — thus addressed; striyaḥ sarvāḥ — all the women; sumantreṇa — by Sumantra; nṛpājñayā — by the king's order; pracakramus — proceeded, set out; tad bhavanaṃ — to that palace; bhartur — of their lord; ājñāya — having understood; śāsanam — the command
2.31.10
ardhasaptaśatās tās tu pramadās tāmralocanāḥ
kausalyāṃ parivāryātha śanair jagmur dhṛtavratāḥ
Those six hundred and fifty women with copper-red eyes, surrounding Kausalyā, then went slowly, steadfast in their vows.
Words: ardhasaptaśatās — six hundred and fifty; tās tu — those; pramadās — the women; tāmralocanāḥ — copper-red-eyed; kausalyāṃ — Kausalyā; parivāryātha — having surrounded, then; śanair — slowly; jagmur — went; dhṛtavratāḥ — steadfast in their vows
2.31.11
āgateṣu ca dāreṣu samavekṣya mahīpatiḥ
uvāca rājā taṃ sūtaṃ sumantrānaya me sutam
And when his wives had come, the king, having looked at them, said to that charioteer: “Sumantra, bring me my son.”
Words: āgateṣu ca dāreṣu — and when the wives had come; samavekṣya — having looked at; mahīpatiḥ — the king; uvāca rājā — the king said; taṃ sūtaṃ — to that charioteer; sumantrānaya — Sumantra, bring; me sutam — my son
2.31.12
sa sūto rāmam ādāya lakṣmaṇaṃ maithilīṃ tadā
jagāmābhimukhas tūrṇaṃ sakāśaṃ jagatīpateḥ
That charioteer, taking Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and the Maithilī, then went swiftly straight to the presence of the lord of the world.
Words: sa sūto — that charioteer; rāmam ādāya — taking Rāma; lakṣmaṇaṃ — Lakṣmaṇa; maithilīṃ — the Maithilī (Sītā); tadā — then; jagāmābhimukhas — went facing, toward; tūrṇaṃ — swiftly; sakāśaṃ — to the presence; jagatīpateḥ — of the lord of the world
2.31.13
sa rājā putram āyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā dūrāt kṛtāñjalim
utpapātāsanāt tūrṇam ārtaḥ strījanasaṃvṛtaḥ
That king, seeing his son approaching from afar with joined palms, sprang up quickly from his seat, distressed, surrounded by the throng of women.
Words: sa rājā — that king; putram āyāntaṃ — his son approaching; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; dūrāt — from afar; kṛtāñjalim — with joined palms; utpapātāsanāt — sprang up from his seat; tūrṇam — quickly; ārtaḥ — distressed; strījanasaṃvṛtaḥ — surrounded by the throng of women
2.31.14
so 'bhidudrāva vegena rāmaṃ dṛṣṭvā viśāṃ patiḥ
tam asaṃprāpya duḥkhārtaḥ papāta bhuvi mūrchitaḥ
That lord of the people, seeing Rāma, rushed toward him with speed; but not reaching him, stricken with grief, he fell swooning to the ground.
Words: so — he; 'bhidudrāva — rushed toward; vegena — with speed; rāmaṃ dṛṣṭvā — seeing Rāma; viśāṃ patiḥ — lord of the people; tam asaṃprāpya — not reaching him; duḥkhārtaḥ — stricken with grief; papāta — fell; bhuvi — on the ground; mūrchitaḥ — swooning, fainted
2.31.15
taṃ rāmo 'bhyapātat kṣipraṃ lakṣmaṇaś ca mahārathaḥ
visaṃjñam iva duḥkhena saśokaṃ nṛpatiṃ tadā
Rāma quickly hastened toward him, as did Lakṣmaṇa the great warrior — toward the sorrowing king who was as if senseless with grief.
Words: taṃ — him; rāmo — Rāma; 'bhyapātat — hastened toward; kṣipraṃ — quickly; lakṣmaṇaś ca — and Lakṣmaṇa; mahārathaḥ — the great chariot-warrior; visaṃjñam iva — as if senseless; duḥkhena — with grief; saśokaṃ — sorrowing; nṛpatiṃ — the king; tadā — then
2.31.16
strīsahasraninādaś ca saṃjajñe rājaveśmani
hāhā rāmeti sahasā bhūṣaṇadhvanimūrchitaḥ
And a clamour of a thousand women arose suddenly in the royal palace — “Alas, alas, Rāma!” — mingled with the jingling of ornaments.
Words: strīsahasraninādaś ca — and the clamour of a thousand women; saṃjajñe — arose; rājaveśmani — in the royal palace; hāhā — alas, alas; rāmeti — “Rāma!” (they cried); sahasā — suddenly; bhūṣaṇadhvanimūrchitaḥ — swollen with the sound of ornaments
2.31.17
taṃ pariṣvajya bāhubhyāṃ tāv ubhau rāmalakṣmaṇau
paryaṅke sītayā sārdhaṃ rudantaḥ samaveśayan
Those two, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, embracing him with their arms, together with Sītā, weeping, laid him upon the couch.
Words: taṃ pariṣvajya — having embraced him; bāhubhyāṃ — with (their) two arms; tāv ubhau — those two both; rāmalakṣmaṇau — Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa; paryaṅke — on the couch; sītayā sārdhaṃ — together with Sītā; rudantaḥ — weeping; samaveśayan — laid down, placed
2.31.18
atha rāmo muhūrtena labdhasaṃjñaṃ mahīpatim
uvāca prāñjalir bhūtvā śokārṇavapariplutam
Then Rāma, with joined palms, addressed the king, who after a moment had regained consciousness but was plunged in a sea of grief:
Words: atha rāmo — then Rāma; muhūrtena — after a moment; labdhasaṃjñaṃ — who had regained consciousness; mahīpatim — the king; uvāca — said; prāñjalir bhūtvā — having joined his palms; śokārṇavapariplutam — plunged in the sea of grief
2.31.19
āpṛcche tvāṃ mahārāja sarveṣām īśvaro 'si naḥ
prasthitaṃ daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ paśya tvaṃ kuśalena mām
“I take my leave of you, great king; you are the lord of us all. Look with favour upon me as I set out for the Daṇḍaka forest.
Words: āpṛcche — I take leave of; tvāṃ — you; mahārāja — O great king; sarveṣām — of all; īśvaro 'si — you are the lord; naḥ — of us; prasthitaṃ — setting out, departing; daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ — for the Daṇḍaka forest; paśya tvaṃ — look upon; kuśalena — with favour, kindly; mām — me
2.31.20
lakṣmaṇaṃ cānujānīhi sītā cānveti māṃ vanam
kāraṇair bahubhis tathyair vāryamāṇau na cecchataḥ
And give leave to Lakṣmaṇa; and Sītā too follows me to the forest. Though dissuaded by many true reasons, the two will not consent (to stay).
Words: lakṣmaṇaṃ — Lakṣmaṇa; cānujānīhi — and grant leave; sītā — Sītā; cānveti — and follows; māṃ vanam — me to the forest; kāraṇair bahubhis — by many reasons; tathyair — true; vāryamāṇau — the two, being dissuaded; na cecchataḥ — and do not consent
2.31.21
anujānīhi sarvān naḥ śokam utsṛjya mānada
lakṣmaṇaṃ māṃ ca sītāṃ ca prajāpatir iva prajāḥ
Give leave to all of us, casting off your grief, O bestower of honour — to Lakṣmaṇa, to me, and to Sītā, as Prajāpati (dismisses) his creatures.”
Words: anujānīhi — give leave, permit; sarvān naḥ — all of us; śokam utsṛjya — casting off grief; mānada — O bestower of honour; lakṣmaṇaṃ — Lakṣmaṇa; māṃ ca — and me; sītāṃ ca — and Sītā; prajāpatir iva — like Prajāpati (Lord of creatures); prajāḥ — his creatures
2.31.22
pratīkṣamāṇam avyagram anujñāṃ jagatīpateḥ
uvāca rarjā saṃprekṣya vanavāsāya rāghavam
To Rāghava, who calmly awaited the leave of the lord of the world, the king, gazing at him, spoke concerning the forest-dwelling:
Words: pratīkṣamāṇam — awaiting; avyagram — calm, unagitated; anujñāṃ — the permission; jagatīpateḥ — of the lord of the world; uvāca — said; rarjā — the king; saṃprekṣya — having gazed at; vanavāsāya — concerning the forest-dwelling; rāghavam — Rāghava
2.31.23
ahaṃ rāghava kaikeyyā varadānena mohitaḥ
ayodhyāyās tvam evādya bhava rājā nigṛhya mām
“O Rāghava, I have been deluded by the granting of boons to Kaikeyī; today, overruling me, do you yourself become king of Ayodhyā.”
Words: ahaṃ — I; rāghava — O Rāghava; kaikeyyā — by Kaikeyī; varadānena — by the granting of a boon; mohitaḥ — deluded, deceived; ayodhyāyās — of Ayodhyā; tvam — you; evādya — yourself today; bhava rājā — become king; nigṛhya mām — overruling me, restraining me
2.31.24
evam ukto nṛpatinā rāmo dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
pratyuvācāñjaliṃ kṛtvā pitaraṃ vākyakovidaḥ
Thus addressed by the king, Rāma, best of the upholders of dharma and skilled in speech, having joined his palms, replied to his father:
Words: evam ukto — thus addressed; nṛpatinā — by the king; rāmo — Rāma; dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ — best of the upholders of dharma; pratyuvācāñjaliṃ — replied, (making) the añjali; kṛtvā — having made; pitaraṃ — to his father; vākyakovidaḥ — skilled in speech
2.31.25
bhavān varṣasahasrāya pṛthivyā nṛpate patiḥ
ahaṃ tv araṇye vatsyāmi na me kāryaṃ tvayānṛtam
“You, O king, are lord of the earth for a thousand years; but I shall dwell in the forest. I have no wish that you be made false.
Words: bhavān — you (honorific); varṣasahasrāya — for a thousand years; pṛthivyā — of the earth; nṛpate — O king; patiḥ — lord; ahaṃ tv — but I; araṇye — in the forest; vatsyāmi — shall dwell; na me kāryaṃ — I have no need; tvayānṛtam — of untruth by you
2.31.26
śreyase vṛddhaye tāta punarāgamanāya ca
gacchasvāriṣṭam avyagraḥ panthānam akutobhayam
“For your welfare, my son, for your prosperity and for your safe return, go untroubled upon an unharmed road, free from fear on every side.
Words: śreyase — for welfare, good; vṛddhaye — for prosperity, growth; tāta — dear son; punarāgamanāya ca — and for coming back again; gacchasvāriṣṭam — go, an unharmed (road); avyagraḥ — untroubled, composed; panthānam — the road, path; akutobhayam — free from fear on any side
2.31.27
adya tv idānīṃ rajanīṃ putra mā gaccha sarvathā
mātaraṃ māṃ ca saṃpaśyan vasemām adya śarvarīm
tarpitaḥ sarvakāmais tvaṃ śvaḥkāle sādhayiṣyasi
But today, right now, my son, do not go at all for this night; looking upon your mother and me, dwell here this night; gratified with all pleasures, you shall set forth at dawn tomorrow.”
Words: adya tv — but today; idānīṃ — now; rajanīṃ — (for) the night; putra — O son; mā gaccha — do not go; sarvathā — by any means, at all; mātaraṃ — mother; māṃ ca — and me; saṃpaśyan — looking upon; vasemām — dwell this; adya — today; śarvarīm — the night; tarpitaḥ — gratified, satisfied; sarvakāmais — with all pleasures; tvaṃ — you; śvaḥkāle — at the time of tomorrow; sādhayiṣyasi — you will set out, accomplish (the journey)
2.31.28
atha rāmas tathā śrutvā pitur ārtasya bhāṣitam
lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā dīno vacanam abravīt
Then Rāma, having thus heard the words of his afflicted father, dejected, together with his brother Lakṣmaṇa, spoke these words:
Words: atha rāmas — then Rāma; tathā śrutvā — having thus heard; pitur ārtasya — of his afflicted father; bhāṣitam — the speech; lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā — together with his brother Lakṣmaṇa; dīno — dejected; vacanam abravīt — spoke these words
2.31.29
prāpsyāmi yān adya guṇān ko me śvastān pradāsyati
apakramaṇam evātaḥ sarvakāmair ahaṃ vṛṇe
“Whatever advantages I would gain today, who will grant me those tomorrow? Therefore, above all pleasures, I choose only departure.
Words: prāpsyāmi — I shall obtain; yān adya guṇān — which advantages today; ko me — who to me; śvastān — those tomorrow; pradāsyati — will give; apakramaṇam evātaḥ — therefore only departure; sarvakāmair — above all pleasures; ahaṃ vṛṇe — I choose
2.31.30
iyaṃ sarāṣṭrā sajanā dhanadhānyasamākulā
mayā visṛṣṭā vasudhā bharatāya pradīyatām
Let this earth, with its kingdom and its people, abounding in wealth and grain, be relinquished by me and bestowed upon Bharata.
Words: iyaṃ — this; sarāṣṭrā — with its kingdom; sajanā — with its people; dhanadhānyasamākulā — abounding in wealth and grain; mayā visṛṣṭā — relinquished by me; vasudhā — the earth; bharatāya — to Bharata; pradīyatām — let it be given
2.31.31
apagacchatu te duḥkhaṃ mā bhūr bāṣpapariplutaḥ
na hi kṣubhyati durdharṣaḥ samudraḥ saritāṃ patiḥ
Let your grief depart; do not be flooded with tears. For the unassailable ocean, lord of rivers, is never agitated.
Words: apagacchatu — let it depart; te duḥkhaṃ — your grief; mā bhūr — do not be; bāṣpapariplutaḥ — flooded with tears; na hi kṣubhyati — for is not agitated; durdharṣaḥ — unassailable, hard to overcome; samudraḥ — the ocean; saritāṃ patiḥ — lord of the rivers
2.31.32
naivāhaṃ rājyam icchāmi na sukhaṃ na ca maithilīm
tvām ahaṃ satyam icchāmi nānṛtaṃ puruṣarṣabha
I desire neither the kingdom, nor pleasure, nor even the Maithilī; I wish you to be true, not false, O bull among men.
Words: naivāhaṃ — not I; rājyam icchāmi — desire the kingdom; na sukhaṃ — nor pleasure; na ca maithilīm — nor the Maithilī; tvām ahaṃ — you I; satyam icchāmi — wish (to be) true; nānṛtaṃ — not false; puruṣarṣabha — O bull among men
2.31.33
puraṃ ca rāṣṭraṃ ca mahī ca kevalā mayā nisṛṣṭā bharatāya dīyatām
ahaṃ nideśaṃ bhavato 'nupālayan vanaṃ gamiṣyāmi cirāya sevitum
Let the city and the kingdom and the whole earth, relinquished by me, be given to Bharata; and I, obeying your command, shall go to the forest to dwell there long.
Words: puraṃ ca — and the city; rāṣṭraṃ ca — and the kingdom; mahī ca — and the earth; kevalā — entire, whole; mayā nisṛṣṭā — relinquished by me; bharatāya — to Bharata; dīyatām — let it be given; ahaṃ — I; nideśaṃ — the command; bhavato — your; 'nupālayan — obeying, following; vanaṃ gamiṣyāmi — shall go to the forest; cirāya — for a long time; sevitum — to dwell in, inhabit
2.31.34
mayā nisṛṣṭāṃ bharato mahīm imāṃ saśailakhaṇḍāṃ sapurāṃ sakānanām
śivāṃ susīmām anuśāstu kevalaṃ tvayā yad uktaṃ nṛpate yathāstu tat
Let Bharata rule this whole earth relinquished by me — with its mountain-tracts, its cities and its forests, auspicious and well-bounded; and let what you have declared, O king, so be.
Words: mayā nisṛṣṭāṃ — relinquished by me; bharato — Bharata; mahīm imāṃ — this earth; saśailakhaṇḍāṃ — with its mountain-tracts; sapurāṃ — with its cities; sakānanām — with its forests; śivāṃ — auspicious; susīmām — well-bounded; anuśāstu — let him rule, govern; kevalaṃ — wholly, entirely; tvayā yad uktaṃ — what has been said by you; nṛpate — O king; yathāstu tat — let that be so
2.31.35
na me tathā pārthiva dhīyate mano mahatsu kāmeṣu na cātmanaḥ priye
yathā nideśe tava śiṣṭasaṃmate vyapaitu duḥkhaṃ tava matkṛte 'nagha
My mind is not so set, O king, upon great pleasures nor upon what is dear to myself, as it is upon your command, approved by the wise; let your grief on my account depart, O sinless one.
Words: na me tathā — not so my; pārthiva — O king (earth-lord); dhīyate mano — is the mind set; mahatsu kāmeṣu — upon great pleasures; na cātmanaḥ priye — nor upon what is dear to oneself; yathā — as (it is); nideśe tava — upon your command; śiṣṭasaṃmate — approved by the wise; vyapaitu — let it depart; duḥkhaṃ — the grief; tava — your; matkṛte — on my account; 'nagha — O sinless one
2.31.36
tad adya naivānagha rājyam avyayaṃ na sarvakāmān na sukhaṃ na maithilīm
na jīvitaṃ tvām anṛtena yojayan vṛṇīya satyaṃ vratam astu te tathā
Therefore today, O sinless one, by involving you in falsehood I would choose neither the imperishable kingdom, nor all pleasures, nor happiness, nor the Maithilī, nor even life; let your vow of truth so stand.
Words: tad adya — therefore today; naivānagha — not (choosing), O sinless one; rājyam avyayaṃ — the imperishable kingdom; na sarvakāmān — nor all pleasures; na sukhaṃ — nor happiness; na maithilīm — nor the Maithilī; na jīvitaṃ — nor life; tvām anṛtena yojayan — involving you in falsehood; vṛṇīya — I would choose; satyaṃ vratam — the vow of truth; astu te tathā — let it so be for you
2.31.37
phalāni mūlāni ca bhakṣayan vane girīṃś ca paśyan saritaḥ sarāṃsi ca
vanaṃ praviśyaiva vicitrapādapaṃ sukhī bhaviṣyāmi tavāstu nirvṛtiḥ
Eating fruits and roots in the forest, and beholding the mountains, the rivers and the lakes, entering a forest of wondrous trees, I shall be happy; let there be contentment for you.”
Words: phalāni mūlāni ca — fruits and roots; bhakṣayan — eating; vane — in the forest; girīṃś ca paśyan — and beholding the mountains; saritaḥ — the rivers; sarāṃsi ca — and the lakes; vanaṃ — the forest; praviśyaiva — having just entered; vicitrapādapaṃ — of wondrous trees; sukhī bhaviṣyāmi — I shall be happy; tavāstu nirvṛtiḥ — let there be contentment for you
← 2.30 The walk to Daśaratha’s palace · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.32 Kaikeyī opposes Rāma’s escort →
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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