← 2.33 Bark garments over Sītā’s silk · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.35 The chariot departs →
Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 34: Farewell to the Queens
Summary. Daśaratha orders the chariot and supplies for Sītā, Kausalyā counsels her and Rāma takes leave of his father’s wives
Sequence
- Seeing Rāma dressed as a tapasvin overwhelms Daśaratha, who wonders what past harm has brought this suffering upon him (2.34.1–7)
- recovering, he orders Sumantra to prepare a royal chariot and carry the travelers beyond the Kingdom (2.34.8–11)
- he has clothing and ornaments brought for Sītā's fourteen years away (2.34.12–15)
- Sītā puts on the ornaments, and Kausalyā embraces her (2.34.16–19)
- Kausalyā asks her not to think less of Rāma because he has lost his position (2.34.20–22)
- Sītā assures her that she understands her commitment and will not abandon it in adversity → Kausalyā weeps with both sorrow and relief (2.34.23–28)
- Rāma asks his mother to care for Daśaratha and assures her that the years will pass → he apologizes to all his father's wives for any offense he has caused and takes leave amid their lamentation. (2.34.29–36)
Verses 2.34.1–36
2.34.1
rāmasya tu vacaḥ śrutvā muniveṣadharaṃ ca tam
samīkṣya saha bhāryābhī rājā vigatacetanaḥ
But hearing Rāma's words and seeing him wearing an ascetic's garb, the king, together with his wives, lost consciousness.
Words: rāmasya tu — but of Rāma; vacaḥ — the words; śrutvā — having heard; muniveṣadharaṃ — wearing an ascetic's garb; ca — and; tam — him; samīkṣya — having seen; saha bhāryābhī — together with his wives; rājā — the king; vigatacetanaḥ — bereft of consciousness
2.34.2
nainaṃ duḥkhena saṃtaptaḥ pratyavaikṣata rāghavam
na cainam abhisaṃprekṣya pratyabhāṣata durmanāḥ
Consumed by grief, he did not look back at Rāghava; nor, when he did behold him, did the despondent king say anything to him.
Words: nainaṃ — not him; duḥkhena — by grief; saṃtaptaḥ — consumed, tormented; pratyavaikṣata — looked back at, regarded; rāghavam — Rāghava; na cainam — and not him; abhisaṃprekṣya — having looked upon; pratyabhāṣata — answered, addressed; durmanāḥ — despondent
2.34.3
sa muhūrtam ivāsaṃjño duḥkhitaś ca mahīpatiḥ
vilalāpa mahābāhū rāmam evānucintayan
That mighty-armed lord of the earth, for a moment as if senseless and stricken with grief, lamented, thinking only of Rāma.
Words: sa — he; muhūrtam — for a moment; ivāsaṃjño — as if senseless; duḥkhitaś ca — and stricken with grief; mahīpatiḥ — the lord of the earth; vilalāpa — lamented; mahābāhū — the mighty-armed one; rāmam — of Rāma; evānucintayan — thinking only of
2.34.4
manye khalu mayā pūrvaṃ vivatsā bahavaḥ kṛtāḥ
prāṇino hiṃsitā vāpi tasmād idam upasthitam
“I think that surely in the past I made many cows bereft of their calves, or injured living beings; therefore this has befallen me.
Words: manye — I think; khalu — surely; mayā — by me; pūrvaṃ — formerly; vivatsā — bereft of calves; bahavaḥ — many; kṛtāḥ — made; prāṇino — living beings; hiṃsitā — injured; vāpi — or even; tasmād — therefore; idam — this; upasthitam — has befallen, come to pass
2.34.5
na tv evānāgate kāle dehāc cyavati jīvitam
kaikeyyā kliśyamānasya mṛtyur mama na vidyate
But when the appointed time has not come, life does not depart from the body; for me, tormented by Kaikeyī, death is not to be found.
Words: na — not; tv — but; evānāgate — indeed (the time) not yet come; kāle — at the time; dehāc — from the body; cyavati — departs, slips away; jīvitam — life; kaikeyyā — by Kaikeyī; kliśyamānasya — of one being tormented; mṛtyur — death; mama — for me; na vidyate — is not found
2.34.6
yo 'haṃ pāvakasaṃkāśaṃ paśyāmi purataḥ sthitam
vihāya vasane sūkṣme tāpasācchādam ātmajam
— I, who behold my own son, radiant as fire, standing before me, having cast off his fine garments and wrapped in an ascetic's covering.
Words: yo 'haṃ — I who; pāvakasaṃkāśaṃ — radiant as fire; paśyāmi — I see; purataḥ — in front, before me; sthitam — standing; vihāya — having cast off; vasane sūkṣme — the two fine garments; tāpasācchādam — wearing an ascetic's covering; ātmajam — his own son
2.34.7
ekasyāḥ khalu kaikeyyāḥ kṛte 'yaṃ kliśyate janaḥ
svārthe prayatamānāyāḥ saṃśritya nikṛtiṃ tv imām
Truly, for the sake of Kaikeyī alone, striving for her own ends and resorting to this trickery, all these people suffer.”
Words: ekasyāḥ — of one alone; khalu — truly; kaikeyyāḥ — of Kaikeyī; kṛte — for the sake of; 'yaṃ — this; kliśyate — suffers, is tormented; janaḥ — the people; svārthe — for her own ends; prayatamānāyāḥ — of her striving; saṃśritya — having resorted to; nikṛtiṃ — deceit, trickery; tv imām — and this
2.34.8
evam uktvā tu vacanaṃ bāṣpeṇa pihitekṣṇaha
rāmeti sakṛd evoktvā vyāhartuṃ na śaśāka ha
Having spoken these words, his eyes veiled by tears, he uttered only “Rāma!” once, and could say nothing more.
Words: evam uktvā — having spoken thus; tu — and; vacanaṃ — the words; bāṣpeṇa — with tears; pihitekṣṇaha — his eyes covered, indeed; rāmeti — “Rāma!” thus; sakṛd — once; evoktvā — having only uttered; vyāhartuṃ — to speak, utter; na śaśāka — was not able; ha — indeed
2.34.9
saṃjñāṃ tu pratilabhyaiva muhūrtāt sa mahīpatiḥ
netrābhyām aśrupūrṇābhyāṃ sumantram idam abravīt
But regaining his senses after a moment, that lord of the earth, with eyes brimming with tears, said this to Sumantra:
Words: saṃjñāṃ — consciousness, his senses; tu — but; pratilabhyaiva — only after regaining; muhūrtāt — after a moment; sa — he; mahīpatiḥ — the lord of the earth; netrābhyām — with both eyes; aśrupūrṇābhyāṃ — full of tears; sumantram — to Sumantra; idam — this; abravīt — said
2.34.10
aupavāhyaṃ rathaṃ yuktvā tvam āyāhi hayottamaiḥ
prāpayainaṃ mahābhāgam ito janapadāt param
“Yoke the royal chariot with the finest horses and come; convey this greatly fortunate one beyond this realm.
Words: aupavāhyaṃ — the royal (riding-)chariot; rathaṃ — the chariot; yuktvā — having yoked; tvam — you; āyāhi — come; hayottamaiḥ — with the best of horses; prāpayainaṃ — convey him; mahābhāgam — the greatly fortunate one; ito — from here; janapadāt — from the realm, country; param — beyond
2.34.11
evaṃ manye guṇavatāṃ guṇānāṃ phalam ucyate
pitrā mātrā ca yat sādhur vīro nirvāsyate vanam
Thus, I think, is declared the fruit of the virtues of the virtuous: that a good and heroic man is banished to the forest by his father and mother.
Words: evaṃ — thus; manye — I think; guṇavatāṃ — of the virtuous; guṇānāṃ — of the virtues; phalam — the fruit; ucyate — is called, declared; pitrā — by the father; mātrā ca — and by the mother; yat — that; sādhur — the good man; vīro — the hero; nirvāsyate — is banished; vanam — to the forest
2.34.12
rājño vacanam ājñāya sumantraḥ śīghravikramaḥ
yojayitvāyayau tatra ratham aśvair alaṃkṛtam
Understanding the king's command, Sumantra of swift stride, having yoked the chariot adorned with horses, came there.
Words: rājño — the king's; vacanam — command, words; ājñāya — having understood; sumantraḥ — Sumantra; śīghravikramaḥ — of swift stride; yojayitvāyayau — having yoked, came; tatra — there; ratham — the chariot; aśvair — with horses; alaṃkṛtam — adorned
2.34.13
taṃ rathaṃ rājaputrāya sūtaḥ kanakabhūṣitam
ācacakṣe 'ñjaliṃ kṛtvā yuktaṃ paramavājibhiḥ
That gold-adorned chariot, yoked with the finest steeds, the charioteer, with palms joined, announced to the prince.
Words: taṃ rathaṃ — that chariot; rājaputrāya — to the prince; sūtaḥ — the charioteer; kanakabhūṣitam — adorned with gold; ācacakṣe — announced; 'ñjaliṃ — joined palms; kṛtvā — having made; yuktaṃ — yoked; paramavājibhiḥ — with the finest steeds
2.34.14
rājā satvaram āhūya vyāpṛtaṃ vittasaṃcaye
uvāca deśakālajño niścitaṃ sarvataḥ śuci
The king, knower of place and time, quickly summoning the officer engaged in the treasury — a man resolute and wholly trustworthy — spoke:
Words: rājā — the king; satvaram — quickly; āhūya — having summoned; vyāpṛtaṃ — the one engaged, employed; vittasaṃcaye — in the collection of treasure; uvāca — said; deśakālajño — knower of place and time; niścitaṃ — resolute, firm; sarvataḥ — in every way; śuci — pure, trustworthy
2.34.15
vāsāṃsi ca mahārhāṇi bhūṣaṇāni varāṇi ca
varṣāṇy etāni saṃkhyāya vaidehyāḥ kṣipram ānaya
“Reckoning these (fourteen) years, quickly bring for Vaidehī costly garments and the finest ornaments.”
Words: vāsāṃsi ca — and garments; mahārhāṇi — very costly; bhūṣaṇāni — ornaments; varāṇi ca — and excellent; varṣāṇy etāni — these years; saṃkhyāya — having counted, reckoning; vaidehyāḥ — for Vaidehī; kṣipram — quickly; ānaya — bring
2.34.16
narendreṇaivam uktas tu gatvā kośagṛhaṃ tataḥ
prāyacchat sarvam āhṛtya sītāyai kṣipram eva tat
Thus addressed by the king, he went to the treasure-house and, bringing all of it out, quickly handed it over to Sītā.
Words: narendreṇaivam — by the king thus; uktas — addressed; tu — and; gatvā — having gone; kośagṛhaṃ — to the treasure-house; tataḥ — then; prāyacchat — handed over; sarvam — all; āhṛtya — having brought out; sītāyai — to Sītā; kṣipram eva — quickly indeed; tat — that
2.34.17
sā sujātā sujātāni vaidehī prasthitā vanam
bhūṣayām āsa gātrāṇi tair vicitrair vibhūṣaṇaiḥ
That nobly-born Vaidehī, setting out for the forest, adorned her fair limbs with those varied ornaments.
Words: sā — she; sujātā — nobly born; sujātāni — the well-formed (limbs); vaidehī — Vaidehī; prasthitā — setting out; vanam — for the forest; bhūṣayām āsa — adorned; gātrāṇi — limbs; tair — with those; vicitrair — varied; vibhūṣaṇaiḥ — with ornaments
2.34.18
vyarājayata vaidehī veśma tat suvibhūṣitā
udyato 'ṃśumataḥ kāle khaṃ prabheva vivasvataḥ
Vaidehī, richly adorned, lit up that dwelling, as at dawn the radiance of the risen sun lights up the sky.
Words: vyarājayata — illuminated, made resplendent; vaidehī — Vaidehī; veśma tat — that dwelling; suvibhūṣitā — richly adorned; udyato — risen; 'ṃśumataḥ — of the sun; kāle — at the (proper) time; khaṃ — the sky; prabheva — like the radiance; vivasvataḥ — of the sun
2.34.19
tāṃ bhujābhyāṃ pariṣvajya śvaśrūr vacanam abravīt
anācarantīṃ kṛpaṇaṃ mūdhny upāghrāya maithilīm
Embracing her with both arms and kissing the head of Maithilī, who bore herself without any wretchedness, her mother-in-law spoke these words:
Words: tāṃ — her; bhujābhyāṃ — with both arms; pariṣvajya — having embraced; śvaśrūr — the mother-in-law; vacanam — words; abravīt — spoke; anācarantīṃ — not behaving (piteously); kṛpaṇaṃ — wretchedly, piteously; mūdhny — on the head; upāghrāya — having kissed (smelled); maithilīm — Maithilī
2.34.20
asatyaḥ sarvaloke 'smin satataṃ satkṛtāḥ priyaiḥ
bhartāraṃ nānumanyante vinipātagataṃ striyaḥ
In all this world, false women, though ever honoured by their dear ones, do not stand by a husband fallen upon ruin.
Words: asatyaḥ — false, untruthful (women); sarvaloke — in all the world; 'smin — in this; satataṃ — always; satkṛtāḥ — honoured, well-treated; priyaiḥ — by their dear ones; bhartāraṃ — the husband; nānumanyante — do not stand by, approve; vinipātagataṃ — fallen into ruin; striyaḥ — women
2.34.21
sa tvayā nāvamantavyaḥ putraḥ pravrājito mama
tava daivatam astv eṣa nirdhanaḥ sadhano 'pi vā
My son, now sent into exile, must not be slighted by you; whether he be without wealth or with wealth, let him be your god.
Words: sa — he; tvayā — by you; nāvamantavyaḥ — not to be slighted; putraḥ — the son; pravrājito — exiled, sent forth; mama — my; tava — your; daivatam — god, deity; astv — let (him) be; eṣa — this one; nirdhanaḥ — without wealth; sadhano 'pi vā — or even with wealth
2.34.22
vijñāya vacanaṃ sītā tasyā dharmārthasaṃhitam
kṛtāñjalir uvācedaṃ śvaśrūm abhimukhe sthitā
Understanding those words of hers, full of righteousness and good sense, Sītā, standing before her mother-in-law with palms joined, said this:
Words: vijñāya — having understood; vacanaṃ — the words; sītā — Sītā; tasyā — her; dharmārthasaṃhitam — joined with dharma and good sense; kṛtāñjalir — with palms joined; uvācedaṃ — said this; śvaśrūm — to the mother-in-law; abhimukhe — facing, before her; sthitā — standing
2.34.23
kariṣye sarvam evāham āryā yad anuśāsti mām
abhijñāsmi yathā bhartur vartitavyaṃ śrutaṃ ca me
“I shall do everything that the noble lady instructs me; I know how one must conduct oneself toward a husband, and it has been taught to me.
Words: kariṣye — I shall do; sarvam — everything; evāham — indeed I; āryā — the noble lady; yad — what; anuśāsti — instructs; mām — me; abhijñāsmi — I know; yathā — how; bhartur — toward the husband; vartitavyaṃ — one must conduct oneself; śrutaṃ ca — and it has been heard; me — by me
2.34.24
na mām asajjanenāryā samānayitum arhati
dharmād vicalituṃ nāham alaṃ candrād iva prabhā
The noble lady should not put me on a level with wicked people; I am no more able to swerve from dharma than radiance is to depart from the moon.
Words: na — not; mām — me; asajjanenāryā — the noble lady, with a bad person; samānayitum — to put on a level, equate; arhati — ought; dharmād — from dharma; vicalituṃ — to swerve, deviate; nāham — I am not; alaṃ — able; candrād iva — as from the moon; prabhā — radiance
2.34.25
nātantrī vādyate vīṇā nācakro vartate rathaḥ
nāpatiḥ sukham edhate yā syād api śatātmajā
A lute without strings cannot be played, a chariot without wheels cannot run; and a woman without a husband cannot thrive in happiness, even were she the mother of a hundred sons.
Words: nātantrī — not stringless; vādyate — is played; vīṇā — the lute; nācakro — not wheelless; vartate — moves, runs; rathaḥ — the chariot; nāpatiḥ — a woman without a husband, not; sukham — happily, in happiness; edhate — thrives, prospers; yā — who; syād api — even though she be; śatātmajā — mother of a hundred sons
2.34.26
mitaṃ dadāti hi pitā mitaṃ mātā mitaṃ sutaḥ
amitasya hi dātāraṃ bhartāraṃ kā na pūjayet
For a father gives but a measured amount, a mother a measured amount, a son a measured amount; what woman would not honour a husband, the giver of the boundless?
Words: mitaṃ — a measured amount; dadāti — gives; hi — for; pitā — the father; mitaṃ — a measured amount; mātā — the mother; mitaṃ — a measured amount; sutaḥ — the son; amitasya — of the boundless; hi — indeed; dātāraṃ — the giver; bhartāraṃ — the husband; kā — what woman; na pūjayet — would not honour
2.34.27
sāham evaṃgatā śreṣṭhā śrutadharmaparāvarā
ārye kim avamanyeyaṃ strīṇāṃ bhartā hi daivatam
So I, being of such a nature, excellent, and versed in dharma both high and low — O noble lady, how could I slight him? For to women the husband is a god.”
Words: sāham — so I; evaṃgatā — being in such a state; śreṣṭhā — excellent, best; śrutadharmaparāvarā — who has heard dharma high and low; ārye — O noble lady; kim — how, why; avamanyeyaṃ — could I slight; strīṇāṃ — for women; bhartā — the husband; hi — indeed; daivatam — a god
2.34.28
sītāyā vacanaṃ śrutvā kausalyā hṛdayaṃgamam
śuddhasattvā mumocāśru sahasā duḥkhaharṣajam
Hearing Sītā's heart-touching words, Kausalyā, pure in spirit, suddenly shed tears born of both grief and joy.
Words: sītāyā — Sītā's; vacanaṃ — words; śrutvā — having heard; kausalyā — Kausalyā; hṛdayaṃgamam — heart-touching; śuddhasattvā — pure in spirit; mumocāśru — shed tears; sahasā — suddenly; duḥkhaharṣajam — born of grief and joy
2.34.29
tāṃ prāñjalir abhikramya mātṛmadhye 'tisatkṛtām
rāmaḥ paramadharmajño mātaraṃ vākyam abravīt
Approaching with palms joined his mother, greatly honoured amid the other mothers, Rāma, supreme knower of dharma, spoke these words to her:
Words: tāṃ — her; prāñjalir — with palms joined; abhikramya — having approached; mātṛmadhye — amid the mothers; 'tisatkṛtām — greatly honoured; rāmaḥ — Rāma; paramadharmajño — supreme knower of dharma; mātaraṃ — to the mother; vākyam — words; abravīt — spoke
2.34.30
amba mā duḥkhitā bhūs tvaṃ paśya tvaṃ pitaraṃ mama
kṣayo hi vanavāsasya kṣipram eva bhaviṣyati
“Mother, do not be grieved; do you watch over my father. The end of my forest-dwelling will surely come very soon.
Words: amba — O mother; mā — do not; duḥkhitā — grieved; bhūs — be; tvaṃ — you; paśya — look after, watch over; tvaṃ — you; pitaraṃ — the father; mama — my; kṣayo — the end; hi — indeed; vanavāsasya — of the forest-dwelling; kṣipram eva — very soon; bhaviṣyati — will come
2.34.31
suptāyās te gamiṣyanti navavarṣāṇi pañca ca
sā samagram iha prāptaṃ māṃ drakṣyasi suhṛdvṛtam
Fourteen years will pass while you sleep; and you will see me, come back here safe and whole, surrounded by my friends.
Words: suptāyās — of you sleeping; te — for you; gamiṣyanti — will pass; navavarṣāṇi — nine years; pañca ca — and five; sā — you (that one); samagram — whole, unharmed; iha — here; prāptaṃ — arrived, come back; māṃ — me; drakṣyasi — you will see; suhṛdvṛtam — surrounded by friends
2.34.32
etāvad abhinītārtham uktvā sa jananīṃ vacaḥ
trayaḥ śataśatārdhā hi dadarśāvekṣya mātaraḥ
Having spoken to his mother this much, so aptly worded, he then looked and beheld the three hundred and fifty mothers.
Words: etāvad — this much; abhinītārtham — aptly worded, of well-conveyed meaning; uktvā — having spoken; sa — he; jananīṃ — to the mother; vacaḥ — words; trayaḥ — three (hundreds); śataśatārdhā — the hundreds with a half-hundred (i.e. 350); hi — indeed; dadarśāvekṣya — looked and saw; mātaraḥ — the mothers
2.34.33
tāś cāpi sa tathaivārtā mātṝr daśarathātmajaḥ
dharmayuktam idaṃ vākyaṃ nijagāda kṛtāñjaliḥ
And to those mothers too, likewise stricken with grief, the son of Daśaratha, with palms joined, spoke these words in keeping with dharma:
Words: tāś cāpi — and those too; sa — he; tathaivārtā — likewise stricken; mātṝr — the mothers; daśarathātmajaḥ — the son of Daśaratha; dharmayuktam — in keeping with dharma; idaṃ vākyaṃ — these words; nijagāda — spoke; kṛtāñjaliḥ — with palms joined
2.34.34
saṃvāsāt paruṣaṃ kiṃ cid ajñānād vāpi yat kṛtam
tan me samanujānīta sarvāś cāmantrayāmi vaḥ
“Whatever harsh thing I may have done, from our living together or out of ignorance — pardon me for that; and I take leave of you all.”
Words: saṃvāsāt — from living together; paruṣaṃ — harsh (thing); kiṃ cid — anything; ajñānād — from ignorance; vāpi — or even; yat kṛtam — what was done; tan — that; me — of me; samanujānīta — forgive, permit; sarvāś — all; cāmantrayāmi — and I take leave of; vaḥ — you (all)
2.34.35
jajñe 'tha tāsāṃ saṃnādaḥ krauñcīnām iva niḥsvanaḥ
mānavendrasya bhāryāṇām evaṃ vadati rāghave
As Rāghava spoke thus, there arose from those wives of the lord of men an outcry like the cry of female krauñca birds.
Words: jajñe — arose, was born; 'tha — then; tāsāṃ — of them; saṃnādaḥ — an outcry, clamour; krauñcīnām iva — like of female krauñcas; niḥsvanaḥ — a cry, sound; mānavendrasya — of the lord of men; bhāryāṇām — of the wives; evaṃ — thus; vadati rāghave — as Rāghava spoke
2.34.36
murajapaṇavameghaghoṣavad daśarathaveśma babhūva yat purā
vilapita paridevanākulaṃ vyasanagataṃ tad abhūt suduḥkhitam
The palace of Daśaratha, which once had rung like the thunder of drums, tabors, and clouds, now became fallen into calamity, filled with wailing and lamentation, and sunk in deepest grief.
Words: murajapaṇavameghaghoṣavad — resounding like drums, tabors, and clouds; daśarathaveśma — the palace of Daśaratha; babhūva — was; yat — which; purā — formerly; vilapita — wailing; paridevanākulaṃ — agitated with lamentation; vyasanagataṃ — fallen into calamity; tad — that; abhūt — became; suduḥkhitam — deeply grieved
← 2.33 Bark garments over Sītā’s silk · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.35 The chariot departs →
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/2/34.md · JSON: /data/2/34.json