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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 38: Kausalyā imagines Rāma’s return

Summary. Fearing Kaikeyī and the hardships facing Rāma, Sītā & Lakṣmaṇa, she longs for her son’s homecoming and embrace

Sequence

  1. Kausalyā tells Daśaratha that Kaikeyī has gained her wish and will now be free to intimidate her (2.38.1–5)
  2. she worries about the young travelers, raised in comfort and sent into hardship just when Rāma was about to receive the Kingdom (2.38.6–8)
  3. her thoughts turn to a hoped-for homecoming: the city decorated again, the brothers returning with Sītā, and the people showering them with offerings (2.38.9–14)
  4. she longs for Rāma to approach and embrace her as he did when he was a child → she wonders whether separation from her son repays some past cruelty of her own (2.38.15–17)
  5. she says she cannot endure life without him. (2.38.18–20)

Verses 2.38.1–20

2.38.1

tataḥ samīkṣya śayane sannaṃ śokena pārthivam
kausalyā putraśokārtā tam uvāca mahīpatim

Then, seeing the king sunk upon the couch with grief, Kausalyā, herself stricken with sorrow for her son, said to that lord of the earth:

Words: tataḥ — then; samīkṣya — having beheld; śayane — on the couch; sannaṃ — sunken, worn down; śokena — with grief; pārthivam — the king; kausalyā — Kausalyā; putraśokārtā — stricken with grief for her son; tam — him; uvāca — said to; mahīpatim — lord of the earth (king)

2.38.2

rāghavo naraśārdūla viṣam uptvā dvijihvavat
vicariṣyati kaikeyī nirmukteva hi pannagī

Having spilled her poison upon Rāghava, O tiger among men, like a forked-tongued serpent, Kaikeyī will now roam free like a snake that has cast its slough.

Words: rāghavo — upon Rāghava (Rāma); naraśārdūla — O tiger among men; viṣam — poison; uptvā — having sown, spilled; dvijihvavat — like a forked-tongued one (serpent); vicariṣyati — will roam about; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; nirmukteva — like one who has cast off (her skin); hi — for, indeed; pannagī — a she-serpent

2.38.3

vivāsya rāmaṃ subhagā labdhakāmā samāhitā
trāsayiṣyati māṃ bhūyo duṣṭāhir iva veśmani

Having driven Rāma into exile, the favoured one, her wish gained and her mind set at ease, will terrify me still more, like a wicked snake in the house.

Words: vivāsya — having exiled, banished; rāmaṃ — Rāma; subhagā — the fortunate, favoured woman; labdhakāmā — her desire attained; samāhitā — composed, set at ease; trāsayiṣyati — will frighten, terrify; māṃ — me; bhūyo — again, still more; duṣṭāhir — a wicked snake; iva — like, as; veśmani — in the house

2.38.4

atha sma nagare rāmaś caran bhaikṣaṃ gṛhe vaset
kāmakāro varaṃ dātum api dāsaṃ mamātmajam

Far better that Rāma should dwell here in the city, going from house to house for alms; but Kaikeyī's willfulness has power even to make my son a slave by her boon.

Words: atha sma — rather, would that; nagare — in the city; rāmaś — Rāma; caran — roaming, going about; bhaikṣaṃ — alms, begging; gṛhe — in a house; vaset — would dwell; kāmakāro — willful action, caprice; varaṃ — boon; dātum — to give, grant; api — even; dāsaṃ — (as) a slave; mamātmajam — my son

2.38.5

pātayitvā tu kaikeyyā rāmaṃ sthānād yatheṣṭataḥ
pradiṣṭo rakṣasāṃ bhāgaḥ parvaṇīvāhitāgninā

By Kaikeyī, having cast Rāma down from his station just as she pleased, a portion has been assigned to the demons, as at the new moon by one whose fire is kindled.

Words: pātayitvā — having cast down, brought down; tu — but; kaikeyyā — by Kaikeyī; rāmaṃ — Rāma; sthānād — from his position, station; yatheṣṭataḥ — just as she pleased; pradiṣṭo — assigned, allotted; rakṣasāṃ — of the demons; bhāgaḥ — a portion, share; parvaṇīvāhitāgninā — as at the moon-festival by one with fire kindled

2.38.6

gajarājagatir vīro mahābāhur dhanurdharaḥ
vanam āviśate nūnaṃ sabhāryaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ

That hero, with the gait of a lordly elephant, mighty-armed, wielder of the bow, surely now enters the forest with his wife and with Lakṣmaṇa.

Words: gajarājagatir — with the gait of a king of elephants; vīro — the hero; mahābāhur — the mighty-armed; dhanurdharaḥ — the bearer of the bow; vanam — the forest; āviśate — enters; nūnaṃ — surely; sabhāryaḥ — with his wife; sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — together with Lakṣmaṇa

2.38.7

vane tv adṛṣṭaduḥkhānāṃ kaikeyyānumate tvayā
tyaktānāṃ vanavāsāya kā nv avasthā bhaviṣyati

For those who have never known sorrow, cast out by you at Kaikeyī's bidding to dwell in the forest — what state, pray, will befall them there?

Words: vane — in the forest; tv — but; adṛṣṭaduḥkhānāṃ — of those who have never seen sorrow; kaikeyyānumate — by the consent of Kaikeyī; tvayā — by you; tyaktānāṃ — of the abandoned ones; vanavāsāya — for dwelling in the forest; kā — what; nv — pray, indeed; avasthā — condition, state; bhaviṣyati — will be, will befall

2.38.8

te ratnahīnās taruṇāḥ phalakāle vivāsitāḥ
kathaṃ vatsyanti kṛpaṇāḥ phalamūlaiḥ kṛtāśanāḥ

Deprived of their jewels, young, banished at the very time of their reward, how will they dwell, poor souls, making their meal of fruits and roots?

Words: te — they; ratnahīnās — deprived of jewels; taruṇāḥ — young; phalakāle — at the time of fruition, reward; vivāsitāḥ — banished, exiled; kathaṃ — how; vatsyanti — will they dwell; kṛpaṇāḥ — wretched, poor; phalamūlaiḥ — with fruits and roots; kṛtāśanāḥ — making their food, subsisting

2.38.9

apīdānīṃ sa kālaḥ syān mama śokakṣayaḥ śivaḥ
sabhāryaṃ yat saha bhrātrā paśyeyam iha rāghavam

Oh that even now that blessed time might come, the ending of my grief, when I should see Rāghava here with his wife and with his brother!

Words: apīdānīṃ — oh, even now; sa kālaḥ — that time; syān — might be; mama — my; śokakṣayaḥ — the ending of grief; śivaḥ — auspicious, blessed; sabhāryaṃ — with his wife; yat — that, when; saha bhrātrā — together with his brother; paśyeyam — I might see; iha — here; rāghavam — Rāghava

2.38.10

śrutvaivopasthitau vīrau kadāyodhyā bhaviṣyati
yaśasvinī hṛṣṭajanā sūcchritadhvajamālinī

When, on merely hearing that the two heroes have arrived, shall Ayodhyā become glorious, its people joyful, garlanded with high-raised banners?

Words: śrutvaivopasthitau — on merely hearing (them) arrived; vīrau — the two heroes; kadāyodhyā — when Ayodhyā; bhaviṣyati — will become; yaśasvinī — glorious, renowned; hṛṣṭajanā — with joyful people; sūcchritadhvajamālinī — garlanded with lofty banners

2.38.11

kadā prekṣya naravyāghrāv araṇyāt punarāgatau
nandiṣyati purī hṛṣṭā samudra iva parvaṇi

When, beholding those two tigers among men come back again from the forest, shall the city rejoice and swell with gladness like the sea at the full moon?

Words: kadā — when; prekṣya — having beheld; naravyāghrāv — the two tigers among men; araṇyāt — from the forest; punarāgatau — the two returned; nandiṣyati — will rejoice, be glad; purī — the city; hṛṣṭā — joyful, thrilled; samudra — the sea; iva — like, as; parvaṇi — at the full moon (festival)

2.38.12

kadāyodhyāṃ mahābāhuḥ purīṃ vīraḥ pravekṣyati
puraskṛtya rathe sītāṃ vṛṣabho govadhūm iva

When shall the mighty-armed hero enter the city of Ayodhyā, having set Sītā before him on the chariot, like a bull with his cow?

Words: kadāyodhyāṃ — when the city of Ayodhyā; mahābāhuḥ — the mighty-armed; purīṃ — city; vīraḥ — the hero; pravekṣyati — will enter; puraskṛtya — having placed in front; rathe — on the chariot; sītāṃ — Sītā; vṛṣabho — the bull; govadhūm — the cow; iva — like, as

2.38.13

kadā prāṇisahasrāṇi rājamārge mamātmajau
lājair avakariṣyanti praviśantāv ariṃdamau

When shall thousands of beings scatter parched grain over my two sons, tamers of foes, as they enter along the royal road?

Words: kadā — when; prāṇisahasrāṇi — thousands of living beings; rājamārge — on the royal highway; mamātmajau — my two sons; lājair — with parched grain; avakariṣyanti — will scatter, strew over; praviśantāv — entering (the two); ariṃdamau — the two tamers of foes

2.38.14

kadā sumanasaḥ kanyā dvijātīnāṃ phalāni ca
pradiśantyaḥ purīṃ hṛṣṭāḥ kariṣyanti pradakṣiṇam

When shall the maidens, offering flowers and fruits to the twice-born, joyfully circumambulate the city in his honour?

Words: kadā — when; sumanasaḥ — flowers; kanyā — the maidens; dvijātīnāṃ — to the twice-born (brahmins); phalāni — fruits; ca — and; pradiśantyaḥ — offering, presenting; purīṃ — the city; hṛṣṭāḥ — joyful; kariṣyanti — will make, perform; pradakṣiṇam — circumambulation

2.38.15

kadā pariṇato buddhyā vayasā cāmaraprabhaḥ
abhyupaiṣyati dharmajñas trivarṣa iva māṃ lalan

When shall the righteous one, matured in understanding and in years, and radiant as an immortal, come to me caressing me like a three-year-old child?

Words: kadā — when; pariṇato — matured, developed; buddhyā — in understanding; vayasā — in age, years; cāmaraprabhaḥ — and of immortal radiance; abhyupaiṣyati — will come near, approach; dharmajñas — the knower of dharma; trivarṣa — a three-year-old; iva — like, as; māṃ — me; lalan — caressing, fondling

2.38.16

niḥsaṃśayaṃ mayā manye purā vīra kadaryayā
pātu kāmeṣu vatseṣu mātṝṇāṃ śātitāḥ stanāḥ

Without doubt, O hero, I think that in a former life I, being cruel, cut off the udders of mother-cows while their calves longed to drink.

Words: niḥsaṃśayaṃ — without doubt; mayā — by me; manye — I think; purā — formerly, of old; vīra — O hero; kadaryayā — by (me) being miserly, cruel; pātu kāmeṣu — desiring to drink; vatseṣu — among the calves; mātṝṇāṃ — of the mother-cows; śātitāḥ — cut off, severed; stanāḥ — the udders, teats

2.38.17

sāhaṃ gaur iva siṃhena vivatsā vatsalā kṛtā
kaikeyyā puruṣavyāghra bālavatseva gaur balāt

So I, O tiger among men, loving as I am, have been robbed of my calf by Kaikeyī, like a cow by a lion, like a cow forcibly bereft of her young calf.

Words: sāhaṃ — that I, so I; gaur — a cow; iva — like, as; siṃhena — by a lion; vivatsā — bereft of her calf; vatsalā — loving, affectionate (toward offspring); kṛtā — made; kaikeyyā — by Kaikeyī; puruṣavyāghra — O tiger among men; bālavatseva — like (a cow) with a young calf; gaur — a cow; balāt — by force

2.38.18

na hi tāvad guṇair juṣṭaṃ sarvaśāstraviśāradam
ekaputrā vinā putram ahaṃ jīvitum utsahe

For, having but one son, I cannot bear to live without that son, endowed with every virtue and skilled in all the scriptures.

Words: na hi — for not; tāvad — so, at all; guṇair — with virtues; juṣṭaṃ — endowed, furnished; sarvaśāstraviśāradam — skilled in all the sciences; ekaputrā — having a single son; vinā — without; putram — son; ahaṃ — I; jīvitum — to live; utsahe — am able, have strength

2.38.19

na hi me jīvite kiṃ cit sāmartham iha kalpyate
apaśyantyāḥ priyaṃ putraṃ mahābāhuṃ mahābalam

For no power at all to live is left in me here, seeing that I no longer behold my dear son, mighty-armed and mighty in strength.

Words: na hi — for not; me — my, for me; jīvite — in living, life; kiṃ cit — anything at all; sāmartham — capacity, power; iha — here; kalpyate — is reckoned, held possible; apaśyantyāḥ — of (me) not seeing; priyaṃ — dear; putraṃ — son; mahābāhuṃ — the mighty-armed; mahābalam — of great strength

2.38.20

ayaṃ hi māṃ dīpayate samutthitas tanūjaśokaprabhavo hutāśanaḥ
mahīm imāṃ raśmibhir uttamaprabho yathā nidāghe bhagavān divākaraḥ

For this fire of grief, arisen and born of sorrow for my son, scorches me, as in the hot season the blessed sun of supreme radiance scorches this earth with its rays.

Words: ayaṃ — this; hi — for, indeed; māṃ — me; dīpayate — burns, scorches; samutthitas — arisen, sprung up; tanūjaśokaprabhavo — having its source in grief for a son; hutāśanaḥ — the fire (oblation-eater); mahīm — the earth; imāṃ — this; raśmibhir — with its rays; uttamaprabho — of supreme radiance; yathā — as, just as; nidāghe — in the hot season; bhagavān — the blessed, divine; divākaraḥ — the sun (day-maker)

← 2.37 Daśaratha loses sight of Rāma and rejects Kaikeyī · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.39 Sumitrā comforts Kausalyā →

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/2/38.md · JSON: /data/2/38.json