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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 40: The citizens follow to the Tamasā
Summary. Rāma asks them to support Bharata, then leaves his chariot to walk beside the elderly brāhmaṇas
Sequence
- Meanwhile, the citizens continue following Rāma's chariot even after the King has turned back (2.40.1–3)
- Rāma asks them to transfer their affection to Bharata, obey him, and help prevent Daśaratha from grieving (2.40.4–10)
- his concern only strengthens their determination to stay with him (2.40.11–13)
- elderly brāhmaṇas call to the horses to turn around → unwilling to ride ahead while these old men struggle on foot, Rāma gets down, and Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa walk with him (2.40.14–17)
- the brāhmaṇas explain that they have brought their sacred fires and the white parasols earned through Vājapeya sacrifices, which they offer to hold over him for shade (2.40.18–25)
- they say their sacrifices depend on his return and plead with him as the party reaches the Tamasā River. (2.40.26–30)
Verses 2.40.1–30
2.40.1
anuraktā mahātmānaṃ rāmaṃ satyaparakramam
anujagmuḥ prayāntaṃ taṃ vanavāsāya mānavāḥ
Devoted to the great-souled Rāma of true valour, the people followed him as he set out to dwell in the forest.
Words: anuraktā — devoted, attached; mahātmānaṃ — the great-souled; rāmaṃ — Rāma; satyaparakramam — of true valour; anujagmuḥ — followed after; prayāntaṃ — setting out, going forth; taṃ — him; vanavāsāya — for dwelling in the forest; mānavāḥ — the people, men
2.40.2
nivartite 'pi ca balāt suhṛdvarge ca rājini
naiva te saṃnyavartanta rāmasyānugatā ratham
Even though the king and the crowd of friends were turned back by force, those people, having followed Rāma's chariot, would not turn back at all.
Words: nivartite 'pi — even when turned back; ca — and; balāt — by force; suhṛdvarge — the throng of friends; ca — and; rājini — the king (loc. abs.); naiva — not at all; te — they; saṃnyavartanta — turned back; rāmasyānugatā — having followed Rāma's; ratham — chariot
2.40.3
ayodhyānilayānāṃ hi puruṣāṇāṃ mahāyaśāḥ
babhūva guṇasaṃpannaḥ pūrṇacandra iva priyaḥ
For to the people whose home was Ayodhyā, the greatly renowned one, rich in virtues, was dear as the full moon.
Words: ayodhyānilayānāṃ — of those whose abode is Ayodhyā; hi — for, indeed; puruṣāṇāṃ — of the people, men; mahāyaśāḥ — the greatly renowned; babhūva — was, became; guṇasaṃpannaḥ — endowed with virtues; pūrṇacandra — the full moon; iva — like, as; priyaḥ — dear, beloved
2.40.4
sa yācyamānaḥ kākutsthaḥ svābhiḥ prakṛtibhis tadā
kurvāṇaḥ pitaraṃ satyaṃ vanam evānvapadyata
Though entreated by his own subjects, Kākutstha then, making his father's word come true, went on toward the forest all the same.
Words: sa — he; yācyamānaḥ — being entreated, begged; kākutsthaḥ — Kākutstha (Rāma); svābhiḥ — by his own; prakṛtibhis — by his subjects; tadā — then; kurvāṇaḥ — making, rendering; pitaraṃ — father; satyaṃ — true; vanam — to the forest; evānvapadyata — went on toward all the same
2.40.5
avekṣamāṇaḥ sasnehaṃ cakṣuṣā prapibann iva
uvāca rāmaḥ snehena tāḥ prajāḥ svāḥ prajā iva
Gazing on them fondly, as though drinking them in with his eyes, Rāma spoke lovingly to those subjects as if they were his own children:
Words: avekṣamāṇaḥ — gazing upon; sasnehaṃ — affectionately, with love; cakṣuṣā — with the eye; prapibann — drinking in; iva — as if, like; uvāca — said, spoke; rāmaḥ — Rāma; snehena — with affection; tāḥ — those; prajāḥ — subjects, people; svāḥ — his own; prajā — children, offspring; iva — as if, like
2.40.6
yā prītir bahumānaś ca mayy ayodhyānivāsinām
matpriyārthaṃ viśeṣeṇa bharate sā niveśyatām
Whatever love and high regard the dwellers of Ayodhyā have for me, that, especially for my sake, let it be bestowed upon Bharata.
Words: yā — which, whatever; prītir — affection, love; bahumānaś ca — and high regard; mayy — toward me; ayodhyānivāsinām — of the dwellers of Ayodhyā; matpriyārthaṃ — for my sake, to please me; viśeṣeṇa — especially, particularly; bharate — upon Bharata; sā — that; niveśyatām — let it be placed, bestowed
2.40.7
sa hi kalyāṇa cāritraḥ kaikeyyānandavardhanaḥ
kariṣyati yathāvad vaḥ priyāṇi ca hitāni ca
For he of auspicious conduct, the increaser of Kaikeyī's joy, will duly do what is dear and beneficial for you.
Words: sa — he; hi — for, indeed; kalyāṇa cāritraḥ — of auspicious conduct; kaikeyyānandavardhanaḥ — the increaser of Kaikeyī's joy; kariṣyati — will do, perform; yathāvad — duly, fittingly; vaḥ — for you; priyāṇi — dear things; ca — and; hitāni — beneficial things; ca — and
2.40.8
jñānavṛddho vayobālo mṛdur vīryaguṇānvitaḥ
anurūpaḥ sa vo bhartā bhaviṣyati bhayāpahaḥ
Mature in wisdom though young in years, gentle and endowed with heroic virtues, he will prove a fitting lord for you, a dispeller of fear.
Words: jñānavṛddho — aged in wisdom, mature in knowledge; vayobālo — young in age; mṛdur — gentle, soft; vīryaguṇānvitaḥ — endowed with heroic qualities; anurūpaḥ — fitting, suitable; sa — he; vo — for you; bhartā — lord, protector; bhaviṣyati — will be, become; bhayāpahaḥ — dispeller of fear
2.40.9
sa hi rājaguṇair yukto yuvarājaḥ samīkṣitaḥ
api cāpi mayā śiṣṭaiḥ kāryaṃ vo bhartṛśāsanam
For he, endowed with royal virtues, has been marked out as crown prince; and moreover, since you have been instructed by me, the command of your lord must be obeyed by you.
Words: sa — he; hi — for, indeed; rājaguṇair — with royal qualities; yukto — endowed, joined; yuvarājaḥ — crown prince; samīkṣitaḥ — looked upon, appointed; api cāpi — and moreover; mayā — by me; śiṣṭaiḥ — by (you) who have been instructed; kāryaṃ — must be done; vo — by you; bhartṛśāsanam — the command of your lord
2.40.10
na ca tapyed yathā cāsau vanavāsaṃ gate mayi
mahārājas tathā kāryo mama priyacikīrṣayā
And you should act, out of a wish to please me, in such a way that the great king may not grieve now that I have gone to dwell in the forest.
Words: na ca tapyed — and may not grieve, be tormented; yathā — in such a way that; cāsau — and he; vanavāsaṃ — to forest-dwelling; gate mayi — when I have gone (loc. abs.); mahārājas — the great king; tathā — so, thus; kāryo — is to be treated, acted toward; mama — my; priyacikīrṣayā — out of a wish to do (me) a kindness
2.40.11
yathā yathā dāśarathir dharmam evāsthito 'bhavat
tathā tathā prakṛtayo rāmaṃ patim akāmayan
The more the son of Daśaratha stood firm in righteousness, the more the subjects longed for Rāma as their lord.
Words: yathā yathā — in proportion as, the more; dāśarathir — the son of Daśaratha; dharmam — righteousness; evāsthito — firmly stood in; 'bhavat — became, was; tathā tathā — so much the more; prakṛtayo — the subjects; rāmaṃ — Rāma; patim — as lord, husband; akāmayan — longed for, desired
2.40.12
bāṣpeṇa pihitaṃ dīnaṃ rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha
cakarṣeva guṇair baddhvā janaṃ punar ivāsanam
Rāma, together with Saumitri, as it were bound with cords of virtue and drew back the wretched people, veiled in tears, as one draws back to a seat.
Words: bāṣpeṇa — with tears; pihitaṃ — covered, veiled; dīnaṃ — wretched, dejected; rāmaḥ — Rāma; saumitriṇā saha — together with Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); cakarṣeva — drew, as it were; guṇair — with cords, virtues (double sense); baddhvā — having bound; janaṃ — the people; punar — again, back; ivāsanam — as if to a seat
2.40.13
te dvijās trividhaṃ vṛddhā jñānena vayasaujasā
vayaḥprakampaśiraso dūrād ūcur idaṃ vacaḥ
Those brahmins, aged in three ways — in wisdom, in years, and in vigour — their heads trembling with age, from afar spoke these words:
Words: te — those; dvijās — brahmins, twice-born; trividhaṃ — in threefold manner; vṛddhā — aged, venerable; jñānena — by wisdom; vayasaujasā — by age and vigour; vayaḥprakampaśiraso — their heads trembling with age; dūrād — from afar; ūcur — said; idaṃ — this; vacaḥ — word
2.40.14
vahanto javanā rāmaṃ bho bho jātyās turaṃgamāḥ
nivartadhvaṃ na gantavyaṃ hitā bhavata bhartari
upavāhyas tu vo bhartā nāpavāhyaḥ purād vanam
'O you swift and well-bred horses that bear Rāma along, turn back! you must not go on; be kindly toward your master. Your lord is to be borne back, not carried away from the city to the forest.'
Words: vahanto — carrying, bearing; javanā — swift; rāmaṃ — Rāma; bho bho — O! O!; jātyās — well-bred, of good stock; turaṃgamāḥ — horses; nivartadhvaṃ — turn back; na gantavyaṃ — you must not go; hitā — kindly, well-disposed; bhavata — be; bhartari — toward the master; upavāhyas — to be carried back; tu — but; vo — your; bhartā — lord, master; nāpavāhyaḥ — not to be carried away; purād — from the city; vanam — to the forest
2.40.15
evam ārtapralāpāṃs tān vṛddhān pralapato dvijān
avekṣya sahasā rāmo rathād avatatāra ha
Seeing those aged brahmins uttering such piteous cries, Rāma suddenly stepped down from the chariot.
Words: evam — thus; ārtapralāpāṃs — uttering cries of distress; tān — those; vṛddhān — aged (ones); pralapato — lamenting; dvijān — brahmins; avekṣya — having looked at, seen; sahasā — suddenly, at once; rāmo — Rāma; rathād — from the chariot; avatatāra — descended, stepped down; ha — indeed
2.40.16
padbhyām eva jagāmātha sasītaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ
saṃnikṛṣṭapadanyāso rāmo vanaparāyaṇaḥ
Then, with Sītā and with Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma, bound for the forest, went on foot, setting his steps close together.
Words: padbhyām — on foot, with the two feet; eva — indeed; jagāmātha — then went; sasītaḥ — with Sītā; sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — together with Lakṣmaṇa; saṃnikṛṣṭapadanyāso — setting his steps close together; rāmo — Rāma; vanaparāyaṇaḥ — bound for the forest
2.40.17
dvijātīṃs tu padātīṃs tān rāmaś cāritravatsalaḥ
na śaśāka ghṛṇācakṣuḥ parimoktuṃ rathena saḥ
But Rāma, tender toward good conduct, of compassionate eye, could not bring himself to leave those brahmins behind on foot by driving on in the chariot.
Words: dvijātīṃs — the brahmins, twice-born; tu — but; padātīṃs — going on foot; tān — those; rāmaś — Rāma; cāritravatsalaḥ — fond of, tender toward good conduct; na śaśāka — could not, was unable; ghṛṇācakṣuḥ — with compassionate eye; parimoktuṃ — to leave, forsake; rathena — by the chariot; saḥ — he
2.40.18
gacchantam eva taṃ dṛṣṭvā rāmaṃ saṃbhrāntamānasāḥ
ūcuḥ paramasaṃtaptā rāmaṃ vākyam idaṃ dvijāḥ
Seeing Rāma still walking on, the brahmins, their minds distraught and sorely tormented, spoke to Rāma these words:
Words: gacchantam — going, walking; eva — still, indeed; taṃ — him; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; rāmaṃ — Rāma; saṃbhrāntamānasāḥ — with agitated minds; ūcuḥ — said; paramasaṃtaptā — sorely tormented; rāmaṃ — to Rāma; vākyam — word, speech; idaṃ — this; dvijāḥ — the brahmins
2.40.19
brāhmaṇyaṃ kṛtsnam etat tvāṃ brahmaṇyam anugacchati
dvijaskandhādhirūḍhās tvām agnayo 'py anuyānty amī
This whole body of brahmins follows you, the friend of brahmins; and these sacred fires too, borne upon the shoulders of the twice-born, come after you.
Words: brāhmaṇyaṃ — the brahmin community; kṛtsnam — whole, entire; etat — this; tvāṃ — you; brahmaṇyam — the friend of brahmins, devout one; anugacchati — follows; dvijaskandhādhirūḍhās — mounted on the shoulders of brahmins; tvām — you; agnayo 'py — the fires too; anuyānty — follow after; amī — these
2.40.20
vājapeyasamutthāni chatrāṇy etāni paśya naḥ
pṛṣṭhato 'nuprayātāni haṃsān iva jalātyaye
Look at these parasols of ours, gained from our Vājapeya sacrifices, following behind you like wild geese at the passing of the rains.
Words: vājapeyasamutthāni — arisen from the Vājapeya (sacrifice); chatrāṇy — parasols; etāni — these; paśya — look, see; naḥ — our; pṛṣṭhato — from behind; 'nuprayātāni — following after; haṃsān — geese, swans; iva — like, as; jalātyaye — at the end of the rains
2.40.21
anavāptātapatrasya raśmisaṃtāpitasya te
ebhiś chāyāṃ kariṣyāmaḥ svaiś chatrair vājapeyikaiḥ
For you, who have no royal umbrella and are scorched by the sun's rays, we shall make shade with these, our own Vājapeya parasols.
Words: anavāptātapatrasya — of you who have no parasol; raśmisaṃtāpitasya — scorched by the rays; te — of you, for you; ebhiś — with these; chāyāṃ — shade; kariṣyāmaḥ — we shall make; svaiś — with our own; chatrair — with the parasols; vājapeyikaiḥ — those of the Vājapeya rite
2.40.22
yā hi naḥ satataṃ buddhir vedamantrānusāriṇī
tvatkṛte sā kṛtā vatsa vanavāsānusāriṇī
That mind of ours which ever followed the mantras of the Veda has, for your sake, dear child, been made to follow you into forest-dwelling.
Words: yā — which; hi — for, indeed; naḥ — our; satataṃ — constantly, ever; buddhir — mind, intellect; vedamantrānusāriṇī — following the Vedic mantras; tvatkṛte — for your sake; sā — that; kṛtā — made; vatsa — O dear child; vanavāsānusāriṇī — following (you) into forest-dwelling
2.40.23
hṛdayeṣv avatiṣṭhante vedā ye naḥ paraṃ dhanam
vatsyanty api gṛheṣv eva dārāś cāritrarakṣitāḥ
The Vedas, which are our highest wealth, abide in our hearts; and our wives, guarded by their own virtue, will surely remain at home.
Words: hṛdayeṣv — in our hearts; avatiṣṭhante — abide, remain; vedā — the Vedas; ye — which; naḥ — our; paraṃ — highest, supreme; dhanam — wealth; vatsyanty — will dwell, stay; api — indeed; gṛheṣv — in the houses; eva — just, surely; dārāś — the wives; cāritrarakṣitāḥ — protected by their virtue
2.40.24
na punar niścayaḥ kāryas tvadgatau sukṛtā matiḥ
tvayi dharmavyapekṣe tu kiṃ syād dharmam avekṣitum
No further resolve need be made; our mind is firmly set on following you; and since you have regard for righteousness, what further need is there to consider what righteousness is?
Words: na punar — not again, no further; niścayaḥ — resolve, decision; kāryas — is to be made; tvadgatau — on going after you; sukṛtā — well made, firmly set; matiḥ — the mind, resolve; tvayi — in you (loc.); dharmavyapekṣe — who have regard for righteousness; tu — but, and; kiṃ syād — what would be (the need); dharmam — righteousness; avekṣitum — to consider, examine
2.40.25
yācito no nivartasva haṃsaśuklaśiroruhaiḥ
śirobhir nibhṛtācāra mahīpatanapāṃśulaiḥ
Entreated by us with our heads, their hair white as swans and grimed with dust from bowing to the ground, turn back, O you of restrained conduct!
Words: yācito — entreated, begged; no — by us; nivartasva — turn back; haṃsaśuklaśiroruhaiḥ — with hair white as swans; śirobhir — with (our) heads; nibhṛtācāra — O you of restrained, quiet conduct; mahīpatanapāṃśulaiḥ — dusty from falling to the earth
2.40.26
bahūnāṃ vitatā yajñā dvijānāṃ ya ihāgatāḥ
teṣāṃ samāptir āyattā tava vatsa nivartane
The sacrifices of many brahmins who have come here are begun and spread out; their completion, dear child, depends upon your turning back.
Words: bahūnāṃ — of many; vitatā — spread out, undertaken; yajñā — sacrifices; dvijānāṃ — of the brahmins; ya — who; ihāgatāḥ — come here; teṣāṃ — of them, their; samāptir — completion, conclusion; āyattā — dependent, resting upon; tava — your, of you; vatsa — O dear child; nivartane — in turning back
2.40.27
bhaktimanti hi bhūtāni jaṃgamājaṃgamāni ca
yācamāneṣu teṣu tvaṃ bhaktiṃ bhakteṣu darśaya
For all beings, moving and unmoving, are devoted to you; while they entreat you, do you show devotion in return to the devoted.
Words: bhaktimanti — full of devotion; hi — for, indeed; bhūtāni — beings, creatures; jaṃgamājaṃgamāni — moving and unmoving; ca — and; yācamāneṣu — entreating (loc. abs.); teṣu — them; tvaṃ — you; bhaktiṃ — devotion; bhakteṣu — toward the devoted; darśaya — show
2.40.28
anugaṃtum aśaktās tvāṃ mūlair uddhṛtavegibhiḥ
unnatā vāyuvegena vikrośantīva pādapāḥ
Unable to follow you, the tall trees, tossed up by the wind's force with roots that would tear themselves free, seem to cry aloud after you.
Words: anugaṃtum — to follow after; aśaktās — unable; tvāṃ — you; mūlair — by/with their roots; uddhṛtavegibhiḥ — straining as if to uproot themselves; unnatā — raised up, tall; vāyuvegena — by the force of the wind; vikrośantīva — as if crying out; pādapāḥ — the trees
2.40.29
niśceṣṭāhārasaṃcārā vṛkṣaikasthānaviṣṭhitāḥ
pakṣiṇo 'pi prayācante sarvabhūtānukampinam
Ceasing to stir for food or to move about, staying fixed each on his single tree, even the birds entreat you, the compassionate friend of all beings.
Words: niśceṣṭāhārasaṃcārā — motionless in feeding and roaming; vṛkṣaikasthānaviṣṭhitāḥ — staying each fixed on one tree; pakṣiṇo 'pi — even the birds; prayācante — entreat, implore; sarvabhūtānukampinam — the compassionate one toward all beings
2.40.30
evaṃ vikrośatāṃ teṣāṃ dvijātīnāṃ nivartane
dadṛśe tamasā tatra vārayantīva rāghavam
As those brahmins were thus crying out for his return, there appeared the Tamasā river, as though holding Rāghava back.
Words: evaṃ — thus; vikrośatāṃ — crying out (of them); teṣāṃ — of them; dvijātīnāṃ — of the brahmins; nivartane — for (his) turning back; dadṛśe — was seen, appeared; tamasā — the Tamasā (river); tatra — there; vārayantīva — as if holding back, obstructing; rāghavam — Rāghava
← 2.39 Sumitrā comforts Kausalyā · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.41 Rāma leaves the sleeping citizens →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. 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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