← 2.40 The citizens follow to the Tamasā · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.42 The citizens return to Ayodhyā without Rāma →
Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 41: Rāma leaves the sleeping citizens
Summary. Sumantra lays misleading tracks, Rāma crosses the Tamasā with Sītā & Lakṣmaṇa before the followers wake
Sequence
- At the Tamasā, Rāma marks their first night away and thinks of the grieving city (2.41.1–4)
- trusting Bharata to comfort their parents, he thanks Lakṣmaṇa for helping protect Sītā and decides to take only water that night (2.41.5–8)
- Sumantra feeds and tends the horses, then helps prepare a bed of leaves → Rāma and Sītā sleep while Lakṣmaṇa stays awake talking with Sumantra (2.41.9–16)
- seeing the exhausted citizens asleep under trees, Rāma decides they should leave before the followers wake: affection for him should not force them into further hardship (2.41.17–22)
- he sends Sumantra ahead alone with the chariot, telling him to drive north for a while and return so that the tracks will mislead the followers (2.41.23–26)
- the travelers board, cross the Tamasā, and continue along a clear road (2.41.27–28)
- the citizens wake, search for Rāma, follow the tracks briefly, and then lose them → unable to discover where he has gone, they return to Ayodhyā. (2.41.29–33)
Verses 2.41.1–33
2.41.1
tatas tu tamasā tīraṃ ramyam āśritya rāghavaḥ
sītām udvīkṣya saumitrim idaṃ vacanam abravīt
Then, having reached the lovely bank of the Tamasā, Rāghava, gazing at Sītā, spoke these words to Saumitri.
Words: tatas — then; tu — and; tamasā — of the Tamasā; tīraṃ — bank; ramyam — lovely; āśritya — having reached, resorted to; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; sītām — Sītā; udvīkṣya — gazing at; saumitrim — to Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); idaṃ — this; vacanam — word; abravīt — spoke
2.41.2
iyam adya niśā pūrvā saumitre prasthitā vanam
vanavāsasya bhadraṃ te sa notkaṇṭhitum arhasi
This is the first night, Saumitri, since we set out for the forest; blessings on you—you must not grieve over our forest life.
Words: iyam — this; adya — today; niśā — night; pūrvā — first; saumitre — O Saumitri; prasthitā — (us) set out; vanam — to the forest; vanavāsasya — of forest-dwelling; bhadraṃ — good, blessing; te — to you; sa — you (that one); notkaṇṭhitum — not to be anxious; arhasi — you ought
2.41.3
paśya śūnyāny araṇyāni rudantīva samantataḥ
yathānilayam āyadbhir nilīnāni mṛgadvijaiḥ
See the empty forests that seem to weep on every side, now settled into stillness as their beasts and birds withdraw each to its own lair.
Words: paśya — see; śūnyāny — empty; araṇyāni — forests; rudantīva — as if weeping; samantataḥ — on every side; yathānilayam — each to its own lair; āyadbhir — by (creatures) returning; nilīnāni — settled, hidden away; mṛgadvijaiḥ — by beasts and birds
2.41.4
adyāyodhyā tu nagarī rājadhānī pitur mama
sastrīpuṃsā gatān asmāñ śociṣyati na saṃśayaḥ
Today the city of Ayodhyā, my father's capital, with its women and men, will surely grieve for us who have departed—there is no doubt.
Words: adyāyodhyā — today Ayodhyā; tu — indeed; nagarī — the city; rājadhānī — the capital; pitur — of father; mama — my; sastrīpuṃsā — with its women and men; gatān — gone; asmāñ — us; śociṣyati — will grieve; na — not; saṃśayaḥ — doubt
2.41.5
bharataḥ khalu dharmātmā pitaraṃ mātaraṃ ca me
dharmārthakāmasahitair vākyair āśvāsayiṣyati
Bharata, righteous of soul, will surely comfort my father and my mother with words attended by dharma, artha, and kāma.
Words: bharataḥ — Bharata; khalu — surely; dharmātmā — righteous of soul; pitaraṃ — father; mātaraṃ — mother; ca — and; me — my; dharmārthakāmasahitair — attended by dharma, artha, and kāma; vākyair — with words; āśvāsayiṣyati — will console
2.41.6
bharatasyānṛśaṃsatvaṃ saṃcintyāhaṃ punaḥ punaḥ
nānuśocāmi pitaraṃ mātaraṃ cāpi lakṣmaṇa
Reflecting again and again on Bharata's gentleness, I do not grieve for my father, nor even for my mother, Lakṣmaṇa.
Words: bharatasyānṛśaṃsatvaṃ — Bharata's gentleness; saṃcintyāhaṃ — reflecting, I; punaḥ — again; punaḥ — and again; nānuśocāmi — I do not grieve; pitaraṃ — for father; mātaraṃ — for mother; cāpi — and even; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa
2.41.7
tvayā kāryaṃ naravyāghra mām anuvrajatā kṛtam
anveṣṭavyā hi vaidehyā rakṣaṇārthe sahāyatā
By you, tiger among men, in following me, a needed service has been done; for a helper had to be found to protect Vaidehī.
Words: tvayā — by you; kāryaṃ — the service, duty; naravyāghra — O tiger among men; mām — me; anuvrajatā — by (you) following; kṛtam — done; anveṣṭavyā — to be sought; hi — for, indeed; vaidehyā — of Vaidehī; rakṣaṇārthe — for the sake of protection; sahāyatā — assistance, help
2.41.8
adbhir eva tu saumitre vatsyāmy adya niśām imām
etad dhi rocate mahyaṃ vanye 'pi vividhe sati
With water alone, Saumitri, will I pass this night today; this indeed pleases me, though various forest-fare be at hand.
Words: adbhir — with water; eva — alone, only; tu — but; saumitre — O Saumitri; vatsyāmy — I shall pass, dwell; adya — today; niśām — night; imām — this; etad — this; dhi — indeed; rocate — pleases; mahyaṃ — to me; vanye — forest-fare; 'pi — even; vividhe — various; sati — being at hand
2.41.9
evam uktvā tu saumitraṃ sumantram api rāghavaḥ
apramattas tvam aśveṣu bhava saumyety uvāca ha
Having thus spoken to Saumitri, Rāghava said also to Sumantra: 'Be watchful over the horses, gentle one.'
Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; tu — and; saumitraṃ — to Saumitri; sumantram — to Sumantra; api — also; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; apramattas — vigilant, heedful; tvam — you; aśveṣu — over the horses; bhava — be; saumyety — 'gentle one,' thus; uvāca — said; ha — indeed
2.41.10
so 'śvān sumantraḥ saṃyamya sūrye 'staṃ samupāgate
prabhūtayavasān kṛtvā babhūva pratyanantaraḥ
Sumantra, tethering the horses as the sun had gone to its setting and providing them abundant fodder, remained close at hand.
Words: so — he; 'śvān — the horses; sumantraḥ — Sumantra; saṃyamya — having tethered, restrained; sūrye — the sun; 'staṃ — to setting; samupāgate — having gone; prabhūtayavasān — provided with abundant fodder; kṛtvā — having made; babhūva — remained, became; pratyanantaraḥ — close at hand, nearby
2.41.11
upāsyatu śivāṃ saṃdhyāṃ dṛṣṭvā rātrim upasthitām
rāmasya śayanaṃ cakre sūtaḥ saumitriṇā saha
Having worshipped the auspicious twilight and seen that night had come, the charioteer, together with Saumitri, made Rāma's bed.
Words: upāsyatu — having worshipped; śivāṃ — auspicious; saṃdhyāṃ — the twilight; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; rātrim — night; upasthitām — arrived, come; rāmasya — of Rāma; śayanaṃ — bed; cakre — made; sūtaḥ — the charioteer; saumitriṇā — with Saumitri; saha — together
2.41.12
tāṃ śayyāṃ tamasātīre vīkṣya vṛkṣadalaiḥ kṛtām
rāmaḥ saumitriṇāṃ sārdhaṃ sabhāryaḥ saṃviveśa ha
Gazing at that bed made of tree-leaves on the bank of the Tamasā, Rāma, with his wife and together with Saumitri, lay down.
Words: tāṃ — that; śayyāṃ — bed; tamasātīre — on the Tamasā bank; vīkṣya — having looked at; vṛkṣadalaiḥ — with tree-leaves; kṛtām — made; rāmaḥ — Rāma; saumitriṇāṃ — with Saumitri; sārdhaṃ — together with; sabhāryaḥ — with his wife; saṃviveśa — lay down; ha — indeed
2.41.13
sabhāryaṃ saṃprasuptaṃ taṃ bhrātaraṃ vīkṣya lakṣmaṇaḥ
kathayām āsa sūtāya rāmasya vividhān guṇān
Seeing his brother fast asleep with his wife, Lakṣmaṇa recounted to the charioteer Rāma's manifold virtues.
Words: sabhāryaṃ — with his wife; saṃprasuptaṃ — fast asleep; taṃ — that; bhrātaraṃ — brother; vīkṣya — having seen; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; kathayām āsa — recounted, narrated; sūtāya — to the charioteer; rāmasya — of Rāma; vividhān — manifold, various; guṇān — virtues
2.41.14
jāgrato hy eva tāṃ rātriṃ saumitrer udito raviḥ
sūtasya tamasātīre rāmasya bruvato guṇān
As Saumitri kept awake that whole night telling the charioteer of Rāma's virtues on the bank of the Tamasā, the sun rose upon them.
Words: jāgrato — of (him) keeping awake; hy — indeed; eva — very; tāṃ — that; rātriṃ — night; saumitrer — of Saumitri; udito — rose; raviḥ — the sun; sūtasya — for the charioteer; tamasātīre — on the Tamasā bank; rāmasya — of Rāma; bruvato — of (him) telling; guṇān — virtues
2.41.15
gokulākulatīrāyās tamasāyā vidūrataḥ
avasat tatra tāṃ rātriṃ rāmaḥ prakṛtibhiḥ saha
At some distance from the Tamasā, whose banks were thronged with herds of cattle, Rāma passed that night there together with the citizens.
Words: gokulākulatīrāyās — of (the river) whose banks were thronged with cattle-herds; tamasāyā — of the Tamasā; vidūrataḥ — at a distance from; avasat — dwelt, passed; tatra — there; tāṃ — that; rātriṃ — night; rāmaḥ — Rāma; prakṛtibhiḥ — with the citizens, subjects; saha — together
2.41.16
utthāya tu mahātejāḥ prakṛtīs tā niśāmya ca
abravīd bhrātaraṃ rāmo lakṣmaṇaṃ puṇyalakṣaṇam
Rising, the greatly resplendent Rāma, and beholding those citizens, spoke to his brother Lakṣmaṇa, marked with auspicious signs.
Words: utthāya — having risen; tu — and; mahātejāḥ — of great splendor; prakṛtīs — the citizens, subjects; tā — those; niśāmya — having observed; ca — and; abravīd — said; bhrātaraṃ — to his brother; rāmo — Rāma; lakṣmaṇaṃ — Lakṣmaṇa; puṇyalakṣaṇam — of auspicious marks
2.41.17
asmadvyapekṣān saumitre nirapekṣān gṛheṣv api
vṛkṣamūleṣu saṃsuptān paśya lakṣmaṇa sāmpratam
Behold now, Lakṣmaṇa Saumitri, these people intent upon us, heedless even of their own homes, sleeping at the feet of trees.
Words: asmadvyapekṣān — intent upon us; saumitre — O Saumitri; nirapekṣān — heedless, indifferent; gṛheṣv — of their homes; api — even; vṛkṣamūleṣu — at the roots of trees; saṃsuptān — fast asleep; paśya — see; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; sāmpratam — now
2.41.18
yathaite niyamaṃ paurāḥ kurvanty asmannivartane
api prāṇān asiṣyanti na tu tyakṣyanti niścayam
Seeing how these townsfolk make it their vow to turn us back, they would sooner cast off their very lives than abandon their resolve.
Words: yathaite — how these; niyamaṃ — vow, resolve; paurāḥ — the townsfolk; kurvanty — make; asmannivartane — for our turning back; api — even; prāṇān — their lives, breaths; asiṣyanti — they will cast off; na — not; tu — but; tyakṣyanti — they will abandon; niścayam — the resolve
2.41.19
yāvad eva tu saṃsuptās tāvad eva vayaṃ laghu
ratham āruhya gacchāmaḥ panthānam akutobhayam
While they are still fast asleep, let us at once mount the chariot and set off along a road free of danger from any quarter.
Words: yāvad — as long as, while; eva — just; tu — indeed; saṃsuptās — fast asleep; tāvad — meanwhile, just so; eva — just; vayaṃ — we; laghu — quickly, lightly; ratham — the chariot; āruhya — having mounted; gacchāmaḥ — let us go; panthānam — the road; akutobhayam — free of danger from any quarter
2.41.20
ato bhūyo 'pi nedānīm ikṣvākupuravāsinaḥ
svapeyur anuraktā māṃ vṛkṣamūlāni saṃśritāḥ
So that these devoted dwellers of the Ikṣvāku city may not now once more sleep clinging to the roots of trees out of love for me.
Words: ato — therefore; bhūyo — again; 'pi — also; nedānīm — not now; ikṣvākupuravāsinaḥ — the dwellers of the Ikṣvāku city; svapeyur — may they sleep; anuraktā — devoted, loving; māṃ — me; vṛkṣamūlāni — the roots of trees; saṃśritāḥ — clinging to, resorting to
2.41.21
paurā hy ātmakṛtād duḥkhād vipramocyā nṛpātmajaiḥ
na tu khalv ātmanā yojyā duḥkhena puravāsinaḥ
For princes ought to free the townsfolk from self-incurred sorrow, and surely never themselves burden the city-dwellers with grief.
Words: paurā — the townsfolk; hy — for, indeed; ātmakṛtād — from self-caused (sorrow); duḥkhād — from sorrow; vipramocyā — to be freed; nṛpātmajaiḥ — by princes; na — not; tu — but; khalv — surely; ātmanā — by oneself; yojyā — to be yoked, burdened; duḥkhena — with sorrow; puravāsinaḥ — the city-dwellers
2.41.22
abravīl lakṣmaṇo rāmaṃ sākṣād dharmam iva sthitam
rocate me mahāprājña kṣipram āruhyatām iti
Lakṣmaṇa said to Rāma, who stood there like Dharma made visible: 'It pleases me, greatly wise one; let us mount at once.'
Words: abravīl — said; lakṣmaṇo — Lakṣmaṇa; rāmaṃ — to Rāma; sākṣād — visibly, in person; dharmam — Dharma; iva — like; sthitam — standing; rocate — pleases; me — me; mahāprājña — O greatly wise one; kṣipram — quickly; āruhyatām — let it be mounted; iti — thus
2.41.23
sūtas tataḥ saṃtvaritaḥ syandanaṃ tair hayottamaiḥ
yojayitvātha rāmāya prāñjaliḥ pratyavedayat
Then the charioteer, in haste, having yoked the chariot with those excellent horses, announced it to Rāma with palms joined.
Words: sūtas — the charioteer; tataḥ — then; saṃtvaritaḥ — hastened; syandanaṃ — the chariot; tair — with those; hayottamaiḥ — with the excellent horses; yojayitvātha — having yoked, then; rāmāya — to Rāma; prāñjaliḥ — with palms joined; pratyavedayat — announced, reported
2.41.24
mohanārthaṃ tu paurāṇāṃ sūtaṃ rāmo 'bravīd vacaḥ
udaṅmukhaḥ prayāhi tvaṃ ratham āsthāya sārathe
To mislead the townsfolk, Rāma spoke this word to the charioteer: 'Mount the chariot and drive off facing north, O charioteer.'
Words: mohanārthaṃ — for the purpose of misleading; tu — and; paurāṇāṃ — of the townsfolk; sūtaṃ — to the charioteer; rāmo — Rāma; 'bravīd — spoke; vacaḥ — word; udaṅmukhaḥ — facing north; prayāhi — go forth; tvaṃ — you; ratham — the chariot; āsthāya — having mounted; sārathe — O charioteer
2.41.25
muhūrtaṃ tvaritaṃ gatvā nirgataya rathaṃ punaḥ
yathā na vidyuḥ paurā māṃ tathā kuru samāhitaḥ
Having driven swiftly for a while, turn the chariot back again; act with care, so that the townsfolk may not find out where I am.
Words: muhūrtaṃ — for a short while; tvaritaṃ — swiftly; gatvā — having gone; nirgataya — turn back, drive out; rathaṃ — the chariot; punaḥ — again; yathā — so that; na — not; vidyuḥ — may know; paurā — the townsfolk; māṃ — me; tathā — so; kuru — do; samāhitaḥ — attentive, composed
2.41.26
rāmasya vacanaṃ śrutvā tathā cakre sa sārathiḥ
pratyāgamya ca rāmasya syandanaṃ pratyavedayat
Hearing Rāma's word, the charioteer did so, and returning, announced to Rāma that the chariot was ready.
Words: rāmasya — of Rāma; vacanaṃ — word; śrutvā — having heard; tathā — thus; cakre — did; sa — that; sārathiḥ — charioteer; pratyāgamya — having returned; ca — and; rāmasya — to Rāma; syandanaṃ — the chariot; pratyavedayat — announced, reported
2.41.27
taṃ syandanam adhiṣṭhāya rāghavaḥ saparicchadaḥ
śīghragām ākulāvartāṃ tamasām ataran nadīm
Mounting that chariot, Rāghava with his retinue crossed the swift-flowing Tamasā river with its swirling eddies.
Words: taṃ — that; syandanam — chariot; adhiṣṭhāya — having mounted; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; saparicchadaḥ — with his retinue, belongings; śīghragām — swift-flowing; ākulāvartāṃ — with swirling eddies; tamasām — the Tamasā; ataran — crossed; nadīm — river
2.41.28
sa saṃtīrya mahābāhuḥ śrīmāñ śivam akaṇṭakam
prāpadyata mahāmārgam abhayaṃ bhayadarśinām
Having crossed over, the mighty-armed and glorious Rāma reached a great highway, auspicious and thornless, safe even for those who see danger everywhere.
Words: sa — he; saṃtīrya — having crossed over; mahābāhuḥ — mighty-armed; śrīmāñ — glorious; śivam — auspicious; akaṇṭakam — thornless, free of obstacles; prāpadyata — reached, gained; mahāmārgam — great highway; abhayaṃ — safe, without fear; bhayadarśinām — for those who see danger
2.41.29
prabhātāyāṃ tu śarvaryāṃ paurās te rāghavo vinā
śokopahataniśceṣṭā babhūvur hatacetasaḥ
When night had brightened into dawn, those townsfolk, left without Rāghava, became motionless, struck down by grief, their wits shattered.
Words: prabhātāyāṃ — having brightened into dawn; tu — and; śarvaryāṃ — the night; paurās — the townsfolk; te — those; rāghavo — Rāghava; vinā — without; śokopahataniśceṣṭā — motionless, struck down by grief; babhūvur — became; hatacetasaḥ — their wits shattered
2.41.30
śokajāśruparidyūnā vīkṣamāṇās tatas tataḥ
ālokam api rāmasya na paśyanti sma duḥkhitāḥ
Worn down by tears born of grief, looking about here and there, the sorrowful ones could not catch even a glimpse of Rāma.
Words: śokajāśruparidyūnā — worn down by tears born of grief; vīkṣamāṇās — looking about; tatas — here; tataḥ — and there; ālokam — a sight, glimpse; api — even; rāmasya — of Rāma; na — not; paśyanti sma — did see; duḥkhitāḥ — the grieved ones
2.41.31
tato mārgānusāreṇa gatvā kiṃ cit kṣaṇaṃ punaḥ
mārganāśād viṣādena mahatā samabhiplutaḥ
Then, following the track for a little while, again, when the trail was lost, they were overwhelmed by great despair.
Words: tato — then; mārgānusāreṇa — by following the track; gatvā — having gone; kiṃ cit — for a little; kṣaṇaṃ — a moment; punaḥ — again; mārganāśād — from the loss of the track; viṣādena — by despair, dejection; mahatā — great; samabhiplutaḥ — overwhelmed, flooded
2.41.32
rathasya mārganāśena nyavartanta manasvinaḥ
kim idaṃ kiṃ kariṣyāmo daivenopahatā iti
At the loss of the chariot's track the noble-minded ones turned back, crying, 'What is this? What shall we do, stricken by fate?'
Words: rathasya — of the chariot; mārganāśena — by the loss of the track; nyavartanta — turned back; manasvinaḥ — the noble-minded, spirited ones; kim — what; idaṃ — is this; kiṃ — what; kariṣyāmo — shall we do; daivenopahatā — stricken by fate; iti — thus
2.41.33
tato yathāgatenaiva mārgeṇa klāntacetasaḥ
ayodhyām agaman sarve purīṃ vyathitasajjanām
Then, by the very road by which they had come, with weary hearts, they all went back to Ayodhyā, the city whose good folk were stricken with grief.
Words: tato — then; yathāgatenaiva — by the very (road) they had come; mārgeṇa — by the road; klāntacetasaḥ — with weary hearts; ayodhyām — to Ayodhyā; agaman — went; sarve — all; purīṃ — the city; vyathitasajjanām — whose good folk were distressed
← 2.40 The citizens follow to the Tamasā · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.42 The citizens return to Ayodhyā without Rāma →
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.
Plain text: /text/2/41.md · JSON: /data/2/41.json