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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 47: Rāma grieves and asks Lakṣmaṇa to return
Summary. Rāma fears for his parents and asks Lakṣmaṇa to return, Lakṣmaṇa refuses to leave him and steadies his resolve
Sequence
- Without Sumantra now, Rāma tells Lakṣmaṇa that they must share the task of guarding Sītā and make their own bedding (2.47.1–5)
- he imagines Daśaratha grieving while Kaikeyī is satisfied and worries that her ambition may endanger the old King (2.47.6–9)
- he reflects bitterly on a father surrendering an obedient son for his wife's wishes and on Bharata receiving the Kingdom (2.47.10–14)
- fearing for Kausalyā and Sumitrā, he asks Lakṣmaṇa to return and protect them while he continues with Sītā (2.47.15–18)
- he reproaches himself for bringing his mother sorrow when she had expected happiness from him (2.47.19–24)
- although he could seize Ayodhyā by force, he refuses to do so at the cost of righteousness → he falls silent in tears (2.47.25–28)
- Lakṣmaṇa says that neither he nor Sītā can live without Rāma and that his grief is overwhelming them too → reassured by their devotion, Rāma renews his resolve to complete the exile. (2.47.29–33)
Verses 2.47.1–33
2.47.1
sa taṃ vṛkṣaṃ samāsādya saṃdhyām anvāsya paścimām
rāmo ramayatāṃ śreṣṭha iti hovāca lakṣmaṇam
Reaching that tree and performing the evening twilight worship, Rāma, best of those who bring delight, spoke thus to Lakṣmaṇa:
Words: sa — he; taṃ vṛkṣaṃ — that tree; samāsādya — having reached; saṃdhyām — the twilight worship; anvāsya — having attended to, performed; paścimām — western, evening; rāmo — Rāma; ramayatāṃ śreṣṭha — best of those who delight (others); iti — thus; hovāca — said; lakṣmaṇam — to Lakṣmaṇa
2.47.2
adyeyaṃ prathamā rātrir yātā janapadād bahiḥ
yā sumantreṇa rahitā tāṃ notkaṇṭhitum arhasi
“Today this first night has passed outside our realm, a night bereft of Sumantra; you should not grieve over it.
Words: adyeyaṃ — today this; prathamā — first; rātrir — night; yātā — has passed; janapadād — from the realm, country; bahiḥ — outside; yā — which; sumantreṇa — of Sumantra, by Sumantra; rahitā — deprived, without; tāṃ — over it, her; notkaṇṭhitum — not to grieve, long anxiously; arhasi — you ought
2.47.3
jāgartavyam atandribhyām adya prabhṛti rātriṣu
yogakṣemo hi sītāyā vartate lakṣmaṇāvayoḥ
From this day on we two must keep watch unwearied through the nights; for the safety and welfare of Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa, rests upon us both.
Words: jāgartavyam — watch must be kept; atandribhyām — by the two unwearied ones; adya prabhṛti — from today onward; rātriṣu — in the nights; yogakṣemo — welfare and security; hi — for; sītāyā — of Sītā; vartate — rests, depends; lakṣmaṇāvayoḥ — O Lakṣmaṇa, upon us two
2.47.4
rātriṃ kathaṃ cid evemāṃ saumitre vartayāmahe
upāvartāmahe bhūmāv āstīrya svayam ārjitaiḥ
Let us somehow pass this very night, Saumitri; let us lie down upon the ground, having spread out things gathered with our own hands.
Words: rātriṃ — the night; kathaṃ cid — somehow; evemāṃ — this very; saumitre — O Saumitri; vartayāmahe — let us pass, spend; upāvartāmahe — let us lie down; bhūmāv — on the ground; āstīrya — having spread out; svayam — by our own (hands); ārjitaiḥ — with things gathered
2.47.5
sa tu saṃviśya medinyāṃ mahārhaśayanocitaḥ
imāḥ saumitraye rāmo vyājahāra kathāḥ śubhāḥ
So Rāma, accustomed to a most costly couch, having lain down upon the earth, spoke these fair words to Saumitri:
Words: sa tu — and he; saṃviśya — having lain down; medinyāṃ — on the earth; mahārhaśayanocitaḥ — accustomed to a costly couch; imāḥ — these; saumitraye — to Saumitri; rāmo — Rāma; vyājahāra — spoke, uttered; kathāḥ — words, tales; śubhāḥ — fair, auspicious
2.47.6
dhruvam adya mahārājo duḥkhaṃ svapiti lakṣmaṇa
kṛtakāmā tu kaikeyī tuṣṭā bhavitum arhati
“Surely tonight the great king sleeps in sorrow, Lakṣmaṇa; but Kaikeyī, her desire fulfilled, may well be content.
Words: dhruvam — surely; adya — today, tonight; mahārājo — the great king; duḥkhaṃ — in sorrow; svapiti — sleeps; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; kṛtakāmā — her desire fulfilled; tu — but; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; tuṣṭā — content, satisfied; bhavitum arhati — may well be
2.47.7
sā hi devī mahārājaṃ kaikeyī rājyakāraṇāt
api na cyāvayet prāṇān dṛṣṭvā bharatam āgatam
For that queen Kaikeyī, for the sake of the kingdom, might even, on seeing Bharata come, drive the life-breath from the great king.
Words: sā hi — for that; devī — queen; mahārājaṃ — the great king; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; rājyakāraṇāt — for the sake of the kingdom; api — even; na cyāvayet — might drive out; prāṇān — the life-breaths; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; bharatam — Bharata; āgatam — come, arrived
2.47.8
anāthaś caiva vṛddhaś ca mayā caiva vinākṛtaḥ
kiṃ kariṣyati kāmātmā kaikeyyā vaśam āgataḥ
Helpless and old, and deprived of me as well, what will he do — that man ruled by desire, fallen under Kaikeyī's power?
Words: anāthaś caiva — helpless, and; vṛddhaś ca — and old; mayā caiva — and by me; vinākṛtaḥ — deprived, parted; kiṃ kariṣyati — what will he do; kāmātmā — ruled by desire; kaikeyyā — of Kaikeyī; vaśam — under the power; āgataḥ — come, fallen
2.47.9
idaṃ vyasanam ālokya rājñaś ca mativibhramam
kāma evārdhadharmābhyāṃ garīyān iti me matiḥ
Seeing this calamity and the king's confusion of mind, my conviction is that desire is weightier than both wealth and dharma.
Words: idaṃ vyasanam — this calamity; ālokya — having seen; rājñaś ca — and the king's; mativibhramam — confusion of mind; kāma — desire; evārdhadharmābhyāṃ — than both wealth and dharma; garīyān — weightier, mightier; iti me matiḥ — such is my conviction
2.47.10
ko hy avidvān api pumān pramadāyāḥ kṛte tyajet
chandānuvartinaṃ putraṃ tāto mām iva lakṣmaṇa
For what man, even a fool, would for the sake of a woman cast off an obedient son — as my father has cast me off, Lakṣmaṇa?
Words: ko — what; hy — for; avidvān api — even an ignorant one; pumān — man; pramadāyāḥ kṛte — for the sake of a woman; tyajet — would abandon; chandānuvartinaṃ — following (one's) wishes, obedient; putraṃ — son; tāto — the father; mām iva — as (he did) me; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa
2.47.11
sukhī bata sabhāryaś ca bharataḥ kekayīsutaḥ
muditān kosalān eko yo bhokṣyaty adhirājavat
Happy indeed, together with his wife, is Bharata, the Kekaya princess's son, who alone will enjoy the flourishing Kosalas like a sovereign king.
Words: sukhī — happy; bata — indeed, alas; sabhāryaś ca — and with his wife; bharataḥ — Bharata; kekayīsutaḥ — son of the Kekaya princess; muditān — flourishing, joyful; kosalān — the Kosalas; eko — alone; yo — who; bhokṣyaty — will enjoy; adhirājavat — like a sovereign king
2.47.12
sa hi sarvasya rājyasya mukham ekaṃ bhaviṣyati
tāte ca vayasātīte mayi cāraṇyam āśrite
For he will become the sole head of the entire kingdom, now that our father is advanced in years and I have taken to the forest.
Words: sa hi — for he; sarvasya rājyasya — of the whole kingdom; mukham — the head, chief; ekaṃ — sole; bhaviṣyati — will become; tāte — the father (being); ca — and; vayasātīte — advanced in age; mayi — I (having); cāraṇyam — and the forest; āśrite — resorted to
2.47.13
arthadharmau parityajya yaḥ kāmam anuvartate
evam āpadyate kṣipraṃ rājā daśaratho yathā
He who, forsaking wealth and dharma, follows after desire, swiftly comes to grief — as King Daśaratha has.
Words: arthadharmau — wealth and dharma; parityajya — having forsaken; yaḥ — who; kāmam — desire; anuvartate — follows after; evam — thus; āpadyate — comes to grief, meets misfortune; kṣipraṃ — swiftly; rājā daśaratho — King Daśaratha; yathā — just as
2.47.14
manye daśarathāntāya mama pravrājanāya ca
kaikeyī saumya saṃprāptā rājyāya bharatasya ca
I think, gentle one, that Kaikeyī has come into our house for Daśaratha's end, for my banishment, and for the kingship of Bharata.
Words: manye — I think; daśarathāntāya — for the end of Daśaratha; mama pravrājanāya ca — and for my banishment; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; saumya — O gentle one; saṃprāptā — has come, arrived; rājyāya — for the kingship; bharatasya ca — and of Bharata
2.47.15
apīdānīṃ na kaikeyī saubhāgyamadamohitā
kausalyāṃ ca sumitrāṃ ca saṃprabādheta matkṛte
I only hope that Kaikeyī, now deluded by the intoxication of good fortune, may not persecute Kausalyā and Sumitrā on my account.
Words: apīdānīṃ — even now, I hope now; na — not; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; saubhāgyamadamohitā — deluded by the pride of good fortune; kausalyāṃ ca — and Kausalyā; sumitrāṃ ca — and Sumitrā; saṃprabādheta — might harass, persecute; matkṛte — on my account
2.47.16
mā sma matkāraṇād devī sumitrā duḥkham āvaset
ayodhyām ita eva tvaṃ kāle praviśa lakṣmaṇa
Let not queen Sumitrā dwell in sorrow on my account; you, Lakṣmaṇa, go back to Ayodhyā from here in good time.
Words: mā sma — let not; matkāraṇād — on my account; devī — queen; sumitrā — Sumitrā; duḥkham — sorrow; āvaset — should dwell in; ayodhyām — to Ayodhyā; ita eva — from here; tvaṃ — you; kāle — in good time; praviśa — enter, go; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa
2.47.17
aham eko gamiṣyāmi sītayā saha daṇḍakān
anāthāyā hi nāthas tvaṃ kausalyāyā bhaviṣyasi
I shall go alone with Sītā to the Daṇḍaka forests; for you will be the protector of the helpless Kausalyā.
Words: aham eko — I alone; gamiṣyāmi — shall go; sītayā saha — together with Sītā; daṇḍakān — to the Daṇḍaka (forests); anāthāyā — of the helpless one; hi — for; nāthas tvaṃ — you the protector; kausalyāyā — of Kausalyā; bhaviṣyasi — will become
2.47.18
kṣudrakarmā hi kaikeyī dveṣād anyāyyam ācaret
paridadyā hi dharmajñe bharate mama mātaram
For Kaikeyī, of base deeds, might out of malice act unjustly toward her; so entrust my mother to the dharma-knowing Bharata.
Words: kṣudrakarmā — of base deeds; hi — for; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; dveṣād — out of malice; anyāyyam — an unjust thing; ācaret — might act, behave; paridadyā — you should entrust; hi — indeed; dharmajñe — to the dharma-knowing (one); bharate — to Bharata; mama mātaram — my mother
2.47.19
nūnaṃ jātyantare kasmiṃḥ striyaḥ putrair viyojitāḥ
jananyā mama saumitre tad apy etad upasthitam
Surely in some former birth women were parted from their sons by my mother, Saumitri; and now that too has come home to her.
Words: nūnaṃ — surely; jātyantare — in another birth; kasmiṃḥ — in some; striyaḥ — women; putrair — from their sons; viyojitāḥ — were separated; jananyā — by the mother; mama — my; saumitre — O Saumitri; tad apy — that too; etad — this; upasthitam — has come upon (her)
2.47.20
mayā hi cirapuṣṭena duḥkhasaṃvardhitena ca
viprāyujyata kausalyā phalakāle dhig astu mām
For Kausalyā has been parted, just at the time of harvest, from me whom she nourished so long and reared through hardship — a curse upon me!
Words: mayā — from me; hi — for; cirapuṣṭena — long-nourished; duḥkhasaṃvardhitena ca — and reared through hardship; viprāyujyata — was parted, separated; kausalyā — Kausalyā; phalakāle — at the time of fruition; dhig astu — let there be a curse; mām — upon me
2.47.21
mā sma sīmantinī kā cij janayet putram īdṛśam
saumitre yo 'ham ambāyā dadmi śokam anantakam
Let no woman ever bear such a son as I, Saumitri, who give my mother grief without end.
Words: mā sma — let not; sīmantinī — a woman; kā cij — any; janayet — should bear; putram — a son; īdṛśam — such; saumitre — O Saumitri; yo 'ham — I who; ambāyā — to the mother; dadmi — give; śokam — grief; anantakam — endless
2.47.22
manye prītiviśiṣṭā sā matto lakṣmaṇasārikā
yasyās tac chrūyate vākyaṃ śuka pādam arer daśa
I think that mynah bird is now more favoured than I am, Lakṣmaṇa — the one whose speech is heard: 'Parrot, bite the enemy's foot!'
Words: manye — I think; prītiviśiṣṭā — specially favoured, distinguished by affection; sā — she, that (bird); matto — than me; lakṣmaṇasārikā — O Lakṣmaṇa, the mynah bird; yasyās — whose; tac — that; chrūyate — is heard; vākyaṃ — word, speech; śuka — O parrot; pādam — the foot; arer — of the enemy; daśa — bite!
2.47.23
śocantyāś cālpabhāgyāyā na kiṃ cid upakurvatā
purtreṇa kim aputrāyā mayā kāryam ariṃdama
Of what use, O tamer of foes, is a son like me — who does nothing to help — to my grieving, ill-fated mother, who is as good as sonless?
Words: śocantyāś — of (her) grieving; cālpabhāgyāyā — and of ill fortune; na — not; kiṃ — any(thing); cid — at all; upakurvatā — by (a son) doing help; purtreṇa — by a son; kim — what (use); aputrāyā — of (her who is as good as) sonless; mayā — by me; kāryam — purpose, use; ariṃdama — O tamer of foes
2.47.24
alpabhāgyā hi me mātā kausalyā rahitā mayā
śete paramaduḥkhārtā patitā śokasāgare
For my mother Kausalyā, of little fortune and bereft of me, lies stricken with utmost grief, fallen into an ocean of sorrow.
Words: alpabhāgyā — of little fortune; hi — for; me mātā — my mother; kausalyā — Kausalyā; rahitā — deprived; mayā — of me; śete — lies; paramaduḥkhārtā — stricken with utmost grief; patitā — fallen; śokasāgare — into the ocean of grief
2.47.25
eko hy aham ayodhyāṃ ca pṛthivīṃ cāpi lakṣmaṇa
tareyam iṣubhiḥ kruddho nanu vīryam akāraṇam
For I alone, Lakṣmaṇa, if enraged, could master Ayodhyā and the whole earth too with my arrows; yet valor without cause is surely wrong.
Words: eko — alone; hy — for; aham — I; ayodhyāṃ ca — and Ayodhyā; pṛthivīṃ cāpi — and even the earth; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; tareyam — could overcome, master; iṣubhiḥ — with arrows; kruddho — if enraged; nanu — surely, yet; vīryam — valor, force; akāraṇam — without cause
2.47.26
adharmabhaya bhītaś ca paralokasya cānagha
tena lakṣmaṇa nādyāham ātmānam abhiṣecaye
But fearing unrighteousness and the loss of the world beyond, O sinless one — for that reason, Lakṣmaṇa, I do not today consecrate myself as king.
Words: adharmabhaya — the danger of unrighteousness; bhītaś ca — and afraid; paralokasya — of the other world; cānagha — and O sinless one; tena — for that reason; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; nādyāham — not today do I; ātmānam — myself; abhiṣecaye — consecrate (as king)
2.47.27
etad anyac ca karuṇaṃ vilapya vijane bahu
aśrupūrṇamukho rāmo niśi tūṣṇīm upāviśat
Having lamented this and much else piteously in that lonely place, Rāma, his face bathed in tears, sat silent in the night.
Words: etad anyac ca — this and other; karuṇaṃ — piteously; vilapya — having lamented; vijane — in the lonely place; bahu — much; aśrupūrṇamukho — his face full of tears; rāmo — Rāma; niśi — at night; tūṣṇīm — silent; upāviśat — sat down
2.47.28
vilapyoparataṃ rāmaṃ gatārciṣam ivānalam
samudram iva nirvegam āśvāsayata lakṣmaṇaḥ
Lakṣmaṇa consoled Rāma, who had ceased his lament — like a fire whose flames had died, like an ocean grown calm.
Words: vilapyoparataṃ — who had ceased lamenting; rāmaṃ — Rāma; gatārciṣam — whose flame has gone; ivānalam — like a fire; samudram iva — like the ocean; nirvegam — without agitation, calm; āśvāsayata — consoled; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa
2.47.29
dhruvam adya purī rāma ayodhyā yudhināṃ vara
niṣprabhā tvayi niṣkrānte gatacandreva śarvarī
“Surely today, O Rāma, best of warriors, now that you have departed, the city of Ayodhyā is without splendour, like a night whose moon has set.
Words: dhruvam — surely; adya — today; purī — the city; rāma — O Rāma; ayodhyā — Ayodhyā; yudhināṃ vara — O best of warriors; niṣprabhā — without splendour; tvayi niṣkrānte — when you have departed; gatacandreva — like (a night) whose moon has gone; śarvarī — the night
2.47.30
naitad aupayikaṃ rāma yad idaṃ paritapyase
viṣādayasi sītāṃ ca māṃ caiva puruṣarṣabha
This is not fitting, Rāma, that you should grieve so; you drive Sītā and me too into despair, O bull among men.
Words: naitad — this is not; aupayikaṃ — fitting, proper; rāma — O Rāma; yad idaṃ — that this; paritapyase — you torment yourself, grieve; viṣādayasi — you cast into despair; sītāṃ ca — and Sītā; māṃ caiva — and me too; puruṣarṣabha — O bull among men
2.47.31
na ca sītā tvayā hīnā na cāham api rāghava
muhūrtam api jīvāvo jalān matsyāv ivoddhṛtau
Neither Sītā without you, nor I either, O Rāghava, could live even a moment — like two fish taken out of the water.
Words: na ca — and not; sītā — Sītā; tvayā — by you, without you; hīnā — deprived of; na cāham api — nor I either; rāghava — O Rāghava; muhūrtam api — even for a moment; jīvāvo — we two could live; jalān — from the water; matsyāv — the two fish; ivoddhṛtau — like (fish) drawn out
2.47.32
na hi tātaṃ na śatrughnaṃ na sumitrāṃ paraṃtapa
draṣṭum iccheyam adyāhaṃ svargaṃ vāpi tvayā vinā
Without you, O scorcher of foes, I would not wish today to see my father, nor Śatrughna, nor Sumitrā, nor even heaven.
Words: na hi — for not; tātaṃ — the father; na śatrughnaṃ — nor Śatrughna; na sumitrāṃ — nor Sumitrā; paraṃtapa — O scorcher of foes; draṣṭum — to see; iccheyam — I would wish; adyāhaṃ — today I; svargaṃ vāpi — or even heaven; tvayā vinā — without you
2.47.33
sa lakṣmaṇasyottama puṣkalaṃ vaco niśamya caivaṃ vanavāsam ādarāt
samāḥ samastā vidadhe paraṃtapaḥ prapadya dharmaṃ sucirāya rāghavaḥ
Having attentively heard this excellent and copious speech of Lakṣmaṇa, that scorcher of foes, Rāghava, embracing dharma, resolved on dwelling in the forest for all those years to come.
Words: sa — he; lakṣmaṇasyottama — of Lakṣmaṇa, excellent; puṣkalaṃ — abundant, copious; vaco — speech; niśamya — having heard; caivaṃ — and thus; vanavāsam — dwelling in the forest; ādarāt — attentively, with care; samāḥ samastā — for all the years; vidadhe — arranged, resolved upon; paraṃtapaḥ — the scorcher of foes; prapadya — having embraced, resorted to; dharmaṃ — dharma; sucirāya — for a very long time; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava
← 2.46 Rāma crosses the Gaṅgā · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.48 Bharadvāja directs Rāma to Citrakūṭa →
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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