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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 51: Sumantra returns to Ayodhyā
Summary. Citizens surround the empty chariot, news of Rāma’s crossing renews their grief and Daśaratha collapses on receiving his message
Sequence
- The narrative turns back to Sumantra after the Gaṅgā crossing: Guha returns home, and the driver eventually sets out for Ayodhyā → after traveling through forests, rivers, and settlements, he reaches the city on the third evening of his journey (2.51.1–4)
- crowds surround him and ask where Rāma is (2.51.5–7)
- he tells them that he left the travelers at the Gaṅgā and that they have crossed it → the news renews the city's grief (2.51.8–11)
- covering his face, he drives to the palace and passes through the courtyards as the women wonder how he will speak to Kausalyā (2.51.12–19)
- he delivers Rāma's message to Daśaratha, who collapses (2.51.20–23)
- Kausalyā and Sumitrā lift him → Kausalyā urges him to question the messenger freely, then is herself overcome. (2.51.24–30)
Verses 2.51.1–30
2.51.1
kathayitvā suduḥkhārtaḥ sumantreṇa ciraṃ saha
rāme dakṣiṇa kūlasthe jagāma svagṛhaṃ guhaḥ
Having conversed long with Sumantra, sorely stricken with grief, Guha—while Rāma was on the southern bank—went off to his own home.
Words: kathayitvā — having conversed, talked; suduḥkhārtaḥ — sorely stricken with grief; sumantreṇa — with Sumantra; ciraṃ — long, for a long while; saha — together with; rāme — when Rāma (loc. abs.); dakṣiṇa kūlasthe — being on the southern bank; jagāma — went; svagṛhaṃ — to his own home; guhaḥ — Guha
2.51.2
anujñātaḥ sumantro 'tha yojayitvā hayottamān
ayodhyām eva nagarīṃ prayayau gāḍhadurmanāḥ
Given leave, Sumantra then yoked his excellent horses and set out for the very city of Ayodhyā, deeply dejected.
Words: anujñātaḥ — given leave, permitted; sumantro — Sumantra; 'tha — then; yojayitvā — having yoked; hayottamān — the excellent horses; ayodhyām — Ayodhyā; eva — the very; nagarīṃ — city; prayayau — set out for, went; gāḍhadurmanāḥ — deeply dejected
2.51.3
sa vanāni sugandhīni saritaś ca sarāṃsi ca
paśyann atiyayau śīghraṃ grāmāṇi nagarāṇi ca
Gazing at fragrant woods, rivers, and lakes, he swiftly passed by villages and towns.
Words: sa — he; vanāni — woods, forests; sugandhīni — fragrant; saritaś — rivers; ca — and; sarāṃsi — lakes; ca — and; paśyann — gazing; atiyayau — passed by, went past; śīghraṃ — swiftly; grāmāṇi — villages; nagarāṇi — towns; ca — and
2.51.4
tataḥ sāyāhnasamaye tṛtīye 'hani sārathiḥ
ayodhyāṃ samanuprāpya nirānandāṃ dadarśa ha
Then, at eventide on the third day, the charioteer reached Ayodhyā and beheld it joyless.
Words: tataḥ — then; sāyāhnasamaye — at the evening time; tṛtīye — on the third; 'hani — day; sārathiḥ — the charioteer; ayodhyāṃ — Ayodhyā; samanuprāpya — having reached; nirānandāṃ — joyless; dadarśa — beheld, saw; ha — indeed
2.51.5
sa śūnyām iva niḥśabdāṃ dṛṣṭvā paramadurmanāḥ
sumantraś cintayām āsa śokavegasamāhataḥ
Seeing it silent, as though empty, Sumantra, deeply dejected and struck by a surge of grief, fell to brooding:
Words: sa — he; śūnyām — empty; iva — as though; niḥśabdāṃ — silent, soundless; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; paramadurmanāḥ — deeply dejected; sumantraś — Sumantra; cintayām āsa — fell to thinking, brooded; śokavegasamāhataḥ — struck by a surge of grief
2.51.6
kaccin na sagajā sāśvā sajanā sajanādhipā
rāma saṃtāpaduḥkhena dagdhā śokāgninā purī
iti cintāparaḥ sūtas tvaritaḥ praviveśa ha
'Surely the city, with its elephants and horses, its people and their lord, has not been burnt down by the fire of grief, by the anguish of sorrow for Rāma?' Thus absorbed in thought, the charioteer entered in haste.
Words: kaccin — surely...? (I hope not); na — not; sagajā — with its elephants; sāśvā — with its horses; sajanā — with its people; sajanādhipā — with the lord of its people; rāma saṃtāpaduḥkhena — by the anguish of grief for Rāma; dagdhā — burnt down; śokāgninā — by the fire of grief; purī — the city; iti — thus; cintāparaḥ — absorbed in thought; sūtas — the charioteer; tvaritaḥ — in haste, hurriedly; praviveśa — entered; ha — indeed
2.51.7
sumantram abhiyāntaṃ taṃ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
kva rāma iti pṛcchantaḥ sūtam abhyadravan narāḥ
As Sumantra drove up, men by the hundreds and thousands ran to the charioteer, asking, 'Where is Rāma?'
Words: sumantram — Sumantra; abhiyāntaṃ — approaching, driving up; taṃ — him; śataśo — by hundreds; 'tha — then; sahasraśaḥ — by thousands; kva — where; rāma — Rāma; iti — thus (saying); pṛcchantaḥ — asking; sūtam — the charioteer; abhyadravan — ran up to; narāḥ — men
2.51.8
teṣāṃ śaśaṃsa gaṅgāyām aham āpṛcchya rāghavam
anujñāto nivṛtto 'smi dhārmikeṇa mahātmanā
He told them: 'At the Gaṅgā, having taken leave of Rāghava and been granted permission by that righteous, great-souled one, I have returned.'
Words: teṣāṃ — to them; śaśaṃsa — told, announced; gaṅgāyām — at the Gaṅgā; aham — I; āpṛcchya — having taken leave of; rāghavam — Rāghava; anujñāto — given leave; nivṛtto — returned; 'smi — I am; dhārmikeṇa — by the righteous one; mahātmanā — great-souled
2.51.9
te tīrṇā iti vijñāya bāṣpapūrṇamukhā janāḥ
aho dhig iti niḥśvasya hā rāmeti ca cukruśuḥ
Learning that they had crossed over, the people, their faces bathed in tears, sighed 'Alas, shame!' and cried out, 'Ah, Rāma!'
Words: te — they; tīrṇā — crossed over; iti — thus; vijñāya — having learned, understood; bāṣpapūrṇamukhā — with faces full of tears; janāḥ — the people; aho — alas, oh; dhig — shame, fie; iti — thus; niḥśvasya — having sighed; hā — ah, alas; rāmeti — 'Rāma!'; ca — and; cukruśuḥ — cried out, wailed
2.51.10
śuśrāva ca vacas teṣāṃ vṛndaṃ vṛndaṃ ca tiṣṭhatām
hatāḥ sma khalu ye neha paśyāma iti rāghavam
And he heard the words of those standing crowd upon crowd: 'We are surely undone, we who no longer see Rāghava here.'
Words: śuśrāva — heard; ca — and; vacas — the words; teṣāṃ — of them; vṛndaṃ vṛndaṃ — crowd upon crowd; ca — and; tiṣṭhatām — of (them) standing; hatāḥ — undone, ruined; sma — indeed (we are); khalu — surely; ye — who; neha — not here; paśyāma — we see; iti — thus; rāghavam — Rāghava
2.51.11
dānayajñavivāheṣu samājeṣu mahatsu ca
na drakṣyāmaḥ punar jātu dhārmikaṃ rāmam antarā
'At gift-givings, sacrifices, and weddings, and at great gatherings, never again shall we see the righteous Rāma in our midst.'
Words: dānayajñavivāheṣu — at gift-givings, sacrifices, and weddings; samājeṣu — at assemblies, gatherings; mahatsu — great; ca — and; na — not; drakṣyāmaḥ — we shall see; punar — again; jātu — ever; dhārmikaṃ — the righteous; rāmam — Rāma; antarā — among (us), in the midst
2.51.12
kiṃ samarthaṃ janasyāsya kiṃ priyaṃ kiṃ sukhāvaham
iti rāmeṇa nagaraṃ pitṛvat paripālitam
'What is fitting for these people, what is dear to them, what brings them ease?'—so mindful, Rāma guarded the city like a father.
Words: kiṃ — what; samarthaṃ — fitting, suitable; janasyāsya — for these people; kiṃ — what; priyaṃ — dear, pleasing; kiṃ — what; sukhāvaham — bringing ease; iti — thus; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; nagaraṃ — the city; pitṛvat — like a father; paripālitam — was guarded, protected
2.51.13
vātāyanagatānāṃ ca strīṇām anvantarāpaṇam
rāmaśokābhitaptānāṃ śuśrāva paridevanam
And along the row of shops he heard the lamentation of the women at their windows, scorched with grief for Rāma.
Words: vātāyanagatānāṃ — of (the women) at the windows; ca — and; strīṇām — of the women; anvantarāpaṇam — along the row of shops; rāmaśokābhitaptānāṃ — scorched with grief for Rāma; śuśrāva — heard; paridevanam — lamentation, wailing
2.51.14
sa rājamārgamadhyena sumantraḥ pihitānanaḥ
yatra rājā daśarathas tad evopayayau gṛham
Sumantra, his face covered, went by the middle of the royal highway straight to that palace where King Daśaratha was.
Words: sa — he; rājamārgamadhyena — by the middle of the royal highway; sumantraḥ — Sumantra; pihitānanaḥ — with his face covered; yatra — where; rājā — the king; daśarathas — Daśaratha; tad — that; evopayayau — went straight to; gṛham — the palace, house
2.51.15
so 'vatīrya rathāc chīghraṃ rājaveśma praviśya ca
kakṣyāḥ saptābhicakrāma mahājanasamākulāḥ
Descending quickly from the chariot and entering the royal residence, he passed through the seven courtyards thronged with a great multitude.
Words: so 'vatīrya — having descended; rathāc — from the chariot; chīghraṃ — quickly; rājaveśma — the royal residence; praviśya — having entered; ca — and; kakṣyāḥ — the courtyards, enclosures; saptābhicakrāma — passed through seven; mahājanasamākulāḥ — thronged with a great multitude
2.51.16
tato daśarathastrīṇāṃ prāsādebhyas tatas tataḥ
rāmaśokābhitaptānāṃ mandaṃ śuśrāva jalpitam
Then from the palaces here and there he heard the faint murmuring of Daśaratha's women, scorched with grief for Rāma.
Words: tato — then; daśarathastrīṇāṃ — of Daśaratha's women; prāsādebhyas — from the palaces; tatas tataḥ — here and there; rāmaśokābhitaptānāṃ — scorched with grief for Rāma; mandaṃ — faint, low; śuśrāva — heard; jalpitam — murmuring, talk
2.51.17
saha rāmeṇa niryāto vinā rāmam ihāgataḥ
sūtaḥ kiṃ nāma kausalyāṃ śocantīṃ prativakṣyati
'The charioteer who set out with Rāma has come back here without Rāma—what on earth will he say to the grieving Kausalyā?'
Words: saha rāmeṇa — together with Rāma; niryāto — set out, departed; vinā — without; rāmam — Rāma; ihāgataḥ — come here; sūtaḥ — the charioteer; kiṃ nāma — what indeed, what on earth; kausalyāṃ — to Kausalyā; śocantīṃ — grieving; prativakṣyati — will answer, say in reply
2.51.18
yathā ca manye durjīvam evaṃ na sukaraṃ dhruvam
ācchidya putre niryāte kausalyā yatra jīvati
'As I think, living on is surely a hard thing and no easy matter—seeing that Kausalyā still lives, though her son was torn from her and is gone.'
Words: yathā — as, in which way; ca — and; manye — I think; durjīvam — hard to live, wretched living; evaṃ — so, thus; na — not; sukaraṃ — easy (to do); dhruvam — surely, certainly; ācchidya — having torn away, snatched; putre — when the son (loc. abs.); niryāte — having gone away (loc. abs.); kausalyā — Kausalyā; yatra — seeing that, since; jīvati — lives
2.51.19
satya rūpaṃ tu tadvākyaṃ rājñaḥ strīṇāṃ niśāmayan
pradīptam iva śokena viveśa sahasā gṛham
Hearing that truthful speech of the king's women, he, as if ablaze with grief, suddenly entered the palace.
Words: satya rūpaṃ — true in form, truthful; tu — but, and; tadvākyaṃ — that speech; rājñaḥ — of the king; strīṇāṃ — of the women; niśāmayan — hearing, perceiving; pradīptam — ablaze, inflamed; iva — as if; śokena — with grief; viveśa — entered; sahasā — suddenly; gṛham — the palace, house
2.51.20
sa praviśyāṣṭamīṃ kakṣyāṃ rājānaṃ dīnam ātulam
putraśokaparidyūnam apaśyat pāṇḍare gṛhe
Entering the eighth courtyard, he saw the king—wretched and without peer—worn out with grief for his son, in the white palace.
Words: sa — he; praviśyāṣṭamīṃ — having entered the eighth; kakṣyāṃ — courtyard; rājānaṃ — the king; dīnam — wretched, miserable; ātulam — without peer, unequalled; putraśokaparidyūnam — worn out with grief for his son; apaśyat — saw; pāṇḍare — white, pale; gṛhe — in the house, palace
2.51.21
abhigamya tam āsīnaṃ narendram abhivādya ca
sumantro rāmavacanaṃ yathoktaṃ pratyavedayat
Approaching that seated king and saluting him, Sumantra reported Rāma's message just as it had been spoken.
Words: abhigamya — having approached; tam — him; āsīnaṃ — seated; narendram — the king (lord of men); abhivādya — having saluted; ca — and; sumantro — Sumantra; rāmavacanaṃ — Rāma's message; yathoktaṃ — just as spoken; pratyavedayat — reported, related
2.51.22
sa tūṣṇīm eva tac chrutvā rājā vibhrānta cetanaḥ
mūrchito nyapatad bhūmau rāmaśokābhipīḍitaḥ
Hearing that, the king, silent, his mind reeling, swooned and fell to the ground, tormented by grief for Rāma.
Words: sa — he; tūṣṇīm — in silence, silently; eva — indeed; tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; rājā — the king; vibhrānta cetanaḥ — his mind reeling; mūrchito — swooning, fainted; nyapatad — fell down; bhūmau — on the ground; rāmaśokābhipīḍitaḥ — tormented by grief for Rāma
2.51.23
tato 'ntaḥpuram āviddhaṃ mūrchite pṛthivīpatau
uddhṛtya bāhū cukrośa nṛpatau patite kṣitau
Then, when the lord of the earth swooned, the inner apartments were thrown into confusion; and as the king lay fallen on the ground, they wailed with arms upraised.
Words: tato — then; 'ntaḥpuram — the inner apartments, harem; āviddhaṃ — thrown into confusion, agitated; mūrchite — when had swooned (loc. abs.); pṛthivīpatau — the lord of the earth (loc. abs.); uddhṛtya — having raised up; bāhū — the arms; cukrośa — wailed, cried out; nṛpatau — when the king (loc. abs.); patite — having fallen (loc. abs.); kṣitau — on the ground
2.51.24
sumitrayā tu sahitā kausalyā patitaṃ patim
utthāpayām āsa tadā vacanaṃ cedam abravīt
Then Kausalyā, together with Sumitrā, raised up her fallen husband and spoke these words:
Words: sumitrayā — with Sumitrā; tu — and; sahitā — together; kausalyā — Kausalyā; patitaṃ — fallen; patim — husband; utthāpayām āsa — raised up, lifted; tadā — then; vacanaṃ — words; cedam — and this; abravīt — spoke
2.51.25
imaṃ tasya mahābhāga dūtaṃ duṣkarakāriṇaḥ
vanavāsād anuprāptaṃ kasmān na pratibhāṣase
'O illustrious one, why do you not answer this messenger, come from the forest-exile of him who does such hard deeds?'
Words: imaṃ — this; tasya — of him; mahābhāga — O illustrious one; dūtaṃ — messenger; duṣkarakāriṇaḥ — of the doer of hard deeds; vanavāsād — from the forest-exile; anuprāptaṃ — arrived, come; kasmān — why; na — not; pratibhāṣase — do you answer, reply
2.51.26
adyemam anayaṃ kṛtvā vyapatrapasi rāghava
uttiṣṭha sukṛtaṃ te 'stu śoke na syāt sahāyatā
'Now that you have done this wrong, Rāghava, are you ashamed? Rise up! May good come to you; grief will bring you no help.'
Words: adyemam — now this; anayaṃ — wrong, injustice, misconduct; kṛtvā — having done; vyapatrapasi — are you ashamed; rāghava — O Rāghava (Daśaratha); uttiṣṭha — rise up; sukṛtaṃ — good, welfare; te — to you; 'stu — let it be; śoke — in grief; na — not; syāt — there would be; sahāyatā — help, assistance
2.51.27
deva yasyā bhayād rāmaṃ nānupṛcchasi sārathim
neha tiṣṭhati kaikeyī viśrabdhaṃ pratibhāṣyatām
'O king, Kaikeyī, for fear of whom you do not ask the charioteer about Rāma, is not here; let him be questioned freely.'
Words: deva — O lord, O king; yasyā — of whom (fem.); bhayād — for fear; rāmaṃ — about Rāma; nānupṛcchasi — you do not ask; sārathim — the charioteer; neha — not here; tiṣṭhati — stands, is present; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; viśrabdhaṃ — confidently, freely; pratibhāṣyatām — let him be addressed, let it be answered
2.51.28
sā tathoktvā mahārājaṃ kausalyā śokalālasā
dharaṇyāṃ nipapātāśu bāṣpaviplutabhāṣiṇī
Having spoken thus to the great king, Kausalyā, faint with longing in her grief, her speech drowned in tears, fell straightway to the ground.
Words: sā — she; tathoktvā — having so spoken; mahārājaṃ — the great king; kausalyā — Kausalyā; śokalālasā — faint with longing in grief; dharaṇyāṃ — on the ground; nipapātāśu — fell straightway; bāṣpaviplutabhāṣiṇī — her speech drowned in tears
2.51.29
evaṃ vilapatīṃ dṛṣṭvā kausalyāṃ patitāṃ bhuvi
patiṃ cāvekṣya tāḥ sarvāḥ sasvaraṃ ruruduḥ striyaḥ
Seeing Kausalyā thus lamenting, fallen on the ground, and looking on the king, all those women wept aloud.
Words: evaṃ — thus; vilapatīṃ — lamenting; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; kausalyāṃ — Kausalyā; patitāṃ — fallen; bhuvi — on the ground; patiṃ — the king, husband; cāvekṣya — and looking upon; tāḥ — those; sarvāḥ — all; sasvaraṃ — aloud, with a cry; ruruduḥ — wept; striyaḥ — the women
2.51.30
tatas tam antaḥpuranādam utthitaṃ samīkṣya vṛddhās taruṇāś ca mānavāḥ
striyaś ca sarvā ruruduḥ samantataḥ puraṃ tadāsīt punar eva saṃkulam
Then, perceiving that clamour risen up from the inner apartments, the old folk and the young, and all the women, wept on every side; and the city was once again thrown into turmoil.
Words: tatas — then; tam — that; antaḥpuranādam — the clamour of the inner apartments; utthitaṃ — risen up, arisen; samīkṣya — having perceived, seen; vṛddhās — the old; taruṇāś — the young; ca — and; mānavāḥ — people, men; striyaś — women; ca — and; sarvā — all; ruruduḥ — wept; samantataḥ — on every side; puraṃ — the city; tadāsīt — then became; punar — again; eva — very, indeed; saṃkulam — in turmoil, thronged
← 2.50 The Citrakūṭa hut and its rites · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.52 Sumantra reports the farewells →
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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