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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 52: Sumantra reports the farewells
Summary. Rāma asks Bharata to care for the family, Lakṣmaṇa condemns the banishment and Sītā stands silently in tears
Sequence
- After reviving, Daśaratha asks Sumantra how the travelers will eat, sleep, and survive in the forest (2.52.1–7)
- he asks what each of them said at their parting (2.52.8–9)
- Sumantra conveys Rāma's respectful greetings to his father and the Queens, and his request that Kausalyā care for Daśaratha (2.52.10–14)
- he adds Rāma's appeal for Bharata to honor all the mothers and their father, noting that Rāma himself was weeping as he spoke (2.52.15–17)
- he then reports Lakṣmaṇa's angry questions: what offense justified the banishment, and how could the King expect the people's affection after treating Rāma this way? → Lakṣmaṇa said he now regarded Rāma as his father and protector (2.52.18–22)
- Sumantra says Sītā spoke no word to him; she stood in tears, looking toward her husband and then the chariot. (2.52.23–26)
Verses 2.52.1–26
2.52.1
pratyāśvasto yadā rājā mohāt pratyāgataḥ punaḥ
athājuhāva taṃ sūtaṃ rāmavṛttāntakāraṇāt
When the king had regained his breath and come back once more from his swoon, he summoned that charioteer to learn the tidings of Rāma.
Words: pratyāśvasto — regained breath, revived; yadā — when; rājā — the king; mohāt — from his swoon, faint; pratyāgataḥ — returned, come back; punaḥ — again; athājuhāva — then summoned; taṃ — that; sūtaṃ — charioteer; rāmavṛttāntakāraṇāt — to learn the tidings of Rāma
2.52.2
vṛddhaṃ paramasaṃtaptaṃ navagraham iva dvipam
viniḥśvasantaṃ dhyāyantam asvastham iva kuñjaram
(He summoned the charioteer,) aged and sorely tormented, like a newly captured elephant, sighing deeply and brooding, like an elephant that is unwell.
Words: vṛddhaṃ — aged, old; paramasaṃtaptaṃ — sorely tormented; navagraham — newly captured; iva — like; dvipam — elephant; viniḥśvasantaṃ — sighing deeply; dhyāyantam — brooding, musing; asvastham — unwell, not at ease; iva — like; kuñjaram — elephant
2.52.3
rājā tu rajasā sūtaṃ dhvastāṅgaṃ samupasthitam
aśru pūrṇamukhaṃ dīnam uvāca paramārtavat
To the charioteer who had come, his limbs grimed with dust, his face full of tears, and wretched, the king spoke, himself in the utmost anguish:
Words: rājā — the king; tu — and; rajasā — with dust; sūtaṃ — the charioteer; dhvastāṅgaṃ — with limbs grimed; samupasthitam — who had come, arrived; aśru pūrṇamukhaṃ — with face full of tears; dīnam — wretched, miserable; uvāca — spoke; paramārtavat — as if in utmost anguish
2.52.4
kva nu vatsyati dharmātmā vṛkṣamūlam upāśritaḥ
so 'tyantasukhitaḥ sūta kim aśiṣyati rāghavaḥ
bhūmipālātmajo bhūmau śete katham anāthavat
'Where will the righteous one dwell, sheltering at the foot of a tree? That Rāghava, so utterly used to comfort—what, charioteer, will he eat? How does the son of the earth's guardian lie upon the bare ground like one forlorn?'
Words: kva — where; nu — now, indeed; vatsyati — will dwell; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; vṛkṣamūlam — the foot of a tree; upāśritaḥ — sheltering, resorting to; so 'tyantasukhitaḥ — he, so utterly used to comfort; sūta — O charioteer; kim — what; aśiṣyati — will eat; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; bhūmipālātmajo — the son of the earth's guardian; bhūmau — on the ground; śete — lies; katham — how; anāthavat — like one forlorn, masterless
2.52.5
yaṃ yāntam anuyānti sma padāti rathakuñjarāḥ
sa vatsyati kathaṃ rāmo vijanaṃ vanam āśritaḥ
'He whom, as he went, foot-soldiers, chariots, and elephants used to follow—how will that Rāma dwell, taking to a lonely forest?'
Words: yaṃ — whom; yāntam — going; anuyānti sma — used to follow; padāti — foot-soldiers; rathakuñjarāḥ — chariots and elephants; sa — he; vatsyati — will dwell; kathaṃ — how; rāmo — Rāma; vijanaṃ — lonely, unpeopled; vanam — forest; āśritaḥ — taking to, resorting to
2.52.6
vyālair mṛgair ācaritaṃ kṛṣṇasarpaniṣevitam
kathaṃ kumārau vaidehyā sārdhaṃ vanam upasthitau
'Ranged by beasts of prey and wild animals, haunted by black serpents—how have the two princes, together with Vaidehī, come to such a forest?'
Words: vyālair — by beasts of prey; mṛgair — by wild animals; ācaritaṃ — ranged over, roamed; kṛṣṇasarpaniṣevitam — haunted by black serpents; kathaṃ — how; kumārau — the two princes; vaidehyā — with Vaidehī; sārdhaṃ — together with; vanam — the forest; upasthitau — have come to, entered
2.52.7
sukumāryā tapasvinyā sumantra saha sītayā
rājaputrau kathaṃ pādair avaruhya rathād gatau
'How, Sumantra, did the two princes, together with tender, hapless Sītā, descend from the chariot and go on foot?'
Words: sukumāryā — with the delicate one; tapasvinyā — with the hapless one, poor lady; sumantra — O Sumantra; saha sītayā — together with Sītā; rājaputrau — the two princes; kathaṃ — how; pādair — on foot, by their feet; avaruhya — having descended; rathād — from the chariot; gatau — went, gone
2.52.8
siddhārthaḥ khalu sūta tvaṃ yena dṛṣṭau mamātmajau
vanāntaṃ praviśantau tāv aśvināv iva mandaram
'Your purpose is surely fulfilled, charioteer, in that you saw my two sons entering the forest's edge, like the two Aśvins entering Mandara.'
Words: siddhārthaḥ — one whose purpose is fulfilled; khalu — surely; sūta — O charioteer; tvaṃ — you; yena — in that, by which; dṛṣṭau — seen; mamātmajau — my two sons; vanāntaṃ — the edge of the forest; praviśantau — entering; tāv — those two; aśvināv — the two Aśvins; iva — like; mandaram — Mandara (mountain)
2.52.9
kim uvāca vaco rāmaḥ kim uvāca ca lakṣmaṇaḥ
sumantra vanam āsādya kim uvāca ca maithilī
āsitaṃ śayitaṃ bhuktaṃ sūta rāmasya kīrtaya
'What word did Rāma speak, and what did Lakṣmaṇa say, and, Sumantra, once she reached the forest, what did the Maithilī say? Tell me, charioteer, of Rāma's sitting, his lying down, and his eating.'
Words: kim — what; uvāca — spoke, said; vaco — word; rāmaḥ — Rāma; kim — what; uvāca — said; ca — and; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; sumantra — O Sumantra; vanam — the forest; āsādya — having reached; kim — what; uvāca — said; ca — and; maithilī — the Maithilī (Sītā); āsitaṃ — the sitting, how he sat; śayitaṃ — the lying down, how he lay; bhuktaṃ — the eating, what he ate; sūta — O charioteer; rāmasya — of Rāma; kīrtaya — tell, relate
2.52.10
iti sūto narendreṇa coditaḥ sajjamānayā
uvāca vācā rājānaṃ sabāṣpaparirabdhayā
Thus urged on by the king, the charioteer answered the king in a voice that faltered and was choked with tears.
Words: iti — thus; sūto — the charioteer; narendreṇa — by the king (lord of men); coditaḥ — urged, prompted; sajjamānayā — faltering, sticking; uvāca — spoke, answered; vācā — with a voice; rājānaṃ — the king; sabāṣpaparirabdhayā — choked with tears
2.52.11
abravīn māṃ mahārāja dharmam evānupālayan
añjaliṃ rāghavaḥ kṛtvā śirasābhipraṇamya ca
'Upholding dharma, O great king, Rāghava, having made an añjali and bowed his head, said to me:'
Words: abravīn — said; māṃ — to me; mahārāja — O great king; dharmam — dharma; evānupālayan — indeed upholding; añjaliṃ — an añjali (folded palms); rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; kṛtvā — having made; śirasābhipraṇamya — having bowed with his head; ca — and
2.52.12
sūta madvacanāt tasya tātasya viditātmanaḥ
śirasā vandanīyasya vandyau pādau mahātmanaḥ
'Charioteer, in my name the two feet of that father of mine—the wise-souled, great-souled one, worthy to be revered with the head—are to be worshipped.'
Words: sūta — O charioteer; madvacanāt — in my name, on my behalf; tasya — of that; tātasya — of the father; viditātmanaḥ — of self-controlled soul; śirasā — with the head; vandanīyasya — worthy of salutation; vandyau — to be worshipped (dual); pādau — the two feet; mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled one
2.52.13
sarvam antaḥpuraṃ vācyaṃ sūta mad vacanāt tvayā
ārogyam aviśeṣeṇa yathārhaṃ cābhivādanam
'The whole harem, charioteer, is to be addressed by you in my name: (wish them all) health without distinction, and salutation each as is due.'
Words: sarvam — the whole; antaḥpuraṃ — the harem, inner apartments; vācyaṃ — is to be addressed; sūta — O charioteer; mad vacanāt — in my name, on my behalf; tvayā — by you; ārogyam — health, well-being; aviśeṣeṇa — without distinction, alike; yathārhaṃ — as befitting, each as is due; cābhivādanam — and salutation
2.52.14
mātā ca mama kausalyā kuśalaṃ cābhivādanam
devi devasya pādau ca devavat paripālaya
'And to my mother Kausalyā, wishes for her well-being and salutation, and (this word): "Lady, tend the feet of the king as you would a god's."'
Words: mātā — mother; ca — and; mama — my; kausalyā — Kausalyā; kuśalaṃ — well-being, good health; cābhivādanam — and salutation; devi — O lady, O queen; devasya — of the king (lit. the lord); pādau — the two feet; ca — and; devavat — as (you would) a god's; paripālaya — tend, guard
2.52.15
bharataḥ kuśalaṃ vācyo vācyo madvacanena ca
sarvāsv eva yathānyāyaṃ vṛttiṃ vartasva mātṛṣu
'Bharata is to be greeted with wishes for his welfare and told in my name: "Toward all the mothers alike conduct yourself justly."'
Words: bharataḥ — Bharata; kuśalaṃ — welfare, (wishes for) well-being; vācyo — is to be addressed; vācyo — is to be told; madvacanena — in my name, on my behalf; ca — and; sarvāsv — toward all; eva — indeed, alike; yathānyāyaṃ — justly, as is right; vṛttiṃ — conduct, behavior; vartasva — conduct yourself, behave; mātṛṣu — toward the mothers
2.52.16
vaktavyaś ca mahābāhur ikṣvākukulanandanaḥ
pitaraṃ yauvarājyastho rājyastham anupālaya
'And the mighty-armed delight of the Ikṣvāku line is to be told: "Set up as heir-apparent, cherish your father, seated on the throne."'
Words: vaktavyaś — is to be told; ca — and; mahābāhur — the mighty-armed; ikṣvākukulanandanaḥ — delight of the Ikṣvāku line; pitaraṃ — the father; yauvarājyastho — established as heir-apparent; rājyastham — established on the throne; anupālaya — cherish, protect
2.52.17
ity evaṃ māṃ mahārāja bruvann eva mahāyaśāḥ
rāmo rājīvatāmrākṣo bhṛśam aśrūṇy avartayat
Even as he spoke thus to me, O great king, the greatly glorious Rāma, whose eyes were coppery-red like lotuses, shed abundant tears.
Words: ity evaṃ — thus, in this way; māṃ — to me; mahārāja — O great king; bruvann — speaking; eva — even, indeed; mahāyaśāḥ — of great glory; rāmo — Rāma; rājīvatāmrākṣo — whose eyes are coppery-red like lotuses; bhṛśam — abundantly, greatly; aśrūṇy — tears; avartayat — shed, let fall
2.52.18
lakṣmaṇas tu susaṃkruddho niḥśvasan vākyam abravīt
kenāyam aparādhena rājaputro vivāsitaḥ
But Lakṣmaṇa, greatly enraged, said with a sigh: 'For what offense has the prince been banished?'
Words: lakṣmaṇas — Lakṣmaṇa; tu — but; susaṃkruddho — greatly enraged; niḥśvasan — sighing; vākyam — words; abravīt — spoke; kenāyam — by what... this; aparādhena — offense, fault; rājaputro — the prince; vivāsitaḥ — banished, exiled
2.52.19
yadi pravrājito rāmo lobhakāraṇakāritam
varadānanimittaṃ vā sarvathā duṣkṛtaṃ kṛtam
rāmasya tu parityāge na hetum upalakṣaye
'If Rāma has been sent into exile, it was done from motives of greed, or on account of the granting of boons—in any case an evil deed has been done; yet in the abandonment of Rāma I can perceive no reason.'
Words: yadi — if; pravrājito — sent into exile; rāmo — Rāma; lobhakāraṇakāritam — done from motives of greed; varadānanimittaṃ — on account of the granting of boons; vā — or; sarvathā — in any case, altogether; duṣkṛtaṃ — an evil deed; kṛtam — done; rāmasya — of Rāma; tu — but, yet; parityāge — in the abandonment; na — not; hetum — reason, cause; upalakṣaye — I perceive, see
2.52.20
asamīkṣya samārabdhaṃ viruddhaṃ buddhilāghavāt
janayiṣyati saṃkrośaṃ rāghavasya vivāsanam
'Undertaken without reflection, contrary to right, out of levity of judgment—the banishment of Rāghava will provoke an outcry.'
Words: asamīkṣya — without reflection, unconsidered; samārabdhaṃ — undertaken, begun; viruddhaṃ — contrary, opposed; buddhilāghavāt — out of levity of judgment; janayiṣyati — will produce, provoke; saṃkrośaṃ — an outcry, uproar; rāghavasya — of Rāghava; vivāsanam — banishment, exile
2.52.21
ahaṃ tāvan mahārāje pitṛtvaṃ nopalakṣaye
bhrātā bhartā ca bandhuś ca pitā ca mama rāghavaḥ
'For my part, I no longer recognize any fatherhood in the great king; to me Rāghava is brother, master, kinsman, and father.'
Words: ahaṃ — I; tāvan — for my part, indeed; mahārāje — in the great king; pitṛtvaṃ — fatherhood; nopalakṣaye — I do not recognize; bhrātā — brother; bhartā — master, supporter; ca — and; bandhuś — kinsman; ca — and; pitā — father; ca — and; mama — my; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava
2.52.22
sarvalokapriyaṃ tyaktvā sarvalokahite ratam
sarvaloko 'nurajyeta kathaṃ tvānena karmaṇā
'Having cast off one dear to all the world and devoted to the welfare of all the world—how could the whole world hold you dear for this deed?'
Words: sarvalokapriyaṃ — dear to all the world; tyaktvā — having abandoned; sarvalokahite — devoted to the welfare of all the world; ratam — devoted, intent on; sarvaloko — the whole world; 'nurajyeta — would take delight, be attached; kathaṃ — how; tvānena — you... by this; karmaṇā — by (this) deed
2.52.23
jānakī tu mahārāja niḥśvasantī tapasvinī
bhūtopahatacitteva viṣṭhitā vṛṣmṛtā sthitā
But Jānakī, O great king, poor lady, sighing, stood transfixed, as though her mind were possessed by a spirit, dazed and forgetful of herself.
Words: jānakī — Jānakī (Sītā); tu — but; mahārāja — O great king; niḥśvasantī — sighing; tapasvinī — the poor lady, hapless one; bhūtopahatacitteva — as if her mind were seized by a spirit; viṣṭhitā — standing still, transfixed; vṛṣmṛtā — dazed, forgetful of herself (= vismṛtā); sthitā — stood, remained
2.52.24
adṛṣṭapūrvavyasanā rājaputrī yaśasvinī
tena duḥkhena rudatī naiva māṃ kiṃ cid abravīt
The illustrious princess, who had never before known misfortune, weeping with that grief, did not say a single word to me.
Words: adṛṣṭapūrvavyasanā — who had never before known misfortune; rājaputrī — the princess; yaśasvinī — illustrious; tena — with that; duḥkhena — grief; rudatī — weeping; naiva — not at all; māṃ — to me; kiṃ cid — anything; abravīt — said, spoke
2.52.25
udvīkṣamāṇā bhartāraṃ mukhena pariśuṣyatā
mumoca sahasā bāṣpaṃ māṃ prayāntam udīkṣya sā
Gazing up at her husband, her face growing parched, she, on seeing me depart, suddenly burst into tears.
Words: udvīkṣamāṇā — gazing up at; bhartāraṃ — husband; mukhena — with her face; pariśuṣyatā — growing dry, parched; mumoca — shed, let fall; sahasā — suddenly; bāṣpaṃ — tears; māṃ — me; prayāntam — departing, going away; udīkṣya — having seen, looking at; sā — she
2.52.26
tathaiva rāmo 'śrumukhaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ sthito 'bhaval lakṣmaṇabāhupālitaḥ
tathaiva sītā rudatī tapasvinī nirīkṣate rājarathaṃ tathaiva mām
Even so Rāma, his face wet with tears, his palms joined, stood there guarded by Lakṣmaṇa's arm; and even so poor weeping Sītā gazed after the royal chariot, and after me too.
Words: tathaiva — even so, just so; rāmo — Rāma; 'śrumukhaḥ — with tearful face; kṛtāñjaliḥ — with palms joined; sthito — stood; 'bhaval — became; lakṣmaṇabāhupālitaḥ — guarded by Lakṣmaṇa's arm; tathaiva — even so; sītā — Sītā; rudatī — weeping; tapasvinī — poor, hapless; nirīkṣate — gazes at, watches; rājarathaṃ — the royal chariot; tathaiva — and just so; mām — me
← 2.51 Sumantra returns to Ayodhyā · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.53 Daśaratha’s remorse →
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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