← 2.53 Daśaratha’s remorse · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.55 Kausalyā reproaches Daśaratha →

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 54: Sumantra comforts Kausalyā

Summary. He describes Lakṣmaṇa’s service and Sītā’s curiosity about the forest, but Kausalyā’s grief persists

Sequence

  1. Kausalyā asks Sumantra to take her to the travelers, saying she cannot remain without them (2.54.1–3)
  2. he assures her that Rāma will adapt and that Lakṣmaṇa finds purpose in serving him (2.54.4–6)
  3. he describes Sītā as at ease beside Rāma, enjoying the woods as she once enjoyed the city gardens (2.54.7–11)
  4. she has been asking about settlements, rivers, and trees along the way (2.54.12–14)
  5. he says she remains unafraid under Rāma's protection (2.54.15–17)
  6. he urges Kausalyā to take comfort in their determination to fulfill the promise → despite his reassurance, she continues to weep. (2.54.18–20)

Verses 2.54.1–20

2.54.1

tato bhūtopasṛṣṭeva vepamānā punaḥ punaḥ
dharaṇyāṃ gatasattveva kausalyā sūtam abravīt

Then, trembling again and again as if possessed by a spirit, as if her strength had drained away onto the ground, Kausalyā said to the charioteer:

Words: tato — then; bhūtopasṛṣṭeva — as if possessed by a spirit; vepamānā — trembling; punaḥ punaḥ — again and again; dharaṇyāṃ — on the ground, earth; gatasattveva — as if her strength were gone; kausalyā — Kausalyā; sūtam — to the charioteer; abravīt — said

2.54.2

naya māṃ yatra kākutsthaḥ sītā yatra ca lakṣmaṇaḥ
tān vinā kṣaṇam apy atra jīvituṃ notsahe hy aham

“Lead me to where Kākutstha is, and where Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa are; for without them I cannot bear to live here even for a moment.”

Words: naya — lead, take; māṃ — me; yatra — where; kākutsthaḥ — Kākutstha (Rāma); sītā — Sītā; yatra — where; ca — and; lakṣmaṇaḥ — Lakṣmaṇa; tān — them; vinā — without; kṣaṇam — a moment; apy — even; atra — here; jīvituṃ — to live; notsahe — I am not able, cannot bear; hy — for, indeed; aham — I

2.54.3

nivartaya rathaṃ śīghraṃ daṇḍakān naya mām api
atha tān nānugacchāmi gamiṣyāmi yamakṣayam

“Turn the chariot back quickly and take me too to the Daṇḍaka forest; if I do not follow after them, I shall go to the abode of Yama.”

Words: nivartaya — turn back; rathaṃ — the chariot; śīghraṃ — quickly; daṇḍakān — to the Daṇḍaka (forest); naya — lead, take; mām — me; api — also, too; atha — now, if then; tān — them; nānugacchāmi — I do not follow; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; yamakṣayam — to the abode of Yama (death)

2.54.4

bāṣpavegaupahatayā sa vācā sajjamānayā
idam āśvāsayan devīṃ sūtaḥ prāñjalir abravīt

With a voice choked and faltering, overwhelmed by the rush of his tears, the charioteer, comforting the queen with folded hands, said this:

Words: bāṣpavegaupahatayā — overwhelmed by the rush of tears; sa — he; vācā — with (his) voice; sajjamānayā — faltering, sticking (in the throat); idam — this; āśvāsayan — comforting, reassuring; devīṃ — the queen; sūtaḥ — the charioteer; prāñjalir — with folded hands; abravīt — said

2.54.5

tyaja śokaṃ ca mohaṃ ca saṃbhramaṃ duḥkhajaṃ tathā
vyavadhūya ca saṃtāpaṃ vane vatsyati rāghavaḥ

“Cast off grief and delusion and the agitation born of sorrow; shaking off all distress, the Rāghava will dwell in the forest.”

Words: tyaja — cast off, abandon; śokaṃ — grief; ca — and; mohaṃ — delusion, bewilderment; ca — and; saṃbhramaṃ — agitation, confusion; duḥkhajaṃ — born of sorrow; tathā — likewise, and; vyavadhūya — having shaken off; ca — and; saṃtāpaṃ — distress, anguish; vane — in the forest; vatsyati — will dwell; rāghavaḥ — the Rāghava

2.54.6

lakṣmaṇaś cāpi rāmasya pādau paricaran vane
ārādhayati dharmajñaḥ paralokaṃ jitendriyaḥ

“And Lakṣmaṇa too, tending Rāma's feet in the forest, knower of dharma and master of his senses, wins the world beyond.”

Words: lakṣmaṇaś — Lakṣmaṇa; cāpi — and also; rāmasya — of Rāma; pādau — the (two) feet; paricaran — tending, serving; vane — in the forest; ārādhayati — wins, propitiates; dharmajñaḥ — knower of dharma; paralokaṃ — the world beyond, next world; jitendriyaḥ — master of his senses

2.54.7

vijane 'pi vane sītā vāsaṃ prāpya gṛheṣv iva
visrambhaṃ labhate 'bhītā rāme saṃnyasta mānasā

“Even in the lonely forest, Sītā, finding her dwelling as though at home, feels at ease and unafraid, her heart resting wholly on Rāma.”

Words: vijane — lonely, unpeopled; 'pi — even; vane — in the forest; sītā — Sītā; vāsaṃ — dwelling, abode; prāpya — having obtained, taken up; gṛheṣv — as in (her) house; iva — as, like; visrambhaṃ — confidence, ease; labhate — obtains, feels; 'bhītā — unafraid; rāme — on Rāma; saṃnyasta — laid down, entrusted; mānasā — with her heart, mind

2.54.8

nāsyā dainyaṃ kṛtaṃ kiṃ cit susūkṣmam api lakṣaye
uciteva pravāsānāṃ vaidehī pratibhāti mā

“I mark in her no trace of dejection, not the least; the Videhan lady appears to me as if well used to travels abroad.”

Words: nāsyā — not of her; dainyaṃ — dejection, misery; kṛtaṃ — done, made; kiṃ cit — any, at all; susūkṣmam — very slight, subtle; api — even; lakṣaye — I perceive, mark; uciteva — as if accustomed; pravāsānāṃ — to sojourns abroad, journeys; vaidehī — the Videhan lady; pratibhāti — appears, seems; mā — to me

2.54.9

nagaropavanaṃ gatvā yathā sma ramate purā
tathaiva ramate sītā nirjaneṣu vaneṣv api

“Just as of old she used to delight when she went to the city's pleasure-groves, so exactly does Sītā delight even in the desolate forests.”

Words: nagaropavanaṃ — to the city pleasure-grove; gatvā — having gone; yathā — just as; sma — (with pres. = used to); ramate — delights, takes pleasure; purā — formerly, of old; tathaiva — so exactly, in the same way; ramate — delights; sītā — Sītā; nirjaneṣu — in the peopleless, desolate; vaneṣv — in the forests; api — even

2.54.10

bāleva ramate sītā bālacandranibhānanā
rāmā rāme hy adīnātmā vijane 'pi vane satī

“Sītā, her face like the young moon, delights like a girl; the lovely one, undaunted in spirit, is content in Rāma even in the lonely forest.”

Words: bāleva — like a girl, child; ramate — delights; sītā — Sītā; bālacandranibhānanā — her face like the young moon; rāmā — the lovely/charming (lady); rāme — in Rāma, on Rāma; hy — for, indeed; adīnātmā — undaunted in spirit; vijane — lonely, unpeopled; 'pi — even; vane — in the forest; satī — being, dwelling (as a devoted wife)

2.54.11

tadgataṃ hṛdayaṃ hy asyās tad adhīnaṃ ca jīvitam
ayodhyāpi bhavet tasyā rāma hīnā tathā vanam

“For her heart is fixed on him, and her very life depends on him; without Rāma even Ayodhyā would be to her but a forest.”

Words: tadgataṃ — gone to him, fixed on him; hṛdayaṃ — heart; hy — for, indeed; asyās — her, of her; tad — on him; adhīnaṃ — dependent, subject; ca — and; jīvitam — life; ayodhyāpi — even Ayodhyā; bhavet — would be; tasyā — for her; rāma — Rāma; hīnā — bereft of, without; tathā — likewise, so (would be); vanam — a forest

2.54.12

pathi pṛcchati vaidehī grāmāṃś ca nagarāṇi ca
gatiṃ dṛṣṭvā nadīnāṃ ca pādapān vividhān api

“Along the way the Videhan lady would ask about villages and cities, gazing at the course of the rivers and at trees of many kinds.”

Words: pathi — on the way, path; pṛcchati — asks, inquires; vaidehī — the Videhan lady; grāmāṃś — villages; ca — and; nagarāṇi — cities, towns; ca — and; gatiṃ — the course, flow; dṛṣṭvā — having seen, gazing at; nadīnāṃ — of the rivers; ca — and; pādapān — trees; vividhān — various; api — also

2.54.13

adhvanā vāta vegena saṃbhrameṇātapena ca
na hi gacchati vaidehyāś candrāṃśusadṛśī prabhā

“Through the journey, the force of the wind, the flurry and the sun's heat, the moonbeam-like radiance of the Videhan lady does not fade.”

Words: adhvanā — by the journey, road; vāta — wind; vegena — by the force of; saṃbhrameṇātapena — by the flurry and the heat; ca — and; na — not; hi — for, indeed; gacchati — goes (away), fades; vaidehyāś — of the Videhan lady; candrāṃśusadṛśī — like a moonbeam; prabhā — radiance, splendour

2.54.14

sadṛśaṃ śatapatrasya pūrṇacandropamaprabham
vadanaṃ tadvadānyāyā vaidehyā na vikampate

“The face of that generous Videhan lady, like a lotus of a hundred petals and shining like the full moon, does not quiver.”

Words: sadṛśaṃ — like, resembling; śatapatrasya — of the hundred-petalled (lotus); pūrṇacandropamaprabham — with splendour like the full moon; vadanaṃ — the face; tadvadānyāyā — of that generous (lady); vaidehyā — of the Videhan lady; na — not; vikampate — quivers, trembles

2.54.15

alaktarasaraktābhāv alaktarasavarjitau
adyāpi caraṇau tasyāḥ padmakośasamaprabhau

“Even now her two feet, ruddy as if reddened with lac-dye though bare of any lac, shine bright as the calyx of a lotus.”

Words: alaktarasaraktābhāv — ruddy as if dyed with lac-juice; alaktarasavarjitau — yet devoid of lac-dye; adyāpi — even now; caraṇau — the (two) feet; tasyāḥ — her, of her; padmakośasamaprabhau — bright as a lotus-calyx

2.54.16

nūpurodghuṣṭaheleva khelaṃ gacchati bhāminī
idānīm api vaidehī tadrāgā nyastabhūṣaṇā

“The lovely woman moves playfully, as though with the tinkling sport of anklets; even now the Videhan lady, though she has laid aside her ornaments, keeps that same charm.”

Words: nūpurodghuṣṭaheleva — as if with the sportive tinkling of anklets; khelaṃ — playfully, with a graceful gait; gacchati — goes, moves; bhāminī — the lovely woman; idānīm — now; api — even; vaidehī — the Videhan lady; tadrāgā — keeping that charm/love; nyastabhūṣaṇā — having laid aside her ornaments

2.54.17

gajaṃ vā vīkṣya siṃhaṃ vā vyāghraṃ vā vanam āśritā
nāhārayati saṃtrāsaṃ bāhū rāmasya saṃśritā

“Dwelling in the forest, even on catching sight of an elephant or a lion or a tiger, she feels no terror, sheltered in Rāma's arms.”

Words: gajaṃ — an elephant; vā — or; vīkṣya — having seen, on sighting; siṃhaṃ — a lion; vā — or; vyāghraṃ — a tiger; vā — or; vanam — the forest; āśritā — resorting to, dwelling in; nāhārayati — does not entertain, take on; saṃtrāsaṃ — terror, fright; bāhū — the (two) arms; rāmasya — of Rāma; saṃśritā — having taken shelter in, clinging to

2.54.18

na śocyās te na cātmā te śocyo nāpi janādhipaḥ
idaṃ hi caritaṃ loke pratiṣṭhāsyati śāśvatam

“They are not to be mourned, nor are you yourself to be mourned, nor even the king; for this deed of theirs will stand fast in the world for ever.”

Words: na — not; śocyās — to be mourned; te — they; na — not; cātmā — and yourself; te — your, of you; śocyo — to be mourned; nāpi — nor even; janādhipaḥ — the lord of men (king); idaṃ — this; hi — for, indeed; caritaṃ — conduct, deed; loke — in the world; pratiṣṭhāsyati — will stand fast, endure; śāśvatam — everlasting, forever

2.54.19

vidhūya śokaṃ parihṛṣṭamānasā maharṣiyāte pathi suvyavasthitāḥ
vane ratā vanyaphalāśanāḥ pituḥ śubhāṃ pratijñāṃ paripālayanti te
vane ratā vanyaphalāśanāḥ pituḥ
śubhāṃ pratijñāṃ paripālayanti te

Having shaken off grief, glad at heart, well-established on the path trodden by great seers, delighting in the forest and living on its wild fruits, they are fulfilling their father's noble pledge.

Words: vidhūya — having shaken off; śokaṃ — grief; parihṛṣṭamānasā — glad at heart; maharṣiyāte — trodden by great seers; pathi — on the path; suvyavasthitāḥ — well-established, steadfast; vane — in the forest; ratā — delighting; vanyaphalāśanāḥ — eating wild fruits; pituḥ — of the father; śubhāṃ — noble, auspicious; pratijñāṃ — pledge, promise; paripālayanti — are fulfilling, keeping; te — they

2.54.20

tathāpi sūtena suyuktavādinā nivāryamāṇā sutaśokakarśitā
na caiva devī virarāma kūjitāt priyeti putreti ca rāghaveti ca
na caiva devī virarāma kūjitāt
priyeti putreti ca rāghaveti ca

Yet, though restrained by the charioteer who spoke so aptly, the queen, wasted with grief for her son, did not cease from her wailing—“my dear! my son! O Rāghava!”

Words: tathāpi — yet, even so; sūtena — by the charioteer; suyuktavādinā — who spoke so fittingly; nivāryamāṇā — being restrained, checked; sutaśokakarśitā — wasted with grief for her son; na — not; caiva — and indeed; devī — the queen; virarāma — ceased, desisted; kūjitāt — from wailing, lamenting; priyeti — ‘my dear!’; putreti — ‘my son!’; ca — and; rāghaveti — ‘O Rāghava!’; ca — and

← 2.53 Daśaratha’s remorse · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.55 Kausalyā reproaches Daśaratha →

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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