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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 58: The curse and Daśaratha’s death
Summary. The youth’s father condemns him to die grieving for a son, Daśaratha recalls the curse and dies calling for Rāma
Sequence
- Continuing the account, Daśaratha says he took the water pot to the hermitage (2.58.1–4)
- the blind father heard his footsteps and assumed his son had returned; he asked why he had been so long and why he was silent (2.58.5–8)
- Daśaratha identified himself and confessed that he had mistaken the sound of the filling pot for an animal → he told the father that the youth had died when he withdrew the arrow (2.58.9–17)
- the father said that the prince's ignorance and voluntary confession had spared him an immediate, greater punishment → he asked to be led to his son (2.58.18–22)
- the parents touched the body and lamented the loss of the person who fed them, guided them, tended the fire, and comforted them (2.58.23–30)
- the father declared that they would soon follow their son and prayed for his blessed destination (2.58.31–38)
- as they made the water offering, the youth appeared in a divine form, assured them that service to them had earned him a high place, and ascended → the youth's father then cursed Daśaratha to experience the same grief for a son and die from it. (2.58.39–46)
- Returning to the present, Daśaratha tells Kausalyā that the curse has now reached him → he longs for one final touch from Rāma, but his sight and memory begin to fail → he imagines the fortunate people who will see his son return after the exile → calling for Rāma, he dies at midnight. (2.58.47–57)
Verses 2.58.1–57
2.58.1
tad ajñānān mahat pāpaṃ kṛtvā saṃkulitendriyaḥ
ekas tv acintayaṃ buddhyā kathaṃ nu sukṛtaṃ bhavet
Having done that great sin out of ignorance, my senses confounded, I alone pondered in my mind: how might this be set right?
Words: tad — that; ajñānān — out of ignorance; mahat — great; pāpaṃ — sin; kṛtvā — having done; saṃkulitendriyaḥ — my senses confounded; ekas — alone; tv — indeed; acintayaṃ — I pondered; buddhyā — with (my) mind; kathaṃ — how; nu — pray, indeed; sukṛtaṃ — well-remedied, set right; bhavet — might be
2.58.2
tatas taṃ ghaṭam ādaya pūrṇaṃ paramavāriṇā
āśramaṃ tam ahaṃ prāpya yathākhyātapathaṃ gataḥ
Then, taking up that pot filled with excellent water, and reaching that hermitage, I went by the path that had been described.
Words: tatas — then; taṃ — that; ghaṭam — pot; ādaya — having taken up; pūrṇaṃ — filled; paramavāriṇā — with excellent water; āśramaṃ — hermitage; tam — that; ahaṃ — I; prāpya — having reached; yathākhyātapathaṃ — by the path as described; gataḥ — went
2.58.3
tatrāhaṃ durbalāv andhau vṛddhāv apariṇāyakau
apaśyaṃ tasya pitarau lūnapakṣāv iva dvijau
There I saw his parents, feeble, blind, aged, and without a guide, like two birds with their wings clipped.
Words: tatrāhaṃ — there I; durbalāv — feeble (both); andhau — blind (both); vṛddhāv — aged (both); apariṇāyakau — without a guide (both); apaśyaṃ — I saw; tasya — his; pitarau — the two parents; lūnapakṣāv — with wings clipped; iva — like; dvijau — two birds
2.58.4
tannimittābhir āsīnau kathābhir aparikramau
tām āśāṃ matkṛte hīnāv udāsīnāv anāthavat
The two of them seated, unable to stir, engaged in talk occasioned by him, deprived on my account of that hope, listless like helpless folk.
Words: tannimittābhir — occasioned by him; āsīnau — the two seated; kathābhir — with talk; aparikramau — unable to move about; tām — that; āśāṃ — hope; matkṛte — on my account; hīnāv — deprived (both); udāsīnāv — listless, indifferent (both); anāthavat — like helpless ones
2.58.5
padaśabdaṃ tu me śrutvā munir vākyam abhāṣata
kiṃ cirāyasi me putra pānīyaṃ kṣipram ānaya
Hearing the sound of my footsteps, the sage spoke: 'Why do you delay, my son? Bring the water quickly.'
Words: padaśabdaṃ — the sound of footsteps; tu — but; me — my; śrutvā — having heard; munir — the sage; vākyam — word; abhāṣata — spoke; kiṃ — why; cirāyasi — you delay; me — my; putra — O son; pānīyaṃ — water; kṣipram — quickly; ānaya — bring
2.58.6
yannimittam idaṃ tāta salile krīḍitaṃ tvayā
utkaṇṭhitā te māteyaṃ praviśa kṣipram āśramam
For whatever reason you have played in the water, my child — this mother of yours is anxious; enter the hermitage quickly.
Words: yannimittam — for what reason; idaṃ — this; tāta — my child; salile — in the water; krīḍitaṃ — played; tvayā — by you; utkaṇṭhitā — anxious, longing; te — your; māteyaṃ — this mother; praviśa — enter; kṣipram — quickly; āśramam — the hermitage
2.58.7
yad vyalīkaṃ kṛtaṃ putra mātrā te yadi vā mayā
na tan manasi kartavyaṃ tvayā tāta tapasvinā
Whatever offense has been done to you, my son, by your mother or by me, you, an ascetic, should not take it to heart, my child.
Words: yad — whatever; vyalīkaṃ — offense, displeasure; kṛtaṃ — done; putra — O son; mātrā — by (your) mother; te — to you; yadi vā — or if; mayā — by me; na — not; tan — that; manasi — in mind; kartavyaṃ — to be taken; tvayā — by you; tāta — my child; tapasvinā — by an ascetic
2.58.8
tvaṃ gatis tv agatīnāṃ ca cakṣus tvaṃ hīnacakṣuṣām
samāsaktās tvayi prāṇāḥ kiṃ cin nau nābhibhāṣase
You are the refuge of us who have no refuge, you are the eye of us who lack eyes; our lives are bound up in you. Why do you not speak to us at all?
Words: tvaṃ — you; gatis — refuge, recourse; tv — indeed; agatīnāṃ — of the refugeless; ca — and; cakṣus — eye; tvaṃ — you; hīnacakṣuṣām — of those deprived of eyes; samāsaktās — bound up, attached; tvayi — in you; prāṇāḥ — (our) lives, breaths; kiṃ cin — at all; nau — to us two; nābhibhāṣase — you do not speak
2.58.9
munim avyaktayā vācā tam ahaṃ sajjamānayā
hīnavyañjanayā prekṣya bhīto bhīta ivābruvam
Looking upon that sage, I, frightened, spoke to him in an indistinct, faltering voice with its consonants failing, as one afraid.
Words: munim — the sage; avyaktayā — indistinct; vācā — with (my) voice; tam — that; ahaṃ — I; sajjamānayā — faltering, sticking; hīnavyañjanayā — with consonants failing; prekṣya — having looked upon; bhīto — frightened; bhīta — afraid; ivābruvam — as it were, I spoke
2.58.10
manasaḥ karma ceṣṭābhir abhisaṃstabhya vāgbalam
ācacakṣe tv ahaṃ tasmai putravyasanajaṃ bhayam
Steadying the power of my speech by the effort and action of my mind, I told him of the danger arising from the calamity to his son.
Words: manasaḥ — of the mind; karma — the action; ceṣṭābhir — by efforts; abhisaṃstabhya — having steadied, braced; vāgbalam — the power of speech; ācacakṣe — I told, related; tv — indeed; ahaṃ — I; tasmai — to him; putravyasanajaṃ — born of the calamity to (his) son; bhayam — danger, fear
2.58.11
kṣatriyo 'haṃ daśaratho nāhaṃ putro mahātmanaḥ
sajjanāvamataṃ duḥkham idaṃ prāptaṃ svakarmajam
'I am a kshatriya, Daśaratha; I am not the son of the great-souled one. This grief, scorned by the good, has come upon me, born of my own deed.'
Words: kṣatriyo — a kshatriya; 'haṃ — I; daśaratho — Daśaratha; nāhaṃ — I am not; putro — the son; mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled one; sajjanāvamataṃ — scorned by good people; duḥkham — grief; idaṃ — this; prāptaṃ — obtained, come upon; svakarmajam — born of my own deed
2.58.12
bhagavaṃś cāpahasto 'haṃ sarayūtīram āgataḥ
jighāṃsuḥ śvāpadaṃ kiṃ cin nipāne vāgataṃ gajam
'Venerable one, bow in hand, I came to the bank of the Sarayū, wishing to kill some beast of prey, or an elephant come to the watering-place.'
Words: bhagavaṃś — O venerable one; cāpahasto — bow in hand; 'haṃ — I; sarayūtīram — to the bank of the Sarayū; āgataḥ — came; jighāṃsuḥ — wishing to kill; śvāpadaṃ — a beast of prey; kiṃ cin — some; nipāne — at the watering-place; vāgataṃ — or come; gajam — an elephant
2.58.13
tatra śruto mayā śabdo jale kumbhasya pūryataḥ
dvipo 'yam iti matvā hi bāṇenābhihato mayā
'There I heard the sound of a pitcher being filled in the water; thinking "this is an elephant," I struck at it with an arrow.'
Words: tatra — there; śruto — was heard; mayā — by me; śabdo — the sound; jale — in the water; kumbhasya — of the pitcher; pūryataḥ — being filled; dvipo — an elephant; 'yam — this; iti — thus; matvā — having thought; hi — indeed; bāṇenābhihato — struck with an arrow; mayā — by me
2.58.14
gatvā nadyās tatas tīram apaśyam iṣuṇā hṛdi
vinirbhinnaṃ gataprāṇaṃ śayānaṃ bhuvi tāpasaṃ
'Then, going to the bank of the river, I saw an ascetic pierced in the heart by the arrow, his life gone, lying on the ground.'
Words: gatvā — having gone; nadyās — of the river; tatas — then; tīram — to the bank; apaśyam — I saw; iṣuṇā — by the arrow; hṛdi — in the heart; vinirbhinnaṃ — pierced through; gataprāṇaṃ — his life gone, lifeless; śayānaṃ — lying; bhuvi — on the ground; tāpasaṃ — an ascetic
2.58.15
bhagavañ śabdam ālakṣya mayā gajajighāṃsunā
visṛṣṭo 'mbhasi nārācas tena te nihataḥ sutaḥ
'Venerable one, marking the sound, I, wishing to kill an elephant, loosed an iron arrow into the water; by it your son was slain.'
Words: bhagavañ — O venerable one; śabdam — the sound; ālakṣya — having marked; mayā — by me; gajajighāṃsunā — wishing to kill an elephant; visṛṣṭo — loosed, discharged; 'mbhasi — into the water; nārācas — an iron arrow; tena — by it; te — your; nihataḥ — was slain; sutaḥ — son
2.58.16
sa coddhṛtena bāṇena tatraiva svargam āsthitaḥ
bhagavantāv ubhau śocann andhāv iti vilapya ca
'And when the arrow was drawn out, he attained heaven right there, grieving and wailing, "Alas, both my venerable parents are blind."'
Words: sa — he; coddhṛtena — and with (the arrow) drawn out; bāṇena — by the arrow; tatraiva — right there; svargam — heaven; āsthitaḥ — attained, went to; bhagavantāv — the two venerable ones; ubhau — both; śocann — grieving; andhāv — blind (both); iti — thus (saying); vilapya — having lamented; ca — and
2.58.17
ajñānād bhavataḥ putraḥ sahasābhihato mayā
śeṣam evaṃgate yat syāt tat prasīdatu me muniḥ
'Out of ignorance your son was suddenly struck down by me; whatever remains to be done in such a case, in that let the sage be gracious to me.'
Words: ajñānād — out of ignorance; bhavataḥ — your; putraḥ — son; sahasābhihato — suddenly struck down; mayā — by me; śeṣam — what remains; evaṃgate — things being thus; yat — what; syāt — may be; tat — that; prasīdatu — let (him) be gracious; me — to me; muniḥ — the sage
2.58.18
sa tac chrutvā vacaḥ krūraṃ niḥśvasañ śokakarśitaḥ
mām uvāca mahātejāḥ kṛtāñjalim upasthitam
Hearing that cruel speech, sighing and worn with grief, the greatly-glorious one spoke to me as I stood by with joined palms.
Words: sa — he; tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; vacaḥ — speech; krūraṃ — cruel; niḥśvasañ — sighing; śokakarśitaḥ — worn with grief; mām — to me; uvāca — spoke; mahātejāḥ — the greatly glorious; kṛtāñjalim — with joined palms; upasthitam — standing near
2.58.19
yady etad aśubhaṃ karma na sma me kathayeḥ svayam
phalen mūrdhā sma te rājan sadyaḥ śatasahasradhā
'If you had not told me yourself of this evil deed, then your head, O king, would at once have burst into a hundred thousand pieces.'
Words: yady — if; etad — this; aśubhaṃ — evil, inauspicious; karma — deed; na sma — had not; me — to me; kathayeḥ — (if) you had told; svayam — yourself; phalen — would burst; mūrdhā — (your) head; sma — (counterfactual particle); te — your; rājan — O king; sadyaḥ — at once; śatasahasradhā — into a hundred thousand pieces
2.58.20
kṣatriyeṇa vadho rājan vānaprasthe viśeṣataḥ
jñānapūrvaṃ kṛtaḥ sthānāc cyāvayed api vajriṇam
'A slaying committed knowingly by a kshatriya, O king, and especially of a forest-hermit, would cast down even the Thunderer (Indra) from his place.'
Words: kṣatriyeṇa — by a kshatriya; vadho — a slaying; rājan — O king; vānaprasthe — of a forest-hermit; viśeṣataḥ — especially; jñānapūrvaṃ — knowingly, wittingly; kṛtaḥ — done; sthānāc — from (his) place; cyāvayed — would cast down; api — even; vajriṇam — the Thunderbolt-bearer (Indra)
2.58.21
ajñānād dhi kṛtaṃ yasmād idaṃ tenaiva jīvasi
api hy adya kulaṃ nasyād rāghavāṇāṃ kuto bhavān
'But since this was done out of ignorance, for that very reason you live; else today the line of the Rāghavas would perish — how much more you!'
Words: ajñānād — out of ignorance; dhi — indeed; kṛtaṃ — done; yasmād — because; idaṃ — this; tenaiva — for that very reason; jīvasi — you live; api hy — even indeed; adya — today; kulaṃ — the line, family; nasyād — would perish; rāghavāṇāṃ — of the Rāghavas; kuto — how much more (whence); bhavān — you (honorific)
2.58.22
naya nau nṛpa taṃ deśam iti māṃ cābhyabhāṣata
adya taṃ draṣṭum icchāvaḥ putraṃ paścimadarśanam
'Lead us two to that place, O king,' he said to me, 'today we wish to see our son, for the last time.'
Words: naya — lead; nau — us two; nṛpa — O king; taṃ — that; deśam — place; iti — thus; māṃ — to me; cābhyabhāṣata — and he spoke; adya — today; taṃ — that; draṣṭum — to see; icchāvaḥ — we two wish; putraṃ — son; paścimadarśanam — for a last sight
2.58.23
rudhireṇāvasitāṅgaṃ prakīrṇājinavāsasaṃ
śayānaṃ bhuvi niḥsaṃjñaṃ dharmarājavaśaṃ gatam
(our son) his limbs wet with blood, his deerskin garment in disarray, lying senseless on the ground, gone into the power of the King of Death.
Words: rudhireṇāvasitāṅgaṃ — his limbs wet with blood; prakīrṇājinavāsasaṃ — with deerskin garment in disarray; śayānaṃ — lying; bhuvi — on the ground; niḥsaṃjñaṃ — senseless; dharmarājavaśaṃ — into the power of the King of Death; gatam — gone
2.58.24
athāham ekas taṃ deśaṃ nītvā tau bhṛśaduḥkhitau
asparśayam ahaṃ putraṃ taṃ muniṃ saha bhāryayā
Then I alone, leading those two greatly-grieved ones to that place, made the sage, together with his wife, touch their son.
Words: athāham — then I; ekas — alone; taṃ — that; deśaṃ — place; nītvā — having led; tau — those two; bhṛśaduḥkhitau — greatly grieved (both); asparśayam — I made (them) touch; ahaṃ — I; putraṃ — the son; taṃ — that; muniṃ — sage; saha — together with; bhāryayā — (his) wife
2.58.25
tau putram ātmanaḥ spṛṣṭvā tam āsādya tapasvinau
nipetatuḥ śarīre 'sya pitā cāsyedam abravīt
Those two ascetics, touching their own son and reaching him, fell upon his body; and his father spoke this:
Words: tau — those two; putram — son; ātmanaḥ — their own; spṛṣṭvā — having touched; tam — him; āsādya — having reached; tapasvinau — the two ascetics; nipetatuḥ — the two fell; śarīre — on the body; 'sya — his; pitā — the father; cāsyedam — and this (word) of his; abravīt — spoke
2.58.26
na nv ahaṃ te priyaḥ putra mātaraṃ paśya dhārmika
kiṃ nu nāliṅgase putra sukumāra vaco vada
'Am I not dear to you, my son? Look at your mother, righteous one. Why do you not embrace me, my son, so tender? Speak a word.'
Words: na — not; nv — indeed; ahaṃ — I; te — to you; priyaḥ — dear; putra — O son; mātaraṃ — mother; paśya — look at; dhārmika — O righteous one; kiṃ nu — why; nāliṅgase — you do not embrace; putra — O son; sukumāra — O tender one; vaco — a word; vada — speak
2.58.27
kasya vāpararātre 'haṃ śroṣyāmi hṛdayaṃgamam
adhīyānasya madhuraṃ śāstraṃ vānyad viśeṣataḥ
'Whose sweet, heart-winning recitation of scripture, or of something else besides, shall I hear in the last watch of the night?'
Words: kasya — whose; vāpararātre — or in the last watch of night; 'haṃ — I; śroṣyāmi — I shall hear; hṛdayaṃgamam — heart-winning; adhīyānasya — of (one) reciting; madhuraṃ — sweet; śāstraṃ — scripture; vānyad — or another; viśeṣataḥ — especially
2.58.28
ko māṃ saṃdhyām upāsyaiva snātvā hutahutāśanaḥ
ślāghayiṣyaty upāsīnaḥ putraśokabhayārditam
'Who, having worshipped at twilight, bathed, and offered oblation to the fire, will sit beside me and comfort me, tormented by grief and fear for my son?'
Words: ko — who; māṃ — me; saṃdhyām — at the twilight prayer; upāsyaiva — having worshipped; snātvā — having bathed; hutahutāśanaḥ — having offered oblation to the fire; ślāghayiṣyaty — will praise, comfort; upāsīnaḥ — sitting near; putraśokabhayārditam — tormented by grief and fear for (his) son
2.58.29
kandamūlaphalaṃ hṛtvā ko māṃ priyam ivātithim
bhojayiṣyaty akarmaṇyam apragraham anāyakam
'Who, bringing roots, bulbs, and fruit, will feed me — like a beloved guest — unfit for work, without support, without a guide?'
Words: kandamūlaphalaṃ — roots, bulbs and fruit; hṛtvā — having brought; ko — who; māṃ — me; priyam — dear; ivātithim — like a guest; bhojayiṣyaty — will feed; akarmaṇyam — unfit for work; apragraham — without support; anāyakam — without a guide
2.58.30
imām andhāṃ ca vṛddhāṃ ca mātaraṃ te tapasvinīm
kathaṃ putra bhariṣyāmi kṛpaṇāṃ putragardhinīm
'How, my son, shall I support this blind and aged mother of yours, poor ascetic woman, wretched, longing for her son?'
Words: imām — this; andhāṃ — blind; ca — and; vṛddhāṃ — aged; ca — and; mātaraṃ — mother; te — your; tapasvinīm — ascetic woman; kathaṃ — how; putra — O son; bhariṣyāmi — shall I support; kṛpaṇāṃ — wretched, pitiable; putragardhinīm — longing for her son
2.58.31
tiṣṭha mā mā gamaḥ putra yamasya sadanaṃ prati
śvo mayā saha gantāsi jananyā ca samedhitaḥ
'Stay! Do not, do not go, my son, to the abode of Yama. Tomorrow you shall go, together with me and your mother, all of us together.'
Words: tiṣṭha — stay; mā mā — do not, do not; gamaḥ — go (may you); putra — O son; yamasya — of Yama; sadanaṃ — abode; prati — towards; śvo — tomorrow; mayā — with me; saha — together; gantāsi — you will go; jananyā — with (your) mother; ca — and; samedhitaḥ — (all) grown/joined together
2.58.32
ubhāv api ca śokārtāv anāthau kṛpaṇau vane
kṣipram eva gamiṣyāvas tvayā hīnau yamakṣayam
'And we both, stricken with grief, helpless and wretched in the forest, bereft of you, shall very soon go to the abode of Yama.'
Words: ubhāv — both; api — also; ca — and; śokārtāv — stricken with grief (both); anāthau — helpless (both); kṛpaṇau — wretched (both); vane — in the forest; kṣipram eva — very soon; gamiṣyāvas — we two shall go; tvayā — of you; hīnau — bereft (both); yamakṣayam — to the abode of Yama
2.58.33
tato vaivasvataṃ dṛṣṭvā taṃ pravakṣyāmi bhāratīm
kṣamatāṃ dharmarājo me bibhṛyāt pitarāv ayam
'Then, seeing Vaivasvata (Yama), I shall address this word to him: "Let the King of Dharma pardon me; let him sustain these two parents."'
Words: tato — then; vaivasvataṃ — Vaivasvata (Yama); dṛṣṭvā — having seen; taṃ — him; pravakṣyāmi — I shall speak; bhāratīm — speech, word; kṣamatāṃ — let (him) pardon; dharmarājo — the King of Dharma; me — me; bibhṛyāt — let (him) sustain; pitarāv — the two parents; ayam — he, this one
2.58.34
apāpo 'si yathā putra nihataḥ pāpakarmaṇā
tena satyena gacchāśu ye lokāḥ śastrayodhinām
'As you, my son, though sinless, were slain by an evil-doer — by that truth, go quickly to those worlds which belong to warriors who fight with weapons,'
Words: apāpo — sinless; 'si — you are; yathā — as, since; putra — O son; nihataḥ — slain; pāpakarmaṇā — by an evil-doer; tena — by that; satyena — truth; gacchāśu — go quickly; ye — which; lokāḥ — worlds; śastrayodhinām — of warriors who fight with weapons
2.58.35
yānti śūrā gatiṃ yāṃ ca saṃgrāmeṣv anivartinaḥ
hatās tv abhimukhāḥ putra gatiṃ tāṃ paramāṃ vraja
'and to whatever goal heroes go who do not turn back in battles, slain facing the foe — to that supreme goal, my son, proceed.'
Words: yānti — go; śūrā — heroes; gatiṃ — goal, path; yāṃ — which; ca — and; saṃgrāmeṣv — in battles; anivartinaḥ — not turning back; hatās — slain; tv — indeed; abhimukhāḥ — facing (the foe); putra — O son; gatiṃ — goal; tāṃ — that; paramāṃ — supreme; vraja — go, proceed
2.58.36
yāṃ gatiṃ sagaraḥ śaibyo dilīpo janamejayaḥ
nahuṣo dhundhumāraś ca prāptās tāṃ gaccha putraka
'To that goal which Sagara, Śaibya, Dilīpa, Janamejaya, Nahuṣa, and Dhundhumāra attained — to that go, dear son.'
Words: yāṃ — which; gatiṃ — goal; sagaraḥ — Sagara; śaibyo — Śaibya; dilīpo — Dilīpa; janamejayaḥ — Janamejaya; nahuṣo — Nahuṣa; dhundhumāraś — Dhundhumāra; ca — and; prāptās — attained; tāṃ — that; gaccha — go; putraka — dear son
2.58.37
yā gatiḥ sarvasādhūnāṃ svādhyāyāt patasaś ca yā
bhūmidasyāhitāgneś ca ekapatnīvratasya ca
'The goal that belongs to all the virtuous, and that which comes from Vedic study and austerity, and that of the giver of land, of him who keeps the sacred fire, and of him vowed to a single wife;'
Words: yā — which; gatiḥ — goal; sarvasādhūnāṃ — of all the good; svādhyāyāt — from Vedic study; patasaś — and of austerity [app. for tapasaḥ]; ca — and; yā — which; bhūmidasyāhitāgneś — of the land-giver and the fire-keeper; ca — and; ekapatnīvratasya — of one vowed to a single wife; ca — and
2.58.38
gosahasrapradātṝṇāṃ yā yā gurubhṛtām api
dehanyāsakṛtāṃ yā ca tāṃ gatiṃ gaccha putraka
na hi tv asmin kule jāto gacchaty akuśalāṃ gatim
'and the goal of those who give a thousand cows, and of those who cherish their teachers, and of those who lay down their bodies — to that goal go, dear son; for none born in this family goes to an inauspicious goal.'
Words: gosahasrapradātṝṇāṃ — of the givers of a thousand cows; yā — which; yā — which; gurubhṛtām — of those who cherish their teachers; api — also; dehanyāsakṛtāṃ — of those who have laid down their bodies; yā — which; ca — and; tāṃ — that; gatiṃ — goal; gaccha — go; putraka — dear son; na — not; hi — for; tv — indeed; asmin — in this; kule — family; jāto — born; gacchaty — goes; akuśalāṃ — inauspicious; gatim — goal
2.58.39
evaṃ sa kṛpaṇaṃ tatra paryadevayatāsakṛt
tato 'smai kartum udakaṃ pravṛttaḥ saha bhāryayā
Thus he lamented piteously there again and again; then, together with his wife, he set about making the water-offering for him.
Words: evaṃ — thus; sa — he; kṛpaṇaṃ — piteously; tatra — there; paryadevayatāsakṛt — lamented again and again; tato — then; 'smai — for him; kartum — to make; udakaṃ — the water-offering; pravṛttaḥ — set about, began; saha — together with; bhāryayā — (his) wife
2.58.40
sa tu divyena rūpeṇa muniputraḥ svakarmabhiḥ
āśvāsya ca muhūrtaṃ tu pitarau vākyam abravīt
But that sage's son, in a divine form won by his own deeds, having comforted his parents a moment, spoke these words:
Words: sa — he; tu — but; divyena — divine; rūpeṇa — with a form; muniputraḥ — the sage's son; svakarmabhiḥ — by his own deeds; āśvāsya — having comforted; ca — and; muhūrtaṃ — for a moment; tu — indeed; pitarau — the two parents; vākyam — word; abravīt — spoke
2.58.41
sthānam asmi mahat prāpto bhavatoḥ paricāraṇāt
bhavantāv api ca kṣipraṃ mama mūlam upaiṣyataḥ
'I have attained a great station through service to you two; and you both shall soon come to where I am.'
Words: sthānam — station, place; asmi — I am; mahat — great; prāpto — attained; bhavatoḥ — of you two; paricāraṇāt — through service, attendance; bhavantāv — you two; api ca — and also; kṣipraṃ — quickly; mama — my; mūlam — presence, side (root); upaiṣyataḥ — the two will come to
2.58.42
evam uktvā tu divyena vimānena vapuṣmatā
āruroha divaṃ kṣipraṃ muniputro jitendriyaḥ
Having spoken thus, the sage's son, master of his senses, swiftly ascended to heaven in a splendid celestial chariot.
Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; tu — indeed; divyena — divine, celestial; vimānena — by a flying chariot; vapuṣmatā — beautiful, splendid; āruroha — ascended; divaṃ — to heaven; kṣipraṃ — quickly; muniputro — the sage's son; jitendriyaḥ — master of his senses
2.58.43
sa kṛtvā tūdakaṃ tūrṇaṃ tāpasaḥ saha bhāryayā
mām uvāca mahātejāḥ kṛtāñjalim upasthitam
That ascetic, having quickly made the water-offering together with his wife, the greatly-glorious one spoke to me as I stood by with joined palms:
Words: sa — he; kṛtvā — having made; tūdakaṃ — the water-offering; tūrṇaṃ — quickly; tāpasaḥ — the ascetic; saha — together with; bhāryayā — (his) wife; mām — to me; uvāca — spoke; mahātejāḥ — the greatly glorious; kṛtāñjalim — with joined palms; upasthitam — standing near
2.58.44
adyaiva jahi māṃ rājan maraṇe nāsti me vyathā
yac chareṇaikaputraṃ māṃ tvam akārṣīr aputrakam
'Kill me this very day, O king; I have no dread of death, since with an arrow you have made me, who had a single son, sonless.'
Words: adyaiva — this very day; jahi — kill; māṃ — me; rājan — O king; maraṇe — in (facing) death; nāsti — there is not; me — for me; vyathā — dread, pain; yac — since; chareṇaikaputraṃ — with an arrow (me) who had one son; māṃ — me; tvam — you; akārṣīr — have made; aputrakam — sonless
2.58.45
tvayā tu yad avijñānān nihato me sutaḥ śuciḥ
tena tvām abhiśapsyāmi suduḥkham atidāruṇam
'Since my pure son was slain by you out of ignorance, for that I shall curse you with a most grievous, exceedingly cruel curse.'
Words: tvayā — by you; tu — indeed; yad — since; avijñānān — out of ignorance; nihato — was slain; me — my; sutaḥ — son; śuciḥ — pure; tena — therefore; tvām — you; abhiśapsyāmi — I shall curse; suduḥkham — most grievous; atidāruṇam — exceedingly cruel
2.58.46
putravyasanajaṃ duḥkhaṃ yad etan mama sāmpratam
evaṃ tvaṃ putraśokena rājan kālaṃ kariṣyasi
'This grief born of the calamity to my son that is now mine — even so, through grief for a son, O king, you shall meet your end.'
Words: putravyasanajaṃ — born of the calamity to (my) son; duḥkhaṃ — grief; yad — which; etan — this; mama — my; sāmpratam — now, at present; evaṃ — thus, even so; tvaṃ — you; putraśokena — through grief for a son; rājan — O king; kālaṃ — death, one's end; kariṣyasi — you will make (i.e. meet)
2.58.47
tasmān mām āgataṃ bhadre tasyodārasya tadvacaḥ
yad ahaṃ putraśokena saṃtyakṣyāmy adya jīvitam
So, dear lady, that word of that noble one has come upon me — that today, through grief for a son, I shall give up my life.
Words: tasmān — therefore; mām — me; āgataṃ — come; bhadre — O good lady; tasyodārasya — of that noble one; tadvacaḥ — that word; yad — that; ahaṃ — I; putraśokena — through grief for a son; saṃtyakṣyāmy — I shall give up; adya — today; jīvitam — life
2.58.48
yadi māṃ saṃspṛśed rāmaḥ sakṛd adyālabheta vā
na tan me sadṛśaṃ devi yan mayā rāghave kṛtam
If only Rāma would touch me once today, or lay his hand upon me — yet that is not my due, O queen, considering what I did to Rāghava.
Words: yadi — if; māṃ — me; saṃspṛśed — would touch; rāmaḥ — Rāma; sakṛd — once; adyālabheta — would touch/handle today; vā — or; na — not; tan — that; me — for me; sadṛśaṃ — fitting, my due; devi — O queen; yan — what; mayā — by me; rāghave — to Rāghava (Rāma); kṛtam — was done
2.58.49
cakṣuṣā tvāṃ na paśyāmi smṛtir mama vilupyate
dūtā vaivasvatasyaite kausalye tvarayanti mām
With my eyes I cannot see you; my memory is being torn away. These messengers of Vaivasvata (Yama), O Kausalyā, are hurrying me on.
Words: cakṣuṣā — with the eye; tvāṃ — you; na — not; paśyāmi — I see; smṛtir — memory; mama — my; vilupyate — is torn away, fails; dūtā — messengers; vaivasvatasyaite — these of Vaivasvata (Yama); kausalye — O Kausalyā; tvarayanti — hasten, hurry; mām — me
2.58.50
atas tu kiṃ duḥkhataraṃ yad ahaṃ jīvitakṣaye
na hi paśyāmi dharmajñaṃ rāmaṃ satyaparākyamam
And what is more painful than this — that at the ending of my life I do not see Rāma, the knower of dharma, of true valor?
Words: atas — than this; tu — indeed; kiṃ — what; duḥkhataraṃ — more painful; yad — that; ahaṃ — I; jīvitakṣaye — at the ending of life; na — not; hi — for; paśyāmi — I see; dharmajñaṃ — the knower of dharma; rāmaṃ — Rāma; satyaparākyamam — of true valor [read satyaparākramam]
2.58.51
na te manuṣyā devās te ye cāruśubhakuṇḍalam
mukhaṃ drakṣyanti rāmasya varṣe pañcadaśe punaḥ
They are not men but gods, who will look again on Rāma's face, with its lovely, beautiful earrings, in the fifteenth year.
Words: na — not; te — they; manuṣyā — men; devās — gods; te — they; ye — who; cāruśubhakuṇḍalam — with lovely, beautiful earrings; mukhaṃ — face; drakṣyanti — will see; rāmasya — of Rāma; varṣe — in the year; pañcadaśe — fifteenth; punaḥ — again
2.58.52
padmapatrekṣaṇaṃ subhru sudaṃṣṭraṃ cārunāsikam
dhanyā drakṣyanti rāmasya tārādhipanibhaṃ mukham
Fortunate are they who will behold Rāma's face — lotus-petal-eyed, fair-browed, with fine teeth and a lovely nose, resembling the lord of stars (the moon).
Words: padmapatrekṣaṇaṃ — with eyes like lotus petals; subhru — fair-browed; sudaṃṣṭraṃ — with fine teeth; cārunāsikam — with a lovely nose; dhanyā — fortunate; drakṣyanti — will see; rāmasya — of Rāma; tārādhipanibhaṃ — resembling the lord of stars (moon); mukham — face
2.58.53
sadṛśaṃ śāradasyendoḥ phullasya kamalasya ca
sugandhi mama nāthasya dhanyā drakṣyanti tanmukham
Fortunate are they who will behold that face of my lord — like the autumn moon and a blooming lotus, and fragrant.
Words: sadṛśaṃ — like, resembling; śāradasyendoḥ — of the autumn moon; phullasya — of a blooming; kamalasya — of a lotus; ca — and; sugandhi — fragrant; mama — my; nāthasya — of the lord; dhanyā — fortunate; drakṣyanti — will see; tanmukham — that face
2.58.54
nivṛttavanavāsaṃ tam ayodhyāṃ punar āgatam
drakṣyanti sukhino rāmaṃ śukraṃ mārgagataṃ yathā
Happy are they who will see Rāma, his forest-dwelling ended, come back again to Ayodhyā, like Venus (Śukra) returned to its course.
Words: nivṛttavanavāsaṃ — his forest-dwelling ended; tam — him; ayodhyāṃ — to Ayodhyā; punar — again; āgatam — come back; drakṣyanti — will see; sukhino — the happy ones; rāmaṃ — Rāma; śukraṃ — Venus (Śukra); mārgagataṃ — set on its course; yathā — like
2.58.55
ayam ātmabhavaḥ śoko mām anātham acetanam
saṃsādayati vegena yathā kūlaṃ nadīrayaḥ
This self-born grief overwhelms me, helpless and senseless, with its rush, as the current of a river wears away its bank.
Words: ayam — this; ātmabhavaḥ — self-born; śoko — grief; mām — me; anātham — helpless; acetanam — senseless; saṃsādayati — overwhelms, wears down; vegena — with its rush, force; yathā — as; kūlaṃ — the bank; nadīrayaḥ — the current of a river
2.58.56
hā rāghava mahābāho hā mamāyāsa nāśana
rājā daśarathaḥ śocañ jīvitāntam upāgamat
'Alas, Rāghava, mighty-armed! Alas, dispeller of my toil!' — thus grieving, King Daśaratha came to the end of his life.
Words: hā — alas; rāghava — O Rāghava; mahābāho — O mighty-armed one; hā — alas; mamāyāsa — (of) my toil; nāśana — O dispeller; rājā — king; daśarathaḥ — Daśaratha; śocañ — grieving; jīvitāntam — the end of life; upāgamat — came to, reached
2.58.57
tathā tu dīnaṃ kathayan narādhipaḥ priyasya putrasya vivāsanāturaḥ
gate 'rdharātre bhṛśaduḥkhapīḍitas tadā jahau prāṇam udāradarśanaḥ
Thus lamenting piteously, the lord of men, distressed at the banishment of his beloved son, when the night was half spent, grievously afflicted with pain, the noble-visaged one then gave up his life.
Words: tathā — thus; tu — indeed; dīnaṃ — piteously; kathayan — lamenting, telling; narādhipaḥ — the lord of men; priyasya — of the beloved; putrasya — son; vivāsanāturaḥ — distressed at the banishment; gate — when it had passed; 'rdharātre — the middle of the night; bhṛśaduḥkhapīḍitas — grievously afflicted with pain; tadā — then; jahau — gave up; prāṇam — life-breath; udāradarśanaḥ — of noble appearance
← 2.57 Daśaratha’s arrow aimed at a sound · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.59 Discovery of Daśaratha’s death →
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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