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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 66: Kaikeyī’s disclosure
Summary. Bharata learns that Daśaratha died calling for the exiles, Kaikeyī admits arranging Rāma’s banishment and urges him to claim the throne
Sequence
- Finding Daśaratha absent, Bharata goes to Kaikeyī, who welcomes him happily (2.66.1–4)
- he tells her about the journey and says he traveled ahead of the slower gifts and baggage (2.66.5–10)
- he asks where his father is and why the palace seems so joyless → Kaikeyī tells him that Daśaratha has died (2.66.11–14)
- Bharata falls to the ground in grief (2.66.15–17)
- he explains that he had expected the summons to concern Rāma's abhiṣeka or a sacrifice, and asks what illness killed their father → still unaware of the exile, he assumes Rāma and the others were present to perform the funeral (2.66.18–23)
- he asks for Rāma, whom he now regards as his father and refuge, and for Daśaratha's final words (2.66.24–28)
- Kaikeyī says the King died calling for Rāma, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa and speaking of their future return (2.66.29–32)
- Bharata asks where they are → on hearing of the exile, he anxiously asks whether Rāma committed some grave offense (2.66.33–38)
- Kaikeyī admits that Rāma did nothing wrong: she obtained the Kingdom for Bharata and the exile for Rāma, after which Daśaratha died of grief → she tells Bharata to perform the funeral and take the throne, expecting gratitude for what she has done. (2.66.39–45)
Verses 2.66.1–45
2.66.1
apaśyaṃs tu tatas tatra pitaraṃ pitur ālaye
jagāma bharato draṣṭuṃ mātaraṃ mātur ālaye
Not seeing his father there in his father's dwelling, Bharata went to see his mother in his mother's dwelling.
Words: apaśyaṃs — not seeing; tu — and; tatas — then; tatra — there; pitaraṃ — his father; pitur — of his father; ālaye — in the dwelling; jagāma — went; bharato — Bharata; draṣṭuṃ — to see; mātaraṃ — his mother; mātur — of his mother; ālaye — in the dwelling
2.66.2
anuprāptaṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā kaikeyī proṣitaṃ sutam
utpapāta tadā hṛṣṭā tyaktvā sauvarṇamānasaṃ
Seeing her son arrived, come back from abroad, Kaikeyī then, delighted, sprang up, abandoning her golden seat.
Words: anuprāptaṃ — arrived; tu — and; taṃ — him; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; proṣitaṃ — gone abroad, returned from travel; sutam — son; utpapāta — sprang up; tadā — then; hṛṣṭā — delighted; tyaktvā — abandoning; sauvarṇamānasaṃ — golden seat
2.66.3
sa praviśyaiva dharmātmā svagṛhaṃ śrīvivarjitam
bharataḥ prekṣya jagrāha jananyāś caraṇau śubhau
That righteous Bharata, the moment he entered his own house bereft of its splendour, on seeing her clasped the two auspicious feet of his mother.
Words: sa — he; praviśyaiva — as soon as he entered; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; svagṛhaṃ — his own house; śrīvivarjitam — bereft of splendour; bharataḥ — Bharata; prekṣya — having seen; jagrāha — grasped; jananyāś — of his mother; caraṇau — the two feet; śubhau — auspicious
2.66.4
taṃ mūrdhni samupāghrāya pariṣvajya yaśasvinam
aṅke bharatam āropya praṣṭuṃ samupacakrame
Having smelled him upon the head and embraced the illustrious one, and set Bharata on her lap, she began to question him.
Words: taṃ — him; mūrdhni — on the head; samupāghrāya — having smelled (in affection); pariṣvajya — having embraced; yaśasvinam — the illustrious one; aṅke — on her lap; bharatam — Bharata; āropya — having placed; praṣṭuṃ — to question; samupacakrame — she began
2.66.5
adya te kati cid rātryaś cyutasyāryakaveśmanaḥ
api nādhvaśramaḥ śīghraṃ rathenāpatatas tava
“How many nights is it now since you left your grandfather's house? And is there no fatigue of the road for you, speeding hither swiftly by chariot?”
Words: adya — now; te — for you; kati cid — how many; rātryaś — nights; cyutasyāryakaveśmanaḥ — since you departed from your grandfather's house; api — and (question); nādhvaśramaḥ — no fatigue of the road; śīghraṃ — swiftly; rathenāpatatas — speeding by chariot; tava — for you
2.66.6
āryakas te sukuśalo yudhājin mātulas tava
pravāsāc ca sukhaṃ putra sarvaṃ me vaktum arhasi
“Is your grandfather quite well, and your uncle Yudhājit? And of your comfortable sojourn abroad, my son, you must tell me everything.”
Words: āryakas — grandfather; te — your; sukuśalo — quite well; yudhājin — Yudhājit; mātulas — uncle; tava — your; pravāsāc ca — and of the sojourn abroad; sukhaṃ — comfortable, happily; putra — O son; sarvaṃ — everything; me — to me; vaktum — to tell; arhasi — you ought
2.66.7
evaṃ pṛṣṭhas tu kaikeyyā priyaṃ pārthivanandanaḥ
ācaṣṭa bharataḥ sarvaṃ mātre rājīvalocanaḥ
Thus questioned kindly by Kaikeyī, the lotus-eyed Bharata, delight of the king, related everything to his mother.
Words: evaṃ — thus; pṛṣṭhas — questioned; tu — and; kaikeyyā — by Kaikeyī; priyaṃ — kindly, agreeably; pārthivanandanaḥ — delight of the king; ācaṣṭa — related; bharataḥ — Bharata; sarvaṃ — everything; mātre — to his mother; rājīvalocanaḥ — the lotus-eyed
2.66.8
adya me saptamī rātriś cyutasyāryakaveśmanaḥ
ambāyāḥ kuśalī tāto yudhājin mātulaś ca me
“This is now my seventh night since I left grandfather's house; well is my mother's father, and my uncle Yudhājit.”
Words: adya — now; me — my; saptamī — seventh; rātriś — night; cyutasyāryakaveśmanaḥ — since I departed from grandfather's house; ambāyāḥ — of (my) mother; kuśalī — in good health, well; tāto — father; yudhājin — Yudhājit; mātulaś ca — and uncle; me — my
2.66.9
yan me dhanaṃ ca ratnaṃ ca dadau rājā paraṃtapaḥ
pariśrāntaṃ pathy abhavat tato 'haṃ pūrvam āgataḥ
“The wealth and jewels that the king, scorcher of foes, gave me grew wearied on the road, so I came on ahead.”
Words: yan — which; me — to me; dhanaṃ ca — wealth and; ratnaṃ ca — jewels and; dadau — gave; rājā — the king; paraṃtapaḥ — scorcher of foes; pariśrāntaṃ — grew wearied, lagged; pathy — on the road; abhavat — became; tato — therefore; 'haṃ — I; pūrvam — before, ahead; āgataḥ — came
2.66.10
rājavākyaharair dūtais tvaryamāṇo 'ham āgataḥ
yad ahaṃ praṣṭum icchāmi tad ambā vaktum arhasi
“Urged on by the messengers who bore the king's word, I have come; what I wish to ask, that, mother, you must tell me.”
Words: rājavākyaharair — by the bearers of the king's message; dūtais — by messengers; tvaryamāṇo — being hastened; 'ham — I; āgataḥ — have come; yad — what; ahaṃ — I; praṣṭum — to ask; icchāmi — wish; tad — that; ambā — O mother; vaktum — to tell; arhasi — you ought
2.66.11
śūnyo 'yaṃ śayanīyas te paryaṅko hemabhūṣitaḥ
na cāyam ikṣvākujanaḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ pratibhāti me
“Empty is this couch of yours, this gold-adorned bedstead; and these people of the Ikṣvākus do not appear to me glad.”
Words: śūnyo — empty; 'yaṃ — this; śayanīyas — couch; te — your; paryaṅko — bedstead; hemabhūṣitaḥ — gold-adorned; na cāyam — and this ... not; ikṣvākujanaḥ — the Ikṣvāku folk; prahṛṣṭaḥ — joyful; pratibhāti — appears; me — to me
2.66.12
rājā bhavati bhūyiṣṭhgam ihāmbāyā niveśane
tam ahaṃ nādya paśyāmi draṣṭum icchann ihāgataḥ
“The king is most often here in my mother's chambers; yet I do not see him today, though I have come here wishing to see him.”
Words: rājā — the king; bhavati — is, stays; bhūyiṣṭhgam — most often; ihāmbāyā — here ... of mother; niveśane — in the chamber; tam — him; ahaṃ — I; nādya — not today; paśyāmi — see; draṣṭum — to see; icchann — wishing; ihāgataḥ — having come here
2.66.13
pitur grahīṣye caraṇau taṃ mamākhyāhi pṛcchataḥ
āhosvid amba jyeṣṭhāyāḥ kausalyāyā niveśane
“I would clasp my father's feet — point him out to me who ask; or is he, mother, in the chambers of the eldest, Kausalyā?”
Words: pitur — of my father; grahīṣye — I will grasp; caraṇau — the two feet; taṃ — him; mamākhyāhi — tell me; pṛcchataḥ — to me who ask; āhosvid — or perhaps; amba — O mother; jyeṣṭhāyāḥ — of the eldest; kausalyāyā — of Kausalyā; niveśane — in the chamber
2.66.14
taṃ pratyuvāca kaikeyī priyavad ghoram apriyam
ajānantaṃ prajānantī rājyalobhena mohitā
yā gatiḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ tāṃ gatiṃ te pitā gataḥ
To him Kaikeyī, deluded by greed for the kingdom — she knowing, he unknowing — spoke as if kindly a dreadful, unwelcome thing: “The path that is the destiny of all beings, by that path has your father gone.”
Words: taṃ — to him; pratyuvāca — replied; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; priyavad — as if kindly; ghoram — dreadful; apriyam — unwelcome; ajānantaṃ — him unknowing; prajānantī — she knowing well; rājyalobhena — by greed for the kingdom; mohitā — deluded; yā — which; gatiḥ — the destiny, path; sarvabhūtānāṃ — of all beings; tāṃ — that; gatiṃ — path; te — your; pitā — father; gataḥ — has gone
2.66.15
tac chrutvā bharato vākyaṃ dharmābhijanavāñ śuciḥ
papāta sahasā bhūmau pitṛśokabalārditaḥ
Hearing that speech, Bharata — of righteous lineage, pure — suddenly fell to the ground, tormented by the force of grief for his father.
Words: tac chrutvā — having heard that; bharato — Bharata; vākyaṃ — the speech; dharmābhijanavāñ — of righteous lineage; śuciḥ — pure; papāta — fell; sahasā — suddenly; bhūmau — to the ground; pitṛśokabalārditaḥ — tormented by the force of grief for his father
2.66.16
tataḥ śokena saṃvītaḥ pitur maraṇaduḥkhitaḥ
vilalāpa mahātejā bhrāntākulitacetanaḥ
Then, wrapped in grief and pained by his father's death, the greatly-splendid one lamented, his mind reeling and distraught.
Words: tataḥ — then; śokena — with grief; saṃvītaḥ — enveloped; pitur — of his father; maraṇaduḥkhitaḥ — pained by the death; vilalāpa — lamented; mahātejā — the greatly splendid; bhrāntākulitacetanaḥ — his mind reeling and distraught
2.66.17
etat suruciraṃ bhāti pitur me śayanaṃ purā
tad idaṃ na vibhāty adya vihīnaṃ tena dhīmatā
“This bed of my father shone most lovely before; but now this same one, bereft of that wise man, gleams no longer.”
Words: etat — this; suruciraṃ — very lovely; bhāti — shines; pitur — of my father; me — my; śayanaṃ — bed; purā — formerly; tad idaṃ — this same; na — not; vibhāty — shines; adya — now; vihīnaṃ — bereft; tena — of that; dhīmatā — wise one
2.66.18
tam ārtaṃ devasaṃkāśaṃ samīkṣya patitaṃ bhuvi
utthāpayitvā śokārtaṃ vacanaṃ cedam abravīt
Seeing him, godlike, stricken and fallen upon the ground, she raised the grief-stricken one up and spoke these words:
Words: tam — him; ārtaṃ — stricken; devasaṃkāśaṃ — godlike; samīkṣya — having beheld; patitaṃ — fallen; bhuvi — on the ground; utthāpayitvā — having raised up; śokārtaṃ — the grief-stricken one; vacanaṃ — word; cedam — and this; abravīt — spoke
2.66.19
uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha kiṃ śeṣe rājaputra mahāyaśaḥ
tvadvidhā na hi śocanti santaḥ sadasi saṃmatāḥ
“Rise up, rise up! Why do you lie there, O prince of great renown? Men like you, the virtuous, honoured in the assembly, do not grieve.”
Words: uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha — rise up, rise up; kiṃ — why; śeṣe — do you lie; rājaputra — O prince; mahāyaśaḥ — of great renown; tvadvidhā — those like you; na hi — for not; śocanti — grieve; santaḥ — the good; sadasi — in the assembly; saṃmatāḥ — esteemed
2.66.20
sa rudatyā ciraṃ kālaṃ bhūmau viparivṛtya ca
jananīṃ pratyuvācedaṃ śokair bahubhir āvṛtaḥ
Weeping and rolling on the ground a long while, he, overwhelmed by many griefs, answered his mother thus:
Words: sa — he; rudatyā — weeping; ciraṃ — long; kālaṃ — time; bhūmau — on the ground; viparivṛtya — having rolled about; ca — and; jananīṃ — to his mother; pratyuvācedaṃ — answered this; śokair — by griefs; bahubhir — many; āvṛtaḥ — overwhelmed, enveloped
2.66.21
abhiṣekṣyati rāmaṃ tu rājā yajñaṃ nu yakṣyati
ity ahaṃ kṛtasaṃkalpo hṛṣṭo yātrām ayāsiṣam
“'The king will consecrate Rāma, or perform a sacrifice' — thinking thus, resolved and glad, I made my journey.”
Words: abhiṣekṣyati — will consecrate; rāmaṃ — Rāma; tu — indeed; rājā — the king; yajñaṃ — a sacrifice; nu — surely, or; yakṣyati — will offer; ity — thus; ahaṃ — I; kṛtasaṃkalpo — with resolve made; hṛṣṭo — glad; yātrām — journey; ayāsiṣam — I undertook
2.66.22
tad idaṃ hy anyathā bhūtaṃ vyavadīrṇaṃ mano mama
pitaraṃ yo na paśyāmi nityaṃ priyahite ratam
“But now this has turned out otherwise, and my heart is torn asunder, since I do not see my father, ever devoted to my welfare and delight.”
Words: tad idaṃ — this; hy — indeed; anyathā — otherwise; bhūtaṃ — become; vyavadīrṇaṃ — torn asunder; mano — heart, mind; mama — my; pitaraṃ — father; yo — I who; na — not; paśyāmi — see; nityaṃ — ever; priyahite — in what is dear and beneficial; ratam — devoted
2.66.23
amba kenātyagād rājā vyādhinā mayy anāgate
dhanyā rāmādayaḥ sarve yaiḥ pitā saṃskṛtaḥ svayam
“Mother, by what disease did the king pass away while I was not come? Fortunate are Rāma and all the others, by whom our father was himself given the last rites.”
Words: amba — O mother; kenātyagād — by what did (he) depart; rājā — the king; vyādhinā — by disease; mayy — while I; anāgate — was not come; dhanyā — fortunate; rāmādayaḥ — Rāma and the rest; sarve — all; yaiḥ — by whom; pitā — father; saṃskṛtaḥ — given funeral rites; svayam — themselves, in person
2.66.24
na nūnaṃ māṃ mahārājaḥ prāptaṃ jānāti kīrtimān
upajighred dhi māṃ mūrdhni tātaḥ saṃnamya satvaram
“Surely the illustrious great king does not know that I have arrived; else my father would quickly have bent down and smelled my head.”
Words: na nūnaṃ — surely not; māṃ — me; mahārājaḥ — the great king; prāptaṃ — arrived; jānāti — knows; kīrtimān — the illustrious; upajighred — would smell; dhi — indeed; māṃ — me; mūrdhni — on the head; tātaḥ — father; saṃnamya — bending down; satvaram — quickly
2.66.25
kva sa pāṇiḥ sukhasparśas tātasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ
yena māṃ rajasā dhvastam abhīkṣṇaṃ parimārjati
“Where is that hand, sweet to the touch, of my father of untiring deeds, with which he would ever wipe me clean when I was covered with dust?”
Words: kva — where; sa — that; pāṇiḥ — hand; sukhasparśas — sweet to the touch; tātasyākliṣṭakarmaṇaḥ — of my father of untiring deeds; yena — by which; māṃ — me; rajasā — with dust; dhvastam — covered, soiled; abhīkṣṇaṃ — constantly; parimārjati — wipes clean
2.66.26
yo me bhrātā pitā bandhur yasya dāso 'smi dhīmataḥ
tasya māṃ śīghram ākhyāhi rāmasyākliṣṭa karmaṇaḥ
“Quickly tell me of him who is my brother, father, and kinsman, that wise one whose servant I am — of Rāma of untiring deeds.”
Words: yo — who; me — my; bhrātā — brother; pitā — father; bandhur — kinsman; yasya — whose; dāso — servant; 'smi — I am; dhīmataḥ — of the wise; tasya — of him; māṃ — to me; śīghram — quickly; ākhyāhi — tell; rāmasyākliṣṭa — of Rāma, of untiring; karmaṇaḥ — of deeds
2.66.27
pitā hi bhavati jyeṣṭho dharmam āryasya jānataḥ
tasya pādau grahīṣyāmi sa hīdānīṃ gatir mama
“For to a noble man who knows the dharma, the eldest brother becomes a father; I shall clasp his feet, for he is now my refuge.”
Words: pitā — father; hi — for; bhavati — becomes; jyeṣṭho — the eldest; dharmam — the dharma; āryasya — of the noble one; jānataḥ — who knows; tasya — his; pādau — the two feet; grahīṣyāmi — I shall grasp; sa — he; hīdānīṃ — for now; gatir — refuge, recourse; mama — my
2.66.28
ārye kim abravīd rājā pitā me satyavikramaḥ
paścimaṃ sādhusaṃdeśam icchāmi śrotum ātmanaḥ
“Noble lady, what did the king, my father of true valour, say? I wish to hear his last good message to me.”
Words: ārye — O noble lady; kim — what; abravīd — said; rājā — the king; pitā — father; me — my; satyavikramaḥ — of true valour; paścimaṃ — last; sādhusaṃdeśam — good message; icchāmi — I wish; śrotum — to hear; ātmanaḥ — for myself, his own
2.66.29
iti pṛṣṭā yathātattvaṃ kaikeyī vākyam abravīt
rāmeti rājā vilapan hā sīte lakṣmaṇeti ca
sa mahātmā paraṃ lokaṃ gato gatimatāṃ varaḥ
Thus questioned, Kaikeyī spoke the truth in words: “The king, wailing 'Rāma! Ah Sītā! Lakṣmaṇa!', that great soul, best of those who fare well, went to the highest world.”
Words: iti — thus; pṛṣṭā — questioned; yathātattvaṃ — according to the truth; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; vākyam — word; abravīt — spoke; rāmeti — 'Rāma'; rājā — the king; vilapan — wailing; hā — alas; sīte — O Sītā; lakṣmaṇeti ca — and 'Lakṣmaṇa'; sa — he; mahātmā — great soul; paraṃ — highest; lokaṃ — world; gato — gone; gatimatāṃ — of those who fare well; varaḥ — best
2.66.30
imāṃ tu paścimāṃ vācaṃ vyājahāra pitā tava
kāla dharmaparikṣiptaḥ pāśair iva mahāgajaḥ
“This last word your father uttered, encompassed by the law of Time as a great elephant is caught by snares:”
Words: imāṃ — this; tu — indeed; paścimāṃ — last; vācaṃ — word; vyājahāra — uttered; pitā — father; tava — your; kāla — of Time; dharmaparikṣiptaḥ — encompassed by the law (of death); pāśair — by snares; iva — like; mahāgajaḥ — a great elephant
2.66.31
siddhārthās tu narā rāmam āgataṃ sītayā saha
lakṣmaṇaṃ ca mahābāhuṃ drakṣyanti punar āgatam
“'Those men whose ends are attained shall behold Rāma come back together with Sītā, and the mighty-armed Lakṣmaṇa returned.'”
Words: siddhārthās — those whose aims are fulfilled; tu — indeed; narā — men; rāmam — Rāma; āgataṃ — returned; sītayā saha — together with Sītā; lakṣmaṇaṃ ca — and Lakṣmaṇa; mahābāhuṃ — the mighty-armed; drakṣyanti — will behold; punar — again; āgatam — come back
2.66.32
tac chrutvā viṣasādaiva dvitīyā priyaśaṃsanāt
viṣaṇṇavadano bhūtvā bhūyaḥ papraccha mātaram
Hearing that, he sank down in despair at the second welcome-sounding announcement, and with a dejected face questioned his mother again.
Words: tac chrutvā — having heard that; viṣasādaiva — he sank down indeed; dvitīyā — a second (time); priyaśaṃsanāt — at the announcement of (seeming) good news; viṣaṇṇavadano — with dejected face; bhūtvā — having become; bhūyaḥ — again; papraccha — asked; mātaram — his mother
2.66.33
kva cedānīṃ sa dharmātmā kausalyānandavardhanaḥ
lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā sītayā ca samaṃ gataḥ
“And where now is that righteous one, the increaser of Kausalyā's joy, gone away together with his brother Lakṣmaṇa and with Sītā?”
Words: kva — where; cedānīṃ — and now; sa — that; dharmātmā — righteous one; kausalyānandavardhanaḥ — increaser of Kausalyā's joy; lakṣmaṇena saha — together with Lakṣmaṇa; bhrātrā — with his brother; sītayā ca — and with Sītā; samaṃ — along with; gataḥ — gone
2.66.34
tathā pṛṣṭā yathātattvam ākhyātum upacakrame
mātāsya yugapad vākyaṃ vipriyaṃ priyaśaṅkayā
Questioned thus, his mother began to tell him the truth all at once — an unwelcome speech, in the belief that it was welcome.
Words: tathā — thus; pṛṣṭā — questioned; yathātattvam — according to the truth; ākhyātum — to relate; upacakrame — began; mātāsya — his mother; yugapad — all at once; vākyaṃ — the speech; vipriyaṃ — unwelcome; priyaśaṅkayā — in the belief it was welcome
2.66.35
sa hi rājasutaḥ putra cīravāsā mahāvanam
daṇḍakān saha vaidehyā lakṣmaṇānucaro gataḥ
“That prince, my son, clad in bark-cloth, has gone to the great forest, to the Daṇḍakas, together with Vaidehī and with Lakṣmaṇa for his follower.”
Words: sa — he; hi — indeed; rājasutaḥ — the prince; putra — O son; cīravāsā — clad in bark-cloth; mahāvanam — to the great forest; daṇḍakān — to the Daṇḍakas; saha — with; vaidehyā — Vaidehī; lakṣmaṇānucaro — with Lakṣmaṇa as follower; gataḥ — gone
2.66.36
tac chrutvā bharatas trasto bhrātuś cāritraśaṅkayā
svasya vaṃśasya māhātmyāt praṣṭuṃ samupacakrame
Hearing that, Bharata, alarmed by a doubt about his brother's conduct, out of the greatness of his own lineage began to ask:
Words: tac chrutvā — having heard that; bharatas — Bharata; trasto — alarmed; bhrātuś — of his brother; cāritraśaṅkayā — from doubt about (his) conduct; svasya — of his own; vaṃśasya — lineage; māhātmyāt — out of the greatness; praṣṭuṃ — to ask; samupacakrame — began
2.66.37
kaccin na brāhmaṇavadhaṃ hṛtaṃ rāmeṇa kasya cit
kaccin nāḍhyo daridro vā tenāpāpo vihiṃsitaḥ
“Surely Rāma has not incurred the slaying of anyone's brahmin? Surely no sinless man, rich or poor, has been harmed by him?”
Words: kaccin — surely (not)?; na — not; brāhmaṇavadhaṃ — the slaying of a brahmin; hṛtaṃ — taken, incurred; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; kasya cit — of anyone; kaccin — surely?; nāḍhyo — not a rich man; daridro — poor; vā — or; tenāpāpo — by him a sinless one; vihiṃsitaḥ — harmed
2.66.38
kaccin na paradārān vā rājaputro 'bhimanyate
kasmāt sa daṇḍakāraṇye bhrūṇaheva vivāsitaḥ
“Surely the prince has not coveted another man's wife? Why has he been banished to the Daṇḍaka forest like the slayer of an embryo?”
Words: kaccin — surely (not)?; na — not; paradārān — another's wife; vā — or; rājaputro — the prince; 'bhimanyate — covets; kasmāt — why; sa — he; daṇḍakāraṇye — in the Daṇḍaka forest; bhrūṇaheva — like a slayer of an embryo; vivāsitaḥ — banished
2.66.39
athāsya capalā mātā tat svakarma yathātatham
tenaiva strīsvabhāvena vyāhartum upacakrame
Then his fickle mother, by that very womanish nature, set about relating her own deed exactly as it was.
Words: athāsya — then ... his; capalā — fickle; mātā — mother; tat — that; svakarma — her own deed; yathātatham — exactly as it was; tenaiva — by that very; strīsvabhāvena — womanish nature; vyāhartum — to relate; upacakrame — began
2.66.40
na brāhmaṇa dhanaṃ kiṃcid dhṛtaṃ rāmeṇa kasya cit
kaś cin nāḍhyo daridro vā tenāpāpo vihiṃsitaḥ
na rāmaḥ paradārāṃś ca cakṣurbhyām api paśyati
“No brahmin's wealth of any kind was taken by Rāma; no sinless man, rich or poor, was harmed by him; nor does Rāma so much as look with his eyes upon another's wife.”
Words: na — not; brāhmaṇa — of a brahmin; dhanaṃ — wealth; kiṃcid — any; dhṛtaṃ — taken; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; kasya cit — of anyone; kaś cin — any; nāḍhyo — not a rich man; daridro — poor; vā — or; tenāpāpo — by him a sinless one; vihiṃsitaḥ — harmed; na — not; rāmaḥ — Rāma; paradārāṃś ca — and another's wife; cakṣurbhyām — with his eyes; api — even; paśyati — looks
2.66.41
mayā tu putra śrutvaiva rāmasyaivābhiṣecanam
yācitas te pitā rājyaṃ rāmasya ca vivāsanam
“But I, my son, the moment I heard of Rāma's consecration, begged your father for the kingdom and for Rāma's banishment.”
Words: mayā — by me; tu — but; putra — O son; śrutvaiva — as soon as I heard; rāmasyaivābhiṣecanam — Rāma's very consecration; yācitas — was begged; te — your; pitā — father; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; rāmasya ca — and of Rāma; vivāsanam — banishment
2.66.42
sa svavṛttiṃ samāsthāya pitā te tat tathākarot
rāmaś ca sahasaumitriḥ preṣitaḥ saha sītayā
“Holding to his own course of conduct, your father did just that; and Rāma, together with Saumitri, was sent away along with Sītā.”
Words: sa — he; svavṛttiṃ — his own conduct; samāsthāya — having taken his stand on; pitā — father; te — your; tat — that; tathākarot — did so; rāmaś ca — and Rāma; sahasaumitriḥ — together with Saumitri; preṣitaḥ — sent away; saha sītayā — with Sītā
2.66.43
tam apaśyan priyaṃ putraṃ mahīpālo mahāyaśāḥ
putraśokaparidyūnaḥ pañcatvam upapedivān
“Not seeing his dear son, the great and glorious lord of the earth, worn down by grief for his son, attained dissolution into the five elements.”
Words: tam — him; apaśyan — not seeing; priyaṃ — dear; putraṃ — son; mahīpālo — the lord of earth; mahāyaśāḥ — of great renown; putraśokaparidyūnaḥ — worn down by grief for his son; pañcatvam — the state of the five elements (death); upapedivān — attained
2.66.44
tvayā tv idānīṃ dharmajña rājatvam avalambyatām
tvatkṛte hi mayā sarvam idam evaṃvidhaṃ kṛtam
“Now, O knower of dharma, let the kingship be taken up by you; for it was for your sake that I did all this of such a kind.”
Words: tvayā — by you; tv — indeed; idānīṃ — now; dharmajña — O knower of dharma; rājatvam — the kingship; avalambyatām — let it be taken up; tvatkṛte — for your sake; hi — for; mayā — by me; sarvam — all; idam — this; evaṃvidhaṃ — of such a kind; kṛtam — was done
2.66.45
tat putra śīghraṃ vidhinā vidhijñair vasiṣṭhamukhyaiḥ sahito dvijendraiḥ
saṃkālya rājānam adīnasattvam ātmānam urvyām abhiṣecayasva
“Therefore, my son, quickly and in due form, together with the foremost twice-born led by Vasiṣṭha who know the rites, perform the funeral of the king of undaunted spirit, and consecrate yourself upon the earth.”
Words: tat — therefore; putra — O son; śīghraṃ — quickly; vidhinā — by rite; vidhijñair — with those who know the rites; vasiṣṭhamukhyaiḥ — led by Vasiṣṭha; sahito — together with; dvijendraiḥ — with the best of the twice-born; saṃkālya — having performed the funeral rites for; rājānam — the king; adīnasattvam — of undaunted spirit; ātmānam — yourself; urvyām — upon the earth; abhiṣecayasva — consecrate
← 2.65 Bharata reaches Ayodhyā · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.67 Bharata rejects Kaikeyī’s scheme →
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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