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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 68: Surabhi’s tears and Bharata’s vow
Summary. He compares Kausalyā’s sorrow to Surabhi’s grief for her exhausted oxen and offers to replace Rāma in exile
Sequence
- Bharata continues condemning Kaikeyī for causing death and exile without any wrong having been done to her (2.68.1–4)
- he says her actions have disgraced him too: the world will associate him with the gain she sought (2.68.5–14)
- to explain Kausalyā's suffering, he tells of the divine cow Surabhi, whose tears fell on Indra when she saw two of her sons exhausted under a plough (2.68.15–18)
- when Indra asked what danger troubled her, she explained that she was grieving for the two oxen, beaten and worn out in the sun (2.68.19–23)
- Bharata asks how much greater Kausalyā's grief must be when even a mother of countless offspring suffers for two (2.68.24–25)
- he vows to restore Rāma and enter the forest himself → overwhelmed, he falls to the ground. (2.68.26–29)
Verses 2.68.1–29
2.68.1
tāṃ tathā garhayitvā tu mātaraṃ bharatas tadā
roṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭaḥ punar evābravīd vacaḥ
Having thus reproached his mother, Bharata, seized with great fury, then spoke yet again these words:
Words: tāṃ — her; tathā — thus; garhayitvā — having reproached, reviled; tu — and; mātaraṃ — his mother; bharatas — Bharata; tadā — then; roṣeṇa — with fury; mahatāviṣṭaḥ — seized by great (fury); punar — again; evābravīd — indeed spoke; vacaḥ — words
2.68.2
rājyād bhraṃśasva kaikeyi nṛśaṃse duṣṭacāriṇi
parityaktā ca dharmeṇa mā mṛtaṃ rudatī bhava
Fall from royalty, Kaikeyī, cruel woman of wicked conduct; forsaken by dharma, do not become one who weeps over the dead.
Words: rājyād — from royalty; bhraṃśasva — fall away, be cast down; kaikeyi — O Kaikeyī; nṛśaṃse — O cruel one; duṣṭacāriṇi — O one of wicked conduct; parityaktā — forsaken; ca — and; dharmeṇa — by dharma; mā — do not; mṛtaṃ — over the dead; rudatī — weeping; bhava — become
2.68.3
kiṃ nu te 'dūṣayad rājā rāmo vā bhṛśadhārmikaḥ
yayor mṛtyur vivāsaś ca tvatkṛte tulyam āgatau
How did the king wrong you, or Rāma so exceedingly righteous — the two for whom death and exile have alike come about because of you?
Words: kiṃ nu — how, in what way; te — you; 'dūṣayad — did wrong, harmed; rājā — the king; rāmo vā — or Rāma; bhṛśadhārmikaḥ — exceedingly righteous; yayor — of whom two; mṛtyur — death; vivāsaś ca — and exile; tvatkṛte — because of you; tulyam — alike, equally; āgatau — the two came about
2.68.4
bhrūṇahatyām asi prāptā kulasyāsya vināśanāt
kaikeyi narakaṃ gaccha mā ca bhartuḥ salokatām
You have incurred the guilt of slaying an embryo through the destruction of this family; go to hell, Kaikeyī, and not to your husband's world.
Words: bhrūṇahatyām — the slaying of an embryo; asi — you are; prāptā — attained, incurred; kulasyāsya — of this family; vināśanāt — from the destruction; kaikeyi — O Kaikeyī; narakaṃ — to hell; gaccha — go; mā — not; ca — and; bhartuḥ — of your husband; salokatām — dwelling in the same world
2.68.5
yat tvayā hīdṛśaṃ pāpaṃ kṛtaṃ ghoreṇa karmaṇā
sarvalokapriyaṃ hitvā mamāpy āpāditaṃ bhayam
Since such a sin has been committed by you through a dreadful deed, casting out one dear to all the world, fear has been brought upon me too.
Words: yat — since, in that; tvayā — by you; hīdṛśaṃ — such indeed; pāpaṃ — sin; kṛtaṃ — done; ghoreṇa — dreadful; karmaṇā — by a deed; sarvalokapriyaṃ — him dear to all the world; hitvā — having abandoned; mamāpy — upon me also; āpāditaṃ — brought about; bhayam — fear
2.68.6
tvatkṛte me pitā vṛtto rāmaś cāraṇyam āśritaḥ
ayaśo jīvaloke ca tvayāhaṃ pratipāditaḥ
Because of you my father has died and Rāma has taken to the forest, and by you I have been brought to disgrace in the world of the living.
Words: tvatkṛte — because of you; me — my; pitā — father; vṛtto — deceased; rāmaś — Rāma; cāraṇyam — and to the forest; āśritaḥ — has resorted; ayaśo — disgrace; jīvaloke — in the world of the living; ca — and; tvayāhaṃ — by you I; pratipāditaḥ — have been brought, delivered
2.68.7
mātṛrūpe mamāmitre nṛśaṃse rājyakāmuke
na te 'ham abhibhāṣyo 'smi durvṛtte patighātini
O enemy of mine in a mother's guise, cruel and craving the kingdom, I am not one to be addressed by you, ill-conducted slayer of your husband.
Words: mātṛrūpe — O you in a mother's form; mamāmitre — O enemy of mine; nṛśaṃse — O cruel one; rājyakāmuke — O you who lust for the kingdom; na — not; te — by you; 'ham — I; abhibhāṣyo 'smi — am to be spoken to; durvṛtte — O ill-conducted one; patighātini — O slayer of your husband
2.68.8
kausalyā ca sumitrā ca yāś cānyā mama mātaraḥ
duḥkhena mahatāviṣṭās tvāṃ prāpya kuladūṣiṇīm
Kausalyā and Sumitrā, and whatever other mothers I have, are seized with great grief at having got you, the defiler of the family.
Words: kausalyā — Kausalyā; ca — and; sumitrā — Sumitrā; ca — and; yāś cānyā — and whatever others; mama — my; mātaraḥ — mothers; duḥkhena — with grief; mahatāviṣṭās — seized by a great (grief); tvāṃ — you; prāpya — having got; kuladūṣiṇīm — the defiler of the family
2.68.9
na tvam aśvapateḥ kanyā dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ
rākṣasī tatra jātāsi kulapradhvaṃsinī pituḥ
You are no daughter of the wise Aśvapati, that king of righteousness; a demoness were you born in his house, a destroyer of your father's line.
Words: na — not; tvam — you; aśvapateḥ — of Aśvapati; kanyā — daughter; dharmarājasya — of the king of dharma; dhīmataḥ — of the wise one; rākṣasī — a demoness; tatra — there, in that house; jātāsi — you were born; kulapradhvaṃsinī — destroyer of the family; pituḥ — of your father
2.68.10
yat tvayā dhārmiko rāmo nityaṃ satyaparāyaṇaḥ
vanaṃ prasthāpito duḥkhāt pitā ca tridivaṃ gataḥ
—since by you the righteous Rāma, ever devoted to truth, was sent off to the forest, and my father, out of grief, went to heaven.
Words: yat — since; tvayā — by you; dhārmiko — righteous; rāmo — Rāma; nityaṃ — ever, constantly; satyaparāyaṇaḥ — wholly devoted to truth; vanaṃ — to the forest; prasthāpito — sent forth; duḥkhāt — out of grief; pitā — father; ca — and; tridivaṃ — to heaven; gataḥ — went
2.68.11
yat pradhānāsi tat pāpaṃ mayi pitrā vinākṛte
bhrātṛbhyāṃ ca parityakte sarvalokasya cāpriye
Whatever sin you are the chief author of, that falls upon me — bereft of my father, forsaken by my two brothers, and become hateful to all the world.
Words: yat — of which; pradhānāsi — you are the chief author; tat — that; pāpaṃ — sin; mayi — upon me; pitrā — of my father; vinākṛte — deprived; bhrātṛbhyāṃ — by my two brothers; ca — and; parityakte — forsaken; sarvalokasya — to all the world; cāpriye — and hateful
2.68.12
kausalyāṃ dharmasaṃyuktāṃ viyuktāṃ pāpaniścaye
kṛtvā kaṃ prāpsyase tv adya lokaṃ nirayagāminī
Having sundered the virtuous Kausalyā from her son, O you set on evil, what world will you now win, bound as you are for hell?
Words: kausalyāṃ — Kausalyā; dharmasaṃyuktāṃ — endowed with dharma; viyuktāṃ — separated, bereft; pāpaniścaye — O you of wicked resolve; kṛtvā — having made; kaṃ — what; prāpsyase — will you attain; tv — indeed; adya — now, today; lokaṃ — world; nirayagāminī — bound for hell
2.68.13
kiṃ nāvabudhyase krūre niyataṃ bandhusaṃśrayam
jyeṣṭhaṃ pitṛsamaṃ rāmaṃ kausalyāyātmasaṃbhavam
How do you fail to recognize, cruel one, that Rāma — the eldest, the constant refuge of his kin, like a father, sprung from Kausalyā herself?
Words: kiṃ — why, how; nāvabudhyase — do you not recognize; krūre — O cruel one; niyataṃ — surely, constantly; bandhusaṃśrayam — the refuge of his kinsfolk; jyeṣṭhaṃ — the eldest; pitṛsamaṃ — equal to a father; rāmaṃ — Rāma; kausalyāyātmasaṃbhavam — sprung from Kausalyā herself
2.68.14
aṅgapratyaṅgajaḥ putro hṛdayāc cāpi jāyate
tasmāt priyataro mātuḥ priyatvān na tu bāndhavaḥ
A son is born from every limb and member, and from the heart as well; therefore he is dearer to a mother than any kinsman, by the very nature of that love.
Words: aṅgapratyaṅgajaḥ — born of every limb and member; putro — a son; hṛdayāc cāpi — and from the heart too; jāyate — is born; tasmāt — therefore; priyataro — dearer; mātuḥ — to a mother; priyatvān — by reason of that dearness; na tu — but not; bāndhavaḥ — a kinsman
2.68.15
anyadā kila dharmajñā surabhiḥ surasaṃmatā
vahamānau dadarśorvyāṃ putrau vigatacetasau
Once, they say, the righteous Surabhi, honoured by the gods, saw two of her sons upon the earth, hauling a plough, their senses failing.
Words: anyadā — once, on another occasion; kila — they say, indeed; dharmajñā — the knower of dharma; surabhiḥ — Surabhi (the divine cow); surasaṃmatā — esteemed by the gods; vahamānau — the two hauling, drawing loads; dadarśorvyāṃ — saw upon the earth; putrau — two sons; vigatacetasau — the two with senses gone, swooning
2.68.16
tāv ardhadivase śrāntau dṛṣṭvā putrau mahītale
ruroda putra śokena bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇā
Seeing those two sons of hers wearied at midday upon the ground, she wept with grief for her sons, her eyes brimming and troubled with tears.
Words: tāv — those two; ardhadivase — at midday; śrāntau — the two wearied; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; putrau — two sons; mahītale — on the ground; ruroda — wept; putra śokena — with grief for her sons; bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇā — her eyes troubled with tears
2.68.17
adhastād vrajatas tasyāḥ surarājño mahātmanaḥ
bindavaḥ patitā gātre sūkṣmāḥ surabhigandhinaḥ
Upon the body of the great-souled king of the gods, as he passed below her, there fell from her tiny drops, fragrant with a sweet scent.
Words: adhastād — below; vrajatas — as he was passing; tasyāḥ — of her (Surabhi); surarājño — of the king of the gods; mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled one; bindavaḥ — drops; patitā — fell; gātre — on his body; sūkṣmāḥ — tiny, subtle; surabhigandhinaḥ — fragrant with a sweet scent
2.68.18
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā śokasaṃtaptāṃ vajrapāṇir yaśasvinīm
indraḥ prāñjalir udvignaḥ surarājo 'bravīd vacaḥ
Seeing that illustrious one scorched with grief, Indra the thunderbolt-bearer, king of the gods, distressed and with palms joined, spoke these words:
Words: tāṃ — her; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; śokasaṃtaptāṃ — scorched with grief; vajrapāṇir — the thunderbolt-handed one; yaśasvinīm — the illustrious one; indraḥ — Indra; prāñjalir — with palms joined; udvignaḥ — agitated, distressed; surarājo 'bravīd — the king of the gods spoke; vacaḥ — words
2.68.19
bhayaṃ kaccin na cāsmāsu kutaś cid vidyate mahat
kuto nimittaḥ śokas te brūhi sarvahitaiṣiṇi
Surely no great danger threatens us from any quarter? Tell me, O you who wish the welfare of all, from what cause comes your grief?
Words: bhayaṃ — danger, fear; kaccin — surely (not); na — not; cāsmāsu — and upon us; kutaś cid — from anywhere; vidyate — exists, is found; mahat — great; kuto — from what; nimittaḥ — occasioned, caused; śokas — grief; te — your; brūhi — tell; sarvahitaiṣiṇi — O you who seek the good of all
2.68.20
evam uktā tu surabhiḥ surarājena dhīmatā
patyuvāca tato dhīrā vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradā
Addressed thus by the wise king of the gods, the steadfast Surabhi, skilled in speech, then answered him:
Words: evam uktā — thus addressed; tu — and; surabhiḥ — Surabhi; surarājena — by the king of the gods; dhīmatā — the wise one; patyuvāca — replied, answered; tato — then; dhīrā — the steadfast one; vākyaṃ — words; vākyaviśāradā — skilled in speech
2.68.21
śāntaṃ pātaṃ na vaḥ kiṃ cit kutaś cid amarādhipa
ahaṃ tu magnau śocāmi svaputrau viṣame sthitau
May all calamity be averted — none at all threatens you from any quarter, O lord of the immortals; but I grieve for my two sunken sons, set in a hard plight.
Words: śāntaṃ — averted, allayed; pātaṃ — calamity, downfall; na — not; vaḥ — to you (all); kiṃ cit — any at all; kutaś cid — from anywhere; amarādhipa — O lord of the immortals; ahaṃ — I; tu — but; magnau — the two sunk down; śocāmi — I grieve for; svaputrau — my own two sons; viṣame — in a hard plight; sthitau — the two placed, set
2.68.22
etau dṛṣṭvā kṛṣau dīnau sūryaraśmipratāpinau
vadhyamānau balīvardau karṣakeṇa surādhipa
Seeing these two oxen, gaunt and wretched, scorched by the sun's rays and beaten by the ploughman, O lord of the gods —
Words: etau — these two; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; kṛṣau — the two lean, emaciated; dīnau — the two wretched; sūryaraśmipratāpinau — scorched by the sun's rays; vadhyamānau — the two being beaten; balīvardau — the two oxen, bullocks; karṣakeṇa — by the ploughman; surādhipa — O lord of the gods
2.68.23
mama kāyāt prasūtau hi duḥkhitau bhāra pīḍitau
yau dṛṣṭvā paritapye 'haṃ nāsti putrasamaḥ priyaḥ
For they were born of my own body, and now, distressed and crushed by their load — seeing them I burn with grief; there is none so dear as a son.
Words: mama — my; kāyāt — from the body; prasūtau — the two born; hi — for, indeed; duḥkhitau — the two distressed; bhāra pīḍitau — crushed by their burden; yau — which two; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; paritapye — I am tormented; 'haṃ — I; nāsti — there is not; putrasamaḥ — equal to a son; priyaḥ — dear one
2.68.24
yasyāḥ putra sahasrāṇi sāpi śocati kāmadhuk
kiṃ punar yā vinā rāmaṃ kausalyā vartayiṣyati
Even the wish-yielding cow, who has thousands of sons, grieves thus; how much more, then, will Kausalyā, who must live on without Rāma?
Words: yasyāḥ — whose, of whom; putra sahasrāṇi — thousands of sons; sāpi — even she; śocati — grieves; kāmadhuk — the wish-granting cow; kiṃ punar — how much more; yā — she who; vinā — without; rāmaṃ — Rāma; kausalyā — Kausalyā; vartayiṣyati — will go on living, will subsist
2.68.25
ekaputrā ca sādhvī ca vivatseyaṃ tvayā kṛtā
tasmāt tvaṃ satataṃ duḥkhaṃ pretya ceha ca lapsyase
She had but one son and is virtuous, yet by you she has been made bereft of her child; therefore you will reap unending sorrow, both hereafter and here.
Words: ekaputrā — having but one son; ca — and; sādhvī — a virtuous woman; ca — and; vivatseyaṃ — this one bereft of her child; tvayā — by you; kṛtā — made; tasmāt — therefore; tvaṃ — you; satataṃ — constantly, unceasingly; duḥkhaṃ — sorrow; pretya — having died, in the hereafter; ceha — and here; ca — too; lapsyase — you will obtain
2.68.26
ahaṃ hy apacitiṃ bhrātuḥ pituś ca sakalām imām
vardhanaṃ yaśasaś cāpi kariṣyāmi na saṃśayaḥ
For I will render this whole honour due to my brother and my father, and increase their glory besides — of that there is no doubt.
Words: ahaṃ — I; hy — indeed; apacitiṃ — honour, requital; bhrātuḥ — to my brother; pituś ca — and to my father; sakalām — whole, entire; imām — this; vardhanaṃ — the increasing; yaśasaś cāpi — and of glory too; kariṣyāmi — I will make; na saṃśayaḥ — there is no doubt
2.68.27
ānāyayitvā tanayaṃ kausalyāyā mahādyutim
svayam eva pravekṣyāmi vanaṃ muniniṣevitam
Having had Kausalyā's son of great splendour brought back, I shall myself enter the forest frequented by sages.
Words: ānāyayitvā — having caused to be brought back; tanayaṃ — the son; kausalyāyā — of Kausalyā; mahādyutim — of great splendour; svayam eva — I myself; pravekṣyāmi — I shall enter; vanaṃ — the forest; muniniṣevitam — frequented by sages
2.68.28
iti nāga ivāraṇye tomarāṅkuśacoditaḥ
papāta bhuvi saṃkruddho niḥśvasann iva pannagaḥ
So saying, like a forest elephant goaded by lance and hook, he fell to the ground in fury, hissing like a serpent.
Words: iti — thus (saying); nāga — an elephant; ivāraṇye — as if in the forest; tomarāṅkuśacoditaḥ — driven by lance and goad; papāta — fell; bhuvi — on the ground; saṃkruddho — enraged; niḥśvasann — hissing, breathing hard; iva — like; pannagaḥ — a serpent
2.68.29
saṃraktanetraḥ śithilāmbaras tadā vidhūtasarvābharaṇaḥ paraṃtapaḥ
babhūva bhūmau patito nṛpātmajaḥ śacīpateḥ ketur ivotsavakṣaye
His eyes bloodshot, his robe loosened, all his ornaments cast off, that scorcher of foes, the prince, lay fallen upon the ground, like Indra's banner when the festival is over.
Words: saṃraktanetraḥ — with bloodshot eyes; śithilāmbaras — with loosened garment; tadā — then; vidhūtasarvābharaṇaḥ — with all his ornaments shaken off; paraṃtapaḥ — scorcher of foes; babhūva — became, lay; bhūmau — on the ground; patito — fallen; nṛpātmajaḥ — the king's son; śacīpateḥ — of the lord of Śacī (Indra); ketur — the banner; ivotsavakṣaye — as at the end of a festival
← 2.67 Bharata rejects Kaikeyī’s scheme · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.69 Kausalyā accepts Bharata’s innocence →
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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