← 2.94 Rāma questions Bharata’s governance · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.96 The mothers reach Rāma’s hut →
Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 95: Rāma’s offerings for Daśaratha
Summary. Hearing of his death, Rāma collapses, then offers Mandākinī water and iṅgudī paste with jujube as his own forest fare
Sequence
- Bharata says he does not want the Kingdom and asks Rāma to return as the rightful elder (2.95.1–4)
- he then reveals that Daśaratha died while they were both away and asks Rāma to make the offering of water for him (2.95.5–7)
- Rāma faints at the news (2.95.8–9)
- Sītā and his brothers revive him with water (2.95.10–12)
- he laments that he could not serve his father at the end and wonders who will welcome or guide him when the exile is over (2.95.13–17)
- he speaks to Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa about their loss, then asks for the materials for the rites (2.95.18–22)
- supported by Sumantra, he goes down to the Mandākinī and, facing south, offers water to his father (2.95.23–28)
- he lays out a nivāpa (food offering for the deceased) of iṅgudī paste mixed with jujube on darbha grass, explaining that he offers the food on which he himself now lives → the brothers return to the hut and embrace (2.95.29–33)
- their cries reach the camp, and people hurry toward them → Rāma receives the grieving followers affectionately. (2.95.34–47)
Verses 2.95.1–47
2.95.1
rāmasya vacanaṃ śrutvā bharataḥ pratyuvāca ha
kiṃ me dharmād vihīnasya rājadharmaḥ kariṣyati
Having heard Rāma's words, Bharata replied: “What will the royal duty avail me, who am bereft of righteousness?
Words: rāmasya — of Rāma; vacanaṃ — words; śrutvā — having heard; bharataḥ — Bharata; pratyuvāca — replied; ha — indeed; kiṃ — what; me — for me; dharmād — from righteousness; vihīnasya — of one bereft; rājadharmaḥ — the royal duty; kariṣyati — will do, will avail
2.95.2
śāśvato 'yaṃ sadā dharmaḥ sthito 'smāsu nararṣabha
jyeṣṭha putre sthite rājan na kanīyān bhaven nṛpaḥ
This is the eternal law, ever established among us, O bull among men: while the eldest son lives, O king, the younger should not become king.
Words: śāśvato — eternal; 'yaṃ — this; sadā — always; dharmaḥ — law; sthito — established; 'smāsu — among us; nararṣabha — O bull among men; jyeṣṭha putre — when the eldest son; sthite — stands, lives; rājan — O king; na — not; kanīyān — the younger; bhaven — should become; nṛpaḥ — king
2.95.3
sa samṛddhāṃ mayā sārdham ayodhyāṃ gaccha rāghava
abhiṣecaya cātmānaṃ kulasyāsya bhavāya naḥ
Come with me, O Rāghava, to prosperous Ayodhyā, and consecrate yourself for the welfare of this our house.
Words: sa — you (that one); samṛddhāṃ — prosperous; mayā — with me; sārdham — together; ayodhyāṃ — to Ayodhyā; gaccha — go; rāghava — O Rāghava; abhiṣecaya — consecrate; cātmānaṃ — and yourself; kulasyāsya — of this house; bhavāya — for the welfare; naḥ — of us, our
2.95.4
rājānaṃ mānuṣaṃ prāhur devatve saṃmato mama
yasya dharmārthasahitaṃ vṛttam āhur amānuṣam
Men call a king a mere human, yet in my view he is held to be of divine nature — he whose conduct, joined with duty and profit, they declare superhuman.
Words: rājānaṃ — the king; mānuṣaṃ — human; prāhur — they call; devatve — in divinity; saṃmato — held, agreed; mama — in my view; yasya — whose; dharmārthasahitaṃ — joined with duty and profit; vṛttam — conduct; āhur — they call; amānuṣam — superhuman
2.95.5
kekayasthe ca mayi tu tvayi cāraṇyam āśrite
divam ārya gato rājā yāyajūkaḥ satāṃ mataḥ
While I was staying in Kekaya and you, O noble one, had resorted to the forest, the king — a constant sacrificer, esteemed by the good — went to heaven.
Words: kekayasthe — staying in Kekaya; ca — and; mayi — while I (was); tu — but; tvayi — and you (were); cāraṇyam — the forest; āśrite — having resorted to; divam — to heaven; ārya — O noble one; gato — went; rājā — the king; yāyajūkaḥ — a constant sacrificer; satāṃ — of the good; mataḥ — esteemed
2.95.6
uttiṣṭha puruṣavyāghra kriyatām udakaṃ pituḥ
ahaṃ cāyaṃ ca śatrughnaḥ pūrvam eva kṛtodakau
Rise, O tiger among men; let the water-offering be made for our father. This Śatrughna and I have already performed the water-offering.
Words: uttiṣṭha — rise; puruṣavyāghra — O tiger among men; kriyatām — let it be made; udakaṃ — the water-offering; pituḥ — for the father; ahaṃ — I; cāyaṃ — and this; ca — and; śatrughnaḥ — Śatrughna; pūrvam — already, before; eva — indeed; kṛtodakau — the two who have made the water-offering
2.95.7
priyeṇa kila dattaṃ hi pitṛlokeṣu rāghava
akṣayyaṃ bhavatīty āhur bhavāṃś caiva pituḥ priyaḥ
For what is given by a loved one, O Rāghava, they say becomes imperishable in the worlds of the fathers; and you indeed were dear to our father.
Words: priyeṇa — by a loved one; kila — they say, indeed; dattaṃ — given; hi — for; pitṛlokeṣu — in the worlds of the fathers; rāghava — O Rāghava; akṣayyaṃ — imperishable; bhavatīty — becomes, thus; āhur — they say; bhavāṃś — you (honorific); caiva — and indeed; pituḥ — to the father; priyaḥ — dear
2.95.8
tāṃ śrutvā karuṇāṃ vācaṃ pitur maraṇasaṃhitām
rāghavo bharatenoktāṃ babhūva gatacetanaḥ
Having heard that piteous speech, concerning his father's death, spoken by Bharata, Rāghava lost consciousness.
Words: tāṃ — that; śrutvā — having heard; karuṇāṃ — piteous; vācaṃ — speech; pitur — of the father; maraṇasaṃhitām — connected with the death; rāghavo — Rāghava; bharatenoktāṃ — spoken by Bharata; babhūva — became; gatacetanaḥ — senseless, having lost consciousness
2.95.9
vāgvajraṃ bharatenoktam amanojñaṃ paraṃtapaḥ
pragṛhya bāhū rāmo vai puṣpitāgro yathā drumaḥ
vane paraśunā kṛttas tathā bhuvi papāta ha
Receiving that unwelcome word-thunderbolt uttered by Bharata, the scorcher of foes Rāma threw up his arms and fell to the ground, like a tree in full flower cut down by an axe in the forest.
Words: vāgvajraṃ — the word-thunderbolt; bharatenoktam — spoken by Bharata; amanojñaṃ — unwelcome, unpleasant; paraṃtapaḥ — the scorcher of foes; pragṛhya — having thrown up, seized; bāhū — the two arms; rāmo — Rāma; vai — indeed; puṣpitāgro — having blossomed tips; yathā — as; drumaḥ — tree; vane — in the forest; paraśunā — by an axe; kṛttas — cut down; tathā — so; bhuvi — on the ground; papāta — fell; ha — indeed
2.95.10
tathā hi patitaṃ rāmaṃ jagatyāṃ jagatīpatim
kūlaghātapariśrāntaṃ prasuptam iva kuñjaram
Rāma, lord of the earth, thus fallen upon the ground like an elephant asleep, worn out from battering a riverbank,
Words: tathā — thus; hi — indeed; patitaṃ — fallen; rāmaṃ — Rāma; jagatyāṃ — on the ground; jagatīpatim — lord of the earth; kūlaghātapariśrāntaṃ — worn out from battering the bank; prasuptam — asleep; iva — like; kuñjaram — elephant
2.95.11
bhrātaras te maheṣvāsaṃ sarvataḥ śokakarśitam
rudantaḥ saha vaidehyā siṣicuḥ salilena vai
his brothers, weeping together with Vaidehī, sprinkled with water on every side that great archer emaciated by grief.
Words: bhrātaras — the brothers; te — his; maheṣvāsaṃ — the great archer; sarvataḥ — on every side; śokakarśitam — emaciated by grief; rudantaḥ — weeping; saha — together with; vaidehyā — Vaidehī; siṣicuḥ — sprinkled; salilena — with water; vai — indeed
2.95.12
sa tu saṃjñāṃ punar labdhvā netrābhyām āsram utsṛjan
upākrāmata kākutsthaḥ kṛpaṇaṃ bahubhāṣitum
But regaining consciousness, shedding tears from both eyes, Kākutstha began to lament piteously at length.
Words: sa — he; tu — but; saṃjñāṃ — consciousness; punar — again; labdhvā — having regained; netrābhyām — from both eyes; āsram — tears; utsṛjan — shedding; upākrāmata — began; kākutsthaḥ — Kākutstha; kṛpaṇaṃ — piteously; bahubhāṣitum — to speak much, at length
2.95.13
kiṃ nu tasya mayā kāryaṃ durjātena mahātmanā
yo mṛto mama śokena na mayā cāpi saṃskṛtaḥ
What now can be done by me, ill-fated as I am, for that great-souled father, who died of grief for me and was not even given the funeral rites by me?
Words: kiṃ — what; nu — now, indeed; tasya — for him; mayā — by me; kāryaṃ — to be done; durjātena — by (me) ill-fated; mahātmanā — the great-souled; yo — who; mṛto — died; mama — for me, my; śokena — by grief; na — not; mayā — by me; cāpi — and even; saṃskṛtaḥ — given funeral rites
2.95.14
aho bharata siddhārtho yena rājā tvayānagha
śatrugheṇa ca sarveṣu pretakṛtyeṣu satkṛtaḥ
Ah, Bharata, you have accomplished your purpose, O sinless one, in that by you and by Śatrughna the king was duly honoured in all the funeral rites.
Words: aho — ah; bharata — O Bharata; siddhārtho — accomplished of purpose; yena — by whom, in that; rājā — the king; tvayānagha — by you, O sinless one; śatrugheṇa — by Śatrughna; ca — and; sarveṣu — in all; pretakṛtyeṣu — in the funeral rites; satkṛtaḥ — well honoured
2.95.15
niṣpradhānām anekāgraṃ narendreṇa vinākṛtām
nivṛttavanavāso 'pi nāyodhyāṃ gantum utsahe
Even though my forest-dwelling is over, I cannot bring myself to go to Ayodhyā — leaderless, in disarray, deprived of its king.
Words: niṣpradhānām — leaderless; anekāgraṃ — in disarray, not single-focused; narendreṇa — of the king; vinākṛtām — deprived; nivṛttavanavāso — whose forest-dwelling has ended; 'pi — even; nāyodhyāṃ — not to Ayodhyā; gantum — to go; utsahe — I dare, I am able
2.95.16
samāptavanavāsaṃ mām ayodhyāyāṃ paraṃtapa
ko nu śāsiṣyati punas tāte lokāntaraṃ gate
Now that our father has gone to the other world, O scorcher of foes, who will guide me, my forest-exile completed, in Ayodhyā?
Words: samāptavanavāsaṃ — having completed the forest-dwelling; mām — me; ayodhyāyāṃ — in Ayodhyā; paraṃtapa — O scorcher of foes; ko — who; nu — now; śāsiṣyati — will guide, instruct; punas — again; tāte — the father (having); lokāntaraṃ — to the other world; gate — gone
2.95.17
purā prekṣya suvṛttaṃ māṃ pitā yāny āha sāntvayan
vākyāni tāni śroṣyāmi kutaḥ karṇasukhāny aham
Those words which my father, seeing me of old well-conducted, spoke to console me — where shall I ever hear those words that were sweet to the ear?
Words: purā — of old, formerly; prekṣya — having seen; suvṛttaṃ — of good conduct; māṃ — me; pitā — father; yāny — which; āha — spoke; sāntvayan — consoling; vākyāni — words; tāni — those; śroṣyāmi — shall I hear; kutaḥ — whence, where; karṇasukhāny — pleasing to the ear; aham — I
2.95.18
evam uktvā sa bharataṃ bhāryām abhyetya rāghavaḥ
uvāca śokasaṃtaptaḥ pūrṇacandranibhānanām
Having spoken thus to Bharata, Rāghava, tormented by grief, went up to his wife, whose face was like the full moon, and said:
Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; sa — he; bharataṃ — to Bharata; bhāryām — the wife; abhyetya — having approached; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; uvāca — said; śokasaṃtaptaḥ — tormented by grief; pūrṇacandranibhānanām — whose face resembled the full moon
2.95.19
sīte mṛtas te śvaśuraḥ pitrā hīno 'si lakṣmaṇa
bharato duḥkham ācaṣṭe svargataṃ pṛthivīpatim
“Sītā, your father-in-law is dead; Lakṣmaṇa, you are bereft of a father. Bharata reports the sorrowful news that the lord of the earth has gone to heaven.”
Words: sīte — O Sītā; mṛtas — dead; te — your; śvaśuraḥ — father-in-law; pitrā — of a father; hīno — bereft; 'si — you are; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; bharato — Bharata; duḥkham — the sorrowful (news); ācaṣṭe — reports, tells; svargataṃ — gone to heaven; pṛthivīpatim — the lord of the earth
2.95.20
sāntvayitvā tu tāṃ rāmo rudantīṃ janakātmajām
uvāca lakṣmaṇaṃ tatra duḥkhito duḥkhitaṃ vacaḥ
Then, having consoled the weeping daughter of Janaka, Rāma, himself grieving, there spoke these words to the grieving Lakṣmaṇa:
Words: sāntvayitvā — having consoled; tu — but; tāṃ — her; rāmo — Rāma; rudantīṃ — weeping; janakātmajām — the daughter of Janaka; uvāca — said; lakṣmaṇaṃ — to Lakṣmaṇa; tatra — there; duḥkhito — grieving; duḥkhitaṃ — to the grieving; vacaḥ — word
2.95.21
ānayeṅgudipiṇyākaṃ cīram āhara cottaram
jalakriyārthaṃ tātasya gamiṣyāmi mahātmanaḥ
“Bring the ingudi-paste and fetch an upper bark-garment; I shall go to perform the water-rite for our great-souled father.”
Words: ānayeṅgudipiṇyākaṃ — bring the ingudi-paste; cīram — bark-garment; āhara — fetch; cottaram — and the upper; jalakriyārthaṃ — for the purpose of the water-rite; tātasya — of the father; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled
2.95.22
sītā purastād vrajatu tvam enām abhito vraja
ahaṃ paścād gamiṣyāmi gatir hy eṣā sudāruṇā
“Let Sītā walk in front; you walk on either side of her; I shall go behind — for this is a most grievous path.”
Words: sītā — Sītā; purastād — in front; vrajatu — let her walk; tvam — you; enām — her; abhito — on both sides; vraja — walk; ahaṃ — I; paścād — behind; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; gatir — the way, path; hy — for; eṣā — this; sudāruṇā — most grievous
2.95.23
tato nityānugas teṣāṃ viditātmā mahāmatiḥ
mṛdur dāntaś ca śāntaś ca rāme ca dṛḍha bhaktimān
Then their constant attendant, of disciplined self and great wisdom, gentle, self-controlled and serene, and firmly devoted to Rāma —
Words: tato — then; nityānugas — the constant attendant; teṣāṃ — of them; viditātmā — of disciplined self; mahāmatiḥ — of great wisdom; mṛdur — gentle; dāntaś — self-controlled; ca — and; śāntaś — serene; ca — and; rāme — toward Rāma; ca — and; dṛḍha bhaktimān — firmly devoted
2.95.24
sumantras tair nṛpasutaiḥ sārdham āśvāsya rāghavam
avātārayad ālambya nadīṃ mandākinīṃ śivām
— Sumantra, together with those princes, having comforted Rāghava, supported him and brought him down to the auspicious river Mandākinī.
Words: sumantras — Sumantra; tair — those; nṛpasutaiḥ — princes; sārdham — together with; āśvāsya — having comforted; rāghavam — Rāghava; avātārayad — brought down; ālambya — supporting, holding; nadīṃ — the river; mandākinīṃ — Mandākinī; śivām — auspicious
2.95.25
te sutīrthāṃ tataḥ kṛcchrād upāgamya yaśasvinaḥ
nadīṃ mandākinīṃ ramyāṃ sadā puṣpitakānanām
Then those illustrious ones, having with difficulty reached the lovely Mandākinī river with its fair fords and ever-flowering groves,
Words: te — those; sutīrthāṃ — with fair fords; tataḥ — then; kṛcchrād — with difficulty; upāgamya — having reached; yaśasvinaḥ — illustrious ones; nadīṃ — river; mandākinīṃ — Mandākinī; ramyāṃ — lovely; sadā — ever; puṣpitakānanām — with flowering groves
2.95.26
śīghrasrotasam āsādya tīrthaṃ śivam akardamam
siṣicus tūdakaṃ rājñe tata etad bhavatv iti
— reaching its swift current at an auspicious, mud-free ford, poured out the water for the king, saying, “Let this reach him.”
Words: śīghrasrotasam — the swift-streamed; āsādya — having reached; tīrthaṃ — a ford; śivam — auspicious; akardamam — free of mud; siṣicus — poured; tūdakaṃ — and the water; rājñe — for the king; tata — then; etad — this; bhavatv — let it reach, be; iti — thus
2.95.27
pragṛhya ca mahīpālo jalapūritam añjalim
diśaṃ yāmyām abhimukho rudan vacanam abravīt
And the ruler of the earth, taking up a cupped handful filled with water, facing the southern quarter, wept and spoke these words:
Words: pragṛhya — having taken up; ca — and; mahīpālo — the earth-protector; jalapūritam — filled with water; añjalim — a cupped handful; diśaṃ — the quarter; yāmyām — southern; abhimukho — facing; rudan — weeping; vacanam — words; abravīt — spoke
2.95.28
etat te rājaśārdūla vimalaṃ toyam akṣayam
pitṛlokagatasyādya maddattam upatiṣṭhatu
“O tiger among kings, may this pure, imperishable water, given by me, reach you today, now gone to the world of the fathers.”
Words: etat — this; te — to you; rājaśārdūla — O tiger among kings; vimalaṃ — pure; toyam — water; akṣayam — imperishable; pitṛlokagatasyādya — of you now gone to the world of the fathers; maddattam — given by me; upatiṣṭhatu — let it reach, attend
2.95.29
tato mandākinī tīrāt pratyuttīrya sa rāghavaḥ
pituś cakāra tejasvī nivāpaṃ bhrātṛbhiḥ saha
Then, coming up from the bank of the Mandākinī, the illustrious Rāghava, together with his brothers, made the funeral offering for his father.
Words: tato — then; mandākinī tīrāt — from the bank of Mandākinī; pratyuttīrya — having come up; sa — he; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; pituś — for the father; cakāra — made; tejasvī — the illustrious; nivāpaṃ — the funeral offering; bhrātṛbhiḥ — with the brothers; saha — together
2.95.30
aiṅgudaṃ badarīmiśraṃ piṇyākaṃ darbhasaṃstare
nyasya rāmaḥ suduḥkhārto rudan vacanam abravīt
Placing on a spread of darbha grass the ingudi-paste mixed with jujube, Rāma, sorely afflicted, wept and spoke these words:
Words: aiṅgudaṃ — made of ingudi; badarīmiśraṃ — mixed with jujube; piṇyākaṃ — the oil-cake, paste; darbhasaṃstare — on a spread of darbha grass; nyasya — having placed; rāmaḥ — Rāma; suduḥkhārto — sorely afflicted; rudan — weeping; vacanam — words; abravīt — spoke
2.95.31
idaṃ bhuṅkṣva mahārājaprīto yad aśanā vayam
yadannaḥ puruṣo bhavati tadannās tasya devatāḥ
“Eat this, O great king, well pleased — the very food on which we ourselves feed. For whatever food a man eats, on that same food do his deities feed.”
Words: idaṃ — this; bhuṅkṣva — eat; mahārājaprīto — O great king, being pleased; yad — which; aśanā — as food (we whose food it is); vayam — we; yadannaḥ — having whatever food; puruṣo — a man; bhavati — is, becomes; tadannās — having that food; tasya — his; devatāḥ — deities
2.95.32
tatas tenaiva mārgeṇa pratyuttīrya nadītaṭāt
āruroha naravyāghro ramyasānuṃ mahīdharam
Then, coming up from the riverbank by that same path, the tiger among men climbed the mountain with its lovely ridges.
Words: tatas — then; tenaiva — by that very; mārgeṇa — path; pratyuttīrya — having come up; nadītaṭāt — from the riverbank; āruroha — climbed; naravyāghro — the tiger among men; ramyasānuṃ — with lovely ridges; mahīdharam — the mountain
2.95.33
tataḥ parṇakuṭīdvāram āsādya jagatīpatiḥ
parijagrāha pāṇibhyām ubhau bharatalakṣmaṇau
Then, reaching the door of his leaf-hut, the lord of the earth clasped with both hands both Bharata and Lakṣmaṇa.
Words: tataḥ — then; parṇakuṭīdvāram — the door of the leaf-hut; āsādya — having reached; jagatīpatiḥ — the lord of the earth; parijagrāha — clasped, embraced; pāṇibhyām — with both hands; ubhau — both; bharatalakṣmaṇau — Bharata and Lakṣmaṇa
2.95.34
teṣāṃ tu rudatāṃ śabdāt pratiśrutkābhavad girau
bhrātṝṇāṃ saha vaidehyā siṃhānāṃ nardatām iva
From the sound of those brothers weeping together with Vaidehī, an echo arose on the mountain, as of lions roaring.
Words: teṣāṃ — of those; tu — but, indeed; rudatāṃ — weeping; śabdāt — from the sound; pratiśrutkābhavad — an echo arose; girau — on the mountain; bhrātṝṇāṃ — of the brothers; saha — together with; vaidehyā — Vaidehī; siṃhānāṃ — of lions; nardatām — roaring; iva — like
2.95.35
vijñāya tumulaṃ śabdaṃ trastā bharatasainikāḥ
abruvaṃś cāpi rāmeṇa bharataḥ saṃgato dhruvam
teṣām eva mahāñ śabdaḥ śocatāṃ pitaraṃ mṛtam
Hearing the tumultuous sound, Bharata's soldiers took fright and said: “Surely Bharata has met with Rāma; this great cry is theirs alone, as they mourn their dead father.”
Words: vijñāya — having perceived; tumulaṃ — tumultuous; śabdaṃ — sound; trastā — alarmed; bharatasainikāḥ — Bharata's soldiers; abruvaṃś — said; cāpi — and; rāmeṇa — with Rāma; bharataḥ — Bharata; saṃgato — has met; dhruvam — surely; teṣām — of them, theirs; eva — alone; mahāñ — great; śabdaḥ — the cry, sound; śocatāṃ — grieving; pitaraṃ — the father; mṛtam — dead
2.95.36
atha vāsān parityajya taṃ sarve 'bhimukhāḥ svanam
apy eka manaso jagmur yathāsthānaṃ pradhāvitāḥ
Then, abandoning their dwellings, all of one mind, facing that sound, they rushed forth from their several stations and went toward it.
Words: atha — then; vāsān — the dwellings; parityajya — having abandoned; taṃ — that; sarve — all; 'bhimukhāḥ — facing; svanam — the sound; apy — even, indeed; eka manaso — with one mind; jagmur — went; yathāsthānaṃ — from their several places; pradhāvitāḥ — rushing forth
2.95.37
hayair anye gajair anye rathair anye svalaṃkṛtaiḥ
sukumārās tathaivānye padbhir eva narā yayuḥ
Some went by horses, some by elephants, some by well-adorned chariots; and yet other delicate men went on foot alone.
Words: hayair — by horses; anye — some; gajair — by elephants; anye — some; rathair — by chariots; anye — some; svalaṃkṛtaiḥ — well-adorned; sukumārās — the delicate ones; tathaivānye — and likewise others; padbhir — by foot; eva — only; narā — men; yayuḥ — went
2.95.38
aciraproṣitaṃ rāmaṃ ciraviproṣitaṃ yathā
draṣṭukāmo janaḥ sarvo jagāma sahasāśramam
Longing to see Rāma, gone away but a short while, as though he had been absent long, all the people went at once to the hermitage.
Words: aciraproṣitaṃ — gone away a short while; rāmaṃ — Rāma; ciraviproṣitaṃ — gone away a long time; yathā — as though; draṣṭukāmo — desiring to see; janaḥ — the people; sarvo — all; jagāma — went; sahasāśramam — at once to the hermitage
2.95.39
bhrātṝṇāṃ tvaritās te tu draṣṭukāmāḥ samāgamam
yayur bahuvidhair yānaiḥ khuranemisamākulaiḥ
Eager to see the meeting of the brothers, they went in haste, in vehicles of many kinds, thronged with hooves and wheel-rims.
Words: bhrātṝṇāṃ — of the brothers; tvaritās — hastened; te — they; tu — and, but; draṣṭukāmāḥ — desiring to see; samāgamam — the meeting; yayur — went; bahuvidhair — of many kinds; yānaiḥ — vehicles; khuranemisamākulaiḥ — thronged with hooves and wheel-rims
2.95.40
sā bhūmir bahubhir yānaiḥ khuranemisamāhatā
mumoca tumulaṃ śabdaṃ dyaur ivābhrasamāgame
That ground, struck by many vehicles with their hooves and wheel-rims, gave forth a tumultuous sound, like the sky at the gathering of clouds.
Words: sā — that; bhūmir — ground; bahubhir — by many; yānaiḥ — vehicles; khuranemisamāhatā — struck by hooves and wheel-rims; mumoca — released, gave forth; tumulaṃ — tumultuous; śabdaṃ — sound; dyaur — the sky; ivābhrasamāgame — as at the gathering of clouds
2.95.41
tena vitrāsitā nāgāḥ kareṇuparivāritāḥ
āvāsayanto gandhena jagmur anyad vanaṃ tataḥ
Frightened by it, the elephants, surrounded by their she-elephants, filling the air with their scent, then went off to another forest.
Words: tena — by that; vitrāsitā — frightened; nāgāḥ — elephants; kareṇuparivāritāḥ — surrounded by she-elephants; āvāsayanto — perfuming, making fragrant; gandhena — with their scent; jagmur — went; anyad — another; vanaṃ — forest; tataḥ — then
2.95.42
varāhamṛgasiṃhāś ca mahiṣāḥ sarkṣavānarāḥ
vyāghra gokarṇagavayā vitreṣuḥ pṛṣataiḥ saha
Boars, deer and lions, buffaloes, along with bears and monkeys, tigers, gokarṇa antelopes and gavayas, took fright together with the spotted deer.
Words: varāhamṛgasiṃhāś — boars, deer and lions; ca — and; mahiṣāḥ — buffaloes; sarkṣavānarāḥ — along with bears and monkeys; vyāghra gokarṇagavayā — tigers, gokarṇas and gavayas; vitreṣuḥ — took fright; pṛṣataiḥ — with spotted deer; saha — together
2.95.43
rathāṅgasāhvā natyūhā haṃsāḥ kāraṇḍavāḥ plavāḥ
tathā puṃskokilāḥ krauñcā visaṃjñā bhejire diśaḥ
Ruddy geese, gallinules, swans, kāraṇḍava ducks and coots, and likewise male cuckoos and curlews, bewildered, scattered to the quarters.
Words: rathāṅgasāhvā — the ruddy geese (named for chariot-wheels); natyūhā — gallinules; haṃsāḥ — swans; kāraṇḍavāḥ — kāraṇḍava ducks; plavāḥ — coots; tathā — likewise; puṃskokilāḥ — male cuckoos; krauñcā — curlews; visaṃjñā — bewildered, senseless; bhejire — resorted to, scattered to; diśaḥ — the quarters
2.95.44
tena śabdena vitrastair ākāśaṃ pakṣibhir vṛtam
manuṣyair āvṛtā bhūmir ubhayaṃ prababhau tadā
The sky was filled with birds frightened by that noise, and the earth was covered with men; both then shone resplendent.
Words: tena — by that; śabdena — sound; vitrastair — frightened; ākāśaṃ — the sky; pakṣibhir — with birds; vṛtam — filled, covered; manuṣyair — with men; āvṛtā — covered; bhūmir — the earth; ubhayaṃ — both; prababhau — shone forth; tadā — then
2.95.45
tān narān bāṣpapūrṇākṣān samīkṣyātha suduḥkhitān
paryaṣvajata dharmajñaḥ pitṛvan mātṛvac ca saḥ
Then, seeing those men with eyes full of tears and deeply distressed, the knower of dharma embraced them like a father and like a mother.
Words: tān — those; narān — men; bāṣpapūrṇākṣān — with eyes full of tears; samīkṣyātha — having seen, then; suduḥkhitān — deeply distressed; paryaṣvajata — embraced; dharmajñaḥ — the knower of dharma; pitṛvan — like a father; mātṛvac — like a mother; ca — and; saḥ — he
2.95.46
sa tatra kāṃś cit pariṣasvaje narān narāś ca ke cit tu tam abhyavādayan
cakāra sarvān savayasyabāndhavān yathārham āsādya tadā nṛpātmajaḥ
There he embraced some of the men, and some of the men saluted him; and the prince, approaching each as befitted, then treated them all as his friends and kinsmen.
Words: sa — he; tatra — there; kāṃś cit — some; pariṣasvaje — embraced; narān — the men; narāś — men; ca — and; ke cit — some; tu — but; tam — him; abhyavādayan — saluted; cakāra — made, treated; sarvān — all; savayasyabāndhavān — as friends and kinsmen; yathārham — as befitting; āsādya — having approached; tadā — then; nṛpātmajaḥ — the prince
2.95.47
tataḥ sa teṣāṃ rudatāṃ mahātmanāṃ bhuvaṃ ca khaṃ cānuvinādayan svanaḥ
guhā girīṇāṃ ca diśaś ca saṃtataṃ mṛdaṅgaghoṣapratimo viśuśruve
Then the sound of those great-souled men weeping, making earth and sky resound like the beat of a mṛdaṅga drum, was heard continuously through the mountain-caves and the quarters.
Words: tataḥ — then; sa — that; teṣāṃ — of those; rudatāṃ — weeping; mahātmanāṃ — great-souled; bhuvaṃ — the earth; ca — and; khaṃ — the sky; cānuvinādayan — and making resound; svanaḥ — the sound; guhā — the caves; girīṇāṃ — of the mountains; ca — and; diśaś — the quarters; ca — and; saṃtataṃ — continuously; mṛdaṅgaghoṣapratimo — resembling the beat of a mṛdaṅga drum; viśuśruve — was heard
← 2.94 Rāma questions Bharata’s governance · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.96 The mothers reach Rāma’s hut →
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.
Plain text: /text/2/95.md · JSON: /data/2/95.json