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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 96: The mothers reach Rāma’s hut

Summary. Kausalyā grieves over Daśaratha’s humble offering, the mothers greet Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa & Sītā and the assembly gathers

Sequence

  1. Vasiṣṭha proceeds toward the hermitage with the Queens walking ahead of him (2.96.1)
  2. at the Mandākinī, Kausalyā points out the place where Lakṣmaṇa fetches water for Rāma (2.96.2–5)
  3. she sees the simple food offering for Daśaratha on grass whose tips face south (2.96.6–8)
  4. Kausalyā weeps that a King who enjoyed such abundance is now being offered forest fare by a son who once possessed so much (2.96.9–12)
  5. the other women comfort her and continue to the hut → Rāma bows to all his mothers, who touch him affectionately and wipe the dust from his body (2.96.13–16)
  6. Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā also greet them (2.96.17–19)
  7. Kausalyā embraces Sītā and grieves over the effect of forest life on her (2.96.20–23)
  8. Rāma honors Vasiṣṭha, and the family, ministers, and elders sit together → everyone waits to hear Bharata's appeal. (2.96.24–29)

Verses 2.96.1–29

2.96.1

vasiṣṭhaḥ purataḥ kṛtvā dārān daśarathasya ca
abhicakrāma taṃ deśaṃ rāmadarśanatarṣitaḥ

Vasiṣṭha, setting the wives of Daśaratha in front, advanced toward that place, thirsting for the sight of Rāma.

Words: vasiṣṭhaḥ — Vasiṣṭha; purataḥ — in front; kṛtvā — having placed; dārān — the wives; daśarathasya — of Daśaratha; ca — and; abhicakrāma — advanced toward; taṃ deśaṃ — that place; rāmadarśanatarṣitaḥ — thirsting for the sight of Rāma

2.96.2

rājapatnyaś ca gacchantyo mandaṃ mandākinīṃ prati
dadṛśus tatra tat tīrthaṃ rāmalakṣmaṇasevitam

And the king's wives, going slowly toward the Mandākinī, saw there that landing-place frequented by Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Words: rājapatnyaś — the king's wives; ca — and; gacchantyo — going; mandaṃ — slowly; mandākinīṃ — the Mandākinī; prati — toward; dadṛśus — saw; tatra — there; tat tīrthaṃ — that landing-place; rāmalakṣmaṇasevitam — frequented by Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa

2.96.3

kausalyā bāṣpapūrṇena mukhena pariśuṣyatā
sumitrām abravīd dīnā yāś cānyā rājayoṣitaḥ

Kausalyā, wretched, with a face brimming with tears and drawn with grief, spoke to Sumitrā and to the other royal women:

Words: kausalyā — Kausalyā; bāṣpapūrṇena — brimming with tears; mukhena — with a face; pariśuṣyatā — withering, drawn; sumitrām — Sumitrā; abravīd — spoke; dīnā — wretched; yāś — who; cānyā — and other; rājayoṣitaḥ — royal women

2.96.4

idaṃ teṣām anāthānāṃ kliṣṭam akliṣṭa karmaṇām
vane prāk kevalaṃ tīrthaṃ ye te nirviṣayī kṛtāḥ

This wretched bathing-place is now in the forest the sole resort of those masterless ones of untiring deeds, who have been deprived of their realm.

Words: idaṃ — this; teṣām — of those; anāthānāṃ — masterless, helpless; kliṣṭam — wretched, distressing; akliṣṭa karmaṇām — of untiring deeds; vane — in the forest; prāk — now, henceforth; kevalaṃ — only, sole; tīrthaṃ — bathing-place; ye — who; te — those; nirviṣayī — deprived of realm; kṛtāḥ — made

2.96.5

itaḥ sumitre putras te sadā jalam atandritaḥ
svayaṃ harati saumitrir mama putrasya kāraṇāt

From here, Sumitrā, your son Saumitri, never slack, ever fetches water himself for the sake of my son.

Words: itaḥ — from here; sumitre — O Sumitrā; putras — son; te — your; sadā — always; jalam — water; atandritaḥ — untiring, unwearied; svayaṃ — himself; harati — fetches, carries; saumitrir — Saumitri; mama — my; putrasya — son's; kāraṇāt — for the sake of

2.96.6

dakṣiṇāgreṣu darbheṣu sā dadarśa mahītale
pitur iṅgudipiṇyākaṃ nyastam āyatalocanā

The large-eyed queen saw upon the ground, on darbha grasses with their tips turned southward, the iṅgudī-cake laid out for [Rāma's] father.

Words: dakṣiṇāgreṣu — with tips to the south; darbheṣu — on darbha grasses; sā — she; dadarśa — saw; mahītale — on the ground; pitur — for the father; iṅgudipiṇyākaṃ — the iṅgudī-cake; nyastam — laid out, placed; āyatalocanā — the large-eyed one

2.96.7

taṃ bhūmau pitur ārtena nyastaṃ rāmeṇa vīkṣya sā
uvāca devī kausalyā sarvā daśarathastriyaḥ

Beholding that offering, laid on the ground for his father by grieving Rāma, Queen Kausalyā spoke to all the wives of Daśaratha:

Words: taṃ — that; bhūmau — on the ground; pitur — for the father; ārtena — by the grieving one; nyastaṃ — laid out; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; vīkṣya — beholding; sā — she; uvāca — said; devī — the queen; kausalyā — Kausalyā; sarvā — all; daśarathastriyaḥ — the wives of Daśaratha

2.96.8

idam ikṣvākunāthasya rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ
rāghaveṇa pitur dattaṃ paśyataitad yathāvidhi

Behold this offering, made according to the rite by Rāghava for his father, the great-souled scion of Raghu, lord of the Ikṣvākus!

Words: idam — this; ikṣvākunāthasya — of the lord of the Ikṣvākus; rāghavasya — of the scion of Raghu (Daśaratha); mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled; rāghaveṇa — by Rāghava (Rāma); pitur — for the father; dattaṃ — given; paśyataitad — behold this; yathāvidhi — according to the rite

2.96.9

tasya devasamānasya pārthivasya mahātmanaḥ
naitad aupayikaṃ manye bhuktabhogasya bhojanam

For that great-souled king, godlike, who once enjoyed every delight, I do not think this food is fitting.

Words: tasya — of that; devasamānasya — godlike; pārthivasya — of the king; mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled; naitad — not this; aupayikaṃ — fitting, suitable; manye — I think; bhuktabhogasya — who has enjoyed [all] delights; bhojanam — food

2.96.10

caturantāṃ mahīṃ bhuktvā mahendra sadṛśo bhuvi
katham iṅgudipiṇyākaṃ sa bhuṅkte vasudhādhipaḥ

Having enjoyed the earth bounded on all four sides, like great Indra upon the world—how does that lord of the earth now partake of an iṅgudī-cake?

Words: caturantāṃ — bounded on four sides; mahīṃ — the earth; bhuktvā — having enjoyed; mahendra sadṛśo — like great Indra; bhuvi — on the earth; katham — how; iṅgudipiṇyākaṃ — an iṅgudī-cake; sa — he, that; bhuṅkte — partakes of, eats; vasudhādhipaḥ — the lord of the earth

2.96.11

ato duḥkhataraṃ loke na kiṃ cit pratibhāti mā
yatra rāmaḥ pitur dadyād iṅgudīkṣodam ṛddhimān

Nothing in the world appears to me more grievous than this—that prosperous Rāma should offer his father a mash of iṅgudī.

Words: ato — than this; duḥkhataraṃ — more grievous; loke — in the world; na kiṃ cit — nothing; pratibhāti — appears; mā — to me; yatra — in that, where; rāmaḥ — Rāma; pitur — to the father; dadyād — should give; iṅgudīkṣodam — a mash of iṅgudī; ṛddhimān — prosperous, wealthy

2.96.12

rāmeṇeṅgudipiṇyākaṃ pitur dattaṃ samīkṣya me
kathaṃ duḥkhena hṛdayaṃ na sphoṭati sahasradhā

Seeing the iṅgudī-cake offered by Rāma to his father, how does my heart not burst asunder into a thousand pieces from grief?

Words: rāmeṇeṅgudipiṇyākaṃ — the iṅgudī-cake by Rāma; pitur — to the father; dattaṃ — given; samīkṣya — seeing; me — my; kathaṃ — how; duḥkhena — from grief; hṛdayaṃ — heart; na — not; sphoṭati — bursts; sahasradhā — into a thousand pieces

2.96.13

evam ārtāṃ sapatnyas tā jagmur āśvāsya tāṃ tadā
dadṛśuś cāśrame rāmaṃ svargāc cyutam ivāmaram

Then the co-wives, having consoled her thus grief-stricken, went on, and saw Rāma in the hermitage, like an immortal fallen from heaven.

Words: evam — thus; ārtāṃ — the grief-stricken one; sapatnyas — the co-wives; tā — those; jagmur — went; āśvāsya — having consoled; tāṃ — her; tadā — then; dadṛśuś — saw; cāśrame — and in the hermitage; rāmaṃ — Rāma; svargāc — from heaven; cyutam — fallen; ivāmaram — like an immortal

2.96.14

sarvabhogaiḥ parityaktaṃ rāma saṃprekṣya mātaraḥ
ārtā mumucur aśrūṇi sasvaraṃ śokakarśitāḥ

Beholding Rāma bereft of every comfort, the mothers, stricken and wasted with grief, shed tears aloud.

Words: sarvabhogaiḥ — of all enjoyments; parityaktaṃ — forsaken, bereft; rāma — Rāma; saṃprekṣya — beholding; mātaraḥ — the mothers; ārtā — stricken; mumucur — shed; aśrūṇi — tears; sasvaraṃ — aloud, with sound; śokakarśitāḥ — wasted with grief

2.96.15

tāsāṃ rāmaḥ samutthāya jagrāha caraṇāñ śubhān
mātṝṇāṃ manujavyāghraḥ sarvāsāṃ satyasaṃgaraḥ

Rising up, Rāma, the tiger among men, true to his word, clasped the auspicious feet of all those mothers.

Words: tāsāṃ — of those; rāmaḥ — Rāma; samutthāya — having risen up; jagrāha — clasped, took hold of; caraṇāñ — the feet; śubhān — auspicious; mātṝṇāṃ — of the mothers; manujavyāghraḥ — the tiger among men; sarvāsāṃ — of all; satyasaṃgaraḥ — true to his vow

2.96.16

tāḥ pāṇibhiḥ sukhasparśair mṛdvaṅgulitalaiḥ śubhaiḥ
pramamārjū rajaḥ pṛṣṭhād rāmasyāyatalocanāḥ

Those large-eyed women, with their hands soft to the touch, with tender fingers and palms, wiped the dust from Rāma's back.

Words: tāḥ — those [women]; pāṇibhiḥ — with hands; sukhasparśair — pleasant to the touch; mṛdvaṅgulitalaiḥ — with tender fingers and palms; śubhaiḥ — auspicious; pramamārjū — wiped away; rajaḥ — dust; pṛṣṭhād — from the back; rāmasyāyatalocanāḥ — of Rāma; (they,) the large-eyed

2.96.17

saumitrir api tāḥ sarvā mātṝh saṃprekṣya duḥkhitaḥ
abhyavādayatāsaktaṃ śanai rāmād anantaram

Saumitri too, grieved, beholding all those mothers, saluted them without pause, gently, right after Rāma had done so.

Words: saumitrir — Saumitri; api — too; tāḥ sarvā — all those; mātṝh — the mothers; saṃprekṣya — beholding; duḥkhitaḥ — grieved; abhyavādayatāsaktaṃ — saluted continuously; śanai — gently; rāmād — after Rāma; anantaram — immediately after

2.96.18

yathā rāme tathā tasmin sarvā vavṛtire striyaḥ
vṛttiṃ daśarathāj jāte lakṣmaṇe śubhalakṣaṇe

All those women behaved toward Lakṣmaṇa of auspicious marks, born of Daśaratha, with the very conduct they showed toward Rāma.

Words: yathā — as; rāme — toward Rāma; tathā — so; tasmin — toward him; sarvā — all; vavṛtire — behaved, conducted themselves; striyaḥ — the women; vṛttiṃ — conduct, behavior; daśarathāj — from Daśaratha; jāte — born (of); lakṣmaṇe — toward Lakṣmaṇa; śubhalakṣaṇe — of auspicious marks

2.96.19

sītāpi caraṇāṃs tāsām upasaṃgṛhya duḥkhitā
śvaśrūṇām aśrupūrṇākṣī sā babhūvāgrataḥ sthitā

Sītā too, grieved, having clasped the feet of those mothers-in-law, her eyes brimming with tears, stood before them.

Words: sītāpi — Sītā too; caraṇāṃs — the feet; tāsām — of those; upasaṃgṛhya — having clasped; duḥkhitā — grieved; śvaśrūṇām — of the mothers-in-law; aśrupūrṇākṣī — with eyes full of tears; sā — she; babhūvāgrataḥ — was in front; sthitā — standing

2.96.20

tāṃ pariṣvajya duḥkhārtāṃ mātā duhitaraṃ yathā
vanavāsakṛśāṃ dīnāṃ kausalyā vākyam abravīt

Embracing her—pained with grief, wretched, and worn thin by forest life—as a mother embraces a daughter, Kausalyā spoke these words:

Words: tāṃ — her; pariṣvajya — having embraced; duḥkhārtāṃ — pained with grief; mātā — a mother; duhitaraṃ — a daughter; yathā — as; vanavāsakṛśāṃ — worn thin by forest life; dīnāṃ — wretched; kausalyā — Kausalyā; vākyam — words; abravīt — spoke

2.96.21

videharājasya sutā snuṣā daśarathasya ca
rāmapatnī kathaṃ duḥkhaṃ saṃprāptā nirjane vane

How has the daughter of the king of Videha, the daughter-in-law of Daśaratha, the wife of Rāma, come to such misery in a desolate forest?

Words: videharājasya — of the king of Videha; sutā — daughter; snuṣā — daughter-in-law; daśarathasya — of Daśaratha; ca — and; rāmapatnī — wife of Rāma; kathaṃ — how; duḥkhaṃ — misery; saṃprāptā — has come to; nirjane — in the desolate; vane — forest

2.96.22

padmam ātapasaṃtaptaṃ parikliṣṭam ivotpalam
kāñcanaṃ rajasā dhvastaṃ kliṣṭaṃ candram ivāmbudaiḥ

Like a lotus scorched by heat, like a wilted water-lily, like gold dimmed by dust, like the moon obscured by clouds—

Words: padmam — a lotus; ātapasaṃtaptaṃ — scorched by the heat; parikliṣṭam — wilted, distressed; ivotpalam — like a water-lily; kāñcanaṃ — gold; rajasā — with dust; dhvastaṃ — dimmed, obscured; kliṣṭaṃ — dimmed, afflicted; candram — the moon; ivāmbudaiḥ — as by clouds

2.96.23

mukhaṃ te prekṣya māṃ śoko dahaty agnir ivāśrayam
bhṛśaṃ manasi vaidehi vyasanāraṇisaṃbhavaḥ

Beholding your face, O Vaidehī, grief—kindled as from the fire-stick of calamity—burns me sorely in my heart, as fire consumes its own vessel.

Words: mukhaṃ — the face; te — your; prekṣya — beholding; māṃ — me; śoko — grief; dahaty — burns; agnir — fire; ivāśrayam — like its vessel; bhṛśaṃ — sorely, intensely; manasi — in the mind, heart; vaidehi — O Vaidehī; vyasanāraṇisaṃbhavaḥ — arising from the fire-stick of calamity

2.96.24

bruvantyām evam ārtāyāṃ jananyāṃ bharatāgrajaḥ
pādāv āsādya jagrāha vasiṣṭhasya sa rāghavaḥ

While his grief-stricken mother was speaking thus, that Rāghava, the elder brother of Bharata, approached and clasped Vasiṣṭha's feet.

Words: bruvantyām — while speaking; evam — thus; ārtāyāṃ — grief-stricken; jananyāṃ — the mother; bharatāgrajaḥ — the elder brother of Bharata; pādāv — the two feet; āsādya — having approached; jagrāha — clasped; vasiṣṭhasya — of Vasiṣṭha; sa — he; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava

2.96.25

purohitasyāgnisamasya tasya vai bṛhaspater indra ivāmarādhipaḥ
pragṛhya pādau susamṛddhatejasaḥ sahaiva tenopaviveśa rāghavaḥ
pragṛhya pādau susamṛddhatejasaḥ
sahaiva tenopaviveśa rāghavaḥ

Clasping the feet of that family priest, equal to fire and of abundant splendor—as the lord of the immortals clasps the feet of Bṛhaspati—Rāghava sat down together with him.

Words: purohitasyāgnisamasya — of the family priest equal to fire; tasya — of that; vai — indeed; bṛhaspater — of Bṛhaspati; indra — Indra; ivāmarādhipaḥ — like the lord of the immortals; pragṛhya — having clasped; pādau — the two feet; susamṛddhatejasaḥ — of abundant splendor; sahaiva — together with; tenopaviveśa — sat down with him; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava

2.96.26

tato jaghanyaṃ sahitaiḥ sa mantribhiḥ purapradhānaiś ca sahaiva sainikaiḥ
janena dharmajñatamena dharmavān upopaviṣṭo bharatas tadāgrajam
janena dharmajñatamena dharmavān
upopaviṣṭo bharatas tadāgrajam

Then the righteous Bharata, together with the ministers and the city elders and the soldiers, and with people most versed in dharma, sat down behind, close to his elder brother.

Words: tato — then; jaghanyaṃ — behind, in the rear; sahitaiḥ — together with; sa — he; mantribhiḥ — with the ministers; purapradhānaiś — with the city-chiefs; ca — and; sahaiva — together with; sainikaiḥ — with the soldiers; janena — with people; dharmajñatamena — most versed in dharma; dharmavān — the righteous one; upopaviṣṭo — sat down near; bharatas — Bharata; tadāgrajam — then, [near] his elder brother

2.96.27

upopaviṣṭas tu tadā sa vīryavāṃs tapasviveṣeṇa samīkṣya rāghavam
śriyā jvalantaṃ bharataḥ kṛtāñjalir yathā mahendraḥ prayataḥ prajāpatim
śriyā jvalantaṃ bharataḥ kṛtāñjalir
yathā mahendraḥ prayataḥ prajāpatim

Then the valiant Bharata, having sat down and gazed upon Rāghava—who blazed with majesty even in ascetic's garb—saluted him with joined palms, as reverent Indra salutes Prajāpati.

Words: upopaviṣṭas — having sat down near; tu — and; tadā — then; sa — he; vīryavāṃs — valiant; tapasviveṣeṇa — in ascetic's garb; samīkṣya — having gazed upon; rāghavam — Rāghava; śriyā — with majesty, splendor; jvalantaṃ — blazing; bharataḥ — Bharata; kṛtāñjalir — with joined palms; yathā — as; mahendraḥ — great Indra; prayataḥ — reverent, devout; prajāpatim — Prajāpati

2.96.28

kim eṣa vākyaṃ bharato 'dya rāghavaṃ praṇamya satkṛtya ca sādhu vakṣyati
itīva tasyāryajanasya tattvato babhūva kautūhalam uttamaṃ tadā
itīva tasyāryajanasya tattvato
babhūva kautūhalam uttamaṃ tadā

“What will this Bharata, bowing to Rāghava and honoring him, now fittingly say?”—such indeed was then the intense curiosity of that assembly of noble folk.

Words: kim — what; eṣa — this; vākyaṃ — word, speech; bharato — Bharata; 'dya — today; rāghavaṃ — Rāghava; praṇamya — having bowed; satkṛtya — having honored; ca — and; sādhu — fittingly, well; vakṣyati — will speak; itīva — thus indeed; tasyāryajanasya — of that assembly of noble folk; tattvato — truly; babhūva — arose, was; kautūhalam — curiosity; uttamaṃ — supreme, intense; tadā — then

2.96.29

sa rāghavaḥ satyadhṛtiś ca lakṣmaṇo mahānubhāvo bharataś ca dhārmikaḥ
vṛtāḥ suhṛdbhiś ca virejur adhvare yathā sadasyaiḥ sahitās trayo 'gnayaḥ
vṛtāḥ suhṛdbhiś ca virejur adhvare
yathā sadasyaiḥ sahitās trayo 'gnayaḥ

That Rāghava, and Lakṣmaṇa of true resolve, and the noble, righteous Bharata, surrounded by their kinsmen, shone forth like the three sacred fires attended by the officiants at a sacrifice.

Words: sa — that; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; satyadhṛtiś — of true resolve; ca — and; lakṣmaṇo — Lakṣmaṇa; mahānubhāvo — the noble, majestic; bharataś — Bharata; ca — and; dhārmikaḥ — righteous; vṛtāḥ — surrounded; suhṛdbhiś — by kinsmen, friends; ca — and; virejur — shone forth; adhvare — at the sacrifice; yathā — as; sadasyaiḥ — by the officiants; sahitās — accompanied; trayo — three; 'gnayaḥ — fires

← 2.95 Rāma’s offerings for Daśaratha · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.97 Bharata offers Rāma the Kingdom →

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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