# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 21 — Rāma asks Kausalyā to remain with Daśaratha *Kausalyā asks to follow Rāma, he persuades her to remain and care for the grieving Daśaratha* Portion: Kausalyā’s grief and Lakṣmaṇa’s resistance · Verses: 25 · Ref format: 2.21. ## Sequence - Kausalyā imagines Rāma, raised in comfort, struggling to live on roots and fruit (21.1–4) - she says she will follow him like a cow following her calf → Rāma replies that Daśaratha may not survive if she abandons him too (21.5–8) - he asks her to remain and care for her husband (21.9–12) - she renews her plea to accompany him, saying she cannot endure life among her co-wives (21.13–16) - Rāma, now also weeping, assures her that Bharata will treat her kindly and asks her to prevent their father from being overwhelmed by grief (21.17–19) - he urges her to continue her duties and religious observances while awaiting his return (21.20–23) - she finally gives him leave and prepares to bless his journey (21.24–25). ## Verses **2.21.1** taṃ samīkṣya tv avahitaṃ pitur nirdeśapālane kausalyā bāṣpasaṃruddhā vaco dharmiṣṭham abravīt Observing him intent on carrying out his father's command, Kausalyā, choked with tears, spoke these most righteous words. **2.21.2** adṛṣṭaduḥkho dharmātmā sarvabhūtapriyaṃvadaḥ mayi jāto daśarathāt katham uñchena vartayet He who has never known sorrow, righteous of soul, speaking kindly to all beings, born of me by Daśaratha — how shall he subsist by gleaning grain? **2.21.3** yasya bhṛtyāś ca dāsāś ca mṛṣṭāny annāni bhuñjate kathaṃ sa bhokṣyate nātho vane mūlaphalāny ayam He whose servants and dependents eat dainty foods — how shall this lord eat roots and fruits in the forest? **2.21.4** ka etac chraddadhec chrutvā kasya vā na bhaved bhayam guṇavān dayito rājño rāghavo yad vivāsyate Who, hearing this, would believe it? In whom would fear not arise—that Rāghava, virtuous and dear to the king, is being driven into exile? **2.21.5** tvayā vihīnām iha māṃ śokāgnir atulo mahān pradhakṣyati yathā kakṣaṃ citrabhānur himātyaye Bereft of you here, me the great and matchless fire of grief will burn up, as fire consumes dry brushwood at winter's end. **2.21.6** kathaṃ hi dhenuḥ svaṃ vatsaṃ gacchantaṃ nānugacchati ahaṃ tvānugamiṣyāmi yatra putra gamiṣyasi How indeed can a cow fail to follow her own calf as it goes away? I will follow you, my son, wherever you go. **2.21.7** tathā nigaditaṃ mātrā tad vākyaṃ puruṣarṣabhaḥ śrutvā rāmo 'bravīd vākyaṃ mātaraṃ bhṛśaduḥkhitām Having heard that speech thus uttered by his mother, Rāma, a bull among men, spoke these words to his sorely grieving mother: **2.21.8** kaikeyyā vañcito rājā mayi cāraṇyam āśrite bhavatyā ca parityakto na nūnaṃ vartayiṣyati The king, deceived by Kaikeyī, when I have gone to the forest and been forsaken by you as well, will surely not survive. **2.21.9** bhartuḥ kila parityāgo nṛśaṃsaḥ kevalaṃ striyāḥ sa bhavatyā na kartavyo manasāpi vigarhitaḥ The abandonment of a husband by a woman is indeed utterly cruel and blameworthy; that must not be done by you, not even in thought. **2.21.10** yāvaj jīvati kākutsthaḥ pitā me jagatīpatiḥ śuśrūṣā kriyatāṃ tāvat sa hi dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ As long as Kākutstha, my father, lord of the earth, lives, so long let service be rendered him; that indeed is the eternal law. **2.21.11** evam uktā tu rāmeṇa kausalyā śubha darśanā tathety uvāca suprītā rāmam akliṣṭakāriṇam Thus addressed by Rāma, the fair-faced Kausalyā, well pleased, said 'So be it' to Rāma, the tireless doer of deeds. **2.21.12** evam uktas tu vacanaṃ rāmo dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ bhūyas tām abravīd vākyaṃ mātaraṃ bhṛśaduḥkhitām Thus addressed with these words, Rāma, the best of dharma-upholders, again spoke to his sorely grieving mother: **2.21.13** mayā caiva bhavatyā ca kartavyaṃ vacanaṃ pituḥ rājā bhartā guruḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sarveṣām īśvaraḥ prabhuḥ The father's command must be obeyed both by me and by you; the king is our supporter, our elder, the highest—the lord and master of all. **2.21.14** imāni tu mahāraṇye vihṛtya nava pañca ca varṣāṇi paramaprītaḥ sthāsyāmi vacane tava And having passed these fourteen years in the great forest, I shall abide, most gladly, by your word. **2.21.15** evam uktā priyaṃ putraṃ bāṣpapūrṇānanā tadā uvāca paramārtā tu kausalyā putravatsalā Having thus spoken to her dear son, Kausalyā then, her face bathed in tears, deeply distressed and full of love for her son, said: **2.21.16** āsāṃ rāma sapatnīnāṃ vastuṃ madhye na me kṣamam naya mām api kākutstha vanaṃ vanyaṃ mṛgīṃ yathā yadi te gamane buddhiḥ kṛtā pitur apekṣayā O Rāma, to dwell in the midst of these co-wives is not bearable for me; lead me too to the forest, O Kākutstha, like a wild doe, if your mind is set on going out of regard for your father. **2.21.17** tāṃ tathā rudatīṃ rāmo rudan vacanam abravīt jīvantyā hi striyā bhartā daivataṃ prabhur eva ca bhavatyā mama caivādya rājā prabhavati prabhuḥ To her weeping thus, Rāma, weeping himself, spoke these words: 'For a woman while she lives the husband is her god and her lord; and today, over you and over me, the king holds sway as master.' **2.21.18** bharataś cāpi dharmātmā sarvabhūtapriyaṃvadaḥ bhavatīm anuvarteta sa hi dharmarataḥ sadā And Bharata too, righteous of soul, speaking kindly to all beings, will attend upon you, for he is ever devoted to dharma. **2.21.19** yathā mayi tu niṣkrānte putraśokena pārthivaḥ śramaṃ nāvāpnuyāt kiṃ cid apramattā tathā kuru Act so heedfully that, once I have departed, the king may suffer no distress at all through grief for his son. **2.21.20** vratopavāsaniratā yā nārī paramottamā bhartāraṃ nānuvarteta sā ca pāpagatir bhavet Even a most excellent woman, devoted to vows and fasting, if she does not attend upon her husband, comes to an evil end. **2.21.21** śuśrūṣam eva kurvīta bhartuḥ priyahite ratā eṣa dharmaḥ purā dṛṣṭo loke vede śrutaḥ smṛtaḥ Devoted to her husband's welfare and pleasure, she should render him service; this law was seen of old in the world, and is heard in the Veda and recorded in tradition. **2.21.22** pūjyās te matkṛte devi brāhmaṇāś caiva suvratāḥ evaṃ kālaṃ pratīkṣasva mamāgamanakāṅkṣiṇī For my sake, O queen, the brahmins firm in their vows are to be honored by you; thus await the time, longing for my return. **2.21.23** prāpsyase paramaṃ kāmaṃ mayi pratyāgate sati yadi dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭho dhārayiṣyati jīvitam You will attain your highest wish when I have returned, if the best of dharma-upholders still holds onto his life. **2.21.24** evam uktā tu rāmeṇa bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇā kausalyā putraśokārtā rāmaṃ vacanam abravīt gaccha putra tvam ekāgro bhadraṃ te 'stu sadā vibho Thus addressed by Rāma, Kausalyā, her eyes clouded with tears and stricken with grief for her son, spoke to Rāma: 'Go, my son, single-minded; may it be ever well with you, O mighty one.' **2.21.25** tathā hi rāmaṃ vanavāsaniścitaṃ samīkṣya devī parameṇa cetasā uvāca rāmaṃ śubhalakṣaṇaṃ vaco babhūva ca svastyayanābhikāṅkṣiṇī So, beholding with utmost concentration of mind that Rāma was resolved on dwelling in the forest, the queen spoke auspicious words to Rāma, and became eager to pronounce a blessing for his safe journey.