# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 32 — Kaikeyī opposes Rāma’s escort *Daśaratha offers troops and supplies, Kaikeyī cites Asamañja’s exile, Siddhārtha distinguishes Rāma’s innocence* Portion: Preparing for exile and taking leave · Verses: 22 · Ref format: 2.32. ## Sequence - Daśaratha orders Sumantra to prepare an army, attendants, merchants, companions, and abundant supplies to accompany Rāma (32.1–4) - he wants the granary and treasury sent too, so that Rāma can live comfortably and perform religious rites while Bharata governs Ayodhyā (32.5–8) - Kaikeyī objects that Bharata will not accept a Kingdom drained of its people and resources → Daśaratha rebukes her for adding to the burden she has already imposed (32.9–11) - she cites their ancestor Sagara's banishment of his son Asamañja as a precedent (32.12–13) - the minister Siddhārtha explains that Asamañja used to throw children into the Sarayū and was expelled after their parents protested → he asks what comparable offense Rāma has committed (32.14–20) - Daśaratha declares that he too will leave the Kingdom and follow Rāma (32.21–22). ## Verses **2.32.1** tataḥ sumantram aikṣvākaḥ pīḍito 'tra pratijñayā sabāṣpam atiniḥśvasya jagādedaṃ punaḥ punaḥ Then the descendant of Ikṣvāku, tormented here by his promise, sighing deeply and in tears, said this to Sumantra again and again: **2.32.2** sūta ratnasusaṃpūrṇā caturvidhabalā camūḥ rāgavasyānuyātrārthaṃ kṣipraṃ pratividhīyatām “Charioteer, let an army well filled with treasures and of fourfold strength be swiftly made ready to escort Rāghava. **2.32.3** rūpājīvā ca śālinyo vaṇijaś ca mahādhanāḥ śobhayantu kumārasya vāhinīṃ suprasāritāḥ Let courtesans who live by their beauty, and richly adorned women, and merchants of great wealth, well arrayed, grace the prince's marching train. **2.32.4** ye cainam upajīvanti ramate yaiś ca vīryataḥ teṣāṃ bahuvidhaṃ dattvā tān apy atra niyojaya And those who live in his service, and those in whose company he delights for their valour—having given them manifold gifts, appoint them too to this retinue. **2.32.5** nighnan mṛgān kuñjarāṃś ca pibaṃś cāraṇyakaṃ madhu nadīś ca vividhāḥ paśyan na rājyaṃ saṃsmariṣyati Slaying deer and elephants, drinking wild forest honey, and gazing on rivers of many kinds, he will not remember the kingdom. **2.32.6** dhānyakośaś ca yaḥ kaś cid dhanakośaś ca māmakaḥ tau rāmam anugacchetāṃ vasantaṃ nirjane vane Whatever granary and whatever treasury of mine there is—let those two follow Rāma as he dwells in the desolate forest. **2.32.7** yajan puṇyeṣu deśeṣu visṛjaṃś cāptadakṣiṇāḥ ṛṣibhiś ca samāgamya pravatsyati sukhaṃ vane Sacrificing in holy places, bestowing ample sacrificial fees, and consorting with the sages, he will dwell happily in the forest. **2.32.8** bharataś ca mahābāhur ayodhyāṃ pālayiṣyati sarvakāmaiḥ punaḥ śrīmān rāmaḥ saṃsādhyatām iti And mighty-armed Bharata will govern Ayodhyā; furthermore, let the illustrious Rāma be furnished with every object of desire.” **2.32.9** evaṃ bruvati kākutsthe kaikeyyā bhayam āgatam mukhaṃ cāpy agamāc cheṣaṃ svaraś cāpi nyarudhyata As Kākutstha spoke thus, fear came upon Kaikeyī; her face too lost its colour, and her voice was choked. **2.32.10** sā viṣaṇṇā ca saṃtrastā kaikeyī vākyam abravīt rājyaṃ gatajanaṃ sādho pītamaṇḍāṃ surām iva nirāsvādyatamaṃ śūnyaṃ bharato nābhipatsyate Dejected and alarmed, Kaikeyī said: “A realm emptied of its people, O good sir—like liquor whose froth has been drained off, utterly savourless and hollow—Bharata will not accept.” **2.32.11** kaikeyyāṃ muktalajjāyāṃ vadantyām atidāruṇam rājā daśaratho vākyam uvācāyatalocanām vahantaṃ kiṃ tudasi māṃ niyujya dhuri māhite While shameless Kaikeyī was speaking these most cruel words, King Daśaratha said to the wide-eyed woman: “Why, O malevolent one, having yoked me to the burden, do you goad me who already bear it?” **2.32.12** kaikeyī dviguṇaṃ kruddhā rājānam idam abravīt tavaiva vaṃśe sagaro jyeṣṭhaṃ putram upārudhat asamañja iti khyātaṃ tathāyaṃ gantum arhati Doubly enraged, Kaikeyī said this to the king: “In your own very line Sagara drove out his eldest son, the one known as Asamañja; just so, this one too ought to go.” **2.32.13** evam ukto dhig ity eva rājā daśaratho 'bravīt vrīḍitaś ca janaḥ sarvaḥ sā ca tan nāvabudhyata So addressed, King Daśaratha said only “Shame!”; all the people were abashed, but she took no heed of it. **2.32.14** tatra vṛddho mahāmātraḥ siddhārtho nāma nāmataḥ śucir bahumato rājñaḥ kaikeyīm idam abravīt There an aged minister, Siddhārtha by name, pure and highly esteemed by the king, said this to Kaikeyī: **2.32.15** asamañjo gṛhītvā tu krīḍitaḥ pathi dārakān sarayvāḥ prakṣipann apsu ramate tena durmatiḥ Asamañja, in his wanton sport, would seize children on the road and fling them into the waters of the Sarayū, and that evil-minded one delighted in it. **2.32.16** taṃ dṛṣṭvā nāgaraḥ sarve kruddhā rājānam abruvan asamañjaṃ vṛṣīṇvaikam asmān vā rāṣṭravardhana Seeing him, all the citizens, enraged, said to the king: “Choose either Asamañja alone, or us, O enlarger of the realm!” **2.32.17** tān uvāca tato rājā kiṃnimittam idaṃ bhayam tāś cāpi rājñā saṃpṛṣṭā vākyaṃ prakṛtayo 'bruvan Then the king said to them: “From what cause is this alarm?” And the subjects, thus questioned by the king, spoke these words: **2.32.18** krīḍitas tv eṣa naḥ putrān bālān udbhrāntacetanaḥ sarayvāṃ prakṣipan maurkhyād atulāṃ prītim aśnute “This man, his mind deranged, in wanton sport flings our young sons into the Sarayū, and out of sheer folly derives from it a matchless delight.” **2.32.19** sa tāsāṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā prakṛtīnāṃ narādhipa taṃ tatyājāhitaṃ putraṃ tāsāṃ priyacikīrṣayā Having heard the words of his subjects, O lord of men, he cast out that pernicious son, wishing to do them a kindness. **2.32.20** ity evam atyajad rājā sagaro vai sudhārmikaḥ rāmaḥ kim akarot pāpaṃ yenaivam uparudhyate “Thus did the righteous King Sagara cast him out. But what sin has Rāma done, that he should be banished in this way?” **2.32.21** śrutvā tu siddhārthavaco rājā śrāntatarasvanaḥ śokopahatayā vācā kaikeyīm idam abravīt But hearing Siddhārtha's words, the king, his voice grown utterly faint, said this to Kaikeyī with grief-stricken speech: **2.32.22** anuvrajiṣyāmy aham adya rāmaṃ rājyaṃ parityajya sukhaṃ dhanaṃ ca sahaiva rājñā bharatena ca tvaṃ yathā sukhaṃ bhuṅkṣva cirāya rājyam “This very day I shall follow Rāma, renouncing kingdom, comfort, and wealth. You, together with King Bharata, enjoy the kingdom at your pleasure for long years to come.”