# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 40 — The citizens follow to the Tamasā *Rāma asks them to support Bharata, then leaves his chariot to walk beside the elderly brāhmaṇas* Portion: The citizens follow and return · Verses: 30 · Ref format: 2.40. ## Sequence - Meanwhile, the citizens continue following Rāma's chariot even after the King has turned back (40.1–3) - Rāma asks them to transfer their affection to Bharata, obey him, and help prevent Daśaratha from grieving (40.4–10) - his concern only strengthens their determination to stay with him (40.11–13) - elderly brāhmaṇas call to the horses to turn around → unwilling to ride ahead while these old men struggle on foot, Rāma gets down, and Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa walk with him (40.14–17) - the brāhmaṇas explain that they have brought their sacred fires and the white parasols earned through Vājapeya sacrifices, which they offer to hold over him for shade (40.18–25) - they say their sacrifices depend on his return and plead with him as the party reaches the Tamasā River (40.26–30). ## Verses **2.40.1** anuraktā mahātmānaṃ rāmaṃ satyaparakramam anujagmuḥ prayāntaṃ taṃ vanavāsāya mānavāḥ Devoted to the great-souled Rāma of true valour, the people followed him as he set out to dwell in the forest. **2.40.2** nivartite 'pi ca balāt suhṛdvarge ca rājini naiva te saṃnyavartanta rāmasyānugatā ratham Even though the king and the crowd of friends were turned back by force, those people, having followed Rāma's chariot, would not turn back at all. **2.40.3** ayodhyānilayānāṃ hi puruṣāṇāṃ mahāyaśāḥ babhūva guṇasaṃpannaḥ pūrṇacandra iva priyaḥ For to the people whose home was Ayodhyā, the greatly renowned one, rich in virtues, was dear as the full moon. **2.40.4** sa yācyamānaḥ kākutsthaḥ svābhiḥ prakṛtibhis tadā kurvāṇaḥ pitaraṃ satyaṃ vanam evānvapadyata Though entreated by his own subjects, Kākutstha then, making his father's word come true, went on toward the forest all the same. **2.40.5** avekṣamāṇaḥ sasnehaṃ cakṣuṣā prapibann iva uvāca rāmaḥ snehena tāḥ prajāḥ svāḥ prajā iva Gazing on them fondly, as though drinking them in with his eyes, Rāma spoke lovingly to those subjects as if they were his own children: **2.40.6** yā prītir bahumānaś ca mayy ayodhyānivāsinām matpriyārthaṃ viśeṣeṇa bharate sā niveśyatām Whatever love and high regard the dwellers of Ayodhyā have for me, that, especially for my sake, let it be bestowed upon Bharata. **2.40.7** sa hi kalyāṇa cāritraḥ kaikeyyānandavardhanaḥ kariṣyati yathāvad vaḥ priyāṇi ca hitāni ca For he of auspicious conduct, the increaser of Kaikeyī's joy, will duly do what is dear and beneficial for you. **2.40.8** jñānavṛddho vayobālo mṛdur vīryaguṇānvitaḥ anurūpaḥ sa vo bhartā bhaviṣyati bhayāpahaḥ Mature in wisdom though young in years, gentle and endowed with heroic virtues, he will prove a fitting lord for you, a dispeller of fear. **2.40.9** sa hi rājaguṇair yukto yuvarājaḥ samīkṣitaḥ api cāpi mayā śiṣṭaiḥ kāryaṃ vo bhartṛśāsanam For he, endowed with royal virtues, has been marked out as crown prince; and moreover, since you have been instructed by me, the command of your lord must be obeyed by you. **2.40.10** na ca tapyed yathā cāsau vanavāsaṃ gate mayi mahārājas tathā kāryo mama priyacikīrṣayā And you should act, out of a wish to please me, in such a way that the great king may not grieve now that I have gone to dwell in the forest. **2.40.11** yathā yathā dāśarathir dharmam evāsthito 'bhavat tathā tathā prakṛtayo rāmaṃ patim akāmayan The more the son of Daśaratha stood firm in righteousness, the more the subjects longed for Rāma as their lord. **2.40.12** bāṣpeṇa pihitaṃ dīnaṃ rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha cakarṣeva guṇair baddhvā janaṃ punar ivāsanam Rāma, together with Saumitri, as it were bound with cords of virtue and drew back the wretched people, veiled in tears, as one draws back to a seat. **2.40.13** te dvijās trividhaṃ vṛddhā jñānena vayasaujasā vayaḥprakampaśiraso dūrād ūcur idaṃ vacaḥ Those brahmins, aged in three ways — in wisdom, in years, and in vigour — their heads trembling with age, from afar spoke these words: **2.40.14** vahanto javanā rāmaṃ bho bho jātyās turaṃgamāḥ nivartadhvaṃ na gantavyaṃ hitā bhavata bhartari upavāhyas tu vo bhartā nāpavāhyaḥ purād vanam 'O you swift and well-bred horses that bear Rāma along, turn back! you must not go on; be kindly toward your master. Your lord is to be borne back, not carried away from the city to the forest.' **2.40.15** evam ārtapralāpāṃs tān vṛddhān pralapato dvijān avekṣya sahasā rāmo rathād avatatāra ha Seeing those aged brahmins uttering such piteous cries, Rāma suddenly stepped down from the chariot. **2.40.16** padbhyām eva jagāmātha sasītaḥ sahalakṣmaṇaḥ saṃnikṛṣṭapadanyāso rāmo vanaparāyaṇaḥ Then, with Sītā and with Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma, bound for the forest, went on foot, setting his steps close together. **2.40.17** dvijātīṃs tu padātīṃs tān rāmaś cāritravatsalaḥ na śaśāka ghṛṇācakṣuḥ parimoktuṃ rathena saḥ But Rāma, tender toward good conduct, of compassionate eye, could not bring himself to leave those brahmins behind on foot by driving on in the chariot. **2.40.18** gacchantam eva taṃ dṛṣṭvā rāmaṃ saṃbhrāntamānasāḥ ūcuḥ paramasaṃtaptā rāmaṃ vākyam idaṃ dvijāḥ Seeing Rāma still walking on, the brahmins, their minds distraught and sorely tormented, spoke to Rāma these words: **2.40.19** brāhmaṇyaṃ kṛtsnam etat tvāṃ brahmaṇyam anugacchati dvijaskandhādhirūḍhās tvām agnayo 'py anuyānty amī This whole body of brahmins follows you, the friend of brahmins; and these sacred fires too, borne upon the shoulders of the twice-born, come after you. **2.40.20** vājapeyasamutthāni chatrāṇy etāni paśya naḥ pṛṣṭhato 'nuprayātāni haṃsān iva jalātyaye Look at these parasols of ours, gained from our Vājapeya sacrifices, following behind you like wild geese at the passing of the rains. **2.40.21** anavāptātapatrasya raśmisaṃtāpitasya te ebhiś chāyāṃ kariṣyāmaḥ svaiś chatrair vājapeyikaiḥ For you, who have no royal umbrella and are scorched by the sun's rays, we shall make shade with these, our own Vājapeya parasols. **2.40.22** yā hi naḥ satataṃ buddhir vedamantrānusāriṇī tvatkṛte sā kṛtā vatsa vanavāsānusāriṇī That mind of ours which ever followed the mantras of the Veda has, for your sake, dear child, been made to follow you into forest-dwelling. **2.40.23** hṛdayeṣv avatiṣṭhante vedā ye naḥ paraṃ dhanam vatsyanty api gṛheṣv eva dārāś cāritrarakṣitāḥ The Vedas, which are our highest wealth, abide in our hearts; and our wives, guarded by their own virtue, will surely remain at home. **2.40.24** na punar niścayaḥ kāryas tvadgatau sukṛtā matiḥ tvayi dharmavyapekṣe tu kiṃ syād dharmam avekṣitum No further resolve need be made; our mind is firmly set on following you; and since you have regard for righteousness, what further need is there to consider what righteousness is? **2.40.25** yācito no nivartasva haṃsaśuklaśiroruhaiḥ śirobhir nibhṛtācāra mahīpatanapāṃśulaiḥ Entreated by us with our heads, their hair white as swans and grimed with dust from bowing to the ground, turn back, O you of restrained conduct! **2.40.26** bahūnāṃ vitatā yajñā dvijānāṃ ya ihāgatāḥ teṣāṃ samāptir āyattā tava vatsa nivartane The sacrifices of many brahmins who have come here are begun and spread out; their completion, dear child, depends upon your turning back. **2.40.27** bhaktimanti hi bhūtāni jaṃgamājaṃgamāni ca yācamāneṣu teṣu tvaṃ bhaktiṃ bhakteṣu darśaya For all beings, moving and unmoving, are devoted to you; while they entreat you, do you show devotion in return to the devoted. **2.40.28** anugaṃtum aśaktās tvāṃ mūlair uddhṛtavegibhiḥ unnatā vāyuvegena vikrośantīva pādapāḥ Unable to follow you, the tall trees, tossed up by the wind's force with roots that would tear themselves free, seem to cry aloud after you. **2.40.29** niśceṣṭāhārasaṃcārā vṛkṣaikasthānaviṣṭhitāḥ pakṣiṇo 'pi prayācante sarvabhūtānukampinam Ceasing to stir for food or to move about, staying fixed each on his single tree, even the birds entreat you, the compassionate friend of all beings. **2.40.30** evaṃ vikrośatāṃ teṣāṃ dvijātīnāṃ nivartane dadṛśe tamasā tatra vārayantīva rāghavam As those brahmins were thus crying out for his return, there appeared the Tamasā river, as though holding Rāghava back.