# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 54 — Sumantra comforts Kausalyā *He describes Lakṣmaṇa’s service and Sītā’s curiosity about the forest, but Kausalyā’s grief persists* Portion: Sumantra’s return and the parents’ grief · Verses: 20 · Ref format: 2.54. ## Sequence - Kausalyā asks Sumantra to take her to the travelers, saying she cannot remain without them (54.1–3) - he assures her that Rāma will adapt and that Lakṣmaṇa finds purpose in serving him (54.4–6) - he describes Sītā as at ease beside Rāma, enjoying the woods as she once enjoyed the city gardens (54.7–11) - she has been asking about settlements, rivers, and trees along the way (54.12–14) - he says she remains unafraid under Rāma's protection (54.15–17) - he urges Kausalyā to take comfort in their determination to fulfill the promise → despite his reassurance, she continues to weep (54.18–20). ## Verses **2.54.1** tato bhūtopasṛṣṭeva vepamānā punaḥ punaḥ dharaṇyāṃ gatasattveva kausalyā sūtam abravīt Then, trembling again and again as if possessed by a spirit, as if her strength had drained away onto the ground, Kausalyā said to the charioteer: **2.54.2** naya māṃ yatra kākutsthaḥ sītā yatra ca lakṣmaṇaḥ tān vinā kṣaṇam apy atra jīvituṃ notsahe hy aham “Lead me to where Kākutstha is, and where Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa are; for without them I cannot bear to live here even for a moment.” **2.54.3** nivartaya rathaṃ śīghraṃ daṇḍakān naya mām api atha tān nānugacchāmi gamiṣyāmi yamakṣayam “Turn the chariot back quickly and take me too to the Daṇḍaka forest; if I do not follow after them, I shall go to the abode of Yama.” **2.54.4** bāṣpavegaupahatayā sa vācā sajjamānayā idam āśvāsayan devīṃ sūtaḥ prāñjalir abravīt With a voice choked and faltering, overwhelmed by the rush of his tears, the charioteer, comforting the queen with folded hands, said this: **2.54.5** tyaja śokaṃ ca mohaṃ ca saṃbhramaṃ duḥkhajaṃ tathā vyavadhūya ca saṃtāpaṃ vane vatsyati rāghavaḥ “Cast off grief and delusion and the agitation born of sorrow; shaking off all distress, the Rāghava will dwell in the forest.” **2.54.6** lakṣmaṇaś cāpi rāmasya pādau paricaran vane ārādhayati dharmajñaḥ paralokaṃ jitendriyaḥ “And Lakṣmaṇa too, tending Rāma's feet in the forest, knower of dharma and master of his senses, wins the world beyond.” **2.54.7** vijane 'pi vane sītā vāsaṃ prāpya gṛheṣv iva visrambhaṃ labhate 'bhītā rāme saṃnyasta mānasā “Even in the lonely forest, Sītā, finding her dwelling as though at home, feels at ease and unafraid, her heart resting wholly on Rāma.” **2.54.8** nāsyā dainyaṃ kṛtaṃ kiṃ cit susūkṣmam api lakṣaye uciteva pravāsānāṃ vaidehī pratibhāti mā “I mark in her no trace of dejection, not the least; the Videhan lady appears to me as if well used to travels abroad.” **2.54.9** nagaropavanaṃ gatvā yathā sma ramate purā tathaiva ramate sītā nirjaneṣu vaneṣv api “Just as of old she used to delight when she went to the city's pleasure-groves, so exactly does Sītā delight even in the desolate forests.” **2.54.10** bāleva ramate sītā bālacandranibhānanā rāmā rāme hy adīnātmā vijane 'pi vane satī “Sītā, her face like the young moon, delights like a girl; the lovely one, undaunted in spirit, is content in Rāma even in the lonely forest.” **2.54.11** tadgataṃ hṛdayaṃ hy asyās tad adhīnaṃ ca jīvitam ayodhyāpi bhavet tasyā rāma hīnā tathā vanam “For her heart is fixed on him, and her very life depends on him; without Rāma even Ayodhyā would be to her but a forest.” **2.54.12** pathi pṛcchati vaidehī grāmāṃś ca nagarāṇi ca gatiṃ dṛṣṭvā nadīnāṃ ca pādapān vividhān api “Along the way the Videhan lady would ask about villages and cities, gazing at the course of the rivers and at trees of many kinds.” **2.54.13** adhvanā vāta vegena saṃbhrameṇātapena ca na hi gacchati vaidehyāś candrāṃśusadṛśī prabhā “Through the journey, the force of the wind, the flurry and the sun's heat, the moonbeam-like radiance of the Videhan lady does not fade.” **2.54.14** sadṛśaṃ śatapatrasya pūrṇacandropamaprabham vadanaṃ tadvadānyāyā vaidehyā na vikampate “The face of that generous Videhan lady, like a lotus of a hundred petals and shining like the full moon, does not quiver.” **2.54.15** alaktarasaraktābhāv alaktarasavarjitau adyāpi caraṇau tasyāḥ padmakośasamaprabhau “Even now her two feet, ruddy as if reddened with lac-dye though bare of any lac, shine bright as the calyx of a lotus.” **2.54.16** nūpurodghuṣṭaheleva khelaṃ gacchati bhāminī idānīm api vaidehī tadrāgā nyastabhūṣaṇā “The lovely woman moves playfully, as though with the tinkling sport of anklets; even now the Videhan lady, though she has laid aside her ornaments, keeps that same charm.” **2.54.17** gajaṃ vā vīkṣya siṃhaṃ vā vyāghraṃ vā vanam āśritā nāhārayati saṃtrāsaṃ bāhū rāmasya saṃśritā “Dwelling in the forest, even on catching sight of an elephant or a lion or a tiger, she feels no terror, sheltered in Rāma's arms.” **2.54.18** na śocyās te na cātmā te śocyo nāpi janādhipaḥ idaṃ hi caritaṃ loke pratiṣṭhāsyati śāśvatam “They are not to be mourned, nor are you yourself to be mourned, nor even the king; for this deed of theirs will stand fast in the world for ever.” **2.54.19** vidhūya śokaṃ parihṛṣṭamānasā maharṣiyāte pathi suvyavasthitāḥ vane ratā vanyaphalāśanāḥ pituḥ śubhāṃ pratijñāṃ paripālayanti te vane ratā vanyaphalāśanāḥ pituḥ śubhāṃ pratijñāṃ paripālayanti te Having shaken off grief, glad at heart, well-established on the path trodden by great seers, delighting in the forest and living on its wild fruits, they are fulfilling their father's noble pledge. **2.54.20** tathāpi sūtena suyuktavādinā nivāryamāṇā sutaśokakarśitā na caiva devī virarāma kūjitāt priyeti putreti ca rāghaveti ca na caiva devī virarāma kūjitāt priyeti putreti ca rāghaveti ca Yet, though restrained by the charioteer who spoke so aptly, the queen, wasted with grief for her son, did not cease from her wailing—“my dear! my son! O Rāghava!”