# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 56 — Kausalyā & Daśaratha reconcile *He begs her to stop deepening his pain, she apologizes and says five nights of separation have felt like five years* Portion: Sumantra’s return and the parents’ grief · Verses: 17 · Ref format: 2.56. ## Sequence - Daśaratha recalls the time he shot at an unseen target by sound (56.1–2) - burdened by that memory as well as the present separation, he begs Kausalyā not to wound him further (56.3–6) - she takes his folded hands and apologizes (56.7–9) - she says she knows his commitment to truth but that grief made her speak harshly (56.10–11) - she reflects that grief destroys judgment and endurance (56.12–13) - she says the five nights since Rāma left have felt like five years (56.14–15) - evening comes, and Daśaratha, somewhat comforted by her gentleness, falls asleep (56.16–17). ## Verses **2.56.1** evaṃ tu kruddhayā rājā rāmamātrā saśokayā śrāvitaḥ paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ cintayām āsa duḥkhitaḥ Thus made to hear harsh words by Rāma's angry, grief-stricken mother, the king, distressed, fell to brooding. **2.56.2** tasya cintayamānasya pratyabhāt karma duṣkṛtam yad anena kṛtaṃ pūrvam ajñānāc chabdavedhinā As he brooded, there rose before his mind an evil deed that he had done long ago in ignorance, shooting at a mere sound. **2.56.3** amanās tena śokena rāmaśokena ca prabhuḥ dahyamānas tu śokābhyāṃ kausalyām āha bhūpatiḥ Out of his senses with that grief and with grief for Rāma, the lord, burning with both sorrows, the king spoke to Kausalyā: **2.56.4** prasādaye tvāṃ kausalye racito 'yaṃ mayāñjaliḥ vatsalā cānṛśaṃsā ca tvaṃ hi nityaṃ pareṣv api I beg your favour, Kausalyā; this suppliant gesture is offered by me; for you are ever tender and free of cruelty, even toward strangers. **2.56.5** bhartā tu khalu nārīṇāṃ guṇavān nirguṇo 'pi vā dharmaṃ vimṛśamānānāṃ pratyakṣaṃ devi daivatam For a husband, O queen, whether he has virtues or none, is truly for women who ponder dharma their visible deity. **2.56.6** sā tvaṃ dharmaparā nityaṃ dṛṣṭalokaparāvara nārhase vipriyaṃ vaktuṃ duḥkhitāpi suduḥkhitam You, ever devoted to dharma, who have seen the higher and lower worlds, ought not, even in your own grief, to speak what is unwelcome to one so deeply grieved. **2.56.7** tad vākyaṃ karuṇaṃ rājñaḥ śrutvā dīnasya bhāṣitam kausalyā vyasṛjad bāṣpaṃ praṇālīva navodakam Hearing that piteous speech uttered by the wretched king, Kausalyā let her tears flow, like a channel [releasing] fresh water. **2.56.8** sa mūdrhṇi baddhvā rudatī rājñaḥ padmam ivāñjalim saṃbhramād abravīt trastā tvaramāṇākṣaraṃ vacaḥ Weeping, holding to her head the king's suppliant hands like a lotus, in agitation and fright she spoke words whose syllables came in haste: **2.56.9** prasīda śirasā yāce bhūmau nitatitāsmi te yācitāsmi hatā deva hantavyāhaṃ na hi tvayā Be gracious! With bowed head I entreat you; I have fallen to the ground before you. I beg you—undone am I, O king; yet I am not one to be slain by you. **2.56.10** naiṣā hi sā strī bhavati ślāghanīyena dhīmatā ubhayor lokayor vīra patyā yā saṃprasādyate For that woman, O hero, who must be conciliated by a praiseworthy, wise husband, does not fare well in either world. **2.56.11** jānāmi dharmaṃ dharmajña tvāṃ jāne satyavādinam putraśokārtayā tat tu mayā kim api bhāṣitam I know dharma, O knower of dharma; I know you to be a speaker of truth. But that unbecoming word was uttered by me, stricken as I am with grief for my son. **2.56.12** śoko nāśayate dhairyaṃ śoko nāśayate śrutam śoko nāśayate sarvaṃ nāsti śokasamo ripuḥ Grief destroys firmness; grief destroys learning; grief destroys everything—there is no enemy like grief. **2.56.13** śayam āpatitaḥ soḍhuṃ praharo ripuhastataḥ soḍhum āpatitaḥ śokaḥ susūkṣmo 'pi na śakyate A blow fallen from an enemy's hand may be borne; but grief once come, even the very subtlest, cannot be endured. **2.56.14** vanavāsāya rāmasya pañcarātro 'dya gaṇyate yaḥ śokahataharṣāyāḥ pañcavarṣopamo mama Today the fifth night is reckoned since Rāma's going to dwell in the forest—a night which, to me whose joy is slain by grief, is like five years. **2.56.15** taṃ hi cintayamānāyāḥ śoko 'yaṃ hṛdi vardhate adīnām iva vegena samudrasalilaṃ mahat As I brood upon him, this grief swells in my heart, as the great ocean-water swells with the force of the rivers. **2.56.16** evaṃ hi kathayantyās tu kausalyāyāḥ śubhaṃ vacaḥ mandaraśmir abhūt suryo rajanī cābhyavartata As Kausalyā was thus uttering her gracious words, the sun grew dim of ray and the night came on. **2.56.17** atha prahlādito vākyair devyā kausalyayā nṛpaḥ śokena ca samākrānto nidrāyā vaśam eyivān Then, gladdened by the words of Queen Kausalyā yet overwhelmed by grief, the king passed under the sway of sleep.