Ayodhya Kanda — Sarga 57

कथयित्वा तु दुःखार्तः सुमन्त्रेण चिरं सह। रामे दक्षिणकूलस्थे जगाम स्वगृहं गुहः॥

Having for a long time conversed with Sumantra, Guha distressed at heart on Rāma reaching the southern bank, retraced his steps homewards.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.1

भरद्वाजाभिगमनं प्रयागे च सभाजनम्। आ गिरेर्गमनं तेषां तत्रस्थैरभिलक्षितम्॥ अनुज्ञातः सुमन्त्रोऽथ योजयित्वा हयोत्तमान्। अयोध्यामेव नगरी प्रययौ गाढदुर्मनाः॥

Learning from envoys at (Śrngaverapura) all about Rāma's visit to Bharadvāja at Prayāga and his reception (at Bharadvāja's place) as well as their destined journey (to Citrakuta), Sumantra, taking the permission (of Guha), yoked those excellent horses and with a heavy heart directed his course to the city of Ayodhyā.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.2

स वनानि सुगन्धीनि सरितश्च सरांसि च। पश्यन् यत्तो ययौ शीघ्रं ग्रामाणि नगराणि च॥

And beholding perfumed woods and rivers and watery expanses and towns and villages, he eagerly proceeded on his way.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.3

ततः सायाह्नसमये द्वितीयेऽहनि सारथिः। अयोध्यां समनुप्राप्य निरानन्दां ददर्श ह॥

And on the third day at dusk the charioteer arriving at Ayodhyā saw it bereft of happiness.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.4

स शून्यामिव निःशब्दां दृष्ट्वा परमदुर्मनाः। सुमन्त्रश्चिन्तयामास शोकवेगसमाहतः॥ कच्चिन सगजा साश्वा सजना सजनाधिपा। रामसंतापदुःखेन दग्धा शोकाग्निना पुरी।७।।

And beholding it empty and still, Sumantra afflicted with exceeding sorrow, and overwhelmed with grief, thought, “Perhaps the city with her elephants and horses and men and king has been consumed by the fire of grief on account of Rāma."

Ayodhya Kanda 57.5

इति चिन्तापरः सूतो वाजिभिः शीघ्रयायिभिः। नगरद्वारमासाद्य त्वरितः प्रविवेश ह॥

Having thus reflected, the charioteer drawing up to the city-gate by means of those fleetcoursing horses, speedily entered the city.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.6

सुमन्त्रमभिधावन्तः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः। क्व राम इति पृच्छन्तः सूतमभ्यद्रवन् नराः॥

Thereupon, people by hundreds and thousands rushed after the charioteer, Sumantra, asking, "Where is Rāma?”

Ayodhya Kanda 57.7

तेषां शशंस गङ्गायामहमापृच्छय राघवम्। अनुज्ञातो निवृत्तोऽस्मि धार्मिकेण महात्मना ॥ ते तीर्णा इति विज्ञाय वाष्पपूर्णमुखा नराः। अहो धिगिति निःश्वस्य हा रामेति विचुक्रुशुः॥ शुश्राव च वचस्तेषां वृन्दं वृन्दं च तिष्ठताम्। हताः स्म खलु ये नेह पश्याम इति राघवम्॥

To them he replied, “Having asked Rāghava on the Gangā and being permitted by him, I have been sent away by that high-souled righteous one." Learning that they (Rāma and the rest) had crossed over (the Ganga), the men with tears in their eyes, sighed forth “O fie!" and began to bewail, exclaiming, “Ah Rāma." And he heard crowds exclaim, Not seeing Rāma in the car, we cease to exist.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.8

दानयज्ञविवाहेषु समाजेषु महत्सु च। न द्रक्ष्यामः पुनर्जातु धार्मिकं राममन्तरा॥

We shall no longer see the righteous Rāma in the midst of mighty assemblies engaged in charity, sacrifice or nuptial rites.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.9

किं समर्थे जनस्यास्य किं प्रियं किं सुखावहम्। इति रामेण नगरं पित्रेव परिपालितम्॥

What was necessary for this body? What was dear to them and what did they delight in?, (constantly revolving all this in his mind), Rāma ruled this city even as father.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.10

वातायनगतानां च स्त्रीणामन्वन्तरापणम्। राममेवाभितप्तानां शुश्राव परिदेवनाम्॥

Then proceeding past the stalls, Sumantra heard the lamentations of females at windows, burning in grief for Rāma.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.11

स राजमार्गमध्येन सुमन्त्रः पिहिताननः। यत्र राजा दशरथस्तदेवोपययौ गृहम्॥

With his face muffled, Sumantra proceeded on the highway towards the palace of Daśaratha.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.12

सोऽवतीर्य रथाच्छीघ्रं राजवेश्म प्रविश्य च। कक्ष्याः सप्ताभिचक्राम महाजनसमाकुलाः॥

Swiftly alighting from the car and entering the royal residence, he went past seven apartments thronged with people.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.13

हम्यैर्विमानैः प्रासादैरवेक्ष्याथ समागतम्। हाहाकारकृता नार्यो रामादर्शनकर्शिताः॥

And beholding Sumantra returned to the city crowned with edifices, seven-storied houses, and palatial mansions, the women, stricken with the absence of Rama, set up a cry of "Oh" and "Alas."

Ayodhya Kanda 57.14

आयतैर्विमलैत्रैरश्रुवेगपरिप्लुतैः। अन्योन्यमभिवीक्षन्ते व्यक्तमार्ततराः स्त्रियः॥ ततो दशरथस्त्रीणां प्रासादेभ्यस्ततस्ततः। रामशोकाभितप्तानां मन्दं शुश्राव जल्पितम्॥

Waxing still more aggrieved, the females looked at each other with their expansive and transparent eyes fast flooded with tears. And then he heard the talk, as toned down it proceeded from the royal mansions, of the wives of Dasaratha afflicted with grief for Rāma.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.15

सह रामेण निर्यातो विना राममिहागतः। सूतः किं नाम कौसल्या क्रोशन्ती प्रतिवक्ष्यति॥

Going in company with Rāma, and returning without him, what will the charioteer answer Kausalya bewailing (for her son)?

Ayodhya Kanda 57.16

यथा च मन्ये दुर्जीवमेवं न सुकरं ध्रुवम्। आच्छिद्य पुत्रे निर्याते कौसल्या यत्र जीवति॥

Surely life is miserable, yet is incapable of being renounced, since, although her son leaving (the installation) has gone away, yet Kausalyā still lives.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.17

सत्यरूपं तु तद् वाक्यं राजस्त्रीणां निशामयन्। प्रदीप्त इव शोकेन विवेश सहसा गृहम्॥

Having heard those words of the queens, fraught with truth, Sumantra burning as it were in grief, at once entered the (next) apartment.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.18

स प्रविश्याष्टमीं कक्ष्यां राजानं दीनमातुरम्। पुत्रशोकपरिधूनमपश्यत् पाण्डुरे गृहे॥

And entering the eighth apartment he beheld in a gloomy chamber the king distressed and in a pitiable plight, woe-begone for grief for his son.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.19

अभिगम्य तमासीनं राजानमभिवाद्य च। सुमन्त्रो रामवचनं यथोक्तं प्रत्यवेदयत्॥

Thereupon presenting himself before the monarch, Sumantra saluted him and then conveyed to the king the words of Rāma as he had uttered them.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.20

स तूष्णीमेव तच्छ्रुत्वा राजा विद्रुतमानसः। मूर्छितो न्यपतद् भूमौ रामशोकाभिपीडितः॥

Hearing them silently, the monarch with his mind exceedingly wrought, dropped down to the ground in a swoon, afflicted with grief for Rāma.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.21

ततोऽन्तःपुरमाविद्धं मूर्छिते पृथिवीपतौ। उच्छ्रित्य बाहू चुक्रोश नृपतौ पतिते क्षितौ॥

On the lord of earth swooning away and falling to the ground, the inmates of the inner apartment raising their burst into lamentations. arms of an

Ayodhya Kanda 57.22

सुमित्रया तु सहिता कौसल्या पतितं पतिम्। उत्थापयामास तदा वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्॥

Kausalyā availing herself of the aid of Sumantra, raised up her fallen lord and addressed him, saying.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.23

इमं तस्य महाभाग दूतं दुष्करकारिणः। वनवासादनुप्राप्तं कस्मान्न प्रतिभाषसे॥

This, O eminently virtuous one, is the envoy of that one an exceedingly arduous achievement returned from the forest. Why do you not accost him?

Ayodhya Kanda 57.24

अद्येममनयं कृत्वा व्यपत्रपसि राघव। उत्तिष्ठ सुकृतं तेऽस्तु शोके न स्यात् सहायता।॥

O descendant of Raghu, you are ashamed today, having done this wrong. Do you rise: merit be yours (arising from this act.) Let not your adherents come to naught (because of your sorrow).

Ayodhya Kanda 57.25

देव यस्या भयाद् रामं नानुपृच्छसि सारथिम्। नेह तिष्ठति कैकेयी विश्रब्धं प्रतिभाष्यताम्॥

O worshipful one, she from fear of whom you do not speak to the charioteer, Kaikeyi, is not here. Do you therefore speak to him without fear.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.26

सा तथोक्त्वा महाराज कौसल्या शोकलालसा। धरण्यां निपपाताशु बाष्पविप्लुतभाषिणी॥

Having said this to the monarch, Kausalyā overwhelmed with grief, with her voice oppressed with the vapour begot of emotion, all on a sudden fell to the earth.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.27

विलपन्ती तथा दृष्ट्वा कौसल्यां पतितां भुवि । पतिं चावेक्ष्य ताः सर्वाः समन्ताद् रुरुदुः स्त्रियः॥

Behoiding Kausalyā fallen on the ground bewailing, as also their husband, the ladies seated around, began to Lament,

Ayodhya Kanda 57.28

ततस्तमन्तःपुरनादमुत्थितं समीक्ष्य वृद्धास्तरुणाश्च मानवाः। स्त्रियश्च सर्वा रुरुदुः समन्ततः पुरं तदासीत् पुनरेव संकुलम्॥

Hearing the sounds of wailing arise from the inner apartment, old and young as well as females, set up lamentations all round; and the city was again filled with them.

Ayodhya Kanda 57.29