महार्हवस्त्रसम्बद्धो भूत्वा चिरसुखोचितः। काषायपरिधानस्तु कथं रामो भविष्यति
He who was adorned in splendid garments and long accustomed to comfort, how will Rāma become one clad in bark garments?
कस्येदं दारुणं वाक्यमेवंविधमपीरितम्। रामस्यारण्यगमनं भरतस्याभिषेचनम्
Whose cruel words are these, spoken in such a manner—Rāma's going to the forest and Bharata's consecration?
धिगस्तु योषितो नाम शठाः स्वार्थपरायणाः। न ब्रवीमि स्त्रियः सर्वा भरतस्यैव मातरम्
Fie upon women, for they are deceitful and devoted to their own interests; I do not speak of all women, only of Bharata's mother.
अनर्थभावेऽर्थपरे नृशंसे ममानुतापाय निवेशितासि। किमप्रियं पश्यसि मन्निमित्तं हितानुकारिण्यथवापि रामे
You, who are ruthless and pursue gain in what is worthless, have been placed for my sorrow; what unpleasant thing do you see in me, or in Rāma, who acts for your benefit?
परित्यजेयुः पितरोऽपि पुत्रान् भार्याः पतींश्चापि कृतानुरागाः। कृत्स्नं हि सर्वं कुपितं जगत् स्याद् दृष्ट्वैव रामं व्यसने निमग्नम्
Even fathers might abandon their sons, and wives their husbands, though bound by deep affection; for truly, the whole world would be thrown into turmoil, seeing Rāma plunged into misfortune.
अहं पुनर्देवकुमाररूप- मलंकृतं तं सुतमाव्रजन्तम्। नन्दामि पश्यन्निव दर्शनेन भवामि दृष्ट्वैव पुनर्युवेव
But when I see my son, adorned like a young god, approaching me, I rejoice as if beholding him anew, and feel myself restored to youth.
विना हि सूर्येण भवेत् प्रवृत्ति- रवर्षता वज्रधरेण वापि। रामं तु गच्छन्तमितः समीक्ष्य जीवेन्न कश्चित्त्विति चेतना मे
Without the sun, there could still be activity; without the rain-bringer, there might still be rain. But seeing Rāma depart from here, I cannot imagine anyone could go on living—such is my conviction.
विनाशकामामहिताममित्रा- मावासयं मृत्युमिवात्मनस्त्वाम्। चिरं बताङ्केन धृतासि सर्पी महाविषा तेन हतोऽस्मि मोहात्
You, who wish for destruction, who are hostile and an enemy in disguise, I have harbored like death itself within my own house. Alas, I have long held you to my breast like a serpent, and now, through my folly, I am struck down by your deadly venom.
मया च रामेण सलक्ष्मणेन प्रशास्तु हीनो भरतस्त्वया सह। पुरं च राष्ट्रं च निहत्य बान्धवान् ममाहितानां च भवाभिहर्षिणी
With me, with Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa gone, let Bharata rule, together with you. Destroy the city, the kingdom, and our kin, and bring joy to my enemies and yours.
नृशंसवृत्ते व्यसनप्रहारिणि प्रसह्य वाक्यं यदिहाद्य भाषसे। न नाम ते तेन मुखात् पतन्त्यधो विशीर्यमाणा दशनाः सहस्रधा
You, whose conduct is cruel and who strike with calamity, today you speak such harsh words by force. Why do your teeth not fall out and shatter into a thousand pieces from your mouth, uttering such things?
न किंचिदाहाहितमप्रियं वचो न वेत्ति रामः परुषाणि भाषितुम्। कथं तु रामे ह्यभिरामवादिनि ब्रवीषि दोषान् गुणनित्यसम्मते
Rāma has never spoken a single harsh or unpleasant word, nor does he know how to speak cruelly. How, then, can you find fault with Rāma, who always speaks pleasingly and is ever praised for his virtues?
प्रताम्य वा प्रज्वल वा प्रणश्य वा सहस्रशो वा स्फुटितां महीं व्रज। न ते करिष्यामि वचः सुदारुणं ममाहितं केकयराजपांसने
Collapse, burn, perish, or shatter the earth a thousand times over—I will not carry out your dreadful command, O dust of the Kekaya king, which brings me harm.
क्षुरोपमां नित्यमसत्प्रियंवदां प्रदुष्टभावां स्वकुलोपघातिनीम्। न जीवितुं त्वां विषहेऽमनोरमां दिधक्षमाणां हृदयं सबन्धनम्
You, whose words are ever sharp as razors, who delight in falsehood, whose mind is corrupted, who bring ruin to your own family—I cannot bear to live with you, so unlovely, who seek to burn my heart and all bonds.
न जीवितं मेऽस्ति कुतः पुनः सुखं विनात्मजेनात्मवतां कुतो रतिः। ममाहितं देवि न कर्तुमर्हसि स्पृशामि पादावपि ते प्रसीद मे
I have no life left—how then could I have happiness? Without my son, what joy is there for those who love their children as themselves? O lady, do not do me this harm—I touch your feet, have mercy on me.
स भूमिपालो विलपन्ननाथवत् स्त्रिया गृहीतो हृदयेऽतिमात्रया। पपात देव्याश्चरणौ प्रसारिता- वुभावसम्प्राप्य यथाऽऽतुरस्तथा
That lord of the earth, lamenting like one bereft, was seized in his heart by the woman’s overwhelming force; he fell at the queen’s outstretched feet, just as a stricken man might collapse.
thumb|त्रयोदशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः ॥२-
Listen now to the thirteenth chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Ayodhyā section.
अतदर्हं महाराजं शयानमतथोचितम्। ययातिमिव पुण्यान्ते देवलोकात् परिच्युतम्
He lay there, the great king, in a state unfit for him, like Yayāti cast down from heaven at the end of his merit.
अनर्थरूपासिद्धार्था ह्यभीता भयदर्शिनी। पुनराकारयामास तमेव वरमङ्गना
That woman, fearless yet seeing danger, whose wishes brought only harm, again demanded the very boon she had sought.
त्वं कत्थसे महाराज सत्यवादी दृढव्रतः। मम चेदं वरं कस्माद् विधारयितुमिच्छसि
You boast, O king, of being truthful and firm in your vows—then why do you hesitate to grant me this boon?
एवमुक्तस्तु कैकेय्या राजा दशरथस्तदा। प्रत्युवाच ततः क्रुद्धो मुहूर्तं विह्वलन्निव
Thus addressed by Kaikeyī, King Daśaratha, overcome and angered, replied after a moment, as if bewildered.
मृते मयि गते रामे वनं मनुजपुङ्गवे। हन्तानार्ये ममामित्रे सकामा सुखिनी भव
When I am dead and Rāma has gone to the forest, O unworthy one, fulfill your desire and be happy, having destroyed my enemies.
स्वर्गेऽपि खलु रामस्य कुशलं दैवतैरहम्। प्रत्यादेशादभिहितं धारयिष्ये कथं बत
Even in heaven, I will have to endure the gods’ reproach for Rāma’s sake—how shall I bear it, alas?
कैकेय्याः प्रियकामेन रामः प्रव्राजितो वनम्। यदि सत्यं ब्रवीम्येतत् तदसत्यं भविष्यति
If, out of affection for Kaikeyi, I send Rāma into exile in the forest, and I say this is true, then it will become untrue.
अपुत्रेण मया पुत्रः श्रमेण महता महान्। रामो लब्धो महातेजाः स कथं त्यज्यते मया
Through great effort, though I was childless, I gained the mighty and radiant Rāma as my son; how then can I abandon him?
शूरश्च कृतविद्यश्च जितक्रोधः क्षमापरः। कथं कमलपत्राक्षो मया रामो विवास्यते
How can I banish Rāma, lotus-eyed, valiant, learned, conqueror of anger, devoted to forgiveness, by my own hand?
कथमिन्दीवरश्यामं दीर्घबाहुं महाबलम्। अभिराममहं रामं स्थापयिष्यामि दण्डकान्
How can I send away Rāma, so pleasing, dark as a blue lotus, long-armed, of great strength, to dwell in Daṇḍaka forest?
सुखानामुचितस्यैव दुःखैरनुचितस्य च। दुःखं नामानुपश्येयं कथं रामस्य धीमतः
How could I ever witness suffering befall wise Rāma, who is accustomed only to happiness and unfit for sorrow?
यदि दुःखमकृत्वा तु मम संक्रमणं भवेत्। अदुःखार्हस्य रामस्य ततः सुखमवाप्नुयाम्
If only this transition could occur without causing him pain, then I would attain happiness, for Rāma, who deserves no suffering.
अकीर्तिरतुला लोके ध्रुवं परिभविष्यति। तथा विलपतस्तस्य परिभ्रमितचेतसः
Certainly, unparalleled disgrace will befall me in the world, as I lament in this way, my mind bewildered.
अस्तमभ्यागमत् सूर्यो रजनी चाभ्यवर्तत। सा त्रियामा तदार्तस्य चन्द्रमण्डलमण्डिता
The sun set, and night arrived; that night, adorned with the moon's disk, passed for the tormented king.