राजर्षीणाम् हि लोकेऽस्मिन् रत्यर्थम् मृगया वने । काले कृताम् ताम् मनुजैर्धन्विनामभिकाङ्क्षिताम् ॥२-४९-
For in this world, hunting in the forest is indeed arranged for the pleasure of royal sages, and is desired by men skilled with the bow at the proper time.
स तम् अध्वानम् ऐक्ष्वाकः सूतम् मधुरया गिरातम् तम् अर्थम् अभिप्रेत्य ययौवाक्यम् उदीरयन् ॥२-४९-
Then the descendant of Ikṣvāku, understanding that purpose, spoke sweetly to the charioteer and set out on that path, giving instructions.
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे एकोनपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥२-
Thus ends the forty-ninth sarga of the Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa in the first poem, the Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki.
thumb|पञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center विशालान् कोसलान् रम्यान् यात्वा लक्ष्मण पूर्वजः । अयोध्याभिमुखो धीमान् प्राञ्ञ्लिर्वाक्वमब्रवीत् ॥२-५०-
Having traversed the delightful and vast Kosala, the wise elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa, with joined palms, spoke to the charioteer as they headed toward Ayodhyā.
आपृच्छे त्वाम् पुरीश्रेष्ठे काकुत्स्थपरिपालिते । दैवतानि च यानि त्वाम् पालयन्त्यावसन्ति च ॥२-५०-
I take leave of you, O best of cities, protected by the Kakutstha lineage, and of the deities who guard and dwell within you.
निवृत्तवनवासस्त्वामनृणो जगतीपतेः । पुनर्ध्रक्ष्यामि मात्रा च पित्रा च सह सम्गतः ॥२-५०-
When my exile in the forest is completed, free from debt to the king, I will see you again, together with my mother and father.
ततो रुधिरताम्राक्षो भुजमुद्यम्य दक्षिणम् । अश्रुपूर्णमुखो दीनोऽब्रवीज्जानपदम् जनम् ॥२-५०-
Then, with eyes reddened with tears, raising his right arm, his face full of sorrow, he spoke to the people of Janapada.
अनुक्रोशो दया चैव यथार्हम् मयि वह् कृतः । चिरम् दुःखस्य पापीयो गम्यतामर्थसिद्धये ॥२-५०-
You have shown me compassion and kindness as was fitting; but long suffering is worse than evil—go now, so that your purpose may be fulfilled.
तेऽभिवाद्य महात्मानम् कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम् । विलपन्तो नरा घोरम् व्यतिष्ठन्त क्वचित् क्वचित् ॥२-५०-
Having saluted the great soul and circumambulated him, the people, lamenting terribly, stood here and there.
तथा विलपताम् तेषामतृप्तानाम् च राघवः । अचक्षुरिषयम् प्रायाद्यथार्कः क्षणदामुखे ॥२-५०-
As they lamented thus, unsatisfied in their longing, Rāghava departed from their sight, like the sun at the approach of night.
ततो धान्यधनोपेतान् दानशीलजनान् शिवान् । अकुतश्चिद्भयान् रम्याम् श्चैत्ययूपसमावृतान् ॥२-५०-
Then he saw prosperous villages, filled with grain and wealth, inhabited by generous and virtuous people, free from any fear, beautiful and surrounded by sacrificial posts.
उद्यानाम्रवनोपेतान् सम्पन्नसलिलाशयान् । तुष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णान् गोकुलाकुलसेवितान् ॥२-५०-
He saw them adorned with gardens and mango groves, blessed with abundant water, crowded with contented and healthy people, and served by herds of cattle.
लक्षणीयान्न रेम्द्राणाम् ब्रह्मघोषाभिनादितान् । रथेन पुरुषव्याघ्रः कोसलानत्यवर्तत ॥२-५०-
The tiger among men passed through the distinguished lands of the kings, resounding with the chants of Brahmins, in his chariot.
मध्येन मुदितम् स्फीतम् रम्योद्यानसमाकुलम् । राज्यम् भोग्यम् नरेन्द्राणाम् ययौ धृतिमताम् वरः ॥२-५०-
In the midst of that joyful, flourishing, and beautiful land, crowded with lovely gardens, the best among the steadfast journeyed through the kingdom, fit for the enjoyment of kings.
तत्र त्रिपथगाम् दिव्याम् शिव तोयाम् अशैवलाम् । ददर्श राघवो गन्गाम् पुण्याम् ऋषि निसेविताम् ॥२-५०-
There Rāghava beheld the divine Gaṅgā, flowing in three streams, holy, pure, free from weeds, and frequented by sages.
आश्रमैरविदूर्स्थैः श्रीमद्भिः समलम् कृताम् । कालेऽप्सरोभिर्हृष्टाभिः सेविताम्भोह्रदाम् शिवाम् ॥२-५०-
Adorned by splendid hermitages nearby, and graced by joyous Apsarases at the proper time, the sacred river was attended by lakes.
देवदानवगन्धर्वैः किन्नरैरुपशोभिताम् । नागगन्धर्वपत्नीभिः सेविताम् सततम् शिवाम् ॥२-५०-
It was beautified by gods, Dānavas, Gandharvas, and Kinnaras, and constantly attended by the wives of Nāgas and Gandharvas.
देवाक्रीडशताकीर्णाम् देवोद्यानशतायुताम् । देवार्थमाकाशगमाम् विख्याताम् देवपद्मिनीम् ॥२-५०-
It was crowded with hundreds of divine playgrounds, adorned with tens of thousands of celestial gardens, famed as the divine lotus-lake, ascending to the heavens for the sake of the gods.
जलघाताट्टहासोग्राम् फेननिर्मलहासिनीम् । क्वचिद्वेणीकृतजलाम् क्वचिदावर्तशोभिताम् ॥२-५०-
At some places, the river laughed with the crashing of water, her smile pure as foam; elsewhere, her waters were braided, and in other spots, adorned with swirling eddies.
क्वचित्स्तिमितगम्भीराम् क्वचिद्वेगजलाकुलाम् । क्वचिद्गम्भीरनिर्घोषाम् क्वचिद्भैरवनिस्वनाम् ॥२-५०-
In some places she was calm and deep, elsewhere agitated by swift currents; here she resounded with a profound roar, there with a terrifying noise.
देवसम्घाप्लुतजलाम् निर्मलोत्पलशोभिताम् । क्वचिदाभोगपुलिनाम् क्वचिन्नर्मलवालुकाम् ॥२-५०-
In some stretches, gods bathed in her waters, and she shone with spotless lotuses; at times she spread out in broad sandbanks, elsewhere her shores were covered in pure sand.
हम्स सरस सम्घुष्टाम् चक्र वाक उपकूजिताम् । सदामदैश्च विहगैरभिसम्नादिताम् तराम् ॥२-५०-
Her banks resounded with the calls of swans and cranes, and the cries of chakravaka birds; she was always filled with the joyful songs of intoxicated birds.
क्वचित्तीररुहैर्वृक्षैर्मालाभिरिव शोभिताम् । क्वचित्फुल्लोत्पलच्छन्नाम् क्वचित्पद्मवनाकुलाम् ॥२-५०-
In some places she was adorned by riverside trees like garlands; elsewhere she was covered by blooming lotuses, and in some spots crowded with clusters of lotus plants.
क्वचित्कुमुदष्ण्डैश्च कुड्मलैरुपशोभिताम् । नानापुष्परजोध्वस्ताम् समदामिव च क्वचित् ॥२-५०-
In some places she was beautified by clusters of kumuda buds; in others, she appeared as if intoxicated, scattered with the pollen of many flowers.
व्यपेतमलसम्घाताम् मणिनिर्मलदर्शनाम् । दिशागजैर्वनगजैर्मत्तैश्च वरवारणैः ॥२-५०-
Free from muddy gatherings, she shone with the clarity of jewels; her banks were frequented by wild elephants and the finest tuskers of the directions and the forest.
देवोपवाह्यश्च मुहुः सम्नादितवनान्तराम् । प्रमदामिव यत्ने न भूषिताम् भूषणोत्तमैः ॥२-५०-
Often, she echoed with the trumpeting of divine elephants, her forests resounding; like a beloved woman not yet adorned with the finest ornaments, she was beautiful even without embellishment.
फलैः पुष्पैः किसलयैर्वऋताम् गुल्मैद्द्विजैस्तथा । शिम्शुमरैः च नक्रैः च भुजम्गैः च निषेविताम् ॥२-५०-
She was filled with fruits, flowers, and tender shoots, with thickets and birds; she was inhabited by porpoises, crocodiles, and serpents.
विष्णुपादच्युताम् दिव्यामपापाम् पापनाशिनीम् । ताम् शङ्करजटाजूटाद्भ्रष्टाम् सागरतेजसा ॥२-५०-
She was the divine Ganga, sprung from Vishnu's feet, sinless and destroyer of sin; fallen from the matted locks of Shankara, blazing with the radiance of the ocean.
समुद्रमहीषीम् गङ्गाम् सारसक्रौञ्चनादिताम् । आससाद महाबाहुः शृङ्गिबेरपुरम् प्रति ॥२-५०-
The mighty-armed one approached the Ganga, queen of rivers, whose banks echoed with the cries of cranes and waterfowl, as he neared the city of Shringibera.
ताम् ऊर्मि कलिल आवर्ताम् अन्ववेक्ष्य महा रथः । सुमन्त्रम् अब्रवीत् सूतम् इह एव अद्य वसामहे ॥२-५०-
Seeing her, swirling with waves and eddies, the great chariot-warrior said to Sumantra, 'Let us stay here tonight.'