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Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 13
In this Sarga, the pleadings of Daṡaratha continue. He curses Kaikēyee for her cruelty to Rāma. He bemoans his own misfortune for having to be in this predicament. He tries to invoke the good side of Kaikēyee by praising her. But all goes in vain, as Kaikēyee demands him to fulfill the boons.
The night passes as he bemoans, laments, curses and pleads. He does not feel like waking up in the morning.
2.13.1-2
அததர்ஹம் மஹாராஜம் ஸயாநமததோசிதம் ।
யயாதிமிவ புண்யாந்தே தேவலோகாத்பரிச்யுதம் ।
அநர்தரூபா ஸித்தார்தா ஹ்யபீதா பயதர்ஸிநீ ।
புநராகாரயாமாஸ தமேவ வரமங்கநா ॥
atadarhaṃ mahārājaṃ ṡayānamatathōcitam ।
yayātimiva puṇyāntē dēvalōkātparicyutam ।
anartharūpā siddhārthā hyabhītā bhayadarṡinī ।
punarākārayāmāsa tamēva varamaṅganā ॥
Kaikēyee is bent upon achieving her ends. She continued
to press upon the king for granting of the same boons.
She is looking like the embodiment of ill-fortune.
She is not at all scared, rather, looking scary.
The king, who does not deserve to be in such a predicament,
was lying on the floor, which is woefully unfit for his highness.
He looked like king Yayāti who fell
from the heavens after exhausting the balance of Puṇya.
2.13.3
த்வம் கத்தஸே மஹாராஜ! ஸத்யவாதீ த்ருடவ்ரத: ।
மம சேமம் வரம் கஸ்மாத்விதாரயிதுமிச்சஸி ॥
tvaṃ katthasē mahārāja! satyavādī dṛḍhavrataḥ ।
mama cēmaṃ varaṃ kasmādvidhārayitumicchasi ॥
O! Mighty king, you boast of being the adherent of truth
and of being steadfast in your vows!
How is it that you now want to renege on granting this boon?
2.13.4
ஏவமுக்தஸ்து கைகேய்யா ராஜா தஸரதஸ்ததா ।
ப்ரத்யுவாச தத: க்ருத்தோ முஹூர்தம் விஹ்வலந்நிவ ॥
ēvamuktastu kaikēyyā rājā daṡarathastadā ।
pratyuvāca tataḥ kruddhō muhūrtaṃ vihvalanniva ॥
Having been challenged by Kaikēyee in that manner,
king Daṡaratha lost himself for a moment
and then spoke angrily:
2.13.5
ம்ருதே மயி கதே ராமே வநம் மநுஜபுங்கவே ।
ஹந்தாநார்யே! மமாமித்ரே! ஸகாமா ஸுகிநீ பவ ॥
mṛtē mayi gatē rāmē vanaṃ manujapuṅgavē ।
hantānāryē! mamāmitrē! sakāmā sukhinī bhava ॥
Wretchedness! may you be happy, O heinous woman, O my foe!
With me dead and Rāma, the best among men, gone to the Vana!
2.13.6
ஸ்வர்கேऽபி கலு ராமஸ்ய குஸலம் தைவதைரஹம் ।
ப்ரத்யாதேஸாதபிஹிதம் தாரயிஷ்யே கதம் பத ॥
svargē'pi khalu rāmasya kuṡalaṃ daivatairaham ।
pratyādēṡādabhihitaṃ dhārayiṣyē kathaṃ bata ॥
When I go to heaven, even if I try to
pretend that all is well with Rāma,
the Dēvas will not believe it. What a pity!
2.13.7
கைகேய்யா: ப்ரியகாமேந ராம: ப்ரவ்ராஜிதோ மயா ।
யதி ஸத்யம் ப்ரவீம்யேதத்ததஸத்யம் பவிஷ்யதி ॥
kaikēyyāḥ priyakāmēna rāmaḥ pravrājitō mayā ।
yadi satyaṃ bravīmyētattadasatyaṃ bhaviṣyati ॥
Nor will it be believed if I tell the truth that
Rāma was banished by me for the sake of pleasing Kaikēyee!
2.13.8
அபுத்ரேண மயா புத்ரஸ்ஸ்ரமேண மஹதா மஹாந் ।
ராமோ லப்தோ மஹாபாஹு ஸ்ஸகதம் த்யஜ்யதே மயா ॥
aputrēṇa mayā putraṡṡramēṇa mahatā mahān ।
rāmō labdhō mahābāhu ssakathaṃ tyajyatē mayā ॥
I had no children. Then, after arduous efforts,
I was blessed with the great mighty armed Rāma as son!
How can I just let him go?
2.13.9
ஸூரஸ்ச க்ருதவித்யஸ்ச ஜிதக்ரோதோ க்ஷமாபர: ।
கதம் கமலபத்ராக்ஷோ மயா ராமோ விவாஸ்யதே ॥
ṡūraṡca kṛtavidyaṡca jitakrōdhō kṣamāparaḥ ।
kathaṃ kamalapatrākṣō mayā rāmō vivāsyatē ॥
He is brave, skilled with many Vidyas,
has forbearance and is in complete control of his temper!
How can I banish that lotus-eyed Rāma!
2.13.10
கதமிந்தீவரஸ்யாமம் தீர்கபாஹும் மஹாபலம் ।
அபிராமமஹம் ராமம் ப்ரேஷயிஷ்யாமி தண்டகாந் ॥
kathamindīvaraṡyāmaṃ dīrghabāhuṃ mahābalam ।
abhirāmamahaṃ rāmaṃ prēṣayiṣyāmi daṇḍakān ॥
How can I send the charming Rāma,
of long arms and mighty strength
and of sheen like that of dark lily, to Daṇḍaka Vana?
2.13.11
ஸுகாநாமுசிதஸ்யைவ து:கைரநுசிதஸ்ய ச ।
து:கம் நாமாநுபஸ்யேயம் கதம் ராமஸ்ய தீமத: ॥
sukhānāmucitasyaiva duḥkhairanucitasya ca ।
duḥkhaṃ nāmānupaṡyēyaṃ kathaṃ rāmasya dhīmataḥ ॥
Rāma is worthy of being happy, not miserable.
How can I see Rāma of fine faculties undergo suffering?
2.13.12
யதி து:கமக்ருத்வாऽத்ய மம ஸம்க்ரமணம் பவேத் ।
அது:கார்ஹஸ்ய ராமஸ்ய தத ஸ்ஸுகமவாப்நுயாம் ॥
yadi duḥkhamakṛtvā'dya mama saṃkramaṇaṃ bhavēt ।
aduḥkhārhasya rāmasya tata ssukhamavāpnuyām ॥
I would rather be happy if I die now,
without having to inflict grief upon Rāma,
who by no means deserve to suffer.
2.13.13
ந்ருஸம்ஸே! பாபஸங்கல்பே ராமம் ஸத்யபராக்ரமம் ।
கிம் விப்ரியேண கைகேயி! ப்ரியம் யோஜயஸே மம ।
அகீர்திரதுலா லோகே த்ருவ: பரிபவஸ்ச மே ॥
nṛṡaṃsē! pāpasaṅkalpē rāmaṃ satyaparākramam ।
kiṃ vipriyēṇa kaikēyi! priyaṃ yōjayasē mama ।
akīrtiratulā lōkē dhruvaḥ paribhavaṡca mē ॥
O cruel one! O woman of wicked resolve! O Kaikēyee!
Why are you set against my dear Rāma, a man of fair prowess?
Infamy and disgrace in this world are certainly in store for me!
2.13.14
ததா விலபதஸ்தஸ்ய பரிப்ரமிதசேதஸ: ।
அஸ்தமப்யகமத்ஸூர்யோ ரஜநீ சாப்யவர்தத ॥
tathā vilapatastasya paribhramitacētasaḥ ।
astamabhyagamatsūryō rajanī cābhyavartata ॥
As he was crying like this with dazed mind,
the sun had set into the mountains and the night had descended.
This was the night before coronation. At exactly the same hour, the scene in Rāma’s palace was very different. He was initiated to the fast by Vasishṭha. He prayed to Lord Vishnu and was about to take rest on the mat of Darbha grass along with Seetā.
2.13.15
ஸா த்ரியாமா ததார்த்தஸ்ய சந்த்ரமண்டலமண்டிதா ।
ராஜ்ஞோ விலபமாநஸ்ய ந வ்யபாஸத ஸர்வரீ ॥
sā triyāmā tathārttasya candramaṇḍalamaṇḍitā ।
rājñō vilapamānasya na vyabhāsata ṡarvarī ॥
The course of night, lit with the brilliant moon,
did not feel bright to that despondent and crying King.
2.13.16
ததைவோஷ்ணம் விநிஸ்வஸ்ய வ்ருத்தோ தஸரதோ ந்ருப: ।
விலலாபார்தவத்யுகம் ககநாஸக்தலோசந: ॥
tathaivōṣṇaṃ viniṡvasya vṛddhō daṡarathō nṛpaḥ ।
vilalāpārtavadyukhaṃ gaganāsaktalōcanaḥ ॥
That aged king Daṡaratha, heaving hot sighs
cried miserably like a sick man, staring into the night sky!
How easy it would have been for the king to dismiss Kaikēyee as a mad woman gripped by baseless fears, and deny the preposterous boons!
But that is not the standard the kings of Ikshwāku dynasty held themselves up to! That is what makes Rāmāyaṇa the unique story it is, worth remembering even after many millennia!
2.13.17
ந ப்ரபாதம் த்வயேச்சாமி நிஸே! நக்ஷத்ரபூஷணே! ।
க்ரியதாம் மே தயா பத்ரே! மயாऽயம் ரசிதோऽஞ்ஜலி: ॥
na prabhātaṃ tvayēcchāmi niṡē! nakṣatrabhūṣaṇē! ।
kriyatāṃ mē dayā bhadrē! mayā'yaṃ racitō'ñjaliḥ ॥
O night, adorned with the many shining stars!
I hope not you give way to dawn!
Please show mercy on me, O auspicious one!
I bring together my hands in supplication to thee!
2.13.18
அதவா கம்யதாம் ஸீக்ரம் நாஹமிச்சாமி நிர்க்ருணாம் ।
ந்ருஸம்ஸாம் கைகயீம் த்ரஷ்டும் யத்க்ருதே வ்யஸநம் மஹத் ॥
athavā gamyatāṃ ṡīghraṃ nāhamicchāmi nirghṛṇām ।
nṛṡaṃsāṃ kaikayīṃ draṣṭuṃ yatkṛtē vyasanaṃ mahat ॥
Or may be you should pass quickly!
For, I would not like to continue to see the face
of this cruel and heartless Kaikēyee,
because of whom a great peril has befallen!
2.13.19
ஏவமுக்த்வா ததோ ராஜா கைகேயீம் ஸம்யதாஞ்ஜலி: ।
ப்ரஸாதயாமாஸ புந: கைகேயீம் சேதமப்ரவீத் ॥
ēvamuktvā tatō rājā kaikēyīṃ saṃyatāñjaliḥ ।
prasādayāmāsa punaḥ kaikēyīṃ cēdamabravīt ॥
Saying thus, the king urged Kaikēyee again
for mercy with his palms joined in supplication.
He spoke to Kaikēyee again:
2.13.20
ஸாது வ்ருத்தஸ்ய தீநஸ்ய த்வத்கதஸ்ய கதாயுஷ: ।
ப்ரஸாத: க்ரியதாம் தேவி! பத்ரே ராஜ்ஞோ விஸேஷத: ॥
sādhu vṛttasya dīnasya tvadgatasya gatāyuṣaḥ ।
prasādaḥ kriyatāṃ dēvi! bhadrē rājñō viṡēṣataḥ ॥
O Queen! O auspicious one! May you be kind
to this despondent who is at your mercy!
It is none other than the King, who is at the fag end of life,
having had a smooth and good life thus far, that is beseeching you!
2.13.21
ஸூந்யே ந கலு ஸுஸ்ரோணி! மயேதம் ஸமுதாஹ்ருதம் ।
குரு ஸாது ப்ரஸாதம் மே பாலே! ஸஹ்ருதயா ஹ்யஸி ॥
ṡūnyē na khalu suṡrōṇi! mayēdaṃ samudāhṛtam ।
kuru sādhu prasādaṃ mē bālē! sahṛdayā hyasi ॥
O exquisite-hipped lady!
Hope I am not speaking into vacuum!
O youthful one! May you show the best of your kindness!
You are indeed good at your heart!
2.13.22
ப்ரஸீத தேவி! ராமோமேத்வத்தத்தம் ராஜ்யமவ்யயம் ।
லபதாமஸிதாபாங்கே யஸ: பரமவாப்நு ஹி ॥
prasīda dēvi! rāmōmētvaddattaṃ rājyamavyayam ।
labhatāmasitāpāṅgē yaṡaḥ paramavāpnu hi ॥
O queen! Show mercy! O beauty of dark eyelashes!
May you have the glory of giving this eternal kingdom to Rāma!
2.13.23
மம ராமஸ்ய லோகஸ்ய குரூணாம் பரதஸ்ய ச ।
ப்ரியமேதத்குருஸ்ரோணி குரு சாருமுகேக்ஷணே ॥
mama rāmasya lōkasya gurūṇāṃ bharatasya ca ।
priyamētadguruṡrōṇi kuru cārumukhēkṣaṇē ॥
O lady of ample hips and charming eyes and beautiful face!
May you do this to please everyone
including me, Rāma, Bharata and Gurus!
2.13.24
விஸுத்தபாவஸ்ய ஸுதுஷ்டபாவா
தாம்ரேக்ஷணஸ்யாஸ்ருகலஸ்ய ராஜ்ஞ: ।
ஸ்ருத்வா விசித்ரம் கருணம் விலாபம்
பர்துர்ந்ருஸம்ஸா ந சகார வாக்யம் ॥
viṡuddhabhāvasya suduṣṭabhāvā
tāmrēkṣaṇasyāṡrukalasya rājñaḥ ।
ṡrutvā vicitraṃ karuṇaṃ vilāpaṃ
bharturnṛṡaṃsā na cakāra vākyam ॥
That cruel lady heard the King
who was crying and pleading in many ways
with reddened eyes filled with tears;
but that ill-natured woman would not heed
the words of the pure-natured man.
2.13.25
ததஸ்ஸ ராஜா புநரேவ மூர்சித:
ப்ரியாமதுஷ்டாம் ப்ரதிகூலபாஷிணீம் ।
ஸமீக்ஷ்ய புத்ரஸ்ய விவாஸநம் ப்ரதி
க்ஷிதௌ விஸம்ஜ்ஞோ நிபபாத து:கித:॥
tatassa rājā punarēva mūrchitaḥ
priyāmatuṣṭāṃ pratikūlabhāṣiṇīm ।
samīkṣya putrasya vivāsanaṃ prati
kṣitau visaṃjñō nipapāta duḥkhitaḥ॥
Seeing his dear wife not pleased,
and hearing her speak in nothing but adverse terms
regarding not sending his son into exile,
the King lost his consciousness and
fell in a fit on the floor again.
2.13.26
இதீவ ராஜ்ஞோ வ்யதிதஸ்ய ஸா நிஸா
ஜகாம கோரம் ஸ்வஸதோ மநஸ்விந: ।
விபோத்யமாந: ப்ரதிபோதநம் ததா
நிவாரயாமாஸ ஸ ராஜஸத்தம: ॥
itīva rājñō vyathitasya sā niṡā
jagāma ghōraṃ ṡvasatō manasvinaḥ ।
vibōdhyamānaḥ pratibōdhanaṃ tadā
nivārayāmāsa sa rājasattamaḥ ॥
The night passed while the sensible king
was thus lamenting and sighing terribly.
That eminent king dissuaded (his staff)
from waking him up in the morning.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அயோத்யாகாண்டே த்ரயோதஸஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ayōdhyākāṇḍē trayōdaṡassargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the thirteenth Sarga
in Ayōdhyā Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.