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Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 20
Everyone at the King’s palace is unhappy after Rāma leaves. The many wives of King cry out aloud in grief, making the king feel even more miserable.
Meanwhile Rāma, after reaching the palace of Kousalyā, enters the inner quarters and meets his mother. She takes him into her arms.
Rāma then reveals to her that he has to go to the Daṇḍaka Vana and Bharata would be consecrated in his place, as per the boons Kaikēyee received from Daṡaratha.
Kousalyā laments and cries aloud in grief over the misfortune.
2.20.1 தஸ்மிம்ஸ்து புருஷவ்யாக்ரே நிஷ்க்ராமதி க்ருதாஞ்ஜலௌ ।
ஆர்தஸப்தோ மஹாந் ஜஜ்ஞே ஸ்த்ரீணாமந்த:புரே ததா ॥
tasmiṃstu puruṣavyāghrē niṣkrāmati kṛtāñjalau ।
ārtaṡabdō mahān jajñē strīṇāmantaḥpurē tadā ॥
After the tiger among men with
palms joined in salutation had left,
the women of the inner quarters
started crying pitifully saying: In the previous Sarga, the camera followed Rāma as he left the King’s palace. But how was it at the King’s palace after Rāma left? Vālmeeki resumes from where he left off.
2.20.2 க்ருத்யேஷ்வசோதித: பித்ரா ஸர்வஸ்யாந்த:புரஸ்ய ச ।
கதிர்யஸ்ஸரணம் சாபி ஸ ராமோऽத்ய ப்ரவத்ஸ்யதி ॥
kṛtyēṣvacōditaḥ pitrā sarvasyāntaḥpurasya ca ।
gatiryaṡṡaraṇaṃ cāpi sa rāmō'dya pravatsyati ॥
Without even his father having to ask him,
Rāma became the protector and care-taker of the inner quarters!
He is now going away in exile! These Ṡlōkas indicate what women look for in an able man.
2.20.3 கௌஸல்யாயாம் யதா யுக்தோ ஜநந்யாம் வர்ததே ஸதா ।
ததைவ வர்ததேऽஸ்மாஸு ஜந்மப்ரப்ருதி ராகவ: ॥
kausalyāyāṃ yathā yuktō jananyāṃ vartatē sadā ।
tathaiva vartatē'smāsu janmaprabhṛti rāghavaḥ ॥
Since the time of his birth,
Rāghava has been respecting us the same way
as he has been respecting his own mother Kousalyā!
2.20.4 ந க்ருத்யத்யபிஸப்தோऽபி க்ரோதநீயாநி வர்ஜயந் ।
க்ருத்தாந்ப்ரஸாதயந்ஸர்வாந் ஸ இதோऽத்ய ப்ரவத்ஸ்யதி ॥
na krudhyatyabhiṡaptō'pi krōdhanīyāni varjayan ।
kruddhānprasādayansarvān sa itō'dya pravatsyati ॥
He does not get annoyed even when irritated.
He avoids doing anything that would annoy others.
He knows how to put people in good humor when they are mad.
Such Rāma is going in exile today!
.2.20.5 அபுத்திர்பத நோ ராஜா ஜீவலோகம் சரத்யயம் ।
யோ கதிம் ஸர்வபூதாநாம் பரித்யஜதி ராகவம் ॥
abuddhirbata nō rājā jīvalōkaṃ caratyayam ।
yō gatiṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ parityajati rāghavam ॥
By being stupid enough to abandon Rāghava,
unto whom everyone looks up,
our king is killing all living beings!
2.20.6 இதி ஸர்வா மஹிஷ்யஸ்தா விவத்ஸா இவ தேநவ: ।
பதிமாசுக்ருஸுஸ்சைவ ஸஸ்வரம் சாபி சுக்ருஸு: ॥
iti sarvā mahiṣyastā vivatsā iva dhēnavaḥ ।
patimācukruṡuṡcaiva sasvaraṃ cāpi cukruṡuḥ ॥
Saying thus, all the wives of the king cried aloud
like cows that lost their calves,
while blaming the king summarily! This Ṡlōka indicates that the king had more wives than the three. The comparison with ‘the cows that lost calves’ indicates that Rāma had earned the motherly affection of each one of them.
2.20.7 ஸ ஹி சாந்த:புரே கோரமார்தஸப்தம் மஹீபதி: ।
புத்ரஸோகாபிஸந்தப்த: ஸ்ருத்வா வ்யாலீயதாऽஸநே ॥
sa hi cāntaḥpurē ghōramārtaṡabdaṃ mahīpatiḥ ।
putraṡōkābhisantaptaḥ ṡrutvā vyālīyatā'sanē ॥
Hearing those horrible cries in the inner quarters,
the ruler of the lands sank into his couch
burning with grief on account of his son’s fate.
2.20.8 ராமஸ்து ப்ருஸமாயஸ்தோ நிஸ்ஸ்வஸந்நிவ குஞ்ஜர: ।
ஜகாம ஸஹிதோ ப்ராத்ரா மாதுரந்த:புரம் வஸீ ॥
rāmastu bhṛṡamāyastō niṡṡvasanniva kuñjaraḥ ।
jagāma sahitō bhrātrā māturantaḥpuraṃ vaṡī ॥
Highly troubled but self-controlled,
Rāma entered the inner quarters along with his brother,
sighing like an elephant! The camera now moves on to the face of Rāma who is about to enter the inner quarters of Kousalyā’s palace.
2.20.9 ஸோऽபஸ்யத்புருஷம் தத்ர வ்ருத்தம் பரமபூஜிதம் ।
உபவிஷ்டம் க்ருஹத்வாரி திஷ்டதஸ்சாபராந்பஹூந் ॥
sō'paṡyatpuruṣaṃ tatra vṛddhaṃ paramapūjitam ।
upaviṣṭaṃ gṛhadvāri tiṣṭhataṡcāparānbahūn ॥
He saw a highly respected old man
and several other people at the entrance.
2.20.10 த்ருஷ்ட்வைவ து ததா ராமம் தே ஸர்வே ஸஹஸோத்திதா: ।
ஜயேந ஜயதாம் ஸ்ரேஷ்டம் வர்தயந்தி ஸ்ம ராகவம் ॥
dṛṣṭvaiva tu tadā rāmaṃ tē sarvē sahasōtthitāḥ ।
jayēna jayatāṃ ṡrēṣṭhaṃ vardhayanti sma rāghavam ॥
As soon as they saw Rāma,
they got up and greeted victory to
Rāghava, the foremost among the victorious!
2.20.11 ப்ரவிஸ்ய ப்ரதமாம் கக்ஷ்யாம் த்விதீயாயாம் ததர்ஸ ஸ: ।
ப்ராஹ்மணாந்வேதஸம்பந்நாந்வ்ருத்தாந்ராஜ்ஞாऽபிஸத்க்ருதாந் ॥
praviṡya prathamāṃ kakṣyāṃ dvitīyāyāṃ dadarṡa saḥ ।
brāhmaṇānvēdasampannānvṛddhānrājñā'bhisatkṛtān ॥
He entered the front courtyard and
at the entrance of the second courtyard
he saw elderly Brāhmaṇas, who were Vedic scholars
that were well honored by the king!
2.20.12 ப்ரணம்ய ராமஸ்தாந்விப்ராம்ஸ்த்ருதீயாயாம் ததர்ஸ ஸ: ।
ஸ்த்ரியோ வ்ருத்தாஸ்ததா பாலா த்வாரரக்ஷணதத்பரா: ॥
praṇamya rāmastānviprāṃstṛtīyāyāṃ dadarṡa saḥ ।
striyō vṛddhāstathā bālā dvārarakṣaṇatatparāḥ ॥
Having paid obeisance to those Brāhmaṇas,
Rāma saw elderly women and young women
vigilantly guarding the door at the third courtyard.
2.20.13 வர்தயித்வா ப்ரஹ்ருஷ்டாஸ்தா: ப்ரவிஸ்ய ச க்ருஹம் ஸ்த்ரிய: ।
ந்யவேதயந்த த்வரிதா ராமமாது: ப்ரியம் ததா ॥
vardhayitvā prahṛṣṭāstāḥ praviṡya ca gṛhaṃ striyaḥ ।
nyavēdayanta tvaritā rāmamātuḥ priyaṃ tadā ॥
Those women felt very happy and greeted victory to him.
They went inside in a hurry and conveyed
the happy news (of his arrival) to Rāma’s mother.
2.20.14 கௌஸல்யாபி ததா தேவீ ராத்ரிம் ஸ்தித்வா ஸமாஹிதா ।
ப்ரபாதே த்வகரோத்பூஜாம் விஷ்ணோ: புத்ரஹிதைஷிணீ ॥
kausalyāpi tadā dēvī rātriṃ sthitvā samāhitā ।
prabhātē tvakarōtpūjāṃ viṣṇōḥ putrahitaiṣiṇī ॥
Having spent all night in anticipation,
Kousalyā performed Pooja to Vishnu in the morning
for the wellbeing of her son.
2.20.15 ஸா க்ஷௌமவஸநா ஹ்ருஷ்டா நித்யம் வ்ரதபராயணா ।
அக்நிம் ஜுஹோதி ஸ்ம ததா மந்த்ரவத்க்ருதமங்கலா ॥
sā kṣaumavasanā hṛṣṭā nityaṃ vrataparāyaṇā ।
agniṃ juhōti sma tadā mantravatkṛtamaṅgalā ॥
She who followed strict observances every single day,
was performing fire ritual at that time chanting Mantras,
having purified herself ritually and clad in white silks. Not only men, women also performed Hōmas during the times of Rāmāyaṇa!
2.20.16 ப்ரவிஸ்ய ச ததா ராமோ மாதுரந்த:புரம் ஸுபம் ।
ததர்ஸ மாதரம் தத்ர ஹாவயந்தீம் ஹுதாஸநம் ॥
praviṡya ca tadā rāmō māturantaḥpuraṃ ṡubham ।
dadarṡa mātaraṃ tatra hāvayantīṃ hutāṡanam ॥
Then Rāma entered that auspicious inner apartment
and saw his mother offering Havis in Agni.
2.20.18 தேவகார்யநிமித்தம் ச தத்ராபஸ்யத்ஸமுத்யதம் ।
தத்யக்ஷதம் க்ருதம் சைவ மோதகாந்ஹவிஷஸ்ததா ॥
லாஜாந்மால்யாநி ஸுக்லாநி பாயஸம் க்ருஸரம் ததா ।
ஸமித: பூர்ணகும்பாம்ஸ்ச ததர்ஸ ரகுநந்தந: ॥
dēvakāryanimittaṃ ca tatrāpaṡyatsamudyatam ।
dadhyakṣataṃ ghṛtaṃ caiva mōdakānhaviṣastathā ॥
lājānmālyāni ṡuklāni pāyasaṃ kṛsaraṃ tathā ।
samidhaḥ pūrṇakumbhāṃṡca dadarṡa raghunandanaḥ ॥
The scion of Raghu dynasty saw many things ready
for performing ritual offerings to Dēvas, such as
curds, Akshatas, Ghee, sweet balls, Havis, puffed grain,
garlands of white flowers, rice pudding, Kṛisara,
Samidhas and pots filled with consecrated water.
Kṛisara is rice cooked along with legumes (usually Moong Dal).
2.20.19 தாம் ஸுக்லக்ஷௌமஸம்வீதாம் வ்ரதயோகேந கர்ஸிதாம் ।
தர்பயந்தீம் ததர்ஸாத்பிர்தேவதாம் தேவவர்ணிநீம் ॥
tāṃ ṡuklakṣaumasaṃvītāṃ vratayōgēna karṡitām ।
tarpayantīṃ dadarṡādbhirdēvatāṃ dēvavarṇinīm ॥
He saw his mother, who had become thin due to observances,
clad in silky whites and gleaming with a divine luster,
offering water ritually to the Dēvas.
2.20.20 ஸா சிரஸ்யாத்மஜம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா மாத்ருநந்தநமாகதம் ।
அபிசக்ராம ஸம்ஹ்ருஷ்டா கிஸோரம் படபா யதா ॥
sā cirasyātmajaṃ dṛṣṭvā mātṛnandanamāgatam ।
abhicakrāma saṃhṛṣṭā kiṡōraṃ baḍabā yathā ॥
Seeing the son, the delight of the mother,
who came after a long time,
she went up to him overjoyed,
like a mare to her foal.
2.20.21 ஸ மாதரமபிக்ராந்தாமுபஸம்க்ருஹ்ய ராகவ: ।
பரிஷ்வக்தஸ்ச பாஹுப்யாமுபாக்ராதஸ்ச மூர்தநி ॥
sa mātaramabhikrāntāmupasaṃgṛhya rāghavaḥ ।
pariṣvaktaṡca bāhubhyāmupāghrātaṡca mūrdhani ॥
Rāma touched her feet as she approached.
She took him into her arms and gave him a hug
and smelled his head.
‘Smelling the head’ is similar to ‘Kissing on the forehad’.
2.20.22 தமுவாச துராதர்ஷம் ராகவம் ஸுதமாத்மந: ।
கௌஸல்யா புத்ரவாத்ஸல்யாதிதம் ப்ரியஹிதம் வச: ॥
tamuvāca durādharṣaṃ rāghavaṃ sutamātmanaḥ ।
kausalyā putravātsalyādidaṃ priyahitaṃ vacaḥ ॥
To that invincible Rāghava, her son,
Kousalyā said these pleasing words
with motherly affection:
2.20.23 வ்ருத்தாநாம் தர்மஸீலாநாம் ராஜர்ஷீணாம் மஹாத்மநாம் ।
ப்ராப்நுஹ்யாயுஸ்ச கீர்திம் ச தர்மம் சோபஹிதம் குலே ॥
vṛddhānāṃ dharmaṡīlānāṃ rājarṣīṇāṃ mahātmanām ।
prāpnuhyāyuṡca kīrtiṃ ca dharmaṃ cōpahitaṃ kulē ॥
May you enjoy long life and renown that
every Mahatma, every elderly person,
every adherent of Dharma and every Rājarshi enjoys!
May you be bounded by the Dharma
that you inherited from your ancestors!
2.20.24 ஸத்யப்ரதிஜ்ஞம் பிதரம் ராஜாநம் பஸ்ய ராகவ! ।
அத்யைவ ஹி த்வாம் தர்மாத்மா யௌவராஜ்யேऽபிஷேக்ஷ்யதி ॥
satyapratijñaṃ pitaraṃ rājānaṃ paṡya rāghava! ।
adyaiva hi tvāṃ dharmātmā yauvarājyē'bhiṣēkṣyati ॥
O Rāghava! Be assured that the king, your father
would abide by his word and that Dharmātma
would consecrate you as crown prince this very day! What an irony! The king had to abide by a totally different word that he gave!
2.20.25 தத்தமாநஸமாலப்ய போஜநேந நிமந்த்ரித: ।
மாதரம் ராகவ: கிஞ்சித்வ்ரீடாத்ப்ரஸார்யாஞ்ஜலிமப்ரவீத் ॥
dattamānasamālabhya bhōjanēna nimantritaḥ ।
mātaraṃ rāghavaḥ kiñcidvrīḍātprasāryāñjalimabravīt ॥
Then Kousalyā arranged for him to have food.
As he was reaching for the chair to sit on,
he raised his joined palms and said to her:
2.20.26 ஸ ஸ்வபாவவிநீதஸ்ச கௌரவாச்ச ததா நத: ।
ப்ரஸ்திதோ தண்டகாரண்யமாப்ரஷ்டுமுபசக்ரமே ॥
sa svabhāvavinītaṡca gauravācca tadā nataḥ ।
prasthitō daṇḍakāraṇyamāpraṣṭumupacakramē ॥
Modest by nature, and impelled even more by respect,
Rāma started the conversation to take
leave of her to go to Daṇḍaka forest:
2.20.27 தேவி! நூநம் ந ஜாநீஷே மஹத்பயமுபஸ்திதம் ।
இதம் தவ ச து:காய வைதேஹ்யா லக்ஷ்மணஸ்ய ச ॥
dēvi! nūnaṃ na jānīṣē mahadbhayamupasthitam ।
idaṃ tava ca duḥkhāya vaidēhyā lakṣmaṇasya ca ॥
Mother! You seem certainly not to be
aware of the great tragedy that has befallen,
that would bring misery to you,
the princess of Vidēha (Seetā) and Lakshmaṇa!
2.20.28 கமிஷ்யே தண்டகாரண்யம் கிமநேநாஸநேந மே ।
விஷ்டராஸநயோக்யோ ஹி காலோऽயம் மாமுபஸ்தித: ॥
gamiṣyē daṇḍakāraṇyaṃ kimanēnāsanēna mē ।
viṣṭarāsanayōgyō hi kālō'yaṃ māmupasthitaḥ ॥
Why this chair for me, when the time has come
for me to go to Daṇḍaka forest and sit on Darbha grass!
2.20.29 சதுர்தஸ ஹி வர்ஷாணி வத்ஸ்யாமி விஜநே வநே ।
மதுமூலபலைர்ஜீவந்ஹித்வா முநிவதாமிஷம் ॥
caturdaṡa hi varṣāṇi vatsyāmi vijanē vanē ।
madhumūlaphalairjīvanhitvā munivadāmiṣam ॥
For fourteen years, I will be living in the uninhabited Vana,
eating only honey, roots and fruits,
and abjuring all meats, like a Muni! Rāma, being a Kshatriya, eats meat.
2.20.30 பரதாய மஹாராஜோ யௌவராஜ்யம் ப்ரயச்சதி ।
மாம் புநர்தண்டகாரண்யே விவாஸயதி தாபஸம் ॥
bharatāya mahārājō yauvarājyaṃ prayacchati ।
māṃ punardaṇḍakāraṇyē vivāsayati tāpasam ॥
The lord king will confer
the office of crown prince to Bharata
while sending me in exile to
the Daṇḍaka forest to live like a Muni.
2.20.31 ஸ ஷட்சாஷ்டௌ ச வர்ஷாணி வத்ஸ்யாமி விஜநே வநே ।
ஆஸேவமாநோ வந்யாநி பலமூலைஸ்ச வர்தயந் ॥
sa ṣaṭcāṣṭau ca varṣāṇi vatsyāmi vijanē vanē ।
āsēvamānō vanyāni phalamūlaiṡca vartayan ॥
For six and eight years,
I must stay in the uninhabited Vana,
living on forest products like fruits and roots!
2.20.32 ஸா நிக்ருத்தேவ ஸாலஸ்ய யஷ்டி: பரஸுநா வநே ।
பபாத ஸஹஸா தேவீ தேவதேவ திவஸ்ச்யுதா ॥
sā nikṛttēva sālasya yaṣṭiḥ paraṡunā vanē ।
papāta sahasā dēvī dēvatēva divaṡcyutā ॥
Immediately (upon hearing that) she fell down
like a branch of Sāla tree cut by an axe in a Vana
and like a Dēvata who had slipped from heaven!
2.20.33 தாமது:கோசிதாம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா பதிதாம் கதலீமிவ ।
ராமஸ்தூத்தாபயாமாஸ மாதரம் கதசேதஸம் ॥
tāmaduḥkhōcitāṃ dṛṣṭvā patitāṃ kadalīmiva ।
rāmastūtthāpayāmāsa mātaraṃ gatacētasam ॥
Rāma lifted her up,
the one who did not deserve such misery,
seeing her fall unconscious
like a plantain tree on the ground!
2.20.34 உபாவ்ருத்த்யோத்திதாம் தீநாம் படபாமிவ வாஹிதாம் ।
பாம்ஸுகுண்டிதஸர்வாங்கீம் விமமர்ஸ ச பாணிநா ॥
upāvṛttyōtthitāṃ dīnāṃ baḍabāmiva vāhitām ।
pāṃsukuṇṭhitasarvāṅgīṃ vimamarṡa ca pāṇinā ॥
She looked terrible, like a mare that
had drawn heavy weights.
All of her body was covered with dust
as she rolled on the grounds.
Rāma caressed her with his hands.
2.20.35 ஸா ராகவமுபாஸீநமஸுகார்தா ஸுகோசிதா ।
உவாச புருஷவ்யாக்ரமுபஸ்ருண்வதி லக்ஷ்மணே ॥
sā rāghavamupāsīnamasukhārtā sukhōcitā ।
uvāca puruṣavyāghramupaṡṛṇvati lakṣmaṇē ॥
She, who deserved all happiness,
distraught with grief now, spoke to Rāghava,
that tiger among men who sat by her side,
while Lakshmaṇa was listening:
2.20.36 யதி புத்ர! ந ஜாயேதா மம ஸோகாய ராகவ ।
ந ஸ்ம து:கமதோ பூய: பஸ்யேயமஹமப்ரஜா: ॥
yadi putra! na jāyēthā mama ṡōkāya rāghava ।
na sma duḥkhamatō bhūyaḥ paṡyēyamahamaprajāḥ ॥
My son! I wish you were
not born to me to cause this grief!
The grief of not having children
would have been no worse than this!
2.20.37 ஏக ஏவ ஹி வந்த்யாயா ஸ்ஸோகோ பவதி மாநஸ: ।
அப்ரஜாऽஸ்மீதி ஸந்தாபோ ந ஹ்யந்ய: புத்ர வித்யதே ॥
ēka ēva hi vandhyāyā ṡṡōkō bhavati mānasaḥ ।
aprajā'smīti santāpō na hyanyaḥ putra vidyatē ॥
My son! A barren woman has only one kind of grief,
that of not having children,
but she is saved from everything else!
2.20.38 ந த்ருஷ்டபூர்வம் கல்யாணம் ஸுகம் வா பதிபௌருஷே ।
அபி புத்ரே ऽபி பஸ்யேயமிதி ராமாऽஸ்திதம் மயா ॥
na dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ kalyāṇaṃ sukhaṃ vā patipauruṣē ।
api putrē 'pi paṡyēyamiti rāmā'sthitaṃ mayā ॥
O Rāma! I did not experience any comfort or luxury
during the regime of my husband.
I have been waiting to enjoy them
at least during the reign of my son! Recall that Daṡaratha confesses earlier (Sloka 2.12.68b-70a) that he was not able to treat Kousalyā in a fair manner, for the fear of displeasing Kaikēyee!
2.20.39 ஸா பஹூந்யமநோஜ்ஞாநி வாக்யாநி ஹ்ருதயச்சிதாம் ।
அஹம் ஸ்ரோஷ்யே ஸபத்நீநாமவராணாம் வரா ஸதீ ॥
sā bahūnyamanōjñāni vākyāni hṛdayacchidām ।
ahaṃ ṡrōṣyē sapatnīnāmavarāṇāṃ varā satī ॥
I am the best and foremost of all wives!
Yet, I have to bear with many heartbreaking and unkind words
from my co-wives, who are inferior to me! Indeed, having all the riches and being the first wife of the king are not enough for a good life! A woman, more importantly and certainly, needs appreciation and respect from among her peers!
2.20.40 அதோ து:கதரம் கிம் நு ப்ரமதாநாம் பவிஷ்யதி ।
மம ஸோகோ விலாபஸ்ச யாத்ருஸோऽயமநந்தக: ॥
atō duḥkhataraṃ kiṃ nu pramadānāṃ bhaviṣyati ।
mama ṡōkō vilāpaṡca yādṛṡō'yamanantakaḥ ॥
What else could be worse for a woman
than this endless grief and sorrow
that has befallen me!
2.20.41 த்வயி ஸந்நிஹிதேऽப்யேவமஹமாஸம் நிராக்ருதா ।
கிம் புந: ப்ரோஷிதே தாத! த்ருவம் மரணமேவ மே ॥
tvayi sannihitē'pyēvamahamāsaṃ nirākṛtā ।
kiṃ punaḥ prōṣitē tāta! dhruvaṃ maraṇamēva mē ॥
My child! I am being treated like this, right when you are here!
What to say of my fate, if you would be in exile!
Nothing but death seems to be certain for me.
2.20.42 அத்யந்தநிக்ருஹீதாஸ்மி பர்துர்நித்யமதந்த்ரிதா ।
பரிவாரேண கைகேய்யா ஸ்ஸமா வாப்யதவாऽவரா ॥
atyantanigṛhītāsmi bharturnityamatantritā ।
parivārēṇa kaikēyyā ssamā vāpyathavā'varā ॥
I lacked freedom of any sort and
was always constrained by my husband!
I was made to feel equal to the
attendants of Kaikēyee, or even inferior! Manthara very well knows the innuendos being shot from the palace of Kaikēyee towards Kousalyā, perhaps, behind the back of Kaikēyee.
Hence she is concerned that all of it might come back at her from Kousalyā’s palace, if Rāma becomes the crown prince.
That explains why Manthara took such an extreme step!
2.20.43 யோऽஹி மாம் ஸேவதே கஸ்சிததவாப்யநுவர்ததே ।
கைகேய்யா: புத்ரமந்வீக்ஷ்ய ஸ்வஸ்சி ஜநோ நாபிபாஷதே ॥
yō'hi māṃ sēvatē kaṡcidathavāpyanuvartatē ।
kaikēyyāḥ putramanvīkṣya svaṡci janō nābhibhāṣatē ॥
Whoever is serving and obliging me now,
would not even talk to me hereafter,
for the fear of the son of Kaikēyee!
2.20.44 நித்யக்ரோததயா தஸ்யா: கதம் நு கரவாதிதத் ।
கைகேய்யா வதநம் த்ரஷ்டும் புத்ர! ஸக்ஷ்யாமி துர்கதா ॥
nityakrōdhatayā tasyāḥ kathaṃ nu kharavāditat ।
kaikēyyā vadanaṃ draṣṭuṃ putra! ṡakṣyāmi durgatā ॥
My son! How can I,
having fallen into such miserable state,
face up to that Kaikēyee who is
always angry and speaks harshly!
2.20.45 தஸ ஸப்த ச வர்ஷாணி ஜாதஸ்ய தவ ராகவ! ।
அஸிதாநி ப்ரகாங்க்ஷந்த்யா மயா து:கபரிக்ஷயம் ॥
daṡa sapta ca varṣāṇi jātasya tava rāghava! ।
asitāni prakāṅkṣantyā mayā duḥkhaparikṣayam ॥
I have spent ten and seven years since your birth,
waiting for the end of this misery! Some commentators interpret the ‘birth’ here as ‘second birth’, i.e., the ceremony of Upanayanam.
2.20.46 ததக்ஷயம் மஹத்து:கம் நோத்ஸஹே ஸஹிதும் சிரம் ।
விப்ரகாரம் ஸபத்நீநாமேவம் ஜீர்ணாऽபி ராகவ! ॥
tadakṣayaṃ mahadduḥkhaṃ nōtsahē sahituṃ ciram ।
viprakāraṃ sapatnīnāmēvaṃ jīrṇā'pi rāghava! ॥
I cannot take this endless misery
and the insults from my co-wives,
well into my old age!
2.20.47 அபஸ்யந்தீ தவ முகம் பரிபூர்ணஸஸிப்ரபம் ।
க்ருபணா வர்தயிஷ்யாமி கதம் க்ருபணஜீவிகாம் ॥
apaṡyantī tava mukhaṃ paripūrṇaṡaṡiprabham ।
kṛpaṇā vartayiṣyāmi kathaṃ kṛpaṇajīvikām ॥
How can I lead this life of despondency
without seeing your brilliant face
that shines like the full moon!
2.20.48 உபவாஸைஸ்ச யோகைஸ்ச பஹுபிஸ்ச பரிஸ்ரமை: ।
து:கம் ஸம்வர்திதோ மோகம் த்வம் ஹி துர்கதயா மயா ॥
upavāsaiṡca yōgaiṡca bahubhiṡca pariṡramaiḥ ।
duḥkhaṃ saṃvardhitō mōghaṃ tvaṃ hi durgatayā mayā ॥
You have been raised in vain by me, the unfortunate,
with great difficulty, undertaking
fasts and many other devotional observances.
2.20.49 ஸ்திரம் து ஹ்ருதயம் மந்யே மமேதம் யந்ந தீர்யதே ।
ப்ராவ்ருஷீவ மஹாநத்யா ஸ்ப்ருஷ்டம் கூலம் நவாம்பஸா ॥
sthiraṃ tu hṛdayaṃ manyē mamēdaṃ yanna dīryatē ।
prāvṛṣīva mahānadyā spṛṣṭaṃ kūlaṃ navāmbhasā ॥
My heart must indeed be hard, that it is
not crumbling like the bank of a mighty river
that swells with fresh waters in the rainy season!
2.20.50 மமைவ நூநம் மரணம் ந வித்யதே
ந சாவகாऽஸோஸ்தி யமக்ஷயேऽமம ।
யதந்தகோऽத்யைவ ந மாம் ஜிஹீர்ஷதி
ப்ரஸஹ்ய ஸிம்ஹோ ருததீம் ம்ருகீமிவ ॥
mamaiva nūnaṃ maraṇaṃ na vidyatē
na cāvakā'ṡōsti yamakṣayē'mama ।
yadantakō'dyaiva na māṃ jihīrṣati
prasahya siṃhō rudatīṃ mṛgīmiva ॥
Neither does death seem to impinge upon me
nor does there seem to be room for me in the world of Yama!
Otherwise, why would he, who puts an end to everything,
not take me away forcibly, like a lion takes away a crying deer?
2.20.51 ஸ்திரம் ஹி நூநம் ஹ்ருதயம் மமாயஸம்
ந பித்யதே யத்புவி நாவதீர்யதே ।
அநேந து:கேந ச தேஹமர்பிதம்
த்ருவம் ஹ்யகாலே மரணம் ந வித்யதே ॥
sthiraṃ hi nūnaṃ hṛdayaṃ mamāyasaṃ
na bhidyatē yadbhuvi nāvadīryatē ।
anēna duḥkhēna ca dēhamarpitaṃ
dhruvaṃ hyakālē maraṇaṃ na vidyatē ॥
My heart, surely, is made of hard steel!
Otherwise, why is it not breaking apart
into pieces and falling to the ground?
My body seems to be destined to endure this grief.
I do not see being relieved from it by untimely death!
2.20.52 இதம் ஹி து:கம் யதநர்தகாநி மே
வ்ரதாநி தாநாநி ச ஸம்யமாஸ்ச ஹி ।
தபஸ்ச தப்தம் யதபத்யகாரணா-
த்ஸுநிஷ்பலம் பீஜமிவோப்தமூஷரே ॥
idaṃ hi duḥkhaṃ yadanarthakāni mē
vratāni dānāni ca samyamāṡca hi ।
tapaṡca taptaṃ yadapatyakāraṇā-
tsuniṣphalaṃ bījamivōptamūṣarē ॥
Alas, my charitable activities and my self-discipline and
my Vratas have yielded nothing but this grief!
All the Tapa in which I burned myself
for the sake of getting offspring
is completely wasted, like seed sown in a barren land.
2.20.53 யதி ஹ்யகாலே மரணம் ஸ்வயேச்சயா
லபேத கஸ்சித்குருது:ககர்ஸித: ।
கதாஹமத்யைவ பரேதஸம்ஸதம்
விநா த்வயா தேநுரிவாத்மஜேந வை ॥
yadi hyakālē maraṇaṃ svayēcchayā
labhēta kaṡcidguruduḥkhakarṡitaḥ ।
gatāhamadyaiva parētasaṃsadaṃ
vinā tvayā dhēnurivātmajēna vai ॥
If only it were possible for one to
will one’s own untimely death,
to be relieved of this unbearable grief,
I should have left for the afterworld right away
like a cow that is separated from its calf!
2.20.54 அதாபி கிம் ஜீவிதமத்ய மே வ்ருதா
த்வயா விநா சந்த்ரநிபாநநப்ரப ।
அநுவ்ரஜிஷ்யாமி வநம் த்வயைவ கௌ-
ஸ்ஸுதுர்பலா வத்ஸமிவாநுகாங்க்ஷயா ॥
athāpi kiṃ jīvitamadya mē vṛthā
tvayā vinā candranibhānanaprabha ।
anuvrajiṣyāmi vanaṃ tvayaiva gau-
ssudurbalā vatsamivānukāṅkṣayā ॥
Why this futile life for me now,
without your bright face that shines like the moon?
I shall follow you to the Vana
like an emaciated cow goes after her calf out of love!
2.20.55 ப்ருஸமஸுகமமர்ஷிதா ததா
பஹு விலலாப ஸமீக்ஷ்ய ராகவம் ।
வ்யஸநமுபநிஸம்ய ஸா மஹத்
ஸுதமிவ பத்தமவேக்ஷ்ய கிந்நரீ ॥
bhṛṡamasukhamamarṣitā tadā
bahu vilalāpa samīkṣya rāghavam ।
vyasanamupaniṡamya sā mahat
sutamiva baddhamavēkṣya kinnarī ॥
Not finding anything that could give her comfort or relief,
she cried terribly looking at Rāma,
like a Kinnara woman, who cries seeing her son taken captive!
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அயோத்யாகாண்டே விம்ஸஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ayōdhyākāṇḍē viṃṡassargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the twentieth Sarga
in Ayōdhyā Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.