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Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 45
From the palace of Daṡaratha, in the previous Sarga, the scene changes back to Rāma’s chariot on the outskirts of the city, in this Sarga.
People continue to follow Rāma. He tells them that they would make him happy, rather by doing everything needed for the king not to drown grief and by showing the same love and respect to Bharata that they show to him.
Unable to bear the sight of aged Brāhmaṇas following him on foot, he gets down from the chariot and walks on foot, albeit in the direction of Vana. Brāhmaṇas also beseech him to turn back. Meanwhile, they have already reached the banks of river Tamasā.
2.45.1 அநுரக்தா மஹாத்மாநம் ராமம் ஸத்யபராக்ரமம் ।
அநுஜக்மு: ப்ரயாந்தம் தம் வநவாஸாய மாநவா: ॥
anuraktā mahātmānaṃ rāmaṃ satyaparākramam ।
anujagmuḥ prayāntaṃ taṃ vanavāsāya mānavāḥ ॥
As Rāma, the Mahātma, of valor beyond doubt,
left for his sojourn in the Vana,
the people who loved him, followed him.
2.45.2 நிவர்திதேऽபி ச பலாத்ஸுஹ்ருத்வர்கே ச ராஜநி ।
நைவ தே ஸம்ந்யவர்தந்த ராமஸ்யாநுகதா ரதம் ॥
nivartitē'pi ca balātsuhṛdvargē ca rājani ।
naiva tē saṃnyavartanta rāmasyānugatā ratham ॥
The king and the many friends could be
cajoled to turn back, but not those people,
who followed Rāma, clinging to the chariot.
2.45.3 அயோத்யாநிலயாநாம் ஹி புருஷாணாம் மஹாயஸா: ।
பபூவ குணஸம்பந்ந: பூர்ணசந்த்ர இவ ப்ரிய: ॥
ayōdhyānilayānāṃ hi puruṣāṇāṃ mahāyaṡāḥ ।
babhūva guṇasampannaḥ pūrṇacandra iva priyaḥ ॥
For, after all, that paragon of virtues
and man of high renown, naturally became endearing
to all the those men of Ayōdhyā, like the full moon.
2.45.4 ஸ யாச்யமாந: காகுத்ஸ்த: ஸ்வாபி: ப்ரக்ருதிபிஸ்ததா ।
குர்வாண: பிதரம் ஸத்யம் வநமேவாந்வபத்யத ॥
sa yācyamānaḥ kākutsthaḥ svābhiḥ prakṛtibhistadā ।
kurvāṇaḥ pitaraṃ satyaṃ vanamēvānvapadyata ॥
Nevertheless, in spite of being pleaded with
by all those people and also by his own,
the prince of Kākutstha lineage
stuck to his decision of going to the Vana,
to make his father a man of his word.
2.45.5 அவேக்ஷமாண: ஸஸ்நேஹம் சக்ஷுஷா ப்ரபிபந்நிவ ।
உவாச ராம: ஸ்நேஹேந தா: ப்ரஜா: ஸ்வா: ப்ரஜா இவ ॥
avēkṣamāṇaḥ sasnēhaṃ cakṣuṣā prapibanniva ।
uvāca rāmaḥ snēhēna tāḥ prajāḥ svāḥ prajā iva ॥
Looking at them with affection,
as though he would drink them with his eyes,
Rāma addressed those people, with
all the affection of a father for his children.
2.45.6 யா ப்ரீதிர்பஹுமாநஸ்ச மய்யயோத்யாநிவாஸிநாம் ।
மத்ப்ரியார்தம் விஸேஷேண பரதே ஸா நிவேஸ்யதாம் ॥
yā prītirbahumānaṡca mayyayōdhyānivāsinām ।
matpriyārthaṃ viṡēṣēṇa bharatē sā nivēṡyatām ॥
You would make me extremely happy,
O people of Ayōdhyā, if you could divert
all the love and esteem you lavish on me, unto Bharata.
2.45.7 ஸ ஹி கல்யாணசாரித்ர: கைகேய்யாநந்தவர்தந: ।
கரிஷ்யதி யதாவத்வ: ப்ரியாணி ச ஹிதாநி ச ॥
sa hi kalyāṇacāritraḥ kaikēyyānandavardhanaḥ ।
kariṣyati yathāvadvaḥ priyāṇi ca hitāni ca ॥
For he, the cynosure of Kaikēyee,
known for his cheerful disposition,
will do everything you like and is good for you. What we like and what is good for us may not always be the same.
Hence in many texts of Indic civilization including Upanishads, these two are mentioned together in a contrasting or complementing manner, many a time.
One should, in his concern for himself or for others, keep both of them in mind, not just one of them.
This applies to everything from raising children, to setting career goals, to governing a nation.
What is good is no more or no less important than what is appealing. What is appealing is no more or no less important than what is good. Both are equally important. We should strive not to compromise on either.
2.45.8 ஜ்ஞாநவ்ருத்தோ வயோபாலோ ம்ருதுர்வீர்யகுணாந்வித: ।
அநுரூப: ஸ வோ பர்தா பவிஷ்யதி பயாபஹ: ॥
jñānavṛddhō vayōbālō mṛdurvīryaguṇānvitaḥ ।
anurūpaḥ sa vō bhartā bhaviṣyati bhayāpahaḥ ॥
Old in wisdom and young in years,
gentle, strong, and endowed with all good qualities,
he will be a protector worthy of you, warding off all fears.
2.45.9 ஸ ஹி ராஜகுணைர்யுக்தோ யுவராஜ: ஸமீக்ஷித: ।
அபி சாபி மயா ஸிஷ்டை: கார்யம் வோ பர்த்ருஸாஸநம் ॥
sa hi rājaguṇairyuktō yuvarājaḥ samīkṣitaḥ ।
api cāpi mayā ṡiṣṭaiḥ kāryaṃ vō bhartṛṡāsanam ॥
He has been seen as the crown prince,
because of all his qualities that make him worthy of a being ruler.
Everyone including me, must carry out
the decree of the lord (Daṡaratha).
2.45.10 ந ச ஸந்தப்யேத்யதா சாஸௌ வநவாஸம் கதே மயி ।
மஹாராஜஸ்ததா கார்யோ மம ப்ரியசிகீர்ஷயா ॥
na ca santapyēdyathā cāsau vanavāsaṃ gatē mayi ।
mahārājastathā kāryō mama priyacikīrṣayā ॥
If you would like to please me,
please do everything needed to
make the king not succumb to grief
after I leave for dwelling in the Vana.
2.45.11 யதா யதா தாஸரதிர்தர்ம ஏவாஸ்திதோऽபவத் ।
ததா ததா ப்ரக்ருதயோ ராமம் பதிமகாமயந் ॥
yathā yathā dāṡarathirdharma ēvāsthitō'bhavat ।
tathā tathā prakṛtayō rāmaṃ patimakāmayan ॥
But the more that son of Daṡaratha
showed his steadfastness in Dharma,
the more did the subjects want Rāma to be their King.
2.45.12 பாஷ்பேண பிஹிதம் தீநம் ராம: ஸௌமித்ரிணா ஸஹ ।
சகர்ஷேவ குணைர்பத்த்வா ஜநம் புரநிவாஸிநம் ॥
bāṣpēṇa pihitaṃ dīnaṃ rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha ।
cakarṣēva guṇairbaddhvā janaṃ puranivāsinam ॥
Rāma, along with the son of Sumitrā,
seemed to drag the piteous people of the city
whose eyes were suffused with tears
along with him, having bound them by his virtues.
2.45.13 தே த்விஜாஸ்த்ரிவிதம் வ்ருத்தா ஜ்ஞாநேந வயஸௌஜஸா ।
வய: ப்ரகம்பஸிரஸோ தூராதூசுரிதம் வச: ॥
tē dvijāstrividhaṃ vṛddhā jñānēna vayasaujasā ।
vayaḥ prakampaṡirasō dūrādūcuridaṃ vacaḥ ॥
The Brāhmaṇas among them, grown ripe
with age, wisdom and radiance,
cried out from a distance,
their heads shaking unsteadily because of their age.
2.45.14 வஹந்தோ ஜவநா ராமம் போ போ ஜாத்யாஸ்துரங்கமா: ।
நிவர்தத்வம் ந கந்தவ்யம் ஹிதா பவத பர்தரி ॥
vahantō javanā rāmaṃ bhō bhō jātyāsturaṅgamāḥ ।
nivartadhvaṃ na gantavyaṃ hitā bhavata bhartari ॥
O horses of noble breed carrying away Rāma,
come back; you must not go.
Do what will be for your master’s good.
2.45.15 கர்ணவந்தி ஹி பூதாநி விஸேஷேண துரங்கமா: ।
யூயம் தஸ்மாந்நிவர்தத்வம் யாசநாம் ப்ரதிவேதிதா: ॥
karṇavanti hi bhūtāni viṡēṣēṇa turaṅgamāḥ ।
yūyaṃ tasmānnivartadhvaṃ yācanāṃ prativēditāḥ ॥
All creatures have sharp ears, much more so horses;
so you, knowing that we implore you, should turn back.
2.45.16 தர்மத: ஸ விஸுத்தாத்மா வீர: ஸுபத்ருடவ்ரத: ।
உபவாஹ்யஸ்து வோ பர்தா நாபவாஹ்ய: புராத்வநம் ॥
dharmataḥ sa viṡuddhātmā vīraḥ ṡubhadṛḍhavrataḥ ।
upavāhyastu vō bhartā nāpavāhyaḥ purādvanam ॥
Acting in accordance with Dharma,
you should bring your master,
the Veera, the pure hearted and the one
who is steadfast in his noble and firm resolve,
back to the city, and not take him away from it to Vana.
2.45.17-18 ஏவமார்தப்ரலாபாம்ஸ்தாந் வ்ருத்தாந் ப்ரலபதோ த்விஜாந் ।
அவேக்ஷ்ய ஸஹஸா ராமோ ரதாதவததார ஹ ॥
பத்ப்யாமேவ ஜகாமாத ஸஸீத ஸ்ஸஹலக்ஷ்மண: ।
ஸந்நிக்ருஷ்டபதந்யாஸோ ராமோ வநபராயண: ॥
ēvamārtapralāpāṃstān vṛddhān pralapatō dvijān ।
avēkṣya sahasā rāmō rathādavatatāra ha ॥
padbhyāmēva jagāmātha sasīta ssahalakṣmaṇaḥ ।
sannikṛṣṭapadanyāsō rāmō vanaparāyaṇaḥ ॥
Seeing those ripe Brāhmaṇas
thus beseeching him helplessly,
Rāma got off his chariot instantaneously and
started walking on foot, taking short steps, towards the Vana
along with Seetā and Lakshmaṇa.
2.45.19 த்விஜாதீம்ஸ்து பதாதீம்ஸ்தாந் ராமஸ்சாரித்ரவத்ஸல: ।
ந ஸஸாக க்ருணாசக்ஷு: பரிமோக்தும் ரதேந ஸ: ॥
dvijātīṃstu padātīṃstān rāmaṡcāritravatsalaḥ ।
na ṡaṡāka ghṛṇācakṣuḥ parimōktuṃ rathēna saḥ ॥
Rāma, ever inclined to conduct himself
in the most appropriate manner,
with his eyes betraying nothing but compassion,
could not bring himself to continue on the chariot,
leaving behind those twice-born who were following him on foot.
2.45.20 கச்சந்தமேவ தம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா ராமம் ஸம்ப்ராந்தசேதஸ: ।
ஊசு: பரமஸந்தப்தா ராமம் வாக்யமிதம் த்விஜா: ॥
gacchantamēva taṃ dṛṣṭvā rāmaṃ sambhrāntacētasaḥ ।
ūcuḥ paramasantaptā rāmaṃ vākyamidaṃ dvijāḥ ॥
But seeing him still continue towards the Vana,
the twice-born were highly distressed
and spoke these words to Rāma, with agitated minds:
2.45.21 ப்ராஹ்மண்யம் ஸர்வமேதத்த்வாம் ப்ரஹ்மண்யமநுகச்சதி ।
த்விஜஸ்கந்தாதிரூடாஸ்த்வாமக்நயோऽப்யநுயாந்த்யமீ ॥
brāhmaṇyaṃ sarvamētattvāṃ brahmaṇyamanugacchati ।
dvijaskandhādhirūḍhāstvāmagnayō'pyanuyāntyamī ॥
The entire communion of Brāhmaṇas follows
the friend of the Brāhmaṇas (Rāma);
so do these sacred fires,
borne on the shoulders of the twice-born.
2.45.22 வாஜபேயஸமுத்தாநி சத்ராண்யேதாநி பஸ்ய ந: ।
ப்ருஷ்டதோऽநுப்ரயாதாநி மேகாநிவ ஜலாத்யயே ॥
vājapēyasamutthāni chatrāṇyētāni paṡya naḥ ।
pṛṣṭhatō'nuprayātāni mēghāniva jalātyayē ॥
Look at these umbrellas of ours,
white as the clouds of post-monsoon season,
awarded to us after conducting Vājapēya Yāga,
that are also following us right behind.
2.45.23 அநவாப்தாதபத்ரஸ்ய ரஸ்மிஸந்தாபிதஸ்ய தே ।
ஏபிஸ்சாயாம் கரிஷ்யாம: ஸ்வைஸ்சத்ரைர்வாஜபேயிகை: ॥
anavāptātapatrasya raṡmisantāpitasya tē ।
ēbhiṡchāyāṃ kariṣyāmaḥ svaiṡchatrairvājapēyikaiḥ ॥
We, with these umbrellas of ours,
obtained by conducting of Vājapēya Yāga
shall shield you from the scorching sun,
never mind your not getting your own umbrella
(from the consecration ceremony)!
2.45.24 யா ஹி ந: ஸததம் புத்திர்வேதமந்த்ராநுஸாரிணீ ।
த்வத்க்ருதே ஸா க்ருதா வத்ஸ! வநவாஸாநுஸாரிணீ ॥
yā hi naḥ satataṃ buddhirvēdamantrānusāriṇī ।
tvatkṛtē sā kṛtā vatsa! vanavāsānusāriṇī ॥
Dear one, our minds that normally seek the Mantras of Vēdas,
now seek to go to Vana, for your sake.
2.45.25 ஹ்ருதயேஷ்வேவ திஷ்டந்தி வேதா யே ந: பரம் தநம் ।
வத்ஸ்யந்த்யபி க்ருஹேஷ்வேவ தாராஸ்சாரித்ரரக்ஷிதா: ॥
hṛdayēṣvēva tiṣṭhanti vēdā yē naḥ paraṃ dhanam ।
vatsyantyapi gṛhēṣvēva dārāṡcāritrarakṣitāḥ ॥
The Vedas, which are our supreme wealth,
are anyway safely lodged in our hearts.
And our womenfolk will also find themselves
safe at home, protected by their chastity.
2.45.26 ந புநர்நிஸ்சய: கார்யஸ்த்வத்கதௌ ஸுக்ருதா மதி: ।
த்வயி தர்மவ்யபேக்ஷே து கிம் ஸ்யாத்தர்மபதே ஸ்திதம் ॥
na punarniṡcayaḥ kāryastvadgatau sukṛtā matiḥ ।
tvayi dharmavyapēkṣē tu kiṃ syāddharmapathē sthitam ॥
There is no reason to reconsider the decision
that has been rightly made regarding the departure.
If you ignore Dharma, who else will adhere to it?
2.45.27 யாசிதோ நோ நிவர்தஸ்வ ஹம்ஸஸுக்லஸிரோருஹை: ।
ஸிரோபிர்நிப்ருதாசார மஹீபதநபாம்ஸுலை: ॥
yācitō nō nivartasva haṃsaṡuklaṡirōruhaiḥ ।
ṡirōbhirnibhṛtācāra mahīpatanapāṃsulaiḥ ॥
Yet, O man of steadfast bearing,
we beg you to return, with bowed heads,
our swan-white hair soiled with dust
as we fall on the ground (with despair)!
2.45.28 பஹூநாம் விததா யஜ்ஞா த்விஜாநாம் ய இஹாகதா: ।
தேஷாம் ஸமாப்திராயத்தா தவ வத்ஸ! நிவர்தநே ॥
bahūnāṃ vitatā yajñā dvijānāṃ ya ihāgatāḥ ।
tēṣāṃ samāptirāyattā tava vatsa! nivartanē ॥
Preparations have been made for the performance of Yajñas
by the many Brāhmaṇas who have come here;
their completion depends on your return, child.
2.45.29 பக்திமந்தி ஹி பூதாநி ஜங்கமாஜங்கமாநி ச ।
யாசமாநேஷு ராம! த்வம் பக்திம் பக்தேஷு தர்ஸய ॥
bhaktimanti hi bhūtāni jaṅgamājaṅgamāni ca ।
yācamānēṣu rāma! tvaṃ bhaktiṃ bhaktēṣu darṡaya ॥
All things, mobile and immobile, are devoted to you.
O Rāma, show your concern for
those devotees who are beseeching you.
2.45.30 அநுகந்துமஸக்தா ஸ்த்வாம் மூலைருத்ததவேகிந: ।
உந்நதா வாயுவேகேந விக்ரோஸந்தீவ பாதபா: ॥
anugantumaṡaktā stvāṃ mūlairuddhatavēginaḥ ।
unnatā vāyuvēgēna vikrōṡantīva pādapāḥ ॥
The trees are unable to follow you,
stuck to the ground by their roots.
However, they seem to cry out to you,
as the blowing wind stretches them high.
2.45.31 நிஸ்சேஷ்டாஹாரஸஞ்சாரா வ்ருக்ஷைகஸ்தாநவிஷ்டிதா: ।
பக்ஷிணோऽபி ப்ரயாசந்தே ஸர்வபூதாநுகம்பிநம் ॥
niṡcēṣṭāhārasañcārā vṛkṣaikasthānaviṣṭhitāḥ ।
pakṣiṇō'pi prayācantē sarvabhūtānukampinam ॥
Even the birds, giving up their food and flight,
perched motionlessly on the trees,
are beseeching you, counting on
your compassion for every single being.
2.45.32 ஏவம் விக்ரோஸதாம் தேஷாம் த்விஜாதீநாம் நிவர்தநே ।
தத்ருஸே தமஸா தத்ர வாரயந்தீவ ராகவம் ॥
ēvaṃ vikrōṡatāṃ tēṣāṃ dvijātīnāṃ nivartanē ।
dadṛṡē tamasā tatra vārayantīva rāghavam ॥
As thus the Brāhmaṇas cried,
trying to make him turn back,
the river Tamasā appeared in front of them,
as if she would prevent him from going.
2.45.33 தத: ஸுமந்த்ரோऽபி ரதாத்விமுச்ய
ஸ்ராந்தாந்ஹயாந்ஸம்பரிவர்த்ய ஸீக்ரம் ।
பீதோதகாம்ஸ்தோயபரிப்லுதாங்கா-
நசாரயத்வை தமஸாவிதூரே ॥
tataḥ sumantrō'pi rathādvimucya
ṡrāntānhayānsamparivartya ṡīghram ।
pītōdakāṃstōyapariplutāṅgā-
nacārayadvai tamasāvidūrē ॥
And Sumantra, unyoking the tired horses,
let them roll on the ground,
made them drink water and had water splashed over them,
and let them loose to graze by the river Tamasā. Vālmeeki masterfully makes the transition in this Ṡlōka, from the mood of speed and agitation, into a mood of quietness and calm, making us resign ourselves to the inevitable.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அயோத்யாகாண்டே பஞ்சசத்வாரிம்ஸஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ayōdhyākāṇḍē pañcacatvāriṃṡassargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the forty-fifth Sarga
in Ayōdhyā Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.