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Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 52
In this Sarga, Rāma tells Sumantra to go back to Ayōdhyā. Sumantra feels sad for the fate of Rāma, and feels disillusioned about being good natured. Rāma tells him to take care of Daṡaratha and conveys to him the messages to be carried to Daṡaratha, Kousalyā, and Bharata. Sumantra pleads with Rāma to allow him to come with him to the Vana. But Rāma convinces him to go back, saying that, that is the only way Kaikēyee would trust that Rāma has really left for the Vana.
Then Rāma turns to Guha and asks him to get the sap of a banyan tree. He matts his locks and helps Lakshmaṇa also matt his locks. Then he bids farewell to Guha and gets into the boat arranged for him, along with Seetā and Lakshmaṇa.
Seetā prays to Gaṅga as they cross the river. The three of them, then reach the other side of the river and enter the Vana. Rāma tells Lakshmaṇa to be ever vigilant. He asks Lakshmaṇa to lead the way, while he protects everyone from behind, with Seetā walking in the middle.
2.52.1
ப்ரபாதாயாம் து ஸர்வர்யாம் ப்ருதுவக்ஷா மஹாயஸா: ।
உவாச ராம: ஸௌமித்ரிம் லக்ஷ்மணம் ஸுபலக்ஷணம் ॥
prabhātāyāṃ tu ṡarvaryāṃ pṛthuvakṣā mahāyaṡāḥ ।
uvāca rāmaḥ saumitriṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ ṡubhalakṣaṇam ॥
When the night passed and day dawned,
Rāma, of imposingly broad chest and of great renown
spoke to the well chiseled Lakshmaṇa, the son of Sumitrā:
2.52.2-3
பாஸ்கரோதயகாலோऽயம் கதா பகவதீ நிஸா ।
அஸௌ ஸுக்ருஷ்ணோ விஹக: கோகிலஸ்தாத கூஜதி ॥
பர்ஹிணாநாம் ச நிர்கோஷ: ஸ்ரூயதே நததாம் வநே ।
தராம ஜாஹ்நவீம் ஸௌம்ய ஸீக்ரகாம் ஸாகரங்கமாம் ॥
bhāskarōdayakālō'yaṃ gatā bhagavatī niṡā ।
asau sukṛṣṇō vihagaḥ kōkilastāta kūjati ॥
barhiṇānāṃ ca nirghōṣaḥ ṡrūyatē nadatāṃ vanē ।
tarāma jāhnavīṃ saumya ṡīghragāṃ sāgaraṅgamām ॥
My dear! The sun is rising, the blessed night is past,
the jet black cuckoo is warbling,
and the notes of the peacocks calling in the Vana are vibrant.
Let us cross the swift Jāhnavi that hastens to the sea!
Jāhnavi is another name for Gaṅga.
2.52.4
விஜ்ஞாய ராமஸ்ய வச: ஸௌமித்ரிர்மித்ரநந்தந: ।
குஹமாமந்த்ர்ய ஸூதம் ச ஸோऽதிஷ்டத்ப்ராதுரக்ரத: ॥
vijñāya rāmasya vacaḥ saumitrirmitranandanaḥ ।
guhamāmantrya sūtaṃ ca sō'tiṣṭhadbhrāturagrataḥ ॥
Sensing Rāma’s intent, the son of Sumitrā
called upon Guha and the charioteer,
and stood waiting in front of his brother.
2.52.5
ஸ து ராமஸ்ய வசநம் நிஸம்ய ப்ரதிக்ருஹ்ய ச ।
ஸ்தபதிஸ்தூர்ணமாஹூய ஸசிவாநிதமப்ரவீத் ॥
sa tu rāmasya vacanaṃ niṡamya pratigṛhya ca ।
sthapatistūrṇamāhūya sacivānidamabravīt ॥
The hunter chief heard Rāma’s words and acted upon them.
He immediately called his ministers and said to them:
2.52.6
அஸ்ய வாஹநஸம்யுக்தாம் கர்ணக்ராஹவதீம் ஸுபாம் ।
ஸுப்ரதாராம் த்ருடாம் தீர்தே ஸீக்ரம் நாவமுபாஹர ॥
asya vāhanasaṃyuktāṃ karṇagrāhavatīṃ ṡubhām ।
supratārāṃ dṛḍhāṃ tīrthē ṡīghraṃ nāvamupāhara ॥
Go, and bring quickly to the launching area,
a comely, sturdy and smooth riding boat
along with rowers and helmsman.
2.52.7
தம் நிஸம்ய ஸமாதேஸம் குஹாமாத்யகணோ மஹாந் ।
உபோஹ்ய ருசிராம் நாவம் குஹாய ப்ரத்யவேதயத் ॥
taṃ niṡamya samādēṡaṃ guhāmātyagaṇō mahān ।
upōhya rucirāṃ nāvaṃ guhāya pratyavēdayat ॥
Hearing Guha’s orders, his large retinue of officials
brought a splendid boat and showed it to him.
2.52.8
தத: ஸ ப்ராஞ்ஜலிர்பூத்வா குஹோ ராகவமப்ரவீத் ।
உபஸ்திதேயம் நௌர்தேவ பூய: கிம் கரவாணி தே ॥
tataḥ sa prāñjalirbhūtvā guhō rāghavamabravīt ।
upasthitēyaṃ naurdēva bhūyaḥ kiṃ karavāṇi tē ॥
And Guha with folded hands informed Rāghava,
‘The boat is ready, my lord, what else can I do for you?’
2.52.9
தவாமரஸுதப்ரக்ய தர்தும் ஸாகரகாம் நதீம் ।
நௌரியம் புருஷவ்யாக்ர! தாம் த்வமாரோஹ ஸுவ்ரத ॥
tavāmarasutaprakhya tartuṃ sāgaragāṃ nadīm ।
nauriyaṃ puruṣavyāghra! tāṃ tvamārōha suvrata ॥
O tiger among men, equal to the son of Dēvas!
This boat is ready for you to cross the ocean-bound river!
O man of great discipline, please get into it!
2.52.10
அதோவாச மஹாதேஜா ராமோ குஹமிதம் வச: ।
க்ருதகாமோऽஸ்மி பவதா ஸீக்ரமாரோப்யதாமிதி ॥
athōvāca mahātējā rāmō guhamidaṃ vacaḥ ।
kṛtakāmō'smi bhavatā ṡīghramārōpyatāmiti ॥
And the glorious Rāma said to Guha,
‘You have brought me just what I needed.
Let everything be loaded on board!’
2.52.11
தத: கலாபாந் ஸந்நஹ்ய கட்கௌ பத்வா ச தந்விநௌ ।
ஜக்மதுர்யேந தௌ கங்காம் ஸீதயா ஸஹ ராகவௌ ॥
tataḥ kalāpān sannahya khaḍgau badhvā ca dhanvinau ।
jagmaturyēna tau gaṅgāṃ sītayā saha rāghavau ॥
Then, fixing their quivers, girding their swords,
and holding bows in their hands,
the princes of the Raghu dynasty, along with Seetā
headed towards Gaṅga.
2.52.12
ராமமேவ து தர்மஜ்ஞமுபகம்ய விநீதவத் ।
கிமஹம் கரவாணீதி ஸூத: ப்ராஞ்ஜலிரப்ரவீத் ॥
rāmamēva tu dharmajñamupagamya vinītavat ।
kimahaṃ karavāṇīti sūtaḥ prāñjalirabravīt ॥
The charioteer, then humbly approached Rāma, who knew Dharma,
and asked with palms joined in reverence,
‘What shall I do?’
2.52.13
ததோऽப்ரவீத்தாஸரதி: ஸுமந்த்ரம்
ஸ்ப்ருஸந் கரேணோத்தமதக்ஷிணேந ।
ஸுமந்த்ர! ஸீக்ரம் புநரேவ யாஹி
ராஜ்ஞ: ஸகாஸே பவ சாப்ரமத்த: ॥
tatō'bravīddāṡarathiḥ sumantraṃ
spṛṡan karēṇōttamadakṣiṇēna ।
sumantra! ṡīghraṃ punarēva yāhi
rājñaḥ sakāṡē bhava cāpramattaḥ ॥
Touching Sumantra with his right hand,
the son of Daṡaratha said,
‘Sumantra, go back quickly and
attend upon the King in full alert’.
2.52.14
நிவர்தஸ்வேத்யுவாசைவ ஹ்யேதாவத்தி க்ருதம் மம ।
ரதம் விஹாய பத்ப்யாம் து கமிஷ்யாமி மஹாவநம் ॥
nivartasvētyuvācaiva hyētāvaddhi kṛtaṃ mama ।
rathaṃ vihāya padbhyāṃ tu gamiṣyāmi mahāvanam ॥
I am glad that you have done all that you did!
Please go back with the chariot.
And I will proceed on foot from here on to the Vana.
2.52.15
ஆத்மாநம் த்வப்யநுஜ்ஞாதமவேக்ஷ்யார்த: ஸ ஸாரதி: ।
ஸுமந்த்ர: புருஷவ்யாக்ரமைக்ஷ்வாகமிதமப்ரவீத் ॥
ātmānaṃ tvabhyanujñātamavēkṣyārtaḥ sa sārathiḥ ।
sumantraḥ puruṣavyāghramaikṣvākamidamabravīt ॥
Finding himself discharged, the charioteer Sumantra felt sad
and said to that tiger among men, the scion of the Ikshwākus:
2.52.16
நாதிக்ராந்தமிதம் லோகே புருஷேணேஹ கேநசித் ।
தவ ஸப்ராத்ருபார்யஸ்ய வாஸ: ப்ராக்ருதவத்வநே ॥
nātikrāntamidaṃ lōkē puruṣēṇēha kēnacit ।
tava sabhrātṛbhāryasya vāsaḥ prākṛtavadvanē ॥
You are going to live in the forest
with your wife and brother like any common man.
No one has ever done something like this.
2.52.17
ந மந்யே ப்ரஹ்மசர்யேऽஸ்தி ஸ்வதீதே வா பலோதய: ।
மார்தவார்ஜவயோர்வாபி த்வாம் சேத்வ்யஸநமாகதம் ॥
na manyē brahmacaryē'sti svadhītē vā phalōdayaḥ ।
mārdavārjavayōrvāpi tvāṃ cēdvyasanamāgatam ॥
If hardships like this could befall even on you,
I can only think that observing continence,
studying Vedas, maintaining a gentle disposition and
even being honest, are no more than futile.
If Vālmeeki was writing a Dharma Ṡastra, he would not have had the liberty to express such a dispirited notion, of the futility of gentle disposition and honesty, etc., through a high-minded character like Sumantra.
But Ramayana is a Kavya and Vālmeeki is a poet. It allows him to portray his characters as down-to-earth humans with every mood and emotion that they undergo. The characters can express what they feel, reflecting not only their wisdom and values, but also the emotion of the moment.
2.52.18
ஸஹ ராகவ வைதேஹ்யா ப்ராத்ரா சைவ வநே வஸந் ।
த்வம் கதிம் ப்ராப்ஸ்யஸே வீர த்ரீந் லோகாம்ஸ்து ஜயந்நிவ ॥
saha rāghava vaidēhyā bhrātrā caiva vanē vasan ।
tvaṃ gatiṃ prāpsyasē vīra trīn lōkāṃstu jayanniva ॥
O Rāma! O Veera! You will certainly be
rewarded with the same good times ahead
as you would attain by conquering all the three worlds,
for living in the Vana along with
the princess of Vidēha and your brother.
2.52.19
வயம் கலு ஹதா ராம! யே த்வயாப்யுபவஞ்சிதா: ।
கைகேய்யா வஸமேஷ்யாம: பாபாயா து:கபாகிந: ॥
vayaṃ khalu hatā rāma! yē tvayāpyupavañcitāḥ ।
kaikēyyā vaṡamēṣyāmaḥ pāpāyā duḥkhabhāginaḥ ॥
As for us, we are certainly hurt,
having also received lesser of your grace.
We are destined for endless suffering,
falling into the hands of the sinful Kaikēyee.
Sumantra is lovingly accusing Rāma
for abandoning them by going to Vana!
2.52.20
இதி ப்ருவந்நாத்மஸமம் ஸுமந்த்ர: ஸாரதிஸ்ததா ।
த்ருஷ்ட்வா தூரகதம் ராமம் து:கார்தோ ருருதே சிரம் ॥
iti bruvannātmasamaṃ sumantraḥ sārathistadā ।
dṛṣṭvā dūragataṃ rāmaṃ duḥkhārtō rurudē ciram ॥
The charioteer Sumantra, saying this and
seeing Rāma, whom he cherished like his own life,
go far away, wept for long, overwhelmed by grief.
2.52.21
ததஸ்து விகதே பாஷ்பே ஸூதம் ஸ்ப்ருஷ்டோதகம் ஸுசிம் ।
ராமஸ்து மதுரம் வாக்யம் புந: புநருவாச தம் ॥
tatastu vigatē bāṣpē sūtaṃ spṛṣṭōdakaṃ ṡucim ।
rāmastu madhuraṃ vākyaṃ punaḥ punaruvāca tam ॥
When he stopped shedding tears
and purified himself by touching water,
Rāma spoke to him in all kindness,
assuring him again and again:
2.52.22
இக்ஷ்வாகூணாம் த்வயா துல்யம் ஸுஹ்ருதம் நோபலக்ஷயே ।
யதா தஸரதோ ராஜா மாம் ந ஸோசேத்ததா குரு ॥
ikṣvākūṇāṃ tvayā tulyaṃ suhṛdaṃ nōpalakṣayē ।
yathā daṡarathō rājā māṃ na ṡōcēttathā kuru ॥
I know no one who is an equal to you
in the love you bear to the Ikshwākus;
and you must see to it that
King Daṡaratha does not grieve on account of me.
2.52.23
ஸோகோபஹதசேதாஸ்ச வ்ருத்தஸ்ச ஜகதீபதி: ।
காமபாவாவஸந்நஸ்ச தஸ்மாதேதத்ப்ரவீமி தே ॥
ṡōkōpahatacētāṡca vṛddhaṡca jagatīpatiḥ ।
kāmabhāvāvasannaṡca tasmādētadbravīmi tē ॥
I say this to you because the
lord of the lands is now old, distressed with grief,
and is under the burden of passion.
2.52.24
யத்யதாஜ்ஞாபயேத்கிஞ்சித்ஸ மஹாத்மா மஹீபதி: ।
கைகேய்யா: ப்ரியகாமார்தம் கார்யம் ததவிகாங்க்ஷயா ॥
yadyadājñāpayētkiñcitsa mahātmā mahīpatiḥ ।
kaikēyyāḥ priyakāmārthaṃ kāryaṃ tadavikāṅkṣayā ॥
Whatever the King, the Mahātma orders
to be done for the sake of pleasing Kaikēyee
should be done with the least hesitation.
Continued...