Sloka & Translation

[Rama prays his father to look after his mother with compassion and regard.]

ತಸ್ಯಾಂ ಚೀರಂ ವಸಾನಾಯಾಂ ನಾಥವತ್ಯಾಮನಾಥವತ್.

ಪ್ರಚುಕ್ರೋಶ ಜನಸ್ಸರ್ವೋ ಧಿಕ್ತ್ವಾಂ ದಶರಥಂ ತ್ವಿತಿ৷৷2.38.1৷৷


ನಾಥವತ್ಯಾಮ್ having her husband, ತಸ್ಯಾಮ್ that Sita, ಅನಾಥವತ್ like one without a support, ಚೀರಮ್ tattered (bark) garment, ವಸಾನಾಯಾಮ್ while wearing, ಸರ್ವಃ ಜನಃ all the people, ತ್ವಾಮ್ about you, ಧಿಕ್ ಇತಿ 'fie on you', ದಶರಥಮ್ to Dasaratha, ಪ್ರಚುಕ್ರೋಶ shouted.

Beholding Sita who was wearing a bark garment, like one without a support, though having a husband, all the people cried bitterly exclaiming O Dasaratha, fie on you.
ತೇನ ತತ್ರ ಪ್ರಣಾದೇನ ದುಃಖಿತಸ್ಸ ಮಹೀಪತಿಃ.

ಚಿಚ್ಛೇದ ಜೀವಿತೇ ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾಂ ಧರ್ಮೇ ಯಶಸಿ ಚಾತ್ಮನಃ৷৷2.38.2৷৷


ಮಹೀಪತಿಃ that Lord of the earth (king), ತತ್ರ there, ತೇನ ಪ್ರಣಾದೇನ by that shout, ದುಃಖಿತಃ distressed, ಆತ್ಮನಃ his own, ಜೀವಿತೇ in life, ಧರ್ಮೇ in righteousness, ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾಮ್ faith, ಚಿಚ್ಛೇದ broke.

Hearing that tumult the distressed Dasaratha lost faith in his own life and in his righteousness.
ಸ ನಿಃಶ್ವಸ್ಯೋಷ್ಣಮೈಕ್ಷ್ವಾಕ ಸ್ತಾಂ ಭಾರ್ಯಾಮಿದಮಬ್ರವೀತ್.

ಕೈಕೇಯಿ ಕುಶಚೀರೇಣ ನ ಸೀತಾ ಗನ್ತುಮರ್ಹತಿ৷৷2.38.3৷৷


ಸಃ ಐಕ್ಷ್ವಾಕಃ that descendant of the Ikshvakus (Dasaratha), ಉಷ್ಣಮ್ ನಿಃಶ್ವಸ್ಯ heaving hot sighs, ಭಾರ್ಯಾಮ್ to his wife (Kaikeyi), ಇದಮ್ these words, ಅಬ್ರವೀತ್ he spoke, ಕೈಕೇಯೀ O Kaikeyi, ಸೀತಾ Sita, ಕುಶಚೀರೇಣ with kusa garment, ಗನ್ತುಮ್ to go, ನಾರ್ಹತಿ is not worthy of.

The descendant of the Ikshvakus (Dasaratha), heaving hot sighs, said to his wife O
Kaikeyi, Sita does not deserve to go (to the forest) in garment of kusa grass.
ಸುಕುಮಾರೀ ಚ ಬಾಲಾ ಚ ಸತತಂ ಚ ಸುಖೋಚಿತಾ.

ನೇಯಂ ವನಸ್ಯ ಯೋಗ್ಯೇತಿ ಸತ್ಯಮಾಹ ಗುರುರ್ಮಮ৷৷2.38.4৷৷


ಸುಕುಮಾರೀ ಚ delicate, ಬಾಲಾ ಚ young, ಸತತಮ್ always, ಸುಖೋಚಿತಾ accustomed to comfort, ಇಯಮ್ she, ವನಸ್ಯ to dwell in the forest, ನ ಯೋಗ್ಯಾ is not fit, ಇತಿ thus, ಮಮ ಗುರುಃ my preceptor, ಸತ್ಯಮ್ truly, ಅಹ said.

Sita a delicate, young princess accustomed to comforts is not fit to dwell in the forest. This is what my preceptor has truly spoken.
ಇಯಂ ಹಿ ಕಸ್ಯಾಪಕರೋತಿ ಕಿಞ್ಚಿ-

ತ್ತಪಸ್ವಿನೀ ರಾಜವರಸ್ಯ ಕನ್ಯಾ.

ಯಾ ಚೀರಮಾಸಾದ್ಯ ಜನಸ್ಯ ಮಧ್ಯೇ

ಸ್ಥಿತಾ ವಿಸಂಜ್ಞಾಶ್ರಮಣೀವ ಕಾಚಿತ್৷৷2.38.5৷৷


ಯಾ (ಸಾ) Sita, ಚೀರಮ್ bark garment, ಆಸಾದ್ಯ having received, ಕಾಚಿತ್ obscure one, ಶ್ರಮಣೀವ like a female ascetic, ವಿಸಂಜ್ಞಾ lost senses, ಜನಸ್ಯ ಮಧ್ಯೇ amidst people, ಸ್ಥಿತಾ standing, ಇಯಮ್ this, ರಾಜವರಸ್ಯ ಕನ್ಯಾ daughter of the greatest of kings (Janaka), ತಪಸ್ವಿನೀ ascetic, ಕಸ್ಯ to whom, ಕಿಞ್ಚಿತ್ even little, ಅಪಕರೋತಿ has done harm?

Sita, daughter of Janaka, the greatest among kings, stands amidst people wearing bark garment like an ascetic with her senses switched off. To whom and what harm has she done?
ಚೀರಾಣ್ಯಪಾಸ್ಯಾಜ್ಜನಕಸ್ಯ ಕನ್ಯಾ

ನೇಯಂ ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞಾ ಮಮ ದತ್ತಪೂರ್ವಾ.

ಯಥಾಸುಖಂ ಗಚ್ಛತು ರಾಜಪುತ್ರೀ

ವನಂ ಸಮಗ್ರಾ ಸಹ ಸರ್ವರತ್ನೈಃ৷৷2.38.6৷৷


ಜನಕಸ್ಯ Janaka's, ಕನ್ಯಾ daughter, ಚೀರಾಣಿ bark garments, ಅಪಾಸ್ಯ taking off, ಆತ್ afterwards, ಇಯಮ್ this, ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞಾ promise, ಮಮ to me, ದತ್ತಪೂರ್ವಾ ನ not given earlier, ರಾಜಪುತ್ರೀ princess, ಸರ್ವರತ್ನೈಃ ಸಹ together with jewels, ಸಮಗ್ರಾ with all needs, ವನಮ್ to the forest, ಯಥಾಸುಖಮ್ happily, ಗಚ್ಛತು go.

Let the daughter of Janaka take off her bark garments. This is not the promise I had made to you earlier. Let the princess happily go to the forest adorned with all jewels and with all other necessities.
ಅಜೀವನಾರ್ಹೇಣ ಮಯಾ ನೃಶಂಸಾ

ಕೃತಾ ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞಾ ನಿಯಮೇನ ತಾವತ್.

ತವಯಾ ಹಿ ಬಾಲ್ಯಾತ್ ಪ್ರತಿಪನ್ನಮೇತತ್

ತನ್ಮಾಂ ದಹೇದ್ವೇಣುಮಿವಾತ್ಮಪುಷ್ಪಮ್৷৷2.38.7৷৷


ಅಜೀವನಾರ್ಹೇಣ unfit to live, ಮಯಾ by me, ನಿಯಮೇನ with a vow, ನೃಶಂಸಾ cruel, ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞಾ promise, ಕೃತಾ ತಾವತ್ has been made, ಬಾಲ್ಯಾತ್ out of childishness (foolishness), ತ್ವಯಾ by you, ಏತತ್ this, ಪ್ರತಿಪನ್ನಂ ಹಿ was taken, ತತ್ that one, ವೇಣುಮ್ bamboo, ಆತ್ಮಪುಷ್ಪಮ್ ಇವ like its own flowers, ಮಾಮ್ me, ದಹೇತ್ should burn.

By giving this cruel promise through importunity, I have rendered myself unfit to live. This promise was made as a child's play and it (now) destroys me like a bamboo destroyed by its own flowers.
ರಾಮೇಣ ಯದಿ ತೇ ಪಾಪೇ! ಕಿಞ್ಚಿತ್ಕೃತಮಶೋಭನಮ್.

ಅಪಕಾರಃ ಕ ಇಹ ತೇ ವೈದೇಹ್ಯಾ ದರ್ಶಿತೋಧಮೇ!৷৷2.38.8৷৷


ಪಾಪೇ O sinful woman, ಅಧಮೇ O wretch, ರಾಮೇಣ by Rama, ತೇ to you, ಕಿಞ್ಚಿತ್ even a little, ಅಶೋಭನಮ್ unbecoming, ಕೃತಂ ಯದಿ has been done, ವೈದೇಹ್ಯಾ Sita, ಇಹ here, ತೇ to you, ಕಃ what, ಅಪಕಾರಃ offence, ದರ್ಶಿತಃ has been shown.

O sinful woman! O wretch! Rama might have done something unbecoming to you, but what offence has Sita committed?
ಮೃಗೀವೋತ್ಫುಲ್ಲನಯನಾ ಮೃದುಶೀಲಾ ತಪಸ್ವೀನೀ.

ಅಪಕಾರಂ ಕಮಿಹ ತೇ ಕರೋತಿ ಜನಕಾತ್ಮಜಾ৷৷2.38.9৷৷


ಮೃಗೀವ like a doe, ಉತ್ಫುಲ್ಲನಯನಾ large-eyed, ಮೃದುಶೀಲಾ of gentle ways, ತಪಸ್ವಿನೀ worthy of compassion, ಜನಕಾತ್ಮಜಾ daughter of Janaka, ಇಹ here, ತೇ to you, ಕಮ್ ಅಪಕಾರಮ್ what offence done, ಕರೋತಿ is doing?

What wrong has the daughter of Janaka large-eyed like a doe, so gentle and worthy of compassion done to you?
ನನು ಪರ್ಯಾಪ್ತ ಮೇತತ್ತೇ ಪಾಪೇ ರಾಮವಿವಾಸನಮ್.

ಕಿಮೇಭಿಃ ಕೃಪಣೈರ್ಭೂಯ: ಪಾತಕೈರಪಿ ತೇ ಕೃತೈಃ৷৷2.38.10৷৷


ಪಾಪೇ O wicked woman, ಏತತ್ this, ರಾಮವಿವಾಸನಮ್ the exile of Rama, ತೇ to you, ಪರ್ಯಾಪ್ತಂ ನನು is not enough, ಭೂಯಃ still, ಕೃತೈಃ by those committed, ಕೃಪಣೈಃ by the wretched, ಏಭಿಃ by these, ಪಾತಕೈರಪಿ sins also, ತೇ to you, ಕಿಮ್ why?

Rama's exile, O wicked woman, is enough for you. What are you committing further heinous crimes for?
ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞಾತಂ ಮಯಾ ತಾವತ್ ತ್ವಯೋಕ್ತಂ ದೇವಿ! ಶೃಣ್ವತಾ.

ರಾಮಂ ಯದಭಿಷೇಕಾಯ ತ್ವಮಿಹಾಗತಮಬ್ರವೀಃ৷৷2.38.11৷৷


ದೇವಿ O Devi, ಅಭಿಷೇಕಾಯ for installation, ಇಹ here, ಆಗತಮ್ came, ರಾಮಮ್ to Rama, ತ್ವಮ್ you, ಅಬ್ರವೀಃ had spoken, ತ್ವಯಾ by you, ಉಕ್ತಮ್ what has been said, ಶೃಣ್ವತಾ being heard, ಮಯಾ by me, ತಾವತ್ to that extent, ಪ್ರತಿಜ್ಞಾತಮ್ has been promised.

I have heard you, O Devi! speaking to Rama when he came here in connection with
the coronation. I promised you to that extent only.
ತತ್ತ್ವೇತತ್ಸಮತಿಕ್ರಮ್ಯ ನಿರಯಂ ಗನ್ತುಮಿಚ್ಛಸಿ.

ಮೈಥಿಲೀಮಪಿ ಯಾ ಹಿ ತ್ವಮೀಕ್ಷಸೇ ಚೀರವಾಸಿನೀಮ್৷৷2.38.12৷৷


ಯಾ ತ್ವಂ such you, ತತ್ ಏತತ್ all that, ಅತಿಕ್ರಮ್ಯ having exceeded, ಮೈಥಿಲೀಂ ಅಪಿ even the princess of Mithila (Sita) also, ಚೀರವಾಸಿನೀಂ one wearing bark garment, ಈಕ್ಷಸೇ want to see, ನಿರಯಂ hell, ಗನ್ತುಂ to go, ಇಚ್ಛಸಿ wish.

Having exceeded all that, you want to behold Sita in bark garment and thereby, wish for hell.
ಇತೀವ ರಾಜಾ ವಿಲಪನ್ಮಹಾತ್ಮಾ

ಶೋಕಸ್ಯ ನಾನ್ತಂ ಸ ದದರ್ಶ ಕಿಞ್ಚಿತ್.

ಭೃಶಾತುರತ್ವಾಚ್ಚ ಪಪಾತ ಭೂಮೌ

ತೇನೈವ ಪುತ್ರವ್ಯಸನೇನ ಮಗ್ನಃ৷৷2.38.13৷৷


ಮಹಾತ್ಮಾ noble soul, ಸಃ ರಾಜಾ that king, ಇತೀವ thus, ವಿಲಪನ್ while lamenting, ಶೋಕಸ್ಯ grief's, ಕಿಞ್ಚಿತ್ even a little, ಅನ್ತಮ್ end, ನ ದದರ್ಶ could not see, ಭೃಶಾತುರತ್ವಾಚ್ಚ deeply tormented, ತೇನ that, ಪುತ್ರವ್ಯಸನೇನ ಏವ by separation from son only, ಮಗ್ನಃ immersed, ಭೂಮೌ on the ground, ಪಪಾತ fell.

The king could not see any end to his lamentation. Immersed in the grief of separation from his son and deeply tormented, he fell down on the ground.
ಏವಂ ಬ್ರುವನ್ತಂ ಪಿತರಂ ರಾಮಸ್ಸಮ್ಪ್ರಸ್ಥಿತೋ ವನಮ್.

ಅವಾಕ್ಛಿರಸಮಾಸೀನಮಿದಂ ವಚನಮಬ್ರವೀತ್৷৷2.38.14৷৷


ವನಮ್ to the forest, ಸಮ್ಪ್ರಸ್ಥಿತಃ set out to forest, ರಾಮಃ Rama, ಏವಮ್ in this way, ಬ್ರುವನ್ತಮ್ speaking, ಅವಾಕ್ಛಿರಸಮಮ್ with bowed head, ಆಸೀನಮ್ sitting, ಪಿತರಮ್ addressing his father,
ಇದಂ ವಚನಮ್ these words, ಅಬ್ರವೀತ್ said.

Rama who was about to leave for the forest addressed his father who sat with his head bent once again:
ಯಂ ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ! ಕೌಶಲ್ಯಾ ಮಮ ಮಾತಾ ಯಶಸ್ವಿನೀ.

ವೃದ್ಧಾ ಚಾಕ್ಷುದ್ರಶೀಲಾ ಚ ನ ಚ ತ್ವಾಂ ದೇವ! ಗರ್ಹತೇ৷৷2.38.15৷৷


ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ! O righteous one, ದೇವ! O lord, ಯಶಸ್ವಿನೀ illustrious, ಮಮ ಮಾತಾ my mother, ಇಯಮ್ ಕೌಶಲ್ಯಾ Kausalya, ವೃದ್ಧಾ aged, ಅಕ್ಷುದ್ರಶೀಲಾ ಚ does not possess meanness of character, ತ್ವಾಮ್ you, ನ ಚ ಗರ್ಹತೇ does not reproach.

O righteous father! O king! my aged and illustrious mother, Kausalya possesses neither a mean character nor does she blame you.
ಮಯಾ ವಿಹೀನಾಂ ವರದ ಪ್ರಪನ್ನಾಂ ಶೋಕಸಾಗರಮ್.

ಅದೃಷ್ಟಪೂರ್ವವ್ಯಸನಾಂ ಭೂಯಸ್ಸಮ್ಮನ್ತುಮರ್ಹಸಿ৷৷2.38.16৷৷


ವರದ O bestower of boons, ಮಯಾ with me, ವಿಹೀನಾಮ್ separated, ಶೋಕಸಾಗರಮ್ ocean of sorrow, ಪ್ರಪನ್ನಾಮ್ enter into, ಅದೃಷ್ಟಪೂರ್ವವ್ಯಸನಾಮ್ experiencing such unforeseen suffering, ಭೂಯಃ in a greater measure, ಸಮ್ಮನ್ತುಮ್ to care for her, ಅರ್ಹಸಿ should.

O bestower of boons, separated from me and unaccustomed to suffering, she will be plunged into an unforeseen ocean of sorrow. You should pay her greater attention.
ಪುತ್ರಶೋಕಂ ಯಥಾ ನರ್ಚ್ಛೇತ್ತ್ವಯಾ ಪೂಜ್ಯೇನ ಪೂಜಿತಾ.

ಮಾಂ ಹಿ ಸಞ್ಚಿನ್ತಯನ್ತೀ ಸಾ ತ್ವಯಿ ಜೀವೇತ್ತಪಸ್ವಿನೀ৷৷2.38.17৷৷


ತಪಸ್ವಿನೀ one who deserves compassion, ಸಾ she, ಮಾಮ್ about me, ಸಞ್ಚಿನ್ತಯನ್ತೀ while constantly thinking, ಪುತ್ರಶೋಕಮ್ grief on account of her son, ಯಥಾ as, ನ ಇಚ್ಛೇತ್ does not obtain, ಪೂಜ್ಯೇನ venerable, ತ್ವಯಾ by you, ಪೂಜಿತಾ honoured, ತ್ವಯಿ in you, ಜೀವೇತ್ shall live.

Let her not grieve on account of her son. O venerable father, if she, who deserves compassion is honoured by you, she will live.
ಇಮಾಂ ಮಹೇಂನ್ದ್ರೋಪಮ! ಜಾತಗರ್ಧಿನೀಂ

ತಥಾ ವಿಧಾತುಂ ಜನನೀಂ ಮಮಾರ್ಹಸಿ.

ಯಥಾ ವನಸ್ಥೇ ಮಯಿ ಶೋಕಕರ್ಶಿತಾ

ನ ಜೀವಿತಂ ನ್ಯಸ್ಯ ಯಮಕ್ಷಯಂ ವ್ರಜೇತ್৷৷2.38.18৷৷


ಮಹೇನ್ದ್ರೋಪಮ! equal to Indra, ಮಯಿ me, ವನಸ್ಥೇ staying in the forest, ಶೋಕಕರ್ಶಿತಾ emaciated by sorrow, ಜೀವಿತಮ್ life, ನ್ಯಸ್ಯ having yielded, ಯಥಾ how, ಯಮಕ್ಷಯಮ್ abode of Yama, ನ ವ್ರಜೇತ್ will not go, ತಥಾ in that way, ಜಾತಗರ್ಧಿನೀಮ್ a woman with a possesive feeling, ಇಮಾಮ್ this, ಮಮ ಜನನೀಮ್ my mother, ವಿಧಾತುಮ್ ಅರ್ಹಸಿ should do.

You are powerful like Indra.You should act accordingly so that my mother who has a possesive feeling towards her son should not, due to emaciation go to the abode of Yama after my departure for the forest.
ಇತ್ಯಾರ್ಷೇ ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ರಾಮಾಯಣೇ ವಾಲ್ಮೀಕೀಯ ಆದಿಕಾವ್ಯೇ ಅಯೋಧ್ಯಾಕಾಣ್ಡೇ ಅಷ್ಟತ್ರಿಂಶಸ್ಸರ್ಗಃ৷৷
Thus ends the thirtyeighth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.