Sloka & Translation

[Lamentations of Kausalya.]

ತತಃ ಸಮೀಕ್ಷ್ಯ ಶಯನೇ ಸನ್ನಂ ಶೋಕೇನ ಪಾರ್ಥಿವಮ್.

ಕೌಶಲ್ಯಾ ಪುತ್ರಶೋಕಾರ್ತಾ ತಮುವಾಚ ಮಹೀಪತಿಮ್৷৷2.43.1৷৷


ತತಃ then, ಪುತ್ರಶೋಕಾರ್ತಾ struck by grief on account of her son's departure, ಕೌಶಲ್ಯಾ Kausalya, ಶಯನೇ on the couch, ಶೋಕೇನ due to grief, ಸನ್ನಮ್ exhausted, ಪಾರ್ಥಿವಮ್ king, ಸಮೀಕ್ಷ್ಯ having gazed, ತಂ ಮಹೀಪತಿಮ್ to that lord of the world, Dasaratha, ಉವಾಚ said.

Struck by the grief of her son's departure, Kausalya looked at the king who lay on the couch completely exhausted and said to him.
ರಾಘವೇ ನರಶಾರ್ದೂಲೇ ವಿಷಮುಪ್ತ್ವಾಹಿಜಿಹ್ಮಗಾ.

ವಿಚರಿಷ್ಯತಿ ಕೈಕೇಯೀ ನಿರ್ಮುಕ್ತೇವ ಹಿ ಪನ್ನಗೀ৷৷2.43.2৷৷


ಅಹಿಜಹ್ಮಗಾ moving obliquely like a serpent, ಕೈಕೇಯೀ Kaikeyi, ನರಶಾರ್ದೂಲೇ tiger (best) among men, ರಾಘವೇ in Rama, ವಿಷಮ್ venom, ಉಪ್ತ್ವಾ having sown out, ನಿರ್ಮುಕ್ತಾ casting off the slough, ಪನ್ನಗೀ ಇವ like a she-serpent, ವಿಚರಿಷ್ಯತಿ will wander about.

Moving crookedly like a snake, Kaikeyi has released her venom on Rama, the best among men. Now she will move about freely like a she-serpent that has cast off its slough.
ವಿವಾಸ್ಯ ರಾಮಂ ಸುಭಗಾ ಲಬ್ಧಕಾಮಾ ಸಮಾಹಿತಾ.

ತ್ರಾಸಯಿಷ್ಯತಿ ಮಾಂ ಭೂಯೋ ದುಷ್ಟಾಹಿರಿವ ವೇಶ್ಮನಿ৷৷2.43.3৷৷


ಸುಭಗಾ happly, (Kaikeyi), ರಾಮಮ್ Rama, ವಿವಾಸ್ಯ having banished, ಲಬ್ದಕಾಮಾ having satisfied her desires, ಭೂಯಃ again, ವೇಶ್ಮನಿ in the house, ದುಷ್ಟಾಹಿರಿವ like a vicious serpent, ಮಾಮ್ me, ಸಮಾಹಿತಾ accomplished, ತ್ರಾಸಯಿಷ್ಯತಿ will torture me.

Having banished Rama, she is now happy with her desires fulfilled. And like a vicious serpent living in the house she will again frighten me.
ಅಥ ಸ್ಮ ನಗರೇ ರಾಮಶ್ಚರನ್ ಭೈಕ್ಷಂ ಗೃಹೇ ವಸೇತ್.

ಕಾಮಕಾರೋ ವರಂ ದಾತುಮಪಿ ದಾಸಂ ಮಮಾತ್ಮಜಮ್৷৷2.43.4৷৷


ಮಮ my, ಆತ್ಮಜಮ್ son, ದಾಸಮ್ as slave, ದಾತುಮ್ ಅಪಿ even to give, ವರಮ್ is better, ಅಥ thereafter, ರಾಮಃ Rama, ಕಾಮಕಾರಃ discharging the duties, ನಗರೇ in the city (Ayodhya), ಭೈಕ್ಷಮ್ food obtained by begging, ಚರನ್ moving about, ಗೃಹೇ in the house, ವಸೇತ್ would have lived.

It would have been better had I offered her my son as a slave. He would have lived on in the house by doing his duties and begging his food in the city.
ಪಾತಯಿತ್ವಾ ತು ಕೈಕೇಯ್ಯಾ ರಾಮಂ ಸ್ಥಾನಾದ್ಯಥೇಷ್ಟತಃ.

ಪ್ರದಿಷ್ಟೋ ರಕ್ಷಸಾಂ ಭಾಗಃ ಪರ್ವಣೀವಾಹಿತಾಗ್ನಿನಾ৷৷2.43.5৷৷


ಕೈಕೇಯ್ಯಾ of Kaikeyi, ಯಥೇಷ್ಟತಃ according to her whim, ರಾಮಮ್ to Rama, ಸ್ಥಾನಾತ್ from his place, ಪಾತಯಿತ್ವಾ having thrown down, ಅಹಿತಾಗ್ನಿನಾ by the sacrificers, ಪರ್ವಣಿ on the new moon days, ರಕ್ಷಸಾಮ್ to rakshasas, ಭಾಗಃ ಇವ like the share, ಪ್ರದಿಷ್ಟಃ is given.

You have thrown away Rama from his place as per the whim of Kaikeyi, like the share of offering meant for gods given away to rakshasas by the sacrificers on the new Moon days.
ಗಜರಾಜಗತಿರ್ವೀರೋ ಮಹಾಬಾಹುರ್ಧನುರ್ಧರಃ.

ವನಮಾವಿಶತೇ ನೂನಂ ಸಭಾರ್ಯ ಸ್ಸಹ ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣಃ৷৷2.43.6৷৷


ಗಜರಾಜಗತಿಃ having the gait of the king of the elephants, ವೀರಃ hero, ಮಹಾಬಾಹುಃ mighty-armed, ಧನುರ್ಧರಃ archer Rama, ಸಭಾರ್ಯಃ with wife, ಸಹಲಕ್ಷ್ಮಣಃ with Lakshmana, ನೂನಮ್ surely, ವನಮ್ forest, ಆವಿಶತೇ is entering.

My mighty-armed son, a great archer and a hero, Rama whose gait is like that of the king of elephants, must be entering the forest along with his consort Sita and Lakshmana.
ವನೇ ತ್ವದೃಷ್ಟದುಃಖಾನಾಂ ಕೇಕಯ್ಯಾನುಮತೇ ತ್ವಯಾ.

ತ್ಯಕ್ತಾನಾಂ ವನವಾಸಾಯ ಕಾನ್ವವಸ್ಥಾ ಭವಿಷ್ಯತಿ৷৷2.43.7৷৷


ಅದೃಷ್ಟದುಃಖಾನಾಮ್ who have never seen suffering, ಕೈಕೇಯ್ಯಾಃ Kaikeyi's, ಅನುಮತೇ her desire, ತ್ವಯಾ by you, ವನವಾಸಾಯ to dwell in the forest, ತ್ಯಕ್ತಾನಾಮ್ have been abandoned, ವನೇ in the forest, ಕಾ ನು what, ಅವಸ್ಥಾ ಭವಿಷ್ಯತಿ will be their state.

You have banished them as per the desire of Kaikeyi. What will be their plight in the forest, for they have never experienced any hardship earlier!
ತೇ ರತ್ನಹೀನಾಸ್ತರುಣಾಃ ಫಲಕಾಲೇ ವಿವಾಸಿತಾಃ.

ಕಥಂ ವತ್ಸ್ಯನ್ತಿ ಕೃಪಣಾಃ ಫಲಮೂಲೈಃ ಕೃತಾಶನಾಃ৷৷2.43.8৷৷


ರತ್ನಹೀನಾಃ deprived of best of things, ಫಲಕಾಲೇ at the time of fruition (enjoyment), ವಿವಾಸಿತಾಃ having been exiled, ತರುಣಾಃ young people, ತೇ they, ಕೃಪಣಾಃ living in misery, ಫಲಮೂಲೈಃ fruits and roots, ಕೃತಾಶನಾಃ for food, ಕಥಮ್ how, ವತ್ಸ್ಯನ್ತಿ will they live?

Deprived of all costly things they have been banished at the tender age of youth, a time for enjoying their lives. How will they lead a miserable life subsisting on fruits and roots?
ಅಪೀದಾನೀಂ ಸ ಕಾಲಸ್ಸ್ಯಾನ್ಮಮ ಶೋಕಕ್ಷಯ ಶ್ಶಿವಃ.

ಸಭಾರ್ಯಂ ಯತ್ಸಹ ಭ್ರಾತ್ರಾ ಪಶ್ಯೇಯಮಿಹ ರಾಘವಮ್৷৷2.43.9৷৷


ಯತ್ when, ಸಭಾರ್ಯಮ್ with wife, ರಾಘವಮ್ Rama, ಸಹ ಭ್ರಾತ್ರಾ with Lakshmana, ಇಹ here, ಪಶ್ಯೇಯಮ್ I shall see, ಶೋಕಕ್ಷಯಃ annhilation of sorrow, ಶಿವಃ auspcious, ಸಃ ಕಾಲಃ that time, ಇದಾನೀಮ್ now, ಮಮ to me, ಅಪಿ ಸ್ಯಾತ್ will it come?

Will there ever be that auspicious moment to end my sorrow? When I can see Rama here along with his wife and brother?
ಶ್ರೃತ್ವೈವೋಪಸ್ಥಿತೌ ವೀರೌ ಕದಾಯೋಧ್ಯಾ ಭವಿಷ್ಯತಿ.

ಯಶಸ್ವಿನೀ ಹೃಷ್ಟಜನಾ ಸೂಚ್ಛ್ರಿತಧ್ವಜಮಾಲಿನೀ৷৷2.43.10৷৷


ವೀರೌ the two heroes, ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತೌ having returned, ಶ್ರುತ್ವೈವ hearing, ಯಶಸ್ವಿನೀ famous, ಅಯೋಧ್ಯಾ Ayodhya, ಹೃಷ್ಟಜನಾ with cheerful people, ಸೂಚ್ಛ್ರಿತಧ್ವಜಮಾಲಿನೀ uplifted flags, ಕದಾ when?, ಭವಿಷ್ಯತಿ will it be?

When will the city of Ayodhya attain that glory when having heard that both the brave brothers have come back the people will rejoice and fill it with uplifted banners?
ಕದಾ ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷ್ಯ ನರವ್ಯಾಘ್ರಾವರಣ್ಯಾತ್ಪುನರಾಗತೌ.

ನನ್ದಿಷ್ಯತಿ ಪುರೀ ಹೃಷ್ಟಾ ಸಮುದ್ರ ಇವ ಪರ್ವಣಿ৷৷2.43.11৷৷


ಅರಣ್ಯಾತ್ from the forest, ಪುನಃ again, ಆಗತೌ having come back, ನರವ್ಯಾಘ್ರೌ tigers (best) among men, Rama and Lakshmana, ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷ್ಯ having seen, ಪುರೀ the city of Ayodhya, ಪರ್ವಣಿ on a full-moon day, ಸಮುದ್ರ ಇವ like the sea, ಹೃಷ್ಟಾ overflow (overjoyed), ಕದಾ when, ನನ್ದಿಷ್ಯತಿ will it rejoice?

When will, like the swelling sea on a full Moon day, the city hail the return of Rama and Lakshmana, the best among men?
ಕದಾಯೋಧ್ಯಾಂ ಮಹಾಬಾಹುಃ ಪುರೀಂ ವೀರಃ ಪ್ರವೇಕ್ಷ್ಯತಿ.

ಪುರಸ್ಕೃತ್ಯ ರಥೇ ಸೀತಾಂ ವೃಷಭೋ ಗೋವಧೂಮಿವ৷৷2.43.12৷৷


ಮಹಾಬಾಹುಃ mighty-armed, ವೀರಃ hero, ವೃಷಭಃ bull, ಗೋವಧೂಮಿವ like cow, ಸೀತಾಮ್ Sita, ರಥೇ on the chariot, ಪುರಸ್ಕೃತ್ಯ placing in front, ಅಯೋಧ್ಯಾಂ ಪುರೀಮ್ to the city of Ayodhya, ಕದಾ when, ಪ್ರವೇಕ್ಷ್ಯತಿ will enter?

When will the mighty-armed hero (Rama) enter the city of Ayodhya with Sita in front in the chariot, like a bull following the cow?
ಕದಾ ಪ್ರಾಣಿಸಹಸ್ರಾಣಿ ರಾಜಮಾರ್ಗೇ ಮಮಾತ್ಮಜೌ.

ಲಾಜೈರವಕಿರಿಷ್ಯನ್ತಿ ಪ್ರವಿಶನ್ತಾವರಿನ್ದಮೌ৷৷2.43.13৷৷


ಪ್ರವಿಶನ್ತೌ when they enter, ಅರಿನ್ದಮೌ subduers of enemies, ಮಮ my, ಆತ್ಮಜೌ sons, ರಾಜಮಾರ್ಗೇ on the highway, ಪ್ರಾಣಿಸಹಸ್ರಾಣಿ thousands of people, ಲಾಜೈಃ with parched grain, ಕದಾ when, ಅವಕಿರಿಷ್ಯನ್ತಿ shower.

When will the people in their thousands shower the parched grain on the highway when my sons (Rama and Lakshmana), subduers of enemies, enter the city?
ಪ್ರವಿಶನ್ತೌ ಕದಾಯೋಧ್ಯಾಂ ದ್ರಕ್ಷ್ಯಾಮಿ ಶುಭಕುಣ್ಡಲೌ.

ಉದಗ್ರಾಯುಧನಿಸ್ತ್ರಿಂಶೌ ಸಶ್ರೃಙ್ಗಾವಿವ ಪರ್ವತೌ৷৷2.43.14৷৷


ಅಯೋಧ್ಯಾಮ್ of Ayodhya, ಪ್ರವಿಶನ್ತೌ when they enter, ಶುಭಕುಣ್ಡಲೌ wearing auspicious earrings, ಉದಗ್ರಾಯುಧನಿಸ್ತ್ರಿಂಶೌ with powerful weapons and swords raised high, ಸಶ್ರೃಙ್ಗೌ with peaks, ಪರ್ವತಾವಿವ like mountains, ಕದಾ when, ದ್ರಕ್ಷ್ಯಾಮಿ shall I see?

When shall I see both of them wearing auspicious ear-rings and holding poweful weapons (bows) and swords high, like two mountain peaks?
ಕದಾಸುಮನಸಃ ಕನ್ಯಾದ್ವಿಜಾತೀನಾಂ ಫಲಾನಿ ಚ.

ಪ್ರದಿಶನ್ತಃ ಪುರೀಂ ಹೃಷ್ಟಾಃ ಕರಿಷ್ಯನ್ತಿ ಪ್ರದಕ್ಷಿಣಮ್৷৷2.43.15৷৷


ಹೃಷ್ಟಾಃ delighted, ಕನ್ಯಾದ್ವಿಜಾತೀನಾಮ್ to young girls and to brahmins, ಸುಮನಸಃ flowers, ಫಲಾನಿ ಚ fruits also, ಪ್ರದಿಶನ್ತಃ while offering, ಕದಾ when, ಪುರೀಮ್ the city, ಪ್ರದಕ್ಷಿಣಮ್ circling, ಕರಿಷ್ಯನ್ತಿ will do?

When will I see them delightfully moving round the city with young brahmin girls offering them flowers and fruits.
ಕದಾ ಪರಿಣತೋ ಬುದ್ಧ್ಯಾ ವಯಸಾ ಚಾಮರಪ್ರಭಃ.

ಅಭ್ಯುಪೈಷ್ಯತಿ ಧರ್ಮಜ್ಞಸ್ತ್ರಿವರ್ಷ ಇವ ಮಾಂ ಲಲನ್৷৷2.43.16৷৷


ಅಮರಪ್ರಭಃ possessing the lustre of gods, ಧರ್ಮಜ್ಞಃ knower of righteousness (Rama), ಬುದ್ಧ್ಯಾ in wisdom, ವಯಸಾ ಚ in age, ಪರಿಣತಃ fully mature, ತ್ರಿವರ್ಷಃ ಇವ like a three year old boy, ಲಲನ್ playfully, ಮಾಮ್ me, ಕದಾ when, ಅಭ್ಯುಪೈಷ್ಯತಿ will he reach?

When will Rama, the knower of righteousness, possessing the lustre of gods, and fully mature in age and wisdom come back to me playfully like a three-year-old boy?
ನಿಸ್ಸಂಶಯಂ ಮಯಾ ಮನ್ಯೇ ಪುರಾ ವೀರ! ಕದರ್ಯಯಾ.

ಪಾತುಕಾಮೇಷು ವತ್ಸೇಷು ಮಾತೃಾಂ ಶಾತಿತಾಸ್ಸ್ತನಾಃ৷৷2.43.17৷৷


ವೀರ! O valiant one, ಕದರ್ಯಯಾ out of avarice, ಮಯಾ by myself, ನಿಸ್ಸಂಶಯಮ್ undoubtedly, ಪುರಾ formerly, ವತ್ಸೇಷು calves, ಪಾತುಕಾಮೇಷು thirsting for milk, ಮಾತೃಾಮ್ of mothers, ಸ್ತನಾಃ udders, ಶಾತಿತಾಃ hacked by me.

O valiant one, in my previous birth I must have undoubtedly hacked off the udders of cows when the calves were thirsting for milk from their mothers.
ಸಾಹಂ ಗೌರಿವ ಸಿಂಹೇನ ವಿವತ್ಸಾ ವತ್ಸಲಾ ಕೃತಾ.

ಕೈಕೇಯ್ಯಾ ಪುರುಷವ್ಯಾಘ್ರ! ಬಾಲವತ್ಸೇವ ಗೌರ್ಬಲಾತ್৷৷2.43.18৷৷


ಪುರುಷವ್ಯ್ರಾಘ್ರ O tiger among men, ಬಾಲವತ್ಸಾ young calf, ಗೌರಿವ like cow, ವತ್ಸಲಾ having affection
in the calf, ಸಾ ಅಹಮ್ I, ಕೈಕೇಯ್ಯಾ by Kaikeyi, ಸಿಂಹೇನ by lion, ಗೌರಿವ like cow, ಬಲಾತ್ forcibly, ವಿವತ್ಸಾ separated from the calf, ಕೃತಾ is rendered.

O best of men! I have been forcibly separated from my affectionate son by Kaikeyi just like a cow from its calf by a lion.
ನ ಹಿ ತಾವದ್ಗುಣೈರ್ಜುಷ್ಟಂ ಸರ್ವಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವಿಶಾರದಮ್.

ಏಕಪುತ್ರಾ ವಿನಾ ಪುತ್ರಮಹಂ ಜೀವಿತುಮುತ್ಸಹೇ৷৷2.43.19৷৷


ಏಕಪುತ್ರಾ having only one son, ಅಹಮ್ I, ತಾವದ್ಗುಣೈಃ with such virtue, ಜುಷ್ಟಮ್ endowed with, ಸರ್ವಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವಿಶಾರದಮ್ adept in all shastras, ಪುತ್ರಂ ವಿನಾ without my son, ಜೀವಿತುಮ್ to live, ನ ಉತ್ಸಹೇ ಹಿ I do not desire.

I cannot live without my only son who is adept in all scriptures and endowed with all virtues.
ನ ಹಿ ಮೇ ಜೀವಿತೇ ಕಿಞ್ಚಿತ್ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯಮಿಹ ಕಲ್ಪ್ಯತೇ.

ಅಪಶ್ಯನ್ತ್ಯಾಃ ಪ್ರಿಯಂ ಪುತ್ರಂ ಮಹಾಬಾಹುಂ ಮಹಾಬಲಮ್৷৷2.43.20৷৷


ಮಹಾಬಾಹುಮ್ mighty-armed, ಮಹಾಬಲಮ್ immensely strong, ಪ್ರಿಯಂ ಪುತ್ರಮ್ beloved son, ಅಪಶ್ಯನ್ತ್ಯಾ: without seeing him, ಮೇ for me, ಇಹ in this world, ಜೀವಿತೇ in this life, ಕಿಞ್ಚಿತ್ little, ಸಾಮರ್ಥ್ಯಮ್ ability, ನ ಕಲ್ಪ್ಯತೇ ಹಿ is not provided.

Without seeing my beloved son, long-armed and mighty, I have but little strength to live in this world.
ಅಯಂ ಹಿ ಮಾಂ ದೀಪಯತೇ ಸಮುತ್ಥಿತಃ

ತನೂಜಶೋಕಪ್ರಭವೋ ಹುತಾಶನಃ.

ಮಹೀಮಿಮಾಂ ರಶ್ಮಿಭಿರುದ್ಧತಪ್ರಭಃ

ಯಥಾ ನಿದಾಘೇ ಭಗವಾನ್ ದಿವಾಕರಃ৷৷2.43.21৷৷


ತನೂಜಶೋಕಪ್ರಭವಃ born out of the grief of separation from my son, ಅಯಮ್ this, ಹುತಾಶನಃ fire, ಸಮುತ್ಥಿತಃ having arisen, ನಿದಾಘೇ in summer, ಉದ್ಧತಪ್ರಭಃ immense heat, ಭಗವಾನ್ divine, ದಿವಾಕರಃ Sun, ರಶ್ಮಿಭಿಃ with his rays, ಇಮಾಮ್ this, ಮಹೀಂ ಯಥಾ like earth, ಮಾಮ್ me, ದೀಪಯತೇ is burning.

I am consumed by this blazing fire of grief caused by separation from my son like the earth scorched in summer by the Sun-god with his oppressive rays
ಇತ್ಯಾರ್ಷೇ ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ರಾಮಾಯಣೇ ವಾಲ್ಮೀಕೀಯ ಆದಿಕಾವ್ಯೇ ಅಯೋಧ್ಯಾಕಾಣ್ಡೇ ತ್ರಿಚತ್ವಾರಿಂಶಸ್ಸರ್ಗಃ৷৷
Thus ends the fortythird sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.