Sloka & Translation

[Sudden flash of a thought in the mind of Dasaratha about an evil act done by him in the past --- Dasaratha attributes present misfortune to the past action --- seeks forgiveness of Kausalya.]

ಏವಂ ತು ಕ್ರುದ್ಧಯಾ ರಾಜಾ ರಾಮಮಾತ್ರಾ ಸಶೋಕಯಾ.

ಶ್ರಾವಿತಃ ಪರುಷಂ ವಾಕ್ಯಂ ಚಿನ್ತಯಾಮಾಸ ದುಃಖಿತಃ৷৷2.62.1৷৷


ಕ್ರುದ್ಧಯಾ in anger, ಸಶೋಕಯಾ afflicted with sorrow, ರಾಮಮಾತ್ರಾ by Rama's mother, ಏವಮ್ in that way, ಪರುಷಮ್ harsh, ವಾಕ್ಯಮ್ words, ಶ್ರಾವಿತಃ was forced to hear, ರಾಜಾ king, ದುಃಖಿತಃ distressed, ಚಿನ್ತಯಾಮಾಸ sadly reflected.

Forced to hear the harsh words of angry Kausalya, the king, deeply distressed, was absorbed in sad thought.
ಚಿನ್ತಯಿತ್ವಾ ಸ ಚ ನೃಪೋ ಮುಮೋಹ ವ್ಯಾಕುಲೇನ್ದ್ರಿಯಃ.

ಅಥ ದೀರ್ಘೀಣ ಕಾಲೇನ ಸಂಜ್ಞಾಮಾಪ ಪರನ್ತಪಃ৷৷2.62.2৷৷


ಸಃ that, ನೃಪಃ king, ಚಿನ್ತಯಿತ್ವಾ having thought over, ವ್ಯಾಕುಲೇನ್ದ್ರಿಯಃ with bewildered senses, ಮುಮೋಹ lost consciousness, ಅಥ thereafter, ಪರನ್ತಪಃ tormentor of enemies, ದೀರ್ಘೇಣ ಕಾಲೇನ after a long while, ಸಂಜ್ಞಾಮ್ the senses, ಆಪ regained.

The king (Dasaratha) tormentor of enemies, for a while, lost his consciousness, his senses bewildered. After a long time he regained his senses.
ಸ ಸಂಜ್ಞಾಮುಪಲಭ್ಯೈವ ದೀರ್ಘಮುಷ್ಣಂ ಚ ನಿಶ್ಶ್ವಸನ್.

ಕೌಸಲ್ಯಾಂ ಪಾರ್ಶ್ವತೋ ದೃಷ್ಟ್ವಾ ಪುನ ಶ್ಚಿನ್ತಾಮುಪಾಗಮತ್৷৷2.62.3৷৷


ಸಃ he, ಸಂಜ್ಞಾಮ್ senses, ಉಪಲಭ್ಯೈವ after getting back, ದೀರ್ಘಮ್ deep, ಉಷ್ಣಂ ಚ hot, ನಿಶ್ಶ್ವಸನ್ sighing, ಪಾರ್ಶ್ವತಃ by the side, ಕೌಸಲ್ಯಾಮ್ Kausalya, ದೃಷ್ಟ್ವಾ having seen, ಪುನಃ again, ಚಿನ್ತಾಮ್ anxieties, ಉಪಾಗಮತ್ got into.

When he regained his senses, the king heaved deep, hot sighs. Seeing Kausalya by his side he relapsed into a state of anxiety.
ತಸ್ಯ ಚಿನ್ತಯಮಾನಸ್ಯ ಪ್ರತ್ಯಾಭಾತ್ಕರ್ಮ ದುಷ್ಕೃತಮ್.

ಯದನೇನ ಕೃತಂ ಪೂರ್ವಮಜ್ಞಾನಾಚ್ಛಬ್ದವೇಧಿನಾ৷৷2.62.4৷৷


ಚಿನ್ತಯಮಾನಸ್ಯ as he was thinking, ತಸ್ಯ his, ಪೂರ್ವಮ್ formerly, ಅನೇನ by such, ಶಬ್ದವೇಧಿನಾ Capable of hitting the target by following the sound, ಅಜ್ಞಾನಾತ್ without knowledge, ಯತ್ which, ಕೃತಮ್ has been committed, ದುಷ್ಕೃತಮ್ sinful, ಕರ್ಮ act, ಪ್ರತ್ಯಭಾತ್ flashed back.

While he was thus reflecting on a sinful act he had inadvertently comitted long ago, the act of discharging an arrow that could hit its target following the sound, flashed in his mind.
ಅಮನಾಸ್ತೇನ ಶೋಕೇನ ರಾಮಶೋಕೇನ ಚ ಪ್ರಭುಃ.

ದ್ವಾಭ್ಯಾಮಪಿ ಮಹಾರಾಜ ಶ್ಶೋಕಾಭ್ಯಾಮನ್ವತಪ್ಯತ৷৷2.62.5৷৷


ತೇನ ಶೋಕೇನ with that grief, ರಾಮಶೋಕೇನ with the grief of Rama's separation, ಅಮನಾಃ with a broken heart, ಪ್ರಭುಃ lord, ಮಹಾರಾಜಃ maharaja, ದ್ವಾಭ್ಯಾಮ್ by both, ಶೋಕಾಭ್ಯಾಮ್ ಅಪಿ the sorrows also, ಅನ್ವತಪ್ಯತ started regretting.

The great king, the lord with a broken heart started regretting deeply about both the grievous acts he had committed previously (one is shooting at the son of a sage and the other, banishing Rama).
ದಹ್ಯಾಮಾನ ಸ್ಸಶೋಕಾಭ್ಯಾಂ ಕೌಸಲ್ಯಾಮಾಹ ಭೂಪತಿಃ.

ವೇಪಮಾನೋಞ್ಜಲಿಂ ಕೃತ್ವಾ ಪ್ರಸಾದಾರ್ಥಮವಾಙ್ಮುಖಃ৷৷2.62.6৷৷


ಶೋಕಾಭ್ಯಾಮ್ with those two sad incidents, ದಹ್ಯಮಾನಃ being afflicted, ಸಃ ಭೂಪತಿಃ that king (Dasaratha), ವೇಪಮಾನಃ trembling, ಆವಾಙ್ಮುಖಃ with his head bending downwards, ಪ್ರಸಾದಾರ್ಥಮ್
to appease, ಅಞ್ಜಲಿಮ್ with folded palms, ಕೃತ್ವಾ having made, ಕೌಶಲ್ಯಾಮ್ to Kausalya, ಆಹ said.

Consumed by the double sorrow, the king trembling, with head down and folding his hands said to Kausalya in order to appease her:
ಪ್ರಸಾದಯೇ ತ್ವಾಂ ಕೌಸಲ್ಯೇ! ರಚಿತೋಯಂ ಮಯಾಞ್ಜಲಿಃ.

ವತ್ಸಲಾ ಚಾನೃಶಂಸಾ ಚ ತ್ವಂ ಹಿ ನಿತ್ಯಂ ಪರೇಷ್ವಪಿ৷৷2.62.7৷৷


ಕೌಶಲ್ಯೇ! O Kausalya, ತ್ವಾಮ್ you, ಪ್ರಸಾದಯೇ be merciful, ಮಯಾ by me, ಅಯಮ್ this, ಅಞ್ಜಲಿಃ folded palms, ರಚಿತಃ set, ತ್ವಮ್ you, ಪರೇಷ್ವಪಿ even towards enemies, ನಿತ್ಯಮ್ always, ವತ್ಸಲಾ is affectionate, ಅನೃಶಂಸಾ ಚ ಹಿ not cruel.

O Kausalya! I entreat you with folded palms. Be merciful. Forever affectionate, you are not cruel even towards your enemies.
ಭರ್ತಾ ತು ಖಲು ನಾರೀಣಾಂ ಗುಣವಾನ್ನಿರ್ಗುಣೋಪಿ ವಾ.

ಧರ್ಮಂ ವಿಮೃಶಮಾನಾನಾಂ ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷಂ ದೇವಿ! ದೈವತಮ್৷৷2.62.8৷৷


ದೇವಿ! O Devi, ಧರ್ಮಮ್ righteousness, ವಿಮೃಶಮಾನಾನಾಮ್ pondering over, ನಾರೀಣಾಮ್ for women, ಗುಣವಾನ್ virtuous, ನಿರ್ಗುಣೋಪಿ ವಾ or not virtuous, ಭರ್ತಾ husband, ಪ್ರತ್ಯಕ್ಷಮ್ visible, ದೈವತಂ ಖಲು indeed god to them.

O Devi! for women who have regard for righteousness, a husband, whether virtuous or not, is a god incarnate.
ಸಾ ತ್ವಂ ಧರ್ಮಪರಾ ನಿತ್ಯಂ ದೃಷ್ಟಲೋಕ ಪರಾವರಾ.

ನಾರ್ಹಸೇ ವಿಪ್ರಿಯಂ ವಕ್ತುಂ ದುಖಿಃತಾಪಿ ಸುದುಃಖಿತಮ್৷৷2.62.9৷৷


ನಿತ್ಯಮ್ always, ಧರ್ಮಪರಾ righteous-minded one, ದೃಷ್ಟಲೋಕವರಾವರಾ knower of both the extremities, ಸಾ ತ್ವಮ್ such as you, ದುಃಖಿತಾಪಿ although grieved, ಸುದುಃಖಿತಮ್ one who is weighed down with grief, ವಿಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ unpleasant words, ವಕ್ತುಮ್ to speak, ನಾರ್ಹಸಿ does not
behove you.

You always adhere to righteousness. You have seen both the extremes (good and bad) of this world. Athough you yourself are in grief it does not behove you to speak unpleasant words to one who is suffering from a greater grief.
ತದ್ವಾಕ್ಯಂ ಕರುಣಂ ರಾಜ್ಞಃ ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ ದೀನಸ್ಯ ಭಾಷಿತಮ್.

ಕೌಸಲ್ಯಾ ವ್ಯಸೃಜದ್ಬಾಷ್ಪಂ ಪ್ರಣಾಲೀವ ನವೋದಕಮ್৷৷2.62.10৷৷


ಕೌಶಲ್ಯಾ Kausalya, ದೀನಸ್ಯ of the wretched, ರಾಜ್ಞಃ king's, ಕರುಣಮ್ pitiable, ಭಾಷಿತಮ್ utterances, ತತ್ ವಾಕ್ಯಮ್ those words, ಶ್ರುತ್ವಾ having heard, ಪ್ರಣಾಲೀ water conduit, ನವೋದಕಮಿವ like discharging fresh rainwater, ಬಾಷ್ಪಮ್ tears, ವ್ಯಸೃಜತ್ shed.

Kausalya heard the pitiable words uttered by the king who was in a wretched condition. She shed tears like a water channel discharging fresh rainwater.
ಸಾ ಮೂರ್ಧ್ನಿಬಧ್ವಾ ರುದತೀ ರಾಜ್ಞಃ ಪದ್ಮಮಿವಾಞ್ಜಲಿಮ್.

ಸಮ್ಭ್ರಮಾದಬ್ರವೀತ್ ತ್ರಸ್ತಾ ತ್ವರಮಾಣಾಕ್ಷರಂ ವಚಃ৷৷2.62.11৷৷


ಸಾ that Kausalya, ರುದತೀ crying, ಪದ್ಮಮಿವ like lotus, ರಾಜ್ಞಃ king's, ಅಞ್ಜಲಿಮ್ folded palms, ಮೂರ್ಧ್ನಿ on her head, ಬಧ್ವಾ setting, ತ್ರಸ್ತಾ frightened, ಸಮ್ಭ್ರಮಾತ್ out of emotion, ತ್ವರಮಾಣಾಕ್ಷರಮ್ stumbling syllables, ವಚಃ words, ಅಬ್ರವೀತ್ said.

Frightened Kausalya, weeping and raising her palms folded like lotus on to her head, and charged with emotions said with stumbling syllables:
ಪ್ರಸೀದ ಶಿರಸಾ ಯಾಚೇ ಭೂಮೌ ನಿಪತಿತಾಸ್ಮಿ ತೇ.

ಯಾಚಿತಾಸ್ಮಿ ಹತಾ ದೇವ! ಕ್ಷನ್ತವ್ಯಾಹಂ ನ ಹಿ ತ್ವಯಾ৷৷2.62.12৷৷


ದೇವ O lord, ಪ್ರಸೋದ be pleased, ಭೂಮೌ on the earth, ನಿಪತಿತಾ ಅಸ್ಮಿ I have fallen down, ಶಿರಸಾ bowing down my head, ಯಾಚೇ I beg of you, ತೇ your (by you), ಯಾಚಿತಾ besought, ಹತಾ ಅಸ್ಮಿ I have been hit, ಅಹಮ್ I, ತ್ವಯಾ by you, ನ ಕ್ಷನ್ತವ್ಯಾ ಹಿ unfit to be pardoned.

O lord, by falling on the ground at your feet, bowing my head I beg of you to be pleased. By your act of beseeching me, I have been badly hurt. I do deserve to be pardoned.
ನೈಷಾ ಹಿ ಸಾ ಸ್ತ್ರೀ ಭವತಿ ಶ್ಲಾಘನೀಯೇನ ಧೀಮತಾ.

ಉಭಯೋರ್ಲೋಕಯೋರ್ವೀರ! ಪತ್ಯಾ ಯಾ ಸಮ್ಸಾದ್ಯತೇ৷৷2.62.13৷৷


ವೀರ O heroic one!, ಯಾ whoever, ಶ್ಲಾಘನೀಯೇನ by the praiseworthy, ಧೀಮತಾ sagacious one, ಪತ್ಯಾ by the husband, ಸಮ್ಪ್ರಸಾದ್ಯತೇ is appeased, ಸಾ ಏಷಾ such this, ಸ್ತ್ರೀ woman, ಉಭಯೋಃ both, ಲೋಕಯೋಃ worlds, ನ ಭವತಿ ಹಿ does not belong.

O heroic one! a woman, who is entreated by her sagacious and praiseworthy husband, loses both the worlds.
ಜಾನಾಮಿ ಧರ್ಮಂ ಧರ್ಮಜ್ಞ! ತ್ವಾಂ ಜಾನೇ ಸತ್ಯವಾದಿನಮ್.

ಪುತ್ರಶೋಕಾರ್ತಯಾ ತತ್ತು ಮಯಾ ಕಿಮಪಿ ಭಾಷಿತಮ್৷৷2.62.14৷৷


ಧರ್ಮಜ್ಞ O righteous one!, ಧರ್ಮಮ್ righteousness, ಜಾನಾಮಿ I know, ತ್ವಾಮ್ you, ಸತ್ಯವಾದಿನಮ್ truthful, ಜಾನೇ know, ತು but, ಪುತ್ರಶೋಕಾರ್ತಯಾ by one afflicted with grief over a son, ಮಯಾ by me, ತತ್ that, ಕಿಮಪಿ somewhat improper, ಭಾಷಿತಮ್ spoken.

O righteous one! I know the path of dharma. I also know that you are a truthful. Afflicted with grief on account of my son, I spoke somewhat harshly.
ಶೋಕೋ ನಾಶಯತೇ ಧೈರ್ಯಂ ಶೋಕೋ ನಾಶಯತೇ ಶ್ರುತಮ್.

ಶೋಕೋ ನಾಶಯತೇ ಸರ್ವಂ ನಾಸ್ತಿ ಶೋಕಸಮೋ ರಿಪುಃ৷৷2.62.15৷৷


ಶೋಕಃ grief, ಧೈರ್ಯಮ್ patience, ನಾಶಯತೇ destroys, ಶೋಕಃ grief, ಶ್ರುತಮ್ knowledge of the scriptures, ನಾಶಯತೇ destroys, ಶೋಕಃ grief, ಸರ್ವಮ್ everything, ನಾಶಯತೇ destroys, ಶೋಕಸಮಃ equal to grief, ರಿಪುಃ enemy, ನಾಸ್ತಿ not there.

Grief destroys fortitude. Grief destroys knowledge of the scriptures, grief destroys everything. There is no enemy equal to grief.
ಶಕ್ಯ ಆಪತಿತ ಸ್ಸೋಢುಂ ಪ್ರಹಾರೋ ರಿಪುಹಸ್ತತಃ.

ಸೋಢುಂಮಾಪತಿತಶ್ಶೋಕಸ್ಸುಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮೋಪಿ ನ ಶಕ್ಯತೇ৷৷2.62.16৷৷


ರಿಪುಹಸ್ತಃ from the enemy's hand, ಆಪತಿತಃ suddenly fallen, ಪ್ರಹಾರಃ blow, ಸೋಢುಮ್ to endure, ಶಕ್ಯಃ possible, ಶೋಕಃ grief, ಸುಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮೋಪಿ however slight, ಸೋಢುಮ್ to endure, ನ ಶಕ್ಯತೇ not possible.

One can endure an unexpected blow from the enemy's hand but to endure unexpected grief, however slight it may be, is impossible.
ಧರ್ಮಜ್ಞಾ ಶ್ಶ್ರುತಿಮನ್ತೋಪಿ ಛಿನ್ನಧರ್ಮಾರ್ಥಸಂಶಯಾಃ.

ಯತಯೋ ವೀರ! ಮುಹ್ಯನ್ತಿ ಶೋಕಸಮ್ಮೂಢಚೇತಸಃ৷৷2.62.17৷৷


ವೀರ O heroic one, ಧರ್ಮಜ್ಞಾಃ men well-versed in ethics, ಶ್ರುತಿಮನ್ತಃ learned men, ಛಿನ್ನಧರ್ಮಾರ್ಥಸಂಶಯಾಃ those free from doubts about dharma and artha, ಯತಯಃ ಅಪಿ even ascetics, ಶೋಕಸಮ್ಮೂಢಚೇತಸಃ with their senses overwhelmed with grief, ಮುಹ್ಯನ್ತಿ are deluded.

O heroic one! even learned ascetics who are well versed in ethics and scriptures and who are free from doubts with regard to dharma and artha, are deluded by grief.
ವನವಾಸಾಯ ರಾಮಸ್ಯ ಪಞ್ಚರಾತ್ರೋದ್ಯ ಗಣ್ಯತೇ.

ಯ ಶ್ಶೋಕಹತಹರ್ಷಾಯಾಃ ಪಞ್ಚವರ್ಷೋಪಮೋ ಮಮ৷৷2.62.18৷৷


ವನವಾಸಾಯ for exile in the forest, ರಾಮಸ್ಯ Rama's, ಪಞ್ಚರಾತ್ರಃ five nights, ಅದ್ಯ today, ಗಣ್ಯತೇ has been counted, ಯಃ such a period, ಶೋಕಹತಹರ್ಷಾಯಾಃ whose joy has been destroyed by sorrow, ಮಮ to me, ಪಞ್ಚವರ್ಷೋಪಮಃ equal to five years.

This is the fifth night of Rama's exile, but it is like five years to me whose joy has been destroyed by sorrow.
ತಂ ಹಿ ಚಿನ್ತಯಮಾನಾಯಾ ಶ್ಶೋಕೋಯಂ ಹೃದಿ ವರ್ಧತೇ.

ನದೀನಾಮಿವ ವೇಗೇನ ಸಮುದ್ರಸಲಿಲಂ ಮಹತ್৷৷2.62.19৷৷


ತಮ್ Rama, ಚಿನ್ತಯಮಾನಾಯಾಃ while thinking of, ಹೃದಿ in my heart, ಅಯಮ್ this, ಶೋಕಃ sadness, ನದೀನಾಮ್ by river waters, ವೇಗೇನ by speed, ಮಹತ್ great, ಸಮುದ್ರಸಲಿಲಮಿವ like sea-waters, ವರ್ಧತೇ is increasing.

As I think of Rama, my heart swells with sorrow just as the ocean rises with rushing rivers.
ಏವಂ ಹಿ ಕಥಯನ್ತ್ಯಾಸ್ತು ಕೌಸಲ್ಯಾಯಾಶ್ಶುಭಂ ವಚಃ.

ಮನ್ದರಶ್ಮಿರಭೂತ್ಸೂರ್ಯೋ ರಜನೀ ಚಾಭ್ಯವರ್ತತ৷৷2.62.20৷৷


ಕೌಶಲ್ಯಾಯಾಃ of Kausalya, ಏವಮ್ in that manner, ಶುಭಮ್ auspicious, ವಚಃ words, ಕಥಯನ್ತ್ಯಾಃ speaking, ಸೂರ್ಯಃ the Sun, ಮನ್ದರಶ್ಮಿಃ ಆಭೂತ್ faded rays, ರಜನೀ ಚ night, ಅಭ್ಯವರ್ತತ had set in.

While Kausalya was speaking these heart-touching words, the rays of the Sun began to fade and the night fell.
ತಥಾ ಪ್ರಸಾದಿತೋ ವಾಕ್ಯೈರ್ದೇವ್ಯಾ ಕೌಸಲ್ಯಯಾ ನೃಪಃ.

ಶೋಕೇನ ಚ ಸಮಾಕ್ರಾನ್ತೋ ನಿದ್ರಾಯಾ ವಶನ್ತೋಮೇಯಿವಾನ್৷৷2.62.21৷৷


ದೇವ್ಯಾ by the queen, ಕೌಶಲ್ಯಯಾ by Kausalya, ತಥಾ like that, ಪ್ರಸಾದಿತಃ consoled, ನೃಪಃ king, ಶೋಕೇನ by sorrow, ಸಮಾಕ್ರಾನ್ತಃ ಚ was overcome with grief, ನಿದ್ರಾಯಾಃ sleep, ವಶಮ್ influence of, ಏಯಿವಾನ್ obtained.

Thus consoled by Kausalya the king, overcome with grief, came under the spell of sleep.
ಇತ್ಯಾರ್ಷೇ ಶ್ರೀಮದ್ರಾಮಾಯಣೇ ವಾಲ್ಮೀಕೀಯ ಆದಿಕಾವ್ಯೇ ಅಯೋಧ್ಯಾಕಾಣ್ಡೇ ದ್ವಿಷಷ್ಟಿತಮಸ್ಸರ್ಗಃ৷৷
Thus ends the sixtysecond sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.