Sloka & Translation

[Dasaratha's death --- heart-broken Kausalya and Sumitra --- palace echoes with the lamentations of Dasaratha's wives.]

atha rātryāṅ vyatītāyāṅ prātarēvāparē.hani.

vandinaḥ paryupātiṣṭhaṅstatpārthiva nivēśanam৷৷2.65.1৷৷

sūtāḥ paramasaṅskārā maṅgalāścōttamaśrutāḥ.

gāyakā: stutiśīlāśca nigadantaḥ pṛthak pṛthak৷৷2.65.2৷৷


atha thereafter, rātryām that night, vyatītāyām had passed, aparē on the following, ahani day, prātaḥ ēva in the morning, paramasaṅskārāḥ highly accomplished men, uttamaśrutāḥ proficient in learning, maṅgalāśca auspicious men, sūtāḥ genealogists, stutiśīlāḥ those versed in praising, gāyakāḥ singers, vandinaḥ panegyrists, pṛthak pṛthak separately one by one, nigadantaḥ reciting audibly, tat that, pārthivanivēśanam palace of the king, paryupātiṣṭhan reached.

Then on the following day (unaware of Dasaratha's death) panegyrists uttering benedictions, highly accomplished bards and genealogists proficient in reciting auspicious words, singers versed in musical science reached the palace one after another eulogising the king's glory.
atha rātryāṅ vyatītāyāṅ prātarēvāparē.hani.

vandinaḥ paryupātiṣṭhaṅstatpārthiva nivēśanam৷৷2.65.1৷৷

sūtāḥ paramasaṅskārā maṅgalāścōttamaśrutāḥ.

gāyakā: stutiśīlāśca nigadantaḥ pṛthak pṛthak৷৷2.65.2৷৷


atha thereafter, rātryām that night, vyatītāyām had passed, aparē on the following, ahani day, prātaḥ ēva in the morning, paramasaṅskārāḥ highly accomplished men, uttamaśrutāḥ proficient in learning, maṅgalāśca auspicious men, sūtāḥ genealogists, stutiśīlāḥ those versed in praising, gāyakāḥ singers, vandinaḥ panegyrists, pṛthak pṛthak separately one by one, nigadantaḥ reciting audibly, tat that, pārthivanivēśanam palace of the king, paryupātiṣṭhan reached.

Then on the following day (unaware of Dasaratha's death) panegyrists uttering benedictions, highly accomplished bards and genealogists proficient in reciting auspicious words, singers versed in musical science reached the palace one after another eulogising the king's glory.
rājānaṅ stuvatāṅ tēṣāmudāttābhihitāśiṣām.

prāsādā.bhōgavistīrṇaḥ stutiśabdōhyavartata৷৷2.65.3৷৷


udāttābhihitāśiṣām uttering benedictions at high pitch, rājānam the king, stuvatām those who were praising, tēṣām their, stutiśabdaḥ song of praise, prāsādā.bhōgavistīrṇaḥ spread over the entire palace, avartata hi pervaded.

The songs of those who were eulogising the king and uttering benedictions at high pitch pervaded the entire palace.
tatastu stuvatāṅ tēṣāṅ sūtānāṅ pāṇivādakāḥ.

apadānānyudāhṛtya pāṇivādā navādayan৷৷2.65.4৷৷


tataḥ then, tēṣāṅ sūtānām stuvatām while the bards were singing the praise of the king, pāṇivādakāḥ those who praise clapping their palms, avadānāni his wonderful deeds, udāhṛtya citing, pāṇivādān claps, avādayan clapped.

While the bards sang the praise of the king, those who praise clapping their palms clapped, citing the wonderful deeds of Dasaratha.
tēna śabdēna vihagāḥ pratibuddhā visasvanuḥ.

śākhāsthāḥ pañjarasthāśca yē rājakulagōcarāḥ৷৷2.65.5৷৷


tēna by that, śabdēna sound, śākhāsthāḥ some perched on the branches, pañjarasthāḥ ca and some in cages, yē rājakulagōcarāḥ found all over the palace, vihāgāḥ birds, pratibuddhā: awoke, visasvanuḥ began to twitter.

The birds perched on the branches and some in cages awoke and began to twitter all over the palace.
vyāhṛtāḥ puṇyaśabdāśca vīṇānāṅ cāpi nissvanāḥ.

āśīrgēyaṅ ca gāthānāṅ pūrayāmāsa vēśma tat৷৷2.65.6৷৷


vyāhṛtāḥ uttered, puṇyaśabdāśca sacred sounds, vīṇānām of veena, nissvanāḥ ca notes also, gāthānām of hymns composed to metre, āśīrgēyaṅ ca benedictory verses, tat that, vēśma house, pūramāyāsa filled.

The sacred songs of bards and panegyrists, notes of veena, chantings of metrical hymns and benedictory verses filled the palace.
tata śśucisamācārāḥ paryupasthānakōvidāḥ.

strīvarṣa dharabhūyiṣṭhā upatasthuryathāpuram৷৷2.65.7৷৷


tataḥ then, śucisamācārāḥ observing purificatory practices, strīvarṣa dharabhūyiṣṭhāḥ many women and eunuchs, paryupasthānakōvidā: skilled to serve, yathāpuram as usual, upatasthuḥ assembled.

Thereafter, as usual, men observing purificatory practices and skilled in royal service assembled along with women and eunuchs.
haricandanasampṛktamudakaṅ kāñcanairghaṭaiḥ.

āninyussnānaśikṣājñā yathākālaṅ yathāvidhi৷৷2.65.8৷৷


snānaśikṣājñāḥ those acquainted with bathing ceremonies, haricandana sampṛktam mixed with yellow sandal paste, udakam water, kāñcanaiḥ in golden, ghaṭaiḥ vessels, yathākālam at appropriate times, yathāvidhi according to tradition, āninyuḥ brought.

The bath-attendants brought water mixed with yellow sandal paste in golden vessels at appropriate times in accordance with tradition.
maṅgalālambhanīyāni prāśanīyānyupaskarān.

upaninyustathāpyanyāḥ kumārībahulāḥ striyaḥ৷৷2.65.9৷৷


tathā also, anyāḥ some other, kumārībahulāḥ with young maidens in large numbers, striyaḥ
women, maṅgalālambhanīyāni auspicious unguents, prāśanīyāḥ articles gratifying to the senses, upaskarān articles necessary for completion of bathing ritual, upaninyuḥ brought.

Also, a group of women mostly young maidens brought auspicious unguents, articles gratifying the senses and those necessary accessories for completion of bathing process.
sarvalakṣaṇasampannaṅ sarvaṅ vidhivadarcitam.

sarvaṅ suguṇalakṣmīvattadbabhūvābhihārikam৷৷2.65.10৷৷


tat then, ābhihārikam articles for the king, sarvam all, sarvalakṣaṇasampannam were of good quality, vidhivat as per tradition, arcitam babhūva (ābhūt) was adorable, sarvam everything, suguṇalakṣmīvat excellent and auspicious

All the articles brought for the king (for his bath) were presentable and as per tradition. In quality they were excellent and auspicious.
tata ssūryōdayaṅ yāvatsarvaṅ parisamutsukam.

tasthāvanupasamprāptaṅ kiṅsvidityupaśaṅkitam৷৷2.65.11৷৷


tataḥ then, sarvam all (attendants with necessary preparations), parisamutsukam highly enthusiastic, anupasamprāptam without reaching the king, kiṅsvit iti as to what had happened, upaśaṅkitam doubting, sūryōdayaṅ yāvat until the sunrise, tasthau waited.

All the highly enthusiastic attendants waited for the king till sunrise. Unable to see the king they doubted about what had happened!
atha yāḥ kōsalēndrasya śayanaṅ pratyanantarāḥ.

tāḥ striyastu samāgamya bhartāraṅ pratyabōdhayan৷৷2.65.12৷৷


atha thereafter, yāḥ striyaḥ those women, kōśalēndrasya of the king of Kosala (Dasaratha's), śayanaṅ prati attending on the bed, anantarāḥ with unrestricted movement, tāḥ tu those
women, samāgamya on coming near, bhartāram that lord, pratyabōdhayan and began waking him up.

The women who usually attend to the bed (maids who do the bed in the morning) of Dasaratha (king of Kosala) without any restrictions, approached the king and began waking him up.
tathāpyucitavṛttā stā vinayēna nayēna ca.

nahyasya śayanaṅ spṛṣṭvā kiñcidapyupalēbhirē৷৷2.65.13৷৷


tathāpi even then, vinayēna with restraint, nayēna obediently, ucita vṛttāḥ with agreeable conduct, tāḥ those women, asya Dasratha's, śayanam bed, spṛṣṭvā having touched, kiñcit api even a little, na upalēbhirē did not perceive.

Conducting themselves agreeably with restraint and obedience, the women touched the bed of Dasaratha but did not perceive any sign of life.
tāḥ striyassvapnaśīlajñāścēṣṭāsañcalanādiṣu

tā vēpathuparītāśca rājñaḥ prāṇēṣu śaṅkitāḥ.

pratisrōtastṛṇāgrāṇāṅ sadṛśaṅ sañcakāśirē৷৷2.65.14৷৷


tāḥ strīyaḥ those women, cēṣṭāsañcalanādiṣu in actions, movements, etc, svapnaśīlajñāḥ who know the nature of sleeping men, tāḥ those women, rājñaḥ king's, prāṇēṣu regarding king's life, śaṅkitāḥ apprehensive of, vēpathuparītāḥ ca trembling severely, pratisrōtastrṛṇāgrāṇām the tips of reeds standing against the current, sadṛśam like, sañcakāśirē remained.

Those women knowledgeable in ascertaining the nature of sleep based on the actions, movements, etc. were apprehensive whether the king was alive or not. Trembling severely they seemed like the tips of reeds that stand against the current.
atha sandēhamānānāṅ strīṇāṅ dṛṣṭvā ca pārthivam.

yattadāśaṅkitaṅ pāpaṅ tasya jajñē viniścayaḥ৷৷2.65.15৷৷


atha thereafter, pārthivam king, dṛṣṭvā ca having seen, sandēhamānānām suspicious, strīṇām women, yat that, tat this, pāpam evil, āśaṅkitam apprehensive, tasya its, viniścaya: certain, jajñē became.

Having seen the king more closely, those women who were apprehensive till then, became certain of the inevitable.
kausalyā ca sumatraca putraśōkaparājitē.

prasuptē na prabudhyētē yathā kālasamanvitē৷৷2.65.16৷৷


putraśōkaparājitē overpowered by grief on account of separation from the son, prasuptē fast asleep, kauśalyā ca Kausalya, sumitrā ca and Sumitra, kālasamanvitē yathā as if possessed by death, na prabudhyētē did not wake up.

Overpowered by grief on account of separation from their sons, Sumitra and Kausalya were fast asleep and did not wake up as if they were possessed by death.
niṣprabhā ca vivarṇā ca sannā śōkēna sannatā.

na vyarājata kausalyā tārēva timirāvṛtā৷৷2.65.17৷৷


niṣprabhā ca dull, vivarṇā pallid, śōkēna due to sorrow, sannā sunk down, sannatā with limbs shrunk, kauśalyā Kausalya, timirāvṛtā enveloped by darkness, tārēva like stars, na vyarājata did not shine.

Kausalya, with her face dull and pallid, sank down, her limbs contracted. She looked lustreless like stars enveloped in darkness.
kausalyā.nantaraṅ rājñassumitrā tadantanaram.

na sma vibhrājatē dēvī śōkāśrululitānanā৷৷2.65.18৷৷


rājñaḥ of the king , anantaram by the side, dēvī queen, kauśalyā Kausalya, tadantaram next to her
immediately, sumitrā Sumitra, śōkāśrululitānanā with her face drooping (on account of shedding tears in sorrow), na sma vibhrājatē devoid of lustre

There lay Sumitra next to Kausalya by the side of the king. Queen Kausalya's face was dull, drooping down on account of shedding tears of sorrow.
tē ca dṛṣṭvā tathā suptē śubhē dēvyau ca taṅ nṛpam.

suptamēvōdgataprāṇamantaḥpuramadṛśyata৷৷2.65.19৷৷


antaḥpuram women in the inner apartment, tathā in that way, suptē asleep, śubhē auspicious, tē dēvyau the two queens, tam that, nṛpam king, dṛṣṭvā having seen, suptamēva as if asleep, udgata prāṇam with life-breath moving upward and leaving him dead, amanyata considered.

Having seen the two auspicious queens asleep, the women in the inner apartment thought the king died in his sleep.
tataḥ pracukruśurdīnā ssasvaraṅ tā varāṅganāḥ.

karēṇava ivāraṇyē sthānapracyutayūthapāḥ৷৷2.65.20৷৷


tataḥ then, tāḥ varāṅganāḥ those women, araṇyē in the forest, sthānapracyutayūthapāḥ the leader of the herd dislodged, karēṇavaḥ iva like the female elephants, dīnāḥ in distress, sasvaram loudly, pracukruśuḥ wailed bitterly.

Then those women bewailed bitterly and loudly in distress like female elephants in the forest when their leader has fallen out of the herd.
tāsāmākrandaśabdēna sahasōddhatacētanē.

kausalyā ca sumitrā ca tyakta nidrē babhūvatuḥ৷৷2.65.21৷৷


kauśalyā ca Kausalya, sumitrā ca Sumitra too, tāsām their, ākrandaśabdēna by the sound of their cries, sahasā suddenly, uddhatacētanē recovering senses, tyaktanidrē babhūvatuḥ deserted their sleep.

Hearing the lamentations of the women suddenly Kausalya and Sumitra woke up from sleep, their senses recovered.
kausalyā ca sumitrā ca dṛṣṭvā spaṛṣṭvā ca pārthivam.

hā nāthēti parikruśya pētaturdharaṇītalē৷৷2.65.22৷৷


kauśalyāca Kausalya, sumitrā ca and Sumitra, pārthivam the king, dṛṣṭvāca having seen,spṛṣṭvā ca having touched, hā nātha iti Ah, lord, saying so, parikruśya crying loudly, dharaṇītalē on the floor, pētatuḥ fell down.

Kausalya and Sumitra looked at the king, touched his body, cried aloud, 'Ah, lord' and collapsed on the floor.
sā kōsalēndraduhitā vēṣṭamānā mahītalē.

na babhrāja rajōdhvastā tārēva gaganāccyutā৷৷2.65.23৷৷


sā that, kōśalēndraduhitā daughter of the lord of Kosala, Kausalya, mahītalē on the ground, vēṣṭamānā rolling, rajōdhvastā coated with dust, gaganāt from the sky, cyutā fallen down, tārēva like a star, na babhrāja did not shine.

Kausalya, daughter of the lord of Kosala, lay on the ground writhing in pain, coated with dust, and devoid of brightness like a star without radiance fallen from the sky.
nṛpē śāntaguṇē jātē kausalyāṅ patitāṅ bhuvi.

apaśyaṅstāḥ striyaḥ sarvā hatāṅ nāgavadhūmiva৷৷2.65.24৷৷


nṛpē when the king, śāntaguṇē jātē with his body lying still, sarvāḥ all, tāḥ strīyaḥ those women, bhuvi on the earth, patitām fallen, kauśalyām at Kausalya, hatām slain, nāgavadhūmiva like a female elephant, apaśyan beheld.

Dasaratha with his body lying still, all the women looked at Kausalya fallen down on the floor like a slain female elephant.
tatassarvā narēndrasya kaikēyīpramukhāḥ striyaḥ.

rudantya śśōkasantaptā nipēturgatacētanāḥ৷৷2.65.25৷৷


tataḥ then, kaikēyīpramukhāḥ led by Kaikeyi, narēndrasya king's, striyaḥ other wives, rudantyaḥ weeping, śōkasantaptāḥ burning with grief, gatacētanāḥ having lost senses, nipētuḥ fell down.

Then all the wives of the king led by Kaikeyi, burning with grief and weeping, lost their senses and fell down.
tābhissa balavānnādaḥ krōśantībhiranudrutaḥ.

yēna sphītīkṛtaṅ bhūyastadgṛhaṅ samanādayat ৷৷ 2.65.26 ৷৷


krōśantībhiḥ by the wailing ones, tābhiḥ by those women, anudrutaḥ followed, balavān strong, loud, saḥ nādaḥ that sound, yēna by which, (bhūyaḥ) sphītīkṛtam made louder, tat that, gṛham house (palaces), samanādayat reverberated.

The wailings of the women grew louder and louder until the whole palace reverberated with their lamentations.
tat paritrastantrasambhrānta paryutsukajanākulam.

sarvatastumulākrandaṅ paritāpārtabāndhavam৷৷2.65.27৷৷

sadyō nipatitānandaṅ dīnaviklabadarśanam.

babhūva naradēvasya sadma diṣṭāntamīyuṣaḥ৷৷2.65.28৷৷


diṣṭāntam demise, īyuṣaḥ of him who reached, naradēvasya king's, tat sadma that palace, paritrastantrasambhrānta paryutsukajanākulam thronged with anxious people who were exceedingly bewildered and frightened, sarvataḥ all over, tumulākrandam tumultuous with cries of agony, paritāpārtabāndhavam with relatives anguished with distress, sadyaḥ at an instant, nipatitānandam joy vanished, dīnaviklabadarśanam looked miserable with grief, babhūva became.

On the demise of Dasaratha, joy instantly vanished. The palace was thronged with anxious people who were exceedingly bewildered and frightened. The royal family was anguished with distress. The palace was filled all over with the tumult of cries of agony. And it looked miserable with grief.
atītamājñāya tu pārthivarṣabhaṅ yaśasvinaṅ samparivārya patnayaḥ.

bhṛśaṅ rudantyaḥ karuṇaṅ suduḥkhitāḥ pragṛhya bāhū vyalapannanāthavat৷৷2.65.29৷৷


patnayaḥ wives of the king, yaśasvinam the illustrious, pārthivarṣabham best of kings, atītam him who has passed away, ājñāya realising, samparivārya surrounding him, suduḥkhitāḥ with intense sorrow, karuṇam piteously, bhṛśam bitterly, rudantyaḥ weeping, bāhū both their arms, pragṛhya holding, anāthavat like orphans, vyalapan bewailed.

Realising that the great and illustrious king, Dasaratha, had passed away, his wives gathered around him, weeping piteously and bitterly and holding one another's hands bewailed like orphans.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē pañcaṣaṣṭitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the sixtyfifth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.