Sloka & Translation

[Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana goes to the residence of Kaikeyi--hears comments on the way.]

दत्त्वा तु सह वैदेह्या ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं बहु।

जग्मतुः पितरं द्रष्टुं सीतया सह राघवौ।।2.33.1।।


राघवौ Rama and Lakshmana, वैदेह्या सह along with Sita, ब्राह्मणेभ्यः to brahmins, बहु plenty, धनम् wealth, दत्वा having given (in charity), पितरम् to father, द्रष्टुम् to see, सीतया सह along with Sita, जग्मतुः both of them set out.

After giving away plenty of wealth to brahmins in charity, Rama and Lakshmana along with Sita set out to see their father, king Dasaratha.
ततो गृहीते दुष्प्रेक्षे त्वशोभेतां तदायुधे।

मालादामभिराबद्धे सीतया समलङ्कृते।।2.33.2।।


ततः then, दुष्प्रेक्षे dazzling, गृहीते held, सीतया by Sita, मालादामभिः with garlands, अबद्धे bound, समलङ्कृते decorated, तदायुथे pair of weapons of Rama and Lakshmana, अशोभेताम् shone.

The pair of dazzling weapons held (by Rama and Lakshmana) looked splendid decorated with flower garlands by Sita.
ततः प्रासादहर्म्याणि विमानशिखराणि च।

अधिरुह्य जनश्श्रीमानुदासीनो व्यलोकयत्।।2.33.3।।


ततः then, श्रीमान् prosperous, जनः people, प्रासादहर्म्याणि palaces and mansions, विमानशिखराणि च terraces of sevenstoried buildings, अधिरुह्य having climbed, उदासीनः
sad, व्यलोकयत् looked.

The rich climbed their palaces and mansions, terraces of sevenstoried buildings and watched them sadly.
न हि रथ्याः स्म शक्यन्ते गन्तुं बहुजनाकुलाः।

आरुह्य तस्मात्प्रासादान् दीनाः पश्यन्ति राघवम्।।2.33.4।।


बहुजनाकुलाः thronged with multitudes of citizens, रथ्याः streets, गन्तुम् to walk, न शक्यन्ते स्म हि indeed were unable, तस्मात् for that reason, दीनाः miserable, प्रासादन् the palace, आरुह्य having ascended, राघवम् Rama, पश्यन्ति were looking.

The streets were so thronged with multitudes of citizens that they were impassable. Therefore, people felt miserable and ascended their mansions and gazed at Rama.
पदातिं वर्जितच्छत्रं रामं दृष्ट्वा जनास्तदा।

ऊचुर्बहुविधा वाच श्शोकोपहतचेतसः।।2.33.5।।


तदा then, जनाः people, पदातिम् pedestrian, वर्जितच्छत्रम् without the (royal) umbrella, रामम् to Rama, दृष्ट्वा having seen, शोकोपहतचेतसः griefstricken, बहुविधाः in many ways, वाचः words, ऊचुः uttered.

Seeing Rama walking without the royal umbrella, people were very much shocked. They expressed their reaction in so many words:
यं यान्तमनुयाति स्म चतुरङ्गबलं महत्।

तमेकं सीतया सार्धमनुयाति स्म लक्ष्मणः।।2.33.6।।


यान्तम् while going, यम् whom, महत् powerful, चतुरङ्गबलम् army of four divisions, अनुयाति स्म used to follow, तम् such, एकम् alone, सीतया सार्धम् along with Sita, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, अनुयाति स्म followed.

Whenever Rama went out, powerful army of four divisions used to follow him. Today he is walking alone followed by Lakshmana and Sita.
ऐश्वर्यस्य रसज्ञः सन् कामिनां चैव कामदः।

नेच्छत्येवानृतं कर्तुं पितरं धर्मगौरवात्।।2.33.7।।


ऐश्वर्यस्य of affluence, रसज्ञः सन् while enjoying, कामिनाम् for those who have desires, कामदः चैव fulfiller of desires (Rama), धर्मगौरवात् out of veneration for righteousness, पितरं to father, अनृतम् false, कर्तुम् to make, नेच्छत्येव does not wish.

Rama who enjoyed the comforts of affluence gratifies those who have desires. Out of veneration for righteousness, he does not want to prove his father false (to his promise).
या न शक्या पुरा द्रष्टुं भूतैराकाशगैरपि।

तामद्य सीतां पश्यन्ति राजमार्गगता जनाः।।2.33.8।।


पुरा earlier, या Sita, आकाशगैः by those wandering in the sky (birds), भूतैरपि creatures, द्रष्टुम् to see, न शक्या not possible, तां सीताम् to that Sita, अद्य now, राजमार्गगताः those walking on the highway, जनाः passersby, पश्यन्ति are beholding.

It was not possible even for the creatures wandering in the sky (birds) to have a glimpse of Sita before. Now passersby walking the highway can behold her.
अङ्गरागोचितां सीतां रक्तचन्दनसेविनीम्।

वर्षमुष्णं च शीतं च नेष्यन्त्याशु विवर्णताम्।।2.33.9।।


अङ्गरागोचिताम् used to fragrant unguents, रक्तचन्दन सेविनीम् smeared with red sandalpaste, सीताम् Sita, वर्षम् rain, उष्णं च heat, शीतं च cold, आशु quickly, विवर्णताम् discoloured, नेष्यन्ति will render.

Sita who used to apply fragrant unguents and smear the body with redsandal
cream will now be exposed to the rain, the heat and the cold which will quickly discolour her body.
अद्य नूनं दशरथस्सत्त्वमाविश्य भाषते।

न हि राजा प्रियं पुत्रं विवासयितुमर्हति।।2.33.10।।


अद्य today, नूनम् surely, दशरथः Dasaratha, सत्त्वम् by evil spirit, आविश्य after being possessed by, भाषते is speaking, राजा king, प्रियम् beloved, पुत्रम् son, विवासयितुम् to banish, न अर्हति हि is not fit enough.

Surely king Dasaratha possessed of an evil spirit spoke the way he did today. Otherwise, should a king banish his beloved son?
निर्गुणस्यापि पुत्रस्य कथं स्याद्विप्रवासनम्।

किं पुनर्यस्य लोकोऽयं जितो वृत्तेन केवलम्।।2.33.11।।


निर्गुणस्यापि even one bereft of virtues, पुत्रस्य of a son, विप्रवासनम् banishment, कथम् how, स्यात् can it be, यस्य whose, वृत्तेन केवलम् by good conduct alone, अयं लोकः this world, जितः conquered, किं पुनः why to say again?

Even a son who is bereft of virtues cannot be banished, what to say about Rama, who by good conduct alone has conquered the world.
अनृशंस्यमनुक्रोशः श्रुतं शीलं दमश्शमः।

राघवं शोभयन्त्येते षड्गुणाः पुरुषोत्तमम्।।2.33.12।।


आनृशंस्यम् harmlessness, अनुक्रोशः compassion, श्रुतम् learning, शीलम् good conduct, दमः restraint of senses, शमः self control, एते all these, षट् six, गुणाः qualities, पुरुषोत्तमम् greatest among men, राघवम् Rama, शोभयन्ति adorn.

Harmlessness, compassion, learning, good conduct, restraint of senses and selfcontrol, all these six qualities adorn Rama, the greatest among men.
तस्मात्तस्योपघातेन प्रजाः परमपीडिताः।

औदकानीव सत्त्वानि ग्रीष्मे सलिलसङ्क्षयात्।।2.33.13।।


तस्मात् for that reason, तस्य Rama's, उपघातेन by hurting, ग्रीष्मे in summer, सलिलसङ्क्षयात् due to drying up of water, औदकानि aquatic, सत्त्वानीव like creatures, प्रजाः people, परमपीडिताः were highly tormented.

Therefore, people are deeply pained to see Rama afflicted. They look like aquatic creatures in summer when the water dries up.
पीडया पीडितं सर्वं जगदस्य जगत्पतेः।

मूलस्येवोपघातेन वृक्षः पुष्पफलोपगः।।2.33.14।।


जगत्पतेः of the ruler of the earth, अस्य this Rama's, पीडया on account of his suffering, सर्वम् entire, जगत् earth, मूलस्य at the root, उपघातेन by destruction, पुष्पफलोपगः bearing flowers and fruits, वृक्षः इव like a tree, पीडितम् is distressed.

Just as severed at the root, an entire tree along with its fruits and flowers is destroyed, similarly the whole world gets afflicted when Rama, the ruler of the world, comes to harm.
मूलं ह्येष मनुष्याणां धर्मसारो महाद्युतिः।

पुष्पं फलं च पत्रं च शाखाश्चास्येतरे जनाः।।2.33.15।।


धर्मसारः the essence of dharma, महाद्युतिः effulgent, एषः this Rama, मनुष्याणाम् of humanity, मूलं हि is root indeed, इतरे other, जनाः people, अस्य Rama's (like the trunk of a tree), पुष्पम् flower, फलं च fruit as well, पत्रं च leaf also, शाखाश्च branches.

Effulgent Rama personifies the essence of dharma. He is the root of (the tree of) humanity. The other people are connected with this tree like flowers, fruit, leaves and branches.
ते लक्ष्मण इव क्षिप्रं सपत्न्य स्सहबान्धवाः।

गच्छन्तमनुगच्छामो येन गच्छति राघवः।।2.33.16।।


ते such men as we are, सपत्न्यः with (our) wives, सहबान्धवाः together with (our) relations, राघवः Rama, येन on which (way), गच्छति is going, गच्छन्तम् departing, लक्ष्मण इव like Lakshmana, क्षिप्रम् without delay, अनुगच्छामः we will follow.

Let all of us without delay along with our wives and relations follow Rama, like Lakshmana, wherever he goes.
उद्यानानि परित्यज्य क्षेत्राणि च गृहाणि च।

एकदुःखसुखा राममनुगच्छाम धार्मिकम्।।2.33.17।।


उद्यानानि gardens, क्षेत्राणि fields, गृहाणि च houses also, परित्यज्य deserting, एक दुःखसुखाः experiencing the same joy and sorrow (as Rama), धार्मिकम् virtuous, रामम् Rama, अनुगच्छामः shall follow.

Deserting our gardens, fields and houses and experiencing the same joy and sorrow of the virtuous Rama, we shall follow him.
समुद्धृतनिधानानि परिध्वस्ताजिराणि च।

उपात्त धनधान्यानि हृतसाराणि सर्वशः।।2.33.18।।

रजसाभ्यवकीर्णानि परित्यक्तानि दैवतैः।

मूषकैःपरिधावद्भिरुद्बिलैरावृतानि च।।2.33.19।।

अपेतोदकधूमानि हीनसम्मार्जनानि च।

प्रणष्टबलिकर्मेज्यामन्त्रहोमजपानि च।।2.33.20।।

दुष्कालेनेव भग्नानि भिन्नभाजनवन्ति च।

अस्मात्त्यक्तानि वेश्मानि कैकेयी प्रतिपद्यताम्।।2.33.21।।


समुद्धृतनिधानानि with treasures unearthed, परिध्वस्ताजिराणि च and ruined courtyards, उपात्त धनधान्यानि with wealth and foodgrains removed, सर्वशः wholly, हृतसाराणि deprived of wealth, रजसा with dust, अभ्यवकीर्णानि spread, दैवतैः by gods, परित्यक्तानि abandoned, उद्बिलैः emerging out of burrows, परिथावद्भि: by those running quickly around, मूषकैः by rats, आवृतानि च filled with, अपेतोदकधूमानि (houses) without water and without (emitting) smoke, हीनसम्मार्जनानि च also unswept, प्रणष्टबलिकर्मेज्यामन्त्रहोमजपानि च absence of offerings, sacrifices, recitation of sacred hymns, libations, and invocations, दुष्कालेन famine, भग्नानि इव like dilapidated, भिन्नभाजनवन्ति च places with broken utensils, अस्मत्त्यक्तानि deserted by us, वेश्मानि homes, कैकेयी Kaikeyi, प्रतिपद्यताम् let her own.

Let Kaikeyi take possession of our deserted and dilapidated homes with ruined courtyards which seem as though struck by calamities. They are drained of wealth and foodgrains, covered with dust and abandoned by the gods. There is no water or smoke (from kitchen). They are infested with rats. They stand unswept. There foodgrains lie around ratholes, and broken earthenwares lie scattered. There are no offerings, no sacrifices, no recitation of sacred hymns, no libations and no invocations.
वनं नगरमेवास्तु येन गच्छति राघवः।

अस्माभिश्च परित्यक्तं पुरं सम्पद्यतां वनम्।।2.33.22।।


राघवः scion of the Raghus, येन wherever, गच्छति is going, वनमेव forest itself, नगरम् as city, अस्तु shall be, अस्माभिः by us, परित्यक्तम् deserted, पुरं च the city also, वनम् as forest, सम्पद्यताम् may become.

Since the scion of the Raghu race is going to the forest, let that forest itself be our city and let the city deserted by us become the forest.
बिलानि दंष्ट्रिण स्सर्वे सानूनि मृगपक्षिणः।

त्यजन्त्वस्मद्भयाद्भीता गजास्सिंहा वनानि च।।2.33.23।।

अस्मत्त्यक्तं प्रपद्यन्तां सेव्यमानं त्यजन्तु च।


सर्वे all, दंष्ट्रिणः fanged creatures, बिलानि lairs, मृगपक्षिणः animals and birds, सानूनि slopes of mountain, गजाः elephants, सिंहाः lions, वनानि च the forests, अस्मद्भयात् due to the fear caused by our presence, भीताः having been frightened, त्यजस्तु let them leave, अस्मत्त्यक्तम् left by us, प्रपद्यन्ताम् shall reach, सेव्यमानम् the place occupied by us, त्यजन्तु च desert.

Let all the fanged creatures leave their lairs, birds and animals the mountain slopes, lions and elephants, their haunts due to the fear caused by our presence and occupy the city left by us (on seeing us deserting).
तृणमांस फलादानां देशं व्यालमृगद्विजम्।।2.33.24।।

प्रपद्यतां हि कैकेयी सपुत्रा सह बान्धवैः।

राघवेण वने सर्वे वयं वत्स्याम निर्वृताः।।2.33.25।।


कैकेयी Kaikeyi, सपुत्रा with her son, सहबान्धवैः with her relations, Rव्यालमृगद्विजम् occupied by birds and wild animals, तृणमांसफलादानाम् of those animals subsisting on grass, fruits and flesh, देशम् country, प्रपद्यतां हि be acquired, सर्वे all, निर्वृताः relieved, राघवेण सह with Rama, वने in the forest, वत्स्याम will live.

Let Kaikeyi along with her son and her relatives acquire that country which will be inhabited by birds and animals living on grass, fruits, and flesh. Withdrawn, we shall happily live in the forest along with Rama.
इत्येवं विविधा वाचो नानाजनसमीरिताः।

शुश्राव रामः श्रुत्वा च न विचक्रेऽस्य मानसम्।।2.33.26।।


रामः Rama, इत्येवम् this way, नानाजनसमीरिताः uttered by various people, विविधाः different, वाचः words, शुश्राव heard, श्रुत्वा च also having, अस्य his, मानसम् mind, न विचक्रे did not deviate.

Such were the various words uttered by the people. Even after hearing them his (Rama's) mind remained unmoved (from his resolve).
स तु वेश्म पितुर्दूरात्कैलासशिखरप्रभम्।

अभिचक्राम धर्मात्मा मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः।।2.33.27।।


धर्मात्मा dutiful, मत्तमातङ्ग विक्रमः having the prowess of an intoxicated elephant, सः he (Rama), दूरात् from a distance, कैलासशिखरप्रभम् resembling the splendour of the peak of Kailasa, पितुः father's, वेश्म palace, अभिचक्राम reached.

Dutiful Rama, endowed with the prowess of an intoxicated elephant, approached the residence of his father that resembled from a distance the peak of mount Kailasa in splendour.
विनीतवीरपुरुषं प्रविश्य तु नृपालयम्।

ददर्शावस्थितं दीनं सुमन्त्रमविदूरतः।।2.33.28।।


विनीतवीरपुरुषम् welltrained warriors, नृपालयम् royal palace, प्रविश्य तु having entered, अविदूरतः not from very far, अवस्थितम् standing, दीनम् dejected, सुमन्त्रम् Sumantra, ददर्श saw.

Rama entered the royal palace guarded by welltrained warriors and not from very far saw Sumantra who stood a picture of dejection.
प्रतीक्षमाणोऽपि जनं तदार्त

मनार्तरूपः प्रहसन्निवाथ।

जगाम रामः पितरं दिदृक्षुः

पितुर्निदेशं विधिवच्चिकीर्षुः।।2.33.29।।


रामः Rama, तदा then, आर्तम् distressed, जनम् people, प्रतीक्षमाणोऽपि even though observing,
अनार्तरूपः without revealing his sorrowful feelings, अथ also, प्रहसन्निव looking as if smiling, पितुः father's, निदेशम् palace, विधिवत् in accordance with duty, चिकीर्षुः intent on carrying
out, पितरम् father, दिदृक्षुः intent to see, जगाम went.

Even after observing the people in grief, Rama did not reveal his sorrowful feelings. Bound by duty he went in as if with a smile to see his father.
तत्पूर्वमैक्ष्वाकसुतो महात्मा

रामो गमिष्यन्वनमार्तरूपम्।

व्यतिष्ठत प्रेक्ष्य तदा सुमन्त्रं

पितुर्महात्मा प्रतिहारणार्थम्।।2.33.30।।


ऐक्ष्वाकसुतः son of the Ikshvaku race, महात्मा great intellectual, महात्मा highly courageous, रामः Rama, तत् पूर्वम् for the first time, वनम् to the forest, गमिष्यन् while departing, तदा then, आर्तरूपम् sad appearance, सुमन्त्रम् Sumantra, प्रेक्ष्य having seen, पितुः to father, प्रतिहारणार्थम् to inform, व्यतिष्ठत stood.

Seeing Sumantra stricken with grief for the first time the magnanimous Rama, scion of the Ikshvaku dynasty, on the way to the forest waited there for his father to be informed of his arrival.
पितुर्निदेशेन तु धर्मवत्सलः

वनप्रवेशे कृतबुद्धिनिश्चयः।

स राघवः प्रेक्ष्य सुमन्त्रमब्रवी

न्निवेदयस्वागमनं नृपाय मे।।2.33.31।।


धर्मवत्सलः lover of righteousness, सः राघवः that son of the Raghus, पितुः father's, र्निदेशेन by command, वनप्रवेशे to enter forest, कृतबुद्धिनिश्चय: having made the decision, सुमन्त्रम् to Sumantra, प्रेक्ष्य having seen, अब्रवीत् said, नृपाय to king, मे my, आगमनम् arrival, निवेदयस्व inform

Rama, lover of righteousness, determined to go to the forest in obedience to his
father's command said to Sumantra, Inform the king of my arrival.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयस्त्रिंशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the thirtythird sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.