Sloka & Translation

[King Dasaratha orders four divisions of the army and a lot of wealth to be sent with Rama --Kaikeyi objects --Siddhartha appeases Kaikeyi--the king expresses his desire to accompany Rama to the forest.]

ततस्सुमन्त्रमैक्ष्वाकः पीडितोऽत्र प्रतिज्ञया।

सबाष्पमतिनिश्श्वश्य जगादेदं पुनः पुनः।।2.36.1।।


ततः then, अत्र in this matter, प्रतिज्ञया by the promise, पीडितः afflicted, ऐक्ष्वाकः descendant of Ikshvaku, Dasaratha, सबाष्पं with tears, अतिनिश्श्वस्य sighing deeply, सुमन्त्रम् to Sumantra, पुनः पुनः again and again, इदम् these words, जगाद uttered.

Afflicted on account of the promise he had made, Dasaratha, descendant of the Ikshvakus heaved deep sighs again and again and with his eyes full of tears uttered these words to Sumantra:
सूत रत्नसुसम्पूर्णा चतुर्विधबला चमूः।

राघवस्यानुयात्रार्थं क्षिप्रं प्रतिविधीयताम्।।2.36.2।।


सूत O charioteer, राघवस्य Rama's, अनुयात्रार्थम् to follow him in his journey, रत्नसुसम्पूर्णा including gems, चतुर्विधबला four divisions of, चमूः the army, क्षिप्रम् immediately, प्रतिविधीयताम् be arranged.

O Sumantra arrange immediately four divisions of the army, wellequipped with precious stones to escort Rama in his journey to (the forest).
रूपाजीवाश्च वादिन्यो वणिजश्च महाधनाः।

शोभयन्तु कुमारस्य वाहिनीं सुप्रसारिताः।।2.36.3।।


वादिन्यः sweettongued, रूपाजीवाश्च beautiful courtesans, महाधनाः affluent, वणिजश्च
merchants, सुप्रसारिताः with wellspread merchandise, कुमारस्य son's, वाहिनीम् army, शोभयन्तु make it graceful.

Let the sweettongued courtesans, opulent merchants with well spreadout merchandise make the army of my son graceful.
ये चैनमुपजीवन्ति रमते यैश्च वीर्यतः।

तेषां बहुविधं दत्त्वा तानप्यत्र नियोजय ।।2.38.4।।


ये च whoever, एनम् this (Rama), उपजीवन्ति depend for living, वीर्यतः gallantry, यैश्च with whom, रमते used to sport, तेषाम् of all of them, बहुविधम् several kinds (of wealth), दत्त्वा having given (incentives), तान् all of them, अत्र in this entourage, नियोजय employ.

Bestow immense wealth on those who depended on Rama for their living and on the gallant youths with whom he used to sport. Send them along with the entourage.
आयुधानि च मुख्यानि नागरा श्शकटानि च।

अनुगच्छन्तु काकुत्स्थं व्याधाश्चारण्य गोचराः।।2.36.5।।


मुख्यानि main, आयुधानि च weapons, नागराः citizens, शकटानि च carts and carriages, आरण्यगोचराः wanderers in the forest, व्याधश्च fowlers, काकुत्स्थम् Rama, अनुगच्छन्तु follow.

Main weapons, citizens (bodyguards), carts, wanderers in the forest and fowlers wellacquainted with the forest shall follow Rama.
निघ्नन् मृगान् कुञ्जरांश्च पिबंश्चारण्यकं मधु।

नदीश्च विविधाः पश्यन्न राज्यस्य स्मरिष्यति।।2.36.6।।


मृगान् antelopes, कुञ्जरांश्च elephants, निघ्नन् while slaying, आरण्यकम् available in the forest, मधु honey, पिबंश्च while drinking, विविधाः several, नदीश्च rivers, पश्यन् while beholding, राज्यस्य of kingdom, न स्मरिष्यति he will not recollect.

Hunting the elephants and antelopes, drinking forest honey, beholding several rivers on the way, Rama will not recollect the kingdom.
धान्यकोशश्च यः कश्चिद्धनकोशश्च मामकः।

तौ राममनुगच्छेतां वसन्तं निर्जने वने।।2.36.7।।


यः whichever, मामकः mine, धान्यकोशः च granary, धनकोशः च the treasury, तौ those, निर्जने in the desolate, वने in forest, वसन्तं living, रामम् Rama, अनुगच्छेताम् both may follow.

Let the entire contents of my granary and treasury follow Rama wherever he lives in the desolate forest.
यजन् पुण्येषु देशेषु विसृजं श्चाप्तदक्षिणाः।

ऋषिभिश्च समागम्य प्रवत्स्यति सुखं वने।।2.36.8।।


पुण्येषु holy, देशेषु places, यजन् while performing sacrifices, आप्तदक्षिणाः appropriate gifts, विसृजंश्च liberally givng, ऋषिभिः with sages, समागम्य meeting, वने in the forest, सुखम् happily, प्रवत्स्यति he will live.

Performing sacrifices in the holy places and liberally giving appropriate gifts, Rama will live happily in the forest in the company of sages.
भरतश्च महाबाहुरयोध्यां पालयिष्यति।

सर्वकामैः सह श्रीमान् रामः संसाध्यतामिति ।।2.36.9।।


महाबाहुः mightyarmed, भरतश्च Bharata also, अयोध्याम् to Ayodhya, पालयिष्यति will rule, श्रीमान् auspicious, रामः Rama, सर्वकामैः सह with all objects of enjoyment, संसाध्यताम्
furnish, इति thus spoke.

(While) mightyarmed Bharata will rule Ayodhya, Rama be furnished with all objects of enjoyment.
एवं ब्रुवति काकुत्स्थे कैकेय्या भय मागतम्।

मुखं चाप्यगमच्छोषं स्वरश्चापि न्यरुध्यत।।2.36.10।।


काकुत्स्थे scion of the Kakutsthas (Dasaratha), एवम् in this way, ब्रुवति while saying, कैकेय्याः Kaikeyi, भयम् fear, आगतम् entered, मुखं चापि her face also, शोषम् dryness, आगमत् obtained, स्वरश्चापि even her voice, न्यरुध्यत choked.

While Dasaratha was saying these words, Kaikeyi was gripped by fear and her face looked pale. Even her voice got choked.
सा विषण्णा च सन्त्रस्ता मुखेन परिशुष्यता।

राजानमेवाभिमुखी कैकेयी वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.36.11।।


सा कैकेयी Kaikeyi, विषण्णा च dejected, सन्त्रस्ता frightened, परिशुष्यता drying up, मुखेन with countenance, राजानमेव to the king alone, अभिमुखी facing the king, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

The dejected and frightened Kaikeyi with a dry countenance, looked at the king and said:
राज्यं गतजनं साधो पीतमण्डां सुरामिव।

निरास्वाद्यतमं शून्यं भरतो नाभिपत्स्यते।।2.36.12।।


साधो O virtuous one, गतजनम् abandoned by men, शून्यम् empty (of wealth), निरास्वाद्यतमम् incapable of being tasted (enjoyed), राज्यम् kingdom, पीतमण्डाम् essence evaporated, सुराम् इव like wine, भरतः Bharata, नाभिपत्स्यते will not receive.

O virtuous king Bharata will not take charge of the kingdom abandoned by men, drained of wealth and incapable of being enjoyed, like wine with its essence evaporated.
कैकेय्यां मुक्तलज्जायां वदन्त्यामतिदारुणाम्।

राजा दशरथो वाक्यमुवाचायतलोचनाम्।।2.36.13।।


कैकेय्याम् when Kaikeyi, मुक्तलज्जायाम् shameless, अतिदारुणम् terribly cruel, वदन्त्याम् speaking, राजा king, दशरथः Dasaratha, आयतलोचनाम् largeeyed woman, वाक्यम् these words, उवाच said.

King Dasaratha heard the terribly cruel and shameless words of that largeeyed Kaikeyi, and said:
वहन्तं किं तुदसि मां नियुज्य धुरि माऽहिते।

अनार्ये कृत्यमारब्धं किं न पूर्वमुपारुधः।।2.36.14।।


हिते O brutal one, मा me, धुरि in the yoke, नियुज्य having yoked, वहन्तम् while drawing, किम् why, माम् me, तुदसि goading, अनार्ये O vile one, आरब्धम् commenced, कृत्यम् act, पूर्वम् earlier, किम् why, न उपारुधः did not prevent.

O brutal Kaikeyi, you fastened me to the yoke and when I am drawing forward, why do you beat me? O vile woman why did you not prevent me in the beginning itself?
तस्यैतत्क्रोधसंयुक्तमुक्तं श्रुत्वा वराङ्गना।

कैकेयी द्विगुणं क्रुद्धा राजानमिदमब्रवीत्।।2.36.15।।


वराङ्गना that lovely woman, कैकेयी Kaikeyi, क्रोधसंयुक्तम् wrathful, तस्य that Dasaratha's, उक्तम् uttered, एतत् all these words, श्रुत्वा having heard, द्विगुणम् doubled, कृद्धा furious, राजानम् to the king, इदम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

At these wrathful words of Dasaratha, Kaikeyi with redoubled fury replied to the king:
वैव वंशे सगरो ज्येष्ठं पुत्रमुपारुधत्।

असमञ्ज इति ख्यातं तथायं गन्तुमर्हति।।2.36.16।।


तव in your, वंशे एव dynasty itself, सगरः Sagara, असमञ्जः इति as Asamanjasa, ख्यातम् wellknown, ज्येष्ठपुत्रम् eldest son, उपारुधत् was prevented (from assuming the kingdom), अयम् this Rama also, तथा in the same way, गन्तुम् to go, अर्हति is worthy of.

In your own dynasty king Sagara prevented his wellknown eldest son Asamanjasa (from enjoying the kingdom). Rama also should depart in the same manner.
एवमुक्तो धिगित्येव राजा दशरथोऽब्रवीत्।

व्रीडितश्च जनस्सर्व स्सा च तं नावबुध्यत।।2.36.17।।


एवम् in this way, उक्तः having been told, राजा king, दशरथः Dasaratha, धिक् इत्येव 'shame' only, अब्रवीत् said, सर्वः all, जनः people, व्रीडितः were ashamed, सा च Kaikeyi, तम् that one, नावबुध्यत did not perceive.

Hearing the words of Kaikeyi, Dasaratha could say only 'shame'. All the people felt ashamed, but Kaikeyi could not understand this.
तत्र वृद्धो महामात्रस्सिद्धार्थो नाम नामतः।

शुचिर्बहुमतो राज्ञः कैकेयी मिदमब्रवीत्।।2.38.18।।


तत्र present there, वृद्धः the aged, नामतः by name, सिद्धार्थो नाम named Siddartha, शुचिः holy, राज्ञः king, बहुमतः favourite, महामात्रः minister, कैकेयीम् to Kaikeyi, इदम् this, अब्रवीत् spoke.

An aged minister named Siddhartha who justified his name, highly respected by the king said this to Kaikeyi:
असमञ्जो गृहीत्वा तु क्रीडतः पथि बालकान्।

सरय्वाः प्रक्षिपन्नप्सु रमते तेन दुर्मतिः।।2.36.19।।


दुर्मतिः wickedminded, असमञ्जः तु as for Asamanjasa, पथि on the street, क्रीडतः playing,
बालकान् children, गृहीत्वा seizing, सरय्वा: Sarayu's, अप्सु in waters, प्रक्षिपन् while hurling, तेन with that, रमते amused.

That wickedminded Asamanjasa used to seize the children playing on the street and amuse himself by hurling them in the waters of river Sarayu.
तं दृष्ट्वा नागरा स्सर्वे कृद्धा राजानमब्रुवन्।

असमञ्जं वृणीष्वैकमस्मान्वा राष्ट्रवर्धन।।2.36.20।।


तम् them, दृष्ट्वा on watching, सर्वे all, नागराः people of the city, कृद्धाः enraged, राजानम् to the king, अब्रुवन् spoke, राष्ट्रवर्धन O enhancer of (prosperity of) the kingdom, एकम् one, असमञ्जम् Asamanjasa, अस्मान् वा or us, वृणीष्व choose.

Watching it, all the enraged citizens said to the king, 'O enhancer of the prosperity of the kingdom, either you choose Asamanjasa or us'.
तानुवाच ततो राजा किन्निमित्तमिदं भयम्।

ताश्चापि राज्ञा सम्पृष्टा वाक्यं प्रकृतयोऽब्रुवन्।।2.36.21।।


ततः then, राजा king, तान् to them, उवाच said, इदं भयम् this fear, किन्निमित्तम् why?, राज्ञा by the king, सम्पृष्टाः having been asked, ताः those, प्रकृतयश्चापि subjects also, वाक्यम् these words, अब्रुवन् said.

The king then asked them, 'Why this fear?'. And the citizens responded:
डक्रीडतस्त्वेष नः पुत्रान् बालानुद्भ्रान्तचेतनः।

सरय्वां प्रक्षिपन्मौर्ख्यादतुलां प्रीतिमश्नुते।।2.36.22।।


उद्भ्रान्तचेतनः with an insane mind, एषः this one, क्रीडतः while playing, बालान् young ones, नः our, पुत्रान् sons, सरय्वाम् in Sarayu river, प्रक्षिपन् while throwing, मौर्ख्यात् in his insanity, अतुलाम् incomparable, प्रीतिम् pleasure, अश्नुते deriving.

That insane (Asamanjasa) while throwing our children who were playing around into Sarayu river in his insanity derived incomparable pleasure'.
स तासां वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रकृतीनां नराधिपः।

तं तत्याजाहितं पुत्रं तेषां प्रियचिकीर्षया।।2.36.23।।


सः नराधिपः that king, तेषां प्रकृतीनाम् of those subjects, वचनम् words, श्रुत्वा having heard, तासाम् to all of them, प्रियचिकीर्षया with the intention of pleasing them, अहितम् malevolent, तं पुत्रम् that son, तत्याज banished.

That king (Sagara) heard the words of the citizens and with the intention of doing good to them, banished that malevolent son.
तं यानं शीघ्रमारोप्य सभार्यं सपरिच्छदम्।

यावज्जीवं विवास्योऽयमिति स्वानन्वशात्पिता।।2.36.24।।


पिता father, Sagara, भार्यम् to (his sons's) wife, सपरिच्छदम् with the clothes on them (then their, तम् him, शीघ्रम् without delay, यानम् in a carriage, आरोप्य got him placed, अयम् this one, यावज्जीवम् for life, विवास्यः इति shall be banished, स्वान् his servants, अन्वशात् ordered.

Then the father made him and his wife climb a carriage with the clothes they had at the time on them and at once ordered his servants to banish him for life.
स फालपिटकं गृह्य गिरिदुर्गाण्यलोडयत्।

दिश स्सर्वास्त्वनुचरन् स यथा पापकर्मकृत्।।2.36.25।।


स: he, पापकर्मकृत् यथा like an evildoer, सर्वाः all, दिशः directions, अनुचरन् wandering about,
सः he, फालपिटकम् a spade and a basket, गृह्य holding, गिरिदुर्गाणि impenetrable mountains, अलोडयत् spent digging.

Like an evildoer wandering about in different directions, holding a spade and a basket in his hand, he went about digging the impenetrable mountains.
इत्येनमत्यजद्राजा सगरो वै सुधार्मिकः।

रामः किमकरोत्पापं येनैवमुपरुध्यते।।2.36.26।।


सुधार्मिकः highly righteous, सगरः राजा king Sagara, इति thus, एनम् him, अत्यजत् abandoned, रामः Rama, किं पापम् what sin, अकरोत् has committed, येन by which, एवम् this way, उपरुध्यते should be banished.

Highly righteous king Sagara thus banished his son. What sin has Rama committed to secure a similar banishment?
न हि कञ्चन पश्यामो राघवस्यागुणं वयम्।

दुर्लभो ह्यस्य निरय श्शशाङ्कस्येव कल्मषम्।।2.36.27।।


वयम् we, राघवस्य Rama's, अवगुणम् fault, कञ्चन even a little, न पश्यामः हि we do not see, शशाङ्कस्य moon's, कल्मषम् इव like stain, अस्य for this Rama, निरयः hell (blemish), दुर्लभः is difficult to find

We see no fault in Rama. Unlike the stain in the Moon it is difficult to find any blemish in him.
अथवा देवि दोषं त्वं कञ्चित्पश्यसि राघवे।

तमद्य ब्रूहि तत्वेन तदा रामो विवास्यताम्।।2.36.28।।


अथवा nevertheless, देवि Devi (Kaikeyi), त्वम् you, राघवे in the scion of the Raghu race (Rama), कञ्चित् the little, दोषम् fault, पश्यसि see, तम् about him, अद्य now, तत्त्वेन truly, ब्रूहि speak, तदा then, रामः Rama, विवास्यताम् will be exiled.

O Kaikeyi speak truly if you find any fault in this scion of the Raghu race (Rama). Then he will be exiled.
अदुष्टस्य हि संत्यागः सत्पथे निरतस्य च।

निर्दहेदपि शक्रस्य द्युतिं धर्मनिरोधनात्।2.36.29।।


अदुष्टस्य of an innocent, सत्पथे on the righteous path, निरतस्य च engaged in, संत्यागः banishment, धर्मनिरोधनात् by restraining righteousness, शक्रस्य अपि even Indra's, द्युतिम् brilliance, निर्दहेत् will be destroyed.

The act of banishment of an innocent one walking the righteous path is like destroying the brilliance of Indra by restraining his righteousness.
तदलं देवि रामस्य श्रिया विहतया त्वया।

लोकतोऽपि हि ते रक्ष्यः परिवादः शुभानने।।2.36.30।।


देवि Devi, तत् for that reason, त्वया by you, रामस्य Rama's, श्रिया with prosperity, विहतया has been ruined, अलम् enough, शुभानने O one of auspicious countenance, ते to you, लोकतः in the world, परिवादः अपि censure also, रक्ष्यः हि is to be saved.

O Devi, there is no use obstructing Rama's prosperity. O one with an auspicious countenance, save yourself from the censure of the world.
श्रुत्वा तु सिद्धार्थवचो राजा श्रान्ततरस्वनः।

शोकोपहतया वाचा कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत्।।2.36.31।।


सिद्धार्थवचः Siddhartha's words, श्रुत्वा having heard, राजा king, श्रान्ततरस्वनः in progressively failing voice, शोकोपहतया griefstricken, वाचा words, कैकेयीम् to Kaikeyi, इदम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Having heard Siddhartha, the king, stricken with grief, said to Kaikeyi in a gradually
feeble voice.
एतद्वचो नेच्छसि पापवृत्ते हितं न जानासि ममात्मनो वा।

आस्थाय मार्गं कृपणं कुचेष्टा चेष्टा हि ते साधुपथादपेता।।2.36.32।।


पापवृत्ते O one of vicious behaviour, एतत् वचः all these words, नेच्छसि do not please you, कुचेष्टा of wicked attempts, कृपणम् vile, मार्गम् path, आस्थाय having adopted, मम to me, आत्मनो वा or to you also, हितम् good, न जानासि you do not know, ते to you, चेष्टा actions, साधुपथात् from the right path, अपेता devoid

O Kaikeyi of vicious behaviour, you do not aceept even the words of Siddhartha. You woman of wicked acts, having adopted vile ways, and abjured the right path cannot know what is good either for you or for me.
अनुव्रजिष्याम्यहमद्य रामं

राज्यं परित्यज्य सुखं धनं च।

सहैव राज्ञा भरतेन च त्वं

यथासुखं भुङ्क्ष्व चिराय राज्यम्।।2.36.33।।


अहम् I, राज्यम् kingdom, सुखम् comfort, धनं च wealth, परित्यज्य forsaking, अद्य today, रामम् Rama, अनुव्रजिष्यामि shall follow, त्वम् you, राज्ञा with the king, भरतेन सहैव along with Bharata, यथासुखम् happily, चिराय for a long time, राज्यम् kingdom, भुङ्क्ष्व enjoy.

Abandoning this kingdom, these comforts and this wealth, I shall follow Rama. Enjoy the kingdom for a long time happily along with king Bharata.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्त्रिंशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the thirtysixth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.