वधमप्रतिरूपं तु महर्षेस्तस्य राघवः। विलपन्नेव धर्मात्मा कौसल्यामिदमब्रवीत्॥
Remembering the extraordinary death of the Maharsi, that righteous descendant of Raghu, lamenting his son, thus spoke to Kausalyā.
तदज्ञानान्महत्पापं कृत्वा संकुलितेन्द्रियः। एकस्त्वचिन्तयं बुद्ध्या कथं नु सुकृतं भवेत्॥
Having unwittingly committed that great sin, I, with my senses oppressed through grief, thought within myself as to how I could mend it.
ततस्तं घटमादाय पूर्णं परमवारिणा। आश्रमं तमहं प्राप्य यथाख्यातपथं गतः॥
Then taking up the pitcher filled with excellent water, I went by the way mentioned and (at last) reached the asylum.
तत्राहं दुर्बलावन्धौ वृद्धावपरिणायकौ। अपश्यं तस्य पितरौ लूनपक्षाविव द्विजौ॥ तन्निमित्ताभिरासीनौ कथाभिरपरिश्रमौ। तामाशां मत्कृते हीनावुपासीनावनाथवत्॥
There I found his aged, infirm, forlorn, parents, without any one to help them in moving about, like to birds whose wings have been severed, keeping up a talk about (their son) without experiencing any fatigue, and like helpless ones feeding on a hope which had been blasted by me.
शोकोपहतचित्तश्च भयसंत्रस्तचेतनः। तच्चाश्रमपदं गत्वा भूयः शोकमहं गतः॥
My senses overpowered by grief, and my consciousness almost lost through apprehension, I, arrived at the hermitage, again overwhelmed with sorrow.
पदशब्दं तु मे श्रुत्वा मुनिर्वाक्यमभाषत। किं चिरायसि मे पुत्र पानीयं क्षिप्रमानय॥
Hearing my footsteps, the ascetic said, “Why, my son, delay you? Bring the drink at once.
यनिमित्तमिदं तात सलिले क्रीडितं त्वया। उत्कण्ठिता ते मातेयं प्रविश क्षिप्रमाश्रमम्॥
Your mother, O child, was exceedingly anxious in consequence of your sporting in the waters. Do you speedily enter the asylum.
यद् व्यलीकं कृतं पुत्र मात्रा ते यदि वा मया। न तन्मनसि कर्तव्यं त्वया तात तपस्विना॥
O child, it behove you not to take to heart any unkind action that, O son, may have been done to you of high fame either by your mother or myself.
त्वं गतिस्त्वगतीनां च चक्षुस्त्वं हीनचक्षुषाम्। समासक्तास्त्वयि प्राणाः कथं त्वं नाभिभाषसे॥
You are the resource of these helpless ones; you are the eyes of these bereft of their sight. was Our lives are bound up with you. Why do not answer?'
मुनिमव्यक्तया वाचा तमहं सज्जमानया। हीनव्यञ्जनया प्रेक्ष्य भीतचित्त इवाब्रुवम्॥ मनसः कर्म चेष्टाभिरभिसंस्तभ्य वाग्बलम्। आचचक्षे त्वंहं तस्मै पुत्रव्यसनजं भयम्॥
Seeing the ascetic with a choked utterance indistinctly speaking thus with the letters not articulated clearly, I, dashed in spirits, yet concealing the real state of my mind by assuming a doughty tongue, communicated to him the danger that had befallen him in consequence of the calamity of his son:
क्षत्रियोऽहं दशरथो नाहं पुत्रो महात्मनः। सज्जनावमतं दुःखमिदं प्राप्तं स्वकर्मजम् ॥
I am a Ksatriya, Dasaratha (by name), and no son of yours, O magnanimous one. I have come by a misfortune in consequence of an act blamed by the good.
भगवंश्चापहस्तोऽहं सरयूतीरमागतः। जिघांसुः श्वापदं किंचिनिपाने वागतं गजम्॥
O revered one, desirous of killing some beast of prey, and elephant (or some other), come to the waters, I went to the banks of the Sarayū bow in hand.
ततः श्रुतो मया शब्दो जले कुम्भस्य पूर्यतः। द्विपोऽयमिति मत्वाहं बाणेनाभिहतो मया॥ गत्वा तस्यास्ततस्तीरमपश्यमिषुणा हृदि। विनिर्भिन्नं गतप्राणं शयानं भुवि तापसम्॥
Then hearing sounds from the water of a filling pitcher, I thought, This must be an elephant. I wounded it with a shaft. Next coming to the edge of the river, I saw an ascetic lying down on the ground almost deprived of life, with his heart pierced with an arrow.
ततस्तस्यैव वचनादुपेत्य परितप्यतः। स मया सहसा बाण उद्धृतो ममतस्तदा॥
Then coming forward, I in accordance with the direction given by him as he lay in agony, suddenly extracted the arrow from his vitals.
स चोद्धृतेन बाणेन सहसा स्वर्गमास्थितः। भगवन्तावुभौ शोचन्नन्धाविति विलप्य च॥
And as soon as the arrow had been extracted, he ascended heaven, O reverend sir, lamenting and bewailing you, both grown old.
अज्ञानाद् भवतः पुत्रः सहसाभिहतो मया। शेषमेवं गते यत्स्यात् तत् प्रसीदतु मे मुनिः॥
It is through ignorance that I suddenly wounded your son. This having been past, do you favour me with telling me what is now to be done, O ascetic.
स तच्छ्रुत्वा वचः क्रूरं मया तदघशंसिना। नाशकत् तीव्रमायासं स कर्तुं भगवानृषिः॥
Having heard these cruel words, the worshipful ascetic could well by his curse consume me to ashes.
स बाष्पपूर्णवदनो निःश्वसशोकमूर्च्छितः। मामुवाच महातेजाः कृताञ्जलिमुपस्थितम्॥
With eyes flooded with tears, and well nigh deprived of his senses by grief, that highly energetic one said to me standing with joined hands.
यद्येतदशुभं कर्म न स्म मे कथयेः स्वयम्। फलेन्मूर्धा स्म राजन् सद्यः शतसहस्रधा॥
If, O king, you had not of yourself immediately communicated to us this unpleasant news, your head would have been reduced to a thousand flaws.
क्षत्रियेण वधो राजन् वानप्रस्थे विशेषतः। ज्ञानपूर्वं कृतः स्थानाच्च्यावयेदपि वज्रिणम्॥
Not to speak of Kștriyas, I can even drag the very wielder of the thunderbolt himself from his position, if he knowingly kills one, in especial, that has assumed the Vånaprastha mode of life.
सप्तधा तु भवेन्मूर्धा मुनौ तपसि तिष्ठति। ज्ञानाद् विसृजतः शस्त्रं तादृशे ब्रह्मवादिनि॥
Your head would have been severed in seven, if you had discharged the weapon knowingly at such an ascetic staying in austerities and versed in the Vedas.
अज्ञानाद्धि कृतं यस्मादिदं ते तेन जीवसे। अपि ह्यकुशलं न स्याद् राघवाणां कुतोभवान् ॥
It is because you have done this through ignorance that you (still) live, else the race itself of the Rāghavas should be not, and where are you?
ते नय नौ नृप तं देशमिति मां चाभ्यभाषत। अद्य तं द्रष्टुमिच्छावः पुत्रं पश्चिमदर्शनम्॥
He then said, 'Do you, o king, take us to the scene. To day will we look our last on our son besmeared with blood, his deer-skin garb falling off (from his body), lying senseless on the earth, and come under the subjection of the lord of righteousness.'
रुधिरेणावसिक्ताङ्गं प्रकीर्णाजिनवाससम्। शयानं भुवि निःसंज्ञं धर्मराजवशं गतम्॥ अथाहमेकस्तं देशं नीत्वा तौ भृशदुःखितौ। अस्पर्शयमहं पुत्रं तं मुनि सह भार्यया॥
Thereupon I alone taking them exceedingly disconsolate to the spot, made the ascetic and his wife touch their son.
तौ पुत्रमात्मनः स्पृष्ट्वा तमासाद्य तपस्विनौ। निपेततुः शरीरेऽस्य पिता चैनमुवाच ह॥
And having approached their son and touched him, ascetics fell on his person, and then his father addressed him thus.
नाभिवादयसे माऽद्य न च मामभिभाषसे। किं च शेषे तु भूमौ त्वं वत्स किं कुपितो ह्यसि।।३०।
You salute me not to-day, nor did you speak to me. Why, my child, did you lie down on the ground? Art you angry (with us)?
नन्वहं तेऽप्रियः पुत्र मातरं पश्य धार्मिकीम्। किं च नालिङ्गसे पुत्र सुकुमार वचो वद॥
If, my son, you do not feel kindly to me, do you look up to your virtuous mother. And why, O son, do you not embrace me? Do you speak tender words.
कस्य वा पररात्रेऽहं श्रोष्यामि हृदयङ्गमम्। अधीयानस्य मधुरं शास्त्रं वान्यद् विशेषतः॥
At the small hours, form whom engaged in study, shall I hear the scriptures sweetly read in a way coming home to the listener's mind?
को मां संध्यामुपास्यैव स्नात्वा हुतहुताशनः। श्लाघयिष्यत्युपासीनः पुत्रशोकभयादितम् ॥
Who, having performed his daily devotions and offered oblation to the sacrificial fire, will bathe me, afflicted with grief for my son?
कन्दमूलफलं हृत्वा यो मां प्रियमिवातिथिम्। भोजयिष्यत्यकर्मण्यमप्रग्रहमनायकम्॥
Who procuring Kandas, fruits and roots, will feed me like an welcome guest, incapable of and doing anything and furnishing provisions, and without any one to take care of myself.?
इमामन्धां च वृद्धां च मातरं ते तपस्विनीम्। कथं पुत्र भरिष्यामि कृपणां पुत्रगर्धिनीम्॥
And, my son, how will I maintain this blind ascetic mother of yours, proud of her son, who is passing her days in misery?
तिष्ठ मा मा गमः पुत्र यमस्य सदनं प्रति। श्वो मया सह गन्तासि जनन्या च समेधितः॥
Do you stay my son, in my behalf. Tomorrow you will go to Yama's mansion with me and your mother.
उभावपि च शोकार्तावनाथौ कृपणौ वने। क्षिप्रमेव गमिष्यावस्त्वया हीनौ यमक्षयम्॥
Distressed with grief and rendered miserable in the forest, both of us deprived of you shall soon repair to the abode of Yama.
ततो वैवस्वतं दृष्ट्वा तं प्रवक्ष्यामि भारतीम्। क्षमतां धर्मराजो मे बिभृयात् पितरावयम्॥
Seeing Vivasvata's son, I will say to him, Do you, O lord of justice forgive me, and let this my son, continue to maintain us, his parents.
दातुमर्हति धर्मात्मा लोकपालो महायशाः। ईदृशस्य ममाक्षय्यामेकामभयदक्षिणाम्॥
It behove you, O righteous and illustrious guardian of the words, to confer on me reduced to such a pass this one enduring dakşiņā capable of removing our fear.
अपापोऽसि यथा पुत्र निहतः पापकर्मणा। तेन सत्येन गच्छाशु ये लोकास्त्वस्त्रयोधिनाम्॥ यां हि शूरा गतिं यान्ति संग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनः। हतास्त्वभिमुखाः पुत्र गतिं तां परमां व्रज॥
You, my son, are sinless, although slain by this one who has done an unrighteous act; and by the force of this truth , do you repair to the world of warriors. Do you, O son, go the supreme way that is gone by heroes who without turning back from the fight, are slain in open encounter.
यां गतिं सगरः शैब्यो दिलीपो जनमेजयः। नहुषो धुन्धुमारश्च प्राप्तास्तां गच्छ पुत्रक॥
Do you, O son, go the way that has been gone by Sagara and Saivya and Dilīpa and Janamejaya and Nahusa and Dhundhumāra.
या गतिः सर्वभूतानां स्वाध्यायात् तपसश्च या। भूमिदस्याहिताग्नेश्च एकपत्नीव्रतस्य च ॥ गोसहस्रप्रदातॄणां गुरुसेवाभृतामपि। देहन्यासकृतां या च तां गतिं गच्छ पुत्रक॥
Do you, O son, go the way that is gone by all creatures, even by ascetics engaged in the study of the Veda, by bestowers of lands, by those performing fire-sacrifices, by individuals each devoted to a single wife, men giving away a thousand kine, persons tending their preceptors, and individuals renouncing lives by fasting.
न हि त्वस्मिन् कुले जातो गच्छत्यकुशलां गतिम्। स तु यास्यति येन त्वं निहतो मम बान्धवः॥
He that is born in such a race cannot come by any evil case. Such a condition be his that has taken the life of you, my friend.'
एवं स कृपणं तत्र पर्यदेवयतासकृत्। तथोक्त्वा कर्तुमुदकं प्रवृत्तः सह भार्यया॥
Having thus piteously wept, he along with his wife set about performing the watery rites on behalf of his son.
स तु दिव्येन रूपेण मुनिपुत्रः स्वकर्मभिः। स्वर्गमध्यारुहत् क्षिप्रं शक्रेण सह धर्मवित्॥
Thereupon speedily assuming a celestial shape, the virtuous son of the ascetic by his own actions ascended heaven in company with Sakra.
आबभाषे च तौ वृद्धौ शक्रेण सह तापसः। आश्वस्य च मुहूर्तं तु पितरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥
Then (returning) along with Sakra, the ascetic comforting his aged parents, addressed them, sa ing.
स्थानमस्मि महत् प्राप्तो भवतोः परिचारणात्। भवन्तावपि च क्षिप्रं मम मूलमुपैष्यथः॥
I have attained a high state in consequence of having served you. Do you also without delay come to me.
एवमुक्त्वा तु दिव्येन विमानेन वपुष्मता। मामुवाच महातेजाः आरुरोह दिवं क्षिप्रं मुनिपुत्रो जितेन्द्रियः॥
Having said this, the ascetic's son of restrained sense ascended heaven by means of an excellent and commodious car.
स कृत्वाथोदकं तूर्णं तापसः सह भार्यया। कृताञ्जलिमुपस्थितम्॥
Having performed the watery rites, the highly energetic ascetic along with his wife speedily said to me staying with joined hands.
अद्यैव जहि मां राजन् मरणे नास्ति मे व्यथा। यः शरेणैकपुत्रं मां त्वमकार्षीरपुत्रकम्॥
Do you, O monarch, slay me on the instant. I do not grieve to die', you have by your shaft rendered me who had an only son, absolutely sonless.
त्वयापि च यदज्ञानानिहतो मे स बालकः। तेन त्वामपि शप्स्येऽहं सुदुःखमतिदारुणम्॥ पुत्रव्यसनजं दुःखं यदेतन्मम साम्प्रतम्। एवं त्वं पुत्रशोकेन राजन् कालं करिष्यसि ॥
Since this sorrow arising from the calamity that has befallen my son, is at present mine (through your instrumentality), I curse you. You shall even in this way find your death from grief born of separation from your son.
अज्ञानात्तु हतो यस्मात् क्षत्रियेण त्वया मुनिः। तस्मात् त्वां नाविशत्याशु ब्रह्महत्या नराधिप॥ त्वामप्येतादृशो भावः क्षिप्रमेव गमिष्यति। जीवितान्तकरो घोरो दातारमिव दक्षिणाम्॥
As you a Kşatriya has through ignorance slain an ascetic, the sin, O lord of men, of slaying a Brāhmaṇa will not envelope you speedily; but you shall shortly come by this dreadful and mortal condition, like a donor of Dakşiņās (coming by the things given away).'
एवं शापं मयि न्यस्य विलप्य करुणं बहु। चितामारोप्य देहं तन्मिथुनं स्वर्गमभ्ययात्॥
Having thus inflicted on me the curse and piteously lamented long, the coupe ascended the funeral pile and went to heaven.
तदेतच्चिन्तयानेन स्मृतं पापं मया स्वयम्। तदा बाल्यात् कृतं देवि शब्दवेध्यनुकर्षिणा॥
O noble dame, the crime that I hitting by help of sound, had committed in my boyhood, has reverted to my recollection in course of thought.
तस्यायं कर्मणो देवि विपाकः समुपस्थितः। अपथ्यैः सह सम्भुक्ते व्याधिरनरसे यथा॥ तस्मान्मामागतं भद्रे तस्योदारस्य तद् वचः।
O exalted lady, even as a disease generated by one's taking rice with unhealthy curry, this danger is imminent in consequence of that act. O gentle one, the words of that noble-minded person are about to be verified in me.
इत्युक्त्वा स रुदंस्त्रस्तो भार्यामाह तु भूमिपः॥ यदहं पुत्रशोकेन संत्यजिष्यामि जीवितम्। चक्षुभ्यां त्वां न पश्यामि कौसल्ये त्वं हि मां स्पृश।।
Having said this and weeping, the king said to his wife, “I shall renounce life through grief for my son. And I shall no more behold you with my eyes. Do you, O Kausalyā, touch me."
यमक्षयमनुप्राप्ता द्रक्ष्यन्ति नहि मानवाः। यदि मां संस्पृशेद् रामः सकृदन्वारभेत वा॥
People going to the mansion of Yama no more behold (their friends): If Rama touch me directly or otherwise, obtain the exchequer, and be installed as the heir-apparent, Meseems, I may yet live.
धनं वा यौवराज्यं वा जीवेयमिति मे मतिः। न तन्मे सदृशं देवि यन्मया राघवे कृतम्॥ सदृशं तत्तु तस्यैव यदनेन कृतं मयि।
O noble lady, what I have done to Rāghava in not surely like myself; but what (on the other hand) he has done by me is worthy of him.
दुर्वृत्तमपि कः पुत्रं त्यजेद् भुवि विचक्षणः॥ कश्च प्रव्राज्यमानो वा नासूयेत् पितरं सुतः।
What sensible man for sake his son, albeit he may be wicked? And what son being banished, does not bear ill will towards his father?
चक्षुषा त्वां न पश्यामि स्मृतिर्मम विलुप्यते॥ दूता वैवस्वतस्यैते कौसल्ये त्वरयन्ति माम्।
But I do not see you with my eyes, and my memory fails. These envoys of Vivasvata's son, OKausalya, urge speed upon me.
अतस्तु किं दुःखतरं यदहं जीवितक्षये॥ नहि पश्यामि धर्मज्ञं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्।
What can be an object of greater regret than that I during my last moments cannot behold the righteous Rāma having truth for prowess?
तस्य दर्शनजः शोकः सुतस्याप्रतिकर्मणः॥ उच्छोषयति वै प्राणान् वारि स्तोकमिवातपः।
Even as the sun dried up a drop of water, grief for not seeing my son of incomparable acts dried my spirits.
न ते मनुष्या देवास्ते ये चारुशुभकुण्डलम्॥ मुखं द्रक्ष्यन्ति रामस्य वर्षे पञ्चदशे पुनः।
Those are not men, those are gods who in the fifteenth year shall again behold Rāma's countenance graced with elegant and burnished ear-rings.
पद्मपत्रेक्षणं सुभ्र सुदंष्ट्रं चारुनासिकम्॥ धन्या द्रक्ष्यन्ति रामस्य ताराधिपसमं मुखम्।
O you of graceful eye-brows, blessed are they who shall behold Rāma's countenance furnished with eyes resembling lotus-petals, with excellent teeth and a shapely nose, like to the lord of the stars himself.
सदृशं शारदस्येन्दोः फुल्लस्य कमलस्य च॥ सुगन्धि मम रामस्य धन्या द्रक्ष्यन्ति ये मुखम्। निवृत्तवनवासं तमयोध्यां पुनरागतम्॥ द्रक्ष्यन्ति सुखिनो रामं शुक्रं मार्गगतं तथा।
Blessed are they that shall behold that fragrant face of his like to the autumnal moon, or the fullblown lotus. Thrice-blessed they who with delighted hearts, shall behold Rāma returned from the forest and come back to Ayodhyā, like to Sukra crowning the zenith?
कौसल्ये चित्तमोहेन हृदयं सीदतेतराम्॥ वेदये न च संयुक्ताशब्दस्पर्शरसानहम्। चित्तनाशाद् विपद्यन्ते सर्वाण्येवेन्द्रियाणि हि। क्षीणस्नेहस्य दीपस्य संरक्ता रश्मयो यथा॥
O Kausalyā, my heart is weighed down with grief; and I do not perceive objects of hearing, feeling, or taste. My senses are growing dim in consequence of the mental stupor, like the rays of a lamp reduced to smoke, becoming dim when the oil has been exhausted.
अयमात्मभवः शोको मामनाथमचेतनम्। संसाधयति वेगेन यथा कूलं नदीरयः॥
As the violence of a river wears away its banks, my grief occasioned through my own agency is destroying me, who am helpless and insensible.
हा राघव महाबाहो हा ममायासनाशन। हा पितृप्रिय मे नाथ हा ममासि गतः सुत । ७५ ।।
O mighty-armed Rāghava! O you remover of my troubles! O you that do delight in your father! you are my stay, O my son, that have gone away.
हा कौसल्ये न पश्यामि हा सुमित्रे तपस्विनि। हा नृशंसे ममामित्रे कैकेयि कुलपांसनि॥
O Kausalyā, I do not see. O wretched Sumitrā! O cruel one, you enemy of mine, you Kaikeyī, who have befouled your line!
इति मातुश्च रामस्य सुमित्रायाश्च संनिधौ। राजा दशरथः शोचञ्जीवितान्तमुपागमत्॥
Having thus lamented in presence of Rāma's mother and Sumitrā, king Daſaratha breathed his last.
तथा तु दीनः कथयन् नराधिपः प्रियस्य पुत्रस्य विवासनातुरः। स्तदा जहौ प्राणमुदारदर्शनः। ७८ ।।
Thus that distressed lord of men, smitten with 1e exile of his beloved son, that one possessed fa gracious presence, when the night had been alf spent, wrought up with the violence of his notion, departed this life.