DONATE NOW - UPI
अयोध्या-काण्ड > श्री राम से कौशल्या, सुमित्रा का मिलन
Preceded by Dasaratha's wives and others, Vasishta advances to the hermitage of
Rama. Kausalya, on the way, shows to her co-wives the balls of Ingudi fruit-pulp offered to the
spirits of Dasaratha by Rama on blades of Dabha grass, the raised spikes of which pointed towards
the south; along the bank of Mandakini River. Kausalya was stricken with anguish for her deceased
husband. Reaching the hermitage, both Rama and Lakshmana hold the feet of the Queens in salutation.
Kausalya feels sad at the fate of Seetha in the forest, when the latter touches her feet. Rama
holds the feet of his preceptor and takes his seat. Accompanied by his ministers, Bharata also sits
nearby.
वसिष्ठः पुरतः कृत्वा दारान् दशरथस्य च |
अभिचक्राम तं देशं रामदर्शनतर्षितः || २-१०४-१
अभिचक्राम तं देशं रामदर्शनतर्षितः || २-१०४-१
Eager to see Rama again, Vasishta approached that place, preceded by Dasaratha's
wives.
राजपत्न्यश्च गच्छन्त्यो मन्दं मन्दाकिनीम् प्रति |
ददृशुस्तत्र तत्तीर्थं रामलक्ष्मणसेवितम् || २-१०४-२
ददृशुस्तत्र तत्तीर्थं रामलक्ष्मणसेवितम् || २-१०४-२
The king's wives, while moving slowly towards River Mandakini, saw the ford there,
being frequented by Rama and Lakshmana.
कौसल्या बाष्पपूर्णेन मुखेन परिशुष्यता |
सुमित्रामब्रवीद्दीना याश्चान्या राजयोषितः || २-१०४-३
सुमित्रामब्रवीद्दीना याश्चान्या राजयोषितः || २-१०४-३
With a gloomy and emaciated face, filled with tears, Kausalya spoke to Sumitra and
other royal women (as follows):
इदम् तेषामनाथानाम् क्लिष्टमक्लिष्टकर्मणाम् |
वने प्राक्कलनम्तीर्थम् ये ते निर्विषयीकृताः || २-१०४-४
वने प्राक्कलनम्तीर्थम् ये ते निर्विषयीकृताः || २-१०४-४
"This is the ford, located in the eastern region of the forest, frequented by
Seetha, Rama and Lakshmana, banished from the kingdom; those unfortunate persons of illustrious
exploits who have no country."
इतस्सुमित्रे पुत्रस्ते सदा जलमतन्द्रितः |
स्वयं हरति सौमित्रिर्मम पुत्रस्य कारणात् || २-१०४-५
स्वयं हरति सौमित्रिर्मम पुत्रस्य कारणात् || २-१०४-५
"O, Sumitra! Lakshmana, your son always draws water himself from here unwearyingly
for the sake of my son."
जघन्यमपि ते पुत्रः कृतवान्न तु गर्हितः |
भ्रातुर्यदर्थसहितं सर्वं तद्विहितम् गुणैः || २-१०४-६
भ्रातुर्यदर्थसहितं सर्वं तद्विहितम् गुणैः || २-१०४-६
"Through engaged in an inferior act (of carrying water), your son is not to be
censured because all that service rendered to his brother is enjoined with virtues."
अद्यायमपि ते पुत्रः क्लेशानामतथोचितः |
नीचानर्थसमाचारं सज्जं कर्म प्रमुञ्चतु || २-१०४-७
नीचानर्थसमाचारं सज्जं कर्म प्रमुञ्चतु || २-१०४-७
"Your son too, who is not accustomed to such pains, will indeed be relived now of
this mean, wretched and laborious task."
दक्षिणाग्रेषु दर्भेषु सा ददर्श महीतले |
पितुरिङ्गुदिपिण्याकम् व्यस्तमायतलोचना || २-१०४-८
पितुरिङ्गुदिपिण्याकम् व्यस्तमायतलोचना || २-१०४-८
The large-eyed Kausalya observed a ball made of Ingudi pulp, which was placed by
Rama in honour of his father on the ground, on aheap of Darbha grass, the raised spikes of which
pointed towards the south.
तं भूमौ पितुरार्तेन न्यस्तं रामेण वीक्ष्यसा |
उवाच देवीइ कौसल्या सर्वा दशरथस्त्रियः || २-१०४-९
उवाच देवीइ कौसल्या सर्वा दशरथस्त्रियः || २-१०४-९
Seeing that ball of food placed on the ground by the unfortunate Rama for his
father, the Queen Kausalya spoke to all those wives of Dasaratha (as follows):
इदमिक्ष्वाकुनाथस्य राघवस्य महाअत्मनः |
राघवेण पितुर्दत्तम् पश्यतै तद्यथाविधि || २-१०४-१०
राघवेण पितुर्दत्तम् पश्यतै तद्यथाविधि || २-१०४-१०
"See this ball of food offered traditionally by Rama in honour of his father, the
high-souled Dasaratha the Lord of Ikshvaku race."
तस्य देवसमानस्य पार्थिवस्य महात्मनः |
नैतदौपयिकम् मन्ये भुक्तभोगस्य भोजनम् || २-१०४-११
नैतदौपयिकम् मन्ये भुक्तभोगस्य भोजनम् || २-१०४-११
"I do not consider this offering as befitting for that great-souled king, who was
like unto a God and who lived amidst every pleasure."
चतुर्न्ताम् महीम् भुक्त्वा महेन्द्रसदृशो विभुः |
कथमिङ्गुदिपिण्याकम् स भुङ्त्के वसुधादिपः || २-१०४-१२
कथमिङ्गुदिपिण्याकम् स भुङ्त्के वसुधादिपः || २-१०४-१२
"How can that Lord of the earth, Dasartha, equal to the Lord of celestials and a
mighty man, having enjoyed the earth with its four quarters, the boundaries of which are the
oceans, eat a cake of Ingudi pulp?"
अतो दुःखतरम् लोके न किंञ्चित्प्रतिभाति मा |
यत्र रामः पितुर्दद्यादिङ्गुदिक्षोदमृद्धिमान् || २-१०४-१३
यत्र रामः पितुर्दद्यादिङ्गुदिक्षोदमृद्धिमान् || २-१०४-१३
"I do not consider any thing painful to me on earth than when Rama the man of
fortune offering a cake of Ingudi pulp to his father."
रामेणेङ्गुदिपिण्याकं पित्तुर्दत्तं समीक्ष्य मे |
कथं दुःखेन हृदयम् न स्पोटति सहस्रधा || २-१०४-१४
कथं दुःखेन हृदयम् न स्पोटति सहस्रधा || २-१०४-१४
"Seeing this offering, a cake of Ingudi pulp, of Rama to his father, why does my
heart not break into a thousand pieces with anguish?"
श्रुतिस्तु खल्वियं सत्य लौकिकी प्रतिभाति मा |
यदन्नः पुरुषो भवति तदन्नास्तस्य देवताः || २-१०४-१५
यदन्नः पुरुषो भवति तदन्नास्तस्य देवताः || २-१०४-१५
"It indeed occurs to me that the saying among men that the food eaten by man is also
consumed by his Gods is true."
एवमार्तां सपत्न्यस्ता जग्मुराश्वास्य तां तदा |
ददृशुश्चश्रमे रामं स्वर्गच्युतमिवामरम् || २-१०४-१६
ददृशुश्चश्रमे रामं स्वर्गच्युतमिवामरम् || २-१०४-१६
Consoling Kausalya thus afflicted by grief, Kausalya's companions then proceeded
further and saw Rama in his hermitage, who resembled an Immortal driven out of Paradise.
सर्वभोगैः परित्यक्तं रामं सम्प्रेक्ष्य मातरः |
आर्त मुमुचुरश्रुणि सस्वरं शोककर्शताः || २-१०४-१७
आर्त मुमुचुरश्रुणि सस्वरं शोककर्शताः || २-१०४-१७
Beholding Rama bereft of all enjoyments, his mothers agonized as they were with
grief, emitted cries and allowed tears to flow.
तासां रामः समुत्थाय जग्रह चरणान् शुभान् |
मातृइणां मनुजव्याघ्रः सर्वासां सत्यसंगरः || २-१०४-१८
मातृइणां मनुजव्याघ्रः सर्वासां सत्यसंगरः || २-१०४-१८
Rama, the tiger among men, true to his promise raised up and took hold of the
auspicious feet of all his mothers.
ताह् पाणिभिः सुखस्सर्शैद्वङ्गुलितलैश्शुभैः |
प्रममार्जू रजः पृष्ठाद्रामस्यायतलोचनाः || २-१०४-१९
प्रममार्जू रजः पृष्ठाद्रामस्यायतलोचनाः || २-१०४-१९
Those large-eyed Queens, by means of their pleasantly touching soft fingers and
palms as well as charming hands, wiped the dust from Rama's back.
सौमित्रिरपि ताः सर्वा मातृईः सम्प्रेक्ष्य दुःखितः |
आभ्यावादयदासक्तं शनैरामादनन्तरम् || २-१०४-२०
आभ्यावादयदासक्तं शनैरामादनन्तरम् || २-१०४-२०
Seeing all those mothers, the wailing Lakshmana too slowly paid obeisance devotedly
to them all by bowing to each in turn, immediately after Rama.
यथा रामे तथा तस्मिन् सर्वा ववृतिरे स्त्रियः |
वृत्तिम् दशरथाज्जाते लक्ष्मणे शुभलक्षणे || २-१०४-२१
वृत्तिम् दशरथाज्जाते लक्ष्मणे शुभलक्षणे || २-१०४-२१
All Dasaratha's wives manifested the same affection towards Lakshmana, who was born
of Dasaratha and exceedingly handsome, as they did to Rama.
सीतापि चरणांस्तसामुपसम्गृह्य दुः खिता |
श्वश्रूणामश्रुपूर्णाक्षि सा बभूवाग्रतः स्थिता || २-१०४-२२
श्वश्रूणामश्रुपूर्णाक्षि सा बभूवाग्रतः स्थिता || २-१०४-२२
Then, the grief-stricken Seetha, her eyes filed with tears, also touched the feet of
her mothers-in-laws and stood before them.
तां परिष्वज्य दुःखार्तां माता दुहितरम् यथा |
वनवासकृशां दीनां कौसल्या वाक्यमब्रवीत् || २-१०४-२३
वनवासकृशां दीनां कौसल्या वाक्यमब्रवीत् || २-१०४-२३
Kausalya embraced the miserable Seetha as a mother her daughter, she who was
emaciated because of her stay in the forest and afflicted with grief, and spoke the following
words:
विदेहराजस्य सुता स्नुषा दशरथस्य च |
रामपत्नी कथं दुःखं सम्प्राप्ता निर्जने वने || २-१०४-२४
रामपत्नी कथं दुःखं सम्प्राप्ता निर्जने वने || २-१०४-२४
"How has the daughter of King Janaka, the daughter-in-law of King Dasaratha and
Rama's wife, fallen into such a wretched plight that she is living in a desolate forest?"
पद्ममातपसन्तप्तं परिक्लिष्टमिवोत्पलम् |
काञ्चनं रजसा ध्वस्तम् क्स्लिष्टं चन्द्रमिवाम्बुदैः || २-१०४-२५
मुखम् ते प्रेक्ष्य माम् शोको दहत्यग्निरिवाश्रयम् |
भृशम् मनसि वैदेहि व्यसनारणिसम्भवः || २-१०४-२६
काञ्चनं रजसा ध्वस्तम् क्स्लिष्टं चन्द्रमिवाम्बुदैः || २-१०४-२५
मुखम् ते प्रेक्ष्य माम् शोको दहत्यग्निरिवाश्रयम् |
भृशम् मनसि वैदेहि व्यसनारणिसम्भवः || २-१०४-२६
"O, Seetha! Seeing your face, like a lotus withered with heart or a faded lily or
gold defiled with dust or a moon hidden by the clouds, the fire of grief produced by the firewood
of adversity and existing in my mind burns me severely."
ब्रुवन्त्यमेवमार्तायां जनन्यां भरताग्रजः |
पादावासाद्य जग्राह वसिष्टस्य च राघवः || २-१०४-२७
पादावासाद्य जग्राह वसिष्टस्य च राघवः || २-१०४-२७
While the sorrowful mother was speaking thus, Rama the elder brother of Bharata
approached Vasishta and took hold of his feet in salutation.
पुरोहितस्यग्नि समस्य वै तदा |
बृहस्पतेरिन्द्रमिवामराधिपः |
प्रगृह्य पादौ सुसमृद्धतेजसः |
सहैव तेनोपनिवेश राघवः || २-१०४-२८
बृहस्पतेरिन्द्रमिवामराधिपः |
प्रगृह्य पादौ सुसमृद्धतेजसः |
सहैव तेनोपनिवेश राघवः || २-१०४-२८
Then, Rama holding the feet of that priest, who was equal of Agni the fire and
endowed with very great splendour, even as Indra the Lord of celestials would clasp the feet of
Brihaspati, sat down by his side.
ततो जघन्यं सहितैः समन्त्रिभिः |
पुरप्रधानैश्च सहैव सैनिकैः |
जनेन धर्मज्ञतमेन धर्मवा |
नुपोपविष्टो भरतस्तदाग्रजम् || २-१०४-२९
पुरप्रधानैश्च सहैव सैनिकैः |
जनेन धर्मज्ञतमेन धर्मवा |
नुपोपविष्टो भरतस्तदाग्रजम् || २-१०४-२९
Then, after Rama and Vasishta sat, Bharata the pious man along with his counsellors,
the leading citizens, warriors and virtuous people seated himself at a lowel level at a proximity
to Rama.
उपोपविष्टस्तु तदा स वीर्यवां |
स्तपस्विवेषेण समीक्ष्य राघवम् |
श्रिया ज्वलन्तं भरतः कृताञ्जलि |
र्यथा महेन्द्रः प्रयतः प्रजापतिम् || २-१०४-३०
स्तपस्विवेषेण समीक्ष्य राघवम् |
श्रिया ज्वलन्तं भरतः कृताञ्जलि |
र्यथा महेन्द्रः प्रयतः प्रजापतिम् || २-१०४-३०
Seeing Rama in the garb of an ascetic, radiant in majesty, the extremely powerful
Bharata, paying obeisance to him with joined palms, then took his place in his presence, as the
devoted Indra the Lord of celestials sits before Brahma the Lord of creation.
किमेष वाक्यम् भरतो.द्य राघवं |
प्रणम्य स्त्कृत्य च साधु वक्ष्यति |
इतीव तस्यार्यजनस्य तत्त्वतो |
बभूव कौतूहलमुत्तमम् तदा || २-१०४-३१
प्रणम्य स्त्कृत्य च साधु वक्ष्यति |
इतीव तस्यार्यजनस्य तत्त्वतो |
बभूव कौतूहलमुत्तमम् तदा || २-१०४-३१
A highest curiosity arose in the minds of those worthy men (assembled there) as to
what persuasive words Bharata at that moment would utter, while addressing Rama, having offered
salutation and homage to him.
स राघवः सत्यधृतिश्च लक्ष्मणो |
महानुभावो भरतश्च धार्मिकः |
वृताः सुहृद्भिश्च विरेजुरध्वरे |
यथा सद्स्यः सहितास्त्रयोऽग्नयः || २-१०४-३२
महानुभावो भरतश्च धार्मिकः |
वृताः सुहृद्भिश्च विरेजुरध्वरे |
यथा सद्स्यः सहितास्त्रयोऽग्नयः || २-१०४-३२
That Rama endowed with truth and forbearance with Lakshmana who was bestowed with
magnanimity and the pious Bharata, surrounded by his companions, were as resplendent as the three
sacrificial Fires (known by the names of Garhapatya, Ahavamiya and Dakshina), accompanied by the
superintending priests.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुरुत्तरशततमः सर्गः