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Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 57
In this Sarga, After Rāma has crossed to the other side of Gaṅga, Guha talks at length with Sumantra and goes back home.
Everyone there, then learn that Rāma has reached Citrakūṭa. Sumantra goes back to Ayōdhyā, which is joyless and gripped by silence.
Sumantra conveys to the king everything verbatim, from Rāma. Daṡaratha faints once again and is unable to say a word in response.
Kousalyā speaks in a very caustic tone for all that the king has brought upon himself and all others.
2.57.1 கதயித்வா ஸுது:கார்தஸ்ஸுமந்த்ரேண சிரம் ஸஹ ।
ராமே தக்ஷிணகூலஸ்தே ஜகாம ஸ்வக்ருஹம் குஹ: ॥
kathayitvā suduḥkhārtassumantrēṇa ciraṃ saha ।
rāmē dakṣiṇakūlasthē jagāma svagṛhaṃ guhaḥ ॥
After Rāma had gone to the southern side,
Guha, greatly grieving,
talked to Sumantra for a great while,
and then went to his house.
2.57.2 பரத்வாஜாபிகமநம் ப்ரயாகே ச ஸஹாऽஸநம் ।
ஆகிரேர்கமநம் தேஷாம் தத்ரஸ்தைருபலக்ஷிதம் ॥
bharadvājābhigamanaṃ prayāgē ca sahā'sanam ।
āgirērgamanaṃ tēṣāṃ tatrasthairupalakṣitam ॥
Everyone there, then, learnt of
their (Rāma, Lakshmaṇa and Seetā’s)
meeting with Bharadwāja,
their stay with him at Prayāga and
about their reaching the mountain.
2.57.3 அநுஜ்ஞாதஸ்ஸுமந்த்ரோऽத யோஜயித்வா ஹயோத்தமாந் ।
அயோத்யாமேவ நகரீம் ப்ரயயௌ காடதுர்மநா: ॥
anujńātassumantrō'tha yōjayitvā hayōttamān ।
ayōdhyāmēva nagarīṃ prayayau gāḍhadurmanāḥ ॥
Sumantra, with a heavy heart
yoked the exquisite horses and
started his journey back to the city of Ayōdhyā,
as had been instructed by Rāma.
2.57.4 ஸ வநாநி ஸுகந்தீநி ஸரிதஸ்ச ஸராம்ஸி ச ।
பஸ்யந்நதியயௌ ஸீக்ரம் க்ராமாணி நகராணி ச ॥
sa vanāni sugandhīni saritaṡca sarāṃsi ca ।
paṡyannatiyayau ṡīghraṃ grāmāṇi nagarāṇi ca ॥
He swiftly proceeded, seeing
streams and lakes and fragrant woods,
and villages and towns on his way.
2.57.5 ததஸ்ஸாயாஹ்ந ஸமயே த்ருதீயேऽஹநி ஸாரதி: ।
அயோத்யாம் ஸமநுப்ராப்ய நிராநந்தாம் ததர்ஸ ஹ ॥
tatassāyāhna samayē tṛtīyē'hani sāradhiḥ ।
ayōdhyāṃ samanuprāpya nirānandāṃ dadarṡa ha ॥
On the evening of the third day,
the charioteer reached Ayōdhyā and found it joyless.
2.57.6 ஸ ஸூந்யாமிவ நிஸ்ஸப்தாம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா பரமதுர்மநா: ।
ஸுமந்த்ரஸ்சிந்தயாமாஸ ஸோகவேகஸமாஹத: ॥
sa ṡūnyāmiva niṡṡabdāṃ dṛṣṭvā paramadurmanāḥ ।
sumantraṡcintayāmāsa ṡōkavēgasamāhataḥ ॥
Sumantra’s spirits sank into an abyss
seeing it silent, as if it was empty.
Hit by a tide of grief, he wondered:
2.57.7 கச்சிந்ந ஸகஜா ஸாऽஸ்வா ஸஜநா ஸஜநாதிபா ।
ராமஸந்தாபது:கேந தக்தா ஸோகாக்நிநா புரீ ॥
kaccinna sagajā sā'ṡvā sajanā sajanādhipā ।
rāmasantāpaduḥkhēna dagdhā ṡōkāgninā purī ॥
I hope the city, along with its
elephants, horses, people, and their lords
was not burnt down by the fire of sorrow
and the pain and sadness for Rāma!
2.57.8 இதி சிந்தாபரஸ்ஸூதோ வாஜிபிஸ்ஸீக்ரபாதிபி: ।
நகரத்வாரமாஸாத்ய த்வரித: ப்ரவிவேஸ ஹ ॥
iti cintāparassūtō vājibhiṡṡīghrapātibhiḥ ।
nagaradvāramāsādya tvaritaḥ pravivēṡa ha ॥
Consumed thus by grief, the charioteer
reached the gates of the city
borne by the fleet-footed horses,
and entered it in all haste.
2.57.9 ஸுமந்த்ரமபியாந்தம் தம் ஸதஸோऽத ஸஹஸ்ரஸ: ।
க்வ ராம இதி ப்ருச்சந்தஸ்ஸூதமப்யத்ரவந்நரா: ॥
sumantramabhiyāntaṃ taṃ ṡataṡō'tha sahasraṡaḥ ।
kva rāma iti pṛcchantassūtamabhyadravannarāḥ ॥
On seeing Sumantra coming,
hundreds and thousands of people
ran after him asking, “Where is Rāma?”
2.57.10 தேஷாம் ஸஸம்ஸ கங்காயாமஹமாப்ருச்ச்ய ராகவம் ।
அநுஜ்ஞாதோ நிவ்ருத்தோऽஸ்மி தார்மிகேண மஹாத்மாநா ॥
tēṣāṃ ṡaṡaṃsa gaṅgāyāmahamāpṛcchya rāghavam ।
anujńātō nivṛttō'smi dhārmikēṇa mahātmānā ॥
He told them, “I asked Mahātma Rāghava, the Dhārmika,
on the banks of Gaṅga, (about what I should do)
and by his order, I returned!”
2.57.11 தே தீர்ணா இதி விஜ்ஞாய பாஷ்பபூர்ணமுகா ஜநா: ।
அஹோ திகிதி நிஸ்ஸ்வஸ்ய ஹா! ராமேதி ச சுக்ருஸு: ॥
tē tīrṇā iti vijńāya bāṣpapūrṇamukhā janāḥ ।
ahō dhigiti niṡṡvasya hā! rāmēti ca cukruṡuḥ ॥
On coming to know that they had crossed Gaṅga,
they sighed, exclaiming, ‘Dhik!’;
and with their faces full of tears,
they cried aloud, ‘Oh Rāma!’
2.57.12 ஸுஸ்ராவ ச வசஸ்தேஷாம் ப்ருந்தம் ப்ருந்தம் ச திஷ்டதாம் ।
ஹதாஸ்ம கலு யே நேஹ பஸ்யாம இதி ராகவம் ॥
ṡuṡrāva ca vacastēṣāṃ bṛndaṃ bṛndaṃ ca tiṣṭhatām ।
hatāsma khalu yē nēha paṡyāma iti rāghavam ॥
And he heard them gathered in groups saying,
“We are indeed undone, for Rāma is not to be seen here”.
2.57.13 தாநயஜ்ஞவிவாஹேஷு ஸமாஜேஷு மஹத்ஸு ச ।
ந த்ரக்ஷ்யாம: புநர்ஜாது தார்மிகம் ராமமந்தரா ॥
dānayajńavivāhēṣu samājēṣu mahatsu ca ।
na drakṣyāmaḥ punarjātu dhārmikaṃ rāmamantarā ॥
We will not see Rāma the Dhārmika,
in weddings, Yajńas, charitable giveaways
and in the major assemblies. Vālmeeki’s technique is to introduce us to the past by references to it from the events of the present.
In this Ṡlōka, he gives us an idea of how Rāma became part of the lives of the people of Ayōdhyā, by his appearances in various events and gatherings.
Notice the reference to Dāna, or charitable giveaways, here.
Of late, youth are being fed the capitalistic idea that everyone has to earn their own food and work for their own growth and grandeur.
The order of things in India of yore was different. Everyone worked according to their natural abilities. The more able earned more and the less able earned less.
Those who earned more had to feel no guilt. Those who earned less had to feel no shame. No one was demonized for being rich and no one was berated for being poor.
And through charitable activities conducted at events like weddings, Yajńas and so on, the people who earned more used to share their riches with people who earned less.
And the sharing used to create a social bonding and appreciation that is free from economic calculations. This order of things is still somewhat present in India and one hopes that it will sustain.
Rich people are criticized in India for lavish weddings, by neo-activists. But they should understand one thing. It is a mechanism for money to flow from the haves into the economy. If we make them feel guilty for being lavish, and if we make the spending unfashionable, where would we think the money goes?
It will go into building golf courses, which only rich people use and into lavish mansions in which two rich people live with ten rich imported dogs.
Traditional marriage in India employs people of every trade and profession, and connects them together, besides making the money flow to everyone.
2.57.14 கிம் ஸமர்தம் ஜநஸ்யாஸ்ய கிம் ப்ரியம் கிம் ஸுகாவஹம் ।
இதி ராமேண நகரம் பித்ருவத்பரிபாலிதம் ॥
kiṃ samarthaṃ janasyāsya kiṃ priyaṃ kiṃ sukhāvaham ।
iti rāmēṇa nagaraṃ pitṛvatparipālitam ॥
“What is useful for the people?
What pleases them? What gives them comfort?”
Such was the constant thought with which
Rāma looked after this city like a father.
2.57.15 வாதாயநகதாநாம் ச ஸ்த்ரீணாமந்வந்தராபணம் ।
ராமஸோகாபிதப்தாநாம் ஸுஸ்ராவ பரிதேவநம் ॥
vātāyanagatānāṃ ca strīṇāmanvantarāpaṇam ।
rāmaṡōkābhitaptānāṃ ṡuṡrāva paridēvanam ॥
He (Sumantra) heard the weeping cries
of people in the bazaars and
of women from the windows (of the houses),
who were burnt by grief on account of Rāma.
2.57.16 ஸ ராஜமார்கமத்யேந ஸுமந்த்ர: பிஹிதாநந: ।
யத்ர ராஜா தஸரதஸ்ததேவோபயயௌ க்ருஹம் ॥
sa rājamārgamadhyēna sumantraḥ pihitānanaḥ ।
yatra rājā daṡarathastadēvōpayayau gṛham ॥
Sumantra, covering his face,
drove along the royal pathway
straight to the mansion where king Daṡaratha was.
2.57.17 ஸோऽவதீர்ய ரதாச்சீக்ரம் ராஜவேஸ்ம ப்ரவிஸ்ய ச ।
கக்ஷ்யாஸ்ஸப்தாபிசக்ராம மஹாஜநஸமாகுலா: ॥
sō'vatīrya rathācchīghraṃ rājavēṡma praviṡya ca ।
kakṣyāssaptābhicakrāma mahājanasamākulāḥ ॥
Quickly alighting from the chariot,
he entered the king’s residence and
passed through seven courts that
were thronged by sobbing crowds of people.
2.57.18 ஹர்ம்யை ர்விமாநை: ப்ராஸாதைரவேக்ஷ்யாத ஸமாகதம் ।
ஹாஹாகாரக்ருதா நார்யோ ரமாதர்ஸநகர்ஸிதா: ॥
harmyai rvimānaiḥ prāsādairavēkṣyātha samāgatam ।
hāhākārakṛtā nāryō ramādarṡanakarṡitāḥ ॥
On seeing him who thus arrived,
the women, from their mansions, high towers and palaces,
wailed, “Alas, alas!’, pining for the sight of Rāma’s face.
2.57.19 ஆயதைர்விமலைர்நேத்ரைரஸ்ருவேகபரிப்லுதை: ।
அந்யோந்யமபிவீக்ஷந்தேऽவ்யக்தமார்ததரா: ஸ்த்ரிய: ॥
āyatairvimalairnētrairaṡruvēgapariplutaiḥ ।
anyōnyamabhivīkṣantē'vyaktamārtatarāḥ striyaḥ ॥
With their wide and lustrous eyes
blurred by swift-flowing tears,
the sorely distressed women
looked at each other, feeling at a loss.
2.57.20 ததோ தஸரதஸ்த்ரீணாம் ப்ராஸாதேப்ய ஸ்தத ஸ்தத: ।
ராமஸோகாபிதப்தாநாம் மந்தம் ஸுஸ்ராவ ஜல்பிதம் ॥
tatō daṡarathastrīṇāṃ prāsādēbhya stata stataḥ ।
rāmaṡōkābhitaptānāṃ mandaṃ ṡuṡrāva jalpitam ॥
He heard along his way from the palaces,
Daṡaratha’s women speaking in low voices
burnt by the grief on account of Rāma:
2.57.21 ஸஹ ராமேண நிர்யாதோ விநா ராம மிஹாகத: ।
ஸூத: கிந்நாம கௌஸல்யாம் ஸோசந்தீம் ப்ரதிவக்ஷ்யதி ॥
saha rāmēṇa niryātō vinā rāma mihāgataḥ ।
sūtaḥ kinnāma kausalyāṃ ṡōcantīṃ prativakṣyati ॥
Having gone forth with Rāma and come back without him,
what will the charioteer say to the weeping Kousalyā ?
2.57.22 யதா ச மந்யே துர்ஜீவமேவம் ந ஸுகரம் த்ருவம் ।
ஆச்சித்ய புத்ரே நிர்யாதே கௌஸல்யா யத்ர ஜீவதி ॥
yathā ca manyē durjīvamēvaṃ na sukaraṃ dhruvam ।
ācchidya putrē niryātē kausalyā yatra jīvati ॥
When I find it so hard to go on living,
how can Kousalyā find it easy to cling to life,
with her son was taken away so forcibly from her!
2.57.23 ஸத்யரூபம் து தத்வாக்யம் ராஜ்ஞ: ஸ்த்ரீணாம் நிஸாமயந் ।
ப்ரதீப்தமிவ ஸோகேந விவேஸ ஸஹஸா க்ருஹம் ॥
satyarūpaṃ tu tadvākyaṃ rājńaḥ strīṇāṃ niṡāmayan ।
pradīptamiva ṡōkēna vivēṡa sahasā gṛham ॥
Hearing those very true words of the women of the king,
he entered that house without delay,
which seemed to have been set ablaze with grief.
2.57.24 ஸ ப்ரவிஸ்யாஷ்டமீம் கக்ஷ்யாம் ராஜாநம் தீநமாதுரம் ।
புத்ரஸோகபரிம்லாநமபஸ்யத்பாண்டுரே க்ருஹே ॥
sa praviṡyāṣṭamīṃ kakṣyāṃ rājānaṃ dīnamāturam ।
putraṡōkaparimlānamapaṡyatpāṇḍurē gṛhē ॥
Entering the eighth court,
he saw the dejected king
wilted by the grief for his son,
against the backdrop of that white residence.
2.57.25 அபிகம்ய தமாஸீநம் நரேந்த்ரே மபிவாத்ய ச ।
ஸுமந்த்ரோ ராமவசநம் யதோக்தம் ப்ரத்யவேதயத் ॥
abhigamya tamāsīnaṃ narēndrē mabhivādya ca ।
sumantrō rāmavacanaṃ yathōktaṃ pratyavēdayat ॥
Approaching the seated King and saluting him,
Sumantra relayed to him Rāma’s words verbatim.
2.57.26 ஸ தூஷ்ணீமேவ தச்ச்ருத்வா ராஜா விப்ராந்தசேதந: ।
மூர்சிதோ ந்யபதத்பூமௌ ராமஸோகாபிபீடித: ॥
sa tūṣṇīmēva tacchrutvā rājā vibhrāntacētanaḥ ।
mūrchitō nyapatadbhūmau rāmaṡōkābhipīḍitaḥ ॥
The king heard those words silently.
With his senses disoriented,
he then fainted on the ground,
extremely distressed by the grief for Rāma.
2.57.27 ததோऽந்த:புரமாவித்தம் மூர்சிதே ப்ருதிவீபதௌ ।
உத்த்ருத்ய பாஹூ சுக்ரோஸ ந்ருபதௌ பதிதே க்ஷிதௌ ॥
tatō'ntaḥpuramāviddhaṃ mūrchitē pṛthivīpatau ।
uddhṛtya bāhū cukrōṡa nṛpatau patitē kṣitau ॥
As that lord of the lands fainted,
the entire inner quarters felt a whip of grief.
And as the king fell down on the ground,
the cries went up with hands flung upwards. It is hard not to get captivated by the imagery that Vālmeeki paints.
The King fainted; and it was like a whiplash on everyone.
The King fell down; and everyone’s hands went up.
Screenplay is ready for a cinematographer.
2.57.28 ஸுமித்ரயா து ஸஹிதா கௌஸல்யா பதிதம் பதிம் ।
உத்தாபயாமாஸ ததா வசநம் சேதமப்ரவீத் ॥
sumitrayā tu sahitā kausalyā patitaṃ patim ।
utthāpayāmāsa tadā vacanaṃ cēdamabravīt ॥
Kousalyā, with the aid of Sumitrā,
raised her fallen husband up from the ground,
and said to him:
2.57.29 இமம் தஸ்ய மஹாபாக! தூதம் துஷ்கரகாரிண: ।
வநவாஸாதநுப்ராப்தம் கஸ்மாந்ந ப்ரதிபாஷஸே ॥
imaṃ tasya mahābhāga! dūtaṃ duṣkarakāriṇaḥ ।
vanavāsādanuprāptaṃ kasmānna pratibhāṣasē ॥
O blessed one! He (Rāma) has done something
that is impossible even to imagine.
From his dwelling in the Vana,
came now his emissary. Why don’t you respond?
2.57.30 அத்யைவமநயம் க்ருத்வா வ்யபத்ரபஸி ராகவ! ।
உத்திஷ்ட ஸுக்ருதம் தேஸ்து ஸோகே நஸ்யா த்ஸஹாயதா ॥
adyaivamanayaṃ kṛtvā vyapatrapasi rāghava! ।
uttiṣṭha sukṛtaṃ tēstu ṡōkē nasyā tsahāyatā ॥
You are now feeling ashamed,
after having done the improbable.
O Rāghava! Get up! I hope it adds
to the count of your good deeds!
Crying is going to be of no use! The king has been exclusively spending time with Kaikēyee, which brought all this upon the king, and everyone else. The innuendo and scorn in these Ṡlōkas by the other wives is hardly subtle.
Also these Ṡlōkas are an indication that women, in those days, enjoyed the power and freedom to speak up to their husbands, when it mattered and is justified.
2.57.31 தேவ! யஸ்யா பயாத்ராமம் நாநுப்ருச்சஸி ஸாரதிம் ।
நேஹ திஷ்டிதி கைகேயீ விஸ்ரப்தம் ப்ரதிபாஷ்யதாம் ॥
dēva! yasyā bhayādrāmaṃ nānupṛcchasi sārathim ।
nēha tiṣṭhiti kaikēyī visrabdhaṃ pratibhāṣyatām ॥
My lord! Kaikēyee, for fear of whom
you do not ask the charioteer of Rāma, is not here.
You can speak without fear!
2.57.32 ஸா ததோக்த்வா மஹாராஜம் கௌஸல்யா ஸோகலாலஸா ।
தரண்யாம் நிபபாதாऽஸு பாஷ்பவிப்லுதபாஷிணீ ॥
sā tathōktvā mahārājaṃ kausalyā ṡōkalālasā ।
dharaṇyāṃ nipapātā'ṡu bāṣpaviplutabhāṣiṇī ॥
Having said this to the esteemed king,
Kousalyā quickly fell on the ground,
her words drowned in tears.
2.57.33 ஏவம் விலபதீம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா கௌஸல்யாம் பதிதாம் புவி ।
பதிம் சாவேக்ஷ்ய தா ஸ்ஸர்வா ஸுஸ்வரம் ருருது: ஸ்த்ரிய: ॥
ēvaṃ vilapatīṃ dṛṣṭvā kausalyāṃ patitāṃ bhuvi ।
patiṃ cāvēkṣya tā ssarvā susvaraṃ ruruduḥ striyaḥ ॥
Seeing Kousalyā fallen on the ground thus lamenting,
all the women wept aloud looking at their husband.
2.57.34 ததஸ்தமந்த:புரநாதமுத்திதம்
ஸமீக்ஷ்ய வ்ருத்தாஸ்தருணாஸ்ச மாநவா: ।
ஸ்த்ரியஸ்ச ஸர்வா ருருது ஸ்ஸமந்தத:
புரம் ததாஸீத்புநரேவ ஸங்குலம் ॥
tatastamantaḥpuranādamutthitaṃ
samīkṣya vṛddhāstaruṇāṡca mānavāḥ ।
striyaṡca sarvā rurudu ssamantataḥ
puraṃ tadāsītpunarēva saṅkulam ॥
Moved by those sounds that emerged from the inner quarters,
men, young and old, and all women everywhere wept.
Once again, the city was in a tumult.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அயோத்யாகாண்டே ஸப்தபஞ்சாஸஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptapańcāṡassargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the fifty seventh Sarga
in Ayōdhyā Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.
Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 57
In this Sarga, After Rāma has crossed to the other side of Gaṅga, Guha talks at length with Sumantra and goes back home.
Everyone there, then learn that Rāma has reached Citrakūṭa. Sumantra goes back to Ayōdhyā, which is joyless and gripped by silence.
Sumantra conveys to the king everything verbatim, from Rāma. Daṡaratha faints once again and is unable to say a word in response.
Kousalyā speaks in a very caustic tone for all that the king has brought upon himself and all others.
2.57.1 கதயித்வா ஸுது:கார்தஸ்ஸுமந்த்ரேண சிரம் ஸஹ ।
ராமே தக்ஷிணகூலஸ்தே ஜகாம ஸ்வக்ருஹம் குஹ: ॥
kathayitvā suduḥkhārtassumantrēṇa ciraṃ saha ।
rāmē dakṣiṇakūlasthē jagāma svagṛhaṃ guhaḥ ॥
After Rāma had gone to the southern side,
Guha, greatly grieving,
talked to Sumantra for a great while,
and then went to his house.
2.57.2 பரத்வாஜாபிகமநம் ப்ரயாகே ச ஸஹாऽஸநம் ।
ஆகிரேர்கமநம் தேஷாம் தத்ரஸ்தைருபலக்ஷிதம் ॥
bharadvājābhigamanaṃ prayāgē ca sahā'sanam ।
āgirērgamanaṃ tēṣāṃ tatrasthairupalakṣitam ॥
Everyone there, then, learnt of
their (Rāma, Lakshmaṇa and Seetā’s)
meeting with Bharadwāja,
their stay with him at Prayāga and
about their reaching the mountain.
2.57.3 அநுஜ்ஞாதஸ்ஸுமந்த்ரோऽத யோஜயித்வா ஹயோத்தமாந் ।
அயோத்யாமேவ நகரீம் ப்ரயயௌ காடதுர்மநா: ॥
anujńātassumantrō'tha yōjayitvā hayōttamān ।
ayōdhyāmēva nagarīṃ prayayau gāḍhadurmanāḥ ॥
Sumantra, with a heavy heart
yoked the exquisite horses and
started his journey back to the city of Ayōdhyā,
as had been instructed by Rāma.
2.57.4 ஸ வநாநி ஸுகந்தீநி ஸரிதஸ்ச ஸராம்ஸி ச ।
பஸ்யந்நதியயௌ ஸீக்ரம் க்ராமாணி நகராணி ச ॥
sa vanāni sugandhīni saritaṡca sarāṃsi ca ।
paṡyannatiyayau ṡīghraṃ grāmāṇi nagarāṇi ca ॥
He swiftly proceeded, seeing
streams and lakes and fragrant woods,
and villages and towns on his way.
2.57.5 ததஸ்ஸாயாஹ்ந ஸமயே த்ருதீயேऽஹநி ஸாரதி: ।
அயோத்யாம் ஸமநுப்ராப்ய நிராநந்தாம் ததர்ஸ ஹ ॥
tatassāyāhna samayē tṛtīyē'hani sāradhiḥ ।
ayōdhyāṃ samanuprāpya nirānandāṃ dadarṡa ha ॥
On the evening of the third day,
the charioteer reached Ayōdhyā and found it joyless.
2.57.6 ஸ ஸூந்யாமிவ நிஸ்ஸப்தாம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா பரமதுர்மநா: ।
ஸுமந்த்ரஸ்சிந்தயாமாஸ ஸோகவேகஸமாஹத: ॥
sa ṡūnyāmiva niṡṡabdāṃ dṛṣṭvā paramadurmanāḥ ।
sumantraṡcintayāmāsa ṡōkavēgasamāhataḥ ॥
Sumantra’s spirits sank into an abyss
seeing it silent, as if it was empty.
Hit by a tide of grief, he wondered:
2.57.7 கச்சிந்ந ஸகஜா ஸாऽஸ்வா ஸஜநா ஸஜநாதிபா ।
ராமஸந்தாபது:கேந தக்தா ஸோகாக்நிநா புரீ ॥
kaccinna sagajā sā'ṡvā sajanā sajanādhipā ।
rāmasantāpaduḥkhēna dagdhā ṡōkāgninā purī ॥
I hope the city, along with its
elephants, horses, people, and their lords
was not burnt down by the fire of sorrow
and the pain and sadness for Rāma!
2.57.8 இதி சிந்தாபரஸ்ஸூதோ வாஜிபிஸ்ஸீக்ரபாதிபி: ।
நகரத்வாரமாஸாத்ய த்வரித: ப்ரவிவேஸ ஹ ॥
iti cintāparassūtō vājibhiṡṡīghrapātibhiḥ ।
nagaradvāramāsādya tvaritaḥ pravivēṡa ha ॥
Consumed thus by grief, the charioteer
reached the gates of the city
borne by the fleet-footed horses,
and entered it in all haste.
2.57.9 ஸுமந்த்ரமபியாந்தம் தம் ஸதஸோऽத ஸஹஸ்ரஸ: ।
க்வ ராம இதி ப்ருச்சந்தஸ்ஸூதமப்யத்ரவந்நரா: ॥
sumantramabhiyāntaṃ taṃ ṡataṡō'tha sahasraṡaḥ ।
kva rāma iti pṛcchantassūtamabhyadravannarāḥ ॥
On seeing Sumantra coming,
hundreds and thousands of people
ran after him asking, “Where is Rāma?”
2.57.10 தேஷாம் ஸஸம்ஸ கங்காயாமஹமாப்ருச்ச்ய ராகவம் ।
அநுஜ்ஞாதோ நிவ்ருத்தோऽஸ்மி தார்மிகேண மஹாத்மாநா ॥
tēṣāṃ ṡaṡaṃsa gaṅgāyāmahamāpṛcchya rāghavam ।
anujńātō nivṛttō'smi dhārmikēṇa mahātmānā ॥
He told them, “I asked Mahātma Rāghava, the Dhārmika,
on the banks of Gaṅga, (about what I should do)
and by his order, I returned!”
2.57.11 தே தீர்ணா இதி விஜ்ஞாய பாஷ்பபூர்ணமுகா ஜநா: ।
அஹோ திகிதி நிஸ்ஸ்வஸ்ய ஹா! ராமேதி ச சுக்ருஸு: ॥
tē tīrṇā iti vijńāya bāṣpapūrṇamukhā janāḥ ।
ahō dhigiti niṡṡvasya hā! rāmēti ca cukruṡuḥ ॥
On coming to know that they had crossed Gaṅga,
they sighed, exclaiming, ‘Dhik!’;
and with their faces full of tears,
they cried aloud, ‘Oh Rāma!’
2.57.12 ஸுஸ்ராவ ச வசஸ்தேஷாம் ப்ருந்தம் ப்ருந்தம் ச திஷ்டதாம் ।
ஹதாஸ்ம கலு யே நேஹ பஸ்யாம இதி ராகவம் ॥
ṡuṡrāva ca vacastēṣāṃ bṛndaṃ bṛndaṃ ca tiṣṭhatām ।
hatāsma khalu yē nēha paṡyāma iti rāghavam ॥
And he heard them gathered in groups saying,
“We are indeed undone, for Rāma is not to be seen here”.
2.57.13 தாநயஜ்ஞவிவாஹேஷு ஸமாஜேஷு மஹத்ஸு ச ।
ந த்ரக்ஷ்யாம: புநர்ஜாது தார்மிகம் ராமமந்தரா ॥
dānayajńavivāhēṣu samājēṣu mahatsu ca ।
na drakṣyāmaḥ punarjātu dhārmikaṃ rāmamantarā ॥
We will not see Rāma the Dhārmika,
in weddings, Yajńas, charitable giveaways
and in the major assemblies. Vālmeeki’s technique is to introduce us to the past by references to it from the events of the present.
In this Ṡlōka, he gives us an idea of how Rāma became part of the lives of the people of Ayōdhyā, by his appearances in various events and gatherings.
Notice the reference to Dāna, or charitable giveaways, here.
Of late, youth are being fed the capitalistic idea that everyone has to earn their own food and work for their own growth and grandeur.
The order of things in India of yore was different. Everyone worked according to their natural abilities. The more able earned more and the less able earned less.
Those who earned more had to feel no guilt. Those who earned less had to feel no shame. No one was demonized for being rich and no one was berated for being poor.
And through charitable activities conducted at events like weddings, Yajńas and so on, the people who earned more used to share their riches with people who earned less.
And the sharing used to create a social bonding and appreciation that is free from economic calculations. This order of things is still somewhat present in India and one hopes that it will sustain.
Rich people are criticized in India for lavish weddings, by neo-activists. But they should understand one thing. It is a mechanism for money to flow from the haves into the economy. If we make them feel guilty for being lavish, and if we make the spending unfashionable, where would we think the money goes?
It will go into building golf courses, which only rich people use and into lavish mansions in which two rich people live with ten rich imported dogs.
Traditional marriage in India employs people of every trade and profession, and connects them together, besides making the money flow to everyone.
2.57.14 கிம் ஸமர்தம் ஜநஸ்யாஸ்ய கிம் ப்ரியம் கிம் ஸுகாவஹம் ।
இதி ராமேண நகரம் பித்ருவத்பரிபாலிதம் ॥
kiṃ samarthaṃ janasyāsya kiṃ priyaṃ kiṃ sukhāvaham ।
iti rāmēṇa nagaraṃ pitṛvatparipālitam ॥
“What is useful for the people?
What pleases them? What gives them comfort?”
Such was the constant thought with which
Rāma looked after this city like a father.
2.57.15 வாதாயநகதாநாம் ச ஸ்த்ரீணாமந்வந்தராபணம் ।
ராமஸோகாபிதப்தாநாம் ஸுஸ்ராவ பரிதேவநம் ॥
vātāyanagatānāṃ ca strīṇāmanvantarāpaṇam ।
rāmaṡōkābhitaptānāṃ ṡuṡrāva paridēvanam ॥
He (Sumantra) heard the weeping cries
of people in the bazaars and
of women from the windows (of the houses),
who were burnt by grief on account of Rāma.
2.57.16 ஸ ராஜமார்கமத்யேந ஸுமந்த்ர: பிஹிதாநந: ।
யத்ர ராஜா தஸரதஸ்ததேவோபயயௌ க்ருஹம் ॥
sa rājamārgamadhyēna sumantraḥ pihitānanaḥ ।
yatra rājā daṡarathastadēvōpayayau gṛham ॥
Sumantra, covering his face,
drove along the royal pathway
straight to the mansion where king Daṡaratha was.
2.57.17 ஸோऽவதீர்ய ரதாச்சீக்ரம் ராஜவேஸ்ம ப்ரவிஸ்ய ச ।
கக்ஷ்யாஸ்ஸப்தாபிசக்ராம மஹாஜநஸமாகுலா: ॥
sō'vatīrya rathācchīghraṃ rājavēṡma praviṡya ca ।
kakṣyāssaptābhicakrāma mahājanasamākulāḥ ॥
Quickly alighting from the chariot,
he entered the king’s residence and
passed through seven courts that
were thronged by sobbing crowds of people.
2.57.18 ஹர்ம்யை ர்விமாநை: ப்ராஸாதைரவேக்ஷ்யாத ஸமாகதம் ।
ஹாஹாகாரக்ருதா நார்யோ ரமாதர்ஸநகர்ஸிதா: ॥
harmyai rvimānaiḥ prāsādairavēkṣyātha samāgatam ।
hāhākārakṛtā nāryō ramādarṡanakarṡitāḥ ॥
On seeing him who thus arrived,
the women, from their mansions, high towers and palaces,
wailed, “Alas, alas!’, pining for the sight of Rāma’s face.
2.57.19 ஆயதைர்விமலைர்நேத்ரைரஸ்ருவேகபரிப்லுதை: ।
அந்யோந்யமபிவீக்ஷந்தேऽவ்யக்தமார்ததரா: ஸ்த்ரிய: ॥
āyatairvimalairnētrairaṡruvēgapariplutaiḥ ।
anyōnyamabhivīkṣantē'vyaktamārtatarāḥ striyaḥ ॥
With their wide and lustrous eyes
blurred by swift-flowing tears,
the sorely distressed women
looked at each other, feeling at a loss.
2.57.20 ததோ தஸரதஸ்த்ரீணாம் ப்ராஸாதேப்ய ஸ்தத ஸ்தத: ।
ராமஸோகாபிதப்தாநாம் மந்தம் ஸுஸ்ராவ ஜல்பிதம் ॥
tatō daṡarathastrīṇāṃ prāsādēbhya stata stataḥ ।
rāmaṡōkābhitaptānāṃ mandaṃ ṡuṡrāva jalpitam ॥
He heard along his way from the palaces,
Daṡaratha’s women speaking in low voices
burnt by the grief on account of Rāma:
2.57.21 ஸஹ ராமேண நிர்யாதோ விநா ராம மிஹாகத: ।
ஸூத: கிந்நாம கௌஸல்யாம் ஸோசந்தீம் ப்ரதிவக்ஷ்யதி ॥
saha rāmēṇa niryātō vinā rāma mihāgataḥ ।
sūtaḥ kinnāma kausalyāṃ ṡōcantīṃ prativakṣyati ॥
Having gone forth with Rāma and come back without him,
what will the charioteer say to the weeping Kousalyā ?
2.57.22 யதா ச மந்யே துர்ஜீவமேவம் ந ஸுகரம் த்ருவம் ।
ஆச்சித்ய புத்ரே நிர்யாதே கௌஸல்யா யத்ர ஜீவதி ॥
yathā ca manyē durjīvamēvaṃ na sukaraṃ dhruvam ।
ācchidya putrē niryātē kausalyā yatra jīvati ॥
When I find it so hard to go on living,
how can Kousalyā find it easy to cling to life,
with her son was taken away so forcibly from her!
2.57.23 ஸத்யரூபம் து தத்வாக்யம் ராஜ்ஞ: ஸ்த்ரீணாம் நிஸாமயந் ।
ப்ரதீப்தமிவ ஸோகேந விவேஸ ஸஹஸா க்ருஹம் ॥
satyarūpaṃ tu tadvākyaṃ rājńaḥ strīṇāṃ niṡāmayan ।
pradīptamiva ṡōkēna vivēṡa sahasā gṛham ॥
Hearing those very true words of the women of the king,
he entered that house without delay,
which seemed to have been set ablaze with grief.
2.57.24 ஸ ப்ரவிஸ்யாஷ்டமீம் கக்ஷ்யாம் ராஜாநம் தீநமாதுரம் ।
புத்ரஸோகபரிம்லாநமபஸ்யத்பாண்டுரே க்ருஹே ॥
sa praviṡyāṣṭamīṃ kakṣyāṃ rājānaṃ dīnamāturam ।
putraṡōkaparimlānamapaṡyatpāṇḍurē gṛhē ॥
Entering the eighth court,
he saw the dejected king
wilted by the grief for his son,
against the backdrop of that white residence.
2.57.25 அபிகம்ய தமாஸீநம் நரேந்த்ரே மபிவாத்ய ச ।
ஸுமந்த்ரோ ராமவசநம் யதோக்தம் ப்ரத்யவேதயத் ॥
abhigamya tamāsīnaṃ narēndrē mabhivādya ca ।
sumantrō rāmavacanaṃ yathōktaṃ pratyavēdayat ॥
Approaching the seated King and saluting him,
Sumantra relayed to him Rāma’s words verbatim.
2.57.26 ஸ தூஷ்ணீமேவ தச்ச்ருத்வா ராஜா விப்ராந்தசேதந: ।
மூர்சிதோ ந்யபதத்பூமௌ ராமஸோகாபிபீடித: ॥
sa tūṣṇīmēva tacchrutvā rājā vibhrāntacētanaḥ ।
mūrchitō nyapatadbhūmau rāmaṡōkābhipīḍitaḥ ॥
The king heard those words silently.
With his senses disoriented,
he then fainted on the ground,
extremely distressed by the grief for Rāma.
2.57.27 ததோऽந்த:புரமாவித்தம் மூர்சிதே ப்ருதிவீபதௌ ।
உத்த்ருத்ய பாஹூ சுக்ரோஸ ந்ருபதௌ பதிதே க்ஷிதௌ ॥
tatō'ntaḥpuramāviddhaṃ mūrchitē pṛthivīpatau ।
uddhṛtya bāhū cukrōṡa nṛpatau patitē kṣitau ॥
As that lord of the lands fainted,
the entire inner quarters felt a whip of grief.
And as the king fell down on the ground,
the cries went up with hands flung upwards. It is hard not to get captivated by the imagery that Vālmeeki paints.
The King fainted; and it was like a whiplash on everyone.
The King fell down; and everyone’s hands went up.
Screenplay is ready for a cinematographer.
2.57.28 ஸுமித்ரயா து ஸஹிதா கௌஸல்யா பதிதம் பதிம் ।
உத்தாபயாமாஸ ததா வசநம் சேதமப்ரவீத் ॥
sumitrayā tu sahitā kausalyā patitaṃ patim ।
utthāpayāmāsa tadā vacanaṃ cēdamabravīt ॥
Kousalyā, with the aid of Sumitrā,
raised her fallen husband up from the ground,
and said to him:
2.57.29 இமம் தஸ்ய மஹாபாக! தூதம் துஷ்கரகாரிண: ।
வநவாஸாதநுப்ராப்தம் கஸ்மாந்ந ப்ரதிபாஷஸே ॥
imaṃ tasya mahābhāga! dūtaṃ duṣkarakāriṇaḥ ।
vanavāsādanuprāptaṃ kasmānna pratibhāṣasē ॥
O blessed one! He (Rāma) has done something
that is impossible even to imagine.
From his dwelling in the Vana,
came now his emissary. Why don’t you respond?
2.57.30 அத்யைவமநயம் க்ருத்வா வ்யபத்ரபஸி ராகவ! ।
உத்திஷ்ட ஸுக்ருதம் தேஸ்து ஸோகே நஸ்யா த்ஸஹாயதா ॥
adyaivamanayaṃ kṛtvā vyapatrapasi rāghava! ।
uttiṣṭha sukṛtaṃ tēstu ṡōkē nasyā tsahāyatā ॥
You are now feeling ashamed,
after having done the improbable.
O Rāghava! Get up! I hope it adds
to the count of your good deeds!
Crying is going to be of no use! The king has been exclusively spending time with Kaikēyee, which brought all this upon the king, and everyone else. The innuendo and scorn in these Ṡlōkas by the other wives is hardly subtle.
Also these Ṡlōkas are an indication that women, in those days, enjoyed the power and freedom to speak up to their husbands, when it mattered and is justified.
2.57.31 தேவ! யஸ்யா பயாத்ராமம் நாநுப்ருச்சஸி ஸாரதிம் ।
நேஹ திஷ்டிதி கைகேயீ விஸ்ரப்தம் ப்ரதிபாஷ்யதாம் ॥
dēva! yasyā bhayādrāmaṃ nānupṛcchasi sārathim ।
nēha tiṣṭhiti kaikēyī visrabdhaṃ pratibhāṣyatām ॥
My lord! Kaikēyee, for fear of whom
you do not ask the charioteer of Rāma, is not here.
You can speak without fear!
2.57.32 ஸா ததோக்த்வா மஹாராஜம் கௌஸல்யா ஸோகலாலஸா ।
தரண்யாம் நிபபாதாऽஸு பாஷ்பவிப்லுதபாஷிணீ ॥
sā tathōktvā mahārājaṃ kausalyā ṡōkalālasā ।
dharaṇyāṃ nipapātā'ṡu bāṣpaviplutabhāṣiṇī ॥
Having said this to the esteemed king,
Kousalyā quickly fell on the ground,
her words drowned in tears.
2.57.33 ஏவம் விலபதீம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா கௌஸல்யாம் பதிதாம் புவி ।
பதிம் சாவேக்ஷ்ய தா ஸ்ஸர்வா ஸுஸ்வரம் ருருது: ஸ்த்ரிய: ॥
ēvaṃ vilapatīṃ dṛṣṭvā kausalyāṃ patitāṃ bhuvi ।
patiṃ cāvēkṣya tā ssarvā susvaraṃ ruruduḥ striyaḥ ॥
Seeing Kousalyā fallen on the ground thus lamenting,
all the women wept aloud looking at their husband.
2.57.34 ததஸ்தமந்த:புரநாதமுத்திதம்
ஸமீக்ஷ்ய வ்ருத்தாஸ்தருணாஸ்ச மாநவா: ।
ஸ்த்ரியஸ்ச ஸர்வா ருருது ஸ்ஸமந்தத:
புரம் ததாஸீத்புநரேவ ஸங்குலம் ॥
tatastamantaḥpuranādamutthitaṃ
samīkṣya vṛddhāstaruṇāṡca mānavāḥ ।
striyaṡca sarvā rurudu ssamantataḥ
puraṃ tadāsītpunarēva saṅkulam ॥
Moved by those sounds that emerged from the inner quarters,
men, young and old, and all women everywhere wept.
Once again, the city was in a tumult.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அயோத்யாகாண்டே ஸப்தபஞ்சாஸஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptapańcāṡassargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the fifty seventh Sarga
in Ayōdhyā Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.