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Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 63
In this Sarga, Daṡaratha gets up restlessly after sleeping for a brief while and broods over the sin he had committed in the past. At midnight, he shares that story with Kousalyā.
When he was young, not yet mature enough to gauge the consequences of his actions, on one fine day of monsoon season, he went to river Sarayu for hunting.
Hiding himself in a secluded place at the night, he practiced his art of striking animals in the dark, identifying their location by their sounds. Then he heard the sound of someone filling a pot with water that resembled a sound made by an elephant gulping water, and shot his arrow.
The very next moment, he heard a human voice crying pitifully at the fate he has met with, for no fault of his. Daṡaratha reached to him and feels extremely sad for his deed.
Before dying, that Muni told Daṡaratha about his blind, aged and helpless parents and asked him to inform the matter to them.
2.63.1 ப்ரதிபுத்தோ முஹூர்தேந ஸோகோபஹதசேதந: ।
அத ராஜா தஸரதஸ்ஸசிந்தாமப்யபத்யத ॥
pratibuddhō muhūrtēna ṡōkōpahatacētanaḥ ।
atha rājā daṡarathassacintāmabhyapadyata ॥
Awaking a little later, King Daṡaratha,
his mind worn out by grief, fell to brooding.
2.63.2 ராமலக்ஷ்மணயோஸ்சைவ விவாஸா த்வாஸவோபமம் ।
ஆவிவேஸோபஸர்கஸ்தம் தம ஸ்ஸூர்யமிவாஸுரம் ॥
rāmalakṣmaṇayōṡcaiva vivāsā dvāsavōpamam ।
āvivēṡōpasargastaṃ tama ssūryamivāsuram ॥
A great tragedy had fallen upon Daṡaratha,
who was comparable to Vāsava,
on account of the exile of Rāma and Lakshmaṇa,
like darkness that fell upon Sun, because of an Asura.
The darkness on Sun here refers to an eclipse.
2.63.3 ஸபார்யே நிர்கதே ராமே கௌஸல்யாம் கோஸலேஸ்வர: ।
விவக்ஷுரஸிதாபாங்காம் ஸ்ம்ருத்வா துஷ்க்ருதமாத்மந: ॥
sabhāryē nirgatē rāmē kausalyāṃ kōsalēṡvaraḥ ।
vivakṣurasitāpāṅgāṃ smṛtvā duṣkṛtamātmanaḥ ॥
The exile of Rāma along with his wife,
made the lord of Kōsala kingdom (Daṡaratha)
recollect the terrible mistake he had committed.
He then felt like talking about it to the dark eyed Kousalyā.
2.63.4 ஸ ராஜா ரஜநீம் ஷஷ்டீம் ராமே ப்ரவ்ராஜிதே வநம் ।
அர்தராத்ரே தஸரத ஸ்ஸம்ஸ்மரந் துஷ்க்ருதம் க்ருதம் ॥
sa rājā rajanīṃ ṣaṣṭhīṃ rāmē pravrājitē vanam ।
ardharātrē daṡaratha ssaṃsmaran duṣkṛtaṃ kṛtam ॥
At the midnight of the sixth night after Rāma’s exile to Vana,
Daṡaratha remembered that terrible mistake he has committed.
2.63.5 ஸ ராஜா புத்ரஸோகார்த: ஸ்ம்ருத்வா துஷ்க்ருதமாத்மந: ।
கௌஸல்யாம் புத்ரஸோகார்தாமிதம் வசநமப்ரவீத் ॥
sa rājā putraṡōkārtaḥ smṛtvā duṣkṛtamātmanaḥ ।
kausalyāṃ putraṡōkārtāmidaṃ vacanamabravīt ॥
The king, overwhelmed by grief for his son,
recalling the terrible mistake
said these words to Kousalyā,
who was also taken over by grief for her son:
2.63.6 யதாசரதி கல்யாணி! ஸுபம் வா யதி வாऽஸுபம் ।
ததேவ லபதே பத்ரே! கர்தா கர்மஜமாத்மந: ॥
yadācarati kalyāṇi! ṡubhaṃ vā yadi vā'ṡubham ।
tadēva labhatē bhadrē! kartā karmajamātmanaḥ ॥
Whatever one does, good or evil, O auspicious one,
one begets the same out of what one has done.
2.63.7 குருலாகவமர்தாநாமாரம்பே கர்மணாம் பலம் ।
தோஷம் வா யோ ந ஜாநாதி ந பால இதி ஹோச்யதே ॥
gurulāghavamarthānāmārambhē karmaṇāṃ phalam ।
dōṣaṃ vā yō na jānāti na bāla iti hōcyatē ॥
One who does not understand the consequences,
risks and rewards before venturing into something,
is said to be immature. The next few Ṡlōkas give a nice summary of the ways of the immature.
2.63.8 கஸ்சிதாம்ரவணம் சித்த்வா பலாஸாம்ஸ்ச நிஷிஞ்சதி ।
புஷ்பம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா பலே க்ருத்நுஸ்ஸ ஸோசதி பலாகமே ॥
kaṡcidāmravaṇaṃ chittvā palāṡāṃṡca niṣińcati ।
puṣpaṃ dṛṣṭvā phalē gṛdhnussa ṡōcati phalāgamē ॥
One who cuts a mango grove and
waters Palāṡa trees, attracted by
their flowers, hoping for great fruit,
will repent when they bear fruit. The immature get misled by what they see in the beginning.
2.63.9 அவிஜ்ஞாய பலம் யோ ஹி கர்ம த்வேவாநுதாவதி ।
ஸ ஸோசேத்பலவேலாயாம் யதா கிம்ஸுகஸேசக: ॥
avijńāya phalaṃ yō hi karma tvēvānudhāvati ।
sa ṡōcētphalavēlāyāṃ yathā kiṃṡukasēcakaḥ ॥
One who focuses on work
without having an idea about its result
will repent like one who waters Kiṃṡuka plants,
at the time of harvest. The immature indulge themselves in hard work, blindly hoping that it will bear fruit, without knowing what it will lead to.
2.63.10 ஸோऽஹமாம்ரவணம் சித்வா பலாஸாம்ஸ்ச ந்யஷேசயம் ।
ராமம் பலாகமே த்யக்த்வா பஸ்சாச்சோசாமி துர்மதி: ॥
sō'hamāmravaṇaṃ chitvā palāṡāṃṡca nyaṣēcayam ।
rāmaṃ phalāgamē tyaktvā paṡcācchōcāmi durmatiḥ ॥
Similarly, I cut the mango grove
and am watering Palāṡa trees.
Sending Rāma away when he is all mature and ready,
I am grieving now, like a stupid man.
2.63.11 லப்தஸப்தேந கௌஸல்யே! குமாரேண தநுஷ்மதா ।
குமாரஸ்ஸப்தவேதீதி மயா பாபமிதம் க்ருதம் ॥
labdhaṡabdēna kausalyē! kumārēṇa dhanuṣmatā ।
kumāraṡṡabdavēdhīti mayā pāpamidaṃ kṛtam ॥
When I was young, I became famous
as a young archer with Ṡabdavēdhi capability.
At that time, I committed a sinful act.
Ṡabdavēdhi refers to one’s ability to locate and hit
a target in the dark when it makes a sound.
2.63.12 ததிதம் மேऽநுஸம்ம்ப்ராப்தம் தேவி! து:கம் ஸ்வயம் க்ருதம் ।
ஸம்மோஹாதிஹ பாலேந யதா ஸ்யாத்பக்ஷிதம் விஷம் ॥
tadidaṃ mē'nusaṃmprāptaṃ dēvi! duḥkhaṃ svayaṃ kṛtam ।
sammōhādiha bālēna yathā syādbhakṣitaṃ viṣam ॥
This sorrow that befell on me, O queen, is of my own making,
like one that befalls a child who has eaten poison.
2.63.13 யதாऽந்ய: புருஷ: கஸ்சித்பலாஸைர்மோஹிதோ பவேத் ।
ஏவம் மமாऽப்யவிஜ்ஞாதம் ஸப்தவேத்யமயம் பலம் ॥
yathā'nyaḥ puruṣaḥ kaṡcitpalāṡairmōhitō bhavēt ।
ēvaṃ mamā'pyavijńātaṃ ṡabdavēdhyamayaṃ phalam ॥
Just as someone would be misled by
(the flowers of) Palāṡa tree,
I was unable to gauge the possible
consequences of the Ṡabdavēdhi!
2.63.14 தேவ்யநூடா த்வமபவோ யுவராஜோ பவாம்யஹம் ।
தத: ப்ராவ்ருடநுப்ராப்தா மநஸ்ஸம்ஹர்ஷிணீ மம॥
dēvyanūḍhā tvamabhavō yuvarājō bhavāmyaham ।
tataḥ prāvṛḍanuprāptā manassaṃharṣiṇī mama॥
O Queen! It happened before I married you
and after I became the crown prince.
It was an enchanting monsoon season,
that took my breath away.
2.63.15 உபாஸ்ய ச ரஸாந்பௌமாம் ஸ்தப்த்வா ச ஜகதம்ஸுபி: ।
பரேதாசரிதாம் பீமாம் ரவிராவிஸதே திஸம் ॥
upāsya ca rasānbhaumāṃ staptvā ca jagadaṃṡubhiḥ ।
parētācaritāṃ bhīmāṃ ravirāviṡatē diṡam ॥
The sun, having sucked up the moisture of the earth
and scorched the world with his rays,
moved into the dread half of the heavens
where the departed souls wander.
The allusion here is to Sun moving
towards the tropic of Capricorn,
in the southerly direction,
when the northern hemisphere cools down.
2.63.16 உஷ்ணமந்தர்ததே ஸத்யஸ்ஸ்நிக்தா தத்ருஸிரே கநா: ।
ததோ ஜஹ்ருஷிரே ஸர்வே பேகஸாரங்கபர்ஹிண: ॥
uṣṇamantardadhē sadyassnigdhā dadṛṡirē ghanāḥ ।
tatō jahṛṣirē sarvē bhēkasāraṅgabarhiṇaḥ ॥
The heat abated instantly,
glistening clouds were seen;
frog, deer and peacock rejoiced.
2.63.17 க்லிந்ந பக்ஷோத்தராஸ்ஸ்நாதா: க்ருச்ச்ராதிவ பதத்ரிண: ।
வ்ருஷ்டிவாதாவதூதாக்ராந்பாதபாநபிபேதிரே ॥
klinna pakṣōttarāssnātāḥ kṛcchrādiva patatriṇaḥ ।
vṛṣṭivātāvadhūtāgrānpādapānabhipēdirē ॥
The birds, with their wings wet,
looked as if they had taken a bath.
They, with an effort, settled on
the tops of the trees that were
swaying violently with wind and rain.
2.63.18 பதிதேநாம்பஸாச்சந்ந: பதமாநேந சாஸக்ருத் ।
ஆபபௌ மத்தஸாரங்கஸ்தோயராஸிரிவாசல: ॥
patitēnāmbhasācchannaḥ patamānēna cāsakṛt ।
ābabhau mattasāraṅgastōyarāṡirivācalaḥ ॥
Covered by the rain that had already fallen
and receiving more rain every so often,
the mountains, with intoxicated deer
roaming around, looked like a ocean.
2.63.19 பாண்டுராருணவர்ணாநி ஸ்ரோதாம்ஸி விமலாந்யபி ।
ஸுஸ்ருவுர்கிரிதாதுப்யஸ்ஸபஸ்மாநி புஜங்கவத் ॥
pāṇḍurāruṇavarṇāni srōtāṃsi vimalānyapi ।
susruvurgiridhātubhyassabhasmāni bhujaṅgavat ॥
Waters, some clean and
some turned white and red
with minerals of the mountains,
snaked down the mountains.
2.63.20 ஆகுலாருண தோயாநி ஸ்ரோதாம்ஸி விமலாந்யபி ।
உந்மார்கஜலவாஹிநீ பபூவுர்ஜலதாகமே ॥
ākulāruṇa tōyāni srōtāṃsi vimalānyapi ।
unmārgajalavāhinī babhūvurjaladāgamē ॥
Waters that are usually clear,
became red with the onset of monsoons,
drifting away from their natural course.
2.63.21 தஸ்மிந்நதிஸுகே காலே தநுஷ்மாநிஷுமாந்ரதீ ।
வ்யாயாமக்ருதஸங்கல்பஸ்ஸரயூமந்வகாம் நதீம் ॥
tasminnatisukhē kālē dhanuṣmāniṣumānrathī ।
vyāyāmakṛtasaṅkalpassarayūmanvagāṃ nadīm ॥
In that extremely delightful season,
with bow, arrows and chariot, I went
to the river Sarayu to get exercise.
2.63.22-23a நிபாநே மஹிஷம் ராத்ரௌ கஜம் வாऽப்யாகதம் நதீம் ।
அந்யம் வா ஸ்வாபதம் கஞ்சிஜ்ஜிகாம்ஸு ரஜிதேந்த்ரிய: ।
தஸ்மிம் ஸ்தத்ராஹமேகாந்தே ராத்ரௌ விவ்ருதகார்முக: ॥
nipānē mahiṣaṃ rātrau gajaṃ vā'bhyāgataṃ nadīm ।
anyaṃ vā ṡvāpadaṃ kańcijjighāṃsu rajitēndriyaḥ ।
tasmiṃ statrāhamēkāntē rātrau vivṛtakārmukaḥ ॥
(It was the age when) I did not have
complete control of my senses.
I positioned myself in the night in a
secluded place, with my bow ready for shooting,
waiting to kill any animal, like a buffalo or an elephant
that would come to the river to drink water. There are two important milestones in anybody’s life.
One, when one knows one’s senses, which is around age three.
Two, when one knows how to control those senses, which happens at some age, based on one’s luck and effort.
2.63.23b-24a தத்ராஹம் ஸம்வ்ருதம் வந்யம் ஹதவாம்ஸ்தீரமாகதம் ।
அந்யம் சாபி ம்ருகம் ஹிம்ஸ்ரம் ஸப்தம் ஸ்ருத்வாऽப்யுபாகதம் ॥
tatrāhaṃ saṃvṛtaṃ vanyaṃ hatavāṃstīramāgatam ।
anyaṃ cāpi mṛgaṃ hiṃsraṃ ṡabdaṃ ṡrutvā'bhyupāgatam ॥
Then, unobserved, I killed a wild animal
that came to the banks of the river.
I also killed another savage beast,
identifying its location from its sound.
2.63.24b-25a அதாந்தகாரே த்வஸ்ரௌஷம் ஜலே கும்பஸ்ய பூர்யத: ।
அசக்ஷுர்விஷயே கோஷம் வாரணஸ்யேவ நர்தத: ॥
athāndhakārē tvaṡrauṣaṃ jalē kumbhasya pūryataḥ ।
acakṣurviṣayē ghōṣaṃ vāraṇasyēva nardataḥ ॥
Then, in the thick of darkness I heard
the sound of water being filled in a pitcher,
which resembled that of a sound made by an elephant.
2.63.25b-26a ததோऽஹம் ஸரமுத்ருத்ய தீப்தமாஸீவிஷோபமம் ।
ஸப்தம் ப்ரதிகஜப்ரேப்ஸுரபிலக்ஷ்ய த்வபாதயம் ॥
tatō'haṃ ṡaramudhṛtya dīptamāṡīviṣōpamam ।
ṡabdaṃ pratigajaprēpsurabhilakṣya tvapātayam ॥
Wishing to get the elephant,
I took out a shiny arrow which was like a venomous serpent
and shot it in the direction of the sound.
2.63.26b-27 அமுஞ்சம் நிஸிதம் பாணமஹமாஸீவிஷோபமம் ।
தத்ர வாகுஷஸி வ்யக்தா ப்ராதுராஸீத்வநௌகஸ: ।
ஹாஹேதி பததஸ்தோயே பாணாபிஹதமர்மண: ॥
amuńcaṃ niṡitaṃ bāṇamahamāṡīviṣōpamam ।
tatra vāguṣasi vyaktā prādurāsīdvanaukasaḥ ।
hāhēti patatastōyē bāṇābhihatamarmaṇaḥ ॥
In those early hours of dawn,
upon the release of that sharp arrow
which was like a venomous serpent,
the cries of a dweller of Vana,
whose vitals had been hurt and
who was falling in the water, emerged.
2.63.28 தஸ்மிந்நிபதிதே பாணே வாகபூத்தத்ர மாநுஷீ ।
கதமஸ்மத்விதே ஸஸ்த்ரம் நிபதேத்து தபஸ்விநி ॥
tasminnipatitē bāṇē vāgabhūttatra mānuṣī ।
kathamasmadvidhē ṡastraṃ nipatēttu tapasvini ॥
As soon as that arrow struck,
the voice of a human was heard:
“Why would an arrow strike an anchorite like me!”
2.63.29 ப்ரவிவிக்தாம் நதீம் ராத்ராவுதாஹாऽரோஹமாகத: ।
இஷுணாऽபிஹத: கேந கஸ்ய வா கிம் க்ருதம் மயா ॥
praviviktāṃ nadīṃ rātrāvudāhā'rōhamāgataḥ ।
iṣuṇā'bhihataḥ kēna kasya vā kiṃ kṛtaṃ mayā ॥
I came to a secluded spot of the river
in the night to fetch water.
Who struck me with this arrow?
What have I done to any one?
2.63.30 ருஷேர்ஹிந்யஸ்ததண்டஸ்ய வநே வந்யேந ஜீவத: ।
கதம் நு ஸஸ்ரேண வதோ மத்விதஸ்ய விதீயதே ॥
ṛṣērhinyastadaṇḍasya vanē vanyēna jīvataḥ ।
kathaṃ nu ṡasrēṇa vadhō madvidhasya vidhīyatē ॥
Why would a Ṛshi like me who abjured violence,
and living in Vana, subsisting on
whatever is available in Vana,
deserve to be struck down by an arrow? Even at the throes of death he had the sanity to analyze the situation. His reason and senses were indeed unperturbed, a true mark of a Ṛshi.
2.63.31 ஜடாபாரதரஸ்யைவ வல்கலாஜிநவாஸஸ: ।
கோ வதேந மமார்தீ ஸ்யாத்கிம்வாऽஸ்யாபக்ருதம் மயா ॥
jaṭābhāradharasyaiva valkalājinavāsasaḥ ।
kō vadhēna mamārthī syātkiṃvā'syāpakṛtaṃ mayā ॥
I wear matted locks and garbs made of bark.
Why would anyone want to kill me?
What wrong did I do to him?
2.63.32 ஏவம் நிஷ்பலமாரப்தம் கேவலாநர்தஸம்ஹிதம் ।
ந கஸ்சித்ஸாது மந்யேத யதைவ குருதல்பகம் ॥
ēvaṃ niṣphalamārabdhaṃ kēvalānarthasaṃhitam ।
na kaṡcitsādhu manyēta yathaiva gurutalpagam ॥
Whoever did this, which has no benefit whatsoever
and can only be considered as a frivolous act,
cannot be regarded as sane, just as
one who violates his Guru’s bed would not be.
Violating the sanctity of Guru’s bed means
getting in bed with the wife of a Guru.
2.63.33 நாஹம் ததாऽநு ஸோசாமி ஜீவிதக்ஷயமாத்மந: ।
மாதரம் பிதரம் சோபாவநுஸோசாமி மத்வதே ॥
nāhaṃ tathā'nu ṡōcāmi jīvitakṣayamātmanaḥ ।
mātaraṃ pitaraṃ cōbhāvanuṡōcāmi madvadhē ॥
I would not worry much about losing my life.
I only worry about the consequences of
my death to the two, my mother and father.
2.63.34 ததேதந்மிதுநம் வ்ருத்தம் சிரகாலப்ருதம் மயா ।
மயி பஞ்சத்வமாபந்நே காம் வ்ருத்திம் வர்தயிஷ்யதி ॥
tadētanmithunaṃ vṛddhaṃ cirakālabhṛtaṃ mayā ।
mayi pańcatvamāpannē kāṃ vṛttiṃ vartayiṣyati ॥
How would that old couple who
have been taken care of by me thus far,
manage by themselves, when I die?
2.63.35 வ்ருத்தை ச மதாபிதராவஹம் சைகேஷுணா ஹதா ।
கேந ஸ்மநிஹதா ஸ்ஸர்வே ஸுபாலேநாக்ருதாத்மநா ॥
vṛddhai ca matāpitarāvahaṃ caikēṣuṇā hatā ।
kēna smanihatā ssarvē subālēnākṛtātmanā ॥
With that single arrow, my aged mother and father
also have been killed, along with me.
Who is the senseless fool that hurt every one of us?
2.63.36 தாம் கிரம் கருணாம் ஸ்ருத்வா மம தர்மநுகாங்க்ஷிண: ।
கராப்யாம் ஸஸரம் சாபம் வ்யதிதஸ்யாபதத்புவி ॥
tāṃ giraṃ karuṇāṃ ṡrutvā mama dharmanukāṅkṣiṇaḥ ।
karābhyāṃ saṡaraṃ cāpaṃ vyathitasyāpatadbhuvi ॥
Hearing those heart wrenching words,
that sense in me that wants to
adhere to Dharma was troubled.
The bow and arrows slipped from
my hands and fell on the ground.
2.63.37 தஸ்யாஹம் கருணம் ஸ்ருத்வா நிஸி லாலவதோ பஹு ।
ஸம்ப்ராந்தஸ்ஸோகவேகேந ப்ருஸமாஸம் விசேதந: ॥
tasyāhaṃ karuṇaṃ ṡrutvā niṡi lālavatō bahu ।
sambhrāntaṡṡōkavēgēna bhṛṡamāsaṃ vicētanaḥ ॥
Hearing him make many a heart wrenching lament thus,
I felt completely numbed, struck by a storm of grief.
2.63.38-39 தம் தேஸமஹமாகம்ய தீநஸத்த்வஸ்ஸுதுர்மநா: ।
அபஸ்யமிஷுணா தீரே ஸரய்வாஸ்தாபஸம் ஹதம் ॥
அவகீர்ண ஜடாபாரம் ப்ரவித்தகலஸோதகம் ।
பாம்ஸுஸோணிததிக்தாங்கம் ஸயாநம் ஸல்யபீடிதம் ॥
taṃ dēṡamahamāgamya dīnasattvassudurmanāḥ ।
apaṡyamiṣuṇā tīrē sarayvāstāpasaṃ hatam ॥
avakīrṇa jaṭābhāraṃ praviddhakalaṡōdakam ।
pāṃsuṡōṇitadigdhāṅgaṃ ṡayānaṃ ṡalyapīḍitam ॥
Losing all my strength and feeling terrible,
and reaching that place, I saw the anchorite
hurt by the arrow and lying on the
on the bank of river Sarayu,
with his matted locks in disarray,
his water pot thrown about,
and his body bespattered with mud and blood,
suffering from the hurt by the arrow.
2.63.40 ஸ மாமுத்வீக்ஷ்ய நேத்ராப்யாம் த்ரஸ்தமஸ்வஸ்தசேதஸம் ।
இத்யுவாச தத: க்ரூரம் திதக்ஷந்நிவ தேஜஸா ॥
sa māmudvīkṣya nētrābhyāṃ trastamasvasthacētasam ।
ityuvāca tataḥ krūraṃ didhakṣanniva tējasā ॥
I was scared and my heart was disturbed.
He looked up at me with his eyes,
as if he would scorch me with his radiance,
and said these sharp words:
2.63.41 கிம் தவாபக்ருதம் ராஜந்வநே நிவஸதா மயா ।
ஜிஹீர்ஷுரம்போ குர்வுர்தம் யதஹம் தாடிதஸ்த்வயா ॥
kiṃ tavāpakṛtaṃ rājanvanē nivasatā mayā ।
jihīrṣurambhō gurvurthaṃ yadahaṃ tāḍitastvayā ॥
I am here to take water to my elders.
I was struck by you. I just live in this Vana.
What wrong did I do to you?
2.63.42 ஏகேந கலு பாணேந மர்மண்யபிஹதே மயி ।
த்வாவந்தௌ நிஹதௌ வ்ருத்தௌ மாதா ஜநயிதா ச மே ॥
ēkēna khalu bāṇēna marmaṇyabhihatē mayi ।
dvāvandhau nihatau vṛddhau mātā janayitā ca mē ॥
As I was hit by you in my vitals,
even my aged, blind mother and father have been hit
just by that one arrow.
2.63.43 தௌ கதம் துர்பலாவந்தௌ மத்ப்ரதீக்ஷௌ பிபாஸிதௌ ।
சிரமாஸாக்ருதாம் த்ருஷ்ணாம் கஷ்டாம் ஸந்தாரயிஷ்யத: ॥
tau kathaṃ durbalāvandhau matpratīkṣau pipāsitau ।
ciramāṡākṛtāṃ tṛṣṇāṃ kaṣṭāṃ sandhārayiṣyataḥ ॥
Those two frail and blind people,
waiting for me to quench their thirst,
must be hoping for me to arrive, for a while,
holding their thirst with great difficulty.
2.63.44 ந நூநம் தபஸோ வாஸ்தி பலயோகஸ்ஸ்ருதஸ்ய வா ।
பிதா யந்மாம் ந ஜாநாதி ஸயாநம் பதிதம் புவி ॥
na nūnaṃ tapasō vāsti phalayōgaṡṡrutasya vā ।
pitā yanmāṃ na jānāti ṡayānaṃ patitaṃ bhuvi ॥
Certainly, Tapa and studies seem to be futile and of no use;
my father does not know that I lie here, fallen on the ground. The very first Ṡlōka of this great Kāvya, Rāmāyaṇa, starts with the very same two words, Tapa and studies.
In a moment like this, when someone has been hurt so bad, for no apparent reason, one feels disillusioned even about those highly regarded activities.
2.63.45 ஜாநந்நபி ச கிம் குர்யாதஸக்திரபரிக்ரம: ।
பித்யமாநமிவாஸக்த ஸ்த்ரதுமந்யோ நகோ நகம் ॥
jānannapi ca kiṃ kuryādaṡaktiraparikramaḥ ।
bhidyamānamivāṡakta stratumanyō nagō nagam ॥
Even if he knows, what can he do,
having no strength and unable to walk,
like a tree that cannot save another tree
that is being cut down?
2.63.46 பிதுஸ்த்வமேவ மே கத்வா ஸீக்ரமாசக்ஷ்ய ராகவ ।
ந த்வாமநுதஹேத்க்ருத்தோ வநம் வஹ்நிரிவைதித: ॥
pitustvamēva mē gatvā ṡīghramācakṣya rāghava ।
na tvāmanudahētkruddhō vanaṃ vahnirivaidhitaḥ ॥
O Rāghava! You yourself go and tell my father immediately.
Otherwise he may, in his anger, burn you down,
just as a raging fire destroys a forest.
2.63.47 இயமேகபதீ ராஜந்யதோ மே பிதுராஸ்ரம: ।
தம் ப்ரஸாதய கத்வா த்வம் ந த்வாம் ஸ குபிதஸ்ஸபேத் ॥
iyamēkapadī rājanyatō mē piturāṡramaḥ ।
taṃ prasādaya gatvā tvaṃ na tvāṃ sa kupitaṡṡapēt ॥
O King, this foot track leads you to the Āṡrama of my father.
Go and beg for his forgiveness lest he curses you in wrath.
2.63.48 விஸல்யம் குரு மாம் ராஜந்மர்ம மே நிஸிதஸ்ஸர: ।
ருணத்தி ம்ருதுஸோத்ஸேதம் தீரமம்புரயோ யதா ॥
viṡalyaṃ kuru māṃ rājanmarma mē niṡitaṡṡaraḥ ।
ruṇaddhi mṛdusōtsēdhaṃ tīramamburayō yathā ॥
Take this arrowhead out of me, O King!
This sharp arrow torments my vitals,
like the swift waters would, high mud-banks.
2.63.49 ஸஸல்ய: க்லிஸ்யதே ப்ராணைர்விஸல்யோ விநஸிஷ்யதி ।
இதி மாமவிஸச்சிந்தா தஸ்ய ஸல்யாபகர்ஷணே ॥
saṡalyaḥ kliṡyatē prāṇairviṡalyō vinaṡiṣyati ।
iti māmaviṡacchintā tasya ṡalyāpakarṣaṇē ॥
With the arrow embedded in him, he will suffer.
But if I remove the arrow, he will die.
I was caught between the two,
with respect to removing the arrow.
2.63.50 து:கிதஸ்ய ச தீநஸ்ய மம ஸோகாதுரஸ்ய ச ।
லக்ஷயாமாஸ ஹ்ருதயே சிந்தாம் முநிஸுதஸ்ததா ॥
duḥkhitasya ca dīnasya mama ṡōkāturasya ca ।
lakṣayāmāsa hṛdayē cintāṃ munisutastadā ॥
I was sad, dejected and overwhelmed by grief.
The son of the Muni understood my dilemma.
2.63.51 தாம்யமாநஸ்ஸ மாம் க்ருச்ச்ராதுவாச பரமார்தவத் ।
ஸீதமாநோ விவ்ருத்தாங்கோ வேஷ்டமாநோ கத: க்ஷயம் ॥
tāmyamānassa māṃ kṛcchrāduvāca paramārtavat ।
sīdamānō vivṛttāṅgō vēṣṭamānō gataḥ kṣayam ॥
Struggling, weakening, trembling, deteriorating
and rolling about, he said with great difficulty
in a highly pitiable manner to me:
2.63.52 ஸம்ஸ்தப்ய ஸோகம் தைர்யேண ஸ்திரசித்தோ பவாம்யஹம் ।
ப்ரஹ்மஹத்யாக்ருதம் பாபம் ஹ்ருதயாதபநீயதாம் ॥
saṃstabhya ṡōkaṃ dhairyēṇa sthiracittō bhavāmyaham ।
brahmahatyākṛtaṃ pāpaṃ hṛdayādapanīyatām ॥
I have stabilized my mind,
suppressing grief with fortitude.
You shall not have to fear
the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa!
2.63.53 ந த்விஜாதிரஹம் ராஜந்மா பூத்தே மநஸோ வ்யதா ।
ஸூத்ராயாமஸ்மி வைஸ்யேந ஜாதோ ஜநபதாதிப! ॥
na dvijātirahaṃ rājanmā bhūttē manasō vyathā ।
ṡūdrāyāmasmi vaiṡyēna jātō janapadādhipa! ॥
For, O King, I am not a twice-born.
Let there be no worry in your mind.
I am born to a Vaiṡya in a Sūdra woman. This Ṡlōka’s authenticity is to be doubted. See 2.64.56.
2.63.54-55 இதீவ வதத: க்ருச்ச்ராத்பாணாபிஹதமர்மண:
விகூர்ணதோ விசேஷ்டஸ்ய வேபமாநஸ்ய பூதலே ।
தஸ்யத்வாநம்யமாநஸ்ய தம் பாணமஹமுத்தரம்
ஸ மாமுத்வீக்ஷ்ய ஸந்த்ரஸ்தோ ஜஹௌ ப்ராணாம்ஸ்தபோதந: ॥
itīva vadataḥ kṛcchrādbāṇābhihatamarmaṇaḥ
vighūrṇatō vicēṣṭasya vēpamānasya bhūtalē ।
tasyatvānamyamānasya taṃ bāṇamahamuddharam
sa māmudvīkṣya santrastō jahau prāṇāṃstapōdhanaḥ ॥
As he said this with great difficulty,
his vitals struck by the arrow,
he was writhing and collapsed on the ground,
trembling and contracting.
I then pulled out the arrow.
That man, who was rich with Tapa
then looked up at me and
feeling shaken, dropped his life.
2.63.56 ஜலார்த்ரகாத்ரந்து விலப்ய க்ருச்ச்ரா-
ந்மர்மவ்ரணம் ஸந்ததமுச்சவஸந்தம் ।
தத ஸ்ஸரய்வாம் தமஹம் ஸயாநம்
ஸமீக்ஷ்ய பத்ரேऽஸ்மி ப்ருஸம் விஷண்ண: ॥
jalārdragātrantu vilapya kṛcchrā-
nmarmavraṇaṃ santatamucchavasantam ।
tata ssarayvāṃ tamahaṃ ṡayānaṃ
samīkṣya bhadrē'smi bhṛṡaṃ viṣaṇṇaḥ ॥
My dear, I wailed for long,
seeing him thus lie in the river Sarayu
with his vitals hurt, his body all wet,
crying with the ensuing pain,
and heaving endless sighs.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
அயோத்யாகாண்டே த்ரிஷஷ்டிதம ஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ayōdhyākāṇḍē triṣaṣṭitama ssargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the sixty third Sarga
in Ayōdhyā Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.
You have completed reading 4742 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.
Meaning, notes and commentary by: Krishna Sharma.