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title: "Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 103"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/ayodhya-kanda/sarga-103"
lang: "en"
---

# Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 103

> तां श्रुत्वा करुणां वाचं पितुर्मरणसंहिताम्।  
> राघवो भरतेनोक्तां बभूव गतचेतनः॥ १॥

Hearing the pathetic news relating to the death of his father, King Daśaratha, told by Bharata, Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, fainted there. (1)

> तं तु वज्रमिवोत्सृष्टमाहवे दानवारिणा।  
> वाग्वज्रं भरतेनोक्तममनोज्ञं परंतपः॥ २॥  
> प्रगृह्य रामो बाहू वै पुष्पिताङ्ग इव द्रुमः।  
> वने परशुना कृत्तस्तथा भुवि पपात ह॥ ३॥

Hearing the aforesaid unpleasant and heart-rending news broken by Bharata, which was piercing like a thunderbolt discharged by Indra, the enemy of demons, on a field of battle, and raising his arms, Śrī Rāma, the scorcher of his enemies, for his part actually sank to the ground precisely like a tree with boughs full of blossom felled down with an axe in a forest : so it is said. (2-3)

> तथा हि पतितं रामं जगत्यां जगतीपतिम्।  
> कूलघातपरिश्रान्तं प्रसुप्तमिव कुञ्जरम्॥ ४॥  
> भ्रातरस्ते महेष्वासं सर्वतः शोककर्शितम्।  
> रुदन्तः सह वैदेह्या सिषिचुः सलिलेन वै॥ ५॥

Weeping with Sītā, a princess of the Videha territory, his celebrated brothers, Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna, promptly sprinkled water all over Śrī Rāma, the ruler of the earth and the wielder of a mighty bow, fallen on the ground, as aforesaid, blasted with grief, like an elephant exhausted by striking with his tusks against a river bank and lying fast asleep due to fatigue. (4-5)

> स तु संज्ञां पुनर्लब्ध्वा नेत्राभ्यामश्रुमुत्सृजन्।  
> उपाक्रामत काकुत्स्थः कृपणं बहु भाषितुम्॥ ६॥

Shortly regaining his consciousness, the aforesaid Śrī Rāma, a scion of Kakutstha, for his part, began piteously to wail, dropping tears from his eyes. (6)

> स रामः स्वर्गतं श्रुत्वा पितरं पृथिवीपतिम्।  
> उवाच भरतं वाक्यं धर्मात्मा धर्मसंहितम्॥ ७॥

Hearing of the emperor, his father, having ascended to heaven, the celebrated Śrī Rāma, whose mind was given to piety, addressed the following words, consistent with righteousness, to Bharata : (7)

> किं करिष्याम्ययोध्यायां ताते दिष्टां गतिं गते।  
> कस्तां राजवराद्धीनामयोध्यां पालयिष्यति॥ ८॥

“Father having reached the end of his life (the destiny assigned by Providence), what shall I do at Ayodhyā? Who will look after the said city of Ayodhyā, bereft of Daśaratha, the foremost of kings? (8)

> किं नु तस्य मया कार्यं दुर्जातेन महात्मनः।  
> यो मृतो मम शोकेन स मया न च संस्कृतः॥ ९॥

“What purpose on earth of that high-souled monarch—who died of grief caused by separation from me, and who was not even cremated by me—was served by me, his hapless child? (9)

> अहो भरत सिद्धार्थो येन राजा त्वयानघ।  
> शत्रुघ्नेन च सर्वेषु प्रेतकृत्येषु सत्कृतः॥ १०॥

“Oh sinless Bharata, accomplished of purpose are you, by whom, as well as by Śatrughna the king was paid homage to in all obsequial rites! (10)

> निष्प्रधानामनेकाग्रां नरेन्द्रेण विना कृताम्।  
> निवृत्तवनवासोऽपि नायोध्यां गन्तुमुत्सहे॥ ११॥

“Even when the term of my exile has expired, I shall have no heart to return to Ayodhyā, which has been rendered destitute of its ruler and is, therefore, without a leader and agitated. (11)

> समाप्तवनवासं मामयोध्यायां परंतप।  
> कोऽनुशासिष्यति पुनस्ताते लोकान्तरं गते॥ १२॥

“Father having departed to the otherworld, O scorcher of enemies, who will give instructions to me hereafter about my duty when I am back in Ayodhyā, having completed the term of my exile in the forest? (12)

> पुरा प्रेक्ष्य सुवृत्तं मां पिता यान्याह सान्त्वयन्।  
> वाक्यानि तानि श्रोष्यामि कुतः कर्णसुखान्यहम्॥ १३॥

“From whom shall I hear those words, pleasing to the ear, which father addressed to me in the past, speaking kindly to me, on seeing me of good conduct?” (13)

> एवमुक्त्वाथ भरतं भार्यामभ्येत्य राघवः।  
> उवाच शोकसंतप्तः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम्॥ १४॥

Having spoken to Bharata as aforesaid, and turning to his consort, whose countenance resembled the full moon, as well as to Lakṣmaṇa, Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, who was tormented with grief, said to her : (14)

> सीते मृतस्ते श्वशुरः पितृहीनोऽसि लक्ष्मण।  
> भरतो दुःखमाचष्टे स्वर्गतिं पृथिवीपतेः॥ १५॥

“Your father-in-law is no more, O Sītā ! You are fatherless, O Lakṣmaṇa ! Bharata sorrowfully relates the emperor’s ascent to heaven.” (15)

> ततो बहुगुणं तेषां बाष्पं नेत्रेष्वजायत।  
> तथा ब्रुवति काकुत्स्थे कुमाराणां यशस्विनाम्॥ १६॥

When Śrī Rāma (a scion of Kakutstha) spoke as above, copious tears welled up in consequence in the eyes of those illustrious princes. (16)

> ततस्ते भ्रातरः सर्वे भृशमाश्वास्य दुःखितम्।  
> अब्रुवञ्जगतीभर्तुः क्रियतामुदकं पितुः॥ १७॥

Having consoled their afflicted brother to the best of their ability, all the aforesaid brothers then said to him, “Let water be offered to the spirit of our imperial father.” (17)

> सा सीता स्वर्गतं श्रुत्वा श्वशुरं तं महानृपम्।  
> नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यां न शशाकेक्षितुं प्रियम्॥ १८॥

Hearing of the celebrated emperor, her father-in-law, having ascended to heaven, the renowned Sītā with her eyes full of tears was not able to look at her beloved lord. (18)

> सान्त्वयित्वा तु तां रामो रुदतीं जनकात्मजाम्।  
> उवाच लक्ष्मणं तत्र दुःखितो दुःखितं वचः॥ १९॥

Consoling the aforesaid Sītā (daughter of Janaka), who was weeping, the afficted Śrī Rāma for his part spoke as follows to the distressed Lakṣmaṇa on that very spot : (19)

> आनयेङ्गुदिपिण्याकं चीरमाहर चोत्तरम्।  
> जलक्रियार्थं तातस्य गमिष्यामि महात्मनः॥ २०॥

“Bring the crushed pulp of Iṅgudī, a piece of bark for being wrapped about my lions and another for being used as an upper garment. I shall proceed to the river bank to perform the rite of offering water to the spirit of our high-souled father. (20)

> सीता पुरस्ताद् व्रजतु त्वमेनामभितो व्रज।  
> अहं पश्चाद् गमिष्यामि गतिर्ह्येषा सुदारुणा॥ २१॥

“Let Sītā walk ahead and follow you at her heels. I shall follow in the rear; for such is the most painful procedure employed on occasions of mourning.” (21)

> ततो नित्यानुगस्तेषां विदितात्मा महामतिः।  
> मृदुर्दान्तश्च कान्तश्च रामे च दृढभक्तिमान्॥ २२॥  
> सुमन्त्रस्तैर्नृपसुतैः सार्धमाश्वास्य राघवम्।  
> अवतारयदालम्ब्य नदीं मन्दाकिनीं शिवाम्॥ २३॥

Consoling Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, alongwith those other princes, and holding the former by the hand, Sumantra, their hereditary servant—who had realized the Self, was possessed of great intelligence, gentle, self-controlled and glorious, and was full of unswerving devotion to Śrī Rāma—helped him descend to the blessed river, Mandākinī. (22-23)

> ते सुतीर्थां ततः कृच्छ्रादुपगम्य यशस्विनः।  
> नदीं मन्दाकिनीं रम्यां सदा पुष्पितकाननाम्॥ २४॥  
> शीघ्रस्रोतसमासाद्य तीर्थं शिवमकर्दमम्।  
> सिषिचुस्तूदकं राज्ञे तत एतद् भवत्विति॥ २५॥

Having reached with difficulty (because of their inability to walk, overwhelmed as they were with grief caused by their father’s demise) the lovely and swift-flowing river Mandākinī—which was provided with easy descents for bathing purposes and was hemmed in with woodlands ever full of blossom—and, betaking themselves to a blessed descent free from mud, Śrī Rāma and others for their part offered water to the departed king, saying “Dear father, let this water reach you.” (24-25)

> प्रगृह्य तु महीपालो जलापूरितमञ्जलिम्।  
> दिशं याम्यामभिमुखो रुदन् वचनमब्रवीत्॥ २६॥

Holding together, in the form of a hollow, his palms full of water, and standing with his face turned towards the southern quarter presided over by Yama, the god of death, Śrī Rāma, the ruler of the earth, for his part spoke weeping as follows : (26)

> एतत् ते राजशार्दूल विमलं तोयमक्षयम्।  
> पितृलोकगतस्याद्य मद्दत्तमुपतिष्ठतु॥ २७॥

“Let this limpid water offered by me today serve you, who have left for the world of manes, inexhaustibly, O tiger among kings !” (27)

> ततो मन्दाकिनीतीरं प्रत्युत्तीर्य स राघवः।  
> पितुश्चकार तेजस्वी निर्वापं भ्रातृभिः सह॥ २८॥

Re-ascending to the bank of the Mandākinī the celebrated and glorious Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) then offered balls of food to his father alongwith his other three brothers. (28)

> ऐङ्गुदं बदरैर्मिश्रं पिण्याकं दर्भसंस्तरे।  
> न्यस्य रामः सुदुःखार्तो रुदन् वचनमब्रवीत्॥ २९॥

Serving the crushed pulp of Iṅgudī fruit mixed with the pulp of plums on a mat of Kuśa grass, Śrī Rāma, who was sore stricken with agony, spoke weeping as follows : (29)

> इदं भुङ् क्ष्व महाराज प्रीतो यदशना वयम्।  
> यदन्नः पुरुषो भवति तदन्नास्तस्य देवताः॥ ३०॥

“Delightfully partake of this, which is our only food, O great monarch! Deties partake of the same food which a man worshipping them eats.” (30)

> ततस्तेनैव मार्गेण प्रत्युत्तीर्य सरित्तटात्।  
> आरुरोह नरव्याघ्रो रम्यसानुं महीधरम्॥ ३१॥

Moving up from the river bank once more by the same route along which he had descended, Śrī Rāma, a tiger among men, then ascended the mountain Citrakūṭa, which was crowned with a lovely summit. (31)

> ततः पर्णकुटीद्वारमासाद्य जगतीपतिः।  
> परिजग्राह पाणिभ्यामुभौ भरतलक्ष्मणौ॥ ३२॥

Reaching the entrance of the hut of leafy twigs in which he dwelt, Śrī Rāma (the emperor) now clasped both Bharata and Lakṣmaṇa by his hands and wept loudly. (32)

> तेषां तु रुदतां शब्दात् प्रतिशब्दोऽभवद् गिरौ।  
> भ्रातॄणां सह वैदेह्या सिंहानां नर्दतामिव॥ ३३॥

From the cry of those brothers with Sītā, a princess of the Videha kingdom, which resembled the noise of roaring lions, rose an echo in the mountain. (33)

> महाबलानां रुदतां कुर्वतामुदकं पितुः।  
> विज्ञाय तुमुलं शब्दं त्रस्ता भरतसैनिकाः॥ ३४॥  
> अब्रुवंश्चापि रामेण भरतः संगतो ध्रुवम्।  
> तेषामेव महान् शब्दः शोचतां पितरं मृतम्॥ ३५॥

The troops of Bharata got alarmed to hear the confused noise of the four exceptionally mighty brothers, who, they thought were crying while offering water to the spirit of their deceased father, and said to one another, “Surely Prince Bharata has met Śrī Rāma. This is undoubtedly the loud cry of those four brothers mourning for their deceased father.” (34-35)•

> अथ वाहान् परित्यज्य तं सर्वेऽभिमुखाः स्वनम्।  
> अप्येकमनसो जग्मुर्यथास्थानं प्रधाविताः॥ ३६॥

Leaving their conveyances, all troops without exception ran fast with an undivided mind to the place from which the sound was coming, with their faces turned towards that sound. (36)

> हयैरन्ये गजैरन्ये रथैरन्ये स्वलंकृतैः।  
> सुकुमारास्तथैवान्ये पद्भिरेव नरा ययुः॥ ३७॥

Some people, other than the troops, who were tender of body rode on horses, others on elephants and still others in chariots tastefully decorated; while still others went on foot alone. (37)

> अचिरप्रोषितं रामं चिरविप्रोषितं यथा।  
> द्रष्टुकामो जनः सर्वो जगाम सहसाश्रमम्॥ ३८॥

Eager to see Śrī Rāma, as though he had been away from his home, Ayodhyā, for a long time, although he had left his home not long before, all men rushed headlong to the hermitage of Śrī Rāma. (38)

> भ्रातॄणां त्वरितास्ते तु द्रष्टुकामाः समागमम्।  
> ययुर्बहुविधैर्यानैः खुरनेमिसमाकुलैः॥ ३९॥

Keen to behold the meeting of the four brothers, they for their part hastily rode on hoofed animals and wheeled vehicles of various kinds. (39)

> सा भूमिर्बहुभिर्यानै रथनेमिसमाहता।  
> मुमोच तुमुलं शब्दं द्यौरिवाभ्रसमागमे॥ ४०॥

Run over by many animals and vehicles and consequently struck against by hoofs and felloes, that land of Citrakūṭa produced a tumultuous noise as heavens do during the gathering of clouds. (40)

> तेन वित्रासिता नागाः करेणुपरिवारिताः।  
> आवासयन्तो गन्धेन जग्मुरन्यद्वनं ततः॥ ४१॥

Terrified by that noise, wild elephants accompanied by female elephants migrated to another forest from that place, perfuming the quarters with the scent of their ichor. (41)

> वराहवृकसिंहाश्च महिषाः सृमरास्तथा।  
> व्याघ्रगोकर्णगवया वित्रेसुः पृषतैः सह॥ ४२॥

Boars, wolves and lions, buffaloes, Sṛmaras and Gokarṇas, two distinctive species of deer, as well as tigers and Gavayas alongwith spotted deer felt stricken with terror. (42)

> रथाह्वहंसानत्यूहाः प्लवाः कारण्डवाः परे।  
> तथा पुंस्कोकिलाः क्रौञ्चा विसंज्ञा भेजिरे दिशः॥ ४३॥

Cakrawākas, swans and waterfowl, Plavas (a kind of heron), Kāraṇḍavas (a sort of duck) and other aquatic birds, male cuckoos and cranes flew utterly confused in various directions. (43)

> तेन शब्देन वित्रस्तैराकाशं पक्षिभिर्वृतम्।  
> मनुष्यैरावृता भूमिरुभयं प्रबभौ तदा॥ ४४॥

The sky was screened with birds terrified by that sound, while the land was covered with men; and both looked most charming on that occasion. (44)

> ततस्तं पुरुषव्याघ्रं यशस्विनमकल्मषम्।  
> आसीनं स्थण्डिले रामं ददर्श सहसा जनः॥ ४५॥

All of a sudden people now beheld the illustrious and sinless Śrī Rāma, that tiger among men, sitting on the altar. (45)

> विगर्हमाणः कैकेयीं मन्थरासहितामपि।  
> अभिगम्य जनो रामं बाष्पपूर्णमुखोऽभवत्॥ ४६॥

Approaching Śrī Rāma, the people, who had been reproaching Kaikeyī, including Mantharā too, found their own face bathed in tears. (46)

> तान् नरान् बाष्पपूर्णाक्षान् समीक्ष्याथ सुदुःखितान्।  
> पर्यष्वजत धर्मज्ञः पितृवन्मातृवच्च सः॥ ४७॥

Perceiving those men sore distressed with their eyes full of tears, Śrī Rāma, who knew what is right, presently embraced them like their father and mother. (47)

> स तत्र कांश्चित् परिषस्वजे नरान्  
> नराश्च केचित्तु तमभ्यवादयन्।  
> चकार सर्वान् सवयस्यबान्धवान्  
> यथार्हमासाद्य तदा नृपात्मजः॥ ४८॥

Nay, he embraced some men who deserved it, while others on that spot hailed him. Approaching them on that occasion, the princes received them all including his friends and relations according to the rank of each. (48)

> ततः स तेषां रुदतां महात्मनां  
> भुवं च खं चानुविनादयन् स्वनः।  
> गुहा गिरीणां च दिशश्च संततं  
> मृदङ्गघोषप्रतिमो विशुश्रुवे॥ ४९॥

Making the earth and the heavens as well as the mountain caves and the quarters incessantly resound, the aforesaid cry of those wailing high-souled men was continuously heard far and wide like the sound of a clay tomtom. (49)

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