Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 33

Meaning

Having portioned out with Sītā (a princess of the Videha clan) abundant riches to the Brāhmaṇas, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the two scions of Raghu, for their part proceeded with her to see their father, Emperor Daśaratha. (1)

Meaning

Next to them shone the weapons of the two brothers, held by a couple of servants and nay, decorated with a number of wreaths and worshipped by Sītā herself with sandal paste etc. (2)

Meaning

Ascending the roofs of temples and mansions and the tops of seven-storeyed buildings wealthy people gazed despondently on them. (3)

Meaning

The streets could not be easily passed through, crowded as they were with many men; mounting, therefore, to the top of seven-storeyed buildings, people looked sorrowfully on Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, from those mansions. (4)

Meaning

Seeing Śrī Rāma walking with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa, his younger brother, at that time, many men offered remarks as follows, their mind infatuated with grief : (5)

Meaning

“Lo ! the same Śrī Rāma, who was at one time followed by a strong detachment consisting of all the four limbs (viz, infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots), is walking, unattended by bodyguards, with Sītā, followed by Lakṣmaṇa alone. (6)

Meaning

“He who, having tasted the delights of sovereignty, is a great repertory of objects of enjoyment, is anxious not to belie the plighted word of his father, prompted as he is by respect for virtue. (7)

Meaning

“Even people on the roads are able today to behold Sītā, who could not formerly be seen even by beings coursing in the air. (8)

Meaning

“Rain, heat and cold will quickly reduce to pallor Sītā, who deserves to be daubed with pigments (such as musk-paste) and habitually paints her body with the paste of red sandal. (9)

Meaning

“Surely King Daśaratha has announced today his decision to banish Śrī Rāma, identifying himself with some evil spirit; for otherwise had he been his normal self he would not have sent his dearest son into exile. (10)

Meaning

“How could banishment be inflicted even on a son devoid of virtue, much less on him whose character alone has won the affection of the entire world? (11)

Meaning

“Harmlessness, compassion, learning, amiability of disposition, subjugation of the senses and tranquillity of mind—these six excellences adorn Śrī Rāma, the foremost of men. (12)

Meaning

“People, therefore, feel extremely pained by the injury which is being done to him by way of unmerited banishment, even as aquatic creatures are afflicted by depletion of water. (13)

Meaning

“The whole world feels injured by the suffering inflicted on this protector of the world, even as a tree with its flowers and fruits is damaged by injury caused to its root. (14)

Meaning

“For, Śrī Rāma, whose strength is virtue and who is possessed of extraordinary lustre, is the root of the tree of humanity; while other men are flowers and fruits, leaves and boughs. (15)

Meaning

“As such even as Lakṣmaṇa we will also with our wives and relations forthwith follow the departing Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, on the path the former is going to tread. (16)

Meaning

“Relinquishing for good our gardens and fields and houses too, let us follow the pious Śrī Rāma, sharing his joys and sorrows. (17)

Meaning

“Let Kaikeyī enjoy as her share the dwellings deserted by us and robbed of their substance in every way—their treasures unearthed, their courtyards neglected, their wealth and stocks of foodgrains removed—nay, covered by dust on all sides and as such deserted by the deities presiding over them, overrun by mice coming out of their holes and scurrying here and there, water and smoke having disappeared from them, unswept, dilapidated as though by adverse times and strewn with broken vessels, the rites of offering oblations to all creatures as well as to the sacred fire, worship of gods, the chanting of sacred texts and muttering of prayers having altogether ceased. (18—21)

Meaning

“Let the forest itself, for which Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, is leaving, turn into a city and let the city of Ayodhyā, when deserted by us, be converted into a forest. (22)

Meaning

“Scared by fear of us, all the snakes will forsake their holes; the deer and birds, their abode on the mountain-peaks and elephants and lions, the forests. (23)

Meaning

“Let them abandon the region going to be inhabited by us and flee for protection to the one forsaken by us. Let Kaikeyī with her son and relations actually obtain as her share the region where grass, meat and fruits can be had in abundance and which is inhabited by ferocious beasts and birds. We shall, on the other hand, live happily in the forest with Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu.” (24-25)

Meaning

Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, heard the aforesaid remarks of diverse kinds uttered by various men; hearing them, however, his mind was not in the least disturbed. (26)

Meaning

The prince, whose mind was given to piety, for his part walked once more with the strides of an elephant in rut to the palace of mother Kaikeyī, which shone as a peak of the Kailāsa mountain and in which his father was still lingering. (27)

Meaning

Entering the royal palace, however, which was being guarded by disciplined and valiant soldiers, he saw Sumantra standing disconsolate not very far from the palace. (28)

Meaning

Appearing in no way afflicted, even though seeing the people of Ayodhyā, his native place, distressed at that time, Śrī Rāma as though smiling, forthwith approached his father, eager to see him and desirous of duly carrying out his behest. (29)

Meaning

Catching sight of Sumantra before that, while approaching the king, who wore a wretched appearance, the high-souled and high-minded Śrī Rāma, son of Daśaratha, a scion of Ikṣwāku, waited awhile to announce his presence to his father. (30)

Meaning

Perceiving Sumantra, the illustrious Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, who was devoted to his duty and had for his part deliberately made up his mind to retire to the woods in obedience to the command of his father, said to him, “Pray, announce my arrival to His Majesty.” (31)