---
title: "Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/ayodhya-kanda/sarga-36"
lang: "en"
---

# Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 36

> ततः सुमन्त्रमैक्ष्वाकः पीडितोऽत्र प्रतिज्ञया।  
> सबाष्पमतिनिःश्वस्य जगादेदं पुनर्वचः॥ १॥

Sighing deeply with tears in his eyes, Daśaratha, a scion of Ikṣwāku, who was bound by the pledge given by him to Kaikeyī in the matter of sending Śrī Rāma into exile, then spoke to Sumantra again as follows : (1)

> सूत रत्नसुसम्पूर्णा चतुर्विधबला चमूः।  
> राघवस्यानुयात्रार्थं क्षिप्रं प्रतिविधीयताम्॥ २॥

“Let a detachment consisting of all the four limbs of the army and richly provided with jewels be detailed at once to accompany Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, O Sumantra ! (2)

> रूपाजीवाश्च वादिन्यो वणिजश्च महाधनाः।  
> शोभयन्तु कुमारस्य वाहिनीः सुप्रसारिताः॥ ३॥

“Nay, let courtesans adept in speaking, as well as merchants possessing enormous wealth and clever in efficiently spreading a network of shops dealing in provisions and other goods lend charm to the forces accompanying the prince. (3)

> ये चैनमुपजीवन्ति रमते यैश्च वीर्यतः।  
> तेषां बहुविधं दत्त्वा तानप्यत्र नियोजय॥ ४॥

“Further tell off in his service those wrestlers too who depend on him and in whom he takes delight by testing their comparative strength, bestowing various gifts on them. (4)

> आयुधानि च मुख्यानि नागराः शकटानि च।  
> अनुगच्छन्तु काकुत्स्थं व्याधाश्चारण्यकोविदाः॥ ५॥

“Let the principal weapons, courteous and well-bred men and bullock-carts too as well as hunters knowing the secrets of forests accompany Rāma, a scion of Kakutstha. (5)

> निघ्नन् मृगान् कुञ्जरांश्च पिबंश्चारण्यकं मधु।  
> नदीश्च विविधाः पश्यन् न राज्यं संस्मरिष्यति॥ ६॥

“Killing the deer and elephants and drinking wild honey and seeing various rivers he would not miss his sovereignty. (6)

> धान्यकोशश्च यः कश्चिद् धनकोशश्च मामकः।  
> तौ राममनुगच्छेतां वसन्तं निर्जने वने॥ ७॥

“Let that which constitutes my granary and that which comprises my exchequer both accompany Rāma going to dwell in an uninhabited forest. (7)

> यजन् पुण्येषु देशेषु विसृजंश्चाप्तदक्षिणाः।  
> ऋषिभिश्चापि संगम्य प्रवत्स्यति सुखं वने॥ ८॥

“Performing sacrifices in holy regions and bestowing adequate gifts on the officiating priests and meeting sages too he will live away happily in the forest. (8)

> भरतश्च महाबाहुरयोध्यां पालयिष्यति।  
> सर्वकामैः पुनः श्रीमान् रामः संसाध्यतामिति॥ ९॥

“And the mighty-armed Bharata will rule over Ayodhyā. Let the glorious Rāma, therefore, be sent out with all objects of enjoyment.” (9)

> एवं ब्रुवति काकुत्स्थे कैकेय्या भयमागतम्।  
> मुखं चाप्यगमच्छोषं स्वरश्चापि व्यरुध्यत॥ १०॥

While Daśaratha, a scion of Kakutstha, was speaking as aforesaid, fear seized Kaikeyī. Nay, her mouth too got parched and voice as well got choked. (10)

> सा विषण्णा च संत्रस्ता मुखेन परिशुष्यता।  
> राजानमेवाभिमुखी कैकेयी वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ ११॥

Feeling dejected and dismayed, with her mouth getting parched, and her face turned exclusively towards the king, she replied as follows : (11)

> राज्यं गतधनं साधो पीतमण्डां सुरामिव।  
> निरास्वाद्यतमं शून्यं भरतो नाभिपत्स्यते॥ १२॥

“Bharata will not accept a kingdom that has been stripped of its wealth and resembles wine divested of its spirituous part, and which is thus absolutely unenjoyable and unsubstantial, O pious soul !” (12)

> कैकेय्यां मुक्तलज्जायां वदन्त्यामतिदारुणम्।  
> राजा दशरथो वाक्यमुवाचायतलोचनाम्॥ १३॥

When Kaikeyī, who was thus shamelessly uttering most cruel words, King Daśaratha spoke as follows to that lady with large eyes : (13)

> वहन्तं किं तुदसि मां नियुज्य धुरि माहिते।  
> अनार्ये कृत्यमारब्धं किं न पूर्वमुपारुधः॥ १४॥

“Having charged me with a burden (viz., that of sending Rāma into exile, which is so hard to bear), O hostile and vulgar woman, why do you lash me while I am carrying it? Why did you not check before (while asking the two boons, by laying down that Rāma should not be allowed to take anything with him) the proceedings now taken in hand of sending troops etc., with Rāma?” (14)

> तस्यैतत् क्रोधसंयुक्तमुक्तं श्रुत्वा वराङ्गना।  
> कैकेयी द्विगुणं क्रुद्धा राजानमिदमब्रवीत्॥ १५॥

Doubly incensed to hear the angry words of Daśaratha, Kaikeyī, the lovely women, replied to the king as follows : (15)

> तवैव वंशे सगरो ज्येष्ठपुत्रमुपारुधत्।  
> असमञ्ज इति ख्यातं तथायं गन्तुमर्हति॥ १६॥

“In your very dynasty Emperor Sagara cast away his eldest son known by the name of Asamañja. Rāma too should depart likewise without anything to depend upon.” (16)

> एवमुक्तो धिगित्येव राजा दशरथोऽब्रवीत्।  
> व्रीडितश्च जनः सर्वः सा च तन्नावबुध्यत॥ १७॥

Spoken to as above, King Daśaratha simply said, “Shame !” Everyone present there too felt ashamed. She, however, did not mind it. (17)

> तत्र वृद्धो महामात्रः सिद्धार्थो नाम नामतः।  
> शुचिर्बहुमतो राज्ञः कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत्॥ १८॥

On that occasion the aged and upright chief minister, Siddhārtha by name, who was highly esteemed by the king, spoke to Kaikeyī as follows: so the tradition goes : (18)

> असमञ्जो गृहीत्वा तु क्रीडतः पथि दारकान्।  
> सरय्वां प्रक्षिपन्नप्सु रमते तेन दुर्मतिः॥ १९॥

“Catching hold of children playing in the street, Asamañja just used to throw them in the waters of the Sarayū and the evil-minded fellow took delight in it. (19)

> तं दृष्ट्वा नागराः सर्वे क्रुद्धा राजानमब्रुवन्।  
> असमञ्जं वृणीष्वैकमस्मान् वा राष्ट्रवर्धन॥ २०॥

“Enraged to see that murderous prank of the Crown prince, all the citizens submitted to the king, ‘Keep to yourself Asamañja alone allowing us to leave the city or preserve us, sending away the prince, O promoter of the State ! (20)

> तानुवाच ततो राजा किंनिमित्तमिदं भयम्।  
> ताश्चापि राज्ञा सम्पृष्टा वाक्यं प्रकृतयोऽब्रुवन्॥ २१॥

“Thereupon the king said to them, ‘What is the occasion for this fear?’ Duly interrorgated by the king, those people too replied to the king. (21)

> क्रीडतस्त्वेष नः पुत्रान् बालानुद्भ्रान्तचेतसः।  
> सरय्वां प्रक्षिपन्मौर्ख्यादतुलां प्रीतिमश्नुते॥ २२॥

“ ‘He experiences incomparable joy while throwing through folly in the Sarayū our juvenile sons playing in an excited state of mind !’ (22)

> स तासां वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रकृतीनां नराधिपः।  
> तं तत्याजाहितं पुत्रं तासां प्रियचिकीर्षया॥ २३॥

“Hearing the complaint of those people, the said king abandoned his son, malevolent to his subjects, with intent to oblige them. (23)

> तं यानं शीघ्रमारोप्य सभार्यं सपरिच्छदम्।  
> यावज्जीवं विवास्योऽयमिति तानन्वशात् पिता॥ २४॥

“Quickly placing him alongwith his wife and accessories (viz., a spade, basket and so on, necessary adjuncts to a forest life), he instructed those in authority in the following words: ‘He should be exiled for life.’ (24)

> स फालपिटकं गृह्य गिरिदुर्गाण्यलोकयत्।  
> दिशः सर्वास्त्वनुचरन् स यथा पापकर्मकृत्॥ २५॥  
> इत्येनमत्यजद् राजा सगरो वै सुधार्मिकः।  
> रामः किमकरोत् पापं येनैवमुपरुध्यते॥ २६॥

“Taking a basket and a spade and roaming about in all directions in search of roots and fruits etc., he ransacked mountain passes in quest of an abode. The highly pious King Sagara obviously abandoned Asamañja on the plea of his perpetrating sinful deeds as mentioned above. What sin has Śrī Rāma committed, for which he is being debarred from the throne in this way? (25-26)

> नहि कंचन पश्यामो राघवस्यागुणं वयम्।  
> दुर्लभो ह्यस्य निरयः शशाङ्कस्येव कल्मषम्॥ २७॥

“Surely we do not detect any fault in Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu. It is as difficult to find a taint in him as in the new moon.(27)

> अथवा देवि त्वं कंचिद् दोषं पश्यसि राघवे।  
> तमद्य ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन तदा रामो विवास्यते॥ २८॥

“Or, if you perceive any fault in Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, O queen, please point it out correctly today. Then Śrī Rāma will be sent into exile. (28)

> अदुष्टस्य हि संत्यागः सत्पथे निरतस्य च।  
> निर्दहेदपि शक्रस्य द्युतिं धर्मविरोधवान्॥ २९॥

“Indeed, it is repugnant to all canons of righteousness to abandon one who is not only not guilty but also devoted to the straight path. It would destroy the splendour even of Indra, the ruler of gods. (29)

> तदलं देवि रामस्य श्रिया विहतया त्वया।  
> लोकतोऽपि हि ते रक्ष्यः परिवादः शुभानने॥ ३०॥

“Therefore, O queen, it is no use your withholding the royal fortune of Śrī Rāma. Censure coming from the public too should be guarded against by you, O lady with a charming countenance !” (30)

> श्रुत्वा तु सिद्धार्थवचो राजा श्रान्ततरस्वरः।  
> शोकोपहतया वाचा कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत्॥ ३१॥

Hearing the remonstrance of Siddhārtha, the king, for his part, whose voice had grown very feeble, spoke as follows to Kaikeyī in a tone overwhelmed with grief: (31)

> एतद्वचो नेच्छसि पापरूपे  
> हितं न जानासि ममात्मनोऽथवा।  
> आस्थाय मार्गं कृपणं कुचेष्टा  
> चेष्टा हि ते साधुपथादपेता॥ ३२॥

“Do you not like this advice, O embodiment of sin? Having taken to a path leading to woe, are you not alive to my interests or your own? Indeed, your gesture is remote from the path of the righteous and as such an undesirable one. (32)

> अनुव्रजिष्याम्यहमद्य रामं  
> राज्यं परित्यज्य सुखं धनं च।  
> सर्वे च राज्ञा भरतेन च त्वं  
> यथासुखं भुङ् क्ष्व चिराय राज्यम्॥ ३३॥

“Abandoning the kingly state, bodily comfort and wealth, I shall follow Rāma to the forest today as also all the people of Ayodhyā. Rule you the kingdom happily for long with Bharata.” (33)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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