Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 49

Meaning

Revolving in his mind the command of his father, Śrī Rāma too, a tiger among men, covered a long distance in the course of the remaining hours of the night itself. (1)

Meaning

Even as he drove along with the same alacrity, the delightful night passed. Having worshipped the blissful morning twilight, he passed beyond a number of territories. (2)

Meaning

Seeing villages whose outskirts had been carefully tilled, and woodlands laden with blossoms, and led by excellent horses, he proceeded apace as though slowly, engrossed as he was in enjoying the sights, hearing (as under) the words of those residing in villages and hamlets close by : “Woe unto King Daśaratha, who has fallen into the clutches of concupiscence. (3-4)

Meaning

“Ah, the cruel and sinful Kaikeyī, who is hot-tempered and of sinful designs and has transgressed the bounds of propriety, is herself engaged at present in a cruel game in that she has been instrumental in sending into exile in the forest such a pious, highly enlightened, compassionate and self-controlled son of the Emperor. (5-6)

Meaning

“How will the highly blessed Sītā, daughter of King Janaka, who is ever given to comforts, actually suffer hardships? (7)

Meaning

“What a pity that King Daśaratha has grown so devoid of affection on this occasion that he seeks to abandon Śrī Rāma, who is sinless towards the people !” (8)

Meaning

Hearing these remarks of men residing in the adjoining villages and hamlets, the heroic prince of Kosala, Śrī Rāma, passed beyond the limits of Kosala. (9)

Meaning

Having crossed the river named Vedaśruti, which carries auspicious waters, he then pressed forward facing the south, the quarter occupied by Sage Agastya. (10)

Meaning

Journeying for his part in that direction for a pretty long time, he next crossed the river Gomatī, which carried cool waters and heads towards the sea through the medium of the holy Gaṅgā and whose banks are adorned with cows. (11)

Meaning

Having reached the other bank of the Gomatī too, Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, crossed with the help of swift-going horses the river Syandikā as well, made resonant by peacocks and swans. (12)

Meaning

The said Śrī Rāma now showed to Sītā (a princess of the Videha kingdom) the prosperous land of Kosala, the southern boundary of which was defined by the Syandikā, which was given of yore by Manu, the king of kings, to his eldest son, Ikṣwāku, and which was bounded on all sides by other adjoining territories. (13)

Meaning

Repeatedly addressing the aforesaid charioteer in the words “O charioteer,” the glorious Rāma, the foremost of men, whose voice resembled the cackling of a swan in rut, said, “When, returning back to Ayodhyā and united once more with my parents, shall I roam hunting in the woodland bordering on the Sarayū and laden with blossoms? (14-15)

Meaning

“I do not hanker much after sport in the woodland bordering on the Sarayū. In fact it is a unique enjoyment made much of in the world by hosts of royal sages. (16)

Meaning

“Truly speaking, hunting in a forest was resorted to in this world for the gratification of royal sages. Even though it was adopted at times by the sons of Manu and was sought after by other bowmen, I do not long for it excessively.” (17)

Meaning

Conversing thus with the charioteer on various topics in sweet words, the said Śrī Rāma, a scion of Ikṣwāku, advanced along that route. (18)