---
title: "Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 62"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/ayodhya-kanda/sarga-62"
lang: "en"
---

# Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 62

> एवं तु क्रुद्धया राजा राममात्रा सशोकया।  
> श्रावितः परुषं वाक्यं चिन्तयामास दुःखितः॥ १॥

Told harsh words, as aforesaid, by the angry Kausalyā (Śrī Rāma’s mother), who was full of grief, the king for his part felt distressed and fell abrooding. (1)

> चिन्तयित्वा स च नृपो मोहव्याकुलितेन्द्रियः।  
> अथ दीर्घेण कालेन संज्ञामाप परंतपः॥ २॥

Nay, having reflected awhile the aforesaid monarch found his senses confused due to a spell of unconsciousness. And it was after a long time that the Emperor (who was noted for subduing his enemies) regained consciousness. (2)

> स संज्ञामुपलभ्यैव दीर्घमुष्णं च निःश्वसन्।  
> कौसल्यां पार्श्वतो दृष्ट्वा ततश्चिन्तामुपागमत्॥ ३॥

Again, heaving a doleful sigh immediately on regaining consciousness, he relapsed into brooding on seeing Kausalyā by his side. (3)

> तस्य चिन्तयमानस्य प्रत्यभात् कर्म दुष्कृतम्।  
> यदनेन कृतं पूर्वमज्ञानाच्छब्दवेधिना॥ ४॥

Even as he reflected, the sinful deed that had been unwittingly perpetrated by him in the past while hitting a mark (screened from sight) with the help of sound alone flashed on his mind. (4)

> अमनास्तेन शोकेन रामशोकेन च प्रभुः।  
> द्वाभ्यामपि महाराजः शोकाभ्यामभितप्यते॥ ५॥

The mighty Emperor felt disconcerted through remorse caused by the thought of that sinful deed as well as through grief born of separation from Śrī Rāma and was tormented with the dual grief. (5)

> दह्यमानस्तु शोकाभ्यां कौसल्यामाह दुःखितः।  
> वेपमानोऽञ्जलिं कृत्वा प्रसादार्थमवाङ्मुखः॥ ६॥

Folding his hands in order to propitiate Kausalyā, the king, who was being consumed by the twofold grief and was feeling afflicted thereby, spoke trembling to Kausalyā as follows, his face hanging downward : (6)

> प्रसादये त्वां कौसल्ये रचितोऽयं मयाञ्जलिः।  
> वत्सला चानृशंसा च त्वं हि नित्यं परेष्वपि॥ ७॥

“I seek your favour, O Kausalyā ! Here is my supplication to you with folded hands. In fact, you are ever full of affection even to your enemies and tender-hearted. (7)

> भर्ता तु खलु नारीणां गुणवान् निर्गुणोऽपि वा।  
> धर्मं विमृशमानानां प्रत्यक्षं देवि दैवतम्॥ ८॥

“The husband for his part, be he full of virtues or even lacking in them, is indeed a visible deity to ladies knowing what is right, O godly lady ! (8)

> सा त्वं धर्मपरा नित्यं दृष्टलोकपरावरा।  
> नार्हसे विप्रियं वक्तुं दुःखितापि सुदुःखितम्॥ ९॥

“Though afflicted, you, who are not only conversant with the principles of righteousness of every kind but also ever devoted to righteousness and have seen both good and evil fortune in the world, ought not to have told me unpalatable things, greatly afflicted as I am.” (9)

> तद् वाक्यं करुणं राज्ञः श्रुत्वा दीनस्य भाषितम्।  
> कौसल्या व्यसृजद् बाष्पं प्रणालीव नवोदकम्॥ १०॥

Hearing that piteous appeal uttered by the wretched king, Kausalyā shed tears even as a drain allows rain water to flow through it. (10)

> सा मूर्ध्नि बद्ध्वा रुदती राज्ञः पद्ममिवाञ्जलिम्।  
> सम्भ्रमादब्रवीत् त्रस्ता त्वरमाणाक्षरं वचः॥ ११॥

Interlocking on her own head the king’s palms joined in the form of a lotus, Kausalyā, who felt dismayed with the thought of having wronged her husband, spoke weeping in hurried tones through confusion as follows : (11)

> प्रसीद शिरसा याचे भूमौ निपतितास्मि ते।  
> याचितास्मि हता देव क्षन्तव्याहं नहि त्वया॥ १२॥

“Be gracious to me: I entreat you with bowed head and lie prostrate at your feet. Since I have been entreated by you (my superior,which is a matter for shame to me), I am ruined. In any case, I do not deserve to be pardoned by you and court punishment at your hands for the wrong done by me to you. (12)

> नैषा हि सा स्त्री भवति श्लाघनीयेन धीमता।  
> उभयोर्लोकयोर्लोके पत्या या सम्प्रसाद्यते॥ १३॥

“Surely she is not a woman of noble descent, who is earnestly propitiated by her wise husband, who is praiseworthy (adorable) for her in both the worlds. (13)

> जानामि धर्मं धर्मज्ञ त्वां जाने सत्यवादिनम्।  
> पुत्रशोकार्तया तत्तु मया किमपि भाषितम्॥ १४॥

“I know my duty towards you, O knower of what is right, and also know you to be veracious. Something unseemly was, however, uttered by me, stricken as I was with grief caused by separation from my son. (14)

> शोको नाशयते धैर्यं शोको नाशयते श्रुतम्।  
> शोको नाशयते सर्वं नास्ति शोकसमो रिपुः॥ १५॥

“Grief eradicates patience, grief effaces learning. Grief destroys all, there is no enemy like grief. (15)

> शक्यमापतितः सोढुं प्रहारो रिपुहस्ततः।  
> सोढुमापतितः शोकः सुसूक्ष्मोऽपि न शक्यते॥ १६॥

“A blow that has descended from the hands of an enemy can be sustained. Grief, however, that has appeared all of a sudden cannot be endured even though it is very minute. (16)

> वनवासाय रामस्य पञ्चरात्रोऽत्र गण्यते।  
> यः शोकहतहर्षायाः पञ्चवर्षोपमो मम॥ १७॥

“The period of five nights that has elapsed since Rāma left for sojourning in the forest is reckoned as equal in length to five years at this moment by me, whose joy has been marred by grief. (17)

> तं हि चिन्तयमानायाः शोकोऽयं हृदि वर्धते।  
> नदीनामिव वेगेन समुद्रसलिलं महत्॥ १८॥

“Even as I think of Rāma, this grief born of separation from him, abiding in my breast grows in intensity, in the same way as the water of an ocean swells with the rapid inflow of rivers.” (18)

> एवं हि कथयन्त्यास्तु कौसल्यायाः शुभं वचः।  
> मन्दरश्मिरभूत् सूर्यो रजनी चाभ्यवर्तत॥ १९॥

While Kausalyā was speaking conciliatory words as aforesaid, the sun’s rays became faint and the night prevailed. (19)

> अथ प्रह्लादितो वाक्यैर्देव्या कौसल्यया नृपः।  
> शोकेन च समाक्रान्तो निद्राया वशमेयिवान्॥ २०॥

Cheered by Queen Kausalyā in so many words and overpowered by grief, the king forthwith fell into the grip of slumber. (20)

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

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