Uttara Kanda, Sarga 43

Meaning

Wise and witty narrators used to sit around the king reciting various kinds of stories. (1)

Meaning

Vijaya, Madhumatta, Kāśyapa, Maṅgala, Kula, Surāji, Kāliya, Bhadra, Dantavaktra and Sumāgadha used to narrate with great delight various kinds of humorous stories to the high-souled Rāma. (2-3)

Meaning

After sometime, during the course of the narration of a certain story, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) enquired: “Bhadra ! What are the talks of the town and the kingdom? (4)

Meaning

“What are the people of the town and the country talking about me and about Sītā, Bharata and Lakṣmaṇa and what indeed about Śatrughna and mother Kaikeyī? Kings are criticized in the forests and in the kingdom.” (5-6)

Meaning

On being thus questioned by Śrī Rāma, Bhadra with his palms joined together replied: “O King ! Elegant are the talks of the citizens. (7)

Meaning

“O gentle one, the best of men ! It is indeed the conquest gained by killing Rāvaṇa (the ten-headed monster) which is being mainly talked about by the citizens in the town.” (8)

Meaning

Having been thus replied to by Bhadra, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) spoke the following words: “Leaving nothing, tell me everything exactly as it is. What are the good and ill words that the citizens speak? Now after having heard, I shall practise what is good and refrain from evil actions. (9-10)

Meaning

“Tell me with confidence and without fear and mental anguish, what ill the people in the town and in the country are speaking about me?” (11)

Meaning

On being thus spoken to by Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu), Bhadra on his part with a composed mind and with palms joined together replied to the mighty-armed Śrī Rāma in these pleasing words! (12)

Meaning

“O King ! Listen how the citizens talk good and ill words about you at the crossroads, in the markets, on the streets, in the forests and in the groves. (13)

Meaning

“ ‘By constructing a bridge across the sea, Śrī Rāma has performed a difficult feat, unheard of as having been accomplished by former kings and even by gods and demons. (14)

Meaning

“ ‘Besides, Rāvaṇa, difficult to be vanquished, was killed alongwith his army and mounts. The Vānara and the Ṛkṣa alongwith the Rākṣasas were brought under control. (15)

Meaning

“ ‘Having killed Rāvaṇa in battle and fetched Śrī Sītā, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghus) took her into His house again, renouncing anger or remorse (caused by the polluting touch of Rāvaṇa). (16)

Meaning

“ ‘What must be the pleasure in his heart born out of conjugation with Śrī Sītā? Why does not Śrī Rāma censure her, who formerly had been forcibly carried away by Rāvaṇa, placing her in his lap and even taken to Laṅkā, first, who went into the Aśoka grove and remained under the control of the Rākṣasas. Such conduct of our wives shall have to be suffered by us also, since whatever a king does, the subjects follow.’ (17—19)

Meaning

“Thus, O King, the citizens of all the towns and the countryside pass remarks in so many ways.” (20)

Meaning

Having heard this statement of his, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) as if stricken with grief spoke to all the friends, “Tell me how it is.” (21)

Meaning

“Bending respectfully so low as to touch the ground by the head, and saluting, all of them—each a picture of pity—replied, on their part, to Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu), ‘No doubt, this is so.’ ” (22)

Meaning

Having heard then the words spoken by all of them, Śrī Rāma (a scion of Kakutstha), the exterminator of enemies dismissed the friends at that time. (23)