Uttara Kanda, Sarga 75

Meaning

Having despatched Śatrughna, the descendant of Raghu, Śrī Rāma, together with the two brothers lived happily and contented, ruling rightfully over his kingdom. (1)

Meaning

Then after a few days an old Brāhmaṇa citizen of Ayodhyā, carrying his dead son’s body, appeared at the royal gate. (2)

Meaning

Filled with affection and sorrow, and crying, pronounced these words (exclamations) repeatedly ‘O son ! O son ! What evil deed have I committed in my former birth that I should see my only son dead. (3-4)

Meaning

‘O son, you have met with death untimely, having not reached adolescence and being a child of merely five thousand days (less than fourteen years) which leads to my sorrow.(5)

Meaning

‘O son, I, alongwith your mother, shall meet with death in a few days, there is no doubt about it. (6)

Meaning

‘I do not remember having spoken untruth, nor, even ever having committed sinful acts with regard to all beings. (7)

Meaning

‘Due to what evil deed, my own son, although a child, has gone away to the abode of Yama, the son of Vivasvān, without having performed the paternal rites (our last rites). (8)

Meaning

‘I have neither seen nor heard of such untimely death, of immature type, in the territory of Śrī Rāma. (9)

Meaning

‘There is no doubt that there must have been some evil deed performed by Śrī Rāma due to which indeed death meets the children in his territory. (10)

Meaning

‘There is no fear of death for the children in other territories. So, O king, bring back to life this child, possessed by death. (11)

Meaning

‘At the very royal gate, I shall lay down my life with my wife, like an orphan, O Śrī Rāma; you be happy having committed the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa. (12)

Meaning

‘You will attain longlife with your brothers: till now we have lived happily in your kingdom, O mighty one. (13)

Meaning

‘This death of my son has befallen on me. Therefore, O Śrī Rāma, staying under you we are under the sway of death, and there is little chance of happiness now. (14)

Meaning

‘Presently the reign of the noble Ikṣvākus is rendered orphan; now having accepted Śrī Rāma as the master, in whose reign certainly children’s death will occur. (15)

Meaning

‘The subjects, who are not protected rightfully, perish on account of the faults of the kings; when the king is not rightful, the people die untimely. (16)

Meaning

‘Whatever impropriety is committed by men in towns and provinces, and if there is no protection from them, then there is indeed such untimely destruction by death. (17)

Meaning

‘Both in the towns and provinces it is clear that there must have been some fault in the king, there is no doubt, due to which this death of my son has occurred.’ (18)

Meaning

Thus making such pitiful utterances again and again and keeping in check the King, inflicted by sorrow, he embraced the dead child repeatedly. (19)