अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — Sita in Bark Garments; Public Outcry and Dasaratha’s Lament
अयोध्याकाण्ड
This sarga frames the exile moment through collective witness and paternal collapse. The citizens, seeing Sītā in bark garments despite being ‘protected’ by a husband, cry out against Daśaratha, converting private palace decisions into public moral indictment (2.38.1). The tumult destabilizes the king’s inner orientation, breaking his confidence in life and righteousness (2.38.2). Daśaratha then addresses Kaikeyī with escalating ethical argument: Sītā, Janaka’s daughter, has harmed no one and should not be subjected to ascetic garb; he proposes she go with ornaments and necessities, distinguishing his original promise from the present cruelty (2.38.3, 2.38.5–7). He questions what offence Sītā has shown and condemns further ‘heinous crimes’ beyond Rāma’s exile (2.38.8–12). Overwhelmed, he finds no end to grief and falls to the ground (2.38.13). As Rāma prepares to depart, he turns back to counsel his father: honor Kauśalyā—aged, illustrious, and not reproaching the king—so that she may survive separation and not be consumed by son-grief (2.38.14–17). The chapter thus juxtaposes public ethics (community judgment), royal dharma (vow versus compassion), and filial instruction (care for the forsaken).
Verse 2.38.1
तस्यां चीरं वसानायां नाथवत्यामनाथवत्।प्रचुक्रोश जनस्सर्वो धिक्त्वां दशरथं त्विति।।।।
When Sītā—though she had a lord—was seen wearing bark cloth like one bereft of protection, all the people cried out, “Shame on you, Daśaratha!”
Verse 2.38.2
तेन तत्र प्रणादेन दुःखितस्स महीपतिः।चिच्छेद जीविते श्रद्धां धर्मे यशसि चात्मनः।।।।
Struck by grief at that cry resounding there, the lord of the earth lost all confidence in life—indeed in his own dharma and in his honour as well.
Verse 2.38.3
स निःश्वस्योष्णमैक्ष्वाक स्तां भार्यामिदमब्रवीत्।कैकेयि कुशचीरेण न सीता गन्तुमर्हति।।।।
The Ikṣvāku king, breathing hot sighs, spoke to his wife: “O Kaikeyī, Sītā does not deserve to depart clothed in a garment of kuśa-grass.”
Verse 2.38.5
इयं हि कस्यापकरोति किञ्चित्तपस्विनी राजवरस्य कन्या।या चीरमासाद्य जनस्य मध्येस्थिता विसंज्ञाश्रमणीव काचित्।।।।
To whom has she ever done the slightest harm—she, the austere princess, daughter of the best of kings—who, having donned bark-cloth, stands among the people like some senseless wandering nun?
Verse 2.38.6
चीराण्यपास्याज्जनकस्य कन्यानेयं प्रतिज्ञा मम दत्तपूर्वा।यथासुखं गच्छतु राजपुत्रीवनं समग्रा सह सर्वरत्नैः।।।।
Let Janaka’s daughter cast off these bark garments; this was never the promise I gave before. Let the princess go to the forest in comfort, fully provided, with all her jewels.
Verse 2.38.7
अजीवनार्हेण मया नृशंसाकृता प्रतिज्ञा नियमेन तावत्।तवया हि बाल्यात् प्रतिपन्नमेतत्तन्मां दहेद्वेणुमिवात्मपुष्पम्।।।।
By this cruel pledge, bound by a vow, I have made myself unfit to live. Taken up by you in childish insistence, it now burns me—like a bamboo consumed by its own blossoms.
Verse 2.38.8
रामेण यदि ते पापे किञ्चित्कृतमशोभनम्।अपकारः क इह ते वैदेह्या दर्शितोऽधमे।।।।
O sinful one, if Rāma has done you even some unbecoming act, tell me, wretch—what offence has Vaidehī ever shown toward you here?
Verse 2.38.9
मृगीवोत्फुल्लनयना मृदुशीला तपस्वीनी।अपकारं कमिह ते करोति जनकात्मजा।।।।
What harm has Janaka’s daughter done to you here—she whose eyes are wide like a doe’s, gentle in nature, and worthy of compassion?
Verse 2.38.10
ननु पर्याप्त मेतत्ते पापे रामविवासनम्।किमेभिः कृपणैर्भूय: पातकैरपि ते कृतैः।।।।
“O wicked woman, is not Rāma’s banishment enough for you? Why do you still commit these wretched, sinful deeds?”
Verse 2.38.11
प्रतिज्ञातं मया तावत् त्वयोक्तं देवि शृण्वता।रामं यदभिषेकाय त्वमिहागतमब्रवीः।।।।
“O queen, I promised only so much as what I heard you say to Rāma when he came here for his consecration.”
Verse 2.38.12
तत्त्वेतत्समतिक्रम्य निरयं गन्तुमिच्छसि।मैथिलीमपि या हि त्वमीक्षसे चीरवासिनीम्।।।।
“Transgressing even that limit, you now wish to go to hell—since you desire to see even Maithilī wearing bark cloth.”
Verse 2.38.13
इतीव राजा विलपन्महात्माशोकस्य नान्तं स ददर्श किञ्चित्।भृशातुरत्वाच्च पपात भूमौतेनैव पुत्रव्यसनेन मग्नः।।।।
Thus lamenting, the great-souled king found no end at all to his grief; overwhelmed and deeply anguished by the calamity concerning his son, he collapsed upon the ground, sunk in that sorrow.
Verse 2.38.14
एवं ब्रुवन्तं पितरं रामस्सम्प्रस्थितो वनम्।अवाक्छिरसमासीनमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।।।
As his father spoke thus, Rāma—already resolved to depart for the forest—addressed him, seated with head bowed, in these words.
Verse 2.38.15
यं धार्मिक कौशल्या मम माता यशस्विनी।वृद्धा चाक्षुद्रशीला च न च त्वां देव गर्हते।।।।
“O righteous lord, my mother Kauśalyā is illustrious, aged, and free from meanness of nature; she does not reproach you, O deva.”
Verse 2.38.16
मया विहीनां वरद प्रपन्नां शोकसागरम्।अदृष्टपूर्वव्यसनां भूयस्सम्मन्तुमर्हसि।।।।
“O giver of boons, separated from me and unaccustomed to hardship, she will be cast into an unprecedented ocean of grief. Therefore you ought to care for her all the more.”
Verse 2.38.17
पुत्रशोकं यथा नर्च्छेत्त्वया पूज्येन पूजिता।मां हि सञ्चिन्तयन्ती सा त्वयि जीवेत्तपस्विनी।।।।
“May she not be overtaken by grief for her son; if she—worthy of compassion—is honoured by you, the venerable one, she will go on living, sustained as she thinks constantly of me.”