द्विचत्वारिंशः सर्गः — दशरथस्य शोक-विलापः तथा कौशल्यागृह-प्रवेशः (Dasaratha’s Lament and Return to Kausalya’s Apartments)
अयोध्याकाण्ड
This sarga stages the immediate aftermath of Rama’s departure. Dasaratha fixes his gaze on the departing chariot: as long as the dust-cloud remains visible, he cannot withdraw his eyes (2.42.1), and when even the dust disappears he collapses to the ground in grief (2.42.3). Kausalya lifts the dust-covered king and returns toward the palace (2.42.10). Dasaratha’s remorse intensifies through juridical-religious similes—he burns as if guilty of brahmin-slaying or as if touching fire (2.42.11)—and his face loses lustre like an eclipsed sun (2.42.12). He laments that only hoofprints remain while Rama is unseen (2.42.14), and imagines the prince, once accustomed to sandalpaste and cushions, now sleeping at a tree-root with wood or stone as pillow (2.42.15–16). He extends the pathos to Sita’s forest-unfamiliarity and fear of wild roars (2.42.19–20). In a sharp ethical rupture, he repudiates Kaikeyi—rejecting her touch and even renouncing the marriage-bond (2.42.6–8)—and utters a bitter wish regarding Bharata’s funeral offerings (2.42.9). Surrounded by citizens, he enters an ominously quiet Ayodhya and a palace emptied of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana (2.42.22–25). With choked voice he asks attendants to take him to Kausalya, his only solace (2.42.27–28). At midnight, in a death-like night, he confesses that his sight still follows Rama and he cannot see Kausalya clearly; she sits by him, sighing and lamenting (2.42.33–35).
Verse 2.42.1
यावत्तु निर्यतस्तस्य रजोरूपमदृश्यत।नैवेक्ष्वाकुवरस्तावत्सञ्जहारात्मचक्षुषी।।।।
So long as the dust-cloud raised by him as he departed remained visible, Daśaratha—the best of the Ikṣvākus—could not draw back his eyes from it.
Verse 2.42.2
यावद्राजा प्रियं पुत्रं पश्यत्यत्यन्तधार्मिकम्।तावद्व्यवर्धते वास्य धरण्यां पुत्रदर्शने।।।।
As long as the king could still behold his beloved son—perfectly righteous in dharma—it was as though he rose up from the very earth, eager for the sight of his son.
Verse 2.42.3
न पश्यति रजोऽप्यस्य यदा रामस्य भूमिपः।तदाऽऽर्तश्च विषण्णश्च पपात धरणीतले।।।।
When the king could not see even the dust raised by Rāma, then—stricken with anguish and sunk in despair—he fell upon the ground.
Verse 2.42.4
तस्य दक्षिणमन्वागात्कौसल्या बाहुमङ्गना।वामं चास्यान्वगात्पार्श्वं कैकेयी भरतप्रिया।।।।
Ah—how blessed will those best of men be who live until that time, when they will see Rāma return again and embrace him!
Verse 2.42.5
तां नयेन च सम्पन्नो धर्मेण विनयेन च।उवाच राजा कैकेयीं समीक्ष्य व्यथितेन्द्रियः।।।।
Then, when night had set in—like a night of death for him—at midnight Daśaratha spoke these words to Kausalyā.
Verse 2.42.6
कैकेयि मा ममाङ्गानि स्प्राक्षीस्त्वं दुष्टचारिणी।न हि त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छामि न भार्या न च बान्धवी।।।।
Kausalyā, my gaze that followed Rāma has not returned even now. I cannot see you clearly—please touch me with your hand.
Verse 2.42.7
ये च त्वामनुजीवन्ति नाहं तेषां न ते मम।केवलार्थपरां हि त्वां त्यक्तधर्मां त्यजाम्यहम्।।।।
Seeing the lord of men lying on his bed, endlessly brooding only on Rāma, the queen sat close by; deeply distressed, sighing again and again, she lamented in painful anguish.
Verse 2.42.8
अगृह्णां यच्च ते पाणिमग्निं पर्यणयं च यत्।अनुजानामि तत्सर्वमस्मिन् लोके परत्र च।।।।
I hereby renounce entirely the marital bond with you—formed by taking your hand and by circumambulating the sacred fire—both in this world and in the world beyond.
Verse 2.42.9
भरतश्चेत्प्रतीतः स्याद्राज्यं प्राप्येदमव्ययम्।यन्मे स दद्यात्पित्रर्थं मामां तद्दत्तमागमत्।।।।
If Bharata should be satisfied after obtaining this imperishable kingdom, then may the funeral offerings he would make for me not reach me at all.
Verse 2.42.10
अथ रेणुसमुध्वस्तं समुत्थाप्य नराधिपम्।न्यवर्तत तदा देवी कौशल्या शोककर्शिता।।।।
Then Queen Kausalyā, worn away by grief, lifted up the lord of men, dust-covered, and returned with him to the palace.
Verse 2.42.11
हत्वेव ब्राह्मणं कामात् स्पृष्ट्वाग्निमिव पाणिना।अन्वतप्यत धर्मात्मा पुत्रं सञ्चिन्त्य तापसम् ।।।।
That righteous-souled king, recalling his son in ascetic garb, burned with remorse—as though he had willfully slain a brāhmaṇa, or as though he had touched fire with his hand.
Verse 2.42.12
निवृत्त्यैव निवृत्त्यैव सीदतो रथवर्त्मसु।राज्ञो नातिबभौ रूपं ग्रस्तस्यांशुमतो यथा।।।।
Turning back again and again toward the chariot-tracks, the grieving king’s face no longer shone—like the Sun when it is swallowed in eclipse.
Verse 2.42.13
विललाप च दुःखार्तः प्रियं पुत्रमनुस्मरन्।नगरान्तमनुप्राप्तं बुध्वा पुत्रमथाब्रवीत्।।।।
Tormented by sorrow, he lamented, remembering his beloved son; and realizing that his son had reached the city’s boundary, he then spoke.
Verse 2.42.14
वाहननां च मुख्यानां वहतां तं ममात्मजम्।पदानि पथि दृश्यन्ते स महात्मा न दृश्यते।।।।
On the road I can see the hoof-marks of the finest steeds that carried my son—but that great-souled one himself is not to be seen.
Verse 2.42.15
यः सुखेषूपधानेषु शेते चन्दनरूषितः।वीज्यमानो महार्हाभिः स्त्रीभिर्मम सुतोत्तमः।।।।स नूनं क्वचिदेवाद्य वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितः।काष्ठं वा यदि वाश्मानमुपधाय शयिष्यते।।।।
My best of sons—who once lay upon soft cushions, anointed with sandalpaste and fanned by noble women—will surely now sleep somewhere, taking shelter at the foot of a tree, resting his head on a log or even a stone.
Verse 2.42.16
यः सुखेषूपधानेषु शेते चन्दनरूषितः।वीज्यमानो महार्हाभिः स्त्रीभिर्मम सुतोत्तमः।।2.42.15।।स नूनं क्वचिदेवाद्य वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितः।काष्ठं वा यदि वाश्मानमुपधाय शयिष्यते।।2.42.16।।
This lament is repeated: the son once accustomed to sandalpaste, cushions, and gentle service will now surely sleep beneath a tree, using wood or stone as a pillow.
Verse 2.42.17
उत्थास्यति च मेदिन्याः कृपणः पांसुकुण्ठितः।विनिश्श्वसन् प्रस्रवणात्करेणूनामिवर्षभः।।।।
That pitiable Rāma, crusted with dust, will rise up from the ground, heaving sighs—like a mighty bull-elephant rising at Prasravaṇa.
Verse 2.42.18
द्रक्ष्यन्ति नूनं पुरुषा दीर्घबाहुं वनेचराः।राममुत्थाय गच्छन्तं लोकनाथमनाथवत्।।।।
Surely the forest-dwellers will look upon long-armed Rāma—lord of the people—as he rises and walks on, as though he had no protector.
Verse 2.42.19
सा नूनं जनकस्येष्टा सुता सुखसदोचिता।कण्टकाक्रमणाक्लान्ता वनमद्य गमिष्यति।।।।
Surely Sītā—Janaka’s beloved daughter, raised amid comforts—will now go to the forest, worn down by stepping on thorns.
Verse 2.42.20
अनभिज्ञा वनानां सा नूनं भयमुपैष्यति।श्वापदानर्दितं श्रुत्वा गम्भीरं रोमहर्षणम्।।।।
Unfamiliar with the forests, she will surely be seized by fear when she hears the deep, hair-raising roars of wild beasts.
Verse 2.42.21
सकामा भव कैकेयि विधवा राज्यमावस।न हि तं पुरुषव्याघ्रं विना जीवितुमुत्सहे।।।।
“Kaikeyi, may your desire be fulfilled—rule the kingdom as a widow. For without that tiger among men, Rāma, I have no will to go on living.”
Verse 2.42.22
इत्येवं विलपन् राजा जनौघेनाभिसंवृतः।अपस्नात इवारिष्टं प्रविवेश पुरोत्तमम्।।।।
Lamenting thus, the king—hemmed in by throngs of people—entered the foremost of cities, like one who has taken an inauspicious bath, as though marked by impending calamity.
Verse 2.42.23
शून्यचत्वरवेश्मान्तां संवृतापणदेवताम्।क्लान्तदुर्बलदुःखार्तां नात्याकीर्णमहापथाम्।।।।तामवेक्ष्य पुरीं सर्वां राममेवानुचिन्तयन्।विलपन् प्राविशद्राजा गृहं सूर्य इवाम्बुदम्।।।।
He saw the whole city: its squares and homes deserted, its markets and shrines shut, its people weary, weakened, and stricken with grief, its great roads no longer crowded. Seeing Ayodhyā so changed, thinking only of Rāma and lamenting, the king entered his palace like the sun slipping into a bank of clouds.
Verse 2.42.24
शून्यचत्वरवेश्मान्तां संवृतापणदेवताम्।क्लान्तदुर्बलदुःखार्तां नात्याकीर्णमहापथाम्।।2.42.23।।तामवेक्ष्य पुरीं सर्वां राममेवानुचिन्तयन्।विलपन् प्राविशद्राजा गृहं सूर्य इवाम्बुदम्।।2.42.24।।
Beholding the whole city desolate and grief-stricken, thinking only of Rāma, the king entered his palace wailing—like the sun swallowed by clouds.
Verse 2.42.25
महाह्रदमिवाक्षोभ्यं सुपर्णेन हृतोरगम्।रामेण रहितं वेश्म वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणेन च।।।।
The palace, bereft of Rāma—and of Vaidehī (Sītā) and Lakṣmaṇa—lay utterly still, like a vast lake unruffled after Suparṇa (Garuḍa) has snatched away the serpent.
Verse 2.42.26
अथ गद्गदशब्दस्तु विलपन्मनुजाधिपः।उवाच मृदुमन्दार्थं वचनं दीनमस्वरम्।।।।
Then the lord of men, lamenting with a voice choked in his throat, spoke words gentle yet faint—muted in meaning and in sound, sorrowful and feeble.
Verse 2.42.27
कौशल्यायां गृहं शीघ्रं राममातुर्नयन्तु माम्।न ह्यन्यत्र ममाश्वासो हृदयस्य भविष्यति।।।।
“Take me quickly to the dwelling of Kausalyā, Rāma’s mother; for nowhere else will my heart find solace.”
Verse 2.42.28
इति ब्रुवन्तं राजानमनयन् द्वारदर्शिनः।कौशल्याया गृहं तत्र न्यवेश्यत विनीतवत्।।।।
As the king spoke thus, the doorkeepers led him to Kausalyā’s residence and, with due reverence, settled him there to rest.
Verse 2.42.29
ततस्तस्य प्रविष्टस्य कौशल्याया निवेशनम्।अधिरुह्यापि शयनं बभूव लुलितं मनः।।।।
After he entered Kausalyā’s residence, even upon mounting the couch, his mind remained shaken and tossed about.
Verse 2.42.30
पुत्रद्वयविहीनं च स्नुषयापि विवर्जितम्।अपश्यद्भवनं राजा नष्टचन्द्रमिवाम्बरम्।।।।
Kausalyā, his queen, came to his right arm, while Kaikeyī—dear to Bharata—came to his left side.
Verse 2.42.31
तच्च दृष्ट्वा महाराजो भुजमुद्यम्य वीर्यवान्।उच्चैस्स्वरेण चुक्रोश हा राघव जहासि माम्।।।।
The king—endowed with rectitude, dharma, and humility—looked at Kaikeyī; yet with senses shaken by anguish, he spoke to her.
Verse 2.42.32
सुखिता बत तं कालं जीविष्यन्ति नरोत्तमाः।परिष्वजन्तो ये रामं द्रक्ष्यन्ति पुनरागतम्।।।।
“Kaikeyī—do not touch my body, you of wicked conduct. I do not wish even to look at you; you are neither my wife nor my kin.”
Verse 2.42.33
अथ रात्र्यां प्रपन्नायां कालरात्र्यामिवात्मनः।अर्धरात्रे दशरथः कौशल्यामिदमब्रवीत्।।।।
And those who live dependent on you—neither am I theirs, nor are they mine. Since you pursue only selfish gain and have abandoned dharma, I abandon you.
Verse 2.42.34
रामं मेऽनुगता दृष्टिरद्यापि न निवर्तते।न त्वा पश्यामि कौसल्ये साधु मां पाणिना स्पृश।।।।
The king saw the palace—deserted by his two sons and even by his daughter-in-law—like the sky bereft of the moon.
Verse 2.42.35
तं राममेवानुविचिन्तयन्तंसमीक्ष्य देवी शयने नरेन्द्रम्।उपोपविश्याधिकमार्तरूपाविनिश्वसन्ती विललाप कृच्छ्रम्।।।।
Seeing that, the valiant great king raised his arms and cried out in a loud voice: “Alas, Rāghava! You have abandoned me!”