Sarga 51

Verse 2.51.1

तं जाग्रतमदम्भेन भ्रातुरर्थाय लक्ष्मणम्।गुहः सन्तापसन्तप्तो राघवं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।।।

Behold—he whom all the gods and demons together cannot withstand in battle lies here at ease upon mere grass, with Sītā.

Verse 2.51.2

इयं तात सुखा शय्या त्वदर्थमुपकल्पिता।प्रत्याश्वसिहि साध्वस्यां राजपुत्र यथासुखम्।।।।

What is past is past; yet, without fulfilling his wish—without installing Rāma in the kingdom—my father will perish.

Verse 2.51.3

उचितोऽयं जनस्सर्वः क्लेशानां त्वं सुखोचितः।गुप्त्यर्थं जागरिष्यामः काकुत्स्थस्य वयं निशाम्।।।।

So I, bow in hand, together with my kinsmen, will guard my dear friend Rama as he rests with Sita—protecting them from every side.

Verse 2.51.4

न हि रामात्प्रियतमो ममास्ति भुवि कश्चन।ब्रवीम्येतदहं सत्यं सत्येनैव च ते शपे।।।।

Nothing in this forest is unknown to me, for I move about here always. We could withstand even a vast fourfold army.

Verse 2.51.5

अस्य प्रसादादाशंसे लोकेस्मिन् सुमुहद्यशः।धर्मावाप्तिं च विपुलामर्थावाप्तिं च केवलम्।।।।

Then Lakshmana said to him: “O blameless one, guarded by you—who ever keeps dharma in view—we all have no fear here at all.”

Verse 2.51.6

सोऽहं प्रियसखं रामं शयानं सह सीतया।रक्षिष्यामि धनुष्पाणि स्सर्वतो ज्ञातिभि स्सह।।।।

When Rama, Dasaratha’s son, lies upon the bare earth with Sita, how could I ever find sleep—or even deem life or pleasure worth having?

Verse 2.51.7

न हि मेऽविदितं किञ्चिद्वनेऽस्मिंश्चरतस्सदा।चतुरङ्गं ह्यपिबलं सुमहत्प्रसहेमहि।।।।

Will we ever enter Ayodhya again, when this forest-exile is ended, together with Rama—safe and steadfast in his vow of truth?

Verse 2.51.8

लक्ष्मणस्तं तदोवाच रक्ष्यमाणास्त्वयानघ।नात्र भीता वयं सर्वे धर्ममेवानुपश्यता।।।।

As that high-souled prince stood there, lamenting and tormented by grief, the night passed away.

Verse 2.51.9

कथं दशरथौ भूमौ शयाने सह सीतया।शक्या निद्रा मया लब्धुं जीवितं वा सुखानि वा।।।।

When the king’s son—ever intent on the people’s welfare—spoke the truth in that manner, Guha, moved by deep, reverent friendship, crushed by sorrow, let his tears fall, like an elephant fever-stricken and writhing in pain.

Verse 2.51.10

यो न देवासुरैः सर्वैः शक्यः प्रसहितुं युधि।तं पश्य सुखसंविष्टं तृणेषु सह सीतया।।।।

Behold him, whom even the united forces of gods and demons cannot withstand in battle, now sleeping comfortably on the grass accompanied by Sītā.

Verse 2.51.11

यो मन्त्रतपसा लब्धो विविधैश्च पराश्रमैः।एको दशरथस्येष्टः पुत्रः सदृशलक्षणः।।।।अस्मिन् प्रव्राजिते राजा न चिरं वर्तयिष्यति।विधवा मेदिनी नूनं क्षिप्रमेव भविष्यति।।।।

That son—Daśaratha’s one beloved, marked with qualities like his father—was obtained through mantra-aided austerities and many strenuous efforts. If he has been banished, the king will not live long; surely the earth itself will soon become a widow.

Verse 2.51.12

यो मन्त्रतपसा लब्धो विविधैश्च पराश्रमैः।एको दशरथस्येष्टः पुत्रः सदृशलक्षणः।।2.51.11।।अस्मिन् प्रव्राजिते राजा न चिरं वर्तयिष्यति।विधवा मेदिनी नूनं क्षिप्रमेव भविष्यति।।2.51.12।।

The lament is repeated: Rāma, dearly won through sacred austerities and mantras, is Daśaratha’s beloved and his very likeness; if such a one is exiled, the king will not endure long, and the land will soon be bereft like a widow.

Verse 2.51.13

विनद्य सुमहानादं श्रमेणोपरताः स्त्रियः।निर्घोषोपरतं चातो मन्ये राजनिवेशनम्।।।।

Having raised a great cry, the women have likely fallen silent from sheer exhaustion; therefore I think the royal residence too has become quiet, its sounds stilled.

Verse 2.51.14

कौशल्या चैव राजा च तथैव जननी मम।नाशंसे यदि जीवन्ति सर्वे ते शर्वरीमिमाम्।।।।

I do not expect that they will all survive this night—Kausalyā, the king, and likewise my own mother.

Verse 2.51.15

जीवेदपि हि मे माता शत्रुघ्नस्यान्ववेक्षया।तद्दुःखं यत्तु कौशल्या वीरसूर्विनशिष्यति।।।।

My mother may yet live, sustained by looking to Śatrughna; but it is a sorrow indeed if Kausalyā—mother of a hero—should perish.

Verse 2.51.16

अनुरक्तजनाकीर्णा सुखालोकप्रियावहा।राजव्यसनसंसृष्टा सा पुरी विनशिष्यति।।।।

O prince, this pleasant bed has been prepared for your sake; rest upon it in peace, as you wish.

Verse 2.51.17

कथं पुत्रं महात्मानं ज्येष्ठं प्रियमपश्यतः।शरीरं धारयिष्यन्ति प्राणा राज्ञो महात्मनः।।।।

That city—thronged with loyal folk, a giver of joy and dear to its people—will nonetheless fall to ruin, overwhelmed by calamity born of the king’s misfortune.

Verse 2.51.18

विनष्टे नृपतौ पश्चात्कौसल्या विनशिष्यति।अनन्तरं च माताऽपि मम नाशमुपैष्यति।।।।

How will the life-breaths of that noble king sustain his body, when he cannot behold his great-souled, beloved eldest son?

Verse 2.51.19

अतिक्रान्तमतिक्रान्तमनवाप्य मनोरथम्।राज्ये राममनिक्षिप्य पिता मे विनशिष्यति।।।।

After the king has perished, Kausalyā too will die; and after her, my own mother will also meet destruction.

Verse 2.51.20

सिद्धार्थाः पितरं वृत्तं तस्मिन्कालेऽप्युपस्थिते।प्रेतकार्येषु सर्वेषु संस्करिष्यन्ति भूमिपम्।।।।

Those who, at that time, stand beside my father, the lord of the land, and perform for him all the sacred funeral rites—will have fulfilled their purpose.

Verse 2.51.21

रम्यचत्वरसंस्थानां सुविभक्तमहापथाम्।हर्म्यप्रासादसम्पन्नाम् गणिकावरशोभिताम्।।।।रथाश्वगजसम्बाधां तूर्यनादविनादिताम्।सर्वकल्याणसम्पूर्णां हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलाम्।।।।आरामोद्यानसम्पन्नां समाजोत्सवशालिनीम्।सुखिता विचरिष्यन्ति राजधानीं पितुर्मम।।।।

They will move about happily in my father’s capital—set with charming squares and well-ordered broad roads, rich in mansions and palaces, adorned by splendid ganikās; thronged with chariots, horses, and elephants; resounding with music; complete in every auspicious prosperity; filled with well-fed and cheerful people; endowed with parks and gardens; and radiant with assemblies and festivals.

Verse 2.51.22

रम्यचत्वरसंस्थानां सुविभक्तमहापथाम्।हर्म्यप्रासादसम्पन्नाम् गणिकावरशोभिताम्।।2.51.21।।रथाश्वगजसम्बाधां तूर्यनादविनादिताम्।सर्वकल्याणसम्पूर्णां हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलाम्।।2.51.22।।आरामोद्यानसम्पन्नां समाजोत्सवशालिनीम्।सुखिता विचरिष्यन्ति राजधानीं पितुर्मम।।2.51.23।।

This passage repeats the portrayal of the capital’s prosperity and festivity: an orderly city of lovely squares and broad roads, rich in palaces, ringing with music, radiant with gatherings and festivals, where people move about in happiness.

Verse 2.51.23

रम्यचत्वरसंस्थानां सुविभक्तमहापथाम्।हर्म्यप्रासादसम्पन्नाम् गणिकावरशोभिताम्।।2.51.21।।रथाश्वगजसम्बाधां तूर्यनादविनादिताम्।सर्वकल्याणसम्पूर्णां हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलाम्।।2.51.22।।आरामोद्यानसम्पन्नां समाजोत्सवशालिनीम्।सुखिता विचरिष्यन्ति राजधानीं पितुर्मम।।2.51.23।।

This verse entry again preserves the extended depiction of Ayodhyā’s thriving civic life: an auspicious, well-planned capital filled with prosperity, music, and festivals, where people wander happily.

Verse 2.51.24

अपि जीवेद्दशरथो वनवासात्पुनर्वयम्।प्रत्यागम्य महात्मानमपि पश्येम सुव्रतम्।।।।

Might Daśaratha still be alive? And when we return from exile in the forest, might we behold again that great-souled king, steadfast in his vows?

Verse 2.51.25

अपि सत्यप्रतिज्ञेन सार्धं कुशलिना वयम्।निवृत्ते वनवासेऽस्मिन्नयोध्यां प्रविशेमहि।।।।

All these people are accustomed to hardship, while you are accustomed to comfort. Therefore, for the protection of Kakutstha Rama, we will keep watch throughout the night.

Verse 2.51.26

परिदेवयमानस्य दुखार्तस्य महात्मनः।तिष्ठतो राजपुत्रस्य शर्वरी साऽत्यवर्तत।।।।

For me, no one in this world is dearer than Rama. I speak this as truth—and by truth itself, I swear it to you.

Verse 2.51.27

तथा हि सत्यं ब्रुवति प्रजाहितेनरेन्द्रपुत्रे गुरुसौहृदाद्गुहः।मुमोच बाष्पं व्यसनाभिपीडितोज्वरातुरो नाग इव व्यथातुरः।।।।

By Rama’s favor alone, I hope in this world to gain great renown—together with abundant attainment of dharma and the acquisition of artha as well.