Sarga 63

Verse 2.63.1

प्रतिबुद्धो मुहूर्तेन शोकोपहतचेतनः।अथ राजा दशरथस्सचिन्तामभ्यपद्यत।।2.63.1।।

Roused again after a moment, his mind struck down by grief, King Daśaratha fell once more into anxious reflection.

Verse 2.63.2

रामलक्ष्मणयोश्चैव विवासा द्वासवोपमम्।आविवेशोपसर्गस्तं तम स्सूर्यमिवासुरम्।।2.63.2।।

Even streams that were otherwise clear ran on, taking on pale-white and reddish hues from mountain minerals—flowing like serpents, as though mixed with ash.

Verse 2.63.3

सभार्ये निर्गते रामे कौसल्यां कोशलेश्वरः।विवक्षुरसितापाङ्गां स्मृत्वा दुष्कृतमात्मनः।।2.63.3।।

“At night I came to this lonely river-bank to draw water. By whom have I been struck with an arrow? What wrong have I done—to anyone at all?”

Verse 2.63.4

स राजा रजनीं षष्ठीं रामे प्रव्राजिते वनम्।अर्धरात्रे दशरथ स्संस्मरन् दुष्कृतं कृतम्।।2.63.4।।

O king, what wrong have I done you, dwelling in the forest? I sought only to fetch water for my elders—yet you have struck me.

Verse 2.63.5

स राजा पुत्रशोकार्तः स्मृत्वा दुष्कृतमात्मनः।कौसल्यां पुत्रशोकार्तामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.63.5।।

That king, tormented by grief for his son and remembering his own past wrongdoing, spoke these words to Kauśalyā, who was likewise stricken with sorrow for her son.

Verse 2.63.6

यदाचरति कल्याणि शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम्।तदेव लभते भद्रे कर्ता कर्मजमात्मनः।।2.63.6।।

O auspicious one, whatever a person does—good or evil—so indeed does the doer obtain its fruit, born of his own action (karma).

Verse 2.63.7

गुरुलाघवमर्थानामारम्भे कर्मणां फलम्।दोषं वा यो न जानाति न बाल इति होच्यते।।2.63.7।।

He is not called a mere child who, at the very outset of actions, understands the relative weight of outcomes—whether benefit or fault.

Verse 2.63.8

कश्चिदाम्रवणं छित्त्वा पलाशां श्च निषिञ्चति।पुष्पं दृष्ट्वा फले गृध्नु स्स शोचति फलागमे।।2.63.8।।

Someone may cut down a mango grove and instead water palāśa trees; greedy for fruit, he rejoices at flowers—then grieves when the time of fruit arrives.

Verse 2.63.9

अविज्ञाय फलं यो हि कर्म त्वेवानुधावति।स शोचेत्फलवेलायां यथा किंशुकसेचकः।।2.63.9।।

Truly, one who rushes into action without understanding its fruit will lament when the result ripens—like a man who waters the kiṃśuka tree expecting fruit.

Verse 2.63.10

सोऽहमाम्रवणं छित्वा पलाशांश्च न्यषेचयम्।रामं फलागमे त्यक्त्वा पश्चाच्छोचामि दुर्मतिः।।2.63.10।।

I—like one who cuts down a mango grove and waters palāśa trees—have, in my folly, cast away Rāma at the very season of fruition, and now I grieve afterward.

Verse 2.63.11

लब्धशब्देन कौसल्ये कुमारेण धनुष्मता।कुमारश्शब्दवेधीति मया पापमिदं कृतम्।।2.63.11।।

O Kausalyā, when I was a youthful archer, skilled in striking by sound, I committed this sin—proudly known as one who could ‘pierce by sound’.

Verse 2.63.12

तदिदं मेऽनुसंम्प्राप्तं देवि दुःखं स्वयं कृतम्।सम्मोहादिह बालेन यथा स्याद्भक्षितं विषम्।।2.63.12।।

O lady, this sorrow has come upon me as the fruit of my own deed—like poison eaten by a child in delusion in this very world.

Verse 2.63.13

यथान्यः पुरुषः कश्चित्पलाशैर्मोहितो भवेत्।एवं ममाऽप्यविज्ञातं शब्दवेध्यमयं फलम्।।2.63.13।।

Just as some man may be misled by palāśa blossoms, so too I failed to foresee the consequence born of my ‘shooting by sound.’

Verse 2.63.14

देव्यनूढा त्वमभवो युवराजो भवाम्यहम्।ततः प्रावृडनुप्राप्ता मदकामविवर्धिनी।।2.63.14।।

O lady, at that time you were not yet married, and I was the prince-regent; then the rainy season arrived—one that inflames desire and intoxicated pride.

Verse 2.63.15

उपास्य च रसान्भौमां स्तप्त्वा च जगदंशुभिः।परेताचरितां भीमां रविराविशते दिशम्।।2.63.15।।

Because Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa were exiled, a great calamity seized Indra-like Daśaratha—like demonic darkness swallowing the sun at an eclipse.

Verse 2.63.16

उष्णमन्तर्दधे सद्य स्स्निग्धा ददृशिरे घनाः।ततो जहृषिरे सर्वे भेकसारङ्गबर्हिणः।।2.63.16।।

Having drawn up the earth’s juices and scorched the world with his rays, the Sun entered the dreadful southern quarter—said to be the path frequented by the departed.

Verse 2.63.17

क्लिन्न पक्षोत्तरास्स्नाताः कृच्छ्रादिव पतत्रिणः।वृष्टिवातावधूताग्रान्पादपानभिपेदिरे।।2.63.17।।

At once the heat vanished, and glossy rain-clouds appeared. Then all rejoiced—frogs, geese, and peacocks.

Verse 2.63.18

पतितेनाम्भसाच्छन्नः पतमानेन चासकृत्।आबभौ मत्तसारङ्गस्तोयराशिरिवाचलः।।2.63.18।।

Birds, their wings and upper plumage drenched as if bathed, reached—almost with difficulty—the trees whose tops were shaken by rain and wind.

Verse 2.63.19

पाण्डुरारुणवर्णानि स्रोतांसि विमलान्यपि।सुस्रुवुर्गिरिधातुभ्यस्सभस्मानि भुजङ्गवत्।।2.63.19।।

Covered by fallen water and by water falling ceaselessly, the mountain—haunted by rutting antelopes—seemed like a piled mass of water.

Verse 2.63.20

आकुलारुण तोयानि स्रोतांसि विमलान्यपि।उन्मार्गजलवाहिनी बभूवुर्जलदागमे।।2.63.20।।

At the coming of the rain-clouds, even clear streams became turbid and red with disturbed soil, carrying water off-course in irregular channels.

Verse 2.63.21

तस्मिन्नतिसुखे काले धनुष्मानिषुमान्रथी।व्यायामकृतसङ्कल्पस्सरयूमन्वगां नदीम्।।2.63.21।।

In that exceedingly pleasant season, I—bearing bow and arrows, riding in a chariot, resolved to exert myself in the hunt—went along the river Sarayū.

Verse 2.63.22

निपाने महिषं रात्रौ गजं वाऽभ्यागतं नदीम्।अन्यं वा श्वापदं कञ्चिज्जिघांसु रजितेन्द्रियः।तस्मिं स्तत्राहमेकान्ते रात्रौ विवृतकार्मुकः।।2.63.22।।

At a watering-place by the river at night, my senses unrestrained and intent on killing, I lay in wait alone with my bow strung—thinking to shoot a buffalo, or an elephant, or some other wild beast that might come to drink.

Verse 2.63.23

तत्राहं संवृतं वन्यं हतवांस्तीरमागतम्।अन्यं चापि मृगं हिंस्रं शब्दं श्रुत्वाऽभ्युपागतम्।।2.63.23।।

There, concealed, I killed a wild creature that had come to the riverbank; and I also struck down another fierce animal that approached after I heard its sound.

Verse 2.63.24

अथान्धकारे त्वश्रौषं जले कुम्भस्य पूर्यतः।अचक्षुर्विषये घोषं वारणस्येव नर्दतः।।2.63.24।।

After Rāma had departed with his wife, the lord of Kośala (Daśaratha), remembering his own past misdeed, wished to speak of it to dark-eyed Kausalyā.

Verse 2.63.25

ततोऽहं शरमुधृत्य दीप्तमाशीविषोपमम्।शब्दं प्रति गजप्रेप्सुरभिलक्ष्य त्वपातयम्।।2.63.25।।

Then, in the darkness, from a place beyond my sight, I heard the sound of a water-pitcher being filled—like the trumpeting of an elephant.

Verse 2.63.26

अमुञ्चं निशितं बाणमहमाशीविषोपमम्।तत्र वागुषसि व्यक्ता प्रादुरासीद्वनौकसः।।2.63.26।।हाहेति पततस्तोये बाणाभिहतमर्मणः।।2.63.27।।

Then, longing to bring down the elephant, I seized an arrow—gleaming like a venomous serpent—and, taking aim toward the sound, let it fly.

Verse 2.63.27

अमुञ्चं निशितं बाणमहमाशीविषोपमम्।तत्र वागुषसि व्यक्ता प्रादुरासीद्वनौकसः।।2.63.26।।हाहेति पततस्तोये बाणाभिहतमर्मणः।।2.63.27।।

I released that keen arrow, like a venomous serpent; and then, at dawn, the clear voice of a forest-dweller suddenly arose from there.

Verse 2.63.28

तस्मिन्निपतिते बाणे वागभूत्तत्र मानुषी। कथमस्मद्विधे शस्त्रं निपतेत्तु तपस्विनि।।2.63.28।।

Crying “Alas! Alas!”, he—his vital spot pierced by the arrow—fell into the water.

Verse 2.63.29

प्रविविक्तां नदीं रात्रावुदाहाऽरोहमागतः।इषुणाऽभिहतः केन कस्य वा किं कृतं मया।।2.63.29।।

When that arrow struck, a human voice was heard there: “How can a weapon fall upon one like me—an ascetic?”

Verse 2.63.30

ऋषेर्हिन्यस्तदण्डस्य वने वन्येन जीवतः।कथं नु शस्रेण वधो मद्विधस्य विधीयते।।2.63.30।।

For I am an ascetic who has laid aside violence, living in the forest on forest fare—how, indeed, can the killing of one like me be carried out with a weapon?

Verse 2.63.31

जटाभारधरस्यैव वल्कलाजिनवाससः।को वधेन ममर्थी स्यात्किंवाऽस्यापकृतं मया।।2.63.31।।

Who would desire my death—me who bears the burden of matted hair and wears bark-cloth and antelope-skin? What harm have I done to him?

Verse 2.63.32

एवं निष्फलमारब्धं केवलानर्थसंहितम्।न कश्चित्साधु मन्येत यथैव गुरुतल्पगम्।।2.63.32।।

Such an act—begun without purpose, yielding no fruit, and consisting only of harm—no good person would approve, any more than the grave sin of violating the teacher’s bed.

Verse 2.63.33

नाहं तथाऽनु शोचामि जीवितक्षयमात्मनः।मातरं पितरं चोभावनुशोचामि मद्वधे।।2.63.33।।

I do not grieve so much for the loss of my own life; rather, I grieve for my mother and father—what will become of them when I am slain.

Verse 2.63.34

तदेतन्मिथुनं वृद्धं चिरकालभृतं मया।मयि पञ्चत्वमापन्ने कां वृत्तिं वर्तयिष्यति।।2.63.34।।

For a long time I have sustained this aged pair; when I am reduced to the five elements in death, by what means will they continue their life?

Verse 2.63.35

वृद्धै च मतापितरावहं चैकेषुणा हता।केन स्मनिहता स्सर्वे सुबालेनाकृतात्मना।।2.63.35।।

My aged parents and I are, as it were, all slain by a single arrow—by whom have we been destroyed, by a boy who seems ‘good’ yet whose intent is unformed and heedless?

Verse 2.63.36

तां गिरं करुणां श्रुत्वा मम धर्मानुकाङ्क्षिणः।कराभ्यां सशरं चापं व्यथितस्यापतद्भुवि।।2.63.36।।

Hearing that pitiful cry, and being anxious for righteousness, I—shaken with distress—let my bow fall from my hands, with the arrow, onto the ground.

Verse 2.63.37

तस्याहं करुणं श्रुत्वा निशि लालवतो बहु।सम्भ्रान्त श्शोकवेगेन भृशमासं विचेतनः।।2.63.37।।

Hearing his pitiful lament in the night, I was thrown into terror by the surge of grief and remained utterly bewildered, as if senseless.

Verse 2.63.38

तं देशमहमागम्य दीनसत्त्वस्सुदुर्मनाः।अपश्यमिषुणा तीरे सरय्वास्तापसं हतम्।।2.63.38।।अवकीर्ण जटाभारं प्रविद्धकलशोदकम्।पांसुशोणितदिग्धाङ्गं शयानं शल्यपीडितम्।।2.63.39।।

Reaching that spot, drained of strength and sick at heart, I saw on the bank of the Sarayū an ascetic struck down by my arrow—his matted locks scattered, his water-pot flung away, his limbs smeared with dust and blood, lying pierced and tormented by the shaft.

Verse 2.63.39

तं देशमहमागम्य दीनसत्त्वस्सुदुर्मनाः।अपश्यमिषुणा तीरे सरय्वास्तापसं हतम्।।2.63.38।।अवकीर्ण जटाभारं प्रविद्धकलशोदकम्।पांसुशोणितदिग्धाङ्गं शयानं शल्यपीडितम्।।2.63.39।।

Seeing me frightened and shaken in mind, he looked up with both eyes as though to burn me with his radiance, and then spoke: “Cruel indeed!”

Verse 2.63.40

स मामुद्वीक्ष्य नेत्राभ्यां त्रस्तमस्वस्थचेतसम्।इत्युवाच ततः क्रूरं दिधक्षन्निव तेजसा।।2.63.40।।

After Rāma had been banished to the forest, King Daśaratha passed the sixth night; at midnight he kept recalling the evil deed he had done long ago.

Verse 2.63.41

किं तवापकृतं राजन्वने निवसता मया।जिहीर्षुरम्भो गुर्वुर्थं यदहं ताडितस्त्वया।।2.63.41।।

“O king, what wrong have I done you, I who dwell in the forest? I sought only to draw water for my elders—yet you have struck me down.”

Verse 2.63.42

एकेन खलु बाणेन मर्मण्यभिहते मयि।द्वावन्धौ निहतौ वृद्धौ माता जनयिता च मे।।2.63.42।।

With a single arrow, striking me in a vital spot, you have in truth slain my two aged, blind parents as well—my mother and my father.

Verse 2.63.43

तौ कथं दुर्बलावन्धौ मत्प्रतीक्षौ पिपासितौ।चिरमाशाकृतां तृष्णां कष्टां सन्धारयिष्यतः।।2.63.43।।

How will those two—frail and blind, waiting for me and tormented by thirst—endure for long that painful thirst, sustained only by hope?

Verse 2.63.44

न नूनं तपसो वास्ति फलयोगश्श्रुतस्य वा।पिता यन्मां न जानाति शयानं पतितं भुवि।।2.63.44।।

Surely there is no fruit, it seems, either from austerity or from sacred learning—since my father does not even know that I lie here fallen upon the earth.

Verse 2.63.45

जानन्नपि च किं कुर्यादशक्तिरपरिक्रमः।भिद्यमानमिवाशक्त स्त्रतुमन्यो नगो नगम्।।2.63.45।।

Even if he knew, what could my father do—powerless and unable to move? Like one tree that cannot save another tree being cut down, he is helpless.

Verse 2.63.46

पितुस्त्वमेव मे गत्वा शीघ्रमाचक्ष्य राघव।न त्वामनुदहेत्क्रुद्धो वनं वह्निरिवैधितः।।2.63.46।।

O Rāghava, go yourself at once and tell my father, lest—when angered—he burn you down like a blazing fire consuming a forest.

Verse 2.63.47

इयमेकपदी राजन्यतो मे पितुराश्रमः।तं प्रसादय गत्वा त्वं न त्वां स कुपितश्शपेत्।।2.63.47।।

O king, this narrow footpath leads to my father’s hermitage. Go there and seek his forgiveness, so that he, enraged, may not curse you.

Verse 2.63.48

विशल्यं कुरु मां राजन्मर्म मे निशितश्शरः।रुणद्धि मृदुसोत्सेधं तीरमम्बुरयो यथा।।2.63.48।।

O king, draw the arrow out of me gently; the sharp shaft has seized my vital spot, as a river’s current presses hard against a soft, raised bank.

Verse 2.63.49

सशल्यः क्लिश्यते प्राणैर्विशल्यो विनशिष्यति।इति मामविशच्चिन्ता तस्य शल्यापकर्षणे।।2.63.49।।

A worry seized me about pulling out his arrow: left in, he suffers while life remains; pulled out, he will die.

Verse 2.63.50

दुःखितस्य च दीनस्य मम शोकातुरस्य च।लक्षयामास हृदये चिन्तां मुनिसुतस्तदा।।2.63.50।।

Then the ascetic’s son perceived the anguish in my heart—seeing me distressed, wretched, and overwhelmed by grief.

Verse 2.63.51

ताम्यमानस्स मां कृच्छ्रादुवाच परमार्तवत्।सीदमानो विवृत्ताङ्गो वेष्टमानो गतः क्षयम्।।2.63.51।।

Tormented and sinking toward death—his limbs twisting and writhing—he spoke to me with extreme anguish, and only with great difficulty.

Verse 2.63.52

संस्तभ्य शोकं धैर्येण स्थिरचित्तो भवाम्यहम्। ब्रह्महत्याकृतं पापं हृदयादपनीयताम्।।2.63.52।।

Steadying my sorrow through patience, I become firm-minded. Let the fear in your heart be removed—that you have incurred the sin of brahmin-slaying.

Verse 2.63.53

न द्विजातिरहं राजन्मा भूत्ते मनसो व्यथा।शूद्रायामस्मि वैश्येन जातो जनपदाधिप।।2.63.53।।

O king—lord of the realm—I am not of the twice-born. Let no anxiety trouble your mind. I was born to a Śūdra mother by a Vaiśya father.

Verse 2.63.54

As he spoke thus with difficulty—his vital spot pierced by the arrow—trembling, reeling, and writhing upon the ground, I bent down and drew out that arrow. Seeing me, the ascetic whose wealth was tapas (austerity) was seized with terror and gave up his life.

Verse 2.63.55

प्रतिबुद्धो मुहूर्तेन शोकोपहतचेतनः।अथ राजा दशरथस्सचिन्तामभ्यपद्यत।।2.63.1।।

O gentle one, seeing him lying on the bank of the Sarayū—his body drenched, lamenting in pain, and his vital wound drawing forth ceaseless gasps—I became profoundly despondent.