Sarga 65

Verse 1

अथ रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां प्रातरेवापरेऽहनि।वन्दिनः पर्युपातिष्ठंस्तत्पार्थिव निवेशनम्।।।।सूताः परमसंस्कारा मङ्गलाश्चोत्तमश्रुताः।गायका: स्तुतिशीलाश्च निगदन्तः पृथक् पृथक्।।।।

When that night had passed, early in the morning of the next day, panegyrists came to the king’s residence. Genealogists—highly accomplished and learned in auspicious lore—and singers skilled in praise arrived one after another, each proclaiming benedictions aloud.

Verse 2

अथ रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां प्रातरेवापरेऽहनि।वन्दिनः पर्युपातिष्ठंस्तत्पार्थिव निवेशनम्।।2.65.1।।सूताः परमसंस्कारा मङ्गलाश्चोत्तमश्रुताः।गायका: स्तुतिशीलाश्च निगदन्तः पृथक् पृथक्।।2.65.2।।

When that night had passed, early the next morning panegyrists came to the king’s residence. Bards and genealogists—highly accomplished and learned, speaking auspicious words—along with singers skilled in praise, arrived one after another, each reciting benedictions in turn.

Verse 3

राजानं स्तुवतां तेषामुदात्ताभिहिताशिषाम्।प्रासादाऽभोगविस्तीर्णः स्तुतिशब्दोह्यवर्तत।।।।

The resounding hymns of praise for the king—together with benedictions spoken in lofty tones by his eulogists—spread across the full expanse of the palace.

Verse 4

ततस्तु स्तुवतां तेषां सूतानां पाणिवादकाः।अपदानान्युदाहृत्य पाणिवादा नवादयन्।।।।

Then, as those sūta bards sang, the palm-clappers kept the beat—reciting the king’s famed exploits and sounding their rhythmic claps.

Verse 5

तेन शब्देन विहगाः प्रतिबुद्धा विसस्वनुः।शाखास्थाः पञ्जरस्थाश्च ये राजकुलगोचराः।।।।

Awakened by that sound, the birds—some perched on branches and others in cages—began to chirp throughout the royal precincts.

Verse 6

व्याहृताः पुण्यशब्दाश्च वीणानां चापि निस्स्वनाः।आशीर्गेयं च गाथानां पूरयामास वेश्म तत्।।।।

Sacred utterances, the resonant notes of vīṇās, and the benedictory chants of metrical hymns filled that palace-hall completely.

Verse 7

तत श्शुचिसमाचाराः पर्युपस्थानकोविदाः।स्त्रीवर्ष धरभूयिष्ठा उपतस्थुर्यथापुरम्।।।।

Then, as was customary, attendants skilled in royal service and observant of purity-rules assembled—along with many women and eunuchs—to wait upon the palace.

Verse 8

हरिचन्दनसम्पृक्तमुदकं काञ्चनैर्घटैः।आनिन्युस्स्नानशिक्षाज्ञा यथाकालं यथाविधि।।।।

Those trained in the bathing rites brought, at the proper time and according to rule, water mixed with yellow sandal paste in golden vessels.

Verse 9

मङ्गलालम्भनीयानि प्राशनीयान्युपस्करान्।उपनिन्युस्तथाप्यन्याः कुमारीबहुलाः स्त्रियः।।।।

Other women—many of them young maidens—also brought auspicious anointing materials, pleasing refreshments, and the ritual accessories required for completing the bathing ceremony.

Verse 10

सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नं सर्वं विधिवदर्चितम्।सर्वं सुगुणलक्ष्मीवत्तद्बभूवाभिहारिकम्।।।।

All the articles meant for the king were complete in every proper mark, duly prepared according to rule, and altogether excellent, virtuous, and auspicious.

Verse 11

तत स्सूर्योदयं यावत्सर्वं परिसमुत्सुकम्।तस्थावनुपसम्प्राप्तं किंस्विदित्युपशङ्कितम्।।।।

Thus, until sunrise, all the attendants—ready and eager—stood waiting; but when the king still did not appear, they began to suspect, “What has happened?”

Verse 12

अथ याः कोसलेन्द्रस्य शयनं प्रत्यनन्तराः।ताः स्त्रियस्तु समागम्य भर्तारं प्रत्यबोधयन्।।।।

Thereafter, the women who had free access to the bedchamber of the lord of Kosala came near and set about waking their master.

Verse 13

तथाप्युचितवृत्ता स्ता विनयेन नयेन च।नह्यस्य शयनं स्पृष्ट्वा किञ्चिदप्युपलेभिरे।।।।

Even then, with proper decorum—restrained and obedient—they touched his bed, yet perceived not the slightest sign.

Verse 14

ताः स्त्रियस्स्वप्नशीलज्ञाश्चेष्टासञ्चलनादिषुता वेपथुपरीताश्च राज्ञः प्राणेषु शङ्किताः।प्रतिस्रोतस्तृणाग्राणां सदृशं सञ्चकाशिरे।।।।

Those women, skilled in discerning the signs of sleep from movement and other marks, trembled violently, fearing for the king’s very life—like reed-tips standing against the current.

Verse 15

अथ सन्देहमानानां स्त्रीणां दृष्ट्वा च पार्थिवम्।यत्तदाशङ्कितं पापं तस्य जज्ञे विनिश्चयः।।।।

Then, as the women, still wavering in doubt, looked closely upon the king, the dreadful fear they had suspected hardened into certainty.

Verse 16

कौसल्या च सुमत्रच पुत्रशोकपराजिते।प्रसुप्ते न प्रबुध्येते यथा कालसमन्विते।।।।

Kauśalyā and Sumitrā, overcome by grief for their sons, lay in deep sleep and did not awaken—as though seized by Death itself.

Verse 17

निष्प्रभा च विवर्णा च सन्ना शोकेन सन्नता।न व्यराजत कौसल्या तारेव तिमिरावृता।।।।

Kauśalyā, dull and pallid, sunk down with sorrow and slackened in body, did not shine—like a star veiled by darkness.

Verse 18

कौसल्याऽनन्तरं राज्ञस्सुमित्रा तदन्तनरम्।न स्म विभ्राजते देवी शोकाश्रुलुलितानना।।।।

By the king’s side lay Sumitrā, and next to her Kauśalyā; that queen, her face drenched and drooping with tears of grief, no longer shone with her former luster.

Verse 19

ते च दृष्ट्वा तथा सुप्ते शुभे देव्यौ च तं नृपम्।सुप्तमेवोद्गतप्राणमन्तःपुरमदृश्यत।।।।

Seeing the two noble queens asleep in that manner and the king as though merely sleeping—though his life-breath had departed—the women of the inner palace recognized that he had died in his sleep.

Verse 20

ततः प्रचुक्रुशुर्दीना स्सस्वरं ता वराङ्गनाः।करेणव इवारण्ये स्थानप्रच्युतयूथपाः।।।।

Then those noble women wailed aloud in distress, like female elephants in the forest when the leader of their herd has been driven from his place.

Verse 21

तासामाक्रन्दशब्देन सहसोद्धतचेतने।कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च त्यक्त निद्रे बभूवतुः।।।।

Startled by the sound of their wailing, Kausalyā and Sumitrā suddenly came to their senses and shook off sleep.

Verse 22

कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च दृष्ट्वा स्प़ृष्ट्वा च पार्थिवम्।हा नाथेति परिक्रुश्य पेततुर्धरणीतले।।।।

Kausalyā and Sumitrā, seeing the king and touching him, cried out, “Ah, my lord!” and fell upon the ground.

Verse 23

सा कोसलेन्द्रदुहिता वेष्टमाना महीतले।न बभ्राज रजोध्वस्ता तारेव गगनाच्च्युता।।।।

Kausalyā, daughter of the lord of Kosala, rolled upon the earth; covered with dust, she no longer shone—like a star fallen from the sky.

Verse 24

नृपे शान्तगुणे जाते कौसल्यां पतितां भुवि।अपश्यंस्ताः स्त्रियः सर्वा हतां नागवधूमिव।।।।

When the king of tranquil virtues lay stilled and motionless, all the women saw Kausalyā fallen on the ground—like a female elephant struck down.

Verse 25

ततस्सर्वा नरेन्द्रस्य कैकेयीप्रमुखाः स्त्रियः।रुदन्त्य श्शोकसन्तप्ता निपेतुर्गतचेतनाः।।।।

Then all the king’s wives—led by Kaikeyī—burning with grief and weeping, lost consciousness and fell to the ground.

Verse 26

ताभिस्स बलवान्नादः क्रोशन्तीभिरनुद्रुतः।येन स्फीतीकृतं भूयस्तद्गृहं समनादयत् ।। ।।

Following their wailing, a mighty sound arose; swelling ever louder, it made the palace resound again and again.

Verse 27

तत् परित्रस्तन्त्रसम्भ्रान्त पर्युत्सुकजनाकुलम्।सर्वतस्तुमुलाक्रन्दं परितापार्तबान्धवम्।।।।सद्यो निपतितानन्दं दीनविक्लबदर्शनम्।बभूव नरदेवस्य सद्म दिष्टान्तमीयुषः।।।।

With the godlike king having met his end, the palace became instantly bereft of joy—crowded with anxious people, shaken and terrified, filled everywhere with tumultuous cries, and surrounded by kinsmen anguished with grief; it presented a miserable, stricken sight.

Verse 28

तत् परित्रस्तन्त्रसम्भ्रान्त पर्युत्सुकजनाकुलम्।सर्वतस्तुमुलाक्रन्दं परितापार्तबान्धवम्।।2.65.27।।सद्यो निपतितानन्दं दीनविक्लबदर्शनम्।बभूव नरदेवस्य सद्म दिष्टान्तमीयुषः।।2.65.28।।

On the king’s demise, the palace at once lost all joy—packed with anxious, frightened people, ringing everywhere with tumultuous cries, and full of relatives tormented by grief; it looked utterly wretched and broken.

Verse 29

अतीतमाज्ञाय तु पार्थिवर्षभं यशस्विनं सम्परिवार्य पत्नयः।भृशं रुदन्त्यः करुणं सुदुःखिताः प्रगृह्य बाहू व्यलपन्ननाथवत्।।।।

Realizing that the illustrious bull among kings had passed away, his wives gathered around him; in intense sorrow they wept bitterly and piteously, raising their arms and lamenting like those left without a protector.