tyaktabhogasya me rājan vane vanyena jīvatḥ| kiṃ kāryamanuyātreṇa tyaktasaṅgasya sarvatḥ||2.37.2||
Translation
राजन् O king, त्यक्तभोगस्य of forsaker of pleasures, सर्वतः entirely, त्यक्तसङ्गस्य of one who has given up attachments, वने in the forest, वन्येन available in the forest, जीवतः subsisting, मे for me, अनुयात्रेण followers, किं कार्यम् what is the use?
Meaning
O king giving up pleasures and attachments altogether I am going to live on whatever is available in the forest. What is the use of followers?
yo hi dattvā dvipaśreṣṭhṃ kakṣyāyāṃ kurute manḥ| rajjusnehena kiṃ tasya tyajatḥ kuñjarottamam||2.37.3||
Translation
यः such a man, द्विपश्रेष्ठम् best of elephants, दत्त्वा having given away, कक्ष्यायाम् rope tied to its girth, मनः mind, कुरुते will do, कुञ्जरोत्तमम् best elephant, त्यजतः of a man while giving up, तस्य his, रज्जुस्नेहेन for attachment for the rope, किम् why?
Meaning
Having given away the best of elephants, will any one be interested in the rope tied to its girth? Why should one have any attachment for the rope after he has given up the elephant?
tathā mama satāṃ śreṣṭha kiṃ dhvajinyā jagatpate| sarvāṇyevānujānāmi cīrāṇyevā'nayantu me||2.37.4||
Translation
सताम् among the virtuous, श्रेष्ठ best, जगत्पते lord of the universe, तथा in that way, मम to me, ध्वजिन्या with the army, किम् what use?, सर्वाण्येव all things, अनुजानामि am giving away, मे to me, चीराण्येव tattered clothes only, आनयन्तु bring.
Meaning
O best among the virtuous O lord of the world, I do not have any use for this army. I am giving away everything (to Bharata). Bring the bark only.
गच्छतः going away, चतुर्दश fourteen, वर्षाणि years, वने in the forest, वासम् dwelling, वसतः residing , मम to me, उभे two things, खनित्रपिटके a basket and a crowbar, समानयत bring.
Meaning
I am going to the forest to live there for fourteen years. Bring me two things: a basket and a crowbar.
अथ thereupon, कैकेयी Kaikeyi, जनौघे in the presence of the assembly of people, निरपत्रपा without any sense of shame, स्वयम् herself, चीराणि bark robes, अहृत्य having brought, परिथत्स्व 'wear', इति saying so, राघवम् to Rama, उवाच said.
Meaning
Thereupon in the assembly of people, without any sense of shame Kaikeyi herself brought the bark robes and said to the son of the Raghus (Rama), Wear it.
sa cīre puruṣavyāghrḥ kaikeyyā pratigṛhya te| sūkṣmavastramavakṣipya munivastrāṇyavasta ha||2.37.7||
Translation
पुरुषव्याघ्रः tiger (best) among men, सः he, कैकेय्याः from Kaikeyi, ते those, चीरे bark robes, प्रतिगृह्य having received, सूक्ष्मवस्त्रम् fine apparel, अपक्षिप्य after removing, मुनिवस्त्राणि ascetic robes, अवस्त ह put on
Meaning
The tiger among men (Rama) received the bark robes from Kaikeyi and putting off the fine apparel wore the robes of an ascetic.
लक्ष्मणश्चापि Lakshmana also, तत्रैव there only, पितुः father's, अग्रतः in front (presence), शुभे auspicious, वसने raiment, विहाय having discarded, तपसाच्छादने चैव the clothing of an ascetic, जग्राह accepted.
Meaning
Lakshmana also removed his auspicious raiment in front (presence) of his father and accepted (put on) the robes of an ascetic.
अथ then, कौशेयवासिनी wearing silk clothes, सीता Sita, आत्मपरिधानार्थम् meant for her to wear, चीरम् bark robes, समीक्ष्य having seen, पृषती doe, वागुरामिव like a (fowler's) snare, सन्त्रस्ता was frightened.
Meaning
Then Sita in silk clothes glanced at the bark robes meant for her to wear and was frightened like a doe seeing a (fowler's) snare.
sā vyapatrapamāṇeva pragṛhya ca sudurmanāḥ| kaikeyī kuśacīre te jānakī śubhalakṣaṇā||2.37.10|| aśrusampūrṇa netrā ca dharmajñā dharmadarśinī| gandharvarājapratimṃ bhartāramidamabravīt||2.37.11||
Translation
सुदुर्मनाः with a deeply distressed mind, शुभलक्षणा of auspicious nature, धर्मज्ञा knows her duties, धर्मदर्शिनी perceives righteousness, सा जानकी that Sita, व्यपत्रपमाणेव as though feeling ashamed, कैकेयी from Kaikeyi, ते those, कुशचीरे garments made of kusa grass, प्रगृह्य having received, अशृसम्पूर्णनेत्रा with her eyes suffused with tears, गन्धर्वराजप्रतिमम् the very image of king of gandharvas, भर्तारम् to her husband, इदम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoke.
Meaning
Sita of auspicious nature who knew her duties and understood righteousness, took the garments made of kusa grass from Kaikeyi. With a sense of abashment her eyes suffused with tears, she said to her husband who was the very image of the king of gandharvas.
kṛtvā kaṇṭhe ca sā cīramekamādāya pāṇinā| tasthau hyakuśalā tatra vrīḍitā janakātmajā||2.37.13||
Translation
सा जनकात्मजा that daughter of Janaka, (Sita), एकम् one end, चीरम् of garment, कण्ठे on the neck, कृत्वा having placed, पाणिना with hand, आदाय held, तत्र thereafter, अकुशला unskilled (unhabituated), व्रीडिता feeling ashamed, तस्थौ stood.
Meaning
The daughter of Janaka, placed one end of the garment round her neck and held the other in her hand, and stood ashamed as she did not know what to do next.
rāmṃ prekṣya tu sītāyā badhnantṃ cīramuttamam| antḥpuragatā nāryo mumucurvāri netrajam||2.37.15||
Translation
सीतायाः of Sita, चीरम् garment, बध्नन्तम् when he was fastening, उत्तमम् excellent, रामम् Rama, प्रेक्ष्य having seen, अन्तःपुरगताः of the inner apartment, नार्यः women, नेत्रजम् born of the eyes, वारि tears, मुमुचुः released.
Meaning
Beholding Rama fastening the bark garment on Sita, the women of the inner apartment shed tears from their eyes.
परमायस्ताः profoundly distressed, ज्वलिततेजसम् with burning lustre, रामम् to Rama, ऊचुश्च also said, वत्स dear child, मनस्विनी highminded, इयम् this Sita, एवम् thus, वनवासे to dwell in the forest, न नियुक्ता was not ordered.
Meaning
Profoundly distressed, they said to Rama glowing with burning lustre O dear, no one has ordered this highminded Sita to dwell in the forest.
प्रभो O lord, पितुः father's, वाक्यानुरोधेन in obedience to the words, विजनम् desolate, वनम् to the forest, गतस्य after you have left, तावत् till such time, नः for us, सफलम् fruitful, अस्याः her, दर्शनम् भवतु audience be available.
Meaning
In obedience to the words of your father, O lord you are going to the forest. Till you return, please allow us to have her (Sita's) audience.
पुत्रक O son, सहायेन as companion, लक्ष्मणेन with Lakshmana, वनम् to the forest, गच्छस्व you may go, कल्याणी auspicious lady, इयम् she, तापसवत् like a hermit, वने in the forest, वस्तुम् to live, नार्हति is not worthy of.
Meaning
Go, O son to the forest with Lakshmana as your companion. (But) this auspicious Sita, will not be able to live in the jungle like a hermit.
kuru no yācanāṃ putra sītā tiṣṭhatu bhāminī| dharmanityassvayṃ sthātuṃ na hīdānīṃ tvamicchasi||2.37.19||
Translation
पुत्र O son, न: our, याचनाम् prayer, कुरु you may accede, भामिनी lovely, सीता Sita, तिष्ठतु remain here, धर्मनित्यः faithful to your duty, त्वम् you, स्वयम् on your own, स्थातुम् to remain, इदानीम् now, न इच्छसि हि do not desire.
Meaning
Do accede to our prayer. Let lovely Sita stay with us as you, O son faithful to your duty, will not like to remain here.
दशरथात्मज: son of Dasaratha (Rama), तासाम् their, एवंविधाः such ways, वाचः words, शृण्वन् listening, तदा then, तुल्यशीलया similar in nature, सीतया by Sita, चीरम् bark robes, बबन्धैव got them fastened.
Meaning
While Rama was listening to such words uttered by them, he got the bark robes fastened round Sita who was of similar nature.
तया by her, चीरे bark garment, गृहीते was worn, नृपतेः king's, गुरुः preceptor, वसिष्ठः Vasistha, समीक्ष्य having seen, सीताम् of Sita, निवार्य having restrained, कैकेयीम् to Kaikeyi, (वाक्यम्) अब्रवीत् said.
Meaning
When Sita wore the bark garments, Vasistha, the king's preceptor who was watching this restrained her (Sita) and said to Kaikeyi:
atipravṛtte durmedhe kaikeyi kulapāṃsani| vañcayitvā ca rājānṃ na pramāṇe'vatiṣṭhase||2.37.22||
Translation
अतिप्रवृत्ते exceeding all limits of decency, दुर्मेधे a woman of evil mind, कुलपांसनि disgrace to the race, कैकेयि Kaikeyi, राजानम् to king, वञ्चयित्वा च having deceived, प्रमाणे conforming to the standards (of righteousness ), न अवतिष्ठसे are you not abiding
Meaning
. You are exceeding all limits of decency O Kaikeyi your motive is evil. You are a disgrace to the race You have deceived the king and your behaviour does not conform to the standards (of righteousness).
na gantavyṃ vanṃ devyā sītayā śīlavarjite| anuṣṭhāsyati rāmasya sītā prakṛtamāsanam||2.37.23||
Translation
शीलवर्जिते devoid of good conduct, देव्या by the divine, सीतया Sita, वनम् to the forest, न गन्तव्यम् need not go, सीता Sita, रामस्य Rama's, प्रकृतम् present, आसनम् royal throne, अनुष्ठास्यति she will occupy.
Meaning
You are devoid of good conduct, O Kaikeyi Divine Sita need not go to the forest. Remaining here she should occupy the royal throne of Rama.
ātmā hi dārāssarveṣāṃ dārasaṅgrahavartinām| ātmeyamiti rāmasya pālayiṣyati medinīm||2.37.24||
Translation
दारसङ्ग्रहवर्तिनाम् of men who guard their wives, सर्वेषाम् for all, दाराः wife, आत्मा हि is the very soul, इयम् this Sita, रामस्य Rama's, आत्मा इति soul, मेदिनीम् this earth, पालयिष्यति will rule.
Meaning
For every householder, his wife is the soul. Since Sita is the soul of Rama, she can rule this earth.
अथ otherwise, वैदेही Sita, रामेण with Rama, सङ्गता united, वनम् to the forest, यास्यति if goes, वयमपि all of us also, अनुयास्यामः will follow, इदम् this, पुरं च city also, गमिष्यति will go.
Meaning
Otherwise, if Sita goes with Rama to the forest, all of us along with the entire city will follow.
antapālāśca yāsyanti sadāro yatra rāghavḥ| sahopajīvyṃ rāṣṭrṃ ca purṃ ca saparicchadam||2.37.26||
Translation
सदारः with his wife, राघवः descendant of the Raghus, यत्र where (lives), अन्तपालाश्च guardians of the harem, सहोपजीव्यम् living together with the patron, राष्ट्रं च the kingdom, सपरिच्छदम् along with the retinue, पुरं च the city, यास्यन्ति will go.
Meaning
The guardians of the harem, its patron king Dasaratha with his retinue and, the people of this city will go wherever Rama lives with his wife.
सशत्रुघ्नः Satrughna, भरतश्च also Bharata, चीरवासाः wearing bark robes, वनेचरः wandering in the forest, वने in the forest, वसन्तं living there, पूर्वजम् elder brother, काकुत्स्थम् Son of the Kakutstha (Rama), अनुवत्स्यति follow.
Meaning
Wandering in the forest and wearing bark, Satrughna and Bharata will live in the company of their elder brother (Rama) in the jungle.
प्रजानाम् people's, अहिते in doing harm, स्थिता intent upon, दुर्वृत्ता with vile behaviour, त्वम् एका you alone, ततः after that, गतजनाम् deserted by men, शून्याम् empty, वसुधाम् earth, पादपैः सह along with trees, शाधि rule.
Meaning
Intent upon doing harm to the people with your vile behaviour, you alone rule this kingdom full of trees and deserted by men.
na hi tadbhavitā rāṣṭrṃ yatra rāmo na bhūpatiḥ| tadvanṃ bhavitā rāṣṭrṃ yatra rāmo nivatsyati||2.37.29||
Translation
यत्र where, रामः Rama, भूपतिः king, न not, तत् there, राष्ट्रम् kingdom, न भविता हि is not indeed there, यत्र where, रामः Rama, निवत्स्यति he dwells, तत् वनम् that forest also, राष्ट्रम् kingdom, भविता will become.
Meaning
That is not a kingdom where Rama does not rule. If Rama lives in the forest, that shall be the kingdom.
भरतः Bharata, महीपतेः of the king (Dasaratha), जात: यदि if born, पित्रा by father, अदत्ताम् not given, महीम् earth, शास्तुम् to rule, त्वयि in you, पुत्रवत् like a son, वस्तुं वा to live, न अर्हति is not fit.
Meaning
If Bharata is truly born to the king, he will not rule the kingdom which has not been bestowed on him (wholeheartedly) by his father. Nor will he live like a son to you.
yadyapi tvṃ kṣititalādgaganṃ cotpatiṣyasi| pitṛrvṃśacaritrajñḥ so'nyathā na kariṣyati||2.37.31||
Translation
त्वम् you, क्षितितलात् from the earth, गगनम् to the sky, उत्पतिष्यसि यद्यपि even if you can fly, पितुर्वंशचरित्रज्ञः knower of traditions of his father's dynasty, सः Bharata, अन्यथा otherwise, न करिष्यति will not act.
Meaning
Even if you were to fly from earth to sky, Bharata who knows the traditions of his father's dynasty, will not act otherwise.
tattvayā putragardhinyā putrasya kṛtamapriyam| loke hi sa na vidyeta yo na rāmamanuvratḥ||2.37.32||
Translation
तत् therefore, पुत्रगर्धिन्या by a woman greedily guarding her son's interest, त्वया by you, पुत्रस्य of your son, अप्रियम् harm, कृतम् is done, लोके in this world, यः who, रामम् to Rama, अनुव्रतः follows, न not, सः he, न विद्येत हि will not be there.
Meaning
Therefore, by greedily guarding your son's interest you are doing him harm. There is none in this world who will not follow Rama.
कैकेयी Kaikeyi, रामेण सह along with Rama, गच्छतः leaving, पशुव्यालमृगद्विजान् flocks of cattle, elephants, deer and birds, तदुन्मुखान् bending towards him, पादपांश्च trees also, अद्यैव today, द्रक्ष्यसि you will see.
Meaning
Today you shall see, O Kaikeyi, flocks of cattle, elephants, deer and birds following Rama, even the trees bending towards him.
अथ then, देवि Devi (Kaikeyi), चीरम् bark robes, व्यपनीय having removed, स्नुषायै your daughterinlaw, उत्तमानि precious, आभरणानि ornaments, देहि give, अस्याः her, चीरम् bark robes, न प्रविधीयत was not decided, इति thus, वसिष्ठः Vasistha, तत् that, वसनम् garment, न्यवारयत् prevented.
Meaning
O Kaikeyi remove those bark robes and bestow on your daughterinlaw precious ornaments. She was not ordained to wear the bark. Vaisishta, saying so, prevented Sita from wearing that garment.
केकयराजपुत्री O daughter of the king of Kekaya, त्वया by you, एकस्य रामस्य only for Rama, वने in the forest, निवासः dwell, वृतः is sought for, इयम् this Sita, विभूषिता welladorned, प्रतिकर्मनित्या engaged daily in decorating, राघवेण सह along with Rama, अरण्ये in the forest, वसतु shall live.
Meaning
O Kaikeyi, you asked that Rama only should dwell in the forest (wearing bark robes). Therefore let Sita, adorn her body daily, while she lives in the forest with Rama.
राजपुत्री princess Sita, मुख्यैः with excellent, यानैश्च with chariots, परिचारकैश्च with attendants, सुसंवृता surrounded by, वस्त्रैश्च with garments, सर्वैः with everything, सहितैः together, विधानैः necessities, गच्छतु let go, ते your, वरसम्प्रदाने while seeking boons, इयम् this Sita, न वृता is not included.
Meaning
Equipped with excellent chariots, attendants, garments, and all other needs let the princess (Sita) go. While seeking boons, you did not include Sita.
नृपस्य king's, गुरौ preceptor, अप्रतिमप्रभावे possessing incomparable power, विप्रमुख्ये foremost of brahmins, तस्मिन् that Vasistha, तथा in that way, जल्पति speaking, सीता Sita, प्रियस्य beloved, भर्तुः husband, प्रतिकारकामा to serve him, विनिवृत्तभावा to swerve from her resolve, नैव स्म did not agree.
Meaning
(Though) Vasistha, endowed with matchless power, the preceptor of the king and foremost among the brahmins thus expressed himself, Sita was not willing to swerve from her resolve in order to serve her beloved husband. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तत्रिंशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the thirtyseventh sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.