अथ thereafter, सः राजा that king, मूहूर्तेन in a moment, प्रतिबुद्धः was awakened, शोकोपहतचेतनः with his spirit gripped by sorrow, चिन्ताम् worry, अभ्यपद्यत obtained.
Meaning
Waking up in a moment tormented with grief, the king began to ponder once again.
रामलक्ष्मणयोः Rama and Lakshmana, विवासात् due to banishment, वासवोपमम् like Indra, तम् him, असुरम् relating to that asura, तमः darkness, सूर्यमिव like the Sun, उपसर्गः great calamity, आविवेश took possesion of.
Meaning
Indralike Dasaratha due to banishment of Rama and Lakshmana, was besieged by a great calamity like the Sun enveloped by demonic dark at the time of eclipse.
सभार्ये with his wife, रामे when Rama, निर्गते सति had departed, कोशलेश्वरः king of Kosala (Dasaratha), आत्मनः his own, दुष्कृतम् evil deed, स्मृत्वा remembering, असितापाङ्गाम् with black eye ball, कौशल्याम् to Kausalya, विवक्षुः wished to speak.
Meaning
After Rama had left along with his wife the king of Kosala (Dasaratha) recollected his former evil deed and wanted to narrate it to the darkeyed Kausalya.
रामे Rama, वनम् to forest, प्रव्राजिते was banished, राजा king, सः दशरथः Dasaratha, षष्ठीम् sixth, रजनीम् night, अर्धरात्रे in the middle of the night, कृतम् done in the past, दुष्कृतम् evil deeds, संस्मरन् recalled.
Meaning
After the banishment of Rama the king spent the sixth night, recalling the evil deed done by him in the past.
sa rājā putraśokārtḥ smṛtvā duṣkṛtamātmanḥ| kausalyāṃ putraśokārtāmidṃ vacanamabravīt||2.63.5||
Translation
पुत्रशोकार्तः griefstricken because of (separation from) the son, सः राजा the king, आत्मनः his own, दुष्कृतम् misdeed, स्मृत्वा having remembered, पुत्रशोकार्ताम् grieving helplessly due to the separation from his son, कौशल्याम् to Kausalya, इदम् these, वचनम् words, अब्रवीत् said
Meaning
King Dasaratha distressed by the separation from his son, pondered over his past misdeed, and said to helpless Kausalya, who was equally grieving over the separation from Rama:
कल्याणि O auspicious lady, भद्रे o gentle lady, कर्ता the agent of an act, शुभं वा good or, यदि वा or if, अशुभम् evil, यत् whichever, आचरति (कुरुते) performs, आत्मनः his, कर्मजम् result of action, तदेव the same only, लभते will attain.
Meaning
O gentle auspicious lady a man has to reap the fruit of his action, good or evil.
gurulāghavamarthānāmārambhe karmaṇāṃ phalam| doṣṃ vā yo na jānāti na bāla iti hocyate||2.63.7||
Translation
यः whoever, कर्मणाम् actions, आरम्भे at the beginning, अर्थानाम् the benefits, गुरुलाघवम् relative value, फलम् fruit, दोषं वा or blemish, न जानाति does not know, सः that one, बालः इति as a boy, उच्यते ह is considered.
Meaning
He who, at the commencement of any action, does not foresee the good or evil consequences of his action in considered a child.
कश्चित् some one, पुष्पम् flowers, दृष्ट्वा having seen, फले fruit (of that tree), गृध्नुः greed, आम्रवणम् mango trees, छित्वा having cut, पलाशाम् palasa tree, निषिञ्चति waters, सः he, फलागमे when the fruits are borne, शोचति will repent.
Meaning
If some one cuts down mango trees and plants palasa trees and waters them will repent when he sees only flowers while he expects fruit.
avijñāya phalṃ yo hi karma tvevānudhāvati| sa śocetphalavelāyāṃ yathā kiṃśukasecakḥ||2.63.9||
Translation
यः whoever, फलम् fruit, आविज्ञाय not knowing, कर्म तु एव action only, अनुधावति runs after, सः he, किंशुकसेचकः इव like the one who waters kimsuka tree (palasa), फलवेलायाम् at the time of reaping the fruits of action, शोचेत् will regret.
Meaning
Without foreseeing the fruits of his action, he who runs after action only will regret at the time of fruition like the one who waters the palasa tree.
सः अहम् such me, आम्रवणम् mango trees, छित्वा cutting, पलाशान् च palasa trees, न्यषेचयम् have watered, दुर्मतिः unwise, फलागमे at the time of bearing fruit, रामम् Rama, त्यक्त्वा leaving, पश्चात् repenting, शोचामि I am grieving.
Meaning
So I have cut the mango trees and watered palasa trees. In utter foolishness, I have banished Rama at the time of fruition and regretting later.
कौशल्ये O Kausalya, शब्दवेधी one who can shoot arrows aiming at the target by sound, कुमारः इति in chidhood itself, लब्धशब्देन attaining knowledge of sound, कुमारेण in my youth, धनुष्मता as an archer, मया by me, इदम् this, पापम् sin, कृतम् was done.
Meaning
O Kausalya in my youth I was a great archer who could hit the target by its sound. As such I committed this sin.
देवि Kausalya, इह in this world, सम्मोहात् out of delusion, बालेन like a boy, भक्षितम् eats, विषम् poison, यथा as, स्यात् may be, स्वयम् one's own self, कृतम् has been done, तत् इदम् that this, दुःखम् calamity, मे to me, अनुसंप्राप्तम् has befallen.
Meaning
Just as a boy consumes poison out of delusion, O Devi, this sorrow has befallen me as a result of my own action.
अन्यः other, कश्चित् some one, पुरुषः man, पलाशैः by palasa trees, यथा as, मोहितः deluded, भवेत् becomes, एवम् like that, ममापि to me, शब्दवेध्यमयम् the act of shooting the target on hearing the sound, फलम् the consequences, अविज्ञातम् was not premeditated.
Meaning
Like some one who is deluded by palasa trees I too did not realise the consequences of shooting the target following the direction of the sound.
देवि O Kausalya, त्वम् you, अनूढा not married, अभवः you were, युवराज: भवामि I was prince regent, ततः at that time, मदकामविवर्धिनी inflaming passion and pride, प्रावृट् rainy season, अनुप्राप्ता had set in.
Meaning
O Kausalya, you were not married then. I was prince regent. The rainy season that inflames passion and pride had just set in.
upāsya ca rasānbhaumāṃ staptvā ca jagadṃśubhiḥ| paretācaritāṃ bhīmāṃ ravirāviśate diśam||2.63.15||
Translation
रविः Sun, भौमान् relating to the earth, रसान् juices, उपास्य sucking, जगत् world, अंशुभिः by the rays, तप्त्वा च scorching, परेता चरिताम् ranged by departed souls, भीमाम् fearful, दिशम् quarter, आविशते enter sattained.
Meaning
Having sucked the waters of the earth and scorching the world with its rays, the Sun had entered the frightful southern quarter ranged by departed souls.
क्लिन्न पक्षोत्तराः with the plummage moistened, पतत्रिणः birds, स्नाताः bathed, वृष्टिवातावधूताग्रान् the tops shaken by wind and rain, पादपान् trees, कृच्छ्रात् इव as if with great difficulty, अभिपेदिरे reached.
Meaning
The birds with their plummage moistened as if they had dipped in water reached with great difficulty the tops of the trees which were shaken by the wind and rain.
विमलान्यपि as though the waters were pure, स्रोतांसि the rapid flow, गिरिधातुभ्यः of mineral ores, सभस्मानि mixed with ashes, पाण्डुरारुणवर्णानि white and red in colour, भुजङ्गवत् like a serpent, सुस्रुवुः flowed.
Meaning
Although pure, the rapidly flowing water from the mountains mixed with the minerals in the soil turned white and red in colour and flowed like a serpent.
जलदागमे at the advent of the rainy season, स्रोतांसि streams, विमलान्यपि although pure, आकुलारुण तोयानि mixed up with marshy red soil, उन्मार्गजलवाहिनी by flowing in different directions, बभूवुः became.
Meaning
The streams that were pure, mixed with red soil flowed red, deviating from their natural course.
अतिसुखे highly delightful, तस्मिन् काले in that season, व्यायामकृतसङ्कल्पः determined to go hunting, धनुष्मान् holding bow, इषुमान् holding arrows, रथी a charioteer, सरयूनदीम् river Sarayu, अन्वगाम् went.
Meaning
In that highly delightful season, wishing to go hunting I, armed with bow and arrows, rode my chariot towards river Sarayu.
अहम् I, अजितेन्द्रियः without any control over my senses, तस्मिन् there, निपाने in a spot for drinking water, नदीम् river, रात्रौ in the night, अभ्यागतम् having arrived, महिषम् buffalo, गजं वा or elephant, अन्यम् any other, श्वापदं वा any wild animal, जिघांसुः desirous of killing, तत्र there, रात्रौ in the night, एकान्ते in a lonely place, विवृतकार्मुकः with bow strung.
Meaning
And there, with no control over my senses, I hid in a lonely place with my bow in readiness intending to shoot a buffalo or an elephant or any other wild animal that might come to the spot for drinking water in the night.
तत्र there, अहम् I, तीरम् आगतम् reached the bank of the river, वन्यम् forest, अभ्युपागतम् arrived, अन्यम् some other, ह्रिंस्रम् cruel, मृगं च also animal, शब्दम् sound, श्रुत्वा having heard, संव़ृतम् secretly, हतवान् killed.
Meaning
Hiding and waiting there, following the sounds of animals I killed two animals that had reached the bank of the river.
अथ thereafter, अन्धकारे in the darkness, अचक्षुर्विषये not within the range of sight, नर्दतः making sounds, वारणस्येव like the sound of an elephant, जले in water, पूर्यतः being filled, कुम्भस्य a pitcher, घोषम् sound, अश्रौषम् heard.
Meaning
Then at a place that was out of the range of my sight in darkness I heard the sound of a pitcher being filled with water which resembled the sound of an elephant.
tato'hṃ śaramudhṛtya dīptamāśīviṣopamam| śabdṃ prati gajaprepsurabhilakṣya tvapātayam||2.63.25||
Translation
ततः then, अहम् I, गजप्रेप्सुः wishing to get the elephant, दीप्तम् bright, आशीविषोपमम् like a venomous serpent, शरम् shaft, उधृत्य शब्दं प्रति in the direction of the sound, अभिलक्ष्य aiming at, अपातयम् released.
Meaning
Wishing to kill the elephant, I seized my arrow glowing like a venomous snake and aimed it towards the sound.
amuñcṃ niśitṃ bāṇamahamāśīviṣopamam| tatra vāguṣasi vyaktā prādurāsīdvanaukasḥ||2.63.26|| hāheti patatastoye bāṇābhihatamarmaṇḥ||2.63.27||
Translation
अहम् I, आशीविषोपमम् like a venomous serpent, निशितम् sharp, बाणम् shaft, अमुञ्चम् dischrged, तत्र there, उषसि in the morning twilight, बाणाभिहतमर्मणः with the vital organ hit by the shaft, तोये in water, पततः falling, वनौकसः forestdweller, हा हा इति saying 'Alas', व्यक्ता screaming aloud, वाक् words, प्रादुरासीत् arose.
Meaning
Then I discharged a sharp shaft like a venomous serpent. In the morning twilight I saw that the shaft had hit the vital part of the body of a forest dweller and his cry of 'Alas', was clearly heard as he fell in the water.
तस्मिन् when that, बाणे arrow, निपतिते fell, तत्र there, मानुषी man's, वाक् voice, अभूत् came, अस्मद्विधे with people like me, तपस्विनि at a sage, शस्त्रम् arrow, कथम् how, निपतेत्तु can be discharged?
Meaning
When the arrow hit him, a man's voice was heard saying, 'How can an arrow be discharged at a person like me who is an ascetic?'
अहम् I, उदाहारः in order to take water, रात्रौ at night, प्रविविक्ताम् lonely, नदीम् river, आगतः have come, इषुणा by an arrow, केन by whom, अभिहतः hit, मया by me, कस्य to any, किम् what offence, कृतम् done.
Meaning
'I have come to this lonely spot of the river to take water. Who has hit me with this arrow? What (harm) have I done to any one?'
ṛṣerhinyastadaṇḍasya vane vanyena jīvatḥ| kathṃ nu śasreṇa vadho madvidhasya vidhīyate||2.63.30||
Translation
न्यस्तदण्डस्य renouncing violence, वने in the forest, वन्येन forest produce जीवतःsubsisting, मद्विधस्य men like me, ऋषेः for an ascetic, शस्त्रेण with weapon, वधः killing, कथं नु in what way?, विधीयते is perpetrated.
Meaning
'Renouncing violence I live the life of an ascetic on forest produce. Why should any one kill me with a weapon?
jaṭābhāradharasyaiva valkalājinavāsasḥ| ko vadhena mamarthī syātkiṃvā'syāpakṛtṃ mayā||2.63.31||
Translation
जटाभारधरस्यैव with matted hair, वल्कलाजिनवाससः wearing bark and skin of an antelope, मम my, वधेन by killing, अर्थी interested, कः who?, स्यात् मया could be?, अस्य to him, किं वा what, अपकृतम् harm?
Meaning
'Who wants to kill me who lives like an ascetic with matted hair and wearing bark or the skin of an antelope? What harm have I done to him?
evṃ niṣphalamārabdhṃ kevalānarthasṃhitam| na kaścitsādhu manyeta yathaiva gurutalpagam||2.63.32||
Translation
एवम् in this way, केवलानर्थसंहितम् only for mischief, निष्फलम् fruitless, आरब्धम् effort, कश्चित् some one, गुरुतल्पगं यथैव like one who occupies the teacher's bed, साधु मन्येत will consider this proper.
Meaning
'Whoever it is, he has committed only a mischievous and senseless act. This sin like a disciple sleeping on the bed of his preceptor none will approve of.
अहम् I, आत्मनः my own, जीवितक्षयम् loss of life, तथा not so much, नानुशोचामि do not regret, मद्वधे after my killing, मातरम् mother, पितरं च and father, उभौ both, अनुशोचामि I am grieving.
Meaning
'I do not regret so much about the loss of my own life as about my mother and father after I am dead.
मयि when I, पञ्चत्वम् with five elements, आपन्ने reduced to, मया by me, चिरकालभृतम् supported for a long time, वृद्धम् in old age, एतत् this, मिथुनम् couple, काम् what, वृत्तिम् life, वर्तयिष्यति will live in future.
Meaning
'So long I have been supporting this aged couple. After I am dead, how will they live?
vṛddhai ca matāpitarāvahṃ caikeṣuṇā hatā| kena smanihatā ssarve subālenākṛtātmanā||2.63.35||
Translation
वृद्धौ aged, मातापितरौ my parents, अहं च me also, एकेषुणा with one single arrow, हताः killed, अकृतात्मना one with malicious intention, सुबालेन by a good boy, केन by whom, सर्वे निहताः स्म all of us are killed.
Meaning
'My aged parents along with me are killed by a single arrow. Who is that malicious knave who has slain us?
tāṃ girṃ karuṇāṃ śrutvā mama dharmānukāṅkṣiṇḥ| karābhyāṃ saśarṃ cāpṃ vyathitasyāpatadbhuvi||2.63.36||
Translation
करुणाम् piteous, तां गिरम् words, श्रुत्वा on hearing, धर्मानुकाङ्क्षिणं keen on following the righteous path (fearing that an unrighteous act has been performed), व्यथितस्य worrying, मम my, कराभ्याम् from my hands, सशरम् along with the arrow, चापम् bow भुवि on the land, अपतत् fell down.
Meaning
On hearing the piteous voice the bow and arrow dropped from my (trembling) hands since I was keen on following the righteous path.
अहम् I, निशि at night, बहु highly, लालवतः lamenting, तस्य his, करुणम् pathetic words, श्रुत्वा having heard, शोकवेगेन through excess of grief, सम्भ्रान्तः frightened, भृशम् extremely, विचेतनः unable to think, आसम् I remained.
Meaning
Having heard his pathetic lamentations at night, I was extremely frightened by the force of grief and stood bewildered.
अहम् I, दीनसत्त्वः in a dissipated state, सुदुर्मनाः with troubled mind, तं देशम् that place, आगम्य having reached, सरय्वाः Sarayu, तीरे on the bank, इषुणा by the arrow, हतम् struck, अवकीर्णजटाभारम् with scattered locks of hair, प्रविद्धकलशोदकम् with water pitcher thrown away, पांसुशोणितदिग्धाङ्गम् body smeared with blood and dust, शयानम् lying, शल्यपीडितम् pierced by the arrow, तापसम् the sage, अपश्यम् I saw.
Meaning
With dissipated energy and intensely troubled mind, I reached the bank of river Sarayu and there I saw the ascetic lying struck by the arrow and with scattered locks of hair. The water pitcher was thrown away and his body smeared with blood and dust as he lay on the ground.
sa māmudvīkṣya netrābhyāṃ trastamasvasthacetasam| ityuvāca tatḥ krūrṃ didhakṣanniva tejasā||2.63.40||
Translation
सः he, त्रस्तम् frightened, अस्वस्थचेतसम् shaken up mentally, माम् me, तेजसा with his energy, दिधक्षन्निव as if burning, नेत्राभ्याम् with both eyes, उवदीक्ष्य looked up, ततः then, क्रूरम् cruel, इति thus, उवाच said.
Meaning
I was mentally stricken and frightened. He looked up as if buring me with the energy of his eyes. Then he uttered the words 'A cruel act'
राजन् O king, गुर्वर्थम् for the sake of my parents, अम्भ: water, जिहीर्षुः wishing to take, अहम् I, त्वया you, ताडितः have been struck, वने in the forest, निवसता residing, मया by me, तव your, किम् what, अपकृतम् harm.
Meaning
'O king you have struck me when I was trying to carry water to my parents. I am a forestdweller. What harm have I done to you?
एकेन by one, बाणेन arrow, मयि at me, मर्मणि vital part, अभिहते when struck, मे my, माता mother, जनयिता च father, अन्धौ blind, द्वौ both, वृद्धौ old ones, निहतौ खलु are killed indeed.
Meaning
'By striking at the vital part of my body with one arrow, you have killed both my aged and blind mother and father too.
tau kathṃ durbalāvandhau matpratīkṣau pipāsitau| ciramāśākṛtāṃ tṛṣṇāṃ kaṣṭāṃ sandhārayiṣyatḥ||2.63.43||
Translation
दुर्बलौ weak ones, अन्धौ blind, पिपासितौ thirsty, तौ both of them, कष्टाम् difficult, आशाकृताम् due to expectation, तृष्णाम् thirst, चिरम् for a long time, कथम् how, सन्धारयिष्यतः will control.
Meaning
'How will the two who are frail, thirsty and blind wait for me for long controlling their thirst with great difficulty with the expectation (that I would fetch them water)?
na nūnṃ tapaso vāsti phalayogaśśrutasya vā| pitā yanmāṃ na jānāti śayānṃ patitṃ bhuvi||2.63.44||
Translation
नूनम् surely, तपसो वा either for asceticism, श्रुतस्य वा or for scriptural knowledge, फलयोगः attainment of fruit, नास्ति not there, यत् since, पिता my father, भुवि on this earth, पतितम् fallen, शयानम् lying, माम् me, न जानाति not know.
Meaning
'My father does not know that I am lying on the ground. It is true that there is no reward either for asceticism or for scriptural knowledge.
jānannapi ca kiṃ kuryādaśaktiraparikramḥ| bhidyamānamivāśakta stratumanyo nago nagam||2.63.45||
Translation
अशक्ति: without energy, अपरिक्रमः who cannot walk, भिद्यमानम् being severed, नगम् tree, त्रातुम् to protect, अशक्तः is incapable, अन्यः other, नगः tree, इव like, जानन्नपि knowing also, किम् what, कुर्यात् can it do?
Meaning
'What can my weak father who has no strength to walk do, even if he knows about it? Like a tree which cannot protect another which is being severed, he is helpless.
pitustvameva me gatvā śīghramācakṣya rāghava| na tvāmanudahetkruddho vanṃ vahnirivaidhitḥ||2.63.46||
Translation
राघव O scion of the Raghus (Dasaratha), त्वमेव you yourself, शीघ्रम् quickly, गत्वा having gone, मे पितुः to my father, आचक्ष्व inform, क्रुद्ध in wrath, एधितः ignited, वह्निः fire, वनमिव like a forest, त्वाम् you, नानुदहेत् will not be burnt.
Meaning
O scion of the Raghus (Dasaratha) Go at once and inform my father, lest in anger he should burn you like ignited fire consuming the forest.
iyamekapadī rājanyato me piturāśramḥ| tṃ prasādaya gatvā tvṃ na tvāṃ sa kupitaśśapet||2.63.47||
Translation
राजन् O king, यतः from whichever side, मे पितुः my father's, आश्रमः hermitage, इयम् this, एकपदी footpath, त्वम् you, गत्वा having gone, तम् him, प्रसादय beg his forgiveness, सः he, कुपितः in wrath, त्वाम् you, न शपेत् may not curse.
Meaning
'O king, this footpath leads to my father's hermitage. Go and beg his forgiveness so that he may not curse you out of anger.
viśalyṃ kuru māṃ rājanmarma me niśitaśśarḥ| ruṇaddhi mṛdusotsedhṃ tīramamburayo yathā||2.63.48||
Translation
राजन् O king, माम् me, विशल्यम् with weapon taken out, कुरु make, निशितः sharp, शरः arrow, मे मर्म my vital part of the body, मृदु gently, सोत्सेधम् elevated, तीरम् bank, अम्बुरयः like the flow of water, यथा in the same manner, रुणद्धि is preventing.
Meaning
'Gently remove the arrow from my body, O king the sharp arrow is piercing deep into my vital just like the current of the river hits its elevated bank'.
सशल्यः one with a weapon piercing the body, प्राणैः life, क्लिश्यते is pained, विशल्यः if the arrow is removed, विनशिष्यति he will die, इति चिन्ता with this thought, तस्य his, शपकर्षणे in removing the arrow, माम् me, अविशत् has entered.
Meaning
The thought of removing the arrow kept me pondering. If not removed, it will be painful, and if removed, he will die.
duḥkhitasya ca dīnasya mama śokāturasya ca| lakṣayāmāsa hṛdaye cintāṃ munisutastadā||2.63.50||
Translation
तदा then, मुनिसुतः son of the ascetic, दुःखितस्य of a distressed man, दीनस्य wretched, शोकातुरस्य च full of grief, मम my, हृदये in the heart, चिन्ताम् anguish, लक्षयामास perceived.
Meaning
The son of the ascetic noticed my anguish and seeing me thus distressed, wretched and afflicted with sorrow, said:
ताम्यमानः tormented, सीदमानः plunging into death, विवृत्ताङ्गः with twisted limbs, वेष्टमानः writhing, क्षयम् destruction, गतः having reached, सः he, परमार्तवत् intensely grieved, कृच्छ्रात् with difficulty, माम् me, उवाच said.
Meaning
Suffering from excruciating pain, sinking with his limbs twisting and writhing and plunging into death and destruction, with intense agony he uttered the following words with great difficulty:
अहम् I, धैर्येण patiently, शोकम् sorrow, संस्तभ्य restraining, स्थिरचित्तः with a firm mind, भवामि I am, ब्रह्महत्याकृतम् killed a brahmin, पापम् sin, हृदयात् from your mind, अपनीयताम् may be removed.
Meaning
'I am now calm. I bear my pain with patience. Remove the fear from your mind that you have committed a sin by slaying a brahmin.
na dvijātirahṃ rājanmā bhūtte manaso vyathā| śūdrāyāmasmi vaiśyena jāto janapadādhipa||2.63.53||
Translation
जनपदाधिप O Lord of the land (Dasaratha), राजन् king, न not, अहम् I am, द्विजातिः a brahmin, न not, ते your, मनसः to mind, व्यथा fear, माभूत् may not happen, वैश्येन by a vaisya, शूद्रायाम् to a sudra woman, जातः born, अस्मि I am.
Meaning
'O king Dasaratha, lord of the land, I am not a brahmin. Feel no sense of guilt in your mind. I was born of a sudra mother and a vaisya father.