Rama Fainted Away after Hearing the News of his Father's Death

ताम् श्रुत्वा करुणां वाचं पितुर्मरणसंहिताम् | राघवो भरतेनोक्तां बभूव गतचेतनः || २-१०३-१

taam shrutvaa karuNaaM vaachaM piturmaraNasaMhitaam | raaghavo bharatenoktaaM babhuuva gatachetanaH || 2-103-1

Hearing those mournful words relating to the death of his father, spoken by Bharata, Rama fainted away.

तं तु वज्रमिवोत्सृष्टमाहवे दानवारिणा | वाग्वज्रं भरतेनोक्तममनोज्ञं परम्तपः || २-१०३-२ प्रगृह्य रामो बाहूवै पुषिताग्रो यथा द्रुमः | वने परशुना कृत्तस्तथा भुवि पपात ह || २-१०३-३

taM tu vajramivotsR^iShTamaahave daanavaariNaa | vaagvajraM bharatenoktamamanojJNaM paramtapaH || 2-103-2 pragR^ihya raamo baahuuvai puShitaagro yathaa drumaH | vane parashunaa kR^ittastathaa bhuvi papaata ha || 2-103-3

Hearing that unpleasant thunder bolt of words spoken by Bharata, like a thunderbolt released by Indra the Lord of celestials in a battle, Rama the tormentator of his enemies, stretched forth his hands and fell on the ground, in the same manner as a tree covered at extremities with blossoms was cut off by an axe in the forest.

तथा निपतितं रामं जगत्यां जगतीपतिम् | कूलघातपरिश्रान्तं पसुप्तमिव कुञ्जरम् || २-१०३-४ भ्रातरस्ते महेष्वासं सर्वतः शोककर्शितम् | रुदन्तः सह वैदेह्या सिषिभुः सलिलेन वै || २-१०३-५

sa tu saMjJNaaM punarlabdhvaa netraabhyaamasramutsR^ijan | upaakraamata kaakutthsaH kR^ipaNaM bahu bhaaShitum || 2-103-6

Seeing Rama lying on the earth, has the lord of the earth, like an elephant crushed by a land slide on a bank where he was sleeping, those brother along with Seetha approached him from all sides and weepingly sprinkled water on him.

स तु संज्ञां पुनर्लब्ध्वा नेत्राभ्यामस्रमुत्सृजन् | उपाक्रामत काकुत्थ्सः कृपणं बहु भाषितुम् || २-१०३-६

kiM kariShyaamyayodhyaayaaM taate diShTaaM gatim gate | kastaam raajavaraaddhiinaamayodhyaam paalayiShyati || 2-103-8

Coming to his senses again and tears falling from his eyes, Rama began to speak much plaintively.

स रामः स्वर्गतं श्रुत्वा पितरम् पृथिवीपतिम् | उवाच भरतं वाक्यं धर्मात्मा धर्मसंहितम् || २-१०३-७

kim nu tasya mayaa kaaryaM durjaatena mahaatmanaH | yo mR^ito mama shokena mayaa chaapi na saMskR^itaH || 2-103-9

Hearing that the King and his father had ascended to heaven, the virtuous. Rama spoke the following words, consistent with righteousness to Bharata.

किं करिष्याम्ययोध्यायां ताते दिष्टां गतिम् गते | कस्ताम् राजवराद्धीनामयोध्याम् पालयिष्यति || २-१०३-८

ahoH bharata! siddhaartho yena raajaa tvayaanugha!| shatrughnena cha sarveShu pretakR^ityeShu satkR^itaH || 2-103-10

"What should I do with Ayodhya, now that my father reached the end of his life? Who will rule that Ayodhya, which is bereft of that excellent king?

किम् नु तस्य मया कार्यं दुर्जातेन महात्मनः | यो मृतो मम शोकेन मया चापि न संस्कृतः || २-१०३-९

niShpradhaanaa manekaagraaM narendreNa vinaa kR^itaam | nivR^ittavanavaaso.api naayodhyaaM gantumutsahe || 2-103-11

"In my misfortune, what can I do for that high-souled one? He died of grief on my account and I did not perform the last rites for him!"

अहोः भरत! सिद्धार्थो येन राजा त्वयानुघ!| शत्रुघ्नेन च सर्वेषु प्रेतकृत्येषु सत्कृतः || २-१०३-१०

samaaptavanavaasaM maamayodhyaayaam paramtapa | ko.anu shaasiShyati punastate lokaantaraM gate || 2-103-12

"O, Bharata the faultless one! Alas! Happy are you, by whom as well as by Shatrughna the king was honoured by all obsequial rites!"

निष्प्रधाना मनेकाग्रां नरेन्द्रेण विना कृताम् | निवृत्तवनवासोऽपि नायोध्यां गन्तुमुत्सहे || २-१०३-११

puraa prekShya suvR^ittaM maam pitaa yaanyaaha saantvayan | vaakyaani taani shroShyaami kutaH shrotasukhaanyaham || 2-103-13

'Even after the end of my exile, I do not want to return to Ayodhya which is i a disarranged state, deprived of a chief and made bereft of a king."

समाप्तवनवासं मामयोध्यायाम् परम्तप | कोऽनु शासिष्यति पुनस्तते लोकान्तरं गते || २-१०३-१२

evamuktvaa sa bharataM bhaaryaamabhyetya raaghavaH | uvaacha shokasamtaptaH puurNachandranibhaananaam || 2-103-14

"O, Bharata the tormentator of foes While our father has gone to the other world, who will counsel me when my exile in the forest is over?"

पुरा प्रेक्ष्य सुवृत्तं माम् पिता यान्याह सान्त्वयन् | वाक्यानि तानि श्रोष्यामि कुतः श्रोतसुखान्यहम् || २-१०३-१३

siite mR^itaste shvashuraH pitraa hiino.asi lakShmaNa | bharato kuHkhamaachaShTe svargataM pR^ithiviipatim || 2-103-15

"Formerly, seeing my good conduct, our father used to address me in words of praise; from whom now shall I hear those words delightful to the ears?"

एवमुक्त्वा स भरतं भार्यामभ्येत्य राघवः | उवाच शोकसम्तप्तः पूर्णचन्द्रनिभाननाम् || २-१०३-१४

tato bahuguNam teShaaM baaShpo netreShvajaayata | tathaa bruvati kaakutthsa kumaaraaNaaM yashasvinaam || 2-103-16

Having spoken thus to Bharata, Rama went to seek out his consort, whose face resembled the full moon, and overwhelmed with grief, spoke to her as follows:-

सीते मृतस्ते श्वशुरः पित्रा हीनोऽसि लक्ष्मण | भरतो कुःखमाचष्टे स्वर्गतं पृथिवीपतिम् || २-१०३-१५

tataste bhraatarassarve bhR^ishamaashvaasya raaghavam | abruvan jagatiibhartuH kriyataamudakaM pituH || 2-103-17

"O, Seetha! your father-in-law is dead. O, Lakshmana! You have become bereft of your father. Bharata is informing a sorrowful news of the emperor being dead.

ततो बहुगुणम् तेषां बाष्पो नेत्रेष्वजायत | तथा ब्रुवति काकुत्थ्स कुमाराणां यशस्विनाम् || २-१०३-१६

saa siitaa shvashuraM shrutvaa svargalokagatam nR^ipam | netraabhyaamashrupuurNaabhyaamashakannekShituM patim || 2-103-18

While Rama was uttering those words, copious tears caused to flow then from the eyes of those sons of Dasaratha.

ततस्ते भ्रातरस्सर्वे भृशमाश्वास्य राघवम् | अब्रुवन् जगतीभर्तुः क्रियतामुदकं पितुः || २-१०३-१७

saantvayitvaa tu taaM raamo rudatiiM janakaatmajaam | uvaacha lakShmaNam tatra duHkhito duHkhitam vachaH || 2-103-19

Then, all those brothers consoled Rama very much and said to him, "Let us offer libations of water for our father, the Lord of the earth."

सा सीता श्वशुरं श्रुत्वा स्वर्गलोकगतम् नृपम् | नेत्राभ्यामश्रुपूर्णाभ्यामशकन्नेक्षितुं पतिम् || २-१०३-१८

aanayeN^gudipiNyaakaM chiiramaahara chottaram | jalakriyaarthaM taatasya gamiShyaami mahaatmanaH || 2-103-20

Hearing that her father-in-law, that great monarch had ascended to heaven, Seetha was unable to see her husband through eyes filled with tears.

सान्त्वयित्वा तु तां रामो रुदतीं जनकात्मजाम् | उवाच लक्ष्मणम् तत्र दुःखितो दुःखितम् वचः || २-१०३-१९

siitaa purastaadrvajatu tvamenaamabhito vraja | ahaM pashcaadgamiShyaami gati rhyeShaa sudaaruNaa || 2-103-21

Rama consoled that Seetha who was weeping and himself stricken with grief, spoke to the lamenting Lakshmana as follows:

आनयेङ्गुदिपिण्याकं चीरमाहर चोत्तरम् | जलक्रियार्थं तातस्य गमिष्यामि महात्मनः || २-१०३-२०

tato nityaanugasteShaaM viditaatmaa mahaamatiH | mR^idurdaantascha shaantashcha raame cha dR^iDhabhaktimaan || 2-103-22 sumantrastairnR^ipasutaiH saardhamaashvaasya raagavam | aavaataarayadaalambya nadiim mandaakiniim shivaam || 2-103-23

"Bring the crushed pulp of Ingudi Tree and bring a piece of bark for being wrapped about my loins and another for being used as my loins and another for being used as an upper garment, so that we may proceed to offer libations of water for our magnanimous father."

सीता पुरस्ताद्र्वजतु त्वमेनामभितो व्रज | अहं पश्चाद्गमिष्यामि गति र्ह्येषा सुदारुणा || २-१०३-२१

te sutiirthaam tataH kR^ichchhraadupaagamya yashasvinaH | nadiim mandaakiniim ramyaam sadaa puShpitakaananaam || 2-103-24 shiighrashrotasamaasaadya tiirtham shimamakardamam | siShichustudakaM raajJNe taataitatte bhavatviti || 2-103-25

"Let Seetha walk in the front and you follow after her nearby. I shall follow in the rear. This indeed is the most terrible procession.

ततो नित्यानुगस्तेषां विदितात्मा महामतिः | मृदुर्दान्तस्च शान्तश्च रामे च दृढभक्तिमान् || २-१०३-२२ सुमन्त्रस्तैर्नृपसुतैः सार्धमाश्वास्य रागवम् | आवातारयदालम्ब्य नदीम् मन्दाकिनीम् शिवाम् || २-१०३-२३

pragR^ihya cha mahiipaalo jalapuuritamaJNjalim | disham yaamyaamabhimukho rudanvachanambraviit || 2-103-26

Then, their faithful companion Sumantra versed in the spiritual science, endowed with great intelligence, kind, self-controlled and glorious, and deeply devoted to Rama, consoling him and his brothers, took Rama by the hand and helped him descend to the auspicious River Mandakini.

ते सुतीर्थाम् ततः कृच्छ्रादुपागम्य यशस्विनः | नदीम् मन्दाकिनीम् रम्याम् सदा पुष्पितकाननाम् || २-१०३-२४ शीघ्रश्रोतसमासाद्य तीर्थम् शिममकर्दमम् | सिषिचुस्तुदकं राज्ञे तातैतत्ते भवत्विति || २-१०३-२५

tato mandaakiniitiiraatrpatyuttiirya sa raaghavaH | pitushchakaara tejasvii nivaapaM braatR^ibhiH saha || 2-103-28

The illustrious Rama and others painfully reached the River Mandakini, that stream of sacred fords, the enchanting one always covered with flowers, coming to a blessed ford, free from mud and offered the lustrual water to the king, saying "Father! May this prove agreeable to you."

प्रगृह्य च महीपालो जलपूरितमञ्जलिम् | दिशम् याम्यामभिमुखो रुदन्वचनम्ब्रवीत् || २-१०३-२६

idambhuN^kShva mahaaraaja priito yadashanaa vayam | yadannaH puruSho bhavati tadannaa stasya devataaH || 2-103-30

Holding together in the form of a hollow his palms full of water and turning his face turned towards the southern quarter and weeping the great prince pronounced the traditional words saying:

एतत्ते राजशार्दूल विमलं तोयमक्षयम् | पितृलोकगतस्याद्य मद्दत्तमुपतिष्ठतु || २-१०३-२७

tatastenaiva maargeNa pratyuttiirya nadiitaTaat | aaruroha naravyaaghro ramyasaanuM mahidharam || 2-103-31

O, Tiger among men! May this water without taint and incorruptible at the moment that I offer it to you, reach you in the region of your ancestors where you are."

ततो मन्दाकिनीतीरात्र्पत्युत्तीर्य स राघवः | पितुश्चकार तेजस्वी निवापं ब्रातृभिः सह || २-१०३-२८

tataH parNakuTiidvaaramaasaadya jagatiipatiH | parijagraaha baahubhyaamubhau bharatalakShmaNau || 2-103-32

Thereafter, the glorious Rama, resending the bank of Mandakini River along with his brothers, offered balls of food to his father.

ऐङ्गुदम् बदरीमिश्रम् पिण्याकम् दर्भसंस्तरे | न्यस्य रामस्स दुःखार्तो रुदन्वचनमब्रवीत् || २-१०३-२९

teShaaM tu rudataaM shabdaatpratishrutko.abhavadgirau | bhraatR^uu saha vaidehyaa siMhaanaamiva nardhataam || 2-103-33

Rama placed the pulp of the Ingudi tree mixed with the pulp of plums on a mat of Kusa grass and overcome with sadness, weeping, spoke the following words:

इदम्भुङ्क्ष्व महाराज प्रीतो यदशना वयम् | यदन्नः पुरुषो भवति तदन्ना स्तस्य देवताः || २-१०३-३०

mahaabalaanaam rudataaaM kurvataamudakaM pituH | vijJNaaya tumulaM shabdam trastaa bharatasainikaaH || 2-103-34

"O, Great King! Be pleased to partake of this, which we eat for, that which man eats, is also consumed by his gods."

ततस्तेनैव मार्गेण प्रत्युत्तीर्य नदीतटात् | आरुरोह नरव्याघ्रो रम्यसानुं महिधरम् || २-१०३-३१

aabruvaMshchaapi raameNa bharatassaMgato dhruvam | teShaameva mahaashabdaH shochataaM pitaraM mR^itam || 2-103-35

Rama the tiger among men then re-ascending by the same path on the banks of the river reached the charming summit of Chitrakuta mountain.

ततः पर्णकुटीद्वारमासाद्य जगतीपतिः | परिजग्राह बाहुभ्यामुभौ भरतलक्ष्मणौ || २-१०३-३२

atha vaasaanparityajya taM sarve.abhimukhaaH svanam | a pyekamanaso jagmuryathaasthaanam pradhaavitaaH || 2-103-36

Gaining the door of his leafy hut, Rama the Lord of the earth then embraced Bharata and Lakshmana with his arms.

तेषां तु रुदतां शब्दात्प्रतिश्रुत्कोऽभवद्गिरौ | भ्रात्ऱ्^ऊ सह वैदेह्या सिंहानामिव नर्धताम् || २-१०३-३३

hayairanye gajairanye rathairanye svalamkR^itaiH | sukumaaraastathaivaanye padbhireva naraa yayaH || 2-103-37

From the sound of the cry of those brothers with Seetha, which resembled like the roaring of lions rose an echo in the mountain.

महाबलानाम् रुदताअं कुर्वतामुदकं पितुः | विज्ञाय तुमुलं शब्दम् त्रस्ता भरतसैनिकाः || २-१०३-३४

achiraproShitam raamam chiraviproShitaM yathaa | draShTukaamo janassarvo jagaama sahasaashramam || 2-103-38

Hearing the tumultuous clamour by those mighty heroes as, weeping they completed the libations of water to their father, Bharata's army got alarmed.

आब्रुवंश्चापि रामेण भरतस्संगतो ध्रुवम् | तेषामेव महाशब्दः शोचतां पितरं मृतम् || २-१०३-३५

bhraatRuuNaaM tvaritaastatra draShTukaamaassamaagamam | yuyurbahuvidhairyaanaiH kharanevisvanaakulaiH || 2-103-39

Those troops of Bharata also said, "Assuredly, Bharata has joined Rama and this is a great sound only of their wailing, as they mourn for their dead father."

अथ वासान्परित्यज्य तं सर्वेऽभिमुखाः स्वनम् | अ प्येकमनसो जग्मुर्यथास्थानम् प्रधाविताः || २-१०३-३६

saa bhuumirbahubhiryaanai kharanemisamrahataa | mumocha tumulaM shabdaM dyaurivaabhrasamaagame || 2-103-40

Leaving their tents all of them having but one thought, went running in the direction of that sound instantly.

हयैरन्ये गजैरन्ये रथैरन्ये स्वलम्कृतैः | सुकुमारास्तथैवान्ये पद्भिरेव नरा ययः || २-१०३-३७

tena vitraasitaa naagaaH kareNuparivaaritaaH | aavaasayanto gandhena jagmuranyadvanam tataH || 2-103-41

Some went on their horses, some others on their elephants, some in their chariots covered with ornaments while the youthful people went on foot.

अचिरप्रोषितम् रामम् चिरविप्रोषितं यथा | द्रष्टुकामो जनस्सर्वो जगाम सहसाश्रमम् || २-१०३-३८

varaahavR^ikasamghaashcha siMhaashcha mahiShaaH sarpavaanaraaH | vyaaghragokarNagavayaaH vitresuH pR^iShataissaha || 2-103-42

In their longing to see Rama, whose absence though recent, seemed so long a period for them, the whole people ran towards the hermitage.

भ्रात्ऱूणां त्वरितास्तत्र द्रष्टुकामास्समागमम् | युयुर्बहुविधैर्यानैः खरनेविस्वनाकुलैः || २-१०३-३९

rathaaN^gasaahvaa natyuuha haMsaaH kaaraNDavaaH plavaaH | tathaa pu.nskokolaaH krauJNcha visamjJNaa bhejire dishaH || 2-103-43

Eager to see those brothers re-united there, they went hastily by various means of transport, either by hoofed animals or by wheeled vehicles.

सा भूमिर्बहुभिर्यानै खरनेमिसम्रहता | मुमोच तुमुलं शब्दं द्यौरिवाभ्रसमागमे || २-१०३-४०

tena shabdena vitrastairaakaasaM pakShibhirvaR^itam | manuShyairaavR^itaa bhuumirubhayam prababhau ta daa || 2-103-44

Trodden by many vehicles, beasts and chariots, that land emitted a tumultuous noise, as a sky during the conjunction of clouds.

तेन वित्रासिता नागाः करेणुपरिवारिताः | आवासयन्तो गन्धेन जग्मुरन्यद्वनम् ततः || २-१०३-४१

tattastaM puruShavyaaghram yashasvina makiilamSham | aasiinaM sthaNDile raamam dadarsha sahasaa janaH || 2-103-45

Frightened by that noise, the wild elephants, surrounded by female elephants, perfuming the quarters with teh scent of their ichor, went to another wood from there.

वराहवृकसम्घाश्च सिंहाश्च महिषाः सर्पवानराः | व्याघ्रगोकर्णगवयाः वित्रेसुः पृषतैस्सह || २-१०३-४२

vigarhamaaNaH kaikeyiiM mantharaasahitaamapi | abhigamya jano raamam baaShpapuurNamukho.abhavat || 2-103-46

Boars, wolves and lions, buffaloes, snakes, monkeys, tigers, Gokarnas and Gavayas (two distinctive species of deer) along with spotted deer felt frightened.

रथाङ्गसाह्वा नत्यूह हंसाः कारण्डवाः प्लवाः | तथा पुंस्कोकोलाः क्रौञ्च विसम्ज्ञा भेजिरे दिशः || २-१०३-४३

taannaraan baaShpapuurNaakShaan samiikShyatha suduHkhitaan | paryaShvajata dharmajJNaH pitR^ivanmaatR^ivachcha naH || 2-103-47

The ruddy gooses, water-fowls, swans, Karandavas ( a sort of ducks), herons, male cuckoos and cranes, utterly confused made it to various directions.

तेन शब्देन वित्रस्तैराकासं पक्षिभिर्वऋतम् | मनुष्यैरावृता भूमिरुभयम् प्रबभौ त दा || २-१०३-४४

sa tatra kaaMshchit pariShanvaje naraan | naraashcha kechittu tamabhyavaadayan | chakaara sarvaan savayasyabaandhavaan | yathaarha maasaadya tadaa nR^ipaatmajaH || 2-103-48

The sky filled with birds that had been frightened by that noise and the earth covered with men, both looked beautiful at that moment.

तत्तस्तं पुरुषव्याघ्रम् यशस्विन मकीलम्षम् | आसीनं स्थण्डिले रामम् ददर्श सहसा जनः || २-१०३-४५

sa tatra teShaam rudataaM mahaatmanaaM | bhuvam ba kham chaashuninaadayan svanaH | guha giriiNaam cha dishshcha santataM | mR^idaN^gaghoShapratimaH prashushruve || 2-103-49

Suddenly then, the people beheld the illustrious and the sinless Rama, sitting on the bare earth.

विगर्हमाणः कैकेयीं मन्थरासहितामपि | अभिगम्य जनो रामम् बाष्पपूर्णमुखोऽभवत् || २-१०३-४६

Abusing Kaikeyi and Manthara, those people turned up with their faces bathed in tears. while approaching Rama.

तान्नरान् बाष्पपूर्णाक्षान् समीक्ष्यथ सुदुःखितान् | पर्यष्वजत धर्मज्ञः पितृवन्मातृवच्च नः || २-१०३-४७

Seeing those people thus deeply afflicted their eyes suffused with tears, Rama knowing what was right, embraced them like their father and mother.

स तत्र कांश्चित् परिषन्वजे नरान् | नराश्च केचित्तु तमभ्यवादयन् | चकार सर्वान् सवयस्यबान्धवान् | यथार्ह मासाद्य तदा नृपात्मजः || २-१०३-४८

Rama embraced some men there, while some others offered salutations to him. Approaching them on that occasion, the king's son received them all including his friends and companions.

स तत्र तेषाम् रुदतां महात्मनां | भुवम् ब खम् चाशुनिनादयन् स्वनः | गुह गिरीणाम् च दिश्श्च सन्ततं | मृदङ्गघोषप्रतिमः प्रशुश्रुवे || २-१०३-४९

The tumult of those magnanimous persons lamenting, resounded over the earth and in the sky, reverberating through the mountain caves and in all quarters like the continuous beating of drums.