अयोध्या-काण्ड > राजा दशरथ का शोक एवं श्रवण कुमार का श्राप



Dasaratha woke up with anxious thoughts. Recalling his earlier sin, he starts recounting the story of a young ascetic to Kausalya. He says that while he was Prince Regent of Ayodhya, he went out for hunting in a forest one day and heard the sound of a hermit-boy filling his pitcher with water by suberging it into Sarayu River. Mistaking the gurgling sound for trumpeting of an elephant the prince hit the boy with an arrow, which went deep into the body and mortally wounded him. On approaching the victim, he discovered the fatal blunder and tendered his heart felt apologies to the hermit boy, who asked him to extract the arrow from his body and inform his parents. The boy died soon after the arrow was drawn out from the body.
प्रतिबुद्धो मुहुर् तेन शोक उपहत चेतनः |
अथ राजा दशरथः स चिन्ताम् अभ्यपद्यत || २-६३-१
The king, awakened after some time, with his mind afflicted with grief, got into an anxious thinking.
राम लक्ष्मणयोः चैव विवासात् वासव उपमम् |
आविवेश उपसर्गः तम् तमः सूर्यम् इव आसुरम् || २-६३-२
Due to banishing of Rama and Lakshmana, a great calamity befell on Dasaratha who was equal in strength to Indra like sun seized by obscurity, which is attributed to the demon Rahu.
सभार्ये निर्गते रामे कौसल्याम् कोसलेश्वरः |
विवक्षुरसितापाङ्गाम् स्मृवा दुष्कृतमात्मनः || २-६३-३
After Rama along with his wife departed to the forest, Dasaratha the king of Kosala recalling his earlier sin, wanted to tell Kausalya, whose eye-corners were dark in colour all about it.
स राजा रजनीम् षष्ठीम् रामे प्रव्रजिते वनम् |
अर्ध रात्रे दशरथः संस्मरन् दुष्कृतम् कृतम् || २-६३-४
After Rama was sent into exile to the forest, King Dasaratha, on the sixth night at mid-night, was recalling his sin done (long ago).
स राजा पुत्रशोकार्तः स्मरन् दुष्कृतमात्मनः |
कौसल्याम् पुत्र शोक आर्ताम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् || २-६३-५
King Dasaratha, afflicted by grief for his son, recalling his sin, spoke the following words to Kausalya who was suffering from sorrow for her son.
यद् आचरति कल्याणि शुभम् वा यदि वा अशुभम् |
तत् एव लभते भद्रे कर्ता कर्मजम् आत्मनः || २-६३-६
"O, blessed lady! O gracious one! A doer reaps surely the fruit of his own deeds corresponding to the nature of work either good or bad, of that which he does!"
गुरु लाघवम् अर्थानाम् आरम्भे कर्मणाम् फलम् |
दोषम् वा यो न जानाति स बालैति ह उच्यते || २-६३-७
"He who does not consider, while undertaking actions, the relative value of their fruits as well as the utilities or defects accruing from them, is surely called a fool."
कश्चित् आम्र वणम् चित्त्वा पलाशामः च निषिन्चति |
पुष्पम् दृष्ट्वा फले गृध्नुः स शोचति फल आगमे || २-६३-८
"Anyone, who after seeing their (charming and big) flowers, greedily desires their (large and luscious) fruits and nourishes Palasa trees, by cutting off a mongo grove, he will come to grief after bearing of their fruit."
अविज्ञाय फलम् यो हि कर्म त्वेवानुधावति |
स शोचेत्फलवेळायाम् यथा किंशुकसेचकः || २-६३-९
"He who without knowing the result goes running towards action, will come to grief as a nourisher of Kimsuka trees coming to grief at the time of their fruit-bearing."
सो अहम् आम्र वणम् चित्त्वा पलाशामः च न्यषेचयम् |
रामम् फल आगमे त्यक्त्वा पश्चात् शोचामि दुर्मतिः || २-६३-१०
"I nourished Palasa trees, by cutting off mango grove. Being wicked-minded in abandoning Rama at the time of arrival of fruit, I am lamenting thereafter."
लब्ध शब्देन कौसल्ये कुमारेण धनुष्मता |
कुमारः शब्द वेधी इति मया पापम् इदम् कृतम् || २-६३-११
"This sin was done by me while I was young and wielding a bow. At that time, I was famous as a young man, who can shoot heard (but unseen) object by an arrow, O Kausalya!"
तत् इदम् मे अनुसम्प्राप्तम् देवि दुह्खम् स्वयम् कृतम् |
सम्मोहात् इह बालेन यथा स्यात् भक्षितम् विषम् || २-६३-१२
"This grief, obtained by my own accord, has befallen me, as by a boy in ignorance eating poison in the world; O, Kausalya!"
यथान्यः पुरुषः कश्चित्पलाशैर्मोओहितो भवेत् |
एवम् मम अपि अविज्ञातम् शब्द वेध्यमयम् फलम् || २-६३-१३
"How the other man became disillusioned by Palasa trees, I also became disillusioned in the same manner, without knowing accurately the correct result of hitting a target by means of sound only."
देव्य् अनूढा त्वम् अभवो युव राजो भवाम्य् अहम् |
ततः प्रावृड् अनुप्राप्ता मद काम विवर्धिनी || २-६३-१४
"O, Kausalya! You were unmarried till then and I was the Prince Regent. Then came the rainy season which enhanced excitement and desire (for hunting)."
उपास्यहि रसान् भौमांस् तप्त्वा च जगद् अंशुभिः |
परेत आचरिताम् भीमाम् रविर् आविशते दिशम् || २-६३-१५
"The sun, partaking fluids from earth and warming the world with its rays, entered the terrible southern quarter haunted by spirits."
उष्णम् अन्तर् दधे सद्यः स्निग्धा ददृशिरे घनाः |
ततः जहृषिरे सर्वे भेक सारन्ग बर्हिणः || २-६३-१६
"Heat disappeared suddenly. Resplendent clouds appeared in the sky. All frogs, cuckoos and peacocks were full of joy."
क्लिन्नपक्षोत्तराः स्नाताः कृच्च्रादिव वतत्रिणः |
वृष्टिवातावधूताग्रान् पादपानभिपेदिरे || २-६३-१७
"Birds with moistened top of their wings as if they bathed, reached with great difficulty the trees, the tops of which were shaken off by rain and wind."
पतितेन अम्भसा चन्नः पतमानेन च असकृत् |
आबभौ मत्त सारन्गः तोय राशिर् इव अचलः || २-६३-१८
"Enveloped by water falling again and again on the water already fallen, the mountain with its antelopes in rut, glowed like an ocean."
पाण्डुरारुणवर्णानि स्रोओतांसि विमलान्यपि |
सुस्रुवुर्गिरिधातुभ्यः सभस्मानि भुजङ्गवत् || २-६३-१९
"Although the water-streams were crystal clear, they flowed in serpentine courses, with white and red colours because of their admixture with ashes and mountain-minerals on the way."
आकुलारुणतोयानि स्रोओतांसि विमलान्यपि |
उन्मार्गजलवाहीनि बभूवुर्जलदागमे || २-६३-२०
"The water-streams, which were crystal-clear till then, became churned with reddish waters, carrying water by a wrong way, after the onset of rain."
तस्मिन्न् अतिसुखे काले धनुष्मान् इषुमान् रथी |
व्यायाम कृत सम्कल्पः सरयूम् अन्वगाम् नदीम् || २-६३-२१
"With a wish to do hunting as an exercise in that most comfortable season, I went along Sarayu River, in a chariot, wearing bow and arrows."
निपाने महिषम् रात्रौ गजम् वा अभ्यागतम् नदीम् |
अन्यम् वा श्वा पदम् कंचिज् जिघांसुर् अजित इन्द्रियः || २-६३-२२
तस्मिंस्तत्राहमेकान्ते रात्रौ विवृतकार्मुकः |
"Without my senses under control and with an intent to kill there a (wild) buffalo or an elephant or any other wild animal coming in the night at that place for the purpose of drinking water, I was ready with my bow at a solitary place."
तत्राहम् सम्वृतम् वन्यम् हतवांस्तीरमागतम् || २-६३-२३
अन्यम् चापि मृगम् हिंस्रम् शब्दम् श्रुत्वाभु पागतम् |
"Hearing the sound, I killed turning towards it, a wild animal, which came to the bank of Sarayu River and another violent beast too which came there."
अथ अन्ध कारे तु अश्रौषम् जले कुम्भस्य पर्यतः || २-६३-२४
अचक्षुर् विषये घोषम् वारणस्य इव नर्दतः |
"Meanwhile, in that darkness and not within the react of the eye, I heard the sound of a pitcher being filled up, the sound of which appeared like that of an elephant."
ततः अहम् शरम् उद्धृत्य दीप्तम् आशी विष उपमम् || २-६३-२५
शब्दम् प्रति गजप्रेप्सुरभिलक्ष्य त्वपातयम् |
"With an intent to hit that elephant, I drew out a shining arrow resembling a serpent, targeted towards the direction sound and discharged it."
अमुन्चम् निशितम् बाणम् अहम् आशी विष उपमम् || २-६३-२६
तत्र वाग् उषसि व्यक्ता प्रादुर् आसीद् वन ओकसः |
हा हा इति पततः तोये बाणाभिहतमर्मणः || २-६३-२७
"I released a sharp arrow, resembling a serpent. There, at dawn, arose a distinct voice uttering 'Ah! Ah!' of a forest-inhabitant, dropping down in water after his vital part was hit by an arrow."
तस्मिन्निपतिते बाणे वागभूत्तत्र मानुषी |
कथम् अस्मद् विधे शस्त्रम् निपतेत् तु तपस्विनि || २-६३-२८
"While that arrow was attacking a human voice there was heard, saying, 'Oh, how a weapon did rush upon an ascetic like me?' "
प्रविविक्ताम् नदीम् रात्राव् उदाहारः अहम् आगतः |
इषुणा अभिहतः केन कस्य वा किम् कृतम् मया || २-६३-२९
'I came to the river, which is away from habitation, in the night to fetch water. By whom I was hit by an arrow? On the other hand what wrong have I done to anyone?"
ऋषेर् हि न्यस्त दण्डस्य वने वन्येन जीवतः |
कथम् नु शस्त्रेण वधो मद् विधस्य विधीयते || २-६३-३०
"To a seer like me, of having laid down violence and living a fruits and roots of wild plants in the forest, how a killing by an arrow is enjoined?"
जटा भार धरस्य एव वल्कल अजिन वाससः |
को वधेन मम अर्थी स्यात् किम् वा अस्य अपकृतम् मया || २-६३-३१
"Who is desirous of killing me, wearing a mass of locks of hair and clad with bark of trees and deer-skin? What harm was done to him by me?"
एवम् निष्फलम् आरब्धम् केवल अनर्थ सम्हितम् |
न कश्चित् साधु मन्येत यथैव गुरु तल्पगम् || २-६३-३२
"A vain act concerning only with a useless objective is undertaken in this manner. No one will admire him, as for instance like any man seeking the bed of his preceptor's wife, as good."
नहम् तथा अनुशोचामि जीवित क्षयम् आत्मनः |
मातरम् पितरम् च उभाव् अनुशोचामि मद् विधे || २-६३-३३
"I do not worry that much of my death. I worry both for my mother and father, in the case of my death."
तत् एतान् मिथुनम् वृद्धम् चिर कालभृतम् मया |
मयि पन्चत्वम् आपन्ने काम् वृत्तिम् वर्तयिष्यति || २-६३-३४
'By what means of livelihood this elderly couple, maintained since a long time by me, support themselves when I obtain my death?'
वृद्धौ च माता पितराव् अहम् च एक इषुणा हतः |
केन स्म निहताः सर्वे सुबालेन अकृत आत्मना || २-६३-३५
"I and my aged parents are killed by a single arrow. By a man without self control and being very much a fool, all of as are virtually killed."
तम् गिरम् करुणाम् श्रुत्वा मम धर्म अनुकान्क्षिणः |
कराभ्याम् सशरम् चापम् व्यथितस्य अपतत् भुवि || २-६३-३६
"Hearing those pitiable words and since I was always intent on righteousness, I felt distressed. The bow and arrow fell down from my hands to the ground."
तस्याहम् करुणम् श्रुत्वा निशि लालपतो बहु |
सम्भ्रानतः शोकवेगेन भृशमास विचेतनः || २-६३-३७
"Hearing his pathetic cry, weeping profusely during the night, I became unconscious frequently, utterly bewildered as I was, due to flare-up of my grief."
तम् देशम् अहम् आगम्य दीन सत्त्वः सुदुर्मनाः |
अपश्यम् इषुणा तीरे सरय्वाः तापसम् हतम् || २-६३-३८
अवकीर्णजटाभारम् प्रविद्धकलशोदकम् |
पासुशोणितदिग्धाङ्गम् शयानम् शल्यपीडितम् || २-६३-३९
"Distressed in mind and with much sorrowful feeling, I reached that place and saw the ascetic, hit by the arrow at the bank of Sarayu River, with his tresses of hair scattered, his pitcher of water thrown asunder, having his limbs anointed with sand and blood lying down as he was, hurt by the arrow."
स माम् उद्वीक्ष्य नेत्राभ्याम् त्रस्तम् अस्वस्थ चेतसम् |
इति उवाच वचः क्रूरम् दिधक्षन्न् इव तेजसा || || २-६३-४०
Looking up with his eyes, as if going to scorch with his glory, at me who stood terrified and sick in mind, he spoke those harsh words then:
किम् तव अपकृतम् राजन् वने निवसता मया |
जिहीर्षिउर् अम्भो गुर्व् अर्थम् यद् अहम् ताडितः त्वया || २-६३-४१
"O, king! I, who was carrying water for my parents, was hit by you. What was the harm done to you by me who is residing in a forest?"
एकेन खलु बाणेन मर्मणि अभिहते मयि |
द्वाव् अन्धौ निहतौ वृद्धौ माता जनयिता च मे || २-६३-४२
'Being hit on my secret part by a single arrow, you virtually killed both my mother and father, who are blind and aged.'
तौ नूनम् दुर्बलाव् अन्धौ मत् प्रतीक्षौ पिपासितौ |
चिरम् आशा कृताम् तृष्णाम् कष्टाम् संधारयिष्यतः || २-६३-४३
"Both of them, weak blind and thirsty, might have refrained their thirst with difficulty and waited with expectation of my arrival since long. I am sure."
न नूनम् तपसो वा अस्ति फल योगः श्रुतस्य वा |
पिता यन् माम् न जानाति शयानम् पतितम् भुवि || २-६३-४४
'Surely, our (mine or father's) religious austerity or sacred knowledge have not borne fruit because my father does not have information about me, having fallen down and lying on the ground.'
जानन्न् अपि च किम् कुर्यात् अशक्तिर् अपरिक्रमः |
चिद्यमानम् इव अशक्तः त्रातुम् अन्यो नगो नगम् || २-६३-४५
"What my disabled father, unable to walk around can do, even if he knows like a tree unable to protect another tree which is being cut off?"
पितुस् त्वम् एव मे गत्वा शीघ्रम् आचक्ष्व राघव |
न त्वाम् अनुदहेत् क्रुद्धो वनम् वह्निर् इव एधितः || २-६३-४६
'O, Dasaratha! Going there soon, you alone tell my father; so that he will not scorch you by his anger, as a forest is scorched by a flared-up fire.'
इयम् एक पदी राजन् यतः मे पितुर् आश्रमः |
तम् प्रसादय गत्वा त्वम् न त्वाम् स कुपितः शपेत् || २-६३-४७
'O, king! This foot-path will lead you to my father's hermitage. After going there, seek his graciousness, lest he should get angry and execrate you."
विशल्यम् कुरु माम् राजन् मर्म मे निशितः शरः |
रुणद्धि मृदु स उत्सेधम् तीरम् अम्बु रयो यथा || २-६३-४८
'O, king! Extract this arrow-head from my body. This sharp arrow torments my delicate vital part in the same way as a river-current corrodes the sandy bank, which is at a height.'
सशल्यः क्लिश्यते प्राणैर्विशल्यो विनशिष्यति |
इति मामविशच्चिन्ता तस्य शल्यापकर्षणे || २-६३-४९
"While extracting the arrow-head from him, this thought entered my mind. With arrow-head in his body he will suffer, even though surviving. But after extracting the arrow-head, he will die."
दुःखितस्य च दीनस्य मम शोकातुरस्य च |
लक्ष्यामास हृदये चिन्ताम् मुनिसुत स्तदा || २-६३-५०
"Then, the son of the sage perceived worry in the heart of myself, who was lamenting pitiably, suffering from anguish."
ताम्यमानः स माम् दुःखादुवाच परमार्तवत् |
सीदमानो विवृत्ताङ्गो वेष्टमानो गतः क्षयम् || २-६३-५१
Sinking into despondency with distress, distorting his limbs in agony, coiling round himself on the floor with extreme pain and having approached the end of his life, he spoke to me (as follows) with great difficulty.
संस्तभ्य धैर्येण स्थिरचित्तो भवाम्यहम् |
ब्रह्महत्याकृतम् पापम् हृदयादपनीयताम् || २-६३-५२
'Suppressing my grief with firmness, I am becoming stable-minded. Let the torment in your heart, caused by the thought of your having killed Brahmana be removed.'
न द्विजातिर् अहम् राजन् मा भूत् ते मनसो व्यथा |
शूद्रायाम् अस्मि वैश्येन जातः जन पद अधिप || २-६३-५३
'O, king the ruler of the country! I am not a Brahmana. Let there be no agony in your mind. I am born through a Sudra woman by a Vysya.
इति इव वदतः कृच्च्रात् बाण अभिहत मर्मणः |
विघूर्णतो विचेष्टस्य वेपमाचस्य भूतले || २-६३-५४
तस्य तु आनम्यमानस्य तम् बाणम् अहम् उद्धरम् |
तस्य त्वानम्यमानस्य तम् बाणामहमुद्धरम् || २-६३-५५
"While he was speaking in that manner with great difficulty, his vital part having been hit by an arrow and was rolling on the ground, now exerting himself, now trembling and sinking, I drew out that arrow from him. That sage looked up towards me in fear and relinquished his life."
जल आर्द्र गात्रम् तु विलप्य कृच्चान् |
मर्म व्रणम् सम्ततम् उच्चसन्तम् |
ततः सरय्वाम् तम् अहम् शयानम् |
समीक्ष्य भद्रे सुभृशम् विषण्णः || २-६३-५६
"O, my dear Kausalya! Seeing him, with his body drenched in water, weeping with anguish, unceasingly sighing his breath, with injury in his vital part and lying down in River Sarayu as he was, I became very much grief-stricken."
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रिषष्टितमः सर्गः