Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— कथयन्नात्मनः पूर्वं दुष्कर्म धरणीपतिः। मुनिपुत्रवधं प्रोच्य ततो जातं यदाह तत्॥१॥
Brahmā said: As the king related his former evil deed, he described the killing of the sage’s son and then told what happened afterward.
Passage 2
ततश्चाहमुपादाय कलशं वारिसम्भृतम्। वेपमानो हृदातीव गतस्तत्पितुराश्रमम्॥२॥
“Then I took up the pot filled with water and went to his parents’ hermitage, my heart trembling violently.
Passage 3
यत्र तौ पितरौ तस्य गृह्णन्तौ चरणध्वनिम्। पिपासितौ चिरादन्धौ वर्तेते स्वसुताशया॥३॥
“There his two blind and long-thirsting parents heard the sound of footsteps and waited, expecting their son.
Passage 4
वार्तयन्तौ सुतं स्नेहात्प्रतीक्षन्तौ तदागमम्। उत्कर्णौ मत्पदध्वानं श्रुत्वा तावाहतुर्मुनी॥४॥
“Speaking affectionately about their son and awaiting his return, the two sages pricked up their ears at my footsteps and called out.
Passage 5
एह्येहि पुत्र कृत्यार्थं किमेतावद्विलम्बितः। देहि पानीयमानीय पीडितौ स्वः पिपासया॥५॥
“‘Come, come, son! Why has the task delayed you so long? Bring us the water; we are tormented by thirst.
Passage 6
यज्ञदत्त चिरं तात क्रीडितोऽसि नदीजले। त्वदेकगतिकौ चावां सम्प्रतीक्षावहे चिरात्॥६॥
“‘Dear Yajñadatta, you must have played in the river for a long time. You are our only refuge, and we have waited long for you.’
Passage 7
इत्यादि स्निग्धहृदयौ सुतमुद्दिश्य भाषिणौ। तावहं भीतहृदयो दुःखार्तमिदमभ्यधाम्॥७॥
“As those tender-hearted parents spoke thus to their son, I, fearful at heart and wracked by pain, addressed them.
Passage 8
बाष्पसंलग्नकण्ठत्वाद् गद्गदाक्षरया गिरा। वेपमानः शापभीतो बद्धाञ्जलिरधर्मकृत्॥८॥
“My throat choked with tears and my words faltering, I stood trembling, afraid of a curse, palms joined—the perpetrator of an unrighteous deed.
Passage 9
नाहं तवास्मि तनयः स दूरं प्रेषितो मया। आगस्कारी क्षत्रियो युवयोः शापभाजनम्॥९॥
“‘I am not your son. I, the offending kṣatriya who deserves your curse, have sent him far away.
Passage 10
नाम्ना दशरथो येन कृतं कर्म सुदारुणम्। दृष्टोऽहं मृगयां कुर्वन् सरयूतीरभूमिगः॥१०॥
“‘My name is Daśaratha, and I have committed a terrible deed while hunting on the bank of the Sarayū.
Passage 11
कुम्भस्य पूर्यमाणस्य तव पुत्रेण साधुना। श्रुत्वा ध्वनिं गजभ्रान्त्या मुक्तो घोरः शरो मया॥११॥
“‘Hearing the sound of the pot your virtuous son was filling, I mistook it for an elephant and released a terrible arrow.
Passage 12
तेन ते तनयः साधुः सद्यः पञ्चत्वमागतः। अतः परं मयि मुने यदिच्छसि कुरुष्व तत्॥१२॥
“‘Through it, your virtuous son has just died. Sage, now do to me whatever you wish.
Passage 13
सत्यं ते दण्डनीयोऽहं येनेदं दुष्कृतं कृतम्। इति घोरतमां वाचं मम श्रुत्वा स तापसः॥१३॥
“‘Truly I deserve your punishment, for I committed this evil deed.’ Hearing this dreadful declaration of mine, the ascetic spoke.
Passage 14
उवाच बाष्पनयनो बिभ्यतं मां कृतागसम्। हा नृशंस दुराचार किमिदं दारुणं कृतम्॥१४॥
“His eyes filled with tears, he addressed me as I stood guilty and afraid: ‘Alas, cruel evildoer, what terrible thing have you done? The Parents Lament Their Son
Passage 15
अन्धस्य मम जीवातुरेक एव स बालकः। निहतोऽद्य त्वया पाप हा हतोऽस्म्यहमेव च॥१५॥
“‘That boy was the sole support of my life, for I am blind. Sinner, today you have killed him—alas, you have killed me as well.
Passage 16
तत्रैव नय मां क्रूर यत्र मे बालको हतः। शेते धरणिमालिङ्ग्य गतप्राणस्तवेषुणा॥१६॥
“‘Cruel man, take me to the very place where my boy, deprived of life by your arrow, lies embracing the earth.
Passage 17
द्रक्ष्यामि तं तथाभूतं प्रसारितपदं भुवि। प्राणादपि प्रियं पुत्रमेकमेव त्वया हतम्॥१७॥
“‘Let me see him lying there upon the ground with limbs outstretched—my only son, dearer than life, whom you have slain.’
Passage 18
ततस्तौ प्रापितौ तत्र मया दुष्कृतकारिणा। दृष्ट्वा सुतं भुवि तथा पतितं विगतासुकम्॥१८॥
“Then I, perpetrator of the evil deed, brought them there. They saw their son lying lifeless upon the earth.
Passage 19
प्रकीर्णमूर्धजं बालं शोणितोक्षितविग्रहम्। मया प्रदर्शितं नद्यास्तीरे जायापती भृशम्॥१९॥
“I showed the husband and wife their boy on the riverbank, his hair scattered and his body drenched in blood.
Passage 20
दीर्घं रुरुदतुर्भूयो विलापरवकारिणौ। प्राक्कृतानि चरित्राणि तस्य सेवाः पुरातनीः॥२०॥
“They wept for a long time, raising cries of lament as they remembered his earlier deeds and his former services to them.
Passage 21
स्मारं स्मारं गुणांस्तस्य चक्रतुः करुणस्वरम्। हा पुत्र हा यज्ञदत्त हा तापस किमीहृशीम्॥२१॥
“Remembering his virtues again and again, they cried in piteous voices: ‘Alas, son! Alas, Yajñadatta! O ascetic, why have you entered such a state?
Passage 22
निद्रां भजसि चोत्थाय किमावां परिरम्भसे। रूक्षावां दुःखितौ तात करुणा ते न बाधते॥२२॥
“‘Why do you sleep? Rise and embrace us both. Dear child, your two forsaken and sorrowing parents—does compassion for us not move you?
Passage 23
आवां विहाय कृपणौ क्व प्रयातोऽसि पुत्रक। हा हतौ दुर्बलौ दीनावन्धौ न ब्रूवता त्वया॥२३॥
“‘Leaving us helpless, where have you gone, little son? Alas, by no longer speaking to us, you have slain two weak, miserable, blind parents.
Passage 24
उत्थीयतामितः पुत्र प्रयाहि निजमाश्रमम्। केनेयं शिक्षिता निद्रा भाषस्वोन्मील्य लोचने॥२४॥
“‘Rise from here, son, and return to your hermitage. Who taught you such sleep? Open your eyes and speak.
Passage 25
भवानेका गतिर्लोके दीनयोर्हीनचक्षुषोः। अनावृत्तिं गतोऽस्यद्य कमध्वानं प्रयातवान्॥२५॥
“‘You alone were the refuge in this world of two wretched people deprived of sight. What road have you taken today, never to return?
Passage 26
अधीष्व पुत्र स्वाध्यायं सुखयावां विचेतनौ। रुदन्तीं मातरं दीनां न ब्रूषे मातृवत्सल॥२६॥
“‘Recite your sacred lesson, son, and bring comfort to your senseless parents. You loved your mother—why do you not answer her as she weeps in misery?
Passage 27
कोऽपराधो नौ पतितः पुत्र यन्नाद्य भाषसे। कथं नु भविता माता त्वय्येवं निष्ठुरे सति॥२७॥
“‘What fault have we committed, son, that you do not speak today? What will become of your mother when you are so unresponsive?
Passage 28
सुदीर्घतममध्वानं प्रस्थास्यस्यद्य पुत्रक। अतः स्नेहातुरावावां पितरौ नैव भाषसे॥२८॥
“‘Little son, perhaps today you must set out upon an exceedingly long road, and therefore you do not speak to your two parents tormented by love.
Passage 29
निर्वैरः सर्वभूतेषु तापसीं वृत्तिमास्थितः। केनेदृशीं दशां पुत्र प्रापितोऽसि सुदुःखदाम्॥२९॥
“‘You lived as an ascetic without enmity toward any creature. Son, who brought you to this condition of overwhelming misery?’
Passage 30
इत्थं विलप्य तौ दीनौ विसंज्ञौ दीर्घशोकतः। व्यसुकल्पावपततां तस्य देहे सुमूर्च्छितौ॥३०॥
“Lamenting thus, the two helpless parents lost consciousness from prolonged grief. Nearly lifeless and deeply fainting, they fell upon his body. The Father’s Blessing and Curse
Passage 31
चिरेण संज्ञामासाद्य तापसो भार्यया युतः। पुनरूचे वच इदं पुत्रमुद्दिश्य तादृशम्॥३१॥
“After a long time the ascetic and his wife regained awareness. He again spoke these words to his son.
Passage 32
मृतोऽसि घोरबाणेन ताडितो हृदि पुत्रक। एहि पुण्यकृतां लोकान् सुकृतेन समेधितः॥३२॥
“‘Little son, you have died, struck in the heart by a terrible arrow. Enriched by your merit, now attain the realms of the virtuous.
Passage 33
आजन्म कृतवान् नित्यं पित्रोराराधनं भवान्। तेन पुण्येन पुत्र त्वं गच्छ स्वर्गमनश्वरम्॥३३॥
“‘Throughout your life you constantly served your parents. By that merit, son, go to the imperishable heaven.
Passage 34
ये लोका ब्रह्मनिष्ठानां ये लोकाः पितृसेविनाम्। ये लोकास्तीर्थनिष्ठानां ये लोका अग्निसेविनाम्॥३४॥
“‘May you attain the realms of those established in Brahman, those who serve their parents, those devoted to sacred fords, and those who tend the sacred fire;
Passage 35
स्वाध्यायिनां च ये लोकाः प्रणवाक्षरजापिनाम्। ये लोका दीर्घसत्राणां तानाप्नुहि मृतो भवान्॥३५॥
“‘the realms of those devoted to sacred recitation, those who repeat the syllable Oṁ, and those who perform prolonged sacrifices—though dead, may you attain them all.
Passage 36
राजर्षीणां च ये लोकाः सत्यधर्मसमुद्भवाः। यान् लोकानपि गच्छन्ति नैष्ठिका गृहमेधिनः॥३६॥
“‘May you attain the realms born of truth and dharma that royal sages reach, and those reached by householders steadfast in their vows.
Passage 37
ब्रह्मचर्येण ये लोकाः प्राप्यन्ते भूरितापसैः। तांल्लोकान् पुण्यवित्तातान् पुत्र त्वं व्रज सत्वरम्॥३७॥
“‘Son, quickly go to those realms, spread wide by the wealth of merit, which great ascetics attain through celibate discipline.’
Passage 38
इत्थं सम्प्रोच्य बहुशस्तापसो हीनलोचनः। शशाप मां समुद्दिश्य बाष्पोदकभृताञ्जलिः॥३८॥
“After speaking thus at length, the sightless ascetic turned toward me. With joined palms filled with tears, he pronounced a curse.
Passage 39
यथाहं पुत्रशोकेन प्राप्तोऽस्मि चरमां दशाम्। तथा त्वमपि भूपाल पुत्रशोकान्मरिष्यसि॥३९॥
“‘Just as grief for my son has brought me to my final state, so, King, will you die from grief for your son.
Passage 40
सुतं लालसमानस्त्वं मरिष्यसि कुलाधम। यथाहं म्रियमाणोऽद्य पुत्रलालसयान्वितः॥४०॥
“‘Lowest of your line, you will die yearning for your child, just as today I die filled with longing for my son.’
Passage 41
श्रुत्वा तु तापसस्याहं शापं तापैककारणम्। प्रत्यूचे तं मुनिश्रेष्ठं विषण्णवदनो भवन्॥४१॥
“Hearing the ascetic’s curse, the source of future torment, I replied to that foremost sage with a despondent face.
Passage 42
शापोऽपि ते मयि वरो न दृष्टतनयानने। किं तु नाहमनर्थस्य पारं पश्यामि तापस॥४२॥
“‘Your curse is almost a blessing to me, for I have not yet seen a son’s face. But, ascetic, I cannot see the far shore of this calamity.’
Passage 43
अथ तस्य प्रमीतस्य विधाय पारलौकिकम्। तापसो भार्यया सार्धं प्रददावुदकाञ्जलीन्॥४३॥
“Then, having performed the rites for the departed boy, the ascetic and his wife offered handfuls of water. The Boy Appears from Heaven
Passage 44
तस्मिन्नेवान्तरे साध्वि विमानं दिव्यमास्थितः। पारिजातसुमस्रग्भिर्वासयन् सुरभितां नभः॥४४॥
“At that very moment, virtuous lady, he appeared aboard a celestial vehicle, perfuming the sky with garlands of pārijāta flowers.
Passage 45
उपतस्थौ मुनिसुतः पित्रोर्विलपतोः पुरः। दिव्यवेशधरो भूत्वा वाचमेतामुदाहरत्॥४५॥
“Clad in celestial garments, the sage’s son stood before his grieving parents and spoke these words.
Passage 46
भवतोः सम्प्रसादेन चिराच्च परिचर्यया। प्राप्तोऽस्मि विरजाँल्लोकानशोकान् सुकृतोर्जितान्॥४६॥
“‘Through your abundant grace and my long service to you, I have attained pure, sorrowless realms won by merit.
Passage 47
प्राप्स्यथः परमं स्थानमचिरेणैव वामपि। एवं भाविनि चार्थेऽस्मिन् न मां शोचयतं युवाम्॥४७॥
“‘Before long, you two will also attain the supreme abode. Since this is what will come to pass, do not mourn for me.
Passage 48
न चाप्यतितरां राजा खेदनीयः सुधार्मिकः। असन्तं सन्तमर्थं वा भाविनं कोऽन्वतिक्रमेत्॥४८॥
“‘Nor should this righteous king be blamed excessively. Who can overstep a destiny that must come to be, whether it seems real or unreal?’
Passage 49
इत्युक्त्वा स ऋषेः पुत्रो द्योतयन् महसा दिवम्। गतो नक्षत्रमार्गेण गीयमानोऽप्सरोगणैः॥४९॥
“Having spoken thus, the sage’s son illumined the heavens with his splendor and departed along the path of the stars while hosts of apsarases sang his praise.
Passage 50
तावप्यन्धौ समिद्धारैर्ज्वलयित्वा हुताशनम्। पुत्रशोकात्सम्प्रविश्य दिव्यं लोकमुपेयतुः॥५०॥
“The two blind ascetics kindled the fire with blazing fuel and, out of grief for their son, entered it and attained a celestial realm. The Curse Ripens
Passage 51
सोऽहं किमद्य शोचामि कर्म यत्कृतमात्मना। जानामि तस्य शापस्य कालो मां समुपागतः॥५१॥
“Why then do I grieve today over the deed I myself committed? I know that the time of that curse has now reached me.
Passage 52
नान्यथा दुष्टवाचाली वचोदीपितमत्सरा। केकयेन्द्रसुता जातु प्रपद्येतेदृशीं धियम्॥५२॥
“Otherwise the daughter of the king of Kekaya, inflamed to jealousy by a wicked-tongued woman, could never have adopted such an intention.
Passage 53
तीर्थानि मम सङ्गेन यया स्नातानि भूतले। श्रुतानि तेषु रामस्य यशांसि मुनिमण्डले॥५३॥
“Accompanying me, she bathed at sacred fords across the earth and heard the sages there proclaim Rāma’s glories.
Passage 54
सा कथं केकयसुता दुर्बुद्ध्योपहता भवेत्। मुनिशापकृतं मन्ये सर्वमेतन्न संशयः॥५४॥
“How then could that daughter of Kekaya be overcome by such poor judgment? I believe all this was brought about by the sage’s curse—there is no doubt.
Passage 55
सुखितो नाम गोपालस्तत्पत्नी च सुमङ्गला। ताभ्यां निरूपितं सर्वं तत्त्वं रामस्य यत्परम्॥५५॥
“The cowherd named Sukhita and his wife Sumaṅgalā explained to us the entire supreme truth concerning Rāma.
Passage 56
शुश्राव सा मया सार्धं केकयेन्द्रसुताखिलम्। तीर्थयात्राप्रसङ्गाप्तव्रजयात्राविनोदतः॥५६॥
“The daughter of the Kekaya king heard it all with me during the delightful Vraja journey that arose in the course of our pilgrimage.
Passage 57
न जाने क्व गता तस्याः परमार्थोन्मुखी मतिः। मन्थरादुष्टवाचाल्या कृतासद्यो यदन्यथा॥५७॥
“I do not know where her understanding, once turned toward the highest truth, has gone, for wicked-tongued Mantharā instantly changed it.
Passage 58
नाधुना जीवनं मन्ये रामस्य विरहाद् भृशम्। पीड्यमाना मम प्राणा बहिर्निष्क्रमणोत्सुकाः॥५८॥
“Now, in this terrible separation from Rāma, I do not believe I shall live. My tormented life-breaths strain to leave the body.
Passage 59
हा हन्त क्व नु पश्येयं रामं प्रकृतिसुन्दरम्। को मां जीवयितुं शक्तो विना रामं रसालयम्॥५९॥
“Alas, where shall I see Rāma, beautiful by nature? Who can keep me alive without Rāma, the abode of rasa?
Passage 60
पश्यतो रामचन्द्रं मे विदितो न किमप्यसौ। प्राणान्तकरणो दाहस्तीव्रो विश्लेषसम्भवः॥६०॥
“While I beheld Rāmacandra, I knew nothing of this fierce burning born of separation, which now brings my life to its end.
Passage 61
पश्यामि क्व नु गोपेन्द्रं सुखिताख्यं व्रजेश्वरम्। ततः शिक्षामि वा किं नु विरहाभ्यसनं परम्॥६१॥
“Where might I see Sukhita, lord among Vraja’s cowherds? Could I not learn from him the supreme discipline of living in separation?
Passage 62
बाल्यात्कैशोरपर्यन्तमवात्सीद्येषु राघवः। ततो वियोगिनः कस्मादजीवन् व्रजवासिनः॥६२॥
“Rāghava lived among the people of Vraja from childhood through adolescence. How did those residents continue to live when parted from him? Daśaratha’s Final Meditation
Passage 63
शिक्षयेत्सुखितो गोपो विरहं मे सजीवनम्। तावत्कथं नु जीवेयमसवस्त्वरयान्ति माम्॥६३॥
“Let the cowherd Sukhita teach me how separation may coexist with life. But how can I live until then? My life-breaths hurry me onward.
Passage 64
सुखितेन सुकण्ठेन व्रजे विक्रीडितं विभोः। तदेव ध्यानमायातु मरणे समुपस्थिते॥६४॥
“As death approaches, may my meditation rest only upon the Lord’s play in Vraja as taught by Sukhita and Sukaṇṭha.
Passage 65
न ज्ञानं न च कर्माणि नोपासनमपि क्षमम्। तत्पदप्राप्तये नृणां व्रजविक्रीडितं यथा॥६५॥
“For attaining his feet, neither knowledge, ritual action, nor even formal worship is as effective for people as contemplation of his play in Vraja.
Passage 66
स्मरामि यत्सुखितेनोपदिष्टं तथा सुकण्ठेन च तस्य सख्या। महारासे क्रीडनं राघवेन्दोस्तदेव मे चित्तपथं प्रयातु॥६६॥
“I remember what Sukhita and his companion Sukaṇṭha taught me. May the moonlike Rāghava’s play in the great rāsa alone enter the pathway of my mind.
Passage 67
इत्यादि कथयन् राजा संस्मरन् राममद्भुतम्। ध्यायानस्तस्य चरितं सुकण्ठोक्तं रहस्यकम्॥६७॥
Speaking in this way, the king remembered wondrous Rāma and meditated upon the secret deeds Sukaṇṭha had described.
Passage 68
हा राम हा व्रजवधूरमणैकशील हा पुत्र हा विरहदायक हा रमेश। हा गोपतेर्दयित हा शरदिन्दुवक्त्र हा पद्मलोचन न मां त्यज जातु दीनम्॥६८॥
“Alas, Rāma! Alas, you whose sole nature is delighting the women of Vraja! Alas, my son, giver of separation, Lord of Ramā! Beloved of the cowherd king, face like the autumn moon, lotus-eyed Lord—never abandon me in my helplessness!”
Passage 69
इत्थं स विलपन्नेव रामरूपो बभौ नृपः। योगिनामपि दुष्प्रापे राम एवाव्रजल्लयम्॥६९॥
Lamenting thus, the king shone with Rāma’s own form and merged into Rāma, a state difficult even for yogins to attain.
Passage 70
कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च सुप्तं ज्ञात्वा शनैर्नृपम्। तूष्णीं सुषुपतुः पार्श्वे विरहक्लेशपीडिते॥७०॥
Kauśalyā and Sumitrā, thinking the king had gradually fallen asleep, lay silently beside him, themselves tormented by the pain of separation. *Thus ends Chapter Twenty-four, “Daśaratha’s Passing,” in the Dakṣiṇa-khaṇḍa of the dialogue of Brahmā and Bhuśuṇḍa in the venerable Ādi-Rāmāyaṇa.*