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॥ अथ अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तदशः सर्गः ॥
२.१७.१
रामस्तु भृशमायस्तो निःश्वसन्निव कुञ्जरः ।
जगाम सहितो भ्रात्रा मातुरन्तःपुरं वशी ॥
Summary AI The self-controlled Rāma, deeply distressed and sighing like an elephant, went to his mother’s inner apartment accompanied by his brother Lakṣmaṇa.
M N Dutt Rāma too, having control over his own self, experiencing sorrow (for his relatives) and sobbing like an (enchained) elephant, entered into his mother's apartment, together with his brother.
२.१७.२
सोऽपश्यत्पुरुषं तत्र वृद्धं परमपूजितम् ।
उपविष्टं गृहद्वारि तिष्ठतश्चापरान्बहून् ॥
Summary AI There at the palace gate, he saw a highly revered elderly man seated, along with many others who were standing.
M N Dutt He saw a venerable old man, sitting at the gate and many other persons.
२.१७.३
प्रविश्य प्रथमां कक्ष्यां द्वितीयायां ददर्श सः ।
ब्राह्मणान्वेदसंपन्नान्वृद्धान्राज्ञाभिसत्कृतान् ॥
Summary AI Having entered the first courtyard, he saw in the second one elderly Brāhmaṇas well-versed in the Vedas and honored by the King.
M N Dutt Having passed through the first apartment he saw in the second, many.old Brahmanas, versed in the Vedas and honoured by the king.
२.१७.४
प्रणम्य रामस्तान्वृद्धांस्तृतीयायां ददर्श सः ।
स्त्रियो वृद्धाश्च बालाश्च द्वाररक्षणतत्पराः ॥
Summary AI After bowing to those elders, Rāma saw in the third courtyard elderly women and young girls devoted to guarding the entrance.
M N Dutt Having bowed down to them, Rāma saw in the third apartment, women, boys, and old men, all engaged in watching the gate.
२.१७.५
वर्धयित्वा प्रहृष्टास्ताः प्रविश्य च गृहं स्त्रियः ।
न्यवेदयन्त त्वरिता राम मातुः प्रियं तदा ॥
Summary AI Rejoicing and offering congratulations, those women entered the house and quickly announced the arrival of her beloved Rāma to his mother.
M N Dutt The female warders honoured Rāma rejoicing, and entering his mother's apartment, communicated to her speedily this pleasant news.
२.१७.६
कौसल्यापि तदा देवी रात्रिं स्थित्वा समाहिता ।
प्रभाते त्वकरोत्पूजां विष्णोः पुत्रहितैषिणी ॥
Summary AI Meanwhile, the divine Kausalyā, seeking her son's welfare, had remained concentrated throughout the night and performed the worship of Viṣṇu at dawn.
M N Dutt Worshipful Kausalyā, seeking her son's welfare, kept up the whole night being absorbed in meditation, and was, in the morning, worshipping the God Vişņu.
२.१७.७
सा क्षौमवसना हृष्टा नित्यं व्रतपरायणा ।
अग्निं जुहोति स्म तदा मन्त्रवत्कृतमङ्गला ॥
Summary AI Ever devoted to vows, dressed in silk, joyful, and having performed auspicious rites, she was offering oblations into the sacred fire with Vedic chants.
M N Dutt Wearing silk-cloth, pleased, and accustomed to the performance of religious rites every day, she, performing benedictory ceremonies, was offering oblation to the fire.
२.१७.८
प्रविश्य च तदा रामो मातुरन्तःपुरं शुभम् ।
ददर्श मातरं तत्र हावयन्तीं हुताशनम् ॥
Summary AI Then Rāma, entering his mother’s auspicious inner apartment, saw her causing oblations to be poured into the fire.
M N Dutt Rāma entering the auspicious abode of his mother, beheld her thus engaged in the sacrifice to the fire.
२.१७.९
सा चिरस्यात्मजं दृष्ट्वा मातृनन्दनमागतम् ।
अभिचक्राम संहृष्टा किशोरं वडवा यथा ॥
Summary AI Seeing her son, the delighter of his mother, who had arrived after a long time, she rushed towards him joyfully, just as a mare runs to her foal.
M N Dutt He saw his virtuous mother wearing white silk, pulled down by the austere performance of religious rites, and engaged in propitiating the deities with the offering of water. She seeing her son, ever advancing the joy of his mother, approach, became pleased, and stepped forward like unto a mare beholding her young one.
२.१७.१०
तमुवाच दुराधर्षं राघवं सुतमात्मनः ।
कौसल्या पुत्रवात्सल्यादिदं प्रियहितं वचः ॥
Summary AI Out of motherly affection, Kausalyā spoke these words of love and benefit to her invincible son, the descendant of Raghu.
M N Dutt Kausalya, out of motherly affection, spoke these sweet and beneficent words to her own invincible son, Rāghava.
२.१७.११
वृद्धानां धर्मशीलानां राजर्षीणां महात्मनाम् ।
प्राप्नुह्यायुश्च कीर्तिं च धर्मं चोपहितं कुले ॥
Summary AI May you attain longevity, fame, and the righteousness established in our lineage, characteristic of the great-souled and virtuous royal sages of old.
M N Dutt May you obtain the life and fame of the pious, old Rājarşis, and the virtue worthy of your family.
२.१७.१४
देवि नूनं न जानीषे महद्भयमुपस्थितम् ।
इदं तव च दुःखाय वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणस्य च ॥
Summary AI O Queen, you surely do not know that a great danger has arisen. This will cause sorrow to you, to Vaidehī, and to Lakṣmaṇa.
M N Dutt O worshipful one, certain it is that you know not the great impending calamity; It is for the distress of yours, Laksmana and Vaidehi, that shall I wend my way to the Daņdaka forest. What is the use of a seat to me then? Now is the time come when I deserve a seat made of Kusa grass.
२.१७.१५
चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि वत्स्यामि विजने वने ।
मधुमूलफलैर्जीवन्हित्वा मुनिवदामिषम् ॥
Summary AI For fourteen years, I shall dwell in the lonely forest, living like a sage on honey, roots, and fruits, giving up all meat and luxuries.
M N Dutt I shall live in the forest for fourteen years abstaining from animal food and living on tuberous roots and fruits like to the ascetics.
२.१७.१६
भरताय महाराजो यौवराज्यं प्रयच्छति ।
मां पुनर्दण्डकारण्यं विवासयति तापसम् ॥
Summary AI The Emperor is bestowing the status of crown prince upon Bharata, while he is exiling me to the Daṇḍaka forest to live as an ascetic.
M N Dutt The king shall confer upon Bharata the heirapparentship and shall banish me as an ascetic into the forest.
२.१७.१७
तामदुःखोचितां दृष्ट्वा पतितां कदलीमिव ।
रामस्तूत्थापयामास मातरं गतचेतसम् ॥
Summary AI Seeing his mother—who was unaccustomed to sorrow—fallen like a plantain tree and rendered unconscious, Rāma lifted her up.
M N Dutt Rāma seeing his mother, who deserved no distress, fall down like a plantain tree and insensible, raised her up, and finding her covered with dust all over her body like to a mare risen up after rolling on the ground on account of toil of bearing heavy burden, wiped off (her body) gently with his hand.
२.१७.१८
उपावृत्योत्थितां दीनां वडवामिव वाहिताम् ।
पांशुगुण्ठितसर्वाग्नीं विममर्श च पाणिना ॥
Summary AI As she rose after rolling on the ground like a weary mare that had been over-driven, her entire body covered in dust, he gently wiped her with his hand.
M N Dutt Rāma seeing his mother, who deserved no distress, fall down like a plantain tree and insensible, raised her up, and finding her covered with dust all over her body like to a mare risen up after rolling on the ground on account of toil of bearing heavy burden, wiped off (her body) gently with his hand.
२.१७.१९
सा राघवमुपासीनमसुखार्ता सुखोचिता ।
उवाच पुरुषव्याघ्रमुपशृण्वति लक्ष्मणे ॥
Summary AI Deserving of happiness but now stricken with grief, she spoke to the tiger among men, Rāghava, as he sat near her, while Lakṣmaṇa listened.
M N Dutt She, deserving happiness, being racked with the destruction of her delight, spoke thus to Rāghava, that best of men, in the presence of Laksmana.
२.१७.२०
यदि पुत्र न जायेथा मम शोकाय राघव ।
न स्म दुःखमतो भूयः पश्येयमहमप्रजा ॥
Summary AI O Rāghava, my son, had you not been born for my grief, I, being childless, would not have witnessed a sorrow greater than this.
M N Dutt Oh! my son, Oh! Rāghava, had you not been born for my grief I would have been sonless only, but would not have been subject to this greater grief.
२.१७.२१
एक एव हि वन्ध्यायाः शोको भवति मानवः ।
अप्रजास्मीति संतापो न ह्यन्यः पुत्र विद्यते ॥
Summary AI O son! A barren woman has only one human sorrow, the torment of thinking "I am childless." There is indeed no other grief for her.
M N Dutt A sonless woman has only one cause of mental affliction. Her only sorrow is “I have no child" and nothing else my son.
२.१७.२२
न दृष्टपूर्वं कल्याणं सुखं वा पतिपौरुषे ।
अपि पुत्रे विपश्येयमिति रामास्थितं मया ॥
Summary AI O Rāma! I have never before seen any auspiciousness or happiness in my husband's prowess. I lived with the hope that I might see it through my son.
M N Dutt I have not experienced in my life that blessing and pleasure which women generally feel when their husbands are devoted to them. I have sustained my life so long, O Rāma, only with the hope that I shall witness this and other happiness when I shall have a son.
२.१७.२३
सा बहून्यमनोज्ञानि वाक्यानि हृदयच्छिदाम् ।
अहं श्रोष्ये सपत्नीनामवराणां वरा सती ।
अतो दुःखतरं किं नु प्रमदानां भविष्यति ॥
Summary AI Though I am superior, I shall have to hear many unpleasant and heart-piercing words from my inferior co-wives. What can be more painful for women than this?
M N Dutt Myself, being the eldest of all the queens, shall have to hear unpleasant and heart-rending words from the co-wives who are all younger than I.
२.१७.२४
त्वयि संनिहितेऽप्येवमहमासं निराकृता ।
किं पुनः प्रोषिते तात ध्रुवं मरणमेव मे ॥
Summary AI O dear child! Even when you were present, I was treated with such disdain. What will happen when you have gone away? My death is indeed certain.
M N Dutt You being present, they have reduced me to this miserable plight, I do not know what else they will do, you being away; there is death certain for me, Oh my darling! Being disregarded by my husband I have been greatly insulted, I am equal to the maid-servants of Kaikeyi or even inferior to them.
२.१७.२५
यो हि मां सेवते कश्चिदथ वाप्यनुवर्तते ।
कैकेय्याः पुत्रमन्वीक्ष्य स जनो नाभिभाषते ॥
Summary AI Whoever used to serve me or follow me, that person, seeing Kaikeyī’s son, no longer speaks to me.
M N Dutt Those who serve me or are obedient to me, shall not even speak with me when they will see the son of Kaikeyi (installed).
२.१७.२७
उपवासैश्च योगैश्च बहुभिश्च परिश्रमैः ।
दुःखं संवर्धितो मोघं त्वं हि दुर्गतया मया ॥
Summary AI You were raised with great difficulty by me, an unfortunate woman, through fasts, spiritual practices, and many arduous efforts; but all that has now become futile.
M N Dutt Wretched as I am, in vain have I brought you up with fasts, contemplation's and many other toilsome austerities.
२.१७.२८
स्थिरं तु हृदयं मन्ये ममेदं यन्न दीर्यते ।
प्रावृषीव महानद्याः स्पृष्टं कूलं नवाम्भसा ॥
Summary AI I consider this heart of mine to be made of stone, for it does not shatter like the bank of a great river struck by fresh rain waters during the monsoon.
M N Dutt Surely, I consider my heart is very hard, as it does not rend like to the bank of a great river in contact with new water in the rainy season.
२.१७.२९
ममैव नूनं मरणं न विद्यते
न चावकाशोऽस्ति यमक्षये मम ।
यदन्तकोऽद्यैव न मां जिहीर्षति
प्रसह्य सिंहो रुदतीं मृगीमिव ॥
Summary AI Surely, death does not exist for me, nor is there any room for me in the abode of Yama, since Death does not forcibly take me away today like a lion seizing a wailing doe.
M N Dutt There is no death for me, no vacant place in the abode of Yama; otherwise why does not Death take me away like to a lion snatching away a weeping hind; certain it is that my heart is made of iron, as it does not rend nor does my body being pressed down with this sorrow and (falling) down on earth, break into pieces; verily have I no death before time.
२.१७.३१
इदं तु दुःखं यदनर्थकानि मे
व्रतानि दानानि च संयमाश्च हि ।
तपश्च तप्तं यदपत्यकारणा
त्सुनिष्फलं बीजमिवोप्तमूषरे ॥
Summary AI This indeed is my sorrow, that my vows, charities, self-restraints, and the austerities I performed for the sake of a child have all become utterly fruitless, like seeds sown in barren soil.
M N Dutt This distresses me that all my religious vows, alms giving, self-restraint and austerity, performed with a view of obtaining a son, have been fruitless, like to the seeds thrown on a barren soil.
२.१७.३२
यदि ह्यकाले मरणं स्वयेच्छया
लभेत कश्चिद्गुरुदुःखकर्शितः ।
गताहमद्यैव परेत संसदं
विना त्वया धेनुरिवात्मजेन वै ॥
Summary AI If anyone emaciated by great sorrow could attain death at will before the appointed time, I would have surely gone to the assembly of the departed today without you, like a cow without her calf.
M N Dutt If any body in this life, being pressed down with some great calamity, could meet with death of his own accord, I would have instantly gone to the abode of death, being cut off from you like to a cow from her young one.
२.१७.३३
भृशमसुखममर्षिता तदा
बहु विललाप समीक्ष्य राघवम् ।
व्यसनमुपनिशाम्य सा मह
त्सुतमिव बद्धमवेक्ष्य किंनरी ॥
Summary AI Then, looking at Rāghava and perceiving the great calamity, she, filled with indignation and deep unhappiness, lamented greatly like a Kinnarī seeing her son bound.
M N Dutt Kausalyā like a Kinnarī unable to bear this great calamity, anticipating great misfortune and seeing Rāma bound (with a great vow), began to lament in various ways. some
॥ इति अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तदशः सर्गः ॥

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