॥ अथ अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः ॥
२.२१.१
तं समीक्ष्य त्ववहितं पितुर्निर्देशपालने ।
कौसल्या बाष्पसंरुद्धा वचो धर्मिष्ठमब्रवीत् ॥
Summary AI Observing *Rāma* focused on fulfilling his father's command, *Kausalyā*, choked with tears, spoke these righteous words.
M N Dutt Seeing Räma determined upon carrying out his father's behest's, Kausalya with her voice choked with vapour begot of tears, spoke to him the following pious words.
२.२१.२
अदृष्टदुःखो धर्मात्मा सर्वभूतप्रियंवदः ।
मयि जातो दशरथात्कथमुञ्छेन वर्तयेत् ॥
Summary AI How shall he, born to me from *Daśaratha*, who is righteous, speaks kindly to all beings, and has never known sorrow, subsist on gleaned grains?
M N Dutt How shall this virtuous-souled one, beloved of people and who has never experienced misfortune before, live on grains gleaned, being born of me to Dasaratha?
२.२१.३
यस्य भृत्याश्च दासाश्च मृष्टान्यन्नानि भुञ्जते ।
कथं स भोक्ष्यते नाथो वने मूलफलान्ययम् ॥
Summary AI How will this protector, whose servants and slaves eat refined foods, consume only roots and fruits in the forest?
M N Dutt How shall that Rāma live upon fruits and roots, whose servants and attendants fare on well cooked rice?
२.२१.४
क एतच्छ्रद्दधेच्छ्रुत्वा कस्य वा न भवेद्भयम् ।
गुणवान्दयितो राज्ञो राघवो यद्विवास्यते ॥
Summary AI Who would believe this upon hearing it, or who would not be filled with fear, that the virtuous *Rāghava*, beloved of the king, is being exiled?
M N Dutt Who shall believe, or believing who shall not be afraid, that his highly accomplished descendant of Kākutstha, favourite of the king, is going to be exiled?
२.२१.६
कथं हि धेनुः स्वं वत्सं गच्छन्तं नानुगच्छति ।
अहं त्वानुगमिष्यामि यत्र पुत्र गमिष्यसि ॥
Summary AI How can a cow not follow its own calf as it departs? O son, I shall follow you wherever you go.
M N Dutt Like to a cow following its young one shall I follow you, Oh my darling, wherever shall go.
२.२१.७
तथा निगदितं मात्रा तद्वाक्यं पुरुषर्षभः ।
श्रुत्वा रामोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं मातरं भृशदुःखिताम् ॥
Summary AI Hearing those words spoken by his mother, *Rāma*, the best among men, spoke to his deeply distressed mother.
M N Dutt Hearing those words of his mother, Rāma that best of men, spoke the following words to her, who was greatly troubled with sorrow.
२.२१.८
कैकेय्या वञ्चितो राजा मयि चारण्यमाश्रिते ।
भवत्या च परित्यक्तो न नूनं वर्तयिष्यति ॥
Summary AI Deceived by *Kaikeyī*, the king will surely not survive if I depart for the forest and you also abandon him.
M N Dutt "The monarch has been duped by Kaikeyi” myself resorting to the forest, surely shall he resign his life, if cast off again by you.
२.२१.९
भर्तुः किल परित्यागो नृशंसः केवलं स्त्रियाः ।
स भवत्या न कर्तव्यो मनसापि विगर्हितः ॥
Summary AI A woman’s abandonment of her husband is indeed cruel. You must not perform such a contemptible act, even in thought.
M N Dutt There is nothing more cruel for women than the forsaking of their husband; it does not behove you therefore, to think even of this opprobrious action.
२.२१.१०
यावज्जीवति काकुत्स्थः पिता मे जगतीपतिः ।
शुश्रूषा क्रियतां तावत्स हि धर्मः सनातनः ॥
Summary AI As long as my father, the lord of the world and descendant of *Kakutstha*, lives, serve him; for that is the eternal *dharma*.
M N Dutt Do you serve this descendant of Kākutstha, my father, and the lord of the earth as long as he lives, know you this to be the eternal virtue
२.२१.११
एवमुक्ता तु रामेण कौसल्या शुभ दर्शना ।
तथेत्युवाच सुप्रीता राममक्लिष्टकारिणम् ॥
Summary AI Addressed thus by *Rāma*, the beautiful *Kausalyā*, well-pleased, said "So be it" to *Rāma*, who performs deeds with ease.
M N Dutt Thus addressed by Rāma, Kausalyā of auspicious looks, being gratified greatly, spoke to him, the remover of her sorrows. “Truely it is."
२.२१.१२
एवमुक्तस्तु वचनं रामो धर्मभृतां वरः ।
भूयस्तामब्रवीद्वाक्यं मातरं भृशदुःखिताम् ॥
Summary AI Having spoken these words, *Rāma*, the foremost of the sustainers of righteousness, spoke again to his deeply distressed mother.
M N Dutt Rāma, the foremost amongst religious men, being spoken thus, said to his mother, who was greatly disturbed with sorrow, again in the following strain.
२.२१.१३
मया चैव भवत्या च कर्तव्यं वचनं पितुः ।
राजा भर्ता गुरुः श्रेष्ठः सर्वेषामीश्वरः प्रभुः ॥
Summary AI The command of my father must be fulfilled by both you and me. He is the king, husband, teacher, elder, lord, and master of all.
M N Dutt “Proper it is both for you and me to carry out father's words” he is your husband, and my best preceptor and the lord and master of all people.
२.२१.१४
इमानि तु महारण्ये विहृत्य नव पञ्च च ।
वर्षाणि परमप्रीतः स्थास्यामि वचने तव ॥
Summary AI After roaming in the great forest for these fourteen years, I shall return and remain under your command with great joy.
M N Dutt With great pleasure shall I abide in your words after passing these nine and five years in the great forest.
२.२१.१५
एवमुक्ता प्रियं पुत्रं बाष्पपूर्णानना तदा ।
उवाच परमार्ता तु कौसल्या पुत्रवत्सला ॥
Summary AI Hearing her beloved son speak thus, the motherly *Kausalyā*, her face filled with tears and suffering greatly, spoke then.
M N Dutt Thus addressed, Kausalyā, bearing great affection for her son, sorely pained and having her eyes full of tears, spoke to her beloved son the following words.
२.२१.१६
आसां राम सपत्नीनां वस्तुं मध्ये न मे क्षमम् ।
नय मामपि काकुत्स्थ वनं वन्यं मृगीं यथा ।
यदि ते गमने बुद्धिः कृता पितुरपेक्षया ॥
Summary AI O *Rāma*, it is not possible for me to live among these co-wives. O descendant of *Kakutstha*, if you are determined to go out of regard for your father, then take me also to the forest like a wild doe.
M N Dutt Oh Rāma, I shall not be able to live amongst these co-wives, if are you resolved to go to the forest for the discharge of your father's behest; do you take me with you, Oh Kākutstha, like to a wild hind.
२.२१.१७
तां तथा रुदतीं रामो रुदन्वचनमब्रवीत् ।
जीवन्त्या हि स्त्रिया भर्ता दैवतं प्रभुरेव च ।
भवत्या मम चैवाद्य राजा प्रभवति प्रभुः ॥
Summary AI To her who was weeping thus, *Rāma*, also weeping, said: For a living woman, her husband is indeed her deity and master. Today, the king remains the sovereign master for both you and me.
M N Dutt Rāma, suppressing his feeling, spoke to his mother who was lamenting, thus, saying:, Husband is the deity and master of the wife as long as she lives; so the monarch being the lord can deal with you and me in any way he likes.
२.२१.१८
भरतश्चापि धर्मात्मा सर्वभूतप्रियंवदः ।
भवतीमनुवर्तेत स हि धर्मरतः सदा ॥
Summary AI The righteous *Bharata*, who speaks kindly to all beings, will surely serve you, for he is always devoted to *dharma*.
M N Dutt That highly intelligent lord of men living, we should not consider ourselves as without a master. Bharata is also pious and beloved of all people in speech, he, intent on the performance of religious service, shall attend upon you always.
२.२१.१९
यथा मयि तु निष्क्रान्ते पुत्रशोकेन पार्थिवः ।
श्रमं नावाप्नुयात्किंचिदप्रमत्ता तथा कुरु ॥
Summary AI Act vigilantly so that the king does not suffer any distress due to grief for his son once I have departed.
M N Dutt Do you now take care that on my retiring the monarch does not wear away by the pangs of my separation, that this terrible sorrow may not kill him. Do you look after the welfare of the old king always.
२.२१.२०
व्रतोपवासनिरता या नारी परमोत्तमा ।
भर्तारं नानुवर्तेत सा च पापगतिर्भवेत् ॥
Summary AI Even a most excellent woman, though devoted to vows and fasts, will meet a sinful fate if she does not serve her husband.
M N Dutt The woman, who serves not her husband, being engaged in excellent religious rites and fasts, shall fare wretchedly in the life to come; and a woman gets at the excellent abode of the celestials by serving her husband.
२.२१.२१
शुश्रूषमेव कुर्वीत भर्तुः प्रियहिते रता ।
एष धर्मः पुरा दृष्टो लोके वेदे श्रुतः स्मृतः ॥
Summary AI Dedicated to the welfare and pleasure of her husband, a wife should only perform service to him. This is the eternal duty observed in the world, heard in the Vedas, and remembered.
२.२१.२३
प्राप्स्यसे परमं कामं मयि प्रत्यागते सति ।
यदि धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो धारयिष्यति जीवितम् ॥
Summary AI If the best among the upholders of righteousness, King Daśaratha, continues to live, then upon my return, you will attain your supreme desire.
M N Dutt Engaged in discipline and fasting and devoted to the services of your husband you shall attain your best desire, on my return, if this foremost of pious men lives then.
२.२१.२४
एवमुक्ता तु रामेण बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणा ।
कौसल्या पुत्रशोकार्ता रामं वचनमब्रवीत् ।
गच्छ पुत्र त्वमेकाग्रो भद्रं तेऽस्तु सदा विभो ॥
Summary AI Having been addressed thus by Rāma, Kausalyā, whose eyes were filled with tears and who was distressed by grief for her son, said to Rāma: "O son, O powerful one, go with a focused mind; may you always be blessed with prosperity."
M N Dutt Being thus accosted by Rāma, Kausalyā being distressed with the thought of separation from her son, spoke to him with tears in her eyes the following words.
२.२१.२५
तथा हि रामं वनवासनिश्चितं
समीक्ष्य देवी परमेण चेतसा ।
उवाच रामं शुभलक्षणं वचो
बभूव च स्वस्त्ययनाभिकाङ्क्षिणी ॥
Summary AI Observing Rāma determined for exile in the forest, Queen Kausalyā spoke words to the auspicious Rāma with a composed mind and became desirous of performing rites for his well-being.
M N Dutt With great earnestness, the worshipful one began to eye Rāma, determined to go as an exile to the forest and spoke to his auspicious words and became desirous of performing benedictory ceremonies.
॥ इति अयोध्याकाण्डे एकविंशः सर्गः ॥
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