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॥ अथ अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥
२.५८.१
तदज्ञानान्महत्पापं कृत्वा संकुलितेन्द्रियः ।
एकस्त्वचिन्तयं बुद्ध्या कथं नु सुकृतं भवेत् ॥
Summary AI Having committed that great sin through ignorance, with my senses overwhelmed, I pondered alone in my mind how some good could still come of this.
M N Dutt Having unwittingly committed that great sin, I, with my senses oppressed through grief, thought within myself as to how I could mend it.
२.५८.२
ततस्तं घटमादय पूर्णं परमवारिणा ।
आश्रमं तमहं प्राप्य यथाख्यातपथं गतः ॥
Summary AI Then, taking that pot filled with excellent water and following the path described by the boy, I reached the hermitage.
M N Dutt Then taking up the pitcher filled with excellent water, I went by the way mentioned and (at last) reached the asylum.
२.५८.३
तत्राहं दुर्बलावन्धौ वृद्धावपरिणायकौ ।
अपश्यं तस्य पितरौ लूनपक्षाविव द्विजौ ॥
Summary AI There, I saw his parents, weak, blind, aged, and without a leader, looking like two birds with clipped wings.
M N Dutt There I found his aged, infirm, forlorn, parents, without any one to help them in moving about, like to birds whose wings have been severed, keeping up a talk about (their son) without experiencing any fatigue, and like helpless ones feeding on a hope which had been blasted by me.
२.५८.४
तन्निमित्ताभिरासीनौ कथाभिरपरिक्रमौ ।
तामाशां मत्कृते हीनावुदासीनावनाथवत् ॥
Summary AI They sat there motionless, conversing about him, deprived of their hope because of me, waiting helplessly like orphans.
M N Dutt There I found his aged, infirm, forlorn, parents, without any one to help them in moving about, like to birds whose wings have been severed, keeping up a talk about (their son) without experiencing any fatigue, and like helpless ones feeding on a hope which had been blasted by me.
२.५८.५
पदशब्दं तु मे श्रुत्वा मुनिर्वाक्यमभाषत ।
किं चिरायसि मे पुत्र पानीयं क्षिप्रमानय ॥
Summary AI Hearing the sound of my footsteps, the sage said, "My son, why are you delayed? Bring the water quickly."
M N Dutt Hearing my footsteps, the ascetic said, “Why, my son, delay you? Bring the drink at once.
२.५८.६
यन्निमित्तमिदं तात सलिले क्रीडितं त्वया ।
उत्कण्ठिता ते मातेयं प्रविश क्षिप्रमाश्रमम् ॥
Summary AI "Dear child, why did you play in the water for so long? Your mother is anxious; enter the hermitage immediately."
M N Dutt Your mother, O child, was exceedingly anxious in consequence of your sporting in the waters. Do you speedily enter the asylum.
२.५८.७
यद्व्यलीकं कृतं पुत्र मात्रा ते यदि वा मया ।
न तन्मनसि कर्तव्यं त्वया तात तपस्विना ॥
Summary AI "Son, if any offense was committed against you by your mother or me, you, being an ascetic, should not take it to heart."
M N Dutt O child, it behove you not to take to heart any unkind action that, O son, may have been done to you of high fame either by your mother or myself.
२.५८.८
त्वं गतिस्त्वगतीनां च चक्षुस्त्वं हीनचक्षुषाम् ।
समासक्तास्त्वयि प्राणाः किंचिन्नौ नाभिभाषसे ॥
Summary AI "You are the refuge of the helpless and the eyes of the blind. Our lives are centered in you. Why do you not speak to us?"
M N Dutt You are the resource of these helpless ones; you are the eyes of these bereft of their sight. was Our lives are bound up with you. Why do not answer?'
२.५८.९
मुनिमव्यक्तया वाचा तमहं सज्जमानया ।
हीनव्यञ्जनया प्रेक्ष्य भीतो भीत इवाब्रुवम् ॥
Summary AI Looking at that sage, I spoke with a faltering, indistinct, and trembling voice, feeling utterly terrified.
M N Dutt Seeing the ascetic with a choked utterance indistinctly speaking thus with the letters not articulated clearly, I, dashed in spirits, yet concealing the real state of my mind by assuming a doughty tongue, communicated to him the danger that had befallen him in consequence of the calamity of his son:
२.५८.१०
मनसः कर्म चेष्टाभिरभिसंस्तभ्य वाग्बलम् ।
आचचक्षे त्वहं तस्मै पुत्रव्यसनजं भयम् ॥
Summary AI Steadying my voice by an effort of mind and will, I recounted to him the terrible calamity concerning his son.
M N Dutt Seeing the ascetic with a choked utterance indistinctly speaking thus with the letters not articulated clearly, I, dashed in spirits, yet concealing the real state of my mind by assuming a doughty tongue, communicated to him the danger that had befallen him in consequence of the calamity of his son:
२.५८.११
क्षत्रियोऽहं दशरथो नाहं पुत्रो महात्मनः ।
सज्जनावमतं दुःखमिदं प्राप्तं स्वकर्मजम् ॥
Summary AI "I am the Kṣatriya Daśaratha; I am not your noble son. I have incurred this sorrow, despised by the virtuous, resulting from my own deed."
M N Dutt I am a Ksatriya, Dasaratha (by name), and no son of yours, O magnanimous one. I have come by a misfortune in consequence of an act blamed by the good.
२.५८.१२
भगवंश्चापहस्तोऽहं सरयूतीरमागतः ।
जिघांसुः श्वापदं किंचिन्निपाने वागतं गजम् ॥
Summary AI "O Holy One, I came to the banks of the Sarayū with a bow in hand, wishing to kill some wild beast or an elephant coming to the drinking-place."
M N Dutt O revered one, desirous of killing some beast of prey, and elephant (or some other), come to the waters, I went to the banks of the Sarayū bow in hand.
२.५८.१३
तत्र श्रुतो मया शब्दो जले कुम्भस्य पूर्यतः ।
द्विपोऽयमिति मत्वा हि बाणेनाभिहतो मया ॥
Summary AI "There, I heard the sound of a pot being filled in the water. Thinking it was an elephant, I struck it with an arrow."
M N Dutt Then hearing sounds from the water of a filling pitcher, I thought, This must be an elephant. I wounded it with a shaft. Next coming to the edge of the river, I saw an ascetic lying down on the ground almost deprived of life, with his heart pierced with an arrow.
२.५८.१४
गत्वा नद्यास्ततस्तीरमपश्यमिषुणा हृदि ।
विनिर्भिन्नं गतप्राणं शयानं भुवि तापसम् ॥
Summary AI "Going then to the riverbank, I saw an ascetic lying on the ground, his heart pierced by the arrow, his life having departed."
M N Dutt Then hearing sounds from the water of a filling pitcher, I thought, This must be an elephant. I wounded it with a shaft. Next coming to the edge of the river, I saw an ascetic lying down on the ground almost deprived of life, with his heart pierced with an arrow.
२.५८.१६
स चोद्धृतेन बाणेन तत्रैव स्वर्गमास्थितः ।
भगवन्तावुभौ शोचन्नन्धाविति विलप्य च ॥
Summary AI "As soon as the arrow was pulled out, he ascended to heaven, even then lamenting and worrying for both of you, his blind parents."
M N Dutt And as soon as the arrow had been extracted, he ascended heaven, O reverend sir, lamenting and bewailing you, both grown old.
२.५८.१७
अज्ञानाद्भवतः पुत्रः सहसाभिहतो मया ।
शेषमेवंगते यत्स्यात्तत्प्रसीदतु मे मुनिः ॥
Summary AI "By me, through ignorance, your son was suddenly struck. In this situation, whatever remains to be done, may the sage be gracious to me."
M N Dutt It is through ignorance that I suddenly wounded your son. This having been past, do you favour me with telling me what is now to be done, O ascetic.
२.५८.१८
स तच्छ्रुत्वा वचः क्रूरं निःश्वसञ्शोककर्शितः ।
मामुवाच महातेजाः कृताञ्जलिमुपस्थितम् ॥
Summary AI Hearing those cruel words, that highly effulgent sage, emaciated by grief and sighing deeply, spoke to me as I stood before him with joined palms.
M N Dutt With eyes flooded with tears, and well nigh deprived of his senses by grief, that highly energetic one said to me standing with joined hands.
२.५८.१९
यद्येतदशुभं कर्म न स्म मे कथयेः स्वयम् ।
फलेन्मूर्धा स्म ते राजन्सद्यः शतसहस्रधा ॥
Summary AI "O King, had you not personally confessed this evil deed to me, your head would have instantly shattered into a hundred thousand pieces."
M N Dutt If, O king, you had not of yourself immediately communicated to us this unpleasant news, your head would have been reduced to a thousand flaws.
२.५८.२०
क्षत्रियेण वधो राजन्वानप्रस्थे विशेषतः ।
ज्ञानपूर्वं कृतः स्थानाच्च्यावयेदपि वज्रिणम् ॥
Summary AI "O King, the intentional killing of a forest-dwelling ascetic by a Kṣatriya would cause even Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, to fall from his position."
M N Dutt Not to speak of Kștriyas, I can even drag the very wielder of the thunderbolt himself from his position, if he knowingly kills one, in especial, that has assumed the Vånaprastha mode of life.
२.५८.२१
अज्ञानाद्धि कृतं यस्मादिदं तेनैव जीवसि ।
अपि ह्यद्य कुलं नस्याद्राघवाणां कुतो भवान् ॥
Summary AI Since this act was committed out of ignorance, you still live. Otherwise, the entire clan of the Rāghavas would have perished today, let alone you.
M N Dutt It is because you have done this through ignorance that you (still) live, else the race itself of the Rāghavas should be not, and where are you?
२.५८.२२
नय नौ नृप तं देशमिति मां चाभ्यभाषत ।
अद्य तं द्रष्टुमिच्छावः पुत्रं पश्चिमदर्शनम् ॥
Summary AI "O King, lead us to that place," the ascetic said to me. "Today we wish to see our son for the last time."
M N Dutt He then said, 'Do you, o king, take us to the scene. To day will we look our last on our son besmeared with blood, his deer-skin garb falling off (from his body), lying senseless on the earth, and come under the subjection of the lord of righteousness.'
२.५८.२३
रुधिरेणावसिताङ्गं प्रकीर्णाजिनवाससम् ।
शयानं भुवि निःसंज्ञं धर्मराजवशं गतम् ॥
Summary AI They wished to see their son, whose limbs were smeared with blood, whose deerskin garment was disheveled, lying unconscious on the ground, having passed into the power of Yama, the Lord of Justice.
M N Dutt Thereupon I alone taking them exceedingly disconsolate to the spot, made the ascetic and his wife touch their son.
२.५८.२४
अथाहमेकस्तं देशं नीत्वा तौ भृशदुःखितौ ।
अस्पर्शयमहं पुत्रं तं मुनिं सह भार्यया ॥
Summary AI Then, I alone led those two deeply grieving parents to that place and enabled the ascetic and his wife to touch their son.
M N Dutt Thereupon I alone taking them exceedingly disconsolate to the spot, made the ascetic and his wife touch their son.
२.५८.२५
तौ पुत्रमात्मनः स्पृष्ट्वा तमासाद्य तपस्विनौ ।
निपेततुः शरीरेऽस्य पिता चास्येदमब्रवीत् ॥
Summary AI Reaching and touching their son, those two ascetics fell upon his body, and the father spoke these words.
M N Dutt And having approached their son and touched him, ascetics fell on his person, and then his father addressed him thus.
२.५८.२६
न न्वहं ते प्रियः पुत्र मातरं पश्य धार्मिक ।
किं नु नालिङ्गसे पुत्र सुकुमार वचो वद ॥
Summary AI "O son, am I not dear to you? O righteous one, look at your mother. O son, why do you not embrace me? O tender one, speak to us."
M N Dutt If, my son, you do not feel kindly to me, do you look up to your virtuous mother. And why, O son, do you not embrace me? Do you speak tender words.
२.५८.२७
कस्य वापररात्रेऽहं श्रोष्यामि हृदयंगमम् ।
अधीयानस्य मधुरं शास्त्रं वान्यद्विशेषतः ॥
Summary AI "In the latter part of the night, whose heart-touching and sweet voice shall I hear as he recites the scriptures or other works?"
M N Dutt At the small hours, form whom engaged in study, shall I hear the scriptures sweetly read in a way coming home to the listener's mind?
२.५८.२८
को मां संध्यामुपास्यैव स्नात्वा हुतहुताशनः ।
श्लाघयिष्यत्युपासीनः पुत्रशोकभयार्दितम् ॥
Summary AI "Having bathed, offered oblations to the fire, and performed the twilight prayers, who will sit beside me and console me, afflicted as I am by the grief and fear of losing a son?"
M N Dutt Who, having performed his daily devotions and offered oblation to the sacrificial fire, will bathe me, afflicted with grief for my son?
२.५८.२९
कन्दमूलफलं हृत्वा को मां प्रियमिवातिथिम् ।
भोजयिष्यत्यकर्मण्यमप्रग्रहमनायकम् ॥
Summary AI "Who will bring roots and fruits to feed me—incapable, helpless, and without a leader—treating me like a beloved guest?"
M N Dutt Who procuring Kandas, fruits and roots, will feed me like an welcome guest, incapable of and doing anything and furnishing provisions, and without any one to take care of myself.?
२.५८.३०
इमामन्धां च वृद्धां च मातरं ते तपस्विनीम् ।
कथं पुत्र भरिष्यामि कृपणां पुत्रगर्धिनीम् ॥
Summary AI "O son, how shall I support this ascetic mother of yours, who is blind, old, miserable, and longing for her child?"
M N Dutt And, my son, how will I maintain this blind ascetic mother of yours, proud of her son, who is passing her days in misery?
२.५८.३१
तिष्ठ मा मा गमः पुत्र यमस्य सदनं प्रति ।
श्वो मया सह गन्तासि जनन्या च समेधितः ॥
Summary AI "Wait, O son! Do not depart for the abode of Yama. Tomorrow, you shall go accompanied by me and your mother."
M N Dutt Do you stay my son, in my behalf. Tomorrow you will go to Yama's mansion with me and your mother.
२.५८.३२
उभावपि च शोकार्तावनाथौ कृपणौ वने ।
क्षिप्रमेव गमिष्यावस्त्वया हीनौ यमक्षयम् ॥
Summary AI "Both of us, afflicted by grief, helpless and wretched in the forest, shall soon follow you to the realm of Yama, being deprived of your presence."
M N Dutt Distressed with grief and rendered miserable in the forest, both of us deprived of you shall soon repair to the abode of Yama.
२.५८.३३
ततो वैवस्वतं दृष्ट्वा तं प्रवक्ष्यामि भारतीम् ।
क्षमतां धर्मराजो मे बिभृयात्पितरावयम् ॥
Summary AI "Then, upon seeing Vaivasvata (Yama), I shall speak these words to him: 'May the Lord of Justice forgive me; let this son remain to support his parents.'"
M N Dutt Seeing Vivasvata's son, I will say to him, Do you, O lord of justice forgive me, and let this my son, continue to maintain us, his parents.
२.५८.३६
यां गतिं सगरः शैब्यो दिलीपो जनमेजयः ।
नहुषो धुन्धुमारश्च प्राप्तास्तां गच्छ पुत्रक ॥
Summary AI "O dear son, go to that destination attained by Sagara, Śaibya, Dilīpa, Janamejaya, Nahuṣa, and Dhundhumāra."
M N Dutt Do you, O son, go the way that has been gone by Sagara and Saivya and Dilīpa and Janamejaya and Nahusa and Dhundhumāra.
२.५८.३७
या गतिः सर्वसाधूनां स्वाध्यायात्पतसश्च या ।
भूमिदस्याहिताग्नेश्च एकपत्नीव्रतस्य च ॥
Summary AI Go to that goal which belongs to all virtuous souls, to those devoted to Vedic study and penance, to givers of land, to those who maintain the sacred fire, and to those faithful to a single wife.
M N Dutt Do you, O son, go the way that is gone by all creatures, even by ascetics engaged in the study of the Veda, by bestowers of lands, by those performing fire-sacrifices, by individuals each devoted to a single wife, men giving away a thousand kine, persons tending their preceptors, and individuals renouncing lives by fasting.
२.५८.३९
एवं स कृपणं तत्र पर्यदेवयतासकृत् ।
ततोऽस्मै कर्तुमुदकं प्रवृत्तः सह भार्यया ॥
Summary AI Thus he lamented pitiably and repeatedly. Then, along with his wife, he proceeded to offer the ritual water for his son.
M N Dutt Having thus piteously wept, he along with his wife set about performing the watery rites on behalf of his son.
२.५८.४०
स तु दिव्येन रूपेण मुनिपुत्रः स्वकर्मभिः ।
आश्वास्य च मुहूर्तं तु पितरौ वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥
Summary AI But the son of the ascetic, appearing in a celestial form due to his own merits, consoled his parents for a moment and spoke these words.
M N Dutt Then (returning) along with Sakra, the ascetic comforting his aged parents, addressed them, sa ing.
२.५८.४१
स्थानमस्मि महत्प्राप्तो भवतोः परिचारणात् ।
भवन्तावपि च क्षिप्रं मम मूलमुपैष्यतः ॥
Summary AI "Through your service, I have attained a great state. You both shall also quickly come to my presence in the afterlife."
M N Dutt I have attained a high state in consequence of having served you. Do you also without delay come to me.
२.५८.४२
एवमुक्त्वा तु दिव्येन विमानेन वपुष्मता ।
आरुरोह दिवं क्षिप्रं मुनिपुत्रो जितेन्द्रियः ॥
Summary AI Having spoken thus, the self-controlled son of the sage quickly ascended to heaven in a resplendent celestial chariot.
M N Dutt Having said this, the ascetic's son of restrained sense ascended heaven by means of an excellent and commodious car.
२.५८.४३
स कृत्वा तूदकं तूर्णं तापसः सह भार्यया ।
मामुवाच महातेजाः कृताञ्जलिमुपस्थितम् ॥
Summary AI That highly effulgent ascetic, having quickly performed the water libations along with his wife, spoke to me as I stood before him with joined palms.
M N Dutt With eyes flooded with tears, and well nigh deprived of his senses by grief, that highly energetic one said to me standing with joined hands.
२.५८.४४
अद्यैव जहि मां राजन्मरणे नास्ति मे व्यथा ।
यच्छरेणैकपुत्रं मां त्वमकार्षीरपुत्रकम् ॥
Summary AI "O King, kill me this very day! There is no pain for me in death, since you have made me, who had but one son, childless with your arrow."
M N Dutt Do you, O monarch, slay me on the instant. I do not grieve to die', you have by your shaft rendered me who had an only son, absolutely sonless.
२.५८.४६
पुत्रव्यसनजं दुःखं यदेतन्मम साम्प्रतम् ।
एवं त्वं पुत्रशोकेन राजन्कालं करिष्यसि ॥
Summary AI "O King, just as I am now suffering this grief born of my son's misfortune, you too shall meet your end through grief for your son."
M N Dutt Since this sorrow arising from the calamity that has befallen my son, is at present mine (through your instrumentality), I curse you. You shall even in this way find your death from grief born of separation from your son.
२.५८.४९
चक्षुषा त्वां न पश्यामि स्मृतिर्मम विलुप्यते ।
दूता वैवस्वतस्यैते कौसल्ये त्वरयन्ति माम् ॥
Summary AI "O Kausalyā, I cannot see you with my eyes, and my memory is fading. These messengers of Vaivasvata are hurrying me."
M N Dutt But I do not see you with my eyes, and my memory fails. These envoys of Vivasvata's son, OKausalya, urge speed upon me.
२.५८.५०
अतस्तु किं दुःखतरं यदहं जीवितक्षये ।
न हि पश्यामि धर्मज्ञं रामं सत्यपराक्यमम् ॥
Summary AI "What could be more painful than this, that at the end of my life, I do not see the righteous Rāma of true valor?"
M N Dutt What can be an object of greater regret than that I during my last moments cannot behold the righteous Rāma having truth for prowess?
॥ इति अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥

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रघुवंशम् कालिदासः

A Mahākāvya chronicling the illustrious lineage of the Raghu dynasty, detailing the lives, virtues, and exploits of kings such as Dilīpa, Raghu, Aja, and Rāma
किरातार्जुनीयम् भारविः

A Mahākāvya centered on the ascetic trial and combat between Arjuna and Śiva in the guise of a Kirāta
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