“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 20 Rama Informs Kausalya of His Exile Summary Rama approaches his mother Kausalya to inform her of the calamity. Kausalya on hearing the news, faints. On recovering, she laments in the most grievous tones to Rama. Chapter [Sarga] 20 in Detail tasmimstu purushhvyaaghre nishhkraamati kritaajnjalau | aartashacdo mahaan jajjne striinaama ntahpure tadaa || 2-20-1 While Rama, the best of men was leaving, after offering salutation to his father, women in the palace were weeping loudly. krtyeshhvachoditah pitraa sarvasyaantah purasya cha | gatiryah sharanam chaasiit sa roomo.adya pravatsyati || 2-20-2 Which Rama, without being told by his father, used to do necessary activities and protect the entire palace, is about to go to exile now”. kausalyaayaam yathaa yukto jananyaam vartate sadaa | tathaiva vartate.asmaasu janmaprabhriti raaghavah || 2-20-3 “Rama, since he was born, was showing the same attention to us, as he was showing to his mother Kausalya.” Page 1 of 12 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 20 na krudhyatyabhishastoapi krodhaniiyaani varjayan | kriddhaan prasaadayan sarvaan sa ito.adya pravatsyati || 2-20-4 “He used to avoid actions which created anger and soothed all those who were angry. Rama was not furious with those who abused him. Such Rama is going today to exile.” abhuddhirbata no raajaa jiivalokam charatyayam | yo gatim sarvabhuutaanaam parityajati raaghavam || 2-20-5 “Our stupid king by abandoning Rama who was helpful to all beings, is offending all the beings.” iti sarvaa mahishhyastaa vivatsaa iva dhenavah | patimaachukrushushchaiva sasvaram chaapi chukrushuh || 2-20-6 Thus, all the king consorts while weeping loudly, as cows which lost their Calves, abused their husband . sa hi chaantah pure ghoramaartashabdham mahiipatih | putrashokaabhisantaptah shrutvaa vyaaliiyataasane || 2-20-7 After hearing the terrific distressful crying sounds in the palace, Dasaratha clung to the seat, with extreme anguish for his son. raamah tu bhrsham aayastah nihshvasann iva kunjarah | jagaama sahitah bhraatraa maatur antah puram vashii || 2-20-8 Rama, who was greatly hurt, sighed like an elephant, subdued his senses and went to his mother’s palace along with Lakshmana Page 2 of 12 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 20 so apashyat purusam tatra vrddham parama puujitam | upavistam grha dvaari tisthatah ca aparaan bahuun || 2-20-9 Rama saw a much worshipped old man sitting at the gateway of the house and many other standing there. drshhtvai tu tadaa raamam te sarve sahasotthitaah | jayena jayataam shreshhtham vardhayanti sma raaghavam || 2-20-10 After seeing Rama, all of them rose quickly and greeted Rama the most triumphant man, by uttering the words “May you have increased success!” pravishya prathamaam kaksyaam dvitiiyaayaam dadarsha sah | braahmanaan veda sampannaan vrddhaan raajnaa abhisatkrtaan || 2-20-11 Rama crossed the first gate and saw old Brahmanas who were perfect in Vedas and duly honored by the king. pranamya raamah taan vrddhaams trtiiyaayaam dadarsha sah | striyo vrddhaah ca baalaah ca dvaara raksana tatparaah || 2-20-12 Rama offered salutation to those Brahmanas and saw old women and girls, guarding the gate in the third enclosure. vardhayitvaa prahrstaah taah pravishya ca grham striyah | nyavedayanta tvaritaa raama maatuh priyam tadaa || 2-20-13 Then those women, having been delighted, greeted Rama with good word of success, quickly entered the house and informed Kausalya about the lovely arrival of Rama. Page 3 of 12 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 20 kausalyaa api tadaa devii raatrim sthitvaa samaahitaa | prabhaate tu akarot puujaam visnoh putra hita esinii || 2-20-14 At that time, Kausalya having spent the whole night with steadfastness, who performing worship to Vishnu, at dawn, for the welfare of her son. saa ksauma vasanaa hrstaa nityam vrata paraayanaa | agnim juhoti sma tadaa mantravat krta mangalaa || 2-20-15 Kausalya, who was interested to practice religious vows regularly was appearing auspiciously by wearing a white silk sari and gladly performing sacrificial ceremony in a sacred fire, by reciting Vedic hymns. pravishya ca tadaa raamah maatur antah puram shubham | dadarsha maataram tatra haavayantiim huta ashanam || 2-20-16 Then Rama entered the auspicious mother’s apartment and saw his mother performing sacrificial ceremony in sacred fire there. devakaaryanimittam cha tatraapashyat samudyatam| dadhyakshatam ghritam chaiva modakaan havishhastadaa || 2-20-17 laajaan maalyaani shuklaani paayasam krisaram tathaa | samidhah puurnakumbhaamshchha dadarsha raghunamdanah || 2-20-18 There, Rama saw the articles of worship kept ready for the purpose of the sacred ceremony like curd, unbroken rice, clarified butter, sweet meats, things fit for oblation, fried grain, garlands made of white flowers, rice boiled in milk, mixture of rice and peas with a few spices, sacrificial sticks, vessels full of water etc. Page 4 of 12 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 20 taam shuklakshaumasamviitaam vratayogena karshitaam | tarpayantiim dadarshaadbhih devataam devavarniniim || 2-20-19 Kausalya, who became lean because of observance of vows, was shining like an angel with her white silk sari and was satiating gods by presenting to them libations by water. saa cirasya aatmajam drstvaa maatr nandanam aagatam | abhicakraama samhrstaa kishoram vadavaa yathaa || 2-20-20 By seeing her son who came after a long time and who gave delight to mother, Kausalya was pleased and approached towards him, like a female horse approaching her young colt. sa maataramabhikraantaamupasamgrihya raaghavah | parishhvaktashcha baahubhyaamupaagraatashcha muurdhani || 2-20-21 Rama offered salutation to the approaching mother by touching her feet. Then, she took him into her arms and smelt his head. tam uvaaca duraadharsam raaghavam sutam aatmanah | kausalyaa putra vaatsalyaat idam priya hitam vacah || 2-20-22 Kausalya spoke these pleasing words affectionately to her son Rama, who was unassailable by enemies. vrddhaanaam dharma shiilaanaam raajarsiinaam mahaatmanaam | praapnuhi aayuh ca kiirtim ca dharmam ca upahitam kule || 2-20-23 “Obtain long life and glory, as obtained by the aged , the virtuous, the great souled and the royal sages .Protect the righteousness engrained in your race” Page 5 of 12 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 20 satya pratijnam pitaram raajaanam pashya raaghava | adya eva hi tvaam dharma aatmaa yauvaraajye abhiseksyati || 2-20-24 “Oh, Rama ! King Dasaratha, your father is a man of true promise. Today itself, you will be installed as successor to the kingdom by your virtuous father.” dattamaasanamaalabhya bhojanena nimantritah | maataram raaghavah kimcit prasaarya anjalim abraviit || 2-20-25 Kausalya asked Rama to take food, but Rama just touched the seat offered by her and after performing salutation to her, spoke thus to his mother. sa svabhaava viniitah ca gauravaac ca tadaa aanatah | prasthito dandakaaranyamaaprashhtumupachakrame || 2-20-26 That Rama, being humble in nature , became still modest due to respect for his mother and was set about to ask her permission before setting forth his journey to Dandaka forest. devi nuunam na jaaniise mahad bhayam upasthitam | idam tava ca duhkhaaya vaidehyaa laksmanasya ca || 2-20-27 “Oh, mother! You do not know that a great dismay is approaching now. It brings grief to you, to Sita and to Lakshmana” gamishhye dandakaaranyam kimanenaasanena me | vishhtaraasanayogyo hi kaalo.ayam maamupasthitah || 2-20-28 “I am going to Dandaka forest. Why this seat for me? Time has come for me to sit on a seat made of Kusha grass.” Page 6 of 12 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 20 caturdasha hi varsaani vatsyaami vijane vane | madhu muula phalaih jiivan hitvaa munivad aamisam || 2-20-29 “I shall live in a solitary forest like a sage for fourteen years, leaving off meat and living with roots, fruits and honey”. bharataaya mahaa raajo yauvaraajyam prayacchati | maam punar dandaka aranyam vivaasayati taapasam || 2-20-30 "The great king is giving to Bharata the succession to kingdom and to me, however, he is making me a sage to stay in the forest of Dandaka." sa shhtchaaashhtau cha varshhaani vatsyaami vijane vane | aasevamaano vanyaani phalamuulaishcha cartayan || 2-20-31 “I have to satisfy with the things existing in the forest and subsist with roots and fruits in a solitary forest for fourteen years.” saa nikrittaiva saalasya yashhtih parashunaa vane | papaata sahasaa devii devateva divashchyutaa || 2-20-32 The queen Kausalya fell on the floor all at once like the branch of a tree, cut down by an axe and as an angel dropping down from heaven. taam aduhkha ucitaam drstvaa patitaam kadaliim iva | raamah tu utthaapayaam aasa maataram gata cetasam || 2-20-33 Seeing Kausalya who was fit to be free from sorrow, Rama lifted up her, who had fallen unconsciously on the floor like a plantain tree. Page 7 of 12 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 20 upaavrtya utthitaam diinaam vadavaam iva vaahitaam | paamshu gunthita sarva agniim vimamarsha ca paaninaa || 2-20-34 Rama touched with his hand that miserable Kausalya, whose limbs were covered with fragrant powder and who rose like a loaded horse from the floor on which it rolled from side to side. saa raaghavam upaasiinam asukha aartaa sukha ucitaa | uvaaca purusa vyaaghram upashrnvati laksmane || 2-20-35 Kausalya, who was fit for happiness but was afflicted with grief, spoke thus to Rama the best of men who was sitting nearby, while Lakshmana was hearing. yadi putra na jaayethaa mama shokaaya raaghava | na sma duhkham atah bhuuyah pashyeyam aham aprajaa || 2-20-36 “Oh, Rama! I would not have felt this much grief if I were childless .You are born only to produce sorrow to me.” ekaeva hi vandhyaayaah shoko bhavati maanavah | aprajaa asmi iti samtaapo na hi anyah putra vidyate || 2-20-37 “Oh, son! There is no other grief to a barren woman except the only worry that “I have no sons”.