Vaalmeeki Raamaayana Ayodhya KaandaSargas 46-47 (Devanagari, Roman)

[amritha varshini]

From: Read Ramayana <ad...@readramayana.org>
Date: 2014-12-27 7:38 GMT+05:30
Subject: Vaalmeeki Raamaayana Ayodhya KaandaSargas 46-47 (Devanagari, Roman)
To: amrithava...@gmail.com

Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 46 Vālmeeki smoothly transitioned us with the last Ṡlōka of the previous Sarga, into the quietness of the Vana, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. In this Sarga, Rāma puts the thoughts of Ayōdhyā behind, consoles himself that his father and mother would be all right under the kind care of Bharata. He tells Lakshmaṇa not to worry about having to go in exile and assures him that everything would be all right ahead of them. Lakshmaṇa stays awake all night, reminiscing the virtues of Rāma with Sumantra. Rāma gets up early in the morning and feels sad about the citizens who are sleeping under the trees, leaving their homes behind, in order to follow him. In order to not cause further inconvenience to them, Rāma suggests that they should leave for the Vana before the citizens get up. Lakshmaṇa agrees. Sumantra makes the chariot ready. They all drive off, crossing the river Tamasā.
2.46.1	ततस्तु तमसातीरं रम्यमाश्रित्य राघवः । सीतामुद्वीक्ष्य सौमित्रिमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ tatastu tamasātīraṃ ramyamāṡritya rāghavaḥ । sītāmudvīkṣya saumitrimidaṃ vacanamabravīt ॥ Upon reaching the delightful bank of river Tamasā, Rāghava looked at Seetā, and said to the son of Sumitrā:
2.46.2	इयमद्य निशा पूर्वा सौमित्रे प्रहिता वनम् । वनवासस्य भद्रं ते स नोत्कण्ठितुमर्हसि ॥ iyamadya niṡā pūrvā saumitrē prahitā vanam । vanavāsasya bhadraṃ tē sa nōtkaṇṭhitumarhasi ॥ O son of Sumitrā! This would be the first night of life in Vana after we have been exiled to the Vana. May you not have any kind of worry. Everything will bode well for you.	Lakshmaṇa was very angry about Rāma being exiled. Hence, Rāma is making sure that Lakshmaṇa is well disposed to the stay in the Vana.
2.46.3	पश्य शून्यान्यरण्यानि रुदन्तीव समन्ततः । यथानिलयमायद्भिर्निलीनानि मृगद्विजैः ॥ paṡya ṡūnyānyaraṇyāni rudantīva samantataḥ । yathānilayamāyadbhirnilīnāni mṛgadvijaiḥ ॥ Look at these woods that seem empty with the birds and beasts finding their hiding places. It feels as if it is crying, in every direction.
2.46.4	अद्यायोध्या तु नगरी राजधानी पितुर्मम । सस्त्रीपुंसा गतानस्माञ्शोचिष्यति न संशयः ॥ adyāyōdhyā tu nagarī rājadhānī piturmama । sastrīpuṃsā gatānasmāñṡōciṣyati na saṃṡayaḥ ॥ Today, the City of Ayōdhyā, my father’s capital, with all its men and women, will no doubt be brooding over us who have come away!
2.46.5	अनुरक्ता हि मनुजा राजानं बहुभिर्गुणैः । त्वां च मां च नरव्याघ्र शत्रुघ्न भरतौ तथा ॥ anuraktā hi manujā rājānaṃ bahubhirguṇaiḥ । tvāṃ ca māṃ ca naravyāghra ṡatrughna bharatau tathā ॥ O tiger among men! People love all of us, the king, you, me, Ṡatrughna and Bharata for various good reasons.
2.46.6	पितरं चानुशोचामि मातरं च यशस्विनीम् । अपि वान्धौ भवेतां तु रुदन्तौ तावभीक्ष्णशः ॥ pitaraṃ cānuṡōcāmi mātaraṃ ca yaṡasvinīm । api vāndhau bhavētāṃ tu rudantau tāvabhīkṣṇaṡaḥ ॥ Father and the well regarded mother, I worry, may become blind, crying endlessly.
2.46.7	भरतः खलु धर्मात्मा पितरं मातरं च मे । धर्मार्थकामसहितैर्वाक्यैर्वाश्वासयिष्यति ॥ bharataḥ khalu dharmātmā pitaraṃ mātaraṃ ca mē । dharmārthakāmasahitairvākyairvāṡvāsayiṣyati ॥ Bharata, the Dharmātma, will indeed console father and my mother with righteous, meaningful and endearing words.
2.46.8	भरतस्यानृशंसत्वं विचिन्त्याहं पुनः पुनः । नानुशोचामि पितरं मातरं चापि लक्ष्मण ! ॥ bharatasyānṛṡaṃsatvaṃ vicintyāhaṃ punaḥ punaḥ । nānuṡōcāmi pitaraṃ mātaraṃ cāpi lakṣmaṇa ! ॥ O Lakshmaṇa, I would hold myself from worrying about father and mother, reminding myself again and again, of the gentle attitude of Bharata.
2.46.9	त्वया कार्यं नरव्याघ्र मामनुव्रजता कृतम् । अन्वेष्टव्या हि वैदेह्या रक्षणार्थे सहायता ॥ tvayā kāryaṃ naravyāghra māmanuvrajatā kṛtam । anvēṣṭavyā hi vaidēhyā rakṣaṇārthē sahāyatā ॥ O tiger among men, it is good that you have come following me. I would any way have looked for some help, to protect the princess of Vidēha.
2.46.10	अद्भिरेव तु सौमित्रे! वत्स्याम्यद्य निशामिमाम् । एतध्दि रोचते मह्यं वन्येऽपि विविधे सति ॥ adbhirēva tu saumitrē! vatsyāmyadya niṡāmimām । ētadhdi rōcatē mahyaṃ vanyē'pi vividhē sati ॥ Tonight, O son of Sumitrā, I somehow feel like taking only water, though various kinds of forest produce are available.
2.46.11	एवमुक्त्वा तु सौमित्रिं सुमन्त्रमपि राघवः । अप्रमत्तस्त्वमश्वेषु भव सौम्येत्युवाच ह ॥ ēvamuktvā tu saumitriṃ sumantramapi rāghavaḥ । apramattastvamaṡvēṣu bhava saumyētyuvāca ha ॥ Having said this to the son of Sumitrā, Rāghava told Sumantra, “O gentle one, please look to the horses carefully!”
2.46.12	सोऽश्वान्सुमन्त्रः संयम्य सूर्येऽस्तं समुपागते । प्रभूतयवसान् कृत्वा बभूव प्रत्यनन्तरः ॥ sō'ṡvānsumantraḥ saṃyamya sūryē'staṃ samupāgatē । prabhūtayavasān kṛtvā babhūva pratyanantaraḥ ॥ When the sun set, Sumantra tethered the horses, gave them plenty of fodder and returned.
2.46.13	उपास्य तु शिवां सन्ध्यां दृष्ट्वा रात्रिमुपस्थिताम् । रामस्य शयनं चक्रे सूतः सौमित्रिणा सह ॥ upāsya tu ṡivāṃ sandhyāṃ dṛṣṭvā rātrimupasthitām । rāmasya ṡayanaṃ cakrē sūtaḥ saumitriṇā saha ॥ Sumantra then paid salutations to the auspicious dusk. As the night approached, he made the bed for Rāghava with the help of Lakshmaṇa.
2.46.14	तां शय्यां तमसातीरे वीक्ष्य वृक्षदलैः कृताम् । रामः सौमित्रिणा सार्धं सभार्यस्संविवेश ह ॥ tāṃ ṡayyāṃ tamasātīrē vīkṣya vṛkṣadalaiḥ kṛtām । rāmaḥ saumitriṇā sārdhaṃ sabhāryassaṃvivēṡa ha ॥ Seeing that bed of leaves on the bank of river Tamasā ready, Rāma lay down on it along with his wife. Lakshmaṇa also lay down.
2.46.15	सभार्यं सम्प्रसुप्तं तं भ्रातरं वीक्ष्य लक्ष्मणः । कथयामास सूताय रामस्य विविधान् गुणान् ॥ sabhāryaṃ samprasuptaṃ taṃ bhrātaraṃ vīkṣya lakṣmaṇaḥ । kathayāmāsa sūtāya rāmasya vividhān guṇān ॥ Lakshmaṇa, in admiration, looked at his brother who was asleep with his wife. Speaking to the charioteer, he reflected on the exceptional virtues of Rāma.
2.46.16	जाग्रतो ह्येव तां रात्रिं सौमित्रेरुदितो रविः । सूतस्य तमसातीरे रामस्य ब्रुवतो गुणान् ॥ jāgratō hyēva tāṃ rātriṃ saumitrēruditō raviḥ । sūtasya tamasātīrē rāmasya bruvatō guṇān ॥ Thus, speaking to the charioteer about the virtues of Rāma on those banks of river Tamasā, that son of Sumitrā ended up staying awake all night and the sun rose meanwhile.
2.46.17	गोकुलाकुलतीरायास्तमसाया विदूरतः । अवसत्तत्र तां रात्रिं रामः प्रकृतिभिस्सह ॥ gōkulākulatīrāyāstamasāyā vidūrataḥ । avasattatra tāṃ rātriṃ rāmaḥ prakṛtibhissaha ॥ Thus Rāma spent the night along with all the people, not far from river Tamasā, whose banks were crowded with herds of cows.
2.46.18	उत्थाय स महातेजाः प्रकृतीस्ता निशाम्य च । अब्रवीद्भ्रातरं रामो लक्ष्मणं पुण्यलक्षणम् ॥ utthāya sa mahātējāḥ prakṛtīstā niṡāmya ca । abravīdbhrātaraṃ rāmō lakṣmaṇaṃ puṇyalakṣaṇam ॥ Getting up and looking at those people, that man of great radiance said to his brother Lakshmaṇa of pleasing appearance:
2.46.19	अस्मद्व्यपेक्षान् सौमित्रे निरपेक्षान् गृहेष्वपि । वृक्षमूलेषु संसुप्तान् पश्य लक्ष्मण साम्प्रतम् ॥ asmadvyapēkṣān saumitrē nirapēkṣān gṛhēṣvapi । vṛkṣamūlēṣu saṃsuptān paṡya lakṣmaṇa sāmpratam ॥ O son of Sumitrā, look at these people! With love towards us that surpasses their love for their own homes, they are sleeping under the trees now!
2.46.20	यथैते नियमं पौराः कुर्वन्त्यस्मन्निवर्तने । अपि प्राणान्न्यसिष्यन्ति न तु त्यक्ष्यन्ति निश्चयम् ॥ yathaitē niyamaṃ paurāḥ kurvantyasmannivartanē । api prāṇānnyasiṣyanti na tu tyakṣyanti niṡcayam ॥ These citizens are determined in coaxing us to return. They seem to be ready to give up even their lives than giving up their intent.
2.46.21	यावदेव तु संसुप्तास्तावदेव वयं लघु । रथमारुह्य गच्छामः पन्थानमकुतोभयम् ॥ yāvadēva tu saṃsuptāstāvadēva vayaṃ laghu । rathamāruhya gacchāmaḥ panthānamakutōbhayam ॥ So, while they are sound asleep, let us quickly get into the chariot and go on our way along the road, with no further worries.
2.46.22	अतो भूयोऽपि नेदानीमिक्ष्वाकुपुरवासिनः । स्वपेयुरनुरक्ता मां वृक्षमूलानि संश्रिताः ॥ atō bhūyō'pi nēdānīmikṣvākupuravāsinaḥ । svapēyuranuraktā māṃ vṛkṣamūlāni saṃṡritāḥ ॥ Then the inhabitants of the city of Ikshwākus will not have to sleep again under the trees like this because of their love for me.
2.46.23	पौरा ह्यात्मकृताद्दुःखाद्विप्रमोच्या नृपात्मजैः । न तु खल्वात्मना योज्या दुःखेन पुरवासिनः ॥ paurā hyātmakṛtādduḥkhādvipramōcyā nṛpātmajaiḥ । na tu khalvātmanā yōjyā duḥkhēna puravāsinaḥ ॥ As the sons of the king, we should save citizens from hardships that they might bring upon themselves, and not be the ones to bring hardships upon them!
2.46.24	अब्रवील्लक्ष्मणो रामं साक्षाद्धर्ममिवस्थितम् । रोचते मे तथा प्राज्ञ! क्षिप्र मारुह्यतामिति ॥ abravīllakṣmaṇō rāmaṃ sākṣāddharmamivasthitam । rōcatē mē tathā prājña! kṣipra māruhyatāmiti ॥ Lakshmaṇa answered Rāma, who was like Dharma incarnate, “I like that idea, O wise one, let us get in quick!”
2.46.25	अथ रामोऽब्रवीच्छ्रीमान्सुमन्त्रं युज्यतां रथः । गमिष्यामि ततोऽरण्यं गच्छ शीघ्रमितः प्रभो ॥ atha rāmō'bravīcchrīmānsumantraṃ yujyatāṃ rathaḥ । gamiṣyāmi tatō'raṇyaṃ gaccha ṡīghramitaḥ prabhō ॥ Then the majestic and gracious Rāma said to Sumantra: O lord, make the chariot ready! I shall go to the Vana. Start from here immediately!
2.46.26	सूतस्ततस्सत्त्वरितः स्यन्दनं तैर्हयोत्तमैः । योजयित्व्राऽथ रामाय प्राञ्जलिः प्रत्यवेदयत् ॥ sūtastatassattvaritaḥ syandanaṃ tairhayōttamaiḥ । yōjayitvrā'tha rāmāya prāñjaliḥ pratyavēdayat ॥ The charioteer then hastened and yoked those exquisite horses. He said to Rāma with palms joined in reverence:
2.46.27	अयं युक्तो महाबाहो! रथस्ते रथिनां वर! । त्वमारोहस्व भद्रं ते ससीत स्सहलक्ष्मणः ॥ ayaṃ yuktō mahābāhō! rathastē rathināṃ vara! । tvamārōhasva bhadraṃ tē sasīta ssahalakṣmaṇaḥ ॥ O mighty armed one! O foremost among the charioters! The chariot is ready. May you get in quick along with Seetā and Lakshmaṇa! May all bode well for you!	Ratha (रथ) means chariot. Rathi (रथि) means one who owns a chariot and/or rides on a chariot and especially adept in fighting a battle mounted on a chariot, as opposed to on a horse or elephant. Sarathi (सारथि) means one who drives a chariot. The image of Arjuna riding on the chariot and Krishna driving it in the war of Mahabharata is familiar to many of us. In that picture, we see a Ratha, a Rathi and a Sarathi. The word Rathi (रथि) is used very often in traditional Indian texts. But unfortunately, there is no equivalent of it in English. So I made up the word charioter (note the singe ‘e’) as equivalent of Rathi (रथि).
2.46.28	तं स्यन्दनमधिष्ठाय राघवस्सपरिच्छदः । शीघ्रगामाकुलावर्तां तमसामतरन्नदीम् ॥ taṃ syandanamadhiṣṭhāya rāghavassaparicchadaḥ । ṡīghragāmākulāvartāṃ tamasāmatarannadīm ॥ Taking his seat in the chariot, having first had all his goods stowed away in it, Rāghava crossed the river Tamasā with its swift and swirling currents.
2.46.29	स सन्तीर्य महाबाहुः श्रीमान् शिवमकण्टकम् । प्रापद्यत महामार्गमभयं भयदर्शिनाम् ॥ sa santīrya mahābāhuḥ ṡrīmān ṡivamakaṇṭakam । prāpadyata mahāmārgamabhayaṃ bhayadarṡinām ॥ Crossing it, the blessed and mighty armed one (Rāma) took the fine highway which was free from dangers, where even the timorous felt safe.
2.46.30-31	मोहनार्थं तु पौराणां सूतं रामोऽब्रवीद्वचः । उदङ्मुखः प्रयाहि त्वं रथमास्थाय सारथे ॥ मुहूर्तं त्वरितं गत्वा निवर्तय रथं पुनः । यथा न विद्युः पौरा मां तथा कुरु समाहितः ॥ mōhanārthaṃ tu paurāṇāṃ sūtaṃ rāmō'bravīdvacaḥ । udaṅmukhaḥ prayāhi tvaṃ rathamāsthāya sārathē ॥ muhūrtaṃ tvaritaṃ gatvā nivartaya rathaṃ punaḥ । yathā na vidyuḥ paurā māṃ tathā kuru samāhitaḥ ॥ Rāma, in order to hoodwink the citizens (to not follow him) gave these instructions to the charioteer: O Charioteer! Take your seat and drive to the north. Drive quick and far enough and then stop, so that the citizens would not know where I am. Do it with care and diligence.	Ṡlōkas 30 to 34 seem to be an alternate (and not so well written) version of Ṡlōkas 21 to 29. Alternates like these in a text that is as old as Rāmāyaṇa are to be expected to creep in. However, it is rare to see two versions preserved next to each other like this, in a well compiled edition. If it were left to me, I would have, without any hesitation, purged Ṡlōkas 30 to 34 from the compilation.
2.46.32	रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा तथा चक्रे स सारथिः । प्रत्यागम्य च रामस्य स्यन्दनं प्रत्यवेदयत् ॥ rāmasya vacanaṃ ṡrutvā tathā cakrē sa sārathiḥ । pratyāgamya ca rāmasya syandanaṃ pratyavēdayat ॥ The charioteer heard Rāma and after acting accordingly, came back to inform Rāma that the chariot is ready.
2.46.33	तौ सम्प्रयुक्तं तु रथं समास्थितौ तदा ससीतौ रघुवंशवर्धनौ । प्रचोदयामास ततस्तुरङ्गमान् स सारथिर्येन पथा तपोवनम् ॥ tau samprayuktaṃ tu rathaṃ samāsthitau tadā sasītau raghuvaṃṡavardhanau । pracōdayāmāsa tatasturaṅgamān sa sārathiryēna pathā tapōvanam ॥ When the two prosperers of the lineage of Raghu had settled themselves in the chariot, along with Sita, the charioteer drove the horses forward along the road that led to the Vana where people perform Tapa.
2.46.34	तत स्समास्थाय रथं महारथः ससारथिर्दाशरथिर्वनं ययौ । उदङ्मुखं तं तु रथं चकार स प्रयाणमाङ्गल्य निमित्तदर्शनात् ॥ tata ssamāsthāya rathaṃ mahārathaḥ sasārathirdāṡarathirvanaṃ yayau । udaṅmukhaṃ taṃ tu rathaṃ cakāra sa prayāṇamāṅgalya nimittadarṡanāt ॥ As it augurs well to travel in the northerly direction, Sumantra turned the chariot in that direction. The son of Daṡaratha, charioter paramount, thus mounted the chariot driven by the charioteer and headed to the Vana.
	इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे षट्चत्वारिंशस्सर्गः ॥ ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē ṣaṭcatvāriṃṡassargaḥ ॥ Thus concludes the forty-sixth Sarga in Ayōdhyā Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa, the first ever poem of humankind, composed by Vālmeeki.
	We completed reading 4106 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.
Ayodhya Kaanda - Sarga 47 In this Sarga, the citizens wake up in the morning only to find that Rāma has left. Cursing themselves for their sound sleep, they turn back with heavy hearts and enter Ayōdhyā sad and disoriented.
2.47.1	प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां पौरास्ते राघवं विना । शोकोपहतनिश्चेष्टा बभूवुर्हतचेतसः ॥ prabhātāyāṃ tu ṡarvaryāṃ paurāstē rāghavaṃ vinā । ṡōkōpahataniṡcēṣṭā babhūvurhatacētasaḥ ॥ At dawn those inhabitants of the city, finding themselves without Rāghava, were bewildered and paralyzed by grief.
2.47.2	शोकजाश्रुपरिद्यूना वीक्षमाणास्ततस्ततः । आलोकमपि रामस्य न पश्यन्ति स्म दुःखिताः ॥ ṡōkajāṡruparidyūnā vīkṣamāṇāstatastataḥ । ālōkamapi rāmasya na paṡyanti sma duḥkhitāḥ ॥ Drenched in tears of misery, they searched around everywhere. But to their great sorrow they found no trace of Rāma.
2.47.3	ते विषादार्तवदना रहितास्तेन धीमता । कृपणाः करुणा वाचो वदन्ति स्म मनस्विनः ॥ tē viṣādārtavadanā rahitāstēna dhīmatā । kṛpaṇāḥ karuṇā vācō vadanti sma manasvinaḥ ॥ Deprived of the company of the prudent one, with their faces pale in dejection, those thoughtful souls spoke these helpless and piteous words:
2.47.4	धिगस्तु खलु निद्रां तां ययाऽपहृतचेतसः । नाद्य पश्यामहे रामं पृथूरस्कं महाभुजम् ॥ dhigastu khalu nidrāṃ tāṃ yayā'pahṛtacētasaḥ । nādya paṡyāmahē rāmaṃ pṛthūraskaṃ mahābhujam ॥ Dhik! What a wretched sleep that completely took away our senses? We have now lost the sight of Rāma of broad chest and mighty arms!
2.47.5	कथं नाम महाबाहु स्स तथावितथक्रियः । भक्तं जनं परित्यज्य प्रवासं राघवो गतः ॥ kathaṃ nāma mahābāhu ssa tathāvitathakriyaḥ । bhaktaṃ janaṃ parityajya pravāsaṃ rāghavō gataḥ ॥ How could the mighty armed who would not do anything that does not serve a purpose, go into exile deserting his devoted subjects?
2.47.6	यो नः सदा पालयति पिता पुत्रानिवौरसान् । कथं रघूणां स श्रेष्ठस्त्यक्त्वा नो विपिनं गतः ॥ yō naḥ sadā pālayati pitā putrānivaurasān । kathaṃ raghūṇāṃ sa ṡrēṣṭhastyaktvā nō vipinaṃ gataḥ ॥ How could he, the foremost of the Raghus, who always looked after us like a father does his own progeny, abandon us and go to the forest?
2.47.7	इहैव निधनं यामो महाप्रस्थानमेव वा । रामेण रहितानां हि किमर्थं जीवितं हि नः ॥ ihaiva nidhanaṃ yāmō mahāprasthānamēva vā । rāmēṇa rahitānāṃ hi kimarthaṃ jīvitaṃ hi naḥ ॥ We shall lay down our lives here. Or else, we shall take the last journey of no return. For what good would life be to us, who have lost Rāma?
2.47.8	सन्ति शुष्काणि काष्ठानि प्रभूतानि महान्ति च । तैः प्रज्वाल्य चितां सर्वे प्रविशामोऽथ पावकम् ॥ santi ṡuṣkāṇi kāṣṭhāni prabhūtāni mahānti ca । taiḥ prajvālya citāṃ sarvē praviṡāmō'tha pāvakam ॥ There are enough big and dry logs here. Let us ignite them and throw ourselves into that fire now.
2.47.9	किं वक्ष्यामो महाबाहुरनसूयः प्रियंवदः । नीत स्स राघवोऽस्माभिरिति वक्तुं कथं क्षमम् ॥ kiṃ vakṣyāmō mahābāhuranasūyaḥ priyaṃvadaḥ । nīta ssa rāghavō'smābhiriti vaktuṃ kathaṃ kṣamam ॥ What can we say (to the people of Ayōdhyā)? How can we say that we have seen off the sweet-spoken and mighty armed Raghava, who knows no envy, to the forest?
2.47.10	सा नूनं नगरी दीना दृष्ट्वाऽस्मान् राघवं विना । भविष्यति निरानन्दा सस्त्रीबालवयोधिका ॥ sā nūnaṃ nagarī dīnā dṛṣṭvā'smān rāghavaṃ vinā । bhaviṣyati nirānandā sastrībālavayōdhikā ॥ The wretched city, seeing us back without Rāghava, will, including its women, children and aged, be assuredly drained of all joy.
2.47.11	निर्यातास्तेन वीरेण सह नित्यं जितात्मना । विहीनास्तेन च पुनः कथं पश्याम तां पुरीम् ॥ niryātāstēna vīrēṇa saha nityaṃ jitātmanā । vihīnāstēna ca punaḥ kathaṃ paṡyāma tāṃ purīm ॥ Having left it with that Veera of complete restraint, how can we bear to see it again without him?’
2.47.12	इतीव बहुधा वाचो बाहुमुद्यम्य ते जनाः । विलपन्ति स्म दुःखार्ता विवत्सा इव धेनवः ॥ itīva bahudhā vācō bāhumudyamya tē janāḥ । vilapanti sma duḥkhārtā vivatsā iva dhēnavaḥ ॥ Thus, flinging their arms into the air, wailed those people in many words, tormented by grief, like cows that had lost their calves.
2.47.13	ततो मार्गानुसारेण गत्वा किञ्चित् क्षणं पुनः । मार्गनाशाद्विषादेन महता समभिप्लुताः ॥ tatō mārgānusārēṇa gatvā kiñcit kṣaṇaṃ punaḥ । mārganāṡādviṣādēna mahatā samabhiplutāḥ ॥ They followed the tracks (of the chariot) for a while. And then finding them obliterated, they were overwhelmed by distress.
2.47.14	रथस्य मार्गनाशेन न्यवर्तन्त मनस्विनः । किमिदं किं करिष्यामो दैवेनोपहता इति ॥ rathasya mārganāṡēna nyavartanta manasvinaḥ । kimidaṃ kiṃ kariṣyāmō daivēnōpahatā iti ॥ As the tracks of the chariot were obliterated, resigned to their fate, they turned back saying: “Alas, what are we to do now, confounded by destiny?”
2.47.15	ततो यथागतेनैव मार्गेण क्लान्तचेतसः । अयोध्यामगमन्सर्वे पुरीं व्यथितसज्जनाम् ॥ tatō yathāgatēnaiva mārgēṇa klāntacētasaḥ । ayōdhyāmagamansarvē purīṃ vyathitasajjanām ॥ Then, weary in mind, they traced back their path to the city of Ayōdhyā where every man of heart was troubled.
2.47.16	आलोक्य नगरीं तां च क्षयव्याकुलमानसाः । आवर्तयन्त तेऽश्रूणि नयनैः शोकपीडितैः ॥ ālōkya nagarīṃ tāṃ ca kṣayavyākulamānasāḥ । āvartayanta tē'ṡrūṇi nayanaiḥ ṡōkapīḍitaiḥ ॥ With their minds drained and agitated, they shed tears, distressed upon seeing that city.
2.47.17	एषा रामेण नगरी रहिता नातिशोभते । आपगा गरुडेनेव ह्रदादुद्धृतपन्नगा ॥ ēṣā rāmēṇa nagarī rahitā nātiṡōbhatē । āpagā garuḍēnēva hradāduddhṛtapannagā ॥ Bereft of Rāma, this city is no more splendid, like a river whose protecting serpent was snatched away by Garuda.
2.47.18	चन्द्रहीनमिवाकाशं तोयहीनमिवार्णवम् । अपश्यन्निहतानन्दं नगरं ते विचेतसः ॥ candrahīnamivākāṡaṃ tōyahīnamivārṇavam । apaṡyannihatānandaṃ nagaraṃ tē vicētasaḥ ॥ With their minds so disoriented, they saw a city whose sense of joy was completely struck, resembling a sky without the moon and an ocean without water.
2.47.19	ते तानि वेश्मानि महाधनानि दुःखेन दुःखोपहता विशन्तः । नैव प्रजज्ञुः स्वजनं जनं वा निरीक्षमाणाः प्रविनष्टहर्षाः ॥ tē tāni vēṡmāni mahādhanāni duḥkhēna duḥkhōpahatā viṡantaḥ । naiva prajajñuḥ svajanaṃ janaṃ vā nirīkṣamāṇāḥ pravinaṣṭaharṣāḥ ॥ They entered their opulent houses grieving and struck by sadness. With all traces of joy evaporated, they were at a loss even to recognize their own people, or anyone else for that matter.
	इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तचत्वारिंशस्सर्गः ॥ ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptacatvāriṃṡassargaḥ ॥ Thus concludes the forty-seventh Sarga in Ayōdhyā Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa, the first ever poem of humankind, composed by Vālmeeki.
	We completed reading 4125 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.

Prepared for: Read Ramayana International Initiative.
Meaning, notes and commentary by: Krishna Sharma.