Hari Om.
Let us begin the forty eighth sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
The citizens of ayOdhyA who accompanied rAma had a rude awakening on the banks of river tamasA when they discovered that there is no trace of rAma when they woke up from deep slumber that was caused arguably by their exertion the previous day. They were shocked out of their senses and wailed pitiably. With determination they still wanted to follow rAma and went after the trail of the chariot. But rAma who had divined their intentions and instructed sumantra accordingly checkmated their deep desire to follow him to the forest. Compassionate rAma wanted the citizens to await his return in their home and did so. The citizens were nonplussed. With and 2.47. Nowhere to go, they returned home. Having entered their luxurious mansions they found no peace there. They were pining for rAma and rAma alone. Onwards…
The people who followed rAma and returned to ayOdhyA unsure of where he has gone were dejected, highly distressed, desolate, disconsolate and desired nothing but death! It looked as if they lost vitality and were disinterested in life. They reached their respective homes and broke down in the presence of their families. The merchants had no interest in selling wares, and the householders didn’t cook food. The markets looked deserted. They were indifferent to either profit or loss. Even the women didn’t celebrate their firstborns. The subjects who thus reached home were the subject of ridicule and revile of their women who couldn’t forgive the fact that they came home without following rAma! They questioned them as to what is the use of the house, family and children for someone who doesn’t see rAma! They were full of praise for lakshmaNa and sItA who without a thought left everything else and followed rAghava to serve him in the forest.
एकः सत्पुरुषो लोके लक्ष्मण स्सह सीतया।
योऽनुगच्छति काकुत्स्थं रामं परिचरन् वने।।2.48.8।।
They felt – “the rivers and pools with lotuses in the forest were indeed fortunate that rAma shall have his ablutions in them. And what to say of the hills, slopes, waterbodies of the forest, they all bearing fully bloomed trees with buzzing bees shall host rAma as a welcome guest gladly and make him happy. The trees shall bear flowers and fruits even in off season in order to offer those to rAma. Streams with crystal clear waters shall manifest all around for rAma. He will delight in the wonderful trees all around on the hills. Where rAma is there is no fear and no question of dishonor. Before that scion of the raghus goes too far let us go and join him in the forest. The shelter of such a lord shall ensure happiness for us. He alone is the lord of the people and the ultimate refuge whom we shall seek. We women shall look after sItA and you men serve rAma. He shall take care of the men and sItA shall ensure the safety of us women folk.
Who would like to stay in this land ruled by the unrighteous kaikEyI and where there is no joy in either wealth or progeny? Life here is not honourable and we are all griefstricken. That kaikEyI has brought ignominy to her race and abandoned her husband and son (rAma) for the sake of wealth, then will the ordinary citizens be spared? We swear by our sons that we do not want to live in her kingdom like servants or orphans.
With no support of an able leader and under the crooked kaikEyI ayOdhyA is sure to go to dogs. Surely, bereft of rAma, daSaratha will not live long. Therefore we, bereft of our merits, should either consume poison and end our lives or follow where rAma is or just disappear into oblivion. rAma, sItA and lakshmaNa have been deceitfully exiled and we have been delivered like cattle to bharata.
That rAma whose face resembles the full moon, who is well built, vanquisher of enemies, well built, one with lovely lotus like eyes, the brother of lakshmaNa, one who speaks to others before they can speak to him, truthful, mighty, gentle and the delight of the whole world, whose gait is that of an elephant surely must be bringing grace to the forests”.
This glorious pic from here depicts the feelings of the women of ayOdhyA about the glory of rAma in the forest
पूर्णचन्द्रानन श्श्यामो गूढजत्रुररिन्दमः।
आजानुबाहुः पद्माक्षो रामो लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः।।2.48.29।।
पूर्वाभिभाषी मधुर स्सत्यवादी महाबलः।
सौम्यस्सर्वस्य लोकस्य चन्द्रवत्प्रियदर्शनः।।2.48.30।।
नूनं पुरुषशार्दूलो मत्तमातङ्गविक्रमः।
शोभयिष्यत्यरण्यानि विचरन् स महारथः।।2.48.31।।
Thus the womenfolk of the city of ayOdhyA wept bitterly at the separation from rAma and reviled their husbands who returned home. They wept hopelessly as if encountered by death! In these lamentations, the night dawned. The sacrificial fires were put out and the vEdic chants subsided and the city plunged into darkness. With no activity in the commercial establishments ayOdhyA resembled the sky sans stars.
Thus the women of ayOdhyA wept and wailed at the exile of rAma as if their brother or son has been exiled. In fact, he was far greater to them than their own sons! There was no activity in ayOdhyA, the song and dances had ceased, markets were closed and devoid of any human activity the city resembled a dried up ocean.
Here we conclude the forty eighth sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
Click on the book for word by word meaning from IITK website
Click on the bow to listen to the audio by SrIrAma ghanApATi
Next: 2.49. Away they speed away
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rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 