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Book 1 - Vairagya Prakaranam

Chapter 10 - Melancholy of Rama

वाल्मीकिरुवाच ।
तथा वसिष्ठे ब्रुवति राजा दशरथः सुतम् ।
संप्रहृष्टमना राममाजुहाव सलक्ष्मणम् ॥ १ ॥
Valmiki related:—
After Vasishtha had done saying in this manner, king Dasaratha was glad to send for Rama with Lakshmana, and said:
दशरथ उवाच ।
प्रतिहार महाबाहुं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम् ।
सलक्ष्मणमविघ्नेन पुण्यार्थं शीघ्रमानय ॥ २ ॥
Go you chamberlain, and bring here quickly the truly mighty and long armed Rama with Lakshmana, for the meritorious purpose of removing the impediments (in the way of religious acts).
इति राज्ञा विसृष्टोऽसौ गत्वान्तःपुरमन्दिरम् ।
मुहूर्तमात्रेणागत्य समुवाच महीपतिम् ॥ ३ ॥
Thus sent by the king he went to the inner apartment, and coming back in a moment informed the king.
देव दोर्दलिताशेषरिपो रामः स्वमन्दिरे ।
विमनाः संस्थितो रात्रौ षट्पदः कमले यथा ॥ ४ ॥
Oh sire! Rama, whose arms have crushed all his foes, remains rapt in thoughts in his room like the bee closed in the lotus at night.
आगच्छामि क्षणेनेति वक्ति ध्यायति चैकतः ।
न कस्यचिच्च निकटे स्थातुमिच्छति खिन्नधीः ॥ ५ ॥
He said, he is coming in a moment, but is so abstracted in his lonely meditation that he likes no body to be near him.
इत्युक्तस्तेन भूपालस्तं रामानुचरं जनम् ।
सर्वमाश्वासयामास पप्रच्छ च यथाक्रमम् ॥ ६ ॥
Thus acquainted by the chamberlain, the king called one of the attendants of Rama to him, and having given him every assurance, asked him to relate the particulars.
कथं कीदृग्विधो राम इति पृष्टो महीभृता ।
रामभृत्यजनः खिन्नो वाक्यमाह महीपतिम् ॥ ७ ॥
On being asked by the king how Rama had come to that state, the attendant thus replied to him in a sorrowful mood.
देहयष्टिमिमां देव धारयन्त इमे वयम् ।
खिन्नाः खेदे परिम्लानतनौ रामे सुते तव ॥ ८ ॥
581. Sir, we have also become as lean as sticks in our persons, in sorrow for the fading away of your son Rama in his body.
582. रामो राजीवपत्राक्षो यतःप्रभृति चागतः ।
सविप्रस्तीर्थयात्रायास्ततःप्रभृति दुर्मनाः ॥ ९ ॥
583. The lotus-eyed Rama appears dejected ever since he has come back from his pilgrimage in company with the Brahmanas.
584. यत्नप्रार्थनयास्माकं निजव्यापारमाह्निकम् ।
सोऽयमाम्लानवदनः करोति न करोति वा ॥ १० ॥
585. When besought by us with importunity to perform his daily rites, he sometimes discharges them with a placid countenance, and wholly dispenses with them at others.
586. स्नानदेवार्चनादानभोजनादिषु दुर्मनाः ।
प्रार्थितोऽपि हि नातृप्तेरश्नात्यशनमीश्वरः ॥ ११ ॥
587. He is averse, Oh Lord! to bathing, to worshipping the gods, to the distribution of alms, and to his meals also; and even when importuned by us he does not take his food with a good relish.
588. लोलान्तःपुरनारीभिः कृतदोलाभिरङ्गणे ।
नच क्रीडति लीलाभिर्धाराभिरिव चातकः ॥ १२ ॥
589. He no longer suffers himself to be rocked in the swinging cradles by the playful girls of the harem, nor does he divert himself under the showering fountains like the chataka (in rain water).
590. माणिक्यमुकुलप्रोता केयूरकटकावलिः ।
नानन्दयति तं राजन्द्यौः पातविषयं यथा ॥ १३ ॥
591. No ornaments beset with the bud-shaped rubies, no bracelets nor necklace, Oh king, can please him now, in the same manner as nothing in heaven can please its inhabitants who expect their fall from it (after the expiration of their terms).
592. क्रीडद्वधूविलोकेषु वहत्कुसुमवायुषु ।
लतावलयगेहेषु भवत्यतिविषादवान् ॥ १४ ॥
593. He is sorrowful even while sitting in the arbours of creepers, regaled by flowery breezes, and amidst the looks of damsels playing around him.
594. यद्द्रव्यमुचितं स्वादु पेशलं चित्तहारि च ।
बाष्पपूर्णेक्षण इव तेनैव परिखिद्यते ॥ १५ ॥
595. Whatever thing Oh king! is good and sweet, elegant and pleasing, to the soul, he looks at them with sorrowful eyes, like one whose eyes are already satiate with viewing them heaped up in piles (before him).
596. यद्द्रव्यमुचितं स्वादु पेशलं चित्तहारि च ।
बाष्पपूर्णेक्षण इव तेनैव परिखिद्यते ॥ १५ ॥
597. He would speak ill of the girls that would dance merrily before him, and exclaim out saying, “why should these ladies of the harem flutter about in this way causing grief in me.”
598. भोजनं शयनं यानं विलासं स्नानमासनम् ।
उन्मत्तचेष्टित इव नाभिनन्दत्यनिन्दितम् ॥ १७ ॥
599. His doings are like those of a madman, who takes no delight at his food or rest, his vehicles or seats, his baths and other pleasures, however excellent they be.
600. किं संपदा किं विपदा किं गेहेन किमिङ्गितैः ।
सर्वमेवासदित्युक्त्वा तूष्णीमेकोऽवतिष्ठते ॥ १८ ॥
601. As regards prosperity or adversity, his habitation or any other desirable things, he says of them to be all unreal, and then holds his silence.
602. नोदेति परिहासेषु न भोगेषु निमज्जति ।
न च तिष्ठति कार्येषु मौनमेवावलम्बते ॥ १९ ॥
603. He cannot be excited to pleasantry nor tempted to taste of pleasures; he attends to no business, but remains in silence.
604. विलोलालकवल्लर्यो हेलावलितलोचनाः ।
नानन्दयन्ति तं नार्यो मृग्यो वनतरुं यथा ॥ २० ॥
605. No woman with her loosened locks and tresses, and the negligent glances of her eyes, can please him any more than the playful fawn can please the trees in the forest.
606. एकान्तेषु दिगन्तेषु तीरेषु विपिनेषु च ।
रतिमायात्यरण्येषु विक्रीत इव जन्तुषु ॥ २१ ॥
607. Like a man sold among savages, he takes delight in lonely places, in remotest skirts, in the banks (of rivers) and wild deserts.
608. वस्त्रपानाशनादानपराङ्मुखतया तया ।
परिव्राड्धर्मिणं भूय सोऽनुयाति तपस्विनम् ॥ २२ ॥
609. His aversion to clothing and conveyance, food and presents, bespeaks O king! that he is following the line of life led by wandering ascetics.
610. Yoga Vasishtha will be continued tomorrow.
610. Let me continue with Yoga Vasishtha - Vairagya Prakaranam - Sarga 10.
611. एक एव वसन्देशे जनशून्ये जनेश्वर ।
न हसत्येकया बुद्ध्या न गायति न रोदिति ॥ २३ ॥
612. He lives alone, Oh lord of men! in a lonely place, and neither laughs nor sings nor cries aloud from a sense of their indifference to him.
613. बद्धपद्मासनः शून्यमना वामकरस्थले ।
कपोलतलमाधाय केवलं परितिष्ठति ॥ २४ ॥
614. Seated in the posture of folded legs (Padmasana), he stays with a distracted mind, reclining his cheek on his left palm.
615. नाभिमानमुपादत्ते न च वाञ्छति राजताम् ।
नोदेति नास्तमायाति सुखदुःखानुवृत्तिषु ॥ २५ ॥
616. He assumes no pride to himself nor wishes for the dignity of sovereignty; he is neither elated with joy nor depressed by grief or pain.
617. न विद्मः किमसौ याति किं करोति किमीहते ।
किं ध्यायति किमायाति कथं किमनुधावति ॥ २६ ॥
618. We do not know where he goes, what he does, what he desires, what he meditates upon, from where and when he comes and what he follows.
619. प्रत्यहं कृशतामेति प्रत्यहं याति पाण्डुताम् ।
विरागं प्रत्यहं याति शरदन्त इव द्रुमः ॥ २७ ॥
620. He is getting lean every day, growing pale day by day, and like a tree at the end of autumn, he is becoming discoloured day after day.
621. अनुयातौ तथैवैतौ राजञ्छत्रुघ्नलक्ष्मणौ ।
तादृशावेव तस्यैव प्रतिबिम्बाविव स्थितौ ॥ २८ ॥
622. Satrughna and Lakshmana are, Oh king! the followers of all his habits, and resemble his very shadows.
623. भृत्यै राजभिरम्बाभिः संपृष्टोऽपि पुनः पुनः ।
उक्त्वा न किंचिदेवेति तूष्णीमास्ते निरीहितः ॥ २९ ॥
624. Being repeatedly asked by his servants, his brother-princes and his mothers, (as to the cause of his dementedness), he says he has none, and then resumes his taciturnity and indifference.
625. आपातमात्रहृद्येषु मा भोगेषु मनः कृथाः ।
इति पार्श्वगतं भव्यमनुशास्ति सुहृज्जनम् ॥ ३० ॥
626. He would lecture his companions and friends saying, “do not set your mind to sensual enjoyments which are only pleasing for the time being.”
627. आपातमात्रहृद्येषु मा भोगेषु मनः कृथाः ।
इति पार्श्वगतं भव्यमनुशास्ति सुहृज्जनम् ॥ ३० ॥
628. He has no affection for the richly adorned women of the harem, but rather looks upon them as the cause of destruction presented before him.
629. नीतमायुरनायासपदप्राप्तिविवर्जितैः ।
चेष्टितैरिति काकल्या भूयोभूयः प्रगायति ॥ ३२ ॥
630. He often chaunts in plaintive notes, how his life is being spent in vain cares, estranged from those of the easily attainable state of (heavenly bliss).
631. सम्राड्भवेति पार्श्वस्थं वदन्तमनुजीविनम् ।
प्रलपन्तमिवोन्मत्तं हसत्यन्यमना मुनिः ॥ ३३ ॥
632. Should some dependant courtier speak of his being an emperor (one day), he smiles at him as upon a raving madman, and then remains silent as one distracted in his mind.
633. न प्रोक्तमाकर्णयति ईक्षते न पुरोगतम् ।
करोत्यवज्ञां सर्वत्र सुसमेत्यापि वस्तुनि ॥ ३४ ॥
634. He does not pay heed to what is said to him, nor does he look at any thing presented before him. He hates to look upon things even the most charming (to sight).
635. अप्याकाशसरोजिन्या अप्याकाशमहावने ।
इत्थमेतन्मन इति विस्मयोऽस्य न जायते ॥ ३५ ॥
636. As it is chimerical to suppose the existence of an etherial lake, and lotus growing in the same, so it is false to believe the reality of the mind and its conceptions. Saying so Rama marvels at nothing.
637. कान्तामध्यगतस्यापि मनोऽस्य मदनेषवः ।
न भेदयन्ति दुर्भेद्यं धारा इव महोपलम् ॥ ३६ ॥
638. Even when sitting amidst beauteous maids, the darts of cupid fail to pierce his impenetrable heart, as showers of rain the (unimpregnable) rock.
639. आपदामेकमावासमभिवाञ्छसि किं धनम् ।
अनुशिष्येति सर्वस्वमर्थिने संप्रयच्छति ॥ ३७ ॥
640. That “no sensible man should ever wish for riches which are but the seats of dangers”; making this his motto, Rama gives away all that he has to beggars.
641. इयमापदियं संपदित्येवं कल्पनामयः ।
मनसोऽभ्युदितो मोह इति श्लोकान्प्रगायति ॥ ३८ ॥
642. He sings some verses to this effect that “it is an error to call one thing as prosperity and the other adversity, when they are both but imaginations of the mind”.
643. हा हतोऽहमनाथोऽहमित्याक्रन्दपरोऽपि सन् ।
न जनो याति वैराग्यं चित्रमित्येव वक्त्यसौ ॥ ३९ ॥
644. He repeats some words to this purport that, “though it is the general cry, “O I am gone, I am helpless grown,” yet it is a wonder, that no body should betake himself to utter indifference.”
645. रघुकाननशालेन रामेण रिपुघातिना ।
भृशमित्थं स्थितेनैव वयं खेदमुपागताः ॥ ४० ॥
646. That Rama, the destroyer of enemies, the great Sala (oak) that is grown in the garden of Raghu, should get into such a state of mind is what causes grief in us.
न विद्मः किं महाबाहो तस्य तादृशचेतसः ।
कुर्मः कमलपत्राक्ष गतिरत्र हि नो भवान् ॥ ४१ ॥
We do not know, Oh great armed and lotus-eyed king! what to do with him in this state of his mind. We hope only in you.
राजानमथवा विप्रमुपदेष्टारमग्रतः ।
हसत्यज्ञमिवाव्यग्रः सोऽवधीरयति प्रभो ॥ ४२ ॥
He laughs to scorn the counsels of the princes and Brahmans before him, and spurns them as if they were fools.
यदेवेदमिदं स्फारं जगन्नाम यदुत्थितम् ।
नैतद्वस्तु नचैवाहमिति निर्णीय संस्थितः ॥ ४३ ॥
He remains inactive with the conviction, that the world which appears to our view is a vanity, and the idea of self is also a vanity.
नारौ नात्मनि नो मित्रे न राज्ये न च मातरि ।
न संपदा न विपदा तस्यास्था न विभो बहिः ॥ ४४ ॥
He has no respect for foes or friends, for himself or his kingdom, mother or riches, nor does he pay any regard to prosperity or adversity.
निरस्तास्थो निराशोऽसौ निरीहोऽसौ निरास्पदः ।
न मूढो न च मुक्तोऽसौ तेन तप्यामहे भृशम् ॥ ४५ ॥
He is altogether quiescent, without any desire or effort, and devoid of a mainstay; he is neither captivated by any thing nor freed from worldly thoughts. These are the reasons which afflict us most.
किं धनेन किमम्बाभिः किं राज्येन किमीहया ।
इति निश्चयवानन्तः प्राणत्यागपरः स्थितः ॥ ४६ ॥
He says, “what have we to do with riches, with our mothers, with this kingdom and all our activities.” Under these impressions, he is about to give up his life.
भोगेऽप्यायुषि राज्येषु मित्रे पितरि मातरि ।
परमुद्वेगमायातश्चातकोऽवग्रहे यथा ॥ ४७ ॥
As the chataka (swallow) grows restless at the obstruction of rains (by hurricanes), so has Rama become impatient (under the restraint) of his father and mother, his friends and kingdom, his enjoyments and even his own life.
इति तोके समायातां शाखाप्रसरशालिनीम् ।
आपत्तामलमुद्धर्तुं समुदेतु दयापरः ॥ ४८ ॥
Now in compassion on thy son, incline to root out this chagrin which like a noxious creeper has been spreading its branches (in his mind).
तस्य तादृक्स्वभावस्य समग्रविभवान्वितम् ।
संसारजालमाभोगि प्रभो प्रतिविषायते ॥ ४९ ॥
For notwithstanding his possession of all affluence, he looks upon the enjoyments of the world as his poison under such a disposition of his mind.
ईदृशः स्यान्महासत्त्वः क इवास्मिन्महीतले ।
प्रकृते व्यवहारे तं यो निवेशयितुं क्षमः ॥ ५० ॥
Where is that potent person in this earth, who can restore him to proper conduct (as by a potent medicine?).
मनसि मोहमपास्य महामनाः सकलमार्तितमः किल साधुताम् ।
सफलतां नयतीह तमो हरन् दिनकरो भुवि भास्करतामिव ॥ ५१ ॥
Who is there, that like the sun removing the darkness of the world by his rays, will remove the errors that have been the cause of grief in Rama’s mind, and thereby make his generosity effectual in his case.
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