Chapter 9
Dasharatha suffers when Rama goes to forest - (வன் தாளின்)
தசரதன் புலம்பல்
Rama went into exile in the forest. Dasaratha, separated from Rama, grieved deeply and lamented. The āzhvār captures and sings of Dasaratha's lamentation in his verses.
இராமன் வனவாசம் செய்யச் சென்றான். தசரதன் இராமனைப் பிரிந்து வருந்தினான்; மனமிரங்கிப் புலம்பினான். அவன் புலம்பியவாற்றை ஆழ்வார் ஈண்டுப்பாடுகிறார்.
Verses: 730 to 740
Grammar: Aṟuchīrk Kaḻinediladi Āsiriya Viruththam / அறுசீர்க் கழிநெடிலடி ஆசிரிய விருத்தம்
Recital benefits: Will avoid bad paths in life
- Verse 1:
730. Dasaratha says, “You were going to become king as the people of this flourishing country bowed to your strong feet and worshipped you. When you were about to sit on the throne, O Rāma, your step-mother said, ‘Go and stay for a long time in the large forest. ’ I listened to the words of Kaikeyi, your mother, and asked you to go to the forest. O my dear son, that is what I did to you!” - Verse 2:
731. Dasaratha says, “You listened to my cruel words and left quickly, leaving this kingdom with its victorious elephants, chariots and horses and went to the forest. Your lovely wife, decorated with ornaments, her long eyes like spears smeared with oil, and your younger brother Lakshmana followed you. How could you walk in that cruel forest? O our Rāma! You are my dear lord. What can I do?” - Verse 3:
732. Dasaratha says, “You, with your mountain-like arms that can fight anyone, the son of the family of Kosalai whose long red-lined eyes are like murderous spears, know how to melt my heart. Before you slept on a soft bed in the palace— how are you going to sleep under the shadow of a tree in the large forest? How could you learn to sleep on a stone bed, O dark king of the dynasty of Kahustha?” - Verse 4:
733. Dasaratha says, “Come here and go back to the forest, come and see me one more time before you go. O you who broke the bow of Shivā who rides the bull to marry your wife Sita with lovely hair decorated with flowers and beautiful bamboo-like arms. Now you are going to the wide forest and you make my heart suffer. Surely I must have done bad karmā. My son, you are leaving, yet my heart does not split in two. " - Verse 5:
734. Dasaratha says, “Your soft feet will hurt when you walk on the gravel with stones as sharp as the points of the spears enemies hold, and they may bleed. Willingly you are going to the forest where no one wishes to go. The sun will be hot and hunger will cause you cruel pain. My son, you are going now because I, a sinner, listened to the evil daughter of king Kaikeyan. Surely I must have done bad karmā. What can I do to stop you?” - Verse 6:
735. Dasaratha says, “From now on I will not hear anyone lovingly calling me “amma. ” No more will I feel the tight embrace of his ornamented chest on my chest. I cannot kiss him on his forehead, I will not be able to see his majestic walk that is like the stride of an elephant, I will not be able to see his lotus face anymore. I have lost my dear one, my son. Surely I have done terrible deeds, yet I am still alive. ” - Verse 7:
736. Dasaratha says, “His hair that was decorated with fragrant flowers is matted into jata now. He would wear lovely, soft garments on his waist but now he wears orange clothes like a renunciant and he does not wear any ornaments. Is it right that my son with such handsome arms should go to the forest instead of me? O, Sumanthra, O sage Vashista, you are learned men of the Vedās. Tell me!” - Verse 8:
737. Dasaratha says, “O Kaikeyi, you have sent to the forest my divine son, as precious as gold, his brother Lakshmana and my gentle-natured daughter-in-law with a waist as thin as lightning and words as sweet as a puvai bird’s. People will blame your own son Bharatha for what you have done and you are going to make me go to heaven in the sky. What are you going to get from all this? O Kaikeyi, how could you live happily in this large world?” - Verse 9:
738. Dasaratha says, “You broke the bow of axe-carrying ParasuRāma and destroyed his tapas. Without thinking how I will suffer and without thinking how your mother will suffer, you just listened to my words and my promise to your step-mother and left for the forest. You are my dear one. I wish that you could be born as my son for the next seven births. May I have that fortune, O king with long, strong arms. ” - Verse 10:
739. Dasaratha says, “I heard the cruel words of the evil Kaikeyi who followed the advice of Kuni and now I will leave Sumithra to suffer and Kosalai with hair filled with flowers that drip honey. You are going to the forest, leaving this rich palace happily, and I will leave this place and go to the gods’ world happily, O king of the dynasty of Manu. ” - Verse 11:
740. Dasharatha, adorned with garlands, his arms strong as mountains, suffered when his son, the beautiful dark Nedumāl, went to the forest. Kulasekharan, the king of Kozhiyur who carries a sharp spear and rules under a royal umbrella composed ten Tamil pāsurams that describe the suffering of Dasharatha. If devotees learn these Tamil pāsurams they will avoid the bad paths of life.