[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Epic, Poetry, Drama & Narrative](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit) › [The Rāma story (Vālmīki and later versions)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana) › [The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki) › 2.66.23 # The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki 2.66.23 Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa 2.66.23 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [2.66.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.66.23) amba kenātyagād rājā vyādhinā mayy anāgate dhanyā rāmādayaḥ sarve yaiḥ pitā saṃskṛtaḥ svayam > 'This joyful hope my bosom fed > When from my grandsire's halls I sped-- > 'The king will throne his eldest son, > And sacrifice, as should be done.' > But all is changed, my hope was vain, > And this sad heart is rent in twain, > For my dear father's face I miss, > Who ever sought his loved ones' bliss. > But in my absence, mother, say, > What sickness took my sire away? > Ah, happy Ráma, happy they > Allowed his funeral rites to pay! > The glorious monarch has not learned > That I his darling have returned, > Or quickly had he hither sped, > And pressed his kisses on my head. > Where is that hand whose gentle touch, > Most soft and kind I loved so much, > The hand that loved to brush away > The dust that on his darling lay? > Quick, bear the news to Ráma's ear; > Tell the great chief that I am here: > Brother, and sire, and friend, and all > Is he, and I his trusty thrall, > For noble hearts, to virtue true, > Their sires in elder brothers view. > To clasp his feet I fain would bow: > He is my hope and refuge now. > What said my glorious sire, who knew > Virtue and vice, so brave and true? > Firm in his vows, dear lady, say, > What said he ere he passed away? > What was his rede to me? I crave > To hear the last advice he gave.' > — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1870, The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse - [Previous: 2.66.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.66.22) - [Next: 2.66.24](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.66.24) - [Up: 2.66](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.66) ## Translations (1) - [The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki~en-griffith.2.72.p8) — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1870, English ## Commentaries (7) - [Rāmāyaṇabhūṣaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki!govindaraja) — Govindarāja, Sanskrit - [Tilaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki!tilaka) — Nāgeśa Bhaṭṭa, Sanskrit - [Dharmākūtam](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki!tryambaka-makhin) — Tryambaka Makhin, Sanskrit - [Dharmākūtam](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki!tryambaka) — Tryambaka, Sanskrit - [Kalpavallikā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki!bommakanti-nrsimhasastrin) — Bommakanti Nṛsiṃhaśāstrin, Sanskrit - [Rāmāyaṇaṭīkā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki!nrsimha) — Nṛsiṃha, Sanskrit - [Munibhāvaprakāśikā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki!munibhavaprakasika) — Sanskrit ## Other recensions (2) - [Critical edition, Ayodhyā- and Araṇyakāṇḍa (revised e-text)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki*crit-revised.2.66.23) — Sanskrit - [Southern recension](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki*southern.2.66.23) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.66.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.66.23) · Pramāṇa