[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) › 2.69.22 # The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki 2.69.22 Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa 2.69.22 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [2.69.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.69.22) pāyasaṃ kṛsaraṃ chāgaṃ vṛthā so 'śnātu nirghṛṇaḥ gurūṃś cāpy avajānātu yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ > With taunts like these her bitter tongue > The heart of blameless Bharat wrung > And direr pangs his bosom tore > Than when the lancet probes a sore. > With troubled senses all astray > Prone at her feet he fell and lay. > With loud lament a while he plained, > And slowly strength and sense regained. > With suppliant hand to hand applied > He turned to her who wept and sighed, > And thus bespake the queen, whose breast > With sundry woes was sore distressed: > 'Why these reproaches, noble dame? > I, knowing naught, am free from blame. > Thou knowest well what love was mine > For Ráma, chief of Raghu's line. > O, never be his darkened mind > To Scripture's guiding lore inclined, > By whose consent the prince who led > The good, the truthful hero, fled. > May he obey the vilest lord, > Offend the sun with act abhorred, > And strike a sleeping cow, who lent > His voice to Ráma's banishment. > May the good king who all befriends, > And, like his sons, the people tends, > Be wronged by him who gave consent > To noble Ráma's banishment. > On him that king's injustice fall, > Who takes, as lord, a sixth of all, > Nor guards, neglectful of his trust, > His people, as a ruler must. > The crime of those who swear to fee, > At holy rites, some devotee, > And then the promised gift deny, > Be his who willed the prince should fly, > When weapons clash and heroes bleed, > With elephant and harnessed steed, > Ne'er, like the good, be his to fight > Whose heart allowed the prince's flight. > Though taught with care by one expert > May he the Veda's text pervert, > With impious mind on evil bent, > Whose voice approved the banishment. > Mav he with traitor lips reveal > Whate'er he promised to conceal, > And bruit abroad his friend's offence, > Betrayed by generous confidence. > No wife of equal lineage born > The wretch's joyless home adorn: > Ne'er may he do one virtuous deed, > And dying see no child succeed. > When in the battle's awful day > Fierce warriors stand in dread array, > Let the base coward turn and fly, > And smitten by the foeman, die. > Long may he wander, rags his wear, > Doomed in his hand a skull to bear, > And like an idiot beg his bread, > Who gave consent when Rama fled. > His sin who holy rites forgets, > Asleep when shows the sun and sets, > A load upon his soul shall lie > Whose will allowed the prince to fly. > His sin who loves his Master's dame, > His, kindler of destructive flame. > His who betrays his trusting friend > Shall, mingled all, on him descend. > By him no reverence due be paid > To blessed God or parted shade: > May sire and mother's sacred name > In vain from him obedience claim. > Ne'er may he go where dwell the good, > Nor win their fame and neighbourhood, > But lose all hopes of bliss to day, > Who willed the prince should flee away. > May he deceive the poor and weak > Who look to him and comfort seek, > Betray the suppliants who complain, > And make the hopeful hope in vain. > Long may his wife his kiss expect, > And pine away in cold neglect. > May he his lawful love despise, > And turn on other dames his eyes, > Fool, on forbidden joys intent, > Whose will allowed the banishment. > His sin who deadly poison throws > To spoil the water as it flows, > Lay on the wretch its burden dread > Who gave consent when Rama fled.' > — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1870, The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse - [Previous: 2.69.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.69.21) - [Next: 2.69.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.69.23) - [Up: 2.69](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.69) ## Translations (1) - [The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki~en-griffith.2.75.p4) — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1870, English ## Other recensions (2) - [Critical edition, Ayodhyā- and Araṇyakāṇḍa (revised e-text)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki*crit-revised.2.69.22) — Sanskrit - [Southern recension](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki*southern.2.69.22) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.69.22](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.69.22) · Pramāṇa