Ayodhya Kaanda Sumantra returns to Ayodhya and finds the city a picture of grief - Chaupais
Ramcharitmanas · Ayodhya Kaanda Sumantra returns to Ayodhya and finds the city a picture of grief · Verse Chaupais 1842
Sanskrit Original
गुह सारथिहि फिरेउ पहुँचाई। बिरहु बिषादु बरनि नहिं जाई।। चले अवध लेइ रथहि निषादा। होहि छनहिं छन मगन बिषादा।। सोच सुमंत्र बिकल दुख दीना। धिग जीवन रघुबीर बिहीना।। रहिहि न अंतहुँ अधम सरीरू। जसु न लहेउ बिछुरत रघुबीरू।। भए अजस अघ भाजन प्राना। कवन हेतु नहिं करत पयाना।। अहह मंद मनु अवसर चूका। अजहुँ न हृदय होत दुइ टूका।। मीजि हाथ सिरु धुनि पछिताई। मनहँ कृपन धन रासि गवाँई।। बिरिद बाँधि बर बीरु कहाई। चलेउ समर जनु सुभट पराई।।
guha sārathihi phirēu pahucāī. birahu biṣādu barani nahiṃ jāī.. calē avadha lēi rathahi niṣādā. hōhi chanahiṃ chana magana biṣādā.. sōca sumaṃtra bikala dukha dīnā. dhiga jīvana raghubīra bihīnā.. rahihi na aṃtahu adhama sarīrū. jasu na lahēu bichurata raghubīrū.. bhaē ajasa agha bhājana prānā. kavana hētu nahiṃ karata payānā.. ahaha maṃda manu avasara cūkā. ajahu na hṛdaya hōta dui ṭūkā.. mīji hātha siru dhuni pachitāī. manahaom kṛpana dhana rāsi gavāomī.. birida bāomdhi bara bīru kahāī. calēu samara janu subhaṭa parāī..
Seeing off the charioteer, Guha returned; the agony of his separation was too deep for words. And the Nisadas drove off to Ayodhya, plunged in sorrow every moment. Agitated and stricken with grief, Sumantra lamented: "Accursed is life without the Hero of Raghu's race. This wretched body will not survive in the long run; but what a pity it did not earn fame by perishing at the time of its parting from the Hero of Raghu's race. This life has become a sink of infamy and sin; I wonder what prevents it from departing. Alas! this vile soul has missed its chance. Oh, that my heart does not break in twain even now!" Wringing his hands and beating his head he rued his lot like a miser who has lost his hoard of riches. It seemed as if after assuming the role of, and posing as, an eminent hero, a great warrior had taken to flight.