Kaushalya and Sunayana Speak of Sita’s Noble Character
Kaushalya and Sunayana speak deeply about suffering, dharma, and the sacred strength of womanhood. Their conversation highlights Sita’s grace, steadfastness, and exalted virtue.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 43 / 49
Episode Text
एहि बिधि सकल मनोरथ करहीं। बचन सप्रेम सुनत मन हरहीं॥ सीय मातु तेहि समय पठाईं। दासीं देखि सुअवसरु आईं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi bidhi sakala manoratha karahīṃ। bacana saprema sunata mana harahīṃ॥ sīya mātu tehi samaya paṭhāīṃ। dāsīṃ dekhi suavasaru āīṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
In this way they were fulfilling all their desires. At the sound of those loving words, they stole the hearts of the listeners. At that very time, the maidservants sent by Sita's mother, Srī Sunainā, came, having noticed a good opportunity for meeting Kaushalyā and the others.
सावकास सुनि सब सिय सासू। आयउ जनकराज रनिवासू॥ कौसल्याँ सादर सनमानी। आसन दिए समय सम आनी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sāvakāsa suni saba siya sāsū। āyau janakarāja ranivāsū॥ kausalyā̃ sādara sanamānī। āsana die samaya sama ānī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing that all of Sita's mothers-in-law were free at the moment, the women of Janaka's royal household came to meet them. Kaushalyā received them respectfully and had seats brought in due order.
सीलु सनेहु सकल दुहु ओरा। द्रवहिं देखि सुनि कुलिस कठोरा॥ पुलक सिथिल तन बारि बिलोचन। महि नख लिखन लगीं सब सोचन॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sīlu sanehu sakala duhu orā। dravahiṃ dekhi suni kulisa kaṭhorā॥ pulaka sithila tana bāri bilocana। mahi nakha likhana lagīṃ saba socana॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing and hearing the virtue and affection on both sides, even a diamond-hard heart melts. Their bodies tremble, their limbs grow slack, tears fill their eyes, and all begin to scratch the earth with their nails in thought.
सब सिय राम प्रीति कि सि मूरति। जनु करुना बहु बेष बिसूरति॥ सीय मातु कह बिधि बुधि बाँकी। जो पय फेनु फोर पबि टाँकी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saba siya rāma prīti ki si mūrati। janu karuṇā bahu beṣa bisūrati॥ sīya mātu kaha bidhi budhi bāṃkī। jo paya phenu phora pabi ṭāṃkī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
They all seemed like living embodiments of Rama and Sita's love—like compassion itself, taking many forms and lamenting. Sita's mother said, 'Fate is crooked indeed; it shatters with a thunderbolt what is as delicate as milk foam,' meaning that it heaps calamity upon those who are exceedingly gentle and blameless.
सुनिअ सुधा देखिअहिं गरल सब करतूति कराल। जहँ तहँ काक उलूक बक मानस सकृत मराल॥ २८१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni'a sudhā dekiahiṃ garala saba kartūti karāla। jahaṃ tahaṃ kāka ulūka baka mānasa sakṛta marāla॥ 281 ॥
Meaning:
Nectar is only heard of, while poison is seen everywhere. All of Fate's deeds are dreadful. Everywhere one sees crows, owls, and herons; the swan is found only in the Manasa lake.
सुनि ससोच कह देबि सुमित्रा। बिधि गति बड़ि बिपरीत बिचित्रा॥ जो सृजि पालइ हरइ बहोरी। बालकेलि सम बिधि मति भोरी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni sasoca kaha debi sumitrā। bidhi gati baṛi biparīta bicitrā॥ jo sṛji pālai harai bahorī। bālakeli sama bidhi mati bhorī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing this, Mother Sumitrā said in sorrow, 'The course of fate is strange, greatly contrary, and wondrous. It creates, sustains, and then destroys again. Fate's intelligence is like a child's play—foolish and without discernment.'
कौसल्या कह दोसु न काहू। करम बिबस दुख सुख छति लाहू॥ कठिन करम गति जान बिधाता। जो सुभ असुभ सकल फल दाता॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kausalyā kaha dosu na kāhū। karama bibasa dukha sukha chati lāhū॥ kaṭhina karama gati jāna bidhātā। jo subha asubha sakala phala dātā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Kaushalyā said, 'No one is at fault. Pleasure and sorrow, loss and gain—all are governed by karma. The movement of karma is hard to know; only the Creator knows it, for He gives the fruits of all deeds, good and evil.'
ईस रजाइ सीस सबही कें। उतपति थिति लय बिषहु अमी कें॥ देबि मोह बस सोचिअ बादी। बिधि प्रपंचु अस अचल अनादी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
īsa rajāi sīsa sabahī keṃ। utapati thiti laya biṣahu amī keṃ॥ debi moha basa socia bādī। bidhi prapaṃcu asa acala anādī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The Lord's command rests on everyone's head. Creation, preservation, and dissolution, and even nectar and poison, are all under His rule. O goddess, it is useless to grieve in delusion. Such is the immutable and beginningless unfolding of fate.
भूपति जिअब मरब उर आनी। सोचिअ सखि लखि निज हित हानी॥ सीय मातु कह सत्य सुबानी। सुकृती अवधि अवधपति रानी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhūpati jia ba maraba ura ānī। socia sakhi lakhi nija hita hānī॥ sīya mātu kaha satya subānī। sukṛtī avadhi avadhipati rānī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
To think of the king's living and dying and to grieve over it, O friend, is only to see the loss of one's own welfare. Sita's mother said, 'Your words are true and excellent. You are indeed the queen of the lord of Ayodhya, the king of the righteous age.'
लखनु रामु सिय जाहुँ बन भल परिनाम न पोचु। गहबरि हियँ कह कौसिला मोहि भरत कर सोचु॥ २८२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lakhanu rāmu siya jāhuṃ bana bhala parināma na pōcu। gahabari hiyaṃ kaha kausilā mohi bharata kara socu॥ 282 ॥
Meaning:
Kaushalyā said with a sorrowful heart, 'If Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita go to the forest, the outcome will surely be good, not bad. My worry is Bharata.'
ईस प्रसाद असीस तुम्हारी। सुत सुतबधू देवसरि बारी॥ राम सपथ मैं कीन्हि न काऊ। सो करि कहउँ सखी सति भाऊ॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
īsa prasāda asīsa tumhārī। suta sutabadhū devasari bārī॥ rāma sapatha maiṃ kīnhi na kāū। so kari kahauṃ sakhī sati bhāū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
By God's grace and your blessing, my sons and daughters-in-law are as pure as the waters of the Ganga. O friend, I have never sworn by Rama, so now, taking Rama as my witness, I speak with true feeling.
भरत सील गुन बिनय बड़ाई। भायप भगति भरोस भलाई॥ कहत सारदहु कर मति हीचे। सागर सीप कि जाहिं उलीचे॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bharata sīla guna binaya baṛāī। bhāyapa bhagati bharosa bhalāī॥ kahata sāradahu kara mati hīce। sāgara sīpa ki jāhiṃ ulīce॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Even Saraswati's intellect falters in trying to describe Bharata's virtue, character, humility, greatness, brotherly affection, devotion, trust, and goodness. Can the ocean ever be drawn out with a seashell?
जानउँ सदा भरत कुलदीपा। बार बार मोहि कहेउ महीपा॥ कसें कनकु मनि पारिखि पाएँ। पुरुष परिखिअहिं समयँ सुभाएँ॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jānaūṃ sadā bharata kuladīpā। bāra bāra mohi kaheu mahīpā॥ kaseṃ kanaka mani pārikhi pāeṃ। puruṣa parikhiahiṃ samayaṃ subhāeṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
I always know Bharata to be the lamp of our line. The king has told me this again and again. Gold is recognized when tested on the touchstone, and a gem only when judged by a jeweler. Likewise, a person is tested by his nature when the time comes.
अनुचित आजु कहब अस मोरा। सोक सनेहँ सयानप थोरा॥ सुनि सुरसरि सम पावनि बानी। भईं सनेह बिकल सब रानी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
anucita āju kahaba asa morā। soka sanehaṃ syānapa thorā॥ suni surasari sama pāvani bānī। bhaīṃ saneha bikal saba rānī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
But it is not fitting for me to speak so today. Sorrow and affection leave little room for prudence. Hearing Kaushalyā's speech, pure like the Ganga, all the queens were overcome with emotion.
कौसल्या कह धीर धरि सुनहु देबि मिथिलेसि। को बिबेकनिधि बल्लभहि तुम्हहि सकइ उपदेसि॥ २८३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kausalyā kaha dhīra dhari sunahu debi mithilesi। ko bibekanidhi ballabhahi tumhahi sakai upadesi॥ 283 ॥
Meaning:
Kaushalyā said again, gathering her courage: 'Listen, O goddess of Mithilā! Who can give instruction to you, the beloved of the treasure of wisdom?'
रानि राय सन अवसरु पाई। अपनी भाँति कहब समुझाई॥ रखिअहिं लखनु भरतु गवनहिं बन। जौं यह मत मानै महीप मन॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāni rāya sana avasaru pāī। apanī bhāṃti kahaba samujhāī॥ rakiahiṃ lakhanu bharatu gavanahiṃ bana। jaṃu yaha mata mānai mahīpa mana॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O queen, when you get a chance, please explain things to the king in your own way. Say that Lakshmana should be kept at home and Bharata should go to the forest. If this proposal agrees with the king's mind,
तौ भल जतनु करब सुबिचारी। मोरें सोचु भरत कर भारी॥ गूढ़ सनेह भरत मन माहीं। रहें नीक मोहि लागत नाहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tau bhala jatanu karaba subicārī। moreṃ socu bharata kara bhārī॥ gūṛha saneha bharata mana māhīṃ। raheṃ nīka mohi lāgata nāhīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Then plan wisely and do your best. I am deeply troubled about Bharata. There is a hidden love in Bharata's heart. I do not feel well about his staying at home.
लखि सुभाउ सुनि सरल सुबानी। सब भइ मगन करुन रस रानी॥ नभ प्रसून झरि धन्य धन्य धुनि। सिथिल सनेहँ सिद्ध जोगी मुनि॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lakhi subhāu suni sarala subānī। saba bhai magana karuna rasa rānī॥ nabha prasūna jhari dhanya dhanya dhuni। sithila sanehaṃ siddha jogī muni॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing her nature and hearing her simple, sweet speech, all the queens were absorbed in compassion. Heavenly blossoms rained down, and cries of 'Blessed! Blessed!' rose up. Siddhas, yogis, and sages were softened by affection.
सबु रनिवासु बिथकि लखि रहेऊ। तब धरि धीर सुमित्राँ कहेऊ॥ देबि दंड जुग जामिनि बीती। राम मातु सुनि उठी सप्रीती॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sabu ranivāsu bithaki lakhi raheu। taba dhari dhīra sumitrā̃ kaheū॥ debi daṃḍa juga jāmini bītī। rāma mātu suni uṭhī saprītī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The entire royal household stood stunned at the sight. Then Sumitrā, keeping calm, said, 'O goddess, two watches of the night have passed.' Hearing this, Śrī Rama's mother Kaushalyā rose lovingly.
बेगि पाउ धारिअ थलहि कह सनेहँ सतिभाय। हमरें तौ अब ईस गति कै मिथिलेस सहाय॥ २८४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
begi pāu dhāria thalahi kaha sanehaṃ satibhāya। hamareṃ tau aba īsa gati kai mithilesa sahāya॥ 284 ॥
Meaning:
Speaking thus with affection and goodwill, they said, 'Now please go quickly to your tent. For us now God alone is our refuge, or else King Janaka of Mithilā is our support.'
लखि सनेह सुनि बचन बिनीता। जनकप्रिया गह पाय पुनीता॥ देबि उचित असि बिनय तुम्हारी। दसरथ घरिनि राम महतारी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lakhi saneha suni bacana binītā। janakapriyā gaha pāya punītā॥ debi ucita asi binaya tumhārī। dasaratha gharini rāma mahatārī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing their affection and hearing their humble words, Janaka's dear queen took their pure feet in her hands and said, 'O goddess, such humility is fitting for you. You are the wife of King Dasharatha and the mother of Rama.'
प्रभु अपने नीचहु आदरहीं। अगिनि धूम गिरि सिर तिनु धरहीं॥ सेवकु राउ करम मन बानी। सदा सहाय महेसु भवानी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prabhu apane nīcahu ādarahīṃ। agini dhūma giri sira tinu dharahīṃ॥ sevaku rāu karama mana bānī। sadā sahāya mahesu bhavānī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
The Lord even honors those who are lowly. Fire bears smoke, and mountains carry grass upon their heads. Our king, in deed, mind, and speech, is your servant; and always aiding you are Mahadeva and Bhavānī.
रउरे अंग जोगु जग को है। दीप सहाय कि दिनकर सोहै॥ रामु जाइ बनु करि सुर काजू। अचल अवधपुर करिहहिं राजू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
raure aṃga jogu jaga ko hai। dīpa sahāya ki dinakara sohai॥ rāmu jāi bana kari sura kājū। acala avadhapura karihahiṃ rājū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Who in the world is fit to be your support? Can a lamp, by helping the sun, ever become more splendid? Rama will go to the forest and accomplish the work of the gods, and then reign unshaken in Ayodhya.
अमर नाग नर राम बाहुबल। सुख बसिहहिं अपनें अपनें थल॥ यह सब जागबलिक कहि राखा। देबि न होइ मुधा मुनि भाषा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
amara nāga nara rāma bāhubala। sukha basihahiṃ apaneṃ apaneṃ thala॥ yaha saba jāgabalika kahi rākhā। debi na hoi mudhā muni bhāṣā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
By Rama's arm-strength, gods, serpents, and men will dwell happily in their own places. Sage Jāgabalika has already declared all this. O goddess, a sage's words cannot be false or in vain.
अस कहि पग परि पेम अति सिय हित बिनय सुनाइ। सिय समेत सियमातु तब चली सुआयसु पाइ॥ २८५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa kahi paga pari pema ati siya hita binaya sunāi। siya sameta siyamātu taba calī suāyasu pāi॥ 285 ॥
Meaning:
So saying, she bowed at their feet with great love, and after pleading for Sita to be sent along and receiving the gracious order, she then went to the tent together with Sita's mother.
प्रिय परिजनहि मिली बैदेही। जो जेहि जोगु भाँति तेहि तेही॥ तापस बेष जानकी देखी। भा सबु बिकल बिषाद बिसेषी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
priya parijanahi milī baidehī। jo jehi jogu bhāṃti tehi tehī॥ tāpasa beṣa jānakī dēkhī। bhā sabu bikala biṣāda bisēṣī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Sita met her dear relatives, each in the manner suited to him. Seeing Janaki in the garb of an ascetic, all were अत्यन्त distressed with grief.
जनक राम गुर आयसु पाई। चले थलहि सिय देखी आई॥ लीन्हि लाइ उर जनक जानकी। पाहुनि पावन पेम प्रान की॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
janaka rāma gura āyasu pāī। cale thalahi siya dēkhī āī॥ līnhi lāi ura janaka jānakī। pāhuni pāvana pema prāna kī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Obeying the command of Rama's guru, Vashishtha, Janaka went to the camp and, arriving there, saw Sita. Janaka embraced Janaki, the honored guest of his pure love and his life-breath.
उर उमगेउ अंबुधि अनुरागू। भयउ भूप मनु मनहुँ पयागू॥ सिय सनेह बटु बाढ़त जोहा। ता पर राम पेम सिसु सोहा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ura umageu aṃbudhi anurāgū। bhayau bhūpa manu manahuṃ payāgū॥ siya saneha baṭu bāḍhata johā। tā para rāma pema sisu sohā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The ocean of loving affection surged up in his heart. The king's mind seemed to become Prayag itself. In that ocean he saw the imperishable banyan of Sita's wondrous love growing ever larger; upon that banyan, the child-form of Rama's love shone beautifully.
चिरजीवी मुनि ग्यान बिकल जनु। बूड़त लहेउ बाल अवलंबनु॥ मोह मगन मति नहिं बिदेह की। महिमा सिय रघुबर सनेह की॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
cirajīvī muni gyāna bikala janu। būḍata laheu bāla avalaṃbanu॥ mōha magana mati nahiṃ bideha kī। mahimā siya raghubara saneha kī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Janaka's wisdom, like the sage Chiranjeevi, seemed to be drowning in distress, but was saved by the support of that child of Rama's love. In truth, the intellect of the lord of Videha is not lost in delusion; this is the glory of Sita and Rama's love, which even overwhelmed the knowledge of so great a scholar.
सिय पितु मातु सनेह बस बिकल न सकी सँभारि। धरनिसुताँ धीरजु धरेउ समउ सुधरमु बिचारि॥ २८६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
siya pitu mātu saneha basa bikala na sakī saṃbhāri। dharanisutāṃ dhīraju dhareu samau sudharamu bicāri॥ 286 ॥
Meaning:
Overcome by the love of her father and mother, Sita became so distressed that she could not steady herself. Yet the daughter of the earth, supremely patient, considered the time and proper duty and composed herself.
तापस बेष जनक सिय देखी। भयउ पेमु परितोषु बिसेषी॥ पुत्रि पबित्र किए कुल दोऊ। सुजस धवल जगु कह सबु कोऊ॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāpasa beṣa janaka siya dēkhī। bhayau pemu paritōṣu bisēṣī॥ putri pabitra kiē kula dōū। sujasa dhavala jagu kaha sabu kōū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing Sita in the guise of an ascetic, Janaka felt special love and satisfaction. He said, 'Daughter, you have purified both our families. Your spotless fame illumines the whole world; so everyone says.'
जिति सुरसरि कीरति सरि तोरी। गवनु कीन्ह बिधि अंड करोरी॥ गंग अवनि थल तीनि बड़ेरे। एहिं किए साधु समाज घनेरे॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jiti surasari kīrati sari tōrī। gavanu kīnha bidhi aṃḍa karorī॥ gaṃga avani thala tīni baḍērē। ehiṃ kiē sādhu samāja ghanērē॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Your river of fame has surpassed the divine river Ganga and flows through crores of universes. Ganga has made only three places on earth great as sacred centers, but this river of your glory has created countless holy places in the form of saintly gatherings.
पितु कह सत्य सनेहँ सुबानी। सीय सकुच महुँ मनहुँ समानी॥ पुनि पितु मातु लीन्हि उर लाई। सिख आसिष हित दीन्हि सुहाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pitu kaha satya sanehaṃ subānī। siya sakuca mahuṃ manahuṃ samānī॥ puni pitu mātu līnhi ura lāī। sikha āsiṣa hita dīnhi suhāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Her father Janaka spoke true and beautiful words out of affection. But hearing her own praise, Sita seemed to shrink into modesty. Then her father and mother embraced her again and gave her loving counsel and blessings.
कहति न सीय सकुचि मन माहीं। इहाँ बसब रजनीं भल नाहीं॥ लखि रुख रानि जनायउ राऊ। हृदयँ सराहत सीलु सुभाऊ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahati na siya sakuci mana māhīṃ। ihāṃ basaba rajanīṃ bhala nāhīṃ॥ lakhi rukha rāni janāyau rāū। hṛdayaṃ sarāhata sīlu subhāū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Sita said nothing, but inwardly felt shy, thinking that it would not be proper to stay here at night [leaving aside service to her mothers-in-law]. Seeing Janaki's demeanor, Queen Sunainā understood her heart and informed King Janaka. Then both praised Sita's modesty and gentle nature in their hearts.
बार बार मिलि भेंटि सिय बिदा कीन्हि सनमानि। कही समय सिर भरत गति रानि सुबानि सयानि॥ २८७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bāra bāra mili bheṃṭi siya bidā kīnhi sanamāni। kahī samaya sira bharata gati rāni subāni sayāni॥ 287 ॥
Meaning:
The king and queen met her again and again, embraced her with honor, and bade Sita farewell. Then the wise queen, finding the right moment, spoke beautifully to the king about Bharata's condition.