The Ramayana story as sung by Luv and Kusha

The Ramayana story  as sung  by Luv and Kusha 

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

  (In the year  1987  , the   Ramananda  sagar’s  Ramayana story   was broadcast in TV .I am not exageerating when I say   that  whole India froze for that  one hour. Meetings , including cabinet meetings   were postphoned, so that people can see and hear   that Ramayana .The  greatest part of the serial  was  the  “Story of Ramayana as sung by  Luv and Kush”  in each episode  . The music for the   great song was  composed  byRavindra  Jain and he  himself   sung the mesmerized song . I alwaus thought hundreds  of English translation   would be available   for that  song and so I was  greatly surprised  to see  that  , google search could not  locate  the  translation of the song. So I attempted   to do it .I am sure  I was  inadequate  for the job   and any way I did it.Here  is my English translation   and  hear it as well as see  it  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giTipGJ5-Y0  )

Om shree maha Ganadhipatey namah
Om shree umamaheshawarabhya namah

Om salutations   the great chief of Ganas

Om Salutations    to Uma Maheswara

Vaalmiki gurudeva ne  Kar pankaj teer naam
Sumire maat saraswati  Hum par ho khud sawaar
Maat peeta ki vandana  Karte baaram baar
Gurujan raaja praja  Jan naman karo svikaar

Hum katha sunate  Ram sakal gundham ki
Hum katha sunate  Ram sakal gundham ki

The Guru Valmiki     has made   your name in to a lotus flower,

The mother SAraswathi     with a rosary  should  bless   us,

After again and again  saluting   the mother and father  ,

After requesting  elders  , king, people   to accept my  salutations ,

We  would now make you hear the Story of Ram who is treasure of all good qualities,

We  would now make you hear the Story of Ram who is treasure of all good qualities,

Yeh ramayan hai  Punya katha shrii ram ki

Jambu dweepebharat khande  Aryavarte bharat varshe
Ek nagari hai vikyat ayodhya naam ki Yehi janma bhoomi hai
Param pujya shrii ram ki…
Hum katha sunate  Ram sakal gun dham ki
Yeh ramayan hai Punya katha shrii ram ki……
Yeh ramayan hai  Punya katha shrii ram ki

This is Ramayan   the holy   story of  Sri Rama,

In the Jambu dweep is Bharat Kanda called Arya Vartha   and Bharat Varsha,

And in that  there   is a famous town   whose  name  is Ayodhya ,

Which is the birth place    of the most worshipful  Ram,

We  would now make you hear the Story of Ram who is treasure of all good qualities,

And  this is Ramayana which is the holy   story of Ram,

And  this is Ramayana which is the holy   story of Ram

Raghukul ke raja dharmatma , Chakravarti dashrath punyatma
Santati hetu yagya karvaya ,Dharm yagya ka shubh phal paya
Nrip ghar janme char kumaraa, Raghukul deep jagat adhaara…
Charon bhratonke shubh naama  Bharat shatryghna lakshman rama…

Guru vashishtha ke gurukul jaake  Alpa kaal vidya sab paake
Puran huyi shiksha  Raghuvar puran kaam ki
Hum katha sunate  Ram sakal gun dham ki
Yeh ramayan hai  Punya katha shrii ram ki
Yeh ramayan hai  Punya katha shrii ram ki

The  kings of the clan of Raghu  were followers of Dharma , And the emperor  Dasaratha was a holy person,

And he   carried out a Yaga for    getting children  and  that Yaga  of Dharma   gave  positive   results,

In the palace of the king four sons were born  who were  the basis for  lighting   the clan of Raghu,

And those   four  sons were  named  Bharatha , Sathrugna , Lakshmana   and Rama ,

And they went to the Gurukul of Vasishta    and  earned  knowledge   for some time ,

And the education   reached   completion   and the great one  of Raghu clan completed it,

We  would now make you hear the Story of Ram who is treasure of all good qualities,

And  this is Ramayana which is the holy   story of Ram,

And  this is Ramayana which is the holy   story of Ram

Mrudu swar komal bhavana ,Rochak prastuti dhang
Ek ek kar varnan kare , Lav-kush ram prasang

In soft voice  with pretty imagination  , The interesting  subject,

Were  one  by one  described by  Lav and Kush  in front  of Ram

Vishwamitr mahamuni raayi , Inke sang chale do bhai

Kaise ram tadka , Kaise naath ahilya taari

The sage   Viswamithra  came  and with him went the   two brothers,

And  how Rama walked   and how  Ahalya   was saved

Munivar vishwamitra tab , Sang le lakshman ram
Siya swayamvar dekhne , Pahunche mithila dham

 Then sage  Viswamithra  along with  Rama and Lakshmana,

Reached  the  city  of Mithila to see   Sita making   the choice of her husband

Janakpur utsav hain bhaari , Janakpur utsav hain bhaari
Apne var ka chayan , Karigi sita sukumari

There was a great festival  in ciry of Janaka , there   was great festival in city of Janak,

For the pretty  girl Sita    would    choose her groom

Janakpur utsav hain bhaari , Janak raj ka kathin pran
Suno suno sab koi , Jo tode shiv dhanush ko
So sita pati hoye , Jo tore shiv dhanush kathor

There is a great festival in city of Janaka, the great  soul of king  Janaka,

Please hear, hear  every one, he who brakes the   bow of Shiva,

Would become  the  husband of Sita , he who  brakes  the  bow  of Shiva

Sab ki drishti ram ki oar , Ram vinaygun ke avtaar
Guruvar ki aagya siroddhar , Sehej bhaav se shiv dhanu toda

Every one’s look was towards Rama, for Rama  was incarnation  of humility,

Taking on his head   the order of His Guru, in an ordinary fashion , he broke  the  bow of Shiva

Janak suta sang naata joda , Raghuvar jaisa aur na koi..
Sita ki samata nahin hoyi , Jo kare parajit kaanti koti rati kaam ki

The  great one of Raghu  and no one else   , established   relationship   with daughter  of Janaka

And there  was no one   equal to Sita, by her luster she defeated  one  crore Rathis

Hum katha sunate ram sakal gundham ki
Yeh ramayan hai punya katha siya ram ki

We are making  you hear  the story  of Rama , the treasure  of all  that is good,

This is the  holy story of Ramayana  , the  story  of Sitaram

Sab par shabd mohini daali
Mantramugdha bhaaye sab nar naari
Yun din rain jaat hain beete
Lav-kush ne sab ke mann jeete

On every one  the bewitching   words were put,

And all  men and ladies became   enchanted by the words,

And several    days  and nights   were spent ,

And every one’s  mind was won over by  Lava   and Kusha

Van gaman sita haran hanumat milan
Lanka dehen ravan maran
Ayodhya punaraagaman
Sab vistar katha sunaayi

They    all heard  in detail   the stories of,

Going to forest  , kidnapping of sita, meeting  with  Hanuman,

Burning  of Lanka  , killing  of Ravan,

And again coming   back to Ayodya

Raja ram bhaye raghuraai
Ram-raj aayo sukh daayi
Sukh samriddhi shrii gharghar aayi

The Raghu Ram  became the king Ram  ,

And Rama’s rule  came as comfort giving,

Happiness   and prosperity   came  in every home,

Kaal chakra ne ghatna kram mein
Aisa chakra chalaya
Ram siya ke jeevan mein
Phir ghor andhera chaaya!!

In the series  of events, the wheel of time,

Spun   such a wheel,

In the life of Sita   and Rama  ,

That again   big darkness   came about

Avadh mein aisa aisa ek din aaya
Nishkalank pe praja ne
Mithya dosh lagaya!!

Avadh mein aisa aisa ek din aaya

In the country of Avadh  , one such day came  ,

The people  found an imaginative   fault,

On the one who   does not have any stain

In the country of Avadh , one such day came

Chal di siya jab tod kar Sab neh-naatae moh ke
Pashan hridayon mein na Angaare jage vidhroha ke

Leaving every thing Sita  went off for all love of relations is due to passion,

But in the stone like  minds, the fire of revenge did not wake up

Mamtamayi maaonke Aanchal bhi simat kar reh gaye
Gurudev gyan aur neeti ke Sagar bhi ghat kar rehgaye….

Even the uppercloths of  the very   affectionate mothers   appeared very much shrunk,

And even the ocean like   wisdom   and justice  of God like Guru  , appeared   to flow  below the ghats

Na raghukul na raghukul nayak
Koi na hua sia ka sahayak…
Maanavta ko kho baithe jab
Sabhya nagar ke vaasi

No  clan of Raghus or the  lord of that clan,

Were there  to provide  help to  Sita,

And every one   of the  people of that  civilized city,

Seemed to have  lost their  humanity

Tab sita ko hua sahayak
Van ka ek sanyaasi….

At that  time  one sage of the  forest,

Became the   help to Sita

Un rishi param udaar ka
Valmiki shubh naam
Sita ko aashray diya

Le aaye nij dham..

That   Sage who was   very generous,

Had the holy name of Valmiki,

And he provided  support  to Sita

And provided   her the   real  home to live

Raghukul mein kuldeep jalaye..
Ram ke do sut siya ne jaaye..

The lamp of the clan  of Raghus was lit,

And Sita gave  Ram   two sons

Shrota gan jo ek raja ki putri hain
Ek raja ki putrvadhu hain
Aur ek chakravati samrat ki patni hain
Wohi maharani sita

Vanvaas ke dukho mein
Apne dino kaise kaat ti hain

Oh audiences she    was the daughter of a king,

She was the daughter in law of another king,

And she   was the wife of  a very great emperor,

And that   great  queen Sita

  And yet how did she spend her days ,

Of  her  great   sorrowful days  in  the forest

Apne kul ke gaurav aur
Swabhimaan ki raksha karte huye
Kisi se sahayta maange bina
Kaise apna kaam woh swayam karti hain…
Swayam van se lakdi kaant ti hain
Swayam apna dhaan kootti hain
Swayam apni chakki peesti hain
Aur apni santaanonko
Swavalambi banana,

Ki shiksha kaise deti hain

Protecting the   respectability of her clan,

Protecting    her great  self respect  ,

Without begging for help from any one,

She herself was cutting   wood in the forest  ,

She herself    cleaned  her own grains ,

She herself powdered the grain in the mortar,

And she made her children,

Depend only on themselves

And that   is how she gave them lessons

Ab uski karun jhaani dekhiye.

Janak dulari kulavadhu  Dasharath ji ki raj rani ho
Ke din van mein bitati hain……
Rehti thi gheri jise
Das- dasi aato yam
Daasi bani apni

Now   see about   her very pitiable life,

The darling    daughter  of Janaka became the queen of  kingdom of dasaratha,

How does   she spend her time in the forest,

She who used to live like an empress    served by ten servant maids ,

All the twenty four hours

And she has now become a   servant herself

Udaasi ko chupati hain…
Dharam praveena

Sati param kulina sab
Vidhi dosh-hina

Jina dukh mein sikhati hain

That great  lady  of Dharma ,

Was hiding her tiredness

She who was most virtuous  innocent lady ,

Has been punished by fate.

And made  to learn to live  in sorrow

Jagmata hari-priya lakshmi swarupa siya
Koothhi  hain dhaan bhoj swayam banati hain
Kathin kulhadi leke lakdiya kaant ti hain
Karam likhe ko par kaat nahi paati hain…

Sita, the mother of the world  , the darling of Hari   who has the    form of Lakshmi,

Herself   pounded the grain and  prepareed    herself the food,

She took    a hard axe   and sliced  the   fire wood herself,

Though fate has written like that and  she was not able to cut

Phool bhi uthana bhaari jis sukumari ko tha
Dukh bhari jeevan woh uthathi hain

That tender  lady to whom even flower was heavy,

was lifting    this life   filled    with sorrow

Ardhangi raghuveer ki woh dhare dheer
Bharti hai neer neer jal mein nehlati hain

Jiske prajake apvaadon
Kuchakra mein

She who is the   better half of Rama, with great  cheer,

Filled up water   and she mixed the bad words  of the bad days

Of the citizens    in that   water   itself,

Peesti hai chaaki
Swabhiman bachati hain….
Paalti hain bachchonko
Woh karmayogini ke bhaati
Swavalambi sabal banati hain

She  mixed     the dough  ,

And saved  her self respect  ,

She   nurtured   her children,

Just like  one who is detached,

And thus made them   strong   and self dependent

Aisi sita mata ki pariksh leti
Nithur niyati ko daya bhi nahi aati hain…

Does not     this  , a cruel  justice  become kind  ,

When taking   examination   of such a great   mother Sita

O…us dukhiya ke raj-dulaare…
Hum hi sut shrii ram tihaare….

O….sita maa ki aankh ki taare…ee …
Lav-kush hain pitu naam hamare….
He pitu bhagya hamare jaage
Ram katha kahe ram ke aage……

WE are  the princely son of   that  sorrowing lady,

WE are   your sons  oh lord Rama,

We are  the stars of the eyes of mother  Sita,

And the  names  given to us are Luv and Kush

Oh our lucky father   wake up,

WE are telling the story of Ram before Ram

हम कथा सुनाते राम सकल गुणधाम की,
हम कथा सुनाते राम सकल गुणधाम की,
ये रामायण है पुण्य कथा श्री राम की,

जम्बुद्वीपे, भरत खंडे. आर्यावर्ते, भारतवर्षे,
इक नगरी है विख्यात अयोध्या नाम की,
यही जन्म भूमि है परम पूज्य श्री राम की,
हम कथा सुनाते राम सकल गुणधाम की,
ये रामायण है पुण्य कथा श्री राम की,
ये रामायण है पुण्य कथा श्री राम की,

रघुकुल के राजा धर्मात्मा, चक्रवर्ती दशरथ पुण्यात्मा,
संतति हेतु यज्ञ करवाया, धर्म यज्ञ का शुभ फल पाया,
नृप घर जन्मे चार कुमारा, रघुकुल दीप जगत आधारा,
चारों भ्रातों के शुभ नामा, भरत, शत्रुघ्न, लक्ष्मण रामा,

गुरु वशिष्ठ के गुरुकुल जाके, अल्प काल विद्या सब पाके,
पूरण हुयी शिक्षा, रघुवर पूरण काम की,
हम कथा सुनाते राम सकल गुणधाम की,
ये रामायण है पुण्य कथा श्री राम की,

मृदु स्वर, कोमल भावना, रोचक प्रस्तुति ढंग,
इक इक कर वर्णन करें, लव कुश राम प्रसंग,
विश्वामित्र महामुनि राई, तिनके संग चले दोउ भाई,
कैसे राम ताड़का मारी, कैसे नाथ अहिल्या तारी,

मुनिवर विश्वामित्र तब, संग ले लक्ष्मण राम,
सिया स्वयंवर देखने, पहुंचे मिथिला धाम,

जनकपुर उत्सव है भारी,
जनकपुर उत्सव है भारी,
अपने वर का चयन करेगी सीता सुकुमारी,
जनकपुर उत्सव है भारी,

जनक राज का कठिन प्रण, सुनो सुनो सब कोई,
जो तोडे शिव धनुष को, सो सीता पति होई,

को तोरी शिव धनुष कठोर, सबकी दृष्टि राम की ओर,
राम विनय गुण के अवतार, गुरुवार की आज्ञा शिरधार,
सहज भाव से शिव धनु तोड़ा, जनकसुता संग नाता जोड़ा,
रघुवर जैसा और न कोई, सीता की समता नही होई,
दोउ करें पराजित कांति कोटि रति काम की,
हम कथा सुनाते राम सकल गुणधाम की,
ये रामायण है पुण्य कथा सिया राम की,

सब पर शब्द मोहिनी डारी, मन्त्र मुग्ध भये सब नर नारी,
यूँ दिन रैन जात हैं बीते, लव कुश नें सबके मन जीते,

वन गमन, सीता हरण, हनुमत मिलन, लंका दहन, रावण मरण, अयोध्या पुनरागमन.

सविस्तार सब कथा सुनाई, राजा राम भये रघुराई,
राम राज आयो सुख दाई, सुख समृद्धि श्री घर घर आई,





काल चक्र नें घटना क्रम में ऐसा चक्र चलाया,
राम सिया के जीवन में फिर घोर अँधेरा छाया,

अवध में ऐसा, ऐसा इक दिन आया,
निष्कलंक सीता पे प्रजा नें मिथ्या दोष लगाया,
अवध में ऐसा, ऐसा इक दिन आया,

चल दी सिया जब तोड़ कर सब नेह नाते मोह के,
पाषण हृदयों में न अंगारे जगे विद्रोह के,

ममतामयी माँओं के आँचल भी सिमट कर रह गए,
गुरुदेव ज्ञान और नीति के सागर भी घट कर रह गए,

न रघुकुल न रघुकुलनायक, कोई न सिय का हुआ सहायक,

मानवता को खो बैठे जब, सभ्य नगर के वासी,
तब सीता को हुआ सहायक, वन का इक सन्यासी,

उन ऋषि परम उदार का वाल्मीकि शुभ नाम,
सीता को आश्रय दिया ले आए निज धाम,

रघुकुल में कुलदीप जलाए, राम के दो सुत सिय नें जाए,

श्रोतागण, जो एक राजा की पुत्री है, एक राजा की पुत्रवधू है, और एक चक्रवर्ती राजा की पत्नी है, वही महारानी सीता वनवास के दुखों में अपने दिन कैसे काटती है. अपने कुल के गौरव और स्वाभिमान के रक्षा करते हुए, किसी से सहायता मांगे बिना कैसे अपना काम वो स्वयं करती है, स्वयं वन से लकड़ी काटती है, स्वयं अपना धान कूटती है, स्वयं अपनी चक्की पीसती है, और अपनी संतान को स्वावलंबी बनने की शिक्षा कैसे देती है अब उसकी एक करुण झांकी देखिये;

जनक दुलारी कुलवधू दशरथजी की,
राजरानी होके दिन वन में बिताती है,
रहते थे घेरे जिसे दास दासी आठों याम,
दासी बनी अपनी उदासी को छिपती है,
धरम प्रवीना सती, परम कुलीना,
सब विधि दोष हीना जीना दुःख में सिखाती है,
जगमाता हरिप्रिया लक्ष्मी स्वरूपा सिया,
कूटती है धान, भोज स्वयं बनती है,
कठिन कुल्हाडी लेके लकडियाँ काटती है,
करम लिखे को पर काट नही पाती है,
फूल भी उठाना भारी जिस सुकुमारी को था,
दुःख भरे जीवन का बोझ वो उठाती है,
अर्धांगिनी रघुवीर की वो धर धीर,
भरती है नीर, नीर नैन में न लाती है,
जिसकी प्रजा के अपवादों के कुचक्र में वो,
पीसती है चाकी स्वाभिमान को बचाती है,
पालती है बच्चों को वो कर्म योगिनी की भाँती,
स्वाभिमानी, स्वावलंबी, सबल बनाती है,
ऐसी सीता माता की परीक्षा लेते दुःख देते,
निठुर नियति को दया भी नही आती है,

उस दुखिया के राज दुलारे, हम ही सुत श्री राम तिहारे,
सीता मां की आँख के तारे, लव कुश हैं पितु नाम हमारे,
हे पितु, भाग्य हमारे जागे, राम कथा कही राम के आगे.

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पुनि पुनि कितनी हो कही सुनाई, हिय की प्यास बुझत न बुझाई,
सीता राम चरित अतिपावन, मधुर सरस अरु अति मनभावन