Chapter 113

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

ततः शिरसि कृत्वा तु पादुके भरतः तदा
आरुरोह रथम् हृष्टः शत्रुघ्नेन समन्वितः

tataḥ śirasi kṛtvā tu pāduke bharataḥ tadā
āruroha ratham hṛṣṭaḥ śatrughnena samanvitaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | bharataḥ: Bharata | śatrughnena samnvitaḥ: along with Shatrughna | tadā: then | kṛvā: keeping | pāduke: the sandals | śirasi: on his head | hṛṣṭaḥ: and having been pleased | āruroha: ascended | ratham: his chariot. |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, keeping the sandals on his head, Bharata delightfully ascended his chariot along with Shatrughna.

VERSE 2

वसिष्ठो वामदेवः च जाबालिः च दृढ व्रतः
अग्रतः प्रययुः सर्वे मन्त्रिणो मन्त्र पूजिताः

vasiṣṭho vāmadevaḥ ca jābāliḥ ca dṛḍha vrataḥ
agrataḥ prayayuḥ sarve mantriṇo mantra pūjitāḥ

SYNONYMS

agrataḥ: before him | vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vasishta | vāsudevaśca: Vasudeva | dṛḍhavrataḥ: sarve = and all | mantriṇaḥ: the ministers | mantra pūjitāḥ: distinguished for their advices | prayayuḥ: went ahead. |

TRANSLATION

Before him, Vasishta, Vasudeva of firm vows, Jabali and all the ministers distinguished for their counsels, went ahead.

VERSE 3

मन्दाकिनीम् नदीम् रम्याम् प्रान् मुखाः ते ययुः तदा
प्रदक्षिणम् च कुर्वाणाः चित्र कूटम् महा गिरिम्

mandākinīm nadīm ramyām prān mukhāḥ te yayuḥ tadā
pradakṣiṇam ca kurvāṇāḥ citra kūṭam mahā girim

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | te: they | yayuḥ: advanced | kurvāṇāḥ: making | pradakṣiṇam: a round of | citrakūṭam mahāgirim: Chitrakuta mountain | prāṇmukhāḥ: facing east towards | ramyām: by the charming | nadīm: River | mandākinīm: Mandakini. |

TRANSLATION

Them, they advanced eastwards, by the charming Mandakini River, after making a round of Chitrakuta Mountain.

VERSE 4

पश्यन् धातु सहस्राणि रम्याणि विविधानि च
प्रययौ तस्य पार्श्वेन ससैन्यो भरतः तदा

paśyan dhātu sahasrāṇi ramyāṇi vividhāni ca
prayayau tasya pārśvena sasainyo bharataḥ tadā

SYNONYMS

paśyam: observing | vividhāni: various kinds | dhātu sahasrāṇi: of thousands of rocks | ramyāṇi: which were enchanting | bharataḥ: Bharata | tadā: then | prayayou: travelled | pārśve: along the side | tasya: of that mountain | sasainyaḥ: along with his troops. |

TRANSLATION

Observing various types of thousands of enchanting rocks, Bharata advanced along with his troops along the side of the mountain.

VERSE 5

अदूराच् चित्र कूटस्य ददर्श भरतः तदा
आश्रमम् यत्र स मुनिर् भरद्वाजः कृत आलयः

adūrāc citra kūṭasya dadarśa bharataḥ tadā
āśramam yatra sa munir bharadvājaḥ kṛta ālayaḥ

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | bharataḥ: Bharata | dadarśa: saw | āśramam: a hermitage | yatra: where | muniḥ: the sage | saḥ bharadvājaḥ: that Bharadwaja | kṛtālayaḥ: made it as a residence | adūrāt: in the vicinity | citrakūṭasya: of Chitrakuta Mountain. |

TRANSLATION

In the vicinity of Chitrakuta Mountain, Bharata saw a hermitage where the sage Bharadwaja resided.

VERSE 6

स तम् आश्रमम् आगम्य भरद्वाजस्य बुद्धिमान्
अवतीर्य रथात् पादौ ववन्दे कुल नन्दनः

sa tam āśramam āgamya bharadvājasya buddhimān
avatīrya rathāt pādau vavande kula nandanaḥ

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | saḥ bharataḥ: that Bharata | buddhimān: endowed with understanding | āgamya: reached | tam āśramam: that hermitage | bharadvājasya: of Bharatadvaja | avatīrya: descended | rathāt: from his chariot | vavande: and bowed down in salutation | pādau: to the feet of Bharatadwaja. |

TRANSLATION

Then, that Bharata endowed with understanding reached that hermitage of Bharadwaja, descended from his chariot and bowed down to the feet of Bharadwaja in saluation.

VERSE 7

ततो हृष्टो भरद्वाजो भरतम् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
अपि कृत्यम् कृतम् तात रामेण च समागतम्

tato hṛṣṭo bharadvājo bharatam vākyam abravīt
api kṛtyam kṛtam tāta rāmeṇa ca samāgatam

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | uktaḥ: spoken | evam: thus | bharadvājena: by Bharadvaja | dhīmatā: the learned sage | bharataḥ: Bharata | bhrātṛvatsalaḥ: affectionate towards his brothers | pratyuvāca: replied | bharadvājam: to Bharadvaja (as follows) |

TRANSLATION

The, Bharadvaja full of joy, enquired of Bharata saying, "O, dear prince! Has your purpose been accomplished? Have you met Rama?"

VERSE 8

एवम् उक्तः तु भरतो भरद्वाजेन धीमता
प्रत्युवाच भरद्वाजम् भरतो धर्म वत्सलः

evam uktaḥ tu bharato bharadvājena dhīmatā
pratyuvāca bharadvājam bharato dharma vatsalaḥ

SYNONYMS

uktaḥ: spoken | evam: thus | bharadvājena: by Bharadvaja | dhīmatā: the learned sage | bharataḥ: Bharat | bhrātṛvatsalaḥ: affectionate towards his brothers | prayuvāca: replied | bharadvājam: to Bharadvaja (as follows): |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the words of the learned sage, Bharadvaja, Bharata who was affectionate towards his brothers, replied to Bharadvaja (as follows)

VERSE 9

स याच्यमानो गुरुणा मया च दृढ विक्रमः
राघवः परम प्रीतो वसिष्ठम् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्

sa yācyamāno guruṇā mayā ca dṛḍha vikramaḥ
rāghavaḥ parama prīto vasiṣṭham vākyam abravīt

SYNONYMS

yācyamānaḥ: despite the entreaties | guruṇā: of his preceptor | mayā: and of mine | rāghavaḥ: Rama | dṛḍhavikramaḥ: is unshakeable in his resolve | parama prītaḥ: and most cheerfully | abravīt: spoke | vākyam: ( the following) words | vasiṣṭham: to Vasishta. |

TRANSLATION

Despite the entreaties of his preceptor and of mine, Rama is unshakeable in his resolve and most cheerfully spoke the following words to Vasishta.

VERSE 10

पितुः प्रतिज्नाम् ताम् एव पालयिष्यामि तत्त्वतः
चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि य प्रतिज्ना पितुर् मम

pituḥ pratijnām tām eva pālayiṣyāmi tattvataḥ
caturdaśa hi varṣāṇi ya pratijnā pitur mama

SYNONYMS

pālayiṣyāmi: I shall honour | tām pratijñām eva: that promise alone | pituḥ: of my father | tattvataḥ: scruprulously | : which | pratizñāḥ: I promised | mama pituḥ: to my father | caturdaśa varṣāṇi: for fourteen years. |

TRANSLATION

"I shall honour the promise of my father scrupulously and reside in the forest for fourteen years as I promised him."

VERSE 11

एवम् उक्तो महा प्राज्नो वसिष्ठः प्रत्युवाच ह
वाक्यज्नो वाक्य कुशलम् राघवम् वचनम् महत्

evam ukto mahā prājno vasiṣṭhaḥ pratyuvāca ha
vākyajno vākya kuśalam rāghavam vacanam mahat

SYNONYMS

uktaḥ: spoken | evam: in this manner (by Rama) | vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vasishta | mahāprājñaḥ: the highly wise | vākyajñaḥ: and the knower of the mode of expression | pratyuvācaha: replied | mahat: in great | vacanam: words | rāghavam: to Rama | vākyakuśalam: who is the most skilful of orators. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the words of Rama, the highly wise Vasishta, the knower of proper mode of expression, replied to Rama who is the most skilful of orators, in the following great words:

VERSE 12

एते प्रयग्च्छ सम्हृष्टः पादुके हेम भूषिते
अयोध्यायाम् महा प्राज्न योग क्षेम करे तव

ete prayagccha samhṛṣṭaḥ pāduke hema bhūṣite
ayodhyāyām mahā prājna yoga kṣema kare tava

SYNONYMS

mahā prājña: O | samhṛṣṭaḥ: joyfully | prayaccha: bestow | ete: those | hemabhūṣite: gold-encrusted | tava pāduke: sandals of yours | yogakṣama kare: which ensure peace and harmony | ayodhyāyām: in Ayodhya. |

TRANSLATION

"O, the extremely segacious prince! Bestow joyfully thse gold-encrusted sandals of yours on us and ensure peace and harmony in Ayodhya."

VERSE 13

एवम् उक्तो वसिष्ठेन राघवः प्रान् मुखः स्थितः
पादुके हेम विकृते मम राज्याय ते ददौ

evam ukto vasiṣṭhena rāghavaḥ prān mukhaḥ sthitaḥ
pāduke hema vikṛte mama rājyāya te dadau

SYNONYMS

evam: thus | uktaḥ: spoken | vasiṣṭena: by Vasishta | rāghavaḥ: Rama | sthitaḥ: stood up | prāṇmukhaḥ: facing the EAst | adhiruhya: placed his feet | ete: in those | pāduke: sandals | dadau: and gave | mama: to me | rājyāya: as a sign of regency. |

TRANSLATION

"Hearing the words of Vasishta, Rama stood up and turning to the East, placed his feet in those sandals and gave them to me as a sign of regency."

VERSE 14

निवृत्तो अहम् अनुज्नातो रामेण सुमहात्मना
अयोध्याम् एव गग्च्छामि गृहीत्वा पादुके शुभे

nivṛtto aham anujnāto rāmeṇa sumahātmanā
ayodhyām eva gagcchāmi gṛhītvā pāduke śubhe

SYNONYMS

anujnātaḥ: having taken leave | rāmeṇa: of Rama | sumahātmanā: the vry high-souled gR^ihiitvaa = after receiving | śubhe: the auspicious | pāduke: sandals | gacchāmi: and proceeding | ayodhyāmeva: to Ayodhya. |

TRANSLATION

"Having taken leave of the very high-souled Rama, I turned back after receiving the auspicious sandals. Now, I am proceeding to Ayodhya."

VERSE 15

एतत् श्रुत्वा शुभम् वाक्यम् भरतस्य महात्मनः
भरद्वाजः शुभतरम् मुनिर् वाक्यम् उदाहरत्

etat śrutvā śubham vākyam bharatasya mahātmanaḥ
bharadvājaḥ śubhataram munir vākyam udāharat

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | etat vākyam: those words | śubham: which were auspicious | bharatasya: Bharata | mahātmanaḥ: the high-souled | bharadvājaḥ muniḥ: the sage Bharadvaja | uvāca: spoke | tam: to him | śubhataram: the more auspicious | vākyam: words. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing those auspicious words of the high-souled Bharata, the sage Bharadvaja spoke to him the following words.

VERSE 16

न एतच् चित्रम् नर व्याघ्र शील वृत्तवताम् वर
यद् आर्यम् त्वयि तिष्ठेत् तु निम्ने वृष्टिम् इव उदकम्

na etac citram nara vyāghra śīla vṛttavatām vara
yad āryam tvayi tiṣṭhet tu nimne vṛṣṭim iva udakam

SYNONYMS

naravyāghra: O | vara: and excellent | śīlavṛttavatām: among those having virtue and good conduct | na: there is no | citram: surprise | etat: that | āryam: a noble trait | yat tiṣṭhet: prevails | tvayi: in you | udakam iva: as water | sṛṣṭam: allowed to go | nimne: prevails downwards. |

TRANSLATION

"O Bharata the Tiger among men and excellent among those having virtue and good conduct! There is no surprise that a noble trait prevails in you, as naturally as the water allowed to go, always settles downwards."

VERSE 17

अमृतः स महा बाहुः पिता दशरथः तव
यस्य त्वम् ईदृशः पुत्रो धर्म आत्मा धर्म वत्सलः

amṛtaḥ sa mahā bāhuḥ pitā daśarathaḥ tava
yasya tvam īdṛśaḥ putro dharma ātmā dharma vatsalaḥ

SYNONYMS

tava pitā: your father | daśarathaḥ: Dasaratha | saḥ: that | mahābāhuḥ: mighty armed | yasya: to whom | tvam: you | putraḥ: are the son | īdṛśaḥ: wndowed with such qualities | dharmajñaḥ: as knower of righteousness | dharma vastalaḥ: and loving piety | amṛtaḥ: is immortal. |

TRANSLATION

"Your valiant father, Dasaratha, is immortal in having such a son as you are, the knower of righteousness and loving peity."

VERSE 18

तम् ऋषिम् तु महात्मानम् उक्त वाक्यम् कृत अन्जलिः
आमन्त्रयितुम् आरेभे चरणाउ उपगृह्य च

tam ṛṣim tu mahātmānam ukta vākyam kṛta anjaliḥ
āmantrayitum ārebhe caraṇāu upagṛhya ca

SYNONYMS

ukta vākyam: thus spoken | tam ṛṣim: by the sage | kṛtāṇjaliḥ: with his joined palms | upagṛhya: touched | ārebhe: and began | āmantryitum: taking leave. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the words of that sage, Bharata with his joined palms, touched his feet in salutation and began taking leave from him.

VERSE 19

ततः प्रदक्षिणम् कृत्वा भरद्वाजम् पुनः पुनः
भरतः तु ययौ श्रीमान् अयोध्याम् सह मन्त्रिभिः

tataḥ pradakṣiṇam kṛtvā bharadvājam punaḥ punaḥ
bharataḥ tu yayau śrīmān ayodhyām saha mantribhiḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | śrīmān: the glorious | bharataḥ: Bharata | kṛtvā: made | pradkṣiṇam: circumambulation | punaḥ punaḥ: again and again | bharadvājam: to Bharadwaja | yayau: and proceeded | ayodhyām: to Ayodhya | mantribhiḥ saha: along with his ministers. |

TRANSLATION

Then, the glorious Bharata made circumambulation again and again to Bharadwaja and proceeded to Ayodhya along with hims ministers.

VERSE 20

यानैः च शकटैः चैव हयैः नागैः च सा चमूः
पुनर् निवृत्ता विस्तीर्णा भरतस्य अनुयायिनी

yānaiḥ ca śakaṭaiḥ caiva hayaiḥ nāgaiḥ ca sā camūḥ
punar nivṛttā vistīrṇā bharatasya anuyāyinī

SYNONYMS

: that | vistīrṇā: extensive | camūḥ: army | bharatasya: of Bharata | anuyāyinī: following him | yānaiśca: with vehicles | śakṭaiśca: carts | hayaiḥ: horses | nāgaiśoha: and elephants | nivṛttā: turned back | punaḥ: again (towards Ayodhya). |

TRANSLATION

Thata extensive army of Bharata, following him with vehicles, carts and elephants, turned back again towards Ayodhya.

VERSE 21

ततः ते यमुनाम् दिव्याम् नदीम् तीर्त्वा ऊर्मि मालिनीम्
ददृशुः ताम् पुनः सर्वे गन्गाम् शिव जलाम् नदीम्

tataḥ te yamunām divyām nadīm tīrtvā ūrmi mālinīm
dadṛśuḥ tām punaḥ sarve gangām śiva jalām nadīm

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | te sarve: all of them | tīrtvā: crossed | divyām: the charming | yamunā nadīm: river Yamuna | ūrmi mālinīm: wreathed wtih waves | punaḥ: and moreover | dadṛśuḥ: saw | tām gaṅgām nadīm: that River GAnga | śubhajalām: with its pure water. |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, all of them crossed the charming River Yamuna wreathed with waves and moreover saw the River Ganga with its pure water.

VERSE 22

ताम् रम्य जल सम्पूर्णाम् सम्तीर्य सह बान्धवः
शृन्ग वेर पुरम् रम्यम् प्रविवेश ससैनिकः

tām ramya jala sampūrṇām samtīrya saha bāndhavaḥ
śṛnga vera puram ramyam praviveśa sasainikaḥ

SYNONYMS

saha bāndhavaḥ: (Bharata) together with his relatives | sa sainikaḥ: and his army | samtīrya: crossed | tām: that River Ganga | praviveśa: and entered | ramyam: the beautiful | śṛṇgibherapuram: town of Shringibhera | śṛṇgibherapurāt: from that Shringibhera | samdadarha: he saw | ayodhyām: Ayodhya | bhūyaḥ: again. |

TRANSLATION

Bharata accompanied by his relative and his army crossed that River Ganga, full of charming waters and entered the beautiful town of Shringibhera. From Shringibhera, he saw Ayodhya again.

VERSE 23

अयोध्याम् च ततो दृष्ट्वा पित्रा भ्रात्रा विवर्जिताम्
भरतो दुह्ख सम्तप्तः सारथिम् च इदम् अब्रवीत्

ayodhyām ca tato dṛṣṭvā pitrā bhrātrā vivarjitām
bharato duhkha samtaptaḥ sārathim ca idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | dṛṣṭvā: beholding | ayodhyām: Ayodhya | vivarjitām: bereft of | pitrā: his father | bhrātrā: and brother | bharataḥ: Bharata | duḥkhasantaptaḥ: tormented with grief | abravīt: spoke | idam: these words | sarathīm: to the charioteer. |

TRANSLATION

Beholding the City of Ayodhya, which was bereft of his father and brother, Bharata tormented with grief, spoke the following words to the charioteer:

VERSE 24

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे त्रयोदशोत्तरशततमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe trayodaśottaraśatatamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

sārathe: O | paśya: see | sā ayodhyā: that Ayodhya | vidhvastā: ruined | nirākārā: with a vacant look | nirānandā: joyless | dīnā: miserable | pratihatasvarā: and with choked voice. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Charioteer! See that Ayodhya city, ruined, with a vacant look, joyless, miserable, and with an impeded voice."