Chapter 70

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

भरते ब्रुवति स्वप्नम् दूताः ते क्लान्त वाहनाः
प्रविश्य असह्य परिखम् रम्यम् राज गृहम् पुरम्

bharate bruvati svapnam dūtāḥ te klānta vāhanāḥ
praviśya asahya parikham ramyam rāja gṛham puram

SYNONYMS

2| bharate: (while)Bharata | bruvati: was telling | svapnam: about the dream | te dūtaḥ: those messengers | klāntavāhanāḥ: whose horses were tired | praviśya: entered | ramyam: beautiful | puram: city | rājagṛham: called Rajagriha | asahyaparigham: which has too big a palace-gate | samāgamya: met | rājñāca: the king Kekeya | rājaputreṇa: and the prince Yudhajit | arcitāḥ: were received by them hospitably | gṛhītvā: grasped(in salutation) | pādou: the feet | rāṅgaḥ: of the king Kekeya | ūcuḥ: and spoke | tam bharatam: to that Bharata | vacaḥ: (the following) words:- |

TRANSLATION

While Bharata was narrating his dream, the messengers whose horses were tired, entered the beautiful city called Rajagriha, which has too big a palace-gate and met the king Kekeya and the prince Yudhajit, who received them hospitably. They saluted the feet of the king Kekeya and spoke the following words to Bharata:

VERSE 3

पुरोहितः त्वा कुशलम् प्राह सर्वे च मन्त्रिणः
त्वरमाणः च निर्याहि कृत्यम् आत्ययिकम् त्वया

purohitaḥ tvā kuśalam prāha sarve ca mantriṇaḥ
tvaramāṇaḥ ca niryāhi kṛtyam ātyayikam tvayā

SYNONYMS

purohitaḥ: the family priest | prāha: was asking | tvām: your | kuśalam: welfare | sarve: All | mantriṇaśca: the ministers also | niryāhi: come forth indeed | tvaramāṇaḥca: quickly. atyayikam = There is an urgent | kṛtyam: work | tvayā: with you." |

TRANSLATION

"Vasistha, the family-priest and all the ministers were asking about your welfare. Come forth indeed quickly. There is an urgent work with you."

VERSE 4

इमानि च महार्हाणि वस्त्राभरणानि च
प्रतिगृह्य विशालाक्ष मातुलस्य च दापय

imāni ca mahārhāṇi vastrābharaṇāni ca
pratigṛhya viśālākṣa mātulasya ca dāpaya

SYNONYMS

Bharata the vide-eyed man! Pratigṛhya: Take | imāni: these | mahārhāṇi: very valuable | vastrāṇi: clothes | ābharaṇānica: and jewels | dāpaya: and arrange to give | mātulasya: to your maternal uncle." |

TRANSLATION

"O, Bharata the wide-eyed man! Take these very valuable clothes and jewels and give them to your maternal uncle"

VERSE 5

अत्र विंशति कोट्यः तु नृपतेर् मातुलस्य ते
दश कोट्यः तु सम्पूर्णाः तथैव च नृप आत्मज

atra viṃśati koṭyaḥ tu nṛpater mātulasya te
daśa koṭyaḥ tu sampūrṇāḥ tathaiva ca nṛpa ātmaja

SYNONYMS

nṛpātmaja: O | prince! ātra: in these | vimśatikoṭyaḥ: a hundred crores | nṛpataḥ: are to be given to the king Kekeya | tathaivaca: and like wise | sampūrṇāḥ: a full | daśakoṭyastu: ten crores | te: your | mātulasya: maternal uncle." |

TRANSLATION

"O, prince! In these jewels and clothes, a worth of hundred crores is to be given to the king Kekeya and likewise a worth of ten crores in full to your maternal uncle."

VERSE 6

प्रतिगृह्य च तत् सर्वम् स्वनुरक्तः सुहृज् जने
दूतान् उवाच भरतः कामैः सम्प्रतिपूज्य तान्

pratigṛhya ca tat sarvam svanuraktaḥ suhṛj jane
dūtān uvāca bharataḥ kāmaiḥ sampratipūjya tān

SYNONYMS

bharataḥ: Bharata | svanuraktaḥ: who had a great affection | suhṛjjane: towards his kind hearted relatives | pratigṛhya: took | tat sarvam: all that | tān dūtān samprati pūjya: honored those messengers greatly | kāmaiḥ: with gifts of their liking | uvāca: and spoke (as follows): |

TRANSLATION

Bharata, who had a great affection towards his kind hearted relatives, took all that, honored these messengers profusely with gifts of their liking and spoke(as follows) :

VERSE 7

कच्चित् सुकुशली राजा पिता दशरथो मम
कच्चिच् च अरागता रामे लक्ष्मणे वा महात्मनि

kaccit sukuśalī rājā pitā daśaratho mama
kaccic ca arāgatā rāme lakṣmaṇe vā mahātmani

SYNONYMS

kaccit: "I hope that | mama pitā: my father | rājā daśarathaḥ: king Dasaratha | sukuśalī: is quite safe | ārogyotā: there is health | rāme: in Rama | mahātmani: and in the high soled | lakṣmaṇeca: Lakshmana." |

TRANSLATION

"I hope that king Dasaratha, my father is quite safe. I also hope that Rama and the high-soled Lakshmana are well."

VERSE 8

आर्या च धर्म निरता धर्मज्ञा धर्म दर्शिनी
अरोगा च अपि कौसल्या माता रामस्य धीमतः

āryā ca dharma niratā dharmajñā dharma darśinī
arogā ca api kausalyā mātā rāmasya dhīmataḥ

SYNONYMS

kausalya: (Is) Kausalya | āryāca: the venerable lady | dharmaniratā: who is intent on piety | dharmaṅga: who knows righteousness | dharmadarśinī: who visualizes righteousness | mātā: and mother | rāmasya: of Rama | dhīmataḥ: the wise | api arogā: also healthy?" |

TRANSLATION

"Is Kausalya, the venerable lady, who is intent on virtue, who knows righteousness, who visualizes goodness and who is the mother of the wise Rama, also well? "

VERSE 9

कच्चित् सुमित्रा धर्मज्ञा जननी लक्ष्मणस्य या
शत्रुघ्नस्य च वीरस्य सारोगा च अपि मध्यमा

kaccit sumitrā dharmajñā jananī lakṣmaṇasya yā
śatrughnasya ca vīrasya sārogā ca api madhyamā

SYNONYMS

kaccit: I hope that | sā sumitrāpi: that Sumitra | : who | dharmaġ^yā: knows righteousness | jananī: who is the mother | lakṣmaṇasya: of Lakshmana | śatrughnasyaca: and of Satrughna | vīrasya: the valiant | madhyamā: and our middle mother | arogā: is healthy." |

TRANSLATION

"I hope that Sumitra, who knows righteousness, who is the mother of Lakshmana as well as the heroic Satrughna and our middle mother, is well."

VERSE 10

आत्म कामा सदा चण्डी क्रोधना प्राज्ञ मानिनी
अरोगा च अपि कैकेयी माता मे किम् उवाच ह

ātma kāmā sadā caṇḍī krodhanā prājña māninī
arogā ca api kaikeyī mātā me kim uvāca ha

SYNONYMS

kaikeyi: (Is) Kaikeyi | ātmakāmā: who loves herself | sadā: forever | caṇḍī: fiery lady | krodhanā: of wrathful nature | prāġ^yamāninī: priding herself to be highly intelligent | me mātā: and my mother | api arogā: also healthy? kim = What | uvācaha: did she say?" |

TRANSLATION

"As Kaikeyi, who loves herself, a forever fiery lady of wrathful nature, who prides herself to be highly intelligent and my mother, also well? What did she say?"

VERSE 11

एवम् उक्ताः तु ते दूता भरतेन महात्मना
ऊचुः सम्प्रश्रितम् वाक्यम् इदम् तम् भरतम् तदा

evam uktāḥ tu te dūtā bharatena mahātmanā
ūcuḥ sampraśritam vākyam idam tam bharatam tadā

SYNONYMS

uktvāḥ: having been spoken | evam: thus | bharatena: by Bharata | mahātmanā: the high soled | te dūtāḥ: those messengers | tadā: then | ūcuḥ: spoke | idam vacaḥ: these words | sapraśrayam: respectfully | tam bharatam: to that Bharata: |

TRANSLATION

On hearing the words of the high soled Bharata, those messengers then respectfully spoke to Bharata as follows:

VERSE 12

कुशलाः ते नर व्याघ्र येषाम् कुशलम् इच्चसि
श्रीश्च त्वाम् वृणुते पद्मा युज्यताम् चापि ते रकः

kuśalāḥ te nara vyāghra yeṣām kuśalam iccasi
śrīśca tvām vṛṇute padmā yujyatām cāpi te rakaḥ

SYNONYMS

"naravyāghra: O | tiger among men! ẏeṣām: whose | kuśalam: welfare | icchasi: do you desire | te: Let your | kuśalāh: are safe | śrīḥ: the goddess of prosperity | padmā: holding a lotus in her hand | vṛṇute: awaits | tvām: you | rathaḥ: chariot | yujyatāmcāpi: be made ready." |

TRANSLATION

"O, tiger among men! Those, of whom you do enquire, are all well. The goddess of prosperity, holding a lotus in her hand, awaits you. Let your chariot be made ready."

VERSE 13

भरतः च अपि तान् दूतान् एवम् उक्तः अभ्यभाषत
आपृच्चे अहम् महा राजम् दूताः सम्त्वरयन्ति माम्

bharataḥ ca api tān dūtān evam uktaḥ abhyabhāṣata
āpṛcce aham mahā rājam dūtāḥ samtvarayanti mām

SYNONYMS

evam: thus | uktaḥ: spoken | bharataścāpi: Bharata also | abhyabhāṣata: spoke | tān dūtān: to those messengers(as follows) | "aham: I | apṛcche: will get permission | mahārājam: from the monarch | "dūtāh: the messengers | samtvarayanti: are hastening | mām: me." |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the words Bharata spoke to the messengers as follows: "I will get permission from the monarch(to leave for Ayodhya) saying that the messengers are hastening me up."

VERSE 14

एवम् उक्त्वा तु तान् दूतान् भरतः पार्थिव आत्मजः
दूतैः संचोदितः वाक्यम् मातामहम् उवाच ह

evam uktvā tu tān dūtān bharataḥ pārthiva ātmajaḥ
dūtaiḥ saṃcoditaḥ vākyam mātāmaham uvāca ha

SYNONYMS

bharataḥ: Bharata | pārthivātmajaḥ: the prince | samcoditah: being asked to move quickly | dūtaiḥ: by the messengers | evam: thus | uktvā: spoke | tān dūtān: to the messengers | uvācaha: and uttered | vākyam: these words | mātāmaham: to his maternal uncle: |

TRANSLATION

Bharata the prince having been asked to move quickly (to Ayodhya) by the messengers, spoke as aforesaid to those messengers and uttered the following words to his maternal uncle:

VERSE 15

राजन् पितुर् गमिष्यामि सकाशम् दूत चोदितः
पुनर् अपि अहम् एष्यामि यदा मे त्वम् स्मरिष्यसि

rājan pitur gamiṣyāmi sakāśam dūta coditaḥ
punar api aham eṣyāmi yadā me tvam smariṣyasi

SYNONYMS

rājan: O | king! dūtacoditāh: asked by the messengers to move quickly | gamiṣyāmi: I am going | pituḥ: to my father's | sakāśam: presence. eshhyaami = I shall come | punarapi: again | yadā: whenever | tvam: you | smariṣyasi: recall | me: me." |

TRANSLATION

"O, king! Requested by the messengers to come to Ayodhya urgently, I am going to my father's presence. I shall again come, whenever you recall me."

VERSE 16

भरतेन एवम् उक्तः तु नृपो मातामहः तदा
तम् उवाच शुभम् वाक्यम् शिरस्य् आघ्राय राघवम्

bharatena evam uktaḥ tu nṛpo mātāmahaḥ tadā
tam uvāca śubham vākyam śirasy āghrāya rāghavam

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | nṛpaḥ: the king Kekeya | mātā mahaḥ: the maternal uncle | uktaḥ: having been spoken | bharatena: by Bharata | evam: as aforesaid | āghrāya: smelling | śirasi: the head | tām rāghavam: of that Bharata | uvāca: spoke | śubham: these auspicious | vākyām: words: |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the words of Bharata, the king Kekeya, his maternal uncle smelled (as a token of affection) the head of Bharata and spoke the following auspicious words:

VERSE 17

गच्च तात अनुजाने त्वाम् कैकेयी सुप्रजाः त्वया
मातरम् कुशलम् ब्रूयाः पितरम् च परम् तप

gacca tāta anujāne tvām kaikeyī suprajāḥ tvayā
mātaram kuśalam brūyāḥ pitaram ca param tapa

SYNONYMS

gaccha: go | tāta: my dear child! anujaane = I am permitting | tvām: you | tvayā: by you | kaikeyī: Kaikeyi | suprajāḥ: has a good son | paramtapa: O | the scourge of foes! Brūyāḥ: Ask | kuśalam: the welfare | mātaram: of your mother | pitaraca: and father." |

TRANSLATION

"Go, my dear child! I am permitting you. Kaikeyi is fortunate to have a good son like you. Bear my greetings to your mother and father."

VERSE 18

पुरोहितम् च कुशलम् ये च अन्ये द्विज सत्तमाः
तौ च तात महा इष्वासौ भ्रातरु राम लक्ष्मणौ

purohitam ca kuśalam ye ca anye dvija sattamāḥ
tau ca tāta mahā iṣvāsau bhrātaru rāma lakṣmaṇau

SYNONYMS

tāta: my dear child! Bruuhi = Ask for | kuśalam: welfare | purohitam: of the family priest | ye: which | anye: other | dvijasattamāḥ: foremost of Brahmins | maheṣvāsou: wielders of great bows | tou: those | bhrātarou: brothers | rāma lakśmaṇou: Rama and Lakshmana." |

TRANSLATION

" My dear child! Pay obeisance to your family priest, the other illustrious Brahmins and your brothers Rama and Lakshmana the wielders of bows."

VERSE 19

तस्मै हस्ति उत्तमाम्ः चित्रान् कम्बलान् अजिनानि च
अभिसत्कृत्य कैकेयो भरताय धनम् ददौ

tasmai hasti uttamāmḥ citrān kambalān ajināni ca
abhisatkṛtya kaikeyo bharatāya dhanam dadau

SYNONYMS

kaikeyaḥ: the king Kekeya | abhisatkṛtya: treating him hospitably | dadou: gave | tasmai: that | bharatāya: Bharata | hastyuttamān: the best of elephants | citrān: variously colored | kambaḻān: woolen clothes | ajināni: antelope skins | dhanam: and riches(gold |

TRANSLATION

The king Kekaya, treating him hospitably gave that Bharata the best of elephants, woolen clothes of varied colors, antelope skins and riches (gold and silver vessels etc).

VERSE 20

रुक्म निष्क सहस्रे द्वे षोडश अश्व शतानि च
सत्कृत्य कैकेयी पुत्रम् केकयो धनम् आदिशत्

rukma niṣka sahasre dve ṣoḍaśa aśva śatāni ca
satkṛtya kaikeyī putram kekayo dhanam ādiśat

SYNONYMS

kekeyaḥ: the king Kekeya | satkṛtya: in honor of him | ādiśat: gave | dhanam: as gifts | dve: two | rukma niṣkasahasre: thousand coins of gold | ṣoḍaśa: sixteen | aśvaśatānica: hundred horses. |

TRANSLATION

The king Kekeya generously gave as gifts to Bharata, two thousands coins of gold and sixteen hundred horses.

VERSE 21

तथा अमात्यान् अभिप्रेतान् विश्वास्याम्ः च गुण अन्वितान्
ददाव् अश्व पतिः शीघ्रम् भरताय अनुयायिनः

tathā amātyān abhipretān viśvāsyāmḥ ca guṇa anvitān
dadāv aśva patiḥ śīghram bharatāya anuyāyinaḥ

SYNONYMS

tathā: likewise | aśvapatiḥ: aswapati | dadou: gave | anuyāyinaḥ: some attendants | abhipretān: who were dear | viśvāsyān: reliable | guṇānvitān: endowed with virtues | amātyān: and inmates of his palace | bharatāya: to Bharata. |

TRANSLATION

Likewise, Aswapati sent some attendants, who were dear, reliable, endowed with virtues and inmates of his palace with Bharata (to accompany him on the return journey)

VERSE 22

ऐरावतान् ऐन्द्र शिरान् नागान् वै प्रिय दर्शनान्
खरान् शीघ्रान् सुसम्युक्तान् मातुलो अस्मै धनम् ददौ

airāvatān aindra śirān nāgān vai priya darśanān
kharān śīghrān susamyuktān mātulo asmai dhanam dadau

SYNONYMS

mātulaḥ: his maternal uncle | dadou: gave | dhanam: as presents | nāgān: elephants | airāvatān: of Airavata race | aindraśirān: born in Indrasira mountain range | priya darśanān: and which were charming to behold | kharān: and mules | śīghrān: which could walk quickly | susamyuktān: and were well trained. |

TRANSLATION

Yuddhajit, his maternal uncle gave him as gifts, elephants of Airavata race born in Indrasira mountain-range and which were charming to behold as well as mules which could walk quickly and were well trained

VERSE 23

अन्तः पुरे अतिसम्वृद्धान् व्याघ्र वीर्य बल अन्वितान्
दम्ष्ट्र आयुधान् महा कायान् शुनः च उपायनम् ददौ

antaḥ pure atisamvṛddhān vyāghra vīrya bala anvitān
damṣṭra āyudhān mahā kāyān śunaḥ ca upāyanam dadau

SYNONYMS

dadou: (he) gave | upāyanam: as a gift | śunaśca: dogs also | ati samvṛddhān: which were well nourished | antaḥpura: in the gynaecium | vyāghre vīrya balānvitān: which had vitality and strength equal to tigers | mahākāyān: which were large bodied | damṣṭrā yudhān: and which used tusks as weapons. |

TRANSLATION

He gave as a gift, large bodied dogs, which were well nourished in the gynoecium, possessing strength and vitality of a tiger and which were using their tusks as weapons.

VERSE 24

स मातामहम् आपृच्च्य मातुलम् च युधा जितम्
रथम् आरुह्य भरतः शत्रुघ्न सहितः ययौ

sa mātāmaham āpṛccya mātulam ca yudhā jitam
ratham āruhya bharataḥ śatrughna sahitaḥ yayau

SYNONYMS

dhanam: the wealth of gifts | dattam: bestowed by | kekayendra: the king Kekeya | nābhyanandata: did not rejoice | saḥ: that | bharataḥ: Kaikeyi's son | gamanatvarayā: who was in a hurry to go | tadā: then. |

TRANSLATION

The wealth of gifts bestowed by the king Kekeya did not rejoice Bharata, Kaikeyi's son, who was then in a hurry to go.

VERSE 25

बभूव ह्यस्य हृदते चिन्ता सुमहती तदा
त्वरया चापि दूतानाम् स्वप्नस्यापि च दर्शनात्

babhūva hyasya hṛdate cintā sumahatī tadā
tvarayā cāpi dūtānām svapnasyāpi ca darśanāt

SYNONYMS

tvarayācāpi: due to goading | dūtānām: of messengers | darśanāccāpi: and visualization | svapnasya: of the dream | sumahatī: a very big | cintā: worry | babhūva hi: was formed | asya hṛdaye: in his heart | tadā: then. |

TRANSLATION

Due to goading of messengers and visualization of the dream, a very big worry was formed at that time in his heart.

VERSE 26

स स्ववेश्माभ्यतिक्रम्य नरनागश्वसम्वृतम्
प्रपेदे सुमहच्छ्रीमान् राजमार्गमनुत्तमम्

sa svaveśmābhyatikramya naranāgaśvasamvṛtam
prapede sumahacchrīmān rājamārgamanuttamam

SYNONYMS

śrīmān: the glorious | saḥ: Bharata | abhyatikramya: crossed | svaveśma: his palace | sumahat: which was very big | nara nāgāśva savṛtam: augmented with men | prapede: and entered | anuttamam: the excellent | rājamārgam: royal high way. |

TRANSLATION

The glorious Bharata crossed his very big palace, augmented with men elephants and horses and entered the excellent royal high way.

VERSE 27

अभ्यतीत्य ततो।अपश्यदन्तः पुरमुदारधीः
ततस्तद्भरतः श्रीमानाविवेशानिवारितः

abhyatītya tato|apaśyadantaḥ puramudāradhīḥ
tatastadbharataḥ śrīmānāviveśānivāritaḥ

SYNONYMS

udāradhīh: the sagacious Bharata | abhyatītya: crossed the royal highway | apaśyat: as saw | antaḥpuram: the gynaecia | tatah: thereafter | anivaritaḥ: unhindered | śrīmān: the glorious | bharataḥ: Bharata | āviveśa: entered | tat: that gynoecia. |

TRANSLATION

The sagacious Bharata crossed the royal high way and perceived the gynoecia. Then, the glorious Bharata entered those gynoecia.

VERSE 28

स माता महमापृच्च्य मातुलम् च युधाजितम्
रथमारुह्य भरतः शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ

sa mātā mahamāpṛccya mātulam ca yudhājitam
rathamāruhya bharataḥ śatrughnasahito yayau

SYNONYMS

saḥ bharataḥ: that Bharata | āpṛcchya: took leave of | mātāmaham: his maternal grand father | mātulam: and his maternal uncle | yudhājit: Yuddhajit | yayon: and set out | āruhya: mounted | ratham: on chariot | ṣatrughna sahitah: along with Satrughna. |

TRANSLATION

Bharata took leave of his maternal grandfather and also Yudhajit, his maternal uncle and set out on a chariot (for Ayodhya) along with Satrughna.

VERSE 29

रथान् मण्डल चक्राम्ः च योजयित्वा परः शतम्
उष्ट्र गो अश्व खरैः भृत्या भरतम् यान्तम् अन्वयुः

rathān maṇḍala cakrāmḥ ca yojayitvā paraḥ śatam
uṣṭra go aśva kharaiḥ bhṛtyā bharatam yāntam anvayuḥ

SYNONYMS

paraḥ śatān: with more than hundred | rathān**: chariots | ratna vicitrāmśca: variegated with jewels | yojayitvā: yoked to | uṣṭra gośva balaih: camels | bhṛtyāḥ: servants | anvayuḥ: followed | bharatam: Bharata | yāntam: as he departed. |

TRANSLATION

With more than hundred chariots variegated with jewels yoked to camels, bullocks, horses and mules as also servants followed Bharata as he departed.

PURPORT

Instead of "rathaan maNdalachakraamshcha", "rathaan ratnavichitraamshcha" in the old version is taken -as the clause "chariots with round wheels " appears to be meaningless.
VERSE 30

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्ततितमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe saptatitamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

guptaḥ: being protected | balena: by the army | mahātmā: the high soled | bharatah: Bharata | apeta śatruḥ: who was free from enemies | ādāya: and taking | śatrughnam: shatrughna | amātyaiḥ saha: along with companies | ātmasamaih: good enough to him | yayon: started | gṛhāt: from the palace | āryakasya: of his venerable maternal uncle | indralokādiva: as from the world of celestials | siddhah: a Siddha(a semi divine being of great purity and perfection and said to possess supernatural faculties). |

TRANSLATION

Being protected by the army, the high soled Bharata, who was free from enemies, taking Shatrughna along with other companions good enough to him, started from the palace of his venerable maternal uncle, as a Siddha(a semi- divine being of great purity and perfection and said to possess supernatural faculties) would start from Indraloka( the world of celestials).