Chapter 84

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

ततः निविष्टाम् ध्वजिनीम् गन्गाम् अन्वाश्रिताम् नदीम्
निषाद राजो दृष्ट्वा एव ज्ञातीन् सम्त्वरितः अब्रवीत्

tataḥ niviṣṭām dhvajinīm gangām anvāśritām nadīm
niṣāda rājo dṛṣṭvā eva jñātīn samtvaritaḥ abravīt

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | dṛṣṭvaiva: just on seeing | dhvajinīm: an army | niviṣṭām: encamped | anvāśritām: and situated along | gaṅgām nadīm: the River Ganga | niṣādarājaḥ: Guha | samtvasitaḥ: hastily | abravīt: spoke | jñātīn: to his relatives (as follows): |

TRANSLATION

Just on seeing an army encamped and positioned along the River Ganga, Guha the king of Nishadas hastily spoke to his relatives as follows:

VERSE 2

महती इयम् अतः सेना सागर आभा प्रदृश्यते
न अस्य अन्तम् अवगच्चामि मनसा अपि विचिन्तयन्

mahatī iyam ataḥ senā sāgara ābhā pradṛśyate
na asya antam avagaccāmi manasā api vicintayan

SYNONYMS

itaḥ: on this side | iyam: this | mahatī: huge | senā: army | pradṛśyati: is seen | sāgarābhā: as an ocean | nādhigacchami: I am not able to find | antam: the extent | asyāḥ: of this army | vidintayannapi: even by my discerning | manasā: with the mind. |

TRANSLATION

"On this side, a huge army is seen like an ocean. I am not able to comprehend the extent of this army even by my discerning mind."

VERSE 3

यथा तु खलु दुर्भद्धिर्भरतः स्वयमागतः
स एष हि महा कायः कोविदार ध्वजो रथे

yathā tu khalu durbhaddhirbharataḥ svayamāgataḥ
sa eṣa hi mahā kāyaḥ kovidāra dhvajo rathe

SYNONYMS

eṣaḥ: here ( is seen) | rathe hi: on the chariot | saḥ: that | mahākāyaḥ: towering | dhvajaḥ: banner bearing Kovidara tree | bharataḥ: (and hence) Bharata | durbuddhiḥ: with an evil intent | svayam: himself | yathātu āgataḥ: seems to have come. |

TRANSLATION

"Here is seen on that chariot, a towering banner bearing Kovidara tree and hence Bharata himself with an evil intent seems to have come."

PURPORT

Kovidara tree: pomegranate tree.
VERSE 4

बन्धयिष्यति वा दाशान् अथ वा अस्मान् वधिष्यति
अथ दाशरथिम् रामम् पित्रा राज्यात् विवासितम्

bandhayiṣyati vā dāśān atha vā asmān vadhiṣyati
atha dāśarathim rāmam pitrā rājyāt vivāsitam

SYNONYMS

5| bharataḥ: (Will) Bharata | kaikeyīputraḥ: the son of Kaikeyi | badhayiṣyati: bind with chains | dāśān: our fishermen | athavā: or | vadhiṣyati: kill | asmān: us? | atha: or | samadhigacchati: is he coming | hantum: to kill | rāmam: Rama | dāśarthīm: the son of Dasaratha | vivāsitam: who was exiled | rājyāt: from the kingdom | pitrā: by his father | anvicchan: and desiring | śriyam: the prosperous kingdom | sampannām: a luxury | sudurlabham: and that which is inaccessible to another. |

TRANSLATION

"Will Bharata the son of Kaikeyi bind us with chains or slay us? Or is he coming to kill Rama, the son of Dasaratha, who was exiled from the kingdom by his father, desirous as Bharata is to get the prosperous Ayodhya kingdom, a luxury and that which is inaccessible to another?"

VERSE 6

भर्ता चैव सखा चैव रामः दाशरथिर् मम
तस्य अर्थ कामाः सम्नद्धा गन्गा अनूपे अत्र तिष्ठत

bhartā caiva sakhā caiva rāmaḥ dāśarathir mama
tasya artha kāmāḥ samnaddhā gangā anūpe atra tiṣṭhata

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: Rama | dāśarathiḥ: the son of Dasaratha | mama: is my | bhartācaiva: Lord | sakhā caiva: and my friend too | pratiṣṭhata: be stationed | sannaddhā: covered with armor | gaṅgānūpe: one this bank of Ganga River | artha kāmāḥ: desiring to advance the interest | tasya: of that Rama. |

TRANSLATION

"Rama the son of Dasaratha is my Lord and my companion too. Hence you, covered with armor, be stationed on this bank of Ganga River, desiring to advance the interest of Rama."

VERSE 7

तिष्ठन्तु सर्व दाशाः च गन्गाम् अन्वाश्रिता नदीम्
बल युक्ता नदी रक्षा मांस मूल फल अशनाः

tiṣṭhantu sarva dāśāḥ ca gangām anvāśritā nadīm
bala yuktā nadī rakṣā māṃsa mūla phala aśanāḥ

SYNONYMS

sarve: (Let) all | dāśāśca: our ferrymen | nadīrakṣāḥ: guarding the river | balayuktāḥ: along with troops | māmsa mūla phalāśanāḥ: eating | tiṣṭhantu: stay | anvāśritāḥ: positioned along | gaṅgām nadīm: the River Ganga. |

TRANSLATION

"Let all our ferrymen guarding the river, along with the troops, eating meat roots and fruits ( in their boats), stay positioned along the River Ganga."

VERSE 8

नावाम् शतानाम् पन्चानाम् कैवर्तानाम् शतम् शतम्
सम्नद्धानाम् तथा यूनाम् तिष्ठन्तु अत्यभ्यचोदयत्

nāvām śatānām pancānām kaivartānām śatam śatam
samnaddhānām tathā yūnām tiṣṭhantu atyabhyacodayat

SYNONYMS

paṅcānam: (Let) five | śatānām: hundred | nāvām: boats | śatam śatam: each | yūnām: youthful | kaivartanām: ferrymen | tiṣṭhantu: be stationed | tathā: and sannddhaam = made ready | iti: (Guha) thus | abhyacodayat: announced. |

TRANSLATION

"Let five hundred boats, each manner by a hundred youthful ferrymen, be stationed and made ready" -thus announced Guha.

VERSE 9

यदा तुष्टः तु भरतः रामस्य इह भविष्यति
सा इयम् स्वस्तिमयी सेना गन्गाम् अद्य तरिष्यति

yadā tuṣṭaḥ tu bharataḥ rāmasya iha bhaviṣyati
sā iyam svastimayī senā gangām adya tariṣyati

SYNONYMS

yadātu: when | bharataḥ: Bharata | bhaviṣyati: be | aduṣṭaḥ: well-disposed | iha: here | rāmasya: towards Rama | sā iyam: such of this | senā: army | tariṣyati: may cross | gaṅgām: the River Ganga | adya: today | svastimatī: in safety. |

TRANSLATION

"If Bharata is favourably disposed now towards Rama, then only his army may (be allowed to) cross the River Ganga in safety."

VERSE 10

इति उक्त्वा उपायनम् गृह्य मत्स्य मांस मधूनि च
अभिचक्राम भरतम् निषाद अधिपतिर् गुहः

iti uktvā upāyanam gṛhya matsya māṃsa madhūni ca
abhicakrāma bharatam niṣāda adhipatir guhaḥ

SYNONYMS

iti: thus | uktvā: spoken | guhaḥ: Guha | niṣādādhipatiḥ: the Lord of Nishadas | gṛhya: took | matsya māmsa madhūni: fish meat and honey | upāyanam: as an offering | abhicakrāma: and approached | bharatam: Bharata. |

TRANSLATION

After uttering thus, Guha the king of Nishadas took fish, meat and honey as an offering and approached Bharata.

VERSE 11

तम् आयान्तम् तु सम्प्रेक्ष्य सूत पुत्रः प्रतापवान्
भरताय आचचक्षे अथ विनयज्ञो विनीतवत्

tam āyāntam tu samprekṣya sūta putraḥ pratāpavān
bharatāya ācacakṣe atha vinayajño vinītavat

SYNONYMS

atha: thereafter | sūtaputraḥ: Sumantra the charioteer | pratāpavān: a majestic man | vinayajñaḥ: who knows the rules of discipline | samprekśya: seeing | tam: him aayaantam = approach | ācacakśa: told | bharatāya: Bharata | vinītavat: humbly (as follows): |

TRANSLATION

Seeing him approach, Sumantra the charioteer, a majestic man who knows the rules of discipline, humbly told Bharata as follows:

VERSE 12

एष ज्ञाति सहस्रेण स्थपतिः परिवारितः
कुशलो दण्डक अरण्ये वृद्धो भ्रातुः च ते सखा

eṣa jñāti sahasreṇa sthapatiḥ parivāritaḥ
kuśalo daṇḍaka araṇye vṛddho bhrātuḥ ca te sakhā

SYNONYMS

eṣaḥ: this | sthapatiḥ: Lord | parivāritaḥ: who is surrounded | jñāti sahasreśa: by a thousand of his own people | kuśalaḥ: is fully acquainted | daṅkārāṅye: with the forest of Dandaka | vṛddhaḥ: and an old | sakhāca: friend | te: of your | bhrātuḥ: elder brother. |

TRANSLATION

"This Lord who is surrounded by a thousand of his own people, is fully acquainted with the forest of Dandaka and also an old friend of your elder brother."

VERSE 13

तस्मात् पश्यतु काकुत्स्थ त्वाम् निषाद अधिपो गुहः
असंशयम् विजानीते यत्र तौ राम लक्ष्मणौ

tasmāt paśyatu kākutstha tvām niṣāda adhipo guhaḥ
asaṃśayam vijānīte yatra tau rāma lakṣmaṇau

SYNONYMS

kākutthsa: O | Bharata! ṭasmāt: for that reason | guhaḥ: (let) Guha | niṣādādhiphaḥ: the king of Nishadas | paśyatu: see | tvām: you | vijānīte: (He) knows | asamśayam: surely | yatra: where | tau: those | rāmalakśmaṇau: Rama and Lakshmana (are there). |

TRANSLATION

"O, Bharata! For that reason, let Guha the king of Nishadas see you. He knows surely where those two Rama and Lakshmana - are stationed."

VERSE 14

एतत् तु वचनम् श्रुत्वा सुमन्त्रात् भरतः शुभम्
उवाच वचनम् शीघ्रम् गुहः पश्यतु माम् इति

etat tu vacanam śrutvā sumantrāt bharataḥ śubham
uvāca vacanam śīghram guhaḥ paśyatu mām iti

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | etat: these | śubham: auspicious | vacanam: words | sumantreāt: of Sumantra | bharataḥ: Bharata | uvāca: spoke | iti: these | guhaḥ: (let) Guha | paśyati: see | mām: me | śīghram: immediately. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the auspicious words of Sumantra, Bharata answered, "Introduce Guha to me without delay."

VERSE 15

लब्ध्वा अभ्यनुज्ञाम् सम्हृष्टः ज्ञातिभिः परिवारितः
आगम्य भरतम् प्रह्वो गुहो वचनम् अब्रवीइत्

labdhvā abhyanujñām samhṛṣṭaḥ jñātibhiḥ parivāritaḥ
āgamya bharatam prahvo guho vacanam abravīit

SYNONYMS

labdhvā: having obtained | abhyamjñām: the permission | guhaḥ: Guha | parivāritaḥ: surrouned | jñātibhiḥ: by his own people | samhṛṣṭaḥ: joyfully | prahvaḥ: and humbly | āgamya: approached | baratam: Bharata | abravīt: and spoke | vacanam: these words. |

TRANSLATION

Having obtained permission, Guha along with his own people, joyfully and humbly approached Bharata and spoke as follows:

VERSE 16

निष्कुटः चैव देशो अयम् वन्चिताः च अपि ते वयम्
निवेदयामः ते सर्वे स्वके दाश कुले वस

niṣkuṭaḥ caiva deśo ayam vancitāḥ ca api te vayam
nivedayāmaḥ te sarve svake dāśa kule vasa

SYNONYMS

ayam: this | deśaḥ: place | niṣkuṭaḥ: is like a pleasure-grove near your house | vayam: we | vaṅcitāścāpi: are your subjects | sarve: all of us | nivedayāvaḥ: are reporting to you | te: as such | vasa: stay | dāsakule: in this servant's house. |

TRANSLATION

"This place is like a pleasure-grove near your house. We are your subjects and are reporting to you as such. Stay in this servant's house."

VERSE 17

अस्ति मूलम् फलम् चैव निषादैः समुपाहृतम्
आर्द्रम् च मांसम् शुष्कम् च वन्यम् च उच्च अवचम् महत्

asti mūlam phalam caiva niṣādaiḥ samupāhṛtam
ārdram ca māṃsam śuṣkam ca vanyam ca ucca avacam mahat

SYNONYMS

asti: here are | mūlam: the root | phalam caiva: fruit | samudāhṛtam: gathered | niṣādaiḥ: by my tribe | māmsamca: and the meat | mahat: of great quality | uccāvacam: and of various kinds | ārdram: fresh | śuṣkamca: and dried | vanyam: and all a produce of the forest. |

TRANSLATION

"Here are the roots and fruits gathered by my tribe as well as fresh and dried meat of great quality and of various kinds, and all a produce of the forest."

VERSE 18

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुरशीतितमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe caturaśītitamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

āśam se: I hope | senā: the army | svāśitā: after eating well | vatsyat: can halt | imam: in this night | arcitaḥ: offered reverently | vividhaiḥ: various kinds | kāmaiḥ: of all that you could desire | gamiṣyasi: you can go | śvaḥ: tomorrow | sasainyaḥ: along with your army. |

TRANSLATION

"I hope the army, after eating well, can halt for the night here. Furnished with all you could desire, you can continue your journey tomorrow along with your troops."