Chapter 87

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

गुहस्य वचनम् श्रुत्वा भरतो भृशम् अप्रियम्
ध्यानम् जगाम तत्र एव यत्र तत् श्रुतम् अप्रियम्

guhasya vacanam śrutvā bharato bhṛśam apriyam
dhyānam jagāma tatra eva yatra tat śrutam apriyam

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | apriyam: unpleasant words | vacanam: words | gahasya: of guha | bharataḥ: Bharata | jagāma: got | dhyānam: into contemplation | tatraiva: directing his mind on Rama | yatra: of whom | tam: those | śrutam: were heard. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing those most disagreeable words from Guha, Bharata began to think deeply, directing his mind on Rama, of whom those unpleasant words were heard.

VERSE 2

सुकुमारो महा सत्त्वः सिम्ह स्कन्धो महा भुजः
पुण्डरीक विशाल अक्षः तरुणः प्रिय दर्शनः

sukumāro mahā sattvaḥ simha skandho mahā bhujaḥ
puṇḍarīka viśāla akṣaḥ taruṇaḥ priya darśanaḥ

SYNONYMS

3| sukumāraḥ: that gentle | mahāsattvaḥ: extremely courageous | mahābhujaḥ: and the mighty armed | taruṇaḥ: young prince | simhaskandhaḥ: whose shoulders resembled a lion's | puṅḍarīka viśālākṣaḥ: his large eyes opening like a lotus in flowering | priyadarśanaḥ: having pleasing appearance | muhūrtakālam tu: mometarily | pratyāśvasya: sighed | papāta: sank to the ground | sahasā: suddenly | dvipaḥ iva: like an elephant | atividdhaḥ: that has been wounded in the heart | totraiḥ: with goads. |

TRANSLATION

That gentle, extremely courageous and the mighty armed young prince, whose shoulders resembled a lion's his large eyes opening like a flowering lotus and having pleasing appearance, momentarily sighed and in his extreme anguish, sank to the ground suddenly like an elephant that has been wounded in the heart with goads.

VERSE 4

भरतम् मुर्च्छितम् द्रुष्ट्वा विवर्णवदनो गुहः
बभूव व्यथितस्तत्र भूमिकम्पे यथा द्रुमः

bharatam murcchitam druṣṭvā vivarṇavadano guhaḥ
babhūva vyathitastatra bhūmikampe yathā drumaḥ

SYNONYMS

dṛṣṭvā: seeing | bharatam: Bharata | mūrchitam: unconscious | guhaḥ: Guha | vivarṇavadanaḥ: growing pale | babhūva: became | vyathitaḥ: shaken | tatra: there | yathā drumaḥ: like a tree | bhūmikampe: during an earth-quake. |

TRANSLATION

Seeing Bharata unconscious, Guha growing pale, shook like a tree during an earthquake.

VERSE 5

तद् अवस्थम् तु भरतम् शत्रुघ्नो अनन्तर स्थितः
परिष्वज्य रुरोद उच्चैर् विसम्ज्नः शोक कर्शितः

tad avastham tu bharatam śatrughno anantara sthitaḥ
pariṣvajya ruroda uccair visamjnaḥ śoka karśitaḥ

SYNONYMS

śatrughnaḥ: Shatrughna | anantara sthitaḥ: who stood near | pariṣvajya: taking in his arms | bharatam: Bharata | tadavastham: who was in that stae | visamjñaḥ: becoming non-pulsed | ruroda: cried | uccaiḥ: loudly | śokakarśitaḥ: overcome with grief." |

TRANSLATION

Shatrughna, who stood near, taking Bharata, who was in that unconscious state in his arms, becoming non-pulsed, cried loudly, overcome as he was with grief.

VERSE 6

ततः सर्वाः समापेतुर् मातरो भरतस्य ताः
उपवास कृशा दीना भर्तृ व्यसन कर्शिताः

tataḥ sarvāḥ samāpetur mātaro bharatasya tāḥ
upavāsa kṛśā dīnā bhartṛ vyasana karśitāḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | sarvāḥ: all | tāḥ: those | bharatasya: Bharata's maataraH = mothers | uparāśakṛśāḥ: emaciated through fasting | dinnāḥ: extremely wretched | bhartṛvyasena karśitāḥ: being unable to find consolation for the sad end of their lord | samāpetaḥ: rushed (towards Bharata). |

TRANSLATION

Then, all the queens, emaciated through fasting, extremely miserable, being unable to find consolation for the sad end of their lord, rushed towards Bharata.

VERSE 7

ताः च तम् पतितम् भूमौ रुदन्त्यः पर्यवारयन्
कौसल्या तु अनुसृत्य एनम् दुर्मनाः परिषस्वजे

tāḥ ca tam patitam bhūmau rudantyaḥ paryavārayan
kausalyā tu anusṛtya enam durmanāḥ pariṣasvaje

SYNONYMS

tāśca: all of them | rudatyaḥ: sobbing paryavaarayan = surrounded | tam: Bharata | patitam: who fell | bhūmau: on the ground | kausalyāḥ tu: Kausalya on her part | durmanāḥ: torn with grief | anusṛtya: ebnding over | enam: him | pariṣasvaje: embraced him. |

TRANSLATION

All of them, sobbing, surrounded Bharata who fell on the ground. Kausalya on her part, torn with grief and bending over him, embraced him.

VERSE 8

वत्सला स्वम् यथा वत्सम् उपगूह्य तपस्विनी
परिपप्रग्च्छ भरतम् रुदन्ती शोक लालसा

vatsalā svam yathā vatsam upagūhya tapasvinī
paripapragccha bharatam rudantī śoka lālasā

SYNONYMS

vatsalā: the affectionate Kausalya | śoka lālasā: agitated with grief | tapasvinī: and looking miserable | upagūhya: pressing him to her bossom | vatsam yathā: as to a calf | svam: by its own mother-cow | paripapraccha: questioned | bharatam: Bharata ( in the following words) |

TRANSLATION

That affectionate Kausalya, agitated as she was with grief and looking miserable, pressing him to her bosom as a cow its own calf, questioned Bharata (in the following words)

VERSE 9

पुत्र व्याधिर् न ते कच्चित् शरीरम् परिबाधते
अद्य राज कुलस्य अस्य त्वद् अधीनम् हि जीवितम्

putra vyādhir na te kaccit śarīram paribādhate
adya rāja kulasya asya tvad adhīnam hi jīvitam

SYNONYMS

putra: O | kaccit vyādhi na paribādhate: I hope that no ailment afflicts | te śarīram: your body | adya: now | jīvitam: the life | asya: of this | rājaknlasya: royal race | tvadadhīnam hi: is indeed dependent on you. |

TRANSLATION

"O, son! I hope that no ailment afflicts your body. Now, the life of this royal race is indeed dependent on you."

VERSE 10

त्वाम् दृष्ट्वा पुत्र जीवामि रामे सभ्रातृके गते
वृत्ते दशरथे राज्नि नाथ एकः त्वम् अद्य नः

tvām dṛṣṭvā putra jīvāmi rāme sabhrātṛke gate
vṛtte daśarathe rājni nātha ekaḥ tvam adya naḥ

SYNONYMS

putra: O | rāme: Rama | sa bhrātṛke: along with his brother Lakshmana | gate: hoas gone (to the forest) | rājñi: the king | daśarathe: Dasaratha | vṛṣṭvā: looking on you | tvam: you | ekaḥ: alone | nāthaḥ: are the protector | naḥ: for us | adya: now. |

TRANSLATION

"O, son! Rama along with Lakshman has gone to the forest. The king Dasaratha is dead. I survive, looking on you. Now, you alone are the protector for us."

VERSE 11

कच्चिन् न लक्ष्मणे पुत्र श्रुतम् ते किंचिद् अप्रियम्
पुत्र वा ह्य् एकपुत्रायाः सह भार्ये वनम् गते

kaccin na lakṣmaṇe putra śrutam te kiṃcid apriyam
putra vā hy ekaputrāyāḥ saha bhārye vanam gate

SYNONYMS

putra: O | kaccit: na shrutam = I hope it is not heard | te: by you | kimcit: any | apriyam: unpleasnt news | lakśmaṇe: about Lakshman | putre vā: or about Rama my son | eka putrāyāḥ: my only son | gate: who left | vanam: for the forest | sahabhārye: along with his wife. |

TRANSLATION

"I hope you have not heard any unpleasant news about Lakshmana or about Rama my one and the only son who left for the forest along with his wife."

VERSE 12

स मुहूर्तम् समाश्वस्य रुदन्न् एव महा यशाः
कौसल्याम् परिसान्त्व्य इदम् गुहम् वचनम् अब्रवीत्

sa muhūrtam samāśvasya rudann eva mahā yaśāḥ
kausalyām parisāntvya idam guham vacanam abravīt

SYNONYMS

saḥ: that Bharata | mahā yaśāḥ: of great renown | samāśvasya: easing himself well | parisāntvya: consoled | kausalyām: kausalya | rudanneva: and while still weaping | abravīt: spoke | idam: these vachanam = words | guham: to Guha. |

TRANSLATION

Bharata of great renown, easing himself well within a moment, consoled Kausalya and while still weeping, spoke to Guha (as follows)

VERSE 13

भ्राता मे क्व अवसद् रात्रिम् क्व सीता क्व च लक्ष्मणः
अस्वपत् शयने कस्मिन् किम् भुक्त्वा गुह शंस मे

bhrātā me kva avasad rātrim kva sītā kva ca lakṣmaṇaḥ
asvapat śayane kasmin kim bhuktvā guha śaṃsa me

SYNONYMS

guha: O | kva: where | me bhrātā: did my brother | avasat: halt | rātrau: in the night? | sītā: did Seetha (half in the night)? | lakṣmaṇaḥ ca: did Lakshmana (halt in the night)? | bhuktvā: eating | kim: what | kasmin: and on which | śayane: couch | asvapat: did he repose? | śamasa: tell | me: me. |

TRANSLATION

"O, guha! Tell me where did Rama my brother as also Seetha and Lakshmana halt in the night? On what couch and eating what, did he repose?

VERSE 14

सो अब्रवीद् भरतम् पृष्टो निषाद अधिपतिर् गुहः
यद् विधम् प्रतिपेदे च रामे प्रिय हिते अतिथौ

so abravīd bharatam pṛṣṭo niṣāda adhipatir guhaḥ
yad vidham pratipede ca rāme priya hite atithau

SYNONYMS

saḥ guhaḥ: that Guha | niṣādādhipatiḥ: the Lord of Nishadas | hṛṣṭaḥ: thrilling with rapture | abravīt: spoke | bharatam: to Bharata | yadvidham: about the manner in which | pratipade: he arranged for (feeding and reposing) priya hite = his beloved and kind | atithau: guest | rāme: Rama. |

TRANSLATION

Guha, the Lord of Nishadas, thrilling with rapture, spoke to Bharata about the manner in which he made arrangements for (feeding and reposing) his beloved and kind guest, Rama.

VERSE 15

अन्नम् उच्च अवचम् भक्ष्याः फलानि विविधानि च
रामाय अभ्यवहार अर्थम् बहु च उपहृतम् मया

annam ucca avacam bhakṣyāḥ phalāni vividhāni ca
rāmāya abhyavahāra artham bahu ca upahṛtam mayā

SYNONYMS

annam: food | uccāvacam: of various kinds | bhakṣāḥ: drinks | vividhāni: and different variets | phalāni ca: of fruits | upahṛtam: were brought | bahu: repeatedly | mayā: by me | rāmāya: to the presence of Rama | abhyavahārārtham: for the purpose of his consumption. |

TRANSLATION

"Various kinds of food and drink and different varieties of fruits were brought repeatedly by me to the presence of Rama for the purpose of his consumption."

VERSE 16

तत् सर्वम् प्रत्यनुज्नासीद् रामः सत्य पराक्रमः
न हि तत् प्रत्यगृह्णात् स क्षत्र धर्मम् अनुस्मरन्

tat sarvam pratyanujnāsīd rāmaḥ satya parākramaḥ
na hi tat pratyagṛhṇāt sa kṣatra dharmam anusmaran

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: Rama | satya parākramaḥ: the truely courageous man | pratyannjñāsīt: refused | tatsarvam: all of them | anusmaran: and remembering | kṣatradharmam: his warrior's duty | saḥ: he | na tu pratyagṛhṇāt: could not accept | tat: it. |

TRANSLATION

Rama, the truly courageous man, refused all of them. Reminding himself of his warrior's statute, he could not accept it.

VERSE 17

न ह्य् अस्माभिः प्रतिग्राह्यम् सखे देयम् तु सर्वदा
इति तेन वयम् राजन्न् अनुनीता महात्मना

na hy asmābhiḥ pratigrāhyam sakhe deyam tu sarvadā
iti tena vayam rājann anunītā mahātmanā

SYNONYMS

rājan: O | vayam: we | anunītāḥ: were pacified | tena: by that | mahātmanā: high-souled Rama | iti: saying thus | 'sakhe: O | na pratigrāhyam: nothing should be received | deyam: but be given | saradā: always | asmābhiḥ: by us. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Bharata! We were pacified by that high-souled Rama by saying thus: ' O, friend! We are not allowed to receive anything we must always be givers."

VERSE 18

लक्ष्मणेन समानीतम् पीत्वा वारि महा यशाः
औपवास्यम् तदा अकार्षीद् राघवः सह सीतया

lakṣmaṇena samānītam pītvā vāri mahā yaśāḥ
aupavāsyam tadā akārṣīd rāghavaḥ saha sītayā

SYNONYMS

rāghavaḥ: Rama | mahāyaśaḥ: of great glory | tadā: then | sītayāsaha: along with Seetha | pītvā: drank | vāri: the water | samānītam: brought | lakśmaṇena: by Lakshmana | akārṣit: and pulled himself | oupavāsyam: to fasting. |

TRANSLATION

"Rama, of great glory, then along with Seetha drank the water brought by Lakshman as observed fasting."

VERSE 19

ततः तु जल शेषेण लक्ष्मणो अप्य् अकरोत् तदा
वाग् यताः ते त्रयः संध्याम् उपासत समाहिताः

tataḥ tu jala śeṣeṇa lakṣmaṇo apy akarot tadā
vāg yatāḥ te trayaḥ saṃdhyām upāsata samāhitāḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | tadā: at that time | lakṣmaṇo'pi: Lakshmana also | akarot: drank | jalaśeṣeṇa: the remainder of water | te trayaḥ: and those three | samupāsata: practised | vāgyatāḥ: silence | samhitā: together | sandhyām: in that evening-twillight |

TRANSLATION

"Thereafter Lakshmana also drank the left-over water and those three practised silence together in that evening-twilight.

VERSE 20

सौमित्रिः तु ततः पश्चाद् अकरोत् स्वास्तरम् शुभम्
स्वयम् आनीय बर्हीम्षि क्षिप्रम् राघव कारणात्

saumitriḥ tu tataḥ paścād akarot svāstaram śubham
svayam ānīya barhīmṣi kṣipram rāghava kāraṇāt

SYNONYMS

tataḥ paścāt: thereafter | saumitristu: Lakshmana | svayam: personally | ānīya: brought | barhīmśi: a layer of Kusa grass | akarot: and arranged | śubham: a suitably | svāstaram: good bed | kāraṇāt: for Rama | kṣipram: immediately. |

TRANSLATION

"Lakshmana then personally brought a layer of Kusa grass and arranged a fittingly nice bed with it for Rama immediately."

VERSE 21

तस्मिन् समाविशद् रामः स्वास्तरे सह सीतया
प्रक्षाल्य च तयोः पादाउ अपचक्राम लक्ष्मणः

tasmin samāviśad rāmaḥ svāstare saha sītayā
prakṣālya ca tayoḥ pādāu apacakrāma lakṣmaṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: Rama | sītayā saha: along with Seetha | samāviśat: settled dwon on | tasmin: that | svāstare: bed | prakṣālaya: after washing | tayoḥ: their | pādau: feet | lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana | apacakrāma: wnet away to a distance. |

TRANSLATION

"Rama, along with Seetha, settled down on that bed. After washing their feet, Lakshmana went away to a distance."

VERSE 22

एतत् तद् इन्गुदी मूलम् इदम् एव च तत् तृणम्
यस्मिन् रामः च सीता च रात्रिम् ताम् शयिताउ उभौ

etat tad ingudī mūlam idam eva ca tat tṛṇam
yasmin rāmaḥ ca sītā ca rātrim tām śayitāu ubhau

SYNONYMS

etat: here | tat: at that | ingudī mūlam: foot of Ingudi Tree | idameva: on just this | tṛṇamca: grass | yasmin: on which | ubhau: both | rāmaśca: Rama and | sītā: Seetha | śayitau: slept | tām rātrim: that night. |

TRANSLATION

"Here at this fort of Ingndi Tree, on just this grass, on which both Rama and Seetha slept that night."

VERSE 23

नियम्य पृष्ठे तु तल अन्गुलित्रवान्
शरैः सुपूर्णाउ इषुधी परम् तपः
महद् धनुः सज्यम् उपोह्य लक्ष्मणो
निशाम् अतिष्ठत् परितो अस्य केवलम्

niyamya pṛṣṭhe tu tala angulitravān
śaraiḥ supūrṇāu iṣudhī param tapaḥ
mahad dhanuḥ sajyam upohya lakṣmaṇo
niśām atiṣṭhat parito asya kevalam

SYNONYMS

lakṣmaṇaḥ: Lakshman | paramtapaḥ: who torments his enemy | talāngulītravān: wearing a glove of Goha skin | niyamya: strapping | pṛṣṭhe: on his back | iṣudhī: quivers | supūrṇau: full of | śaraiḥ: arrows | upohya: and wielding | mahat: a great | dhanuḥ: bow | sajyam: with string | atiṣṭhat kevalam: remained walking alone | paritaḥ: round | asya: Rama | niśām: during the night. |

TRANSLATION

"Lakshmana, the scourge of his foe, wearing a glove of goha skin, strapping two quivers full of arrows on either side of his back and wielding a great stringed bow, remained on his part walking round Rama during that night."

VERSE 24

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्ताशीतितमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe saptāśītitamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | ahamtu: I on my part | tadā: at that time | uttama bāṇa cāpa dhṛt: wearing excellent arrows and a bow | jṅātibhiḥ: along with my kinsment | atandribhiḥ: who were free from lassitude | ātta kārmukaiḥ: and carrying bows | abhavam: becoming | sthitaḥ: remained | tatra: there | yatra: where | lakṣmanaḥ: Lakshama | paripālayan: was guarding mahendra kalpam = Rama |

TRANSLATION

"Wearing excellent arrows and a bow along with my vigilant kinsmen carrying their bows, I on my part remained near Lakshman, who was guarding Rama who vied with Indra the Lord of celestials."