Bharata's Entry into a Grieving Ayodhya

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.114.1)

स्निग्ध गम्भीर घोषेण स्यन्दनेन उपयान् प्रभुः। अयोध्याम् भरतः क्षिप्रम् प्रविवेश महा यशाः॥ 114.1 ॥

snigdha gambhīra ghoṣeṇa syandanena upayān prabhuḥ| ayodhyām bharataḥ kṣipram praviveśa mahā yaśāḥ

With a chariot rumbling low and deep, the illustrious lord Bharata swiftly entered Ayodhya.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.114.2)

बिडाल उलूक चरिताम् आलीन नर वारणाम्। तिमिर अभ्याहताम् कालीम् अप्रकाशाम् निशाम् इव॥ 114.2 ॥

biḍāla ulūka caritām ālīna nara vāraṇām| timira abhyāhatām kālīm aprakāśām niśām iva

The city seemed like a night haunted by cats and owls, its men and elephants crouching within, shrouded in darkness and unlit.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.114.3)

राहु शत्रोः प्रियाम् पत्नीम् श्रिया प्रज्वलित प्रभाम्। ग्रहेण अभ्युत्थितेन एकाम् रोहिणीम् इव पीडिताम्॥ 114.3 ॥

rāhu śatroḥ priyām patnīm śriyā prajvalita prabhām| graheṇa abhyutthitena ekām rohiṇīm iva pīḍitām

She seemed like Rohini, beloved wife of the moon that is Rahu's foe—blazing with her own splendour, yet now seized and afflicted by the rising planet Rahu.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.114.4)

अल्प उष्ण क्षुब्ध सलिलाम् घर्म उत्तप्त विहंगमाम्। लीन मीन झष ग्राहाम् कृशाम् गिरि नदीम् इव॥ 114.4 ॥

alpa uṣṇa kṣubdha salilām gharma uttapta vihaṃgamām| līna mīna jhaṣa grāhām kṛśām giri nadīm iva

She seemed emaciated, like a mountain stream whose scant waters have turned hot and turbid, whose birds are scorched by heat, and in which the fish and crocodiles lie dead.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.114.5)

विधूमाम् इव हेम आभाम् अध्वर अग्नि समुत्थिताम्। हविर् अभ्युक्षिताम् पश्चात् शिखाम् विप्रलयम् गताम्॥ 114.5 ॥

vidhūmām iva hema ābhām adhvara agni samutthitām| havir abhyukṣitām paścāt śikhām vipralayam gatām

She seemed like the smokeless flame of the sacrificial fire—golden as it leaps up when oblation is poured, and then sinks away into nothing.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.114.6)

विध्वस्त कवचाम् रुग्ण गज वाजि रथ ध्वजाम्। हत प्रवीराम् आपन्नाम् चमूम् इव महा आहवे॥ 114.6 ॥

vidhvasta kavacām rugṇa gaja vāji ratha dhvajām| hata pravīrām āpannām camūm iva mahā āhave

She seemed like a shattered army, its armour broken, the standards of its elephants, horses and chariots torn down, its heroes slain in a great battle.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.114.7)

सफेनाम् सस्वनाम् भूत्वा सागरस्य समुत्थिताम्। प्रशान्त मारुत उद्धूताम् जल ऊर्मिम् इव निःस्वनाम्॥ 114.7 ॥

saphenām sasvanām bhūtvā sāgarasya samutthitām| praśānta māruta uddhūtām jala ūrmim iva niḥsvanām

She seemed like the sea's waves—risen with foam and roar, yet stilled to silence when stirred by a quiet wind.

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.114.8)

त्यक्ताम् यज्ञ आयुधैः सर्वैर् अभिरूपैः च याजकैः। सुत्या काले विनिर्वृत्ते वेदिम् गत रवाम् इव॥ 114.8 ॥

tyaktām yajña āyudhaiḥ sarvair abhirūpaiḥ ca yājakaiḥ| sutyā kāle vinirvṛtte vedim gata ravām iva

She seemed like a sacrificial altar, stripped of all its ritual vessels once the time for the offering had passed, and stilled of the priests' chanting.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.114.9)

गोष्ठ मध्ये स्थिताम् आर्ताम् अचरन्तीम् नवम् तृणम्। गो वृषेण परित्यक्ताम् गवाम् पत्नीम् इव उत्सुकाम्॥ 114.9 ॥

goṣṭha madhye sthitām ārtām acarantīm navam tṛṇam| go vṛṣeṇa parityaktām gavām patnīm iva utsukām

She seemed like a cow standing restless in its pen, forsaken by the bull, not even grazing on the fresh grass.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.114.10)

प्रभा करालैः सुस्निग्धैः प्रज्वलद्भिर् इव उत्तमैः। वियुक्ताम् मणिभिर् जात्यैर् नवाम् मुक्ता आवलीम् इव॥ 114.10 ॥

prabhā karālaiḥ susnigdhaiḥ prajvaladbhir iva uttamaiḥ| viyuktām maṇibhir jātyair navām muktā āvalīm iva

She seemed like a new string of pearls, stripped of its brilliant, fine gems.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.114.11)

सहसा चलिताम् स्थानान् महीम् पुण्य क्षयाद् गताम्। संहृत द्युति विस्ताराम् ताराम् इव दिवः च्युताम्॥ 114.11 ॥

sahasā calitām sthānān mahīm puṇya kṣayād gatām| saṃhṛta dyuti vistārām tārām iva divaḥ cyutām

She seemed like the very earth, suddenly shaken from its place through the exhaustion of merit—or like a star fallen from the sky, its brightness spent.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.114.12)

पुष्प नद्धाम् वसन्त अन्ते मत्त भ्रमर शालिनीम्। द्रुत दाव अग्नि विप्लुष्टाम् क्लान्ताम् वन लताम् इव॥ 114.12 ॥

puṣpa naddhām vasanta ante matta bhramara śālinīm| druta dāva agni vipluṣṭām klāntām vana latām iva

She seemed like a flowering vine at the close of spring, alive with drunken bees, now scorched and withered by a swift forest fire.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.114.13)

सम्मूढ निगमाम् सर्वाम् संक्षिप्त विपण आपणाम्। प्रच्छन्न शशि नक्षत्राम् द्याम् इव अम्बु धरैर् वृताम्॥ 114.13 ॥

sammūḍha nigamām sarvām saṃkṣipta vipaṇa āpaṇām| pracchanna śaśi nakṣatrām dyām iva ambu dharair vṛtām

Her markets and shops shut, she seemed like the sky with moon and stars hidden away, overcast by rain-clouds.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.114.14)

क्षीण पान उत्तमैर् भिन्नैः शरावैर् अभिसंवृताम्। हत शौण्डाम् इव आकाशे पान भूमिम् असंस्कृताम्॥ 114.14 ॥

kṣīṇa pāna uttamair bhinnaiḥ śarāvair abhisaṃvṛtām| hata śauṇḍām iva ākāśe pāna bhūmim asaṃskṛtām

She seemed splendourless, like a drinking-house whose keeper lies slain, its fine liquor spent, its vessels shattered and strewn about.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.114.15)

वृक्ण भूमि तलाम् निम्नाम् वृक्ण पात्रैः समावृताम्। उपयुक्त उदकाम् भग्नाम् प्रपाम् निपतिताम् इव॥ 114.15 ॥

vṛkṇa bhūmi talām nimnām vṛkṇa pātraiḥ samāvṛtām| upayukta udakām bhagnām prapām nipatitām iva

She seemed like a broken watering-place, its base sunk and cracked, littered with shattered jars, its water all used up.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.114.16)

विपुलाम् वितताम् चैव युक्त पाशाम् तरस्विनाम्। भूमौ बाणैर् विनिष्कृत्ताम् पतिताम् ज्याम् इव आयुधात्॥ 114.16 ॥

vipulām vitatām caiva yukta pāśām tarasvinām| bhūmau bāṇair viniṣkṛttām patitām jyām iva āyudhāt

She seemed like a great, taut bowstring, cut by arrows in battle and fallen from the bow.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.114.17)

सहसा युद्ध शौण्डेन हय आरोहेण वाहिताम्। निहताम् प्रतिसैन्येन वडवामिव पातिताम्॥ 114.17 ॥

sahasā yuddha śauṇḍena haya āroheṇa vāhitām| nihatām pratisainyena vaḍavāmiva pātitām

She seemed like a mare, suddenly spurred on by a rider skilled in war, then struck down by the enemy host and fallen.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.114.18)

भरतस्तु रथस्थः सन् श्रीमान् दशरथात्मजः। वाहयन्तं रथश्रेष्ठं सारथिम् वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ 114.18 ॥

bharatastu rathasthaḥ san śrīmān daśarathātmajaḥ| vāhayantaṃ rathaśreṣṭhaṃ sārathim vākyamabravīt

Bharata, seated in the chariot, the glorious son of Dasharatha, spoke this to the charioteer driving that finest of chariots.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.114.19)

किम् नु खल्वद्य गम्भीरो मूर्च्छितो न निशम्यते। यथापुरमयोध्यायाम् गीतवादित्रनिस्वनः॥ 114.19 ॥

kim nu khalvadya gambhīro mūrcchito na niśamyate| yathāpuramayodhyāyām gītavāditranisvanaḥ

"Why is it that today the deep, swelling sound of song and instrument is not heard in Ayodhya as before?

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.114.20)

वारुणीमदगन्धश्च माल्यगन्धश्च मूर्च्छितः। धूपितागरुगन्धश्च न प्रवाति समन्ततः॥ 114.20 ॥

vāruṇīmadagandhaśca mālyagandhaśca mūrcchitaḥ| dhūpitāgarugandhaśca na pravāti samantataḥ

The scent of heady wine, the fragrance of garlands, and the perfume of burning aloe-wood no longer waft about on every side.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.114.21)

यानप्र वरघोषश्च स्निग्धश्च हयनिस्वनः। प्रमत्तगजनादश्च महांश्च रथनिस्वनः॥ 114.21 ॥

yānapra varaghoṣaśca snigdhaśca hayanisvanaḥ| pramattagajanādaśca mahāṃśca rathanisvanaḥ

The clatter of splendid carriages, the gentle neighing of horses, the trumpeting of maddened elephants, and the great rumble of chariots—

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.114.22)

नेदानीम् श्रूयते पुर्यामस्याम् रामे विवासिते॥ 114.22 ॥

nedānīm śrūyate puryāmasyām rāme vivāsite

—none of this is now heard in this city, since Rama has been sent into exile.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.114.23)

चन्दनागारुगन्धांश्च महार्हश्च नवस्रजः। गते हि रामे तरुणाः संतप्ता नोपभुञ्जते॥ 114.23 ॥

candanāgārugandhāṃśca mahārhaśca navasrajaḥ| gate hi rāme taruṇāḥ saṃtaptā nopabhuñjate

Sandal and aloe perfumes, and costly fresh garlands—now that Rama has gone, the grief-stricken young men make no use of them.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.114.24)

बहिर्यात्रां न गच्छन्ति चित्रमाल्यधरा नराः। नोत्सवाः सम्प्रवर्तन्ते रामशोकार्दिते पुरे॥ 114.24 ॥

bahiryātrāṃ na gacchanti citramālyadharā narāḥ| notsavāḥ sampravartante rāmaśokārdite pure

People no longer go out on pleasure-excursions wreathed in bright garlands; no festivals are held any more in this city stricken by grief for Rama.

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.114.25)

सह नूनम् मम भ्रात्रा पुरस्यास्य द्युतिर्गता। न हि राजत्ययोध्येयम् सासारा इव अर्जुनी क्षपा॥ 114.25 ॥

saha nūnam mama bhrātrā purasyāsya dyutirgatā| na hi rājatyayodhyeyam sāsārā iva arjunī kṣapā

Surely, with my brother, this city's every splendour has departed; this Ayodhya shines no more than a rain-clouded night at the dark of the moon.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.114.26)

कदा नु खलु मे भ्राता महोत्सव इवागतः। जनयिष्यत्ययोध्यायाम् हर्षम् ग्रीष्म इवाम्बुदः॥ 114.26 ॥

kadā nu khalu me bhrātā mahotsava ivāgataḥ| janayiṣyatyayodhyāyām harṣam grīṣma ivāmbudaḥ

When will my brother come, like a festival arriving, filling Ayodhya with joy, as the rains fill the parched summer earth?

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.114.27)

तरुणैः चारु वेषैः च नरैर् उन्नत गामिभिः। सम्पतद्भिर् अयोध्यायाम् न विभान्ति महा पथाः॥ 114.27 ॥

taruṇaiḥ cāru veṣaiḥ ca narair unnata gāmibhiḥ| sampatadbhir ayodhyāyām na vibhānti mahā pathāḥ

No longer do the great roads of Ayodhya shine with young men, handsomely attired, walking with proud bearing, thronging about."

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.114.28)

एवम् बहु विधम् जल्पन् विवेश वसतिम् पितुः। तेन हीनाम् नर इन्द्रेण सिंह हीनाम् गुहाम् इव॥ 114.28 ॥

evam bahu vidham jalpan viveśa vasatim pituḥ| tena hīnām nara indreṇa siṃha hīnām guhām iva

Thus lamenting in many ways, he entered his father's dwelling—bereft of that lord of men, like a cave bereft of its lion.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.114.29)

तदा तदन्तःपुरमुज्घितप्रभम्। सुरैरिवोत्सृष्टमभास्करम् दिनम्। निरीक्ष्य सर्वम् तु विविक्तमात्मवान्। मुमोच बाष्पं भरतः सुदुःखितः॥ 114.29 ॥

tadā tadantaḥpuramujghitaprabham| surairivotsṛṣṭamabhāskaram dinam| nirīkṣya sarvam tu viviktamātmavān| mumoca bāṣpaṃ bharataḥ suduḥkhitaḥ

Beholding that entire inner apartment stripped of splendour, desolate like a day without the sun, the self-possessed Bharata, deeply grieved, shed tears.