Bharata Beholds a City in Mourning

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.71.1)

स प्राङ्मुख राजगृहादभिनिर्याय वीर्यवान्। ततः सुदामां द्युतिमान् संतीर्यावेक्ष्य तां नदीम्॥ 71.1 ॥

sa prāṅmukha rājagṛhād abhiniryāya vīryavān| tataḥ sudāmāṃ dyutimān saṃtīryāvekṣya tāṃ nadīm

That valiant and brilliant Bharata, setting out eastward from Rajagriha, then crossing and beholding the river Sudama,

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.71.2)

ह्लादिनीं दूरपारां च प्रत्यक्स्रोतस्तरङ्गिणीम्। शतद्रूमतरत् श्रीमान् नदीमिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनः॥ 71.2 ॥

hlādinīṃ dūrapārāṃ ca pratyaksrotastaraṅgiṇīm| śatadrūm atarat śrīmān nadīm ikṣvākunandanaḥ

and the far-banked Hladini, its current rippling westward, that glorious delight of the Ikshvaku line crossed the great river Shatadru as well.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.71.3)

एलाधाने नदीं तीर्त्वा प्राप्य चापरपर्पटान्। शिलामाकुर्वतीं तीर्त्वाग्नेयं शल्यकर्तनम्॥ 71.3 ॥

elādhāne nadīṃ tīrtvā prāpya cāparaparpatān| śilām ākurvatīṃ tīrtvāgneyaṃ śalyakartanam

Having crossed that river at the village of Eladhana and reached the region of Aparaparpata, and having crossed the rocky hill called Akurvati, he came to the villages of Agneya and Shalyakartana.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.71.4)

सत्यसन्धः शुचिः श्रीमान् प्रेक्षमाणः शिलावहाम्। अत्ययात् स महाशैलान् वनं चैत्ररथं प्रति॥ 71.4 ॥

satyasandhaḥ śuciḥ śrīmān prekṣamāṇaḥ śilāvahām| atyayāt sa mahāśailān vanaṃ caitrarathaṃ prati

True to his word, pure of heart and glorious, gazing upon the river Silavaha, he crossed great mountains, journeying on toward the forest of Chaitraratha.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.71.5)

सरस्वतीं च गङ्गां च युग्मेन प्रतिपद्य च। उत्तरं वीरमत्स्यानां भारुण्डं प्राविशद्वनम्॥ 71.5 ॥

sarasvatīṃ ca gaṅgāṃ ca yugmena pratipadya ca| uttaraṃ vīramatsyānāṃ bhāruṇḍaṃ prāviśad vanam

Arriving at the confluence of the Sarasvati and the Ganga, he entered the Bharunda forest to the north of the Viramatsya region.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.71.6)

वेगिनीं च कुलिङ्गाख्यां ह्लादिनीं पर्वतावृताम्। यमुनां प्राप्य संतीर्णो बलमाश्वासयत्तदा॥ 71.6 ॥

veginīṃ ca kuliṅgākhyāṃ hlādinīṃ parvatāvṛtām| yamunāṃ prāpya saṃtīrṇo balam āśvāsayat tadā

Crossing the swift, delightful river named Kulinga, ringed by mountains, and then reaching and crossing the Yamuna, he then let his army rest there.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.71.7)

शीतीकृत्य तु गात्राणि क्लान्तानाश्वास्य वाजिनः। तत्र स्नात्वा च पीत्वा च प्रायादादाय चोदकम्॥ 71.7 ॥

śītīkṛtya tu gātrāṇi klāntān āśvāsya vājinaḥ| tatra snātvā ca pītvā ca prāyād ādāya codakam

Cooling the limbs of the tired horses and giving them rest, bathing there himself, drinking water, and taking some along for later, he pressed onward.

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.71.8)

राजपुत्रो महारण्यमनभीक्ष्णोपसेवितम्। भद्रो भद्रेण यानेन मारुतः खमिवात्ययात्॥ 71.8 ॥

rājaputro mahāraṇyam anabhīkṣṇopasevitam| bhadro bhadreṇa yānena mārutaḥ kham ivātyayāt

That blessed prince, in his excellent chariot, crossed that vast, rarely-frequented forest as the wind glides across the sky.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.71.9)

भागीरथीं दुष्प्रतरामंशुधाने महानदीम्। उपायाद्राघवस्तूर्णम् प्राग्वटे विश्रुते पुरे॥ 71.9 ॥

bhāgīrathīṃ duṣprratarām aṃśudhāne mahānadīm| upāyād rāghavas tūrṇam prāgvaṭe viśrute pure

Raghava swiftly reached the great river Bhagirathi, hard to cross, in the region of Amshudhana, near the renowned city of Pragvata.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.71.10)

स गङ्गां प्राग्वटे तीर्त्वा समायात्कुटिकोष्ठिकाम्। सबलस्तां स तीर्त्वाथ समायाद्धर्मवर्धनम्॥ 71.10 ॥

sa gaṅgāṃ prāgvaṭe tīrtvā samāyāt kuṭikoṣṭhikām| sabalas tāṃ sa tīrtvātha samāyād dharmavardhanam

Crossing the Ganga at Pragvata, he came to the river Kutikoshthika, and having crossed that too with his army, he arrived at Dharmavardhana.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.71.11)

तोरणं दक्षिणार्धेन जम्बूप्रस्थमुपागमत्। वरूथं च ययौ रम्यं ग्रामं दशरथात्मजः॥ 71.11 ॥

toraṇaṃ dakṣiṇārdhena jambūprastham upāgamat| varūthaṃ ca yayau ramyaṃ grāmaṃ daśarathātmajaḥ

Dasharatha's son reached the village of Jambuprastha in the southern part of the Torana region, and from there went on to the lovely village called Varutha.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.71.12)

तत्र रम्ये वने वासं कृत्वासौ प्राङ्मुखो ययौ। उद्यानमुज्जिहानायाः प्रियका यत्र पादपाः॥ 71.12 ॥

tatra ramye vane vāsaṃ kṛtvāsau prāṅmukho yayau| udyānam ujjihānāyāḥ priyakā yatra pādapāḥ

Camping there in that pleasant forest, he then went on eastward and reached a garden in the city of Ujjihana, where kadamba trees stood.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.71.13)

सालांस्तु प्रियकान् प्राप्य शीघ्रानास्थाय वाजिनः। अनुज्ञाप्याथ भरतो वाहिनीं त्वरितो ययौ॥ 71.13 ॥

sālāṃs tu priyakān prāpya śīghrān āsthāya vājinaḥ| anujñāpyātha bharato vāhinīṃ tvarito yayau

Reaching the sala and kadamba trees, Bharata yoked swifter horses to his chariot, and having bidden his army to follow, went ahead in haste.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.71.14)

वासं कृत्वा सर्वतीर्थे तीर्त्वा चोत्तानिकां नदीम्। अन्या नदीश्च विविधाः पार्वतीयैस्तुरङ्गमैः॥ 71.14 ॥

vāsaṃ kṛtvā sarvatīrthe tīrtvā cottānikāṃ nadīm| anyā nadīś ca vividhāḥ pārvatīyais turaṅgamaiḥ

Halting at Sarvatirtha and crossing the river Uttanika, he crossed various other rivers besides, with the help of his mountain-bred horses.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.71.15)

हस्तिपृष्ठकमासाद्य कुटिकामत्यवर्तत। ततार च नरव्याघ्रो लौहित्ये स कपीवतीम्॥ 71.15 ॥

hastipṛṣṭhakam āsādya kuṭikām atyavartata| tatāra ca naravyāghro lauhitye sa kapīvatīm

Reaching Hastiprishthaka, he crossed the river Kutika, and that tiger among men crossed the river Kapivati too, at the village of Lohitya.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.71.16)

एकसाले स्थाणुमतीं विनते गोमतीं नदीम्। कलिङ्गनगरे चापि प्राप्य सालवनं तदा॥ 71.16 ॥

ekasāle sthāṇumatīṃ vinate gomatīṃ nadīm| kaliṅganagare cāpi prāpya sālavanaṃ tadā

Crossing the river Sthanumati at Ekasala and the river Gomati at Vinata, and reaching even the city of Kalinga, he then rested there in a grove of sala trees,

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.71.17)

भरतः क्षिप्रमागच्छत् सुपरिश्रान्तवाहनः। वनं च समतीत्याशु शर्वर्यामरुणोदये॥ 71.17 ॥

bharataḥ kṣipram āgacchat suparisrāntavāhanaḥ| vanaṃ ca samatītyāśu śarvaryām aruṇodaye

for his horses were utterly spent, yet Bharata pressed swiftly on. Passing quickly through the forest by night, he arrived at the break of dawn

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.71.18)

अयोध्यां मनुना राज्ञा निर्मितां स ददर्श ह। तां पुरीं पुरुषव्याघ्रः सप्तरात्रोषितः पथि॥ 71.18 ॥

ayodhyāṃ manunā rājñā nirmitāṃ sa dadarśa ha| tāṃ purīṃ puruṣavyāghraḥ saptarātroṣitaḥ pathi

at the sight of the city of Ayodhya, built by King Manu of old — that city which this tiger among men beheld after seven nights spent upon the road.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.71.19)

अयोध्यामग्रतो दृष्ट्वा रथे सारथिमब्रवीत्। एषा नातिप्रतीता मे पुण्योद्याना यशस्विनी॥ 71.19 ॥

ayodhyām agrato dṛṣṭvā rathe sārathim abravīt| eṣā nātipratītā me puṇyodyānā yaśasvinī

Seeing Ayodhya ahead, he said to the charioteer on his chariot: "This famous city, with its holy gardens, does not come clearly into my sight.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.71.20)

अयोध्या दृश्यते दूरात्सारथे पाण्डुमृत्तिका। यज्वभिर्गुणसम्पन्नैर्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः॥ 71.20 ॥

ayodhyā dṛśyate dūrāt sārathe pāṇḍumṛttikā| yajvabhir guṇasampannair brāhmaṇair vedapāragaiḥ

From here, charioteer, Ayodhya seems no more than a mound of pale clay — she who was filled with virtuous performers of sacrifice and with brahmins learned in the Vedas,

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.71.21)

भूयिष्ठमृषिभिराकीर्णा राजर्षिवरपालिता। अयोध्यायां पुरा शब्दः श्रूयते तुमुलो महान्॥ 71.21 ॥

bhūyiṣṭham ṛṣibhir ākīrṇā rājarṣivarapālitā| ayodhyāyāṃ purā śabdaḥ śrūyate tumulo mahān

mostly thronged with sages, and guarded by the foremost of royal seers. Once a great, tumultuous sound used to be heard throughout Ayodhya,

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.71.22)

समन्तान्नरनारीणां तमद्य न शृणोम्यहम्। उद्यानानि हि सायाह्ने क्रीडित्वोपरतैर्नरैः॥ 71.22 ॥

samantān naranārīṇāṃ tam adya na śṛṇomy aham| udyānāni hi sāyāhne krīḍitvoparatair naraiḥ

the clamor of men and women rising on every side — that sound I do not hear today. In the evening, once men who had finished their sport,

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.71.23)

समन्ताद्विप्रधावद्भिः प्रकाशन्ते ममान्यदा। तान्यद्यानुरुदन्तीव परित्यक्तानि कामिभिः॥ 71.23 ॥

samantād vipradhāvadbhiḥ prakāśante mamānyadā| tāny adyānurudantīva parityaktāni kāmibhiḥ

would stream forth on every side and make those gardens shine, at other times, to my eyes. Today, forsaken by their lovers, they seem, as it were, to weep.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.71.24)

अरण्यभूतेव पुरी सारथे प्रतिभाति मे। न ह्यत्र यानैर्दृश्यन्ते न गजैर्न च वाजिभिः॥ 71.24 ॥

araṇyabhūteva purī sārathe pratibhāti me| na hy atra yānair dṛśyante na gajair na ca vājibhiḥ

This city, charioteer, seems to me to have turned into a forest; here, indeed, no one is seen in carriages, nor on elephants, nor on horses,

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.71.25)

निर्यान्तो वाभियान्तो वा नरमुख्या यथा पुरम्। उद्यानानि पुरा भान्ति मत्तप्रमुदितानि च॥ 71.25 ॥

niryānto vābhiyānto vā naramukhyā yathā puram| udyānāni purā bhānti mattapramuditāni ca

leading men going out of the city or into it, as before. In earlier days the gardens used to shine, full of joy and merriment,

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.71.26)

जनानां रतिसंयोगेष्वत्यन्तगुणवन्ति च। तान्येतान्यद्य पश्यामि निरानन्दानि सर्वशः॥ 71.26 ॥

janānāṃ ratisaṃyogeṣv atyantaguṇavanti ca| tāny etāny adya paśyāmi nirānandāni sarvaśaḥ

most excellent for the loving trysts of the people. Those same gardens, I now see, are utterly without joy on every side,

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.71.27)

स्रस्तपर्णैरनुपथं विक्रोशद्भिरिव द्रुमैः। नाद्यापि श्रूयते शब्दो मत्तानां मृगपक्षिणाम्॥ 71.27 ॥

srastaparṇair anupathaṃ vikrośadbhir iva drumaiḥ| nādyāpi śrūyate śabdo mattānāṃ mṛgapakṣiṇām

with the trees along the road, their leaves fallen, seeming to wail. Even at dawn one no longer hears the sound of animals and birds in their happy exuberance,

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.71.28)

संरक्तां मधुरां वाणीं कलं व्याहरतां बहु। चन्दनागुरुसंपृक्तो धूपसम्मूर्च्छितोऽतुलः॥ 71.28 ॥

saṃraktāṃ madhurāṃ vāṇīṃ kalaṃ vyāharatāṃ bahu| candanāgurusaṃpṛkto dhūpasammūrcchito'tulaḥ

which once so richly, sweetly, and softly uttered their many melodies. Why does that matchless breeze, blended with sandal and aloe, thick with the fragrance of incense,

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.71.29)

प्रवाति पवनः श्रीमान् किं नु नाद्य यथापुरम्। भेरीमृदङ्गवीणानां कोणसंघट्टितः पुनः॥ 71.29 ॥

pravāti pavanaḥ śrīmān kiṃ nu nādya yathāpuram| bherīmṛdaṅgavīṇānāṃ koṇasaṃghaṭṭitaḥ punaḥ

not blow today as it used to? Why have the sounds of kettledrums, mridangas, and vinas, struck again and again by plectrum or hand,

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.71.30)

किमद्य शब्दो विरतः सदाऽदीनगतिः पुरा। अनिष्टानि च पापानि पश्यामि विविधानि च॥ 71.30 ॥

kim adya śabdo virataḥ sadā'dīnagatiḥ purā| aniṣṭāni ca pāpāni paśyāmi vividhāni ca

ceased today, though they never used to falter before? I see all manner of ill and evil omens,

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.71.31)

निमित्तान्यमनोज्ञानि तेन सीदति मे मनः। सर्वथा कुशलं सूत दुर्लभं मम बन्धुषु॥ 71.31 ॥

nimittāny amanojñāni tena sīdati me manaḥ| sarvathā kuśalaṃ sūta durlabhaṃ mama bandhuṣu

and these grim signs, and because of them my heart sinks. O charioteer, it seems impossible that all should be well with my kinsmen,

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.71.32)

तथा ह्यसति संमोहे हृदयं सीदतीव मे। विषण्णः श्रान्तहृदयस्त्रस्तः सुलुलितेन्द्रियः॥ 71.32 ॥

tathā hy asati sammohe hṛdayaṃ sīdatīva me| viṣaṇṇaḥ śrāntahṛdayas trastaḥ sululitendriyaḥ

for indeed, even without any apparent cause, my heart is sinking thus." Despondent, his heart weary, frightened, his senses in disarray,

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.71.33)

भरतः प्रविवेशाशु पुरीमिक्ष्वाकुपालिताम्। द्वारेण वैजयन्तेन प्राविशच्छ्रान्तवाहनः॥ 71.33 ॥

bharataḥ praviveśāśu purīm ikṣvākupālitām| dvāreṇa vaijayantena prāviśac chrāntavāhanaḥ

Bharata quickly entered that city ruled by the Ikshvaku line. With his horses spent, he passed within through the gate called Vaijayanta.

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.71.34)

द्वाःस्थैरुत्थाय विजयं पृष्टस्तैः सहितो ययौ। स त्वनेकाग्रहृदयो द्वाःस्थं प्रत्यर्च्य तं जनम्॥ 71.34 ॥

dvāḥsthair utthāya vijayaṃ pṛṣṭas taiḥ sahito yayau| sa tv anekāgrahṛdayo dvāḥsthaṃ pratyarcya taṃ janam

The gatekeepers rose and hailed him with cries of victory, and he went on among them. Yet, his heart scattered and distracted, he returned the greeting of those gatekeepers,

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.71.35)

सूतमश्वपतेः क्लान्तमब्रवीत्तत्र राघवः। किमहं त्वरयानीतः कारणेन विनानघ॥ 71.35 ॥

sūtam aśvapateḥ klāntam abravīt tatra rāghavaḥ| kim ahaṃ tvarayānītaḥ kāraṇena vinānagha

There Raghava spoke to that weary charioteer beloved of Ashvapati: "Why, O blameless one, was I brought here in such haste, without cause?

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.71.36)

अशुभाशङ्कि हृदयं शीलं च पततीव मे। श्रुता नो यादृशाः पूर्वं नृपतीनां विनाशने॥ 71.36 ॥

aśubhāśaṅki hṛdayaṃ śīlaṃ ca patatīva me| śrutā no yādṛśāḥ pūrvaṃ nṛpatīnāṃ vināśane

My heart forebodes some evil, and my composure seems to be failing me. Whatever signs we had once heard of, that foretell a king's ruin,

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.71.37)

आकारान्तानहं सर्वानिह पश्यामि सारथे। संमार्जनविहीनानि परुषाण्युपलक्षये॥ 71.37 ॥

ākārān tān ahaṃ sarvān iha paśyāmi sārathe| sammārjanavihīnāni paruṣāṇy upalakṣaye

all those signs, charioteer, I now see here. I notice these unswept, neglected houses,

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.71.38)

असंयतकवाटानि श्रीविहीनानि सर्वशः। बलिकर्मविहीनानि धूपसम्मेदनेन च॥ 71.38 ॥

asaṃyatakavāṭāni śrīvihīnāni sarvaśaḥ| balikarmavihīnāni dhūpasammedanena ca

their doors left unfastened, bereft of splendor on every side, with no offerings being made, and with no scent of incense.

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.71.39)

अनाशितकुटुम्बानि प्रभाहीनजनानि च। अलक्ष्मीकानि पश्यामि कुटुम्बिभवनान्यहम्॥ 71.39 ॥

anāśitakuṭumbāni prabhāhīnajanāni ca| alakṣmīkāni paśyāmi kuṭumbibhavanāny aham

I see the houses of householders, their families unfed, their people bereft of splendor, all of them looking utterly forsaken by fortune.

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.71.40)

अपेतमाल्यशोभान्यसंमृष्टाजिराणि च। देवागाराणि शून्यानि न चाभान्ति यथापुरम्॥ 71.40 ॥

apetamālyaśobhāny asaṃmṛṣṭājirāṇi ca| devāgārāṇi śūnyāni na cābhānti yathāpuram

The temples of the gods, their garlanded splendor gone, their courtyards left unswept, stand empty, and no longer shine as they once did.

Shloka 41 (ayodhya.71.41)

देवतार्चाः प्रविद्धाश्च यज्ञगोष्ठ्यस्तथाविधाः। माल्यापणेषु राजन्ते नाद्य पण्यानि वा तथा॥ 71.41 ॥

devatārcāḥ praviddhāś ca yajñagoṣṭhyas tathāvidhāḥ| mālyāpaṇeṣu rājante nādya paṇyāni vā tathā

The images of the gods lie cast aside, and the sacrificial assemblies are likewise neglected; nor today do the garland-stalls shine with any wares for sale.

Shloka 42 (ayodhya.71.42)

दृश्यन्ते वणिजोऽप्यद्य न यथापूर्वमत्र वै। ध्यानसंविग्नहृदयाः नष्टव्यापारयन्त्रिताः॥ 71.42 ॥

dṛśyante vaṇijo'py adya na yathāpūrvam atra vai| dhyānasaṃvignahṛdayāḥ naṣṭavyāpārayantritāḥ

Even the merchants are not to be seen here today as before; their trade at a standstill, their hearts troubled with anxious thought.

Shloka 43 (ayodhya.71.43)

देवायतनचैत्येषु दीनाः पक्षिगणास्तथा॥ 71.43 ॥

devāyatanacaityeṣu dīnāḥ pakṣigaṇās tathā

Even the flocks of birds in the temples and the great sacred trees look wretched too.

Shloka 44 (ayodhya.71.44)

मलिनं चाश्रुपूर्णाक्षं दीनं ध्यानपरं कृशम्। सस्त्रीपुंसं च पश्यामि जनमुत्कण्ठितं पुरे॥ 71.44 ॥

malinaṃ cāśrupūrṇākṣaṃ dīnaṃ dhyānaparaṃ kṛśam| sastrīpuṃsaṃ ca paśyāmi janam utkaṇṭhitaṃ pure

And I see the people of this city, men and women alike, unkempt, their eyes brimming with tears, wretched, sunk in worry, gaunt, and utterly distraught.

Shloka 45 (ayodhya.71.45)

इत्येवमुक्त्वा भरतः सूतं तं दीनमानसः। तान्यनिष्टान्ययोध्यायां प्रेक्ष्य राजगृहं ययौ॥ 71.45 ॥

ity evam uktvā bharataḥ sūtaṃ taṃ dīnamānasaḥ| tāny aniṣṭāny ayodhyāyāṃ prekṣya rājagṛhaṃ yayau

Having thus spoken to the charioteer, and having seen all those ill omens in Ayodhya, the broken-hearted Bharata went on toward the royal palace.

Shloka 46 (ayodhya.71.46)

तां शून्यशृङ्गाटकवेश्मरथ्यां रजोऽरुणद्वारकपाटयन्त्राम्। दृष्ट्वा पुरीमिन्द्रपुरीप्रकाशां दुःखेन संपूर्णतरो बभूव॥ 71.46 ॥

tāṃ śūnyaśṛṅgāṭakaveśmarathyāṃ rajo'ruṇadvārakapāṭayantrām| dṛṣṭvā purīm indrapurīprakāśāṃ duḥkhena sampūrṇataro babhūva

Beholding that city — its squares, houses, and streets all deserted, its door-bolts and hinges reddened with dust and rust, that city which once shone like Indra's own — Bharata was overwhelmed with grief.

Shloka 47 (ayodhya.71.47)

बहूनि पश्यन्मनसोऽप्रियाणि यान्यन्यदा नास्य पुरे बभूवुः। अवाक्शिरा दीनमना न हृष्टः पितुर्महात्मा प्रविवेश वेश्म॥ 71.47 ॥

bahūni paśyan manaso'priyāṇi yāny anyadā nāsya pure babhūvuḥ| avākśirā dīnamanā na hṛṣṭaḥ pitur mahātmā praviveśa veśma

Seeing many things displeasing to the mind, such as had never before occurred in this city, that high-souled Bharata, his head bowed low, his heart dejected, joyless, entered his father's house.