The March to the Ganga

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.83.1)

ततः समुत्थितः काल्यम् आस्थाय स्यन्दन उत्तमम्। प्रययौ भरतः शीघ्रम् राम दर्शन कान्क्षया॥ 83.1 ॥

tataḥ samutthitaḥ kālyam āsthāya syandana uttamam| prayayau bharataḥ śīghram rāma darśana kāṅkṣayā

Then Bharata, rising at daybreak and mounting an excellent chariot, set out swiftly, longing for the sight of Rama.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.83.2)

अग्रतः प्रययुस् तस्य सर्वे मन्त्रि पुरोधसः। अधिरुह्य हयैः युक्तान् रथान् सूर्य रथ उपमान्॥ 83.2 ॥

agrataḥ prayayus tasya sarve mantri purodhasaḥ| adhiruhya hayaiḥ yuktān rathān sūrya ratha upamān

Ahead of him went all the ministers and priests, mounted on chariots yoked with horses, resembling the very chariot of the sun.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.83.3)

नव नाग सहस्राणि कल्पितानि यथा विधि। अन्वयुर् भरतम् यान्तम् इक्ष्वाकु कुल नन्दनम्॥ 83.3 ॥

nava nāga sahasrāṇi kalpitāni yathā vidhi| anvayur bharatam yāntam ikṣvāku kula nandanam

Nine thousand elephants, duly equipped, accompanied Bharata, the delight of the Ikshvaku line, as he journeyed.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.83.4)

षष्ठी रथ सहस्राणि धन्विनो विविध आयुधाः। अन्वयुर् भरतम् यान्तम् राज पुत्रम् यशस्विनम्॥ 83.4 ॥

ṣaṣṭhī ratha sahasrāṇi dhanvino vividha āyudhāḥ| anvayur bharatam yāntam rāja putram yaśasvinam

Sixty thousand chariots, manned by archers armed with weapons of every kind, accompanied the illustrious prince Bharata on his way.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.83.5)

शतम् सहस्राणि अश्वानाम् समारूढानि राघवम्। अन्वयुर् भरतम् यान्तम् राज पुत्रम् यशस्विनम्॥ 83.5 ॥

śatam sahasrāṇi aśvānām samārūḍhāni rāghavam| anvayur bharatam yāntam rāja putram yaśasvinam

A hundred thousand horsemen accompanied Raghava—the illustrious prince Bharata—as he journeyed on.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.83.6)

कैकेयी च सुमित्रा च कौसल्या च यशस्विनी। राम आनयन सम्हृष्टा ययुर् यानेन भास्वता॥ 83.6 ॥

kaikeyī ca sumitrā ca kausalyā ca yaśasvinī| rāma ānayana saṃhṛṣṭā yayur yānena bhāsvatā

Kaikeyi, Sumitra, and the illustrious Kausalya, rejoicing at the thought of bringing Rama home, rode together in a radiant carriage.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.83.7)

प्रयाताः च आर्य सम्घाता रामम् द्रष्टुम् सलक्ष्मणम्। तस्य एव च कथाः चित्राः कुर्वाणा हृष्ट मानसाः॥ 83.7 ॥

prayātāḥ ca ārya saṃghātā rāmam draṣṭum salakṣmaṇam| tasya eva ca kathāḥ citrāḥ kurvāṇā hṛṣṭa mānasāḥ

The whole company of noble men also set forth to see Rama together with Lakshmana, their hearts joyful as they told wondrous tales of him.

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.83.8)

मेघ श्यामम् महा बाहुम् स्थिर सत्त्वम् दृढ व्रतम्। कदा द्रक्ष्यामहे रामम् जगतः शोक नाशनम्॥ 83.8 ॥

megha śyāmam mahā bāhum sthira sattvam dṛḍha vratam| kadā drakṣyāmahe rāmam jagataḥ śoka nāśanam

"When shall we see Rama, dark as a rain-cloud, mighty of arm, unshaken in courage, firm in his vows—Rama who banishes the sorrow of the world?"

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.83.9)

दृष्टएव हि नः शोकम् अपनेष्यति राघवः। तमः सर्वस्य लोकस्य समुद्यन्न् इव भास्करः॥ 83.9 ॥

dṛṣṭa eva hi naḥ śokam apaneṣyati rāghavaḥ| tamaḥ sarvasya lokasya samudyann iva bhāskaraḥ

"The very sight of Raghava will dispel our sorrow, just as the rising sun dispels the darkness of the whole world."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.83.10)

इति एवम् कथयन्तः ते सम्प्रहृष्टाः कथाः शुभाः। परिष्वजानाः च अन्योन्यम् ययुर् नागरिकाः तदा॥ 83.10 ॥

iti evam kathayantaḥ te samprahṛṣṭāḥ kathāḥ śubhāḥ| pariṣvajānāḥ ca anyonyam yayur nāgarikāḥ tadā

Thus speaking, recounting these joyous and auspicious tales, and embracing one another, the citizens journeyed on.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.83.11)

ये च तत्र अपरे सर्वे सम्मता ये च नैगमाः। रामम् प्रति ययुर् हृष्टाः सर्वाः प्रकृतयः तदा॥ 83.11 ॥

ye ca tatra apare sarve sammatā ye ca naigamāḥ| rāmam prati yayur hṛṣṭāḥ sarvāḥ prakṛtayaḥ tadā

All the other esteemed people there, the merchants, and all the common folk, went joyfully onward toward Rama.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.83.12)

मणि काराः च ये केचित् कुम्भ काराः च शोभनाः। सूत्र कर्म कृतः चैव ये च शस्त्र उपजीविनः॥ 83.12 ॥

maṇi kārāḥ ca ye kecit kumbha kārāḥ ca śobhanāḥ| sūtra karma kṛtaḥ caiva ye ca śastra upajīvinaḥ

Some lapidaries, skilled potters, carpenters, and those who earned their living crafting weapons,

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.83.13)

मायूरकाः क्राकचिका रोचका वेधकाः तथा। दन्त काराः सुधा काराः तथा गन्ध उपजीविनः॥ 83.13 ॥

māyūrakāḥ krākacikā rocakā vedhakāḥ tathā| danta kārāḥ sudhā kārāḥ tathā gandha upajīvinaḥ

workers in peacock feathers, sawyers, jewellers who set ornaments, gem-piercers, ivory-carvers, lime-makers, and those who lived by perfumery,

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.83.14)

सुवर्ण काराः प्रख्याताः तथा कम्बल धावकाः। स्नापक आच्चादका वैद्या धूपकाः शौण्डिकाः तथा॥ 83.14 ॥

suvarṇa kārāḥ prakhyātāḥ tathā kambala dhāvakāḥ| snāpaka ācchādakā vaidyā dhūpakāḥ śauṇḍikāḥ tathā

famed goldsmiths, washers of woollen blankets, those who prepared baths and coverings, physicians, fumigators, and vendors of liquor,

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.83.15)

रजकाः तुन्न वायाः च ग्राम घोष महत्तराः। शैलूषाः च सह स्त्रीभिर् यान्ति कैवर्तकाः तथा॥ 83.15 ॥

rajakāḥ tunna vāyāḥ ca grāma ghoṣa mahattarāḥ| śailūṣāḥ ca saha strībhir yānti kaivartakāḥ tathā

washermen, tailors, elders of villages and hamlets, dancers together with their women, and fishermen—all of these went along too.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.83.16)

समाहिता वेदविदो ब्राह्मणा वृत्त सम्मताः। गो रथैः भरतम् यान्तम् अनुजग्मुः सहस्रशः॥ 83.16 ॥

samāhitā vedavido brāhmaṇā vṛtta sammatāḥ| go rathaiḥ bharatam yāntam anujagmuḥ sahasraśaḥ

Thousands of composed Brahmins, versed in the Vedas and renowned for their virtuous conduct, followed the journeying Bharata, riding upon ox-carts.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.83.17)

सुवेषाः शुद्ध वसनाः ताम्र मृष्ट अनुलेपनाः। सर्वे ते विविधैः यानैः शनैः भरतम् अन्वयुः॥ 83.17 ॥

suveṣāḥ śuddha vasanāḥ tāmra mṛṣṭa anulepanāḥ| sarve te vividhaiḥ yānaiḥ śanaiḥ bharatam anvayuḥ

Well-attired, in spotless garments, anointed with pure red sandal-paste, they all followed Bharata unhurriedly, mounted on vehicles of every kind.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.83.18)

प्रहृष्ट मुदिता सेना सान्वयात् कैकयी सुतम्। भ्रातुरानयने यान्तम् भरतम् भ्रातृवत्सलम्॥ 83.18 ॥

prahṛṣṭa muditā senā sānvayāt kaikayī sutam| bhrāturānayane yāntam bharatam bhrātṛvatsalam

That joyful and delighted army escorted Kaikeyi's son Bharata, who, loving his brother, had set forth with his family to bring him home.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.83.19)

ते गत्वा दूरमध्वानम् रथम् यानाश्वकुञ्जरैः। समासेदुस्ततो गङ्गाम् शृङ्गिबेरपुरम् प्रति॥ 83.19 ॥

te gatvā dūramadhvānam ratham yānāśvakuñjaraiḥ| samāsedustato gaṅgām śṛṅgiberapuram prati

Having journeyed a great distance by chariot, cart, horse, and elephant, they then arrived at the Ganga, near the city of Shringaberapura.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.83.20)

यत्र रामसखो वीरो गुहो ज्ञातिगणैर्वृतः। निवसत्यप्रमादेन देशम् तम् परिपालयन्॥ 83.20 ॥

yatra rāmasakho vīro guho jñātigaṇairvṛtaḥ| nivasatyapramādena deśam tam paripālayan

Where the valiant Guha, Rama's friend, surrounded by his kinsmen, dwelt, carefully governing that land.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.83.21)

उपेत्य तीरम् गङ्गायाश्चक्रमाकैरलङ्कतम्। व्यवतिष्ठत सा सेना भरतस्य अनुयायिनी॥ 83.21 ॥

upetya tīram gaṅgāyāścakramākairalaṅkatam| vyavatiṣṭhata sā senā bharatasya anuyāyinī

Arriving at the bank of the Ganga, beautified by chakravaka birds, that army which followed Bharata came to a halt there.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.83.22)

निरीक्ष्य अनुगताम् सेनाम् ताम् च गन्गाम् शिव उदकाम्। भरतः सचिवान् सर्वान् अब्रवीद् वाक्य कोविदः॥ 83.22 ॥

nirīkṣya anugatām senām tām ca gaṅgām śiva udakām| bharataḥ sacivān sarvān abravīd vākya kovidaḥ

Seeing the army that had followed him, and the Ganga with her auspicious waters before him, Bharata, skilled in speech, spoke to all his ministers.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.83.23)

निवेशयत मे सैन्यम् अभिप्रायेण सर्वशः। विश्रान्तः प्रतरिष्यामः श्वैदानीम् महा नदीम्॥ 83.23 ॥

niveśayata me sainyam abhiprāyeṇa sarvaśaḥ| viśrāntaḥ pratariṣyāmaḥ śvaidānīm mahā nadīm

"It is my wish that my army take rest here in every way; once refreshed, we shall cross this great river tomorrow."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.83.24)

दातुम् च तावद् इच्चामि स्वर् गतस्य मही पतेः। और्ध्वदेह निमित्त अर्थम् अवतीर्य उदकम् नदीम्॥ 83.24 ॥

dātum ca tāvad icchāmi svar gatasya mahī pateḥ| aurdhvadeha nimitta artham avatīrya udakam nadīm

"Meanwhile, I wish to go down into the river and offer the sacred water as an oblation for the departed spirit of the king, my father, who has gone to heaven."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.83.25)

तस्य एवम् ब्रुवतः अमात्याः तथा इति उक्त्वा समाहिताः। न्यवेशयंस् तामः छन्देन स्वेन स्वेन पृथक् पृथक्॥ 83.25 ॥

tasya evam bruvataḥ amātyāḥ tathā iti uktvā samāhitāḥ| nyaveśayaṃs tāmaḥ chandena svena svena pṛthak pṛthak

When he had spoken thus, the ministers attentively replied, "So be it," and encamped that army, each in his own place, according to his own liking.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.83.26)

निवेश्य गन्गाम् अनु ताम् महा नदीम्। चमूम् विधानैः परिबर्ह शोभिनीम्। उवास रामस्य तदा महात्मनो। विचिन्तयानो भरतः निवर्तनम्॥ 83.26 ॥

niveśya gaṅgām anu tām mahā nadīm| camūm vidhānaiḥ paribarha śobhinīm| uvāsa rāmasya tadā mahātmano| vicintayāno bharataḥ nivartanam

Having duly encamped, along the great river Ganga, that army resplendent with its equipage, Bharata then halted there, pondering how he might bring back the magnanimous Rama.