Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 71 of 119 · 47 verses
Bharata Sees a Silent Ayodhya
Leaving Rajagriha eastward, mighty Bharata crosses the Sudama, then the joyful, wide Shatadru (Sutlej) with its westward-flowing waves. He crosses the river at Eladhana, reaches Aparaparpata, crosses the Shila and the Agneya and Shalyakartana; truthful and pure, looking at the stone-bearing river, he passes great mountains toward the Caitraratha forest. Reaching the Sarasvati and the Ganga where they meet, he enters the Bharunda forest north of the Viramatsyas. He crosses the swift Kulinga, enclosed by mountains, and the Yamuna, and lets his army rest; they cool their limbs, rest the tired horses, bathe, drink, take water and go on. The prince crosses a great, seldom-visited forest swiftly, like the wind crossing the sky. He reaches the Bhagirathi (Ganga), hard to cross, at Amshudhana, then the famous town of Pragvata; crossing there he comes to Kutikoshthika and then Dharmavardhana, Torana, Jambuprastha and the lovely village of Varutha. Camping in a lovely forest, he goes east to the garden of Ujjihana with its priyaka trees; there he takes swift horses and, leaving the army to follow, hurries on. He camps at Sarvatirtha, crosses the Uttanaka and other rivers with mountain horses, passes Hastiprishthaka and Kutika, crosses the Kapivati at Lauhitya, the Sthanumati at Ekasala, the Gomati at Vinata, and reaches the sala forest at Kalinganagara. With his mounts exhausted, crossing the forest quickly, at dawn, after seven nights on the road, he sees Ayodhya, built by King Manu.
Seeing it ahead, he says to his charioteer: “This glorious Ayodhya with its holy gardens does not look right to me. From afar, charioteer, it looks like pale clay. It is full of sacrificers, virtuous brahmanas who have mastered the Vedas, and protected by the best of royal sages. Once a great tumult of men and women was heard all around Ayodhya; today I do not hear it. At other times the gardens shine with men who have played there in the evening and run about on all sides; today, abandoned by lovers, they seem to weep. The city seems a wilderness to me. No leading men are seen going in or out on carriages, elephants or horses as before. The gardens that used to shine, full of happy people, I see joyless everywhere, their trees shedding leaves along the road as if crying out. The sound of excited beasts and birds singing sweet calls is not heard. The fragrant wind, heavy with sandal, aloe and incense, does not blow as before. Why has the sound of drums, mridangas and vinas, which was never silent, stopped today? I see many evil, unwelcome signs, and my mind sinks. In every way, charioteer, the welfare of my kinsmen seems unlikely; though there is no cause for confusion, my heart seems to sink.” Downcast, his heart heavy, frightened, his senses shaken, Bharata quickly enters the city protected by the Ikshvakus, through the Vaijayanta gate, his mounts exhausted. The gatekeepers rise and greet him with “Victory!” and he goes on with them. Distracted, returning their greeting, Raghava says to the tired charioteer of the lord of horses: “Why have I been brought here in haste without a reason, sinless one? My heart fears evil, and my composure is failing. The signs we once heard of at the death of kings, I see all of them here, charioteer. I see the householders’ houses unswept and rough, their doors open, without splendour, without offerings or the smoke of incense, their families unfed, their people lustreless, unlucky. The temples, without the beauty of garlands, their courtyards unswept, are empty and do not shine as before. The images of the gods are neglected, and so are the sacrificial halls; no goods shine in the garland shops. The merchants are not seen as before; their hearts troubled with worry, their trade ruined. The flocks of birds in the temples and shrines are wretched. I see the people of the city, men and women, dirty, their eyes full of tears, downcast, absorbed in brooding, thin and anxious.” Saying this to the charioteer, sick at heart, seeing those evil signs in Ayodhya, Bharata goes to the royal palace. Seeing the city, once bright as Indra’s, with empty crossroads, houses and streets, its doors, panels and bolts reddened with dust, he is filled with sorrow. Seeing many things painful to his mind, things that had never been in that city before, his head bowed, sick at heart, joyless, great-souled Bharata enters his father’s house.
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स प्राङ्मुखो राजगृहादभिनिर्याय वीर्यवान् । ततः सुदामां द्युतिमान्संतीर्यावेक्ष्य तां नदीम् ॥ १ ॥
Going out east from Rajagriha, the mighty and radiant one then crossed the Sudama, looking at that river.
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Bharata Sees a Silent Ayodhya 1 min read.
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ह्लादिनीं दूरपारां च प्रत्यक्स्रोतस्तरङ्गिणीम् । शतद्रूमतरच्छ्रीमान् नदीमिक्ष्वाकुनन्दनः ॥ २ ॥
The glorious delight of the Ikshvakus crossed the river Shatadru, joyful, with its far bank, its waves flowing west.
एलधाने नदीं तीर्त्वा प्राप्य चापरपर्पटान् । शिलामाकुर्वतीं तीर्त्वाआग्नेयं शल्यकर्तनम् ॥ ३ ॥
Having crossed the river at Eladhana and reached Aparaparpata, and crossed the Shila, which carries stones along, and the Agneya and Shalyakartana,
सत्यसंधः शुचिः श्रीमान्प्रेक्षमाणः शिलावहाम् । अत्ययात् स महाशैलान् वनं चैत्ररथं प्रति ॥ ४ ॥
the truthful, pure, glorious one, looking at the Shilavaha, passed great mountains toward the Caitraratha forest.
सरस्वतीं च गङ्गां च युग्मेन प्रतिपद्य च । उत्तरं वीरमत्स्यानां भारुण्डं प्राविशद्वनम् ॥ ५ ॥
Reaching the Sarasvati and the Ganga at their junction, he entered the Bharunda forest, north of the Viramatsyas.
वेगिनीं च कुलिङ्गाख्यां ह्रादिनीं पर्वतावृताम् । यमुनां प्राप्य संतीर्णो बलमाश्वासयत् तदा ॥ ६ ॥
Reaching the swift river called Kulinga, joyful, enclosed by mountains, and the Yamuna, and crossing it, he then let his army rest.
शीतीकृत्य तु गात्राणि क्लान्तानाश्वास्य वाजिनः । तत्र स्नात्वा च पीत्वा च प्रायादादाय चोदकम् ॥ ७ ॥
Having cooled their limbs and rested the tired horses, having bathed there and drunk, and taking water, he went on.
राजपुत्रो महारण्यमनभीक्ष्णोपसेवितम् । भद्रो भद्रेण यानेन मारुतः खमिवात्ययात् ॥ ८ ॥
The prince crossed a great forest, seldom frequented, the excellent one on an excellent vehicle, as the wind crosses the sky.
भागीरथीं दुष्प्रतरामंशुधाने महानदीम् । उपायाद्राघवस्तूर्णं प्राग्वटे विश्रुते पुरे ॥ ९ ॥
Raghava quickly reached the great river Bhagirathi, hard to cross, at Amshudhana, at the famous town of Pragvata.
स गङ्गां प्राग्वटे तीर्त्वा समायात्कुटिकोष्ठिकाम् । सबलस्तां स तीर्त्वाथ समायाद्धर्मवर्धनम् ॥ १० ॥
Having crossed the Ganga at Pragvata, he came to Kutikoshthika; having crossed that with his army, he then came to Dharmavardhana.
तोरणं दक्षिणार्धेन जम्बूप्रस्थमुपागमत् । वरूथं च ययौ रम्यं ग्रामं दशरथात्मजः ॥ ११ ॥
By the southern part of Torana he reached Jambuprastha; and the son of Dasharatha went to the lovely village of Varutha.
तत्र रम्ये वने वासं कृत्वासौ प्रान्मुखो ययौ । उद्यानमुज्जिहानायाः प्रियका यत्र पादपाः ॥ १२ ॥
Having camped there in a lovely forest, he went east to the garden of Ujjihana, where there are priyaka trees.
सालांस्तु प्रियकान्प्राप्य शीघ्रानास्थाय वाजिनः । अनुज्ञाप्याथ भरतो वाहिनीं त्वरितो ययौ ॥ १३ ॥
Reaching the salas and priyakas, mounting swift horses, giving orders to the army, Bharata then went on in haste.
वासं कृत्वा सर्वतीर्थे तीर्त्वा चोत्तानिकां नदीम् । अन्या नदीश्च विविधाः पार्वतीयैस्तुरङ्गमैः ॥ १४ ॥
Having camped at Sarvatirtha and crossed the river Uttanaka and many other rivers with mountain horses,
हस्तिपृष्ठकमासाद्य कुटिकामत्यवर्तत । ततार च नरव्याघ्रो लौहित्ये स कपीवतीम् ॥ १५ ॥
reaching Hastiprishthaka, he passed Kutika; and the tiger among men crossed the Kapivati at Lauhitya,
एकसाले स्थाणुमतीं विनते गोमतीं नदीम् । कलिङ्गनगरे चापि प्राप्य सालवनं तदा ॥ १६ ॥
the Sthanumati at Ekasala, the river Gomati at Vinata; and reaching the sala forest at the city of Kalinga,
भरतः क्षिप्रमागच्छत्सुपरिश्रान्तवाहनः । वनं च समतीत्याशु शर्वर्यामरुणोदये ॥ १७ ॥
Bharata came quickly, his mounts utterly exhausted; and passing swiftly through the forest at night, at the rising of dawn,
अयोध्यां मनुना राज्ञा निर्मितां संददर्श ह । तां पुरीं पुरुषव्याघ्रः सप्तरात्रोषितः पथि ॥ १८ ॥
he saw Ayodhya, built by King Manu. That city, the tiger among men, having spent seven nights on the road,
अयोध्यामग्रतो दृष्ट्वा सारथिं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । एषा नातिप्रतीता मे पुण्योद्याना यशस्विनी ॥ १९ ॥
seeing Ayodhya ahead, he said to the charioteer: “This glorious city with its holy gardens does not seem quite right to me.
अयोध्या दृश्यते दूरात्सारथे पाण्डुमृत्तिका । यज्वभिर्गुणसम्पन्नैर्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः ॥ २० ॥
“Ayodhya looks from afar, charioteer, like pale clay. With sacrificers, virtuous brahmanas who have mastered the Vedas,
भूयिष्ठमृषैराकीर्णा राजर्षि वरपालिता । अयोध्यायां पुरा शब्दः श्रूयते तुमुलो महान् ॥ २१ ॥
“it is crowded, full of seers, protected by the best of royal seers. Formerly in Ayodhya a great, tumultuous sound was heard
समन्तान्नरनारीणां तमद्य न शृणोम्यहम् । उद्यानानि हि सायाह्ने क्रीडित्वोपरतैर्नरैः ॥ २२ ॥
“of men and women on every side; today I do not hear it. The gardens, with men who have played in the evening and stopped,
समन्ताद्विप्रधावद्भिः प्रकाशन्ते ममान्यदा । तान्यद्यानुरुदन्तीव परित्यक्तानि कामिभिः ॥ २३ ॥
“running about on every side, used to shine for me at other times; today they seem to weep, abandoned by lovers.
अरण्यभूतेव पुरी सारथे प्रतिभाति मे । नह्यत्र यानैर्दृश्यन्ते न गजैर्न च वाजिभिः ॥ २४ ॥
“The city seems to me like a wilderness, charioteer. For here no one is seen with carriages, elephants or horses,
निर्यान्तो वाभियान्तो वा नरमुख्या यथापुरम् । उद्यानानि पुरा भान्ति मत्तप्रमुदितानि च ॥ २५ ॥
“leading men going out or coming in, as before. The gardens used to shine, full of excited, happy people,
जनानां रतिसंयोगेष्वत्यन्तगुणवन्ति च । तान्येतान्यद्य पश्यामि निरानन्दानि सर्वशः ॥ २६ ॥
“most excellent for people’s meetings of pleasure; these I see today joyless everywhere,
स्रस्तपर्णैरनुपथं विक्रोशद्भिरिव द्रुमैः । नाद्यापि श्रूयते शब्दो मत्तानां मृगपक्षिणाम् ॥ २७ ॥
“with trees whose leaves have fallen along the road, as if crying out. Even now the sound of excited beasts and birds is not heard,
संरक्तां मधुरां वाणीं कलं व्याहरतां बहु । चन्दनागरुसम्पृक्तो धूपसम्मूर्च्छितोऽतुलः ॥ २८ ॥
“uttering sweet, charming calls in abundance. The incomparable wind, mixed with sandal and aloe, thick with incense,
प्रवाति पवनः श्रीमान्किं नु नाद्य यथापुरम् । भेरीमृदङ्गवीणानां कोणसंघट्टितः पुनः ॥ २९ ॥
“the lovely wind: why does it not blow today as before? And the sound of drums, mridangas and vinas struck with the bow,
किमद्य शब्दो विरतः सदाऽदीनगतिः पुरा । अनिष्टानि च पापानि पश्यामि विविधानि च ॥ ३० ॥
“why has it stopped today, which was always unfailing before? And I see many kinds of unwelcome, evil
निमित्तान्यमनोज्ञानि तेन सीदति मे मनः । सर्वथा कुशलं सूत दुर्लभं मम बन्धुषु ॥ ३१ ॥
“signs, unpleasant; by that my mind sinks. In every way, charioteer, welfare among my kinsmen is hard to find;
तथा ह्यसति सम्मोहे हृदयं सीदतीव मे । विषण्णः श्रान्तहृदयस्त्रस्तः सुलुलितेन्द्रियः ॥ ३२ ॥
“for, though there is no cause for confusion, my heart seems to sink.” Downcast, his heart quiet, frightened, his senses greatly disturbed,
भरतः प्रविवेशाशु पुरीमिक्ष्वाकुपालिताम् । द्वारेण वैजयन्तेन प्राविशच्छ्रान्तवाहनः ॥ ३३ ॥
Bharata quickly entered the city protected by the Ikshvakus. With his mounts exhausted, he entered by the Vaijayanta gate.
द्वाःस्थैरुत्थाय विजयं पृष्टस्तैः सहितो ययौ । स त्वनेकाग्रहृदयो द्वाःस्थं प्रत्यर्च्य तं जनम् ॥ ३४ ॥
Greeted with “Victory!” by the gatekeepers, who rose, he went on with them. But he, his heart on many things, returning the greeting of the gatekeepers,
सूतमश्वपतेः क्लान्तमब्रवीत्तत्र राघवः । किमहं त्वरयानीतः कारणेन विनानघ ॥ ३५ ॥
Raghava said there to the tired charioteer of the lord of horses: “Why have I been brought in haste without a reason, sinless one?
अशुभाशङ्कि हृदयं शीलं च पततीव मे । श्रुता नो यादृशाः पूर्वं नृपतीनां विनाशने ॥ ३६ ॥
“My heart fears evil, and my composure seems to fall away. The signs we heard of before, at the destruction of kings,
आकारास्तानहं सर्वानिह पश्यामि सारथे । सम्मार्जनविहीनानि परुषाण्युपलक्षये ॥ ३७ ॥
“I see all of them here, charioteer. I see things without sweeping, rough,
असंयतकवाटानि श्रीविहीनानि सर्वशः । बलिकर्मविहीनानि धूपसम्मेदनेन च ॥ ३८ ॥
“with doors unbarred, entirely without splendour, without the rite of offerings and the scent of incense,
अनाशितकुटुम्बानि प्रभाहीनजनानि च । अलक्ष्मीकानि पश्यामि कुटुम्बिभवनान्यहम् ॥ ३९ ॥
“their families unfed, their people lustreless: I see the householders’ houses without good fortune.
अपेतमाल्यशोभानि असम्मृष्टाजिराणि च । देवागाराणि शून्यानि न चाभान्ति यथापुरम् ॥ ४० ॥
“The temples, their beauty of garlands gone, their courtyards unswept, are empty and do not shine as before.
देवतार्चाः प्रविद्धाश्च यज्ञ्गोष्ठ्यस्तथाविधाः । माल्यापणेषु राजन्ते नाद्य पण्यानि वा तथा ॥ ४१ ॥
“The images of the gods are neglected, and the sacrificial assemblies likewise; neither do the wares shine in the garland shops today.
दृश्यन्ते वणिजोऽप्यद्य न यथापूर्वमत्रवै । ध्यानसंविग्नहृदया नष्टव्यापारयन्त्रिताः ॥ ४२ ॥
“Nor are the merchants seen here today as before; their hearts are troubled with brooding, held down by the ruin of their trade.
देवायतनचैत्येषु दीनाः पक्षिगणास्तथा ॥ ४३ ॥
“And the flocks of birds in the temples and shrines are wretched.
मलिनं चाश्रुपूर्णाक्षं दीनं ध्यानपरं कृशम् । सस्त्रीपुंसं च पश्यामि जनमुत्कण्ठितं पुरे ॥ ४४ ॥
“I see the people in the city, men and women, dirty, their eyes full of tears, wretched, absorbed in brooding, thin, anxious.”
इत्येवमुक्त्वा भरतः सूतं तं दीनमानसः । तान्यनिष्टान्ययोध्यायां प्रेक्ष्य राजगृहं ययौ ॥ ४५ ॥
Having said this to the charioteer, Bharata, sick at heart, seeing those evil things in Ayodhya, went to the royal palace.
तां शून्यशृङ्गाटकवेश्मरथ्यां रजोऽरुणद्वारकपाटयन्त्राम् । दृष्ट्वा पुरीमिन्द्रपुरीप्रकाशां दुःखेन सम्पूर्णतरो बभूव ॥ ४६ ॥
Seeing the city, bright as Indra’s city, with its crossroads, houses and streets empty, its doors, panels and bolts reddened with dust, he became still more full of sorrow.
बहूनि पश्यन्मनसोऽप्रियाणि यान्यन्यदा नास्य पुरे बभूवुः । अवाक्शिरा दीनमना न हृष्टः पितुर्महात्मा प्रविवेश वेश्म ॥ ४७ ॥
Seeing many things unpleasant to the mind, which had never been in that city before, his head bowed, sick at heart, joyless, the great soul entered his father’s house.