Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 91 of 119 · 83 verses
Bharadvaja’s Feast
When Bharata has decided to stay, the sage invites Kaikeyi’s son to be his guest. “But you have already given me water for the feet, guest-water and the hospitality the forest affords,” says Bharata. Bharadvaja, half-smiling, replies: “I know you are kind and would be content with anything; but I want to feed your army. My pleasure is as it is, and you deserve it. Why did you leave the army far away? Why did you not come with it?” Bharata, palms joined, answers: “I did not come with the army for fear of the lord. A king or a prince must always carefully avoid ascetics in his lands. Fine horses, men and rutting elephants follow me, covering a great stretch of ground; they might harm the trees, water, ground and huts of the hermitages, so I came alone.” The great seer orders: “Bring the army here,” and Bharata has the army brought.
Bharadvaja enters the fire-house, sips water, wipes his lips, and calls Vishvakarman for the work of hospitality: “I call Vishvakarman and Tvashtri; I wish to give a feast; let it be arranged. I call the three world-guardians and the gods led by Shakra. Let all the rivers that flow east and west, on earth and in the sky, come here today. Let some flow with maireya wine, others with well-made sura, others with cool water tasting like sugar-cane juice. I call the gods and gandharvas, Vishvavasu, Haha and Huhu, and the apsarases and gandharva women: Ghritachi, Vishvachi, Mishrakeshi, Alambusa, Nagadanta, Hema and Hima who lives on the mountain; all the women who attend Shakra and Brahma, with Tumburu and their retinues. Let Kubera’s divine forest among the Uttarakurus come here, with its leaves that are clothes and ornaments and its fruit that are heavenly women. Let lord Soma provide the finest food: things to eat, chew, suck and lick, many and various; garlands fallen from trees, sura and other drinks, and many kinds of meat.” So the sage, absorbed in meditation, with matchless power, speaks with perfect intonation. As he meditates, facing east with joined palms, all those deities come, each separately. A pleasant, cool, auspicious wind blows from the Malaya and Dardura mountains, drying sweat. Thick showers of heavenly flowers fall, and the sound of divine drums is heard in every direction. The apsarases dance, the gandharvas sing, the vinas give out their notes, and that smooth, even, rhythmic sound fills heaven, earth and the ears of living beings.
When the sound stops, Bharata’s army sees Vishvakarman’s work. The ground is level for five yojanas all round, covered with grass like blue beryl, with bilva, kapittha, jackfruit, citron, amalaki and mango trees laden with fruit. A divine forest comes from the northern Kurus, and a divine river lined with trees. There are bright four-sided houses, stables for elephants and horses, crowded mansions and palaces with fine gateways, and a royal house like a white cloud, garlanded, sprinkled with heavenly scent, square, spacious, with beds, seats and carriages, all heavenly foods and clothes, all dishes ready in clean vessels. Given leave by the seer, mighty-armed Bharata enters that jewelled house, followed by his ministers and the priest, all delighted. There he sees a divine royal throne, a fan and an umbrella; Bharata, with his ministers, walks round them as one does before a king, bows and honours the throne as Rama’s, takes the yak-tail fan, and sits in the minister’s seat. The ministers and priests sit in order, then the commander of the army and the governor. In a moment, at Bharadvaja’s command, rivers whose mud is milk-rice come to Bharata, and on both banks appear lovely white-plastered heavenly dwellings by Brahma’s grace. Twenty thousand women adorned with divine ornaments come, sent by Brahma; twenty thousand sent by Kubera, shining with gold, gems, pearls and coral; twenty thousand apsarases from Nandana, whose touch makes a man seem mad. Narada, Tumburu, Gopa and the sun-bright chiefs of the gandharvas sing before Bharata; Alambusa, Mishrakeshi, Pundarika and Vamana dance for him. The garlands of the gods and of the Caitraratha forest appear at Prayaga. Bilva trees become drummers, vibhitakas beat time, ashvatthas become dancers; sarala, tala, tilaka and naktamala trees, turned into hunchbacks and dwarfs, come joyfully; shimshupa, amalaki, jambu, and the creepers malati, mallika and jati, taking the forms of women, say in the hermitage: “Drink sura, you who drink sura; you who are hungry, eat milk-rice and pure meats as much as you like!” Seven or eight women at a time rub and bathe each man on the lovely riverbanks; fair-eyed women massage them, wipe them dry and give them drink. The grooms feed horses, elephants, donkeys, camels and oxen properly, with sugar-cane and honeyed parched grain. The horse-keeper does not know his horse, nor the mahout his elephant; the whole army is drunk, wild and happy. Satisfied with every desire, anointed with red sandal, in the company of apsarases, the soldiers cry: “We will not go to Ayodhya, nor to Dandaka! Good luck to Bharata, and happiness to Rama!” Foot soldiers, riders and grooms, finding themselves without masters in this feast, shout in thousands, “This is heaven!” They dance, laugh, sing and run about everywhere with garlands. Even after eating that nectar-like food, seeing the heavenly dishes, they want to eat again. Servants, maids, young wives and soldiers in thousands, all in new clothes, are utterly delighted. Elephants, donkeys, camels, cattle, horses, beasts and birds are all well fed; no one needs to serve another. No man is seen in soiled clothes, hungry, dirty or with dusty hair. People see thousands of iron pots full of white rice, decorated with flower banners, with goat and boar meat, with fine sauces and fragrant soups cooked with fruit juices. Wells of milk-rice, wish-granting cows, trees dripping honey, pools full of wine surrounded by heaps of roasted meat of deer, peacocks and fowl in hot pans; thousands of dishes, millions of plates, countless golden vessels; pots and jars of curd flavoured with young, fragrant wood-apple; lakes of spiced buttermilk, of white curd, of milk-rice, heaps of sugar. At the river fords they see vessels of bath powders, astringents and unguents, heaps of bright tooth-sticks, white sandal paste in caskets, polished mirrors, piles of clothes, thousands of pairs of sandals and shoes, collyrium boxes, combs, brushes, weapons, bows, armour, beds and seats; drinking pools for donkeys, camels, elephants and horses, with good steps, and lakes with lotuses, sky-coloured, clear, pleasant for bathing; and heaps of soft fodder, blue as beryl, for the animals. The men marvel at that wonder, like a dream, the hospitality the great seer gave Bharata. As they enjoy themselves like gods in Nandana, the night passes in Bharadvaja’s lovely hermitage. The rivers, the gandharvas and all those lovely women take leave of Bharadvaja and go back as they came. Yet the men remain drunk and heady with wine, still anointed with heavenly aloe and sandal, and the many heavenly garlands lie scattered and crushed by them.
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कृतबुद्धिं निवासाय तत्रैव स मुनिस्तदा । भरतं कैकयीपुत्रमातिथ्येन न्यमन्त्रयत् ॥ १ ॥
When he had resolved to stay right there, the sage then invited Bharata, Kaikeyi’s son, with hospitality.
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अब्रवीद्भरतस्त्वेनं नन्विदं भवता कृतम् । पाद्यमर्घ्यं तथातिथ्यं वने यदुपपद्यते ॥ २ ॥
But Bharata said to him: “Surely this has been done by you already: water for the feet, guest-water, and such hospitality as is possible in the forest.”
अथोवाच भरद्वाजो भरतं प्रहसन्निव । जाने त्वां प्रीतिसंयुक्तं तुष्येस्त्वं येन केनचित् ॥ ३ ॥
Then Bharadvaja, as if smiling, said to Bharata: “I know you are kind and would be content with anything at all.
सेनायास्तु तवैतस्याः कर्तुमिच्छामि भोजनम् । मम प्रीतिर्यथारूपा त्वमर्हो मनुजाधिप ॥ ४ ॥
“But I wish to give a meal to this army of yours. My pleasure is as it is, and you deserve it, lord of men.
किमर्थं चापि निक्षिप्य दूरे बलमिहागतः । कस्मान्नेहोपयातोसि सबलः पुरुषर्षभ ॥ ५ ॥
“And why did you come here having left the army far away? Why did you not come here with the army, bull among men?”
भरतः प्रत्युवाचेदं प्राञ्जलिस्तं तपोधनम् । ससैन्यो नोपयातो ऽस्मि भगवन् भगवद्भयात् ॥ ६ ॥
Bharata, with joined palms, replied to the ascetic: “I did not come with the army, lord, out of fear of the lord.
राज्ञा च भगवन् नित्यं राजपुत्रेण वा सदा । यत्नतः परिहर्त्तव्या विषयेषु तपस्विनः ॥ ७ ॥
“For a king, lord, or a king’s son must always carefully avoid ascetics in his realm.
वाजिमुख्या मनुष्याश्च मत्ताश्च वरवारणाः । प्रच्छाद्य भगवन् भूमिं महतीमनुयान्ति माम् ॥ ८ ॥
“Fine horses, men and rutting elephants follow me, lord, covering a great stretch of ground.
ते वृक्षानुदकं भूमिमाश्रमेषूटजांस्तथा । न हिंस्युरिति तेनाहमेक एव समागतः ॥ ९ ॥
“Lest they harm the trees, the water, the ground and the huts in the hermitages, for that reason I came alone.”
आनीयतामितः सेनेत्याज्ञप्तः परमर्षिणा । ततस्तु चक्रे भरतः सेनायाः समुपागमम् ॥ १० ॥
“Let the army be brought here,” was the great seer’s command; and then Bharata had the army come.
अग्निशालां प्रविश्याथ पीत्वापः परिमृज्य च । आतिथ्यस्य क्रियाहेतोर्विश्वकर्माणमाह्वयत् ॥ ११ ॥
Then, entering the fire-house, having sipped water and wiped his lips, he called Vishvakarman for the work of hospitality:
आह्वये विश्वकर्माणमहं त्वष्टारमेव च । आतिथ्यं कर्तुमिच्छामि तत्र मे संविधीयताम् ॥ १२ ॥
“I call Vishvakarman, and Tvashtri too. I wish to give a feast of hospitality; let it be arranged for me there.
आह्वये लोकपालांस्त्रीन् देवान् शक्रमुखांस्तथा । आतिथ्यं कर्तुमिच्छामि तत्र मे संविधीयताम् ॥ १३ ॥
“I call the three world-guardians and the gods led by Shakra. I wish to give a feast of hospitality; let it be arranged for me there.
प्राक्स्रोतसश्च या नद्यः प्रत्यक्स्रोतस एव च । पृथिव्यामन्तरिक्षे च समायान्त्वद्य सर्वशः ॥ १४ ॥
“Let the rivers that flow east and those that flow west, on earth and in the sky, all come here today.
अन्याः स्रवन्तु मैरेयं सुरामन्याः सुनिष्ठिताम् । अपराश्चोदकं शीतमिक्षुकाण्डरसोपमम् ॥ १५ ॥
“Let some flow with maireya, others with well-prepared sura, and others with cool water like the juice of sugar-cane stalks.
आह्वये देवगन्धर्वान् विश्वावसुहहाहुहून् । तथैवाप्सरसो देवीर्गन्धर्व्वीश्चापि सर्वशः ॥ १६ ॥
“I call the gods and gandharvas, Vishvavasu, Haha and Huhu, and likewise the divine apsarases and all the gandharva women:
घृताचीमथ विश्वाचीं मिश्रकेशीमलम्बुसाम् । नागदन्तां च हेमां च हिमामद्रिकृतस्थलाम् ॥ १७ ॥
“Ghritachi, Vishvachi, Mishrakeshi, Alambusa, Nagadanta, Hema, and Hima who dwells on the mountain.
शक्रं याश्चोपतिष्ठन्ति ब्रह्माणं याश्च योषितः । सर्वास्तुम्बुरुणा सार्द्धमाह्वये सपरिच्छदाः ॥ १८ ॥
“The women who attend Shakra, and those who attend Brahma, I call all of them, with Tumburu, with their retinues.
वनं कुरुषु यद्दिव्यं वासोभूषणपत्ऺत्रवत् । दिव्यनारीफलं शश्वत्तत्कौबेरमिहैतु च ॥ १९ ॥
“Let the divine forest of Kubera among the Kurus, with leaves that are clothes and ornaments, whose fruit is always heavenly women, come here.
इह मे भगवान् सोमो विधत्तामन्नमुत्तमम् । भक्ष्यं भोज्यं च चोष्यं च लेह्यं च विविधं बहु ॥ २० ॥
“Here let lord Soma provide me the finest food, many and various, to eat, to chew, to suck and to lick,
विचित्राणि च माल्यानि पादपप्रच्युतानि च । सुरादीनि च पेयानि मांसानि विविधानि च ॥ २१ ॥
“and bright garlands fallen from trees, and sura and other drinks, and meats of many kinds.”
एवं समाधिना युक्तस्तेजसा ऽप्रतिमेन च । शीक्षास्वरसमायुक्तं तपसा चाब्रवीन्मुनिः ॥ २२ ॥
So, joined in concentration, with matchless power and austerity, the sage spoke with correct pronunciation and accent.
मनसा ध्यायतस्तस्य प्राङ्मुखस्य कृताञ्जलेः । आजग्मुस्तानि सर्वाणि दैवतानि पृथक्पृथक् ॥ २३ ॥
As he meditated in his mind, facing east with joined palms, all those deities came, each separately.
मलयं दर्दुरं चैव ततः स्वेदनुदऽ ऽनिलः । उपस्पृश्य ववौ युक्त्या सुप्रियात्मा सुखः शिवः ॥ २४ ॥
Then a wind from Malaya and Dardura, removing sweat, touching gently, blew, very pleasant, delightful and auspicious.
ततोभ्यवर्तन्त घना दिव्याः कुसुमवृष्टयः । दिव्यदुन्दुभिघोषश्च दिक्षु सर्वासु शुश्रुवे ॥ २५ ॥
Then thick showers of heavenly flowers fell, and the sound of heavenly drums was heard in every direction.
प्रववुश्चोत्तमा वाताननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः । प्रजगुर्देवगन्धर्वा वीणाः प्रमुमुचुः स्वरान् ॥ २६ ॥
Excellent winds blew, the hosts of apsarases danced, the divine gandharvas sang, and the vinas poured out their notes.
स शब्दो द्यां च भूमिं च प्राणिनां श्रवणानि च । विवेशोऺच्चारितः श्लक्ष्णः समो लयगुणान्वितः ॥ २७ ॥
That sound, smooth, even, with the qualities of rhythm, uttered, entered heaven and earth and the ears of living beings.
तस्मिन्नुपरते शब्दे दिव्ये श्रोतृसुखे नृणाम् । ददर्श भारतं सैन्यं विधानं विश्वकर्मणः ॥ २८ ॥
When that heavenly sound, pleasant to men’s ears, had ceased, Bharata’s army saw the arrangement made by Vishvakarman.
बभूव हि समा भूमिः समन्तात्पञ्चयोजना । शाद्वलैर्बहुभिश्छन्ना नीलवैडूर्य्यसन्निभैः ॥ २९ ॥
The ground became level on every side for five yojanas, covered with many grassy lawns like blue beryl.
तस्मिन् बिल्वाः कपित्थाश्च पनसा बीजपूरकाः । आमलक्यो बभूवुश्च चूताश्च फलभूषणाः ॥ ३० ॥
On it there were bilvas, kapitthas, jackfruits, citrons, amalakis and mangoes adorned with fruit.
उत्तरेभ्यः कुरुभ्यश्च वनं दिव्योपभोगवत् । आजगाम नदी दिव्या तीजैर्बहुभिर्वृता ॥ ३१ ॥
From the Northern Kurus came a forest with heavenly enjoyments, and a divine river lined with many trees.
चतुःशालानि शुभ्राणि शालाश्च गजवाजिनाम् । हर्म्यप्रासादसम्बाधास्तोरणानि शुभानि च ॥ ३२ ॥
There were bright four-sided houses, stables for elephants and horses, crowds of mansions and palaces, and fine gateways,
सितमेघनिभं चापि राजवेश्मसु तोरणम् । दिव्यमाल्यकृताकारं दिव्यगन्धसमुक्षितम् ॥ ३३ ॥
and a gateway like a white cloud in the royal houses, made in the shape of heavenly garlands, sprinkled with heavenly scents,
चतुरश्रमसम्बाधं शयनासनयानवत् । दिव्यैः सर्वरसैर्युक्तं दिव्यभोजनवस्त्रवत् । उपकल्पितसर्वान्नं धौतनिर्मलभाजनम् ॥ ३४ ॥
square, spacious, with beds, seats and carriages, furnished with all heavenly flavours, heavenly food and clothes, with all kinds of food prepared and vessels washed clean,
क्लृप्तसर्वासनं श्रीमत् स्वास्तीर्णशयनोत्तमम् । प्रविवेश महाबाहुरनुज्ञातो महर्षिणा । वेश्म तद्रत्नसम्पूर्णं भरतः केकयीसुतः ॥ ३५ ॥
with all seats arranged, glorious, with excellent, well-spread beds: mighty-armed Bharata, Kaikeyi’s son, given leave by the great seer, entered that house full of jewels.
अनुजग्मुश्च तं सर्वे मन्त्रिणः सपुरोहिताः । बभूवुश्च मुदा युक्ता दृष्ट्वा तं वेश्मसंविधिम् ॥ ३६ ॥
All the ministers with the priests followed him, and they were filled with joy, seeing that arrangement of the house.
तत्र राजासनं दिव्यं व्यजनं छत्रमेव च । भरतो मन्त्रिभिः सार्द्धमभ्यवर्त्तत राजवत् ॥ ३७ ॥
There Bharata, with his ministers, saw a heavenly royal throne, a fan and an umbrella, and walked round them as round a king.
आसनं पूजयामास रामायाभिप्रणम्य च । वालव्यजनमादाय न्यषीदत् सचिवासने ॥ ३८ ॥
He honoured the throne, bowing to it for Rama, and, taking the yak-tail fan, sat in the minister’s seat.
आनुपूर्व्यानिषेदुश्च सर्वे मन्त्रिपुरोहिताः । ततः सेनापतिः पश्चात् प्रशास्ता च निषेदतुः ॥ ३९ ॥
All the ministers and priests sat down in order; then afterwards the commander of the army and the governor sat down.
ततस्तत्र मुहूर्त्तेन नद्यः पायसकर्दमाः । उपातिष्ठन्त भरतं भरद्वाजस्य शासनात् ॥ ४० ॥
Then there, in a moment, rivers whose mud was milk-rice came before Bharata at Bharadvaja’s command.
तासामुभयतःकूलं पाण्डुमृत्तिकलेपनाः । रम्याश्चावसथा दिव्या ब्रह्मणस्तु प्रसादजाः ॥ ४१ ॥
On both banks of them were lovely heavenly dwellings, plastered with white clay, born of Brahma’s grace.
तेनैव च मुहूर्त्तेन दिव्याभरणभूषिताः । आगुर्विंशतिसाहस्रा ब्रह्मणा प्रहिताः स्त्रियः ॥ ४२ ॥
At that same moment came twenty thousand women, adorned with heavenly ornaments, sent by Brahma.
सुवर्णमणिमुक्तेन प्रवालेन च शोभिताः । आगुर्विंशतिसाहस्राः कुबेरप्रहिताः स्त्रियः ॥ ४३ ॥
Shining with gold, gems, pearls and coral, came twenty thousand women sent by Kubera.
याभिर्गृहीतपुरुषः सोन्माद इव लक्ष्यते । आगुर्विंशतिसाहस्रा नन्दनादप्सरोगणाः ॥ ४४ ॥
Seized by whom a man is seen as if mad, came twenty thousand hosts of apsarases from Nandana.
नारदस्तुम्बुरुर्गोपः प्रवराः सूर्य्यवर्चसः । एते गन्धर्वराजानो भरतस्याग्रतो जगुः ॥ ४५ ॥
Narada, Tumburu, Gopa, the best ones, bright as the sun, these kings of the gandharvas sang before Bharata.
अलम्बुसा मिश्रकेशी पुण्डरीकाथ वामना । उपानृत्यंस्तु भरत भरद्वाजस्य शासनात् ॥ ४६ ॥
Alambusa, Mishrakeshi, Pundarika and Vamana danced before Bharata at Bharadvaja’s command.
यानि माल्यानि देवेषु यानि चैत्ररथे वने । प्रयागे तान्यदृश्यन्त भरद्वाजस्य तेजसा ॥ ४७ ॥
The garlands that are among the gods and in the Caitraratha forest were seen at Prayaga, by Bharadvaja’s power.
बिल्वा मार्दङ्गिका आसन् शम्याग्राहा विभीतकाः । अश्वत्थानर्त्तकाश्चासन् भरद्वाजस्य शासनात् ॥ ४८ ॥
Bilva trees were drummers, vibhitakas held the cymbals, ashvatthas were dancers, at Bharadvaja’s command.
ततः सरलतालाश्च तिलका नक्तमालकाः । प्रहृष्टास्तत्र सम्पेतुः कुब्जा भूत्वाथ वामनाः ॥ ४९ ॥
Then sarala, tala, tilaka and naktamala trees, delighted, came there, having become hunchbacks and dwarfs.
शिंशुपामलकीजम्ब्वो याश्चान्याः काननेषु ताः । मालती मल्लिका जातिर्याश्चान्याः कानने लताः ॥ ५० ॥
प्रमदाविग्रहं कृत्वा भरद्वाजाश्रमे ऽवदन् । सुराः सुरापाः पिबत पायसं च बुभुक्षिताः । मांसानि च सुमेध्यानि भक्ष्यन्तां यावदिच्छथ ॥ ५१ ॥
Shimshupa, amalaki, jambu and the other trees in the forests, malati, mallika, jati and the other creepers in the forest, taking the form of women, said in Bharadvaja’s hermitage: “Drinkers of sura, drink sura; hungry ones, eat milk-rice; and let pure meats be eaten as much as you wish.”
उच्छाद्य स्नापयन्ति स्म नदीतीरेषु वल्गुषु । अप्येकमेकं पुरुषं प्रमदाः सप्त चाष्ट च ॥ ५२ ॥
Seven or eight women would rub and bathe even a single man on the lovely riverbanks.
संवाहन्त्यः समापेतुर्नार्यो रुचिरलोचनाः । परिमृज्य तथान्योन्यं पाययन्ति वराङ्गनाः ॥ ५३ ॥
Women with lovely eyes came running to massage them; the fair women, wiping one another dry, gave them drink.
हयान् गजान् खरानुष्ट्रांस्तथैव सुरभेः सुतान् । अभोजयन् वाहनपास्तेषां भोज्यं यथाविधि ॥ ५४ ॥
The grooms fed the horses, elephants, donkeys and camels, and Surabhi’s sons too, their food according to rule.
इक्षूंश्च मधुलाजांश्च भोजयन्ति स्म वाहनान् । इक्ष्वाकुवरयोधानां चोदयन्तो महाबलाः ॥ ५५ ॥
And the mighty ones fed the mounts of the best Ikshvaku warriors sugar-cane and honeyed parched grain, urging them on.
नाश्वबन्धो ऽश्वमाजानान्न गजं कुञ्जरग्रहः । मत्तप्रमत्तमुदिता नमूः सा तत्र सम्बभौ ॥ ५६ ॥
The horse-keeper did not know his horse, nor the mahout his elephant; that army shone there, drunk, wild and delighted.
तर्पिताः सर्वकामैस्ते रक्तचन्दनरूषिताः । अप्सरोगणसंयुक्ताः सैन्या वाचमुदैरयन् ॥ ५७ ॥
Satisfied with all desires, anointed with red sandal, joined with hosts of apsarases, the soldiers uttered these words:
नैवायोध्यां गमिष्यामो न गमिष्याम दण्डकान् । कुशलं भरतस्यास्तु रामस्यास्तु तथा सुखम् ॥ ५८ ॥
“We will not go to Ayodhya, we will not go to the Dandakas! Let Bharata be well, and let Rama be happy too!”
इति पादातयोधाश्च हस्त्यश्वारोह बन्धकाः । अनाथास्तं विधिं लब्ध्वा वाचमेतामुदैरयन् ॥ ५९ ॥
So foot soldiers, and the riders and keepers of elephants and horses, finding themselves masterless in that arrangement, uttered these words.
सम्प्रहृष्टा विनेदुस्ते नरास्तत्र सहस्रशः । भरतस्यानुयातारः स्वर्गोयमिति चाब्रुवन् ॥ ६० ॥
Delighted, those men roared there by the thousand; Bharata’s followers said, “This is heaven!”
नृत्यन्ति स्म हसन्ति स्म गायन्ति स्म च सैनिकाः । समन्तात् परिधावन्ति माल्योपेताः सहस्रशः ॥ ६१ ॥
The soldiers danced, laughed and sang, and ran about on every side, garlanded, by the thousand.
ततो भुक्तवतां तेषां तदन्नममृतोपमम् । दिव्यानुद्वीक्ष्य भक्ष्यांस्तानभवद्भक्षणे मतिः ॥ ६२ ॥
Then, even after they had eaten that food like nectar, looking at those heavenly dishes, they had a mind to eat again.
प्रेष्याश्चेष्ट्यश्च वध्वश्च बलस्थाश्च सहस्रशः । बभूवुस्ऺते भृशं दृप्ताः सर्वे चाहतवाससः ॥ ६३ ॥
Servants, maids, young wives and soldiers by the thousand all became greatly elated, all in new clothes.
कुञ्जराश्च खरोष्ट्राश्च गोश्वाश्च मृगपक्षिणः । बभूवुः सुभृतास्तत्र नान्यो ह्यन्यमकल्पयत् ॥ ६४ ॥
Elephants, donkeys, camels, cattle, horses, beasts and birds were well fed there; no one needed to provide for another.
नाशुक्लवासास्तत्रासीत् क्षुधितो मलिनो ऽपि वा । रजसा ध्वस्तकेशो वा नरः कश्चिददृश्यत ॥ ६५ ॥
No man was seen there in clothes that were not white, or hungry, or dirty, or with hair soiled with dust.
आजैश्चापि च वाराहैर्निष्ठानवरसञ्चयैः । फलनिर्यूहसंसिद्धैः सूपैर्गन्धरसान्वितैः ॥ ६६ ॥
पुष्पध्वजवतीः पूर्णाः शुक्लस्यान्नस्य चाभितः । ददृशुर्विस्मितास्तत्र नरा लौहीः सहस्रशः ॥ ६७ ॥
With goat and boar meats, with heaps of excellent sauces, with soups made with fruit juices, full of fragrance and flavour, the men, astonished, saw there thousands of iron pots, decked with flower-banners, full of white rice on every side.
बभूवुर्वनपार्श्वेषु कूपाः पायसकर्दमाः । ताश्च कामदुघा गावो द्रुमाश्चासन् मधुस्रुतः ॥ ६८ ॥
At the edges of the forest there were wells whose mud was milk-rice, and those wish-granting cows, and trees dripping honey;
वाप्यो मैरेयपूर्णाश्च मृष्टमांसचयैर्वृताः । प्रतप्तपिठरैश्चापि मार्गमायूरकौक्कुटैः ॥ ६९ ॥
pools full of maireya, surrounded by heaps of fine meats, with hot pans of deer, peacock and fowl;
पात्रीणां च सहस्राणि स्थालीनां नियुतानि च । न्यर्बुदानि च पात्राणि शातकुम्भमयानि च ॥ ७० ॥
thousands of dishes, millions of plates, and countless vessels made of gold;
स्थाल्यः कुम्भ्यः करम्भ्यश्च दधिपूर्णाः सुसंस्कृताः । यौवनस्थस्य गौरस्य कपित्थस्य सुगन्धिनः ॥ ७१ ॥
plates, pots and pans full of curd, well prepared, of fragrant young yellow wood-apple;
ह्रदाः पूर्णा रसालस्य दघ्नः श्वेतस्य चापरे । बभूवुः पायसस्यान्ये शर्करायाश्च सञ्चयाः ॥ ७२ ॥
lakes full of spiced buttermilk, others of white curd, others of milk-rice, and heaps of sugar.
कल्कांश्चूर्णकषायांश्च स्नानानि विविधानि च । ददृशुर्भाजनस्थानि तीर्थेषु सरितां नराः ॥ ७३ ॥
At the fords of the rivers the men saw pastes, powders and astringents, and bath preparations of many kinds in vessels;
शुक्लानंशुमतश्चापि दन्तधावनसञ्चयान् । शुक्लांश्चन्दनकल्कांश्च समुद्गेष्ववतिष्ठतः ॥ ७४ ॥
heaps of white, brushed tooth-sticks, and white sandal pastes lying in caskets;
दर्पणान् परिमृष्टांश्च वाससां चापि सञ्चयान् । पादुकोपानहश्चैव युग्मानि च सहस्रशः ॥ ७५ ॥
polished mirrors, and heaps of clothes, and pairs of sandals and shoes by the thousand;
आञ्जनीः कङ्कतान् कूर्चान् शस्त्राणि च धनूंषि च । मर्मत्राणानि चित्राणि शयनान्यासनानि च ॥ ७६ ॥
collyrium boxes, combs, brushes, weapons and bows, bright armour, beds and seats;
प्रतिपानह्रदान् पूर्णान् खरोष्ट्रगजवाजिनाम् । अवगाह्य सुतीर्थांश्च ह्रदान् सोत्पलपुष्करान् ॥ ७७ ॥
आकाशवर्णप्रतिमान् स्वच्छतोयान् सुखप्लवान् । नीलवैडूर्य्यवर्णांश्च मृदून् यवससञ्चयान् ॥ ७८ ॥
drinking pools full for donkeys, camels, elephants and horses; and, having plunged into them, lakes with good steps, with blue and white lotuses, the colour of the sky, with clear water, pleasant to swim in; and soft heaps of fodder the colour of blue beryl
निर्वापार्थान् पशूनां ते ददृशुस्तत्र सर्वशः ॥ ७९ ॥
for the satisfaction of the animals: they saw these everywhere there.
व्यस्मयन्त मनुष्यास्ते स्वप्नकल्पं तदद्भुतम् । दृष्ट्वातिथ्यं कृतं तादृक् भरतस्य महर्षिणा ॥ ८० ॥
Those men marvelled at that wonder like a dream, seeing such hospitality given to Bharata by the great seer.
इत्येवं रममाणानां देवानामिव नन्दने । भरद्वाजाश्रमे रम्ये सा रात्रिर्व्यत्यवर्त्तत ॥ ८१ ॥
And as they enjoyed themselves in this way, like gods in Nandana, the night passed in Bharadvaja’s lovely hermitage.
प्रतिजग्मुश्च ता नद्यो गन्धर्वाश्च यथागतम् । भरद्वाजमनुज्ञाप्य ताश्च सर्वा वराङ्गनाः ॥ ८२ ॥
And those rivers and the gandharvas went back as they had come, and all those lovely women, having taken leave of Bharadvaja.
तथैव मत्ता मदिरोत्कटा नरास्तथैव दिव्यागुरुचन्दनोक्षिताः । तथैव दिव्या विविधाः स्रगुत्तमाः पृथक् प्रकीर्णा मनुजैः प्रमर्दिताः ॥ ८३ ॥
Yet the men stayed as drunk and heady with wine as before, as sprinkled with heavenly aloe and sandal; and the many kinds of excellent heavenly garlands lay scattered, crushed by the men.