Aranya Kanda · Sarga 16 of 76 · 43 verses
Winter at Panchavati
As great-souled Raghava lives happily there, autumn ends and the welcome season of winter begins. One morning, at the end of night, the delight of the Raghus goes to the lovely Godavari to bathe, with Sita; his brother Saumitri, humbly following with a water-jar in his hand, says: “This is the season you love, kind-spoken one, which makes the whole auspicious year seem adorned. The world is rough with frost, the earth garlanded with crops; the waters are not fit to enjoy, and fire is welcome. Having honoured the ancestors and gods with offerings of the new harvest, good people, freed of sin, have performed the first-fruits rite at its time. The countryside has plenty of everything it wants and rich milk products; kings eager for conquest go out on their campaigns. With the sun keeping firmly to the south, the direction ruled by Death, the north does not shine, like a woman without her forehead mark. The Himalaya, rich in snow by nature and now far from the sun, is clearly true to its name, ‘the snowy one’. The days are pleasant to move about in, pleasant to the touch at midday, their sun welcome, their shade and water unwelcome. With mild sun and mist, sharp cold and wind, the forests empty and blasted by frost, the days shine now. The nights, no longer spent sleeping under the sky, ruled by Pushya, grey with frost, cold and longer, pass now. The moon, its beauty passed to the sun, its disc reddened by frost, does not shine, like a mirror blinded by breath. Its light, dimmed by frost, does not shine even at the full moon; like Sita darkened by the sun, it is seen but does not shine. The west wind, cool by nature, now pierced with frost, blows twice as cold. The forests, wrapped in mist, with barley and wheat, shine at sunrise, loud with curlews and cranes. Golden rice, bending a little, shines with heads full of grain shaped like date flowers. With its rays coming through, wrapped in frost and mist, the sun, risen far off, looks like the moon. The sunlight, its strength not felt in the morning, pleasant to touch at midday, reddish and a little pale, shines on the earth. The ground of the forests, its grass a little wet with falling dew, shines with the young sunlight lying on it. A thirsty wild elephant, touching the very cold water, draws back its trunk at once. These water-birds sit by the water and do not plunge in, like the timid before a battle. Bound by the darkness of dew and covered by the darkness of mist, the rows of forest trees, without flowers, seem to sleep. The rivers shine now, their water hidden in mist, their cranes known only by their cries, their banks with sand wet with frost. Because of the falling frost, the mildness of the sun and the cold, even water on a mountain top is usually pleasant to taste. The lotus pools, their leaves withered by age, their filaments and seed-pods fallen, only the stalks left, blasted by frost, do not shine.
“At this time, tiger among men, righteous Bharata, full of sorrow, practises austerity in the city out of devotion to you. Having given up the kingdom, pride and many kinds of pleasure, the ascetic, restrained in diet, sleeps on the cold ground. Surely he too, at this hour, rises to bathe and goes to the river Sarayu every day, surrounded by the subjects. Raised in the greatest comfort, delicate, afflicted by the cold, how does he plunge into the Sarayu in the last part of the night? Lotus-eyed, dark, glorious, slim-waisted, great, knowing dharma, truthful, restrained by modesty, master of his senses, kind and sweet of speech, long-armed, tamer of foes, he has given up many pleasures and taken refuge in the noble one with his whole self. Heaven has been won by your brother, great-souled Bharata, who follows you in austerity though you live in the forest. ‘Men take after their mother, not their father’: this popular saying Bharata has proved false. How could Kaikeyi, whose husband was Dasharatha and whose son is good Bharata, be so cruel?” As righteous Lakshmana says this out of love, Raghava, unable to bear the reproach of their mother, says: “You must never blame our middle mother, dear one. Speak only of Bharata, lord of the Ikshvakus. My mind is firmly set on forest life, firm in its vow; yet, burning with love for Bharata, it is made childish again. I remember his words, dear, sweet, heartfelt, like nectar, gladdening the mind. When shall I meet great-souled Bharata, and heroic Shatrughna, and you, delight of the Raghus?” Lamenting so, Kakutstha reaches the river Godavari and bathes with his brother and Sita. Having offered water to the ancestors and the gods, the sinless ones praise the risen sun and the deities. Having bathed, Rama shines with Sita as his companion and with Lakshmana, as the lord Rudra shines with Nandin after bathing with the mountain’s daughter.
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वसतस्तस्य तु सुखं राघवस्य महात्मनः । शरद्व्यपाये हेमन्तऋतुरिष्टः प्रवर्तत ॥ १ ॥
As that great-souled Raghava lived there happily, at the end of autumn the welcome season of winter began.
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स कदाचित्प्रभातायां शर्वर्यां रघुनन्दनः । प्रययावभिषेकार्थं रम्यां गोदावरीं नदीम् ॥ २ ॥
Once, when the night had dawned, the delight of the Raghus went to bathe in the lovely river Godavari.
प्रह्वः कलशहसतस्तं सीतया सह वीर्यवान् । पृष्ठतोऽनुव्रजन् भ्राता सौमित्रिरिदमब्रवीत् ॥ ३ ॥
Following behind with Sita, humbly, with a water-jar in his hand, his mighty brother Saumitri said this:
अयं स कालः संप्राप्तः प्रियो यस्ते प्रियंवद । अलंकृत इवाभाति येन संवत्सरः शुभः ॥ ४ ॥
“This is that time come, which is dear to you, kind-spoken one, by which the auspicious year seems adorned.
नीहारपरुषो लोकः पृथिवी सस्यमालिनी । जलान्यनुपभोग्यानि सुभगो हव्यवाहनः ॥ ५ ॥
“The world is rough with frost, the earth garlanded with crops; the waters are not to be enjoyed; fire is welcome.
नवाग्रयणपूजाभिरभ्यर्च्य पितृदेवताः । कृताग्रयणकाः काले सन्तो विगतकल्मषाः ॥ ६ ॥
“Having worshipped the ancestors and gods with the rites of the new harvest offering, good people, freed of sin, have performed the first-fruits rite at its time.
प्राज्यकामा जनपदाः संपन्नतरगोरसाः । विचरन्ति महीपाला यात्रार्थं विजिगीषवः ॥ ७ ॥
“The countryside has abundant desires and richer milk products; kings eager for conquest roam out on campaigns.
सेवमाने दृढं सूर्ये दिशमन्तकसेविताम् । विहीनतिलकेव स्त्री नोत्तरा दिक्प्रकाशते ॥ ८ ॥
“With the sun firmly keeping to the direction frequented by Death, the north does not shine, like a woman without her forehead mark.
प्रकृत्या हिमकोशाढ्यो दूरसूर्यश्च सांप्रतम् । यथार्थनामा सुव्यक्तं हिमवान्हिमवान्गिरिः ॥ ९ ॥
“Rich by nature in stores of snow, and now with the sun far off, the Himalaya mountain is clearly true to its name, ‘the snowy one’.
अत्यन्तसुखसंचारा मध्याह्ने स्पर्शतः सुखाः । दिवसाः सुभगादित्याश्छायासलिलदुर्भगाः ॥ १० ॥
“The days, very pleasant for moving about, pleasant to the touch at midday, have a welcome sun and unwelcome shade and water.
मृदुसूर्याः सनीहाराः पटुशीताः समारुताः । शून्यारण्या हिमध्वस्ता दिवसा भान्ति साम्प्रतम् ॥ ११ ॥
“With mild sun and mist, sharp cold and wind, with empty forests blasted by frost, the days shine now.
निवृत्ताकाशशयनाः पुष्यनीता हिमारुणाः । शीता वृद्धतरायामास्त्रियामा यान्ति सांप्रतम् ॥ १२ ॥
“The nights, no longer for sleeping under the sky, ruled by Pushya, grey with frost, cold, longer in length, pass now.
रविसंक्रान्तसौभाग्यस्तुषारारुणमण्डलः । निःश्वासान्ध इवादर्शाश्चन्द्रमा न प्रकाशते ॥ १३ ॥
“The moon, its good fortune passed to the sun, its disc reddened by frost, does not shine, like a mirror blinded by breath.
ज्योत्स्ना तुषारमलिना पौर्णमास्यां न राजते । सीतेव चातपश्यामा लक्ष्यते नतु शोभते ॥ १४ ॥
“Its moonlight, dimmed by frost, does not shine even at the full moon; like Sita darkened by the sun, it is seen but does not shine.
प्रकृत्या शीतलस्पर्शो हिमविद्धश्च सांप्रतम् । प्रवाति पश्चिमो वायुः काले द्विगुणशीतलः ॥ १५ ॥
“Cool to the touch by nature, and now pierced with frost, the west wind blows, at this time twice as cold.
बाष्पच्छन्नान्यरण्यानि यवगोधूमवन्ति च । शोभन्तेऽभ्युदिते सूर्ये नदद्भिः क्रौञ्चसारसैः ॥ १६ ॥
“The forests covered in mist, with barley and wheat, shine at sunrise, with curlews and cranes calling.
खर्जूरपुष्पाकृतिभिः शिरोभिः पूर्णतण्डुलैः । शोभन्ते किंचिदालंबाः शालयः कनकप्रभाः ॥ १७ ॥
“The golden rice plants shine, bending a little, with heads full of grain, shaped like date-palm flowers.
मयूखैरुपसर्पद्भिर्हिमनीहारसंवृतैः । दूरमभ्युदितः सूर्यः शशाङ्क इव लक्ष्यते ॥ १८ ॥
“With rays creeping forward, enveloped in frost and mist, the sun, risen far off, looks like the moon.
अग्राह्यवीर्यः पूर्वाह्णे मध्याह्ने स्पर्शतः सुखः । संरक्तः किंचिदापाण्डुरातपः शोभते क्षितौ ॥ १९ ॥
“Of strength not felt in the forenoon, pleasant to the touch at midday, reddish and a little pale, the sunlight shines on the earth.
अवश्यायनिपातेन किंचित्प्रक्लिन्नशाद्वला । वनानां शोभते भूमिर्निविष्टतरुणातपा ॥ २० ॥
“The ground of the forests, its grass a little wet with the fall of dew, shines with the young sunlight settled on it.
स्पृशंस्तु सुविपुलं शीतमुदकं द्विरदः सुखम् । अत्यन्ततृषितो वन्यः प्रतिसंहरते करम् ॥ २१ ॥
“Touching the very wide, cold water, a wild elephant, though very thirsty, draws back its trunk with pleasure.
एते हि समुपासीना विहगा जलचारिणः । नावगाहन्ति सलिलमप्रगल्भा इवाहवम् ॥ २२ ॥
“These water-going birds sit near and do not plunge into the water, like the timid into battle.
अवश्यायतमोनद्धा नीहारतमसा आवृताः । प्रसुप्ता इव लक्ष्यन्ते विपुष्पा वनराजयः ॥ २३ ॥
“Bound by the darkness of dew, covered by the darkness of mist, the rows of forest trees, without flowers, look as if asleep.
बाष्पसंछन्नसलिला रुतविज्ञेयसारसाः । हिमार्द्रवालुकैस्तीरैः सरितो भान्ति सांप्रतम् ॥ २४ ॥
“With water covered in mist, cranes known by their cries, banks with sand wet with frost, the rivers shine now.
तुषारपतनाच्चैव मृदुत्वाद्भास्करस्य च । शैत्यादगाग्रस्थमपि प्रायेण रसवज्जलम् ॥ २५ ॥
“Because of the falling frost, and the mildness of the sun, and the cold, even water on a mountain top is mostly pleasant to taste.
जराजर्जरितैः पत्रैः शीर्णकेसरकर्णिकैः । नालशेषा हिमध्वस्ता न भान्ति कमलाकराः ॥ २६ ॥
“With leaves worn by age, filaments and seed-pods fallen, only stalks left, blasted by frost, the lotus pools do not shine.
अस्मिंस्तु पुरुषव्याघ्र काले दुःखसमन्वितः । तपश्चरति धर्मात्मा त्वद्भक्त्या भरतः पुरे ॥ २७ ॥
“At this time, tiger among men, the righteous Bharata, full of sorrow, practises austerity in the city out of devotion to you.
त्यक्त्वा राज्यं च मानं च भोगांश्च विविधान्बहून् । तपस्वी नियताहारः शेते शीते महीतले ॥ २८ ॥
“Having given up the kingdom, pride, and many kinds of pleasures, the ascetic, restrained in diet, sleeps on the cold ground.
सोऽपि वेलामिमां नूनमभिषेकार्थमुद्यतः । वृतः प्रकृतिभिर्नित्यं प्रयाति सरयूं नदीम् ॥ २९ ॥
“Surely he too, at this hour, has risen to bathe and, surrounded by the subjects, goes every day to the river Sarayu.
अत्यन्तसुखसंवृद्धः सुकुमारो हिमार्दितः । कथंत्वपररात्रेषु सरयूमवगाहते ॥ ३० ॥
“Raised in great comfort, delicate, afflicted by the cold, how does he plunge into the Sarayu in the last parts of the night?
पद्मपत्रेक्षणः श्यामः श्रीमान् निरुदरो महान् । धर्मज्ञः सत्यवादी च ह्रीनिषेधो जितेन्द्रियः ॥ ३१ ॥
“Lotus-eyed, dark, glorious, slim-waisted, great, knowing dharma, truthful, restrained by modesty, master of his senses,
प्रियाभिभाषी मधुरो दीर्घबाहुररिंदमः । संत्यज्य विविधान्भोगानार्यं सर्वात्मना श्रितः ॥ ३२ ॥
“kind-spoken, sweet, long-armed, tamer of foes, having given up many pleasures, he has taken refuge in the noble one with his whole self.
जितः स्वर्गस्तव भ्रात्रा भरतेन महात्मना । वनस्थमपि तापस्ये यस्त्वामनुविधीयते ॥ ३३ ॥
“Heaven has been won by your brother, great-souled Bharata, who, even while you live in the forest, imitates you in austerity.
न पित्र्यमनुवर्न्तन्ते मातृकं द्विपदा इति । ख्यातो लोकप्रवादोऽयं भरतेनान्यथा कृतः ॥ ३४ ॥
“’Two-footed beings follow their mother, not their father’: this popular saying has been made false by Bharata.
भर्ता दशरथो यस्याः साधुश्च भरतः सुतः । कथं नु साम्बा कैकेयी तादृशी क्रूरदर्शिनी ॥ ३५ ॥
“How could that mother Kaikeyi, whose husband was Dasharatha and whose son is good Bharata, be so cruel in her vision?”
इत्येवं लक्ष्मणे वाक्यं स्नेहाद्वदति धार्मिके । परिवादं जनन्यास्तमसहन्राघवोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ३६ ॥
As righteous Lakshmana spoke such words out of love, Raghava, not bearing that reproach of their mother, said:
न तेऽम्बा मध्यमा तात गर्हितव्या कथंचन । तामेवेक्ष्वाकुनाथस्य भरतस्य कथां कुरु ॥ ३७ ॥
“Our middle mother must not be blamed by you in any way, dear one. Tell only that story of Bharata, lord of the Ikshvakus.
निश्चिता एव हि मे बुद्धिर्वनवासे दृढव्रता । भरतस्नेहसंतप्ता बालिशीक्रियते पुनः ॥ ३८ ॥
“My mind is certainly fixed on forest life, firm in its vow; but, burning with love for Bharata, it is made childish again.
संस्मराम्यस्य वाक्यानि प्रियाणि मधुराणि च । हृद्यान्यमृतकल्पानि मनःप्रह्लादनानि च ॥ ३९ ॥
“I remember his words, dear and sweet, heartfelt, like nectar, gladdening the mind.
कदाह्यहं समेष्यामि भरतेन महात्मना । शत्रुघ्नेन च वीरेण त्वया च रघुनन्दन ॥ ४० ॥
“When shall I meet great-souled Bharata, and heroic Shatrughna, and you, delight of the Raghus?”
इत्येवं विलपंस्तत्र प्राप्य गोदावरीं नदीम् । चक्रेऽभिषेकं काकुत्स्थः सानुजः सह सीतया ॥ ४१ ॥
Lamenting so, Kakutstha, reaching the river Godavari there, bathed with his younger brother and with Sita.
तर्पयित्वाथ सलिलैस्तैः पितॄन्दैवतानि च । स्तुवन्ति स्मोदितं सूर्यं देवताश्च तथानघाः ॥ ४२ ॥
Then, having satisfied the ancestors and gods with water, the sinless ones praised the risen sun and the deities.
कृताभिषेकः स रराज रामः सीताद्वितीयः सह लक्ष्मणेन । कृताभिषेको त्वगराजपुत्र्या रुद्रः सनन्दिर्भगवानिवेशः ॥ ४३ ॥
Having bathed, Rama shone with Sita as his companion and with Lakshmana, as the lord Isha, Rudra, shines with Nandin after bathing with the mountain king’s daughter.