Chapter [Sarga] 114

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 114

Introduction

Bharata enters Ayodhya city, which appears to him gloomy and asks his charioteer why the city is looking luster-less. Thus speaking in many ways, Bharata enters his father's house which exhibits a vacant look and feels distressed.

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snigdha gambhiira ghoSheNa syandanena upayaan prabhuH |
ayodhyaam bharataH kShipram pravivesha mahaa yashaaH || 2-114-1

1. bharataH= Bharata; mahaayashaaH= the highly illustrious; prabhuH= Lord; upayaan= riding; syndanena= on a chariot; snigdhagambhiiraghoSeNa= producing a gentle and deep sound; pravivesha= entered; kSipram= soon; ayodhyaam= the city of Ayodhya.

The highly illustrious Lord, Bharata riding on a chariot emanating a gentle and deep sound entered soon the city of Ayodhya.

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biDaala uluuka caritaam aaliina nara vaaraNaam |
timira abhyaahataam kaaliim aprakaashaam nishaam iva || 2-114-2

2. biDaa loluuka charitaam= (He entered the city) frequented by cats and owls; aaliina nara vaaraNaam= abiding with crouched men and elephants; nishaamiva= looking like a night; timiraabhyaahataam= enveloped by gloom; aprakaashaam= indistinctness; kaLiim= and darkness.

He entered the city, frequented by cats and owls, abiding with crouched men and elephants and looking like a night enveloped by gloom, indistinctness and darkness.

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raahu shatroH priyaam patniim shriyaa prajvalita prabhaam |
graheNa abhyutthitena ekaam rohiNiim iva piiDitaam || 2-114-3

3. rohiNiimiva= like the planet Rohini; ekaam= the lonely one; priyaam= the beloved; patniim= consort; raahushatroH= of the moon-god (treated as the enemy by the demon Rahu); piiDitaam= tormented; grahena= by the planet Rahu*; abhyutthitena= in the ascendant; prajvalita prabhaam= though invested with an exceedingly bright splendour; shriyaa= by virtue of her glory.

Ayodhya looked like the planet Rohini, the beloved consort of the moon-god (treated as the enemy by the demon Rahu), tormented by planet Rahu* in the ascendant though ordinarily invested with an exceedingly bright splendour by virtue of her glory.

*The demon presiding over a planet of the same name figuring in Indian astronomy and identified by modern astronoy with the shadow of the earth cast on the orb of the moon during what is known as a lunar eclipse.

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alpa uShNa kShubdha salilaam gharma uttapta vihamgamaam |
liina miina jhaSha graahaam kR^ishaam giri nadiim iva || 2-114-4

4. girinadiimiva= (Ayodhya further looked); kR^ishaam= emaciated, like a mountain stream; alopoSNa kSubdha salilaam= whose scanty waters had become hot and agitated; gharmoptapta vihangamaam= birds living in which were scorched by the sun; liina miinajhaSagraahaam= and whose fish, small and big and alligators had perished.

Ayodhya further looked emaciated like a mountain stream, whose scanty waters had become hot and agitated, birds living in which were scorched by the sun, and whose fish, small and big and alligators had perished.

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vidhuumaam iva hema aabhaam adhvara agni samutthitaam |
havir abhyukShitaam pashcaat shikhaam vipralayam gataam || 2-114-5

5. (Ayodhya looked); shikhaamiva= like a flame; adhvaraagne= of sacrificial fire; (which when) havirbhyukSitaam= oblation is poured into it; samutthitaam= rises; hemabhaam= like a golden cone; vidhuumam= without smoke; pashchaat= and thereafter; gataam= sinks into vipralayam= extinction (ash).

Ayodhya looked like a flame of sacrificial fire which when oblation is poured into it, rises like a golden cone without smoke and thereafter sinks into extinction (ash).

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vidhvasta kavacaam rugNa gaja vaaji ratha dhvajaam |
hata praviiraam aapannaam camuum iva mahaa aahave || 2-114-6

6. (Ayodhya looked terrific); aapannaam chamuumiva= like an afflicted army; vidhvasta kavachaam= shattered of its armour; mahaahave= in a great battle; ragNa gaja vaaji rathadhvajaam= whose ensigns borne on horses, elephants, chariots had been torn; hata praviinaam= its heroic warriors slain.

Ayodhya looked like an afflicted army, shattered of its armour in a major conflict, whose ensigns borne on horses, elephants and chariots had been torn, and its heroic warriors slain.

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saphenaam sasvanaam bhuutvaa saagarasya samutthitaam |
prashaanta maaruta uddhuutaam jala uurmim iva nihsvanaam || 2-114-7

7. (Ayodhya appeared); jalormimiva= like the waves of the sea; samutthitaam= though tossed very high; sa phanaam= with foam; sasvanaam= and a roar; bhuutvaa= is rendered; missvanaam= noiseless; prashaanta maarutoddhuutaam= being shaken up by a silent wind.

Ayodhya appeared like the waves of the sea though tosses very high with foam and a roar, is rendered noiseless, being shaken up by a silent wind.

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tyaktaam yajna aayudhaiH sarvair abhiruupaiH ca yaajakaiH |
sutyaa kaale vinirvR^itte vedim gata ravaam iva || 2-114-8

8. (Ayodhya appeared); vedimiiva= like a sacred altar; suttyaakaale= which; when the period of offering oblations into the sacred ifre; vinivR^ite= has completely expired; tyaktaam= has been cleared; sarvaiH= of all; yajJNaayndhaiH= sacrificial implements; gataravaam= and deserted of recitations; abhiruupaiH= by the learned; yaajakaiH= priests.

Ayodhya appeared like a sacred altar, which, when the period of offering oblations into fire has completely expired, has been cleared of all sacrificial implements and deserted of recitations by the learned priests.

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goShTha madhye sthitaam aartaam acarantiim navam tR^iNam |
go vR^iSheNa parityaktaam gavaam patniim iva utsukaam || 2-114-9

9. (Ayodhya appeared) utsuka patniimiva= like restless kine; parityaktaam= deprived of; govR^iSeNa= the bull; acharantiim= who cease to graze; navam tR^iNam= in the new pasture; sthitaam- and stand; goSTamadhye= in the cow-pen; aartaam= dispirited.

Ayodhya appeared like restless kine, deprived of the bull, who cease to graze in new pastures and stand in the cow-pen, dispirited.

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prabhaa karaalaiH susnigdhaiH prajvaladbhir iva uttamaiH |
viyuktaam maNibhir jaatyair navaam muktaa aavaliim iva || 2-114-10

10. (Ayodhya appeared); navaam muktavaliimiva= like a new pearl-necklace; viyuktaam= bereft of; maNibhiH= gems; prabhaakaraadyaiH= rubies and the like; susnigdhaiH= well- polished; prajvaldbhiriva= dazzling; uttamaiH= excellent ; jaatyaiH= and of genuine quality.

Ayodhya was resembling a new pearl-necklace, bereft of well- polished dazzling and excellent gems, rubies and the like, of genuine quality.

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sahasaa calitaam sthaanaan mahiim puNya kShayaad gataam |
samhR^ita dyuti vistaaraam taaraam iva divaH cyutaam || 2-114-11

11. (Ayodhya appeared); taaraamiva= like a meteor; chalitaam= which moved; sthaanaat= from its position; puNyakSayaat= due to exhaustion of virtue; samvR^ita dyuti vistaaraam= with reduced dissemination of light; sahasaa= quickly; chyutaam= dropped; divaH= from the sky; gataam= and fallen to; mahiim= earth.

Ayodhya appeared like a meteor, which moved from its position with its virtue exhausted, soon dropped from the sky and fallen to earth, deprived of its splendour.

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puShpa naddhaam vasanta ante matta bhramara shaaliniim |
druta daava agni vipluShTaam klaantaam vana lataam iva || 2-114-12

12. (Ayodhya appeared); vanalataamiva= like a flowering creeper; puSpa naddhaam= laden with blossom; vasantaante= in the spring-tide; matt bhramara naaditaam= reverberant with intoxicated bees; drutadaavaagni vipluSTaam= that is suddenly consumed by a forest fire, klaantaam= and withering.

Ayodhya appeared like a flowering creeper laden with blossom in the spring-tide, frequented by a swarm of intoxicated bees, that is suddenly consumed by a forest fire and withering.

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sammuuDha nigamaam sarvaam samkShipta vipaNa aapaNaam |
pragcCanna shashi nakShatraam dyaam iva ambu dharair vR^itaam || 2-114-13

13. (Ayodhya resembled); dyaamiva= like a firmament; vR^itaam= covered; ambudharaiH= with clouds; prachchhanna shashi nakSatraam= with the moon and the stars obscured; sammuuDharigamaam= with its senseless traffic; stabdhaam= paralyzed; samkSipta vipaNaa paNaam= the fairs and markets closed.

With its senseless traffic paralyzed and with its fairs and markets closed, Ayodhya resembled like a firmament, covered with clouds, with the moon and stars obscured.

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kShiiNa paana uttamair bhinnaiH sharaavair abhisamvR^itaam |
hata shauNDaam iva aakaashe paana bhuumim asamskR^itaam || 2-114-14

14. (Ayodhya appeared splendour less); paana bhuumim iva= like a tavern; aakaashe= in an open space; hatashauN^Daam= with its vendor of spirituous liquors killed; kSiiNa paanottamaiH= the excellent wine expended; sharaavaiH= the drinking pots and glasses; bhagraiH= broken; abhisamvR^itaam= laid aside; dhvastaam= and scattered in disorder; asamskR^itaam= and uncleaned.

Ayodhya appeared splendourless, like a deserted and uncleaned tavern, with its vendor of spirituous liquors killed, the excellent wine expended, its drinking pots and glasses broken and the pieces stewn in disorder.

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vR^ikNa bhuumi talaam nimnaam vR^ikNa paatraiH samaavR^itaam |
upayukta udakaam bhagnaam prapaam nipatitaam iva || 2-114-15

15. (Ayodhya resembled); prapaamiva= like a cistern supplying water; vR^ikNa bhuumi talaam= its platform rivers; upayuktodakaam= its water spent; vR^ikNa paatraiH= its jars and earthen vessels broken; samaavR^itaam= and perished; mimnaam= collapsed; bhagnaam= shattered; nipatitaam= and fell down.

Ayodhya resembled a cistern erected for storage and distribution of water, but now broken and collapsed with its platform riven and sunk, and covered with broken jars and earthen vessels, its water having been used up.

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vipulaam vitataam caiva yukta paashaam tarasvinaam |
bhuumau baaNair viniShkR^ittaam patitaam jyaam iva aayudhaat || 2-114-16

16. (Ayodhya resembled); jyaamvia= a bow-string; vipulaam= which was large; vitataam= and bent; yukta paashaam= with suitable noose at both ends; viniSkR^ittaam= severed; aayudhaat= from the bow; baaNaiH= by the arrows; tarasvinaam= of heroes; patitaam= and fallen; bhuumam= to the ground.

Ayodhya resembled a bow-string, which was large and bent, with suitable noose at both ends, but severed from the bow by the arrows of heroes and fallen to the ground.

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sahasaa yuddha shauNDena haya aaroheNa vaahitaam |
nihataam pratisainyena vaDavaamiva paatitaam || 2-114-17

17. (Ayodhya appeared); vaDavaamiva= like a mare= suddenly; hayaaroheNa= by a horse-man; yuddha shauNDena= skilled in war-fare; paatitaam= and fallen down; nihataam= when killed; pratisainyena= by the opposite army.

Ayodhya appeared like a mare, urged on suddenly by a horse-man, skilled in war-fare and fallen down when killed by the opposite army.

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bharatastu rathasthaH san shriimaan dasharathaatmajaH |
vaahayantaM rathashreSThaM saarathim vaakyamabraviit || 2-114-18

18. rathasthassan= sitting in the chariot; shriimaan= the glorious; bharatastu= Bharata; dasharathaatmajaH= the vaakyam= the following words; saarathiim= to the charioteer; vaahayantam= who was riding; ratha shreSTham= the excellent chariot.

Sitting in the chariot, the glorious Bharata, the son of Dasaratha, spoke the following words to the charioteer who was riding his excellent chariot:

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kim nu khalvadya gambiiro muurchito na nishamyate |
yathaapuramayodhyaayaam giitavaaditranisvanaH || 2-114-19

19. kim nu khalu= how is it; gambhiiraH= that the deep; muurchhitaH= and intensified; giitavaaditranisvanaH= sound of vocal and instrumental music; na nishamyate= is not heard; yathaa puraa= as before; ayodhyaam= in Ayodhya; adya= today?

"How is it that the deep and intensified sound of vocal and instrumental music is not heard as before in Ayodhya today?"

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vaaruNiimadagandhashcha maalyagandhashcha muurchitaH |
dhuupitaagarugandhashcha na pravaati samantataH || 2-114-20

20. vaaruNii madagandhashcha= the intoxicating odour of spirituous liquor; maalya gandhashcha= or the fragrance of floral garlands; dhuupitaa garu gandhashcha= or the aroma of aloe-wood fumes; muurchitaH= which used to be spread; samantataH= on all sides; na pravaati= are not being wafted.

"The intoxicating odour of spirituous liquor or the fragrance of floral garlands or the aroma of sandal and aloe-wood fumes, which used to be spread once on all sides, are not being wafted."

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yaanapra varaghoSashcha snigdhashcha hayanisvanaH |
pramattagajanaadashcha mahaamshcha rathanisvanaH || 2-114-21
nedaaniim shruuyate puryaamasyaam raame vivaasite || 2-114-22

21, 22. vivaasite= Due to exile; raame= of Rama; yaana pravara ghoSashcha= the sound of the excellent carriages; snigdhaH= the charming; hayanishvanashcha= sound of the horses; pramatta gajanaadashcha= the sound of the intoxicating elephants; mahaan ratha nisranaH cha= and the clattering of the great chariots; na shruuyate= are not heard; asyaam puraam= in this city; idaaniim= now.

"O, Sumantra! I do not hear, as before, the sound of the horses, the sound of the intoxicating elephants and the clattering of the great chariots in this city now."

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chandanaagaarugandhaamshcha mahaarhashcha navasrajaH || 2-114-23
gate hi raame taruNaaH saMtaptaa nopabhuJNjate |

23. raame= Rama; gate= having left Ayodhya; taruNaaH= the youth; samtaptaaH= in distress; nopabhujJNate= are not making use of; chandanaagarugandhaamshcha= the perfumes of sandal-wood and aloe-wood; mahaarhaaH= and the excellent; navasrajashcha= fresh floral garlands.

"Rama, having left Ayodhya, the distressful youth are not making use of the perfumes like sandal-wood, aloe wood as also the most admirable and fresh floral garlands."

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bahiryaatraaM na gachchhanti chitramaaalyadharaa naraaH || 2-114-24
notsavaaH sampravartante raamashokaardite pure |

24. pure= in the city; raamashokaardite= afflicted by the grief of Rama's desertion; naraaH= people; na gachchhanti= are not going; bahiH= out; yaatraam= for pleasure-trips; chitramaalyadharaaH= wearing colourful garlands; na= nor; utsavaaH= festivals sampravartante= are observed.

"In the city afflicted by Rama's desertion, people are not going out for pleasure-trips, wearing colourful garlands nor festivals are observed by them."

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saha nuunam mama bhraatraa purasyaasya dyutirgataa || 2-114-25
na hi raajatyayodhyeyaM saasaarevaarjunii kSapaa |

25. dyutiH= the luster; asya purasya= of this city; gata= has departed; mama bhraatraa saha= along with my brother; nuunam= it is a certain; iyam= this; ayodhyaa= Ayodhya; na raajati hi= is not shining indeed; saasaaraa kSapaa iva= like a rainy night; arjunii= at the time of the waning moon.

"The lustre of Ayodhya has departed along with my brother. It is certain. This Ayodhya is not shining indeed, like a rainy night at the time of the waning moon."

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kadaa nu khalu me bhraataa mahotsava ivaagataH || 2-114-26
janayiSyatyayodhyaayaaM harSam griiSma ivaambudaH |

26. kadaa= when; me bhraataa= will my brother; aagataH= return; mahotsava iva= like a carnival; janayiSayi nu khalu= diffusing; harSam= joy; ayodhyaam= in Ayodhya; griiSme aambudaH iva= as do the autumnal rains?

"When will my brother return, like a carnival, diffusing joy in Ayodhya, as do the autumnal rains?"

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taruNaiH caaru veShaiH ca narair unnata gaamibhiH |
sampatadbhir ayodhyaayaam na vibhaanti mahaa pathaaH || 2-114-27

27. mahaapathaaH= the high ways; ayodhyaam= in Ayodhya; naabhibhaanti= are not glittering; taruNaiH= with youthful; naraiH= people; chaaru veSaiH= richly attired; unnatagaamibhiH= bearing themselves bravely; sampatadbhiH= and roaming about in groups.

"The highways in Ayodhya are not glittering with youthful people, richly attired, bearing themselves bravely and roaming about in groups."

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evam bahu vidham jalpan vivesha vasatim pituH |
tena hiinaam nara indreNa simha hiinaam guhaam iva || 2-114-28

28. evam= thus; jalpan= speaking; bahuvidham= in many ways; (Bharata); vivesha= entered; pituH= his father's; vasatim= house; hiinaam= bereft of; tena= that; narendreNa= king; guhaamiva= and which resembled a cave; simhahiinaam= bereft of a lion.

Thus speaking in many ways, Bharata entered his father's house, bereft of that emperor and which resembled a cave bereft of a lion.

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tadaa tadantHpuramujghitaprabham |
surairivotsR^iSTamabhaaskaram dinam |
niriikSya sarvam tu viviktamaatmavaan |
mumocha baaSpaM bharataH suduHkhitaH || 2-114-29

29. bharataH= Bharata; aatmavaan= a composed man; tadaa= then; mumocha= shed; baaSpam= tears; niriikSya= by seeing; tat sarvam antaHpuram= that entire gynaecium; divamivva= looking like a day; abhaaskaram= without the sun; ujjhitaprabham= with relinquished radiance; viviktam= and empty.

Bharata, though a composed man himself, shed tears by seeing that entire empty gynaecium, looking like a day without the sun with its relinquished radiance.

ityaarSe shriimaadraamaayaNe aadikaavye ayodhyaakaaNDe chaturdashottarashatatamaH sargaH

Thus completes 114th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.