अयोध्या-काण्ड > भरत का राज्य व्यवस्था बिगड़े देखना, शोकाकुल अयोध्य्वासियों को निहारना



Spending seven nights in his journey, crossing various streams and rivers and passing through many woods and territories, Bharata reaches the city of Ayodhya, from there ,he finds the city of Ayodhya in a forlorn mood and discusses this situation with the charioteer. With an apprehensive and gloomy mind, he enters his father's house.
स प्रान् मुखो राज गृहात् अभिनिर्याय वीर्यवान् |
ततः सुदामाम् द्युतिमान् सम्तीर्वावेक्ष्य ताम् नदीम् || २-७१-१
ह्लादिनीम् दूर पाराम् च प्रत्यक् स्रोतः तरन्गिणीम् |
शतद्रूम् अतरत् श्रीमान् नदीम् इक्ष्वाकु नन्दनः || २-७१-२
That brilliant and glorious Bharata, who was a rejoice to Ikshvaku dynasty marching in easterly direction from the city of Rajagriha, thereafter observing and crossing Sudama* river as well as the wide Hladini river, whose stream flowed towards eastern direction.
एल धाने नदीम् तीर्त्वा प्राप्य च अपर पर्पटान् |
शिलाम् आकुर्वतीम् तीर्त्वाआग्नेयम् शल्य कर्तनम् || २-७१-३
सत्य संधः शुचिः श्रीमान् प्रेक्षमाणः शिला वहाम् |
अत्ययात् स महा शैलान् वनम् चैत्र रथम् प्रति || २-७१-४
The pure and illustrious Bharata, who kept up his promise, crossing shatradru river at Eladhana village, reaching the region of Apara parpata, crossing a rocky hill called akurvati, seeing the villages of Agneyam and salyakartana as well as Silavaha river, crossed huge mountains and traveled towards the woods of Chitraratha.
सरस्वतीम् च गङ्गाम् च उग्मेन प्रतिपद्य च |
उत्तरम् वीरमत्स्यानाम् भारुण्डम् प्राविशद्वनम् || २-७१-५
Arriving at the confluence of Saraswati and Ganga rivers, Bharata entered the woods of Bharmuda, the north of Viramatsaya region.
वेगिनीम् च कुलिन्ग आख्याम् ह्रादिनीम् पर्वत आवृताम् |
यमुनाम् प्राप्य सम्तीर्णो बलम् आश्वासयत् तदा || २-७१-६
Reaching and crossing a refreshing river named Kulinga, which is swift and surrounded by mountains as well as Yamuna river, the army was then made to rest there.
शीतीकृत्य तु गात्राणि क्लान्तान् आश्वास्य वाजिनः |
तत्र स्नात्वा च पीत्वा च प्रायात् आदाय च उदकम् || २-७१-७
Making cool the limbs of the tired horses by bathing there and cheering up them, nay, taking a bath himself, drinking some water and carrying it for future use, Bharata proceeded further.
राज पुत्रः महा अरण्यम् अनभीक्ष्ण उपसेवितम् |
भद्रः भद्रेण यानेन मारुतः खम् इव अत्ययात् || २-७१-८
The blessed prince Bharata traversed that rarely frequented huge forest by his excellent chariot as the wind glides through an atmosphere.
भागीरथीम् दुष्प्रतरामंशुधाने महानदीम् |
उपायाद्राघवस्तूर्णम् प्राग्वटे विश्रुते पुरे || २-७१-९
Bharata soon reached the great river, Bharathi, which is difficult to be crossed, at the city of pragvata in the region of Amsudhana.
स गङ्गाम् प्राग्वटे तीर्त्वे समायात्कुटिकोष्ठिकाम् |
सबलस्ताम् स तीर्त्वाथ समायाद्धर्मवर्धनम् || २-७१-१०
Crossing the River Ganga at the city of Pragvata, he reached the river Kulikoshthika, traversed it along with his army and then arrived at the region of Dharmavardhana.
तोरणम् दक्षिण अर्धेन जम्बू प्रस्थम् उपागमत् |
वरूथम् च ययौ रम्यम् ग्रामम् दशरथ आत्मजः || २-७१-११
Bharata reached Jambuprasta village, which is located at the southern part of Torana region and from there he arrived at a beautiful village too, named Varutha.
तत्र रम्ये वने वासम् कृत्वा असौ प्रान् मुखो ययौ |
उद्यानम् उज्जिहानायाः प्रियका यत्र पादपाः || २-७१-१२
Making a camp in thatbeautiful forest there, Bharata traveled towards the east and reached a garden in the city of Ujjihana, in which there are a number of Kadamba trees.
सालांस् तु प्रियकान् प्राप्य शीघ्रान् आस्थाय वाजिनः |
अनुज्ञाप्य अथ भरतः वाहिनीम् त्वरितः ययौ || २-७१-१३
Having reached Sala and Kadamba trees, Bharata yoked swifter horses to his chariot, allowed his army to come after him and quickly went ahead.
वासम् कृत्वा सर्व तीर्थे तीर्त्वा च उत्तानकाम् नदीम् |
अन्या नदीः च विविधाः पार्वतीयैअः तुरम् गमैः || २-७१-१४
हस्ति पृष्ठकम् आसाद्य कुटिकाम् अत्यवर्तत |
ततार च नर व्याघ्रः लौहित्ये स कपीवतीम् || २-७१-१५
Having halted min Sarvatirtha village and having crossed Uttamika river and various other rivers by mountain -ponies and reaching Hast prasthaka village, Bharata crossed Kutika river and traversed kapivati river at Lohitya village.
एक साले स्थाणुमतीम् विनते गोमतीम् नदीम् |
कलिन्ग नगरे च अपि प्राप्य साल वनम् तदा || २-७१-१६
भरतः क्षिप्रम् आगच्चत् सुपरिश्रान्त वाहनः |
Bharata, after crossing Sthanumati river at Ekasala village and Gomati river at Vinata village, took rest at a grove of Sala trees at Kalinga city as the horses were very much tired and then proceeded quickly.
वनम् च समतीत्य आशु शर्वर्याम् अरुण उदये || २-७१-१७
अयोध्याम् मनुना राज्ञा निर्मिताम् स ददर्श ह |
Driving through grove quickly in the night, Bharata at the dawn saw the city of Ayodhya, which was earlier built by King Manu.
ताम् पुरीम् पुरुष व्याघ्रः सप्त रात्र उषिटः पथि || २-७१-१८
अयोध्याम् अग्रतः दृष्ट्वा रथे सारथिम् अब्रवीत् |
Seeing the city of Ayodhya in front, after spending seven nights on his way, Bharata the tiger among men, spoke the following words to his charioteer:
एषा न अतिप्रतीता मे पुण्य उद्याना यशस्विनी || २-७१-१९
अयोध्या दृश्यते दूरात् सारथे पाण्डु मृत्तिका |
यज्वभिर् गुण सम्पन्नैः ब्राह्मणैः वेद पारगैः || २-७१-२०
भूयिष्ठम् ऋषैः आकीर्णा राज ऋषि वर पालिता |
"O, Charioteer! The famous city of Ayodhya comes into view vaguely to me from a distance, as a heap of white clay. It has beautiful gardens. It is filled with performers of sacrifices and with people endowed with good qualities as well as well versed in the Vedas and with Brahmins inmost abundant reaches , It is being ruled by a royal sage."
अयोध्यायाम् पुरा शब्दः श्रूयते तुमुलो महान् || २-७१-२१
समन्तान् नर नारीणाम् तम् अद्य न शृणोम्य् अहम् |
Earlier , a big clattering voice of men and women used to be heard all round in Ayodhya. Now, I am not hearing that voice."
उद्यानानि हि साय अह्ने क्रीडित्वा उपरतैः नरैः || २-७१-२२
समन्तात् विप्रधावद्भिः प्रकाशन्ते मम अन्यदा |
"The parks which used to beam with men streaming forth on all sides, having given up sporting in the morning after entering them in thee evening having spent the whole night in sport, now appear to me otherwise"
तानि अद्य अनुरुदन्ति इव परित्यक्तानि कामिभिः || २-७१-२३
अरण्य भूता इव पुरी सारथे प्रतिभाति मे |
"These parks deserted by the lovers now turn out to be dejected . O, charioteer! To me, the city appears to have changed into a forest."
न हि अत्र यानैः दृश्यन्ते न गजैः न च वाजिभिः || २-७१-२४
निर्यान्तः वा अभियान्तः वा नर मुख्या यथा पुरम् |
"Here, as before, important persons indeed are not seen going into the city or coming out it in carriages or on horses or on elephants."
उद्यानानि पुरा भान्ति मत्तप्रमुदितानि च || २-७१-२५
जनानाम् रतिसम्योगेष्वत्यन्तगुणवन्ति च |
"Earlier parks used to be conspicuously excited with joy and gaiety and were most congenial for love contacts of men."
तान्येतान्यद्य वश्यामि निरानन्दानि सर्वशः || २-७१-२६
स्रस्तपर्णैरनुपथम् विक्रोशद्भिरिव द्रुमैः |
"I am seeing the same parks., today with lack of enjoyments on all sides and with trees having their leaves fallen along the road, looking like picture of dismay."
नाद्यापि श्रूयते शब्दो मत्तानाम् मृगपक्षिणाम् || २-७१-२७
सम्रक्ताम् मधुराम् वाणीम् कलम् व्याहरताम् बहु |
"Even now at dawn, charming sounds with sweet and much melodious tone of animals and birds intoxicated with happiness are not being heard."
चन्दनागुरुसम्पृक्तो धूपसम्मूर्चितोऽतुलः || २-७१-२८
प्रवाति पवनः श्रीमान् किम् नु नाद्य यथापुरम् |
"Why does, as before, pure and auspicious breeze laden with aloes and sandal wood intensified with the fume of burnt incense,not blow today.?"
भेरीमृदङ्गवीणानाम् कोणसम्घट्टितः पुनः || २-७१-२९
किमद्य शब्दो विरतः सदाऽदीनगतिः पुरा |
"Why today have the sounds of kettledrums, clay tomtoms and Vinas played upon with drum-sticks or palms or fingers stopped which formerly never ceased at any time."
अनिष्टानि च पापानि पश्यामि विविधानि च || २-७१-३०
निमित्तानि अमनोज्ञानि तेन सीदति ते मनः |
"I perceive various kinds of evil sinful and silly omens and by this, my mind is dejected."
सर्वथा कुशलम् सूत दुर्लभम् मम बन्धुषु || २-७१-३१
तथा ह्यसति सम्मोहे हृदयम् सीदतीव मे |
"O, charioteer! It is not possible that all sounds be well with my kinsfolk, as indeed, even without anycause for a grievance, my spirit is cast down"
विषण्णः शान्तहृदयस्त्रस्तः सुलुलितेन्द्रियः || २-७१-३२
भरतः प्रविवेशाशु पुरीमिक्ष्वाकुपालिताम् |
Despondent, distressed in mind, frightened and extremely entered the city, which was ruled by the descendents of Ikshvaku.
द्वारेण वैजयन्तेन प्राविशत् श्रान्त वाहनः || २-७१-३३
द्वाह्स्थैः उत्थाय विजयम् पृष्टः तैः सहितः ययौ |
Bharata, with his tiered horses entered the city through Vaijayanta gate. Greeted with slogans of victory by the standing gatekeepers, he went inside, along with others.
स तु अनेक अग्र हृदयो द्वाह्स्थम् प्रत्यर्च्य तम् जनम् || २-७१-३४
सूतम् अश्व पतेः क्लान्तम् अब्रवीत् तत्र राघवः |
Bharata, with a distracted mind, responded to the salutations of those porters at the gate and those porters at the gate and spoke to the charioteer who was beloved to Asvapati as follows:
किमहम् त्वरयानीतः कारणेन विनानघ || २-७१-३५
अशुभाशङ्कि हृदयम् शीलम् च पततीव मे |
"O, the faultless charioteer! Why was I brought so quickly without any reason? My mind is apprehending some evil. I lost my all energy."
श्रुता नो यादृशाः पूर्वम् नृपतीनाम् विनाशने || २-७१-३६
आकाराः तान् अहम् सर्वान् इह पश्यामि सारथे |
"Whatever things were heard by us formerly in the same case of ruin of kings, I am seeing here all those signs."
सम्मार्जनविहीनानि परुषाण्युपलक्षये || २-७१-३७
असम्यतकवाटानि श्रीविहीनानि सर्वशः |
बलिकर्मविहीनानि धूपसम्मेदनेन च || २-७१-३८
अनाशितकुटुम्बानि प्रभाहीनजनानि च |
अलक्स्मीकानि पश्यामि कुटुम्बिभवनान्यहम् || २-७१-३९
"I am seeing the family horses in which dirt is not swept away, with their doors wide open, bereft of splendor on all sides without any offerings being made, and with no incense burned . Families are starving and people look miserably without any charming appearance."
अपेतमाल्यशोभानि असम्मृष्टाजिराणि च |
देवागाराणि शून्यानि न चाभान्ति यथापुरम् || २-७१-४०
"The temples of gods are deserted and have lost their radiance, with their splendor of floral decorations lost, nor are there any assembling to perform sacrifices as before."
देवतार्चाः प्रविद्धाश्च यज्ञ्गोष्ठ्यस्तथाविधाः |
माल्यापणेषु राजन्ते नाद्य पण्यानि वा तथा || २-७१-४१
"Worships of the deities were placed aside. Assemblies of prayers are also not adorned with saleable flowers and garlands today."
दृश्यन्ते वणिजोऽप्यद्य न यथापूर्वमत्रवै |
ध्यानसम्विग्नहृदयाः नष्टव्यापारयन्त्रिताः || २-७१-४२
"Even traders lost interest in trading tie-ups and their minds are tied up in thoughts. They are not being seen here today, as before."
देवायतनचैत्येषुदीनाः पक्षिगणास्तथा || २-७१-४३
मलिनम् च अश्रु पूर्ण अक्षम् दीनम् ध्यान परम् कृशम् |
सस्त्री पुंसम् च पश्यामि जनम् उत्कण्ठितम् पुरे || २-७१-४४
"Clusters of birds in temples and large trees in the city are looking desolate. The population of men and women in the city look thoughtful anguished weak messy and despondent with their eyes held in tears."
इति एवम् उक्त्वा भरतः सूतम् तम् दीन मानसः |
तानि अनिष्टानि अयोध्यायाम् प्रेक्ष्य राज गृहम् ययौ || २-७१-४५
After seeing those bad omens in Ayodhya, the broken hearted Bharata spoke to the charioteer as aforesaid and went to the royal palace.
ताम् शून्य शृन्ग अटक वेश्म रथ्याम् |
रजो अरुण द्वार कपाट यन्त्राम् |
दृष्ट्वा पुरीम् इन्द्र पुरी प्रकाशाम् |
दुह्खेन सम्पूर्णतरः बभूव || २-७१-४६
Beholding the city of Ayodhya,that formerly possessed the splendor of the capital city of Indra, now with its squares houges and high ways deserted, the doors and hinges covered with rust , Bharata was overcome with grief.
बहूनि पश्यन् मनसो अप्रियाणि |
यानि अन्न्यदा न अस्य पुरे बभूवुः |
अवाक् शिरा दीन मना नहृष्टः |
पितुर् महात्मा प्रविवेश वेश्म || २-७१-४७
Seeing many things disenchanted to mind which did not occur at any time before in the city, the high soled Bharata with his head bent down and with his mind miserable gloomily entered his father's house.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे एकसप्ततितमः सर्गः