Ayodhya Kanda (Contd)
60.Sumanthra consoles Kausalya
(Sumanthra tells that Sita is enjoying her life in the
company and under protection of
Rama. He also told her not to worry about
Rama.)
Then she who was
trembling like one in the grip of evil spirits , again and again rolled on the
ground and then spoke to the
charioteer.
60.1
“Take me to the palace where Rama and Sita as well as
Lakshmana are there. I do not have
desire to live without them even for a second.”
60.2
“Turn back your chariot speedily and take me now to the Dandaka forest , for if I am not going
there, I will go to the land of Yama.”
60.3
That charioteer
with faltering words prevented by speedily falling tears , consoled
Kausalya and told to her .
60.4
“Please throw
away the sorrow, the desire, the
nervousness all arising out of deep grief
. Rama is definitely going to
live in the forest without bothering about the difficulties.” 60.5
“Lakshmana who is serving the feet of Rama and worshipping them, is a man of Dharma and controlling his
senses would go to the other world.”
60.6
“Even in the desolate forest Sita would live like she
lives at home, concentrating her mind fully
on Rama and getting great
confidence.”
60.7
“I could not
observe even a slightest dejection in Sita , as she has already got accustomed to live there away from her home.” 60.8
“When she was in the city , she used to visit gardens and
enjoy and similarly she is enjoying her
stay in the desolate forest.”
60.9
“That wife of Rama
with her face resembling the full moon , with her mind concentrated on Rama is staying in the forest and enjoying her
stay like a young girl.”
60.10
“Her heart is
united with Rama and her life is in his custody and so life without Rama Ayodhya would be like
wilderness to her.”
60.11
“That Sita on seeing
villages , towns , roads , rivers and different type of trees enquired either with Rama and Lakshmana and
understood about them and was behaving as if she was within two miles of
Ayodhya and was in a recreational
park.”
60.12-60.13
“I remember her hastily muttering something about Kaikeyi
but as of now I am not able to recollect them.”
60.14
Thus after
willfully avoiding telling
Kausalya inadvertently her words about Kaikeyi , the charioteer told her those
words which pleased her. 60.15
“The luster of Sita which resembled the luster of moon light , did not diminish due to the
tiredness due to the journey or blowing fast wind or due to nervousness.” 60.16
The look of that lady who was greatly generous which resembled a lotus
flower with hundred petals and
also the splendour of the full moon
never wilted.” 60.17
“Though her feet
was not decorated by the liquid lac it
shined like it was applied there and it was shining like the red lotus
buds.”
60.18
“Though Sita had cast off all her ornaments , even now it
appeared as if her anklets was making
tinkling sounds due to her love towards
Rama.”
60.19
“She who is in the forest even after seeing an elephant
or a lion or tiger, does not get afraid
due to her depending on strong arms of Rama.”
60.20
“There is no need for you to become sad either for them
or for you or for the king , for this
history would be firmly engraved in the
mind of the world.”
60.21
“Leaving out sorrow and with a very happy frame of mind ,
firmly installed in the path of the great
sages , they are living in the
forest by supporting themselves with product of forests and they are upholding the promise given by their father.”
60.22
Though being
consoled by the very logical charioteer , that lady who was suffering the parting sorrow of her son did not stop chanting “Oh Darling”, Oh Son, Oh Rama”.
60.23
This is the end of the sixtieth chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
61.Kausalya accuses Dasaratha
(Kausalya tell that her son Rama , would not accept the kingdom ruled by
Bharatha after his return. She also tells him that he is capable of destroying
Dasaratha himself but not doing it due to his attachment to Dharma.)
When the greatest
Rama who was the best among those who followed
Dharma and who gave joy to others went to the forest , the anguished Kausalya
sobbing addressed her husband and
told. 61.1
“Though your great fame has spread all over the
three worlds , the compassionate Rama , who speaks sweetly as well as generously is well spoken of.”
61.2
“Oh best among men,
your sons as well as Sita are now
suffering due to sorrow in a forest . Will they be able to endure it?
61.3
“How can that Sita
who is youthful , dark, pretty
as well as one used to pleasure ,
tolerate the heat and cold ?”
61.4
“She used to eat till
now well cooked food with condiments and soups which is well prepared and how
can she partake the food of the forest
consisting of wild rice?”
61.5
“How can she who is blameless and auspicious , used to
hearing sounds of musical
instruments and music , bear
to hear the inauspicious and
horrible sound of wild animals ?” 61.6
“How can the very strong Rama resembling the flag Of
Indra sleep , using his steel like
strong hand as a pillow?”
61.7
“When will I be able to see again Rama who is lotus coloured , who has well grown
hair , who has the scent of lotus flowers
and has a face like lotus
flower?”
61.8
“Without any doubt , my heart is made of diamond , for in spite of my not
seeing him, it does not break in to pieces.” 61.9
“It is due to your act without any mercy that all my relatives are running
miserably round in the
terrible forest after being banished by you.”
61.10
“If Rama returns back in the fifteenth year , it does not
appear that Bharatha will gave back the kingdom and treasury to him.”
61.11
“It seems some people feed their relatives first in the Sradha(annual
death ceremony) and then after the
ceremony is over only they feed the best
of Brahmins, just for the sake of feeding” 61.12
“Those greatly learned Brahmins with good conduct and
equal to devas , then would not eat that food
after some people have eaten it ,
even if it is nectar.”
61.13
“The great Brahmins will not eat the food eaten earlier
by others , even though they were Brahmins , like the bulls dislike their horns
being cut off.”
61.14
“ Oh lord of universe , Similarly is it not proper that elder brother who is great
rejects the kingdom which was ruled by his younger brother?”
61.15
“A tiger would not like to eat the meat
of animal killed by some other
animal and this tiger among men ,
will not accept the kingdom enjoyed by others.”
61.16
“The food offering
to be offered in fire, the ghee , sacrificial cakes to be offered in fire
, kusa grass, Khadira wood and
sacrificial posts , after the lapse of one Yama(three hours) cannot be used.” 61.17
“Similarly Rama would not accept this kingdom which has
been possessed by others, which would be like liquor which has lost his power and a
fire sacrifice where Soma is exhausted.” 61.18
“Rama is highly determined and would not like to be
insulted and if he is enraged with his sharp arrows , he may even split
Mandhara mountain.”
61.19
“Oh Dasaratha, it is only out of respect to you as his
father that , the great one is not showing any interest in killing you. If he
is angry , he is capable of pulling down
, all the planets lead by moon and sun, the sky decorated by various
stars and heaven but he is not
disobeying you. He is capable of agitating in this world surrounded by mountains.”
61.20-61.21
“That Rama will not tolerate the insult of this sort like
a tiger cannot tolerate its tail being
twisted.”
61.22
“Even if all the worlds were to unite against him in a great war , he would not be scared.
That Soul of Dharma would not follow a path outside Dharma but will unite the world with Dharma.” 61.23
“The greatly valorous
Rama who has mighty arms , using his golden arrows will burn all beings and all oceans in fire and it would appear as if it is the
time of great deluge.”
61.24
“That bull like man
who has strength like a lion and eyes like that of a bull, has been
destroyed by his own father like the
fish killing its own offspring.”
61.25
“Does your banishment of your own son who is the follower
of Dharma , fall under the birth less Sasthra of the people who are born twice?” 61.26
“The first source
of support for a lady is her husband, the second her son , the third her
relatives and for her there is no fourth source of support.” 61.27
“You are not there for me, Rama has gone to the
forest and since I do not like to go to
the forest , you have taken away everything from me.” 61.28
“You have destroyed this kingship along with the country , You have destroyed the
ministers along with yourselves , you have destroyed your good and your
citizens and your son(Bharatha)_ and wife(Kaikeyi) are happy now.”
61.29
After these words fell from her with frightful accents ,
the king became sad and lost his consciousness
and thereafter recollecting the bad deeds done by him , he again lost his
conscience.” 61.30
This is the end of the sixty first chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
62.Kausalys begs pardon with Dasaratha
and consoles him.
(When Dasaratha begs forgiveness the great Kausalya
realizes the great breach of Dharma made by her. She then admits her mistake and seeks the pardon of
Dasaratha. At the time the sorrow of
Dasaratha increased due to an incident connected to his using the sound
arrow.)
That king after hearing these angry and demeaning words from the very sad mother of
Rama , became very thoughtful as well as sad.
62.1
The king after thinking
that over became sad with worries
and again lost his consciousness and that tormenter of enemies kept on
thinking it for a long time and regained
his senses.
62.2
After getting his senses back , he took long
, hot and painful breaths , and noticing Kausalya near him again started thinking. 62.3
When he was thinking like this suddenly he remembered
about the sinful act committed by him
using the sound arrow(Arrow which
is aimed at sound.)
62.4
That lord heartbroken due to the sorrow of parting with
Rama , suddenly doubled his sorrow thinking of his earlier act. 62.5
That king Dasaratha who was being burnt by both these
sorrows started trembling and with
a bent head and with folded hands try to appease queen
Kausalya.
62.6
“Hey Kausalya , be pleased with me for I am saluting you,
for you are always good to everybody and cruel to none.” 62.7
“Oh lady, if we do research on Dharma , it appears that for a woman a husband who has good or bad qualities is always godlike and to her he is a visible God.”
62.8
“You are always the follower of dharma , who knows all
that is good and bad in this world. Even though you are hurt deeply , it is not
proper for you to talk like this to me, who is greatly grieving.” 62.9
Hearing those very pitiable words from the king who was
in wretched state , she shed tears like a canal that has been
opened.
62.10
Kausalya who was crying , kept the lotus like folded
palms of the king on her head , out of great emotion of fear talked pronouncing each letter at a time. 62.11
“Oh King , I have fallen down earth bowing down my head. I have been greatly
hurt by your act of your begging from me
and I am not at all fit to be pardoned by you.” 62.12
“Oh heroic one, That lady
is not fit for a praise in this
and in the next world , who is appeased by her sagacious and praiseworthy husband.”
62.13
“Oh follower of Dharma, , I know about rules of
Dharma and also know that you are an
votary of truth but I spoke to you in an
improper fashion , me being affected by the sorrow of parting with my son.”
62.14
“Sorrow destroys
courage as well as Sasthras and
sorrow destroys everything and there is
no enemy as great as sorrow.” 62.15
“It is possible to
endure the big blow from an enemies hand but it is not possible to
endure , unexpected sorrow, however
slight it may be.”
62.16
“Oh heroic one, oh follower of Dharma, oh person who
knows Vedas , even sages who do not have
any doubt in either Dharma or Artha , when they are affected by sorrow ,
they get deluded.” 62.17
“Today is the fifth night after Rama has started living in the forest but it appears as
if it is five years since I lost my joy
and drowned in sorrow.” 62.18
“While
thinking of Rama in my heart , the sorrow increases ,
like the water of ocean increases when a big river empties its waters in it.”
62.19
When Kausalya was talking these auspicious words , the light of the sun
diminished and night was about to set in.
62.20
Thus consoled by these words of Kausalya , the king , overcame his sorrow became under the control of sleep.
62.21
This is the end of the sixty second chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
63.Dasaratha kills a saint by Sabdha Bhedhi
(Dasaratha is not able to sleep and tells her how he
killed an innocent sage in his youth by using the Sabdha Bhedhi arrow. The saint told him about his blind parents
and died.)
After that the king woke up within a short time due to his mind being troubled by sorrow and then the king started thinking again.
63.1
Due to the
banishment of Rama and Lakshmana, the
king who was like Indra , appeared
like a sun darkened by the calamity created by an Asura. 63.2
When Rama went to the
forest after being banished ,
the king of Kosala kingdom , remembered
the evil deed done by him and
wished to speak to the lady with black lashes. 63.3
That king on the sixth day of Rama’s banishment at midnight
recalled the evil act done by him. 63.4
That king sorrowing to the parting with his son
recollected the misdeed done by him , addressed Kausalya who was equally sad ,
having parted with her son , told
the following. 63.5
“Oh auspicious gentle lady, anyone who performs a good or bad act , he
will himself get the result of such
action.” 63.6
“He who does not know about the likely fruit or evil result of any action , would be
considered as a mere boy.” 63.7
“If any one after
seeing the attractive
flowers of the phalasa
tree , due to greed of the likely fruits as per his imagination, cuts
off the mango orchard round it and waters the phalasa tree , he would
repent.” 63.8
“Anyone who runs
for doing an act , without knowing how
the fruit will be , would be like one who would repent after he waters
the phalasa tree,”
63.9
“I have cut the mango tree and am watering the phalasa plants . I have sent out Rama when he
was about to bear the fruits
and I am grieving at present.”
63.10
“Oh Kausalya I attained fame as a great
archer even in childhood as one can hit a target hearing the sound from it
and with a help of that power , I have committed a sin.”
63.11
“Just like a child eats poison in a state of bewitching ignorance , Oh lady,
I have brought this problem by my own acts.”
63.12
“Like a man who became interested in growing Phalasa trees, this result of
using Sabda Bhedhi(Shoot at the sound) , is due to my ignorance.”
63.13
“Oh lady , I was not married at that time and I was the
Yuvaraja ad you were not there to advise
me. When the rainy season set in my
passion and enthusiasm increased.”
63.14
“The Sun after removing the moisture from the earth by using its scorching
rays, entered the fearful land of the dead(The sun has set).”
63.15
“At that time the heat subsided and seeing the glistening clouds frogs, geese
as well as peacocks rejoiced.”
63.16
“The birds after
taking bath in water got their wings moistened
and reached with great difficulty the trees, shaking by wind and
rain.”
63.17
“Covered with water due to the rain which never stopped , the mountain visited by exuberant antelopes looked like
a lake of water.”
63.18
“Though the waters were pure, since it rapidly flowed along
with minerals which were mixed in the soil , the water was white as well
as red and its flow appeared a like a moving serpent.” 63.19
“With the coming of water due to rain, the streams which were pure going through the marshy red soil became red
in colour.”
63.20
“In that very pleasant season, armed with bows and arrows
, with an intention of getting exercise , I proceeded in my chariot
towards Sarayu river.”
63.21
“I who did not
have my senses under control, reached a water hole in the river and hid
in a lonely place near by it ,
with a desire of killing a Buffalo or an elephant or any other wild animal.” 63.22
“Secretly waiting there
, I killed many cruel wild animals
which reached the banks of the
river , by the sounds made by them.”
63.23
“After some time in that pitch darkness , I heard a
pitcher being filled with water and since my eye could not reach there , I
thought that it as the trumpeting
sound of an elephant.” 63.24
“Then taking out an arrow , which resembled a poisonous
serpent and released it , with an aim of killing that elephant , towards the
source of the sound.”
63.25
“I sent a well sharpened arrow which looked like a poisonous serpent and in that morning twilight when it hit the
vital parts of body of some one, I heard
him shout “ha, ha” and also heard the
sound of his body falling in water.”
63.26-63.27
“When that arrow hit
him, I heard the voice of human being say, “How can someone hit with an arrow a person like me, who is a sage?” 63.28
“I had come to this lonely river to quench my thirst and
who has wounded me with an arrow and what offence have I done to him.?”
63.29
“I am a sage living in the forest subsisting on the materials of the
forest and who has imposed death on me
using a weapon?”
63.30
“Who is desirous of killing me who has a matted hair and who wears deer skin and tree
bark as cloth?
What harm have I done to him?”
63.31
“The effort which has been done here is purposeless and disastrous and all people would consider
it as a seen like one occupying the bed
oh his Guru.”
63.32
“I am not much bothered about my loss of life and am worried more about my father and mother after my death.”
63.33
“I have been looking after those old people for quite
some time and after I get mixed in the
five elements, how would they continue
to live in future?”
63.34
“That single arrow has killed me and also my aged father
and mother and who is the childish
person with malicious intentions who
has killed all of us?”
63.35
“Hearing that pitiable voice , the bow and arrow fell
down from my hands which has done an act
against Dharma?”
63.36
“Hearing that pitiable voice, in that very dark night , I
was greatly frightened with excess
sorrow and was unable to think?”
63.37
“I reached the banks of river Sarayu, with a very
troubled mind and in a dilapidated condition
and there I saw the body of a sage which was stuck by an arrow and which was
smeared with blood and dust , with scattered locks of hair and with his water pitcher thrown away
.”
63.38-63.39
“He who was
greatly frightened and totally shaken up , stared at me
with his eyes as if to burn me and told me these cruel words.”
63.40
“Oh king ,when I
was trying to take water for my
parents , I have been stuck by your arrow. What have I , who lives in the
forest done to you?”
63.41
“Just by striking with one arrow in my vital parts , you have killed me
as well as my aged blind , father and mother.”
63.42
“How will they who are weak as well as blind and waiting
for me to quench their thirst for
a long time, control their thirst?”
63.43
“My father does not know that I am wounded and lying on
the ground and it appears to me that
there is nothing gained by penance or knowledge of Vedas.”
63.44
“I do not know
what he will do without
having even energy to walk and he is as helpless like a tree which cannot protect another tree being cut?”
63.45
“Oh king of Raghu clan, please go quickly to my father and tell about this to my angry father ,
lest he does not burn this forest like
an ignited fire.” 63.46
“There is a foot
path from here which leads to my father’s hermitage . You go there and please
him so that he will not curse you due to his anger.”
63.47
“Oh king take out this sharp arrow from my body as it is hurting my vital
parts of my body like a rushing
water current advancing to break its
elevated banks,”
63.48
“A thought entered
me that if the arrow is not removed
, it will cause pain and if it is removed he would die.”
63.49
“That the son of
the sage seeing me who was greatly distressed, completely wretched and
full of sorrow told me.”
63.50
“That sage who was distressed and was about to die , with
twisted limbs encircling his body and
with great grief and with great difficulty spoke to me .”
63.51
“ Be courageous ,
Control your sorrow , become firm minded
and remove the thought that you
have killed a Brahmin.”
63.52
“Oh king remove that worry that I am a Brahmin, from your mind, for oh king of the people , I
was born of Vaisya father and Shudhra
mother.”
63.53
“After saying like this the saint who was hurt in his vital parts by the arrow, was
lying on the ground writing in pain and turning and twisting his body and trembling and rolling on the earth and I bent
and pulled out that arrow and the sage
whose only wealth is his
penance looked up to me and died.”
63.54
“Oh auspicious lady , having seen the saint lying in the banks of Sarayu with his vital parts
being wounded by an arrow and who was drenched in water and ceaselessly lamenting about his pain , I
was greatly dejected”
63.55
This is the end of the sixty third chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
64. The curse of
the saint couple
(Dasaratha then tells how he told the old people about
their son ‘s death. He then narrates about their sorrow and how after cremating their son, they cursed
him to suffer the sorrow of parting with
his son and died. Dasaratha breaths his last while sleeping.)
That soul of Dharma
wailing about the incomparable killing of that great sage Continued telling Kausalya. 64.1
“ I after having
done that great sin unintentionally with my
senses being agitated , thought with a
concentrated mind, how to make it all
right.” 64.2
‘Then I filled the pot with pure water , reached the hermitage holding the pot , walking through
the path as directed.” 64.3
“There I saw his
parents who were very weak, old and
fit to be worshipped and who did
not have a help to make them walk and who looked like birds whose wings has
been cut. Since they were not able to do
any work , they were talking about their son , whom I have eliminated and made
them both as orphans. “
64.4-64.5
“With a mind filled with grief and a palpitating heart
due to great fear , I became more sad with apprehension on
reaching the hermitage.” 64.6
“Hearing the sound of my foot falls that sage told, “Oh son, why this great delay, Give me the water
speedily.”
64.7
“Whatever may the reason
son, for your playing in the
water for so long, your mother was
greatly worried. Enter the hermitage quickly.”
64.8
“Oh son, if me or your mother has done any displeasing
act , since you are a sage , do not keep
it in mind.”
64.9
“You are the only support for us who are like
orphans and as we are both without eyes , you are our
eyes and you are our soul. Why are you
not talking to us?”
64.10
“ Having seen that sage , I uttered
a few indistinct words
,stammering and without proper emphasis
on the syllables.”
64.11
“Holding up firmly to the strength of my speech , my
mind and
my action, I related to him with
fear the calamity that happened to their
son.”
64.12
“oh great one, I am not
your son but a man of royal lineage named Dasaratha. By action which
would be condemned by good people a
sorrowful incident has happened.”
64.13
“Oh god like person, I had come to bank of Sarayu with my
bow and arrow with a desire to kill
wild animals and elephants.”
64.14
“Then I heard the
sound of water entering the pot and I
thought that it is an elephant and I shot an arrow to kill it”
64.15
“Then I went to the bank of the river, I saw a sage with
an arrow pierced on his chest , lying on
the ground and who was dying.”
64.16
“Oh God like person,
the arrow which I had sent based on the sound to kill
an elephant and that arrow has stuck
your son.”
64.17
“From his words , understanding that he was suffering
greatly and as per his advice I pulled out the arrow from his vital parts.”
64.18
“When the arrow was drawn out , he died there itself
bewailing for you both who are blind.”
64.19
“Your son has been killed by me due to my ignorance and
great haste and oh sage , please tell me all that I have to do now.”
64.20
“Hearing those very cruel words of mine , informing him
the bad news , the great saint suffered great anguish and was not knowing what to do.”
64.21
“When what highly lustrous sage
with his face wet with tears , taking tortured breaths and broken with sorrow Spoke to me who was standing nearby with folded hands .” 64.22
“If you had not told me about this inauspicious act of
yours, Oh king your head would have broken in to thousand pieces.”
64.23
“O king , if a Kshatriya
knowingly kills someone especially living in the forest, even if he is Indra, the user of Thunderbolt, he would
be thrown out of his position.”
64.24
“If knowingly you
kill a person of ascetic practices , or
one who propounds knowledge of Brahman, his head would split in to seven pieces.”
64.25
“You are alive now because you have done it
unknowingly otherwise not only you but
the entire clan of Ikshuvaku would have
perished.” 64.26
Then he spoke, “Oh king now we would like to see our son
and have a last look at his body
drenched with blood , with his garment of deer skin lying scattered and which is lying unconscious on the earth and who has gone to the custody of Yama, the God of death.”
64.27-64.28
“Then I took both of them who were extremely sorrowing to
that place and made the sage and his wife touch their son.”
64.29
“Then that miserable couple touched the body of their son
and fell on it and that father spoke thus.”
64.30
“My dear child, neither are you saluting me , nor do you talk to me . Why are you lying down
on the earth? Are you angry?”
64.31
“Oh son who follows Dharma, am I not
dear to you .If not see your mother .Why are you not hugging us? Please
tell pretty words.”
64.32
“From now onwards,
late at night whose voice
reciting sweetly the book of Sasthras , will I be able to hear?”
64.33
“ Oh son, From now on who will salute the dawn after
taking bath and offer sacrifices to the fire and after worshipping , talk to me with great confidence when I am
afflicted with sorrow and fear?”64.34
“Who will bring roots and fruits and feed me with love
like a guest from now on? I Will be now sitting
without work and without fetching
anything as there would be nobody to
help me to walk .”64.35
“Oh child , you have made this very old and aged
mother very sad and how can I support
her who is longing for her son?” 64.36
“Oh son , wait , do not go to the city of death today and you can go there tomorrow accompanied by
me and your mother.” 64.37
“We both having been deserted by you are very sad in this
cruel forest and feel like orphans and
we also will come to the abode of death
quickly.” 64.38
“There we would see the God of death and implore him “Oh Lord of Dharma,
forgive, Please allow this boy to maintain his parents.”
64.39
“That famous God of Dharma, who looks after the
world after deciding that my request is
suitable to be granted , would grant me a boon to protect me from
fear.” 64.40
Oh son , you are sinless and killed by a person of sinful
deeds and therefore you will go to world
of heroes killed truly by weapons.”
64.41
“Oh son, please attain that great state of warriors who
were killed in a battle due to their not retreating when facing an
enemy.”
64.42
“Oh son attain that
state which Sagara, Saibhya ,
Dileepa, Janamejaya , Nahusha and
Dundumara , have attained.”
64.43
Oh little son, you will attain the same state as that attained by Virtuous people who
were ascetics and who studied Vedas ,
as that attained by givers of land in charity
as also that attained by those
who did worship of fire , as that attained by people who lived with only one wife , as that attained by people who gave thousands of cows
in charity , as that attained by people who worshipped their elders and that
attained by people who laid their body voluntarily.
64.44-64.45
“All those who are born in our clan will not attain
any state of suffering , which would be
attained by the one who killed you.” 64.46
“Like this those two went on crying again and again and then he along with his wife commenced
doing funeral rites to his son.” 64.47
“That son of the sage
who was an expert in Dharma , due to his own meritorious deeds assumed a celestial form and ascended to the heavens along with Indra. “
64.48
“That sage along with Indra addressed those aged ones for a moment and told these words of
consolation.”
64.49
“By doing service to you, I have attained a great supreme
state and t you both also would come
and join me soon.”
64.50
“That son of the sage who had controlled his senses , after saying this ascended the pretty
divine chariot and went to heaven.”
64.51
“That saint along with
his wife completed the funerals
libations immediately and told me
who was standing by his side with folded hands.” 64.52
“Oh king , since you have killed my only son with an
arrow , you have made me childless and
so I request you to kill me also and I
will not be pained by it.” 64.53
“Since you have killed my pure hearted son though unintentionally , I will give you a
very cruel curse which would make you
sad.”
64.54
“ Oh king , Similar to the sorrow that I am now suffering
due to the death of my son, you will also suffer a sorrow caused by your son
and would die after that.”
64.55
“ Oh king, Though
being a Kshatriya you have killed a saint unknowingly , the sin of killing a Brahmin would not get
attached to you.”
64.56
“Soon you will
face a fatal condition causing you a dreadful death and this incident would follow you like the
alms following the giver of alms.”
64.57
“After giving this curse to me , those two people cried
for some time and gave up their life lying on the funeral pyre and went to
heaven .”
64.58
“Oh Kausalya
after recollecting this incident of
my childish act in sending an arrow based on sound and killing a saint has recoiled on me.”
64.59
“Oh lady, my present state is due
to the consequence of my previous deed
and it is like suffering health problems when you take food not
conducive to health.”
64.60
“Oh auspicious lady, now the words of that great sage has come true
today and I would soon give up my life
due to the sorrow caused by parting with my son.”
64.61
“Oh Kausalya, I am not able to see you, please touch me
with your holy hands “ said the king to his
wife crying all along.
64.62
“Oh Lady , the act of banishing to forest a son like Rama can possibly be done only by
me and the act done by Rama in
response to my word can only be done by
Rama.”
64.63
“In this world, which discriminating man will abandon his
son, even if he is ill behaved and which son
will not become angry with his father when he is being banished?”
64.64
“Would Rama touch
me once now and will he come to my bedside? For after one reaches the land of Yama
they cannot see their relations.”
64.65
“Oh Kausalya , I am not able to see you and my memory is
fading and the messengers of God of
death are hastening me up.”
64.66
“At this time when my life is fading I am not in a position to see Rama, who is a follower of Dharma and also
valorous in truth.”
64.67
‘The sorrow arising out of not being able to see my son
is drying away my life , similar to heat drying up a
small pool of water.”
64.68
“Those men who are able to see the pretty Rama wearing
ear globes , during the fifteenth year
are not men but are devas.” 64.69
“Those men are blessed who would be able to see Rama
with eyes like lotus petals , pretty eyebrows, , good teeth , pretty
nose and who resembles the moon , the
lord of the stars.” 64.70
“Those men are blessed indeed who would be
able to see my son who has a face
like the autumnal moon a fully
opened lotus flower and who is fragrant.”
64.71
“Those who see Rama after he completes and comes back to
Ayodhya are indeed lucky and would be seeing him like planet
Shukra moving forward on his course.”
64.72
“Oh Kausalya , due to my numbed senses my heart is sinking and I am not able to differentiate the senses of look , hearing and smell.”
64.73
“With the sinking of my perception , all my sense organs
are sinking , like the rays of light are going away in a lamp in which oil is
exhausted .”
64.74
“This sorrow arising within me makes me helpless and
senseless , like the current of the river destroying its bank.”
64.75
“Oh Rama, Oh very strong one, Oh son destroying all my
tiredness , Oh darling of the father , oh my lord, Where have you gone
now.”
64.76
“Oh Kausalya, Oh sage
like Sumithra , oh Kaikeyi who is cruel and who is my enemy , oh
destroyer of my clan, , I am being destroyed.”
64.77
That Dasaratha who was crying in distress in the presence
of mother of Rama and Sumithra , reached the end of his
life.
64.78
“That very generous king , deeply hurt by the exile
of his son went on pitiably narrating all this past midnight and afflicted with great sorrow breathed his
last.”
64.79
This is the end of the sixty fourth chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
65.King Dasaratha breaths his last
(When the attendants came in the morning to wake up the
king came, they were not able to wake
him. They realized that he was dead and started crying. Sumithra and Kausalya
who were sleeping due to being tired
woke up and started crying.)
After the night
was over , on the next day morning , highly accomplished, very
learned auspicious singers of praise who
were experts in praising , singers, flatterers separately one after another recited the glory of the
king after reaching the palace of the
king.
65.1-65.2
The high pitched
benedictions of the king by those experts in praise and sound of their praise spread
all over the palace .
65.3
When those bards were singing praises of the king , those who clap and sing , clapped and sang
about the wonderful exploits of the king.
65.4
Due to the sound produced by them the birds sitting perched on branches of trees and some in cages found all over the
palace awoke and began to twitter.
65.5
The sacred sounds uttered, the music of the Veena , songs about the exploits of the
king, and blessings in the form of
verses completely filled the palace .
65.6
Then the experts
in purificatory rites who are skilled in
performing royal service , large
number of men women and eunuchs assembled as on former occasions.
65.7
At the proper time bath attendants bought water
in golden vessel mixed with
yellow sandal paste according to the custom.”
65.8
Then several other
young maids brought auspicious
pastes and articles pleasing the
senses for completion of the bathing
ceremony.
65.9
All the presentations to the king as per daily practice which were of the best quality and which were endowed with wealth and
auspiciousness were worshipped.
65.10
All of them waited till the sun rise with
great enthusiasm , without
reaching the king , with a mind in doubt as to what has
happened.
65.11
Then those sleep
women attendants of the king who
had unrestricted access , came near the king and tried to wake him up.
65.12
Those people of
proper conduct with humility and tact , after touching the bed could not find even a minute sign of life.
65.13
These women who were
expert in matters relating to sleep
could find from actions and
movements the nature and intensity of
sleep started shivering since they had
doubt whether the king was alive and appeared like the shaking reeds standing
in running water.
65.14
Those women who got doubt on seeing the king , when they
saw him closely they found that their
evil doubt was really true. 65.15
Defeated by the sorrow
due to their son’s absence both Kausalya and Sumithra were sleeping as if possessed by death and did not wake up. 65.16
Kausalya who had no luster , who was ashen, who
had sunk down due to sorrow was
lying down with limbs contracted and did not shine like the stars covered by darkness .
65.17
Kausalya , the king and Sumithra were sleeping one
after another and
both queens were drooping due to lot of crying and did not have luster. 65.18
Seeing those two auspicious queens and the king
sleeping silently , the women of the private apartments considered
that the king has lost his life breath.
65.19
Then those women , who were like the herd of she elephants who have lost
their leader of the herd male elephant in the forest
wailed bitterly and loudly .
65.20
Kausalya and Sumithra hearing the sound of their cries, suddenly recovered their senses and woke up.
65.21
Kausalya and
Sumithra after they saw him touched him
crying loudly “Oh lord” and then
fell down on earth.
65.22
Kausalya the daughter of king of Kosala was lying down on earth coated with dust
and like a star which fell down on earth
did not shine .
65.23
When the king
became ceased of activity and when those
ladies saw Kausalya has fallen
on the ground , they felt they
saw a slain female elephant .
65.24
Then all the ladies of the king
lead by Kaikeyi , drowned in
grief crying fell on the ground with great crying .
65.25
Those women who were crying loudly , made increasingly
louder sounds and that loud sound
echoed and was heard all over the
house.
65.26
When the news of demise
reached outside, Immediately all
happiness vanished from there and the
entire place was filled with only sorrow
and unrest .The king’s palace was
thronged with anxious , sad and
frightened people and the tumult
and cries of agony filled that
place . The members of the
palace and relatives were greatly
distressed with anguish. 65.27-65.28
The wives of the
famous and great king realizing that the king has passed away ,
surrounded him with great sorrow and wept
piteously and bitterly holding
each other’s arms and wailed like
orphans.
65.29
This is the end of the sixty fifth chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
66.Wives cry and
funeral postponed
(King Kausalya cries a lot and goes on berating
Kaikeyi. The ministers transfer body of
Dassaratha in the tub of the oil , so that the funeral can be carried out by his sons, after they come
back.)
After the king departed to heaven, he looked like fire
which has been put out, a dried up
ocean, , the sun who has lost his luster
and Kausalya who was crying due to varying types of
sorrow , kept the head of the king on her lap and told
Kaikeyi. 66.1-66.2
“Oh notorious one, oh lady with bad ways , Oh Kaikeyi ,
let your wishes, be fulfilled and having forsaken the king , without any
obstacles and with concentrated
mind enjoy this kingdom.” 66.3
“After Rama has gone ,
my husband also has gone to heaven . I do not want to continue living
travelling in the wrong path and bereft
of any well wishers”
66.4
“Which women would
like to leave a god like husband
on her own and would like to live
except Kaikeyi , who does not follow
Dharma.”
66.5
“Like a miserly man eating the poisonous KImpaka
fruit which is with defects, for the sake of the hunchback ,
Kaikeyi has destroyed the clan of Raghu.”
66.6
“Hearing the banishing of Rama along with wife in an act of injustice by Dasaratha, king Janaka
will suffer sorrow like me.”
66.7
“That follower of Dharma who has eyes like lotus petals , who has gone from here , does not
know that I have become a widow as his father is no more.”
66.8
“That sage like daughter of the king of Videha would also
suffer great sorrow and her mind would be greatly agitated.”
66.9
“Hearing the fierce and loud sounds of animals and
birds at night , she would have been
scared and seek the protection of Rama.” 66.10
“King Janaka
who is old and does not have any
sons , worrying about Sita , would
become extremely sad and might give up his life.”
66.11
“Being his virtuous wife, now itself I will choose
death by embracing him and entering his
funeral pyre.”
66.12
The attendants of
the queen lead away that unfortunate and
highly distressed Kausalya who was crying
embracing the body of
the king.
66.13
Thereafter the ministers as per their instruction placed the body of the king in a tub of
oil and performed the ceremonies that
needs to be done.
66.14
Those ministers who were knowing everything did not desire to do the funeral rituals in
the absence of sons and protected the
body of the king.
66.15
Seeing the body of the king laid on the tub of oil by the ministers, the
women cried, “Alas the king is no more.”
66.16
With piteously
uplifted arms and with entire face drenched by tears
and crying due to great sorrow they lamented helplessly.
66.17
“When we have already parted from the truthful Rama who speaks with
sweet words, Oh king , why did you also go away?”
66.18
“First Kaikeyi with evil intentions made us to be
away from Rama and how can we who are widows live near that slayer of her husband?”
66.19
“The competent , sagacious and
auspicious Rama has always
been our protector as well as your protector has gone to the forest abandoning the royal
wealth.” 66.20
“Without you as well as that valorous one , being bewitched with sorrow , how can we
live being abused by Kaikeyi.”
66.21
“She has given up
the king, Rama, the powerful Lakshmana as well as Sita , why will she not cast
us out?”
66.22
Those blessed women of Dasaratha who have wetting
themselves by rain of tears due to very
great sorrow , convulsed on the floor
without happiness.
66.23
Like a night without
the moon, like the women without husbands , that town did not shine without the great
king.
66.24
With people filled with tears with women shouting in
great anguish and with empty
courtyards and roads the city did
not shine.
66.25
When the king started his journey towards heaven, with the women who were the wives of the king lying on the ground , the
sun ended his journey and the darkness
of night set in.
66.26
The people and friends of the king who had assembled
there , did not agree for lighting the
funeral pyre in the absence of the son of the king decided to lay the king in the tub of
oil and this was beyond thought .
66.27
Like the Sky having lost its luster without the sun and with
isolated group of stars the city
bereft of any light was crowded by people who have assembled in courtyards in front of
their houses and in squares and in roads. 66.28
The men and women of the city assembled in groups and denounced the mother of Bharatha and those people of the city without its king were greatly distressed and did not
have any peace . 66.29
This is the end of
the sixty sixth chapter Of the
book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
67. The Brahmins want someone to be crowned.
(The Brahmins assemble next morning and a king to be
selected from the Ikshuvaku clan immediately . They then list out all the problems that will
arise if a king is not there for a country)
The night of that day in Ayodhya stretched without end ,
somehow got over with crowded people
choked in sorrow and rendered greatly cheerless.
67.1
When the night came to an end and the sun rose up, the Brahmins who were entrusted with the job of choosing the king assembled in the royal hall .
67.2
The very famous, Markandeya, Moudhgalya , Vamadeva.
Kashyapa , Kathyayana, Gauthama and Jabali
along with the ministers and approached chief priest
Vasishta and expressed their opinions
and expressed different opinions.
67.3-67.4
“That orphaned night was like a period of one hundred
years, having lost its lord due to the
sorrow of parting with his son. “
67.5
“The king has gone to heaven, Rama had gone to the
forest and lustrous Lakshmana had gone
along with his brother” 67.6
“Both Bharatha and Shatrugna who were destroyer of their
enemies had gone to the pretty city of
Kaikeyi called Rajagriha to live with their maternal grandfather. “ 67.7
“Let anyone belonging to the clan of Ikshuvaku be made
the king now itself , since the kingdom would attain destruction without
the king.”
67.8
“In a country without the king , the garland of lightning and thunders does not drench the earth with its divine
rains.”
67.9
“In a country without a king , even a handful of seeds
will not be sown and the son or wife
does not obey the words of the head of the family.” 67.10
“There is no wealth in the country without a king
and even the wife would not stay with
her husband and another great peril when there is no king is that
truth will also not exist.” 67.11
“In a country without king , people do not build buildings and
gardens for recreation and temples
do not exist.”
67.12
“In a country without a king learned
and self controlled Brahmins , who are well versed in Vedas and who have the habit of performing
sacrifices do not perform Yagnas.”
67.13
“In a country without kings, the wealthy Brahmins do not give
abundant gifts to those who are chief priests of great sacrifices
.”
67.14
“In a country without
a king the innumerable dancers and actors do not prosper during festivals or activities promoting the welfare of the country.”
67.15
“In a country without a king, those engaged in law suits
do not get their problems solved and those who are experts in telling of
stories do not entertain the listeners of those stories.” 67.16
“In a country without a king youthful ornamented ladies
do not meet in pleasure gardens in the evening
and get engaged in sports.”
67.17
“In a country without a king , pleasure seeking men do not drive in a chariot along with their
women in to the forests.”
67.18
“In a country without a king , the rich people who have
earned their money by cultivation and cattle rearing cannot sleep securely in their homes with doors wide
open. “
67.19
“In a country without a king the sixty
year old elephants with long tusks and also adorned with bells cannot
wander about in the royal avenues
.”
67.20
“In a country without a king , the clapping
of the leather shields protecting the hands of archers who shoot arrows incessantly for
practice is not heard.”
67.21
“In a country without a king merchants cannot travel long distances with several kinds of marketable goods safely.”
67.22
“In a country
without a king, the sages who move about alone contemplating on the higher self , who seek residence in homes at evening times do not wander
about.”
67.23
“In a country without a king, the well being of people
are not taken care of and the army
cannot oppose the enemy in a battle.”
67.24
“In a country without a king , you cannot see well
dressed men riding on the best of the horses or chariots for getting happiness.”
67.25
“In a country without a king , men who are experts in
Sasthras do not sit for discussions in
forests and in gardens.”
67.26
“In a country without a king , the religiously disciplined people
do not offer garlands of flowers , sweets and monetary charities while worshipping gods.”
67.27
“In a country where there is no king , the princes who
anoint themselves with sandal paste and
agaru .look like trees in spring and do
not look graceful.”
67.28
“The country without a
king is like rivers without water
, trees without vegetation , cows without cowherds .”
67.29
“The flag is the identification of a chariot , smoke is
the identification of fire and we are
without a magnificent king as he
has gone to heaven.”
67.30
“In a country
without a king, no person can own
anything as his own and men like
fishes eat one another.”
67.31
“The atheists who go beyond moral bounds and living without any
fears ,
due to the fear of punishment of the king would also follow the path of virtue.”
67.32
“like the sight daily
watches over the welfare of the body, that king is the source of protection of truth and
Dharma of the country.”
67.33
“The king is the truth and Dharma, The king is the
tradition of every family, The king is the mother and father and King
is the welfare of the people.”
67.34
“For that reason, a king with great characters excels The
god of death, the god of wealth, and
very strong god of rain.” 67.35
“If the king does not
happen to differentiate between good and bad actions , there would be darkness and nothing would be visible .”
67.36
“Even when the king was alive , we used to obey your
words like the ocean which never over steps its shore.” 67.37
“Oh great Brahmin considering all these
, please choose a son of Ikshuvaku race
and anoint him as a king because
, without a king the country is like a forest.”
67.38
This is the end of the sixty seventh chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
68.Messangers are sent to summon Bharatha
(Vasishta decides to send messengers to call Bharatha . He tells them not to reveal
anything to Bharatha. Swiftly travelling they reach the city where Bharatha
lives.)
After hearing their words Vasishta replied to the friends
and ministers of the king as well as the Brahmins.
68.1
“ That Bharatha on whom the king has conferred his
kingdom accompanied by his Shatrugna is living extremely happily in the home of his maternal uncle . So let us
send swift messengers on high speed horses
to bring them back .What is there for us to deliberate in this matter?” 68.2-68.3
And all of them addressed Vasishta then told , “Let them go” and on
hearing their words , Vasishta said.
68.4
“Oh Siddhartha,Oh Vijaya, Oh Jayantha , Oh asoka, Oh
Nandana , I am addressing all of you and
telling you. Let it be heard.” 68.5
“Go swiftly to the city of Rajagriha on horses and having
gone there hide your sorrow and this
order should be told to Bharatha.”
68.6
“The priest and
all the ministers wish you welfare .Please return back urgently as a very urgent task awaits you.”
68.7
“All of you after going there , do not tell him anything
about Rama’s exile to the forest or the death of his father or the disaster
that has fallen on Raghu clan.”
68.8
“Take along with you silk garments and precious
ornaments , give them quickly to the
king of Kekaya and depart quickly with Bharatha.”
68.9
Those messengers who were going to the Kekaya kingdom ,went to their homes , collected necessary things for the journey
and mounting on excellent horses went.
68.10
After that those messengers after doing necessary
arrangements , went on their journey after taking permission from
Vasishta.
68.11
Those messengers reached Apartala mountains travelling
west , then they travelled North towards Pralamba mountains along the banks
of river Malini which flows in between
them. 68.12
Those messengers
crossed river Ganga near Hasthinapura
and travelled towards west
through the middle of Kurujangala and
reached the country of Panchalas with lakes full of water and rivers with crystal clear waters .They travelled
with great speed so that their mission could be completed quickly.”
68.13-68.14
Then they crossed the
divine Saradanda river with its
calm waters frequented by various type
of fowls and filled with
people and they speedily travelled
further.
68.15
Then they worshipped
the divine sathhyopayachana (wish
giving tree) tree growing on the banks and after saluting
it entered the city of Kulinga. 68.16
They then reached the city of Abhikala and then crossed Ikshumathi river flowing
from Bodhibhavana mountains which were
once ruled by the father and ancestors
of Dasaratha.
68.17
There having seen Brahmins who were drinking water from
their own cupped hands and who were well
versed in Vedas , they travelled through the middle of Bhalika country and went to the mountain called Sudama.
68.18
After seeing Vishnu’s feet, Vipasa river, Salmali tree ,
rivers , deep wells with steps , lakes , ponds ,large tanks , different type of
lions, tigers and elephants , they undertook a very long journey to
fulfill the commands of their master. 68.19-68.20
After a prolonged journey on their tired horses ,
those messengers swiftly went towards and reached the great
city of Girivraja. 68.21
To please their lord
and for protecting the clan of Ikshuvaku and for the sake of upholding the greatness of the clan of their master , without any
negligence and with great speed they
reached the town that night. 68.22
This is the end of
the sixty eighth chapter Of the
book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
69.Bharatha sees a dream of ill omen
(On the night before
the messengers reached his place , Bharatha saw a dream of ill omen and was sure some death
would take place in his family . So he was out of mood.)
On that night when the messengers entered the city , on that same day Bharatha saw a very distressing dream.
69.1
Seeing a bad dream at dawn when the night had ended , the son of the king of kings
was exceedingly troubled.
69.2
Having seen that he was suffering, friends of his age told pleasing words in that assembly so that his troubles would
be removed.
69.3
To bring peace to him , some people played musical
instruments, some of them danced , some enacted dramatic scenes and some others
told jokes.
69.4
That great soul Bharatha , could not be delighted by his
friends as well as those who were
telling pleasing words or by
conversation and jokes.
69.5
One close friend addressing Bharatha , who was surrounded by friends asked “Oh friend, why are you not pleased in the
company of your friends?”
69.6
Bharatha replied to him who told like this, “Please
listen to the reason why grief has overtaken me.”69.7
“In my dream I saw my father who was dirty and with
disheveled hair , who has fallen from the peak of the mountain in the dirty water with cow dung.” 69.8
“I saw him floating in a
cow dung pond , drinking oil with his cupped hands and laughing again and again.”
69.9
“I saw him eating rice with sesame seeds again and again
with a bent head, with oil applied all over his body and entering the oil
pool.”
69.10
“In that dream I saw a dry sea, a moon fallen down to the
ground , an earth covered by darkness,
the tusk of an elephant fit to be ridden by a king broken down to pieces , a
burning fire which was suddenly put off
, the earth being split open, various trees getting dried up and mountains becoming split open and covered with smoke.”
69.11-69.13
“I saw my father wearing black cloths and sitting on a
seat made of iron and his being mocked
at by women who were having black
brownish complexion.”
69.14
“I saw that soul
of Dharma hurrying in a chariot drawn by donkeys , wearing garland of blood
red colour and travelling to the southern
direction.”
69.15
“Then finally I saw
a Rakshasi wearing red cloths
with an ugly appearance mocking
at him and dragging him
away.”
69.16
“Like this I saw a
horrible dream last night indicating that either me or the king or Lakshmana would die.”
69.17
“In the dream , if you see a man being dragged by donkeys in a carriage, then shortly , you
would see him on the funeral pyre from
which smoke would be rising up.” 69.18
“because of this I am depressed and could not react to
your activities .I feel that my throat
is getting dried up and my mind is uneasy.”
69.19
“I do not see any source of fear but I am only
experiencing only fear. My voice has broken down and my appearance has become
haggard and I am not able to understand
why I am hating myself.” 69.20
“Having seen , in this greatly distressing dream ,
many forms which I have never seen
before a great fear has occupied my
heart and thinking about the great king
, fear does not go away from my heart.”
69.21
This is the end of the sixty ninth chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
70. Bharatha lakes leave from grand father and uncle and starts.
(The messengers did not inform Bharatha of the real
facts. After giving present to his
grand father and uncle and getting
several return gifts , Bharatha started on his return jouney.)
When Bharatha was narrating about his dreams, Those
messengers with very tired steeds ,
reached the lovely city of Rajagriha which was surrounded by a moat which was very
difficult to cross. They met the king of Kekaya and his son Yudhajit and they touched their feet and were honoured
in return and then addressing
Bharatha they told.
70.1-70.2
“Your family priest
as well as all the ministers enquired about your welfare .They requested
you to return in haste as you have matter to attend to , which is
difficult .
70.3
“Oh broad eyed Bharatha , please take these very
expensive dresses and precious ornaments . These may be accepted by you and be
given to your maternal uncle .
70.4
“Oh son of the king out of these twenty crores are
intended for the king and the complete ten crores is to be given to your
maternal uncle.” 70.5
Bharatha who is affectionate towards his friends ,
received them and in return honoured
those messengers , enquired about their needs and asked them.
70.6
“Is my father doing well and are my brothers Rama and
Lakshmana doing all right and in good
health.”
70.7
“I hope venerable Kausalya the mother of Rama , devoted to Dharma , an expert on
Dharma , one who follows Dharma and who is sagacious is free of all
sickness.”
70.8
“I hope Sumithra the mother of Lakshmana the brother of valorous Shatrugna and who is an expert in Dharma observes all rituals and is keeping good
health.”
70.9
“Is my mother Kaikeyi
who loves me , who is adamant,
short tempered and who is proud of her intelligence , free of all illness and
what did she say?”
70.10
When the great soul Bharatha uttered these words , the
messengers addressed Bharatha respectfully and told. 70.11
“Oh tiger among men Bharatha, All those whose welfare you
have enquired are keeping on all right . The Goddess of wealth and prosperity
is awaiting you there. Let the chariot
be yoked.”
70.12
After being replied to like this by the messengers, he
told the messengers, “ I would take
leave from the king of Kekaya and inform
him that you are hastening me up.”
70.13
That son of the king Bharatha after telling like to this to those
messengers , addressed his maternal grandfather and said. 70.14
“Oh king, as urged by these messengers , I shall go to
the proximity of my father and whenever
you remember me, I shall come instantly.” 70.15
Thus urged by him , the king of Kekaya who was the
maternal grandfather of Bharatha, kissed
him on his forehead , smelt him on his head and spoke these auspicious
words. 70.16
“Oh child, I permit you to go. You are the very dear son
of Kaikeyi and so inform her about my
welfare , and also with your father , oh slayer of enemies.” 70.17
“ Oh child, Please enquire about welfare from the chief
priest as well as other great Brahmins
and also from the great archers
Rama and Lakshmana who are your
brothers.”
70.18
The king after bestowing honours to Bharatha presented
him with , well bred elephants. Blankets with different type of designs ,
antelope skins and riches.”
70.19
The king of Kekaya after honouring the son of
Kaikeyi gave him two thousand gold
coins and sixteen hundred horses
as wealth.
70.20
Similarly Aswapathi who is his maternal uncle gave
Bharatha several estimable, trustworthy and virtuous ministers to
accompany him on his return journey.
70.21
His maternal uncle also gave him several great elephants
born in Iravatha and Indrasira,
mountains and several pretty
looking , swift moving and well trained
donkeys which can be yoked easily and he
also gave riches.
70.22
He also gave him well raised dogs of huge size , whose fangs are their
weapons and which had great courage to guard his private apartments.
70.23
The son of Kaikeyi , Bharatha who was in a great hurry to
depart was not delighted by the wealthy
presents given by king of Kekaya.
70.24
His heart was full of
extremely great worries due to
the haste shown by the messengers as well
as the dream that he saw earlier.
70.25
After he left his residence , he passed through the
incomparable royal high way crowded
by men, elephants and horses.
70.26
Then the very charitable Bharatha left the royal high way
, saw the private apartments of the king
far away and entered that apartment
without any restriction.
70.27
Then after taking leave of his maternal grandfather and
Yudhahjit who was his uncle , along
with Shatrugna, he got in to the
chariot.
70.28
Several hundred of chariots with round wheels joined
him and camels , oxen and horses also followed him.
70.29
Strongly protected that great Bharatha , who was not
having any enemies along with
Shatrugna and several ministers who
were similar to him left the house of
his grandfather which was like a Siddha leaving the court of Indra.
70.30
This is the end of the seventieth chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
71.Bharatha reaches Ayodhya and is upset by its looks
(Bharatha
travelled for six days and reached Ayodhya. The city was full of sorrow and no sign of happiness is seen anywhere .Greatly upset Bharatha
drives towards his house, suspecting some thing is seriously amiss.)
The glorious and auspicious prince of the Ikshuvaku clan Bharatha started
from Rajagriha , travelled eastward and having crossed the rived Sudhama observing its course. Then he crossed Hladhaneeya river and then crossed
the very wide Sathadru river which was flowing in the western directions.
71.1-71.2
The ever truthful , pure
and blessed Bharatha at Aiyladhana crossed the river Shatdru river and reached
Aparaparpatana region and then crossed the stone attracting
Shilavaha river and then crossed Agneya and Salyakarsha
regions and passed beyond the mountains
and started travelling towards the Chaithraratha forest. 71.3-71.4
After reaching the confluence of Ganga and Saraswathi rivers , they went to
veeramatsya region and from there entered the Bharunda forest.
71.5
Then they crossed the swift flowing Kulinga river
which was pleasing to the mind and bound by hills and reached the Yamuna river, where the
army took rest for the night. 71.6
After cooling their body and after refreshing the tired
horses , they bathed in the river and set out taking them stored water for
their journey.
71.7
Then that son of the king passed through safely the
uninhabited great forest in their chariot like a wind passing through the
sky.
71.8
Bharatha the son of Raghu clan knowing that the wide Bhagirathi cannot be crossed in a place called Anshudhna, quickly reached a town known as Pragvata.
71.9
After crossing river Ganga in the city of Pragvata , they
reached the Kutikoshti river and crossed it along with his army and reached
a village called Dharmavardhana.
71.10
The son of Dasaratha after crossing
Thorana village , travelled towards
south reached Jambuprastha
village and reached the pleasant Varutha
village .
71.11
There after taking rest in the charming forest they travelled eastwards and reached Ujjihana garden which had lots of Priyaka trees.
71.12
After reaching the Sala
and Priyaka trees , Bharatha asked his people to yoke fresh and speedy
horses to his chariot , ordering his army to follow him.”
71.13
That tiger among
men after taking rest in a place
called Sarva thirtha Crosssed Uthanika
and several such rivers and crossed the
mountain on a horse and crossed the Kuthika river riding
on an elephant and crossed the
river Kapivathi near Lauhithya.
71.14-71.15
After crossing Sthanumathi river in Yekasala, he
crossed the Gomathi river at Vinatha village and as his horses were extremely tired he took rest in Sala forest near the Kalinga
Nagara. 71.16
At night after crossing the forest at dawn , he could see
the city built by Manu.
71.17
Having spent seven nights on the way that tiger among
men saw the town of Ayodhya , he told his charioteer .
71.18
“Oh Charioteer , I am not able to see Ayodhya, the famous city of gardens from here. At a distance I am
able to see Ayodhya made of white
clay filled in plenty with Brahmins
who are virtuous and learned in
Vedas and ruled by royal sages.”
71.19-71.20
“In earlier times I would hear the tumultuous sound
created by men and women and now I am
not able to hear that.”
71.21
“In the evening the gardens used to be crowded with people
who play with great desire but I do not see any such shine in the early morning.”
71.22
“Oh charioteer , With passionate people seen to avoid the
gardens, the city appears to me as a forest devoid of people .”
71.23
“I am not seeing
chiefs of men , who have ascended
the elephant or a horse , coming out of or entering the city .”
71.24
“Earlier the gardens used to be full with the sweet songs of birds and people used to engage
in love play with women of great character there.”
71.25
“I am seeing all those gardens devoid of happiness
and the dried up leaves have covered all paths making it appear as if
the garden is crying.”
71.26
“I am also not able to hear the exuberant melodious songs
of birds , which are freely moving about
on the reeds.”
71.27
“Why does not
the wind blowing out of the city
not carrying the sweet incense
of sandal and Agaru , that use to fill our nostrils?”
71.28
“Why is that the sweet sound of Drum , Mrudanga and Veena and various other musical instruments are not heard from the city and why is the city with melancholy?” 71.29
“Why is that the sweet sound of Drum , Mrudanga and Veena and various other musical instruments are not heard from the city and why is the city with melancholy?” 71.29
“Oh charioteer , I am
seeing many sins and many undesirable sights in the city and the ill
fated omens seen there are filling my mind with remorse. It does not seem true
that all my relations are living with
welfare and so my mind is filled with grief.”
71.30-71.31
Bharatha who had a peace less mind filled with fear and
with a depressed heart entered the city
ruled by Ikshuvakus.
71.32
Riding on a very tired horses , he entered the city
through the gate called Vaijayantha. The gate keepers stood up, wished him
victory and accompanied him.
71.33
Bharatha whose disturbed mind was travelling in several
directions greeted the gate keepers and
addressed the exhausted charioteers who were master of the horses. 71.34
“Oh faultless one, why have I been brought
back here , in a hurry without any
reason? I have lost my usual mind , suspecting many
evil happenings here.”
71.35
“Oh charioteer, in
earlier occasions we used to hear of several signs of the death of the king and
I am now able to see all those signs here.”
71.36
“I see the homes householders as not being swept and repulsive to look at. There is no
auspicious look to all those homes and their doors have not been closed. No
fire sacrifices seem to have been done
in them and there is no smoke of incense
coming out from there. The people look
like they have not taken food and they
do not look bright or auspiciousness.
Altogether I see all the homes lack an
auspicious look.”
71.37-71.39
“The temples are bereft of the
splendour of garlands and the floors and courtyards are not smeared and they look
deserted and devoid of splendour.”
71.40
“The offerings to the deities seem to have been thrown
away and there are no groups performing
sacrifices and in the markets of garlands , no saleable garlands seem to be there.” 71.41
“I am not able see even traders like earlier as them seem
to be restrained by losses and with
dispirited by a worried heart.”
71.42
“The multitude birds frequenting the temples seem to be dispirited in the city. Both men
and women in the city wear dirty cloths
and their throats seems to be choked
and eyes filled with tears, They seem to be engaged in distressing thoughts and seem to emaciated.” 71.43-71.44
Bharatha after having told the charioteer all this with a
depressed mind , after seeing
undesirable sights in Ayodhya ,
proceeded to the palace of the king.
71.45
He became greatly drowned in sorrow seeing the highways, crossroads and houses deserted and with iron nuts , nails and bars and locks
covered with dust , the city which once looked like the city of Indra .
71.46
Seeing many things which are not desirable , which he had
never seen before, with head bowed down and with depressed sorrowing mind , he entered the palace of Kaikeyi . 71.47
This is the end of the seventy first chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
72.Kaikeyi informs about death of a king and banishment of
Rama
(Kaikeyi receives her child Bharatha with happiness and when he persistently
questions her , she informs him about the death of Dasaratha. Later she admits
that she was instrumental in Rama getting banished and requests Bharatha to take over Ayodhya.)
Not able to see his father in his father’s home , Bharatha went to his
mother’s home to see his mother.
72.1
Kaikeyi seeing her son, who was absent for a very long time , sprang up
from her golden seat, to
see him.
72.2
As soon as
Bharatha the follower of Dharma
entered his house , he found it devoid
of auspiciousness and he clasped in reverence the feet of his mother
immediately. 72.3
After smelling the forehead of the famous son , she
hugged him and made him sit on her lap
and started talking to him.
72.4
“How many nights have elapsed after you left your
grandfather’s home? Are you not tired
due to the swift travel in the
chariot?”
72.5
“Does your grandfather keep good health? What about
Yudhajit your maternal uncle ?Did you have a pleasant time there ?Please tell
me everything.” 72.6
When Kaikeyi asked
like this to the son of the king, that lotus eyed one told about everything to his mother.
72.7
“This is the seventh night after I started on my journey.
My mother’s father and my maternal uncle
are keeping good health?” 72.8
“The wealth and other precious articles given by the destroyer of enemies , the king of
Kekaya are on their way . Since they
were exhausted , I came first leaving
them to follow me.” 72.9
“Having been hastened by the messengers who brought the
orders of the king , I came speedily. Mother I would like to ask you some
things , please reply.” 72.10
“Your couch decorated
by gold seems to be empty and I
feel that the people of Ikshuvaku clan
do not seem o be happy with me.”
72.11
“Normally the king always stays in my mother’s home. I do
not see him here and I have a desire to see him.”
72.12
“Oh mother I want to clasp his feet and so please answer
my question. You may tell me whether by
chance he is senior queen Kausalya ’s home.” 72.13
Kaikeyi replied to Bharatha who was not knowing what
transpired in such a way , that
the undesirable news , looked desirable. 72.14
“Your great ,
lustrous father , who was the one who did many yagnas , has attained that
place which is attained by all souls.”
72.15
Bharatha who was born in a family of people following
Dharma, as soon as he heard this, was
shattered with the sorrow due to the
news of father’s death , at once fell
down on the ground.
72.16
“Oh I am finished”
uttering these pitiable words deserving compassion , he lifted his hand
above his head and fell down. 72.17
That greatly
lustrous one overwhelmed by the great
sorrow on hearing the news of his father’s death , with mind affected by
delusion lamented.
72.18
“My father earlier used to lie down on this couch and used to shine like
the moon
on a spotless sky at the end of rainy season.”
72.19
“This couch does not shine today as he
is not present on it like the sky without moon and the ocean without
water.”
72.20
Bharatha who was the greatest among those who
succeed who cleared his tear choked
throat , becoming extremely sad , covered his face with a holy cloth and cried. 72.21
He who was like a deva , affected by the great
sorrow fell on the earth, like a Sala
tree which was uprooted by an axe in the forest. Kaikeyi seeing him who is like the sun and moon, behaving
like mad elephant lifted him from the earth and spoke to him as
follows.
72.22-72.23
“Oh very famous prince , do not lie down and get up. People with great knowledge like you . who
are honoured in any group should not become sad like this.”
72.24
“Oh Bharatha, who is blessed with intelligence who follows
conduct according to Dharma as
prescribed in Sasthras and who is
entitled to do sacrifices , your wisdom
will shine like the light of
Sun.” 72.25
After weeping for a long time , he rolled on earth and
after suffering great sorrow , he replied to his mother like
this.
72.26
“I started on
this journey thinking that the king was
about to crown Rama
or he was about to conduct a great sacrifice.” 72.27
“But everything that has happened is different
and it has shattered my mind for
I cannot see my father who looked after
my welfare and happiness.”
72.28
“Oh mother , due to which sickness did the king die
before my coming . Rama and others who could perform his last
rites are indeed very fortunate
.” 72.29
“Surely the very
famous king does not know
about my arrival or he would have , immediately come , bent and smelt my forehead.”
72.30
“Where is the soft endearing touch of my father who is
never tired of performing action, which would wipe away all this dust?”
72.31
“Please inform wise
and tireless Rama , who is my
brother, father, relative as well as
slave , about my arrival.”
72.32
“To the one who knows the Dharma of a gentleman, the elder brother is his father .I will clasp
his feet as it is my only support now.” 72.33
“What did my father who knew Dharma and who practiced
Dharma and who considered saying truth always as his penance and who was valorous in truth
, say?”
72.34
“I would like to know and hear his last words
said about me exactly.”Hearing this Kaikeyi started narrating the incidents as it happened.
72.35
“The king wailed “Oh Rama. Oh Lakshmana , Oh Sita”
and that great one attained , the other world which is attained by
the greatly blessed people.”
72.36
“At the time of his death , these were the words uttered by the king, who was caught in the noose of time
like a great elephant .”
72.37
“Those people are blessed and would see that their desire is
fulfilled if they
can see Rama, the valorous
Lakshmana as well as Sita come back.”
72.38
Hearing these words which indicated a second
unpleasant news, Bharatha was greatly
distressed and with a downcast appearance asked her again.
72.39
“Where has the
soul of Dharma and the one who gives happiness
to Kausalya along with his
brother Lakshmana and Sita have gone at this time?” 72.40
Having been questioned like this, his mother
started telling him the truth
using the unpalatable great words
, thinking that he will like them. 72.41
“Oh son, that son of the king wearing dress made of grass
went to the great forest Dandaka accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana.”
72.42
Bharatha knowing the greatness of his own clan , was
upset and had doubts about such an
action against Dharma by Rama and
asked.
72.43
“I do not believe
, Rama unlawfully usurped the wealth of
a Brahmin or did not cause harm an innocent person whether rich or poor.”
72.44
“I hope he did not covet the wife of someone else or
killed an unborn child. For what crime
has he been banished to go to
Dandaka.”
72.45
And thereafter his
fickle mother with a normal
behaviour of women, started to tell about
her actions in detail.
72.46
That foolish Kaikeyi under the impression that she was
wise spoke the following joyful words to the great soul Bharatha.
72.47
“Rama has not usurped even little of the wealth of a
Brahmin, he has not harmed an innocent person who is rich or poor and
has not seen another man’s wife by his eyes.” 72.48
“As for me my son, hearing about the coronation of Rama ,
I requested the kingdom for you and the banishing of Rama.”
72.49
“Your father followed his own promise and did just as requested and sent away Rama, Lakshmana along with
Sita.”
72.50
“That very famous
, great king , not able to see his
darling son , was drowned in the sorrow due to parting with his son and merged
with the five elements.”
72.51
“Oh follower of Dharma, today itself you can take
possession of the kingdom as all these
have been done by me for your sake.”
72.52
“Oh little son who
depends on Dharma , leave out this
sorrow and the great worry and take courage
and make this country , without any obstacles , under your control
.”
72.53
“So my son , follow the procedure laid down and in
consultation with experts in rituals
like Vasishta and other great Brahmins , perform the death ceremonies of
the king without getting depressed and get yourself consecrated as the king of this earth.”
72.54
This is the end of the seventy second chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
73. Bharatha shouts
at his mother
(The greatly upset Bharatha shouts at his mother and telling her
that she is a sinner and destroyed his
clan. He tells that he would bring his elder brother back and make him the king.)
Hearing about the death of his father and banishing of
his brothers, Bharatha replied weighed down by great sorrow.
73.1
“What is the use of this kingdom to me who is
sorrowing due to being fallen in
misfortune due to the loss of my father and the elder brother who is like my
father.”
73.2
“By reducing the
king to a corpse and Rama in to a sage you have created sorrow within sorrow to
me like putting salt in a wound.”
73.3
“You have come
here to destroy my clan like the night of death and my father did not
realize that by taking you, he is
embracing a log of fire.”
73.4
“Oh great sinner ,
you have brought about the death of my father, Oh disgrace of my clan, out of your ignorance you have destroyed my
family.”
73.5
“My famous and very truthful father by acquiring you ,
was tortured by intense grief and has
departed from this world.”
73.6
“ Why did my father who liked Dharma was destroyed? Why has Rama banished
to the forest and went there?”
73.7
“Mother Kausalya and Sumithra who are sorrowing due to parting
with their sons would find it difficult
to survive in your company though you
are my mother.” 73.8
“My noble brother Rama who is a soul of Dharma , who knew
how to conduct himself with elders , moved with you in an incomparable way just like he behaved with his mother.” 73.9
“In a similar fashion the
far sighted elder queen Kausalya
adhering to Dharma was treating you like a sister.” 73.10
“Oh sinner , you have made the pure hearted Rama who is the son of
Kausalya wear the dress of bark and
grass and made him go to the forest. Do you not feel sad for
this?”
73.11
“What reasons did you find to banish
the famous Rama , who has never even thought of a sin, who is valorous and has full control of his mind
, to the forest wearing cloths of bark?” 73.12
“You being
avaricious , you perhaps do not know
my devotion to Rama and for the
sake of the kingdom , you have brought this great distress on me .” 73.13
“Without seeing those two tigers among men , Rama and Lakshmana , With what power would I be
able to rule this kingdom?”
73.14
“Daily the king
used to depend on the very strong Rama
for protection of the country like the Meru mountain depends on the forest
surrounding it for protection.”
73.15
“How can I bear and drag this weight , which could be done by only great man as I am like a young bullock which requires
training ?”
73.16
“Otherwise by employing various tricks or by using the strength of my intellect , I
might get sufficient power to draw the kingdom , but I would not
fulfill your ambition as you are blinded
by love towards your son.”
73.17
“I do not feel like renouncing you who has determined to
do sin, because Rama used to give you the same attention that he used to give
to his mother.”
73.18
“Oh lady who only sees sin, Oh lady who has lost her
virtue and Dharma , how did such a thought grow in your mind , which is
insulting to our ancestors?”
73.19
“In our clan
earlier only the eldest son would be crowned as the king and his brothers would concentrate their
attention in helping him.”
73.20
“Oh wretched one, I hope you are seeing the Dharma of a
king or you do not know the permanence
of the royal tradition.”
73.21
“In the family of kings, the eldest son would always be
crowned as the king and though it is a general rule for al
kings in the clan of Ikshuvaku this is
more important. “ 73.22
“They who shine with the character of the clan, have
Dharma as their sole protection and this pride of their tradition has been
turned back, because you were taken in their clan.” 73.23
“Even your family had a bevy of distinguished kings and how come this delusion of mind originated in you.”
73.24
“Oh lady , who is determined in doing sin, I will not obey
the wish of your mind, And you have made me greatly distressed and would bring the end of my life
span.”
73.25
“As for now itself I will cause you great displeasure by bringing back my brother who is loved by
all from the forest.”
73.26
“After bringing back Rama
who has a very stable inner mind
and who shines with luster , I shall become his slave.”
73.27
That great person Bharatha after telling like this ,
which were unpleasant hurting words to her , became greatly affected by sorrow
and roared like lion inside the cave.
73.28
This is the end of the seventy third chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
74.Bharatha further
berates Kaikeyi
(Bharatha is not able to tolerate what his mother has
done. He tells that she is not his
mother and would only go to hell.)
After berating his
mother like this , Bharatha overtaken by
further great wrath told her
again. 74.1
“Oh cruel lady who does
wicked acts , Oh Kaikeyi , You would lose this kingdom which you desired
most for spurned by Dharma you would
keep on crying about me who is
dead.”
74.2
“Because of you Rama Was sent to exile and the king
has died. What harm has the king and the very virtuous Rama
have done to you?”
74.3
“Oh Kaikeyi, By destroying this clan you have acquired the sin of killing an unborn child and you would go to hell and not live with
your husband in the other world.”
74.4
“You have sinned greatly by doing the horrible act , by
sending the darling of the entire world
to the forest and I also am
afraid of you.” 74.5
“Due to your action my father is no more and Rama has gone to the forest and by this act you have gained
notoriety in this entire world.”
74.6
“Oh lady who has the form of my mother, Oh my enemy,
Oh cruel lady , Oh Lady who wants to posses the kingdom, Oh
bad mannered lady , Oh killer of the
husband , I would not speaking to you from now on.”
74.7
“Kausalya , Sumithra and my other mothers, are overwhelmed by great sorrow by you who has spoiled
my race.”
74.8
“You are not at all the daughter of the sagacious king
Aswapathi who is the follower of Dharma
and you are a demon born to him, with a
purpose of destroying the clan of your
father , for your have sent Rama who is always
observer of truth to
forest and also sent my father to the
other world due to that great sorrow.
74.9-74.10
“The very great
sin that you did has separated me from my father and made me abandoned by all my brothers and hated by all.”
74.11
“Oh lady determined to do sin, Oh Lady going to hell, By
separating Kausalya who is a follower
of dharma from her son , it is not
known to what world you will go?”
74.12
“Oh cruel one, why are
you not realizing that the self possessed Rama , who was born to
Kausalya who is liked by all relatives
is my elder brother and equivalent to
my father.” 74.13
“A son who is born
out of every limb of the mother as well as her
heart is the most beloved to any
mother and all other relations are not that important.”
74.14
“The Cow Surabhi , an expert in Dharma and respected
by all devas , saw her two sons
who were pulling the plough fainting and
falling.” 74.15
“Having seen her exhausted sons at mid day fallen on the ground , she cried due to
sorrow due to her sons and her eyes
filled up with tears.”
74.16
“Her fine , and fragrant drops of tears trickled down and
fell on the body of magnanimous king of
devas “
74.17
“He Realized that
the fragrant rain of tears which fell on him , was from the divine cow Kamadhenu”
74.18
‘Searching all places ,
That Indra saw that the Cow
Kamadhenu was standing on the sky and he
realized that it was greatly sorrowful
and wailing due to great distress.”
74.19
“Seeing that she was full of sorrow, that famous Indra
armed with Vajrayudha , with folded hands he approached the cow and asked.”
74.20
“Oh cow who desires the welfare of all, are you worried
about some problem for me from anywhere?
What is the reason for your sorrow?
Please tell me.”
74.21
“Hearing these words from the sagacious king of
devas That Surabhi which was courageous and expert in speech
replied.”
74.22
“I do not foresee any problem for you from anywhere. Oh
king of devas. I am only miserable and weeping seeing my sons who are a pair of
bulls , who are in trouble. Seeing them very much tired being scorched by
the rays of the sun ,and being beaten
by the ploughman, I am sad. 74.23-74.24
“When I see them , who were born out of this body,
suffering great anguish by the weight that they carry , I become sad ,
because there is no one in this world who is equal to a son. “ 74.25
“Seeing her who has thousands of sons spread all over the world , weeping
due to sorrow of one son, Indra also concluded
that there is nothing greater than the son.”
74.26
“If Kamadhenu
whose only desire is to help all the world , Who has unparalleled Character, who is endowed with prosperity ,
who has several great virtues and conduct
and who has thousands of sons is
sad for two of her sons, what can anyone say about Kausalya who has only one
son and who has parted with her.?”
74.27-74.28
“This good woman has only one son and you have made her
childless and so you would always suffer
out of sorrows , even in the other world.”
74.29
“I will without any doubt , do all that is necessary
to atone for your improper conduct towards my father
and brother and increase my fame.”
74.30
‘I would myself enter the forest frequented by sages to
bring back the all powerful Rama , who is the son of Kausalya.”
74.31
“Having seen the throat of citizens choked with tears, Oh
Sinner , Oh lady determined to do sin , I cannot endure to carry this burden of sin committed by you.”
74.32
“You please either enter the fire or go to the Dandaka
forest or tie a rope round your neck and
die as I do not find any other recourse
to you.” 74.33
“As soon as I get back this kingdom to Rama who is valorous in truth, , I would become
contented and would have got cleansed of my sin.”
74.34
After telling like this Bharatha who resembled an
elephant of the forest troubled by goad
and sharp prods fell on the ground
like an angry and hissing serpent.
74.35
With blood shot eyes , with torn disheveled dress, with ornaments in disarray , that
destroyer of enemies who is the son of the king
fell down on earth, like the flag of Indra after the festival got over.
74.36
This is the end of the seventy fourth chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
75.Bharatha meets Kausalya and proves his innocence
(Bharatha meets Kausalya who was coming to meet him. Kausalya tells
him that he should be happy now because he would become the king. The glorious
Bharatha curses , the one who dvised his
mother to send Rama to forest in many ways. Kausalya understands
his innocence.)
That valorous one got back his senses after a long time and seeing his mother who was miserable and
with tear filled eyes , started finding fault with her in the midst of the
ministers.
75.1
“I never desired this kingdom and nor did my mother
consult me about it. I was not aware of the plan of a coronation , as I was far
away from here along with my brother
Shatrugna.”
75.2-75.3
“I did not know about Rama living in the forest after his
being banished along with Lakshmana as
well as Sita.”
75.4
“Having recognized the loud crying
sound of the great Bharatha ,
Kausalya told Sumithra.” 75.5
“Bharatha, the son
of the cruel hearted Kaikeyi has come back and I would like to see Bharatha
who can see far away in
time.”
75.6
Having said this
to Sumithra the pallid , tired looking Kausalya who was sullied , trembling and almost
lifeless proceeded to the place of
Bharatha. 75.7
At that time , Bharatha
younger brother of Rama along with Shatrugna started going towards the palace of Kausalya. 75.8
Then Bharatha and Shatrugna seeing the very sad
Kausalya who was sorrowing, who has gone down, who has lost her senses , who
was weeping and who was a very dear lady
overtaken by sorrow and worries approached her with sorrow and embraced her. 75.9
Exceeding sad Kausalya seeing Bharatha told him, “the
kingdom that you desired has become yours without any difficulty and this was
speedily arranged by the
cruel act of Kaikeyi.” 75.10-75.11
“I do not understand what
advantage that cruel Kaikeyi got by sending my son to the forest wearing
a robe of bark.”
75.12
“It would be but proper for Kaikeyi to send me speedily also to that place where my
son with a stomach of gold and very great fame lives.”
75.13
“Or otherwise of my own accord accompanied by Sumithra to safeguard me , I would go to the
place where Rama lives along with the
sacred fire of the home.”
75.14
“It would be more desirable for you to take me to that
place where my son, who is the tiger
among men is performing penance .”
75.15
“This huge country which is blessed with wealth and
grains and abounding in horses,
elephants , and chariots has been given
to you by her.”
75.16
That spotless Bharatha was pierced by many such very
cruel words of reproach and that Bharatha was intensely
pained.
75.17
Hearing those maddening words , he fell at her feet ,
crying and losing his senses and on regaining his senses , he stood
up motionless. 75.18
Bharatha saluted her who was wailing like this due to
very great sorrow , with great reverence
and told her .
75.19
“Oh lady, why are you finding fault with me who is bereft
of any guilt .Do you not know the very great affection that I have towards Rama.”
75.20
“That one who advised
that my brother who is virtuous and ever wedded to truth , should be sent to the forest does not know the shastras.” 75.21
“Let that sinful person who advised that my brother should be sent to forest , be made to work under a
sinner and get the sin of urinating
facing the sun and kicking a cow that
is lying down.” 75.22
“Let that man
who advised that my brother should be sent to forest acquire the sin of a person who made another one work hard without rest and
without remuneration.”
75.23
“Let that man who advised that my brother should be sent to the forest , get the sin of
that person who does not fight courageously in a battle field , with ample
army, elephants, horses and
chariots.” 75.24
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin like the
king who after collecting one sixth of
their income from people does not
care to protect them.” 75.25
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin like the
king who after promising monetary fee to conduct a Yagna to
the ascetics , later denies it.” 75.26
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin like the
person who goes to the battle in which abundant
elephants, horses and chariots
are provided as also a great
collection of weapons are provided does
not discharge his Dharma by fighting
well.” 75.27
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin like the
evil hearted one who destroys the subtle meaning of scriptures
taught by a learned Guru.” 75.28
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest be like me be unfortunate in not being to see the long armed broad shouldered resembling
the moon and sun in luster sitting on
the throne.”
75.29
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin who
eats sweet milk rice, sesame rice and
goats flesh without offering it first to Gods
and disrespects his teachers.”
75.30
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin like the
person who kicks the cows with his feet , abuses the elders and causes offence
to his friends.”
75.31
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin like the
wicked person who passed on the secret told to him with trust to others.” 75.32
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , be hated by the world, like the one who never helps , who is
ungrateful and is a shameless one who
takes his own life.” 75.33
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin of the
person who though surrounded by wife,
children and servants , eats all alone
without giving it to them.” 75.34
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , die without getting a worthy wife , without
getting offspring and without performing
religious deeds.” 75.35
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , lead a life full of
misery without begetting wife and
children and does not live full span of
life.” 75.36
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin as told in scriptures for murdering the king, children , old
people and deserting all his
servants and dependants.”
75.37
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin got by a
person who looks after his dependants by
trading in lac, wine , meat , metal and
in poison.” 75.38
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin , like a
warrior , who runs away when war is in full swing fearing for his life.”
75.39
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , wander like a man
wearing rags and begs alms with a human skull in his hand and wander on this earth.” 75.40
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , be always addicted to
wine , women and gambling and be full of
anger and passion.”
75.41
“Let not the mind of that man who advised that my brother should
be sent to the forest ,be not attached
to Dharma and practice charity to
the unworthy .”
75.42
“Let the accumulated wealth of that man
who advised that my brother
should be sent to the forest ,be
snatched away in thousand ways.”
75.43
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin fixed for sleeping
at dawn or dusk.”
75.44
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin of one who
betrays a friend and violates the
sanctity of the bed of Guru.”
75.45
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin of a
person who does not service to manes and his
father and mother.”
75.46
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , should be removed
from the men following Dharma , from their fame and the deeds
practiced by them.” 75.47
“Let that man who
advised that my brother who is long armed and broad chested should be expelled , has committed the sin
of leaving out looking after his mother
for no reason at all.” 75.48
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest and who has many sons
become very poor , suffer from fever and disease and be always
miserable.” 75.49
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin of
destroying the hopes of pitiable beggars
looking up to get some alms from them.” 75.50
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin of that
person who is abusive , miserly , impure
, go against dharma and always afraid of the king due to practicing deceit to
entertain their life.”
75.51
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin of that
wicked person who neglects his
virtuous and chaste wife who has
observed the menstrual period so that
she is ready for conception and has
taken the ritual bath after her periods.”
75.52
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin who neglects
dharma and leaves the properly
wedded wife and makes love to another man’s wife.” 75.53
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin of that
Brahmin who lacks children .”
75.54
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin of the
person who pollutes drinking water source
and administering poison to others.” 75.55
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin of a person
with disturbed mind who disturbs the
worship being done a Brahmin
and milks the cow having a young calf.”
75.56
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin of the
person who has stock of water but does not give it to one who is thirsty.”
75.57
“Let that man who
advised that my brother should be sent
to the forest , get the sin of a person
who while judging religious disputes
takes a biased view from only one side.” 75.58
That son of the king trying to console Kausalya who has
lost the company of her husband and son, became very sad and fell down at her feet.
75.59
Kausalya told these words to Bharatha who was suffering
to swearing on various oaths and who was
lying down due to the very great grief .
75.60
“Oh son, seeing your
increased sorrow due to various
oaths , my suffering increases and I felt as if you are choking my
breath.”
75.61
“Oh my dear child, your mind has not moved away from
Dharma .Being truthful, along with Lakshmana you will attain the world of
virtuous people.”
75.62
After saying this
, Kausalya drew that lover of his
brother, made him sit on her lap and
embraced that mighty one and
cried.
75.63
That great Bharatha who was lamenting due to great sorrow , became besieged by great grief and swooned and became unsteady.
75.64
Greatly lamenting he lost
his conscience and having lost
his power of thought , he fell down on
the ground. He passed that entire night
taking deep , warm and tortuous breath
. 75.65
This is the end of the seventy fifth chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
76.Bharatha does funeral
rites of the king
(Sage Vasishta
instructs Bharatha to do the
funeral rituals , Bharatha does it according to shastras. The queens of Dasaratha
go round his funeral pyre.)
The very eloquent sage Vasishta
who has great power of speech addressed Bharatha, the son of
Kaikeyi who was completely consumed
by grief.
76.1
“Oh very famous prince , be safe .Please stop this
sorrow. The best time has come to conduct funeral rites of your father
earnestly .” 76.2
Hearing the words of Vasishta Bharatha became steady and that expert in Dharma
performed all the rituals related
to the corpse.
76.3
The body of the king was taken out of the oil container
and kept on the ground sand the king Dasaratha with his pale ashen face
appeared to be sleeping on the earth. Thereafter his body was laid on a magnificent couch adorned with many gems and seeing him like
this his son Bharatha lamented
greatly.
76.4-76.5
“Oh King who knew his Dharma , What did you want to do by
banishing Rama and Lakshmana before
I came back from the place where I have gone to?”
76.6
“Oh king, Why did you make Rama , the performer of pious
deeds and a tiger among men leave
me for bewailing
about you?”
76.7
“Oh king, when you are away in heaven and Rama has
gone to the forest who will look after the well being of this city?”
76.8
“Oh king , without you, the earth has become a widow and
city looks more like a sky which has no
moon.”
76.9
Seeing Bharatha
who was wailing like this with a
sorrowful mind , the great sage Vasishta
told the following words.
76.10
“Oh great one, now the funeral rites of the great king
needs to be done without any
hesitation and with great attention.” 76.11
Hearing the words of
the very worshipful Vasishta Bharatha said “So be it”, and speeded up
family priests, Vedic Scholars and other Gurus to do the activities related
to the death rites. 76.12
The fire maintained by the king in his fire sanctuary were put outside in
accordance with the principles of rituals and were withdrawn by priests well
versed in Vedas. 76.13
After that the attendants with throats choked by
tears and with a very dejected mind bore
away the dead king on the hearse.
76.14
The people went through the way ahead of the king spreading cloths of gold and other colours .76.15
Logs of Sandal
and Agaru trees, guma of Guggul
and Balsa trees , wood from Sarala ,
pAdmaka and Devadaru trees and many other fragrant substances were brought by the people and were strewn to make a funeral pyre and thereafter the priests placed the body of
the king on the centre of the pyre.
76.16-76.17
The priests of the king offered oblations to his
fire and chanted prayers. The
priests who were experts in
reciting of Sama Veda sang it according
to sacred scriptures.
76.18
The queens of the king , accompanied by aged attendants according
their ranks departed in Palanquins as
well as vehicles to that place . 76.19
Then the priests as well as the women consumed with sorrow and lead
by Kausalya went round the burning funeral pyre in the clockwise direction. 76.20
At that time
piteous and sorrowful Wailings of the women going round the pyre was being
heard and sound as if Krouncha birds
were making noise.
76.21
Then those great
women weeping and again and again
lamenting uncontrollably alighted from
their respective carriages on the banks
of river Sarayu. 76.22
After offering water oblations , the wives of the king ,
priests and ministers along with Bharatha entered the city with tear stained eyes
and spent the ten days of mourning
lying on the floor .
76.23
This is the end of the seventy sixth chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
77.Bharatha
performs death rituals of the
king.
(Bharatha then does all the death rituals and takes purificatory bath on the
13th day. When he was sorrowing Vasishta consoled him by pointing out the inevitability of death.)
After ten days were over, the son of the king purified
himself and on the twelfth day started doing Sradha(The ritual for manes) .
77.1
He gave to Brahmins
gems, wealth, food , various types of
costly garments and very many types of precious articles.
77.2
That son while performing the ritual to the king
pertaining to other worlds , gave
Brahmins, very many white goats ,
hundreds of cows , male and female servants as well as houses. 77.3
On the thirteenth day morning after reaching the place of rituals for performing the
purificatory ceremony , the very strong
Bharatha cried and swooned due to sorrow
and in a sad voice coming from a
lumped throat lamented the death of his father standing at the foot of the
funeral pyre and spoke these words of sorrow. 77.4-77.5
“Oh father , Rama to whom you have entrusted to take care of me , has been sent to the
forest by you and I have been left in this void.”
77.6
“Oh king where have you gone making my mother Kausalya as
an orphan , having sent her son who is her only support to the forest.”
77.7
Seeing the circular place where his father ‘s bones were
burnt being in red colour and also
coated with ash, he cried loudly in great sorrow.
77.8
He who was desolate
seeing it cried and fell down on the floor , like the flag of Indra when it was being
raised.
77.9
After that all his ministers approached him who was
observing purificatory penance like the saints approached king Yayathi
when he fell down.
77.10
Seeing Bharatha Shatrugna also was drowned in sorrow and remembering about the king fell
senseless on the ground.
77.11
Becoming mad in sorrow he wailed in grief , thinking about the various good
characters of his father again and again.
77.12
“Kaikeyi is a
horrible crocodile originating from the Mandara
mountain living in this sea of sorrow , who is incapable of being
agitated and drowned my father in the form of boons.” 77.13
“Where have you gone father , having left this wailing
boy Bharatha who is always soft
natured?”
77.14
“You used to make us choose out of food, drinks , cloths
and ornaments and give them to us? Who
will do it now?’”
77.15
“You were a great king of Dharma who was greatly
magnanimous. Without your presence , this earth should have broken in to
pieces but it is not breaking.” 77.16
“My father has gone to heaven and my brother has gone to
forest and for what purpose am I living now. I shall enter the fire
and die.”
77.17
“ I will not enter the city of Ayodhya which was ruled by the Ikshuvaku clan as it does not now have my
father and brother and I would enter the forest for penance.” 77.18
Having heard the wailings of both of them and thinking about the calamity that has
befallen on them , their attendants became more sad.
77.19
Those two brothers Bharatha and Shatrugna who were both dejected
and Exhausted lay writhing on the
floor like a bull whose horn is
broken.
77.20
Then the priest of
their father who knew how to cure the
nature’s ills raised up Bharatha and spoke to him as follows.
77.21
“Oh lord, This is the thirteenth day after the death of your father and his heap of bones and ashes still
remain here. Why this delay in your
part?” 77.22
“Without exception three dualities are applicable to all
human beings viz.- hunger and thirst, pain and pleasure and birth and death.
Since these can never be avoided , it is not proper for you to sorrow like
this.” 77.23
Sumanthra the
philosopher raised up Shatrugna , talked him about inevitability of
birth and death and consoled him.
77.24
Those two tigers among men who were famous got up and were shining like the flag of Indra which
got faded due to exposure to sun and rain.
77.25
The ministers and others hastened the sons
who were wiping away their reddened
eyes and who were speaking in a
depressed way , to complete the funeral rites quickly. 77.26
This is the end of the seventy seventh chapter Of the
book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
78.Shatrugna
tortures Mandhara , the hunchback
(When Shatrugna was sorrowing, the guards caught hold of
Mandhara and told about her role to Shatrugna. Shatrugna became greatly furious
and tortured her. Bharatha intervened
and asked him to leave her as Rama would not like torturing of
women.)
Addressing The
extremely sorrowing Bharatha who was starting on a journey, Shathrugna told.
78.1
“Rama is the
source of protection of all beings and
so what is the need for this sorrowing
by us. That great Rama endowed with great strength has been sent to forest by a woman. “ 78.2
“Why did not the very strong and valorous Lakshmana restraint our father and why did
not he release
Rama from this?”
78.3
“The king could have earlier itself restrained , after
careful consideration , of that person who climbed up and influenced the lady of the king.”
78.4
While Shatrugna the brother of Lakshmana was speaking thus , the
hunchback was seen at the eastern
entrance of the town wearing all types
of instruments.
78.5
She was wearing royal dress and had applied sandal paste
on herself and had adorned herself with various types of several ornaments.
78.6
She was wearing
waist belts of different colours
and very many types of ornaments
and tied them with coloured strings and looked like a monkey.
78.7
The gate keepers seeing her as the sinner who is
the main cause of all the problems mercilessly caught hold of her and informed Shatrugna.
78.8
“Here is the sinner and evil women on whose account Rama is in the forest and your father left
his body. Do with her as it pleases you.”
78.9
Shatrugna who was extremely sad as well as disciplined ,
having heard those words addressing all those who are moving to the private
apartment of the king told.
78.10
“Let her who brought great sorrow to my brother and
father , reap the result of the malicious action done by her.”
78.11
Saying this he
forcibly caught hold of her who was surrounded by her friends and the house resounded with the cries of
that hunchback.
78.12
Seeing him extremely pained and greatly angry all her
friends ran away in different
directions. 78.13
Those companions were talking with each other, “Seeing
the way that he has started , it looks
like that he would kill all of us.”
78.14
“The compassionate , generous and follower of Dharma , the queen
Kausalya is our only refuge and let us seek it from
her.”
78.15
Shatrugna who was
the one who gave pain to his enemies with reddened eyes due to great anger , dragged that shrieking hunchback on
the ground.
78.16
When Mandhara was being dragged like this, the collection
of different ornaments that she wore
broke down and were scattered on
the ground.
78.17
With several of her ornaments being strewn on the floor ,
the home of the king looked like the sky with its scattered stars.
78.18
The best of men who was powerful , with very great anger
dragged her near Kaikeyi and spoke these
insulting words to her.
78.19
Kaikeyi being upset by those harsh insulting words of Shatrugna became
sad and sought the protection of her son
Bharatha.
78.20
Bharatha addressing the greatly enraged Shatrugna said,
“Please pardon her as the female among human beings should not be killed.”
78.21
“If Rama who follows Dharma were not to get angry with me
for killing this wicked and sinful lady
, I myself would have killed this Kaikeyi.”
78.22
“If Rama comes to know that this hunchback has been
killed , it is definite that he would neither talk to you or me.”
78.23
Hearing the words of Bharatha, Shatrugna the brother of
Lakshmana , controlled his anger and released Mandhara. 78.24
Mandhara
tormented by sorrow and pain , fell at the feet of Kaikeyi heaving deep
tortured breaths and wretchedly cried.
78.25
The mother of
Bharatha seeing the hunchback thrown at her feet and who has lost her
consciousness , looked here and there
like a Krauncha bird caught in
the net and consoled that
hunchback. 78.26
This is the end of the seventy eighth chapter Of the
book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
79.Bharatha refuses to be crowned and wants to crown Rama.
(On the fourteenth day the people of Ayodhya offer the
kingdom to Bharatha and request him to
get crowned. He refuses the offer and tells them that he would bring back Rama
and crown him. He starts making arrangements
for march of the army.)
On the fourteenth day morning , those who are empowered to nominate the king assembled
and told Bharatha .
79.1
“Our revered master king Dasaratha has gone to
heaven and the very strong Lakshmana and
Rama have gone to the forest.” 79.2
“Oh famous prince, now you please become our king ,
though no one has done any harm to this
country without a leader.”
79.3
“Oh son of the king
, Oh Bharatha, your people as well as those belonging to all trades have brought necessary materials for your
crowing and are waiting. “
79.4
“Oh Bharatha, Oh best among men, please receive this
stable kingdom which belonged to your father and grandfather, get yourself
crowned and rule over us.”
79.5
Bharatha who was stable in his penance , went round the
materials procured for his coronation , replied to those people.
79.6
“Is not the crowning of the eldest son as a king , the
tradition of my clan? So it is not
proper for knowledgeable people like you
to advise me like this.” 79.7
“Our eldest brother Rama would become the king and I would live in the forest for another fourteen years.”
79.8
“Let the great army consisting for different parts be got
ready .I will go and get my elder brother
from the forest myself.”
79.9
“I shall keep all these
sanctified things procured for my coronation on my
front and get back Rama
from the forest. “
79.10
“I would crown
that tiger among men in the forest
itself and will bring him back like the
sanctified fire from place of Yagna.”
79.11
“I would not fulfill the desires of the woman who calls
herself as my mother and I would live in the inaccessible forest and Rama would become king here.”
79.12
“Let the road be laid , after leveling uneven ground by
expert artisans and those experts
in protection in inaccessible
places follow us.,”
79.13
When the prince was talking favouring Rama , all the
people replied him in excellent auspicious words.
79.14
“When you desire
to give this earth to your elder brother , in those words Goddess Lakshmi herself is present.”
79.15
Hearing those matchless words from the son of the king ,
all of them who were in the range of hearing became extremely happy and the eyes of noble men started shedding tears.” 79.16
Hearing the words that were uttered become greatly joyous , the ministers and members of the
council were relieved of their distress and said, “Oh best among men , devoted people
and expert artisans have already been instructed tyo lay the road.”
79.17
This is the end of the seventy ninth chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
80. Bharatha ’s men construct the road for march of the
army.
(Great many people are engaged in construction of the road to go and meet
Rama and they work ceaselessly and efficiently.)
Then the people
who knew topography of land , People who are
expert in measurement, devoted workers, energetic excavators , those who
know how to operate machines , skilled labourers, architects , craftsmen,
carpenters , road levelers, people for cutting trees, people for digging wells , those who knew how to
paint , basket makers and competent supervisors started in
advance. 80-1-80.3
The very large number of people proceeding from each
region resembled swollen sea on the full moon days.
80.4
Those experts in formation of roads along with necessary tools preceded
all others. 80.5
They cleared the creepers and shrubs , cut off unnecessary
trees , removed various types of boulders
and paved the road for travel. 80.6
They transplanted trees in place where they were not there and cut off
trees wherever it was needed
using hatchets axes , hooked tools and
the saw.. 80.7
Some other strong men uprooted deep rooted grass from
here and there and cleared uneven places
and made the path fit for travel.
80.8
Others filled up wells and hollow dried up areas with loose soil and some others lifted up low lying lands and made them
even. 80.9
Some people constructed bridges in places which required
to be bridged, and powdered obstruction where they are required and broke places which needs to be split
open. 80.10
Within a very short time , they constructed big ponds and
lakes, looking like the sea of different
shapes.
80.11
In places without water , great wells with pure water
were dug , which were
surrounded by circular dykes.
80.12
The highway for
the army was made smooth, plastered with
mortar and line of blossoming trees were planted. Intoxicated joyful birds
marched through them singing with joy. They were further decorated with flags
and sandal water was sprinkled over
them and strewn with flowers of all types. With all this the highway
brilliantly shined like the path of Gods.
80.13-80.14
Those workers who were responsible for various tasks , obeyed the orders of Bharatha
sincerely and ordered other artisans
to work. They filled up resting places meant for Bharatha with
various types of fruits and also made
them lovely. They also decorated such places so that it resembled ornaments.
80.15-80.16
Those astrologers who were experts in auspicious stars ,
fixed the time of stay of Bharatha in
these resting places on the way.
80.17
Expert workers
spread heads of sand around
these resting places and built moats around it. It was Adorned with
broad highways and lined with
houses as high as Indrakeela mountain .
Those excellent tall buildings appeared as if they were prepared to fly in the sky. The flags
decorating these ways could be seen everywhere
and it resembled the place of Indra in splendour . 80.18-80.20
That road with
forests of various trees and had
sources of cool and clear water reached the banks of river Ganga with abundance of fishes.
80.21
Constructed by expert
craftsmen that lovely royal road shined like the night sky
illuminated by cluster stars and moon . 80.22
This is the end of the eightieth chapter
Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the first epic.
81.Vasishta arranges for a meeting of all needed people
(When respect of king is given to Bharatha is given,
he gets upset .Vasishta calls of a meeting of all
concerned.)
Then the expert in words , bards , and genealogists made a delightful start of the night with auspicious notes and praised Bharatha.
81.1
The drum of the
night watch was beaten by golden sticks (to indicate time) , conches in
hundreds were blown and instruments of various modulations were played. 81.2
That high sound of pipes reached up to the heavens but caused even more sorrow and distress to Bharatha .
81.3
Bharatha who was woken up by that sound
immediately got it stopped and told Shatrugna that “I am not the king.”
81.4
“See Shatrugna ,what great harm has been done to the
world by Kaikeyi. Lord Dasaratha has left the earth leaving all these sorrows
to me.”
81.5
“This country which was ruled by the great
king of dharma who rooted in Dharma is now like a boat without helmsmen
caught in the whirlpool.”
81.6
“And also the very great protector of this country Rama ,
has been banished to the forest by my mother who has abandoned Dharma .”
81.7
Seeing Bharatha crying like that and becoming unconscious
, all the women cried together continuously.
81.8
When he was crying like this Vasishta the expert on the
king’s Dharma entered the assembly hall of the
lord of Ikshuvaku clan. 81.9
That follower of Dharma along with his disciples entered
that hall finished in gold and inlaid
with many gems and precious stones
and resembled Sudharma , the assembly hall of Indra. 81.10
Sitting on the golden seat covered with comfortable
spread, he gave orders to the messengers this way.
81.11
“Bring immediately Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas , ministers
and army commanders of a steady mind as
a very important matter need to be discussed.” 81.12
“Bring along with royal attendants the famous Shatrugna , the illustrious Bharatha,.
Yudhajith , Sumanthra , all well wishers of the king .” 81.13
When the invitees started
coming as per the orders of Vasishta in their horses and Chariots , great sound of din prevailed there .
81.14
“When Bharatha was coming he was greeted by ministers and
other people like they used to greet Dasaratha and it resembled Devas greeting Indra.”
81.15
Graced by the sons of Dasaratha , that assembly hall , teeming with fish and serpents, with gems , shells , pebbles
and grains of sand , looked as if
Dasaratha himself was present
there. 81.16
This is the end of the eighty first
chapter Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
82. Bharatha
refuses the offer of the kingdom and
starts to bring back Rama
(Vasishta requests Bharatha to get himself crowned,
but her refuses to accept. It is
decided that all people will go with Bharatha
to forest and bring back Rama.)
The very intelligent Bharatha saw well controlled gentleman
in the assembly hall which looked
like a dark night with full moon
and bright stars.
82.1
After the entry,
the seats were occupied
according to their rank and the
assembly looked splendid with people who
have dressed in costly garments and
applied unguents with good scent. 82.2
The intensely
splendid assembly with
multitude of learned people looked
like the autumnal night with full
moon.
82.3
The chief priest who was an expert in Dharma having seen
all the king’s subjects , spoke in a very gentle way to Bharatha.
82.4
“Dear child , the king Dasaratha following all the tenets of Dharma has conferred this
vast kingdom abounding in wealth and grains on you , before going to
heaven.” 82.5
“Rama abiding by the truth and constantly remembering the path of
Dharmic people , did not move away from
the wishes of his father , like the rising moon which does not move away from
moon light.”
82.6
“This kingdom has been awarded to you by your father as well as
your brother completely removed of its thorns Please crown yourself
quickly as its king and enjoy it along with the chosen ministers of your choice. “
82.7
“Let the kings from north, west as well as south and kings of bordering kingdoms and from the islands of the sea bring crores
of very costly jewels.”
82.8
Hearing those words,
Bharatha was immersed in the sea
of sorrow and wishing for Dharma reached by his mind Rama .
82.9
That young man who has a sweet voice like a swan , with sweet voice choked by sobs ,
lamented in the middle of that assembly and
found fault with that chief
family priest Vasishta.
82.10
“How can a man like
me seize the kingdom from the very knowledgeable Rama, who observes the penance of
Brahmacharya , who knows all branches of learning and who is trying to protect Dharma. “
82.11
“How can any one born to Dasaratha become an usurper of a
kingdom? Me and this kingdom belong to Rama. It is only proper for you to tell
about this.”
82.12
“The son of Kakustha clan, the soul of Dharma , the
eminent and eldest son Rama who is comparable to Nahusha and Dilipa only merits to get this kingdom as was
received by Dasaratha. 82.13
“If I do this sin which ungentlemanly wicked act not leading to heaven , in this world , I
would become the disgrace to the Ikshuvaku clan.”
82.14
“This sinful act
done by mother is always
distasteful to me and from here I am saluting my brother who is in the
inaccessible forest.”
82.15
“As Rama is the best among those who walk with two legs,
I would follow him. In all the three worlds , Only Rama deserves to get this
kingdom.”
82.16
All the members of the assembly hearing these words of
Dharma ,fixing their thought on Rama shed
tears of joy.
82.17
“If I am not able to bring back my esteemed brother, I
shall also dwell in the forest like
Lakshmana.”
82.18
“I would use all possible methods to bring him back with force
and come in the presence of all
of you who are pious men.”
82.19
“I have already dispatched explorers and protectors of the path as well
as those who would assist them for wages or
without wages and it also pleases
me to take this journey. “
82.20
The lover of his brother
and the soul of Dharma that Bharatha
after telling this told Sumanthra who was an expert in counseling who was standing nearby.
82.21
“Oh Sumanthra , get up and go and speedily arrange for
the army to be assembled to go on this
expedition , as per my order.”
82.22
When the great Bharatha told like this to Sumanthra ,
with great joy , he fulfilled those commands
and it looked like that he liked it.
82.23
The citizens were greatly pleased to know that the army and its chiefs have been ordered on a journey to bring back
Rama.
82.24
In each and every house when the wives of soldiers came
to know about the orders for the journey , with great joy they hastened up
their husbands.
82.25
Those chiefs of army
collected horses, fast moving bullock carts, fast moving chariots and soldiers of the army as ordered.
82.26
Bharatha who was in the presence of his Guru, having seen
that the army was assembled, requested Sumanthra to get ready his chariot . 82.27
He heard the order
of Bharatha with great joy and
harnessed the chariot with
excellent horses. 82.28
Then Bharatha who was steadfast in his words , who was
greatly valorous , and one who spoke with proper words and one who wanted to please his brother who had gone to the forest said. 82.29
“Oh Sumanthra , go to the
chiefs of the army and order them to assemble the army so that I can
start to go for wishing to ask for forgiveness and then
to bring back my brother , who is in the forest , for the sake of
welfare of the world .” 82.30
The son of the charioteer who was properly ordered by Bharatha , with
his greatest desire fulfilled , ordered
all important people as well as the chiefs of army and friends .
82.31
Thereafter from
clan after clan belonging to Brahmin, Kshatriya
, Vaisya and Shudra castes , rose up and brought out camels and donkeys as well as Chariots, elephants of good
pedigree and horses and started for the travel.
82.32
This is the end of the eighty second
chapter Of the book Ayodhya of the holy Ramayana composed by Valmiki as the
first epic.
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