Sloka & Translation

[Gloom at Ayodhya after the exile of Rama.]

snigdhagambhīraghōṣēṇa syandanēnōpayānprabhuḥ.

ayōdhyāṅ bharataḥ kṣipraṅ pravivēśa mahāyaśāḥ৷৷2.114.1৷৷


mahāyaśaḥ renowned, prabhuḥ lord, bharataḥ Bharata, snigdhagambhīraghōṣēṇa with its deep, soothing sound, syandanēna by the chariot, upayān while travelling, kṣipram soon, ayōdhyām Ayodhya, pravivēśa entered.

Bharata, the renowned lord (of Ayodhya) travelled on the chariot that produced a deep, soothing, sound. And entered Ayodhya soon.
biḍālōlūkacaritāmālīnanaravāraṇām.

timirābhyāhatāṅ kālīmaprakāśāṅ niśāmiva৷৷2.114.2৷৷


biḍālōlūkacaritām ranged by cats and owls, ālīnanaravāraṇām where people and elephants were out of sight, timīrābhyāhatām enveloped in darkness, aprakāśām without light, kālīm black, niśāmiva like night.

rāhuśatrōḥ priyāṅ patnīṅ śriyā prajvalitaprabhām.

grahēṇābhyutthitēnaikāṅ rōhiṇīmiva pīḍitām৷৷2.114.3৷৷


śriyā with majesty, prajvalitaprabhām radiating with lustre, abhyutthitēna exalted, grahēna by cruel planet, pīḍitām tormented, rāhuśatrōḥ enemy of Rahu, (the Moon's), priyām beloved, patnīm to wife, ēkām alone, rōhiṇīmiva like the star Rohini.

(The city looked) like Rohini, the beloved consort of the Moon, the star which was
majesticlly radiating flaming brilliance and now, tormented by the exalted Rahu which has eclipsed the Moon, shines alone.
alpōṣṇakṣubdhasalilāṅ gharmōttaptavihaṅgamām.

līnamīnajhaṣagrāhāṅ kṛśāṅ girinadīmiva৷৷2.114.4৷৷


alpōṣṇakṣubdhasalilāṅ with scant, hot and turbid waters, gharmōttaptavihaṅgamām the aquatic birds scorched by the Sun's heat, līnamīnajhaṣagrāhām small fish, large fish and crocodiles perished, kṛśām dried up, girinadīmiva like a mountain-stream.

(It appeared) like a lean mountain-stream with scant, hot and turbid waters, with scorched aquatic birds and with small and large fishes and crocodiles dead due to the heat of the Sun.
vidhūmāmiva hēmābhāmadhvarāgnē ssamutthitām.

havirabhyukṣitāṅ paścācchikhāṅ vipralayaṅ gatām৷৷2.114.5৷৷


vidhūmām smokeless, hēmābhām with the splendour of gold, samutthitām rising, paścāt later on, havirabhyukṣitām sprinkled with sacrificial offering of clarified butter, vipralayam extinction, gatām obtained, adhvarāgnēḥ sacrificial fire's, śikhāmiva like flames.

vidhvastakavacāṅ rugṇagajavājirathadhvajām.

hatapravīrāmāpannāṅ camūmiva mahāhavē৷৷2.114.6৷৷


mahāhavē in a great battle, vidhvastakavacām armours scattered, rugṇagajavājirathadhvajām injured elephants, horses and shattered chariots and banners standards, hatapravīrām with heroic
warriors slain, āpannām in great distress, camūmiva like the army.

warriors slain in the great battle (the city appeared desolate).
saphēnāṅ sasvanāṅ bhūtvā sāgarasya samutthitām.

praśāntamārutōddhūtāṅ jalōrmimiva nissvanām৷৷2.114.7৷৷


saphēnām filled with foam, sasvanām bhūtvā with roaring sounds, samutthitām risen, praśāntamārutōddhūtām swept by the gentle breeze, nissvanām silent, sāgarasya ocean's, jalōrmimiva like a wave.

tvaktāṅ yajñāyudhaissarvairabhirūpaiśca yājakaiḥ.

suttyākālē vinirvṛttē vēdiṅ gataravāmiva৷৷2.114.8৷৷


sarvaiḥ all, yajñāyudhaiḥ with sacrificial appliances, abhirūpaiḥ learned, yājakaiḥ with priests, suttyākālē the time of extraction of Soma juice, vinirvṛtē has come to an end, tyaktām deserted, gataravām sounds ceased, vēdim iva like an altar.

gōṣṭhamadhyē sthitāmārtāmacarantīṅ tṛṇaṅ navam.

gōvṛṣēṇa parityaktāṅ gavāṅ paktimivōtsukām৷৷2.114.9৷৷


gōvṛṣēṇa by a bull, parityaktām forsaken, utsukām longing (for the bull), gavām of cows, gōṣṭhamadhyē in the midst of the herd, sthitām standing, ārtām despaired, navaṅ new, tṛṇam grass, acarantīṅ no longer grazing, paktimiva like a cow.

the midst of the herd despairs and no longer grazes the new grass.
prabhākarādyai ssusnigdhaiḥ prajvaladbhirivōttamaiḥ.

viyuktāṅ maṇibhirjātyairnavāṅ muktāvalīmiva৷৷2.114.10৷৷


susnigdhai: by the most glossy, prajvaladbhiriva by the radiant, uttamaiḥ by the excellent ones, jātyaiḥ by those of the finest class, prabhākarādyaiḥ rubies and other gems, maṇibhiḥ with precious stones, viyuktām detached, navām new, muktāvalīmiva like a pearl necklace.

sahasā calitāṅ sthānānmahīṅ puṇyakṣayādgatām.

saṅvṛtadyutivistārāṅ tārāmiva divaścyutām৷৷2.114.11৷৷


puṇyakṣayāt due to exhaustion of merit, sthānāt from its place, sahasā suddenly, mahīm the earth, gatām reached, saṅvṛtadyutivistārām with its extensive lustre dimmed, divaḥ from the earth, cyutām fallen, tārāmiva like a star.

puṣpanaddhāṅ vasantāntē mattabhramaranāditām.

drutadāvāgni vipluṣṭāṅ klāntāṅ vanalatāmiva৷৷2.114.12৷৷


vasantāntē at the end of spring, drutadāvāgni vipluṣṭām ravaged by the fast-spreading forest fire, puṣpanaddhām laden with flowers, mattabhramaranāditām with the melodious hum of intoxicated bees, klāntām withered away, vanalatāmiva like a woodland creeper.

with the melodious humming of intoxicated bees and suddenly shrivelling, ravaged by the fast-spreading forest fire.
sammūḍhanigamāṅstabdhāṅ saṅkṣiptavipaṇāpaṇām.

pracchannaśaśinakṣatrāṅ dyāmivāmbudharairvṛtām৷৷2.114.13৷৷


sammūḍhanigamām dazed merchants, stabdhām stilled, saṅkṣiptavipaṇāpaṇām with markets and shops closed, ambudharaiḥ with clouds, vṛtām covered, pracchannaśaśinakṣatrām obscuring the moon and stars, dyāmiva like the sky.

Ayodhya with its markets and shops closed, and its merchants in a daze looked like the sky covered with clouds obscuring the Moon and stars.
kṣīṇapānōttamairbhagnai śśarāvairabhisaṅvṛtām.

hataśauṇḍāmivākāśē pānabhūmimasaṅskṛtām৷৷2.114.14৷৷


ākāśē lying in the open, kṣīṇapānōttamaiḥ with excellent wine exhausted, bhagnaiḥ by the broken, śarāvaiḥ by pitchers, abhisaṅvṛtām surrounded by, hatāśauṇḍām with drunkards dead, dhvastām scattered, asaṅskṛtām uncleansed, pānabhūmi iva like a drinking place.

vṛkṇabhūmitalāṅ nimnāṅ vṛkṇapātraissamāvṛtām.

upayuktōdakāṅ bhagnāṅ prapāṅ nipatitāmiva৷৷2.114.15৷৷


vṛkṇabhūmitalām surface riven, vṛkṇapātraiḥ with broken pots, samāvṛtām scattered around, nimnām like a dale, upayuktōdakām water used up, bhagnām broken, nipatitām sunken, prapāmiva like a well.

a dale.
vipulāṅ vitatāṅ caiva yuktapāśāṅ tarasvinām.

bhūmau bāṇairviniṣkṛttāṅ patitāṅ jyāmivāyudhāt৷৷2.114.16৷৷


vipulām extensive, vitatām stretched, yuktapāśām attached with nooses, tarasvinām of a powerful man, bāṇaiḥ with arrows, viniṣkṛttām severed, āyudhāt from the weapon, bhūmau on the ground, patitām fallen, jyāmiva like a bow-string.

sahasā yuddhaśauṇḍēna hayārōhēṇa vāhitām.

nihatāṅ pratisainyēna vaḍavāmiva pātitām৷৷2.114.17৷৷


yuddhaśauṇḍēna by a warrior skilled in warfare, hayārōhēṇa by the rider of a horse, sahasā suddenly, vāhitām carried, pratisainyēna by the enemy army, nihatām slain, pātitām fallen on the ground, vaḍavāmiva like a mare.

śuṣkatōyāṅ mahāmatsyaiḥ kūrmaiśca bahubhirvṛtām.

prabhinnataṭavistīrṇāṅ vāpīmiva hṛtōtpalām৷৷2.114.18৷৷


śuṣkatōyām water dried up, bahubhiḥ a lot of, mahāmatsaiḥ with large fishes, kūrmaiśca with tortoises, vṛtām filled, prabhinnataṭavistīrṇām vast area around the bank split, hṛtōtpalām water-lilies withered, vāpīmiva like a circular reservoir of water.

puruṣasyāprahṛṣṭasya pratiṣiddhānulēpanām.

santaptāmiva śōkēna gātrayaṣṭimabhūṣaṇām৷৷2.114.19৷৷


pratiṣiddhānulēpanāṅ with no oil massaged (on the body), śōkēna with grief, santaptām scorched, abhūṣaṇām without ornaments, aprahṛṣṭasya in dejection, puruṣasya man's, gātrayaṣṭimiva body like a stick (skeletal).

prāvṛṣi pravigāḍhāyāṅ praviṣṭasyābhramaṇḍalam.

pracchannāṅ nīlajīmūtairbhāskarasya prabhāmiva৷৷2.114.20৷৷


pravigāḍhāyām deep, pāvṛṣi in the rainy season, abhramaṇḍalam orb of clouds, praviṣṭasya entered, bhāskarasya the Sun's, nīlajīmūtaiḥ by black clouds, pracchannām obscured, prabhāmiva like the radiance.

bharatastu rathastha ssan śrīmāndaśarathātmajaḥ.

vāhayantaṅ rathaśrēṣṭhaṅ sārathiṅ vākyamabravīt৷৷2.114.21৷৷


śrīmān illustrious, daśarathātmajaḥ son of Dasaratha, bharatastu Bharata, rathasthassan seated in the chariot, rathaśrēṣṭham the most excellent of chariots, vāhayantam driving, sārathim to the charioteer, vākyam these words, abravīt said.

Illustrious Bharata, son of Dasaratha, seated in his chariot, addressed the charioteer as he drove the most excellent of chariots saying:
kiṅ nu khalvadya gambhīrō mūrchitō na niśamyatē.

yathāpuramayōdhyāyāṅ gītavāditranisvanaḥ৷৷2.114.22৷৷


ayōdhyāyām In Ayodhya, adya now, yathāpuram as in the past, gambhīraḥ deep, mūrchitaḥ all-pervasive,
gītavāditranisvanaḥ songs and sounds of musical instruments, na niśamyatē are not heard, kiṅ nu khalu what could be the reason?

How is it that in Ayodhya, the deep and all-pervasive songs and sounds of musical instruments of the former days are not heard now?
vāruṇīmadagandhaśca mālyagandhaśca mūrchitaḥ.

dhūpitāgurugandhaśca na pravāti samantataḥ৷৷2.114.23৷৷


vāruṇīmadagandhaśca the intoxicating odour of spirituous liquor, mālyagandhaśca the fragrance of flower garlands, dhūpitāgarugandhaśca the fragrance of agaru or incense, samantataḥ everywhere, mūrchitaḥ pervading, na pravāti does not blow.

The breeze no longer carries the intoxicating odour of spirituous liquor, the pervading fragrance of flower garlands and agaru (incense).
yānapravaraghōṣaśca snigdhaśca hayanisvanaḥ.

pramattagajanādaśca mahāṅśca rathanisvanaḥ৷৷2.114.24৷৷

nēdānīṅ śrūyatē puryāmasyāṅ rāmē vivāsitē.


rāmē Rama, vivāsitē having been exiled, idānīm now, asyāṅ puryām in this city, yānapravaraghōṣaśca clatter of excellent carriages, snigdhaḥ pleasant, hayanisvanaśca neighing of horses, pramattagajanādaśca trumpeting of elephants in rut, mahān great, rathanisvanaḥ ca rattle of chariots, na śrūyatē are not heard.

After Rama's the exile the clatter of excellent carriages, the pleasing neighing of horses and trumpeting of elephants in rut and the rattle of chariots are no longer heard now.
candanāgarugandhāṅśca mahārhāśca navasrajaḥ.

gatē hi rāmē taruṇā ssaṅtaptā nōpabhuñjatē৷৷2.114.25৷৷


rāmē Rama, gatē having departed, taruṇāḥ the young men, saṅtaptāḥ distressed, candanāgarugandhāṅśca incense of agaru and sandalwood paste, mahārhā: expensive, navasrajaśca garlands of fresh flowers, nōpabhuñjatē do not enjoy.

Since Rama has departed, the young men in distress do not enjoy expensive incense of agaru and sandalwood paste and garlands of fresh flowers.
bahiryātrāṅ na gacchanti citramālyadharā narāḥ.

nōtsavā ssampravartantē rāmaśōkārditē purē৷৷2.114.27৷৷


rāmaśōkārditē stricken with grief on account of separation from Rama, purē in the city, narāḥ men, citramālyadharāḥ wearing garlands of variegated flowers, bahiḥ outside, yātrām pleasure jaunts, na gacchanti do not go, utsavāḥ festivites, na sampravartantē are not celebrated.

This city is stricken with grief on account of Rama's departure. Men do not go out on pleasure jaunts wearing garlands of variegated flowers. Festivities are not celebrated.
saha nūnaṅ mama bhrātrā purasyāsya dyutirgatā.

na hi rājatyayōdhyēyaṅ sāsārēvārjunī kṣapā৷৷2.114.28৷৷


asya purasya of this city, dyutiḥ splendour, mama my, bhrātrā saha along with brother, gatā had left, nūnam certainly, iyam this, ayōdhyā Ayodhya, sāsārā with rain pouring down, arjunī relating to the waning Moon, kṣapā iva like night, na rājati hi does not gleam.

Certainly splendour has left along with my brother. Like the night when the rain pours down during the waning of the Moon, Ayodhya shines not.
kadā nu khalu mē bhrātā mahōtsava ivā.gataḥ.

janayiṣyatyayōdhyāyāṅ harṣaṅ grīṣma ivāmbudaḥ৷৷2.114.29৷৷


mē bhrātā my brother, mahōtsava iva like a carnival, āgataḥ having returned, grīṣmē in summer,
ambudaḥ iva like clouds, ayōdhyāyām in Ayodhya, harṣam delight, kadā when, janayiṣyati nu khalu will cause.

When will my brother return to Ayodhya like a carnival and cause delight to every one like summer clouds?
taruṇaiścāruvēṣaiśca narairunnatagāmibhiḥ.

sampatadbhirayōdhyāyāṅ nābhibhānti mahāpathāḥ৷৷2.114.30৷৷


ayōdhyāyām in Ayodhya, mahāpathāḥ highways, cāruvēṣaiḥ by those elegantly attired, unnatagāmibhiḥ with their majestic gait, sampatadbhiḥ by those coming together in groups, taruṇaiḥ young men, naraiḥ men, nābhibhānti is not shining.

The highways of Ayodhya thronged with groups of elegantly attired young men or adults with their majestic gait, do not shine.
ēvaṅ bahuvidhaṅ jalpanvivēśa vasatiṅ pituḥ.

tēna hīnāṅ narēndrēṇa siṅhahīnāṅ guhāmiva৷৷2.114.31৷৷


ēvam thus, bahuvidham in several ways, jalpan talking, tēna by that, narēndrēṇa by the king, hīnām bereft of, siṅhahīnām without a lion, guhāmiva like a cave, pituḥ father's, vasatim residence, vivēśa entered.

Thus mourning in several ways, Bharata entered his fathers' palace (now) bereft of the king like a cave without the lion.
tadā tadantaḥ puramuñjhitaprabhaṅ surairivōtsṛṣṭamabhāskaraṅ dinam.

nirīkṣya sarvaṅ tu viviktamātmavānmumōca bāṣpaṅ bharataḥ suduḥkhitaḥ৷৷2.114.32৷৷


tadā then, ātmavān self-possessed, bharataḥ Bharata, suraiḥ by gods, utsṛṣṭam deprived of,
abhāskaram without the Sun, dinamiva like a day, uñjhitaprabham shorn of splendour, viviktam secluded, sarvam entire, tat antaḥpuram that inner apartment, nirīkṣya having seen, bāṣpam
tears in distress, mumōca shed.

Self-possessed Bharata beholding the secluded inner apartment deserted by the gods shorn of splendour, like the day deprived of the Sun shed tears in distress.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē caturdaśōttaraśatatamassargaḥ.
Thus ends the hundredfourteenth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.