Sloka & Translation

[Messengers from Ayodhya arrive as Bharata was describing his nightmare to his friends -- the message of Vasistha is conveyed to Bharata to hurry back to Ayodhya -- departure of Bharata and Satrughna to Ayodhya.]

भरते ब्रुवति स्वप्नं दूतास्ते क्लान्तवाहनाः।

प्रविश्यासह्यपरिखं रम्यं राजगृहं पुरम्।।2.70.1।।

समागम्य तु राज्ञा च राजपुत्रेण चार्चिताः

राज्ञः पादौ गृहीत्वा तु तमूचुर्भरतं वचः।।2.70.2।।


भरते Bharata, स्वप्नं about the dream, ब्रुवति while relating, क्लान्तवाहना: men with their vehicles (horses) weary, दूताः messengers, असह्यपरिखम् impassable moat, रम्यम् lovely, राजगृहम् Rajagriha, पुरम् city, प्रविश्य having entered, राज्ञा च with Kekaya king, राजपुत्रेण with king's son, Yuddhajit, समागम्य having met, अर्चिताः were honoured, राज्ञः king's,पादौ feet, गृहीत्वा having touched with reverence, तं भरतम् addressing that Bharata, वचः words, ऊचुः.told.

While Bharata was relating his dream, the mounted messengers (from Ayodhya) with their weary horses entered the lovely city of Rajagriha surrounded by an impassable moat. There they met the king of Kekaya country and his son, Yuddhajit and were received with honour. Touching the feet of the king with reverence, they said to Bharata:
भरते ब्रुवति स्वप्नं दूतास्ते क्लान्तवाहनाः।

प्रविश्यासह्यपरिखं रम्यं राजगृहं पुरम्।।2.70.1।।

समागम्य तु राज्ञा च राजपुत्रेण चार्चिताः

राज्ञः पादौ गृहीत्वा तु तमूचुर्भरतं वचः।।2.70.2।।


भरते Bharata, स्वप्नं about the dream, ब्रुवति while relating, क्लान्तवाहना: men with their vehicles (horses) weary, दूताः messengers, असह्यपरिखम् impassable moat, रम्यम् lovely, राजगृहम् Rajagriha, पुरम् city, प्रविश्य having entered, राज्ञा च with Kekaya king, राजपुत्रेण with king's son, Yuddhajit, समागम्य having met, अर्चिताः were honoured, राज्ञः king's,पादौ feet, गृहीत्वा having touched with reverence, तं भरतम् addressing that Bharata, वचः words, ऊचुः.told.

While Bharata was relating his dream, the mounted messengers (from Ayodhya) with their weary horses entered the lovely city of Rajagriha surrounded by an impassable moat. There they met the king of Kekaya country and his son, Yuddhajit and were received with honour. Touching the feet of the king with reverence, they said to Bharata:
पुरोहितस्त्वां कुशलं प्राह सर्वे च मन्त्रिणः।

त्वरमाणश्च निर्याहि कृत्यमात्ययिकं त्वया।।2.70.3।।


पुरोहितः the family priest (Vasistha), त्वाम् about your, कुशलम् welfare, प्राह enquired, सर्वे all, मन्त्रिणश्च counsellors also, त्वरमाणः च immediately, निर्याहि you may return, त्वया by you, आत्ययिकम् urgent matter, कृत्यम् to be attended.

The family priest (Vasistha) and all the counsellors have enquired about your welfare. You must return immediately. There is an urgent matter to be attended by you.
इमानि च महार्हाणि वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च।

प्रतिगृह्य विशालक्ष मातुलस्य च दापय।।2.70.4।।


विशालाक्ष largeeyed one, (Bharata), इमानि these, महार्हाणि precious, वस्त्राणि raiments, आभरणानि च ornaments, प्रतिगृह्य having accepted, मातुलस्य to your maternal uncle, दापय give, विशालाक्ष O largeeyed one (Bharata)

Oh largeeyed one (Bharata) you are asked to take these excellent raiments and precious ornaments and bestow them on your maternal uncle (said the messengers).
अत्र विशंतिकोट्यस्तु नृपतेर्मातुलस्य ते।

दशकोट्यस्तु सम्पूर्णास्तथैव च नृपात्मज।।2.70.5।।


नृपात्मज O prince Bharata, अत्र among this, विंशतिकोट्यः twenty crore, नृपतेः for the king, तथैव च similarly, सम्पूर्णाः complete, दशकोट्यस्तु ten crores, ते to your, मातुलस्य to be given to your maternal uncle.

O prince these gifts worth twenty crore are intended for the king and the rest of the gifts worth ten crore for your maternal uncle.
प्रतिगृह्य तु तत्सर्वं स्वनुरक्त स्सुहृज्जने।

दूतानुवाच भरतः कामैस्सम्प्रतिपूज्य तान्।।2.70.6।।


सुहृज्जने the relatives and friends, स्वनुरक्तः who is very affectionate, भरतः Bharata, तत् that, सर्वम् all, प्रतिगृह्य having received, तान् दूतान् those messengers, कामैः what they liked, सम्प्रतिपूज्य in return honouring them, उवाच said.

Affectionate towards his relatives and friends, Bharata received all those gifts and in return honoured those messengers with things they liked, asking them:
कच्चित्सुकुशली राजा पिता दशरथो मम।

कच्चिच्चारोगता रामे लक्ष्मणे च महात्मनि।।2.70.7।।


मम पिता my father, राजा दशरथः king Dasaratha, कच्चित् I hope, सकुशली doing well, रामे Rama, महात्मनि great, लक्ष्मणे च in Lakshmana also, अरोगता good health, कच्चित् I hope.

I hope my father, Dasaratha is doing well and revered Rama and Lakshmana are in good health
आर्या च धर्मनिरता धर्मज्ञा धर्मदर्शिनी।

अरोगा चापि कौसल्या माता रामस्य धीमतः।।2.70.8।।


आर्या च venerable lady indeed, धर्मनिरता devoted to righteousness, धर्मज्ञा adept in righteousness, धर्मदर्शिनी observes the prescribed code of conduct, धीमतः sagacious, रामस्य Rama's, माता mother, कौशल्या Kausalya, अपि अरोगा is she keeping good health.

(I hope) Kausalya mother of the sagacious Rama the venerable lady devoted to righteousness one who knows the ways of righteousness and observes the prescribed code of conduct, is keeping sound health.
कच्चित्सुमित्रा धर्मज्ञा जननी लक्ष्मणस्य या।

शत्रुघ्नस्य च वीरस्य साऽरोगा चापि मध्यमा।।2.70.9।।


या that, धर्मज्ञा knowledgeable in the ways of righteousness, लक्ष्मणस्य Lakshmana's, वीरस्य one who is full of valour, शत्रुघ्नस्य च Satrughna's, जननी mother, मध्यमा middle mother, सा सुमित्रापि that Sumitra, कच्चित् I hope, अरोगा is free from illness.

I hope my mother Sumitra (the middle one) who is familiar with the ways of righteousness, the mother of valiant Lakshmana and Satrughna, is enjoying good health.
आत्मकामा सदा चण्डी क्रोधना प्राज्ञमानिनी।

अरोगा चापि मे माता कैकेयी किमुवाच ह।।2.70.10।।


आत्मकामा ever intent on her welfare, सदा always, चण्डी irascible, क्रोधना wrathful, प्राज्ञमानिनी who is proud of her intelligence, मे माता my mother, कैकेयी Kaikeyi, अपि अरोगा is she free from illness, किम् what, उवाच ह did she say?

And what about my mother Kaikeyi, ever intent on her own wellbeing, wrathful, irascible and proud of her intelligence? Is she maintaining sound health?
एवमुक्तास्तु ते दूताः भरतेन महात्मना।

ऊचुस्सप्रश्रयं वाक्यमिदं तं भरतं तदा।।2.70.11।।


महात्मना magnanimous, भरतेन by Bharata, एवम् in this way, उक्ताः uttered, ते दूताः those messengers, तदा then, तं भरतम् addressing that Bharata, सप्रश्रयम् respectfully, इदं these वाक्यम् (वचः) words, ऊचुः spoke.

Having listened to the words of that magnanimous Bharata, those messengers addressed him gracefully with these words.
कुशलास्ते नरव्याघ्र येषां कुशलमिच्छसि।

श्रीश्च त्वां वृणुते पद्मा युज्यतां चापि ते रथः।।2.70.12।।


नरव्याघ्र tiger among men (Bharata), येषाम् whose, कुशलम् welfare, इच्छसि you are enquiring, ते they, कुशलाः are doing well, श्रीः prosperity, पद्मा goddess of wealth, त्वाम् you, वृणुते chosen you, ते to you, रथः chariot, युज्यतां चापि may be yoked.

O tiger among men (Bharata) those of whose welfare you are enquiring are all doing well. May the goddess of wealth and prosperity await you and let your chariot be yoked.
भरतश्चापि तान् दूतानेवमुक्तोऽभ्यभाषत।

आपृच्चेऽहं महाराजं दूतास्सन्त्वरयन्ति माम्।।2.70.13।।


एवम् thus, उक्तः uttered, भरतश्चापि Bharata, तान् दूतान् to those messengers, अभ्यभाषत said, माम् me, दूताः messengers, सन्त्वरयन्ति are hastening me up, अहम् I, महाराजम् great king (of Kekaya), आपृच्छे shall seek permission to leave.

Having thus been addressed, Bharata said to the messengers. Let me seek the permission of the great king of Kekaya to leave and say goodbye, informing him that the messengers are hastening me up.
एवमुक्त्वा तु तान् दूतान्भरतः पार्थिवात्मजः।

दूतै स्सञ्चोदितो वाक्यं मातामहमुवाच ह।।2.70.14।।


दूतैः messengers, सञ्चोदितः having been pressed, पार्थिवात्मजः king's son, भरतः Bharata, तान् दूतान् to those messengers, एवम् in the aforesaid manner, उक्त्वा having said, मातामहम् addressing maternal grandfather, वाक्यम् these words, उवाच ह said.

Having addressed the messengers who were pressing him to leave (for Ayodhya) Bharata said to his maternal grandfather:
राजन् पितुर्गमिष्यामि सकाशं दूतचोदितः।

पुनरप्यहमेष्यामि यदा मे त्वं स्मरिष्यसि।।2.70.15।।


राजन् O king, दूतचोदितः urged by the messengers, पितुः father's, सकाशम् for, गमिष्यामि I shall go, त्वम् you, मे for me, यदा whenever, स्मरिष्यसि remember, पुनरपि again, अहं एष्यामि I shall come.

O king, urged by these messengers I wish to go to my father. I shall come back again (from Ayodhya) whenever you remember me.
भरतेनैवमुक्तस्तु नृपो मातामहस्तदा।

तमुवाच शुभं वाक्यं शिरस्याघ्राय राघवम्।।2.70.16।।


तदा then, भरतेन by Bharata, एवम् thus, उक्तः urged, मातामहः the maternal grandfather, नृपः king (of Kekaya), तम् that, राघवम् to one of Raghu dynasty (Bharata), शिरसि on his head, आघ्राय having smelt, शुभम् auspicious, वाक्यम् words, उवाच spoke.

Then the king of Kekaya, the maternal grandfather of Bharata, having heard the words
of the scion of the Raghu dynasty (Bharata), kissed him on his forehead and spoke these auspicious words:
गच्छ तातानुजाने त्वां कैकेयीसुप्रजास्त्वया।

मातरं कुशलं ब्रूयाः पितरं च परन्तप।।2.70.17।।


तात O child, गच्छ you may go, त्वाम् you, अनुजाने I permit, त्वया by you, कैकेयी Kaikeyi, सुप्रजाः has a worthy son, परन्तप O slayer of enemies, मातरम् your mother, पितरं च and father, कुशलम् welfare, ब्रूयाः convey.

You may go, my child I permit you to leave. Kaikeyi has a worthy son in you. O slayer of enemies convey my best wishes to your mother and father.
पुरोहितं च कुशलं ये चान्ये द्विजसत्तमाः।

तौ च तात महेष्वासौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।।2.70.18।।


तात O child, पुरोहितम् to the family priest (Vasistha), अन्ये and others, ये द्विजसत्तमाः those illustrious brahmins, महेष्वासौ great bowmen (Rama and Lakshmana), कुशलम् best wishes, (ब्रूहि convey).

My child, convey my best wishes, too, to your family priest Vasistha and other illustrious brahmins and also to those two great bowmen (Rama and Lakshmana).
तस्मै हस्त्युत्तमांश्चित्रान्कम्बलानजिनानि च।

अभिसत्कृत्य कैकेयो भरताय धनं ददौ।।2.70.19।।


कैकेयः king of Kekaya, तस्मै भरताय to that Bharata, हस्त्युत्तमान् wellbred elephants, चित्रान् of manycoloured, कम्बलान् blankets, अजिनानि च antelope skins, धनम् riches, अभिसत्कृत्य having felicitated, ददौ bestowed.

The king of Kekaya felicitated Bharata, out of affection and bestowed on him wellbred elephants, manycoloured blankets, antelope skins and riches.
रुक्मनिष्कसहस्रे द्वे षोडशाश्वशतानि च।

सत्कृत्य कैकयीपुत्रं केकयो धनमादिशत्।।2.70.20।।


केकयः king of Kekaya, कैकयीपुत्रं son of Kaikeyi, सत्कृत्य having honoured, द्वे two, रुक्मनिष्कसहस्रे two thousand gold coins, षोडश अश्वशतानि च sixteen hundred horses also, धनम् as wealth, आदिशत् bestowed.

King of Kekaya generously gave to the son of Kaikeyi (Bharata) in his honour two thousand gold coins and sixteen hundred horses.
तथाऽमात्यानभिप्रेतान्विश्वास्यांश्च गुणान्वितान्।

ददावश्वपतिः क्षिप्रं भरतायानुयायिनः।।2.70.21।।


तथा in the same way, अश्वपतिः Ashwapati, भरताय for Bharata, अभिप्रेतान् eamenable, विश्वास्यान् trustworthy men, गुणान्वितान् virtuous men, अमात्यान् counsellors, अनुयायिनः as companions, ददौ gave.

Similarly his maternal uncle Ashwapati quickly presented him amenable, trustworthy and virtuous counsellors as companions on his return journey.
ऐरावतानैन्द्रशिरान्नागान्वै प्रियदर्शनान्।

खरान् श्रीघ्रान्सुसंयुक्तान्मातुलोऽस्मै धनं ददौ।।2.70.22।।


मातुलः maternal uncle, अस्मै for him (Bharata), ऐरावतान् born in Iravata mountain, ऐन्द्रशिरान् born in Indrasira mountain, प्रियदर्शनान् beautiful to behold, नागान् elephants, शीघ्रान् swift moving, सुसंयुक्तान् welltrained, खरान् asses, धनम् riches, ददौ gave.

His maternal uncle gave him the wealth of goodlooking elephants born in Iravata and Indrasira mountains and swiftmoving and welltrained asses which can be yoked easily. He gave riches too.
अन्तःपुरेऽति संवृद्धान् व्याघ्रवीर्यबलान्वितान्।

दंष्ट्राऽऽयुधान्महाकायान् शुनश्चोपायनं ददौ।।2.70.23।।


अन्तःपुरे in the inner apartment, अति संवृद्धान् wellraised, व्याघ्रवीर्यबलान्वितान् having the strength and courage of tigers, दंष्ट्राऽऽयुधान् whose fangs are their weapons spears, महाकायान् of huge body, शुनश्च dogs also, उपायनम् as gift, ददौ gave.

He also gave him a gift of wellraised dogs of the inner apartment hugebodied with the strength and courage of tigers who used their fangs as weapons.
स दत्तं केकयेन्द्रेण धनं तन्नाभ्यनन्दत।

भरतः कैकयीपुत्रो गमनत्वरया तदा।।2.70.24।।


तदा then, गमनत्वरया in a hurry to depart, सः that, कैकयीपुत्रः son of Kaikeyi, भरतः Bharata, केकयेन्द्रेण by the king of Kekaya, दत्तम् given, धनम् wealth, नाभ्यनन्दत did not delight him.

All the wealth given by the king of Kekaya did not delight Bharata, son of Kaikeyi who was in a hurry to depart for Ayodhya.
बभूव ह्यस्य हृदये चिन्ता सुमहती तदा।

त्वरया चापि दूतानां स्वप्नस्यापि च दर्शनात्।।2.70.25।।


दूतानाम् messengers', त्वरया चापि with the haste to depart, स्वप्नस्य dream's, दर्शनाच्चापि also due to beholding, तदा then, अस्य his, हृदये in the heart, सुमहती intense, चिन्ता
anxiety, बभूव हि filled with.

Then his heart was filled with extreme anxiety due to the haste of the messengers to depart and also due to the dream he had.
स स्ववेश्माभ्यतिक्रम्य नरनागाश्वसंवृतम्।

प्रपेदे सुमहच्छ्रीमान्राजमार्गमनुत्तमम्।।2.70.26।।


श्रीमान् prosperous, सः he (Bharata), नरनागाश्वसंवृतम् thronged with men, elephants and horses, सुमहत् great, स्ववेश्म his residence, अभ्यतिक्रम्य having passed by, अनुत्तमम् incomparable, राजमार्गम् royal highway, प्रपेदे obtained.

Prosperous Bharata on leaving his residence, passed through incomparable royal highway thronged with men, elephants and horses.
अभ्यतीत्य ततोऽपश्यदन्तःपुरमुदारधीः।

ततस्तद्भरतश्श्रीमानाविवेशानिवारितः।।2.70.27।।


उदारधीः nobleminded, अभ्यतीत्य having crossed, ततः thereafter, अन्तःपुरम् inner apartment, अपश्यत् saw, ततः then, श्रीमान् prosperous, भरतः Bharata, अनिवारितः without any restriction, तत् in that apartment, आविवेश entered.

Then the nobleminded, prosperous Bharata, on leaving the highway, saw the inner apartment of the king which he entered unhindered.
स मातामहमापृच्छ्य मातुलं च युधाजितम्।

रथमारुह्य भरतश्शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ।।2.70.28।।


सः भरतः that Bharata, मतामहम् maternal grandfather, मातुलम् uncle, युधाजितम् Yaddhajit, आपृच्छ्य taking leave, शत्रुघ्नसहितः along with Satrughna, रथम् chariot, आरुह्य having ascended, ययौ went.

Thus having taken leave of his maternal grandfather and uncle Yuddhajit, Bharata accompanied by Satrughna boarded the chariot and went along.
रथान्मण्डल चक्रांश्च योजयित्वा परश्शतम्।

उष्ट्र गोऽश्वबलैर्भृत्या भरतं यान्तमन्वयुः।।2.70.29।।


भृत्याः servants, मण्डलचक्रांश्च of wellrounded wheels, परश्शतान् more than a hundred, रथान् chariots, योजयित्वा harnessing, उष्ट्रगोश्वबलैः with camels, oxen, and horses, यान्तम् going on, भरतम् Bharata, अन्ययुः followed.

And the servants harnessing more than a hundred chariots of wellrounded wheels and also camels, oxen and horses followed Bharata who started off.
बलेन गुप्तो भरतो महात्मा सहार्यकस्याऽत्मसमैरमात्यैः।

आदाय शत्रुघ्नमपेतशत्रुर्गृहाद्ययौ सिद्ध इवेन्द्रलोकात्।।2.70.30।।


बलेन with army, गुप्तः under the protection of, महात्मा illustrious, अपेतशत्रुः devoid of enemies, भरतः Bharata, आत्मसमैः like himself, अमात्यैस्सह accompanied by ministers, शत्रुघ्नम् Satrughna, आदाय having taken, आर्यकस्य venerable grandfather's, गृहात् from house, सिद्ध: like siddha, इन्द्रलोकादिव from the regions of Indra, ययौ went.

Under the protection of the army, the illustrious Bharata who was devoid of enemies, accompanied by ministers who were comparable to him and Satrughna, departed from his venerable grandfather's house like a siddha leaving the regions of Indra.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्ततितमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the seventieth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.