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.]

bharatē bruvati svapnaṅ dūtāstē klāntavāhanāḥ.

praviśyāsahyaparikhaṅ ramyaṅ rājagṛhaṅ puram৷৷2.70.1৷৷

samāgamya tu rājñā ca rājaputrēṇa cārcitāḥ

rājñaḥ pādau gṛhītvā tu tamūcurbharataṅ vacaḥ৷৷2.70.2৷৷


bharatē Bharata, svapnaṅ about the dream, bruvati while relating, klāntavāhanā: men with their vehicles (horses) weary, dūtāḥ messengers, asahyaparikham impassable moat, ramyam lovely, rājagṛham Rajagriha, puram city, praviśya having entered, rājñā ca with Kekaya king, rājaputrēṇa with king's son, Yuddhajit, samāgamya having met, arcitāḥ were honoured, rājñaḥ king's,pādau feet, gṛhītvā having touched with reverence, taṅ bharatam addressing that Bharata, vacaḥ words, ūcuḥ.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:
bharatē bruvati svapnaṅ dūtāstē klāntavāhanāḥ.

praviśyāsahyaparikhaṅ ramyaṅ rājagṛhaṅ puram৷৷2.70.1৷৷

samāgamya tu rājñā ca rājaputrēṇa cārcitāḥ

rājñaḥ pādau gṛhītvā tu tamūcurbharataṅ vacaḥ৷৷2.70.2৷৷


bharatē Bharata, svapnaṅ about the dream, bruvati while relating, klāntavāhanā: men with their vehicles (horses) weary, dūtāḥ messengers, asahyaparikham impassable moat, ramyam lovely, rājagṛham Rajagriha, puram city, praviśya having entered, rājñā ca with Kekaya king, rājaputrēṇa with king's son, Yuddhajit, samāgamya having met, arcitāḥ were honoured, rājñaḥ king's,pādau feet, gṛhītvā having touched with reverence, taṅ bharatam addressing that Bharata, vacaḥ words, ūcuḥ.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:
purōhitastvāṅ kuśalaṅ prāha sarvē ca mantriṇaḥ.

tvaramāṇaśca niryāhi kṛtyamātyayikaṅ tvayā৷৷2.70.3৷৷


purōhitaḥ the family priest (Vasistha), tvām about your, kuśalam welfare, prāha enquired, sarvē all, mantriṇaśca counsellors also, tvaramāṇaḥ ca immediately, niryāhi you may return, tvayā by you, ātyayikam urgent matter, kṛtyam 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.
imāni ca mahārhāṇi vastrāṇyābharaṇāni ca.

pratigṛhya viśālakṣa! mātulasya ca dāpaya৷৷2.70.4৷৷


viśālākṣa large-eyed one, (Bharata), imāni these, mahārhāṇi precious, vastrāṇi raiments, ābharaṇāni ca ornaments, pratigṛhya having accepted, mātulasya to your maternal uncle, dāpaya give, viśālākṣa O large-eyed one (Bharata)

Oh large-eyed one (Bharata)! you are asked to take these excellent raiments and precious ornaments and bestow them on your maternal uncle (said the messengers).
atra viśaṅtikōṭyastu nṛpatērmātulasya tē.

daśakōṭyastu sampūrṇāstathaiva ca nṛpātmaja৷৷2.70.5৷৷


nṛpātmaja O prince Bharata, atra among this, viṅśatikōṭyaḥ twenty crore, nṛpatēḥ for the king, tathaiva ca similarly, sampūrṇāḥ complete, daśakōṭyastu ten crores, tē to your, mātulasya 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.
pratigṛhya tu tatsarvaṅ svanurakta ssuhṛjjanē.

dūtānuvāca bharataḥ kāmaissampratipūjya tān৷৷2.70.6৷৷


suhṛjjanē the relatives and friends, svanuraktaḥ who is very affectionate, bharataḥ Bharata, tat that, sarvam all, pratigṛhya having received, tān dūtān those messengers, kāmaiḥ what they liked, sampratipūjya in return honouring them, uvāca said.

Affectionate towards his relatives and friends, Bharata received all those gifts and in return honoured those messengers with things they liked, asking them:
kaccitsukuśalī rājā pitā daśarathō mama.

kacciccārōgatā rāmē lakṣmaṇē ca mahātmani৷৷2.70.7৷৷


mama pitā my father, rājā daśarathaḥ king Dasaratha, kaccit I hope, sakuśalī doing well, rāmē Rama, mahātmani great, lakṣmaṇē ca in Lakshmana also, arōgatā good health, kaccit I hope.

I hope my father, Dasaratha is doing well and revered Rama and Lakshmana are in good health!
āryā ca dharmaniratā dharmajñā dharmadarśinī.

arōgā cāpi kausalyā mātā rāmasya dhīmataḥ৷৷2.70.8৷৷


āryā ca venerable lady indeed, dharmaniratā devoted to righteousness, dharmajñā adept in righteousness, dharmadarśinī observes the prescribed code of conduct, dhīmataḥ sagacious, rāmasya Rama's, mātā mother, kauśalyā Kausalya, api arōgā 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.
kaccitsumitrā dharmajñā jananī lakṣmaṇasya yā.

śatrughnasya ca vīrasya sā.rōgā cāpi madhyamā৷৷2.70.9৷৷


yā that, dharmajñā knowledgeable in the ways of righteousness, lakṣmaṇasya Lakshmana's, vīrasya one who is full of valour, śatrughnasya ca Satrughna's, jananī mother, madhyamā middle mother, sā sumitrāpi that Sumitra, kaccit I hope, arōgā 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.
ātmakāmā sadā caṇḍī krōdhanā prājñamāninī.

arōgā cāpi mē mātā kaikēyī kimuvāca ha৷৷2.70.10৷৷


ātmakāmā ever intent on her welfare, sadā always, caṇḍī irascible, krōdhanā wrathful, prājñamāninī who is proud of her intelligence, mē mātā my mother, kaikēyī Kaikeyi, api arōgā is she free from illness, kim what, uvāca ha did she say?

And what about my mother Kaikeyi, ever intent on her own well-being, wrathful, irascible and proud of her intelligence? Is she maintaining sound health?
ēvamuktāstu tē dūtāḥ bharatēna mahātmanā.

ūcussapraśrayaṅ vākyamidaṅ taṅ bharataṅ tadā৷৷2.70.11৷৷


mahātmanā magnanimous, bharatēna by Bharata, ēvam in this way, uktāḥ uttered, tē dūtāḥ those messengers, tadā then, taṅ bharatam addressing that Bharata, sapraśrayam respectfully, idaṅ these vākyam (vacaḥ) words, ūcuḥ spoke.

Having listened to the words of that magnanimous Bharata, those messengers addressed him gracefully with these words.
kuśalāstē naravyāghra! yēṣāṅ kuśalamicchasi.

śrīśca tvāṅ vṛṇutē padmā yujyatāṅ cāpi tē rathaḥ৷৷2.70.12৷৷


naravyāghra! tiger among men (Bharata), yēṣām whose, kuśalam welfare, icchasi you are enquiring, tē they, kuśalāḥ are doing well, śrīḥ prosperity, padmā goddess of wealth, tvām you, vṛṇutē chosen you, tē to you, rathaḥ chariot, yujyatāṅ cāpi 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.
bharataścāpi tān dūtānēvamuktō.bhyabhāṣata.

āpṛccē.haṅ mahārājaṅ dūtāssantvarayanti mām৷৷2.70.13৷৷


ēvam thus, uktaḥ uttered, bharataścāpi Bharata, tān dūtān to those messengers, abhyabhāṣata said, mām me, dūtāḥ messengers, santvarayanti are hastening me up, aham I, mahārājam great king (of Kekaya), āpṛcchē 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 good-bye, informing him that the messengers are hastening me up.
ēvamuktvā tu tān dūtānbharataḥ pārthivātmajaḥ.

dūtai ssañcōditō vākyaṅ mātāmahamuvāca ha৷৷2.70.14৷৷


dūtaiḥ messengers, sañcōditaḥ having been pressed, pārthivātmajaḥ king's son, bharataḥ Bharata, tān dūtān to those messengers, ēvam in the aforesaid manner, uktvā having said, mātāmaham addressing maternal grandfather, vākyam these words, uvāca ha said.

Having addressed the messengers who were pressing him to leave (for Ayodhya) Bharata said to his maternal grandfather:
rājan! piturgamiṣyāmi sakāśaṅ dūtacōditaḥ.

punarapyahamēṣyāmi yadā mē tvaṅ smariṣyasi৷৷2.70.15৷৷


rājan! O king!, dūtacōditaḥ urged by the messengers, pituḥ father's, sakāśam for, gamiṣyāmi I shall go, tvam you, mē for me, yadā whenever, smariṣyasi remember, punarapi again, ahaṅ ēṣyāmi 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.
bharatēnaivamuktastu nṛpō mātāmahastadā.

tamuvāca śubhaṅ vākyaṅ śirasyāghrāya rāghavam৷৷2.70.16৷৷


tadā then, bharatēna by Bharata, ēvam thus, uktaḥ urged, mātāmahaḥ the maternal grandfather, nṛpaḥ king (of Kekaya), tam that, rāghavam to one of Raghu dynasty (Bharata), śirasi on his head, āghrāya having smelt, śubham auspicious, vākyam words, uvāca 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:
gaccha tātānujānē tvāṅ kaikēyīsuprajāstvayā.

mātaraṅ kuśalaṅ brūyāḥ pitaraṅ ca parantapa৷৷2.70.17৷৷


tāta O child, gaccha you may go, tvām you, anujānē I permit, tvayā by you, kaikēyī Kaikeyi, suprajāḥ has a worthy son, parantapa O slayer of enemies, mātaram your mother, pitaraṅ ca and father, kuśalam welfare, brūyāḥ 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.
purōhitaṅ ca kuśalaṅ yē cānyē dvijasattamāḥ.

tau ca tāta! mahēṣvāsau bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau৷৷2.70.18৷৷


tāta! O child, purōhitam to the family priest (Vasistha), anyē and others, yē dvijasattamāḥ those illustrious brahmins, mahēṣvāsau great bowmen (Rama and Lakshmana), kuśalam best wishes, (brūhi 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).
tasmai hastyuttamāṅścitrānkambalānajināni ca.

abhisatkṛtya kaikēyō bharatāya dhanaṅ dadau৷৷2.70.19৷৷


kaikēyaḥ king of Kekaya, tasmai bharatāya to that Bharata, hastyuttamān well-bred elephants, citrān of many-coloured, kambalān blankets, ajināni ca antelope skins, dhanam riches, abhisatkṛtya having felicitated, dadau bestowed.

The king of Kekaya felicitated Bharata, out of affection and bestowed on him well-bred elephants, many-coloured blankets, antelope skins and riches.
rukmaniṣkasahasrē dvē ṣōḍaśāśvaśatāni ca.

satkṛtya kaikayīputraṅ kēkayō dhanamādiśat৷৷2.70.20৷৷


kēkayaḥ king of Kekaya, kaikayīputraṅ son of Kaikeyi, satkṛtya having honoured, dvē two, rukmaniṣkasahasrē two thousand gold coins, ṣōḍaśa aśvaśatāni ca sixteen hundred horses also, dhanam as wealth, ādiśat bestowed.

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

dadāvaśvapatiḥ kṣipraṅ bharatāyānuyāyinaḥ৷৷2.70.21৷৷


tathā in the same way, aśvapatiḥ Ashwapati, bharatāya for Bharata, abhiprētān eamenable, viśvāsyān trustworthy men, guṇānvitān virtuous men, amātyān counsellors, anuyāyinaḥ as companions, dadau gave.

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

kharān śrīghrānsusaṅyuktānmātulō.smai dhanaṅ dadau৷৷2.70.22৷৷


mātulaḥ maternal uncle, asmai for him (Bharata), airāvatān born in Iravata mountain, aindraśirān born in Indrasira mountain, priyadarśanān beautiful to behold, nāgān elephants, śīghrān swift- moving, susaṅyuktān well-trained, kharān asses, dhanam riches, dadau gave.

His maternal uncle gave him the wealth of good-looking elephants born in Iravata and Indrasira mountains and swift-moving and well-trained asses which can be yoked easily. He gave riches too.
antaḥpurē.ti saṅvṛddhān vyāghravīryabalānvitān.

daṅṣṭrā৷৷yudhānmahākāyān śunaścōpāyanaṅ dadau৷৷2.70.23৷৷


antaḥpurē in the inner apartment, ati saṅvṛddhān well-raised, vyāghravīryabalānvitān having the strength and courage of tigers, daṅṣṭrā৷৷yudhān whose fangs are their weapons spears, mahākāyān of huge body, śunaśca dogs also, upāyanam as gift, dadau gave.

He also gave him a gift of well-raised dogs of the inner apartment huge-bodied with the strength and courage of tigers who used their fangs as weapons.
sa dattaṅ kēkayēndrēṇa dhanaṅ tannābhyanandata.

bharataḥ kaikayīputrō gamanatvarayā tadā৷৷2.70.24৷৷


tadā then, gamanatvarayā in a hurry to depart, saḥ that, kaikayīputraḥ son of Kaikeyi, bharataḥ Bharata, kēkayēndrēṇa by the king of Kekaya, dattam given, dhanam wealth, nābhyanandata 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.
babhūva hyasya hṛdayē cintā sumahatī tadā.

tvarayā cāpi dūtānāṅ svapnasyāpi ca darśanāt৷৷2.70.25৷৷


dūtānām messengers', tvarayā cāpi with the haste to depart, svapnasya dream's, darśanāccāpi also due to beholding, tadā then, asya his, hṛdayē in the heart, sumahatī intense, cintā
anxiety, babhūva hi 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.
sa svavēśmābhyatikramya naranāgāśvasaṅvṛtam.

prapēdē sumahacchrīmānrājamārgamanuttamam৷৷2.70.26৷৷


śrīmān prosperous, saḥ he (Bharata), naranāgāśvasaṅvṛtam thronged with men, elephants and horses, sumahat great, svavēśma his residence, abhyatikramya having passed by, anuttamam incomparable, rājamārgam royal highway, prapēdē obtained.

Prosperous Bharata on leaving his residence, passed through incomparable royal highway thronged with men, elephants and horses.
abhyatītya tatō.paśyadantaḥpuramudāradhīḥ.

tatastadbharataśśrīmānāvivēśānivāritaḥ৷৷2.70.27৷৷


udāradhīḥ noble-minded, abhyatītya having crossed, tataḥ thereafter, antaḥpuram inner apartment, apaśyat saw, tataḥ then, śrīmān prosperous, bharataḥ Bharata, anivāritaḥ without any restriction, tat in that apartment, āvivēśa entered.

Then the noble-minded, prosperous Bharata, on leaving the highway, saw the inner apartment of the king which he entered unhindered.
sa mātāmahamāpṛcchya mātulaṅ ca yudhājitam.

rathamāruhya bharataśśatrughnasahitō yayau৷৷2.70.28৷৷


saḥ bharataḥ that Bharata, matāmaham maternal grandfather, mātulam uncle, yudhājitam Yaddhajit, āpṛcchya taking leave, śatrughnasahitaḥ along with Satrughna, ratham chariot, āruhya having ascended, yayau went.

Thus having taken leave of his maternal grandfather and uncle Yuddhajit, Bharata accompanied by Satrughna boarded the chariot and went along.
rathānmaṇḍala cakrāṅśca yōjayitvā paraśśatam.

uṣṭra gō.śvabalairbhṛtyā bharataṅ yāntamanvayuḥ৷৷2.70.29৷৷


bhṛtyāḥ servants, maṇḍalacakrāṅśca of well-rounded wheels, paraśśatān more than a hundred, rathān chariots, yōjayitvā harnessing, uṣṭragōśvabalaiḥ with camels, oxen, and horses, yāntam going on, bharatam Bharata, anyayuḥ followed.

And the servants harnessing more than a hundred chariots of well-rounded wheels and also camels, oxen and horses followed Bharata who started off.
balēna guptō bharatō mahātmā sahāryakasyā.tmasamairamātyaiḥ.

ādāya śatrughnamapētaśatrurgṛhādyayau siddha ivēndralōkāt৷৷2.70.30৷৷


balēna with army, guptaḥ under the protection of, mahātmā illustrious, apētaśatruḥ devoid of enemies, bharataḥ Bharata, ātmasamaiḥ like himself, amātyaissaha accompanied by ministers, śatrughnam Satrughna, ādāya having taken, āryakasya venerable grandfather's, gṛhāt from house, siddha: like siddha, indralōkādiva from the regions of Indra, yayau 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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptatitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the seventieth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.