Sloka & Translation

[Bharata's journey with queens, ministers and all others.]

tata ssamutthitaḥ kālyamāsthāya syandanōttamam.

prayayau bharataśśīghraṅ rāmadarśanakāṅkṣayā৷৷2.83.1৷৷


tataḥ then, bharataḥ Bharata, kālyam at dawn, samutthitaḥ risen, syandanōttamam best chariot, āsthāya
having boarded, rāmadarśanakāṅkṣayā longing to see Rama, śīghram swiftly, prayayau set forth.

Getting up at dawn, Bharata boarded his excellent chariot and set forth swiftly, longing to see Rama.
agrataḥ prayayustasya sarvē mantripurōdhasaḥ.

adhiruhya hayairyuktānrathānsūryarathōpamān৷৷2.83.2৷৷


sarvē all, mantripurōdhasa: ministers and priests, hayaiḥ horses, yuktān harnessed, sūryarathōpamān resembling the chariot of the Sun, rathān chariots, adhiruhya having mounted, tasya his, agrataḥ in front of, prayayuḥ went.

All the ministers and priests went ahead of Bharata mounting their chariots, harnessed with horses and resembling the chariot of the Sun god.
navanāgasahasrāṇi kalpitāni yathāvidhi.

anvayurbharataṅ yāntamikṣvākukulanandanam৷৷2.83.3৷৷


yathāvidhi as per tradition, kalpitāni arranged, navanāgasahasrāṇi nine thousand elephants, yāntam while going, ikṣvākukulanandanam the delight of the house of Ikshvakus, bharatam Bharata, anvayuḥ followed.

As per tradition, nine thousand elephants were arranged to follow Bharata, delight of
the race of the Ikshvakus as he set out.
ṣaṣṭī rathasahasrāṇi dhanvinō vividhāyudhāḥ.

anvayurbharataṅ yāntaṅ rājaputraṅ yaśasvinam৷৷2.83.4৷৷


ṣaṣṭi: sixty, rathasahasrāṇi thousands of chariots, vividhāyudhā: men with weapons of every kind, dhanvinaḥ archers, yāntam while going, yaśasvinam illustrious, rājaputram king's son, bharatam Bharata, anvayuḥ followed.

Sixty thousands chariots and many archers holding weapons of every kind followed the illustrious prince Bharata as he went.
śataṅ sahasrāṇyaśvānāṅ samārūḍhāni rāghavam.

anvayurbharataṅ yāntaṅ satyasandhaṅ jitēndriyam৷৷2.83.5৷৷


rāghavam born in the Raghu race (Bharata), satyasandham adhering to truth, jitēndriyam one who conquered passions, yāntam while going, bharatam Bharata, samārūḍhāni mounted by riders, aśvānām of horses, śatam hundred, sahasrāṇi thousand, anvayuḥ followed.

One hundred thousand horses each mounted by a rider followed Bharata, one who had conquered his passion and adhered to truth.
kaikēyī ca sumitrā ca kausalyā ca yaśasvinī.

rāmānayanasaṅhṛṣṭā yayuryānēna bhāsvatā৷৷2.83.6৷৷


kaikēyī ca Kaikeyi as well as, sumitrā ca Sumitra also, yaśasvinī illustrious, kausalyā ca Kausalya also, rāmānayanasaṅhṛṣṭāḥ delighted at the thought of bringing Rama back, bhāsvatā by a resplendent, yānēna by the chariot, yayuḥ went.

Kaikeyi, Sumitra as well as the illustrious Kausalya travelled by a resplendent chariot, delighted with the thought of bringing Rama back.
prayātāścāryasaṅghātā rāmaṅ draṣṭuṅ salakṣmaṇam.

tasyaiva ca kathāścitrāḥ kurvāṇā hṛṣṭamānasāḥ৷৷2.83.7৷৷


āryasaṅghātāśca venerable groups of people, hṛṣṭamānasāḥ delighted in their hearts, citrāḥ various, tasyaiva Rama's only, kathāḥ accomplishments, kurvāṇāḥ doing, salakṣmaṇam with Lakshmana, rāmam Rama, draṣṭum to see, prayātāḥ went forth.

Venerable people in groups, narrating various accomplishments of Rama and eager to see him with Lakshmana, proceeded in a delightful mood.
mēghaśyāmaṅ mahābāhuṅ sthirasattvaṅ dṛḍhavratam.

kadā drakṣyāmahē rāmaṅ jagata śśōkanāśanam৷৷2.83.8৷৷


mēghaśyāmam dark-blue like rain-cloud, mahābāhum the mighty-armed, sthirasattvam firm in strength, dṛḍhavratam steadfast in vows, jagataḥ of this world, śōkanāśanam destroyer of sorrow, rāmam Rama, kadā when, drakṣyāmahē shall see?

When shall we see that mighty-armed Rama of dark-blue complexion like the rain-cloud, firm in strength and steadfast in vows and the destroyer of the sorrows of this world?
dṛṣṭa ēva hi na śśōkamapanēṣyati rāghavaḥ.

tama ssarvasya lōkasya samudyanniva bhāskaraḥ৷৷2.83.9৷৷


samudyan rising, bhāskaraḥ Sun, sarvasya of the entire, lōkasya world's, tamaḥ iva like darkness, rāghavaḥ Rama, dṛṣṭa ēva at his sight alone, naḥ our, śōkam sorrow, apanēṣyati will dispel.

At his sight alone our sorrows will be dispelled, the way the darkness of the entire world is dispelled by the rising Sun.
ityēvaṅ kathayantastē samprahṛṣṭāḥ kathā śśubhāḥ.

pariṣvajānāścānyōnyaṅ yayurnāgarikā janāḥ৷৷2.83.10৷৷


tē they, nāgarikāḥ janāḥ inhabitants of the city, ityēvam in this way, śubhāḥ delightful, kathāḥ achievements, kathayantaḥ narrating, samprahṛṣṭāḥ joyfully, anyōnyam mutually, pariṣvajānāśca embracing also, yayuḥ proceeded.

The inhabitants of the town proceeded joyfully, narrating Rama's delightful achievements on their way by embracing one another.
yē ca tatrāparē sarvē sammatā yē ca naigamāḥ.

rāmaṅ prati yayurhṛṣṭā ssarvāḥ prakṛtayastathā৷৷2.83.11৷৷


tatra there, yē ca aparē all the others, sammatāḥ respectable, yē ca naigamāḥ those merchants, tathā similarly, sarvāḥ all, prakṛtayaḥ subjects, hṛṣṭāḥ delighted, rāmam prati to Rama, yayuḥ went along.

Respectable city folks, like traders and other subjects went along in great delight towards Rama.
maṇikārāśca yē kēcitkumbhakārāśca śōbhanāḥ.

sūtrakarmakṛtaścaiva yē ca śastrōpajīvinaḥ.2.83.12৷৷

mayūrakāḥ krākacikā rōcakā vēdhakāstathā.

dantakārā ssudhākārā stathā gandhōpajīvinaḥ৷৷2.83.13৷৷

suvarṇakārāḥ prakhyātāstathā kambaladhāvakāḥ.

snāpakōṣṇōdakā vaidyādhūpakāśśauṇḍikāstathā৷৷2.83.14৷৷

rajakāstunnavāyāśca grāmaghōṣamahattarāḥ.

śailūṣāśca saha strībhiryayuḥ kaivartakāstathā৷৷2.83.15৷৷


yē those, kēcit some others, maṇikārāḥ gem-polishers, śōbhanāḥ richly decorated, kumbhakārāśca potters, yē śastrōpajīvinaḥ those who live on making weapons (weapon-smiths), sūtrakarmakṛtaścaiva those who work with thread (weavers), mayūrakāḥ makers of adornments with peacock feathers, krākacikāḥ those who work with saws (sawyers), rōcakāḥ makers of artificial ornaments, vēdhakāḥ perforators (of shells and ornaments), tathā also, dantakārāḥ artists who work with ivory, sudhākārāḥ those engaged in whitewashing, tathā also, gandhōpajīvinaḥ subsisting on selling fragrant essences (perfumers), prakhyātāḥ renowned, suvarṇakārāḥ goldsmiths, tathā also, kambhaladhāvakāḥ blanket-cleaners, snāpakōṣṇōdakāḥ hot bath attendants, vaidyāḥ physicians, śauṇḍikāḥ distillers and sellers of spiritual liquor (vintners), dhūpakāḥ incense merchants, rajakāḥ washermen, tunnavāyāśca those who do sewing work
(tailors), grāmaghōṣamahattarāḥ important people in villages and hamlets where cowherds reside, strībhiḥ saha along with women, śailūṣāḥ actors, tathā similarly, kaivartakāḥ fishermen, yayuḥ went.

Gem-polishers, potters, weapon-smiths, weavers, makers of adornments with peacock feathers, sawyers, makers of artificial ornaments, perforators of shells and ornaments, ivory-workers, whitewashers, purveyors of fragrant essences, renowned goldsmiths, blanket-cleaners, hot-bath attendants, physicians, vintners, incense merchants, washermen, tailors, headmen of villages and hamlets, actors along with their wives, fishermen -- all followed Bharata.
samāhitā vēdavidō brāhmaṇā vṛttasammatāḥ.

gōrathairbharataṅ yāntamanujagmu ssahasraśaḥ৷৷2.83.16৷৷


samāhitāḥ with composed mind, vṛttasammatāḥ renowned for their virtuous conduct, vēdavidaḥ learned in the Vedas, sahasraśaḥ in thousands, brāhmaṇāḥ brahmins, yāntam departing, bharatam Bharata, gōrathaiḥ on bullock carts, anujagmuḥ followed.

Brahmins learned in the Vedas and renowned for their virtuous conduct followed Bharta in their thousands on bullock carts with composed minds.
suvēṣā śśuddhavasanāstāmramṛṣṭānulēpanāḥ.

sarvē tē vividhairyānai śśanairbharatamanvayuḥ৷৷2.83.17৷৷


suvēṣāḥ well-dressed, śuddhavasanāḥ in clean clothing, tāmramṛṣṭānulēpanāḥ anointed with pure red
sandalpaste, tē sarvē all those, vividhaiḥ various, yānaiḥ on vehicles, śanaiḥ slowly, bharatam Bharata, anvayuḥ followed.

Dressed well in clean clothes and anointed with pure red sandalpaste, they all slowly followed Bharata, mounting on various vehicles.
prahṛṣṭamuditā sēnā sā.nvayātkaikayīsutam.

bhrāturānayanē yāntaṅ bharataṅ bhrātṛvatsalam৷৷2.83.18৷৷


prahṛṣṭamuditā overwhelmed with joy and cheer, sā sēnā that army, bhrātuḥ brother's, ānayanē to bring back, yāntam set out, kaikayīsutam Kaikeyi's son (Bharata), bhrātṛvatsalam to his brother, Rama, bharatam Bharata, anvayāt followed.

The army, overwhelmed with joy and cheer followed the devoted brother Bharata who had set out to bring back Rama.
tē gatvā dūramadhvānaṅ rathayānāśvakuñjaraiḥ.

samāsēdustatō gaṅgāṅ śṛṅgībērapuraṅ prati৷৷2.83.19৷৷

yatra rāmasakhō vīrō guhō jñātigaṇairvṛtaḥ.

nivasatyapramādēna dēśaṅ taṅ paripālayan৷৷2.83.20৷৷


tē they, rathayānāśvakuñjaraiḥ on chariots, carriages, horses and elephants, dūram a great distance, adhvānam the path, gatvā having travelled, tataḥ thereafter, rāmasakhaḥ Rama's friend, vīraḥ valiant, guhaḥ Guha, jñātigaṇaiḥ with relatives, vṛtaḥ surrounded by, tam that, dēśam country, apramādēna vigilantly, paripālayan ruling, yatra where, nivasati living, śṛṅgībērapuraṅ prati near Srngiberapura, gaṅgām Ganges, samāsēduḥ reached.

After travelling a long distance on chariots, carriages, horses and elephants, they reached the river Ganga close to Srngiberapura, a country ruled vigilantly by Rama's friend, the valiant Guha who lived there along with his relatives.
upētya tīraṅ gaṅgāyāścakravākairalaṅkṛtam.

vyavātiṣṭhata sā sēnā bharatasyānuyāyinī৷৷2.83.21৷৷


bharatasya anuyāyinī following Bharata, sā sēnā that army, cakravākaiḥ with chakravakas (the ruddy geese), alaṅkṛtam graced, gaṅgāyāḥ river Ganga's, tīram bank, upētya having reached, vyavātiṣṭhata halted there.

The army following Bharata reached the bank of the river Ganga, graced by chakravakas (ruddy geese) and halted there.
nirīkṣyānugatāṅ sēnāṅ tāṅ ca gaṅgāṅ śivōdakām.

bharatassacivānsarvānabravīdvākyakōvidaḥ৷৷2.83.22৷৷


anugatām following, sēnām army, śivōdakām having sacred waters, tāṅ gaṅgāṅ ca that river Ganga, nirīkṣaya having gazed at, vākyakōvidaḥ proficient in speech, bharataḥ Bharata, sarvān all, sacivān to ministers, abravīt said.

As he beheld the army following him and the river Ganga of sacred waters in front of him, Bharata who was proficient in speech said to his ministers:
nivēśayata mē sainyamabhiprāyēṇa sarvataḥ.

viśrāntāḥ pratariṣyāmaśśva idānīmimāṅ nadīm৷৷2.83.23৷৷


mē sainyam my army, abhiprāyēṇa according to their desires, sarvataḥ all over, nivēśayata you may halt, idānīm now, viśrāntāḥ having taken rest, nadīm river, śvaḥ tomorrow, pratariṣyāmaḥ will cross.

You may, according to your convenience, halt the army anywhere here and, after taking rest (for the night), we shall cross the river Ganga tomorrow.
dātuṅ ca tāvadicchāmi svargatasya mahīpatēḥ.

aurdhvadēhanimittārthamavatīryōdakaṅ nadīm৷৷2.83.24৷৷


nadīm river, avatīrya descending, svargatasya to the departed, mahīpatēḥ king's, aurdhvadēhanimittārtham for the good of his life in the other world, udakam libations with water, dātum ca to offer, icchāmi tāvat I wish.

Meanwhile, I shall get into this river and offer libations with water to the departed king for the good of his life in the other world.
tasyaivaṅ bruvatō.mātyāstathētyuktvā samāhitāḥ.

nyavēśayaṅstāṅ chandēna svēna svēna pṛthakpṛthak৷৷2.83.25৷৷


tasya his (Bharata's), ēvam in this way, bruvataḥ while saying, amātyāḥ ministers, tathēti 'be it so', uktvā saying, samāhitāḥ with composed minds, tām they, svēna svēna each of their, chandēna with pleasure, pṛthak pṛthak separately nyavēśayan rested.

While he (Bharata's) was speaking this way, all the ministers assented by saying 'Be it so' and made arrangement for their troops to rest separately according to their pleasure.
nivēśya gaṅgāmanu tāṅ mahānadīṅ camūṅ vidhānaiḥ paribarhaśōbhinīm.

uvāsa rāmasya tadā mahātmanō vicintayānō bharatō nivartanam৷৷2.83.26৷৷


bharataḥ Bharata, paribarhaśōbhinīm looking splendid with their royal insignia, camūm army, tām that, mahānadīm mighty river, gaṅgām anu following Ganga, vidhānaiḥ with adequate arrangements, nivēśya encamping, tadā then, mahātmanaḥ magnanimous, rāmasya Rama's, nivartanam to bring back, vicintayānaḥ pondering, uvāsa stayed.

The army encamped by Bharata looked splendid with royal insigaia. After making necessary arrangements for the army on the bank of the mighty river Ganga and pondering over the means of bringing back the magnanimous Rama, Bharata stayed.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē tryaśītitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the eightythird sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.