Sloka & Translation

[Bharata enquires about Rama, Sita and Lakshmana -- Guha narrates to Kausalya how Rama, Sita and Lakshmana spent their time, matted their hair and slept on grass.]

गुहस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा भरतो भृशमप्रियम्।

ध्यानं जगाम तत्रैव यत्र तच्छ्रुतमप्रियम्।।2.87.1।।


भरतः Bharata, भृशम् highly, अप्रियम् unpleasant, गुहस्य from Guha, वचनम् words, श्रुत्वा having heard, तत् अप्रियम् that unpleasant, यत्र wherever, श्रुतम् was heard, तत्रैव there only, ध्यानम् thought, जगाम obtained.

Extremely unhappy over what he heard from Guha, Bharata was immersed in thought then and there.
सुकुमारो महासत्त्वस्सिंहस्कन्धो महाभुजः।

पुण्डरीकविशालाक्ष स्तरुणः प्रियदर्शनः।।2.87.2।।

प्रत्याश्वस्य मुहूर्तं तु कालं परमदुर्मनाः।

पपात सहसा तोत्रैर्ह्यतिविद्ध इव द्विपः।।2.87.3।।


सुकुमारः delicate, महासत्त्वः highly energetic, सिंहस्कन्धः with shoulders like that of a lion, महाभुजः mightyarmed, पुण्डरीकविशालाक्षः wideeyed like lotus petals, तरुणः youthful, प्रियदर्शनः of graceful appearance, मुहूर्तं कालं तु for a moment, प्रत्याश्वस्य having revived, परमदुर्मनाः with deeply distressed mind, तोत्रैः by whips, अतिविद्धः smitten, द्विपः इव like an elephant, सहसा at once, पपात fell down.

The delicate, youthful, highly energetic and mightyarmed Bharata of graceful appearance, with shoulders like that of a lion and wideeyed like lotus petals, recovered for a moment and with a mind deeply distressed fell down at once like an elephant smitten by a goad.
तदवस्थं तु भरतं शत्रुघ्नोऽनन्तरस्थितः।

परिष्वज्य रुरोदोच्चैर्विसंज्ञश्शोककर्शितः।।2.87.4।।


अनन्तरस्थितः standing close by, शत्रुघ्नः Satrughna, तदवस्थम् in this state, भरतम् Bharata, परिष्यज्य having embraced, शोककर्शितः smitten with grief, विसंज्ञः having lost his senses, उच्चैः loudly, रुरोद cried.

Seeing Bharata in that state, Satrughna who was standing close by, smitten with grief clasped him, cried loudly and fell senseless.
ततस्सर्वास्समापेतुर्मातरो भरतस्य ताः।

उपवासकृशा दीना भर्तृव्यसनकर्शिताः।।2.87.5।।


ततः thereafter, उपवासकृशाः emaciated due to fasting, दीनाः desolate, भर्तृव्यसनकर्शिताः afflicted by the calamity of their husband's death, सर्वाः all, भरतस्य Bharata's, ताः मातरः mothers, समापेतुः rushed towards him.

Then Bharata's mothers, who were emaciated due to fasting and afflicted by the calamity of the death of their husband were desolate, rushed towards him.
ताश्च तं पतितं भूमौ रुदन्त्यः पर्यवारयन्।

कौसल्या त्वनुसृत्यैनं दुर्मनाः परिषस्वजे।।2.87.6।।


ताश्च all of them, रुदन्त्य: sobbing, भूमौ on the ground, पतितम् fallen, तम् him, पर्यवारयन् surrounded, कौसल्या तु as for Kausalya, दुर्मनाः in a depressed mind, अनुसृत्य approaching, एनम् that Bharata, परिषस्वजे took him into her arms.

Sobbing, they gathered around Bharata who had fallen on the ground, while Kausalya approached him in a depressed state and took him into her arms.
वत्सला स्वं यथा वत्समुपगूह्य तपस्विनी।

परिपप्रच्छ भरतं रुदन्ती शोकलालसा।।2.87.7।।


शोकलालसा distressed in grief, तपस्विनी desolate, वत्सला with filial love, रुदन्ती weeping, स्वम् her own, वत्सं यथा like child, उपगूह्य clasping, भरतम् Bharata, परिपप्रच्छ enquired.

Desolate Kausalya, in deep distress, clasped Bharata out of filial love as if he were her own child, wept and enquired of him:
पुत्र व्याधिर्न ते कच्चिच्छरीरं परिबाधते।

अद्य राजकुलस्यास्य त्वदधीनं हि जीवितम्।।2.87.8।।


पुत्र O son, व्याधिः illness, ते शरीरम् your body, कच्चित् न परिबाधते is not troubling, I hope, अद्य now, अस्य राजकुलस्य of this royal house, जीवितम् life, त्वदधीनं हि is dependent on you.

O son I hope you are not affected by illness. Now the existence of this royal house devolves on you.
त्वां दृष्ट्वा पुत्र जीवामि रामे सभ्रातृकेगते।

वृत्ते दशरथे राज्ञि नाथ एकस्त्वमद्य नः।।2.87.9।।


पुत्र O son, सभ्रातृके along with your brother, Lakshmana, रामे Rama, गते having gone, राज्ञि king, दशरथे Dasaratha, वृत्ते had departed, त्वाम् you, दृष्ट्वा seeing, जीवामि I am living, अद्य now, त्वम् you, एकः alone, नः for us, नाथः are protector.

O my son, with Rama gone to the forest along with your brother Lakshmana and with king Dasaratha departed from this world, I continue to live seeing you. From now on you alone are our sole protector.
कच्चिन्न लक्ष्मणे पुत्र श्रुतं ते किंचदप्रियम्।

पुत्रे वाऽप्येकपुत्राया स्सहभार्ये वनं गते।।2.87.10।।


पुत्र O son, लक्ष्मणे relating to Lakshmana, सहभार्ये with his wife, वनम् to the forest, गते had gone, एकपुत्रायाः of me having only one son, पुत्रे वा or relating to Rama, किंचित् even little, अप्रियम् unpleasant news, ते to you, कच्चित् न श्रुतम् is not heard, I hope not.

O my son, I hope you have not heard any unpleasant news about Lakshmana or
about my only son Rama who has gone to the forest along with his wife.
स मुहूर्तं समाश्वस्य रुदन्नेव महायशाः।

कौसल्यां परिसान्त्वेद्यं गुहं वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.87.11।।


महायशाः of great renown, सः that Bharata, मुहूर्तम् for a moment, समाश्वस्य composing himself, कौसल्याम् Kausalya, परिसान्त्वेद्यं reassuring, रुदन्नेव still weeping, गुहम् to Guha, वचनम् these words, अब्रवीत् said.

Highly renowned Bharata, composing himself for a moment and still weeping, reassured Kauslaya, and then said this to Guha:
भ्राता मे क्वावसद्रात्रौ क्व सीता क्व च लक्ष्मणः।

अस्वपच्छयने कस्मिन् किं भुक्त्वा गुह शंस मे।।2.87.12।।


गुह O Guha, मे भ्राता my brother, रात्रौ in the night, क्व where, अवसत् did he dwell, सीता Sita, क्व where did she stay, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, क्व where did he stay, किम् what, भुक्त्वा having eaten, कस्मिन् in which, शयने couch, अस्वपत् did he sleep, मे to me, शंस tell me.

O Guha where did my brother Rama, Sita and Lakshmana spend that night? What did they eat? On what couch did they sleep? Tell me all that.
सोऽब्रवीद्भरतं हृष्टो निषादाधिपतिर्गुहः।

यद्विधं प्रतिपेदे च रामे प्रियहितेऽतिथौ।।2.87.13।।


निषादाधिपतिः overlord of the nishadas, सः गुहः that Guha, हृष्टः delighted, प्रियहिते beloved
friend, अतिथौ guest, रामे relating to Rama, यद्विधम् in whatever way, प्रतिपेदे all that he had provided, भरतम् to Bharata, अब्रवीत् said.

Thereupon delighted Guha, overlord of the nishadas, told Bharata all that he had provided to Rama, his beloved friend and guest:
अन्नमुच्चावचं भक्षाः फलानि विविधानि च।

रामायाभ्यवहारार्थं बहुचोपहृतं मया।।2.87.14।।


मया by me, रामाय to Rama, अभ्यवहारार्थम् for the purpose of meal, उच्चावचम् of various kinds, अन्नम् rice, भक्षाः eatables, विविधानि of several kinds, फलानि च fruits also, बहु in great quantity, उपहृतम् was brought.

I offered Rama rice including a variety of eatables like fruits in great quantity for his food.
तत्सर्वं प्रत्यनुज्ञासीद्राम स्सत्यपराक्रमः।

न तु तत्प्रत्यगृह्णात्स क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन्।।2.87.15।।


सत्यपराक्रमः a man with truth as prowess, रामः Rama, तत्सर्वम् all that, प्रत्यनुज्ञासीत् acknowledged ordered, सः he, क्षत्रधर्मम् the duty of a kshatriya, अनुस्मरन् remembering, तत् all that, न तु प्रत्यगृह्णात् did not accept it.

Rama whose prowess is his truth, acknowledged all that but remembering the duty enjoined on a kshatriya did not accept them.
न ह्यस्माभिः प्रतिग्राह्यं सखे देयं तु सर्वदा।

इति तेन वयं राजन्ननुनीता महात्मना।।2.87.16।।


राजन् O king, सखे O friend, आस्माभिः by us, न प्रतिग्राह्यम् should not be received, सर्वदा always, देयम् should be given, इति thus, महात्मना by the great, तेन by him, वयम् we, अनुनीताः were entreated.

O king that great Rama entreated us in a friendly manner by saying 'O friend we should always give to others but should never accept anything from others'.
लक्ष्मणेन समानीतं पीत्वा वारि महायशाः।

औपवास्यं तदाऽकार्षीद्राघवस्सह सीतया।।2.87.17।।


महायशाः the illustrious one, राघवः Rama, तदा then, लक्ष्मणेन by Lakshmana, समानीतम् brought by, वारि water, सीतया सह with Sita, पीत्वा after drinking, औपवास्यम् fasting, अकार्षीत् undertook.

Illustrious Rama along with Sita only drank the water brought by Lakshamana and undertook fasting.
ततस्तु जलशेषेण लक्ष्मणोऽप्यकरोत्तदा।

वाग्यतास्ते त्रय स्सन्ध्यां समुपासत संहिताः।।2.87.18।।


ततः तु thereafter, तदा then, लक्ष्मणोऽपि Lakshmana also, जलशेषेण with the remainder of the water, अकरोत् satisfied his hunger, ते त्रयः those three, वाग्यताः observing silence, संहिताः intently, सन्ध्याम् evening worship, समुपासत performed.

Thereafter Lakshmana also drank the remainder of water. Then all the three observing silence intently performed the evening worship.
सौमित्रिस्तु ततः पश्चादकरोत्स्वास्तरं शुभम्।

स्वयमानीय बर्हींषि क्षिप्रं राघवकारणात्।।2.87.19।।


ततः पश्चात् thereafter, सौमित्रिस्तु son of Sumitra on his part, स्वयम् himself, बर्हींषि darbha grass, आनीय having brought, राघवकारणात् for the sake of Rama, क्षिप्रम् quickly, शुभम् auspicious, स्वास्तरम् comfortable bed, अकरोत् prepared.

Therafter, the son of Sumitra (Lakshmana) himself fetched darbha grass and quickly
prepared an auspicious and comfortable bed for Rama.
तस्मिन्समाविशद्राम स्स्वास्तरे सह सीतया।

प्रक्षाल्य च तयोः पादावपचक्राम लक्ष्मणः।।2.87.20।।


रामः Rama, तस्मिन् on that, स्वास्तरे bed, सीतया सह with Sita, समाविशत् lay down, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, तयोः their, पादौ feet, प्रक्षाल्य having washed, अपचक्राम left for a distant place.

Rama lay down upon the bed along with Sita. Thereafter Lakshmana, having washed their feet, moved to a distant place.
एतत्तदिङ्गुदीमूलमिदमेव च तत्तृणम्।

यस्मिन्रामश्च सीता च रात्रिं तां शयितावुभौ।।2.87.21।।


रामश्च Rama as well as, सीता Sita, उभौ both, तां रात्रिम् that night, यस्मिन् where, शयितौ slept, तत् that, इंगुदीमूलम् foot of the ingudi tree, एतत् this only, तत् that, तृणं च grass bed, इदमेव this one only.

Here at the foot of the ingudi tree and upon that bed of grass both Rama and Sita rested that night.
नियम्य पृष्ठे तु तलाङ्गुलित्रवान् शरैस्सुपूर्णाविषुधी परन्तपः।

महाद्धनु स्सज्यमुपोह्य लक्ष्मणो निशामतिष्ठत्परितोऽस्य केवलम्।।2.87.22।।


परन्तपः scorcher of enemies, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, तलाङ्गुलित्रवान् wearing protective covering for his palms and fingers (made of gohaskin), शरैः arrows, सुपूर्णौ filled with, इषुधी two quivers, पृष्ठे on his back, नियम्य strapping, सज्यम् furnished with string, महत् great, धनुः bow, उपोह्य holding, निशाम् during that night, अस्य Rama's, परितः surrounding, अतिष्ठत् केवलम् stood throughout.

Lakshmana, the scorcher of enemies, wearing protective covering for his palms and fingers (made of gohaskin), strapping on his back two quivers filled with arrows,
holding a great bow, strung ready, stood sentinel throughout the night guarding the surrounding.
तत स्त्वहंचोत्तमबाणचापधृत् स्थितोऽभवं तत्र स यत्र लक्ष्मणः।

अतन्द्रितैर्ज्ञातिभिरात्तकार्मुकैर्महेन्द्रकल्पं परिपालयंस्तदा।।2.87.23।।


ततः thereafter, अहं तु as for me, तदा then, उत्तमबाणचापधृत् holding the best of arrows and bow, अतन्द्रितैः with the indefatigable, आत्तकार्मुकैः armed with bows, ज्ञातिभिः with my kinsmen, महेन्द्रकल्पम् comparable to Indra, परिपालयन् while protecting, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, यत्र wherever, तत्र there, स्थितः अभवम् remained standing.

Then, holding the best of arrows and bow along with my indefatigable kinsmen similarly armed with bows, I stood by the side of Lakshmana guarding Rama who is comparable to Indra.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्ताशीतितमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the eightyseventh sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.