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.]

guhasya vacanaṅ śrutvā bharatō bhṛśamapriyam.

dhyānaṅ jagāma tatraiva yatra tacchrutamapriyam৷৷2.87.1৷৷


bharataḥ Bharata, bhṛśam highly, apriyam unpleasant, guhasya from Guha, vacanam words, śrutvā having heard, tat apriyam that unpleasant, yatra wherever, śrutam was heard, tatraiva there only, dhyānam thought, jagāma obtained.

Extremely unhappy over what he heard from Guha, Bharata was immersed in thought then and there.
sukumārō mahāsattvassiṅhaskandhō mahābhujaḥ.

puṇḍarīkaviśālākṣa staruṇaḥ priyadarśanaḥ৷৷2.87.2৷৷

pratyāśvasya muhūrtaṅ tu kālaṅ paramadurmanāḥ.

papāta sahasā tōtrairhyatividdha iva dvipaḥ৷৷2.87.3৷৷


sukumāraḥ delicate, mahāsattvaḥ highly energetic, siṅhaskandhaḥ with shoulders like that of a lion, mahābhujaḥ mighty-armed, puṇḍarīkaviśālākṣaḥ wide-eyed like lotus petals, taruṇaḥ youthful, priyadarśanaḥ of graceful appearance, muhūrtaṅ kālaṅ tu for a moment, pratyāśvasya having revived, paramadurmanāḥ with deeply distressed mind, tōtraiḥ by whips, atividdhaḥ smitten, dvipaḥ iva like an elephant, sahasā at once, papāta fell down.

The delicate, youthful, highly energetic and mighty-armed Bharata of graceful appearance, with shoulders like that of a lion and wide-eyed like lotus petals, recovered for a moment and with a mind deeply distressed fell down at once like an elephant smitten by a goad.
tadavasthaṅ tu bharataṅ śatrughnō.nantarasthitaḥ.

pariṣvajya rurōdōccairvisaṅjñaśśōkakarśitaḥ৷৷2.87.4৷৷


anantarasthitaḥ standing close by, śatrughnaḥ Satrughna, tadavastham in this state, bharatam Bharata, pariṣyajya having embraced, śōkakarśitaḥ smitten with grief, visaṅjñaḥ having lost his senses, uccaiḥ loudly, rurōda cried.

Seeing Bharata in that state, Satrughna who was standing close by, smitten with grief clasped him, cried loudly and fell senseless.
tatassarvāssamāpēturmātarō bharatasya tāḥ.

upavāsakṛśā dīnā bhartṛvyasanakarśitāḥ৷৷2.87.5৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, upavāsakṛśāḥ emaciated due to fasting, dīnāḥ desolate, bhartṛvyasanakarśitāḥ afflicted by the calamity of their husband's death, sarvāḥ all, bharatasya Bharata's, tāḥ mātaraḥ mothers, samāpētuḥ 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.
tāśca taṅ patitaṅ bhūmau rudantyaḥ paryavārayan.

kausalyā tvanusṛtyainaṅ durmanāḥ pariṣasvajē৷৷2.87.6৷৷


tāśca all of them, rudantya: sobbing, bhūmau on the ground, patitam fallen, tam him, paryavārayan surrounded, kausalyā tu as for Kausalya, durmanāḥ in a depressed mind, anusṛtya approaching, ēnam that Bharata, pariṣasvajē 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.
vatsalā svaṅ yathā vatsamupagūhya tapasvinī.

paripapraccha bharataṅ rudantī śōkalālasā৷৷2.87.7৷৷


śōkalālasā distressed in grief, tapasvinī desolate, vatsalā with filial love, rudantī weeping, svam her own, vatsaṅ yathā like child, upagūhya clasping, bharatam Bharata, paripapraccha enquired.

Desolate Kausalya, in deep distress, clasped Bharata out of filial love as if he were her own child, wept and enquired of him:
putra vyādhirna tē kacciccharīraṅ paribādhatē.

adya rājakulasyāsya tvadadhīnaṅ hi jīvitam৷৷2.87.8৷৷


putra O son!, vyādhiḥ illness, tē śarīram your body, kaccit na paribādhatē is not troubling, I hope, adya now, asya rājakulasya of this royal house, jīvitam life, tvadadhīnaṅ hi is dependent on you.

O son! I hope you are not affected by illness. Now the existence of this royal house devolves on you.
tvāṅ dṛṣṭvā putra! jīvāmi rāmē sabhrātṛkēgatē.

vṛttē daśarathē rājñi nātha ēkastvamadya naḥ৷৷2.87.9৷৷


putra O son, sabhrātṛkē along with your brother, Lakshmana, rāmē Rama, gatē having gone, rājñi king, daśarathē Dasaratha, vṛttē had departed, tvām you, dṛṣṭvā seeing, jīvāmi I am living, adya now, tvam you, ēkaḥ alone, naḥ for us, nāthaḥ 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.
kaccinna lakṣmaṇē putra! śrutaṅ tē kiṅcadapriyam.

putrē vā.pyēkaputrāyā ssahabhāryē vanaṅ gatē৷৷2.87.10৷৷


putra! O son, lakṣmaṇē relating to Lakshmana, sahabhāryē with his wife, vanam to the forest, gatē had gone, ēkaputrāyāḥ of me having only one son, putrē vā or relating to Rama, kiṅcit even little, apriyam unpleasant news, tē to you, kaccit na śrutam 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.
sa muhūrtaṅ samāśvasya rudannēva mahāyaśāḥ.

kausalyāṅ parisāntvēdyaṅ guhaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷2.87.11৷৷


mahāyaśāḥ of great renown, saḥ that Bharata, muhūrtam for a moment, samāśvasya composing himself, kausalyām Kausalya, parisāntvēdyaṅ reassuring, rudannēva still weeping, guham to Guha, vacanam these words, abravīt said.

Highly renowned Bharata, composing himself for a moment and still weeping, reassured Kauslaya, and then said this to Guha:
bhrātā mē kvāvasadrātrau kva sītā kva ca lakṣmaṇaḥ.

asvapacchayanē kasmin kiṅ bhuktvā guha śaṅsa mē৷৷2.87.12৷৷


guha O Guha, mē bhrātā my brother, rātrau in the night, kva where, avasat did he dwell, sītā Sita, kva where did she stay, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, kva where did he stay, kim what, bhuktvā having eaten, kasmin in which, śayanē couch, asvapat did he sleep, mē to me, śaṅsa 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.
sō.bravīdbharataṅ hṛṣṭō niṣādādhipatirguhaḥ.

yadvidhaṅ pratipēdē ca rāmē priyahitē.tithau৷৷2.87.13৷৷


niṣādādhipatiḥ overlord of the nishadas, saḥ guhaḥ that Guha, hṛṣṭaḥ delighted, priyahitē beloved
friend, atithau guest, rāmē relating to Rama, yadvidham in whatever way, pratipēdē all that he had provided, bharatam to Bharata, abravīt said.

Thereupon delighted Guha, overlord of the nishadas, told Bharata all that he had provided to Rama, his beloved friend and guest:
annamuccāvacaṅ bhakṣāḥ phalāni vividhāni ca.

rāmāyābhyavahārārthaṅ bahucōpahṛtaṅ mayā৷৷2.87.14৷৷


mayā by me, rāmāya to Rama, abhyavahārārtham for the purpose of meal, uccāvacam of various kinds, annam rice, bhakṣāḥ eatables, vividhāni of several kinds, phalāni ca fruits also, bahu in great quantity, upahṛtam was brought.

I offered Rama rice including a variety of eatables like fruits in great quantity for his food.
tatsarvaṅ pratyanujñāsīdrāma ssatyaparākramaḥ.

na tu tatpratyagṛhṇātsa kṣatradharmamanusmaran৷৷2.87.15৷৷


satyaparākramaḥ a man with truth as prowess, rāmaḥ Rama, tatsarvam all that, pratyanujñāsīt acknowledged ordered, saḥ he, kṣatradharmam the duty of a kshatriya, anusmaran remembering, tat all that, na tu pratyagṛhṇāt 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.
na hyasmābhiḥ pratigrāhyaṅ sakhē! dēyaṅ tu sarvadā.

iti tēna vayaṅ rājannanunītā mahātmanā৷৷2.87.16৷৷


rājan O king, sakhē! O friend, āsmābhiḥ by us, na pratigrāhyam should not be received, sarvadā always, dēyam should be given, iti thus, mahātmanā by the great, tēna by him, vayam we, anunītāḥ 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'.
lakṣmaṇēna samānītaṅ pītvā vāri mahāyaśāḥ.

aupavāsyaṅ tadā.kārṣīdrāghavassaha sītayā৷৷2.87.17৷৷


mahāyaśāḥ the illustrious one, rāghavaḥ Rama, tadā then, lakṣmaṇēna by Lakshmana, samānītam brought by, vāri water, sītayā saha with Sita, pītvā after drinking, aupavāsyam fasting, akārṣīt undertook.

Illustrious Rama along with Sita only drank the water brought by Lakshamana and undertook fasting.
tatastu jalaśēṣēṇa lakṣmaṇō.pyakarōttadā.

vāgyatāstē traya ssandhyāṅ samupāsata saṅhitāḥ৷৷2.87.18৷৷


tataḥ tu thereafter, tadā then, lakṣmaṇō.pi Lakshmana also, jalaśēṣēṇa with the remainder of the water, akarōt satisfied his hunger, tē trayaḥ those three, vāgyatāḥ observing silence, saṅhitāḥ intently, sandhyām evening worship, samupāsata performed.

Thereafter Lakshmana also drank the remainder of water. Then all the three observing silence intently performed the evening worship.
saumitristu tataḥ paścādakarōtsvāstaraṅ śubham.

svayamānīya barhīṅṣi kṣipraṅ rāghavakāraṇāt৷৷2.87.19৷৷


tataḥ paścāt thereafter, saumitristu son of Sumitra on his part, svayam himself, barhīṅṣi darbha grass, ānīya having brought, rāghavakāraṇāt for the sake of Rama, kṣipram quickly, śubham auspicious, svāstaram comfortable bed, akarōt prepared.

Therafter, the son of Sumitra (Lakshmana) himself fetched darbha grass and quickly
prepared an auspicious and comfortable bed for Rama.
tasminsamāviśadrāma ssvāstarē saha sītayā.

prakṣālya ca tayōḥ pādāvapacakrāma lakṣmaṇaḥ৷৷2.87.20৷৷


rāmaḥ Rama, tasmin on that, svāstarē bed, sītayā saha with Sita, samāviśat lay down, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, tayōḥ their, pādau feet, prakṣālya having washed, apacakrāma 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.
ētattadiṅgudīmūlamidamēva ca tattṛṇam.

yasminrāmaśca sītā ca rātriṅ tāṅ śayitāvubhau৷৷2.87.21৷৷


rāmaśca Rama as well as, sītā Sita, ubhau both, tāṅ rātrim that night, yasmin where, śayitau slept, tat that, iṅgudīmūlam foot of the ingudi tree, ētat this only, tat that, tṛṇaṅ ca grass bed, idamēva this one only.

Here at the foot of the ingudi tree and upon that bed of grass both Rama and Sita rested that night.
niyamya pṛṣṭhē tu talāṅgulitravān śaraissupūrṇāviṣudhī parantapaḥ.

mahāddhanu ssajyamupōhya lakṣmaṇō niśāmatiṣṭhatparitō.sya kēvalam৷৷2.87.22৷৷


parantapaḥ scorcher of enemies, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, talāṅgulitravān wearing protective covering for his palms and fingers (made of goha-skin), śaraiḥ arrows, supūrṇau filled with, iṣudhī two quivers, pṛṣṭhē on his back, niyamya strapping, sajyam furnished with string, mahat great, dhanuḥ bow, upōhya holding, niśām during that night, asya Rama's, paritaḥ surrounding, atiṣṭhat kēvalam stood throughout.

Lakshmana, the scorcher of enemies, wearing protective covering for his palms and fingers (made of goha-skin), strapping on his back two quivers filled with arrows,
holding a great bow, strung ready, stood sentinel throughout the night guarding the surrounding.
tata stvahaṅcōttamabāṇacāpadhṛt sthitō.bhavaṅ tatra sa yatra lakṣmaṇaḥ.

atandritairjñātibhirāttakārmukairmahēndrakalpaṅ paripālayaṅstadā৷৷2.87.23৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, ahaṅ tu as for me, tadā then, uttamabāṇacāpadhṛt holding the best of arrows and bow, atandritaiḥ with the indefatigable, āttakārmukaiḥ armed with bows, jñātibhiḥ with my kinsmen, mahēndrakalpam comparable to Indra, paripālayan while protecting, lakṣmaṇaḥ Lakshmana, yatra wherever, tatra there, sthitaḥ abhavam 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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptāśītitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the eightyseventh sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.