By Kambar (Kavichakravarthy Kamban)
Translated in English by P. R Ramachander
Kamba Ramayanam-Ayodhya Kandam-Padalam 10-12
10. Palli padai padalam
Chapter on the cremation.
(The messengers travelling for seven days reach Bharata and without telling the news v brought him back. Bharata isa shocked to see the sorry state of Ayodhya, While he was searching for his father, the maid of Kaikeyi informs him to meet his mother. When Kaikeyi informs the bad news Bharata shouts at her.Later he goes and meets queen Kausalya. After clearing her misunderstandings, When he starts the process of cremation of body of Dasaratha, Vasishta informs him that since Dasaratha has disowned him, he cannot do the cremation. The cremation is done by Shatrugna. The sixty thousand wives of Dasaratha enter the fire along with Dasaratha. The councilors approach Bharata and request him to become the king. Valmiki Ramayana tells that Bharata sees a dream of ill omen about his father’s death, before messengers reach him. The leave taking from his maternal grand father and uncle are not mentioned in Kamba Ramayana. According to Valmiki Ramayana Bharata reaches Ayodhya in six days. The detailed path he takes is also mentioned there. Bharata himself goes to Kaikeyi’s palace unlike Kamba Ramayana ,Instead of cursing himself to suffer if he has done the evil deed, In Valmiki Ramayana , he curses , the person who was responsible for it. Bharata performs the funeral rites in Valmiki Ramayana and is not stopped by sage Vasishta. The wives of Dasaratha do not jump in fire but give water oblations to their lord. On 13th day in Valmiki Ramayana Vasishta talks about inevitability of death . ON the same day Shatrugna tries to torture Mandhara and is stopped by Bharata.)
2102.Those matchless emissaries who were wedded to truth,Drove throughout night and day without stopping,Reached the place of Bharata and said ,“Hey, security at the gate, tell about our arrival to our king.”
2103.When they informed “Emissaries with words ,Of your father has come “, Bharata with happy frame of mind,With love told them ,”send them here” and they entered, saluted him,And he asked” Are there any problems to the king ?”
2104.When they told , “ he is OK” , Bharata became happy ,And further asked , “does my Lord Rama along with,The well ornamented Lakshmana live with wealth of,Absence of tiresomeness and anxiety” and when,They replied “Yes” Bharata saluted the direction of Rama ,With both his hands held over his head,
2105.Afterwards he enquired about welfare of his relatives ,In the order according to tradition and after becoming happy,And then the emissaries told him, “Oh Lord with prettiness,That cannot be drawn in a picture , here is the divine message”
2106,As soon as they told like this , he praised and saluted it,And with his matchless long arms in which he wore gold ornaments ,Received it , with a very sentimental mind he kept,It on his head which has been decorated by flowers,
2107.After keeping that letter on his head which had sandal paste on it ,And after breaking the lac mud seal , he opened and saw .The letter written on palm leaf and to those emissaries ,Who brought it gave wealth beyond one crore as gift.
2108.With his mind becoming happy at the prospect of seeing his brother ,A smile like a lustrous moon appeared on his face , With hairs all over his body standing up straight , with ebbing flow of affection,He offered mentally flowers at the holy feet of Rama.
2109.He then reached his palace and ordered his army to start ,Saluted his grand father who was the king of Kekaya country,He got up in the chariot drawn by horses along with his brother,Without bothering to see whether the date and time where auspicious.
2110.Elephants surrounded him , chariots made great sound,Many kings accompanied him , the soldiers armed with sword,Surrounded him , the conches boomed and the huge drums ,Made great noise like the ocean which was filled with fish.
2111. The flags came near him , the decorative hangings surrounded him,Ladies with long eyes like tender mango and young she elephants ,Marched very near to him and the luster of the ornaments,Worn by those ladies shined like lightning with thunder everywhere.
2112. The carts were going spreading themselves everywhere,Many musical instruments gave sound which was like the thunders of cloud,On the garlands worn by people the bees made sound,And the horses which remain on the circular ground went behind him.
2113.The sound of the Vedas were broadcast through the pipe with holes ,The horses with bent face which shook their heads ,Which had the strength to travel even in skies and Which were capable of travelling over the sea came there.
2114.Those who were experts in using the bow , experts in sword war fare .Great wrestlers , experts in throwing small knives,Those who were experts in throwing spears and tridents to kill,Ands very experienced drivers of elephants came surrounding him.
2115.The buffalo crowd which threw one against the other,Many male animals , cocks which can obey one’s signs,The Kaudari bird with long hairs on its body and the people ,Who were experts in warfare intended to protect also came near.
2116,Those people who are close due to knowledge in their mind,Were anxious and wanted to fly back to Ayodhya , like,Devas born in the world by curse who were anxious,To go back to their places, once they realize that they are devas.
2117.The song of the royal flatterers mixed with honey ,Entered the ears and spread up to the sky and ,The sound of drums , like the soul which is merged with,The body with blood , Merged with the sweetness of that song.
2118. The muted sound of songs of blessing chanted by Vedic scholars,Was greater than great sound released by Drums beaten by short stick ,And the sound of praise was much stronger than ,The thunder like sound of valour raised by valorous soldiers.
2119.Bharatha after travelling for seven days in which he crossed,Rivers, forests and huge mountains and afterwards , reached ,The Kosala country where the jaggery syrup from sugarcane factories ,Breaks open the bunds and flowing through canals and ,Irrigate the fields in which the best of the seedlings are planted.
2120. The fields were not having ploughs , the shoulders,Of young lads were not having garlands , the cool fields ,Did not have crops of paddy , there were no lotus flowersAnd the goddess of the lotus flower had gone out of that country.
2121. The juice of sweet fruits came out as there was none to pluck it,And this went to great water bodies which were completely spoiled.The lustrous flowers due to absence of people to pluck them and use them,Came out of their stalks , fell in the ground and got dried up.
2122. The red paddy , due to the absence of cultivator who knew ,The proper time to harvest it , got deteriorated andDue to the toddy produced by the skin of mango fruits ,Bent town , got broken and again grew up in the land.
2123.Those farmer ladies who by their pretty noses defeated,The pretty flower of Gingelly , appeared to have in side quarrel, With the husbands whom they loved and did not bother,To weed the fields and they were lying listlessly.
2124,The parrots also had stopped talking , the ladies with long hair, Did not go and meet their friends whom they loved very much,Those birds did not carry their message and did not come back,The big drums were not raising any sound and in those ,Golden avenues processions of celebrations did not go.
2125,The Flutes stopped producing music , the dancing stages. Stopped having dances ,water bodies stopped having bathing,The head stopped decorating by flowers and the mansions,With moon lit courtyards stopped singing auspicious songs.
2126.The lustrous face of the people did not have smile,The mansions did not have smoke from Akil ,The lamps with stands did not have flames going upward,And the hairs of ladies lost the honey dripping flower clusters.
2127.The luxurious fertile paddy crop which was below ,The very wide pond , due to water not coming from the pond ,Dried like the beggars who stand near the door,Of the cruel misers getting faded .
2128.That blessed wealth land whose prosperity cannot be,Adequately described , looked as if the goddess of wealth,Who sits on the lotus flower has gone to a long distance ,Had lost its beauty and was like a body without soul.
2129.Seeing his country in such a state , Bharata became very sad,And as he was not aware of the happenings in that place ,Thinking that there is a bad news which is waiting for him,Hesitated , got very much tired and left a painful breath.
2130.That Bharata who was the great son of the kingWhose ornament was truth, further proceeded and,With his mind travelling much faster than the chariot ,With serious thought looked at the tall doors of the city.
2131.Seeing the lustrous Sun God who has one thousand rays,“You have roamed all over the world and so stay in our town,And go after taking food “ once said the flags of the city which touched the sky,Which appeared as if trying to stop him on his way ,And Bharata was not able to see the forest of such flags.
2132.The great sound of the huge drums which seemed to call people and say,“Take away all the wealth we have earned so that we can win great fame,And so please come quickly and receive them”, was not heard by him.
2133,That Bharata who wore flower garlands from which bees ,Were drinking honey did not see the royal flatterers ,The musician who sing on auspicious musical instruments ,The crowd of she elephants , wealth and all those ,People who used to get gifts and take them away like thieves.
2134.That Bharata who was born to the king who protected the world,Did not see Brahmins, The devas of earth getting as charity ,Horses , cows , elephants with flowing rut and Great wealth attracting love from the kingdom.
2135. Due to musician groups and the bees that go round them ,As well as musical instruments with strings were not ,Singing songs based on seven notes and due to that,And was looking like the hair of young peacock like women.
2136. Without Chariots, horses , elephants , palanquins, and carts on which people travel,Due to people who travel and drive not being there , the roads of Ayodhya,Were like river with white sands without incoming water and were not pretty.
2137. That great Bharata who was appreciated by very great people,Saw the city which was in such a state and looking at his brother told ,“Oh brother , Does this Ayodhya look like the prosperous townRuled by Dasaratha ? What is this state for this city?”
2138.”This town has lost its prettiness like the town of our enemies,Who are different from us. And it is looking like the huge ocean of milk,Deserted by Lord Vishnu who is like huge black pregnant cloud,And Goddess Lakshmi who had broad eyes similar to kayal fish.”
2139. That Shatrugna who was like a young king lion and ,Who was wearing various gem studded ornaments ,Saluted his brother folding both his hands “the sorrow,That has occurred is not a simple one for it seems,Goddess of wealth has forsaken this city which would be there up to deluge.
2140.When they were talking like this crossing with speed of thought ,The long auspicious streets with mansions having flags tied at their entrance ,Were crossed by the son of the emperor and ,He reached the palace where his father normally stays.
2141.Bharatha who had high shoulders that put mountains to shame,Due to desire reached there speedily but was not able to see ,The king with great strength in normal places that he lives,And became sad thinking that it is a surprising news.
2142.At that time when Bharata was searching for his father ,To salute him with his hands , one maid servant of Kaikeyi,Who has shoulders like bamboo told him,“Your mother has called you and so please come here.”
2143.He went there and saluted his mother’s feet,And she hugged him with all her heart and asked,“Is it all right with my father , brother and sisters?”And that Bharata with matchless good said, “yes.”
2144”Due to great love , I have come to salute,The lotus feet of my father . My mind is disturbed and is shaking.Where is the king who is great among men and wears a long crown?”He said to his mother saluting her with his two folded hands.
2145,When he told like this , she whose mind is never disturbed,Said, “That Dasaratha who wears the flower garland from which honey drips,And who had a great army which destroyed the power of Asuras ,Has reached the heavens , with the devas saluting him on the way. Please do not be sad”
2146.As soon as these harsh words which were like a spear,Entered his ears , that Bharata who has hair which was like steps,Fell like a huge Maramara which was hit by a great thunder Falling on the earth and lost his senses as well as breath.
2147.With his face loosing his luster with tears falling like a stream,From his eyes which were like the just opened lotus flower,He told his mother “Would anybody else speak the words ,Which were like keeping the raging fire on the ears?”
2148.Bharatha who was as pretty as lord Subrahamanya fell down,Became sad and again fell down , sobbed , let out hot breath,With a destroyed mind prattled , wailed and then started talking like this .
2149.”Oh God like king , you , after cutting off the root of Dharma ,After killing grace and made the great feeling of your mercy dark,You are now dead and by that you have forgotten justice,And is there a wrong act to do than this?”
2150”.After cutting off anger which is your enemy ,After putting off the fire of passion from your mind,And after completely removing all bad character which are enemies,You were walking in the path agreeable to all, Oh charitable one ,Is walking in the way that you want , a good character?”
2151.”Oh Lord Dasaratha, who made the great stories Of the first one of our clan and others known all over the world,How did you go away leaving Rama who powdered the strength ,Of the bow of Lord Shiva who had a eye in the forehead?
2152. “Oh lord ., who rotated the wheel of kingship properly,Realizing that there are no body who wants anything from others,Did you go away searching for people with wants?Do such people exist in other world?”
2153.”Oh emperor who had broad shoulders which made wrestling disappear,Leaving out all those beings who were living under the shade ,Of your white royal umbrella and making them wilt without shade ,Did you go to the land of devas desiring the scented shade of Karpaga tree.”
2154,”Oh Sir , possibly there are other asuras in the land of devas,Who have an army like that of Sambarasura and because of that ,Due to the trouble from the asuras , devas having lost their world ,Have perhaps surrendered to you and that is why perhaps you have gone there.”
2155,Due to kings who were having armies where musical instruments,Are densely distributed were defeated by you and were paying ,Huge amount of wealth to you and you have given them to ,Brahmins who are experts in Vedas as well as ceaselessly conducted ,The Aswa medha Yaga as well other yagnas for benefit of devas,Would you be able to be in heaven doing nothing?
2156.”Oh Lord of elephants in rut having seven body parts above ,Possibly seeing that Rama was not doing anything , you ,Have given the wheel of kingship to him, which were looked after ,By your powerful pretty shoulders and have gone to heaven.
2157. You being one without any desire have given the entire earth to Rama ,Who was son whom you got as a result of great penance , and have gone away,Without being able to see with your own eyes, Rama becoming king as per custom ,And celebrating the take over of the kingdom by the crowning ceremony.
2158.Bharata who was able to tolerate the sorrow caused by the death,Of the king , told such words several times and in several ways ,And after shedding tears like a mountain stream , somehow consoled,Himself and then He who had a strong bow like god of death told.
2159”.Rama with great character is my father , mother , godAs well as my elder brother and so unless I salute ,His feet this great sorrow would not part from me “, he told.
2160.As she heard these words , Kaikeyi who was capable ,Of telling thunder like words again told Bharata,“Oh son with a bow that can kill enemies , Rama,Along with his wife as well as his younger brother,Who are two in number has gone to the forest.”
2161.Hearing her words that “He is in the forest”, Bharata,Thought and thought about it and became like one who has swallowed fire,And told himself ” still what other bad fate is in store for me?”,And further told “How much more sorrow news I have to hear?”
2162.That great one who was very sad and greatly upset asked,“Did that great one wearing heroic anklets, go to the forest,Because , “he did harm for others” or is it due to the,“great anger of Gods “ or is it due to bad fate ,Which is above these or due to some other reason?”
2163. “If Rama himself has done some evil deed ,it must be,AS an act of a mother to look after all the beings on the earth,But please tell me whether Rama went to the forest ,Before the death of my father or after it”, he asked.
2164.Kaikeyi replied , “it is not because he found fault with elders ,Nor due to very great pride nor due to any of the Gods ,And he went to the forest , when the Sun like king was still alive.”
2165,BHaratha again asked ,”if Rama did not do any crime,And if some of his enemies had not got angry with him,And if it is not due to ills done to the Gods , even when,His father was alive , what is the reason for him to go to forest?Please tell me clearly so that I can understand.”
2166.”Due to the boons that Dasaratha gave me by words,I sent my son(Rama) to the forest and then made this earth ,Belong to you and because he was not able to bear it,That king who was the ruler , gave up his life.”
2167.His hand that was held in salutation closed both his ears ,Even before Kaikeyi finished her words completely ,His eye brows bent and travelled up and down,From his breath flames of fire came out ,And both his eyes became blood shot.
2168. His cheeks throbbed and from his hair pores fire came out,On all sides and the smoke that came out covered all sides ,His mouth was folded tightly and his hands , which were ,Used to charity like rain , hit with each other and huge sound was produced,
2169.When the feet of that very angry Bharata were alternatively kept on earth,The earth as well as Mount Meru started wavering like a ship carrying an elephant ,With a matchless mast which was hit by by a huge hurricane while travelling in sea.
2170. The devas got scared and many asuras died because of fear ,The elephants of directions which were in rut , got the holes of rut closed,The Sun set and the normally angry god of death , closed his eyes.
2171.That very angry Bharata who was like a lion,Did not think that Kaikeyi who had done cruel deeds is his mother,But fearing that Rama would get angry if he kills her,Started telling words which are as cruel as a thunder.
2172.”My father is no more due to your cruel trick,And my brother has undertaken great penance ,But I have not torn your mouth that asked such boons ,And me who am stil alive after hearing these words,Would be blamed by the world that it is due to my desire.”
2173.”You are still alive and I am standing before you doing nothing,And did not beat and make you fall by the time one can say “A”,And the reason for this is that my mother like brother would get angry ,And not because you are being called as “my mother.”
2174.”One king was prepared to die because of your cruel words,One male , left the country which he has to rule ,And goes away to the forest and to rule this earth there is Bharata,And when things are like that , it seems Dharma is not affected.”
2175. “Except making people saying later that “once Bharata ,Due to cruel tricks of his mother changed the traditionOf his clan and had earned a bad name “, Is there ,Anything else that was done by your action.”
2176.”After destroying the limitation that was imposed by virtue ,You have completely uprooted and destroyed Dasaratha ,Who held a spear sharpened well and had also kept you ,Within his mind , by asking these boons and you are similar,To the python that swallows whatever is available,What else are you going to achieve in future?”
2177.”You have drunk the soul of your husband , you are not a disease ,But you are a devil and still you continue to be alive as you would not die,And you had suckled me when I was a baby , as you are definitely my mother.What else are you planning to give to me from now on.”
2178.”You ate away the king who never lied , by asking these boons,And you have earned a bad name which would be there till world ends,And you were happy when he died thinking you would enjoy all his wealth ,And how was it possible for you to be away from Rama , Please change your idea.”
2179.”My father fearing that bad name would come,Due to the boon granted by him has died, and his son,Thinking that it is the only proper dharma went to forest,By leaving the kingship and Bharata who was born with him,Would rule over the earth due to the trick played by his mother.”
2180. “Rama who was supposed to rule did not think ,That his father would die if he goes to the forest.And thought the differing thought of Kaikeyi .Was due to me and this one would truly rule the earth And gone to the forest, otherwise he would have returned.”
2181. That Dasaratha who belonged to the famous ancient clan,Whatever he might have of thought otherwise but to make Rama think,“This Bharata whom I thought would always work for me,Had thought about this cruel idea “, Is not the boon that my mother got sufficient.”
2182.” When my brother who was born before me is eating leaves,Kept on the leaf held in his hand , I who am cruel ,Am still alive and not only that , In a very good vessel,I am eating the sweet rice mixed with ghee which is like nectar ,And would not people who see it , think ill of me.”
2183.”The good king as soon as it was told to him that,“Rama who holds the bow on his shoulder has gone to cruel forest”Died immediately but I did not kill her who is like poison,Nor did I die and am crying like one who loves him ,As I am one who has not been affected by a very bad name.”
2184. “The people of this earth would not agree for it ,nor,Would I. by protecting my own life , accept the very bad name,But the bad name that you have created would not go away ,However much I try , The goddess of wealth will not stay in this city.With whom did you consult and who told you this idea,And why did you completely uproot Dharma?”
2185.” Using your murderous words I have murdered my father,And not only that , I have sent my elder brother to forest and ,I am now readying myself to rule the earth ,. Is there ,Any bad name for you and would the bad name for me go away at any time?”
2186.” Other people who do not know me are going to see what I do,And people on this earth without seeing that would laugh at me ,You have a bad name and I am standing thinking of a proverb that,“the poison that you have not taken cannot kill you “,Otherwise I would not continue to live.”
2187.”Due to the great unending sin of my being bornFrom your sinner’s stomach, to get rid of my sorrow ,With god of Dharma himself as witness , with ,The three worlds seeing me , I am going to do great penance.”
2188.”I have told you that good advice that would be given by great people,If you forget all the acts that you did and give up your soul which does not go,You would be considered as pure by this world and you would ,Also realize the need for being born in this world .And I do not think there is any way to get rid of your bad name” , he said.
2189. After telling such words like this deciding that ,He would not stay any more with this cruel minded sinner,For the sake of consolation from his sorrow , he decided that,He would go and salute the golden feet ,Of his mother Kausalya and went away from there.
2190.That best among the men went from there and reached ,The home of Kausalya and saluted her by falling on the ground,Making it break and with his pretty long hands ,Caught hold of the lotus feet of Kausalya and wailed.
2191.Making even the devas cry , since they were not able to bear it,“ In which world is my father there?” “Where is my elder brother?”Did I come back to see this sorry state? Please console me.”Bharata said.
2192. He rolled in the earth , making the dust , coat his shoulders saying,“I was not able to see the feet of my lord , is he who is the king of the world,The one who goes away from this city , possibly you did not ,Stop him while going and is it possible for you to live further?”
2193. “I would destroy all those who made him go to the forest,And what is the use of telling about it now , I should only do it ,And then I who am bad and took birth from that cruel lady ,Would also die , so that my great sorrow would end.”
2194.That Bharata who had a shoulder like emerald mountain said,“This ancient clan which was lit by the sun who by crawling ,In his chariot puts an end to all darkness ,Has now got a bad name which is called “Bharata”.
2195.Bharata who is the personification of Dharma and who had,Long arms which would touch his thighs wailed that,“With Dasratha who had an army armed with sword living in heaven,And with his matchless elder son reaching the forest, this country is blind,”
2196.Kausalya with great heritage , virtue as well as patience ,Seeing Bharata who was sorrowing saw his depression by her mind,And concluded that he was not the one who wanted to rule the country,And that his mind was pure and becoming greatly sad,For her previous impressions told him as follows.
2197. Kausalya thought that he is one who does not have dirt in his mind and does not,Have any sinful thoughts but honest one and became clear about it and looking at him told,“Possibly you did not know the cheating done by the daughter of king of Kekaya.”
2198.Bharatawho had fallen at her feet, as soon as he heard these words,Started crying like a lion which has been caught and making Dharma ,AS well as the God of death shiver started telling ,The following words of great oath by his toungue.
2199-2202 .”He who tried to destroy Dharma , He who does not have mercy in mind,He who lived depending on others , he who got angry at others,He who eked out his living by killing innocent beings,He who willfully caused trouble to sages with great penance ,He who killed the great elders and ladies with his sword,He who had gone to war along with the king ,But retreated with his enemies seeing his back ,He who beats the beggars and steals their earnings,He who told that Lord Vishnu who wears the cool thulasi garland as not God,He who lives make using the ability of Brahmins,He who is a devil who instead of protecting the faultless Vedas says that it is all lies ,The sinner who fills up his stomach while his mother starves to death,And who after seeing his king die in the battle field , saves his own life,Would all go to the burning hell , but let me go there before them.”
2203, Let me fall in that hell from which there is no freedom,Where the person who fearing for his life ,Gives away to the enemy , one surrendered at his feet,And also the one who forgot Dharma.
2204.”Let me speedily fall in to that truly cruel hell , where,Those who tells false witness , those who go to war with valour but return,Those who hide and make their own the material given for protection,And He who troubles others , in the same place where they are in trouble fall.”
2205.”Let me also fall in that terrible hell which causes great pain,Where the one who sets fire to the houses of Brahmins,The one who kills small boys , the one who gives biased judgment,And the one who berates and abuses Gods go.”
2206.”Let that hell where the one who kills the calf ,By taking away all the milk of the cow and drinks it,One who hides the properties of others and usurps it,And one who is an ungrateful bitter one goes.”
2207.”Let me get the same fate as those who run away with their life ,When dacoits are torturing , the maids with sweet words who came with them,And he who eats food seeing others nearby are hungry and are suffering for food.”
2208.”Let me also fall in the same hell as he who salutes .His enemies in the battle field where weapons are thrown,To save his own life and those who due to desire of long ,Wealthy life usurps the property of those who earn according to Dharma.”
2209.”Let me become that fallen one like one who gets ,The power to rule and under impression that he can do anything,Forgets the Dharma which is with him for several generations,And goes in such a path that will bring bad name to him.”
2210.”When the citizens come and request for protection,If the king makes them run away with great confusion in their mind,And if due to his avarice for land wages war with the enemy kings ,And later concede victory to the enemies and let me go that way.”
2211.”Let me go that hell which would be attained by ,The one who wishes to rape an unmarried girl,The one who looks at his teacher’s wife with bad intention,The one who drinks toddy and one who earns wealth by dishonest means.”
2212.”Let me go to that hell which would be attained by ,Who eats when hungry that which should not be eaten like dog,Who is talked by the world as neither a male nor female ,And who is not ashamed by it , who is not bothered about good advice,And who always keeps on babbling about bad acts done by others.”
2213”.Let me go by that path by which one who tells imaginary faults,About ancient families which do not have fault , one who throws out ,The little food of poor ones during a famine and one who eats good food,Making others get water in their mouth , without sharing it with them.”
2214.”Let me become one who wastes without need the valorous deed,And one who for the sake protecting this temporary body eatrs the food thrown,By those enemies who had got angry at him.”
2215.”Let me also share a part of that horrible hell of the god of death,Of one who is a big sinner who makes the people who request for something,Wander to and fro by telling “not there” , when he really has ,And when it is there by not giving him at that time.”
2216. “Carrying the small knife which would cut into pieces,The enemies in his long hands and protecting this bad smelling , body,Which is the base of all diseases, let me salute the enemies whom I should conquer,In front of ladies who have a smile like pearls.”
2217.”Let me stand blinking before my enemies who do not like me ,With pulling legs due to metal chains in the legs , after saving my life,When the enemy conquers my country surrounded by pretty fields of,Paddy , sugar cane and great forests on all sides.”
2218.Kausalya after hearing these pure words from her son,Felt as if Rama who has gone to cruel forest had come back,And with great happiness hugged Bharata with same love as she had towards Rama.
2219.Kausalya who understood the good mind as well as acts Of Bharata,As well the bad character and bad acts of Kaikeyi from the words of Bharata ,Started sobbing and sobbing with her thick breasts expelling milk.
2220.Thinking and thinking with a torn mind Kausalya sobbed,“King of kings none of your ancestors who ruled this kingdom ,Before you were equal to you.” And thus she blessed him.
2221.The younger brother Shatrugna , with a crying and weeping mind,Fell at the holy feet of Kausalya , talked to her in the same fashion as Bharata,And later fainted and at that time sage Vasishta came there.
2222. Bharata fell at feet of sage Vasishta who came there and asked,“Please tell me where my father is?” with great pain and fainted.That great sage who was not knowing what to tell , hugged Bharata and cried.”
2223.”Oh stain less son , It is already fourteen days since ,Your very strong father expired and soon please do,The rituals needed to be performed by a son “ Told ,Kausalya who was already drowned in sorrow.
2224.When the mother ordered , he saluted her feet And went along with the great sage with long matted hair,And saw the ancient form of Dasaratha who sacrificed himself,To save Dharma and who himself is the form of Dharma .
2225,He fell on the earth wailed and lost his consciousness,And he made the gold like pretty body of that king of earth ,Which was lying in the oil , bathe in the stream of his tears and made it drown.
2226.Brahmins who were experts in all the four Vedas ,Along with love and kindness took the body by their hands,And with the valorous drum playing sound of victory,They made it mount on a great Vimana made of gold.
2227.The people of the city, like the ocean which builds its own bank,With great sound wailed a lot , went round the ocean of kingsMaking their soul greatly disturbed and saluted him,And the body was taken from there on a elephant wearing a thread of beads.
2228.Conches , drums , flat drums and horns normally played at death,Were blaring forth from all sides making all those who heard it sad ,And that clouded city was like ladies wailing with beating their eyes.
2229.Along with horses elephants , chariots , kings ,Groups of Brahmins going in front of the body of the king,Surrounded by his queens reached Sarayu river with clear tides.
2230.The Brahmins reached there and after completing all the rituals,As mentioned in the books , after properly preparing the fire pot,Placed the body of Dasaratha on the pyre and looking at Bharata told,“Please do your duty to your father which is according to Vedas.”
2231.At that time when Bharata rose up to perform his duty,The sage Vasishta told him, “due to the cruel deed done,By your mother , even when he was alive the king had told,That you are not his son and so you do not have right to do the ritual.”
2232.Vasihta further said “Due to your being born, this dharma ,Of this dynasty has been broken and so your father ,Gave you up as a son and died and what we see here,,May be a son who has lost his identity ,it seems.”
2233.Like the cruel serpent hearing a great thunder retreats,With great fear, Bharata fell on the earth and with ,A very sorrowing mind which cannot be consoled by any,Sobbed and with his mind tottering and told like this.
2234.”I am not lucky enough to get the right to do,Death rituals to any of my forefathers in the clan of the sun,
And I am also not suitable to perform responsibility of rulingAnd who else is there among the great kings like me.”
2235.”Oh Vasishta , who is the son of Lord Brahma who sits on lotus,All my faultless ancestors due to their dharma and justice , became gods,Alas after birth , even when I am a boy , I have been wasted like this.”
2236,In the dead bunch of coconuts borne by a coconut tree,With a huge wide base , I have become an empty coconut,And see what great help has my mother who gave birth to meAnd protected me, has done to me , alas.”
2237.Vasishta who stood by the rules formulated by the four Vedas , And who had the habit of doing everything perfectly made ,Shatrugna who was the younger brother of the greatly sorrowingAnd flower garland wearing Bharata , to all the needed rituals.
2238.The wives of Dasaratha who were like the faded flower branches,With gold necklaces, pearl necklaces and hip belts shining,Drowned in that fire like the crowd of mountain peacocks ,Drowning in the forest of leafless lotus flowers.
2239.With their faces which were like lotus and the full moon,Getting more divine luster , feeling that fire was cooler than cool water,Getting rid of their sorrow , they reached that world of ,Ladies who follow their husband in death.
2240.After the death rites as per Sage Vasishta were got done ,By Shatrugna to that emperor Dasaratha , Bharata,Who was in the ocean of illnesses which was caused ,By getting the king’s wealth by an evil act reached his home.
2241.That son who was lying in the ocean of sorrow,Completed all the rituals as mentioned in ancient books,Which lasted for ten days , which appeared like eon to him .
2242.That victorious sage after providing help so that,All needed death rituals are completed, along with,Brahmins wearing the sacred thread following him,Reached the palace of Bharata and started telling ,Him who completed the death rituals and who held a victorious spear.
2243,The councilors of that country along with its wise people ,Feeling that “ It is not proper for a country to be without a king”,With a determined mind came and assembled there.
11.AAru chel padalam
Chapter about going to the river.
(Bharata refuses to become the king and said that they all should go and bring back Rama, This is announced by drum and the entire town which was in mourning started. None of them wore ornaments or had decorated them selves. Bharata and Shatugna wore wooden barks. Seeing Mandhara in the crowd of people going to the forest Shatrugna attacks her and is pacified by Bharata. In Valmiki Ramayana there is a detailed description of how the army constructed a road so that they can go easily. There is a great deal of planning done by Vasishta which is desctribed in Valmiki Ramayana. The description of their going is very brief in Valmiki Ramayana. The attack on Mandhara is not mentioned here.)
2244, Knowing that the Sage Vasishta who had knowledge of the rules of succession,Of kings and who was a saint who has done great penance as per the Vedas Is already present there the councilors came there and with a favourable heart and saluted Bharata.
2245.Along with the sages who lived in the sky , the council elders ,Citizens of the town , the chiefs of the army and all wise people ,Surrounded the pretty Bharata as per their rank and importance.
2246.When they were surrounding him like that Sumantra who ,Had the ability to know the needs of a king , who was greatly principled,Who was very wise and an expert in driving the golden chariot,Looked at the sage who knew everything , so that he would understand his intention.
2247.That great sage who understood the intentions of his look,Without it being told by the mouth told Bharata ,“protect this world as it is your responsibility “And started telling him further about , The need as well as greatness of the kingship.
2248.”Oh Bharata who has a faultless character , the purpose for which,These Brahmins , Great sages, Old elders , kings and others have come to you ,Is for establishing the rule of a king who will uphold Dharma ,And also stop any deterioration of the kingdom, please bear this in mind. “
2249.”Oh sir, You know well that to present a thing called Dharma to the world,Establish it and making all people adopt it , is a very great act,This Dharma is capable of giving good life here and also in heaven,And this Dharma is an act that is being done by clear minded great people .
2250.When we analyze it , that country which does not get ,A king who is prosperous and who does not have a strong sword ,Would be like the very desirable day time without Sun,The night without the clear white moon and ,The body without a soul inside it.
2251.Even in the world of devas and in the Asuras with great strength Who wander doing ill to others, and in all places which can be called world,We have not seen them without a king to protect them.
2252.If we see understand the tradition and examine it properly ,In this world created by Lord Brahma , we do not see any group without head ,In all the groups that stand and move and fill the entire land and sky .
2253.Till today the great kings of your clan who were appreciated ,By Brahma and others right from the time of their creation,Till today were protecting the earth and the earth and its oceanAre bubbling like a broken ship due to you not protecting them from sorrow.
2254.”Oh son, Your father is no more and your brother has left ,And you have got this earth to rule due to boon that your mother received,And so rule this great kingdom which has no end ,And we are think that it is proper “ said he after great thought.
2255.”The world needs your support so be its king and carry the burden”,When he heard the great sage telling this to him ,Tears like stream flowed from the eyes of Bharata,And he became more depressed than a shivering man,Who has been told that “Please swallow this poison.”
2256,He shivered , his toungue twisted while talking ,His eyes went inside and that one who had a merciful heart like a lady ,Wailed with all his heart and not able to breathe he fell down in a swoon,And once he woke up , he started addressing all those in that king’s council.
2257. “When Rama who is the matchless first in all the three worlds,And who is born before me is there , my getting crowned ,If it is considered as Dharma by wise people like you .How can there be any fault in what mother has asked the king?”
2258. “If you who are blessed with great character say ”This is good”,About the greatly cruel act of my mother which does not reach anywhere,Then here , after passing the tretha and Dwapara eons immediately ,The Kali eon which comes in the end which makes people bad , would come immediately.
2259.”You who are sitting in the king’s council should follow the example,
of the great clans of kings created by lord Brahma who was born in the lotus,That sprang up from the belly button of Lord Vishnu , , which ,Made the eldest son rule the country as per Dharma and law.
2260.” Even by what you suggest is as per Dharma , I would live,As a king who carries the burden of protecting the beings of the kingdom,And so please go and bring Rama and make him the king with ,The garlanded crown and follow the custom which has been followed from ancient times.”
2261.”If it is not possible , I would live with him in that great forest,And do the sweet penance as per religious rules , and if you,Tell me anything more and compel me , I will take away my life.” He said.
2262.”When the great king was still alive ,Rama was willing ,To be crowned with the gem studded crown and oh great Bharata,You say that you do not want the royal wealth which comes due to heredity,And among the younger royal sons , who has been born with your great fame?”
2263,”There is no need for you to increase your fame by ruling the kingdom,Protecting acts of Dharma and by performance of several Fire sacrifices,For your fame would live even if the seven worlds are destroyed”, they told.
2264.Bharatha summoned his brother and said to him,“let the cloud like drums be beaten and announce that,WE are going to bring back Rama who according to tradition,Is the king of this country, and order our army to start immediately.
2265.When the good Bharata told like this , Shatrugna announced it,All the soul less bodies of that city who loved Rama who were depressed by innate mercy,Immediately got life as if they were treated with nectar and they all shouted in joy.
2266.All the beings of the world including sages who have won over five senses,Hearing “That Rama would wear the golden crown”, became extremely happy ,And were those words the divine nectar which can be taken by the ears?”
2267.The great drums were beat and the word , “Bharata is going to bring,Rama to the city of flags and the army should depart for that purpose”,Was like the rise of moon who is the king of stars in that city.
2268.The huge army like the much talked about deluge rose like ,The seven oceans rising with great sound and started ,And the wish of daughter of Kekaya came to the naught,And it also destroyed completely the sorrow of (her?) parting with Rama.
2269.The horses chariots , carts and others were decorated ,And completely hid the earth , the huge number flags hid the skyAnd the dust that rose due to their marching hid the eyes of Lord Brahma.
2270. The sound “Ol “ made by thae army was greater than the great sound,Which would be produced when God Shiva destroys the world,And that army rose more because of their desire to see , Rama who was black like blue lotus.
2271. The male elephants with long trunks along with their female elephants ,Walked like black Rama who forsook kingship as well as the city of Ayodhya,And walked towards the forest which was filled with trees and plants ,Along with the creeping plant called Sita .
2272.The young female elephants walked with the maids who were possiblyAsking whether the lotus flowers produced in the slushy mud was superior to themAnd walked with their lotus like feet and made them as their enemies by their pretty walk,And since their gait was better, were defeated by them and were forced to carry them,
2273.The clouds sprayed their cool water to make the march of the army,Below the harshly hot sun more comfortable and the innumerable number of tall flags Shook like the maids who had not seen the crowning of Rama who held the bow with gloves.
2274. Innumerable kings , like the white Surya with very hot rays , taking several shapes ,Which one cannot count , moved with white moon (umbrella) above him andRode in the same path , on elephants which were like the clouds travelling on earth .
2275.An ocean of soldiers went riding on chariots ,An ocean of warriors on elephants moved like , They were moving on clouds with red dots on their face ,And another ocean of horse warriors rode on pretty faced horsesAnd an ocean of foot soldiers spread everywhere on earth.
2276.Long pipes, conches , curved pipes , kettle drums,Huge drums and several such instruments were silent ,Like the wise men walking silently in the company of idiots .
2277.Those ladies with lustrous beauty who made even devas baffled ,Walked wearing the faultless characters of ladies like shyness,Without wearing any ornaments and with the body not wanting decorations ,Like the flowering branches which had shed all its flowers.
2278.That army without the matchless royal white umbrella ,Of the king Dasaratha who ruled the entire earth that was,Surrounded by the ocean with great justice , was having only,The small white star like umbrellas of other kings and ,It looked like a sky with many stars but without the moon.
2279.That marching army crowded the earth making others say, That all directions are very small and further said that , if the earth ,Which is wearing the sea water sounding “Ol” as an apparel ,Can lift this very big army , than those who termed earth ,AS a lady must have been feeble ladies only.
2280. The thick young breasts of ladies were not coated with the mixture ,Of sandal and Akil pastes as usual and were not coated ,With the kukkum solution , they were not wearing pearl necklaces ,And were not made up and looked like tender coconuts.
2281. The strong shoulders of men , due to breasts of their wives ,Not being covered by pastes nor by scented garlands ,Were looking like a hill bereft of bushes and creepers .
2282.The ladies whose hair was not exposed to scented smoke,The normal decorations they do on themselves were absent ,And their eyes were without Kajal , and were looking like well washed spears,Of the soldiers who have completely won over their enemy.
2283.The waists of the ladies looked like chariot not decorated by gems,And their waist belts without gems did not have any luster ,And their coral like red feet without sound of anklets ,Was like lotus flowers without bees humming around them.
2284.Their waists which had the nature of bending due to their ,Not wearing the pearl chains , were taking rest as their burden was less,And so it looks like the fertile boon got by the daughter of Kekaya ,Was only being helpful to the waists of young ladies.
2285., Due to the parting of prince Rama, it looked like , that the army which was measure less Had lost its decorations ,the goddess of wealth had preferred to do penance ,And the God of love due to no body enjoying life was immersed in ocean of sorrow.
2286.If we say that , the army that started from Ayodhya was like the sea of deluge ,And is covering the earth , the sky and all directions , it would be inadequate ,For it was longer than the eyes and mind of the God of lotus, Lord Brahma.
2287. That shining army due to its drinking all waters of the sea,Due to making the world tilt to one direction and due to it,Pressing huge mountain in to a hill was similar to sage Agasthya.
2288.That great city of Ayodhya due to wise people children ,And all others as well as the densely situated army and the wealth,Going away , was like the bare sea when Agasthya drank all its water.
2289.Since the way that the army marched , had rivers with great waves,Fields , the trees that one liked ,mountains , earth was seen by the eye ,Like the great streets of the divine city of Ayodhya , without any change.
2290. In that army that was sent by that king , the water of rut let out by,The mountain like and cloud like elephants it seems did not have,The scent of garlands of men, flower worn by ladies and the round flower garlands.
2291.That sea of soldiers which was broader than the ocean where people,Climbing on their boats wander about was not having the luster of foreheads of ladies ,Or their lightning like waists or the ear globes that used to touch their shoulders.
2292. Due to the fact that the great army was marching without,Sound of many instruments like drums , it was looking like,The drawing of a very large army drawn on a big wall.
2293.The act of their darling Rama undertaking a life of the forest,Was like a protective armour to all the males as it prevented the ladies wearing Garland without flower petals attacking them with the arrow of love shot from their eyes
2294.The mind of men attacked by the cruel five arrows of God of love ,Did not stay in between the breasts of the ladies and enjoy them,Possibly with the thought that the anger against Kaikeyi wearing ,Heavy ear globes due to their burning in the mind of ladies made their breasts hot,
2295. When the army was marching this Bharata wore ,The bark cloth on his pretty waists and along with his brother,And along with the sorrow that he felt started riding on a huge chariot.
2296. His mothers , great sages , the ministers of his father ,His innumerable relatives and pure Brahmins surrounded,And went along him , and he reached the gate of the great town.
2297. When Shatrugna seeing Mandhara who was similar to god of death ,Going with the people going to forest , pushing every one ,Speedily went near her shouted loudly against her ,Caught her as if he wanted to throw her in the sky ,Bharata with pretty shoulders stopped and told him.
2298.””oh sir , If I quench my anger by cutting in to pieces ,My sinful mother who through her boons broke the tradition,Followed by our fore fathers , My lord Rama would ,Disown me as his brother and that is why I kept quiet,But not because I thought her as my mother.”
2299.”Oh brother who is an expert in the knowledge of faultless Vedas,Even if we get angry with this Kooni who caused all of us ,Endless troubles , Rama would hate us and due to this,Let us leave her “ telling this , with great difficulty,He took his younger brother along with him.
2300. With huge dense army and the great people of Ayodhya ,Surrounding him on one side like an ocean , Bharata,Stayed in the same garden where Rama , Sita and Lakshmana took rest.
2301.In the night he drowned himself in the stream,Of his own tears , without eating the fruits and roots,That are produced in the mountain and rested in the dust near ,The grass where Rama who held the bow on his high shoulders took rest.
2302.Bharatha hearing that greatest among men walked ,In that narrow path , started walking by that path and , the chariots and,The collection of horses followed Bharata who walked by that path.
12.Gangai kaan padalam
The chapter on seeing ganges.
(Guha suspects the intentions of Bharata and gets ready to attack him.Sumanthra then tells Bharata and about who Guha is. Seeing him dressed in bark and coated with dust Guha decided to go and meet him. Bharata salutes him and all misunderstandings are removed. Bharata requests Guha to help him cross the river Ganges. With Guha’s help all of them cross the river. Bharata introduces his mothers including Kaikeyi to Guha. All of them reach the hermitage of Bhardwaja. According to Valmiki Ramayana though Guha suspects Bharata , it was he who goes and meets him in his tent. There is a very detailed talk of Guha with Bharata about Lakshmana in Valmiki Ramayana . It is just mentioned in Kamba Ramayana.)
2303. The pretty tender hearted Bharata who wears the hero’s ,Anklets made of Gold who had a matchless army , moving ,Away from Kosala country which was like the Chozha country ,Made prosperous by Cauvery river , reached the banks of Ganges,Pitied by all moving and not moving beings.
2304.The large river Ganga which has lots of water ,Due to stream of rut water from cruel elephants ,Flowing everywhere became unfit to be drunk and Taken bath in by numerous bees and other insects .
2305. The dust raised entered in the world of devas ,Hit the heads of devas and spread every where there,We do not know about this but those which breathed heavily ,Swam in the stream and rolled on the mud were only horse groups.
2306. The water that flowed in the Gamges river was white like milk,Did not go and join the huge sounding long sea like it did earlier,But the ocean like army of the king with a flower decorated crown ate it away.
2307. The army that followed Bharata , who went to see Lord Rama ,Who had gone in to the forest in that way has been estimated,By elders as sixty thousand Akronis*.*21870 elephants , 21870 chariots , 65610 horses and 190350 land army.
2308.When the great army reached the river Ganges , angry Guha saw it ,And thought “why did this army start? .Is it to wage a war ,Against Rama with a black body who was like the cloud,That had taken out the water from the pearl laden city.
2309.That hunter chief who has valour like God of death,Saw the very huge crowd of Bharata ’s army like dust,With a sarcastic smile and fire coming out of his eyes,Developed a bow like bent eye brows due to anger.
2310.Guha had a huge army with five lakh soldiers each of whomWere like the God of death holding a trident ,who takes away The souls at the end of the worlds for destroying evil was an expert in arrow warfare.
2311. He had a sword tied to his hip, was one who bites lips with teeth,Who talked in a harsh way , who started with his eyes spitting fire,Who had a big drum to beat, who had the horn to announce war ,And had shoulders which go up with happiness thinking of the onset of war.
2312,. “This entire army is of rats and I am the snake “ he said , like ,All the tigers with bent nails who are in this strong world ,Assembling in one place the hunter army was shouting and he summoned them.
2313. Surrounded by that huge hunter army which had come together was similar to ,The rising together of clouds with thunder and the black sea at deluge ,Guha came and appeared at the southern shore of Ganges.
2314. Guha looking at the hunters who have assembled there told,“I have began the war to go to the heroes of heaven by fighting ,With the army of Bharata who have come to prevent ,Rama who is my soul like find getting the huge kingdom ,Please agree to this,”
2315. “Play the war drums , destroy the paths and ghats ,So that they cannot come here and catch all those ,Who manage to reach the southern shore In fast flowing ganges and kill them”, Guha told
2316.” He who has prevented my soul like lord , who is black in colour ,To get possession of his kingdom by usurping the ruler ship ,Has now come here. Would my fire spitting red arrows ,Fail to hit on them and if they escape from my arrows ,And reach near Rama, then would not the world call be dog like Guha?”
2317.”Would they be able to cross this deep Ganges with very heavy tide?Would I get scared on seeing their big army and run away showing my back?Does the word “friendship” a word told by Rama a matchless one?, would not people blame me,That It is better that this poor hunter better die rather than getting afraid of this army,”
2318.”This Bharata perhaps never thought that the Rama was elder to him , nor did he think,That the very strong tiger like Lakshmana is there to help Rama,Even if he did not think about them , not bothering anything about me,For he can wage war with Rama only after crossing my boundary ,Would not the arrows shot by the hunters enter the chest of kings?”
2319.Would not the kings who rule the world not think about the sin,About the bad name they would get after that , about whether ,A person is their enemy or friend , about the crimes that they may commit ,And many other things like that? Let it be like that ,to go for war ,Against Rama who has given his friendship to me,Would only be possible only getting away their soul and army from me?
2320 “.When my friend Rama is doing great penance , Would this Bharata,Rule the world? My soul is not the nectar of devas and would not I,Give it up for Rama and get great fame? It is good that ,I did not accompany Rama and Lakshmana who became happy with me ,For I would repay my duty to him today itself.” Guha told.
2321.”These people with huge army of elephants and horses,Accompanying them and who wear scented flower garlands ,Can only show their valour after they cross river Ganges .And so worried hunters , stop the rowing of boat ,For them as is it not good that we would lose our souls before Rama?”
2322.”Possibly for the valorous people like you this army of Bharata is not match?Let it be like that . Even if the devas themselves come , when my ,Black cloud like bow starts showering arrows like rain , the liver of enemies,Would be damaged and would I not kill their well armed army ,And also make their elephant army run helter-skelter.”
2323 “Would I not kill by my arrows the army of Bharata who is the son of Kaikeyi,Who made Rama wear the huge dress of bark on the day ,When he ought to give great charities as prelude of his crowning ,And throw the heap of their corpses in to the river , which will ,Take them all to the ocean so that even the ocean would get filled up.”
2324. “You please get the fame that these hunters have destroyed ,The huge army with flags and gave it to Rama , the upholder of Dharma for ruling,And please see the manner in which these people have come ,Not able to tolerate Rama ruling the forest even though,He had given all the kingdom of his to them to rule.”
2325. My king Rama who has become friendly to many great sages,Who live in the forest, would hate me and get angry with me ,If I fight a war with Bharata, though if their army is of the size of seven oceans,It would be destroyed easily like a small quantity of grass kept before a hungry vow.”
2326. That Guha who held a very huge bow , who had a great shoulders,Due to his taking part in wrestling and who was a great friend of Rama ,An expert in war with sword , after telling this stood before the hunters ,Who had iron like body and seeing him Sumanthra , the expert charioteer ,Went and stood before Bharata who was as strong as a lion and told.
2327-2328.” This Guha who wears flower garlands from which honey drops,Is the owner of all the lands on both the banks of river Ganges,Is the owner of numberless boats , is a great friend,Of Rama who has taken birth in your clan , is one with high shoulders,Is one who is like a cruel elephant and is the owner of ocean like army of huntersIs one who is as strong as the mountain, is one having matchless love towards Rama ,Is one who has a body of the colour of night and is standing there ,With a desire to see you,Oh Bharata with huge shoulders due to wrestling And one who is black like blue gem and water rich cloud.”
2329. That faultless Bharata who had a very good mind And one who became very easily happy even before, The friend of his father completed his words told,“If he is a close friend of our king and one who has hugged him,Before he went to the forest , even before he comes to see me,I would like to go and see him first “ and started from there.
2330.After saying this he started with his younger brother,And the ebbing joy in his mind , like a mountain moving from somewhere,And approached the northern bank of river Ganges and seeing him ,That chief of hunters with black scented hairs , realized,That the body of Bharata was greatly tired and depressed and was greatly upset.
2331, When Guha saw Bharata dressed in bark , with a body coated in dust,Looking like a lusterless moon and without a face with joy ,His bow from his hand fell on the earth and getting worried due to sorrow ,He stood there without any activity whatsoever.
2332.He thought “This one also looks very much like my lord ,And the one who stands near to him has very similar looks like Lakshmana.He is wearing a sages garb and it appears there is no end to his sorrow,And he also looks in the direction by which Rama went and is saluting often that side,How can the younger brothers of my lord commit errors towards him? “
2333.Guha told his people “He seems to be one with a new sorrow ,Who has unshakable love, Who is wearing the dress for penance like Rama,And so I would see him directly , understand clearly his mind and then be back”, And then he reached the cool Boat jetty of ganges and came alone in one boat.”
2034.After reaching the other shore , he saluted , Bharata who saluted him,And that Bharata who would even be saluted by Lord Brahma seated on a lotus,Fell on the feet of Guha and saluted him and seeing that , Guha who was ,Famous in the mind and brain of great people , like father with joy hugged Bharata.
2035.That king of hunters who hugged Bharata who had eyes like red lotus flower,Said, “Oh Bharata who has shoulders stronger than a Kanaka tree , what is the,Reason for you coming here?” Bharata replied, “My father who ruled the entire earth,Has slipped from the practice of my ancestors and ,To correct this injustice , I have come here to bring back the real king.”
2036. The king of the hunters heard this and let out a breath which came up,And saluted Bharata by falling on the earth and sobbed due to very great joy,And after locking his hands on the lotus like holy feet of Bharata .Started telling these words with a mind that never tells lie.
2037.”Oh famous one , When we think that You have come to the forest With a thoughtful face having rejected as evil , the kingdom given by your father ,As per the words of your mother and when we understand your good nature,I am made to ask, “even if there are one thousand Ramas, would they be equal to you?”
2038.”Oh Bharata , of sterling character and very strong shoulders,How can an ignorant hunter like me praise some one?Like the Sun God has controlled the luster of bunch of his praises and gone up,All the fame of your ancestors which were praised by all kings,Have now been made in to only your fame.”
2339.That Guha who wore decorated heroic anklet and holding,A flesh scented spear and who was the chief of hunters ,After telling several such words , did several hospitable measures,To Bharata who had great love towards him as well as Rama,Because who can be there in this earth who would not love Bharata?And was not the love towards Rama because of his being treasure of all that is good.
2340.That Bharata who was similar to the sea of mercy and whose mind went in the right path,Saluted by his red hands the southern side by which Rama proceeded and asked Guha,“Where did my elder brother stay?” and then Guha who was the king of hunters,Said, “Oh valorous one , please come , I myself would show you that place.”
2341.Bharata went to that place as speedily as a cloud and after seeing,The place in between the stones where grass was spread like bed,Where Rama with long hands and having a great bow lay down,Shivered , fell on earth and entered the sea of sorrow ,And became the one with eyes that bathed that piece of earth, With his stream of tears which were like pearls and said.
2342.”Even after knowing this suffering came to you because of me,And knowing that you ate roots and fruits here as if you are eating nectar in the palace,And that you slept on this bed where no one can sleep ,I have not left my soul.And not only that it seems I would wear the lustrous gold crown and accept kingship also,.”
2343. That Bharata with tall shoulders further sweetly asked, “If that tall Rama has slept here,Where did his younger brother who loves him and came along with him rest at night?” ,And the king of hunters replied like this.
2344,”Oh Bharata whose shoulders have defeated the mountains ,When Rama with a colour of the body which ruled over darkness ,And his lady slept , the valorous Lakshmana with his hands ,Holding the bow as his support , with very hot breath,With eyes shedding tears , till the morning dawned ,Stood without ever closing his eyes.”
2345. Bharata hearing that said, “ I who am born along with Lakshmana as his brother,Though we were similar , became the cause for endless cause of sorrow to him,But Lakshmana stood for wiping it out and stood there to protect him ,He rose without any limit due to his love and I went down worse than a slave.”
2346.Bharata spent that night on the dust in that place and told,“Oh Guha who wears heroic anklets which make the enemies flee,Oh Lord of hunters , at this time if you help us to cross river Ganges,You would be making us climb from the harsh sea of sorrow and would send us to Rama.”
2347.The hunter king said “yes” , reached his people and told them,“Go and bring the boats here “ and then boats with shape of silver mountain,On which Lord Shiva lives ,Some like the golden mountain which he bent for war,And some like the plane of Lord Khubera came there , and possibly ,They took several such shapes because they were ashamed to look similar .
2348. Those boats with the gait of ladies and having capacity to go in water ,And make the swans ashamed due to their nature of bringing .,Those on the other to this shore by climbing and travelling on them,Was like the blessed deeds and sin that would take the people ,Of this world to the world of devas and they occupied ,The entire river Ganges as if there was no other place there.
2349. Guha the king of the Srungibera looking at Bharata told,“Oh Bharata son of Dasaratha having at great bow , countless,Boats have arrived here. What is your intention, please tell me.”And Bharata holding a pretty strong bow seeing Sumantra told,“My father , please ask the army to get in to these speedily.”
2350. Due to order of Bharata , that Sumanthra who was an expert in chariot ,Seeing according to their ranks and as per the system followed by them,Made the elephant , horse , chariot and food soldiers who were countless,Cross the river Ganges with tides with a luster of shining gems.
2351.Those boats with the sound like thunder produced by clashing of clouds,Looking like they have come near to completely dry the water of the ocean,Similar to the time of deluge ands similar to flagged ships with masts travelling in the sea,And like huge elephants swimming with the trunks extended out , crossed the river.
2352.Due to push of cruel elephants coming up and pushing , conches, sharks,And Pearls and the sea waters having ships coming in to it ,The waters of Ganges with a love to see Rama , crossed its own banks.
2353,With the tides going near the shore , appeared similar to upper cloth of ladies ,And with the water of rut falling like water fall from the the mountain like elephants Swimming under water with only their heads appearing above it ,Appeared like the breasts of the lady of ganges with long hair.
2354.Huge chariots were separated in to parts like lotus like front part,The chariot floor , wheels , the nails joining them and the two long flagsTied separately on their sides in proper order and along with horses,With uncut main travelled in separate boats like the fate and the body,Traveling separately when any being is dead.
2355.The horses which had white bodies like milk , which looked scared,And agitated and which had long round legs which can help them travel fast ,Along with horses which had decorations like seat and stirrup ,Travelled with the speed of fishes , standing erect on those boats.
2356.The ladies with tender bodies and wearing bangles entering in between each otherWere sitting crowded on the boats one in front of the other With their big breasts touching each other and looked like Big playful elephants standing in a row with trunks touching the one in front.
2357.When the boats carrying the ladies dashed with each other,Those ladies who wear ear globes became jittery and confused ,And when they saw both sides with their very scared eyes,They looked like the scared jumping group of fishes ,Which were pushing them with swift flow of waters.
2358.The boats which normally move in the water ,were being pushed by the oars,By the hunters on both sides , and these moving oars sprinkled water,And those drops of water falling on the thin dress of the ladies ,Wetting their broad hips and made them more visible ,And this removed the sorrow of the heroes with mental strength .
2359.Accepting the sea of the army making great sound on the northern banks ,And after making them reach the southern banks , the empty boats Reaching again on the northern bank were like the clouds ,Which draw all the water from sea , drop it on earth and again return to the sea,.
2360.In the boats , the beams from the chariots which had the peacock feathers ,Smoked by Akil smoke tied and had a decoration like the new leaf on its top Looked like the beams of the mast and the flags which were of the colour ,Of the cloud and having gem studded gold plates were looking like the cloth of the mast, And this made them look like huge boats driven by wind masts in the sea.
2361. That wide ganges looking like the sky with the dropping gems looking,Like the stars and the boats carrying the ladies with lotus like face ,Nectar dripping red mouth and honey dripping hair looked like ,The ascending planes with deva maidens after their sports in water.
2362.With the two big oars which move in the water sprinkling drops of water ,Looking like two legs , With the boat called Nandu (crab) moving in the cold waters,Of Ganges looking like the joyous peacock , the boat looked as if living,When the damsels with fish like eyes touch it with their lustrous lotus like feet.
2363.When people were going travelling in boats , the sages did not travel ,In to the boats built by people of lower status and with the thought of their mind,As their boats they went by the sky . This was possible to them becauseBoth in earth and all other worlds there is no job greater than penance .
2364.The army which was considered as Sixty thousand Akroni ,All the faultless citizens of Ayodhya , the crowd of ladies,Made the Ganges with close tides behind them,
2365.After seeing to it that the army around him has crossed,The river Ganges with whirl pools , Bharata who has won ,Over the desire for earth and thus has subdued ,All the kings who ruled before him , got in to the boat.
2366. Seeing Kausalya who was being saluted by relatives and Devas,Guha looked at her and saluted her and asked Bharata ,“On Bharata who is wearing garland of victory , Who is this?’And Bharata replied, “She is the first ranking queen of Dasaratha whose courtyard,Is filled with kings and she after giving birth to the lord who created Lord Brahma ,Who has created the three worlds but had to give up the wealth of the kingdom,Which was his to me and she had the greatness to do it.”
2367. As soon as Bharata told like this Guha fell at her feet and was crying for a long time,And that creeper like lady who had the sorrow of parting from her calf asked Bharata,“Who is this?” , her son who wore the heroic anklets on his legs said,“This leader who salutes you is a sweet friend Of Raghava and elder ,To me and Lakshmana as well as Shatrugna and has mountain like shoulders and is called Guha.”
2368.Hearing that Kausalya told , “Oh my sons , please do not be sad now on wards ,Did not the coming away of Rama and Lakshmana after giving up the kingdom ,And coming away , give them this great boon. This lad with mountain like shoulders,And who is like a valorous male elephant along with all of you have become five heroesAnd would rule over this broad earth for a long time and protect it.”
2369.Then after seeing Sumithra who was standing like the God of Dharma near by,Guha asked Bharata, “Sir , who is this lady who is full of affection?, please tell.”He said, “She is the younger queen of that king who did never swerve from path of truth,And who died for that and she is the one who gave birth to that one who proves,That Rama has a brother by not at all parting with him and has the greatness due to that.”
2370.Making her husband having gone to the hot cremation ground ,Making her son going to the ocean of sorrow and making the sea of mercy Rama, Going to the cruel forest was she unlike the Lord Vishnu who wore anklets Asking for three steps and then taking a huge form measured all the world ,Just by two steps , just by the cruelty of her mind and Guha asked “Who is this?”
2371.”She is one created all sorrows , she is the mother who brought up,The child called bad name from the world and to me who lived in her,Useless bad fated belly for a long time , she made the burden of life ,To reduce to me and made all people feel that all the bodies in the world ,Are one without souls But she has a face that does not show sorrow, and ,You should have recognized her from her face but if not , she is my mother.”
2372.Guha heard what Bharata told him but using his good hands ,Saluted her without mercy considering her as his mother and by that time ,The female swan like boat without wings reached the other shore.
2373.With the mothers who got down get in to the palanquin,Bharata walked with the new stream of tears in his eyes ,And Guha did not stop there but went along with him .And they walked with their feet a long distance.
2374, Bharata approached the heritage of Sage Bharadwaja Who has got rid of the load of Karma, and who was a very great sage ,And seeing that that saint accompanied by Brahmins ,
Who were great knowledge of Vedas came out to receive him.