Introduction
Having passed the night on the banks of Ganga, Bharata asks Guha to make arrangements for their troops to cross the river by boats. Accordngly, Guha has kept ready five hundred boat with their ferry-men for the purpose. All of them reach the opposite shore of ther river. Encamping the army at the shore in the magnificient woods of Prayaga, Bharata along with the priests and king’s counsellors, approach the hermitage of Bharadwaja.
व्युष्य रात्रिम् तु तत्र एव गन्गा कूले स राघवः |
भरतः काल्यम् उत्थाय शत्रुघ्नम् इदम् अब्रवीत् || २-८९-१
bharataH kaalyam utthaaya shatrughnam idam abraviit || 2-89-1
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.1
Bharata, born in Raghu race, having passed the night in that place on the banks of Ganga, rising at dawn, said to shatrughna as follows:
शत्रुघ उत्तिष्ठ किम् शेषे निषाद अधिपतिम् गुहम् |
शीघ्रम् आनय भद्रम् ते तारयिष्यति वाहिनीम् || २-८९-२
shiighram aanaya bhadram te taarayiShyati vaahiniim || 2-89-2
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.2
“O, Shatrughna! wake up! Why sleep longer/ Bring guha the king of Nishadhas quickly and be happy. Let him convey the army across the river.”
जागर्मि न अहम् स्वपिमि तथैव आर्यम् विचिन्तयन् |
इत्य् एवम् अब्रवीद् भ्रात्रा शत्रुघ्नो अपि प्रचोदितः || २-८९-३
ity evam abraviid bhraatraa shatrughno api pracoditaH || 2-89-3
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.3
Thus urged by Bhrata, his brother Shatrughna said, “I am not sleeping. Thinking of that Rama alone, I have been wakeful.”
इति सम्वदतोर् एवम् अन्योन्यम् नर सिम्हयोः |
आगम्य प्रान्जलिः काले गुहो भरतम् अब्रवीत् || २-८९-४
aagamya praanjaliH kaale guho bharatam abraviit || 2-89-4
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.4
While those two lions among men were talking themselves with each other thus, Guha came in time and with joined palms, addressed Bharata saying:
कच्चित् सुखम् नदी तीरे अवात्सीः काकुत्स्थ शर्वरीम् |
कच्चिच् च सह सैन्यस्य तव सर्वम् अनामयम् || २-८९-५
kaccic ca saha sainyasya tava sarvam anaamayam || 2-89-5
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.5
“O, Bhrata! Did you pass the night happily on the banks of the river? I hope all is well with your army.”
गुहस्य तत् तु वचनम् श्रुत्वा स्नेहाद् उदीरितम् |
रामस्य अनुवशो वाक्यम् भरतो अपि इदम् अब्रवीत् || २-८९-६
raamasya anuvasho vaakyam bharato api idam abraviit || 2-89-6
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.6
Hearing those words of Guha spoken with affection, Bharata also in his devotion to Rama, replied as follows:
सुखा नः शर्वरी राजन् पूजिताः च अपि ते वयम् |
गन्गाम् तु नौभिर् बह्वीभिर् दाशाः सम्तारयन्तु नः || २-८९-७
gangaam tu naubhir bahviibhir daashaaH samtaarayantu naH || 2-89-7
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.7
“O, king! The night passed leasantly fo r us. We were treated hospitably by you. Let your fisher-men ferry us across Ganga River on your courtless boats.”
ततो गुहः सम्त्वरितः श्रुत्वा भरत शासनम् |
प्रतिप्रविश्य नगरम् तम् ज्नाति जनम् अब्रवीत् || २-८९-८
pratipravishya nagaram tam jnaati janam abraviit || 2-89-8
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.8
Hearing Bharata’s command, Guha returned to the city in all haste and spoke to those multitude of his people (as follows):
उत्तिष्ठत प्रबुध्यध्वम् भद्रम् अस्तु हि वः सदा |
नावः समनुकर्षध्वम् तारयिष्याम वाहिनीम् || २-८९-९
naavaH samanukarShadhvam taarayiShyaama vaahiniim || 2-89-9
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.9
“Rise, awake and may prosperity ever attend you! Duly haul the boats to the bank. Let us carry the army across the river.”
ते तथा उक्ताः समुत्थाय त्वरिताः राज शासनात् |
पन्च नावाम् शतान्य् एव समानिन्युः समन्ततः || २-८९-१०
panca naavaam shataany eva samaaninyuH samantataH || 2-89-10
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.10
Rising immediately on hearing the command of their king, they quickly brought together five hundred boats from every quarter.
अन्याः स्वस्तिक विज्नेया महा घण्डा धरा वराः |
शोभमानाः पताकिन्यो युक्त वाताः सुसम्हताः || २-८९-११
shobhamaanaaH pataakinyo yukta vaataaH susamhataaH || 2-89-11
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.11
Some excellent boats, possessing large bells were marked with Sawstika, well-kept together with appropriate sails and adorned with flags.
ततः स्वस्तिक विज्नेयाम् पाण्डु कम्बल सम्वृताम् |
सनन्दि घोषाम् कल्याणीम् गुहो नावम् उपाहरत् || २-८९-१२
sanandi ghoShaam kalyaaNiim guho naavam upaaharat || 2-89-12
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.12
Then, Guha brought there one boat also adorned with Swastika, was covered with white canvas, re-echoing with acclamations and which was beautiful.
ताम् आरुरोह भरतः शत्रुघ्नः च महा बलः |
कौसल्या च सुमित्रा च याः च अन्या राज योषितः || २-८९-१३
पुरोहितः च तत् पूर्वम् गुरवे ब्राह्मणाः च ये |
अनन्तरम् राज दाराः तथैव शकट आपणाः || २-८९-१४
kausalyaa ca sumitraa ca yaaH ca anyaa raaja yoShitaH || 2-89-13
purohitaH ca tat puurvam gurave braahmaNaaH ca ye |
anantaram raaja daaraaH tathaiva shakaTa aapaNaaH || 2-89-14
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.13,2.89.14
Vasishta, the royal priest and whatever elderly Brahmanas were present there ascended the boats, even before Bharata, Shatrughna, Kausalya, Sumitra. Whatever royal women were present also took theri seats. Thereafter followed the king’s wives a well as bullock- carts and provisions.
आवासम् आदीपयताम् तीर्थम् च अप्य् अवगाहताम् |
भाण्डानि च आददानानाम् घोषः त्रिदिवम् अस्पृशत् || २-८९-१५
bhaaNDaani ca aadadaanaanaam ghoShaH tridivam aspR^ishat || 2-89-15
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.15
The sound of men setting fire to the huts, of those who were descending the steps leading to the boat and those who were transporting their effects touched the sky.
It has been a convention among Indian troops in the past to burn whatever is removing their essential things and tents while leaving a halting place in the course of their march to a destination. The idea is not to leave any trace of their whereabouts for the enemy. The practise was also believed to bring triumph to the troops who resorted to it.
पताकिन्यः तु ता नावः स्वयम् दाशैर् अधिष्ठिताः |
वहन्त्यो जनम् आरूढम् तदा सम्पेतुर् आशुगाः || २-८९-१६
vahantyo janam aaruuDham tadaa sampetur aashugaaH || 2-89-16
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.16
Thos boats, adorned with flags, steered by fisher-men themselves ran speedily, duly carrying those passengers.
नारीणाम् अभिपूर्णाः तु काश्चित् काश्चित् तु वाजिनाम् |
कश्चित् तत्र वहन्ति स्म यान युग्यम् महा धनम् || २-८९-१७
kashcit tatra vahanti sma yaana yugyam mahaa dhanam || 2-89-17
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.17
Some were filled with women. Some were loaded with horses and some of them ferried animals of draught of great value.
ताः स्म गत्वा परम् तीरम् अवरोप्य च तम् जनम् |
निवृत्ताः काण्ड चित्राणि क्रियन्ते दाश बन्धुभिः || २-८९-१८
nivR^ittaaH kaaNDa citraaNi kriyante daasha bandhubhiH || 2-89-18
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.18
Having reached the opposite shore, thsoe boats cleared those people and on the return journey, the kinsfolk of guha plied them as easily as toy- boats made of bamboo.
सवैजयन्ताः तु गजा गज आरोहैः प्रचोदिताः |
तरन्तः स्म प्रकाशन्ते सध्वजा इव पर्वताः || २-८९-१९
tarantaH sma prakaashante sadhvajaa iva parvataaH || 2-89-19
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.19
Goaded on by their mahouts, elephants adorned with their flags, swimming across the river, looked life winged mountains.
नावः च आरुरुहुः तु अन्ये प्लवैः तेरुः तथा अपरे |
अन्ये कुम्भ घटैः तेरुर् अन्ये तेरुः च बाहुभिः || २-८९-२०
anye kumbha ghaTaiH terur anye teruH ca baahubhiH || 2-89-20
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.20
Some ascended boats. Some others crossed the river by rafts in the same manner. Some others swam across with the help of big and small earthen vessels. The rest swam with arms.
सा पुण्या ध्वजिनी गन्गाम् दाशैः सम्तारिता स्वयम् |
मैत्रे मुहूर्ते प्रययौ प्रयाग वनम् उत्तमम् || २-८९-२१
maitre muhuurte prayayau prayaaga vanam uttamam || 2-89-21
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.21
Having made to cross River Ganga by the fisher-men themselves, that holy army reached the magnificient woods of Prayaga at the hour of Maitra.
The hour of early hours. A Muhurta, loosely translated as an hour, really consist of 48 minutes. There are fifteen such Muhurtas in a day. They are named in order by Brihaspati as Randra, Sarpa, maitra, Paitra, Vasava, Apya, Vaisva, Brahma, Praja, Isha, Sindra, Aindragna, Nairta, Varunaryamana and Bhagi.
आश्वासयित्वा च चमूम् महात्मा |
निवेशयित्वा च यथा उपजोषम् |
द्रष्टुम् भरद्वाजम् ऋषि प्रवर्यम् |
ऋत्विग् वृतः सन् भरतः प्रतस्थे || २-८९-२२
niveshayitvaa ca yathaa upajoSham |
draShTum bharadvaajam R^iShi pravaryam |
R^itvig vR^itaH san bharataH pratasthe || 2-89-22
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.22
The high-souled Bharata made the army to rest, by encamping it according to its inclination and set out along with the priests and king’s counsellors to meet Bharadwaja, the foremost of sages.
स ब्राह्मणस्याश्रममभ्युपेत्य |
महात्मनो देवपुरोहितस्य |
ददर्श रम्योटजवृक्षषण्डं |
महद्वनं विप्रवरस्य रम्यम् || २-८९-२३
mahaatmano devapurohitasya |
dadarsha ramyoTajavR^ikShaShaNDaM |
mahadvanaM vipravarasya ramyam || 2-89-23
ॐ
Show Description: Sloka 2.89.23
Approaching the hermitage of that high-souled Brahmana and the family priest of gods, Bharata saw an extensive and enchanting grove with its leafy huts and tress the chief of ascatics.
No comments yet.