गुहस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा भरतो भृशमप्रियम्। ध्यानं जगाम तत्रैव यत्र तच्छ्रुतमप्रियम्॥
Hearing the words of Guha, exceedingly unpleasant, Bharata as soon as he heard them, became plunged in thought.
सुकुमारो महासत्त्वः सिंहस्कन्धो महाभुजः। पुण्डरीकविशालाक्षस्तरुणः प्रियदर्शनः॥ प्रत्याश्वस्य मुहूर्तं तु कालं परमदुर्मनाः। ससाद सहसा तोत्रैर्हदि विद्ध इव द्विपः॥
And then taking heart for a while, that tenderfamed one possessed of immense strength, gifted with leonine shoulders and length of arms, having expansive eyes resembling white lotuses, young in years, and endowed with a handsome presence, afflicted with great grief, was overpowered, like an elephant wounded in the heart with a goad.
भरतं मूर्च्छितं दृष्ट्वा विवर्णवदनो गुहः। बभूव व्यथितस्तत्र भूमिकम्पे यथा द्रुमः॥
Seeing Bharata deprived of his senses with his countenance covered with pallor, Guha became exceedingly agitated, like a tree during an earth quake.
तदवस्थं तु भरतं शत्रुघ्नोऽनन्तरस्थितः। परिष्वज्य रुरोदोच्चैर्विसंज्ञः शोककर्शितः॥
Seeing Bharata in that condition, ſatrughna who was near, taking the former on his lap, began to cry, almost deprived of his senses and oppressed with grief.
ततः सर्वाः समापेतुर्मातरो भरतस्य ताः। उपवासकृशा दीना भर्तृव्यसनकर्शिताः॥ ताश्च तं पतितं भूमौ रुदत्यः पर्यवारयन्। कौसल्या त्वनुसृत्यैनं दुर्मनाः परिषस्वजे॥ वत्सला स्वं यथा वत्समुपगुह्य तपस्विनी। परिपप्रच्छ भरतं रुदती शोकलालसा॥
Thereat, all the mothers of Bharata, fasting, undergoing distress, and afflicted with the calamity that had befallen their lord, came forward, and surrounding Bharata, began to lament him fallen on the ground. And the distressed Kausalyā drawing nigh embraced him like a cow approaching her calf; and weeping from excess of grief, spoke to Bharata, saying.
पुत्र व्याधिर्न ते कच्चिच्छरीरं प्रति बाधते। अस्य राजकुलस्याद्य त्वदधीनं हि जीवितम्॥
My son, does any malady afflict your body? Now the life of this royal race is, without doubt, in your hands.
त्वां दृष्ट्वा पुत्र जीवामि रामे सभ्रातृके गते। वृत्ते दशरथे राज्ञि नाथ एकस्त्वमद्य नः॥
Ráma having gone away along with his brother, I shall, O son, live, seeing you. King Dasaratha having departed this life, you alone are our lord.
कच्चिन्न लक्ष्मणे पुत्र श्रुतं ते किंचिदप्रियम्। पुत्रे वा ह्येकपुत्रायाः सहभार्ये वनं गते॥
Have you, my son, heard anything unpleasant concerning Lakṣmaṇa; or the son of that one having an only son,* who has gone to the forest along with his wife? *Meaning herself.
स मुहूर्तं समाश्वस्य रुदन्नेव महायशाः। कौसल्यां परिसान्त्व्येदं गुहं वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Having taken comfort for a while, that one of high fame weeping, and solacing Kausalya, spoke to Guha, saying.
भ्राता मे क्वावसद् रात्रौ क्व सीता क्व च लक्ष्मणः। अस्वपच्छयने कस्मिन् किं भुक्त्वा गुह शंस मे॥
Where did my brother pass the night? And where did Sītā? And where did, again, Laks maņa? And in what bed did he sleep, and what did he previously partake of? Do you, O Guha, tell me this.
सोऽब्रवीद् भरतं हृष्टो निषादाधिपतिर्मुहः। यद्विधं प्रतिपेदे च रामे प्रियहितेऽतिथौ॥
Thereat, well pleased, Gulha, the lord of Nişādas, related to Bharata how he had acted in respect of Rāma, his dear guest, studious of his welfare.
अन्नमुच्चावचं भक्ष्याः फलानि विविधानि च। रामायाभ्यवहारार्थं बहुशोऽपहतं मया॥
I procured for Rāma's use rice and fruits and roots and various kinds of food.
तत् सर्वं प्रत्यनुज्ञासीद् रामः सत्यपराक्रमः। न हि तत् प्रत्यगह्नात् स क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन्॥
All these Rāma having truth for his prowess accepted, but observing Ksatriya morality, he did not take them.
नह्यस्माभिः प्रतिग्राह्यं सखे देयं तु सर्वदा। इति तेन वयं सर्वे अनुनीता महात्मना॥
'O friend, we ought not to take anything: ours is always to give.'
लक्ष्मणेन यदानीतं पीतं वारि महात्मना। औपवास्यं तदकार्षीद् राघवः सह सीतया॥
Thus did that magnanimous one beseech us. On the high-souled Lakşmaņa bringing water, Rāghava having drunk it, fasted along with Sītā.
ततस्तु जलशेषेण लक्ष्मणोऽप्यकरोत् तदा। वाग्यतास्ते त्रयः संध्यां समुपासन्त संहिताः॥
Then Lakşmaņa drank up the water that remained. Then the three with fixed minds silently performed their adorations to the Twilight.
सौमित्रिस्तु ततः पश्चादकरोत् स्वास्तरं शुभम्। स्वयमानीय बींषि क्षिप्रं राघवकारणात्॥
After that, Sumitrā's son prepared a goodly bed for Rāghava, himself bringing Kuća grass.
तस्मिन् समाविशद् रामः स्वास्तरे सहसीतया। प्रक्षाल्य च तयोः पादौ व्यपाक्रामत् सलक्ष्मणः॥
And in that bed lay down Rāma in company with Sītā. Next washing their feet, Lakşmaņa turned away.
एतत् तदिगुदीमूलमिदमेव च तत् तृणम्। यस्मिन् रामश्च सीता च रात्रिं तां शयितावुभौ ॥
This is the foot of the Ingudī, and this that grass. On it both Rāma and Sītā lay down that night.
शरैः सुपूर्णाविषुधी परंतपः। महद्धनुः सज्जमुपोह्य लक्ष्मणो निशामतिष्ठत् परितोऽस्य केवलम्॥
Fastening on his back a pair of quivers filled with arrows furnished with finger-fences, and taking his mighty bow, Lakşmaņa all night kept watch around.
ततस्त्वहं चोत्तमबाणचापभृत् स्थितोऽभवं तत्र स यत्र लक्ष्मणः। महेन्द्रकल्पं परिपालयंस्तदा॥
I also taking an excellent bow, remained where remained Lakṣmaṇa, and surrounded by my kindred who stayed there vigilantly, equipped with bows, guarded him that resembled the mighty Indra.