Yuddha Kanda: Chapter 125

अयोध्यां तु समालोक्य चिन्तयामास राघवः। प्रियकामः प्रियं रामस्ततस्त्वरितविक्रमः॥
Thereupon beholding Ayodhyā, Råma, the descendant of Raghu, of light movements and desirous of affording delight to others, thought of welcoming (them).

चिन्तयित्वा ततो दृष्टिं वानरेषु न्यपातयत्। उवाच धीमांस्तेजस्वी हनूमन्तं प्लवंगमम्॥
Thinking thus the intelligent and effulgent (Rāma) cast his looks towards the monkeys and spoke to Hanumān, saying.

अयोध्यां त्वरितो गत्वा शीघ्रं प्लवगसत्तम। जानीहि कच्चित्कुशली जनो नृपतिमन्दिरे॥
O foremost of monkeys, speedily repairing to Ayodhyā do you learn of the welfare of all people in the palace of the king.

शृङ्गवेरपुरं प्राप्य गुहं गहनगोचरम्। निषादाधिपतिं ब्रूहि कुशलं वचनान्मम्॥
Arriving at the city of Śộngavera, do you communicate to Guha, the king of Nişādas* having the forest as his kingdom, my well-being, at my command. *A low cast aboriginal Hindu corresponding to our Cāņdālas always living in the forest. The Raja of Ramnud in the district of Madura in Madras traces his descent from this Guha.

श्रुत्वा तु मां कुशलिनमरोगं विगतज्वरम्। भविष्यति गुहः प्रीतः सममात्मसभः सखा॥
Hearing that I am hale and hearty and relieved of all troubles, Guha, my friend like my own self, shall attain to delight.

अयोध्यायाश्च ते मार्ग प्रवृत्तिं भरतस्य च। निवेदयिष्यति प्रीतो निषादाधिपतिर्मुहः॥
Guha, the lord of Nişādhas, delighted, shall inform you of the way to Ayodhyā and the well being of Bharata.

भरतस्तु त्वया वाच्यः कुशलं वचनान्मम। सिद्धार्थ शंस मां तस्मै सभायं सहलक्ष्मणम्।७।। हरणं चापि वैदेह्या रावणेन बलीयसा। सुग्रीवेण च संवादं बालिनश्च वधं रणे।।। मैथिल्यन्वेषणं चैव यथा चाधिगता त्वया। लवयित्वा महातोयमापगापतिमव्ययम्॥ उपयानं समुद्रस्य सागरस्य च दर्शनम्। यथा च कारितः सेतू रावणश्च यथा हतः॥ वरदानं महेन्द्रेण ब्रह्मणा वरुणेन च। महादेवप्रसादाच्च पित्रा मम समागमम्॥
Do you ask of Bharata his well being at my words, and communicate to him my (arrival) with Lakşmaņa and my spouse after having made good the vow(of my sire)-the carrying away of Sītā by the powerful Rāvana-the friendship with Sugrīva and the destruction of Vāli in the conflict-the search of Maithili instituted by you having got over the huge lord of rivers-the advance (of the monkeys) to the banks of the deep-the view of the ocean, the construction of the bridge-the destruction of Rāvaņa, the grant of boon by Mahendra, Brahmā and Varuņa-my meeting with my father by the favour of Mahādeva.

उपयातं च मां सौम्य भरताय निवेदय। सह राक्षसराजेन हरीणामीश्वरेण च ॥ जित्वा शत्रुगणारामः प्राप्य चानुत्तमं यशः। उपायाति समृद्धार्थः सह मित्रैर्महाबलैः॥
Do you, O gentle one, communicate to Bharata, my arrival here with the lord of Räks and king of monkeys. (Tell him) ‘vanquishing his foes and attaining to excellent fame Rāma has arrived at the gate of the city with his valiant friends, having satisfied the vow (of his sire).

एतच्छुत्वा यमाकारं भजते भरतस्ततः। स च ते वेदितव्यः स्यात्सर्वं यच्चापि मां प्रति॥
You should read the signs expressive of joy or asas sorrow that Bharata shall display on hearing this and infer therefrom his attitude towards me.

ज्ञेयाः सर्वे च वृत्तान्ता भरतस्येङ्गितानि च। तत्त्वेन मुखवणेन दृष्ट्या व्याभाषितेन च॥
You should know, from the colour of his countenance, his looks and his words, all the movements and actions of Bharata.

सर्वकामसमृद्धं हि हस्त्यश्वरसंकुलम्। पितृपैतामहं राज्यं कस्य नावर्तयेन्मनः॥
Whose mind does not change obtaining such an ancestral kingdom, filled with all prosperity and abounding in elephants, horses and chariots?

संगत्या भरतः श्रीमानराज्येनार्थी स्वयं भवेत्। प्रशास्तु वसुधां सर्वामखिलां रघुनन्दनः॥
If the effulgent Bharata, the descendant of Raghu, ruling over it, wish the kingdom for himself, let him lord over the entire earth.

तस्य बुद्धिं च विज्ञाय व्यवसायं च वानर। यावन्न दूरं याताः स्मः क्षिप्रमागन्तुमर्हसि॥
Therefore, O monkey, it behove you to come back speedily apprised of his intention and movements, before we proceed further.

इति प्रतिसमादिष्टो हनूमान्मारुतात्मजः। मानुषं धारयन्रूपमयोध्यां त्वरितो ययौ॥
Being thus commanded, Hanumān, the son of Wind-god, assuming a human shape speedily proceeded towards Ayodhyā.

अथोत्पपात वेगेन हनूमान्मारुतात्मजः। गरुत्मानिव वेगेन जिघृक्षगुरगोत्तमम्॥
Hanumān the son of Maruta rose up in the welkin with velocity like to Garuņa ready to fall upon a huge serpent.

लयित्वा पितृपथं विहगेन्द्रालयं शुभम्। गङ्गायमुनयोर्भीमं समतीत्य समागमम्॥ शृङ्गवेरपुरं प्राप्य गुहमासाद्य वार्यवान्। स वाचा शुभया हृष्टो हनूमानिदमब्रवीत्॥
Then crossing the Wind-path and the abode of the birds, getting over the terrible confluence of the Ganges and Yamunā, reaching the city of Śțrgavera and meeting Guha, the energetic Hanumān, delighted (addressed him) with the following excellent words.

सखा तु तव काकुत्स्थो रामः सत्यपराक्रमः। ससीतः सह सौमित्रिः स त्वां कुशलमब्रवीत्॥ पञ्चमीमद्य रजनीमुषित्वा वचनान्मुनेः। भरद्वाजाभ्यनुज्ञातं द्रक्ष्यस्यत्रैव राघवम् ॥
Your friend Rāma, the descendant of Kākutstha, having truth for his prowess, with Sītā and son of Sumitrā, has enquired of your welfare. Having spent five nights* till today, he, having obtained permission from the ascetic Bharadvāja, shall proceed to-morrow. *Having spent five nights after the expire of fourteen years old exile be is living at the hermitage of Varadwaja. He shall leave that place tomorrow.

एवमुक्त्वा महातेजाः संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहः। उत्पपात महावेगाद्वेगवानविचारयन्॥
Having said this the highly energetic monkey, not caring for the exhaustion of travel, greatly delighted and with hairs erect, rose up with great velocity.

सोऽपश्यद्रामतीर्थं च नदी बालुकिनी तथा। वरूथीं गोमती चैव भीमं शालवनं तथा॥ प्रजाश्च बहुसाहस्रीः स्फीताञ्जनपदानपि। स गत्वा दूरमध्वानं त्वरितः कपिकुञ्जरः॥ आससाद दुमान्फुल्लानन्दिग्रामसमीपगान्। सुराधिपस्योपवने यथा चैत्ररथे दुमान् ॥ स्त्रीभिः सपुत्रैः पौत्रैश्च रममाणैः स्वलंकृतैः।
Beholding the holy river sanctified with the name of Parasurama, the rivers-Balukini, Varuthi, Gomati, the huge forest of Sala trees, the various countries populated with thousands of people, and proceeding a great distance speedily, that foremost of monkeys got at the trees near Nandigrāma* like to those of Caitraratha, the garden of the lord of celestials the flowers whereof were being plucked off by many a damsel accompanied by their children decked in various ornaments.

क्रोशमात्रे त्वयोध्यायाश्चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरम्॥ ददर्श भरतं दीनं कृशमाश्रमवासिनम्। जटिलं मलदिग्धाङ्गं भ्रातृव्यसनकर्शितम्॥ फलमूलाशिनं दान्तं तापसं धर्मचारिणम्। समुन्नतजटाभारं वल्कलाजिनवाससम्॥ नियतं भावितात्मानं ब्रह्मर्षिसमतेजसम्। पादुके ते पुरस्कृत्य प्रशासन्तं वसुंधराम्॥ चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य लोकस्य त्रातारं सर्वतो भयात्। उपस्थितममात्यैश्च शुचिभिश्च पुरोहितैः॥ बलमुख्यैश्च युक्तैश्च काषायाम्बरधारिभिः।
He saw at a distance of one crosa from Ayodhyā Bharata wearing the skin of an antelope, poorly, greatly reduced, living in a hermitage, wearing matted hairs, having his body covered with dirt, greatly pulled down in consequence of his brother's disaster, living on roots and fruits, self-controlled, living the life of an ascetic, observing pious observances, with a bundle of clotted hairs on his head, wearing bark and deer skin, having control over his passions and senses, effulgent like Brahmarşis, ruling the earth always placing the sandals before him, protecting people of four Varnas against all fear, with courtiers, priests leading a holy life and soldiers all wearing red clothes around him. *The country of Bharata's maternal uncle.

नहि ते राजपुत्रं तं चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरम्॥ परिभोक्तुं व्यवस्यन्ति पौरा वै धर्मवत्सलाः।
All those citizens, fond of piety, did not like to use good clothes beholding the prince use bark and deer skin.

तं धर्ममिव धर्मज्ञं देहबन्धमिवापरम्॥ उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं हनूमान्मारुतात्मजः।
Thereupon Hanumān, the son of Māruta spoke with folded hands to him, conversant with piety like virtue incarnate, saying.

वसन्तं दण्डकारण्ये यं त्वं चीरजटाधरम्॥ अनुशोचसि काकुत्स्थं स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत्। प्रियमाख्यामि ते देव शोकं त्यज सुदारुणम्।।३७ अस्मिन्मुहूर्ते भ्रात्रा त्वं रामेण सह संगतः।
(He was then sprinkled by) the Rittigas, Brāhmaṇas, maidens enquired after your welfare. Do you, O worshipful sire speak out your welfare and renounce the dreadful grief. You shall in this moment be reconciled to your brother Rāma.

निहत्य रावणं रामः प्रतिलभ्य च मैथिलीम्॥ उपयाति समृद्धार्थः सह मित्रैर्महाबलैः। लक्ष्मणश्च महातेजा वैदेही च यशस्विनी।। सीता समग्रा रामेण महेन्द्रेण शची यथा।३९।।
Slaying Ravana, and regaining Maithili, Rāma, having accomplished his end, has arrived here with his valiant friends. The highly effulgent Lakşmaņa and the famed Vaidehi (have also come). Sītā fare well with Rāma like to Sacī in the company of Mahendra.

एवमुक्तो हनुमता भरतः कैकयीसुतः। पपात सहसा हृष्टो हर्षान्मोहमुपागमत्॥
Being thus addressed by Hanumān, Bharata, the son of Kaikeyi, delighted, fell down all on a sudden in a swoon of joy.

ततो मुहूर्तादुत्थाय प्रत्याश्वस्य च राघवः। हनूमन्तमुवाचेदं भरतः प्रियवादिनम्॥ अशोकजैः प्रीतिमयैः कपिमालिङ्गय संभ्रमात्। सिषेच भरतः श्रीमान्विपुलैरश्रुबिन्दुभिः।॥
Thereupon rising up in no time, and welcoming him, Bharata, the descendant of Raghu, spoke to Hanuman communicating the pleasant tidings, the following words. And embracing the monkey respectfully the graceful Bharata sprinkled him with profuse tears not out of grief but of joy.

देवो न मानुषो वा त्वमनुक्रोशादिहागतः। प्रियाख्यानस्य ते सौम्य ददामि ब्रुवतः प्रियम्।॥ गवां शतसहस्रं च ग्रामाणां च शतं परम्। सकुण्डलाः शुभाचारा भार्याः कन्यास्तु षोडश॥ हेमवर्णाः सुनासोरूः शशिसौम्याननाः स्त्रियः। सर्वाभरणसंपन्नाः संपन्ना कुलजातिभिः॥
He said, Are you a man or god who have kindly come here? O gentle one, I shall confer upon you, who have communicated to me this pleasant tidings, hundreds and thousands of kine, hundreds of prosperous villages, sixteen young wives, pious, wearing excellent Kundalas, golden-hued, having beautiful noses and breast, having mor i like countenances, decked with all ornaments and born of respectable families.

निशम्य रागागमनं नृपात्मजः कपिप्रवीरस्य तदाद्भुतोपमम्। पुनश्च हर्षादिदमब्रवीद्वचः॥
And hearing from that leading monkey of that wonderful return of Rāma, the son of the king, delighted became anxious to behold him and again addressed joyously Hanuman with the following words.