कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य युधाजित्केकयो नृपः। स्वगुरुं प्रेषयामास राघवाय महात्मने॥ गाय॑मङ्गिरसः पुत्रं ब्रह्मर्षिममितप्रभम्। दश चाश्वसहस्राणि प्रीतिदानमनुत्तमम्॥ कम्बलानि च रत्नानि चित्रवस्त्रमथोत्तमम्। रामाय प्रददौ राजा शुभान्याभरणानि च॥
Once on a time Yudhajit, the king of Kekaya, sent to the high-souled Rāma, Gārgya— son of his own preceptor Angiras-a Brāhmaṇa saint of unmitigated prowess; and with him he sent, as tokens of affections, gifts of ten thousand horses, numberless blankets various jewels, diverse clothes and well washed coverlets.
श्रुत्वा तु राघवो धीमान्महर्षि गार्यमागतम्। मातुलस्याश्वपतिनः प्रहितं तन्महाधनम्॥ प्रत्युद्गम्य च काकुत्स्थः क्रोशमा सहानुजः। गायं संपूजयामास यथा शक्रो बृहस्पतिम् ॥
Hearing of the arrival of the great saint Gārgya with above valuable presents sent by his maternal uncle Yudhājit, the intelligent Rāma, with his brothers, proceeded about a Krosa to receive him and adored him particularly likely to the lord of celestials honouring Bịhaspati.
तथा संपूज्य तमृर्षि तद्धनं प्रतिगृह्य च। पृष्ट्वा प्रतिपदं सर्वं कुशलं मातुलस्य च॥ उपविष्टं महाभागं रामः प्रष्टुं प्रचक्रमे। किमाह मातुलो वाक्यं यदर्थ भगवानिह ॥ प्राप्तो वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठः साक्षादिव बृहस्पतिः।
Having thus welcomed that foremost of Rșis and accepted the valuable presents sent by his maternal uncle he asked the ascetic about his welfare in every thing. There upon the great Rșis being seated, he said. You are the foremost of those skilled in the are of speech like the very preceptor of the celestials. Since your own self has here My uncle must have commissioned you with a very important message.
रामस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा महर्षिः कार्यविस्तरम्।।।।। वक्तुमद्भुतसंकाशं राघवायोपचक्रमे। मातुलस्ते महाबाहो वाक्यमाह नरर्षभः॥ युधाजित्प्रीतिसंयुक्तं श्रूयतां यदि रोचते।
Hearing those words of Rāma the great saint communicated to him the object of his coming, saying. O you having long arms, if you do like, hear what loving words your maternal uncle Yudhājit, the foremost of men, has said.
अयं गन्धर्वविषयः फलमूलोपशोधितः॥ सिन्धोरुभयतः पार्श्वे देशः परमशोभनः। तं च रक्षन्ति गन्धर्वाः सायुधा युद्धकोविदाः॥ शैलूषस्य सुता वीर तिस्रः कोट्यो महाबलाः।
The Gandharvas, holding weapons and expert in warfare, guard that beautiful province abounding in fruits and roots on the banks of the come river Sindhu. O hero, those Gandharvas are highly powerful and three kotis in number.
तान्विनिर्जित्य काकुत्स्थ गन्धर्वनगरं शुभम्॥ निवेशय महाबाहो स्वे पुरे सुसमाहिते। अन्यस्य न गतिस्तत्र देशः परमशोभनः। रोचतां ते महाबाहो नाहं त्वामहितं वदे॥
Having hoisted your flag of victory and conquered that highly picturesque city of Gandharvas do you include that kingdom within your well-established territories. None can enter there. O you having long arms, I do not request you for any harm of you. Let that highly charming country be liked by you.
तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवः प्रीतो महर्षेर्मातुलस्य च। उवाच बाढमित्येव भरतं चान्ववैक्षत॥
Hearing the words of the maternal uncle communicated by the great saint, Rāma, with delight, said.
सोऽब्रवीद्राघवः प्रीतः साञ्जलिप्रग्रहो द्विजम्। इमौ कुमारौ तं देशं ब्रह्मर्षे विचरिष्यतः॥ भरतस्यात्मजौ वीरौ तक्षः पुष्कल एव च। मातुलेन सुगुप्तौ तु धर्मेण सुसमाहितौ॥ भरतं चाग्रतः कृत्वा कुमारौ सबलानुगौ। निहत्य गन्धर्वसुतान्द्वे पुरे विभजिष्यतः॥
What you have commanded shall be satisfied. Saying this he looked towards Bharata and delightedly and with folded hands said to the Rsis. O Brahmarsi, these two princes are Bharata's sons and their names are Takșa and Puşkala. Being well protected by uncle Yudhājit and preceded by Bharata with army and followers they shall subjugate the Gandharvas and divide the kingdom between them.
निवेश्य ते पुरवरे आत्मजौ संनिवेश्य च। आगमिष्यति मे भूयः सकाशमतिधार्मिकः॥
Having established two kingdoms and installed his two sons there Bharata, the foremost of the pious, shall come back to me.
ब्रह्मर्षिमेवमुक्त्वा तु भरतं सबलानुगम्। आज्ञापयामास तदा कुमारौ चाभ्यषेचयत्॥
Having thus said to the Brahmarși, Rāma commanded Bharata and welcomed the two princes.
नक्षत्रेण च सौम्येन पुरस्कृत्याङ्गिरःसुतम्। भरतः सह सैन्येन कुमाराभ्यां विनिर्ययौ॥
There upon under the auspices of favourable stars, having placed Gargya, son of Aigiras before them, Bharata with the princes and army issued out of the city of Ayodhyā.
सा सेना शक्रयुक्तेव नगरानिर्ययावथ।। राघवानुगता दूरं दुराधर्षा सुरैरपि॥
Răma's army unconquerable even by the celestials went out from the city like a celestial host under the command of Indra.
मांसाशिनश्च ये सत्त्वा रक्षांसि सुमहान्ति च। अनुजग्मुर्हि भरतं रुधिरस्य पिपासया॥ भूतग्रामाश्च बहवो मांसभक्षाः सुदारुणाः। गन्धर्वपुत्रमांसानि भोक्तुकामाः सहस्रशः॥
Animals, living upon flesh and huge-bodied Rākşasas longing for blood and many terrible and dreadful carnivorous creatures followed Bharata wishing the flesh of Gandharvas.
सिंहव्याघ्रवराहाणां खेचराणां च पक्षिणाम्। बहूनि वै सहस्राणि सेनाया ययुरग्रतः॥
Besides many thousand birds, moving in the sky, lions, tigers and boars went before the army.
अध्यर्धमासमुषिता पथि सेना निरामया। हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णा केकयं समुपागमत्॥
The army, consisting of delighted and healthy subjects spending half a month in the way, arrived at the Kekaya kingdom in good health. commanded Bharata and welcomed the two princes.
नक्षत्रेण च सौम्येन पुरस्कृत्याङ्गिरःसुतम्। भरतः सह सैन्येन कुमाराभ्यां विनिर्ययौ॥
There upon under the auspices of favourable stars, having placed Gargya, son of Aigiras before them, Bharata with the princes and army issued out of the city of Ayodhyā.
सा सेना शक्रयुक्तेव नगरानिर्ययावथ।। राघवानुगता दूरं दुराधर्षा सुरैरपि॥
Răma's army unconquerable even by the celestials went out from the city like a celestial host under the command of Indra.
मांसाशिनश्च ये सत्त्वा रक्षांसि सुमहान्ति च। अनुजग्मुर्हि भरतं रुधिरस्य पिपासया॥ भूतग्रामाश्च बहवो मांसभक्षाः सुदारुणाः। गन्धर्वपुत्रमांसानि भोक्तुकामाः सहस्रशः॥
Animals, living upon flesh and huge-bodied Rākşasas longing for blood and many terrible and dreadful carnivorous creatures followed Bharata wishing the flesh of Gandharvas.
सिंहव्याघ्रवराहाणां खेचराणां च पक्षिणाम्। बहूनि वै सहस्राणि सेनाया ययुरग्रतः॥
Besides many thousand birds, moving in the sky, lions, tigers and boars went before the army.
अध्यर्धमासमुषिता पथि सेना निरामया। हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णा केकयं समुपागमत्॥
The army, consisting of delighted and healthy subjects spending half a month in the way, arrived at the Kekaya kingdom in good health.