Bharata enters Ayodhya city, which appears to him gloomy and asks his charioteer why the city is looking luster-less. Thus speaking in many ways, Bharata enters his father's house which exhibits a vacant look and feels distressed.
Chapter [Sarga] 114 in Detail
snigdha gambhiira ghoshena syandanena upayaan prabhuh |
ayodhyaam bharatah kshipram pravivesha mahaa yashaah || 2-114-1
The highly illustrious Lord, Bharata riding on a chariot emanating a gentle and deep sound entered soon the city of Ayodhya.
bidaala uluuka caritaam aaliina nara vaaranaam |
timira abhyaahataam kaaliim aprakaashaam nishaam iva || 2-114-2
He entered the city, frequented by cats and owls, abiding with crouched men and elephants and looking like a night enveloped by gloom, indistinctness and darkness.
raahu shatroh priyaam patniim shriyaa prajvalita prabhaam |
grahena abhyutthitena ekaam rohiniim iva piiditaam || 2-114-3
Ayodhya looked like the planet Rohini, the beloved consort of the moon-god (treated as the enemy by the demon Rahu), tormented by planet Rahu* in the ascendant though ordinarily invested with an exceedingly bright splendor by virtue of her glory.
alpa ushna kshubdha salilaam gharma uttapta vihamgamaam |
liina miina jhasha graahaam krishaam giri nadiim iva || 2-114-4
Ayodhya further looked emaciated like a mountain stream, whose scanty waters had become hot and agitated birds living in which were scorched by the sun, and whose fish, small and big and alligators had perished.
vidhuumaam iva hema aabhaam adhvara agni samutthitaam |
havir abhyukshitaam pashcaat shikhaam vipralayam gataam || 2-114-5
Ayodhya looked like a flame of sacrificial fire which when oblation is poured into it, rises like a golden cone without smoke and thereafter sinks into extinction (ash).
vidhvasta kavacaam rugna gaja vaaji ratha dhvajaam |
hata praviiraam aapannaam camuum iva mahaa aahave || 2-114-6
Ayodhya looked like an afflicted army, shattered of its armor in a major conflict, whose ensigns borne on horses, elephants and chariots had been torn, and its heroic warriors slain.
saphenaam sasvanaam bhuutvaa saagarasya samutthitaam |
prashaanta maaruta uddhuutaam jala uurmim iva nihsvanaam || 2-114-7
Ayodhya appeared like the waves of the sea though tosses very high with foam and a roar, is rendered noiseless, being shaken up by a silent wind.
tyaktaam yajna aayudhaih sarvair abhiruupaih ca yaajakaih |
sutyaa kaale vinirvritte vedim gata ravaam iva || 2-114-8
Ayodhya appeared like a sacred altar, which, when the period of offering oblations into fire has completely expired, has been cleared of all sacrificial implements and deserted of recitations by the learned priests.
goshtha madhye sthitaam aartaam acarantiim navam trinam |
go vrishena parityaktaam gavaam patniim iva utsukaam || 2-114-9
Ayodhya appeared like restless kine [cow], deprived of the bull, which cease to graze in new pastures and stand in the cow-pen, dispirited.
prabhaa karaalaih susnigdhaih prajvaladbhir iva uttamaih |
viyuktaam manibhir jaatyair navaam muktaa aavaliim iva || 2-114-10
Ayodhya was resembling a new pearl-necklace, bereft of well- polished dazzling and excellent gems, rubies and the like, of genuine quality.
sahasaa calitaam sthaanaan mahiim punya kshayaad gataam |
samhrita dyuti vistaaraam taaraam iva divah cyutaam || 2-114-11
Ayodhya appeared like a meteor, which moved from its position with its virtue exhausted, soon dropped from the sky and fallen to earth, deprived of its splendor.
pushpa naddhaam vasanta ante matta bhramara shaaliniim |
druta daava agni viplushtaam klaantaam vana lataam iva || 2-114-12
Ayodhya appeared like a flowering creeper laden with blossom in the spring-tide, frequented by a swarm of intoxicated bees, that is suddenly consumed by a forest fire and withering.
sammuudha nigamaam sarvaam samkshipta vipana aapanaam |
pragccanna shashi nakshatraam dyaam iva ambu dharair vritaam || 2-114-13
With its senseless traffic paralyzed and with its fairs and markets closed, Ayodhya resembled like a firmament, covered with clouds, with the moon and stars obscured.
kshiina paana uttamair bhinnaih sharaavair abhisamvritaam |
hata shaundaam iva aakaashe paana bhuumim asamskritaam || 2-114-14
Ayodhya appeared splendor-less, like a deserted and un-cleaned tavern, with its vendor of spirituous liquors killed, the excellent wine expended, its drinking pots and glasses broken and the pieces strewn [scattered] in disorder.
vrikna bhuumi talaam nimnaam vrikna paatraih samaavritaam |
upayukta udakaam bhagnaam prapaam nipatitaam iva || 2-114-15
Ayodhya resembled a cistern erected for storage and distribution of water, but now broken and collapsed with its platform riven and sunk, and covered with broken jars and earthen vessels, its water having been used up.
vipulaam vitataam caiva yukta paashaam tarasvinaam |
bhuumau baanair vinishkrittaam patitaam jyaam iva aayudhaat || 2-114-16
Ayodhya resembled a bow-string, which was large and bent, with suitable noose at both ends, but severed from the bow by the arrows of heroes and fallen to the ground.
sahasaa yuddha shaundena haya aarohena vaahitaam |
nihataam pratisainyena vadavaamiva paatitaam || 2-114-17
Ayodhya appeared like a mare, urged on suddenly by a horse-man, skilled in war-fare and fallen down when killed by the opposite army.
bharatastu rathasthah san shriimaan dasharathaatmajah |
vaahayantam rathashrestham saarathim vaakyamabraviit || 2-114-18
Sitting in the chariot, the glorious Bharata, the son of Dasaratha, spoke the following words to the charioteer who was riding his excellent chariot:
kim nu khalvadya gambiiro muurchito na nishamyate |
yathaapuramayodhyaayaam giitavaaditranisvanah || 2-114-19
"How is it that the deep and intensified sound of vocal and instrumental music is not heard as before in Ayodhya today?"
vaaruniimadagandhashcha maalyagandhashcha muurchitah |
dhuupitaagarugandhashcha na pravaati samantatah || 2-114-20
"The intoxicating odor of spirituous liquor or the fragrance of floral garlands or the aroma of sandal and aloe-wood fumes, which used to be spread once on all sides, are not being wafted."
yaanapra varaghosashcha snigdhashcha hayanisvanah |
pramattagajanaadashcha mahaamshcha rathanisvanah || 2-114-21
nedaaniim shruuyate puryaamasyaam raame vivaasite || 2-114-22
"O, Sumantra! I do not hear, as before, the sound of the horses, the sound of the intoxicating elephants and the clattering of the great chariots in this city now."
chandanaagaarugandhaamshcha mahaarhashcha navasrajah || 2-114-23
gate hi raame tarunaah samtaptaa nopabhujnjate |
"Rama, having left Ayodhya, the distressful youth are not making use of the perfumes like sandal-wood, aloe wood as also the most admirable and fresh floral garlands."
bahiryaatraam na gachchhanti chitramaaalyadharaa naraah || 2-114-24
notsavaah sampravartante raamashokaardite pure |
"In the city afflicted by Rama's desertion, people are not going out for pleasure-trips, wearing colorful garlands nor are festivals observed by them."
saha nuunam mama bhraatraa purasyaasya dyutirgataa || 2-114-25
na hi raajatyayodhyeyam saasaarevaarjunii ksapaa |
"The luster of Ayodhya has departed along with my brother. It is certain. This Ayodhya is not shining indeed, like a rainy night at the time of the waning moon."
kadaa nu khalu me bhraataa mahotsava ivaagatah || 2-114-26
janayisyatyayodhyaayaam harsam griisma ivaambudah |
"When will my brother return, like a carnival, diffusing joy in Ayodhya, as do the autumnal rains?"
tarunaih caaru veshaih ca narair unnata gaamibhih |
sampatadbhir ayodhyaayaam na vibhaanti mahaa pathaah || 2-114-27
"The highways in Ayodhya are not glittering with youthful people, richly attired, bearing themselves bravely and roaming about in groups."
evam bahu vidham jalpan vivesha vasatim pituh |
tena hiinaam nara indrena simha hiinaam guhaam iva || 2-114-28
Thus speaking in many ways, Bharata entered his father's house, bereft of that emperor and which resembled a cave bereft of a lion.
tadaa tadanthpuramujghitaprabham |
surairivotsristamabhaaskaram dinam |
niriiksya sarvam tu viviktamaatmavaan |
mumocha baaspam bharatah suduhkhitah || 2-114-29
Bharata, though a composed man himself, shed tears by seeing that entire empty gynaeceum, looking like a day without the sun with its relinquished radiance.
ityaarse shriimaadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyaakaande
haturdashottarashatatamah sargah
Thus completes 114th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate