The engineers construct a comfortably high-way from Ayodhya to the River Ganga, by clearing off shrubs and stones on the way and excellent wells were dug. Beautiful tents were also built on the path.
Chapter [Sarga] 80 in Detail
atha bhuumi pradeshajnaah suutra karma vishaaradaah |
sva karma abhirataah shuuraah khanakaa yantrakaah tathaa || 2-80-1
karma antikaah sthapatayah purusaa yantra kovidaah |
tathaa vardhakayah caiva maargino vriksa taksakaah || 2-80-2
kuupa kaaraah sudhaa kaaraa vamsha karma kritah tathaa |
samarthaa ye ca drastaarah puratah te pratasthire || 2-80-3
Then, those able to advise on the nature of soils, those skilled in thread-holding for leveling purposes, those who were energetic courageous and attentive in doing their jobs, excavators, mechanics, laborers, carpenters, road-menders, wood-cutters, hollow-makers, men skilled in plastering and white washing, basket makers, tanners and skilled supervisors of work sallied forth in advance.
sa tu harsaat tam uddesham jana ogho vipulah prayaan |
ashobhata mahaa vegah saagarasya iva parvani || 2-80-4
That mighty assembly of men gladly setting out to that forest was splendid like an ocean on the day of the full moon having a gigantic commotion.
te sva vaaram samaasthaaya vartma karmaani kovidaah |
karanaih vividha upetaih purastaat sampratasthire || 2-80-5
Men skilled in making roads, furnished with tools of every kin, seeking the company of men of their own proper place, marched ahead.
lataa valliih ca gulmaamh ca sthaanuun ashmanaeva ca |
janaah te cakrire maargam chindantah vividhaan drumaan || 2-80-6
Clearing away rows of creepers and shrubs timber and big rocks as well as various kinds of trees (which obstructed the way), they carved out a path.
avriksesu ca deshesu kecit vriksaan aropayan |
kecit kuthaaraiah tankaih ca daatraih chindan kvacit kvacit || 2-80-7
Some men planted trees in tree-less areas. Some others chopped the existing trees here and there by means of axes, hatchets and sickles.
apare viirana stambaan balino balavattaraah |
vidhamanti sma durgaani sthalaani ca tatah tatah || 2-80-8
Some other strong men removed sturdy tufts of Virana grass and leveled the uneven places here and there.
apare apuurayan kuupaan paamsubhih shvabhram aayatam |
nimna bhaagaams tathaa kecit samaamh cakruh samantatah || 2-80-9
Some others filled up wells and extensive pits with earth. Some men leveled low-lying places all around.
babandhur bandhaniiyaamh ca ksodyaan samcuksudus tadaa |
bibhidur bhedaniiyaamh ca taams taan deshaan naraah tadaa || 2-80-10
Then, some men bridged the steams that could be bridged, pulverized the rocks that could be pulverized and smashed (the impediments that blocked the flow of water) those which could be smashed.
acirena eva kaalena parivaahaan bahu udakaan |
cakrur bahu vidha aakaaraan saagara pratimaan bahuun || 2-80-11
Many ponds, in various sizes and shapes containing plenty of water resembling seas were built (by constructing dams on rivulets).
nirjalesu ca deshesu khaanayaamaasuruttamaan |
udapaanaan bahuvidhaan vedikaa parimanditaan || 2-80-12
In water-scarce areas, excellent wells in various shapes were dug duly decorated all around with platforms (to rest).
sasudhaa kuttima talah prapuspita mahii ruhah |
matta udghusta dvija ganah pataakaabhir alamkritah || 2-80-13
candana udaka samsiktah naanaa kusuma bhuusitah |
bahv ashobhata senaayaah panthaah svarga patha upamah || 2-80-14
That track of the troops, having its surface inlaid with cement, with flowering trees inlaid with cement, with flowering trees on both sides, inhabited with birds in excitement making their sounds, adorned with flags on its either side with its surface sprinkled with water of sandal-wood fragrance, and decorated with various kinds of flowers, looked very much splendid like the path of celestials.
aajnaapya atha yathaa aajnapti yuktaah te adhikritaa naraah |
ramaniiyesu deshesu bahu svaadu phalesu ca || 2-80-15
yo niveshah tu abhipretah bharatasya mahaatmanah |
bhuuyah tam shobhayaam aasur bhuusaabhir bhuusana upamam || 2-80-16
Those officers appointed for execution of the work, as ordered by Bharata, skillfully instructed their work-men and erected a tent which was intended for the great-souled Bharata, in a beautiful place abundant with tasty fruits. They further adorned profusely with decorations, the tent which itself resembled on ornament.
naksatresu prashastesu muhuurtesu ca tadvidah |
nivesham sthaapayaam aasur bharatasya mahaatmanah || 2-80-17
The connoisseurs erected the tents of the high-souled Bharata at auspicious hours in days when the stars were propitious.
bahu paamsu cayaah ca api parikhaa parivaaritaah |
tantra indra kiila pratimaah pratolii vara shobhitaah || 2-80-18
praasaada maalaa samyuktaah saudha praakaara samvritaah |
pataakaa shobhitaah sarve sunirmita mahaa pathaah || 2-80-19
visarpatbhir iva aakaashe vitanka agra vimaanakaih |
samucchritaih niveshaah te babhuh shakra pura upamaah || 2-80-20
Those camps, with many breast works of sand, moats surrounding each of them, streets as resplendent as sapphires, their crowns of terrets [half ring], the ramparts covered with stucco to protect then, the splendid banners, the skillfully laid out avenues, lofty mansions the tops of which were provided with dove-cots, which flew about as it were in the air and in splendor, resembled the capitals of Indra.
jaahnaviim tu samaasaadya vividha druma kaananaam |
shiitala amala paaniiyaam mahaa miina samaakulaam || 2-80-21
The route thus prepared, extended up to the Ganga River, whose pure and limpid waters, abounding in great fish, flowed between woods and forests of every kind.
sacandra taaraa gana manditam yathaa |
nabhah ksapaayaam amalam viraajate |
nara indra maargah sa tathaa vyaraajata |
kramena ramyah shubha shilpi nirmitah || 2-80-22
That beautiful royal high way, which was built gradually by efficient engineers, appeared as resplendent as a night in a clear sky, illumined by the moon with its procession of stars.
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyaakaande ashiititamah sargah
Thus completes 80th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate