Leaving Ayodhya early next morning, accompanied by family-priests, ministers, archers, elephants, cavalry, artisans, army and citizens and covering a long distance, Bharata arrives at the bank of Ganga River at Sringaberapura ruled by Guha and, encamping the army there, breaks journey for offering libations to his deceased father on the bank of the Ganga and also to give rest to the retinue.
Chapter [Sarga] 83 in Detail
tatah samutthitah kaalyam aasthaaya syandana uttamam |
prayayau bharatah shiighram raama darshana kaanksayaa || 2-83-1
Bharata rose up at day-break, mounted on excellent chariot and went quickly with a desire to see Rama.
agratah prayayus tasya sarve mantri purodhasah |
adhiruhya hayaih yuktaan rathaan suurya ratha upamaan || 2-83-2
All the ministers and priests ascended, chariots yoked with horses, resembling those of the sun, and went ahead of Bharata.
nava naaga sahasraani kalpitaani yathaa vidhi |
anvayur bharatam yaantam iksvaaku kula nandanam || 2-83-3
Nine thousand elephants suitably duly arranged escorted Bharata the joy of the Ikshvaku dynasty, on his journey.
sasthii ratha sahasraani dhanvino vividha aayudhaah |
anvayur bharatam yaantam raaja putram yashasvinam || 2-83-4
Sixty thousand chariots filled with archers, furnished with weapons of various kinds, followed the illustrious prince Bharata.
shatam sahasraani ashvaanaam samaaruudhaani raaghavam |
anvayur bharatam yaantam raaja putram yashasvinam || 2-83-5
A hundred thousand cavalry accompanied the moving Bharata, born in Raghu dynasty, who was true to his promise and who subdued his senses.
kaikeyii ca sumitraa ca kausalyaa ca yashasvinii |
raama aanayana samhristaa yayur yaanena bhaasvataa || 2-83-6
Kaikeyi, Sumitra and the illustrious Kausalya rode in a resplendent chariot, delighted as they were at the thought of Rama’s return.
prayaataah ca aarya samghaataa raamam drastum salaksmanam |
tasya eva ca kathaah citraah kurvaanaa hrista maanasaah || 2-83-7
The whole body of noble men with their jubilant hearts followed Bharata to see Rama again as also Lakshmana, recounting the marvelous exploits of that hero to each other saying:
megha shyaamam mahaa baahum sthira sattvam dridha vratam |
kadaa draksyaamahe raamam jagatah shoka naashanam || 2-83-8
“When shall we see the mighty armed prince, of the hue of dark cloud, whose courage is unshakable, of inflexible purpose Rama, who banished sorrow from the earth?”
dristaeva hi nah shokam apanesyati raaghavah |
tamah sarvasya lokasya samudyann iva bhaaskarah || 2-83-9
“Beholding Rama, our entire sorrow will indeed be dispelled, as darkness of the entire earth is dispelled at the rising of the sun.”
iti evam kathayantah te samprahristaah kathaah shubhaah |
parisvajaanaah ca anyonyam yayur naagarikaah tadaa || 2-83-10
Thus did the citizens of Ayodhya recount happily of Rama’s glorious deeds, and they embraced each other as they went along.
ye ca tatra apare sarve sammataa ye ca naigamaah |
raamam prati yayur hristaah sarvaah prakritayah tadaa || 2-83-11
Those others who were held in high esteem, merchants and all common people proceeded merrily to join Rama.
mani kaaraah ca ye kecit kumbha kaaraah ca shobhanaah |
suutra karma kritah caiva ye ca shastra upajiivinah || 2-83-12
maayuurakaah kraakacikaa rocakaa vedhakaah tathaa |
danta kaaraah sudhaa kaaraah tathaa gandha upajiivinah || 2-83-13
suvarna kaaraah prakhyaataah tathaa kambala dhaavakaah |
snaapaka aacchaadakaa vaidyaa dhuupakaah shaundikaah tathaa || 2-83-14
rajakaah tunna vaayaah ca graama ghosa mahattaraah |
shailuusaah ca saha striibhir yaanti kaivartakaah tathaa || 2-83-15
Some lapidaries, skilled potters, those who lived by manufacture of arms, carpenters, those who made various articles from peacock-feather, sawyers, workers in artificial ornaments, those who pierced gems, pearls etc, those who made articles of ivory, those who lived by perfumery, highly reputed goldsmiths, weavers of blankets and other wollen goods, those who provided hot-water baths for other, physicians, distillers and vendors of spirituous liquors, fumigators, washer-men, tailors, chiefs of villages and hamlets, dancers with their women-folk and fishermen started on the journey.
samaahitaa vedavido braahmanaa vritta sammataah |
go rathaih bharatam yaantam anujagmuh sahasrashah || 2-83-16
Thousands of Brahmanas, well-composed, renowned for their virtuous conduct, versed in sacred scriptures and riding on bullock-carts, accompanied Bharata.
suvesaah shuddha vasanaah taamra mrista anulepanaah |
sarve te vividhaih yaanaih shanaih bharatam anvayuh || 2-83-17
All of them, attired in clean and fair raiment, anointed with pure red sandal-paste, mounted on various kinds of vehicles, followed Bharata tranquilly.
prahrista muditaa senaa saanvayaat kaikayii sutam |
bhraaturaanayane yaantam bharatam bhraatrivatsalam || 2-83-18
Exceedingly pleased and cheerful, that army escorted the son of Kaikeyi- Bharata who was affectionate towards his brother and who had set out along with his family to bring his brother, Rama.
te gatvaa duuramadhvaanam ratham yaanaashvakujnjaraih |
samaasedustato gagaam shrigiberapuram prati || 2-83-19
yatra raamasakho viiro guho jjnaatiganairvritah |
nivasatyapramaadena desham tam paripaalayan || 2-83-20
Having gone for a considerable distance in their chariots, carts, horses and elephants, they reached the River Ganga close to the city of Sringaberapura, where the valiant Guha, a bosom friend of Rama along with multitude of relatives was ruling that region carefully.
upetya tiiram gagaayaashcakramaakairalakatam |
vyavatisthata saa senaa bharatasya anuyaayinii || 2-83-21
That army, which was accompanying Bharata, arrived at the bank of Ganga River, looking beautiful as it was with Charka birds and stopped there.
niriiksya anugataam senaam taam ca gangaam shiva udakaam |
bharatah sacivaan sarvaan abraviid vaakya kovidah || 2-83-22
Seeing the army behind, which accompanied him and the River Ganga in front with its propitious waters, Bharata who was skillful in words, spoke to all his officers (as follows):
niveshayata me sainyam abhipraayena sarvashah |
vishraantah pratarisyaamah shvaidaaniim mahaa nadiim || 2-83-23
“It is my will that my army should take rest by all means. When they are refreshed we shall cross the river tomorrow.”
daatum ca taavad icchaami svar gatasya mahii pateh |
aurdhvadeha nimitta artham avatiirya udakam nadiim || 2-83-24
“Meanwhile, descending into the river, I desire to make offering of the sacred water as libation for the infinite spirit relating to the state after death, to the king Dasaratha who has gone to heaven.”
tasya evam bruvatah amaatyaah tathaa iti uktvaa samaahitaah |
nyaveshayams taamh chandena svena svena prithak prithak || 2-83-25
Hearing these words from Bharata, the officers attentively answered, “Be it so” and each of them encamped their respective forces in accord with his pleasure.
niveshya gangaam anu taam mahaa nadiim |
camuum vidhaanaih paribarha shobhiniim |
uvaasa raamasya tadaa mahaatmano |
vicintayaano bharatah nivartanam || 2-83-26
Having meticulously arranged for encampment of the army which looked lovely along Ganga that great river with the surrounding equipment (like tunts, furnishings etc), Bharata halted then, reflecting as to how to bring back the magnanimous Rama.
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyaakaande tryashiititamah sargah
Thus completes 83rd Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate