🏛️ Ayodhya Kanda

Sarga 68

19 shlokas

AK-68-1Ayodhya Kanda 68.1

तेषां हि वचनं श्रुत्वा वसिष्ठः प्रत्युवाच ह। मित्रामात्यगणान्सर्वान्ब्राह्मणांस्तानिदं वचः।।2.68.1।।

teṣāṃ hi vacanṃ śrutvā vasiṣṭhḥ pratyuvāca ha| mitrāmātyagaṇānsarvānbrāhmaṇāṃstānidṃ vacḥ||2.68.1||

Translation

तेषाम् their, वचनं words, श्रुत्वा having listened, वसिष्टः Vasistha, तान् those, मित्रामात्यगणान् host of friends and counsellors (of the king), सर्वान् all, ब्राह्मणान् brahmins, इदं वचः these words, प्रत्युवाचह said in reply.

Meaning

Having listened to their (the counsellors') words, Vasistha replied to the host of friends and counsellors of the king and to all the brahmins:

AK-68-2-3Ayodhya Kanda 68.2–3 (युग्मम्)

यदसौ मातुलकुले दत्तराज्यं परं सुखी। भरतो वसति भ्रात्रा शत्रुघ्नेन समन्वितः।।2.68.2।। तच्छीघ्रं जवना दूता गच्छन्तु त्वरितैर्हयैः। आनेतुं भ्रातरौ वीरौ किं समीक्षामहे वयम्।।2.68.3।।

yadasau mātulakule dattarājyṃ parṃ sukhī| bharato vasati bhrātrā śatrughnena samanvitḥ||2.68.2|| tacchīghrṃ javanā dūtā gacchantu tvaritairhayaiḥ| ānetuṃ bhrātarau vīrau kiṃ samīkṣāmahe vayam||2.68.3||

Translation

दत्तराज्यम् on whom the kingdom has been conferred, असौ भरतः that Bharata, भ्रात्रा with his brother, शत्रुघ्नेन with Satrughna, समन्वितः accompanied by, यत् since, मातुलकुले in maternal uncle's house, परम् extremely, सुखी happy, वसति is living, तत् for that reason, वीरौ two valiant, भ्रातरौ brothers, आनेतुम् to bring, जवनाः swift ones, दूताः messengers, त्वरितैः by high speed, हयैः on horses, शीघ्रम् quickly, गच्छन्तु let them go, वयम् we, किम् what, समीक्षामहे shall we deliberate.

Meaning

Bharata on whom the kingdom has been conferred is living comfortably in his maternal uncle's house. Let swift messengers go quickly on speeding horses and bring back the valiant brothers, Bharata and Satrughna. What is there to deliberate for us in this matter?

AK-68-4Ayodhya Kanda 68.4

गच्छन्त्विति तत स्सर्वे वसिष्ठं वाक्यमब्रुवन्। तेषां तद्वचनं श्रूत्वा वसिष्ठो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.68.4।।

gacchantviti tata ssarve vasiṣṭhṃ vākyamabruvan| teṣāṃ tadvacanṃ śrūtvā vasiṣṭho vākyamabravīt||2.68.4||

Translation

ततः after that, गच्छन्तु let them go, इति thus, सर्वे all, वसिष्ठम् addressing Vasistha, वाक्यम् words, अब्रुवन् uttered, तेषाम् their, तत् those, वचनम् words, श्रुत्वा on hearing, वसिष्ठः Vasistha, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् said.

Meaning

Let the messengers go, said all of them to Vasistha. On hearing this, Vasistha replied again.

AK-68-5Ayodhya Kanda 68.5

एहि सिद्धार्थ विजय जयन्ताशोक नन्दन। श्रूयतामिति कर्तव्यं सर्वानेव ब्रवीमि वः।।2.68.5।।

ehi siddhārtha vijaya jayantāśoka nandana| śrūyatāmiti kartavyṃ sarvāneva bravīmi vḥ||2.68.5||

Translation

सिद्धार्थ O Siddhartha, विजय O Vijaya, जयन्त O Jayanta, अशोक O Asoka, नन्दन O Nandana, एहि come, वः us, सर्वानेव addressing all of you, (अहम् I), ब्रवीमि am telling, इतिकर्तव्यम् what is required to be done, श्रूयाताम् hear.

Meaning

Calling Siddhartha, Vijaya, Jayanta, Asoka and Nandana, Vasistha said, All of you listen to what is required to be done (by you).

AK-68-6Ayodhya Kanda 68.6

पुरं राजगृहं गत्वा शीघ्रं शीघ्रजवै र्हयैः। त्यक्तशोकैरिदं वाच्य श्शासनाद्भरतो मम।।2.68.6।।

purṃ rājagṛhṃ gatvā śīghrṃ śīghrajavai rhayaiḥ| tyaktaśokairidṃ vācya śśāsanādbharato mama||2.68.6||

Translation

(इतः from here), शीघ्रजवैः go swiftly, हयैः on horses, राजगृहम् to Rajagrha, पुरम् city, गत्वा having gone, त्यक्त शोकैः concealing signs of grief, भरतः Bharata, मम my, शासनात् by command, इदम् these words, वाच्यः should be told.

Meaning

Go at once from here on swift horses to the city of Rajagrha and concealing signs of grief, convey these words to Bharata as my command:

AK-68-7Ayodhya Kanda 68.7

पुरोहित स्त्वां कुशलं प्राह सर्वे च मन्त्रिणः। त्वरमाणश्च निर्याहि कृत्यमात्ययिकं त्वया।।2.68.7।।

purohita stvāṃ kuśalṃ prāha sarve ca mantriṇḥ| tvaramāṇaśca niryāhi kṛtyamātyayikṃ tvayā||2.68.7||

Translation

पुरोहितः the family priest, त्वाम् your, कुशलम् welfare, प्राह has wished, सर्वे all, मन्त्रिणश्च counsellors too, त्वरमाणः च in all haste, निर्याहि return, त्वया by you, आत्ययिकम् urgent, कृत्यम् task exists.

Meaning

The family priest and all the counsellors wish your welfare. You must return in haste. There is an urgent task required to be done by you.

AK-68-8Ayodhya Kanda 68.8

मा चास्मै प्रोषितं रामं मा चास्मै पितरं मृतम्। भवन्त श्शंसिषुर्गत्वा राघवाणामिमं क्षयम्।।2.68.8।।

mā cāsmai proṣitṃ rāmṃ mā cāsmai pitarṃ mṛtam| bhavanta śśṃsiṣurgatvā rāghavāṇāmimṃ kṣayam||2.68.8||

Translation

भवन्तः all of you, गत्वा having gone, आस्मै to him, रामम् Rama, प्रोषितम् been exiled to the forest, मा शंसिषुः shall not be communicated, पितरम् father's, मृतम् demise, राघवाणाम् of Raghus, इमम् this, क्षयम् decline, मा शंसिषुः shall not communicate.

Meaning

All of you go there and do not communicate (to Bharata) about the exile of Rama or the demise of his father and the disaster that has befallen the Raghus.

AK-68-9Ayodhya Kanda 68.9

कौशेयानि च वस्त्राणि भूषणानि वराणि च। क्षिप्रमादय राज्ञश्च भरतस्य च गच्छत।।2.68.9।।

kauśeyāni ca vastrāṇi bhūṣaṇāni varāṇi ca| kṣipramādaya rājñaśca bharatasya ca gacchata||2.68.9||

Translation

राज्ञश्च the kings, भरतस्य च to Bharata, कौशेयानि वस्त्राणि silk garments, वराणि precious, भूषणानि च ornaments, आदाय taking with you, क्षिप्रम् गच्छत immediately go.

Meaning

Take with you silk garments and precious ornaments for the king of Kekaya and Bharata and depart at once.

AK-68-10Ayodhya Kanda 68.10

दत्तपथ्यशना दूता जग्मुस्स्वं स्वं निवेशनम्। केकयां स्ते गमिष्यन्तो हयानारुह्य संमतान्।।2.68.10।।

dattapathyaśanā dūtā jagmussvṃ svṃ niveśanam| kekayāṃ ste gamiṣyanto hayānāruhya sṃmatān||2.68.10||

Translation

केकयान् to Kekaya kingdom, गमिष्यन्तः departing, ते दूताः those mesengers, दत्तपथ्यशनाः necessaries for the journey, सम्मतान् excellent, हयान् horses, आरुह्य having mounted, स्वं स्वम् their respective, निवेशनम् house, जग्मुः went.

Meaning

The messengers set to depart to Kekaya kingdom, carrying with them the necessaries for their journey went to their respective homes mounted on excellent horses.

AK-68-11Ayodhya Kanda 68.11

ततः प्रास्थानिकं कृत्वा कार्यशेषमनन्तरम्। वसिष्ठेनाभ्यनुज्ञाता दूता स्संत्वरिता ययुः।।2.68.11।।

tatḥ prāsthānikṃ kṛtvā kāryaśeṣamanantaram| vasiṣṭhenābhyanujñātā dūtā ssṃtvaritā yayuḥ||2.68.11||

Translation

ततः then, दूताः messengers, प्रास्थानिकम् for the journey, अनन्तरम् required to be done, कार्यशेषम् rest of the arrangements, कृत्वा having done, वसिष्ठेन by Vasistha, अभ्यनुज्ञाताः permitted, संत्वरिताः in haste, ययुः went out.

Meaning

Having completed the rest of the arrangements for the journey and permitted by Vasistha, the messengers left.

AK-68-12Ayodhya Kanda 68.12

न्यन्तेनापरतालस्य प्रलम्बस्योत्तरं प्रति। निषेवमाणा स्ते जग्मुर्नदीं मध्येन मालिनीम्।।2.68.12।।

nyantenāparatālasya pralambasyottarṃ prati| niṣevamāṇā ste jagmurnadīṃ madhyena mālinīm||2.68.12||

Translation

ते those messengers, अपरतालस्य Aparatala mountain, न्यन्तेन to the west of it, प्रलम्बस्य Pralamba mountain, उत्तरं प्रति to the north of, मध्येन in between, मालिनीं नदीम् river Malini, निषेवमाणाः serving, जग्मुः went.

Meaning

The messengers proceeded in westerly direction for some distance and then crossed the southern end of the Aparatala mountain. Thereafter, they travelled northward along the bank of Malini that flows in between Aparatala and Pralamba mountains.

AK-68-13-14Ayodhya Kanda 68.13–14 (युग्मम्)

ते हस्तिनापुरे गङ्गां तीर्त्वा प्रत्यङ्मुखा ययुः। पाञ्चालदेशमासाद्य मध्येन कुरुजाङ्गलम्।।2.68.13।। सरांसि च सुपूर्णानि नदीश्च विमलोदकाः। निरीक्षमाणा स्ते जग्मुर्दूताः कार्यवशाद्द्रुतम्।।2.68.14।।

te hastināpure gaṅgāṃ tīrtvā pratyaṅmukhā yayuḥ| pāñcāladeśamāsādya madhyena kurujāṅgalam||2.68.13|| sarāṃsi ca supūrṇāni nadīśca vimalodakāḥ| nirīkṣamāṇā ste jagmurdūtāḥ kāryavaśāddrutam||2.68.14||

Translation

ते दूताः those messengers, हस्तिनापुरे at Hastinapura, गङ्गाम् Ganga, तीर्त्वा having crossed, प्रत्यङ्मुखाः in the westerly direction, ययुः went, मध्येन कुरुजाङ्गलम् through the middle of Kurujangala, पाञ्चालदेशम् Panchala country, आसाद्य having reached, सुपूर्णानि filled with water, सरांसि च lakes, विमलोदकाः of pellucid waters, नदीश्च rivers, निरीक्षमाणाः beholding, कार्यवशात् with a view to fulfil their mission, द्रुतम् fast, जग्मुः went.

Meaning

The messengers crossed Ganga at Hastinapura, and went in the westerly direction through the middle of Kurujangala and reached the country of Panchala. Beholding lakes full of water and rivers of pellucid waters there, they travelled fast with a view to fulfilling their mission.

AK-68-15Ayodhya Kanda 68.15

ते प्रसन्नोदकां दिव्यां नानाविहगसेविताम्। उपातिजग्मुर्वेगेन शरदण्डां जनाकुलाम्।।2.68.15।।

te prasannodakāṃ divyāṃ nānāvihagasevitām| upātijagmurvegena śaradaṇḍāṃ janākulām||2.68.15||

Translation

ते those messengers, प्रसन्नोदकाम् of calm waters, दिव्याम् divine, नानाविहगसेविताम् frequented by fowls of various species, जनाकुलाम् thronged with people, शरदण्डाम् Saradanda river, उपातिजग्मुः crossed and went.

Meaning

The messengers crossed the divine Saradanda of calm waters frequented by fowls of various speices and thronged with people. And proceeded speedily.

AK-68-16Ayodhya Kanda 68.16

निकूलवृक्षमासाद्य दिव्यं सत्योपयाचनम्। अभिगम्याभिवाद्यं तं कुलिङ्गां प्राविशन्पुरीम्।।2.68.16।।

nikūlavṛkṣamāsādya divyṃ satyopayācanam| abhigamyābhivādyṃ tṃ kuliṅgāṃ prāviśanpurīm||2.68.16||

Translation

दिव्यम् divine, सत्योपयाचनम् Satyopayachana (a tree granting the wishes of those who pray for), निकूलवृक्षम् a tree on the bank, आसाद्य having reached, अभिवाद्यम् paying homage, तम् that one, अभिगम्य having reached, कुलिङ्गांपुरीम् Kulinga city, प्राविशन् entered.

Meaning

They reached a divine tree (of great powers) known as Satyopayachana tree and having gone round and paid homage they entered the Kulinga city.

AK-68-17Ayodhya Kanda 68.17

आभिकालं ततः प्राप्य ते बोधिभवनाच्च्युताम्। पितृपैतामहीं पुण्यां तेरुरिक्षुमतीं नदीम्।।2.68.17।।

ābhikālṃ tatḥ prāpya te bodhibhavanāccyutām| pitṛpaitāmahīṃ puṇyāṃ terurikṣumatīṃ nadīm||2.68.17||

Translation

ततः from there, ते they, अभिकालम् a village known as Abhikala, प्राप्य having reached, बोधिभवनात् from Bodhibhavana mountain, च्युताम् flowing, पितृपैतामहीम् enjoyed by fathers and forefathers, पुण्याम् sacred, इक्षुमतीम् Ikshumati river, तेरुः crossed.

Meaning

From there they reached a village known as Abhikala and crossed the sacred Ikshumati flowing from Bodhibhavana mountain. This region was enjoyed by fathers and forefathers of Dasaratha.

AK-68-18Ayodhya Kanda 68.18

अवेक्ष्याञ्जलिपानांश्च ब्राह्मणान्वेदपारगान्। ययुर्मध्येन बाह्लीकान् सुदामानं च पर्वतम्।।2.68.18।।

avekṣyāñjalipānāṃśca brāhmaṇānvedapāragān| yayurmadhyena bāhlīkān sudāmānṃ ca parvatam||2.68.18||

Translation

अञ्जलिपानान् drinking water with cupped palms, वेदपारगान् versed in the Vedas, ब्राह्मणान् brahmins, अवेक्षय having seen, बाह्लीकान् मध्येन in the middle of Bahlika country, सुदामानम् known as Sudama, पर्यतं च mountain, ययुः went.

Meaning

There they saw the brahmins versed in the Vedas and drank water with cupped palms. Then they continued their journey through the middle of Bahlika country, and reached Sudama mountain.

AK-68-19-20Ayodhya Kanda 68.19–20 (युग्मम्)

विष्णोः पदं प्रेक्षमाणा विपाशांचापि शाल्मलीम्। नदीर्वापी स्तटाकानि पल्वलानि सरांसि च।।2.68.19।। पश्यन्तो विविधांश्चापि सिंहाव्याघ्रमृग द्विपान्। ययुः पथाऽतिमहता शासनं भर्तुरीप्सवः।।2.68.20।।

viṣṇoḥ padṃ prekṣamāṇā vipāśāṃcāpi śālmalīm| nadīrvāpī staṭākāni palvalāni sarāṃsi ca||2.68.19|| paśyanto vividhāṃścāpi siṃhāvyāghramṛga dvipān| yayuḥ pathā'timahatā śāsanṃ bharturīpsavḥ||2.68.20||

Translation

विष्णोः Visnu's, पदम् footprints, प्रेक्षमाणाः beholding, विपाशांचापि Vipasa river, शाल्मलीलं चापि Salmali also, नदीः rivers, वापीः deep wells with steps to reach, तटाकानि tanks, पल्वलानि pools, सरांसि च large tanks, विविधान् different, सिंहव्याघ्रमृग द्विपान् lions, tigers and elephants, पश्यन्तः seeing, भर्तुः master's, शासनम् command, ईप्सवः wishing to fulfil, अतिमहता very long, पथा journey, ययुः went.

Meaning

Beholding the footprints of Visnu (on Sudama mountain), and seeing Vipasa, and Salmali rivers, trees, streams, deep wells, ponds, pools, large tanks, different kinds of lions, tigers and elephants, they travelled a long distance with the intention of fulfilling the command of their master.

AK-68-21Ayodhya Kanda 68.21

ते श्रान्तवाहना दूता विकृष्णेन पथा ततः। गिरिव्रजं पुरवरं शीघ्रमासेदुरञ्जसा।।2.68.21।।

te śrāntavāhanā dūtā vikṛṣṇena pathā tatḥ| girivrajṃ puravarṃ śīghramāsedurañjasā||2.68.21||

Translation

विकृष्णेन by prolonged, पथा journey, श्रान्त वाहनाः tired horses, ते दूताः those mesengers, ततः then, शीघ्रम् swiftly, अञ्जसा straight on, पुरवरम् best of cities, गिरिव्रजम् Girivrajam, आसेदुः reached.

Meaning

After a prolonged journey the messengers with their tired horses soon reached Girivraja, the (capital city of Kekaya kingdom) best of cities.

AK-68-22Ayodhya Kanda 68.22

भर्तुः प्रियार्थं कुलरक्षणार्थं भर्तुश्च वंशस्य परिग्रहार्थम्। अहेडमाना स्त्वरया स्म दूता रात्र्यान्तु ते तत्पुरमेव याताः।।2.68.22।।

bhartuḥ priyārthṃ kularakṣaṇārthṃ bhartuśca vṃśasya parigrahārtham| aheḍamānā stvarayā sma dūtā rātryāntu te tatpurameva yātāḥ||2.68.22||

Translation

ते दूताः those messengers, भर्तुः lord's, प्रियार्थम् to please, कुलरक्षणार्थम् to preserve the royal dynasty, भर्तुः of the king's, वंशस्य the house of the Ikshvakus, परिग्रहार्थम् for the protection of (royal honour), त्वरया quickly, अहेडमानाः without negligence, रात्य्राम् in the night, तत् that, पुरमेव that city, याताः reached.

Meaning

To please their master (sage Vasistha) and to preserve the royal dynasty and also to protect the honour of the (race and people), the messengers soon reached their destination by night without any negligence of their duty. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टषष्टितमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the sixtyeighth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

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