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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 77: Bharata’s march to the Gaṅgā

Summary. The Queens, army, priests, craftspeople and townspeople accompany him, the company camps before the river crossing

Sequence

  1. Bharata leaves at dawn with ministers, priests, and a large military escort, described as nine thousand elephants, sixty thousand chariots, and a hundred thousand horsemen (2.77.1–5)
  2. Kausalyā, Sumitrā, and Kaikeyī travel with them, hoping to bring Rāma back (2.77.6–9)
  3. townspeople, merchants, craftspeople, physicians, performers, herdsmen, and many others join the expedition (2.77.10–15)
  4. brāhmaṇas follow in carts, and the company proceeds toward the river (2.77.16–18)
  5. on reaching the Gaṅgā, Bharata orders them to camp and rest before crossing the next day → he also wishes to offer water there for his father (2.77.19–21)
  6. the ministers arrange the camps, and Bharata spends the night thinking about Rāma's return. (2.77.22–23)

Verses 2.77.1–23

2.77.1

tataḥ samutthitaḥ kālyam āsthāya syandanottamam
prayayau bharataḥ śīghraṃ rāmadarśanakāṅkṣayā

Then, having risen at dawn and mounted an excellent chariot, Bharata set out swiftly, longing to see Rāma.

Words: tataḥ — then; samutthitaḥ — having risen; kālyam — at dawn, at the right time; āsthāya — having mounted; syandanottamam — an excellent chariot; prayayau — set out; bharataḥ — Bharata; śīghraṃ — swiftly; rāmadarśanakāṅkṣayā — out of longing to see Rāma

2.77.2

agrataḥ prayayus tasya sarve mantripurodhasaḥ
adhiruhya hayair yuktān rathān sūryarathopamān

In front of him went all the ministers and priests, mounted upon chariots yoked with horses and resembling the chariot of the sun.

Words: agrataḥ — in front; prayayus — went; tasya — of him, his; sarve — all; mantripurodhasaḥ — the ministers and priests; adhiruhya — having mounted; hayair — with horses; yuktān — yoked; rathān — chariots; sūryarathopamān — resembling the chariot of the sun

2.77.3

navanāgasahasrāṇi kalpitāni yathāvidhi
anvayur bharataṃ yāntam ikṣvāku kulanandanam

Nine thousand elephants, duly caparisoned, followed Bharata, delight of the Ikṣvāku line, as he went.

Words: navanāgasahasrāṇi — nine thousand elephants; kalpitāni — equipped, caparisoned; yathāvidhi — duly, according to rule; anvayur — followed; bharataṃ — Bharata; yāntam — as he went; ikṣvāku kulanandanam — delight of the Ikṣvāku line

2.77.4

ṣaṣṭhī rathasahasrāṇi dhanvino vividhāyudhāḥ
anvayur bharataṃ yāntaṃ rājaputraṃ yaśasvinam

Sixty thousand chariots, with archers bearing weapons of various kinds, followed the illustrious prince Bharata as he went.

Words: ṣaṣṭhī — sixty; rathasahasrāṇi — thousands of chariots; dhanvino — archers; vividhāyudhāḥ — with weapons of various kinds; anvayur — followed; bharataṃ — Bharata; yāntaṃ — as he went; rājaputraṃ — the prince; yaśasvinam — the illustrious

2.77.5

śataṃ sahasrāṇy aśvānāṃ samārūḍhāni rāghavam
anvayur bharataṃ yāntaṃ rājaputraṃ yaśasvinam

A hundred thousand horses, all mounted by their riders, followed Rāghava — the illustrious prince Bharata — as he went.

Words: śataṃ — a hundred; sahasrāṇy — thousand; aśvānāṃ — of horses; samārūḍhāni — mounted, ridden; rāghavam — Rāghava (Bharata); anvayur — followed; bharataṃ — Bharata; yāntaṃ — as he went; rājaputraṃ — the prince; yaśasvinam — the illustrious

2.77.6

kaikeyī ca sumitrā ca kausalyā ca yaśasvinī
rāmānayanasaṃhṛṣṭā yayur yānena bhāsvatā

Kaikeyī, Sumitrā, and the illustrious Kausalyā, delighted at the prospect of bringing Rāma back, rode in a resplendent carriage.

Words: kaikeyī ca — and Kaikeyī; sumitrā ca — and Sumitrā; kausalyā ca — and Kausalyā; yaśasvinī — the illustrious; rāmānayanasaṃhṛṣṭā — delighted at Rāma's being brought back; yayur — went, rode; yānena — in a carriage; bhāsvatā — resplendent, shining

2.77.7

prayātāś cāryasaṃghātā rāmaṃ draṣṭuṃ salakṣmaṇam
tasyaiva ca kathāś citrāḥ kurvāṇā hṛṣṭamānasāḥ

And throngs of noble people set out to see Rāma together with Lakṣmaṇa, telling wondrous tales about him, their minds delighted:

Words: prayātāś — set out; cāryasaṃghātā — and the throngs of noble ones; rāmaṃ — Rāma; draṣṭuṃ — to see; salakṣmaṇam — together with Lakṣmaṇa; tasyaiva — about him; ca — and; kathāś — tales; citrāḥ — wondrous, varied; kurvāṇā — making, telling; hṛṣṭamānasāḥ — their minds delighted

2.77.8

meghaśyāmaṃ mahābāhuṃ sthirasattvaṃ dṛḍhavratam
kadā drakṣyāmahe rāmaṃ jagataḥ śokanāśanam

'When shall we behold Rāma — dark as a raincloud, mighty-armed, of firm resolve and steadfast vows, destroyer of the world's grief?'

Words: meghaśyāmaṃ — dark as a cloud; mahābāhuṃ — mighty-armed; sthirasattvaṃ — of firm resolve; dṛḍhavratam — steadfast in his vows; kadā — when; drakṣyāmahe — shall we see; rāmaṃ — Rāma; jagataḥ — of the world; śokanāśanam — destroyer of grief

2.77.9

dṛṣṭa eva hi naḥ śokam apaneṣyati rāghavaḥ
tamaḥ sarvasya lokasya samudyann iva bhāskaraḥ

'The moment he is seen, Rāghava will dispel our grief, as the rising sun dispels the darkness of the whole world.'

Words: dṛṣṭa eva hi — as soon as he is seen; naḥ — our; śokam — grief; apaneṣyati — will dispel, remove; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; tamaḥ — the darkness; sarvasya lokasya — of the whole world; samudyann iva — like (the sun) rising; bhāskaraḥ — the sun

2.77.10

ity evaṃ kathayantas te saṃprahṛṣṭāḥ kathāḥ śubhāḥ
pariṣvajānāś cānyonyaṃ yayur nāgarikās tadā

Telling such auspicious tales, greatly delighted, and embracing one another, the townsfolk then went along.

Words: ity evaṃ — thus; kathayantas — telling; te — they; saṃprahṛṣṭāḥ — greatly delighted; kathāḥ — tales; śubhāḥ — auspicious; pariṣvajānāś — embracing; cānyonyaṃ — and one another; yayur — went; nāgarikās — the townsfolk; tadā — then

2.77.11

ye ca tatrāpare sarve saṃmatā ye ca naigamāḥ
rāmaṃ prati yayur hṛṣṭāḥ sarvāḥ prakṛtayas tadā

And all the other respected persons there, and the merchants — all the subjects — then went joyfully toward Rāma.

Words: ye ca — and (those) who; tatrāpare — the others there; sarve — all; saṃmatā — the respected ones; ye ca — and (those) who; naigamāḥ — the merchants, townsmen; rāmaṃ prati — toward Rāma; yayur — went; hṛṣṭāḥ — joyful; sarvāḥ — all; prakṛtayas — the subjects; tadā — then

2.77.12

maṇi kārāś ca ye ke cit kumbhakārāś ca śobhanāḥ
sūtrakarmakṛtaś caiva ye ca śastropajīvinaḥ

Whatever jewelers there were, and the skilled potters, and the workers in thread, and those who live by weapons —

Words: maṇi kārāś ca — and the jewelers; ye ke cit — whosoever; kumbhakārāś ca — and the potters; śobhanāḥ — skilled, fine; sūtrakarmakṛtaś caiva — and the workers in thread; ye ca — and (those) who; śastropajīvinaḥ — live by weapons

2.77.13

māyūrakāḥ krākacikā rocakā vedhakās tathā
dantakārāḥ sudhākārās tathā gandhopajīvinaḥ

peacock-feather workers, sawyers, burnishers, and borers, ivory-carvers, plasterers, and those who live by perfumery,

Words: māyūrakāḥ — peacock-feather workers; krākacikā — sawyers; rocakā — burnishers, polishers; vedhakās — borers, drillers; tathā — and, likewise; dantakārāḥ — ivory-carvers; sudhākārās — plasterers (workers in lime); tathā — and, likewise; gandhopajīvinaḥ — those who live by perfumery

2.77.14

suvarṇakārāḥ prakhyātās tathā kambaladhāvakāḥ
snāpakācchādakā vaidyā dhūpakāḥ śauṇḍikās tathā

renowned goldsmiths, washers of woolen blankets, bath-attendants and clothiers, physicians, incense-makers, and vintners,

Words: suvarṇakārāḥ — goldsmiths; prakhyātās — renowned; tathā — and, likewise; kambaladhāvakāḥ — washers of woolen blankets; snāpakācchādakā — bath-attendants and clothiers; vaidyā — physicians; dhūpakāḥ — incense-makers, fumigators; śauṇḍikās — vintners, distillers; tathā — and, likewise

2.77.15

rajakās tunnavāyāś ca grāmaghoṣamahattarāḥ
śailūṣāś ca saha strībhir yānti kaivartakās tathā

washermen and tailors, the elders of villages and herdsmen's settlements, and actors with their women, and fishermen — all went along.

Words: rajakās — washermen; tunnavāyāś ca — and tailors; grāmaghoṣamahattarāḥ — the elders of villages and herdsmen's settlements; śailūṣāś ca — and actors, dancers; saha — together with; strībhir — their women; yānti — go; kaivartakās — fishermen; tathā — and, likewise

2.77.16

samāhitā vedavido brāhmaṇā vṛttasaṃmatāḥ
gorathair bharataṃ yāntam anujagmuḥ sahasraśaḥ

Composed brahmins, knowers of the Veda, esteemed for their conduct, followed Bharata by the thousands in ox-carts as he went.

Words: samāhitā — composed, attentive; vedavido — knowers of the Veda; brāhmaṇā — brahmins; vṛttasaṃmatāḥ — esteemed for their conduct; gorathair — in ox-carts; bharataṃ — Bharata; yāntam — as he went; anujagmuḥ — followed; sahasraśaḥ — by the thousands

2.77.17

suveṣāḥ śuddhavasanās tāmramṛṣṭānulepanāḥ
sarve te vividhair yānaiḥ śanair bharatam anvayuḥ

Well-attired, in clean garments, anointed with burnished reddish unguents, all of them followed Bharata slowly in various vehicles.

Words: suveṣāḥ — well-dressed; śuddhavasanās — in clean garments; tāmramṛṣṭānulepanāḥ — anointed with burnished reddish unguents; sarve te — all of them; vividhair — various; yānaiḥ — in vehicles; śanair — slowly; bharatam — Bharata; anvayuḥ — followed

2.77.18

prahṛṣṭamuditā senā sānvayāt kaikayīsutam
vyavatiṣṭhata sā senā bharatasyānuyāyinī

The army, thrilled and rejoicing, followed the son of Kaikeyī; and that army, marching in Bharata's train, arrayed itself.

Words: prahṛṣṭamuditā — thrilled and rejoicing; senā — the army; sānvayāt — it followed; kaikayīsutam — the son of Kaikeyī (Bharata); vyavatiṣṭhata — arrayed itself, took position; sā senā — that army; bharatasyānuyāyinī — following Bharata

2.77.19

nirīkṣyānugatāṃ senāṃ tāṃ ca gaṅgāṃ śivodakām
bharataḥ sacivān sarvān abravīd vākyakovidaḥ

Beholding the army that followed and the Gaṅgā with her auspicious waters, Bharata, skilled in speech, said to all his counsellors:

Words: nirīkṣyānugatāṃ — having beheld ... which followed; senāṃ — the army; tāṃ ca gaṅgāṃ — and that Gaṅgā; śivodakām — of auspicious waters; bharataḥ — Bharata; sacivān sarvān — all the counsellors; abravīd — said; vākyakovidaḥ — skilled in speech

2.77.20

niveśayata me sainyam abhiprāyeṇa sarvaśaḥ
viśrāntaḥ pratariṣyāmaḥ śva idānīṃ mahānadīm

'Encamp my whole army as is fitting; having rested, we shall cross the great river tomorrow.

Words: niveśayata — encamp, settle; me — my; sainyam — army; abhiprāyeṇa — according to plan, as is fitting; sarvaśaḥ — wholly, in every way; viśrāntaḥ — rested; pratariṣyāmaḥ — we shall cross over; śva — tomorrow; idānīṃ — now, at present; mahānadīm — the great river

2.77.21

dātuṃ ca tāvad icchāmi svar gatasya mahīpateḥ
aurdhvadeha nimittārtham avatīryodakaṃ nadīm

And meanwhile I wish, for the sake of the funeral rite of the king who has gone to heaven, to go down into the river and offer the water-libation.'

Words: dātuṃ — to give; ca — and; tāvad — meanwhile; icchāmi — I wish; svar gatasya — of him who has gone to heaven; mahīpateḥ — of the king; aurdhvadeha nimittārtham — for the sake of the funeral rite; avatīryodakaṃ — having descended, the water; nadīm — the river

2.77.22

tasyaivaṃ bruvato 'mātyās tathety uktvā samāhitāḥ
nyaveśayaṃs tāṃś chandena svena svena pṛthakpṛthak

As he spoke thus, the attentive ministers, saying 'So be it,' encamped the troops each apart, according to their own dispositions.

Words: tasyaivaṃ — of him thus; bruvato — as he spoke; 'mātyās — the ministers; tathety — 'so be it,'; uktvā — having said; samāhitāḥ — attentive; nyaveśayaṃs — encamped, settled; tāṃś — them (the troops); chandena — according to (their) pleasure; svena svena — each his own; pṛthakpṛthak — each apart, separately

2.77.23

niveśya gaṅgām anu tāṃ mahānadīṃ camūṃ vidhānaiḥ paribarha śobhinīm
uvāsa rāmasya tadā mahātmano vicintayāno bharato nivartanam

Having encamped along that great river Gaṅgā the army — drawn up in due order and resplendent with its trappings — Bharata then dwelt there, pondering the return of the great-souled Rāma.

Words: niveśya — having encamped; gaṅgām anu — along the Gaṅgā; tāṃ mahānadīṃ — that great river; camūṃ — the army; vidhānaiḥ — with orderly arrangements; paribarha śobhinīm — resplendent with its trappings; uvāsa — dwelt, stayed; rāmasya — of Rāma; tadā — then; mahātmano — of the great-souled one; vicintayāno — pondering; bharato — Bharata; nivartanam — the return, bringing-back

← 2.76 Bharata’s declaration to the assembly · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.78 Guha prepares to resist Bharata →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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