← 2.82 Bharata examines the grass bed · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.84 Bharadvāja questions Bharata →

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 83: Guha ferries Bharata’s company

Summary. Five hundred boats carry people, vehicles and provisions across the Gaṅgā, the army halts as Bharata approaches Bharadvāja

Sequence

  1. At dawn Bharata asks Śatrughna to summon Guha; neither brother has stopped thinking about Rāma (2.83.1–3)
  2. Guha arrives, and Bharata asks for help crossing (2.83.4–7)
  3. Guha assembles five hundred boats (2.83.8–10)
  4. priests cross according to seniority, and a specially prepared boat carries Bharata, Śatrughna, and the royal women (2.83.11–14)
  5. the camp is set ablaze, baggage loaded, and boats carry people, horses, vehicles, and supplies across (2.83.15–17)
  6. the boats return for more loads; elephants swim, while others cross on rafts, with flotation vessels, or by swimming (2.83.18–20)
  7. once across, the expedition proceeds toward Prayāga → Bharata settles the army and goes with Vasiṣṭha to meet Bharadvāja. (2.83.21–22)

Verses 2.83.1–22

2.83.1

vyuṣya rātriṃ tu tatraiva gaṅgākūle sa rāghavaḥ
bharataḥ kālyam utthāya śatrughnam idam abravīt

Having passed the night right there on the bank of the Ganges, that scion of Raghu, Bharata, rose at dawn and said this to Śatrughna:

Words: vyuṣya — having passed (the night); rātriṃ — the night; tu — and; tatraiva — right there; gaṅgākūle — on the bank of the Ganges; sa — that; rāghavaḥ — scion of Raghu; bharataḥ — Bharata; kālyam — at daybreak; utthāya — having risen; śatrughnam — to Śatrughna; idam — this; abravīt — said

2.83.2

śatrughottiṣṭha kiṃ śeṣe niṣādādhipatiṃ guham
śīghram ānaya bhadraṃ te tārayiṣyati vāhinīm

“Śatrughna, arise! Why do you lie sleeping? Quickly bring Guha, the lord of the Niṣādas — bless you — he will ferry the army across.

Words: śatrughottiṣṭha — Śatrughna, arise; kiṃ — why; śeṣe — do you lie sleeping; niṣādādhipatiṃ — the lord of the Niṣādas; guham — Guha; śīghram — quickly; ānaya — bring; bhadraṃ — good fortune, blessings; te — to you; tārayiṣyati — he will ferry across; vāhinīm — the army

2.83.3

jāgarmi nāhaṃ svapimi tathaivāryaṃ vicintayan
ity evam abravīd bhrātrā śatrughno 'pi pracoditaḥ

“I am awake, I am not sleeping — I too am thinking all the while of the noble one” — thus spoke Śatrughna, likewise urged on by his brother.

Words: jāgarmi — I am awake; nāhaṃ — not I; svapimi — do sleep; tathaivāryaṃ — the noble one likewise; vicintayan — thinking of; ity — thus; evam — so; abravīd — spoke; bhrātrā — by his brother; śatrughno — Śatrughna; 'pi — also; pracoditaḥ — urged on

2.83.4

iti saṃvadator evam anyonyaṃ narasiṃhayoḥ
āgamya prāñjaliḥ kāle guho bharatam abravīt

As the two lions among men were thus conversing with each other, Guha came at that moment and, with joined palms, said to Bharata:

Words: iti — thus; saṃvadator — of the two conversing; evam — so; anyonyaṃ — with each other; narasiṃhayoḥ — of the two lions among men; āgamya — having come; prāñjaliḥ — with joined palms; kāle — at that moment; guho — Guha; bharatam — to Bharata; abravīt — said

2.83.5

kaccit sukhaṃ nadītīre 'vātsīḥ kākutstha śarvarīm
kaccic ca saha sainyasya tava sarvam anāmayam

“I trust you passed the night in comfort on the river bank, Kākutstha, and that all is well with you together with your army?”

Words: kaccit — I trust that; sukhaṃ — comfortably; nadītīre — on the river bank; 'vātsīḥ — did you pass (the night); kākutstha — O Kākutstha; śarvarīm — the night; kaccic — I trust; ca — and; saha — together with; sainyasya — of the army; tava — your; sarvam — all; anāmayam — free from ailment, well

2.83.6

guhasya tat tu vacanaṃ śrutvā snehād udīritam
rāmasyānuvaśo vākyaṃ bharato 'pīdam abravīt

Hearing that speech of Guha's, uttered out of affection, Bharata, obedient to Rāma, also spoke these words:

Words: guhasya — of Guha; tat — that; tu — but; vacanaṃ — speech; śrutvā — having heard; snehād — out of affection; udīritam — uttered; rāmasyānuvaśo — obedient to Rāma; vākyaṃ — words; bharato — Bharata; 'pīdam — also this; abravīt — spoke

2.83.7

sukhā naḥ śarvarī rājan pūjitāś cāpi te vayam
gaṅgāṃ tu naubhir bahvībhir dāśāḥ saṃtārayantu naḥ

“Our night was pleasant, O king, and we too were honored by you; now let the ferrymen take us across the Ganges in their many boats.”

Words: sukhā — pleasant; naḥ — our; śarvarī — the night; rājan — O king; pūjitāś — honored; cāpi — and also; te — by you; vayam — we; gaṅgāṃ — the Ganges; tu — now, but; naubhir — by boats; bahvībhir — many; dāśāḥ — the ferrymen; saṃtārayantu — let them ferry across; naḥ — us

2.83.8

tato guhaḥ saṃtvaritaḥ śrutvā bharataśāsanam
pratipraviśya nagaraṃ taṃ jñātijanam abravīt

Then Guha, hearing Bharata's command, made haste, entered his town, and said to his kinsfolk there:

Words: tato — then; guhaḥ — Guha; saṃtvaritaḥ — hastening; śrutvā — having heard; bharataśāsanam — Bharata's command; pratipraviśya — having entered; nagaraṃ — the town; taṃ — that; jñātijanam — kinsfolk; abravīt — said

2.83.9

uttiṣṭhata prabudhyadhvaṃ bhadram astu hi vaḥ sadā
nāvaḥ samanukarṣadhvaṃ tārayiṣyāma vāhinīm

“Arise, awake! May it always be well with you! Draw up the boats — we shall ferry the army across.”

Words: uttiṣṭhata — arise; prabudhyadhvaṃ — awake; bhadram — good fortune; astu — let there be; hi — indeed; vaḥ — to you; sadā — always; nāvaḥ — the boats; samanukarṣadhvaṃ — draw up together; tārayiṣyāma — we shall ferry across; vāhinīm — the army

2.83.10

te tathoktāḥ samutthāya tvaritā rājaśāsanāt
pañca nāvāṃ śatāny eva samāninyuḥ samantataḥ

Thus addressed, they arose and, hurrying at their chief's command, brought together fully five hundred boats from every side.

Words: te — they; tathoktāḥ — thus addressed; samutthāya — having risen; tvaritā — hastening; rājaśāsanāt — at the king's command; pañca — five; nāvāṃ — of boats; śatāny — hundreds; eva — indeed; samāninyuḥ — brought together; samantataḥ — from every side

2.83.11

anyāḥ svastikavijñeyā mahāghaṇḍā dharā varāḥ
śobhamānāḥ patākinyo yuktavātāḥ susaṃhatāḥ

Others were distinguished by their svastika-emblems, hung with great bells, capacious and excellent, gleaming with their pennants, catching a fair wind, and stoutly built.

Words: anyāḥ — others; svastikavijñeyā — recognizable by their svastika-emblems; mahāghaṇḍā — hung with great bells; dharā — sturdy, capacious; varāḥ — excellent; śobhamānāḥ — gleaming, resplendent; patākinyo — bearing pennants; yuktavātāḥ — catching a fair wind; susaṃhatāḥ — stoutly built, well-knit

2.83.12

tataḥ svastikavijñeyāṃ pāṇḍukambalasaṃvṛtām
sanandighoṣāṃ kalyāṇīṃ guho nāvam upāharat

Then Guha brought up an auspicious, fine boat, marked with a svastika-emblem, spread with a white woolen blanket, and resounding with joyous din.

Words: tataḥ — then; svastikavijñeyāṃ — marked with a svastika-emblem; pāṇḍukambalasaṃvṛtām — spread with a white woolen blanket; sanandighoṣāṃ — resounding with joyous din; kalyāṇīṃ — auspicious, fine; guho — Guha; nāvam — the boat; upāharat — brought forward

2.83.13

tām āruroha bharataḥ śatrughnaś ca mahābalaḥ
kausalyā ca sumitrā ca yāś cānyā rājayoṣitaḥ

Onto it climbed Bharata and the mighty Śatrughna, and Kausalyā and Sumitrā and the other royal women.

Words: tām — onto it; āruroha — climbed; bharataḥ — Bharata; śatrughnaś — Śatrughna; ca — and; mahābalaḥ — the mighty; kausalyā — Kausalyā; ca — and; sumitrā — Sumitrā; ca — and; yāś — who; cānyā — and the other; rājayoṣitaḥ — royal women

2.83.14

purohitaś ca tat pūrvaṃ gurave brāhmaṇāś ca ye
anantaraṃ rājadārās tathaiva śakaṭāpaṇāḥ

The family priest went first of all, in order of seniority, together with the brahmins who were there; next the king's wives, and likewise the carts and their wares.

Words: purohitaś — the family priest; ca — and; tat — that, first of all; pūrvaṃ — before, first; gurave — in order of seniority, for the venerable; brāhmaṇāś — the brahmins; ca — and; ye — who (were there); anantaraṃ — thereafter, next; rājadārās — the king's wives; tathaiva — and likewise; śakaṭāpaṇāḥ — the carts and their wares

2.83.15

āvāsam ādīpayatāṃ tīrthaṃ cāpy avagāhatām
bhāṇḍāni cādadānānāṃ ghoṣas tridivam aspṛśat

The clamor of those setting the camp ablaze, of those plunging into the crossing-place, and of those taking up the baggage rose to touch the very heavens.

Words: āvāsam — the encampment; ādīpayatāṃ — of those setting ablaze; tīrthaṃ — the crossing-place, ford; cāpy — and also; avagāhatām — of those plunging in; bhāṇḍāni — the vessels, baggage; cādadānānāṃ — and of those taking up; ghoṣas — the din; tridivam — heaven; aspṛśat — touched

2.83.16

patākinyas tu tā nāvaḥ svayaṃ dāśair adhiṣṭhitāḥ
vahantyo janam ārūḍhaṃ tadā saṃpetur āśugāḥ

And those pennant-bearing boats, steered by the ferrymen themselves, bearing the people who had boarded, then sped swiftly across.

Words: patākinyas — pennant-bearing; tu — and; tā — those; nāvaḥ — boats; svayaṃ — themselves; dāśair — by the ferrymen; adhiṣṭhitāḥ — manned, steered; vahantyo — carrying; janam — the people; ārūḍhaṃ — who had boarded; tadā — then; saṃpetur — sped along; āśugāḥ — swift

2.83.17

nārīṇām abhipūrṇās tu kāś cit kāś cit tu vājinām
kaś cit tatra vahanti sma yānayugyaṃ mahādhanam

Some boats were filled with women, some with horses, and some there carried the vehicles, the draught-teams, and much wealth.

Words: nārīṇām — of women; abhipūrṇās — filled; tu — and; kāś cit — some; kāś cit — some; tu — and; vājinām — of horses; kaś cit — some; tatra — there; vahanti sma — carried; yānayugyaṃ — the vehicles and draught-teams; mahādhanam — much wealth

2.83.18

tāḥ sma gatvā paraṃ tīram avaropya ca taṃ janam
nivṛttāḥ kāṇḍacitrāṇi kriyante dāśabandhubhiḥ

Having reached the far shore and set down their passengers, the boats returned, and playful, zig-zag manoeuvres were performed with them by the ferrymen's kinsmen.

Words: tāḥ — those (boats); sma — (narrative particle); gatvā — having gone; paraṃ — the far; tīram — shore; avaropya — having set down; ca — and; taṃ — that; janam — people; nivṛttāḥ — returned; kāṇḍacitrāṇi — zig-zag, playful manoeuvres; kriyante — were performed; dāśabandhubhiḥ — by the ferrymen's kinsmen

2.83.19

savaijayantās tu gajā gajārohaiḥ pracoditāḥ
tarantaḥ sma prakāśante sadhvajā iva parvatāḥ

The elephants, bearing their banners and urged on by their drivers, as they swam across gleamed like mountains crowned with flags.

Words: savaijayantās — bearing their banners; tu — and; gajā — the elephants; gajārohaiḥ — by the elephant-drivers; pracoditāḥ — urged on; tarantaḥ — crossing, swimming; sma — (narrative particle); prakāśante — shone; sadhvajā — with flags; iva — like; parvatāḥ — mountains

2.83.20

nāvaś cāruruhus tv anye plavais terus tathāpare
anye kumbhaghaṭais terur anye teruś ca bāhubhiḥ

Some boarded the boats, others crossed on rafts, some crossed by means of pots and jars, and still others crossed by their own arms.

Words: nāvaś — boats; cāruruhus — and boarded; tv — but; anye — some; plavais — by rafts; terus — crossed; tathāpare — and others likewise; anye — some; kumbhaghaṭais — by pots and jars; terur — crossed; anye — others; teruś — crossed; ca — and; bāhubhiḥ — by their arms

2.83.21

sā puṇyā dhvajinī gaṅgāṃ dāśaiḥ saṃtāritā svayam
maitre muhūrte prayayau prayāgavanam uttamam

That holy, bannered host, ferried across the Ganges by the ferrymen themselves, set out at the auspicious Maitra hour for the excellent forest of Prayāga.

Words: sā — that; puṇyā — holy; dhvajinī — the bannered host, army; gaṅgāṃ — the Ganges; dāśaiḥ — by the ferrymen; saṃtāritā — ferried across; svayam — themselves; maitre — at the Maitra (hour); muhūrte — at the hour; prayayau — set forth; prayāgavanam — to the Prayāga forest; uttamam — excellent

2.83.22

āśvāsayitvā ca camūṃ mahātmā niveśayitvā ca yathopajoṣam
draṣṭuṃ bharadvājam ṛṣipravaryam ṛtvig vṛtaḥ san bharataḥ pratasthe

And the great-souled Bharata, having reassured his army and settled it at its ease, set out, attended by his officiating priest, to see Bharadvāja, the foremost of sages.

Words: āśvāsayitvā — having reassured; ca — and; camūṃ — the army; mahātmā — the great soul; niveśayitvā — having settled, encamped; ca — and; yathopajoṣam — at its ease, comfortably; draṣṭuṃ — to see; bharadvājam — Bharadvāja; ṛṣipravaryam — the foremost of sages; ṛtvig — by his officiating priest; vṛtaḥ — surrounded, attended; san — being; bharataḥ — Bharata; pratasthe — set out

← 2.82 Bharata examines the grass bed · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.84 Bharadvāja questions Bharata →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. 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.

Plain text: /text/2/83.md · JSON: /data/2/83.json