← 2.86 Bharadvāja directs Bharata to Citrakūṭa · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.88 Rāma shows Sītā Citrakūṭa →

Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 87: Bharata locates Citrakūṭa

Summary. The marching army disturbs the forest, scouts report smoke and Bharata halts the main force to approach the dwelling

Sequence

  1. The large expedition moves through the forest, frightening the animals (2.87.1–5)
  2. Bharata recognizes the mountain and river described by Bharadvāja (2.87.6–9)
  3. he points out the flowering slopes, disturbed wildlife, and dust raised by the marching company (2.87.10–17)
  4. believing they have reached the tapasvins' region, he sends men to look for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa (2.87.18–20)
  5. scouts report a column of smoke: someone is living there, whether the brothers or other tapasvins (2.87.21–23)
  6. Bharata halts the main force and prepares to approach with a small company, including Sumantra and the priest. (2.87.24–27)

Verses 2.87.1–27

2.87.1

tayā mahatyā yāyinyā dhvajinyā vanavāsinaḥ
arditā yūthapā mattāḥ sayūthāḥ saṃpradudruvuḥ

Tormented by that great marching banner-host, the forest-dwelling herd-leaders, the rutting elephants, fled away together with their herds.

Words: tayā — by that; mahatyā — great; yāyinyā — marching, on the move; dhvajinyā — by the banner-host, army; vanavāsinaḥ — forest-dwelling; arditā — tormented, distressed; yūthapā — the herd-leaders; mattāḥ — rutting, in must; sayūthāḥ — together with their herds; saṃpradudruvuḥ — fled away, ran off

2.87.2

ṛkṣāḥ pṛṣatasaṃghāś ca ruravaś ca samantataḥ
dṛśyante vanarājīṣu giriṣv api nadīṣu ca

Bears and herds of spotted deer and ruru-deer are seen on all sides, among the rows of forest trees, on the mountains, and by the rivers.

Words: ṛkṣāḥ — bears; pṛṣatasaṃghāś — and herds of spotted antelope; ca — and; ruravaś — and ruru-deer; ca — and; samantataḥ — on all sides; dṛśyante — are seen; vanarājīṣu — among the rows of forest; giriṣv — and on the mountains; api — also; nadīṣu — in the rivers; ca — and

2.87.3

sa saṃpratasthe dharmātmā prīto daśarathātmajaḥ
vṛto mahatyā nādinyā senayā caturaṅgayā

The righteous son of Daśaratha (Bharata), well-pleased, set out, surrounded by a great, roaring, four-membered army.

Words: sa — he; saṃpratasthe — set out, marched forth; dharmātmā — righteous of soul; prīto — pleased, glad; daśarathātmajaḥ — son of Daśaratha; vṛto — surrounded; mahatyā — great; nādinyā — roaring, resounding; senayā — by the army; caturaṅgayā — four-membered (with its four divisions)

2.87.4

sāgaraughanibhā senā bharatasya mahātmanaḥ
mahīṃ saṃchādayām āsa prāvṛṣi dyām ivāmbudaḥ

The army of great-souled Bharata, resembling the flood of the ocean, covered the earth, as a rain-cloud covers the sky in the rainy season.

Words: sāgaraughanibhā — resembling the ocean's flood; senā — the army; bharatasya — of Bharata; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; mahīṃ — the earth; saṃchādayām āsa — covered over; prāvṛṣi — in the rainy season; dyām — the sky; ivāmbudaḥ — like a rain-cloud

2.87.5

turaṃgaughair avatatā vāraṇaiś ca mahājavaiḥ
anālakṣyā ciraṃ kālaṃ tasmin kāle babhūva bhūḥ

Overspread with floods of horses and with swift elephants, the earth at that time was invisible for a long while.

Words: turaṃgaughair — with floods of horses; avatatā — overspread, covered; vāraṇaiś — and with elephants; ca — and; mahājavaiḥ — of great speed, swift; anālakṣyā — invisible, not to be discerned; ciraṃ kālaṃ — for a long time; tasmin kāle — at that time; babhūva — became, was; bhūḥ — the earth

2.87.6

sa yātvā dūram adhvānaṃ supariśrānta vāhanaḥ
uvāca bharataḥ śrīmān vasiṣṭhaṃ mantriṇāṃ varam

Having travelled a long stretch of road, his mounts greatly wearied, the illustrious Bharata said to Vasiṣṭha, the best of counsellors:

Words: sa — he; yātvā — having gone, travelled; dūram adhvānaṃ — a long road, distance; supariśrānta vāhanaḥ — whose mounts were greatly wearied; uvāca — said; bharataḥ — Bharata; śrīmān — the illustrious; vasiṣṭhaṃ — to Vasiṣṭha; mantriṇāṃ — of counsellors; varam — the best

2.87.7

yādṛśaṃ lakṣyate rūpaṃ yathā caiva śrutaṃ mayā
vyaktaṃ prāptāḥ sma taṃ deśaṃ bharadvājo yam abravīt

From the sort of appearance that is seen, and just as I have heard, we have clearly reached that region of which Bharadvāja spoke.

Words: yādṛśaṃ — of what sort; lakṣyate — is seen, observed; rūpaṃ — the appearance; yathā — just as; caiva — and indeed; śrutaṃ — heard; mayā — by me; vyaktaṃ — clearly, evidently; prāptāḥ sma — we have reached; taṃ deśaṃ — that region; bharadvājo — Bharadvāja; yam — which; abravīt — spoke of

2.87.8

ayaṃ giriś citrakūṭas tathā mandākinī nadī
etat prakāśate dūrān nīlameghanibhaṃ vanam

This is Mount Citrakūṭa, and there the river Mandākinī; this forest, resembling a dark cloud, shines forth from afar.

Words: ayaṃ — this; giriś — mountain; citrakūṭas — Citrakūṭa; tathā — and, likewise; mandākinī — the Mandākinī; nadī — river; etat — this; prakāśate — shines forth, appears; dūrān — from afar; nīlameghanibhaṃ — resembling a dark cloud; vanam — forest

2.87.9

gireḥ sānūni ramyāṇi citrakūṭasya saṃprati
vāraṇair avamṛdyante māmakaiḥ parvatopamaiḥ

The lovely tablelands of Mount Citrakūṭa are now being trampled by my mountain-like elephants.

Words: gireḥ — of the mountain; sānūni — the tablelands, plateaus; ramyāṇi — lovely, delightful; citrakūṭasya — of Citrakūṭa; saṃprati — now; vāraṇair — by elephants; avamṛdyante — are being crushed, trampled; māmakaiḥ — by my own; parvatopamaiḥ — resembling mountains

2.87.10

muñcanti kusumāny ete nagāḥ parvatasānuṣu
nīlā ivātapāpāye toyaṃ toyadharā ghanāḥ

These trees on the mountain slopes shed their blossoms, as dark, thick rain-clouds release their water at the fading of the heat.

Words: muñcanti — release, shed; kusumāny — blossoms; ete — these; nagāḥ — trees; parvatasānuṣu — on the mountain slopes; nīlā — dark ones; ivātapāpāye — as at the fading of the heat; toyaṃ — water; toyadharā — water-bearing clouds; ghanāḥ — thick clouds

2.87.11

kinnarācaritoddeśaṃ paśya śatrughna parvatam
hayaiḥ samantād ākīrṇaṃ makarair iva sāgaram

Behold, Śatrughna, the mountain whose reaches are frequented by kinnaras, strewn on every side with horses as the ocean is with sea-monsters.

Words: kinnarācaritoddeśaṃ — whose regions are roamed by kinnaras; paśya — behold; śatrughna — O Śatrughna; parvatam — the mountain; hayaiḥ — with horses; samantād — on all sides; ākīrṇaṃ — strewn, crowded; makarair — with makaras, sea-monsters; iva — like, as; sāgaram — the ocean

2.87.12

ete mṛgagaṇā bhānti śīghravegāḥ pracoditāḥ
vāyupraviddhāḥ śaradi megharājya ivāmbare

These herds of deer, driven on, swift of pace, gleam like ranges of cloud tossed by the wind in the autumn sky.

Words: ete — these; mṛgagaṇā — herds of deer; bhānti — shine, appear; śīghravegāḥ — swift of speed; pracoditāḥ — urged on, driven; vāyupraviddhāḥ — tossed, driven by the wind; śaradi — in autumn; megharājya — a range of clouds; ivāmbare — as in the sky

2.87.13

kurvanti kusumāpīḍāñ śiraḥsu surabhīn amī
meghaprakāśaiḥ phalakair dākṣiṇātyā yathā narāḥ

These trees bear fragrant crests of blossoms upon their crowns, as southern men bear their cloud-bright shields.

Words: kurvanti — make, bear; kusumāpīḍāñ — flower-crests, blossom-diadems; śiraḥsu — upon their heads, crowns; surabhīn — fragrant; amī — these; meghaprakāśaiḥ — cloud-bright, cloud-hued; phalakair — with shields, bucklers; dākṣiṇātyā — southern men; yathā — as, like; narāḥ — men

2.87.14

niṣkūjam iva bhūtvedaṃ vanaṃ ghorapradarśanam
ayodhyeva janākīrṇā saṃprati pratibhāti mā

This forest of dreadful aspect, having fallen silent of birdsong, now appears to me like Ayodhyā thronged with people.

Words: niṣkūjam — silent, without birdcalls; iva — as if; bhūtvedaṃ — this, having become; vanaṃ — forest; ghorapradarśanam — of dreadful appearance; ayodhyeva — like Ayodhyā; janākīrṇā — thronged with people; saṃprati — now; pratibhāti — appears; mā — to me

2.87.15

khurair udīrito reṇur divaṃ pracchādya tiṣṭhati
taṃ vahaty anilaḥ śīghraṃ kurvann iva mama priyam

The dust stirred up by the hooves stands covering the sky; the wind swiftly bears it away, as though doing me a kindness.

Words: khurair — by the hooves; udīrito — stirred up, raised; reṇur — the dust; divaṃ — the sky; pracchādya — having covered; tiṣṭhati — stands, remains; taṃ — it; vahaty — carries, bears; anilaḥ — the wind; śīghraṃ — swiftly; kurvann — doing, making; iva — as if; mama — for me, my; priyam — a kindness, pleasure

2.87.16

syandanāṃs turagopetān sūtamukhyair adhiṣṭhitān
etān saṃpatataḥ śīghraṃ paśya śatrughna kānane

Behold, Śatrughna, these chariots yoked with horses and driven by chief charioteers, speeding swiftly through the forest.

Words: syandanāṃs — the chariots; turagopetān — yoked with horses; sūtamukhyair — by chief charioteers; adhiṣṭhitān — mounted, occupied; etān — these; saṃpatataḥ — speeding, rushing on; śīghraṃ — swiftly; paśya — behold; śatrughna — O Śatrughna; kānane — in the forest

2.87.17

etān vitrāsitān paśya barhiṇaḥ priyadarśanān
etam āviśataḥ śailam adhivāsaṃ patatriṇām

Behold these frightened peacocks, lovely to look upon, entering this mountain, the dwelling-place of birds.

Words: etān — these; vitrāsitān — frightened, terrified; paśya — behold; barhiṇaḥ — the peacocks; priyadarśanān — lovely to look upon; etam — this; āviśataḥ — entering; śailam — the mountain; adhivāsaṃ — the dwelling-place, abode; patatriṇām — of the birds

2.87.18

atimātram ayaṃ deśo manojñaḥ pratibhāti mā
tāpasānāṃ nivāso 'yaṃ vyaktaṃ svargapatho yathā

This region appears to me exceedingly delightful; this is surely the abode of ascetics, like the very path to heaven.

Words: atimātram — exceedingly, beyond measure; ayaṃ — this; deśo — region; manojñaḥ — charming, pleasing; pratibhāti — appears; mā — to me; tāpasānāṃ — of the ascetics; nivāso — the dwelling; 'yaṃ — this; vyaktaṃ — clearly, evidently; svargapatho — the path to heaven; yathā — like, as

2.87.19

mṛgā mṛgībhiḥ sahitā bahavaḥ pṛṣatā vane
manojña rūpā lakṣyante kusumair iva citritaḥ

Many spotted deer together with their does are seen in the forest, of pleasing form, as if painted over with flowers.

Words: mṛgā — deer; mṛgībhiḥ — with the does; sahitā — together; bahavaḥ — many; pṛṣatā — spotted (deer); vane — in the forest; manojña rūpā — of pleasing form; lakṣyante — are seen, observed; kusumair — with flowers; iva — as if; citritaḥ — painted, adorned

2.87.20

sādhu sainyāḥ pratiṣṭhantāṃ vicinvantu ca kānanam
yathā tau puruṣavyāghrau dṛśyete rāmalakṣmaṇau

Good — let the troops advance and search the forest, so that those two tigers among men, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, may be found.

Words: sādhu — well, good; sainyāḥ — the soldiers, troops; pratiṣṭhantāṃ — let them set forth, advance; vicinvantu — let them search out; ca — and; kānanam — the forest; yathā — so that; tau — those two; puruṣavyāghrau — the two tigers among men; dṛśyete — may be seen (dual); rāmalakṣmaṇau — Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa

2.87.21

bharatasya vacaḥ śrutvā puruṣāḥ śastrapāṇayaḥ
viviśus tad vanaṃ śūrā dhūmaṃ ca dadṛśus tataḥ

Hearing Bharata's words, the brave men, weapons in hand, entered that forest, and then they saw smoke.

Words: bharatasya — of Bharata; vacaḥ — the words; śrutvā — having heard; puruṣāḥ — the men; śastrapāṇayaḥ — weapons in hand; viviśus — entered; tad vanaṃ — that forest; śūrā — the brave, heroes; dhūmaṃ — smoke; ca — and; dadṛśus — saw; tataḥ — then

2.87.22

te samālokya dhūmāgram ūcur bharatam āgatāḥ
nāmanuṣye bhavaty agnir vyaktam atraiva rāghavau

Having observed the column of smoke, they came and said to Bharata: “Fire does not arise where there are no men; clearly the two Rāghavas are right here.”

Words: te — they; samālokya — having observed, sighted; dhūmāgram — the column of smoke; ūcur — said; bharatam — to Bharata; āgatāḥ — having come; nāmanuṣye — not where there are no men; bhavaty — arises, comes to be; agnir — fire; vyaktam — clearly; atraiva — right here; rāghavau — the two Rāghavas

2.87.23

atha nātra naravyāghrau rājaputrau paraṃtapau
anye rāmopamāḥ santi vyaktam atra tapasvinaḥ

Or, if the two tigers among men, the princes, scorchers of foes, are not here, then surely there are other ascetics here, resembling Rāma.

Words: atha — or else, now; nātra — not here; naravyāghrau — the two tigers among men; rājaputrau — the two princes; paraṃtapau — the two scorchers of foes; anye — others; rāmopamāḥ — resembling Rāma; santi — there are; vyaktam — clearly; atra — here; tapasvinaḥ — ascetics

2.87.24

tac chrutvā bharatas teṣāṃ vacanaṃ sādhu saṃmatam
sainyān uvāca sarvāṃs tān amitrabalamardanaḥ

Hearing that well-approved speech of theirs, Bharata, crusher of enemy hosts, said to all those soldiers:

Words: tac chrutvā — having heard that; bharatas — Bharata; teṣāṃ — their; vacanaṃ — speech; sādhu — well, rightly; saṃmatam — approved, agreed to; sainyān — to the soldiers; uvāca — said; sarvāṃs tān — all those; amitrabalamardanaḥ — crusher of enemy forces

2.87.25

yat tā bhavantas tiṣṭhantu neto gantavyam agrataḥ
aham eva gamiṣyāmi sumantro gurur eva ca

Let your honours here remain ready; from here one must not go on ahead. I alone shall go, together with Sumantra and the preceptor.

Words: yat tā — ready, on the alert; bhavantas — your honours; tiṣṭhantu — let them remain, stay; neto — not from here; gantavyam — it is to be gone; agrataḥ — forward, ahead; aham eva — I alone; gamiṣyāmi — shall go; sumantro — Sumantra; gurur — the preceptor (Vasiṣṭha); eva ca — and too

2.87.26

evam uktās tataḥ sarve tatra tasthuḥ samantataḥ
bharato yatra dhūmāgraṃ tatra dṛṣṭiṃ samādadhat

Thus addressed, all then halted there on every side; and Bharata fixed his gaze there, where the column of smoke was.

Words: evam uktās — thus addressed; tataḥ — then; sarve — all; tatra — there; tasthuḥ — stood, halted; samantataḥ — on all sides; bharato — Bharata; yatra — where; dhūmāgraṃ — the column of smoke; tatra — there; dṛṣṭiṃ — his gaze; samādadhat — fixed, directed

2.87.27

vyavasthitā yā bharatena sā camūr nirīkṣamāṇāpi ca dhūmam agrataḥ
babhūva hṛṣṭā nacireṇa jānatī priyasya rāmasya samāgamaṃ tadā

That army which had been halted by Bharata, gazing at the smoke ahead, soon grew joyful, knowing then the coming reunion with beloved Rāma.

Words: vyavasthitā — halted, drawn up; yā — which; bharatena — by Bharata; sā — that; camūr — army; nirīkṣamāṇāpi — though gazing at; ca — and; dhūmam — the smoke; agrataḥ — ahead, in front; babhūva — became; hṛṣṭā — joyful, thrilled; nacireṇa — before long, soon; jānatī — knowing; priyasya — of beloved; rāmasya — of Rāma; samāgamaṃ — the reunion, meeting; tadā — then

← 2.86 Bharadvāja directs Bharata to Citrakūṭa · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.88 Rāma shows Sītā Citrakūṭa →

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/2/87.md · JSON: /data/2/87.json