# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 87 — Bharata locates Citrakūṭa *The marching army disturbs the forest, scouts report smoke and Bharata halts the main force to approach the dwelling* Portion: Bharata approaches Citrakūṭa · Verses: 27 · Ref format: 2.87. ## Sequence - The large expedition moves through the forest, frightening the animals (87.1–5) - Bharata recognizes the mountain and river described by Bharadvāja (87.6–9) - he points out the flowering slopes, disturbed wildlife, and dust raised by the marching company (87.10–17) - believing they have reached the tapasvins' region, he sends men to look for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa (87.18–20) - scouts report a column of smoke: someone is living there, whether the brothers or other tapasvins (87.21–23) - Bharata halts the main force and prepares to approach with a small company, including Sumantra and the priest (87.24–27). ## Verses **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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: **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.” **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. **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: **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. **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. **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.