Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 50

विशालान् कोसलान् रम्यान् यात्वा लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः। अयोध्याभिमुखो धीमान् प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।2.50.1।।

viśālān kosalān ramyān yātvā lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ| ayodhyābhimukho dhīmān prāñjalirvākyamabravīt

Having crossed the vast, beautiful kingdom of Kosala, the sagacious elder brother of Lakshmana stood facing Ayodhya with folded palms and said:

आपृच्छे त्वां पुरीश्रेष्ठे काकुत्स्थपरिपालिते। दैवतानि च यानि त्वां पालयन्ति वसन्ति च।।2.50.2।।

āpṛcche tvāṃ purīśreṣṭhe kākutsthaparipālite| daivatāni ca yāni tvāṃ pālayanti vasanti ca

O Ayodhya, the best of cities ruled by those born in the Kakutstha race I take leave of you and of all those gods inhabiting and guarding you.

निवृत्तवनवासस्त्वामनृणो जगतीपतेः। पुनर्द्रक्ष्यामि मात्रा च पित्रा च सह सङ्गतः।।2.50.3।।

nivṛttavanavāsastvāmanṛṇo jagatīpateḥ| punardrakṣyāmi mātrā ca pitrā ca saha saṅgataḥ

On completion of exile and my filial obligations to king Dasaratha, lord of the world, discharged, I shall, reunited with my parents, see you again.

ततो रुधिरताम्राक्षो भुजमुद्यम्य दक्षिणम्। अश्रुपूर्णमुखो दीनोऽब्रवीज्जानपदं जनम्।।2.50.4।।

tato rudhiratāmrākṣo bhujamudyamya dakṣiṇam| aśrupūrṇamukho dīno'bravījjānapadaṃ janam

He looked miserable, his copperred eyes filled with tears. He raised his right hand and said to the villagers who had come to see him:

अनुक्रोशो दया चैव यथार्हं मयि वः कृतः। चिरं दुःखस्य पापीयो गम्यतामर्थसिद्धये।।2.50.5।।

anukrośo dayā caiva yathārhaṃ mayi vaḥ kṛtaḥ| ciraṃ duḥkhasya pāpīyo gamyatāmarthasiddhaye

You have aptly shown your kindness and compassion to me. It is not proper to prolong one's grief. So do go and altend to your duties.

तेऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम्। विलपन्तो नरा घोरं व्यतिष्ठन्त क्वचित् क्वचित्।।2.50.6।।

te'bhivādya mahātmānaṃ kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam| vilapanto narā ghoraṃ vyatiṣṭhanta kvacit kvacit

All of them paid their homage by circumambulating the highsouled Rama. Crying bitterly, they stood here and there.

तथा विलपतां तेषामतृप्तानां च राघवः। अचक्षुर्विषयं प्रायाद्यथार्कः क्षणदामुखे।।2.50.7।।

tathā vilapatāṃ teṣāmatṛptānāṃ ca rāghavaḥ| acakṣurviṣayaṃ prāyādyathārkaḥ kṣaṇadāmukhe

Not yet satisfied (they wanted to linger longer), they stood weeping, while Rama went out of sight just as the Sun disappears at nightfall.

ततो धान्यधनोपेतान् दानशीलजनान् शिवान्। अकुतश्चिद्भयान् रम्यांश्चैत्ययूपसमावृतान्।।2.50.8।। उद्यानाम्रवनोपेतान् सम्पन्नसलिलाशयान्। तुष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णान् गोकुलाकुलसेवितान्।।2.50.9।। लक्षणीयान्नरेन्द्राणां ब्रह्मघोषाभिनादितान्। रथेन पुरुषव्याघ्रः कोसलानत्यवर्तत।।2.50.10।।

tato dhānyadhanopetān dānaśīlajanān śivān| akutaścidbhayān ramyāṃścaityayūpasamāvṛtān udyānāmravanopetān sampannasalilāśayān| tuṣṭapuṣṭajanākīrṇān gokulākulasevitān lakṣaṇīyānnarendrāṇāṃ brahmaghoṣābhināditān| rathena puruṣavyāghraḥ kosalānatyavartata

Rama, the best of men, crossed the auspicious land of Kosala which was worth seeing by kings. It looked charming with sacrificial posts and altars, pleasure gardens and mango groves and tanks filled with water. It was rich with herds of cattle, wealth and foodgrains. It was inhabited by charitable, contented and wellnourished people free from fear from any quarter. And it reverberated with the sounds of Vedic recitations.

ततो धान्यधनोपेतान् दानशीलजनान् शिवान्। अकुतश्चिद्भयान् रम्यांश्चैत्ययूपसमावृतान्।।2.50.8।। उद्यानाम्रवनोपेतान् सम्पन्नसलिलाशयान्। तुष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णान् गोकुलाकुलसेवितान्।।2.50.9।। लक्षणीयान्नरेन्द्राणां ब्रह्मघोषाभिनादितान्। रथेन पुरुषव्याघ्रः कोसलानत्यवर्तत।।2.50.10।।

tato dhānyadhanopetān dānaśīlajanān śivān| akutaścidbhayān ramyāṃścaityayūpasamāvṛtān udyānāmravanopetān sampannasalilāśayān| tuṣṭapuṣṭajanākīrṇān gokulākulasevitān lakṣaṇīyānnarendrāṇāṃ brahmaghoṣābhināditān| rathena puruṣavyāghraḥ kosalānatyavartata

Rama, the best of men, crossed the auspicious land of Kosala which was worth seeing by kings. It looked charming with sacrificial posts and altars, pleasure gardens and mango groves and tanks filled with water. It was rich with herds of cattle, wealth and foodgrains. It was inhabited by charitable, contented and wellnourished people free from fear from any quarter. And it reverberated with the sounds of Vedic recitations.

ततो धान्यधनोपेतान् दानशीलजनान् शिवान्। अकुतश्चिद्भयान् रम्यांश्चैत्ययूपसमावृतान्।।2.50.8।। उद्यानाम्रवनोपेतान् सम्पन्नसलिलाशयान्। तुष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णान् गोकुलाकुलसेवितान्।।2.50.9।। लक्षणीयान्नरेन्द्राणां ब्रह्मघोषाभिनादितान्। रथेन पुरुषव्याघ्रः कोसलानत्यवर्तत।।2.50.10।।

tato dhānyadhanopetān dānaśīlajanān śivān| akutaścidbhayān ramyāṃścaityayūpasamāvṛtān udyānāmravanopetān sampannasalilāśayān| tuṣṭapuṣṭajanākīrṇān gokulākulasevitān lakṣaṇīyānnarendrāṇāṃ brahmaghoṣābhināditān| rathena puruṣavyāghraḥ kosalānatyavartata

Rama, the best of men, crossed the auspicious land of Kosala which was worth seeing by kings. It looked charming with sacrificial posts and altars, pleasure gardens and mango groves and tanks filled with water. It was rich with herds of cattle, wealth and foodgrains. It was inhabited by charitable, contented and wellnourished people free from fear from any quarter. And it reverberated with the sounds of Vedic recitations.

मध्येनमुदितं स्फीतं रम्योद्यानसमाकुलम्। राज्यं भोग्यं नरेन्द्राणां ययौ धृतिमतां वरः।।2.50.11।।

madhyenamuditaṃ sphītaṃ ramyodyānasamākulam| rājyaṃ bhogyaṃ narendrāṇāṃ yayau dhṛtimatāṃ varaḥ

Rama, the greatest among those endowed with fortitude, travelled through the middle of the kingdom which was pleasing, prosperous and full of ravishing gardens fit to be enjoyed by kings.

तत स्त्रिपथगां दिव्यां शिवतोयामशैवलाम्। ददर्श राघवो गङ्गां पुण्यामृषिनिषेविताम्।।2.50.12।।

tata stripathagāṃ divyāṃ śivatoyāmaśaivalām| dadarśa rāghavo gaṅgāṃ puṇyāmṛṣiniṣevitām

There Rama saw the holy Ganga flowing in three (worlds) with her sacred waters, free from moss, and worshipped by sages.

आश्रमैरविदूरस्थैः श्रीमद्भिस्समलङ्कृताम्। कालेऽप्सरोभिर्हृष्टाभि स्सेविताम्भोह्रदां शिवाम्।।2.50.13।।

āśramairavidūrasthaiḥ śrīmadbhissamalaṅkṛtām| kāle'psarobhirhṛṣṭābhi ssevitāmbhohradāṃ śivām

The holy Ganga, adorned with graceful hermitages situated not far away is visited at times by delightful nymphs who sport in her lakes.

देवदानवगन्धर्वैः किन्नरैरुपशोभिताम्। नानागन्धर्वपत्नीभि स्सेवितां सततं शिवाम्।।2.50.14।।

devadānavagandharvaiḥ kinnarairupaśobhitām| nānāgandharvapatnībhi ssevitāṃ satataṃ śivām

The Ganga is graced by devatas, danavas, gandharvas and kinneras. Wives of several gandharvas always visit this auspicious river.

देवाऽऽक्रीडशताकीर्णां देवोद्यानशतायुताम्। देवार्थमाकाशगमां विख्यातां देवपद्मिनीम्।।2.50.15।।

devā''krīḍaśatākīrṇāṃ devodyānaśatāyutām| devārthamākāśagamāṃ vikhyātāṃ devapadminīm

Since this river flows through heavens for the gods, it is wellknown as 'Devapadmini' where celestial lotuses grow. The river embraces hundreds of hills serving as sporting places and pleasuregardens for gods.

जलाघाताट्टहासोग्रां फेननिर्मलहासिनीम्। क्वचिद्वेणीकृतजलां क्वचिदावर्तशोभिताम्।।2.50.16।।

jalāghātāṭṭahāsogrāṃ phenanirmalahāsinīm| kvacidveṇīkṛtajalāṃ kvacidāvartaśobhitām

The sound of dashing waters of the Ganga is like her laughter and the foam like her sparkling smile. Here she flows straight like the braid of a maiden and there in whirlpools.

क्वचित् स्तिमितगम्भीरां क्वचिद्वेगजलाकुलाम्। क्वचिद्गम्भीरनिर्घोषां क्वचिद्भैरवनिस्वनाम्।।2.50.17।।

kvacit stimitagambhīrāṃ kvacidvegajalākulām| kvacidgambhīranirghoṣāṃ kvacidbhairavanisvanām

Here the Ganga runs deep but quiet, there she looks perturbed due to fastflowing waters, here she flows with a deep groan and there with a dreadful roar.

देवसङ्घाप्लुतजलां निर्मलोत्पलशोभिताम्। क्वचिदाभोगपुलिनां क्वचिन्निर्मलवालुकाम्।।2.50.18।।

devasaṅghāplutajalāṃ nirmalotpalaśobhitām| kvacidābhogapulināṃ kvacinnirmalavālukām

Here hosts of celestials take their ablutions and there she shines with lilies of pure blue. Here her banks are curved and there her bed is dotted with patches of white sand.

हंससारससङ्घुष्टां चक्रवाकोपकूजिताम्। सदा मदैश्च विहगैरभिसन्नादितान्तराम्।।2.50.19।।

haṃsasārasasaṅghuṣṭāṃ cakravākopakūjitām| sadā madaiśca vihagairabhisannāditāntarām

The river reverberates with the cries of swans, cranes and chakravakas (ruddy goose). It rings intermittently with the chirpings of birds charged with endless pasison.

क्वचित्तीररुहैर्वृक्षैर्मालाभिरिवशोभिताम्। क्वचित्फुल्लोत्पलच्छन्नां क्वचित्पद्मवनाकुलाम्।।2.50.20।।

kvacittīraruhairvṛkṣairmālābhirivaśobhitām| kvacitphullotpalacchannāṃ kvacitpadmavanākulām

Here on her banks stand trees adorned as though with garlands, and there in her waters abound fullblown lilies and a forest of lotuses.

क्वचित्कुमुदषण्डैश्च कुड्मलैरुपशोभिताम्। नानापुष्परजोध्वस्तां समदामिव च क्वचित्।।2.50.21।।

kvacitkumudaṣaṇḍaiśca kuḍmalairupaśobhitām| nānāpuṣparajodhvastāṃ samadāmiva ca kvacit

Here she is decked with hosts of waterlilies and halfblown flowers while elsewhere she looks intoxicated with the pollen fallen from various flowers.

व्यपेतमलसङ्घातां मणिनिर्मलदर्शनाम्। दिशागजैर्वनगजै र्मत्तैश्च वरवारणैः।।2.50.22।। देवोपवाह्यैश्च मुहुस्सन्नादितवनान्तराम्।

vyapetamalasaṅghātāṃ maṇinirmaladarśanām| diśāgajairvanagajai rmattaiśca varavāraṇaiḥ devopavāhyaiśca muhussannāditavanāntarām|

The river, cleansed of heaps of impurities, appears like a transparent gem. The interiors of forests on her banks always resounds with the trumpeting of mighty, intoxicated, wild elephants guarding the quarters, fit to be the vehicles of gods.

प्रमदामिव यत्नेन भूषितां भूषणोत्तमैः।।2.50.23।। फलैः पुष्पैः किसलयैर्वृतां गुल्मैर्द्विजैस्तथा। शिंशुमारैश्च नक्रैश्च भुजङ्गैश्च निषेविताम्।।2.50.24।।

pramadāmiva yatnena bhūṣitāṃ bhūṣaṇottamaiḥ phalaiḥ puṣpaiḥ kisalayairvṛtāṃ gulmairdvijaistathā| śiṃśumāraiśca nakraiśca bhujaṅgaiśca niṣevitām

Just like a lady, Ganga is decorated with the best of ornaments her banks are filled with fruits, flowers, tender leaves or shoots and (flowering) shrubs. It is inhabited by birds and brahmins and infested with sisumaras (small whales), crocodiles and serpents.

प्रमदामिव यत्नेन भूषितां भूषणोत्तमैः।।2.50.23।। फलैः पुष्पैः किसलयैर्वृतां गुल्मैर्द्विजैस्तथा। शिंशुमारैश्च नक्रैश्च भुजङ्गैश्च निषेविताम्।।2.50.24।।

pramadāmiva yatnena bhūṣitāṃ bhūṣaṇottamaiḥ phalaiḥ puṣpaiḥ kisalayairvṛtāṃ gulmairdvijaistathā| śiṃśumāraiśca nakraiśca bhujaṅgaiśca niṣevitām

Just like a lady, Ganga is decorated with the best of ornaments her banks are filled with fruits, flowers, tender leaves or shoots and (flowering) shrubs. It is inhabited by birds and brahmins and infested with sisumaras (small whales), crocodiles and serpents.

विष्णुपादच्युतां दिव्यामपापां पापनाशिनीम्। तां शङ्करजटाजूटाद्भ्रष्टां सागरतेजसा।।2.50.25।। समुद्रमहिषीं गङ्गां सारसक्रौञ्चनादिताम्। आससाद महाबाहुः शृङ्गिबेरपुरं प्रति।।2.50.26।।

viṣṇupādacyutāṃ divyāmapāpāṃ pāpanāśinīm| tāṃ śaṅkarajaṭājūṭādbhraṣṭāṃ sāgaratejasā samudramahiṣīṃ gaṅgāṃ sārasakrauñcanāditām| āsasāda mahābāhuḥ śṛṅgiberapuraṃ prati

Mightyarmed Rama reached Srngaberapura on the bank of this consort of the ocean, this Ganga loud with the cries of kraunchas and herons. This sinless, divine Ganga, destroyer of sins who flows from the feet of lord Visnu and by the effulgence (penance) of Sagara's son (Bhagiratha) emerged from the matted locks of lord Siva.

विष्णुपादच्युतां दिव्यामपापां पापनाशिनीम्। तां शङ्करजटाजूटाद्भ्रष्टां सागरतेजसा।।2.50.25।। समुद्रमहिषीं गङ्गां सारसक्रौञ्चनादिताम्। आससाद महाबाहुः शृङ्गिबेरपुरं प्रति।।2.50.26।।

viṣṇupādacyutāṃ divyāmapāpāṃ pāpanāśinīm| tāṃ śaṅkarajaṭājūṭādbhraṣṭāṃ sāgaratejasā samudramahiṣīṃ gaṅgāṃ sārasakrauñcanāditām| āsasāda mahābāhuḥ śṛṅgiberapuraṃ prati

Mightyarmed Rama reached Srngaberapura on the bank of this consort of the ocean, this Ganga loud with the cries of kraunchas and herons. This sinless, divine Ganga, destroyer of sins who flows from the feet of lord Visnu and by the effulgence (penance) of Sagara's son (Bhagiratha) emerged from the matted locks of lord Siva.

तामूर्मिकलिलावर्तामन्ववेक्ष्य महारथः। सुमन्त्रमब्रवीत्सूतमिहैवाद्य वसामहे।।2.50.27।।

tāmūrmikalilāvartāmanvavekṣya mahārathaḥ| sumantramabravītsūtamihaivādya vasāmahe

Beholding river Ganga full of waves and whirlpools, the great chariotwarrior (Rama) said to Sumantra: We shall spend the night here.