Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 80

अथ भूमिप्रदेशज्ञास्सूत्रकर्मविशारदाः। स्वकर्माभिरताश्शूराः खनका यन्त्रकास्तथा।।2.80.1।। कर्मान्तिकाः स्थपतयः पुरुष यन्त्रकोविदाः। तथा वार्धकयश्चैव मार्गिणो वृक्षतक्षकाः।।2.80.2।। कूपकारास्सुधाकारार्वंशकर्मकृतस्तथा। समर्था ये च द्रष्टारः पुरतस्ते प्रतस्थिरे।।2.80.3।।

atha bhūmipradeśajñāssūtrakarmaviśāradāḥ| svakarmābhiratāśśūrāḥ khanakā yantrakāstathā karmāntikāḥ sthapatayaḥ puruṣa yantrakovidāḥ| tathā vārdhakayaścaiva mārgiṇo vṛkṣatakṣakāḥ kūpakārāssudhākārārvaṃśakarmakṛtastathā| samarthā ye ca draṣṭāraḥ purataste pratasthire

Then surveyors, experts in measurment, energetic and zealous labourers, excavators, engineers, skilled workers, architects, craftsmen, carpenters, roadlevellers, woodcutters, welldiggers, whitewashers, basketmakers, competent supervisors were sent in advance.

अथ भूमिप्रदेशज्ञास्सूत्रकर्मविशारदाः। स्वकर्माभिरताश्शूराः खनका यन्त्रकास्तथा।।2.80.1।। कर्मान्तिकाः स्थपतयः पुरुष यन्त्रकोविदाः। तथा वार्धकयश्चैव मार्गिणो वृक्षतक्षकाः।।2.80.2।। कूपकारास्सुधाकारार्वंशकर्मकृतस्तथा। समर्था ये च द्रष्टारः पुरतस्ते प्रतस्थिरे।।2.80.3।।

atha bhūmipradeśajñāssūtrakarmaviśāradāḥ| svakarmābhiratāśśūrāḥ khanakā yantrakāstathā karmāntikāḥ sthapatayaḥ puruṣa yantrakovidāḥ| tathā vārdhakayaścaiva mārgiṇo vṛkṣatakṣakāḥ kūpakārāssudhākārārvaṃśakarmakṛtastathā| samarthā ye ca draṣṭāraḥ purataste pratasthire

Then surveyors, experts in measurment, energetic and zealous labourers, excavators, engineers, skilled workers, architects, craftsmen, carpenters, roadlevellers, woodcutters, welldiggers, whitewashers, basketmakers, competent supervisors were sent in advance.

अथ भूमिप्रदेशज्ञास्सूत्रकर्मविशारदाः। स्वकर्माभिरताश्शूराः खनका यन्त्रकास्तथा।।2.80.1।। कर्मान्तिकाः स्थपतयः पुरुष यन्त्रकोविदाः। तथा वार्धकयश्चैव मार्गिणो वृक्षतक्षकाः।।2.80.2।। कूपकारास्सुधाकारार्वंशकर्मकृतस्तथा। समर्था ये च द्रष्टारः पुरतस्ते प्रतस्थिरे।।2.80.3।।

atha bhūmipradeśajñāssūtrakarmaviśāradāḥ| svakarmābhiratāśśūrāḥ khanakā yantrakāstathā karmāntikāḥ sthapatayaḥ puruṣa yantrakovidāḥ| tathā vārdhakayaścaiva mārgiṇo vṛkṣatakṣakāḥ kūpakārāssudhākārārvaṃśakarmakṛtastathā| samarthā ye ca draṣṭāraḥ purataste pratasthire

Then surveyors, experts in measurment, energetic and zealous labourers, excavators, engineers, skilled workers, architects, craftsmen, carpenters, roadlevellers, woodcutters, welldiggers, whitewashers, basketmakers, competent supervisors were sent in advance.

स तु हर्षात्तमुद्देशं जनौघो विपुलः प्रयान्। अशोभत महावेगस्समुद्र इव पर्वणि।।2.80.4।।

sa tu harṣāttamuddeśaṃ janaugho vipulaḥ prayān| aśobhata mahāvegassamudra iva parvaṇi

Like a swollen ocean on a fullmoon day the multitude of people proceeded joyfully with great speed to the appointed place.

ते स्ववारं समास्थाय वर्त्मकर्मणि कोविदाः। करणैर्विविधोपेतैः पुरस्तात्सम्प्रतस्थिरे।।2.80.5।।

te svavāraṃ samāsthāya vartmakarmaṇi kovidāḥ| karaṇairvividhopetaiḥ purastātsampratasthire

Those groups who were skilled in the construction of roads took up their places with every kind of tool and departed ahead of others.

लतावल्ली श्च गुल्मांश्च स्थाणूनश्मन एव च। जनायांचक्रिरे मार्गं छिन्दन्तो विविधान्द्रुमान्।।2.80.6।।

latāvallī śca gulmāṃśca sthāṇūnaśmana eva ca| janāyāṃcakrire mārgaṃ chindanto vividhāndrumān

Clearing and cutting branches of various trees and creepers, shrubs, plants branchless trees and hewing boulders, the road was paved by the king's men.

अवृक्षेषु च देशेषु केचिद्वृक्षानरोपयन्। केचित्कुठारैष्टङ्कैश्च दात्रैश्चिन्दन्क्वचित्क्वचित्।।2.80.7।।

avṛkṣeṣu ca deśeṣu kecidvṛkṣānaropayan| kecitkuṭhāraiṣṭaṅkaiśca dātraiścindankvacitkvacit

Some of them, planted saplings in places where there were none, while some others severed trees here and there with axes, hatchets and sickles.

अपरे वीरणस्तम्भान्बलिनो बलवत्तराः। विधमन्ति स्म दुर्गाणि स्थलानि च ततस्ततः।।2.80.8।।

apare vīraṇastambhānbalino balavattarāḥ| vidhamanti sma durgāṇi sthalāni ca tatastataḥ

Some other stronger men, plucked the strongrooted tufts of fragrant grass. Here and there they made impassable terrains even.

अपरेऽपूरयन्कूपान्पांसुभि श्श्वभ्रमायतम्। निम्नभागान्स्ततः केचित्समान्श्चक्रु स्समन्ततः।।2.80.9।।

apare'pūrayankūpānpāṃsubhi śśvabhramāyatam| nimnabhāgānstataḥ kecitsamānścakru ssamantataḥ

Some filled wells and chasms with loose soil, while others made low level grounds plain and wide on all sides.

बबन्धुर्बन्धनीयांश्च क्षोद्यान्सञ्चुक्षुदुस्तदा। बिभिदुर्भेदनीयांश्च तांस्तान्देशान्नरा स्तदा।।2.80.10।।

babandhurbandhanīyāṃśca kṣodyānsañcukṣudustadā| bibhidurbhedanīyāṃśca tāṃstāndeśānnarā stadā

People threw bridges at places that needed to be bridged. They pulverised stones that obstructed the path and split open big stones to drain out water.

अचिरेणैव कालेन परिवाहान्बहूदकान्। चक्रुर्बहुविधाकारान् सागरप्रतिमान्बहून्।।2.80.11।।

acireṇaiva kālena parivāhānbahūdakān| cakrurbahuvidhākārān sāgarapratimānbahūn

In a short time they constructed many water reservoirs of different shapes capable of holding large volumes of water like the sea.

निर्जलेषु च देशेषु खानयामासुरुत्तमान्। उदपानान्बहुविधान्वेदिकापरिमण्डितान्।।2.80.12।।

nirjaleṣu ca deśeṣu khānayāmāsuruttamān| udapānānbahuvidhānvedikāparimaṇḍitān

In arid places, various good drinkingwaterwells surrounded by dykes were dug.

ससुधाकुट्टिमतलः प्रपुष्पितमहीरुहः। मत्तोद्घुष्ट द्विजगणः पताकाभिरलङ्कृतः।।2.80.13।। चन्दनोदकसंसिक्तो नानाकुसुमभूषितः। बह्वशोभत सेनायाः पन्था स्सुरपथोपमः।।2.80.14।।

sasudhākuṭṭimatalaḥ prapuṣpitamahīruhaḥ| mattodghuṣṭa dvijagaṇaḥ patākābhiralaṅkṛtaḥ candanodakasaṃsikto nānākusumabhūṣitaḥ| bahvaśobhata senāyāḥ panthā ssurapathopamaḥ

The highway for the army was paved smooth, with its surface decorated with mosaic. It was lined with blossoming trees with flocks of birds intoxicated with singing. It was decked with banners and sprinkled with sandal water and a strewn with flowers of every kind. Like the path of gods, the highway shone with brilliance.

ससुधाकुट्टिमतलः प्रपुष्पितमहीरुहः। मत्तोद्घुष्ट द्विजगणः पताकाभिरलङ्कृतः।।2.80.13।। चन्दनोदकसंसिक्तो नानाकुसुमभूषितः। बह्वशोभत सेनायाः पन्था स्सुरपथोपमः।।2.80.14।।

sasudhākuṭṭimatalaḥ prapuṣpitamahīruhaḥ| mattodghuṣṭa dvijagaṇaḥ patākābhiralaṅkṛtaḥ candanodakasaṃsikto nānākusumabhūṣitaḥ| bahvaśobhata senāyāḥ panthā ssurapathopamaḥ

The highway for the army was paved smooth, with its surface decorated with mosaic. It was lined with blossoming trees with flocks of birds intoxicated with singing. It was decked with banners and sprinkled with sandal water and a strewn with flowers of every kind. Like the path of gods, the highway shone with brilliance.

आज्ञाप्याथ यथाऽज्ञप्ति युक्तास्तेऽधिकृता नराः। रमणीयेषु देशेषु बहुस्वादुफलेषु च।।2.80.15।। यो निवेशस्त्वभिप्रेतो भरतस्य महात्मनः। भूयस्तं शोभयामासुर्भूषाभिर्भूषणोपमम्।।2.80.16।।

ājñāpyātha yathā'jñapti yuktāste'dhikṛtā narāḥ| ramaṇīyeṣu deśeṣu bahusvāduphaleṣu ca yo niveśastvabhipreto bharatasya mahātmanaḥ| bhūyastaṃ śobhayāmāsurbhūṣābhirbhūṣaṇopamam

Those authorised ordered the artisans to perform their respective tasks. Thereafter, they selected lovely tracts of land filled with trees bearing varieties of sweet fruits as restingplace for great Bharata and decorated them so splendidly, that they looked like ornaments themseleves.

आज्ञाप्याथ यथाऽज्ञप्ति युक्तास्तेऽधिकृता नराः। रमणीयेषु देशेषु बहुस्वादुफलेषु च।।2.80.15।। यो निवेशस्त्वभिप्रेतो भरतस्य महात्मनः। भूयस्तं शोभयामासुर्भूषाभिर्भूषणोपमम्।।2.80.16।।

ājñāpyātha yathā'jñapti yuktāste'dhikṛtā narāḥ| ramaṇīyeṣu deśeṣu bahusvāduphaleṣu ca yo niveśastvabhipreto bharatasya mahātmanaḥ| bhūyastaṃ śobhayāmāsurbhūṣābhirbhūṣaṇopamam

Those authorised ordered the artisans to perform their respective tasks. Thereafter, they selected lovely tracts of land filled with trees bearing varieties of sweet fruits as restingplace for great Bharata and decorated them so splendidly, that they looked like ornaments themseleves.

नक्षत्रेषु प्रशस्तेषु मुहूर्तेषु च तद्विदः। निवेशान् स्थापयामासुर्भरतस्य महात्मनः।।2.80.17।।

nakṣatreṣu praśasteṣu muhūrteṣu ca tadvidaḥ| niveśān sthāpayāmāsurbharatasya mahātmanaḥ

Men wellversed in the study of planetary positions relating to auspicious constellations and auspicious times arranged different restingplaces at different times during the sojourn of great Bharata.

बहुपांसुचयाश्चापि परिखापरिवारिताः। तत्रेन्द्रकीलप्रतिमाः प्रतोलीवरशोभिताः।।2.80.18।। प्रासादमालावितता स्सौधप्राकारसंवृताः। पताकाशोभिता स्सर्वे सुनिर्मितमहापथाः।।2.80.19।। विसर्पद्भिरिवाऽकाशे विटङ्काग्रविमानकैः। समुच्छ्रितैर्निवेशास्ते बभुश्शक्रपुरोपमाः।।2.80.20।।

bahupāṃsucayāścāpi parikhāparivāritāḥ| tatrendrakīlapratimāḥ pratolīvaraśobhitāḥ prāsādamālāvitatā ssaudhaprākārasaṃvṛtāḥ| patākāśobhitā ssarve sunirmitamahāpathāḥ visarpadbhirivā'kāśe viṭaṅkāgravimānakaiḥ| samucchritairniveśāste babhuśśakrapuropamāḥ

They heaped sand and dug moats around the restingplace. It was adorned with wellbuilt highways and broad thoroughfares, lined with mansions surrounded by walls as high as mount Indrakeela. The peaks of those tall residences decorated with flags which looked as if spreading into the sky. (Thus the restingplace) shone like the abode of Indra.

बहुपांसुचयाश्चापि परिखापरिवारिताः। तत्रेन्द्रकीलप्रतिमाः प्रतोलीवरशोभिताः।।2.80.18।। प्रासादमालावितता स्सौधप्राकारसंवृताः। पताकाशोभिता स्सर्वे सुनिर्मितमहापथाः।।2.80.19।। विसर्पद्भिरिवाऽकाशे विटङ्काग्रविमानकैः। समुच्छ्रितैर्निवेशास्ते बभुश्शक्रपुरोपमाः।।2.80.20।।

bahupāṃsucayāścāpi parikhāparivāritāḥ| tatrendrakīlapratimāḥ pratolīvaraśobhitāḥ prāsādamālāvitatā ssaudhaprākārasaṃvṛtāḥ| patākāśobhitā ssarve sunirmitamahāpathāḥ visarpadbhirivā'kāśe viṭaṅkāgravimānakaiḥ| samucchritairniveśāste babhuśśakrapuropamāḥ

They heaped sand and dug moats around the restingplace. It was adorned with wellbuilt highways and broad thoroughfares, lined with mansions surrounded by walls as high as mount Indrakeela. The peaks of those tall residences decorated with flags which looked as if spreading into the sky. (Thus the restingplace) shone like the abode of Indra.

बहुपांसुचयाश्चापि परिखापरिवारिताः। तत्रेन्द्रकीलप्रतिमाः प्रतोलीवरशोभिताः।।2.80.18।। प्रासादमालावितता स्सौधप्राकारसंवृताः। पताकाशोभिता स्सर्वे सुनिर्मितमहापथाः।।2.80.19।। विसर्पद्भिरिवाऽकाशे विटङ्काग्रविमानकैः। समुच्छ्रितैर्निवेशास्ते बभुश्शक्रपुरोपमाः।।2.80.20।।

bahupāṃsucayāścāpi parikhāparivāritāḥ| tatrendrakīlapratimāḥ pratolīvaraśobhitāḥ prāsādamālāvitatā ssaudhaprākārasaṃvṛtāḥ| patākāśobhitā ssarve sunirmitamahāpathāḥ visarpadbhirivā'kāśe viṭaṅkāgravimānakaiḥ| samucchritairniveśāste babhuśśakrapuropamāḥ

They heaped sand and dug moats around the restingplace. It was adorned with wellbuilt highways and broad thoroughfares, lined with mansions surrounded by walls as high as mount Indrakeela. The peaks of those tall residences decorated with flags which looked as if spreading into the sky. (Thus the restingplace) shone like the abode of Indra.

जाह्नवीं तु समासाद्य विविधद्रुमकाननाम्। शीतलामलपानीयां महामीनसमाकुलाम्।।2.80.21।।

jāhnavīṃ tu samāsādya vividhadrumakānanām| śītalāmalapānīyāṃ mahāmīnasamākulām

The reached Ganga with its cool and limpid waters abounding in large fishes, its bank lined with groves of various trees.

सचन्द्रतारागणमण्डितं यथा नभः क्षपायाममलं विराजते। नरेन्द्रमार्गस्स तथा व्यराजत क्रमेण रम्यः शुभशिल्पिनिर्मितः।।2.80.22।।

sacandratārāgaṇamaṇḍitaṃ yathā nabhaḥ kṣapāyāmamalaṃ virājate| narendramārgassa tathā vyarājata krameṇa ramyaḥ śubhaśilpinirmitaḥ

The lovely royal road constructed in an orderly fashion by eminent craftsmen looked splendid like the clear sky decorated with by the Moon and clusters of stars. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे अशीतितमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the eightieth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.