Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 84

ततो निविष्टां ध्वजिनीं गङ्गामन्वाश्रितां नदीम्। निषादराजो दृष्ट्वैव ज्ञातीन्सन्त्वरितोऽऽब्रवीत्।।2.84.1।।

tato niviṣṭāṃ dhvajinīṃ gaṅgāmanvāśritāṃ nadīm| niṣādarājo dṛṣṭvaiva jñātīnsantvarito''bravīt

Guha, king of the nishadas, observed the bannered army encamped all along the bank of the river Ganga, hurried off and said to his kinsmen:

महतीयमितस्सेना सागराभा प्रदृश्यते। नास्यान्तमधिगच्छामि मनसापि विचिन्तयन्।।2.84.2।।

mahatīyamitassenā sāgarābhā pradṛśyate| nāsyāntamadhigacchāmi manasāpi vicintayan

Here is an army as vast as the ocean, and I am unable to comprehend its magnitude even mentally.

यथा तु खलु दुर्बुद्धिर्भरत स्स्वयमागतः। स एष हि महाकायः कोविदारध्वजो रथे।।2.84.3।।

yathā tu khalu durbuddhirbharata ssvayamāgataḥ| sa eṣa hi mahākāyaḥ kovidāradhvajo rathe

It appears that the evilminded Bharata himself has come here. The emblem of a huge kovidara (pomegranate) tree is seen on his chariot.

बन्धयिष्यति वा दाशानथवाऽस्मान्वधिष्यति। अथ दाशरथिं रामं पित्रा राज्याद्विवासितम्।।2.84.4।। सम्पन्नां श्रियमन्विच्छन्स्तस्य राज्ञ स्सुदुर्लभाम्। भरतः कैकयीपुत्रो हन्तुं समधिगच्छति।।2.84.5।।

bandhayiṣyati vā dāśānathavā'smānvadhiṣyati| atha dāśarathiṃ rāmaṃ pitrā rājyādvivāsitam sampannāṃ śriyamanvicchanstasya rājña ssudurlabhām| bharataḥ kaikayīputro hantuṃ samadhigacchati

Could it be that Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, has come here to bind us with the cords or to slay us? Or is he marching forward with the intention of taking possession of a prosperous, rare kingdom by slaying Rama who has been banished by his father:

बन्धयिष्यति वा दाशानथवाऽस्मान्वधिष्यति। अथ दाशरथिं रामं पित्रा राज्याद्विवासितम्।।2.84.4।। सम्पन्नां श्रियमन्विच्छन्स्तस्य राज्ञ स्सुदुर्लभाम्। भरतः कैकयीपुत्रो हन्तुं समधिगच्छति।।2.84.5।।

bandhayiṣyati vā dāśānathavā'smānvadhiṣyati| atha dāśarathiṃ rāmaṃ pitrā rājyādvivāsitam sampannāṃ śriyamanvicchanstasya rājña ssudurlabhām| bharataḥ kaikayīputro hantuṃ samadhigacchati

Could it be that Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, has come here to bind us with the cords or to slay us? Or is he marching forward with the intention of taking possession of a prosperous, rare kingdom by slaying Rama who has been banished by his father:

भर्ताचैव सखाचैव रामो दाशरथिर्मम। तस्यार्थकामास्सन्नद्धा गङ्गाऽनूपे प्रतिष्ठत।।2.84.6।।

bhartācaiva sakhācaiva rāmo dāśarathirmama| tasyārthakāmāssannaddhā gaṅgā'nūpe pratiṣṭhata

Rama, son of Dasaratha, is not only my master but also my friend. Therefore, to safeguard his interests remain stationed here on the bank of the river Ganga.

तिष्ठन्तु सर्वे दाशाश्च गङ्गामन्वाश्रिता नदीम्। बलयुक्ता नदीरक्षा मांसमूलफलाशनाः।।2.84.7।।

tiṣṭhantu sarve dāśāśca gaṅgāmanvāśritā nadīm| balayuktā nadīrakṣā māṃsamūlaphalāśanāḥ

Let all the fishermen, who live on meat, roots and fruits and protect the river, stay here with the troops by taking up positions along the banks of the river Ganga.

नावां शतानां पञ्चानां कैवर्तानां शतं शतम्। सन्नद्धानां तथा यूनां तिष्ठन्त्वित्यभ्यचोदयत्।।2.84.8।।

nāvāṃ śatānāṃ pañcānāṃ kaivartānāṃ śataṃ śatam| sannaddhānāṃ tathā yūnāṃ tiṣṭhantvityabhyacodayat

Let five hundred boats, each manned by a hundred young fishermen fully equipped, be in readiness he exhorted them.

यदाऽऽदुष्टस्तु भरतो रामस्येह भविष्यति। सेयं स्वस्तिमती सेना गङ्गामद्य तरिष्यति।।2.84.9।।

yadā''duṣṭastu bharato rāmasyeha bhaviṣyati| seyaṃ svastimatī senā gaṅgāmadya tariṣyati

Should it happen that Bharata is not illdisposed toward Rama, the army will safe cross the river Ganga today itself.

इत्युक्त्वोपायनं गृह्य मत्स्यमांसमधूनि च। अभिचक्राम भरतं निषादाधिपतिर्गुहः।।2.84.10।।

ityuktvopāyanaṃ gṛhya matsyamāṃsamadhūni ca| abhicakrāma bharataṃ niṣādādhipatirguhaḥ

Having spoken thus, Guha, lord of the nishadas, approached Bharata, taking with him fish, meat and wine as offerings.

तमायान्तं तु सम्प्रेक्ष्य सूतपुत्रः प्रतापवान्। भरतायाऽचचक्षेऽथ विनयज्ञो विनीतवत्।।2.84.11।।

tamāyāntaṃ tu samprekṣya sūtaputraḥ pratāpavān| bharatāyā'cacakṣe'tha vinayajño vinītavat

The valiant Sumantra, conversant with ways of modesty, observed Guha approaching them and humbly informed Bharata.

एष ज्ञातिसहस्रेण स्थपतिः परिवारितः। कुशलो दण्डकारण्ये वृद्धो भ्रातुश्च ते सखा।।2.84.12।।

eṣa jñātisahasreṇa sthapatiḥ parivāritaḥ| kuśalo daṇḍakāraṇye vṛddho bhrātuśca te sakhā

Guha who has come here surrounded by too many thousands of his relations is fully acquainted with the Dandaka forest. He is an aged man and a friend of your brother said Sumatra.

तस्मात्पश्यतु काकुत्स्थ त्वां निषादाधिपो गुहः। असंशयं विजानीते यत्र तौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।।2.84.13।।

tasmātpaśyatu kākutstha tvāṃ niṣādādhipo guhaḥ| asaṃśayaṃ vijānīte yatra tau rāmalakṣmaṇau

O scion of the Kakusthas (Bharata) therefore, give audience to the overlord of the nishadas, Guha, who undoubtedly knows the whereabouts of Rama and Lakshmana.

एतत्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा सुमन्त्राद्भरत श्शुभम्। उवाच वचनं शीघ्रं गुहः पश्यतु मामिति।।2.84.14।।

etattu vacanaṃ śrutvā sumantrādbharata śśubham| uvāca vacanaṃ śīghraṃ guhaḥ paśyatu māmiti

On hearing these auspicious words of Sumantra, Bharata said Let Guha see me at once.

लब्ध्वाऽभ्यनुज्ञां संहृष्टो ज्ञातिभिः परिवारितः। आगम्य भरतं प्रह्वो गुहो वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.84.15।।

labdhvā'bhyanujñāṃ saṃhṛṣṭo jñātibhiḥ parivāritaḥ| āgamya bharataṃ prahvo guho vacanamabravīt

Having obtaind the permission, a delighted Guha, escorted by his relatives, approached Bharata and humbly said:

निष्कुटश्चैव देशोऽयं वञ्चिताश्चापि ते वयम्। निवेदयामस्ते सर्वे स्वके दासकुले वस।।2.84.16।।

niṣkuṭaścaiva deśo'yaṃ vañcitāścāpi te vayam| nivedayāmaste sarve svake dāsakule vasa

This country is like a pleasuregarden at the backyard of your palace. All of us are subordinate to you and we solicit you to stay in the house of this servant of yours.

अस्ति मूलं फलञ्चैव निषादैस्समुपाहृतम्। आर्द्रं च मांसं शुष्कं च वन्यं चोच्चावचं महत्।।2.84.17।।

asti mūlaṃ phalañcaiva niṣādaissamupāhṛtam| ārdraṃ ca māṃsaṃ śuṣkaṃ ca vanyaṃ coccāvacaṃ mahat

Here are roots, fruits and a great variety of forest produce, fresh and dried meat brought by the nishadas.

आशंसे स्वाशिता सेना वत्स्यतीमां विभावरीम्। अर्चितो विविधैः कामै श्श्व स्ससैन्यो गमिष्यसि।।2.84.18।।

āśaṃse svāśitā senā vatsyatīmāṃ vibhāvarīm| arcito vividhaiḥ kāmai śśva ssasainyo gamiṣyasi

We hope your army having refreshed themselves will spend the night here. With our hospitality extended, you can proceed tomorrow. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे चतुरशीतितमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the eightyfourth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.