Sage Bharadwaja informs the route by which Rama and Lakshmana can reach Chitrakuta. They cross the River Yamuna by a raft prepared by themselves. Seetha prays the River Yamuna and a fig tree called Syama. The three of them traveled for a couple of miles along the bank of Yamuna, strolling in the charming forest and reach a leveled ground on the bank to take rest for the night.
ushhitvaa rajaniim tatra raajaputraavari.ndamau |
maharshhimabhivaadyaatha jagmatustam girim prati || 2-55-1
1. ushhitvaa = having stayed; rajaniim = the night; tatra = there; raajaputrau = the princes; arindamau = the annihilators of enemies; atha = thereafter; abhivaadya = offered salutation; maharshhim = to the sage; jagmatuH = and proceeded; tamgirimprati = towards that mountain.
Having stayed that night there, those princes the annihilators of enemies, thereafter offered salutation to the sage Bharadwaja and proceeded towards that mountain of Chitrakuta.
teshhaam chaiva svastyayanam maharshhiH sa chakaara ha |
prasthitaa.nshchaiva taan prekshyapitaa putraanivaanvagaat || 2-55-2
2. saH maharshhiH = that great sage; chakaaraha = performed; svastyanam = a religious; rite ensuring a safe journey; teshhaam = for them; prekshhya = seeing; taan = them; prasthitaan = setting out; anvagaat cha = (the sage) followed them for a distance; putraaniva = like his own sons (and daughter-in-law) pita = by a father.
That great sage Bharadwaja performed a religious rite ensuring a sage journey (scattering boiled rice on the ground and invoking blessing through the repetition of certain sacred texts0 for them. Perceiving them setting out for the journey, the sage accompanied them for a distance, as a father would do for his sons (and daughter-in-law).
tataH prachakrame vaktum vachanam sa mahaamuniH |
bhardvaajo mahaatejaa raamam satyaparaakramam || 2-55-3
3. tataH = thereafter; saH bharadvaajaH = that Bharadwaja; mahaamuniH = the great sage; mahaatejaaH = with a remarkable splendour; prachakrame = began; vaktum = to speak; vachanam = (these) words; raamam = to Rama; satya paraakramam = the truly brave man.
Bharadwaja the great sage with a remarkable splendour began to speak the following words to Rama the truly brave man.
gaN^gaayamunayoH sandhimaasaadya manujarshhabhau |
kaaLindiimanugacchhetaam nadiim pashchaanmukhaashritaam || 2-55-4
4. gatvaa = "After approaching; sandhim = the confluence; gaN^gaa yamunayoH = of Ganga and Yamuna; manujarshhabhau = Oh the best of men! anugachchhetaam = follow; kaaLindiinadiim = the River Yamuna; pashchaanmukhaashritaam = which takes to the direction of west."
"After approaching Oh, the best of men! The confluence of Ganga and Yamuna, follow the river Yamuna which takes to the direction of west."
athaasaadya tu kaaLinndhiim shiighrasrotasamaapagaam |
tasyaastiirtham pracharitam puraaNam prekshya raaghavau || 2-55-5
tatra yuuyam plavam kR^itvaa tarataa.nshumatiim nadiim |
5. aasaadya = "reaching; atha = then; aapagaam = the River; kaaLindiim = Yamuna; puraaNam = belonging to olden times; shiighra srotasam = with a rapid stream; prekshhya = and perceiving(in it) tasyaaH tiirtham = the passage for descent into the river; pracharitam = which is too much frequented; raaghava = Oh; Rama! yuunam = you; tarata = cross; nadiim = the river; amshumatiim = Yamuna (the daughter of the sun-god) kR^itvaa = by preparing; plavam = a raft; tatra = there."
"Reaching the River Yamuna belonging to olden times, having a rapid stream and perceiving in it a passage for descent into the river, which is too much frequented the river, which is too much frequented, you cross the River Yamuna (the daughter of the sun-god) by preparing a raft there, Oh Rama!"
tato nyagrodhamaasaadya mahaantam haritachchhadam || 2-55-6
vivR^iddham bahubhirvaR^ikshaih shyaamam siddhopasevitam |
tasmai siitaaJNjalim kR^itvaa prayuJNjiitaashiShaH shivaaH || 2-55-7
6;7. tataH = "Thereafte (After crossing the River Yamuna); aasaadya = approaching; mahaantam = a large; nyagrodham = banyan tree; shyaamam = named Syama(dark-green); haritachchhadam = growing; bahubhiH = among many; vR^ikshhaiH = trees; siddhopa sevitam = and visited by Siddhas; siitaa = Seetha should; kR^itvaa aJNjlim; = joining her palms; pryuNjita = recite; shivaaH = auspicious; aashishhaH = prayers; tasmai = to the tree."
After crossing the river Yamuna and approaching a large banyan tree named Syama (dark-green) having green leaves surrounded by many tress and visited by Siddhas, Seetha should, joining her palms, recite her auspicious prayers to the tree."
samaasaadya tu tam vR^iksham vasedvaatikrameta vaa |
kroshamaatram tato gatvaa niilam drakshyatha kaananam || 2-55-8
palaashabadariimishram ramyam va.nshaishcha yaamunaiH |
8. samaasaadya = "Having approached; tam vR^ikshham = that tree; vasedvaa = you can stay there; atikrameta vaa = or go beyond it; gatvaa = after going; kroshamaatram = only for 2 miles; tataH = from there; drakshhyatha = you will see; ramyam = a beautiful; kaananam = forest; niilam = blue in colour; vamshaiH cha = with bamboo trees; yaamunaiH = touching upon Yamuna river; palaashabadariimishram = interspersed with Sallaka and jujube trees."
"Having approached that tree, you can stay there or go beyond it. After going only for two miles from there, you will see a beautiful forest blue in colour with bamboo trees touching upon Yamuna river and interspersed with Sallaka and jujube trees."
sa panthaashchitrakuuTasya gataH subahusho mayaa || 2-55-9
ramye maardavayuktashcha vanadaavairviparjitaH |
9. saH = It; paNthaaH = (is) the way; chitrakuutaasya = to Chitrakuta; gataH = it was gone; mayaa = by me; bhuLaH = many times; ramyaH = It is beautiful; maardavayuktashcha = Is endowed with serenity; vivarjitaH = I is free from; vanadaavaiH = forest-fire.
"It is the way to Chitrakuta. I visited that place many times. It is beautiful, endowed with serenity and free from forest-fire."
iti panthaanamaavedya maharshhH sa nyavartata || 2-55-10
abhivaadya tathetyuktvaa raameNa vinivartitaH |
10. saH maharshhiH = that great sage; aavedya = having informed; paNthaanam = the way; iti = in this manner; tatheti = �so be it'; uktvaa = answered; raameNa = by Rama; abhivaadya = paying obeisance to the sage; nyavartata = who returned; vinivartitaH = being urged (by Rama) to return.
Having thus informed the way and ebbing urged by Rama to return after he had paid obeisance to the sage and Rama having replied �so be it', the great sage Bharadwaja returned.
upaavR^itte munau tasmin raamo lakshmaNamabraviit || 2-55-11
kR^itapuNyaaH sma saumitre muniryanno.anukampate |
11. tasmin = that; munau = sage; upaavR^itte = having returned; raamaH = Rama; abraviit = spoke; lakshmaNam = to Lakshmana; saumitre = "Oh; Lakshmana! Sma = we are; kR^ita puNyaaH = accomplished of religious merit; yat = for which reason; muniH = the sage; anukampate shows compassion; naH = towards us.
That sage having returned, Rama spoke to Lakshmana as follows: "Oh Lakshmana! We are fortunate that the sage has shown compassion towards us."
iti tau puruShavyaaghrau mantrayitvaa manasvinau || 2-55-12
siitaamevaagrataH kR^itvaa kaaLindiim jagmaturnadiim |
12. mantrayitvaa = iscussing; iti = thus; tau = those; purushhavyaaghrau = tigers among men; manasvinau = who were highly wise; jagmatuH = headed for; kaaLindiim = the river Yamuna; kR^itvaa = guarding; siitaam = Seetha; agrataH eva = still in front.
Deliberating thus, Rama and Lakshmana the tigers among men who were highly intelligent, headed for the river Yamuna guarding Seetha still in front.
athaa saadya tu kaaLindiim shiighrasrotovahaam nadiim || 2-55-13
cintaamaapedire sarve nadiijalatitiirShavaH
13. aasaadya = having reached; kaaLindiim nadiim = the River Yamuna; shiighasrotovahaam = running with rapid stream; sarve = all of them; atha = then; aapedire = got chintaam = a thought; nadiijala titiirshhavaH = desirous of crossing the river-waters.
Having reached the River Yamuna, running with rapid stream, all of them then plunged into a thought of how to cross those river-waters.
tau kaaShThasamghaatamatho chakratustu mahaaplavam || 2-55-14
shuShkairva.nshaiH samaastiirNamuLiiraishcha samaavR^itam |
14. athau = then; tau = Rama and Lakshmana; chakratuH = made; mahaaplavam = a big raft; kaashhTasamghaatam = with pieces of timber fastened together; samvR^itam = covered; ushhiiraiH = with a kind of grass; samaastiirNam = and spread over with shushhkaiH = dry; vamshaiH = bamboo canes.
Then, Rama and Lakshmana prepared a big raft with pieces of timber fastened together, covered with a kind of grass and spread over with dry bamboo canes.
tato vetasashaakhaashcha jambuushaakhaashcha viiryavaan || 2-55-15
chakaara lakshmaNashchhitvaa siitaayaaH sukhamaasanam |
15. tataH = thereafter viiryavaan = the valiant; lakshmaNaH = Lakshmana; chakaara = made; siitaayaaH = for Seetha; sukham = a comfortable; aasanam = seat; chittvaa = after chopping vetasshaakshaashcha = branches of reeds; jambushaakshaashcha = and branches of rose apple tree.
Thereafter, the valiant Lakshmana made for Seetha a comfortable seat, after chopping branches of reeds and of rose apple tree.
tatra shriyamivaachintyaam raamo daasharathiH priyaam || 2-55-16
iiShtsankahhanaabaan taanagtaarioatat plavam |
16. tatra = the; raamaH = Rama; daasharathiH = the son of Dasaratha; aadhyaaropayate = helped to mount; plavam = the raft; taam priyam = that beloved Seetha; samlajjamaanaam = who was feeling shy; iishhat = a little; achintyaam = and who was inconceivable; shriyamiva = like the goddess of fortune.
Then Rama the son of Dasaratha helped Seetha his beloved consort who was unimaginable like the goddess of fortune and who was feeling shy a little- to mount the raft.
paarshve cha tatra vaidehyaa vasane bhuuShNaani cha || 2-55-17
plave kaThinakaajam cha raamashchakre sahaayudhaiH |
17. raamaH = Rama; chakre = kept; vasane = the two robes; bhushhaNaani cha = the jewellery; kaThinakaajam cha = shovel and a basket; paarshve = by the side; vaidehyaa = of Seetha; plave = in the raft; tatra = there; sahaayudhaiH = along with weapons.
Rama kept the two robes the jewellery, a shovel and a basket by the side of Seetha in the raft there, along with weapons.
aaropya prathamam siitaam samghaaTam pratigR^ihya tau || 2-55-18
tataH prateraturya ttau viirau dasharathaatmajau |
18. tau = those; viirau = valiant; dasharathaatmajau = sons of Dasaratha; pratigR^ighya = firmly held; samghaaTam = that raft; prathamam = firstly; siitaam aaropya = helped Seetha to ascend (it); tataH = and then; prateratuH = ferried over; yattau = watchfully.
Those valiant sons of Dasaratha firmly held that raft, firstly helped Seetha to ascend it and then ferried across the river watchfully.
kaaLindiimadhyamaayaataa siitaa tvenaamavandata || 2-55-19
svasti devi taraami tvaam paaryenme patirvatam |
yakshye tvaam gonahasreNa suraaghaTashatena cha || 2-55-20
svasti pratyaagate raame puriimikshvaakupaalitaam |
19-20. aayaataa = having arrived; kaaLindiimadhyam = at the middle of Yamuna River; siitaa = Seetha; avandata = offered salutation; enaam = to this river (and prayed a follows; devi = "Oh; goddess of Yamuna! taraami = I am crossing; tvaam = you; svasti = Adieu! Me = (May) my; patiH = husband; paarayet = complete; vratam = his vow; raame = (when) Rama; svasti = safely; pratyaagate = comes back again; puriim = towards the city of; ikshvaaku paalitaam = ruled by the kings of Ikshvaku; gosahasreNa = with thousand cows; suraaghaTashatena = and a hundred drinking vessels.
Having arrived at the middle of Yamuna river, Seetha offered salutation to the river and prayed as follows: "Oh, goddess of Yamuna! Adieu! I am crossing you! May my husband complete his vow! When Rama safely comes back again towards the city of Ayodhya, ruled by Ikshvaku kings I shall propitiate you by offering a thousand cows and a hundred drinking vessels."
kaaLindiimatha siitaa tu yaacamaanaa kR^itaaJNjaliH || 2-55-21
tiiramevaabhisampraaptaa dakshiNam varavarNinii |
21. siitaa = Seetha; vara varNinii = of excellent complexion; yaachamaanaa = (thus) praying; kR^itaaNjaliH = with joined palms; kaaLindiim = to Yamuna River; atha = forthwith; abhisampraaptaa = reached; dakshhiNam tiirameva = the bank on the southern side.
Seetha of excellent complexion thus praying with joined palms to Yamuna River, forthwith reached the southern side of the river.
tataH plavenaa.nshumatiim shiighragaamuurmimaaliniim || 2-55-22
tiirajairbahubhirvR^ikshaiH samteruryamunaam nadiim |
22. tataH = thus; plavena = by the raft; samteruH = they crossed; yamunaam nadiim = Yamuna River; shiighragaam = which flows briskly; uurmi maaliniim = wreathed with waves; bahubhiH = with many; vR^ikshhaiH = trees; tiirajaiH = born on its bank; amshumatiim = having rays for its reflection.
Thus, by the raft, Seetha Rama and lakshmaNa crossed the River Yamuna, which flows briskly, wreathed with waves, with many trees born on its bank and having rays for it reflection.
te tiirNaaH plavamutsR^ijya prasthaaya yamunaavanaat || 2-55-23
shyaamam nyagrodhamaaseduH shiitalam haritachchhadam |
23. te = they; tiirNaaH = who have crossed; utsR^ijya = having abandoned; plavam = the raft; prasthaaya = marched through; yamunaavanaat = the river-forest of Yamuna; aaseduH = and reached; shiitalam = a cool; shyaamam nyagrodham = banyan tree called Syama; haritachchhadam = having green leaves.
They, who have crossed the river, abandoned the raft and march through the river-forest of Yamuna and reached a cool banyan tree called Syama having green leaves.
nygrodham tamupaagamya vaidehi vaakyamabraviit || 2-55-24
namaste.antu mahaavR^iksha paarayenme patirvatam |
kausalyaam caiva pashyeyam sumitraam ca yashasviniim || 2-55-25
iti siitaaJNjalim kR^itvaa paryagachchhadvanaspatim |
24;25. upaagamya = having approached; tam nyagrodham = that banyan tree; vaidehii = Seetha; abraviit = spoke; vaakyam = these words; mahaavR^ikshha = "Oh; great tree! Me patiH = let my husband; paarayet = complete; vratam = his vow! pashyeyam = let me see again; kausalyaam cha = Kausalya and; yashasviniim = the illustrious; sumitraam cha = Sumitra; siitaa = Seetha; iti = thus speaking; paryagachchhat = circumambulated; vanaspatim = that tree; aJNjalim kR^itvaa = with joined palms.
Having approached that banyan tree, Seetha spoke these words, "Oh, great tree! Obeisance to you! Let my husband complete his vow! Let me see again Kausalya and the illustrious Sumitra." Thus speaking, Seetha circumambulated that tree with joined palms.
avalokya tataH siitaamaayaacantiimaninditaam || 2-55-26
dayitaam ca vidheyam ca raamo lakshmaNamabraviit |
26. tataH = then; raamaH = Rama; avalokya = seeing; siitaam = Seetha; ayaachantiim = who was thus praying; aninditaam = who was beloved; vidheyaameha = and who was obedient; abraviit = spoke; lakshhmaNam = to Lakshmana.
Seeing the irreproachable Seetha, who was beloved and obedient to him thus praying, Rama spoke to Lakshmana as follows:
siitaamaadaaya gachchha tvamagrato bharataanuja || 2-55-27
pR^iShThato.aham gamiShyaami saayudho dvipadaam vara |
27. bharatanuja = "Oh; Lakshmana; vara = the best; dvipadaam = among men! Tvam = you; aadaaya = take; siitaam = Seetha; gachchha = and proceed; agrataH = in front; aham = I; saayudhaH = along with weapons; gamishhyaami = will move; pR^ishhTataH = behind."
"Oh, Lakshmana, the excellent of men! You take Seetha and proceed in the front. I, along with weapons, will follow you behind."
yadyatphalam praarthayate puShpam vaa janakaatmajaa || 2-55-28
tattatpradadyaa vaidehyaa yatraasya ramate manaH |
28. pradadyaaH = "Give; janakaatmajaa = to Seetha; yadyat = whatever; phalam = fruit; pushhpamvaa = or flower; praarthayate = she desires; tattat = it; yatra = and wherever; asyaaH = this; vaidehyaaH = Seetha's; manaH = mind; raamate = finds delight."
"Give to Seetha whatever fruit or flower she desires it and wherever this Seetha's mind finds delight."
gachchatostu tayormadhye babhuuva janakaatmajaa || 2-55-29
maataN^gayormadyagataa shubhaa naagavadhuuriva |
29. janakaatmajaa = Seetha; gachchhate = who was walking; madhyagataa = in the middle; taayoH = of both of them; babhuuva = was; shubhaa naaga vadhuuriva = like an auspicious female elephant; madhyagataa = in the middle; maataNgayoH = of two elephants.
Seetha who was walking in the middle of both of them was like an auspicious female elephant in the middle of two elephants.
ekaikam paadapam gulmam lataam vaa puShpashaaliniim || 2-55-30
adR^iShTapuurvaam pashyantii raamam paprachchha saa.abalaa |
30. saa abalaa = that Seetha; paprachchha = asked; raamam = Rama; pashyantii = whenever she saw; ekaikam = the one or the other; paadapam = tree; gulmam = or a bush; lataam vaa = or a creeper; pushhpashaliniim = shining with flowers; adR^ishhTapuurvaam = which was not seen earlier.
That Seetha asked Rama whenever she saw the one or the other tree or a bush or a creeper shining with flowers which was not seen earlier.
ramaNiiyaan bahuvidhaan paadapaan kusumotkaTaan || 2-55-31
siitaavachanasamrabda anayaamaasa laksmaNaH |
31. siitaarachanasamrabdhaH = grasping Seetha's words; lakshmaNaH = Lakshmana; aanayaamaasa = brought; bahuvidhaan = many kinds; ramaNiiyaan = of beautiful twigs; paadapaan = of tress; kusumotkaTaan = filled with flowers.
Duly grasping Seetha's words; Lakshmana brought to her many kinds of beautiful twigs of trees, full of flowers.
vicitravaalukajalaam hasasaarasanaaditaam || 2-55-32
reme janakaraajasya tadaa prekshya sutaa nadiim |
32. tadaa = then; janakaraajasya sutaa = Seetha the daughter of King Janaka; reme = was please; prekshhya = to see; nadiim = the River Yamuna; vichitravaalukajalam = with wonderful sands and waters; hamsa saarasa naaditaam = re-echoing to the cry of swans and cranes.
Then Seetha the daughter of King Janaka was please to see the River Yamuna with wonderful sands and waters re-echoing to the cry of swans and cranes.
kroshamaatram tato gatvaa bhraatarau raamalakshmanau || 2-55-33
bahuunmedhyaan mR^igaan hatvaa ceraturyamunaavane |
33. tataH = thereafter; gatvaa = having travelled; kroshamaatram = only a couple of miles; bhraatarau = the two brothers; raamalakshhmaNau = Rama and Lakshmana; hatvaa = killed; bahuun = many; medhyaan = consecrated; mR^igaan = deer; cheratuH = and ate; yamunaavane = in the river-forest of Yamuna.
Thereafter having travelled only a couple of miles the two brothers Rama and Lakshmana killed many consecrated deer and ate in the river-forest of Yamuna.
vihR^itya te barhiNapuuganaadite |
shubhe vane vaanaravaaraNaayute |
samam nadiivapramupetya sammatam |
nivaasamaajagmu radiinadarshanaaH || || 2-55-34
34. te = they; nadiinadarshanaaH = wearing an undejected look; vihR^itya = having strolled; shubhe vane = in the charming forest; barhiNa puuganaadite = where a number of peacocks called; vaanara vaaraNaayute = and which was inhabited by elephants and monkeys; upetya = reached; sammatam = an agreeable; sumam = level ground; nadiipavram = at the bank of the river; aajagmatuH = and sought for; nivaasam = an abode.
Having strolled in the charming forest, mad noisy by a number of peacocks and which was inhabited by elephants and monkeys and reaching an agreeable level ground at the bank of the river wearing an undejected look finally sought for an abode for the night.
- - -
ityaarShe shrimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye ayodhyakaande paJNcaashaH sargaH
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© Jan 2003, K. M. K. Murthy