Vasistha advises Bharata to stop lamenting and to perform the last rites of the king. Bharata then places the body of Dasaratha on a couch, taking it out from the vessel where it had been immersed in oil and proceeds with the funeral rites. The appointed priests, attendants, people of the city and the weeping royal women followed the funeral pile of the king to the banks of Sarayu River where the body was cremated. Bharata along with others return to the city after the completion of the cremation-ceremony.
tam evam śoka samtaptam bharatam kekayī sutam |
uvāca vadatām śreṣṭho vasiṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭha vāg ṛṣiḥ || 2-76-1
1. vasishhThaH R^ishhiH = the sage Vasishta; shreshhThaH = the excellent; vadataam = among the speakers; shreshhThavaak = having eloquence; uvaacha = spoke; tam bharatam = to that Bharata; Kaikeyi sutam = the son of Kaikeyi; evam = who was thus; shokatamtaptam = tormented with grief.
The sage Vasishta, the excellent one among the speakers having eloquence, spoke to that Bharata, Kaikeyi's son who was thus tormented with grief.
alam śokena bhadram te rāja putra mahā yaśaḥ |
prāpta kālam nara pateḥ kuru samyānam uttaram || 2-76-2
2. raajaputra = O; the prince; mahaayashaH = the greatly illustrious one! bhadram = blessing; te = to you! aalam = enough; shokena = of your sorrow; kuru = perform; uttamam = in an excellent; samyaanam = way; praaptakaalam = the last rites; narapateH = of the king.
"O, the greatly illustrious prince! My blessing to you. You have lamented long enough. Perform in an excellent way, the last rites of the king."
vasiṣṭhasya vacaḥ śrutvā bharataḥ dhāraṇām gataḥ |
preta kāryāṇi sarvāṇi kārayām āsa dharmavit || 2-76-3
3. shrutvaa = hearing; vachaH = the words; vasishhThasya = of Vasishta; bharataH = Bharata; dharmavit = conversant with his duty; gataH = fell; dharaNiim = prostate; kaarayaamaasa = and proceeded; sarvaaNi = with all; pretakaaryaaNi = the arrangements for obsequies.
Hearing the words of Vasishta, Bharata conversant with his duty fell prostate and proceeded with all the arrangements for the obsequies.
uddhṛtam taila samkledāt sa tu bhūmau niveśitam |
āpīta varṇa vadanam prasuptam iva bhūmipam || 2-76-4
samveśya śayane ca agrye nānā ratna pariṣkṛte |
tataḥ daśaratham putraḥ vilalāpa suduhkhitaḥ || 2-76-5
4; 5. uddharitam = raising; bhuumipam = the body of the king; dasharatham = Dasaratha; bhuumou = from the place; taila samrodhaat niveshitam = where it had been immersed in oil; prasuptam iva = seeming as it were asleep; aapiita vadanam = with face in the color of gold; saH putraH = that son; (Bharata);samveshya = placed it; agrye = in a magnificent; shayane = couch; naanaaratnaparishhkR^ite = adorned with energy kind of precious stone; tatah = and thereafter; suduHkhitaH = in a great grief; vilalaapa = lamented (as follows):
Raising the body of king Dasaratha, from the vessel where it had been immersed in oil, seeming as it were asleep with face in the color of gold, that son Bharata placed it in a magnificent couch, adorned with every kind of precious stone and in a great grief, lamented.(as follows):
kim te vyavasitam rājan proṣite mayy anāgate |
vivāsya rāmam dharmajñam lakṣmaṇam ca mahā balam || 2-76-6
6. raajan = O; king! Kim = what; vyavasitam = was intended; te = by you; mayi = while I; proshhite = who was absent from home; anaagate = did not arrive; vivaasya = having sent into exile; dharmajN^am = the virtuous; raamam = Rama; lakshhmaNamcha = and Lakshmana; mahaabalam = possessed of great strength?
"O, king! Having sent into exile the virtuous Rama and Lakshmana who is possessed of great strength, while I was away from home and had not yet returned, what did you intend to do?"
kva yāsyasi mahā rāja hitvā imam duhkhitam janam |
hīnam puruṣa simhena rāmeṇa akliṣṭa karmaṇā || 2-76-7
7. kva = where; yaasyasi = will you go; hitvaa = leaving; imam janam = this person; duHkhitam = who is distressed; hiinam = and bereft; raameNa = of Rama; aklishhTa karmaNaa = who is unwearied in action; purushhasimhena = and excellent among men?
"Where will you go, leaving this person (me) who was distressed and bereft of Rama the unwearied one in action and the excellent one among men?"
yoga kṣemam tu te rājan ko asmin kalpayitā pure |
tvayi prayāte svaḥ tāta rāme ca vanam āśrite || 2-76-8
8. taata = O; father! Raajan = O; king! KaH = who; kalpayitaa = is supposed to see; yogakshhemam = the welfare and security; te = of your; asmin = this; pure = city of Ayodhya; tvayi = while you; prayaate = have gone;svaH = to heaven; raamecha = and Rama; aashrite = taking; refuge; vanam = in a forest?
"O, king! O, father! Who is supposed to see the welfare and security of your city of Ayodhya, while you have departed for heaven and while Rama has gone, taking refuge in a forest?"
vidhavā pṛthivī rājaṃs tvayā hīnā na rājate |
hīna candrā iva rajanī nagarī pratibhāti mām || 2-76-9
9. raajan = O; king; hiinaa = bereft; tvayaa = of you; pR^ithivii = this earth;; vidhavaa = and deprived of its lord; na raajate = does not look charming ;maa = to me; nagarii = this city; pratibhaati = is looking; rajaniiva = like a night; hinachandraa = with out a moon.
"O, king! Bereft of you and deprived of its lord, this earth does not look charming. To me, this city is looking like a night without a moon."
evam vilapamānam tam bharatam dīna mānasam |
abravīd vacanam bhūyo vasiṣṭhaḥ tu mahān ṛṣiḥ || 2-76-10
10. mahaamuniH = the great sage; vasishhThaH = Vasishta; bhuuyaH = again; abraviit = spoke; vachanam = these words; tam bharatam = to that bharata; diinamaanasam = who was distressed in mind; evam = thus; vilapamaanam = lamenting.
The great sage Vasishta again spoke the following words to that Bharata who was distressed in mind and thus lamenting.
preta kāryāṇi yāni asya kartavyāni viśāmpateḥ |
tāni avyagram mahā bāho kriyatām avicāritam || 2-76-11
11. mahaabaaho = O; mighty armed! Avyagram = without hesitation; avichaaritam = or repining; kriyantaam = carry out ; taami = those; pretakaaryaaNi = funeral rites; asya vishaampate = to this king; yaani = which; kartavyaani = should be done.
"O, mighty armed Bharata! Without hesitation or repining, carry out the funeral rites of the king that should be done."
tathā iti bharataḥ vākyam vasiṣṭhasya abhipūjya tat |
ṛtvik purohita ācāryāṃs tvarayām āsa sarvaśaḥ || 2-76-12
12. tatheti = Be it so; bharataH = Bharata answered; abhipuujya = and obedient; tat vasishhTasya = to that Vasishta's; vaakyam = command; tvarayaamaasa = he summoned speedily; R^itvik purohitaachaaryaan = the appointed priests; knowing the rules of the funeral rites.
"Be it so" answered Bharata and obedient to Vasishta's command, he summoned speedily the appointed priests who were knowing the rules of the funeral rites."
ye tu agrataḥ nara indrasyāgni agārāt bahiṣ kṛtāḥ |
ṛtvigbhir yājakaiḥ caiva te hriyante yathā vidhi || 2-76-13
13. ye = which; agnayaH = fires; narendrasya = of that king; bahishhkrutaaH = were prepared outside; agnayagaaraat = the fire chamber; te = those fires; ahriyanta = were kindled; R^itvigbhiH = by the appointed priests; yaajakaashchaiva = and sacrificial attendants; yathaavidhi = in accordance with the rituals.
The fires of that king were prepared outside the chamber and kindled in accordance with the rituals by the priests and the sacrificial attendants.
śibilāyām atha āropya rājānam gata cetanam |
bāṣpa kaṇṭhā vimanasaḥ tam ūhuḥ paricārakāḥ || 2-76-14
14. atha = thereafter; parichaarakaaH = the attendants; baashhpakaNThaaH = with tears in their throats; vimanasaH = and dejected in mind; aaropya = made to mount; gatachetasam = the dead; raajaanam = king; shibikaayaam = on a small palanquin; uuhuH = and carried; tam = it(away).
The attendants were choked with tears in their throats and disconsolate in their mind, made the dead king to mount on a small palanquin and carried it away.
hiraṇyam ca suvarṇam ca vāsāṃsi vividhāni ca |
prakirantaḥ janā mārgam nṛpater agrataḥ yayuḥ || 2-76-15
15. janaH = the people; yayuH = went along; maargam = the path; prakirantaH = scattering; hiraNyam = silver; suvarNamcha = gold; vividhaani = and many kinds; vaasaamsicha = of clothes; agrataH = in front; nR^ipate = of the king.
The people went along the path, scattering silver, gold and various kinds of clothes in front of the king.
candana aguru niryāsān saralam padmakam tathā |
deva dārūṇi ca āhṛtya citām cakrus tathā apare || 2-76-16
gandhān ucca avacāmḥ ca anyāṃs tatra dattvā atha bhūmipam |
tataḥ samveśayām āsuḥ citā madhye tam ṛtvijaḥ || 2-76-17
16. tathaa = in the same manner; apare = some others; aahR^itya = brought; chandanaaguru niryaasaan = sandalwood; sweet aloes; different fragrant essences; saraLam = with heaps of Sarala.Padmaka; devadaaruuNicha = devadaaru wood; anyaan = and other; uchchavaachaan = many kinds; gandhaan = of fragrant substances; gatvaa = went; tatra = there; kshhepayanti = and threw them; atha = thereafter; R^itvijaH = the appointed priests; samveshayaamaasuH = caused to lie down; bhuumipam = the king; tatra = there; chitaamadhye = in the midst of the funeral pile.
In the same manner, some others brought sandal wood, sweet aloes, different fragrant essences, with leaps of Sarala Padmaka and Devadaru woods and many other kinds of fragrant substances, went there and threw them into the funeral pile. Thereafter the appointed priests caused the king's body to lie down there in the midst of the funeral pyre.
tathā huta aśanam hutvā jepus tasya tadā ṛtvijaḥ |
jaguḥ ca te yathā śāstram tatra sāmāni sāmagāḥ || 2-76-18
18. tadaa = then; tadR^itvijaH = those appointed priests; tasya = engaged for the bereft of the king; hutvaa = poured oblations; hutaashanam = into the fire; jepuH = and recited sacred texts;(relevant to the funeral rites); te saamagaaH = those among the priests who could recite the hymns of Samaveda; jagushcha = chanted; saamaani = the hymns of Samaveda; yathaa shaastram = according to the rules.
Then, those priests engaged for the benefit of the king poured oblations into the fire and recited sacred texts (relevant to the funeral rites). Those among the priests, who could recite the hymns of Samaveda, chanted them according to the rules.
śibikābhiḥ ca yānaiḥ ca yathā arham tasya yoṣitaḥ |
nagarān niryayus tatra vṛddhaiḥ parivṛtāḥ tadā || 2-76-19
19. tadaa = then; tasya = his; yoshhitaH = ladies; parivR^itaaH = encircled; vR^iddaiH = by elders; shibikaabhishcha = (mounted) palanquins; yaanaishcha = or other vehicles; yathaarham = as deserving; niryayuH = departed; naagaraat = from the city; tatra = to that place.
Then, his ladies, encircled by elders mounted palanquins or other vehicles, as deserving and departed from the city to that place.
prasavyam ca api tam cakrur ṛtvijo agni citam nṛpam |
striyaḥ ca śoka samtaptāḥ kausalyā pramukhāḥ tadā || 2-76-20
20. tadaa = then; R^itvijaH = the appointed priests; kausalyaapramukhaaH = Kausalya and other; striyashcha = women; shokasamtaptaaH = tormented with grief; prasavyamchaapi chakruH = circumambulated in anti-clockwise direction; tam nR^ipam = that king; agrichitam = who was lying on a funeral pile.
Then, the appointed priests as well as Kausalya and other women who were tormented with grief, circumambulated in anti clockwise direction that king who was lying on a funeral pile.
krauncīnām iva nārīṇām ninādaḥ tatra śuśruve |
ārtānām karuṇam kāle krośantīnām sahasraśaḥ || 2-76-21
21. tatra kale = at that time; ninaadaH = the crying sounds; sahasrashaH = of thousands; naariiNaam = of women; karuNam = pitiably; kroshantiinaam = weeping; aartaanaam = with agony; shushruve = were heard; krouN^chiinamiva = like the sounds of female curlew birds.
At that time the crying sounds of thousands of women, pitiably weeping with agony, were heard like the sounds of female curlew birds.
tataḥ rudantyo vivaśā vilapya ca punaḥ punaḥ |
yānebhyaḥ sarayū tīram avaterur vara anganāḥ || 2-76-22
22. tataH = thereafter; rudantyaH = the lamenting; varaaNganaaH = ladies; vivashaaH = deprived of their grit; vilapya = wept; punaH punaH = again and again; avateruH = and descended; yaanebhyaH = from their vehicles; sarayuu tiiram = at the bank of Sarayu River.
Thereafter, the lamenting ladies deprived of their grit wept again and again and descended from their vehicles at the bank of Sarayu River.
kṛta udakam te bharatena sārdham |
nṛpa anganā mantri purohitāḥ ca |
puram praviśya aśru parīta netrā |
bhūmau daśa aham vyanayanta duhkham || 2-76-23
23. bharatena saardham = along with Bharata; nR^ipaaNganaaH = the royal women; te = and those; mantri purohitaashcha = ministers and family priests; kR^tvaa = offered; udakam = (oblations with) water; pravishya = entered; puram = the city; ashrupariitanetraaH = with their eyes filled in tears; vyanayanta = and spent; duHkham = with great difficulty; dashaaham = the ten days; bhuumou = sleeping on the floor.
Along with Bharata, the royal women, the ministers and family priests offered their oblations with water and entered the city with their eyes filled in tears and spent ten days with great difficulty by sleeping on bare floor.
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ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe ṣaṭsaptatitamaḥ sargaḥ
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© March 2003, K. M. K. Murthy