---
title: "Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 114"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/ayodhya-kanda/sarga-114"
lang: "en"
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# Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 114

> स्निग्धगम्भीरघोषेण स्यन्दनेनोपयान् प्रभुः।  
> अयोध्यां भरतः क्षिप्रं प्रविवेश महायशाः॥ १॥

Journeying forth in a chariot which produced an agreeable deep sound, the powerful and highly illustrious Bharata duly entered Ayodhyā in no time. (1)

> बिडालोलूकचरितामालीननरवारणाम्।  
> तिमिराभ्याहतां कालीमप्रकाशां निशामिव॥ २॥

Haunted by cats and owls, obscured by darkness and devoid of light, with the house doors of its men closed, the city presented the appearance of a dark night. (2)

> राहुशत्रोः प्रियां पत्नीं श्रिया प्रज्वलितप्रभाम्।  
> ग्रहेणाभ्युदितेनैकां रोहिणीमिव पीडिताम्॥ ३॥

It looked desolate like Rohiṇī, the beloved consort of the moon-god (treated as an enemy by the demon Rāhu*), tormented in the form of her spouse whose better half she is by the planet Rāhu in the ascendant, though ordinarily invested with an exceedingly bright splendour by virtue of her glory. (3)

> अल्पोष्णक्षुब्धसलिलां घर्मतप्तविहंगमाम्।  
> लीनमीनझषग्राहां कृशां गिरिनदीमिव॥ ४॥

It further looked attenuated like a mountain-stream whose scanty waters had become hot and agitated due to the rays of the sun, birds living in which were scorched by the sun and whose fish, small and big, and alligators had disappeared into the mire. (4)

> विधूमामिव हेमाभां शिखामग्नेः समुत्थिताम्।  
> हविरभ्युक्षितां पश्चाच्छिखां विप्रलयं गताम्॥ ५॥

It resembled a fully developed tongue of fire, devoid of smoke and bright as gold, later reduced to extinction when sprinkled all over with milk. (5)

> विध्वस्तकवचां रुग्णगजवाजिरथध्वजाम्।  
> हतप्रवीरामापन्नां चमूमिव महाहवे॥ ६॥

It looked like an army which had met with reverses in a major conflict—whose armours had been shattered, whose ensigns borne on elephants, horses and chariots had been torn and whose foremost heroes had been killed. (6)

> सफेनां सस्वनां भूत्वा सागरस्य समुत्थिताम्।  
> प्रशान्तमारुतोद्धूतां जलोर्मिमिव निःस्वनाम्॥ ७॥

It presented the appearance of an oceanic wave which, though tossed very high by a strong gale with foam and a roar, is rendered noiseless when stirred by a quiet wind. (7)

> त्यक्तां यज्ञायुधैः सर्वैरभिरूपैश्च याजकैः।  
> सुत्याकाले सुनिर्वृत्ते वेदिं गतरवामिव॥ ८॥

It resembled an altar which, when the period of offering oblations into the sacred fire has completely expired, has been cleared * The demon presiding over a planet of the same name figuring in Indian astronomy and identified of all sacrificial implements and deserted by the learned priests, and where all sound has consequently ceased. (8)

> गोष्ठमध्ये स्थितामार्तामचरन्तीं नवं तृणम्।  
> गोवृषेण परित्यक्तां गवां पत्नीमिवोत्सुकाम्॥ ९॥

It looked like a cow fit to be coveted by bulls and longing for copulation but bereft of an excellent bull and standing disconsolate in a cow-pen, refusing to feed on fresh grass. (9)

> प्रभाकराद्यैः सुस्निग्धैः प्रज्वलद्भिरिवोत्तमैः।  
> वियुक्तां मणिभिर्जात्यैर्नवां मुक्तावलीमिव॥ १०॥

It further resembled a new necklace of pearls stripped of its highly polished, dazzling, excellent rubies and other gems of superior quality. (10)

> सहसाचरितां स्थानान्महीं पुण्यक्षयाद् गताम्।  
> संहृतद्युतिविस्तारां तारामिव दिवश्च्युताम्॥ ११॥

Again, it presented the appearance of a meteor suddenly shifted from its position and fallen from the heavens, and consequently shorn of its expanse of light when descended on earth through exhaustion of its merit. (11)

> पुष्पनद्धां वसन्तान्ते मत्तभ्रमरशालिनीम्।  
> द्रुतदावाग्निविप्लुष्टां क्लान्तां वनलतामिव॥ १२॥

It further looked blighted in appearance like a forest creeper laden with blossom at the close of spring and appearing lovely with drunken bees surrounding it but later on scorched by a raging wild fire. (12)

> सम्मूढनिगमां सर्वां संक्षिप्तविपणापणाम्।  
> प्रच्छन्नशशिनक्षत्रां द्यामिवाम्बुधरैर्युताम्॥ १३॥

The entire city with its trafficless streets and markets carrying on a dull business resembled a cloudy sky with the moon and other stars obscured. (13)

> क्षीणपानोत्तमैर्भग्नैः शरावैरभिसंवृताम्।  
> हतशौण्डामिव ध्वस्तां पानभूमिमसंस्कृताम्॥ १४॥

With its streets and lanes unswept and full of rubbish, Ayodhyā presented the appearance of a deserted and uncleaned tavern strewn with broken vessels devoid of any excellent liquor, the wine-drinkers having been killed. (14)

> वृक्णभूमितलां निम्नां वृक्णपात्रैः समावृताम्।  
> उपयुक्तोदकां भग्नां प्रपां निपतितामिव॥ १५॥

Again it looked like a shed erected for storage and distribution of water, but now broken and collapsed with its platform razed and sunk, and covered with broken vessels, its water having been used up. (15)

> विपुलां विततां चैव युक्तपाशां तरस्विनाम्।  
> भूमौ बाणैर्विनिष्कृत्तां पतितां ज्यामिवायुधात्॥ १६॥

It further resembled a bow-string, broad and long (extended over the entire length of a bow) with a noose at both ends in order to fasten it to the bow, severed from the bow by the arrows of heroes and fallen to the ground. (16)

> सहसा युद्धशौण्डेन हयारोहेण वाहिताम्।  
> निहतां प्रतिसैन्येन वडवामिव पातिताम्॥ १७॥

It further resembled a mare spurred on precipitately by a horseman, skilled in warfare, and fallen down when killed by the opposite army. (17)

> भरतस्तु रथस्थः सन् श्रीमान् दशरथात्मजः।  
> वाहयन्तं रथश्रेष्ठं सारथिं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ १८॥

Seated in his chariot, the glorious Bharata, son of Daśaratha, for his part, spoke as follows to the charioteer, Sumantra, who was driving the foremost of the king’s chariot : (18)

> किं नु खल्वद्य गम्भीरो मूर्च्छितो न निशाम्यते।  
> यथापुरमयोध्यायां गीतवादित्रनिःस्वनः॥ १९॥

“How is it, I wonder, that the deep and resonant sound of vocal and instrumental music is not heard as before in Ayodhyā today? (19)

> वारुणीमदगन्धश्च माल्यगन्धश्च मूर्च्छितः।  
> चन्दनागुरुगन्धश्च न प्रवाति समन्ततः॥ २०॥

“The intoxicating fragrance of spirituous liquor, the scent of flowers and the odour of sandalwood and aloewood, which once used to be spread on all sides, is not being wafted. (20)

> यानप्रवरघोषश्च सुस्निग्धहयनिःस्वनः।  
> प्रमत्तगजनादश्च महांश्च रथनिःस्वनः॥ २१॥  
> नेदानीं श्रूयते पुर्यामस्यां रामे विवासिते।  
> चन्दनागुरुगन्धांश्च महार्हाश्च वनस्रजः॥ २२॥  
> गते रामे हि तरुणाः संतप्ता नोपभुञ्जते।  
> बहिर्यात्रां न गच्छन्ति चित्रमाल्यधरा नराः॥ २३॥

“Śrī Rāma having been sent into exile, neither the noise of the foremost of chariots nor the most delightful neighing of horses, neither the trumpeting of highly excited elephants nor the great noise of chariots is heard in this city now. Sore distressed on Śrī Rāma having departed from Ayodhyā, indeed, young men here no longer use the paste of aloewood and sandalwood nor costly garlands of sylvan flowers to cool their body with; nor do men go out for excursion wearing wreaths of various flowers. (21—23)

> नोत्सवाः सम्प्रवर्तन्ते रामशोकार्दिते पुरे।  
> सा हि नूनं मम भ्रात्रा पुरस्यास्य द्युतिर्गता॥ २४॥

“Festivities no longer duly proceed in the capital, stricken, as it is, with grief caused by separation from Śrī Rāma; the former splendour of this city has, truly speaking, undoubtedly departed with my elder brother, Śrī Rāma. (24)

> नहि राजत्ययोध्येयं सासारेवार्जुनी क्षपा।  
> कदा नु खलु मे भ्राता महोत्सव इवागतः॥ २५॥  
> जनयिष्यत्ययोध्यायां हर्षं ग्रीष्म इवाम्बुदः।  
> तरुणैश्चारुवेषैश्च नरैरुन्नतगामिभिः॥ २६॥  
> सम्पतद्भिरयोध्यायां नाभिभान्ति महापथाः।  
> इति ब्रुवन् सारथिना दुःखितो भरतस्तदा॥ २७॥  
> अयोध्यां सम्प्रविश्यैव विवेश वसतिं पितुः।  
> तेन हीनां नरेन्द्रेण सिंहहीनां गुहामिव॥ २८॥

“This Ayodhyā, with tears flowing from the eyes of its citizens, does not look charming any more than the night of a bright fortnight, with a continuous shower. Oh, when will my elder brother, returned to Ayodhyā like a great festival, bring forth joy in Ayodhyā like a rainy cloud in summer? The highways no longer shine forth with youngmen, clad in an attractive garb and walking with a proud gait, pouring into Ayodhyā from outside.” Immediately on penetrating into the heart of Ayodhyā, Bharata, who was talking in the above strain with his charioteer, Sumantra, at that time, stricken as he was with agony, entered his father’s palace, which looked desolate like a cave without a lion, bereft as it was of that ruler of men. (25—28)

> तदा तदन्तःपुरमुज्झितप्रभं  
> सुरैरिवोत्कृष्टमभास्करं दिनम्।  
> निरीक्ष्य सर्वत्र विभक्तमात्मवान्  
> मुमोच बाष्पं भरतः सुदुःखितः॥ २९॥

Sore distressed to gaze at that moment on the well-known gynaeceum—which, having shed its splendour, resembled a day without the sun, bewailed by gods*, and was untidy everywhere, Bharata, who though self-possessed, shed tears. (29) * The commentators refer here to a story in the Purāṇas, according to which, in the course of the

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