Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 70

Meaning

Entering the lovely city of Rājagṛha—the moat enclosing which was unassailable by the enemies—at a time when Bharata was narrating the dream to his friends, their horses being exhausted, nay, meeting the king of Kekaya as well as the Crown prince and treated with honour by them, and touching as a mark of respect the feet of Bharata, their prospective king, the aforesaid messengers spoke to the celebrated Bharata as follows : (1-2)

Meaning

“Sage Vasiṣṭha (the family-priest) as well as all the counsellors tell you that all is well. Yet please depart expeditiously. There is business with you, which cannot brook delay. (3)

Meaning

“Nay, accepting from us these valuable robes and jewels, O large-eyed prince, have them presented to your maternal grandfather and maternal uncle too. (4)

Meaning

“Of these, articles worth twenty crores, of course, are meant for the king; while full ten crores worth of articles are likewise meant for your maternal uncle, O prince !” (5)

Meaning

Accepting for his part all those presents brought by the messengers from Ayodhyā, Bharata, who was very fond of his near and dear ones, had them presented on behalf of his royal father to his maternal grandfather and maternal uncle and, having entertained the messengers with articles of food and drink coveted by them, spoke to them as follows : (6)

Meaning

“Is my father, the celebrated Daśaratha, doing well? Does good health abide in Śrī Rāma and the high-souled Lakṣmaṇa? (7)

Meaning

“And is the mother of the wise Śrī Rāma, the noble Kausalyā, who is devoted to virtue, knows what is right and talks virtue, enjoying good health? (8)

Meaning

“Is my intermediate mother, Sumitrā—who knows what is right and is the mother of Lakṣmaṇa and the valiant Śatrughna—also free from ailment? (9)

Meaning

“Is my own mother, Kaikeyī, who always seeks to gain her own ends, is violent and given to wrath and accounts herself wise—also healthy and what message has she sent for me?” (10)

Meaning

Questioned thus by the high-souled Bharata on that occasion, the aforesaid messengers for their part addressed the following most polite words to the said Bharata : (11)

Meaning

“They are all well, whose welfare you seek, O tiger among men ! Nay, holding a lotus in her hand, Śrī, the goddess of fortune, looks on you with favour. Therefore let your chariot be equipped for journey.” (12)

Meaning

Told thus, Bharata too replied to the messengers, “I shall presently seek the permission of the monarch, my maternal grandfather, saying that you, the messengers, are urging me to make haste to depart for Ayodhyā”. (13)

Meaning

Having told the messengers thus, Prince Bharata for his part made the following submission to his maternal grandfather, as entreated by the messengers : so the tradition goes : (14)

Meaning

“Urged by the messengers, I shall, Your Majesty, return to the presence of my father. I shall come again whenever you remember me.” (15)

Meaning

Smelling (as a token of affection) the head of Bharata (a scion of Raghu), when requested as aforesaid by the latter on that occasion, the king, his maternal grandfather, addressed to him the following agreeable words : (16)

Meaning

“Depart, dear child ! I grant you leave to return to Ayodhyā. Kaikeyī is blessed with a noble son in you. Communicate, O tormentor of enemies, our welfare to your mother as well as to your father on my behalf, also to Sage Vasiṣṭha (the family-priest) and to other jewels among Brāhmaṇas, whoever are present on the occasion and lastly to the two celebrated brothers, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the wielders of mighty bows.” (17-18)

Meaning

Treating him with honour, the king of Kekaya bestowed on the aforesaid Bharata foremost of elephants, multi-coloured blankets, deerskins and riches consisting of gold vessels etc. (19)

Meaning

He also gave as a present dogs of enormous size, possessed of large teeth, brought up with care in the gynaeceum itself and vying in prowess and strength of body with a tiger. (20)

Meaning

Receiving him kindly, the king of the Kekayas further bestowed on Bharata, the son of Kaikeyī, wealth consisting of two thousand gold mohurs and sixteen hundred horses. (21)

Meaning

On that occasion King Aśwapati also quickly sent as escorts for Bharata esteemed and trustworthy ministers endowed with good qualities. (22)

Meaning

Bharata’s maternal uncle, Yudhājit, too bestowed on him wealth consisting of elephants of the Airāvata breed and those born in the territory of Indraśira and agreeable to the sight, as well as swift-going and well-trained mules. (23)

Meaning

Because of his hurry to depart for Ayodhyā, Bharata, the son of Kaikeyī, did not at that moment welcome the aforesaid wealth gifted by the king of the Kekayas. (24)

Meaning

Nay, due to the hastening of the messengers and also because of his having seen the ominous dream indeed a (very) great anxiety appeared in his heart at that time. (25)

Meaning

Returning to his own residence and then leaving it, Bharata, who now owned a very large fortune, reached the main road, which was crowded with men, elephants and horses and unexcelled by other roads. (26)

Meaning

Passing thence he saw the gynaeceum, which was unsurpassed by other mansions. The glorious Bharata thereupon entered it unchallenged. (27)

Meaning

Taking leave of his maternal grandfather and grandmother as well as of his maternal uncle, Yudhājit, and aunt and mounting his chariot with Śatrughna, the said Bharata left for Ayodhyā. (28)

Meaning

Fitting a hundred other chariots having circular wheels with camels, bullocks, horses and mules, servants of King Aśwapati followed Bharata as he departed. (29)

Meaning

Guarded by a detachment sent by his maternal grandfather and taking Śatrughna with him, Bharata, who was possessed of great fortitude and had no enemies, departed with ministers, who were equalled by none but themselves, from his residence even as a Siddha (a member of a class of demigods credited with supernatural powers by virtue of their very birth) would from the realm of Indra, the lord of paradise. (30)