Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 83

Meaning

Having got up from sleep at daybreak, and mounting an excellent chariot, Bharata forthwith departed with expedition with a longing to see Śrī Rāma. (1)

Meaning

Mounting chariots drawn by horses and vying with the chariot of the sun-god, all the counsellors and family-priests drove ahead of him. (2)

Meaning

Nine thousand elephants duly caparisoned followed Bharata, the delight of Ikṣwākus race, even as he moved on. (3)

Meaning

Sixty thousand chariots with archers armed with varied weapons seated in them followed the illustrious Prince Bharata (next) as he advanced. (4)

Meaning

A hundred thousand horses mounted by cavaliers followed Prince Bharata, an illustrious scion of Raghu, as he proceeded along. (5)

Meaning

Kaikeyī and Sumitrā and the illustrious Kausalyā too, who were highly gratified by the thought of bringing Śrī Rāma back from the forest drove in a splendid chariot each. (6)

Meaning

Hosts of members of the twice-born classes also set out with a delighted mind in order to be able to see Śrī Rāma alongwith Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā and saying various things about him alone in the following strain : “When shall we be able to behold the mighty-armed Śrī Rāma, dark-brown as a cloud, stable of mind and firm of resolve, the dispeller of the grief of the world? (7-8)

Meaning

“As the sun disperses the darkness of the whole world even while fully appearing in the horizon, Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, will surely dispel our grief the moment he is seen by us.” (9)

Meaning

Saying many good things as mentioned above on that occasion and hugging one another, highly rejoiced as they were over the prospect of being able to see Śrī Rāma, the citizens went forth to meet Śrī Rāma. (10)

Meaning

Those merchants who were held in great esteem in Ayodhyā and all others who were not so honoured and, even so, all other good citizens joyously proceeded to meet Śrī Rāma. (11)

Meaning

Whatever lapidaries there were in the city and skilled potters, those adept in weaving and those who lived by manufacture of arms, those who made fans etc., of peacock-feathers, those who lived by the saw, those who pierced gems and pearls etc., as well as polishers of gems, ornaments and utensils etc., those who made articles of ivory, those who prepared lime by burning limestone etc., and those who lived by perfumery, highly reputed goldsmiths and weavers of blankets and other woollen goods, those who provided baths for others, masseurs, physicians, fumigators and distillers and vintners, washermen and tailors, chiefs of villages and hamlets and dancers with their womenfolk as well as boatmen joined the expedition. (12—15)

Meaning

Brāhmaṇas remaining absorbed in meditation, well-versed in the Vedas and highly respected for their conduct followed the departing Bharata in thousands on bullockcarts, etc. (16)

Meaning

Decently dressed, clad in pure raiment and having smeared their body with sandal-paste mixed with red substances like saffron, they all followed slowly in the wake of Bharata on various kinds of vehicles. (17)

Meaning

Thrilled with joy and delighted in mind, the aforesaid army too followed Bharata, the son of Kaikeyī, who was so fond of his elder brother and set out on the mission of bringing his said brother back from the forest. (18)

Meaning

Having covered a long distance from Ayodhyā in chariots, on palanquins and on the back of horses and elephants, they reached the bank of the holy Gaṅgā in the precincts of Śṛṅgaverapura, where dwelt the valiant Guha, a friend of Śrī Rāma, surrounded by hosts of his kinsmen and ruling that area with vigilance. (19-20)

Meaning

Having arrived at the bank of the Gaṅgā, adorned by Cakrawāka birds, that army following in the wake of Bharata halted. (21)

Meaning

Seeing the aforesaid army inactive and beholding the Gaṅgā with its holy waters, Bharata, who was a master of expression, spoke to all his ministers as follows : (22)

Meaning

“Let my army encamp at will on all sides. Having taken rest today we shall cross this sea-bound river tomorrow. (23)

Meaning

“In the meantime, descending into the river, I wish to offer libations of water to the spirit of the emperor, my father, who has ascended to heaven, for happiness in his life after death.” (24)

Meaning

Saying “Amen” to Bharata, who was speaking as above, the ministers, who were all attention, encamped the troops separately, each unit according to its liking. (25)

Meaning

Having caused that army, which looked charming with its equipage in the shape of tents etc., to encamp methodically along the bank of the great river Gaṅgā, Bharata too halted then, reflecting all the time how to bring the high-souled Śrī Rāma back to Ayodhyā. (26)