---
title: "Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 83"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/ayodhya-kanda/sarga-83"
lang: "en"
---

# Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 83

> ततः समुत्थितः कल्यमास्थाय स्यन्दनोत्तमम्।  
> प्रययौ भरतः शीघ्रं रामदर्शनकाम्यया॥ १॥

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)

> अग्रतः प्रययुस्तस्य सर्वे मन्त्रिपुरोहिताः।  
> अधिरुह्य हयैर्युक्तान् रथान् सूर्यरथोपमान्॥ २॥

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)

> नवनागसहस्राणि कल्पितानि यथाविधि।  
> अन्वयुर्भरतं यान्तमिक्ष्वाकुकुलनन्दनम्॥ ३॥

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

> षष्ठी रथसहस्राणि धन्विनो विविधायुधाः।  
> अन्वयुर्भरतं यान्तं राजपुत्रं यशस्विनम्॥ ४॥

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

> शतं सहस्राण्यश्वानां समारूढानि राघवम्।  
> अन्वयुर्भरतं यान्तं राजपुत्रं यशस्विनम्॥ ५॥

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

> कैकेयी च सुमित्रा च कौसल्या च यशस्विनी।  
> रामानयनसंतुष्टा ययुर्यानेन भास्वता॥ ६॥

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)

> प्रयाताश्चार्यसंघाता रामं द्रष्टुं सलक्ष्मणम्।  
> तस्यैव च कथाश्चित्राः कुर्वाणा हृष्टमानसाः॥ ७॥  
> मेघश्यामं महाबाहुं स्थिरसत्त्वं दृढव्रतम्।  
> कदा द्रक्ष्यामहे रामं जगतः शोकनाशनम्॥ ८॥

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)

> दृष्ट एव हि नः शोकमपनेष्यति राघवः।  
> तमः सर्वस्य लोकस्य समुद्यन्निव भास्करः॥ ९॥

“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)

> इत्येवं कथयन्तस्ते सम्प्रहृष्टाः कथाः शुभाः।  
> परिष्वजानाश्चान्योन्यं ययुर्नागरिकास्तदा॥ १०॥

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)

> ये च तत्रापरे सर्वे सम्मता ये च नैगमाः।  
> रामं प्रतिययुर्हृष्टाः सर्वाः प्रकृतयः शुभाः॥ ११॥

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)

> मणिकाराश्च ये केचित् कुम्भकाराश्च शोभनाः।  
> सूत्रकर्मविशेषज्ञा ये च शस्त्रोपजीविनः॥ १२॥  
> मायूरकाः क्राकचिका वेधका रोचकास्तथा।  
> दन्तकाराः सुधाकारा ये च गन्धोपजीविनः॥ १३॥  
> सुवर्णकाराः प्रख्यातास्तथा कम्बलकारकाः।  
> स्नापकोष्णोदका वैद्या धूपकाः शौण्डिकास्तथा॥ १४॥  
> रजकास्तुन्नवायाश्च ग्रामघोषमहत्तराः।  
> शैलूषाश्च सह स्त्रीभिर्यान्ति कैवर्तकास्तथा॥ १५॥

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)

> समाहिता वेदविदो ब्राह्मणा वृत्तसम्मताः।  
> गोरथैर्भरतं यान्तमनुजग्मुः सहस्रशः॥ १६॥

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)

> सुवेषाः शुद्धवसनास्ताम्रमृष्टानुलेपिनः।  
> सर्वे ते विविधैर्यानैः शनैर्भरतमन्वयुः॥ १७॥

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)

> प्रहृष्टमुदिता सेना सान्वयात् कैकयीसुतम्।  
> भ्रातुरानयने यातं भरतं भ्रातृवत्सलम्॥ १८॥

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)

> ते गत्वा दूरमध्वानं रथयानाश्वकुञ्जरैः।  
> समासेदुस्ततो गङ्गां शृङ्गवेरपुरं प्रति॥ १९॥  
> यत्र रामसखा वीरो गुहो ज्ञातिगणैर्वृतः।  
> निवसत्यप्रमादेन देशं तं परिपालयन्॥ २०॥

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)

> उपेत्य तीरं गङ्गायाश्चक्रवाकैरलंकृतम्।  
> व्यवतिष्ठत सा सेना भरतस्यानुयायिनी॥ २१॥

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

> निरीक्ष्यानुत्थितां सेनां तां च गङ्गां शिवोदकाम्।  
> भरतः सचिवान् सर्वानब्रवीद् वाक्यकोविदः॥ २२॥

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)

> निवेशयत मे सैन्यमभिप्रायेण सर्वतः।  
> विश्रान्ताः प्रतरिष्यामः श्व इमां सागरङ्गमाम्॥ २३॥

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

> दातुं च तावदिच्छामि स्वर्गतस्य महीपतेः।  
> और्ध्वदेहनिमित्तार्थमवतीर्योदकं नदीम्॥ २४॥

“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)

> तस्यैवं ब्रुवतोऽमात्यास्तथेत्युक्त्वा समाहिताः।  
> न्यवेशयंस्तांश्छन्देन स्वेन स्वेन पृथक् पृथक्॥ २५॥

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)

> निवेश्य गङ्गामनु तां महानदीं  
> चमूं विधानैः परिबर्हशोभिनीम्।  
> उवास रामस्य तदा महात्मनो  
> विचिन्तमानो भरतो निवर्तनम्॥ २६॥

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)

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