Kamba Ramayanam-Ayodhya Kandam-Padalam 10-12

10. Palli padai padalam

Chapter   on the cremation.

     (The messengers travelling for seven days reach Bharata and without telling the news v brought him back. Bharata isa shocked to see   the sorry state of Ayodhya, While he was searching for his father, the maid of Kaikeyi  informs him to meet his mother. When Kaikeyi informs the bad news  Bharata shouts at her.Later he goes and meets queen Kausalya. After clearing her misunderstandings,   When he starts the process of cremation of body of Dasaratha, Vasishta informs him     that  since Dasaratha has  disowned him, he cannot do the cremation. The cremation is done by Shatrugna. The sixty thousand wives of Dasaratha    enter the fire along with Dasaratha.  The councilors approach Bharata and request him to become the king.

    Valmiki Ramayana tells that Bharata    sees a dream of ill omen   about his father’s death, before messengers reach him. The leave taking from his maternal grand father and uncle are  not mentioned in Kamba Ramayana.  According to Valmiki Ramayana Bharata reaches   Ayodhya in six days. The detailed path he takes is also mentioned there. Bharata himself goes to Kaikeyi’s palace  unlike Kamba Ramayana ,Instead of cursing himself to suffer if he has done the evil deed, In Valmiki Ramayana , he curses  , the person who was responsible for it. Bharata performs the funeral rites in Valmiki Ramayana   and is not stopped by sage Vasishta. The wives of Dasaratha do not jump in fire but give water oblations to their  lord. On 13^th day in Valmiki Ramayana Vasishta    talks about inevitability of death . ON the same day  Shatrugna tries to torture Mandhara  and is stopped by Bharata.)

2102.Those matchless emissaries  who were wedded to truth,

Drove   throughout night   and day    without stopping,

Reached   the place  of Bharata  and said ,

“Hey,  security at the gate, tell about our arrival  to our king.”

2103.When they informed  “Emissaries   with  words  ,

Of your father has come  “, Bharata   with happy frame of mind,

With love  told them ,”send them here” and they entered, saluted him,

And he asked” Are there  any problems to the king ?”

2104.When they told , “ he is OK” , Bharata  became happy  ,

And further asked , “does my Lord Rama  along  with,

The well ornamented  Lakshmana  live  with wealth of,

Absence  of tiresomeness   and   anxiety” and  when,

They replied “Yes” Bharata saluted   the direction of Rama ,

With both    his hands    held   over  his head,

2105.Afterwards  he enquired   about welfare of his relatives ,

In the order   according to tradition  and after becoming happy,

And then the emissaries  told him,  “Oh Lord with prettiness,

That cannot be drawn in a picture , here is the divine  message”

2106,As soon as they told like this  , he praised and saluted  it,

And with his matchless  long arms   in which he wore   gold ornaments  ,

Received it , with a  very sentimental mind  he kept,

It on his head    which has   been decorated by flowers,

2107.After  keeping  that letter on his head  which had sandal paste on it  ,

And after breaking   the lac mud   seal  , he  opened   and saw .

The letter written on palm leaf  and to those  emissaries  ,

Who brought it  gave wealth beyond one crore  as  gift.

2108.With his   mind becoming happy at the prospect  of seeing his brother ,

A  smile like  a lustrous moon appeared on his face  ,

 With hairs  all over his body standing up straight  , with ebbing flow  of affection,

He offered mentally flowers    at the   holy feet   of Rama.

2109.He  then reached his palace   and ordered   his army to start ,

Saluted his grand father who was  the king of Kekaya   country,

He got up  in the chariot  drawn by horses   along with his brother,

Without bothering to see  whether the date and time where  auspicious.

2110.Elephants surrounded him  , chariots  made great sound,

Many kings accompanied him  , the soldiers   armed with  sword,

Surrounded him , the conches  boomed   and the huge drums ,

Made great noise   like the ocean which was filled   with fish.

2111. The flags  came near him  , the decorative hangings surrounded him,

Ladies  with   long eyes like   tender mango and young  she  elephants ,

Marched   very near to him and the luster  of the  ornaments,

Worn by those  ladies  shined like lightning with thunder everywhere.

2112. The carts   were  going spreading themselves everywhere,

Many musical instruments  gave sound which was   like the thunders of cloud,

On the garlands worn by people    the bees   made   sound,

And the horses  which remain on the circular ground  went behind him.

2113.The   sound of the Vedas   were broadcast through  the pipe with holes ,

The horses   with bent face   which  shook their heads  ,

Which had the strength to travel even in skies  and 

Which were  capable of travelling    over the sea    came there.

2114.Those  who were experts in using the bow  , experts  in sword war fare  .

Great wrestlers  , experts   in throwing   small  knives,

Those   who were experts in throwing spears  and tridents   to kill,

Ands very experienced  drivers  of elephants came surrounding him.

2115.The buffalo  crowd which threw  one against   the other,

Many  male animals  , cocks which can obey   one’s signs,

The Kaudari bird with  long hairs   on its body  and the people  ,

Who were    experts  in warfare  intended  to protect  also came near.

2116,Those people   who are close due to knowledge in their mind,

Were anxious and wanted to  fly back to Ayodhya   , like,

Devas born  in the world by curse  who  were anxious,

To go back to their places, once they realize that they are devas.

2117.The  song of the royal flatterers   mixed with honey  ,

Entered  the ears  and spread   up to the sky   and ,

The sound of drums  , like the soul  which  is merged  with,

The body  with blood , Merged   with the sweetness  of that song.

2118. The  muted  sound of   songs of blessing    chanted by    Vedic scholars,

Was greater  than   great sound released  by  Drums beaten by short stick ,

And the sound of praise  was  much stronger than ,

The thunder like sound of valour raised by  valorous soldiers.

2119.Bharatha   after travelling for seven days     in which he crossed,

Rivers, forests   and huge  mountains   and afterwards  , reached ,

The Kosala country where   the jaggery syrup    from  sugarcane factories  ,

Breaks open    the   bunds   and flowing through    canals  and ,

Irrigate   the fields in which the best of the seedlings    are planted.

2120. The fields  were not having ploughs  , the  shoulders,

Of young lads were not having garlands  , the cool fields ,

Did  not have crops of paddy  , there were  no lotus flowers

And the goddess  of the lotus flower had gone  out of that country.

2121. The juice of sweet fruits came out as there   was none to pluck it,

And this went   to great water bodies   which were  completely spoiled.

The lustrous flowers due to absence  of people to pluck them and use them,

Came out of their stalks   , fell in the ground    and got   dried up.

2122. The red paddy  , due to the absence of cultivator   who knew ,

The proper time to harvest it  , got   deteriorated   and

Due to the toddy produced by the   skin of mango fruits  ,

Bent town  , got broken and again grew up in the land.

2123.Those farmer ladies who by their   pretty noses   defeated,

The pretty flower of Gingelly  , appeared to have  in side quarrel,

 With the husbands whom they loved and  did not bother,

To weed the   fields   and  they were lying listlessly.

2124,The parrots also had stopped talking , the ladies with long hair,

 Did not go and   meet   their friends    whom they loved very much,

Those  birds did not carry their message and did not come back,

The big drums were not raising any sound  and in  those  ,

Golden avenues   processions of celebrations   did not go.

2125,The Flutes   stopped producing music  , the dancing stages.

 Stopped   having   dances  ,water bodies stopped having bathing,

The head  stopped decorating by flowers  and  the mansions,

With moon lit courtyards   stopped   singing auspicious songs.

2126.The lustrous   face  of  the people did not have  smile,

The mansions did not have smoke from Akil  ,

The lamps    with stands did not have flames going upward,

And the hairs of ladies   lost the honey dripping   flower clusters.

2127.The  luxurious fertile paddy crop   which   was  below  ,

The very wide  pond  , due to water   not coming from the pond  ,

Dried   like   the beggars    who  stand  near  the door,

Of the cruel misers   getting   faded .

2128.That  blessed wealth land whose prosperity   cannot be,

Adequately described  , looked as if the  goddess  of wealth,

Who sits on the lotus flower   has gone to a long distance  ,

Had lost its beauty and was like a body without soul.

2129.Seeing  his country in such a state  , Bharata became very sad,

And as he was not aware of the   happenings in that place  ,

Thinking that   there is a bad news which is waiting for him,

Hesitated  , got very much tired  and left a  painful breath.

2130.That Bharata   who was the great   son of the king

Whose ornament was truth, further   proceeded and,

With his mind travelling much faster   than the chariot  ,

With serious   thought  looked at the tall   doors of the city.

2131.Seeing   the lustrous  Sun God who has  one thousand rays,

“You have   roamed all over the world   and so stay   in our town,

And go after   taking food  “   once said the flags  of the city   which touched the sky,

Which appeared   as if trying to stop him    on his way  ,

And Bharata    was not able to see   the forest of such flags.

2132.The   great sound of the huge drums  which seemed to call people and say,

“Take away  all the wealth   we have earned   so that we can win  great fame,

And so please come quickly and receive them”, was not heard  by him.

2133,That Bharata   who wore flower garlands from which bees  ,

Were drinking honey   did not see the   royal flatterers  ,

The musician who sing on auspicious    musical instruments  ,

The  crowd of she elephants  , wealth  and  all  those ,

People who used to get  gifts and take them away like thieves.

2134.That Bharata    who  was born to  the king who protected   the world,

Did not see   Brahmins,  The devas of earth   getting as charity  ,

Horses  , cows  , elephants   with flowing rut  and 

Great wealth attracting love   from the kingdom.

2135. Due to  musician groups   and the bees   that go round them  ,

As well as musical instruments   with strings  were not ,

Singing songs based on seven notes and due   to that,

And was looking  like the hair   of   young peacock like women.

2136.  Without  Chariots,  horses  , elephants  , palanquins, and carts on which people travel,

Due to people  who travel and drive   not being there  , the roads of Ayodhya,

Were like   river   with white sands   without incoming water   and were not pretty.

2137.  That great Bharata    who was  appreciated  by  very great people,

Saw   the city  which was in such a state   and looking at his  brother told ,

“Oh brother  , Does this Ayodhya look like   the prosperous town

Ruled by Dasaratha ?  What is this    state   for this city?”

2138.”This town   has lost its prettiness  like   the town of our enemies,

Who are different from us.  And it is looking like  the huge ocean of milk,

Deserted by   Lord Vishnu   who is   like huge  black pregnant cloud,

And Goddess  Lakshmi   who had broad eyes similar to kayal fish.”

2139.  That Shatrugna  who was like a young king lion    and ,

Who was wearing various gem studded ornaments  ,

Saluted his brother   folding both his hands  “the  sorrow,

That has occurred   is not a simple one   for  it seems,

Goddess of wealth has forsaken this city   which  would be there up to deluge.

2140.When they were talking like this   crossing  with speed of thought ,

The long auspicious   streets   with mansions having flags    tied at their    entrance  ,

Were crossed by the son of the emperor   and ,

He reached    the palace   where  his father  normally stays.

2141.Bharatha who had high shoulders   that put mountains to shame,

Due to desire reached  there speedily but was  not able to   see ,

The king with great strength   in normal places  that he lives,

And became sad thinking that  it is a surprising  news.

2142.At that time   when Bharata  was searching  for his father ,

To salute   him with his  hands  , one maid servant of Kaikeyi,

Who has shoulders like bamboo   told  him,

“Your mother has called you and so please come here.”

2143.He went there  and saluted   his mother’s feet,

And she   hugged   him with all her heart  and asked,

“Is it all right with my father , brother   and sisters?”

And that Bharata  with matchless  good  said, “yes.”

2144”Due to great  love  , I have  come  to  salute,

The lotus feet  of my father . My mind is disturbed  and is   shaking.

Where   is the king who is great among men   and wears  a long crown?”

He   said to his mother   saluting her  with his two folded hands.

2145,When he told like this  , she whose mind is never disturbed,

Said, “That Dasaratha who wears  the flower garland from which honey drips,

And who had   a great army  which destroyed the  power  of Asuras ,

Has   reached the heavens , with the devas   saluting him on the way. Please do not be sad”

2146.As  soon as these harsh words   which were  like a spear,

Entered his ears  , that Bharata who has  hair   which was like steps,

Fell like a huge Maramara    which was hit by a great thunder 

Falling on the earth   and lost his senses    as well as  breath.

2147.With his face loosing his luster   with tears  falling like a stream,

From his   eyes which were like the just opened  lotus flower,

He told his mother “Would anybody else speak  the words ,

Which were like keeping the raging   fire   on the ears?”

2148.Bharatha    who was as pretty as lord Subrahamanya  fell down,

Became sad    and again fell down  , sobbed  , let out hot breath,

With a destroyed mind prattled , wailed   and then started    talking like    this .

2149.”Oh God  like king ,   you ,  after cutting off   the root of Dharma  ,

After killing grace   and made  the great  feeling of your mercy dark,

You are  now dead   and by that you have forgotten justice,

And is there  a   wrong act to do than this?”

2150”.After cutting off   anger   which is your enemy  ,

After putting off    the fire  of passion from your mind,

And after  completely removing  all bad character  which are enemies,

You were   walking  in the path agreeable  to all,  Oh charitable one ,

Is  walking in  the way that   you want  , a good character?”

2151.”Oh Lord Dasaratha,   who made the  great stories 

 Of the  first one  of our clan and others   known all over the world,

How did  you go away leaving Rama   who powdered   the strength  ,

Of the   bow   of  Lord Shiva   who had  a eye in the forehead?

2152.  “Oh lord ., who rotated the wheel of kingship properly,

Realizing   that   there  are no body who wants anything from others,

Did you go away searching for people    with wants?

Do such people   exist in other world?”

2153.”Oh emperor who had  broad shoulders  which made   wrestling disappear,

Leaving out all those beings  who were living under  the shade  ,

Of your white royal umbrella  and making them wilt without shade ,

Did you go  to  the land of devas   desiring the  scented shade  of Karpaga tree.”

2154,”Oh Sir  , possibly there   are other   asuras  in the land of devas,

Who have  an army like that of Sambarasura  and because of that ,

Due to the trouble from the asuras  , devas having lost their world ,

Have perhaps   surrendered to you and that  is why  perhaps you have gone there.”

2155,Due to kings who were   having  armies where  musical  instruments,

Are densely distributed   were defeated  by  you  and were paying  ,

Huge amount of  wealth to you   and  you  have given  them to ,

Brahmins who are  experts in Vedas  as well as  ceaselessly   conducted ,

The Aswa medha Yaga   as well other yagnas   for benefit of devas,

Would you be able to be  in heaven  doing nothing?

2156.”Oh Lord of    elephants in rut  having seven body parts above ,

Possibly seeing that   Rama was  not doing anything  , you ,

Have given    the wheel of kingship   to him,  which were  looked after ,

By your   powerful pretty    shoulders   and have gone to heaven.

2157. You being one without  any desire   have given the entire earth to Rama ,

Who was son  whom you got as a result   of great penance ,  and have gone   away,

Without being able to see  with your own eyes, Rama becoming  king as per custom  ,

And celebrating   the take over    of the kingdom  by the crowning   ceremony.

2158.Bharata   who was able to tolerate   the sorrow caused by the death,

Of the king  , told  such words several times  and in several ways  ,

And after shedding tears  like a mountain stream  , somehow  consoled,

Himself   and then He who  had a strong bow like god of death  told.

2159”.Rama   with great character  is my father , mother , god

As well as my elder   brother  and so   unless  I salute ,

His feet   this great sorrow   would not part from me “, he told.

2160.As  she heard these words , Kaikeyi    who was capable ,

Of telling thunder like words   again told   Bharata,

“Oh son with a bow that   can kill enemies  , Rama,

Along   with  his wife   as well as his   younger brother,

Who are   two in number   has gone   to the forest.”

2161.Hearing her words  that “He is in the forest”, Bharata,

Thought and thought about it  and became like one who has swallowed fire,

And told himself ”  still what other  bad fate  is in store for me?”,

And further told   “How much more  sorrow news I have   to hear?”

2162.That great one who was   very sad   and greatly upset asked,

“Did   that great one wearing heroic anklets, go to the  forest,

Because , “he did harm for others”   or is it    due to   the,

“great anger of Gods  “ or is it   due to bad fate  ,

Which is above these   or due   to some other reason?”

2163. “If Rama himself    has done some   evil deed ,it must be,

AS an act of a mother   to look after  all the beings  on the earth,

But please tell me whether Rama went   to the forest ,

Before  the death of my father  or after  it”, he asked.

2164.Kaikeyi replied , “it is not because  he  found fault  with elders  ,

Nor due   to very great pride  nor due   to  any of the Gods  ,

And he   went to the forest   , when the  Sun like king was still alive.”

2165,BHaratha   again asked  ,”if Rama did not do any crime,

And if   some of his   enemies    had   not got angry with him,

And if it is not due to ills    done to the Gods  , even when,

His father  was alive , what  is the reason  for him to go to forest?

Please   tell me  clearly    so that  I can understand.”

2166.”Due to the boons   that Dasaratha  gave me by words,

I sent my son(Rama)  to the forest  and  then made   this earth ,

Belong to you  and because    he was not able   to bear it,

That king who was the ruler   , gave  up his life.”

2167.His  hand that was held in salutation  closed both his ears ,

Even before   Kaikeyi finished   her words    completely  ,

His eye brows   bent  and travelled   up and down,

From his breath flames    of fire  came   out ,

And    both his eyes   became  blood shot.

2168.  His cheeks throbbed   and from his hair  pores  fire came out,

On all sides   and the  smoke that came out  covered all sides ,

His   mouth was  folded tightly   and  his hands , which were ,

Used to   charity  like rain   , hit with each other   and huge sound was produced,

2169.When the  feet of that very angry Bharata   were alternatively  kept  on earth,

The   earth as well as Mount Meru  started wavering  like a ship  carrying an elephant  ,

With a matchless  mast    which was  hit by    by a huge   hurricane  while travelling in sea.

2170. The devas   got scared   and many  asuras   died because  of fear ,

The elephants   of directions   which were in rut  , got  the holes of rut closed,

The Sun set   and the normally angry god of death , closed    his eyes.

2171.That   very angry Bharata      who  was like   a lion,

Did not think  that Kaikeyi who had   done cruel deeds is his mother,

But  fearing that   Rama   would get angry  if he kills   her,

Started   telling words   which  are   as cruel  as a thunder.

2172.”My father  is no more   due to your cruel   trick,

And my brother   has undertaken great   penance  ,

But I have not torn your mouth  that asked such boons ,

And me  who am stil alive after   hearing  these words,

Would be blamed by the world that  it is due to my desire.”

2173.”You are still alive   and I  am standing before  you doing nothing,

And did not beat and make you fall   by the time  one can say  “A”,

And the reason for this is  that my  mother like  brother  would  get angry ,

And not because    you are  being called    as “my mother.”

2174.”One king was prepared   to die because  of your cruel words,

One male  , left  the country  which he has   to rule  ,

And goes away to the forest  and to rule  this earth there  is Bharata,

And when things    are   like that , it seems Dharma  is not affected.”

2175. “Except making people saying  later   that “once Bharata ,

Due to cruel tricks  of his  mother changed   the  tradition

Of his   clan  and   had earned a bad name “, Is there ,

Anything  else   that was done  by your action.”

2176.”After destroying   the limitation   that was imposed  by virtue ,

You have   completely uprooted   and destroyed  Dasaratha ,

Who held  a  spear sharpened  well  and had  also kept you  ,

Within his mind  , by asking these boons   and you are   similar,

To the python   that swallows   whatever  is available,

What   else    are you going to achieve   in future?”

2177.”You have drunk   the  soul of your husband , you are not a disease ,

But   you are  a devil  and  still   you continue   to be alive  as  you would not die,

And  you had suckled me    when I  was a baby ,  as you   are definitely my mother.

What else    are   you planning    to give  to me from now on.”

2178.”You ate  away the king who never lied , by asking these  boons,

And you have   earned a bad name  which would be there  till world ends,

And you were happy when he died  thinking  you would enjoy all his wealth ,

And how was  it possible for you   to be away  from Rama , Please  change your idea.”

2179.”My father   fearing   that  bad name   would come,

Due to the boon granted   by him    has   died, and his son,

Thinking that   it is the  only proper dharma   went to forest,

By leaving the kingship  and Bharata   who was born with him,

Would rule   over the earth     due to the trick played by his mother.”

2180. “Rama who was supposed to rule  did not think ,

That his father    would die  if he goes to the forest.

And thought    the differing thought  of  Kaikeyi .

Was  due to me and this one would truly rule the earth 

And gone to the forest, otherwise  he would have returned.”

2181.  That  Dasaratha   who belonged  to the famous   ancient clan,

Whatever he might have of thought otherwise  but to make   Rama think,

“This Bharata   whom I thought   would always   work for me,

Had  thought about this cruel idea  “, Is not the boon that my mother got sufficient.”

2182.” When my brother who was born before me  is eating  leaves,

Kept on the  leaf  held in his hand  , I who am cruel  ,

Am still   alive  and not only that , In a very good  vessel,

I am eating  the  sweet rice mixed    with ghee   which  is like nectar ,

And would not people who see  it , think ill of me.”

2183.”The good king   as soon as  it was told to him that,

“Rama  who holds the bow   on his shoulder has gone  to cruel forest”

Died immediately  but  I did not kill  her   who is like poison,

Nor did I die and am crying like one   who loves  him ,

As  I   am one   who has not been affected by a very bad name.”

2184. “The people of this earth  would  not agree   for it  ,nor,

Would I.  by protecting my  own life  , accept    the very bad name,

But  the bad name that you have   created would not go away  ,

However much I try , The goddess of wealth   will not stay  in this city.

With whom did you   consult   and who told you this idea,

And why did you   completely   uproot   Dharma?”

2185.” Using your murderous   words  I have murdered   my father,

And not only that , I have sent my elder brother to forest and ,

I am now  readying   myself     to rule the earth ,. Is there ,

Any bad name for you  and would   the bad name for me go away at any time?”

2186.” Other people who do not know me are   going to see  what I do,

And people on this earth   without seeing that would   laugh at me  ,

You have a bad name  and I am standing thinking  of a proverb that,

“the poison that   you have not taken cannot kill you  “,

Otherwise   I would    not   continue    to live.”

2187.”Due to the  great  unending sin of  my being born

From your sinner’s  stomach, to  get rid   of my sorrow  ,

With god of Dharma   himself as witness   , with ,

The three   worlds seeing me , I am going to do great penance.”

2188.”I have told you that  good advice that  would be given by great people,

If  you forget  all the acts   that  you did  and  give up   your soul which  does not go,

You   would be considered   as pure  by this world   and  you would ,

Also realize   the   need for being born in this world .

And  I do not think there is any way to get rid of your bad name” , he said.

2189.  After   telling such words  like this   deciding   that  ,

He would not   stay any more    with this cruel minded  sinner,

For the sake   of consolation    from  his  sorrow    , he decided that,

He would go and salute  the golden feet  ,

Of his mother Kausalya   and went away from there.

2190.That best among   the men  went from there   and reached ,

The home of Kausalya   and saluted her by falling   on the ground,

Making it break   and with his pretty  long hands ,

Caught  hold  of the lotus feet   of Kausalya   and wailed.

2191.Making   even  the  devas  cry  , since they  were not  able to bear it,

“ In which world   is my father  there?”  “Where  is  my elder brother?”

Did I come   back to   see   this sorry   state? Please console me.”Bharata   said.

2192. He   rolled in the earth , making the dust  , coat  his shoulders saying,

“I was not able to see   the feet of my lord , is he  who is the king  of the world,

The one    who goes   away from this city  , possibly    you did not  ,

Stop him while going  and is it possible for you to live further?”

2193. “I would destroy    all those    who made him go to the forest,

And what is the use of telling   about   it now  , I should only do it ,

And then I who am bad  and  took birth from that    cruel lady ,

Would also die  , so that   my great   sorrow would end.”

2194.That Bharata    who had a shoulder like emerald mountain said,

“This ancient clan   which was lit by the sun   who  by crawling ,

In his chariot puts an end to all  darkness ,

Has now    got   a  bad name  which is   called “Bharata”.

2195.Bharata   who is   the personification of Dharma   and  who had,

Long arms   which would touch his thighs  wailed   that,

“With  Dasratha who had an army armed with sword  living  in heaven,

And   with his matchless elder son  reaching the forest, this country is blind,”

2196.Kausalya  with great heritage  , virtue    as well as patience  ,

Seeing  Bharata   who was sorrowing   saw his depression by her mind,

And concluded that he was not the one   who wanted to rule the   country,

And that  his mind was pure   and becoming greatly   sad,

For her   previous   impressions    told him as follows.

2197. Kausalya thought that he is  one   who does  not have dirt in his mind  and  does not,

Have   any  sinful thoughts   but honest one  and became clear about it  and looking at him told,

“Possibly  you did not know    the cheating   done by  the daughter of king of Kekaya.”

2198.Bharatawho had fallen at her  feet, as  soon as he heard these words,

Started crying  like   a lion   which has been caught   and making Dharma ,

AS well as the God of death shiver   started telling  ,

The following words   of great oath   by his toungue.

2199-2202 .”He who tried to destroy Dharma  , He who does not have mercy in mind,

He who lived   depending on others  , he   who got angry   at others,

He who eked out  his living by killing innocent beings,

He who willfully caused    trouble   to sages with great penance  ,

He who killed   the great elders  and  ladies   with his sword,

He who had gone   to war along   with the king ,

But retreated   with his enemies    seeing his back  ,

He who  beats the beggars   and steals  their   earnings,

He  who told  that  Lord Vishnu who wears  the cool thulasi garland as  not God,

He who  lives   make using the ability   of Brahmins,

He who is  a devil  who  instead of protecting the faultless  Vedas says that it is all lies ,

The sinner  who fills up his stomach   while  his mother  starves to death,

And  who   after seeing his king die in the battle  field , saves his own life,

Would all go  to the burning hell , but let me go there before them.”

2203, Let   me fall in that  hell from which there is no freedom,

Where  the person   who   fearing for his  life  ,

Gives away to  the enemy , one  surrendered   at his feet,

And also   the   one who forgot    Dharma.

2204.”Let me  speedily  fall in  to  that  truly cruel   hell , where,

Those   who tells   false witness  , those   who go to war with valour but return,

Those  who hide   and make their own   the   material given  for protection,

And He who troubles others , in the same place   where  they are in trouble fall.”

2205.”Let me also fall  in that  terrible hell which causes great pain,

Where  the one who sets fire   to the houses  of Brahmins,

The  one who kills small boys , the one who gives biased  judgment,

And   the one    who berates    and abuses   Gods go.”

2206.”Let that  hell   where  the one  who kills the calf ,

By taking away all the milk of the cow   and drinks it,

One who hides   the properties of  others and usurps  it,

And  one   who  is an ungrateful   bitter   one   goes.”

2207.”Let me    get the same   fate   as   those   who run away with their life ,

When dacoits   are torturing , the maids  with sweet words who came with them,

And he  who   eats food   seeing others  nearby are hungry  and are  suffering  for food.”

2208.”Let   me also fall in the same hell   as he who   salutes  .

His enemies   in the battle field   where  weapons are  thrown,

To save his own life   and those  who due to desire of long ,

Wealthy life  usurps the  property of those   who earn according to Dharma.”

2209.”Let me become   that  fallen one   like one   who gets ,

The power to rule   and under impression   that he can do anything,

Forgets    the Dharma   which is    with him for several generations,

And goes   in such a path    that will   bring  bad name to him.”

2210.”When the citizens  come and request    for protection,

If the king makes them run away   with great   confusion in their  mind,

And if due to his avarice    for land  wages war with the enemy kings  ,

And  later  concede victory to the enemies and let me  go  that way.”

2211.”Let me go that hell   which would  be attained by  ,

The one who wishes to rape   an unmarried   girl,

The one   who looks at his teacher’s   wife  with  bad intention,

The one who drinks toddy and  one who earns wealth by dishonest means.”

2212.”Let me go to that hell  which would  be attained by  ,

Who eats when hungry  that  which should not be eaten like dog,

Who is  talked by the world as neither   a  male  nor female ,

And who is not ashamed    by it  , who  is not bothered  about good advice,

And who always keeps on babbling  about   bad acts done by others.”

2213”.Let me   go by that path  by which  one who  tells  imaginary faults,

About ancient families which do not have fault , one who   throws out  ,

The little food  of poor ones during   a famine   and  one  who eats  good food,

Making others   get water in  their mouth   , without sharing it  with  them.”

2214.”Let me become  one  who  wastes without need   the valorous  deed,

And one  who for the sake  protecting this  temporary body  eatrs the food thrown,

By  those enemies    who had   got angry at   him.”

2215.”Let me also share    a part of that   horrible  hell of the  god of death,

Of one who  is a big sinner who makes the people who   request   for something,

Wander to and fro   by  telling “not there”  , when he  really  has ,

And   when it is  there  by   not giving   him at  that   time.”

2216. “Carrying   the small  knife   which would  cut into pieces,

The enemies   in his long hands  and protecting   this bad smelling ,  body,

Which is the base of all diseases, let me   salute the enemies  whom I should conquer,

In front of   ladies who have  a smile    like pearls.”

2217.”Let me   stand blinking before my enemies   who do not like me  ,

With pulling legs   due  to metal chains   in the legs  , after   saving my life,

When the enemy conquers  my country   surrounded by   pretty fields of,

Paddy   , sugar cane   and great forests on all sides.”

2218.Kausalya  after hearing these   pure words    from her son,

Felt as if  Rama who has gone to cruel    forest   had come back,

And with great happiness hugged Bharata with same love as  she had towards  Rama.

2219.Kausalya who understood    the good  mind as well as  acts Of Bharata,

As well    the bad character  and bad acts of Kaikeyi   from the words of Bharata ,

Started    sobbing  and  sobbing with her thick breasts  expelling milk.

2220.Thinking and thinking with  a torn mind   Kausalya sobbed,

“King of kings   none of your ancestors    who ruled   this kingdom ,

Before you   were   equal to you.” And thus she blessed him.

2221.The younger   brother Shatrugna   , with a crying   and weeping  mind,

Fell at the holy feet of Kausalya  , talked to her  in  the same fashion as Bharata,

And later fainted and at that time  sage  Vasishta    came there.

2222. Bharata fell at feet of sage  Vasishta    who came there   and asked,

“Please   tell me where  my father is?” with great pain and  fainted.

That great sage   who was not knowing    what to tell , hugged Bharata  and cried.”

2223.”Oh   stain less   son  , It is already fourteen days    since  ,

Your very strong father  expired  and soon please   do,

The rituals needed to be performed by a son “ Told  ,

Kausalya   who was  already drowned in sorrow.

2224.When the mother ordered  , he saluted   her  feet

 And  went along   with the great sage   with long matted hair,

And saw the  ancient   form of Dasaratha  who sacrificed  himself,

To save Dharma  and who himself is the form of Dharma  .

2225,He fell on the earth wailed   and lost his consciousness,

And he  made   the gold like pretty  body   of that king of earth  ,

Which was lying in the oil  , bathe   in the stream of his tears  and made it drown.

2226.Brahmins    who were experts in all the four Vedas  ,

Along with love  and kindness    took the body by their hands,

And   with the valorous drum    playing sound of victory,

They made it mount   on a great  Vimana   made of gold.

2227.The people of the  city, like   the ocean which builds its own bank,

With great sound    wailed a lot  , went round the ocean of kings

Making their soul greatly disturbed  and saluted him,

And the body was taken from there  on a  elephant wearing a thread of beads.

2228.Conches , drums , flat drums   and horns normally played at death,

Were blaring forth from all sides  making all those who heard it sad ,

And that clouded  city was  like ladies wailing with beating   their eyes.

2229.Along   with horses   elephants  , chariots  , kings  ,

Groups of Brahmins   going in front   of  the body of the king,

Surrounded  by his queens   reached  Sarayu river with clear tides.

2230.The Brahmins reached   there   and  after   completing  all  the rituals,

As mentioned  in the books  , after  properly preparing the fire  pot,

Placed the body of Dasaratha   on the pyre   and looking at Bharata  told,

“Please   do your duty   to your father  which is according to Vedas.”

2231.At that time when Bharata   rose up to perform his duty,

The sage Vasishta  told him, “due to the    cruel deed  done,

By your mother  , even when he was alive   the king had  told,

That  you are not his son  and so you do not  have right to do the ritual.”

2232.Vasihta further   said  “Due to your  being born, this dharma ,

Of this dynasty   has been broken and   so your father  ,

Gave you up as a son and died  and what we see  here,,

May be a son who has lost   his   identity  ,it seems.”

2233.Like the cruel serpent   hearing a great thunder   retreats,

With great fear,   Bharata  fell on the earth   and with  ,

A very  sorrowing mind  which cannot be consoled by any,

Sobbed   and with his mind tottering  and   told like this.

2234.”I am not lucky   enough    to get   the right  to do,

Death  rituals   to any of my forefathers  in the clan of the sun,
And I am  also not suitable     to perform responsibility of ruling

And who else  is there among the great kings like me.”

2235.”Oh Vasishta  ,  who is the   son of Lord Brahma who sits on lotus,

All my faultless   ancestors   due to their dharma   and justice  , became gods,

Alas   after   birth , even when I am a boy  , I have  been wasted like this.”

2236,In the  dead bunch of coconuts borne   by  a coconut tree,

With a  huge wide base  , I have become an   empty coconut,

And see  what  great help has   my mother   who gave  birth to me

And protected  me, has done   to me  , alas.”

2237.Vasishta   who stood by   the rules   formulated   by the four Vedas ,

 And who had the habit  of doing everything perfectly   made ,

Shatrugna   who was the younger   brother  of the greatly sorrowing

And   flower garland  wearing  Bharata  , to all the needed rituals.

2238.The wives of Dasaratha  who were  like   the faded   flower branches,

With  gold necklaces, pearl necklaces    and hip belts    shining,

Drowned in   that fire like   the crowd  of mountain peacocks  ,

Drowning   in the forest   of leafless  lotus    flowers.

2239.With their   faces which were like lotus and the  full moon,

Getting more divine luster  , feeling  that fire was cooler than cool water,

Getting rid of their sorrow   , they reached   that world of  ,

Ladies    who    follow    their husband   in death.

2240.After   the death rites   as per Sage Vasishta were  got done ,

By Shatrugna   to  that  emperor Dasaratha  , Bharata,

Who was in the ocean of illnesses   which was   caused ,

By   getting   the king’s wealth   by  an evil act  reached  his home.

2241.That son   who was lying in the ocean of   sorrow,

Completed    all the rituals   as mentioned in ancient books,

Which lasted for  ten days , which appeared like eon to him .

2242.That victorious sage after   providing   help   so that,

All needed   death rituals are completed, along  with,

Brahmins wearing the sacred   thread   following him,

Reached   the palace of Bharata  and started telling ,

Him   who completed the death rituals   and who held a victorious spear.

2243,The councilors of that country   along   with its wise people ,

Feeling  that  “ It is not proper for a country   to be  without a king”,

With a determined   mind    came and assembled    there.

11.AAru chel padalam

Chapter about going to the river.

   (Bharata refuses to become the king and said that they all should go and bring back Rama, This is announced by drum and the entire   town which was in mourning   started. None of them wore ornaments or had decorated them selves. Bharata and Shatugna wore wooden barks. Seeing Mandhara in the crowd of people going to the forest Shatrugna     attacks her and is pacified by Bharata.

     In Valmiki Ramayana there is a detailed description of how the army constructed a road so that they can go easily. There is a great deal of planning done by Vasishta which is desctribed in Valmiki Ramayana. The description of their going is very brief in Valmiki Ramayana. The attack on Mandhara      is not mentioned here.) 

2244,  Knowing that the   Sage Vasishta   who  had knowledge   of the rules of succession,

Of kings   and who was a saint who has done great penance    as per the Vedas 

Is already present there  the councilors came there and  with a favourable heart   and saluted Bharata.

  2245.Along with the sages   who lived in the sky  , the  council elders  ,

Citizens of the town  , the chiefs   of the army   and all wise  people  ,

Surrounded   the pretty Bharata   as per    their rank   and importance.

2246.When they were  surrounding  him  like that   Sumantra  who ,

Had the ability to know the needs of a king  , who was greatly principled,

Who was very wise  and an expert  in driving the golden chariot,

Looked   at  the sage   who knew everything  , so that he would understand his intention.

2247.That great sage who  understood  the intentions of his look,

Without it being told by the mouth  told Bharata  ,

“protect this world   as  it is    your responsibility  “

And started telling him further   about  ,

 The   need   as well as   greatness   of the kingship.

2248.”Oh Bharata  who has a faultless   character ,  the purpose   for which,

These Brahmins  , Great sages, Old elders  , kings   and others have come to you ,

Is for establishing    the rule of a king   who  will   uphold  Dharma  ,

And also   stop any deterioration of the kingdom, please bear this  in mind. “  

2249.”Oh sir,  You know well that to present a thing called Dharma  to the world,

Establish it  and making  all people adopt it ,   is a very great act,

This Dharma is capable of giving good life   here and also in heaven,

And this   Dharma   is an act that is  being done  by  clear minded great people .

2250.When we  analyze it , that country   which does not get  ,

A  king who  is prosperous and who does not have    a strong sword  ,

Would  be like  the very desirable   day time    without Sun,

The night without   the   clear white moon   and ,

The body    without  a soul inside it.

2251.Even in the world  of devas   and in the  Asuras  with great strength

 Who wander doing ill to others, and in all places which can be called world,

We have not    seen them without a  king to protect   them.

2252.If we see   understand   the  tradition    and   examine it properly ,

In this world   created  by Lord Brahma  , we do  not see  any group without head  ,

In  all the groups that  stand  and  move   and   fill the entire   land   and  sky  .

2253.Till today the great kings of your clan   who were  appreciated ,

By Brahma    and others   right    from the    time of their creation,

Till  today were  protecting    the earth and the earth and its ocean

Are  bubbling like  a   broken ship   due   to  you  not protecting  them from sorrow.

2254.”Oh son,  Your father   is no more and  your brother has left ,

And you have got this earth to rule   due to boon that your mother received,

And so rule this great kingdom   which has no end  ,

And we   are  think that it is proper  “ said he after  great thought.

2255.”The world needs your   support so  be its king and carry the  burden”,

When  he  heard the great sage telling this     to him  ,

Tears like  stream flowed     from  the eyes of Bharata,

And he became more depressed   than a shivering man,

Who has    been told   that “Please   swallow    this  poison.”

2256,He shivered  , his   toungue twisted   while talking  ,

His eyes went inside and that one who had a merciful heart like a lady  ,

Wailed with all his   heart   and not able to breathe he fell down in a swoon,

And once he woke up  , he started  addressing all those  in that king’s council.

2257. “When Rama who  is the matchless  first in all   the three   worlds,

And who is born before   me is  there , my  getting crowned ,

If it is considered  as Dharma    by wise  people like you .

How can there   be  any fault   in what mother has asked the king?”

2258.  “If you  who are blessed with great character   say ”This is good”,

About   the greatly cruel act of  my mother which does not reach anywhere,

Then  here  ,  after  passing  the   tretha and Dwapara   eons immediately ,

The Kali   eon which comes  in the   end   which makes  people  bad , would come immediately.

2259.”You  who are sitting in the  king’s council  should   follow the example,
of the great clans of kings created   by lord Brahma who was born in the lotus,

That    sprang up from   the belly button     of Lord Vishnu   , , which  ,

Made the eldest son rule   the country   as per Dharma and law.

2260.” Even  by what you suggest is as per Dharma  , I would  live,

As a king who carries the burden of protecting the beings  of the kingdom,

And  so  please go and bring Rama   and make him the king with   ,

The garlanded crown   and follow the custom which has been followed from ancient times.”

2261.”If it is  not possible , I would  live with him   in that great forest,

And do the sweet penance   as per religious    rules   , and if you,

Tell me anything more  and compel me , I will take away my life.”  He said.

2262.”When  the  great king   was still  alive  ,Rama was willing ,

To be crowned   with the   gem studded crown  and oh great Bharata,

You say that you do not want the royal wealth   which comes due to heredity,

And  among the younger royal sons  , who has    been born with your great fame?”

2263,”There is no need for you   to increase your fame   by ruling the kingdom,

Protecting acts of Dharma   and  by performance of    several  Fire sacrifices,

For your fame   would live even if the   seven worlds are destroyed”, they told.

2264.Bharatha summoned his brother  and said to him,

“let the cloud like drums be beaten   and announce that,

WE are going to bring back  Rama who according   to tradition,

Is the king of this  country, and order  our army  to start immediately.

2265.When the good Bharata   told like this , Shatrugna   announced it,

All the soul less bodies  of   that city   who loved Rama  who were  depressed by innate  mercy,

Immediately got life  as  if they were   treated with   nectar  and they all shouted in joy.

2266.All the   beings of the world   including sages    who have won over five senses,

Hearing “That Rama would wear the golden crown”,  became    extremely happy ,

And were those   words   the divine nectar    which can be taken by the ears?”

2267.The great drums were beat and the word , “Bharata  is going to bring,

Rama to the city of flags   and the army  should depart     for that purpose”,

Was like the rise of moon  who is the king of stars    in that city.

2268.The huge army  like the much talked about deluge   rose  like ,

The seven oceans rising  with great sound   and started ,

And the  wish of  daughter  of Kekaya   came  to the naught,

And   it also destroyed completely   the sorrow of (her?) parting  with Rama.

2269.The  horses  chariots   , carts  and others were decorated  ,

And completely hid the earth  , the  huge number flags    hid the sky

And the dust that  rose due  to their marching  hid the eyes of Lord Brahma.

2270.  The sound “Ol “ made by thae army   was greater than  the great sound,

Which would be produced   when God Shiva   destroys the world,

And  that army rose more  because of    their desire  to see   , Rama who was black like  blue lotus.

2271. The male elephants with long trunks along   with their female  elephants ,

Walked like  black Rama   who forsook kingship as    well as the    city of Ayodhya,

And walked   towards   the forest  which was filled with trees and plants ,

Along with   the creeping plant    called   Sita  .

2272.The  young female elephants  walked with the  maids  who were  possibly

Asking   whether the lotus flowers  produced in the slushy mud was    superior to them

And walked  with  their lotus like feet  and  made  them as their  enemies by their pretty walk,

And since their gait was better, were defeated by them and   were forced to carry them,

2273.The   clouds   sprayed their cool water   to  make   the march of the army,

Below the harshly hot sun   more   comfortable  and the innumerable number of tall flags 

Shook like   the maids who had not seen the crowning  of Rama who held  the bow with gloves.

2274. Innumerable kings  , like   the  white Surya    with very hot rays , taking several shapes ,

Which one cannot count , moved  with white moon (umbrella)  above   him  and

Rode  in the same path  , on   elephants   which were  like    the clouds   travelling    on earth .

2275.An ocean of soldiers    went riding   on chariots ,

An ocean of warriors on elephants  moved like ,

 They were moving on clouds with red dots  on their face  ,

And another ocean of  horse warriors rode  on pretty faced horses

And an ocean  of foot   soldiers  spread   everywhere  on earth.

2276.Long pipes, conches , curved  pipes , kettle drums,

Huge drums   and several such  instruments   were silent ,

Like the   wise men  walking  silently in the company  of idiots  .

2277.Those ladies with lustrous beauty  who made  even devas baffled  ,

Walked wearing the faultless   characters of ladies  like shyness,

Without wearing any ornaments   and with the  body not   wanting decorations  ,

Like the  flowering branches    which had    shed   all its flowers.

2278.That army   without the matchless   royal white umbrella ,

Of the king  Dasaratha    who ruled   the entire   earth that was,

Surrounded   by the ocean with great justice  , was having only,

The small white star  like umbrellas   of  other kings   and ,

It looked   like a sky with many stars   but  without the moon.

2279.That marching army  crowded   the earth   making  others say,

 That  all directions are  very small and further said  that  , if the earth ,

Which is wearing   the sea water   sounding “Ol” as an apparel  ,

Can lift   this very big army  , than those  who termed earth ,

AS a lady    must have   been feeble ladies   only.

2280. The thick young   breasts of ladies   were not coated  with the mixture ,

Of sandal and Akil pastes   as usual   and were not coated ,

With the kukkum    solution  , they  were not wearing pearl necklaces  ,

And were not made   up   and looked like   tender  coconuts.

2281. The strong shoulders  of men   , due to breasts of their wives  ,

Not being covered   by pastes   nor by   scented garlands  ,

Were looking like   a hill bereft  of   bushes  and creepers .

2282.The ladies whose   hair was not exposed   to   scented smoke,

The normal decorations  they do on themselves were absent  ,

And their eyes  were  without Kajal   , and were looking like  well washed  spears,

Of the soldiers    who have   completely  won over their    enemy.

2283.The waists   of the ladies  looked like chariot  not decorated by gems,

And their waist belts   without gems    did not have   any luster ,

And their coral  like red feet   without sound of anklets ,

Was  like   lotus flowers   without bees humming around them.

2284.Their waists   which had the nature   of bending   due to their ,

Not wearing the pearl  chains  , were taking  rest  as  their burden was less,

And so   it looks like    the  fertile boon got by   the  daughter of Kekaya ,

Was   only being helpful    to the waists    of young ladies.

2285., Due   to the parting of prince Rama,  it looked like  , that the   army which was measure less  

Had lost its decorations  ,the goddess of wealth   had preferred   to do penance  ,

And the God of love due to no body enjoying life   was immersed in ocean of sorrow.

2286.If we say  that , the  army that started from Ayodhya   was like the sea of deluge ,

And is covering  the earth , the sky   and all directions , it would be inadequate  ,

For  it was   longer than the eyes   and mind   of  the God of lotus, Lord Brahma.

2287.  That   shining   army   due to its drinking  all waters of the sea,

Due to   making   the world tilt to one direction  and due to it,

Pressing   huge  mountain in to a hill was  similar  to sage Agasthya.

2288.That  great  city of Ayodhya   due to wise people   children ,

And all others as  well as the densely   situated  army   and the wealth,

Going away , was like the bare sea  when  Agasthya   drank all its water.

2289.Since   the way that the army marched   , had  rivers with great waves,

Fields , the trees that one liked  ,mountains   , earth   was  seen by the eye ,

Like  the great streets  of   the divine     city of    Ayodhya , without any change.

2290. In  that army that   was sent by that king  , the water  of rut  let out by,

The mountain like and cloud  like elephants   it seems  did not have,

The scent of garlands of men, flower worn by ladies   and the round flower garlands.

2291.That sea of soldiers    which was broader than  the ocean where people,

Climbing on their boats   wander about  was not having   the luster  of foreheads of ladies  ,

Or   their lightning  like waists   or the ear globes  that used   to touch their shoulders.

2292. Due to the fact  that the great army  was marching  without,

Sound of  many  instruments like   drums  , it was looking like,

The drawing   of a very large army    drawn on a big wall.

2293.The act  of their darling Rama   undertaking a  life of the forest,

Was  like a protective   armour  to all the males  as it  prevented    the ladies wearing 

Garland without flower petals   attacking   them  with  the arrow of love shot from their eyes 

 2294.The mind of men attacked   by the cruel five   arrows of God  of love  ,

Did   not stay  in between the breasts   of the ladies   and enjoy them,

Possibly with the thought that  the anger  against Kaikeyi   wearing  ,

Heavy      ear globes due to their  burning in the mind of ladies  made their breasts hot,

2295. When the army was marching  this  Bharata wore ,

The bark cloth on his pretty waists   and along with his brother,

And along with the sorrow that   he felt   started riding on a  huge chariot.

2296. His mothers , great   sages  , the ministers of his father  ,

His innumerable relatives   and pure  Brahmins  surrounded,

And went along   him , and he reached  the gate  of the great town.

2297. When Shatrugna  seeing  Mandhara who was   similar to god of death  ,

Going with  the people going to forest , pushing every one  ,

Speedily went near her  shouted loudly against her  ,

Caught her as if  he wanted to throw    her in the sky ,

Bharata  with pretty shoulders  stopped  and told him.

2298.””oh sir  , If I quench my anger  by cutting in to pieces  ,

My sinful mother   who through her boons   broke  the tradition,

Followed by our fore fathers , My lord Rama   would ,

Disown me  as his  brother   and that  is why I kept quiet,

But not because   I  thought    her   as my mother.”

2299.”Oh brother  who is an expert  in the knowledge  of faultless Vedas,

Even if we get angry   with  this Kooni who caused  all of us ,

Endless   troubles , Rama would hate us   and  due to this,

Let us leave her “ telling this , with great difficulty,

He   took his    younger   brother   along with him.

2300. With huge  dense    army     and   the great people  of Ayodhya ,

Surrounding him on one  side   like an ocean  , Bharata,

Stayed   in the same garden where   Rama , Sita   and Lakshmana took rest.

2301.In   the night he drowned   himself   in the   stream,

Of his own tears  , without eating     the fruits  and roots,

That   are produced  in the mountain   and  rested  in the dust near ,

The grass   where Rama who held the bow on his high shoulders  took rest.

2302.Bharatha   hearing   that greatest  among men walked ,

In that narrow path , started walking by that path and , the chariots   and,

The collection  of horses   followed Bharata    who walked  by that path.

 

12.Gangai kaan padalam 

The chapter  on seeing ganges.

(Guha suspects the intentions of Bharata  and gets ready to attack him.Sumanthra then tells Bharata and about who Guha is. Seeing him dressed in bark and coated with dust  Guha decided to go and meet him.   Bharata salutes him and all misunderstandings are removed.  Bharata requests Guha to help him cross the river Ganges.  With Guha’s help   all of them cross the river. Bharata introduces his mothers  including Kaikeyi to Guha.   All of them reach   the  hermitage of Bhardwaja.

   According to Valmiki Ramayana though Guha suspects  Bharata , it was he who goes and meets him in his tent. There is a very detailed talk  of Guha with Bharata about Lakshmana in Valmiki Ramayana  . It is just mentioned in Kamba Ramayana.)

2303.  The pretty   tender hearted  Bharata who wears  the hero’s ,

Anklets   made of Gold   who had a  matchless   army  , moving ,

Away from Kosala country  which was  like  the Chozha country ,

Made prosperous   by Cauvery river , reached   the banks of Ganges,

Pitied    by  all moving   and not  moving   beings.

2304.The large   river Ganga      which has lots of water  ,

Due  to stream of rut water   from cruel elephants  ,

Flowing everywhere  became unfit   to be  drunk and

 Taken bath in by  numerous  bees  and other insects .

2305.  The dust raised   entered in the   world of devas  ,

Hit  the heads of devas and spread every where there,

We do not know about this   but   those  which  breathed heavily  ,

Swam in the stream   and   rolled on the mud  were  only horse  groups.

2306. The water that  flowed  in the Gamges river was white  like milk,

Did not go and join the    huge sounding long  sea like   it did earlier,

But   the ocean like army   of the king   with a flower  decorated crown  ate it away.

2307. The army that  followed Bharata  , who went to see Lord Rama ,

Who had gone in to the forest   in that way   has  been estimated,

By elders   as  sixty thousand   Akronis*.

*21870 elephants  , 21870  chariots , 65610 horses  and 190350 land army.

2308.When the great army reached   the river   Ganges  ,  angry  Guha  saw it ,

And thought   “why did this army start? .Is it to wage   a war  ,

Against Rama   with a black body who was like the   cloud,

That    had taken out   the water    from the pearl laden city.

2309.That hunter chief    who  has valour like God  of death,

Saw the very huge crowd   of Bharata ’s army  like dust,

With a sarcastic smile and fire coming  out of his eyes,

Developed a bow like bent   eye brows   due to anger.

2310.Guha   had a huge   army   with five lakh   soldiers   each of whom

Were   like the    God of death holding a trident ,who takes   away 

The souls at the end of  the worlds   for  destroying evil was an expert in arrow   warfare.

2311.  He had a sword tied    to his hip, was one who bites lips   with teeth,

Who talked   in a harsh way  , who  started   with his eyes spitting fire,

Who had a big drum to beat, who had the horn to   announce war  ,

And had shoulders which go up with happiness thinking of the onset of war.

2312,. “This entire army is of rats   and I am the snake “  he said  , like  ,

All  the tigers with bent nails      who are   in this strong    world  ,

Assembling in one  place  the hunter army was shouting   and he summoned them.

2313. Surrounded by  that huge   hunter army which had come together   was   similar to  ,

The rising   together   of  clouds    with thunder   and the black sea   at deluge ,

Guha     came and appeared   at the southern shore  of Ganges.

2314. Guha looking at the hunters    who have assembled    there  told,

“I have began the war   to  go to the heroes  of   heaven   by fighting  ,

With  the army of Bharata  who have  come to prevent ,

Rama who  is my soul like find   getting   the huge kingdom ,Please agree to this,”

2315. “Play the    war drums   , destroy   the paths   and  ghats  ,

So that they cannot come here  and catch   all those ,

Who manage to reach the southern shore 

In fast flowing ganges and kill them”, Guha told

2316.” He who has  prevented   my  soul like lord  , who is  black  in colour  ,

To get possession of his  kingdom  by usurping    the  ruler ship  ,

Has now come   here.  Would my fire spitting red arrows  ,

Fail   to  hit on them   and if they escape  from my arrows ,

And reach near Rama, then would not the world call be dog like Guha?”

2317.”Would they be able to cross   this deep Ganges with very heavy  tide?

Would  I get scared   on seeing   their big army   and run away showing my back?

Does the word  “friendship”   a word  told by Rama   a matchless  one?, would not people blame me,

That It is better that   this poor hunter  better die rather than  getting afraid of this army,”

2318.”This Bharata  perhaps  never thought that   the Rama was elder    to him , nor did he think,

That  the very strong   tiger  like Lakshmana  is there    to help Rama,

Even if  he did not think about them , not bothering    anything about  me,

For  he can wage war with Rama  only after   crossing my   boundary  ,

Would not the arrows shot  by the hunters    enter  the  chest  of kings?”

2319.Would not the kings   who rule the world  not think  about the sin,

About the  bad name they would get after  that  , about whether ,

A person is their enemy or friend , about  the crimes that  they may commit ,

And many other things like that? Let it be like that  ,to go for war ,

Against Rama who has   given his friendship to    me,

Would only be possible only getting away their soul and army from me?

2320 “.When my friend Rama is doing great penance  , Would this Bharata,

Rule the world? My soul is not the nectar  of devas and   would not I,

Give it up for Rama    and get   great fame?  It is good    that  ,

I did not accompany Rama  and Lakshmana who became happy  with me  ,

For I would  repay my   duty   to him    today itself.” Guha told.

2321.”These people   with huge  army  of elephants  and horses,

Accompanying them and who wear   scented   flower garlands  ,

Can only show their valour   after   they cross   river Ganges .

And so   worried hunters  , stop   the   rowing   of boat ,

For them as  is it not good   that we would lose our souls before Rama?”

2322.”Possibly for the  valorous people like   you this   army  of Bharata   is not match?

Let it be like that  . Even if the devas   themselves   come  , when my ,

Black cloud  like bow starts   showering arrows like rain  , the liver of enemies,

Would be damaged  and would I   not kill their well armed   army ,

And also make    their elephant      army run  helter-skelter.”

2323 “Would I not  kill by  my arrows   the army  of Bharata   who is the son of Kaikeyi,

Who made Rama    wear the huge   dress  of bark   on the day  ,

When he  ought   to  give great charities  as prelude   of his crowning  ,

And throw the heap  of their corpses in to the river  , which will ,

Take them all   to the ocean   so that  even the ocean would get filled up.”

2324. “You please get the fame   that these hunters   have  destroyed ,

The huge army with flags  and gave  it to Rama , the upholder of Dharma for ruling,

And please  see the manner in which   these people   have come  ,

Not able to tolerate  Rama ruling   the forest   even though,

He had given all the  kingdom of   his to them to  rule.”

2325. My king Rama   who has  become friendly to many great sages,

Who live in the forest, would hate  me and get angry with me  ,

If  I fight a war with Bharata, though  if their army is of the size of seven oceans,

It would be destroyed easily  like  a small quantity of grass kept before a hungry vow.”

2326. That Guha   who held   a very huge bow  , who had a great  shoulders,

Due to his taking part in wrestling   and who was  a great friend  of Rama ,

An expert in war with sword  , after telling this  stood before the hunters   ,

Who had iron like body  and seeing him Sumanthra , the expert charioteer ,

Went and stood before  Bharata who was as strong as a lion and told.

2327-2328.” This Guha who wears flower garlands     from which  honey drops,

Is the owner   of all the lands on both   the banks   of river  Ganges,

Is   the owner of numberless boats , is a great   friend,

Of Rama   who has   taken birth in your clan   , is one  with high shoulders,

Is one who is like a cruel elephant  and is the owner   of ocean like army of hunters

Is one    who is as strong as the mountain, is one having matchless  love towards Rama ,

Is one   who has a body of the colour of night   and is standing there ,

With a desire to see   you,Oh  Bharata  with huge shoulders due to wrestling

 And one who is black like blue gem and   water rich cloud.”

2329. That faultless Bharata who had   a very good mind 

And one who became    very easily happy   even before,

 The friend of his father  completed his words   told,

“If he is a close   friend of our king  and one  who has  hugged  him,

Before he went to the forest  , even before   he comes  to see me,

I would  like to go and see him first “ and started from there.

2330.After saying this  he started   with his  younger brother,

And  the ebbing joy in his mind  , like   a mountain moving from somewhere,

And approached   the northern bank of river  Ganges   and seeing him  ,

That chief of hunters with black scented hairs ,   realized,

That the body of Bharata   was greatly  tired   and depressed  and was greatly upset.

2331, When Guha   saw Bharata   dressed  in bark , with a body coated  in dust,

Looking like a lusterless  moon   and without a face   with joy  ,

His bow    from his hand fell on the earth    and  getting worried due to sorrow ,

He stood there    without   any activity   whatsoever.

2332.He thought  “This one   also looks    very much like   my lord  ,

And  the one who stands near to him  has very similar  looks like Lakshmana.

He is wearing a sages garb and it appears   there  is no end to his   sorrow,

And he also looks in the direction by which Rama went    and is saluting often that side,

How can  the  younger brothers of my lord commit  errors towards him? “

2333.Guha told his people “He seems to be one with a new sorrow  ,

Who has  unshakable love,  Who is wearing   the  dress for penance like Rama,

And so I  would   see him directly  , understand  clearly  his  mind and then be back”,

 And then he reached the cool Boat jetty of ganges   and came  alone in one boat.”

2034.After  reaching  the other shore  , he saluted  , Bharata  who saluted him,

And that  Bharata   who would even be saluted by Lord Brahma  seated on a lotus,

Fell on the feet of Guha    and saluted him   and seeing that  , Guha  who was ,

Famous  in the mind and brain of great people  , like father with joy hugged  Bharata.

2035.That king of hunters  who hugged  Bharata who had eyes like red lotus flower,

Said,  “Oh Bharata  who has shoulders stronger than a Kanaka  tree ,  what  is the,

Reason  for you coming here?” Bharata  replied, “My father   who ruled   the entire earth,

Has slipped   from the  practice  of my ancestors and  ,

To correct this injustice , I have come here  to bring back the   real king.”

2036. The king of the hunters   heard this   and let out a breath   which came up,

And saluted  Bharata by falling  on the earth   and sobbed   due to very great joy,

And  after locking his hands   on the  lotus like  holy feet    of Bharata .

Started   telling these    words   with a mind that  never tells lie.

2037.”Oh famous  one  ,  When we think that  You have   come to the forest 

 With  a thoughtful face  having rejected  as evil , the kingdom given by your father   ,

As  per the   words  of your mother  and   when  we understand  your good nature,

I  am made to ask, “even if there   are one thousand Ramas, would they be equal to you?”

2038.”Oh Bharata ,  of sterling character  and  very    strong  shoulders,

How can an ignorant    hunter  like  me praise   some one?

Like the Sun God   has controlled the luster  of bunch of his praises  and gone up,

All the fame   of  your ancestors   which  were praised   by all kings,

Have  now been made   in to   only your  fame.”

2339.That  Guha who wore decorated   heroic anklet   and  holding,

A flesh scented  spear  and who was   the chief of hunters  ,

After telling several   such words   , did several hospitable   measures,

To Bharata   who had great love   towards him as well as Rama,

Because   who can be there in this earth    who would not love Bharata?

And was not the love   towards  Rama  because of his being treasure of all that is good.

2340.That Bharata who was similar  to the sea of mercy   and whose  mind went in the right path,

Saluted  by his red hands  the southern side by which Rama proceeded and asked Guha,

“Where   did my elder brother stay?”   and then   Guha   who was the king of hunters,

Said, “Oh valorous one  , please come , I myself   would   show you that place.”

2341.Bharata went to that place   as speedily as a cloud   and after   seeing,

The place in between the stones  where grass   was spread  like bed,

Where  Rama with long hands   and having a great bow  lay down,

Shivered , fell on earth and entered   the sea of sorrow ,

And  became the one  with eyes   that bathed    that  piece  of earth,

 With  his  stream of tears   which were like pearls   and said.

2342.”Even after knowing this suffering came  to you because  of me,

And knowing that you ate roots and fruits here   as if you are eating nectar in the  palace,

And that you slept   on this bed where  no one can sleep ,I have not  left my soul.

And not only that it seems  I would wear  the lustrous  gold  crown and accept kingship also,.”

2343. That  Bharata with tall shoulders further  sweetly asked, 

“If that tall  Rama has slept here,

Where did his younger brother   who loves him  

and came along with him rest at night?” ,

And the king of hunters  replied  like this.

2344,”Oh Bharata whose   shoulders   have defeated   the mountains ,

When  Rama with a colour of the body    which ruled  over darkness ,

And his lady   slept , the valorous Lakshmana   with his  hands ,

Holding the bow as his support  , with   very hot   breath,

With eyes shedding tears  , till the  morning dawned  ,

Stood    without   ever closing     his eyes.”

2345. Bharata hearing that  said, “ I who am   born   along with Lakshmana  as his brother,

Though we were similar  , became  the cause   for endless  cause of sorrow to him,

But Lakshmana stood   for wiping it out   and stood there  to protect him  ,

He  rose   without any limit due to his love and I went down worse than a slave.”

2346.Bharata spent that night   on the dust   in that place   and told,

“Oh Guha who wears heroic anklets   which make the enemies   flee,

Oh Lord of hunters , at this time  if you help us to cross river Ganges,

You would be making us climb from  the harsh sea of sorrow   and would send us to Rama.”

2347.The  hunter king said “yes”   , reached   his people   and told them,

“Go and bring the boats  here “ and then   boats  with shape  of silver mountain,

On which  Lord Shiva lives  ,Some like the  golden mountain which he  bent  for war,

And  some  like the plane  of Lord Khubera   came there , and   possibly ,

They took several such shapes  because  they were ashamed to look similar  .

2348. Those boats with the gait of ladies and having capacity to  go in water ,

And make the swans ashamed due to their nature  of  bringing  .,

Those on the other to  this shore  by climbing  and travelling on  them,

Was  like the blessed deeds and sin that would   take   the people ,

Of this world to the world of devas   and  they occupied  ,

The entire river   Ganges   as if there was no other  place there.

2349. Guha the king of  the Srungibera   looking at Bharata   told,

“Oh Bharata son of Dasaratha having at great bow , countless,

Boats have arrived here. What is your intention, please tell me.”

And Bharata holding a pretty strong bow seeing Sumantra  told,

“My father , please ask the army to get in to these speedily.”

2350. Due to  order of Bharata  , that Sumanthra   who was an expert in chariot ,

Seeing according to their ranks  and  as  per the system followed by them,

Made   the elephant ,  horse , chariot and food soldiers   who were countless,

Cross the   river Ganges   with  tides  with a luster  of shining  gems.

2351.Those boats  with the sound  like thunder produced  by clashing of clouds,

Looking  like they    have come near   to completely dry the  water of the ocean,

Similar to  the time of deluge ands similar to flagged   ships  with masts travelling in the sea,

And like huge elephants swimming with   the trunks   extended out  , crossed the river.

2352.Due to push   of cruel elephants   coming up and pushing  , conches, sharks,

And Pearls   and the sea waters  having ships   coming   in to it  ,

The  waters of Ganges with a love to see Rama , crossed   its own banks.

2353,With the tides going near  the shore , appeared similar to  upper  cloth of ladies ,

And  with  the water of rut   falling  like water fall    from the  the  mountain like elephants 

Swimming  under water    with only their   heads   appearing above it  ,

Appeared  like the breasts  of the lady of ganges   with long hair.

2354.Huge chariots   were  separated in to parts  like lotus like front part,

The chariot floor  , wheels  , the nails joining them   and the  two long   flags

Tied separately on their sides  in proper order   and along with  horses,

With uncut main   travelled in separate boats like  the fate  and the body,

Traveling separately      when any   being is dead.

2355.The horses   which had  white bodies like milk , which  looked scared,

And agitated  and  which had  long round legs   which can help them travel fast  ,

Along with horses   which had decorations like  seat and stirrup ,

Travelled   with the speed   of fishes   , standing erect on those boats.

2356.The ladies with tender   bodies and wearing bangles  entering in between each other

Were  sitting crowded    on the boats one in front of the other  

With their big breasts touching each other  and looked like 

Big playful   elephants  standing in a row   with trunks  touching   the one in front.

2357.When the  boats carrying  the ladies dashed with each other,

Those ladies who wear ear globes became jittery   and confused ,

And when they saw  both sides   with   their very scared  eyes,

They looked like the scared   jumping   group of fishes ,

Which were  pushing them with swift  flow of waters.

2358.The boats which normally move   in the water  ,were being pushed  by the oars,

By the hunters   on both sides   , and these moving oars   sprinkled   water,

And those drops of water   falling on the thin dress   of the ladies ,

Wetting   their broad hips  and  made   them  more visible  ,

And  this removed   the sorrow  of  the  heroes with mental strength  .

2359.Accepting the sea of the army  making great sound    on the northern banks ,

And  after  making them reach the southern banks  , the  empty  boats   

Reaching   again on the northern bank were  like the clouds  ,

Which draw all the water from sea  , drop it on earth   and again return to the sea,.

2360.In the boats , the beams   from the chariots  which had  the peacock feathers ,

Smoked   by Akil  smoke  tied   and had   a decoration like the new leaf on its top 

Looked like the beams of the mast  and  the flags   which  were of the colour  ,

Of the cloud and having gem studded gold plates   were  looking like  the cloth of the mast,

 And   this made them look like huge boats   driven by wind masts  in the sea.

2361. That wide ganges  looking like the sky  with the dropping  gems looking,

Like the stars   and the boats  carrying   the ladies with lotus like face  ,

Nectar dripping red mouth  and honey   dripping hair   looked  like  ,

The ascending   planes  with  deva maidens   after  their sports in water.

2362.With the two big  oars   which move  in the water   sprinkling drops of  water  ,

Looking  like two legs  , With  the boat  called Nandu (crab)   moving   in  the cold waters,

Of  Ganges  looking like the joyous peacock  , the boat  looked as if living,

When the damsels with fish like eyes   touch it  with their lustrous lotus like feet.

2363.When people were going travelling in boats  , the sages  did not travel  ,

In to   the boats  built  by  people  of lower status   and with the thought of their mind,

As their boats   they went by the sky  . This was possible   to them  because

Both in earth and all other  worlds  there  is no job greater than penance  .

2364.The   army which was considered as   Sixty thousand  Akroni   ,

All the faultless    citizens  of Ayodhya  , the crowd of ladies,

Made the   Ganges with close   tides   behind them,

2365.After   seeing to it that the army around him  has  crossed,

The river Ganges with whirl pools , Bharata who has    won ,

Over the desire    for earth   and  thus has subdued  ,

All the  kings   who ruled   before him  , got  in to the  boat.

2366. Seeing Kausalya who was being saluted by relatives and Devas,

Guha  looked at her   and saluted her  and asked  Bharata ,

“On Bharata   who is wearing garland of victory  , Who is this?’

And Bharata replied, “She is the first  ranking queen of Dasaratha   whose   courtyard,

Is filled with kings and she  after giving birth to   the lord who created  Lord Brahma ,

Who has created   the three   worlds  but had to give up   the wealth of the kingdom,

Which was    his to me   and   she  had the greatness   to do it.”

2367. As soon as Bharata told like this   Guha fell at her feet   and was  crying for a long time,

And that creeper like lady   who had the sorrow of parting from her calf   asked Bharata,

“Who is this?” , her son who wore the   heroic anklets   on his legs   said,

“This   leader who salutes you   is a  sweet friend   Of    Raghava   and elder ,

To me and Lakshmana   as well as Shatrugna  and has mountain like shoulders  and is called  Guha.”

2368.Hearing that Kausalya told  , “Oh  my sons  , please do not  be sad now  on wards ,

Did not the coming away of Rama and Lakshmana   after giving up the kingdom  ,

And coming away  , give them this great boon.  This  lad  with mountain  like shoulders,

And who is  like   a valorous  male   elephant   along with all of you   have become five heroes

And would rule   over this broad    earth  for a long time and protect it.”

2369.Then after seeing  Sumithra who was standing like the God   of Dharma near by,

Guha asked  Bharata, “Sir  , who is this lady   who is full of affection?, please tell.”

He said,  “She is the younger queen of that king  who   did never   swerve from path of truth,

And who died for that   and she is the one  who gave birth   to that  one who proves,

That Rama has a brother    by not at   all  parting with him  and has the greatness due to that.”

2370.Making  her husband    having gone to the    hot cremation ground  ,

Making her  son   going to the ocean of sorrow  and  making the   sea of mercy Rama,

 Going to the cruel forest   was  she  unlike   the Lord Vishnu    who wore anklets 

Asking for three   steps   and then taking a huge form measured  all the world ,

Just by two steps , just by the cruelty of her mind   and Guha asked  “Who is this?”

2371.”She is one   created  all sorrows  ,  she is the mother who brought up,

The child called   bad name from the  world  and to me   who lived  in her,

Useless  bad fated  belly   for a  long time  , she  made  the burden of life ,

To reduce  to me  and made all people  feel   that   all the bodies  in the world ,

Are  one without souls  But she has  a face that   does not show sorrow, and ,

You should have recognized her   from her face   but if not  , she  is my  mother.”

2372.Guha heard    what Bharata   told him   but   using his good hands  ,

Saluted her without mercy    considering her    as his mother   and by that time  ,

The  female  swan like boat  without wings reached    the other  shore.

2373.With the mothers who  got down get in to the palanquin,

Bharata   walked   with the new stream of tears   in his   eyes  ,

And Guha did not stop there   but went along with him  .

And they walked    with their feet a long    distance.

2374,  Bharata   approached the heritage   of  Sage Bharadwaja  

Who has   got rid  of the load of Karma, and who   was  a very great sage  ,

And seeing that   that saint   accompanied  by Brahmins  ,

Who were  great knowledge of Vedas  came out to receive him.