Construction of a High-way from Ayodhya to River Ganga

अथ भूमि प्रदेशज्ञाः सूत्र कर्म विशारदाः | स्व कर्म अभिरताः शूराः खनका यन्त्रकाः तथा || २-८०-१ कर्म अन्तिकाः स्थपतयः पुरुषा यन्त्र कोविदाः | तथा वर्धकयः चैव मार्गिणो वृक्ष तक्षकाः || २-८०-२ कूप काराः सुधा कारा वंश कर्म कृतः तथा | समर्था ये च द्रष्टारः पुरतः ते प्रतस्थिरे || २-८०-३

atha bhuumi pradeshaGYaaH suutra karma vishaaradaaH | sva karma abhirataaH shuuraaH khanakaa yantrakaaH tathaa || 2-80-1 karma antikaaH sthapatayaH puruShaa yantra kovidaaH | tathaa vardhakayaH caiva maargiNo vR^ikSha takShakaaH || 2-80-2 kuupa kaaraaH sudhaa kaaraa va.nsha karma kR^itaH tathaa | samarthaa ye ca draShTaaraH purataH te pratasthire || 2-80-3

Then, those able to advise on the nature of soils, those skilled in thread-holding for leveling purposes, those who were energetic courageous and attentive in doing their jobs, excavators, mechanics, labourers, carpenters, road-menders, wood-cutters, hollow-makers, men skilled in plastering and white washing, basket makers, tanners and skilled supervisors of work sallied forth in advance.

स तु हर्षात् तम् उद्देशम् जन ओघो विपुलः प्रयान् | अशोभत महा वेगः सागरस्य इव पर्वणि || २-८०-४

lataa valliiH ca gulmaamH ca sthaaNuun ashmanaeva ca | janaaH te cakrire maargam chindantaH vividhaan drumaan || 2-80-6

That mighty assembly of men gladly setting out to that forest was splendid like an ocean on the day of the full moon having a gigantic commotion.

ते स्व वारम् समास्थाय वर्त्म कर्माणि कोविदाः | करणैः विविध उपेतैः पुरस्तात् सम्प्रतस्थिरे || २-८०-५

avR^ikSheShu ca desheShu kecit vR^ikShaan aropayan | kecit kuThaaraiaH TankaiH ca daatraiH chindan kvacit kvacit || 2-80-7

Men skilled in making roads, furnished with tools of every kin, seeking the company of men of their own proper place, marched ahead.

लता वल्लीः च गुल्मामः च स्थाणून् अश्मनएव च | जनाः ते चक्रिरे मार्गम् चिन्दन्तः विविधान् द्रुमान् || २-८०-६

apare viiraNa stambaan balino balavattaraaH | vidhamanti sma durgaaNi sthalaani ca tataH tataH || 2-80-8

Clearing away rows of creepers and shrubs timber and big rocks as well as variours kinds of trees (which obstructed the way), they carved out a path.

अवृक्षेषु च देशेषु केचित् वृक्षान् अरोपयन् | केचित् कुठारैअः टन्कैः च दात्रैः चिन्दन् क्वचित् क्वचित् || २-८०-७

apare apuurayan kuupaan paa.nsubhiH shvabhram aayatam | nimna bhaagaa.ns tathaa kecit samaamH cakruH samantataH || 2-80-9

Some men planted trees in tree-less areas. Some others chopped the existing trees here and there by means of axes, hatchets and sickles.

अपरे वीरण स्तम्बान् बलिनो बलवत्तराः | विधमन्ति स्म दुर्गाणि स्थलानि च ततः ततः || २-८०-८

babandhur bandhaniiyaamH ca kShodyaan sa.ncukShudus tadaa | bibhidur bhedaniiyaamH ca taa.ns taan deshaan naraaH tadaa || 2-80-10

Some other strong men removed sturdy tufts of Virana grass and leveled the uneven places here and there.

अपरे अपूरयन् कूपान् पांसुभिः श्वभ्रम् आयतम् | निम्न भागांस् तथा केचित् समामः चक्रुः समन्ततः || २-८०-९

acireNa eva kaalena parivaahaan bahu udakaan | cakrur bahu vidha aakaaraan saagara pratimaan bahuun || 2-80-11

Some others filled up wells and extensive pits with earth. Some men leveled low-lying places all around.

बबन्धुर् बन्धनीयामः च क्षोद्यान् संचुक्षुदुस् तदा | बिभिदुर् भेदनीयामः च तांस् तान् देशान् नराः तदा || २-८०-१०

nirjaleShu ca desheShu khaanayaamaasuruttamaan | udapaanaan bahuvidhaan vedikaa parimaNDitaan || 2-80-12

Then, some men bridged the steams that could be bridged, pulverised the rocks that could be pulverised and smashed (the impediments that blocked the flow of water) those which could be smashed.

अचिरेण एव कालेन परिवाहान् बहु उदकान् | चक्रुर् बहु विध आकारान् सागर प्रतिमान् बहून् || २-८०-११

sasudhaa kuTTima talaH prapuShpita mahii ruhaH | matta udghuShTa dvija gaNaH pataakaabhir alamkR^itaH || 2-80-13 candana udaka sa.nsiktaH naanaa kusuma bhuuShitaH | bahv ashobhata senaayaaH panthaaH svarga patha upamaH || 2-80-14

Many ponds, in various sizes and shapes containing plenty of water resembling seas were built (by constructing dams on rivulets).

निर्जलेषु च देशेषु खानयामासुरुत्तमान् | उदपानान् बहुविधान् वेदिका परिमण्डितान् || २-८०-१२

aaGYaapya atha yathaa aaGYapti yuktaaH te adhikR^itaa naraaH | ramaNiiyeShu desheShu bahu svaadu phaleShu ca || 2-80-15 yo niveshaH tu abhipretaH bharatasya mahaatmanaH | bhuuyaH tam shobhayaam aasur bhuuShaabhir bhuuShaNa upamam || 2-80-16

In water-scarce areas, excellent wells in various shapes were dug duly decorated all around with platforms (to rest).

ससुधा कुट्टिम तलः प्रपुष्पित मही रुहः | मत्त उद्घुष्ट द्विज गणः पताकाभिर् अलम्कृतः || २-८०-१३ चन्दन उदक संसिक्तः नाना कुसुम भूषितः | बह्व् अशोभत सेनायाः पन्थाः स्वर्ग पथ उपमः || २-८०-१४

nakShatreShu prashasteShu muhuurteShu ca tadvidaH | nivesham sthaapayaam aasur bharatasya mahaatmanaH || 2-80-17

That track of the troops, having its surface inlaid with cement, with flowering trees inlaid with cement, with flowering trees on both sides, inhabited with birds in excitement making their sounds, adorned with flags on its either side with its surface sprinkled with water of sandal-wood fragrance, and decorated with various kinds of flowers, looked very much splendid like the path of celestials.

आज्ञाप्य अथ यथा आज्ञप्ति युक्ताः ते अधिकृता नराः | रमणीयेषु देशेषु बहु स्वादु फलेषु च || २-८०-१५ यो निवेशः तु अभिप्रेतः भरतस्य महात्मनः | भूयः तम् शोभयाम् आसुर् भूषाभिर् भूषण उपमम् || २-८०-१६

jaahnaviim tu samaasaadya vividha druma kaananaam | shiitala amala paaniiyaam mahaa miina samaakulaam || 2-80-21

Those officers appointed for execution of the work, as ordered by Bharata, skillfully instructed their work-men and erected a tent which was intended for the great-souled Bharata, in a beautiful place abundant with tasty fruits. They further adorned profusely with decorations, the tent which itself resembled on ornament.

नक्षत्रेषु प्रशस्तेषु मुहूर्तेषु च तद्विदः | निवेशम् स्थापयाम् आसुर् भरतस्य महात्मनः || २-८०-१७

The connoisseurs erected the tents of the high-souled Bharata at auspicious hours in days when the stars were propitious.

बहु पांसु चयाः च अपि परिखा परिवारिताः | तन्त्र इन्द्र कील प्रतिमाः प्रतोली वर शोभिताः || २-८०-१८ प्रासाद माला सम्युक्ताः सौध प्राकार सम्वृताः | पताका शोभिताः सर्वे सुनिर्मित महा पथाः || २-८०-१९ विसर्पत्भिर् इव आकाशे विटन्क अग्र विमानकैः | समुच्च्रितैः निवेशाः ते बभुः शक्र पुर उपमाः || २-८०-२०

Those camps, with many breast works of sand, moats surrounding each of them, streets as resplendent as sapphires, their crowns of terrets, the ramparts covered with stucco to protect then, the splendid banners, the skillfully laidout avenues, lofty mansions the tops of which were provided with dove-cots, which flew about as it were in the air and in splendour, resembled the capitals of Indra.

जाह्नवीम् तु समासाद्य विविध द्रुम काननाम् | शीतल अमल पानीयाम् महा मीन समाकुलाम् || २-८०-२१

The route thus prepared, extended upto the Ganga River, whose pure and limpid waters, abounding in great fish, flowed between woods and forests of every kind.

सचन्द्र तारा गण मण्डितम् यथा | नभः क्षपायाम् अमलम् विराजते | नर इन्द्र मार्गः स तथा व्यराजत | क्रमेण रम्यः शुभ शिल्पि निर्मितः || २-८०-२२

That beautiful royal high way, which was built gradually by efficient engineers, appeared as resplendent as a night in a clear sky, illumined by the moon with its procession of stars.