ततः नान्दी मुखीम् रात्रिम् भरतम् सूत मागधाः | तुष्टुवुर् वाग् विशेषज्ञाः स्तवैः मन्गल सम्हितैः || २-८१-१
tataH naandii mukhiim raatrim bharatam suuta maagadhaaH | tuShTuvur vaag visheShaGYaaH stavaiH mangala samhitaiH || 2-81-1
Then, bards and pangegyrists, who knew the importance of tidings, eulogized Bharata with auspicious hymns of praise on the night preceding Naandimukha.
सुवर्ण कोण अभिहतः प्राणदद् याम दुन्दुभिः | दध्मुः शन्खामः च शतशो वाद्यामः च उच्च अवच स्वरान् || २-८१-२
suvarNa koNa abhihataH praaNadad yaama dundubhiH | dadhmuH shankhaamH ca shatasho vaadyaamH ca ucca avaca svaraan || 2-81-2
A drum from the sound of which nigh-hours are identified, struck with a golden stick, gave its sound. Couches and loud-sounding instruments in hundreds producing various types of noises were blown.
स तूर्य घोषः सुमहान् दिवम् आपूरयन्न् इव | भरतम् शोक सम्तप्तम् भूयः शोकैः अरन्ध्रयत् || २-८१-३
sa tuurya ghoShaH sumahaan divam aapuurayann iva | bharatam shoka samtaptam bhuuyaH shokaiH arandhrayat || 2-81-3
That mammoth sound of the musical instruments, as if filling up the whole sky, created further distress and grief to Bharata who was already tormented with grief.
ततः प्रबुद्धो भरतः तम् घोषम् सम्निवर्त्य च | न अहम् राजा इति च अपि उक्त्वा शत्रुघ्नम् इदम् अब्रवीत् || २-८१-४
tataH prabuddho bharataH tam ghoSham samnivartya ca | na aham raajaa iti ca api uktvaa shatrughnam idam abraviit || 2-81-4
Then, the awakened Bharata proclaiming that "I am not the king", caused to stop that sound and spoke the following words to shatrughna:
पश्य शत्रुघ्न कैकेय्या लोकस्य अपकृतम् महत् | विसृज्य मयि दुह्खानि राजा दशरथो गतः || २-८१-५
pashya shatrughna kaikeyyaa lokasya apakR^itam mahat | visR^ijya mayi duhkhaani raajaa dasharatho gataH || 2-81-5
"Behold, O, Shatrughna! How much harm was done to the world by Kaikeyi! The king Dasartha left us, leaving all sorrows to me."
तस्य एषा धर्म राजस्य धर्म मूला महात्मनः | परिभ्रमति राज श्रीर् नौर् इव अकर्णिका जले || २-८१-६
tasya eShaa dharma raajasya dharma muulaa mahaatmanaH | paribhramati raaja shriir naur iva akarNikaa jale || 2-81-6
"This prosperous kingdom of Ayodhya, a foundation of law and religion of that high-souled Dasaratha the righteous king is now like boat without a rudder moving hitter and thither in water.
यो हि नः सुमहान्नाथः सोऽपि प्रव्राजितो वनम् | अनया धर्ममुत्सृज्य मात्रा मे राघवः स्वयम् || २-८१-७
yo hi naH sumahaannaathaH so.api pravraajito vanam | anayaa dharmamutsR^ijya maatraa me raaghavaH svayam || 2-81-7
"Even that Rama, who was a great protector has been sent to the forest by this very mother of mine, abandoning her righteousness."
इति एवम् भरतम् प्रेक्ष्य विलपन्तम् विचेतनम् | कृपणम् रुरुदुः सर्वाः सस्वरम् योषितः तदा || २-८१-८
iti evam bharatam prekShya vilapantam vicetanam | kR^ipaNam ruruduH sarvaaH sasvaram yoShitaH tadaa || 2-81-8
Seeing Bharata who lost his consciousness by lamenting in that way, all the women then miserably cried in one voice.
तथा तस्मिन् विलपति वसिष्ठो राज धर्मवित् | सभाम् इक्ष्वाकु नाथस्य प्रविवेश महा यशाः || २-८१-९
tathaa tasmin vilapati vasiShTho raaja dharmavit | sabhaam ikShvaaku naathasya pravivesha mahaa yashaaH || 2-81-9
While Bharata was lamenting thus, the great illustrious Vasishta who knew the rules relating to kings, entered the assembly-hall of Dasaratha the Lord of Ikshvaku dynasty.
शात कुम्भमयीम् रम्याम् मणि रत्न समाकुलाम् | सुधर्माम् इव धर्म आत्मा सगणः प्रत्यपद्यत || २-८१-१०
shaata kumbhamayiim ramyaam maNi ratna samaakulaam | sudharmaam iva dharma aatmaa sagaNaH pratyapadyata || 2-81-10
The pious minded Vasishta along with his attendants entered that lovely assembly-hall, made of gold and studded with gems and jewels, resembling Sudharma the celestial assembly-hall.
स कान्चनमयम् पीठम् पर अर्ध्य आस्तरण आवृतम् | अध्यास्त सर्व वेदज्ञो दूतान् अनुशशास च || २-८१-११
sa kaancanamayam piiTham para ardhya aastaraNa aavR^itam | adhyaasta sarva vedaGYo duutaan anushashaasa ca || 2-81-11
Vasista, who knew all the scriptures, then sat in a presidential chair made of gold and wrapped with a comfortable cushion. He ordered the messengers as follows:
ब्राह्मणान् क्षत्रियान् योधान् अमात्यान् गण बल्लभान् | क्षिप्रम् आनयत अव्यग्राः कृत्यम् आत्ययिकम् हि नः || २-८१-१२
braahmaNaan kShatriyaan yodhaan amaatyaan gaNa ballabhaan | kShipram aanayata avyagraaH kR^ityam aatyayikam hi naH || 2-81-12
"Quickly bring Brahmanas (a class of people having divine knowledge), Kshatriyas (people belonging to warrior-class), Vaisyas (agriculturists and traders), ministers and troop commanders coolly. There is an urgent duty indeed for us to be done.
सराजभृत्यम् शत्रुघ्नम् भरतम् च यश्स्विनम् | युधाजितम् सुमन्त्रम् च ये च तत्र हिता जनाः || २-८१-१३
saraajabhR^ityam shatrughnam bharatam ca yashsvinam | yudhaajitam sumantram ca ye ca tatra hitaa janaaH || 2-81-13
"Bring Shatrughna with his royal attendants, the illustrious Bharata, Yudhaajit (Bharata's maternal uncle) Sumantra the charioteer and those people who are royal well-wishers there."
ततः हलहला शब्दो महान् समुदपद्यत | रथैः अश्वैः गजैः च अपि जनानाम् उपगच्चताम् || २-८१-१४
tataH halahalaa shabdo mahaan samudapadyata | rathaiH ashvaiH gajaiH ca api janaanaam upagacchataam || 2-81-14
There was a huge hallooing sound generated while the people invited were coming on chariots, horses and elephants.
ततः भरतम् आयान्तम् शत क्रतुम् इव अमराः | प्रत्यनन्दन् प्रकृतयो यथा दशरथम् तथा || २-८१-१५
tataH bharatam aayaantam shata kratum iva amaraaH | pratyanandan prakR^itayo yathaa dasharatham tathaa || 2-81-15
People of high position like ministers and other welcomed the approaching Bharata in every way as they had welcomed Dasaratha and as Indra was welcomed by celestials.
ह्रदैव तिमि नाग सम्वृतः | स्तिमित जलो मणि शन्ख शर्करः | दशरथ सुत शोभिता सभा | सदशरथा इव बभौ यथा पुरा || २-८१-१६
hradaiva timi naaga samvR^itaH | stimita jalo maNi shankha sharkaraH | dasharatha suta shobhitaa sabhaa | sadasharathaa iva babhau yathaa puraa || 2-81-16
That royal assembly, made splendid by Bharata the son of Dasartha, radiated as before as with the presence of Dasaratha, like a lake of tranquil waters sown with pearls shells and sand and filled with great fish and serpents.
