२.७०.१
तमेवं शोकसंतप्तं भरतं केकयीसुतम् ।
उवाच वदतां श्रेष्ठो वसिष्ठः श्रेष्ठवागृषिः ॥
उवाच वदतां श्रेष्ठो वसिष्ठः श्रेष्ठवागृषिः ॥
Summary
AI
The sage Vasiṣṭha, preeminent among speakers and endowed with excellent speech, addressed the grief-stricken Bharata, the son of Kaikeyī.
M N Dutt
As Bharata, the son of Kaikeyi was thus burning in grief, that foremost of those skilled in speech, the saint Vasistha, endowed with excellence of language, said.
२.७०.२
अलं शोकेन भद्रं ते राजपुत्र महायशः ।
प्राप्तकालं नरपतेः कुरु संयानमुत्तरम् ॥
प्राप्तकालं नरपतेः कुरु संयानमुत्तरम् ॥
Summary
AI
"Enough with grief, O illustrious Prince! May good betide you. Perform the last rites for the king, as the time has come," said Vasiṣṭha.
M N Dutt
Do not weep, good betide you, O illustrious prince. Do you perform the funereal rites of the departed king.
२.७०.३
वसिष्ठस्य वचः श्रुत्वा भरतो धारणां गतः ।
प्रेतकार्याणि सर्वाणि कारयामास धर्मवित् ॥
प्रेतकार्याणि सर्वाणि कारयामास धर्मवित् ॥
Summary
AI
Hearing Vasiṣṭha's words, the righteous Bharata regained his composure and ordered all the funeral rites to be performed.
M N Dutt
Hearing Vasistha's words, Bharata cognisant of duty, bowed down to the ground and despatched the ministers for performing the last rites.
२.७०.४
उद्धृतं तैलसंक्लेदात्स तु भूमौ निवेशितम् ।
आपीतवर्णवदनं प्रसुप्तमिव भूमिपम् ॥
आपीतवर्णवदनं प्रसुप्तमिव भूमिपम् ॥
Summary
AI
He looked upon the king, who had been lifted from the oil vat and placed on the ground, his face pale, appearing as if he were merely fast asleep.
२.७०.५
निवेश्य शयने चाग्र्ये नानारत्नपरिष्कृते ।
ततो दशरथं पुत्रो विललाप सुदुःखितः ॥
ततो दशरथं पुत्रो विललाप सुदुःखितः ॥
Summary
AI
Having placed Daśaratha on an exquisite bed decorated with various gems, the son Bharata, deeply distressed, began to lament over his father.
M N Dutt
And raising from under the oil the body of the king with a sallow countenance, and appearing to be asleep. Bharata placed it on the ground upon a couch in front adorned with various gems. Then overwhelmed with grief, Dasaratha's son bewailed him thus.
२.७०.६
किं ते व्यवसितं राजन्प्रोषिते मय्यनागते ।
विवास्य रामं धर्मज्ञं लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम् ॥
विवास्य रामं धर्मज्ञं लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम् ॥
Summary
AI
"O King, what did you intend to do by exiling the righteous Rāma and the mighty Lakṣmaṇa while I was away and had not yet returned?"
M N Dutt
O king, what was it that you had intended to do, I absent and away from home, by banishing righteous Rāma and the powerful Lakşmana?
२.७०.७
क्व यास्यसि महाराज हित्वेमं दुःखितं जनम् ।
हीनं पुरुषसिंहेन रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा ॥
हीनं पुरुषसिंहेन रामेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा ॥
Summary
AI
"O Great King, where will you go, leaving behind these grieving people, now bereft of Rāma, that lion among men of untiring deeds?"
M N Dutt
Whither wend you, O mighty monarch, forsaking these aggrieved people, who have already been deprived of the lion like Rāma energetic in action?
२.७०.८
योगक्षेमं तु ते राजन्कोऽस्मिन्कल्पयिता पुरे ।
त्वयि प्रयाते स्वस्तात रामे च वनमाश्रिते ॥
त्वयि प्रयाते स्वस्तात रामे च वनमाश्रिते ॥
Summary
AI
"O King! O Father! Now that you have departed for heaven and Rāma has taken refuge in the forest, who will provide security and prosperity to this city?"
M N Dutt
O father, you having ascended heaven and Rāma having taken refuge in the woods, who now in this city of yours shall protect what the people possess and secure to them what they have not?
२.७०.९
विधवा पृथिवी राजंस्त्वया हीना न राजते ।
हीनचन्द्रेव रजनी नगरी प्रतिभाति माम् ॥
हीनचन्द्रेव रजनी नगरी प्रतिभाति माम् ॥
Summary
AI
"O King, the earth, bereft of you, does not shine and seems widowed. To me, this city appears like a moonless night."
M N Dutt
Widowed in consequence of losing you, this earth does not look graceful. The city appears to me like the night deprived of the Moon
२.७०.१०
एवं विलपमानं तं भरतं दीनमानसम् ।
अब्रवीद्वचनं भूयो वसिष्ठस्तु महानृषिः ॥
अब्रवीद्वचनं भूयो वसिष्ठस्तु महानृषिः ॥
Summary
AI
As Bharata lamented thus with a dejected mind, the great sage Vasiṣṭha spoke to him once again.
M N Dutt
As Bharata was lamenting thus in dejected mood, the mighty ascetic Vasiştha again addressed him, saying.
२.७०.११
प्रेतकार्याणि यान्यस्य कर्तव्यानि विशाम्पतेः ।
तान्यव्यग्रं महाबाहो क्रियतामविचारितम् ॥
तान्यव्यग्रं महाबाहो क्रियतामविचारितम् ॥
Summary
AI
"O mighty-armed one! Without hesitation or distraction, perform whatever funeral rites are necessary for this lord of the people."
M N Dutt
O mighty armed one, do you without indulging in any reflections, perform those funeral ceremonies of the monarch which ought to be performed.
२.७०.१२
तथेति भरतो वाक्यं वसिष्ठस्याभिपूज्य तत् ।
ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्यांस्त्वरयामास सर्वशः ॥
ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्यांस्त्वरयामास सर्वशः ॥
Summary
AI
Saying "So be it" and honoring Vasiṣṭha's words, Bharata urged the priests, the family chaplain, and the teachers to begin all the necessary preparations.
M N Dutt
Thereupon honouring his words by saying, "So be it,” he urged speed upon all the Rtvigs, priests, and Acāryas.
२.७०.१३
ये त्वग्रतो नरेन्द्रस्य अग्न्यगाराद्बहिष्कृताः ।
ऋत्विग्भिर्याजकैश्चैव ते ह्रियन्ते यथाविधि ॥
ऋत्विग्भिर्याजकैश्चैव ते ह्रियन्ते यथाविधि ॥
Summary
AI
The sacred fires, brought out from the fire-sanctuary by the priests and sacrificers, were carried in front of the king according to the prescribed rituals.
M N Dutt
And then those that had brought the king's corpse out side from the fire chamber, instructed by the Rtvigs and priests according to the ordinance began to offer oblations into the fire.
२.७०.१४
शिबिलायामथारोप्य राजानं गतचेतनम् ।
बाष्पकण्ठा विमनसस्तमूहुः परिचारकाः ॥
बाष्पकण्ठा विमनसस्तमूहुः परिचारकाः ॥
Summary
AI
Then, placing the lifeless king on a palanquin, the attendants, their throats choked with tears and their minds distressed, carried him away.
M N Dutt
Next placing the king deprived of life on a car, the servants with their throats oppressed with vapour and with their minds weighed down with dejection carried him.
२.७०.१५
हिरण्यं च सुवर्णं च वासांसि विविधानि च ।
प्रकिरन्तो जना मार्गं नृपतेरग्रतो ययुः ॥
प्रकिरन्तो जना मार्गं नृपतेरग्रतो ययुः ॥
Summary
AI
Scattering silver, gold, and various kinds of garments along the path, people walked in front of the king's procession.
M N Dutt
And scattering gold and silver and various kinds of cloth, on the way people went in front of the king.
२.७०.१६
चन्दनागुरुनिर्यासान्सरलं पद्मकं तथा ।
देवदारूणि चाहृत्य चितां चक्रुस्तथापरे ॥
देवदारूणि चाहृत्य चितां चक्रुस्तथापरे ॥
Summary
AI
Others, having gathered sandalwood, the resin of aloe, Sarala, Padmaka, and Devadāru logs, prepared the funeral pyre.
२.७०.१७
गन्धानुच्चावचांश्चान्यांस्तत्र दत्त्वाथ भूमिपम् ।
ततः संवेशयामासुश्चितामध्ये तमृत्विजः ॥
ततः संवेशयामासुश्चितामध्ये तमृत्विजः ॥
Summary
AI
After placing various other perfumes there, the priests then laid the king in the middle of the funeral pyre.
M N Dutt
Others procuring sandal, aguru and other sarala, padmaka and devadari, cast it (on the earth). And drawing near the king there, Rtvigs laid various other fragrant substances on the funeral pile.
२.७०.१८
तथा हुताशनं हुत्वा जेपुस्तस्य तदर्त्विजः ।
जगुश्च ते यथाशास्त्रं तत्र सामानि सामगाः ॥
जगुश्च ते यथाशास्त्रं तत्र सामानि सामगाः ॥
Summary
AI
Then his priests, having offered oblations into the fire, recited prayers, while the singers of the Sāmaveda chanted the Sāman hymns according to the scriptures.
M N Dutt
Then offering oblations into the fire, the Rtvigs began to recite japa; and as laid down in the scriptures, Sāma-singers chanted Sämans.
२.७०.१९
शिबिकाभिश्च यानैश्च यथार्हं तस्य योषितः ।
नगरान्निर्ययुस्तत्र वृद्धैः परिवृतास्तदा ॥
नगरान्निर्ययुस्तत्र वृद्धैः परिवृतास्तदा ॥
Summary
AI
Then the king's women, surrounded by elderly attendants, left the city in palanquins and carriages appropriate to their status.
M N Dutt
By means of litters and other conveyances, each mounted according to her rank, the wives of the king went out from the city, surrounded by aged men. And Rtvijas went round the corpse on the king who performed many sacrifices leaving it on the left side.
२.७०.२०
प्रसव्यं चापि तं चक्रुरृत्विजोऽग्निचितं नृपम् ।
स्त्रियश्च शोकसंतप्ताः कौसल्या प्रमुखास्तदा ॥
स्त्रियश्च शोकसंतप्ताः कौसल्या प्रमुखास्तदा ॥
Summary
AI
Then the priests circumambulated the king on the pyre in a counter-clockwise direction, and the grief-stricken women, led by Kausalyā, did the same.
M N Dutt
By means of litters and other conveyances, each mounted according to her rank, the wives of the king went out from the city, surrounded by aged men. And Rtvijas went round the corpse on the king who performed many sacrifices leaving it on the left side.
२.७०.२१
क्रौञ्चीनामिव नारीणां निनादस्तत्र शुश्रुवे ।
आर्तानां करुणं काले क्रोशन्तीनां सहस्रशः ॥
आर्तानां करुणं काले क्रोशन्तीनां सहस्रशः ॥
Summary
AI
At that time, the piteous wailing of thousands of distressed women crying out like female cranes was heard there.
M N Dutt
And kindling with grief, the females also headed by Kausalyā (circumambulated the pyre). And then there was heard the wail of women distressed with grief weeping piteously by thousands like to Krauñcis.
२.७०.२२
ततो रुदन्त्यो विवशा विलप्य च पुनः पुनः ।
यानेभ्यः सरयूतीरमवतेरुर्वराङ्गनाः ॥
यानेभ्यः सरयूतीरमवतेरुर्वराङ्गनाः ॥
Summary
AI
Then, those noble women, weeping helplessly and lamenting repeatedly, descended from their vehicles onto the banks of the Sarayū river.
M N Dutt
Weeping again and again with their sense lost, the wives of the king alighted from the car on the banks of the Sarayu.
२.७०.२३
कृतोदकं ते भरतेन सार्धं
नृपाङ्गना मन्त्रिपुरोहिताश्च ।
पुरं प्रविश्याश्रुपरीतनेत्रा
भूमौ दशाहं व्यनयन्त दुःखम् ॥
नृपाङ्गना मन्त्रिपुरोहिताश्च ।
पुरं प्रविश्याश्रुपरीतनेत्रा
भूमौ दशाहं व्यनयन्त दुःखम् ॥
Summary
AI
Having performed the water libations along with Bharata, those royal ladies, ministers, and priests entered the city with tear-filled eyes and spent ten days in sorrow, lying on the ground.
M N Dutt
Having performed the watery rites, the wives of the monarch as well as the counsellors and priests, in company with Bharata entering the city with tears in their eyes, spent ten days* in mourning lying down on the ground. *The Smrti: lays down twelve days of mourning for kings, and sixteen for Khatriyas. Parasara, however, fixes ten days for Ksatriyas in general.
॥ इति अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्ततितमः सर्गः ॥
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