With the concurrence of Markandeya and other sages, Vasistha instructs messengers to call back Bharata and Satrughna from their maternal uncle's house. The messengers leave immediately for the capital of Kekaya, riding their fast horses. They cross Ganga River at Hastinapura, then Saranda River and reach Abhikala village. Then, they cross the holy river of Ikshumati and proceed through Bahlika kingdom in Sudama mountain range to Vishnupada and finally reach the city of Girivraja.
teṣām tat vacanam śrutvā vasiṣṭhaḥ pratyuvāca ha |
mitra amātya gaṇān sarvān brāhmaṇāṃs tān idam vacaḥ || 2-68-1
1. shrutvaa = hearing; teshaam = their; vachanam = words; vasishhTaH = Vasishta; pratyuvaachaha = replied; idam vachaH = by the words; taan = to that; mitra amaatyagaNaam = group of friends and ministers; sarvaan brahmaNaan = and to all the Brahmans.
Hearing their words, Vasistha replied thus to that group of friends as well as ministers and to all the Brahmans (assembled there):
yad asau mātula kule pure rāja gṛhe sukhī |
bharataḥ vasati bhrātrā śatrughnena samanvitaḥ || 2-68-2
tat śīghram javanā dūtā gaccantu tvaritaiḥ hayaiḥ |
ānetum bhrātarau vīrau kim samīkṣāmahe vayam || 2-68-3
2; 3. asou bharataH = that Bharata; datta raajya = who was given kingdom (by Dasaratha); samanvitaH = together; shatrughnena = with Satrughna; yat = for which reason; vasati = staying; param = as a very; sukhii = happy man; maatulakule = in his maternal uncle's house; tat = for that reason; anetum = to bring back; viirou = the heroic; bhraatarou = brothers; duutaH = messengers; tvaritaiH = by fast running; hayaiH = horses; gachchhantu = be gone; shiighram = quickly; kim = what; vayam = are we; samiikshhaamahe = to think of(in this matter)?"
"Bharata, who was given kingdom (by Dasaratha) is staying very happily in his maternal uncle's home, along with Satrughna. Hence messengers in fast running horses are to be sent quickly to bring back those heroic brothers. What are we to think of further in this matter?"
gaccantu iti tataḥ sarve vasiṣṭham vākyam abruvan |
teṣām tat vacanam śrutvā vasiṣṭho vākyam abravīt || 2-68-4
4. tataH = then; sarve = all of them; abruvan = uttered; vaakyam = the words; vasishhTham = to Vasista; iti = saying; gachchantu = "Let them be sent"; shrutvaa = Hearing; tat = those; vachanam = words; teshhaam = of theirs; vasishhThaH = Vasishta; abraviit = spoke; vaakyam = these words:
Then all of them uttered words agreeing to send the messengers quickly. Hearing their words, Vasistha spoke as follows:
ehi siddha artha vijaya jayanta aśoka nandana |
śrūyatām itikartavyam sarvān eva bravīmi vaḥ || 2-68-5
5. siddhaartha = O; Siddhartha! Vijaya = O;Vijaya! Jayanta = O; Jayanta! Asoka = O; Asoka! Nandana = O; Nandana! Ehi = please come; aham = I; braviimi = am telling; vaH = you; sarvaanena = all; shruuyataam = Hear; itikartavyam = that which is to be done."
"O, Siddhartha! O, Jay anta! O, Vijaya! O, Ashoka! O, Nandana! Please come. I am telling you all. Hear that which is to be done"
puram rāja gṛham gatvā śīghram śīghra javaiḥ hayaiḥ |
tyakta śokaiḥ idam vācyaḥ śāsanāt bharataḥ mama || 2-68-6
6. gatvaa = after hearing; shiighram = quickly; itaH = from here; shiigra javaiH = by rapidly running; hayaiH = horses; puram = the city; raajagR^iham = of Rajagriha; tvakta shokaiH = by you; whose grief is relieved; vaachyaH = are to be told; bharataH = to Bharata; idam = those words; mama = as my; shaashanaat = orders."
"After starting quickly from here by traveling in rapidly running horses, you reach the city of Rajagriha. After relieving yourself of the grief, you have to tell Bharata these words as my orders:"
purohitaḥ tvām kuśalam prāha sarve ca mantriṇaḥ |
tvaramāṇaḥ ca niryāhi kṛtyam ātyayikam tvayā || 2-68-7
7. purohitaH = the royal priests; sarve = and all; mantrinashcha = the ministers; praaha = are asking; kushalam = about your welfare; niryaahi = come forth by starting; tvaramaaNaHcha = quickly; atyaayikam = there is a very urgent; kR^ityam = work; tvayaa = with you."
"The royal priest and other ministers are asking about your welfare. Come forth, by starting quickly. There is a very urgent work with you."
mā ca asmai proṣitam rāmam mā ca asmai pitaram mṛtam |
bhavantaḥ śaṃsiṣur gatvā rāghavāṇām imam kṣayam || 2-68-8
8. gatvaa = after going; bhavantaH = you; maa shamsishhuH = do not tell; asmai = him; raamam = that Rama; proshhitam = has gone to exile; pitaram = that his father; mR^itam = is dead; imam = and this; kshhayam = calamity; raaghavaaNaam = to the descendents Raghu dynasty."
"After going there, do not tell him that Rama has gone to exile or that his father is dead or about this calamity occurred to the descendents of Raghu dynasty."
kauśeyāni ca vastrāṇi bhūṣaṇāni varāṇi ca |
kṣipram ādāya rājñaḥ ca bharatasya ca gaccata || 2-68-9
9. gachchhata = go; kshhipram = quickly; aadaaya = taking; kausheyaani vastraaNi = silk clothes; varaaNi = and excellent; bhuushhaNaani = ornaments; raaj^Nashcha = to the king; bharatasya = and to Bharata."
"Go quickly, taking silk clothes and excellent ornaments to the king and to Bharata "
dattapathyaśanā dūtājagmuḥ svam svam niveśanam |
kekayāṃste gamiṣyanto hayānāruhya sammatān || 2-68-10
10. te duutaH = those messengers; gamishhyantaH = who are going to leave for; kekayaan = the land of Kekayas; datta pathyashanaaH = being given eatables required on their way; aaruuhya = mounting; sammataan = admirable; hayaan = horses; jagmhuH = went; svam svam = to their respective; niveshanam = house.
The messengers, who are going to leave for the land of Kekayas, took sufficient eatables required on their way and went to their respective houses, by riding on their admirable horses.
tataḥ prāsthānikam kṛtvā kāryaśeṣamanantaram |
vasiṣṭhenābhyanujñātā dūtāḥ samtvaritā yayuḥ || 2-68-11
11. tataH = then; duutaaH = the messengers; kR^itvaa = having executed; kaarya seshham = remaining deeds; anantaram = to be done thereafter; prastaanikam = for the journey; abhyaanuG^yaataaH = and having been given permission; vasishhThena = by Vasista; yayuH = proceeded; samtvaritaa = quickly.
Having completed all the remaining preparations for the journey and having been permitted by Vasistha, the messengers quickly proceeded (to the destination).
nyantenāparatālasya pralambasyottaram prati |
niṣevamāṇāste jagmurnadīm madhyena mālinīm || 2-68-12
12. te = those messengers; jugmuH = went on; nishhevamaaNaaH = touching; maaliniim nadiim = Malini River; madhyena = (flowing)between; nyantena = the passing; aparataalasya = Aparatala Mountain; uttaram prati = and the northern end; pralambasya = of Pralamba Mountain.
Those messengers went on touching Malini River, flowing between the passing Aparatala Mountain and the northern end of Pralamba Mountain.
te hastināpure gaṅgām tīrtvā pratyaṅmukhā yayuḥ |
pāñaladeśamāsādya madhyena kurujāṅgalam || 2-68-13
sarāṃsi ca supūrṇāni nadīśca vimalodakāḥ |
nirīkṣamāṇāste jagmurdūtāḥ kāryavaśāddrutam || 2-68-14
13; 14. te duutaaH = these messengers; tiirtvaa = having crossed; gaNgaam = Ganga River; hastinaapura = at Hastinapura; yayuH = proceeded; pratyaNmukhaaH = towards west; aasaadya = reaching; paanchaala desham = Panchala kingdom; madhyenakurujaaNgalam = passing through the middle of Kurujangala region; niriikshhamaaNaaH = and observing; supuurNaani = well filled; saraamsicha = lakes; nadiishcha = and rivers; vinalodakaaH = with clear water; jagmuH = went; drutam = briskly; kaaryavashaat = due to pressing nature of their mission.
Having crossed Ganga River at Hastinapura, they proceeded towards west and, reaching Panchala kingdom through Kuru Jangala and observing well filled lakes and rivers with clear water, the aforesaid messengers went briskly, due to the pressing nature of their mission.
te prasannodakām divyām nānāvihagasevitām |
upātijagmurvegena śaradaṇḍām janākulām || 2-68-15
15. te = they; vegena = speedily; upaatijagmuH = went crossing; divyaam sharadaNDaam = the beautiful Saradanada river; prasannodakaam = containing clear water; jalaakulam = but also full with water; naanaavihagasevitam = frequented by various kinds of birds.
They speedily moved on, crossing the beautiful Saradanda River, containing clear water frequented by various kinds of birds.
nikūlavṛkṣamāsādya divyam satyopayācanam |
abhigamyābhivādyam tam kuliṅgām prāviśan purīm || 2-68-16
16. aasaadya = reaching; divyam = a holy; nikuula vR^ikshham = coastal tree; satyopayaachanam = called Satyopayaachanam (so called because prayers made to it become fulfilled);abhigamya = and going round clockwise; tam = it; te = the messengers; pravishan = entered; kuliNgaampuriim = the city of Kulinga.
Reaching a holy coastal tree called Satyopayaachana (so called because prayers made to it become fulfilled); which was worthy of salutation and going round it clockwise (as a mark of respect) the messengers entered the city of Kulinga
abhikālam tataḥ prāpyate bodhibhavanāccyutām |
pitṛpaitāmahīm puṇyām terurikṣumatīm nadīm || 2-68-17
17. tataH = from there; praapya = having reached; abhikaalam = a village called Abhikala; te = they; teruH = crossed; puNyaam = the holy; ikshhumatiim = Ikshumati river; chyutaam = which was falling down; bodhibhavanaat = from Bodhibhavana mountain; (which region was) pitR^ipaitaamahiim = associated with the father and grandfather of Dasaratha.
From there having reached a village named Abhikala, they crossed the holy Ikshumati River, which was flowing down from Bodhibhavana Mountain. This region was associated with the father and grandfather of Dasaratha.
aveksyāñjalipānāṃśca brāhmaṇān vedapāragān |
yayurmadhyena bāhlīkān sudāmānam ca parvatam || 2-68-18
18. avekshhya = seeing; braahmaNaan = Brahmans; vedapaaragaam = skilled in Vedas ; aNjalipaanaan = who survived by only drinking water through hollows of their palms; yayuH = (they) proceeded; baahlikaanmadhyena = through Bahlika kingdom; parvatamaha = towards a mountain; sudaamaanam = called Sudaman.
Seeing Brahmans skilled in Vedas who survived by only drinking water through hollows of their palms, they proceeded through Bahlika kingdom towards a mountain called Sudama.
viṣṇoḥ padam prekṣamāṇā vipāśām cāpi śālmālīm |
nadīrvāpīstaṭākāni palvalāni sarāṃsi ca || 2-68-19
pasyanto vividhāṃścāpi simahavyāgramṛgadvipān |
yayuḥ pathātimahatā śāsanam bharturīpsavaḥ || 2-68-20
19; 20. prekshhamaaNaam = perceiving; vishnoHpadam = a locality called Vishnupadam; vipaashaachaapi = Vipasa river; shaalmaliimchaapi = Salmali trees; nadiiH = rivers; vaapiiH = ponds; taTaakaani = lakes; palvalaani = pools; saraamsicha = and lakes; pashyantaH = and seeing;vividhaan = many kinds; simha vyaaghra mR^igadvipaan = of lions; tigers; antelopes; and elephants; yayuH = went; atimahataa pathaa = by that lofty high way; iipsanam = to execute that command; bhartuH = of their master.
Perceiving a locality called Vishnu padam, Vipasa river, Salmali trees, rivers, ponds, tanks, pools and lakes, as well as seeing many kinds of lions, tigers, antelopes and elephants, they proceeded by that broad lofty high way desirous as they were to execute the command of their master.
te śrānta vāhanā dūtā vikṛṣṭena satā pathā |
giri vrajam pura varam śīghram āsedur anjasā || 2-68-21
21. te duutah = those messengers; shraanta vaahanaaH = having tired horses; vikR^ishhTena = because of long; pathaa = path; tataH = then; aaseduH = reached; shiighram = quickly; aNjusaa = and safely; puraveram = to the excellent city; girivrajam = of Girivraja.
Those messengers, though riding on tired horses on a long route, reached quickly and safely to the excellent city of Girivraja.
bhartuḥ priya artham kula rakṣaṇa artham |
bhartuḥ ca vaṃśasya parigraha artham |
aheḍamānāḥ tvarayā sma dūtā |
rātryām tu te tat puram eva yātāḥ || 2-68-22
22. priyaartham = for the sake of fulfilling beloved object; bhartuH = of their master (Vasishta); kula rakshhaNaartham = for the sake of preserving the royal family; parigrahaartham = for the sake of keeping up prestige; vamshasya = of the race; bhartuH = of the sovereign; te duutaaH = those messengers; yaataaH = quickly reached; tat = that; purameva = city; raatrayaam = in the night; aheDamanaaH = respectfully.
For the sake of fulfilling the beloved object of their master (Vasistha), for the sake of preserving the royal family and for keeping up the prestige of the sovereign race, those messengers quickly and respectfully reached that city in the night.
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ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe aṣṭaṣaṣṭitamaḥ sargaḥ
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© December 2003, K. M. K. Murthy