July 14 - Sargas 93 and 94 of Ayodhya Kanda.
Valmiki is not in a hurry to describe the meeting of Sri Rama and Bharata. He resorts to the device of describing nature and in turn describing Sri Rama's mindset.
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Bharata and his huge army make considerable progress, travelling in the dense forest towards Chitrakuta. Several wild animals and birds are greatly alarmed by the noise and dust and strange sights and smells of an incomprehensibly large human invasion.
Bharata describes to Shatrughna how picturesque this forest is. Soon they come to a spot when Bharata says this must be close to Chitrakuta.
यादृशं लक्ष्यते रूपं यथा चैव मया श्रुतम् ।
व्यक्तं प्राप्ताः स्म तं देशं भरद्वाजो यमब्रवीत् ॥
अयं गिरिश्चित्रकूटस्तथा मन्दाकिनी नदी ।
एतत् प्रकाशते दूरान्नीलमेघनिभं वनम् ॥
"The appearance of this place matches what I have heard. It appears that we have reached the location described by sage Bharadwaja.
" This mountain has to be Chitrakuta. This river has to be Mandakini. And this extremely dense forest resembles a large rain-bearing cloud."
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The army spots a funnel of smoke in the sky. They rush to inform Bharata that they have spotted signs of human habitation and therefore perhaps Sri Rama's cottage is close by. Bharata is delighted.
Bharata instructs the army that they should encamp here. He will proceed alone with Sumantra and sage Vasishtha to go and meet Sri Rama.
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Valmiki now describes a beautiful scene of Sri Rama's enjoying the splendour of nature with Sita. Sri Rama is indeed a romantic hero with a happy turn of phrase to celebrate the beauty of nature.
Altogether there are over 25 shlokas. I give you just a few samples.
पश्येमं अचलं भद्रे नानाद्विजगणायुतम् ।
शिखरैः खमिवोद्विद्धैर्धातुमद्विभूषितम् ॥
पुष्पवद्भिः फलोपेतैश्छायावद्भिर्मनोरमैः ।
एवमादिभिराकीर्णः श्रियं पुष्पत्ययं गिरिः ॥
निशि भान्त्यचलेन्द्रस्य हुताशनशिखा इव ।
ओषध्यः स्वप्रभालक्ष्म्या भ्राजमानाः सहस्रशः ॥
"Dearest Sita, behold this mountain, home to such a wide variety of birds! The peaks are full of richly colourful minerals and rise up as if to pierce the sky!
" And these tall trees, full of flowers, fruits, and casting such a luxurious shade. They look so beautiful. This mountain is abounding in such trees and is blooming with grace.
" And these special herbal trees that emit a fragrance and glow like flames at night, as if they are worshipping the mountain lord. There are so many of them!"
Sri Rama also describes the many waterfalls and sweet-water lakes. He describes mineral stones of an astounding variety, comparing them in their colours to many flowers. It is a long list. He describes several types of wild animals from spotted deer to antelopes to bears and elephants and many other creatures happily residing there. He describes how celestials come for romantic sport and how divine singers and dancers make merry here.
इमं तु कालं वनिते विजह्रिवां-
स्त्वया च सीते सह लक्ष्मणेन ।
रतिं प्रपत्स्ये कुलधर्मवर्धिनीं
सतां पथि स्वैर्नियमैः परैः स्थितः ॥
"Dearest Sita, along with you and Lakshmana, I shall happily reside here for long, observing a very regulated life-style. This is my chosen path of righteousness to further the glory of my lineage. It will confer felicity for sure."
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
