July 16 - Sargas 96, 97, and 98 of Ayodhya Kanda.
Three short chapters describing the emotions of Lakshmana, Sri Rama and Bharata respectively after realising that they are about to meet one another.
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As Sri Rama and Sita were enjoying their lunch after their happy wandering in the forest, Sri Rama observed a huge agitation in all wild animals.
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हन्त लक्ष्मण पश्येह सुमित्रा सुप्रजास्त्वया ।
भीमस्तनितगम्भीरं तुमुलः श्रूयते स्वनः ॥
राजा न राजपुत्रो वा मृगयामटते वने ।
अन्यद्वा श्वापदं किञ्चित्सौमित्रे ज्ञातुमर्हसि ॥
Sri Rama tells Lakshmana, "Do you also notice anything strange, Lakshmana, a worthy son of Sumitra!? Watch how there is a tumultuous sound all of a sudden, like a frightful rumble of clouds.
"Either a king or a prince is out hunting around these parts. Or some strange animal of prey has intruded and scared all the wild animals to produce this uproar. Please go and investigate."
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This forest was quite secluded and this was quite extraordinary. Lakshmana hurried and climbed a tall saal tree. What he beheld took his breath away.
उदङ्मुखः प्रेक्षमाणो ददर्श महतीं चमूम् ।
गजाश्वरथसम्बाधां यत्तैर्युक्तां पदातिभिः ॥
अग्निं संशमयत्वार्यः सीता च भजतां गुहाम् ।
सज्यं कुरुष्व चापं च शरांश्च कवचं तथा ॥
Looking northward, Lakshmana, perched atop the tall tree, saw a huge army. It was with elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers. He put two and two together very quickly. He called out aloud to Rama and told him, "put out the fire at once, Rama, and let Sita go hide in the cave. Wear your armour and get ready with your bow and arrows." Sri Rama was perplexed. "Did you see properly whose army it might be, Lakshmana?"
सम्पन्नं राज्यमिच्छंस्तु व्यक्तं प्राप्याभिषेचनम् ।
आवां हन्तुं समभ्येति कैकेय्या भरतः सुतः ॥
एष वै सुमहान् श्रीमान् विटपी सम्प्रकाशते ।
विराजत्युज्जवलस्कनधः कोवदारध्वजो रथे ॥
"Brother! All is crystal clear! Bharata has been crowned. He now wants to enjoy the kingdom without any opposition. So he has advanced with the army to kill both of us!
"What did I see? I saw his chariot with the insignia flag aflutter displaying the royal emblem of Ayodhya - the majestic Kovidara tree with a massive trunk!"
"Rama, prepare for war. We shall stay on top of this mountain so we can defend ourselves against the attack of this mighty army. I look forward to encountering Bharata in battle.
फूर्वापकारी भरतस्त्यक्तधर्मश्च राघव ।
एतस्मिन् निहिते कृत्स्नमनुशाधि वसुन्धराम् ॥
अद्य पुत्रं हतं सङ्ख्ये कैकेयी राज्यकामुका ।
मया पश्येत् सुदुःखार्ता हस्तिभिन्नमिव द्रुमम् ॥
कैकेयीं च वधिष्यामि सानुबन्धां सबान्धवाम् ।
कलुषेणाद्य महता मेदिनी परिमुच्यताम् ॥
"Dear brother, this evil Bharata, who has already wronged you, and abandoned Dharma, shall be killed by me. That will free the whole earth for you to rule over.
"Let that Kaikeyi, terribly covetous of the kingdom, see today her son being slain by me. She will be plunged in great sorrow when I fell her son like an elephant brings down a tree (incapable of any defence against such force).
"And then I shall kill Kaikeyi also, With all her relatives and well-wishers. It is better that this earth is rid of such a despicable blot as Kaikeyi and her lot. "
Lakshmana says he will slay the entire army and the elephants and horses too. The wild animals of Chitrakuta will drag away their carcasses.
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पितुः सत्यं प्रतिश्रुत्य हत्वा भरतमाहवे ।
किं करिष्यामि राज्येन सापवादेन लक्ष्मण ॥
श्रुत्वा प्रव्राजितं मां हि जटावल्कलधारिणम् ।
जानक्या सहितं वीर त्वया च पुरुषोत्तम ॥
स्नेहेनाक्रान्तहृदयः शोकेनाकुलितोन्द्रियः ।
द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो ह्येष भरतो नान्यथाऽगतः ॥
"Dear Lakshmana, forbid! I came away to the forest to uphold the truthful word of my father. Of what interest is the kingdom to me if it is won by killing my dear brothers or anyone else despicably?
"Your construction on what brings Bharata here is quite wrong, Lakshmana! Bharata would have heard that I have come away to the forest (in exile) with matted locks and wearing tree barks and leaves, along with Sita and you, oh most valiant brother!
"That would have tormented Bharata no end. With his heart full of affection for us, his senses benumbed by the tragic events, Bharata has come here right away to meet us. I am sure there is no other explanation for his arrival."
Sri Rama goes on to chide Lakshmana for all this talk of killing. Which father will kill his son, or son father, or brothers each other, to take over a kingdom? This is a terrible thought. Indeed if Lakshmana is enamoured of kingship, Rama will ask Bharata to hand over the kingdom at once to Lakshmana and he will surely comply.
This makes Lakshmana see reason and he feels very ashamed and contrite. Then the two brothers talk that perhaps Dasharatha has himself come to meet them, perhaps to take them back to Ayodhya. But there is no sign of his white royal umbrella (the essential royal insignia for a chakravarthy like Dasharatha).
Sri Rama asks Lakshmana to climb down from the sala tree.
Meanwhile, Bharata has asked the army to stop a reasonable distance of about 12 km behind from here and is proceeding with a small team forward.
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यावन्नरामं द्रक्ष्यामि लक्ष्मणं च महाबलम् ।
वैदेहीं वा महाभागां न मे शान्तिर्भविष्यति ॥
यावन्न चरणौ भ्रातुः पार्थीवव्यञ्जनान्वितौ ।
शिरसा प्रग्रहीष्यामि न मे शान्तिर्भविष्ति ॥
"Dear Shatrughna, pan out with soldiers and search quickly for Rama. Guha, take a thousand men and comb the forest for Rama. As long as I have not set my eyes on my beloved and glorious brother Rama, the brave warrior Lakshmana, and the blessed lady Sita, my mind will not find any peace.
"As long as I have not put my head at the feet of dear brother Sri Rama, with marks thereon of his having been anointed as the king, I shall find no peace."
Soon, Bharata, proceeding on foot, sees a tall column of smoke from Sri Rama's hermitage.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
