Hari Om.
Let us begin the ninty third sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
The all knowing sage also enquired about the three mothers (daSaratha’s queens) kausalyA, sumitrA and kaikEyI from bharata. The prince introduced kausalyA and sumitrA gloriously but when it came to kaikEyI he not only spoke in a disowning and disapproving tone but also blamed her squarely for the tragedy that they were going through at the moment. Then the sage intervened and made a prophecy that the exile of rAma is going to bring good tidings to the sages, gods and the pious ones and hence bharata ought not blame his mother. After that, bharata and his entourage left the hermitage to chitrakUTa to have the darSan of rAma. The supreme sage who knew the region like the back of hand gave detailed instructions to bharata as to where the hut of rAma is on the mount chitrakUTa. Gratified by the great hospitality and directions of the sage, they left mounting their horses, chariots, elephants and palanquins. All of them had their fatigue mitigated by the fantastic treatment they received there. Onwards…
The mighty bharata led his troops including the infantry, horses, elephants, citizens, ministers and preceptors and headed in the directions suggested by sage bharadwAja. The vast contingent spread out on the earth like the overcast clouds in the rainy season. As they marched forward in the forests excitedly leading to chitrakUTa, the forest rangers and the forest animals were scared and ran helter-skelter. The anxious animals like the bears and deer could be spotted all over! The elephants and horses and other draught animals in bharata’s contingent carried them swiftly and well into the forest and were by now tired. Taking a good look at the surroundings, prince bharata said –
” O sage, we seemed to have arrived at the region indicated by sage bharadwAja. Here is the mount chitrakUTa and here flows the river mandAkinI. And there not so far, the forest shines through like a blue cloud. The chitrakUTa mountain is trampled by my mountainous pachyderms. The shower of flowers from the trees resembles the shower from the rain bearing clouds at the end of the summer. O Satrughna, look at these mountains frequented by kinnaras (demigods) and animals at ease just like crocodiles feel at home in the ocean. The animals are running helter-skelter due to the clamour of our army like the clouds blown away by the wind in the autumn. And look at these lovely blooms on the trees on mountain ridges, they look like the people from the south who bedeck themselves with flowers. The desolate forests now look like ayOdhyA teeming with people! As our chariots maneuvered by experts cut through the forests, the dust is rising high and the wind is blowing the dust away, as if to please me! Look at the birds, scared by the din we cause entering their nests! This place, replete with the abodes of sages verily looks the pathway to heaven! The deer with their mates are a picture of delight! The soldiers should set out and search every inch of the forest until the lions among men rAma and lakshmaNa are seen”.
Upon the command of the prince bharata, swiftly the soldiers entered the dense forests and soon returned with the news of having seen smoke billowing out at a distance. They returned and informed bharata that smoke cannot be seen at a place bereft of people and hence rAma and lakshmaNa must be around here. Or may be some ascetics live here. The prince bharata was delighted to hear this and ordered his army to camp right there and proceed no further. He resolved to proceed along with sumantra and vasisTha. Upon bharata’s command, the army halted while he proceeded into the forest focusing on the source of the smoke. The army camped there beholding the vast expanse in front of them and they delighted in the thought that before long they will be united with their beloved rAma!
व्यवस्थिता या भरतेन सा चमूर्निरीक्षमाणाऽपि च भूमिमग्रतः।
बभूव हृष्टा न चिरेण जानती प्रियस्य रामस्य समागमं तदा।।2.93.27।।
Here we conclude the ninty third sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 2.94. The Delightful delights at chitrakUTa
Previous: 2.92. A prophecy made…
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 