Rāvaṇavadha · Chapter 3

vadhena saṃkhye piśitā'śanānāṃ kṣatrā'ntakasyā 'bhibhavena caiva
āḍhyaṃbhaviṣṇur yaśasā kumāraḥ priyaṃbhaviṣṇur na sa yasya nā''sīt.

tataḥ sucetīkṛta-paura-bhṛtyo "rājye 'bhiṣekṣye sutamitya-nīcaiḥ
āghoṣayan bhūmi-patiḥ samastaṃ bhūyo'pi lokaṃ sumanīcakāra.

ādikṣadādīpta-kṛśānu-kalpaṃ siṃhāsanaṃ tasya sa-pāda-pīṭham
santapta-cāmīkara-valgu-vajraṃ vibhāga-vinyasta-mahārgha-ratnam.

prāsthāpayat pūga-kṛtān sva-poṣaṃ pṛṣṭān prayatnād dṛḍha-gātra-bandhān
sa-bharma-kumbhān puruṣān samantāt patkāṣiṇas tīrtha-jalā'rthamāśu.

ukṣān pracakrur nagarasya mārgān, dhvajān babandhur, mumucuḥ kha-dhūpān,
diśaśca puṣpaiścakarur vicitrai- rartheṣu rājñā nipuṇā niyuktāḥ

mātāmahā''vāsamupeyivāṃsaṃ mohāda-pṛṣṭvā bharataṃ tadānīm
tat kekayī soḍhuma-śaknuvānā vavāra rāmasya vana-prayāṇam.

karṇe-japairāhita-rājya-lobhā straiṇena nītā vikṛtiṃ laghimnā
rāma-pravāse vyamṛśan na doṣaṃ janā'pavādaṃ sa-narendra-mṛtyum

vasūni deśāṃśca nivartayiṣyan rāmaṃ nṛpaḥ saṃgiramāṇa eva
tayā 'vajajñe, bharatā'bhiśeko viṣāda-śaṅkuśca matau nicakhne.

tataḥ pravivrājayiṣuḥ kumāra- mādikṣadasyā 'bhigamaṃ vanāya
saumitri-sītā'nucarasya rājā sumantra-netreṇa rathena śocan.

kecin ninindur nṛpama-praśāntaṃ, vicukruśuḥ kecana sā'sramuccaiḥ,
ūcus tathā 'nye bharatasya māyāṃ, dhik kekayīmityaparo jagāda.

"gato vanaṃ śvo bhaviteti rāmaḥ," śokena dehe janatā 'timātram,
dhīrās tu tatra cyuta-manyavo 'nye dadhuḥ kumārā'nugame manāṃsi.

prasthāsyamānāvupaseduṣas tau śośucyamānānidamūcatus tān,
"kiṃ śocatehā 'bhyudaye batā 'smān niyoga-lābhena pituḥ kṛtā'rthān,

asṛṣṭa yo, yaśca bhayeṣvarakṣīd, yaḥ sarvadā 'smānapuṣat sva-poṣam,
mahopakārasya kimasti tasya tucchena yānena vanasya mokṣaḥ,

vidyut-praṇāśaṃ sa varaṃ pranaṣṭo, yadvordhva-śoṣaṃ tṛṇa-vad viśuṣkaḥ,
arthe durāpe kimuta pravāse na śāsane 'vāsthita yo gurūṇām.

paurā ! nivartadhvamiti nyagādīt, "tātasya śokā'panudā bhaveta,
mā darśatā'nyaṃ bharataṃ ca matto," nivartayetyāha rathaṃ sma sūtam

jñātveṅgitair gatvaratāṃ janānā- mekāṃ śayitvā rajanīṃ sa-pauraḥ
rakṣan vane-vāsa-kṛtād bhayāt tān prātaś chalenā 'pajagāma rāmaḥ

asrākṣurasraṃ karuṇaṃ ruvanto, muhurmuhur nyaśvasiṣuḥ kapoṣṇam,
hā rāma ! hā kaṣṭamiti brunvataḥ parāṅ-mukhais te nyavṛtan manobhiḥ

sūto 'pi gaṅgā-salilaiḥ pavitvā sahā''śvamātmānamanalpa-manyuḥ
sa-sītayo rāghavayoradhīyan śvasan kaduṣṇaṃ puramāviveśa.

pratīya sā pūr dadṛśe janena dyaur bhānu-śītāṃśu-vinākṛteva
rājanya-nakṣatra-samanvitā 'pi śokā'ndhakāra-kṣata-sarva-ceṣṭā.

vilokya rāmeṇa vinā sumantra- macyoṣṭa satvān nṛ-patiś cyutā''śaḥ
madhūni naiṣīd vyalipan na gandhair, mano-rame na vyavasiṣṭa vastre.

āsiṣṭa naikatra śucā, vyaraṃsīt kṛtā'kṛtebhyaḥ kṣiti-pāla-bhāg-bhyaḥ,
sa candanośīra-mṛṇāla-digdhaḥ śokā-gninā 'gād dyu-nivāsa-bhūyam.

vicukruśur bhūmi-pater mahiṣyaḥ, keśāṃl luluñcuḥ, sva-vapūṃṣi jaghnuḥ,
vibhūṣaṇānyunmumucuḥ, kṣamāyā petur, babhañjur valayāni caiva.

tāḥ sāntvayantī bharata-pratīkṣā taṃ bandhu-tā nyakṣipadāśu taile,
dūtāṃśca rājā''tmajamāninīṣūn prāsthāpayan mantri-matena yūnaḥ.

"supto nabhastaḥ patitaṃ nirīkṣāṃ- cakre vivasvantamadhaḥ sphurantam,"
ākhyad vasan mātṛ-kule sakhibhyaḥ paśyan pramādaṃ bharato 'pi rājñaḥ.

aśiśravannātyayikaṃ tametya dūtā yadā 'rthaṃ prayiyāsayantaḥ,
āṃhiṣṭa jātā'ñjihiṣas tadā 'sā- vutkaṇṭhamāno bharato gurūṇām.

bandhūnaśāṅkiṣṭa samākulutvā- dāseduṣaḥ sneha-vaśādapāyam,
gomāyu-sāraṅga-gaṇāś ca samyaṅ nā 'yāsiṣur, bhīmamarāsiṣuśca.

sa proṣivānetya puraṃ pravekṣyan śuśrāva ghoṣaṃ na janaugha-janyam,
ākarṇayāmāsa na veda-nādān, na copalebhe vaṇijāṃ paṇā'yān.

cakranduruccair nṛ-patiṃ sametya taṃ mātaro 'bhyarṇamupāgatā'srāḥ,
purohitā'mātya-mukhāś ca yodhā vivṛddha-manyu-pratipūrṇa-manyā.

didṛkṣamāṇaḥ paritaḥ sa-sītaṃ rāmaṃ yadā naikṣata lakṣmaṇaṃ ca,
rorudyamānaḥ sa tadā'bhyapṛcchad, yathāvadākhyannatha vṛttamasmai.

ābaddha-bhīma-bhrukuṭī-vibhaṅgaḥ śeśvīyamānā'ruṇa-raudra-netraḥ
uccairupālabdha sa kekayīṃ ca, śoke muhuś cāvirataṃ nyamāṅkṣīt.

nṛpā''tmajau cikliśatuḥ sa-sītau, mamāra rājā, vi-dhavā bhavatyaḥ,
śocyā vayaṃ, bhūra-nṛpā, laghutvaṃ kekayyupajñaṃ bata bahvanartham.

naitan mataṃ matkamiti bruvāṇaḥ sahasra-śo 'sau śapathānaśapyat
udvāśyamānaḥ pitaraṃ sa-rāmaṃ luṭhyan sa-śoko bhuvi rorudā-vān.

taṃ susthayantaḥ sacivā narendraṃ didhakṣayantaḥ samudūhurārāt
antyā''hutiṃ hāvayituṃ sa-viprāś cicīṣayanto'dhvara-pātra-jātam.

udakṣipan paṭṭa-dukūla-ketū- navādayan veṇu-mṛdaṅga-kāṃsyam,
kambūṃś ca tārānadhaman samantāt, tathā''nayan kuṅkuma-candanāni.

śrotrā'kṣi-nāsā-vadanaṃ sa-rukmaṃ kṛtvā'jine prāk-śirasaṃ nidhāya
sañcitya pātrāṇi yathā-vidhāna- mṛtvig juhāva jvalitaṃ citā'gnim

kṛteṣu piṇḍodaka-sañcayeṣu, hitvā'bhiṣekaṃ prakṛtaṃ prajābhiḥ
pratyāninīṣur vinayena rāmaṃ prāyādaraṇyaṃ bharataḥ sa-pauraḥ.

śīghrāyamāṇaiḥ kakubho'śnuvānair janaira-panthānamupetya sṛptaiḥ
śokāda-bhūṣairapi bhūś cakāsā- ñcakāra nāgendra-rathā'śva-miśraiḥ.

uccikyire puṣpa-phalaṃ vanāni, sasnuḥ pit n pipriyurāpagāsu,
āreṭuritvā pulinānyaśaṅkaṃ, chāyāṃ samāśritya viśaśramuśca.

saṃprāpya tīraṃ tamasā''pagāyā gaṅgā'mbu-samparka-viśuddhi-bhājaḥ
vigāhituṃ yāmunamabmu puṇyaṃ yayur niruddha-śramavṛttayas te.

īyur bharadvāja-muner niketaṃ, yasmin viśaśrāma sametya rāmaḥ
cyutā'śanāyaḥ phalavad-vibhūtyā vysyannudanyāṃ śiśiraiḥ payobhiḥ.

vācaṃ-yamān sthaṇḍila-śāyinaś ca yuyukṣamāṇānaniśaṃ mumukṣūn
adhyāpayantaṃ vinayāt praṇemuḥ padgā bharadvāja-muniḥ sa-śiṣyaṃ.

ātithyamebhyaḥ parinirvivapsoḥ kalpa-drumā yoga-balena pheluḥ,
dhāma-prathimno mradimā'nvitāni vāsāṃsi ca drāghima-vantyudūhuḥ

ājñāṃ pratīṣur, vinayādupāsthur, jaguḥ sarāgaṃ, nanṛtuḥ sa-hāvam,
sa-vibhramaṃ nemurudāramucus tilottamā''dyā vanitāśca tasmin.

vastrā'nna-pānaṃ śayanaṃ ca nānā kṛtvā'vakāśe ruci-saṃprakwxlqqptam
tān prīti-mānāha munis tataḥ sma "nivadhvamādhvaṃ, pibatā'tta śedhvam.

te bhuktavantaḥ su-sukhaṃ vasitvā vāsāṃsyuṣitvā rajanīṃ prabhāte
drutaṃ samadhvā ratha-vāji-nāgair mandākinīṃ ramya-vanāṃ samīyuḥ.

vaikhānasebhyaḥ śruta-rāma-vārtās tato viśiñjāna-pataktri-saṅgham
abhraṃ-lihā'graṃ ravi-mārga-bhaṅgam ānaṃhire 'driṃ prati citra-kūṭam.

dṛṣṭvorṇuvānān kakubho balaughān vitatya śārṅgaṃ kavacaṃ pinahya
tasthau sisaṃgrāmayiṣuḥ śiteṣuḥ saumitrirakṣi-bhruvamujjihānaḥ

śuklottarāsaṅga-bhṛto vi-śastrān pādaiḥ śanairāpatataḥ pra-manyūn
auhiṣṭa tān vīta-viruddha-buddhīn vivandiṣūn dāśarathiḥ sva-vargyān

sa-mūla-kāṣaṃ cakaṣū rudanto rāmā'ntikaṃ bṛṃhita-manyu-vegāḥ
āvedayantaḥ kṣiti-pālamuccaiḥ- kāraṃ mṛtaṃ rāma-viyoga-śokāt

ciraṃ ruditvā karuṇaṃ sa-śabdaṃ gotrā'bhidhāyaṃ saritaṃ sametya
madhye-jalād rāghava-lakṣmaṇābhyāṃ prattaṃ jalaṃ dvyañjalamantike'pām.

"araṇya-yāne su-kare pitā mā prāyuṅkta, rājye bata duṣ-kare tvām,
mā gāḥ śucaṃ vīra !, bharaṃ vahā 'mum," ābhāṣi rāmeṇa vacaḥ kanīyān.

"kṛtī śrutī vṛddha-mateṣu dhīmāṃs tvaṃ paitṛkaṃ ced vacanaṃ na kuryāḥ,
vicchidyamāne 'pi kule parasya puṃsaḥ kathaṃ syādiha putra-kāmyā.

asmākamuktaṃ bahu manyase ced, yadīśiṣe tvaṃ na mayi sthite ca,
jihreṣya-tiṣṭhan yadi tāta-vākye, jahīhi śaṅkāṃ, vraja, śādhi pṛthvīm."

"vṛddhaurasāṃ rājya-dhurāṃ pravoḍhuṃ kathaṃ kanīyānahamutsaheya,
mā māṃ prayukthāḥ kula-kīrti-lope," prāha sma rāmaṃ bharato'pi dharymam.

"ūrjas-valaṃ hasti-turaṅgametad, amūni ratnāni ca rāja-bhāñji,
rājanyakaṃ caitadahaṃ kṣitīndras tvayi sthite syāmiti śāntamaitat."

iti nigaditavantaṃ rāghavas taṃ jagāda "vraja bharata ! gṛhītvā pāduke tvaṃ madīye,
cyuta-nikhila-viśaṅkaḥ pūjyamāno janaughaiḥ sakala-bhuvana-rājyaṃ kārayā 'sman-matena"