Aranya Kanda — Sarga 16

वसतस्तस्य तु सुखं राघवस्य महात्मनः। ''शरद्व्यपाये हेमन्तऋतुरिष्टः प्रवर्तत॥

As the high-souled Rāghava was dwelling there peacefully, after autumn had departed, the welcome winter commenced.

Aranya Kanda 16.1

स कदाचित् प्रभातायां शर्वर्यां रघुनन्दनः। प्रययावभिषेकार्थं रम्यां गोदावरी नदीम्॥

And it came to pass that once on a time, when the night had passed away and day broke, that son of Raghu went to the romantic river Godāvarī for performing his bath.

Aranya Kanda 16.2

प्रह्वः कलशहस्तस्तु सीतया सह वीर्यवान्। पृष्ठतोऽनुव्रजन् भ्राता सौमित्रिरिदमब्रवीत्॥

And as the humble son of Sumitrā Rāma's puissant brother bearing a water pitcher in his hand was following Rāma along with Sītā at his back, the former said to Rāma,

Aranya Kanda 16.3

अयं स कालः सम्प्राप्तः प्रियो यस्ते प्रियंवद। अलंकृत इवाभाति येन संवत्सरः शुभः॥

O sweet-speeched one, now is come that season which you have ever held dear; and as if decorated by which comes on the entire auspicious year.

Aranya Kanda 16.4

नीहारपरुषो लोकः पृथिवी सस्यमालिनी। जलान्यनुपभोग्यानि सुभगो हव्यवाहनः ॥

Now people have their persons rendered rough from dew; the earth is replenished with com; water is difficult of being used; and fire becomes enjoyable.

Aranya Kanda 16.5

नवाग्रयणपूजाभिरभ्यर्च्य पितृदेवताः। कृताग्रयणकाः काले सन्तो विगतकल्मषाः॥

And men having worshipped the gods and the Pitſis by celebrating Āgrayana on the occasion of partaking new rice, have at this season, their sins purged off.

Aranya Kanda 16.6

प्राज्यकामा जनपदा: सम्पन्नतरगोरसाः। विचरन्ति महीपाला यात्रार्थं विजिगीषवः॥

The provinces overflow with food, and abound in milk and articles prepared therefrom; and kings bent on conquest, range about for surveying thein.

Aranya Kanda 16.7

सेवमाने दृढं सूर्ये दिशमन्तकसेविताम्। विहीनतिलकेव स्त्री नोत्तरा दिक् प्रकाशते॥

And on the sun having veered steadily to the quarter presided over by the Destroyer*, the north appears like a female without her tilaka. ** *i.e.-The South, **A mark made with coloured earth's or unguents upon the forehead and between the eye-brows either by way of ornament or a sectarial distinction.

Aranya Kanda 16.8

प्रकृत्या हिमकोशाढ्यो दूरसूर्यश्च साम्प्रतम्। यथार्थनामा सुव्यक्तं हिमवान् हिमवान् गिरिः॥

Naturally abounding in snow, and now having the sun at a great distance, the mountain Himavān+ justly bear that name. Himavan means having snow.-T

Aranya Kanda 16.9

अत्यन्तसुखसंचारा मध्याह्ने स्पर्शतः सुखाः। दिवसाः सुभगादित्याश्छायासलिलदुर्भगाः॥

At midday the days are delightful to a degree to range in, feel highly agreeable, and have pleasant suns; while shade and water are uncomfortable.

Aranya Kanda 16.10

मृदुसूर्याः सुनीहाराः पटुशीताः समाहिताः। शून्यारण्या हिमध्वस्ता दिवसा भान्ति साम्प्रतम्॥

The days now have mild suns, are covered with dew severely cold, with the forests remaining idle, and the lotuses destroyed by frost.

Aranya Kanda 16.11

निवृत्ताकाशशयनाः पुष्यनीता हिमारुणाः। शीतवृद्धतरायामास्त्रियामा यान्ति साम्प्रतम्॥ रविसंक्रांन्तसौभाग्यस्तुषारारुणमण्डलः। निःश्वासान्ध इवादर्शश्चन्द्रमा न प्रकाशते॥ ज्योत्स्ना तुषारमलिना पौर्णमास्यां न राजते। सीतेव चातपश्यामा लक्ष्यते न च शोभते॥

And now at night people cannot lie down in unsheltered places; and the nights are inferred from the presence of Pusya And at night the atmosphere (being covered with vapour) looks brown; and it is bitter cold then; and the hours are long And the good fortune of the Moon has fallen to the Sun; and the disc of the former is reddish with vapour; and like to a glass breathed upon, it dose not shine clearly. And the moonlight furnished by vapour dose not appear pleasant; and like Sītā pallid because of exposure to) sunshine, is perceptible, but dose not look beauteous,

Aranya Kanda 16.12

प्रकृत्या शीतलस्पर्शो हिमविद्धश्च साम्प्रतम्। प्रवाति पश्चिमो वायुः काले द्विगुणशीतलः॥

And at this season the western wind naturally of gelid feel, being permeated at present with cold, Flows with ouble coldness.

Aranya Kanda 16.13

वाष्पच्छन्नान्यरण्यानि यवगोधूमवन्ति च। शोभन्तेऽभ्युदिते सूर्ये नदद्भिः कौञ्चसारसैः॥

And the forests enveloped in mist, and stocked with wheat and barley, look brilliant at sunrise, with Krauñcas and cranes crying (in chorus).

Aranya Kanda 16.14

खजूरपुष्पाकृतिभिः शिरोभिः पूर्णतण्डुलैः। शोभन्ते किंचिदालम्बाः शालय: कनकप्रभाः॥

Golden-hued paddy slightly inclined, appear graceful, with their heads like to date-flowers filled with rice.

Aranya Kanda 16.15

मयूखैरुपसर्पद्भिर्हिमनीहारसंवृतैः। दूरमभ्युदितः सूर्यः शशाङ्क इव लक्ष्यते॥

And the sun although high advanced. yet having its rays covered with thick mist, appear like the moon,

Aranya Kanda 16.16

आग्राह्यवीर्यः पूर्वाह्ने मध्याह्ने स्पर्शतः सुखः। संरक्तः किंचिदापाण्डुरातपः शोभते क्षितौ॥

And feeble at the first part of the day, and of agreeable touch at mid-day, the sunshine, being surcharged with mist, appear polish over the face of the earth.

Aranya Kanda 16.17

अवस्यायनिपातेन किंचित्प्रक्लिन्नशाद्वला। वनानां शोभते भूमिर्निविष्टतरुणातपा॥

And in the woods, swards covered with green grass, and with dew-drops on it, look handsome on the morning sun brightening it up.

Aranya Kanda 16.18

स्पृशन् सुविपुलं शीतमुदकं द्विरदः सुखम्। अत्यन्ततृषितो वन्यः प्रतिसंहरते करम्॥

And wild elephants waxing exceedingly thirsty, draw away their trunks, just as they touch beautifully clear and cold water.

Aranya Kanda 16.19

एते हि समुपासीना विहगा जलचारिणः। नावगाहन्ति सलिलमप्रगल्भा इवाहवम्॥

And those aquatic fowls seated by, do not dip themselves in the water, like to cravens shunning fight.

Aranya Kanda 16.20

अवस्यायतमोनद्धा नीहारतमसावृताः। प्रसुप्ता इव लक्ष्यन्ते विपुष्पा वनराजयः॥

And the rows of trees, shorn of their blossoms, on being enveloped with dew at night and mist at morn, look as if they were fast asleep.

Aranya Kanda 16.21

वाष्पसंछन्त्रसलिला रुतविज्ञेयसारसाः। हिमावालुकैस्तीरैः सरितो भान्ति साम्प्रतम्॥

And the streams appear with their waters enveloped in vapour and the cranes, perceived through their cries, and their banks having their sands wet.

Aranya Kanda 16.22

तुषारपतनाच्चैव मृदुत्वाद् भास्करस्य च। शैत्यादगाग्रस्थमपि प्रायेण रसवज्जलम्॥

What on account of the snow-fall, what of the mildness of the sun, and what through the cold, water even when it is on a mountain top, tastes sweet.

Aranya Kanda 16.23

जराजर्जरितैः पत्रैः शीर्णकेसरकर्णिकैः। नालशेषा 'हिमध्वस्ता न भान्ति कमलाकराः॥

And lotuses afflicted by the cold, with the stalks only left, and with their petals dropping down and their pericarps and filaments shrivelled up, do not appear beautiful.

Aranya Kanda 16.24

अस्मिंस्तु पुरुषव्याघ्र काले दुःखसमन्वितः। तपश्चरित धर्मात्मा त्वद्भक्त्या भरतः पुरे॥

O foremost of men, at this season, influenced by regard for you, Bharata undergoing affliction of spirit, is performing mortification's in the city.

Aranya Kanda 16.25

त्यक्त्वा राज्यं च मानं च भोगांश्च विविधान् बहून्। तपस्वी नियताहारः शेते शीते महीतले॥

And forsaking kingdom, and dignity, and the many and various enjoyments, Bharata practising asceticism and restraining himself in respect of food, in this winter lie down on the bare earth.

Aranya Kanda 16.26

सोऽपि वेलामिमां नूनमभिषेकार्थमुद्यतः। वृतः प्रकृतिभिर्नित्यं प्रयाति सरयूं नदीम्॥

He also for certain, at this hour of the day, surrounded by this subjects, daily wend to the river Sarayū for performing his ablutions.

Aranya Kanda 16.27

अत्यन्तसुखसंवृद्धः सुकुमारो हिमादितः। कथं त्वपररात्रेषु सरयूमवगाहते॥

Brought up in luxury, and exceedingly tender, how can he, afflicted with cold, perforim his ablutions in the Sarayū during the latter part of the night?

Aranya Kanda 16.28

पद्मपत्रेक्षणः श्यामः श्रीमान् निरुदरो महान्। धर्मशः सत्यवादी च ह्रीनिषेधो जितेन्द्रियः॥ प्रियाभिभाषी मधुरो दीर्घबाहुररिंदमः। संत्यज्य विविधान् सौख्यानार्यं सर्वात्मना श्रितः॥

Of eyes resembling lotus petals, grey-hued, endued with grace, with a navel depressed, and mighty, Bharata understand righteousness, is truth-speaking, of restrained senses (in respect of other' wives) and also of subdued senses. And he speak fair, and is sweet-tempered, and longarmed and the vanquisher of foes. And renouncing various pleasures, he has devoted himself to the noble one.

Aranya Kanda 16.29

जितः स्वर्गस्तव भ्रात्रा भरतेन महात्मना। वनस्थमपि तापस्ये यस्त्वामनुविधीयते॥

Your high-souled brother has secured heaven, since he, resorting to asceticism, is iinitating you that resident in the woods.

Aranya Kanda 16.30

न पित्र्यमनुवर्तन्ते मातृकं द्विपदा इति। ख्यातो लोकप्रवादोऽयं भरतेनान्यथा कृतः॥

The saying that people follow their mother and not their father, is falsified in the case of Bharata.

Aranya Kanda 16.31

भर्ता दशरथो यस्याः साधुश्च भरतः सुतः। कथं नु साम्बा कैकेयी तादृशी क्रुरदशिनी॥

How can mother Kaikeyī, whose husband is Daśaratha and son the righteous Bharata, have such crooked way?

Aranya Kanda 16.32

इत्येवं लक्ष्मणे वाक्यं स्नेहाद् वदति धार्मिके। परिवादं जनन्यास्तमसहन् राघवोऽब्रवीत्॥ न तेऽम्बा मध्यमा तात गर्हितव्या कदाचन। तामेवेक्ष्वाकुनाथस्य भरतस्य कथां कुरु॥

As the virtuous Lakṣmaṇa was speaking thus from affection, Rāghava, not bearing the blame cast upon his mother (Kaikeyi), said, My brother, you should by no means, tax our second mother. Do you talk of that lord of the Ikşvāku race, Bharata.

Aranya Kanda 16.33

निश्चितैव हि मे बुद्धिर्वनवासे दृढव्रता। भरतस्नेहसंतप्ता बालिशीक्रियते पुनः॥

Albeit my mind is firm as regards my sojourn in the woods, yet is my mind unsteady, being inflained with affection for Bharata.

Aranya Kanda 16.34

संस्मराम्यस्य वाक्यानि प्रियाणि मधुराणि च। हृद्यान्यमृतकल्पानि मन:प्रह्लादनानि च॥

I remember his dear sweet words, taking the heart, resembling ambrosia, filling the soul with delight.

Aranya Kanda 16.35

कदा ह्यहं समेष्यामि भरतेन महात्मना। शत्रुघ्नेन च वीरेण त्वया च रघुनन्दन ॥

When shall I; O son of Raghu, meet with the high-souled Bharata, and the heroic Satrughna, and yourself*. *The meaning is evident when shall we all meet together.-T

Aranya Kanda 16.36

इत्येवं विलपंस्तत्र प्राप्य गोदावरी नदीम्। चक्रेऽभिषेकं काकुत्स्थः सानुजः सह सीतया॥

Having bewailed thus, Kākutstha, coming to the river Godāvarī, there performed his ablutions in company with his younger brother and Sītā.

Aranya Kanda 16.37

तर्पयित्वाथ सलिलैस्तैः पितॄन् दैवतानपि। स्तुवन्ति स्मोदितं सूर्य देवताश्च तथानघाः।॥

Then having offered his adorations with water to the gods and the pitrs, those sinless ones hymned the risen sun as well as the celestials.

Aranya Kanda 16.38

कृताभिषेकः स रराज रामः सीताद्वितीयः सह लक्ष्मणेन। कृताभिषेकस्त्वगराजपुत्र्या रुद्रः सनन्दिर्भगवानिवेशः॥

Having with Sītā as the second and Laksmana, performed his bath. Rama looked beautiful like that lord the reverend Rudra in company with Nandi and the daughter of the king of mountains.

Aranya Kanda 16.39