Chapter CXLVI: Section LXXI

Issuing from the palace, the blazing Bharata endowed with prowess went in an easterly direction, and seeing before him the river called Sudama, crossed it. Then the auspicious descendant of Ikshwaku crossed the broad Hradini coursing westwards, as also the river Satadru. Then crossing a river at Eladhana,[153] and coming to Aparaparvata,[154] he crossed the Sila[155] and the Akurvati, and arrived at Agneya[156] and Salyakarshanam. And having purified himself and seen Silavaha,[157] that one of truthful purposes passed the Mahacailas,[158] and entered the forest of Chaitraratha. Then coming upon the confluence of the Ganga. and the Saraswati, Bharata entered the forest of Varunda lyingto the north[159] of Viramatsya. Next crossing the rapid river Kulinga and the Hradini surrounded by hills, as Well as the Yamuna, he ordered the forces to halt. Then cooling the limbs of the fatigued horses (with water) and refreshing them, Bharata himself bathed there and drank of the water; and then resumed the march, furnished with the water. Then the gentle prince by means of an excellent car, like unto the wind-god himself, entered the mighty forest inhabited by various races of men. Seeing that the mighty river Ganga was hard to cross at Ancudhana, Bharata speedily went to the famous city of Pragvata. And having crossed the Ganga at Pragvata, he went over to the Kutikoshtika. Having with his forces crossed that river, he proceeded to Dharmavarddhana. Then proceeding by ie south of Torana, he came to Jamvuprastha. Then Dacaratha's son went to the beautiful village of Varutha. Having for a while stayed at that romantic wood, he proceeded eastwards, and presented himself at the villa of Ujjihayana, where abound trees (called) Priyaka. Coming to the Priyakas, Bharata speedily yoking the horses, set out without delay, issuing his orders to the forces. Then sojourning at Sarvatirtha and crossing the river there flowing northwards as well as others abounding in various kinds of mountainous horses, Bharata arrived at Hastiprishthaka. And at Lohitya that foremost of men crossed the Kapivati, at Ekasala, the Sthanumati, and at Vinaya, the Gomati. And Bharata arriving at a forest of Sala trees in the city of Kalinga, speedily passed it with his forces way-worn. And having passed the forest swiftly over night, he at sunrise saw Ayodhya built by king Manu. Having spent seven nights on the journey, that chief of men beheld Ayodhya before him and thus addressed the charioteer, "O charioteer, from the distance Ayodhya seemeth like a mass of black earth, albeit she boasts of sacrificial priests crowned with every virtue, Brahmanas versed in the Vedas and opulent people, and albeit she is maintained by Rajarshis. Formerly one could hear a great and mighty tumult all round Ayodhya proceeding from men and women; but I do not hear this to-day. The gardens wherefrom persons having sported in the evening used to rush out (at day break) wear a different aspect now. Forsaken by the pleasure-seekers, the gardens appear to weep. And, O charioteer, the city appears to me like a wilderness. And I do not as formerly behold the flower of the city leaving or entering her on cars or elephants or horses. Gardens which, frequented by people inebriated with the honey of love, met together for purposes of sport, looked charmingly blooming, I find as utterly void of cheerfulness, with the trees as if lamenting with tremulous leaves. Still do I not hear the inarticulate though sweet and delicious voice of beasts and birds crying in chorus.[160] Why, as before, doth not the blameless[161] and bland wind blow mixed with (the perfume of sandal and faint with _dhupa_? And why, again, have the sounds of Vinas and Mridangas developed by beating sticks, which continually flew in a never-ceasing vigorous course, ceased to-day? And I witness various evil, unsightly, and unpleasant[162] omens, and hence my mind is depressed. O charioteer, complete good fortune with my friends is hardly to be realised. Bui although no apparent cause exists for my depression of spirits, yet my heart droopeth." Then Bharata depressed and cast down and with his senses afflicted, speedily entered the city ruled by Ikshwaku. And Bharata having his vehicles fatigued, entered by the Vaijayanta[163] gate, and went on, followed by the gate-keepers, who enquired after his welfare. Then courteously telling the warders to desist, he with an agitated heart spoke unto the tired charioteer of Acwapati, "0 sinless one, why have I been brought in this haste without any (adequate) reason? My heart apprehendeth some evil; and my disposition gives way. O charioteer, I see around me all those signs which I had heard told as occurring on the occasion of the deaths of monarchs. I behold the houses of the citizens unswept and unsightly with the doors flung open,--and destitute of grace, without sacrifices and other religious ceremonies, without the incense of _dhupa_, the citizens fasting, and the people appearing with faded countenances, displaying no flags, etc. The abodes of the deities are not decorated with garlands, and their courts are unclean; and remaining vacant, they look no longer beautiful as formerly. And the images are not worshipped; and the places of sacrifice are in a like condition. And garlands are not displayed in the shops where they are sold. And traders looking anxious, with their business stopped, do not look as before. And in temples and Chaityas birds and beasts appear dispirited. And in the city I behold men and women pale and woe-begone and emaciated and anxious, with tears filling their eyes." Having said this unto the charioteer, Bharata, beholding these inauspicious sights, entered the palace of the king with a depressed heart. Beholding the city resembling the city of Indra, with her crossings and houses and roads void of people, and the doors and hinges covered with dust, Bharata was filled with greater grief. And witnessing many unpleasant things which he had never seen during the life of the monarch, that high-souled one entered the mansion of his father, bending his head, depressed in spirits, and with his mind extremely aggrieved.

[153] Some read Eladhani.--T.

[154] Some read Apharaparyata.

[155] The river, according to some, is so named because it transforms
the surrounding objects to stone.--T.

[156] Some make _agneya_ an epithet to Salyakarshana, meaning, relating
to the south-east.--T.

[157] According to Tirtha. Silavaha is a stream having Agneya on one
side and Salyakarshana on the other.--T.

[158] Lit., mighty mountains.--T.

[159] _Uttaram, lit._ north. Some texts read _uttaran_. It would mean
countries lying to the north of Viramatsya.--T.

[160] Some texts read _muhus_--momentarily.

[161] Some texts read _atula_ in place of _amala_,--_incomparable_.

[162] The commentator renders _amognani, inauspicious_. I venture to
differ from him.--T.

[163] _Vaijayantena_. Another meaning is, _By the gate resembling that
of Indra's palace_.--T.