Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— प्रातः प्रबोधनार्थाय सूतमागधवन्दिनः। महाराजकुमारस्य श्रावयन्ति स्म सुस्वरम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: At dawn the charioteer-bards, heralds, and panegyrists sang in sweet voices to awaken the great king’s son.
Passage 2
तानुवाचैष भरतस्तूर्यघोषं निवारयन्। नाहं महीपतिः किंतु यो राजा तस्य सेवकः॥२॥
Stopping the sound of their instruments, Bharata told them, “I am not the king. I am the servant of him who truly is king.
Passage 3
किमर्थं मत्प्रबोधाय तूर्यघोषो वितन्वते। कस्यात्र कुरुथ स्तोत्रं राजा वस्त्रिदिवं गतः॥३॥
“Why do you spread the sound of instruments to awaken me? Whom are you praising here? Your king has gone to heaven.
Passage 4
तत्सुतो राज्यभोगार्हः स इदानीं वनं गतः। यस्याहं सेवको भृत्यः प्रेष्यश्चवास्मि सर्वथा॥४॥
“His son, who is entitled to rule the kingdom, has now gone to the forest. I am wholly his servant, attendant, and subordinate.”
Passage 5
इति वर्जितसम्प्राप्तप्राबोधिकजनस्वरः। उवाच धर्मवित्तात्मा शत्रुघ्नं प्रति दुःखतः॥५॥
Having thus silenced the voices of the attendants who had come to awaken him, the dharma-knowing Bharata spoke sorrowfully to Śatrughna.
Passage 6
अहो शत्रुघ्न पश्येदं कैकेय्या दुष्टचेष्टितम्। यया मे नाशिता कीर्तिरामदास्यसमुद्भवा॥६॥
“Ah, Śatrughna, behold this wicked deed of Kaikeyī! Through it she has destroyed the honor I gained from serving Rāma.
Passage 7
किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि दुःखपारं न दृश्यते। इत्युक्त्वा विललापोच्चैर्भरतो भूरिदुःखितः॥७॥
“What shall I do? Where shall I go? No end to this sorrow can be seen.” Having said this, deeply afflicted Bharata lamented aloud.
Passage 8
विलपन्तमनुक्लिष्टा विलेपुः सर्वयोषितः। अवरोधो महान् राज्ञो विललापार्तनादभृत्॥८॥
All the women, distressed along with the lamenting Bharata, began to wail. The king’s vast inner household resounded with anguished cries. Vasiṣṭha Directs the Funeral
Passage 9
अथागमत्सभामेष शत्रुघ्नसहितो बुधः। तत्रैनं मन्त्रिप्रवरा उपासाञ्चक्रिरेऽखिलाः॥९॥
Then wise Bharata entered the assembly with Śatrughna, and all the eminent ministers attended upon him there.
Passage 10
सुमन्त्राद्या यथास्थानमुपविष्टाः समन्ततः। ततोऽभ्युपेयुः सर्वेऽपि प्रधानाः पुरवासिनः॥१०॥
Sumantra and the others sat all around in their proper places. Then all the leading citizens also arrived.
Passage 11
आगच्छतां राजलोकप्रवराणां महान् ध्वनिः। तत्राभवन् सभामध्ये तलध्वनिमहोज्जितः॥११॥
As the foremost people of the royal city arrived, a great clamor arose within the assembly hall, swelling with the sound of their footsteps.
Passage 12
उपविष्टेषु सर्वेषु समर्यादं सभान्तरे। वशिष्ठो भगवांस्तत्र पुरोहितशिरोमणिः॥१२॥
When everyone had taken a seat according to rank within the hall, blessed Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of royal priests—
Passage 13
उवाच धर्मनिपुणो भरतं मन्त्रिणस्तथा। पश्यैते मतिमन् सर्वे प्राप्ता लोकास्तवाज्ञया॥१३॥
—expert in dharma, addressed Bharata and the ministers: “Behold, wise one, all these people have come at your command.
Passage 14
संस्कारद्रव्यमादाय राज्ञो निर्हरणार्थिनः। शुष्काणि चन्दनैधांसि देवदारूणि भूरि च॥१४॥
“They have brought the materials for the king’s funeral and are ready to bear him forth: dry sandalwood fuel and abundant deodar wood,
Passage 15
सुगन्धीनि च तैलानि रालासुरभिजं घृतम्। गन्धान् माल्यानि पुष्पाणि धूपान् कालेयनिर्मितान्॥१५॥
“fragrant oils, resin, sweet-smelling ghee, perfumes, garlands, flowers, and incense made of dark aromatic wood.
Passage 16
एतैर्द्रव्यैः पितुर्देहमग्नौ संस्कुरु यज्ञिये। शिविकायां रत्नमय्यामारोप्य नय तद्बहिः॥१६॥
“With these substances perform the fire rite for your father’s body. Place it upon the jewel-studded bier and carry it outside.
Passage 17
सद्गतिं प्रापयतमां धार्मिकस्य कलेवरम्। इत्याज्ञप्तो वशिष्ठेन भरतो भूमिभूषणः॥१७॥
“Bring the righteous king’s body to the highest blessed destination.” Thus instructed by Vasiṣṭha, Bharata, ornament of the earth—
Passage 18
ययौ सर्वजनैः साकं कौसल्यासदनं तदा। तत्र तैलगतं राज्ञः समादाय कलेवरम्॥१८॥
—went with all the people to Kauśalyā’s residence and took up the king’s body, which had been preserved there in oil. The Funeral Procession
Passage 19
शीघ्रमारोपयामासुः शिविकायां यथोचितम्। विभूष्य दिव्यवसनैः कौशेयैर्मणिभूषणैः॥१९॥
They adorned it fittingly with splendid silken garments and jeweled ornaments, then quickly placed it upon the bier.
Passage 20
विलिप्य चन्दनैर्दिव्यैः कर्पूरघुसृणादिभिः। दिव्यधूपैर्धूपयित्वावकीर्य कुसुमादिभिः॥२०॥
They anointed it with fine sandal paste, camphor, saffron, and other fragrant substances, perfumed it with excellent incense, and scattered flowers over it.
Passage 21
अन्यैश्च सुरभिद्रव्यैर्विभूष्य च समन्ततः। उत्क्षिप्य शिविकां पश्चादुवाहाश्रुविलोचनः॥२१॥
Having adorned it on every side with other aromatic substances, tearful Bharata lifted the bier and bore it from behind.
Passage 22
शत्रुघ्नसहितः शोकाद्रुदन्नार्तस्वरं मुहुः। ऊहुः प्रेष्यजनाः सर्वे शिविकां मणिमण्डिताम्॥२२॥
Together with Śatrughna he repeatedly cried out in grief, while all the attendants carried the jewel-adorned bier.
Passage 23
पुरस्तात्प्रययौ छत्रं धवलं चन्द्रसन्निभम्। परितश्चामरैः श्वेतैर्वीजयन्तः स्थिता जनाः॥२३॥
A white parasol, bright as the moon, went before it, and people stood all around waving white yak-tail fans.
Passage 24
निजघ्नुर्दुन्दुभीन् प्रेष्या रुदन्तः शोकसंयुताः। जाबालिप्रमुखा विप्रा अग्निहोत्रं महीपतेः॥२४॥
The grief-stricken attendants beat the kettledrums while weeping. Brāhmaṇas headed by Jābāli offered the king’s agnihotra fire—
Passage 25
हुत्वा पुरस्तादनयन् दीप्यमानं महाद्युतिम्। सुवर्णरत्नपूर्णानि शकटानि पुरो ययुः॥२५॥
—and carried that brilliantly blazing fire in front. Carts filled with gold and jewels also went ahead.
Passage 26
और्ध्वदेहिकदानार्थं धनानि सुबहूनि च। निन्युः प्रेष्यजना अग्रे विसृजन्तः समन्ततः॥२६॥
The attendants carried great quantities of wealth for funerary gifts at the front, distributing it in every direction.
Passage 27
अनाथेभ्यश्च दीनेभ्यो जनेभ्योऽधिपुरं ययुः। स्त्रियो वृद्धाः कुमाराश्च सर्वे पौरास्तमन्वयुः॥२७॥
They gave it to orphans, the poor, and other people as they passed through the city. Women, elders, children, and all the citizens followed the king.
Passage 28
अग्रे भरतशत्रुघ्नौ रुदन्तावन्वगच्छताम्। महाशोकभराविष्टौ वहन्तौ शिविकां पितुः॥२८॥
Bharata and Śatrughna walked weeping at the front, overwhelmed by immense grief and bearing their father’s bier.
Passage 29
राजदाराश्च कौसल्यासुमित्राकैकयीमुखाः। वध्वः प्रकीर्णचिकुरा रुदन्त्यो नृपमन्वयुः॥२९॥
The royal wives, headed by Kauśalyā, Sumitrā, and Kaikeyī, followed the king, weeping with their hair disheveled.
Passage 30
यूथशः क्रोशमानास्ता नार्यः पटुजललोचनाः। शरत्सुधांशुवदनाः प्रययुः शोककर्शिताः॥३०॥
Those women went in groups crying aloud, their eyes streaming with water and their faces like autumn moons, wasted by grief. The Pyre on the Sarayū
Passage 31
ते तत्र सरयूतीरे विमले सिकतामये। प्रसन्नशाद्वलचिते शिविकां निदधुर्जनाः॥३१॥
There on the pure, sandy bank of the Sarayū, bright with fresh grass, the people set down the bier.
Passage 32
श्रीखण्डैर्मलयोद्भूतैः शुष्कैरगुरुदारुभिः। भूयः कर्पूरकस्तूरीकाश्मीरैर्विदधुश्चिताम्॥३२॥
They built the pyre with sandalwood from Mount Malaya and dry aloe wood, adding abundant camphor, musk, and saffron.
Passage 33
पद्मैः पद्ममृणालैश्च कुसुमैः सौरभाञ्चितैः। अलञ्चक्रुश्चितां राज्ञः सुगन्धद्रव्यराशिभिः॥३३॥
They adorned the king’s pyre with lotuses, lotus stalks, fragrant flowers, and heaps of aromatic substances.
Passage 34
चितामारोपयामासुर्नृपं कौशेयवाससम्। यज्ञपात्राणि तत्रैव सर्वाणि निदधुर्द्विजाः॥३४॥
They placed the king, clothed in silk, upon the pyre, and the brāhmaṇas laid all the sacrificial implements there as well.
Passage 35
स्रुक्स्रुवौ च कपालांश्च मुशलोलूखलं तथा। अरणीं च पवित्राणि मन्त्रजापपुरःसरम्॥३५॥
They placed the offering ladles, bowls, pestle and mortar, the fire-drill, and the purifying implements, accompanied by the chanting of mantras.
Passage 36
पवित्रैर्यज्ञपात्राणि ममृजुर्द्विजसत्तमाः। उल्लिख्य पशुं मेध्यं मन्त्रैः संस्कृत्य सुद्विजाः॥३६॥
The foremost brāhmaṇas cleansed the sacrificial vessels with purifiers. The learned priests marked out the sacrificial animal and consecrated it with mantras.
Passage 37
विनियुज्य यथास्थानं सवत्सां गामवासृजन्। सुवर्णलाङ्गलैः कृष्ट्वा भूमिं संस्कृत्य यत्नतः॥३७॥
They assigned everything to its prescribed place and released a cow with her calf. They carefully prepared the ground after plowing it with golden plows.
Passage 38
चितां तत्र सुसंरच्य विभूष्य कुसुमादिभिः। सर्पिःसुगन्धतैलाद्यैः परिषिच्य समन्ततः॥३८॥
They properly arranged the pyre there, adorned it with flowers and the like, and sprinkled it on every side with ghee, fragrant oils, and other substances.
Passage 39
अग्निहोत्राग्निना तां तु भरतः समदीपयत्। प्रदीप्तः सर्वतो वह्निर्ज्वालाजालैः समेधितः॥३९॥
Bharata lit it with the agnihotra fire. The blaze kindled on every side, swelling into a mass of flames.
Passage 40
चितास्थितां तनुं राज्ञो ददाह महसा तदा। विधिज्ञैर्ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठैर्वसिष्ठाद्यैर्मुनीश्वरैः॥४०॥
The fire then consumed the king’s body lying upon the pyre, while the foremost brāhmaṇas and ritual-knowing sages led by Vasiṣṭha presided.
Passage 41
सुसंस्कृतो महाराजो भस्मसादभवत् क्षणात्। प्रज्वालितः प्रदीप्तेन शुचिना यज्ञियेन सः॥४१॥
Properly consecrated, the great king was reduced to ashes in a moment by that pure, sacrificial fire blazing brightly.
Passage 42
तथाविधां गतिं राज्ञो दृष्ट्वा सर्वे पुराजनाः। चितायाः परितो भूयो विलेपुः शोकसंयुताः॥४२॥
Seeing the king meet such an end, all the citizens surrounding the pyre again wailed in grief.
Passage 43
भरतः खलु शत्रुसूदनश्च ज्वलता शोकहुताशनेन युक्तौ। प्रविलप्य मुहुर्भृशं रुदन्तौ धृतमूर्छौ विनिपेततुर्धरण्याम्॥४३॥
Bharata and Śatrughna, consumed by the blazing fire of sorrow, lamented again and again, wept intensely, and fell unconscious upon the ground.