Golden Trays and Auspicious Songs Flow Through Ayodhya
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 3
Doha 4 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata returns joyfully to Ayodhya and gives the news first to Guru Vasishtha, then carries it into the palace. The mothers rise and run at once, and Bharata steadies them with the assurance that Rama is safe and coming.
Word crosses the city. Men and women rush out in delight. Women fill golden trays with curd, sacred durva, rochana, fruit, flowers, fresh tulsi leaves, and every root of auspicious welcome. They move like elephants in graceful majesty while singing.
Everyone runs in whatever state the news finds them, not waiting even to bring child or elder. People stop one another and ask, Brother, have you seen compassionate Raghuraya? Ayodhya becomes a treasury of beauty. Three kinds of pleasant breeze move through it, and the Sarayu's water clears as though river and city have both prepared themselves to receive Rama.
The news reaches Ayodhya, and an entire city rises unfinished from its tasks to become one golden tray of welcome.
Read the passage from the Manas
हरषि भरत कोसलपुर आए। समाचार सब गुरहि सुनाए।। पुनि मंदिर महँ बात जनाई। आवत नगर कुसल रघुराई।। सुनत सकल जननीं उठि धाईं। कहि प्रभु कुसल भरत समुझाई।। समाचार पुरबासिन्ह पाए। नर अरु नारि हरषि सब धाए।। दधि दुर्बा रोचन फल फूला। नव तुलसी दल मंगल मूला।। भरि भरि हेम थार भामिनी। गावत चलिं सिंधु सिंधुरगामिनी।। जे जैसेहिं तैसेहिं उटि धावहिं। बाल बृद्ध कहँ संग न लावहिं।। एक एकन्ह कहँ बूझहिं भाई। तुम्ह देखे दयाल रघुराई।। अवधपुरी प्रभु आवत जानी। भई सकल सोभा कै खानी।। बहइ सुहावन त्रिबिध समीरा। भइ सरजू अति निर्मल नीरा।।
Bharat joyfully returned to Ayodhya and told all the news to his guru. Then in the palace he spread the word: 'The Lord of the Raghus is coming to the city, safe and well!' Hearing this, all the mothers rose and rushed forward. Bharat reassured them of the Lord's welfare. The citizens received the news. Men and women alike came running in delight. Curds, durva grass, flowers, fruits, auspicious vessels, and everything needed for welcome were gathered in haste. Beautiful decorations adorned lane and bazaar, and banners and festoons were hung everywhere. The entire city was swept and sprinkled, and every threshold was freshly painted. All the brahmins recited Vedic hymns and made auspicious preparations.