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.