Arriving by means of a car emitting a low and solemn sound, that lord,
the highly famous Bharata speedily entered Ayodhya, ranged by cats and
owls, with the doors of the people's dwellings remaining closed; like a
night enveloped in darkness; gloomy; and invisible; resembling the
beloved wife of Rahu's enemy, Rohini, brilliant with the lustre of the
latter, when she is forlorn in consequence of her lover being afflicted
by that planet; like unto a mountain stream shrunk up, having its waters
turbid and slightly heated, and its fowls burning in the heat; and with
its fishes, alligators and other aquatic animals rendered lean;
resembling a flame of fire devoid of smoke and streaming up in golden
splendour, next sprinkled with clarified butter, and lastly appearing
with its crest extinguished; with armour scattered all round, and sick
elephants and horses and cars and standards,--and heroes lying dead,--in
distress; like unto an army in a mighty encounter; resembling the silent
ripples of the ocean raised by the gentle breeze, which ere now (in the
shapes of surges) were heaving, brimming over with foam and sending
forth roars; like a silent dais after the sacrifice is over, without the
sacrificial appurtenances, without worthy priests; like unto the wife of
a youthful ox, exercised with anxiety on having been forsaken by her
favorite ox, staying in distress in a pen, abstaining from fresh grass;
like unto a string of new pearls divorced from noble, mild-gleaming
rubies and other excellent gems; like a star on the expiration of its
virtue, moving from its' place, and dislodged from heaven, dropping to
the earth with its brightness contracted; like a blossoming creeper at
the end of spring with maddened _Bhramaras_[194] suddenly rendered
nerveless in consequence of being caught by a forest fire; with her
merchants plunged in grief, and her shops and stalls closed; like the
welkin covered with clouds, and having its moon and stars hid; like an
unclean, uncovered spot used for drinking, with all the wine drained,
and scattered with broken bowls, and with the tipplers lying dead; like
unto a reservoir with its terrace riven, filled with broken pots, and
lying with its pillars crushed; like a long strong bow-string fixed on a
bow furnished with nooses, falling off the bow to the ground, being
snapped in consequence of the pressure of the arrow; like a mare,
suddenly urged on by a rider skilled in battle, lying (on the ground),
having been slain by the hostile forces.
That son of Dacaratha, the beauteous Bharata, while proceeding on his
car, addressed the charioteer as he drove that best of cars, saying,
"Why do I not hear as formerly the solemn sounds of song and
instrumental music spreading on all sides in Ayodhya? And there doth not
breathe around the aroma of liquor, or the perfume of garlands, or the
incense of _aguru_ and sandal. And on Rama being banished, in this city
is not heard the mild neighing of steeds, the rattle of vehicles, the
roar of mad elephants, or the mighty clatter of arms. And on Rama having
repaired to the forest, youthful folk stricken with sorrow do not enjoy
the incense of _aguru_ and sandal, or costly fresh chaplets. And persons
bearing variegated garlands do not walk abroad; and no festivities are
celebrated in the city stricken with grief on account of Rama. Surely,
the grace of the city hath gone away with my brother. Surely, that
Ayodhya doth not look beautiful like an autumnal night with showers
pouring down. When shall my brother, coming hither like a carnival,
gladden all hearts in Ayodhya like rain in summer? And the highways
shall be graced with young people elegantly attired and bearing
themselves bravely in Ayodhya." Having said this in grief, Bharata in
company with the charioteer entered Ayodhya and immediately went to the
residence of his father, bereft of that foremost of men, like a cavern
bereft of its lion. Seeing the inner apartment shorn of its splendour,
like a day deprived of the sun, mourned by the deities, and everywhere
unclean, the self-possessed Bharata, mowed by grief, began to drop
tears.
[194] Black bees.