Arrival at Prayāga and dialogue between Śrī Rāma and the sage Bharadvāja; the love of the people inhabiting the bank of the Yamunā
Dohas
taba ganapati siva sumiri prabhu nāi surasarihi mātha.
sakhā anuja siyā sahita bana gavanu kīnha radhunātha..104.. [2-104]
Then the Lord invoked the gods Gaṇeśa and Śiva; and bowing His head to the celestial stream (Gaṅgā) the Lord of Raghus proceeded to the woods with His friend (Guha), His younger brother (Lakṣmaṇa) and Sītā.
Chaupais
tēhi dina bhayau biṭapa tara bāsū. lakhana sakhāom saba kīnha supāsū..
prāta prātakṛta kari radhusāī. tīratharāju dīkha prabhu jāī.. [2-104-1]
saciva satya śradhdā priya nārī. mādhava sarisa mītu hitakārī..
cāri padāratha bharā bhaomḍāru. punya pradēsa dēsa ati cāru.. [2-104-2]
chētra agama gaḍhau gāḍha suhāvā. sapanēhu nahiṃ pratipacchinha pāvā..
sēna sakala tīratha bara bīrā. kaluṣa anīka dalana ranadhīrā.. [2-104-3]
saṃgamu siṃhāsanu suṭhi sōhā. chatru akhayabaṭu muni manu mōhā..
cavaomra jamuna aru gaṃga taraṃgā. dēkhi hōhiṃ dukha dārida bhaṃgā.. [2-104-4]
That day He halted under a tree; Lakṣmaṇa and His friend (Guha) provided for all His comforts. At dawn the Lord of Raghus performed His morning duties and then the Lord proceeded further and visited Prayāga, the king of holy places. This king has Truth for his minister, Piety for his beloved consort and a beneficent friend like Bindumādhava (the Deity presiding over Prayāga). His treasury is replete with the four prizes of human life, while the sacred region surrounding the confluence of the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā marks his most beautiful dominion. The holy Prayāga represents his inaccessible, strong and lovely fortress that no enemy has ever dreamt of possessing. All the sacred spots are his chosen and valiant warriors, who are staunch in battle and capable of crushing the host of sins. The confluence of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā constitutes his exquisite throne, while the immortal banyan tree (known by the name of Akṣayavaṭa) represents his royal umbrella, which captivates the heart even of sages. The waves of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā constitute his chowries, whose very sight destroys sorrow and want.
Dohas
sēvahiṃ sukṛti sādhu suci pāvahiṃ saba manakāma.
baṃdī bēda purāna gana kahahiṃ bimala guna grāma..105.. [2-105]
Virtuous and holy saints wait upon this king and attain all that they desire; while the Vedas and Purāṇas are the rhapsodists who recount his stainless virtues.
Chaupais
kō kahi sakai prayāga prabhāū. kaluṣa puṃja kuṃjara mṛgarāū..
asa tīrathapati dēkhi suhāvā. sukha sāgara raghubara sukhu pāvā.. [2-105-1]
kahi siya lakhanahi sakhahi sunāī. śrīmukha tīratharāja baḍaāī..
kari pranāmu dēkhata bana bāgā. kahata mahātama ati anurāgā.. [2-105-2]
ēhi bidhi āi bilōkī bēnī. sumirata sakala sumaṃgala dēnī..
mudita nahāi kīnhi siva sēvā. puji jathābidhi tīratha dēvā.. [2-105-3]
taba prabhu bharadvāja pahiṃ āē. karata daṃḍavata muni ura lāē..
muni mana mōda na kachu kahi jāi. brahmānaṃda rāsi janu pāī.. [2-105-4]
Who can describe the glory of Prayāga, a lion as it were for the herd of elephants in the shape of sins? The Chief of Raghu’s race, who is an ocean of bliss, was filled with delight to see this glorious king of holy places. With His own gracious lips He told Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and His friend (Guha) the greatness of Prayāga. Making obeisance to this holy place He cast a look round the groves and gardens and expatiated on its glory with the utmost devotion. In this way he arrived at and saw the confluence of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā, the very thought of which bestows all choice blessings. After bathing in the confluence He gladly adored Lord Śiva and worshipped the deities presiding over the holy Prayāga according to the prescribed ritual. The Lord then called on Bharadvāja; and the sage clasped Him to his bosom as He fell prostrate before him. The joy that the sage felt within his heart cannot be described in words; it looked as if he had found the bliss of oneness with Brahma incarnate.
Dohas
dīnhi asīsa munīsa ura ati anaṃdu asa jāni.
lōcana gōcara sukṛta phala manahu kiē bidhi āni..106.. [2-106]
The chief of sages, Bharadvāja, invoked his blessing on the Lord. He felt great joy in his heart to perceive that God had as it were set before him in visible form the reward of all his virtues.
Chaupais
kusala prasna kari āsana dīnhē. pūji prēma paripūrana kīnhē..
kaṃda mūla phala aṃkura nīkē. diē āni muni manahu amī kē.. [2-106-1]
sīya lakhana jana sahita suhāē. ati ruci rāma mūla phala khāē..
bhaē bigataśrama rāmu sukhārē. bharavdāja mṛdu bacana ucārē.. [2-106-2]
āju suphala tapu tīratha tyāgū. āju suphala japa jōga birāgū..
saphala sakala subha sādhana sājū. rāma tumhahi avalōkata ājū.. [2-106-3]
lābha avadhi sukha avadhi na dūjī. tumhārēṃ darasa āsa saba pūjī..
aba kari kṛpā dēhu bara ēhū. nija pada sarasija sahaja sanēhū.. [2-106-4]
After enquiring of their welfare the sage allotted seats to the royal guests and offering homage to them sated them all with his love. He then brought and presented to them bulbs, roots, fruits and sprouts, all sweet as ambrosia. Śrī Rāma, with Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and His devotee (Guha), partook of those delicious roots and fruits with much relish. Relieved of His toil Śrī Rāma felt much happy and Bharadvāja addressed Him in gentle tones; “Today my penance, pilgrimage and renunciation have been rewarded; today my prayer, meditation and dispassion have borne fruit; nay, all my pious practices have been rewarded by Your very sight, O Rāma. There is no culmination of gain, no culmination of joy other than this. In beholding You all my hopes have been realized. Now be pleased to grant me this one boon, viz., spontaneous attachment to Your lotus-feet.
Dohas
karama bacana mana chāḍai chalu jaba lagi janu na tumhāra.
taba lagi sukhu sapanēhu nahīṃ kiēom kōṭi upacāra..107.. [2-107]
Until a man gets sincerely devoted to You in thought, word and deed, he cannot even dream of happiness in spite of all his devices.”
Chaupais
suni muni bacana rāmu sakucānē. bhāva bhagati ānaṃda aghānē..
taba raghubara muni sujasu suhāvā. kōṭi bhāomti kahi sabahi sunāvā.. [2-107-1]
sō baḍa sō saba guna gana gēhū. jēhi munīsa tumha ādara dēhū..
muni raghubīra parasapara navahīṃ. bacana agōcara sukhu anubhavahīṃ.. [2-107-2]
yaha sudhi pāi prayāga nivāsī. baṭu tāpasa muni siddha udāsī..
bharadvāja āśrama saba āē. dēkhana dasaratha suana suhāē.. [2-107-3]
rāma pranāma kīnha saba kāhū. mudita bhaē lahi lōyana lāhū..
dēhiṃ asīsa parama sukhu pāī. phirē sarāhata suṃdaratāī.. [2-107-4]
Śrī Rāma felt abashed to hear the words of the sage, much as He was sated with joy by his love and devotion. The Chief of Raghus then told all in countless ways the fair and bright renown of the sage. “Great indeed is he and he the repository of all virtues, whom, O chief of sages, you are pleased to honour.” The sage (Bharadvāja) and the Hero of Raghu’s line thus exchanged civilities and experienced ineffable joy. On receiving this news the people of Prayāga, including religious students, ascetics, hermits, accomplished saints and recluses, all flocked to the hermitage of Bharadvāja in order to have a look at the charming sons of King Daśaratha. Śrī Rāma made obeisance to them all, who were delighted to obtain the reward of their eyes. Deriving supreme joy they gave their blessing and returned extolling the beauty of the royal guests.
Dohas
rāma kīnha biśrāma nisi prāta prayāga nahāi.
calē sahita siya lakhana jana mudadita munihi siru nāi..108.. [2-108]
Śrī Rāma reposed (in the hermitage) overnight. At day break He bathed at Prayāga (in the confluence of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā) and proceeded on His journey with Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and His attendant (Guha), gladly bowing His head to the sage.
Chaupais
rāma saprēma kahēu muni pāhīṃ. nātha kahia hama kēhi maga jāhīṃ..
muni mana bihasi rāma sana kahahīṃ. sugama sakala maga tumha kahu ahahīṃ.. [2-108-1]
sātha lāgi muni siṣya bōlāē. suni mana mudita pacāsaka āē..
sabanhi rāma para prēma apārā. sakala kahahi magu dīkha hamārā.. [2-108-2]
muni baṭu cāri saṃga taba dīnhē. jinha bahu janama sukṛta saba kīnhē..
kari pranāmu riṣi āyasu pāī. pramudita hṛdayaom calē raghurāī.. [2-108-3]
grāma nikaṭa jaba nikasahi jāī. dēkhahi darasu nāri nara dhāī..
hōhi sanātha janama phalu pāī. phirahi dukhita manu saṃga paṭhāī.. [2-108-4]
Śrī Rāma lovingly asked the sage, “Tell me, my lord, by which route we should go.” Smiling inwardly the sage replied to Rāma, “All roads are easy to You.” The sage then called his pupils in order that they may escort Śrī Rāma; hearing his call some fifty of them came, glad of heart. They all cherished boundless love for Śrī Rāma and each of them said he had seen the path. The sage then sent with the royal party four religious students who had practised all kinds of virtues in a series of previous births. Making obeisance to the sage and receiving his permission the Lord of Raghus proceeded with a cheerful heart. As the party passed by some village men and women of the village ran to have a look at them. They felt gratified in having attained the fruit of their life and returned disconsolate sending their heart after the strangers.
Dohas
bidā kiē baṭu binaya kari phirē pāi mana kāma.
utari nahāē jamuna jala jō sarīra sama syāma..109.. [2-109]
With great courtesy Śrī Rāma dismissed the students, who returned having obtained their heart’s desire. The Lord then went below and bathed in the stream of the Yamunā, which was dark as His own body.
Chaupais
sunata tīravāsī nara nārī. dhāē nija nija kāja bisārī..
lakhana rāma siya sundaratāī. dēkhi karahiṃ nija bhāgya baḍaāī.. [2-109-1]
ati lālasā basahiṃ mana māhīṃ. nāu gāu būjhata sakucāhīṃ..
jē tinha mahu bayabiridha sayānē. tinha kari juguti rāmu pahicānē.. [2-109-2]
sakala kathā tinha sabahi sunāī. banahi calē pitu āyasu pāī..
suni sabiṣāda sakala pachitāhīṃ. rānī rāyaom kīnha bhala nāhīṃ.. [2-109-3]
tēhi avasara ēka tāpasu āvā. tējapuṃja laghubayasa suhāvā..
kabi alakhita gati bēṣu birāgī. mana krama bacana rāma anurāgī.. [2-109-4]
Hearing of their arrival the people inhabiting the river banks ran to see them unmindful of their duties. Beholding the beauty of Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma and Sītā they congratulated themselves on their good luck. Their hearts were seized with intense longing, but they felt shy in enquiring the names and residence of the newcomers. Such of them, however, as were advanced in years and intelligent were able to recognize Rāma by dint of their wit. They related to them the whole story telling them how Śrī Rāma had proceeded to the woods in obedience to His father’s commands. They were all sad to hear this and lamented: “The king and queen have not done well.” In the meantime there arrived an ascetic who was an embodiment of spiritual glow, young in years and charming in appearance. His ways were unknown to the poet; he was attired in the garb of a recluse and was devoted to Rāma in thought, word and deed.