vasatastasya tu sukhṃ rāghavasya mahātmanḥ| śaradvyapāye hemantaṛturiṣṭḥ pravartata||3.16.1||
Translation
महात्मनः great self, तस्य राघवस्य that Rama's, सुखम् comfort, वसतः while living, शरद्व्यपाये autumn over, इष्टः favourite season, हेमन्तऋतुः winter season, प्रवर्तत set in.
Meaning
While the great self Rama lived happily there, autumn passed and dear winter set in.
sa kadācitprabhātāyāṃ śarvaryāṃ raghunandanḥ| prayayāvabhiṣekārthṃ ramyāṃ godāvarīṃ nadīm||3.16.2||
Translation
कदाचित् once, सः रघुनन्दनः he, the delight (beloved son) of Raghu race, शर्वर्याम् when the night, प्रभातायाम् turned into morning, रम्याम् beautiful, गोदावरीं नदीम् Godavari river, अभिषेकार्थम् for ablution, प्रययौ went.
Meaning
Once Rama, delight of the Raghu race, went to the beautiful river Godavari for ablution in the early hours of the morning.
प्रियंवद sweetspeaking, यः this( season), ते to you, प्रियः dear, सः अयं कालः this time, सम्प्राप्तः has set in, येन by which, शुभः auspicious, संवत्सरः year, अलङ्कृतः इव as if decorated, आभाति appears.
Meaning
O sweetspeaking brother, the season which is dear to you has arrived. It appears the auspicious year is going to be embellished with this season.
लोकः people , नीहारपरुषः frozen with fog, पृथिवी the earth, सस्यशालिनी full of crops, जलानि waters, अनुपभोग्यानि no more enjoyable, हव्यवाहनः the fire, सुभगः very enjoyable.
Meaning
People feel frozen with fog, and water is no more enjoyable. The earth is full of crops and fire is so agreeable.
सन्तः pious men, नवाग्रयणपूजाभिः with offering of libations of the first crop at Agnistoma sacrifices, पितृदेवताः manes अभ्यर्च्य after worshipping, काले at the proper time, कृताग्रयणकाः the sages who have conducted sacrifice with oblation, विगतकल्मषाः rid of their sins.
Meaning
Pious men offer their libations of the first crop at Agnistoma sacrifice and thereby please their manes and get rid of their sins.
सम्पन्नतरगोरसाः obtaining abundant cow's milk, जनपदाः people of the countryside, प्राज्यकामाः with fulfilled desire, महीपालाः rulers of the earth, विजिगीषव: desirous of victory, यात्रास्थाः going on expedition, विचरन्ति are moving about.
Meaning
People in the countryside with their desires satisfied obtain abundant cow's milk at this time. Rulers of the earth are out on their expedition with a desire for victory.
सूर्ये Sun, अन्तकसेविताम् serving the god of death, दिशम् direction, दृढम् stand still, सेवमाने attending, उत्तरा दिक् northern side, विहीनतिलका without the vermilion mark, स्त्रीव like a woman, प्रकाशते is shining.
Meaning
As the Sun has resorted to the direction (south) that serves the god of death, the north devoid of (the Sun) shines like a woman without the vermilion mark on the forehead.
मध्याह्ने at noon, स्पर्शतः the touch, सुखाः comfortable, अत्यन्तसुखसञ्चाराः comfortable to go about, दिवसाः daytime, सुभगादित्याः will be enjoyable, छायासलिलदुर्भगाः in shade the water will be enjoyable৷৷
Meaning
The days are enjoyable at noon as it is pleasant to move about during this time since the sun is not scorching. But the shade and water seem to be unfortunate (as they are not liked by any one.
साम्प्रतम् at this time, हिमध्वस्ताः destroyed by frost, दिवसाः days, मृदुसूर्याः mild Sun, सनीहाराः heavy dews, पटुशीताः severe cold, समारुताः with breeze blowing, शून्यारण्याः with none moving in the forest, भान्ति shine.
Meaning
The days will be frostsmitten. The Sun will also be mild. Due to heavy dewfall the weather will be cold with the blowing of the wind. Forests will be empty (as no animals would be seen moving around.)
साम्प्रतम् at this time, निवृत्ताकाशशयनाः sleep under the open sky, हिमारुणाः reddened due to frost, शीताः cool, वृद्धतरायामाः nights are long, पुष्यनीताः (the month of) Pushya approaching, त्रियामाः night consisting of three yamas (yama 3 hours approximately), यान्ति run into
Meaning
At this time people do not sleep under the open sky. With the month of Pushya approaching, nights feel cool and look red due to frost. They prolong into three yamas.
ravisaṅkrāntasaubhāgya stuṣārāruṇamaṇḍalḥ| niśśvāsāndha ivādarśanchandramā na prakāśate||3.16.13||
Translation
रविसङ्क्रान्तसौभाग्यः with the radiance of the Sun dimmed, तुषारारुणमण्डलः with the orb reddened owing to frost, चन्द्रमाः Moon, निःश्वासान्धः with its surface looking blurred with breath, आदर्श इव like a mirror, न प्रकाशते does not shine.
Meaning
With the radiance of the Sun dimmed, with its orb reddened by frost, the moon does not shine clear like a mirror blurred with breath.
jyotsna tuṣāramalinā paurṇamāsyāṃ na rājate| sīteva cātapaśyāmā lakṣyate na tu śobhate||3.16.14||
Translation
पौर्णमास्याम् on a fullmoon night, तुषारमलिना faded by frost, ज्योत्स्ना moonlight, न राजते not shining, आतपश्यामा scorched by heat, सीतेव like Sita, लक्ष्यते appearing, न तु शोभते not bright.
Meaning
On a fullmoon night the beams of the moon faded by forest look pale, dull like Sita scorched by the heat of the Sun.
प्रकृत्या by nature, शीतलस्पर्शः cold touch, साम्प्रतम् at this time, हिमविद्धश्च hit by snow, पश्चिमः वायुः the west wind, काले at this time, द्विगुणशीतलः doubly cold, वाति blowing.
Meaning
The west wind which by nature feels cold at this time blows doubly cold, hit by snow.
बाष्पच्छन्नानि covered by dew drops, यवगोधूमवन्ति च have abundant barley and wheat crops, अरण्यानि forests, सूर्ये Sun, अभ्युदिते rises, नद्भि: produce notes, क्रौञ्चसारसैः by kraunchas and swans, शोभन्ते are delightful.
Meaning
The snowcold forest terrains are fertile with barley and wheat crops. As the Sun rises the swans and kraunchas produce pleasing notes.
कनकप्रभाः shining like gold, शालयः rice fields, खर्जूरपुष्पाकृतिभिः resembling the shape of date flowers, पूर्णतण्डुलैः full of ripened rice grain, शिरोभिः with heads of paddy stocks,किञ्चित् slightly, आनम्रा bent down, शोभन्ते look delightful,
Meaning
The tops of rice crops shining like gold resemble the flowers of datepalm.The fields full of ripe paddy bending a little (under the weight of grains) look delightful.
पूर्वाह्णे in the forenoon, अग्राह्यवीर्यः when his(Sun's) heat cannot be felt, मध्याह्ने at midday, स्पर्शतः by touch, सुखः comfortable, संरक्तः red, किंचित् a little, आपाण्डुः whitish, आतपः heat, क्षितौ on earth, शोभते is delightful.
Meaning
The heat of the Sun which we do not feel in the forenoon is comfortable during midday when the Sun shines slightly reddish white on earth.
अवश्यायनिपातेन with dewdrops fallen, किञ्चित् a little, प्रक्लिन्नशाद्वला the grassland wet with frost, निविष्टतरुणातपा with mild heat on the surface, वनानाम् the forests, भूमिः land, शोभते looks delightful.
Meaning
As the miadows are wet with dewdrops, the land looks delightful with mild Sunlight shining on the surface.
अवश्यायतमोनद्धाः enveloped by the darkness of frost ( at dawn), नीहारतमसा with the darkness of snow, आवृताः covered, विपुष्पाः without flowers, वनराजयः the forest ranges, प्रसुप्ताः इव as if sleeping, लक्ष्यन्ते appear.
Meaning
The flowerless forest ranges appear as if they are asleep, enveloped in the darkness of frost and snow .
साम्प्रतम् now, बाष्पसञ्छन्नसलिलाः waters covered with vapour, रुतविज्ञेयसारसाः inferred from the cackling of swans, सरितः river, हिमार्द्रवालुकैः with sands drenched with snow, तीरैः river banks,भान्ति appear.
Meaning
Now the rivers are not visible as the waters are covered with vapour. They are only inferred through the cackling of swans and the sands of the bank moistened with dewdrops.
तुषारपतनाच्चैव due to snowfall, भास्करस्य Sun's, मृदुत्वात् owing to mildness, शैत्यात् caused by coldness, रसवत् tasty, जलम् water, अगाग्रस्थमपि although flowing from top of the mountain, प्रायेण generally.
Meaning
Due to snowfall, mildness of the Sun, and coldness (of weather) even the water flowing from the mountain top is not generally tasty.
कमलाकराः lotustanks, जराजर्जरितैः grey with age, शीर्णकेसरकर्णिकैः with filament and pericarp withered, नालशेषैः only stalks remaining, हिमध्वस्तैः destroyed by snow, पद्मैः by lotuses, न भान्ति are not shining.
Meaning
The lotuses in the tank no more shine (bright) as they are decayed by age, their filaments and pericarps withered with only stalks remaining.
अस्मिन् काले at such a time, पुरुषव्याघ्रः tiger among men, धर्मात्मा righteous self, भरतः Bharata, दुःखसमन्वितः sadly, त्वद्भक्त्या for his devotion to you, पुरे at his residence, तपः penance, चरति is performing.
Meaning
At this time, righteous Bharata, the best among men, with his devotion to you must be sadly performing penance at his residence.
tyaktvā rājyṃ ca mānṃ ca bhogāṃśca vividhānbahūn| tapassvī niyatāhāraśśete śīte mahītale||3.16.28||
Translation
राज्यं च the kingdom, मानम् honour, विविधान् various, बहून् many, भोगांश्च pleasures, त्यक्त्वा after giving up, तपस्स्वी as an asectic, नियताहारः controlling food, शीते in cold, महीतले on the ground, शेते will be sleeping.
Meaning
Giving up his kingdom, honour and pleasures of many kinds, Bharata will be living like an ascetic, sleeping on the ground in cold weather, his food under restriction.
सोऽपि Bharata also, इमां वेलाम् at this time, अभिषेकार्थम् for ablution, उद्यतः intending to, प्रकृतिभिः by his subjects, वृतः surrounded by, नित्यम् daily, सरयूं नदीम् in river Sarayu, प्रयाति goes forth, नूनम् surely.
Meaning
At this time, Bharata, accompanied by his subjects, must be daily going to river Sarayu for ablution.
अत्यन्तसुखसंवृद्धः brought up in comfort, सुकुमारः delicate, सुखोचितः deserving comfort, अपररात्रेषु in the later part of the night, कथं नु how can, सरयूम् to Sarayu, अवगाहते for a dip.
Meaning
How can Bharata who was brought up in luxury, who is delicate, and deserves all comfort, take a dip in river Sarayu (in cold morning) ?
पद्मपत्रेक्षणः with eyes like lotus petals, वीरः valiant, श्यामः of blue complexion, निरुदरः of thin waist, महान् great, धर्मज्ञः knower of his duty, सत्यवादी च truthful, ह्रीनिषेधः one who maintains a low profile, जितेन्द्रियः self controlled, प्रियाभिभाषी softspoken, मधुरः sweet in temperament, दीर्घबाहुः longarmed, अरिन्दमः a subduer of enemies, विविधान् diverse, भोगान् pleasures, सन्त्यज्य giving up, सर्वात्मना with all his efforts, आर्यम् your, श्रितः devoted to.
Meaning
He has a blue complexion, a pair of eyes like lotus petals, a thin waist and long arms. He is selfrestrained, softspoken, sweettempered and truthful. He knows his duty and maintains a low profile. A subduer of enemies, he is heroic and great. Such Bharata has given up the diverse pleasures of life and has surrendered himself to you with all his soul.
यः who, वनस्थमपि dwelling in the forest, त्वाम् yourself, तापस्ये in adopting asceticism, अनुविधीयते faithfully follows, तव भ्रात्रा your brother, महात्मना great self, भरतेन by Bharata, स्वर्गः heaven, जितः won.
Meaning
Although you dwell in the forest, your great brother Bharata has won the kingdom of heaven by faithfully adopting your asceticism.
na pitryamanuvartante mātṛkṃ dvipadā iti| khyāto lokapravādo'yṃ bharatenānyathā kṛtḥ||3.16.34||
Translation
द्विपदाः humans, पित्र्यम् father's, न अनुवर्तन्ते do not follow, मातृकम् mother's, इति this way, ख्यातः wellknown, अयम् this, लोकप्रवादः saying in the world, भरतेन by Bharata, अन्यथा otherwise, कृतः is rendered.
Meaning
The saying that men follow mother's path but not the path of the father, has been disproved by Bharata.
bhartā daśaratho yasyāssādhuśca bharatassutḥ| kathṃ nu sā'mbā kaikeyī tādṛśī krūraśīlinī||3.16.35||
Translation
यस्याः whose, दशरथः Dasaratha, भर्ता husband, साधुः noble, भरतः Bharata, सुतः son, सा she, अम्बा mother, कैकेयी Kaikeyi, तादृशी such a lady, क्रूरशीलिनी a woman of wicked nature, कथं नु how did it happen?
Meaning
How could mother Kaikeyi, who has a husband like Dasaratha and a noble son like Bharata, be so wicked by nature ?
धार्मिके generous, लक्ष्मणे Lakshmana, स्नेहात् out of love, इत्येवम् in this way, वाक्यम् words, ब्रुवते as he was uttering, राघवः Rama, जनन्याः mother's, तम् him, परिवादम् censure, असहन् unable to tolerate, अब्रवीत् said.
Meaning
When pious Lakshmana said thus to Rama out of his love for him, Rama replied, unable to tolerate the words of censure against mother (Kaikeyi) :
sa te'mbā madhyamā tāta garhitavyā kathañcana| tāmevekṣvākunāthasya bharatasya kathāṃ kuru||3.16.37||
Translation
तात dear, मध्यमा middle, अम्बा mother, कथञ्चन never, ते by you, न गर्हितव्या not to be criticised, इक्ष्वाकुनाथस्य of the lord of the Ikshvakus, भरतस्य Bharata's, तां कथामेव about him, कुरु you may.
Meaning
O dear, Kaikeyi, our second mother, is never to be criticised like that. You may, however, speak more of Bharata, the lord of the Iksvakus.
niścitā'pi hi me buddhirvanavāse dṛḍhavratā| bharatasnehasantaptā bāliśīkriyate punḥ||3.16.38||
Translation
मे my, बुद्धि: mind, निश्चितापि even though determined, वनवासे to dwell in the forest, दृढव्रता firmly to keep my vow, भरतस्नेहसन्तप्ता concern for his love of Bharata, पुनः again, बालिशीक्रियते waver like a child.
Meaning
Even though I have made up my mind to dwell in the forest and keep my vow, my love for Bharata makes me waver like a child (Rama does not want Bharata to suffer on his account).
प्रियाणि dear, मधुराणि sweet, हृद्यानि soothing to the heart, अमृतकल्पानि ambrosial, मनःप्रह्लादनानि च that which pleases the mind, अस्य वाक्यानि his words, संस्मरामि I remember.
Meaning
I remember his dear, sweet, ambrosial words, soothing to the heart and pleasing to the mind.
kadānvahṃ sameṣyāmi bharatena mahātmanā| śatrughnena ca vīreṇa tvayā ca raghunandana||3.16.40||
Translation
रघुनन्दन enhancer of joy of the Raghus, अहम् I am, महात्मना by the great self, भरतेन by Bharata, वीरेण by the brave, शत्रुघ्नेन च and Satrughna, त्वया च and by you, कदा नु indeed, समेष्यामि come together.
Meaning
O enhancer of joy of the Raghus when shall I meet great Bharata, brave Satrughna and you all together?
काकुत्स्थ: Kakutstha, (Rama) तत्र there, स इत्येवम् he in that manner, विलपन् crying aloud, गोदावरीं नदीम् to river Godavari, प्राप्य having reached, सानुजः with his brother, सीतया सह and with Sita, अभिषेकम् bath, चक्रे took.
Meaning
Expressing his grief in such manner, Rama reached Godavari where he took his bath with his brother and Sita.
अथ and then, ते they, सलिलैः with water, पितृ़न् forefathers, दैवतानि च and gods, तर्पयित्वा offered oblations, उदितम् risen, सूर्यम् Sun, देवताश्च deities also, समाहिताः poised together, स्तुवन्ति स्म sang in praise.
Meaning
And then poised, they offered libations of water to their forefathers and gods and prayer to the rising Sun.
सीताद्वितीयः accompanied by Sita, सः रामः that Rama, कृताभिषेकः completing his bath, सहलक्ष्मणेन along with Lakshmana, गिरिराजपुत्र्या with the daughter of the king of the mountains, कृताभिषेकः ablution over, सनन्दी along with Nandi, ईशः Isvara, रुद्रः इव like Rudra, रराज shone.
Meaning
Accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana,Rama finished his bath in the river.He looked splendid like Lord Rudra followed by Nandi and the daughter of the king of the mountains (Parvati). इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अरण्यकाण्डे षोडशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the sixteenth sarga of Aranyakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.