Nishad’s Doubt and Vigilance
Seeing Bharata’s large army approach, Nishadraj fears that danger may be coming toward Rama. He quickly takes precautions and alerts his people to remain watchful.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 30 / 49
Episode Text
सई तीर बसि चले बिहाने। सृंगबेरपुर सब निअराने॥ समाचार सब सुने निषादा। हृदयँ बिचार करइ सबिषादा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saī tīra basi cale bihāne। sṛṅgaverapura saba niarāne॥ samācāra saba sune niṣādā। hṛdayaṃ bicāra karai sabiṣādā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Having stayed on the bank of the Sai through the night, they set out in the morning and drew near Shrngaverpur. The Nishada king heard all the news and, sorrowful at heart, began to think:
कारन कवन भरतु बन जाहीं। है कछु कपट भाउ मन माहीं॥ जौं पै जियँ न होति कुटिलाई। तौ कत लीन्ह संग कटकाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kārana kavana bharatu bana jāhīṃ। hai kachu kapaṭa bhāu mana māhīṃ॥ jauṃ pai jiyaṃ na hoti kuṭilāī। tau kata līhna saṃga kaṭakāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
What is the reason that Bharata is going to the forest? There must surely be some deceit in his mind. If there were no crookedness in his heart, why would he have brought an army along?
जानहिं सानुज रामहि मारी। करउँ अकंटक राजु सुखारी॥ भरत न राजनीति उर आनी। तब कलंकु अब जीवन हानी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jānahiṃ sānuja rāmahi mārī। karaũ akaṃṭaka rāju sukhārī॥ bharata na rājanīti ura ānī। taba kalaṃku aba jīvana hānī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
They think, 'Having killed Rama along with Lakshmana, I shall rule in peace without obstruction.' Bharata did not bring any worldly statecraft into his heart. Then there was disgrace before; now it will cost him his very life.
सकल सुरासुर जुरहिं जुझारा। रामहि समर न जीतनिहारा॥ का आचरजु भरतु अस करहीं। नहिं बिष बेलि अमिअ फल फरहीं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sakala surāsura jurahiṃ jujhārā। rāmahi samara na jītanihārā॥ kā ācaraju bharatu asa karahīṃ। nahiṃ biṣa beli amia phala pharahīṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
If all the gods and demon-warriors were to assemble, still no one could defeat Rama in battle. What wonder is there if Bharata does such a thing? Vines of poison never bear fruits of nectar.
अस बिचारि गुहँ ग्याति सन कहेउ सजग सब होहु। हथवाँसहु बोरहु तरनि कीजिअ घाटारोहु॥ १८९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa bicāri guhaṃ gyāti sana kaheu sajaga saba hohu। hathavāṃsahu borahu tarani kījia ghāṭārohu॥ 189 ॥
Meaning:
Thinking thus, Guha said to his kinsmen, 'All of you be alert. Take control of the boats, sink them, and block all the ghats.'
होहु सँजोइल रोकहु घाटा। ठाटहु सकल मरै के ठाटा॥ सनमुख लोह भरत सन लेऊँ। जिअत न सुरसरि उतरन देऊँ॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hohu saṃjoila rokahu ghāṭā। ṭhāṭahu sakala marai ke ṭhāṭā॥ sanamukha loha bharata sana leūṃ। jiata na surasari utarana deūṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Be armed and ready; block the ghats and make all the arrangements for death. I will face Bharata in battle and will not let him cross the Ganga alive.
समर मरनु पुनि सुरसरि तीरा। राम काजु छनभंगु सरीरा॥ भरत भाइ नृपु मैं जन नीचू। बड़ें भाग असि पाइअ मीचू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
samara maranu puni surasari tīrā। rāma kāju chana-bhaṃgu sarīrā॥ bharata bhāi nṛpu maiṃ jana nīcū। baṛeṃ bhāga asi pāi a mīcū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
War, death, and then the bank of the Ganga; the body is momentary, and this is Rama's work. Bharata is the Lord's brother and ruler, while I am a lowly servant—by great good fortune one receives such a death.
स्वामि काज करिहउँ रन रारी। जस धवलिहउँ भुवन दस चारी॥ तजउँ प्रान रघुनाथ निहोरें। दुहूँ हाथ मुद मोदक मोरें॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
svāmi kāja karihauṃ rana rārī। jasa dhavalihauṃ bhuvana dasa cārī॥ tajauṃ prāna raghunātha nihoreṃ। duhūṃ hātha muda modaka moreṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
For my Lord's work I will fight in battle and brighten the fourteen worlds with my fame. I will give up my life at Raghunatha's bidding. In either case, both my hands hold the sweets of joy.
साधु समाज न जाकर लेखा। राम भगत महुँ जासु न रेखा॥ जायँ जिअत जग सो महिभारू। जननी जौबन बिटप कुठारू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sādhu samāja na jākara lekhā। rāma bhagata mahuṃ jāsu na rekhā॥ jāyaṃ jiata jaga so mahibhārū। jananī jaubana biṭapa kuṭhārū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
One who is not counted among the holy and has no place among Rama's devotees lives in vain, only as a burden on the earth. He is merely an axe to cut down his mother's tree of youth.
बिगत बिषाद निषादपति सबहि बढ़ाइ उछाहु। सुमिरि राम मागेउ तुरत तरकस धनुष सनाहु॥ १९० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
vigata biṣāda niṣādapati sabahi baṛhāi uchāhu। sumiri rāma māgeu turata tarakasa dhanuṣa sanāhu॥ 190 ॥
Meaning:
Having resolved to offer his life for Rama, the chief of the Nishadas cast off sorrow, encouraged everyone, remembered Rama, and immediately asked for a quiver, bow, and armor.
बेगहु भाइहु सजहु सँजोऊ। सुनि रजाइ कदराइ न कोऊ॥ भलेहिं नाथ सब कहहिं सहरषा। एकहिं एक बढ़ावइ करषा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
begahu bhāihu sajahu saṃjoū। suni rajāi kadarāi na koū॥ bhalehiṃ nātha saba kahahiṃ saharṣā। ekahiṃ eka baṛhāvai karaṣā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
"Hurry, brothers, and prepare everything. Hearing my command, let no one lose heart. Everyone joyfully said, 'Very good, Lord,' and they began encouraging one another with great enthusiasm."
चले निषाद जोहारि जोहारी। सूर सकल रन रूचइ रारी॥ सुमिरि राम पद पंकज पनहीं। भाथीं बाँधि चढ़ाइन्हि धनहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
cale niṣāda johāri johārī। sūra sakala rana rūcai rārī॥ sumiri rāma pada paṃkaja panahīṃ। bhāthīṃ bāṃdhi caṛhāiṃhi dhanahīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
The Nishadas, bowing and saluting one another, set out. All were brave warriors and delighted in battle. Remembering Rama's lotus feet, they tied on their quivers and strung their bows.
अँगरी पहिरि कूँड़ि सिर धरहीं। फरसा बाँस सेल सम करहीं॥ एक कुसल अति ओड़न खाँड़े। कूदहिं गगन मनहुँ छिति छाँड़े॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aṃgarī pahiri kūṃḍi sira dharahīṃ। farsā bāṃsa sela sama karahīṃ॥ eka kusala ati oḍana khāṃḍe। kūdahiṃ gagana manahuṃ chiti chhāṃḍe॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Wearing armor, they put helmets on their heads and hold their axes, spears, and lances upright. Some are exceptionally skilled at parrying sword blows. They are so full of zeal that they seem to leap from the earth into the sky.
निज निज साजु समाजु बनाई। गुह राउतहि जोहारे जाई॥ देखि सुभट सब लायक जाने। लै लै नाम सकल सनमाने॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nija nija sāju samāju banāī। guha rāūtahi johāre jāī॥ dekhi subhaṭa saba lāyaka jāne। lai lai nāma sakala sanamāne॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Having made their own battle gear and formation ready, they went and greeted Guha, the chief of the Nishadas. Seeing those fine warriors, he judged them worthy and honored them all by name.
भाइहु लावहु धोख जनि आजु काज बड़ मोहि। सुनि सरोष बोले सुभट बीर अधीर न होहि॥ १९१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhāihu lāvahu dhokha jani āju kāja baḍa mohi। suni saroṣa bole subhaṭa bīra adhīra na hohi॥ 191 ॥
Meaning:
"Brothers, do not flinch or deceive; today I have a great task before me." Hearing this, the warriors answered fiercely, "O hero, do not be impatient."
राम प्रताप नाथ बल तोरे। करहिं कटकु बिनु भट बिनु घोरे॥ जीवत पाउ न पाछें धरहीं। रुंड मुंडमय मेदिनि करहीं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma pratāpa nātha bala tore। karahiṃ kaṭaku binu bhaṭa binu ghore॥ jīvata pāu na pāchẽ dharahīṃ। ruṇḍa muṇḍamaya medini karahīṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, by Rama's splendor and your strength, we will reduce Bharata's army to one without warriors and without horses. We will never turn back alive; we will make the earth a field of severed heads and trunks.
दीख निषादनाथ भल टोलू। कहेउ बजाउ जुझाऊ ढोलू॥ एतना कहत छींक भइ बाँए। कहेउ सगुनिअन्ह खेत सुहाए॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dīkha niṣādanātha bhala ṭolū। kaheu bajāu jujhāū ḍholū॥ etanā kahata chhīṃka bhai bāṃe। kaheu saguṇiaṇha kheta suhāe॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the fine band of warriors, the chief of the Nishadas said, "Beat the war drums!" As soon as he said this, a sneeze came from the left. Those who read omens said the field is favorable.
बूढ़ु एकु कह सगुन बिचारी। भरतहि मिलिअ न होइहि रारी॥ रामहि भरतु मनावन जाहीं। सगुन कहइ अस बिग्रहु नाहीं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
būḍhu eku kaha saguna bichārī। bharatahi milia na hoihi rārī॥ rāmahi bharatu manāvana jāhīṃ। saguna kahai asa vigrahu nāhīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
An old man, considering the omen, said, "Go meet Bharata; there will be no fight. Bharata is going to persuade Rama. The omen says there is no conflict."
सुनि गुह कहइ नीक कह बूढ़ा। सहसा करि पछिताहिं बिमूढ़ा॥ भरत सुभाउ सीलु बिनु बूझें। बड़ि हित हानि जानि बिनु जूझें॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni guha kahai nīka kaha būḍhā। sahasā kari pachitāhiṃ bimūḍhā॥ bharata subhāu sīlu bina būjhẽ। baḍi hita hāni jāni bina jūjhẽ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing this, Guha said, "The old man speaks well. Fools repent after acting in haste. Without understanding Bharata's nature and conduct, fighting would cause great loss of good."
गहहु घाट भट समिटि सब लेउँ मरम मिलि जाइ। बूझि मित्र अरि मध्य गति तस तब करिहउँ आइ॥ १९२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gahahu ghāṭa bhaṭa samiṭi saba leūṃ marama mili jāi। būjhi mitra ari madhya gati tasa taba karihauṃ āi॥ 192 ॥
Meaning:
Therefore, O warriors, gather together and block all the ghats. I will go and meet Bharata, learn his true intent, and then, knowing whether he is friend, foe, or neutral, I will return and act accordingly.