Divine Night at Bharadwaja's Ashram
Ayodhyakanda - Sarga 91
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Ayodhyakanda - Sarga 91
Sage Bharadwaja's divine hospitality transforms his ashram for Bharata's army. Celestial beings, magical rivers, and heavenly provisions create an otherworldly night of revelry and wonder.
Sage Bharadwaja decided to extend his hospitality to Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, inviting him to stay for the night. Bharata humbly stated that the sage had already offered enough hospitality with water for washing feet and arghya (welcome offering).
Bharadwaja, smiling gently, replied:
"I know you are full of love and content with whatever is offered. But I wish to provide food for your entire army. This will please me greatly, O best among mortals."
The sage then asked Bharata why he had come alone, leaving his army at a distance.
Bharata, with folded palms, explained:
"O venerable one, I did not approach with the army out of respect for you. A king or prince should always be careful not to disturb the dwellings of ascetics."
He continued:
"My army, with its horses, men, and elephants, covers a wide expanse of land. I feared they might damage the ashram's huts, trees, and water sources."
Bharadwaja commanded that the entire army be brought to the ashram. The sage then entered his fire sanctuary, sipped water, and invoked Vishwakarma (the divine architect) to provide hospitality.
Bharadwaja called upon various divine entities to assist in hosting Bharata's army:
Vishwakarma and Tvashta (divine craftsmen)
The Lokapalas (guardians of the quarters) and Indra
Rivers flowing in all directions
Gandharvas (celestial musicians) like Vishvavasu, Haha, and Huhu
Apsaras (celestial nymphs) including Ghritachi, Vishvachi, and Mishrakeshi
The Moon god for providing excellent food
He requested that some rivers flow with liquor, some with wine, and others with cool water as sweet as sugarcane juice.
He asked for various types of food:
Solid foods
Liquid foods
Soft foods
Foods to be sucked
Foods to be licked
Bharadwaja, filled with incomparable radiance and the power of his penance, spoke in an accent conforming to Vedic instruction. As he meditated with folded palms facing east, all the deities he had invoked appeared one by one.
A soft, pleasant breeze began to blow, passing over Malaya and Dardura mountains, cooling and comforting. Divine clouds showered celestial flowers. The sound of heavenly musical instruments could be heard in all directions.
Troops of apsaras (celestial nymphs) danced. Gandharvas (celestial musicians) and gods sang. The sound of divine lyres filled the air.
The melodious, rhythmic sounds pervaded the sky, earth, and the ears of all living beings.
When the celestial sounds subsided, Bharata's army beheld the wonderful creations of Viswakarma (the divine architect).
The ground was leveled for five yojanas (about 40 miles) in every direction. The area was covered with grass lawns resembling blue sapphire and cat's eye gems.
Various fruit-bearing trees appeared, laden with fruits:
Bilva trees
Wood-apple trees
Jackfruit trees
Citron trees
Emblic myrobalan trees
Mango trees
A divine river came into existence, surrounded by numerous trees on its banks. It brought all the delights of the heavenly forests of the northern Kuru kingdom.
Viswakarma's architectural marvels appeared:
Bright quadrangles
Stables for elephants and horses
Auspicious archways for palaces and mansions
A magnificent royal palace manifested with the following features:
Resembled white clouds
Adorned with beautiful arches and fine garlands
Sprinkled with celestial perfumes
Very spacious, forming a quadrangle
Furnished with couches, seats, and carriages
Stocked with celestial drinks and delicious food
Provided with new garments
Equipped with clean vessels containing food of every variety
Arranged with seats for everyone and magnificent couches
Bharata entered this jewel-filled palace at Bharadwaja's invitation. He bowed in reverence and worshipped the throne as though Rama were seated there. His ministers and priests followed, taking their seats according to rank. They were filled with joy upon seeing the divine arrangements.
Bharata, accompanied by his ministers, approached a divine throne with a fan and parasol. He bowed in reverence and worshipped the throne for Rama. Then, he sat in a minister's seat, holding a yak-tail fan. The ministers and priests took their seats according to rank, followed by the army chief and the supervisor of the camp.
At Bharadwaja's command, rivers filled with payasam (a sweet dish of rice cooked in milk) flowed towards Bharata.
On both banks of these rivers appeared charming, celestial houses plastered with white clay.
Twenty thousand women, adorned with beautiful ornaments, were sent by Brahma.
Twenty thousand women, adorned with gold, gems, and corals, were sent by Kubera.
Twenty thousand apsaras came from Nandana gardens.
Gandharva kings like Narada, Tumburu, and Gopa began to sing in Bharata's presence.
Apsaras including Alambusa, Mishrakeshi, Pundarika, and Vamana danced near Bharata at Bharadwaja's command.
At Bharadwaja's command:
Garlands from the gods and Kubera's garden appeared in Prayaga
Trees transformed into musicians and dancers:
Bilva trees became drummers
Vibhitaka trees became cymbalists
Peepal trees became dancers
Pine, palmyra, tilaka, and naktamala trees transformed into hunchbacks and dwarfs
Various trees and creepers took the form of women
The transformed trees and creepers offered:
Liquor for those who drink
Payasam for the hungry
Sacred meat for those who desired it
By the riverbanks:
Women massaged and bathed the soldiers
Attendants fed the horses, elephants, donkeys, camels, and oxen
Animals were given sugarcane, honey, and parched grain
The horseriders no longer recognized their horses, nor did the mahouts recognize their elephants.
Soldiers, gratified and anointed with red sandalwood paste, were surrounded by apsaras. They exclaimed:
"We will neither return to Ayodhya nor go to Dandaka forest. May Bharata's welfare and Rama's happiness continue like this."
Thousands of soldiers, wearing flower garlands, danced, sang, and laughed. They ran about, crying out with excitement, "This is heaven!"
The following appeared:
Wells filled with payasam and date-palm liquor
Pots of well-cooked meat from various animals
Thousands of gold vessels filled with food and drink
Tanks filled with curds, payasam, and barley mixed with sugar
Bathing requisites and toiletries on the riverbanks
Mirrors, clothes, footwear, and weapons
Lakes with pure water for animals to refresh themselves
Soft grass and trees for animals to rest under
The soldiers were amazed, feeling as if they were in a dream world. As they enjoyed themselves like gods in Indra's garden, the night passed.
The men were amazed at the wonderful hospitality extended by Maharshi Bharadwaja to Bharata.
As they enjoyed themselves in Bharadwaja's hermitage like the gods in the garden of Indra, the night passed.
When morning came:
The pleasant winds ceased to blow
The rivers returned to their original courses
The Gandharvas departed
All the celestial women took leave of sage Bharadwaja and returned to where they had come from
Even after the departure of the celestial beings:
The men remained inebriated
The divine agaru (fragrant wood) and sandalwood fragrance still lingered on their bodies
Splendid garlands of various kinds lay crushed and scattered about
This concludes the Ninety First chapter (sarga) of Ayodhyakanda, the second book of the Ramayana, the great epic composed by the sage Valmiki.