[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Epic, Poetry, Drama & Narrative](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit) › [The Rāma story (Vālmīki and later versions)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana) › [The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki) › 2.65.20 # The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki 2.65.20 Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa 2.65.20 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [2.65.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.65.20) na hy atra yānair dṛśyante na gajair na ca vājibhiḥ niryānto vābhiyānto vā naramukhyā yathāpuram > The brilliant gardens, where we heard > The wild note of each rapturous bird. > Where men and women loved to meet, > In pleasant shades, for pastime sweet,-- > These to my eyes this day appear > Joyless, and desolate, and drear; > Each tree that graced the garden grieves, > And every path is spread with leaves. > The merry cry of bird and beast, > That spake aloud their joy has ceased: > Still is the long melodious note > That charmed us from each warbling throat, > Why blows the blessed air no more, > The incense-breathing air that bore > Its sweet incomparable scent > Of sandal and of aloe blent? > Why are the drum and tabour mute? > Why is the music of the lute > That woke responsive to the quill, > Loved by the happy, hushed and still? > My boding spirit gathers hence > Dire sins of awful consequence, > And omens, crowding on my sight, > Weigh down my soul with wild affright > Scarce shall I find my friends who dwell > Here in Ayodhyá safe and well: > For surely not without a cause > This crushing dread my soul o'erawes. > Heart sick, dejected, every sense > Confused by terror's influence, > On to the town he quickly swept > Which King Ikshváku's children kept. > He passed through Vaijayanta's gate, > With weary steeds, disconsolate. > And all who near their station held, > His escort. crying Victory, swelled, > With heart distracted still he bowed > Farewell to all the following crowd, > Turned to the driver and began > To question thus the weary man:. > 'Why was I brought, O free from blame, > So fast, unknown for what I came? > — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1870, The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse > Then onward to a pleasant grove > By fair Varúha's town he drove, > And when a while he there had stayed, > Went eastward from the friendly shade. > Eastward of Ujjiháná where > The Priyak trees are tall and fair, > He passed, and rested there each steed > Kxhausted with the journey's speed. > There orders to his men addressed, > With quickened pace he onward pressed, > A while at Sarvatirtha spent, > Then o'er Uttániká he went. > O'er many a stream beside he sped > With coursers on the mountains bred, > And passing Hastiprishthak, took > The road o'er Kutikás fair brook. > Then, at Lohitya's village, he > Crossed o'er the swift Kapívatí, > Then passed, where Ekas'ála stands, > The Sthánumatís flood and sands, > And Gomatí of fair renown > By Vinata's delightful town. > When to Kalinga near he drew, > A wood of Sal trees charmed the view; > That passed, the sun began to rise, > And Bharat saw with happy eyes, > Ayodhá's city, built and planned > By ancient Manu's royal hand, > Seven nights upon the road had passed, > And when he saw the town at last > Before him in her beauty spread, > Thus Bharat to the driver said: > 'This glorious city from afar, > Wherein pure groves and gardens are, > Seems to my eager eyes to-day > A lifeless pile of yellow clay. > Through all her streets where erst a throng > Of men and women streamed along, > Uprose the multitudinous roar: > To-day I hear that sound no more. > No longer do mine eyes behold > The leading people, as of old, > On elephants, cars, horses, go > Abroad and homeward, to and fro. > — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1870, The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse - [Previous: 2.65.19](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.65.19) - [Next: 2.65.21](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.65.21) - [Up: 2.65](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.65) ## Translations (1) - [The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki~en-griffith.2.71.p1.3) — Ralph T. H. Griffith 1870, English ## Other recensions (2) - [Critical edition, Ayodhyā- and Araṇyakāṇḍa (revised e-text)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki*crit-revised.2.65.20) — Sanskrit - [Southern recension](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki*southern.2.65.20) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.65.20](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.2.65.20) · Pramāṇa