Bharatha crosses Ganga
That night Bharatha halted in Ganga River banks. He got up early morning and woke up Shatrugna“ Child ! sleeping still, get up, please invite Guha quickly. Our Army has to cross Ganga. Shatrugn replied “ Anna the Great Man about whom you are thinking, I was also thinking of the same Great Person Rama.i am not asleep.”While the two brothers were talking like this Guha came there with fodled hands “ Lord ! did you sleep comfortably on the banks of Great River Ganga? How are you and your Army?” he enquired. Bharatah who is one of the best devotees of Rama looked at Guha who had with faithfully reported “Thanks to you ,my self and my Army slept comfortably last night. Now we have to cross Ganga. For that you and your servants should make arrangments.” Said Bharatha.Immediately Guha went to his city , woke up his relations “ Wake up ; quickly go and fetch the boats; King’s Army has to cross the Ganga” he said. They also hurriedly brought 500 boats. They were small.They also have various other boats;since they were in the Swasthika formation they were called ‘Swasthika’and they were 2 boats tied together.on all four corners bells were tied up. They were suitably decorated with Flags with wooden walls and with Windows in them. Hence one will not be troubled by gusty wind or rain and only pleasant breeze will be there, Since it was suitable for King, they were nailed with special planks, Amongst them one of the best Boat Swasthikam was brought by Guha to board Bharatha and his entourages. It had white carpet laid on the floor. With Bells tied the boat was causing a Lilting sound .
In that Bharatha, Shatrugna, Kaushalya, Sumithra and other Queens boarded. Before them Brahimns and Priests boarded. Behind them the vehicles and the materials from shops were loaded in other boats. It is customary to burn the place where the Army had camped for the welfare of others. The soldiers were hurrying to board the boats first. When the materials were loaded “ this is my box, this my bed, this bundle is mine, this is my vessel” thus they were all creating ruckus. Their sound went sky high,There were Mats to with stand Air. Once Army boarded the boats, Guha’s men rowed them fast.In some boats Ladies were boarding. In boat some Horses were getting in,in some boats Vehicles and costly Oxen were boarded. When the Army and the materials were alighted and the boats were returning empty the boatmen made many unique manouvres showing Oaring skill of display in Ganga. The Caprisoned Elepahnts with Thrones mounted on when they were going on the Ganga looked like Mountians . Some with round boats, some of them had little mouth, some with normal boats, some swam and crossed the river.
Thus huge Army very quickly crossed Ganga in that Maithra auspicious time reached the forest of Prayaag. As Bharatha was aware of Diplomatic protocol , and was keen on protecting his people , despite himself being tired,he went into the Army camp and said “ You people had to face hardship” thus he enquired each one personally and ensured that they stayed in a comfortable place, then he decided to go and see the Elderly and Wise Sage Bharadwajha accompanied by Sage Vasisshta and other saints started walking. They reached the Great Sage Bharadhwajha who was authority on all Vedas and the great Wise saint who was the Priest for celestials hermitage (Parnashala) which was in the centre of the forest and had it’s own garden with tree Grove .They saw the Parnashaala. (SLOKAS 23).
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