CHAPTER – 6
The Birds said: – Knowing that Krishna had a great love for Partha, Rama, having the plough for his weapon, thought much as to what should be done. (1) ”Without Krishna I shall not go to the side of Duryodhana and how can I, siding with the Pandavas, slay the king Duryodhana, my son-in-law, disciple and lord of men? (2-3) Therefore I shall purify myself by visiting holy shrines so long as the Kurus and Pandavas do not exterminate each other.” (4) Thus greeting
Hrishikesa, Partha and Duryodhana, Valarama (Souri) surrounded by his soldiers went to Dwarka. (5) Going to Dwarka filled with contented and healthy men, Rama, holding plough as weapon, began to drink on the day preceding his departure to holy shrines. (6) Then finishing his glass and holding by the hand the proud Revati, resembling an Apsara, he went to the rich garden of Raivata. (7) Encircled by a bevy of damsels, he, inebriate as he was, reeled as he went along. The hero then saw the highly charming wood, rich with fruits and flowers of all seasons, filled with monkeys, holy and abounding in lotus groves and lakes. (8-9) He heard many maddening notes emitted by birds creating delight, pleasant to the ears and greatly sweet. (10) He saw those trees, loaded with the fruits of all seasons and shining with the flowers of all seasons, echoed with the notes of birds. (11) He saw those trees Mangoes, hog-plums, Bhavyas, cocoanuts, Satindakas, jeeras, promegranates, Vijapurakas, Panasas, Lakuchas, Mochas, highly charming Nipas, Paravatas; Kankolas, lotuses, Amlavetasas, Bhallataka, Amalakas, Tindakas having big fruits, Ingudas, Karamardas, Haritakas, Vibhitakas – that descendant of Yadu saw these and other trees. He saw also Asokas, Punagas, Ketakis, Vakulas, Champakas, Sataparnas, Karnikaras, Malatis, Parijatas, Kovidaras, Mandaras, Jujubes, flowery Patalas, Devadaru trees, Salas, Talas, Tamalas, Kinsukas, and Vanjulas, the foremost of trees, filled with sweet strains, pleasing to the ears, of Chakoras, Satapatras, black-bees, parrots, male coils, sparrows, Haritas, Jivajivakas, Pryaputras, Chatakas and various other birds. (12-19) (He saw there) also charming lakes of delightful waters overspread with lilies, lotuses, auspicious red lotuses, Kalharas, and filled with Kadamwas, Chacravakas, water-fowls, Karandavas, Plavas, swans, tortoises, shags and other aquatic animals. (20-22) Surveying this charming forest, one by one, Souri, followed by women, went to an excellent grove of creepers. (23) He saw there the twice-born ones versed in the Vedas and their branches, Kousikas, Bhargavas, the descendants of Bhwaradaja with those of Goutama and other eminent twice-born ones born in various races, who, seated on Kusha sheets, on spacious black deer skins and other seats of the ascetics, were listening with attention. Amongst them, Suta was discoursing on themes, relating to Puranas, on the characters of the original celestial saints. (24-26) Beholding Rama with eyes reddened with drink and considering him to be inebriate all the twice-born hurriedly stood up.
(27) They all welcomed the holder of plough, except him who was born in the race of Suta. (28) Thereat the highly powerful holder of plough, filled with anger, and his eyes rolling, who had slain numberless Danavas, killed Suta. (29) Suta, being slain, attained to the dignity of Brahma; and all the twice-born, clad in antelope skin, went away from the forest. (30) Considering himself sullied, the holder of plough thought: “A great iniquity has been perpetrated by me. (31) I have slain Suta who has attained to the dignity of Brahma; and seeing me all these twice-born ones have gone away. (32) The smell of my body, hard as iron, is creating uneasiness. I have degraded my own-self cursed with the destruction of a Brahmana. (33) Fie on spite, drink, egoism and rashness, possessed by which I have perpetrated this mighty iniquity. (34) For expiating my sin, I shall observe a vow extending over twelve years by washing away my deed and making an excellent atonement. (35) In this visit of the holy shrines which I have undertaken I shall go to Pratiloma Saraswati.” (36) Thereupon Rama repaired to Pratiloma Saraswati; hear next the narration concerning the Pandavas. (37)