Shloka 2.89.1
गङ्गातरणम् — Bharata’s Ferrying of the Army across the Ganga
उष्य रात्रिं तु तत्रैव गङ्गाकूले स राघवः।भरतः काल्यमुत्थाय शत्रुघ्नमिदमब्रवीत्।।।।
uṣya rātriṃ tu tatraiva gaṅgākūle sa rāghavaḥ | bharataḥ kālyam utthāya śatrughnam idam abravīt ||
Having spent the night there on the sacred bank of the Gaṅgā, Bharata rose at daybreak and spoke these words to Śatrughna.
Bharata got up at daybreak after spending the night on the bank of the Ganga at that very place where Rama, the descendent of Raghu, had stayed. And said these words to Satrughna:
It sets the scene for Bharata’s next actions, emphasizing disciplined conduct—rising at daybreak and proceeding with purpose—reflecting dharmic steadiness amid crisis.
The verse introduces Bharata’s forthcoming speech; in the Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa, Bharata’s words and intentions are repeatedly framed by commitment to truthful duty, and this narrative lead-in signals that earnest, truth-aligned counsel is about to follow.