Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 81: Vasiṣṭha Summons Bharata
Text 2.81.1
ततो नान्दीमुखीं रात्रिं भरतं सूतमागधाः।
तुष्टुवुर्वाग्विशेषज्ञाः स्तवैर्मङ्गलसंहितैः॥
tato nāndī-mukhīṁ rātriṁ bharataṁ sūta-māgadhāḥ
tuṣṭuvur vāg-viśeṣajñāḥ stavair maṅgala-saṁhitaiḥ
tataḥ nāndī-mukhīm rātrim = when the festive night was about to end; bharatam = Bharata; sūta-māgadhāḥ = the sūtas and māgadhas; tuṣṭuvuḥ = glorified; vāk-viśeṣajñāḥ = who specialized in professional praise; stavaiḥ = with hymns; maṅgala-saṁhitaiḥ = containing auspicious words.
When the festive night was about to end, the sūtas and māgadhas who specialized in professional praise glorified Bharata with hymns containing auspicious words.
The night was festive because it led to prosperity by bringing Rāma. Another purpose was to remove distress [that had engulfed the residents of Ayodhyā].
GLOSS. Nāndī-mukhīm indicates that it was the first of the nights when auspicious activities were conducted for bringing back Rāma.