Chapter 112

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

तम् अप्रतिम तेजोभ्याम् भ्रातृभ्याम् रोम हर्षणम्
विस्मिताः सम्गमम् प्रेक्ष्य समवेता महर्षयः

tam apratima tejobhyām bhrātṛbhyām roma harṣaṇam
vismitāḥ samgamam prekṣya samavetā maharṣayaḥ

SYNONYMS

prekṣya: seeing | tam: that | romaharṣaṇam: thrilling | samgamam: converse | bhrātṛbhyām: between those two brothers | apratima tejobhyām: with incomparable dignity | maharṣayaḥ: the great sages | samvetāḥ: gathered there | vismitāḥ: were astonished. |

TRANSLATION

Witnessing that thrilling converse between those two brothers with incomparable dignity, the great sages gathered there were astonished.

VERSE 2

अन्तर् हिताः तु ऋषि गणाः सिद्धाः च परम ऋषयः
तौ भ्रातरौ महात्मानौ काकुत्स्थौ प्रशशंसिरे

antar hitāḥ tu ṛṣi gaṇāḥ siddhāḥ ca parama ṛṣayaḥ
tau bhrātarau mahātmānau kākutsthau praśaśaṃsire

SYNONYMS

munigaṇāḥ: the assemblies of ascetics | siddhāśca: great saints | paramarṣayaḥ: and distinguished sages | antarhitāḥ: who stood invisible in space | praśaśamsire: applauded | tau kākutthsau: both Rama and Bharata | mahātmānau: the high-souled | bhrātarau: brothers (as follows) |

TRANSLATION

The assemblies of ascetics, great saints present there and the distinguished sages who stood invisible in space, applauded both Rama and Bharata, the magnanimous brothers, saying (as follows):

VERSE 3

स धन्यो यस्य पुत्रौ द्वौ धर्मज्नौ धर्म विक्रमौ
श्रुत्वा वयम् हि सम्भाषाम् उभयोः स्पृहयामहे

sa dhanyo yasya putrau dvau dharmajnau dharma vikramau
śrutvā vayam hi sambhāṣām ubhayoḥ spṛhayāmahe

SYNONYMS

saḥ: that Dasaratha | yasya: who begot | dvau putrau: two sons | dharmajñau: who know righteousness | dharma vikramau: and whose strength is justice | dhanyaḥ: was fortunate | śrutvā: by hearing | sambhāṣām: the conversation | ubhayoḥ: between theses two princes | vayam: we | delighted| spṛhayāmāhe hi: are indeed delighted. |

TRANSLATION

"That Dasaratha, who begot these two sons, who know righteousness and whose strength is justice, was fortunate. By hearing the debate between these two princes, we are indeed delighted."

VERSE 4

ततः तु ऋषि गणाः क्षिप्रम् दशग्रीव वध एषिणः
भरतम् राज शार्दूलम् इत्य् ऊचुः सम्गता वचः

tataḥ tu ṛṣi gaṇāḥ kṣipram daśagrīva vadha eṣiṇaḥ
bharatam rāja śārdūlam ity ūcuḥ samgatā vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | ṛṣigaṇāḥ: the assembly of sages | daśagrīva vadhaiṣiṇaḥ: who wished to see destruction of Ravana | kṣipram: quickly | samgatāḥ: came together | iti: these | vacaḥ: words | bharatam: to Bharata | rāja śārdūlam: the excellent king. |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, that assembly of sages, who wished to see a quick destruction of Ravana, came together and spoke the following words to Bharata, the excellent king.

VERSE 5

कुले जात महा प्राज्न महा वृत्त महा यशः
ग्राह्यम् रामस्य वाक्यम् ते पितरम् यद्य् अवेक्षसे

kule jāta mahā prājna mahā vṛtta mahā yaśaḥ
grāhyam rāmasya vākyam te pitaram yady avekṣase

SYNONYMS

kule jāta: O Bharata born in a noble race | mahāprājña: highly intelligent | mahā vṛtta: having a superior conduct | mahā yaśaḥ: and a great repute! avekSase yadi = If you respect | te: your | pitaram: father | rāmasya: Rama's | vākyam: words | grāhyam: are to be accepted. |

TRANSLATION

"O Bharata born in a noble race, highly intelligent, having a superior conduct and a great repute! If you have regard for your father, Rama's words are to be accepted.

VERSE 6

सदा अनृणम् इमम् रामम् वयम् इग्च्छामहे पितुः
अनृणत्वाच् च कैकेय्याः स्वर्गम् दशरथो गतः

sadā anṛṇam imam rāmam vayam igcchāmahe pituḥ
anṛṇatvāc ca kaikeyyāḥ svargam daśaratho gataḥ

SYNONYMS

vayam: we | icchāmahe: wish | imam rāmam: this Rama | anṛṇam: to be free of debt | sadā: forever | pituḥ: in the case of his father | daśarathaḥ: Dasaratha | anṛṇatvācca: becoming free of debt | kaikeyyāḥ: in the case of Kaikeyi | gataḥ: went | svargam: to heaven. |

TRANSLATION

"We wish to see Rama absolved of all obligations forever to his father. Dasaratha, having honoured his pledge to Kaikeyi, indeed went to heaven."

VERSE 7

एतावद् उक्त्वा वचनम् गन्धर्वाः समहर्षयः
राज ऋषयः चैव तथा सर्वे स्वाम् स्वाम् गतिम् गताः

etāvad uktvā vacanam gandharvāḥ samaharṣayaḥ
rāja ṛṣayaḥ caiva tathā sarve svām svām gatim gatāḥ

SYNONYMS

uktvā: having spoken | vacanam: the words | etāvat: that much | sarve: all | gandharvāḥ: the celestial musicians | samaharṣyaḥ: together with the great sages | tadā: then | gatāḥ: went | svām svām: their respective | gatim: abodes. |

TRANSLATION

Having uttered that much, all the celestial musicians and the great sages then went to their respective abodes.

VERSE 8

ह्लादितः तेन वाक्येन शुभेन शुभ दर्शनः
रामः सम्हृष्ट वदनः तान् ऋषीन् अभ्यपूजयत्

hlāditaḥ tena vākyena śubhena śubha darśanaḥ
rāmaḥ samhṛṣṭa vadanaḥ tān ṛṣīn abhyapūjayat

SYNONYMS

tena vākyena: by those words | śubhena: which were auspicious | śubhadarśanaḥ: the good-looking | rāmaḥ: Rama | ḻāditaḥ: looked radiant | abhyapūjayat: and worshipped | tān ṛṣīn: those sages | samhṛṣṭa vadanaḥ: with a joyful countenance. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing those auspicious words, the good-looking Rama looked radiant and worshipped those sages with a joyful countenance.

VERSE 9

स्रस्त गात्रः तु भरतः स वाचा सज्जमानया
कृत अन्जलिर् इदम् वाक्यम् राघवम् पुनर् अब्रवीत्

srasta gātraḥ tu bharataḥ sa vācā sajjamānayā
kṛta anjalir idam vākyam rāghavam punar abravīt

SYNONYMS

bharatastu: Bharata | trastagātraḥ: with trembled limbs | kṛtāñjaliḥ: joined his palms in salutation | punaḥ abravīt: again spoke | idam vākyam: these words | rāghavam: to Rama | sajjamāneyā: in a strangled | vācā: voice. |

TRANSLATION

Bharata, on his part, with trembled limbs, joined his palms in salutation and again spoke the following words to Rama in a strangled voice:

VERSE 10

राज धर्मम् अनुप्रेक्ष्य कुल धर्म अनुसम्ततिम्
कर्तुम् अर्हसि काकुत्स्थ मम मातुः च याचनाम्

rāja dharmam anuprekṣya kula dharma anusamtatim
kartum arhasi kākutstha mama mātuḥ ca yācanām

SYNONYMS

kākutthsa: O | anuprekṣya: keeping in view | rājadharmam: the royal statute | kuladharma: and the statue of the race | anusantatim: continue | arhasi: you ought to | kartum: yield to | yacanām: the entreaties | mama: of mine | mātuśca: and of your mother. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Rama! Keep in view the continuance of our royal statue and the statute of the race. You ought to yield to the entreaties of mine and those of your mother."

VERSE 11

रक्षितुम् सुमहद् राज्यम् अहम् एकः तु न उत्सहे
पौर जानपदाम्ः च अपि रक्तान् रन्जयितुम् तथा

rakṣitum sumahad rājyam aham ekaḥ tu na utsahe
paura jānapadāmḥ ca api raktān ranjayitum tathā

SYNONYMS

aham: I | ekastu: alone | notsahe: am not able | rakṣitum: to protect | sumahat: the very large | rājyam: kingdom | tathā: and | rañjayitum: to the satisfaction | raktān: of the beloved | paurajānapadān: inhabitants of town and country. |

TRANSLATION

"I am not able to rule this vast empire alone to the satisfaction of the beloved inhabitants of town and country!"

VERSE 12

ज्नातयः च हि योधाः च मित्राणि सुहृदः च नः
त्वाम् एव प्रतिकान्क्षन्ते पर्जन्यम् इव कर्षकाः

jnātayaḥ ca hi yodhāḥ ca mitrāṇi suhṛdaḥ ca naḥ
tvām eva pratikānkṣante parjanyam iva karṣakāḥ

SYNONYMS

naḥ: our | jñātayaśca: kith and kin | yodhāśca: soldiers | mitrāṇi: companions | suhṛdaśca: and allies | prativīkṣante: are waiting | tvameva: for you indeed | karṣakāḥ iva: as farmers (wait) | parjanyamiva: for the rainy clouds. |

TRANSLATION

"Our kith and king, soldiers, companions and allies are waiting for you indeed, as farmers wait for the rainy clouds."

VERSE 13

इदम् राज्यम् महा प्राज्न स्थापय प्रतिपद्य हि
शक्तिमान् असि काकुत्स्थ लोकस्य परिपालने

idam rājyam mahā prājna sthāpaya pratipadya hi
śaktimān asi kākutstha lokasya paripālane

SYNONYMS

mahā prājña: O Rama the sagacious! pratipadya = return | idam rājyam: to this kingdom | sthāpaya: and keep it in order | asi: you are | śaktimān: competent | panipālane: of administration | lokasya: of the world. |

TRANSLATION

"O, the sagacious Rama! Return to the kingdom and keep it in order. You have the competence to save the world!"

VERSE 14

इत्य् उक्त्वा न्यपतद् भ्रातुः पादयोर् भरतः तदा
भृशम् सम्प्रार्थयाम् आस रामम् एवम् प्रियम् वदः

ity uktvā nyapatad bhrātuḥ pādayor bharataḥ tadā
bhṛśam samprārthayām āsa rāmam evam priyam vadaḥ

SYNONYMS

bharataḥ: Bharata | tadā: then | uktvā: speaking | iti: thus | nyapatat: fell | pādayoḥ: at the feet | bhrātuḥ: of his brother | priyamvadaḥ: Bharata the kind-spoken | samprārtha yāmāsa: earnestly requested | rāmam eva: Rama | bhṛśam: a great deal. |

TRANSLATION

That Bharata, who was kind-spoken, thus made a fervent appeal to Rama and fell at his feet.

VERSE 15

तम् अन्के भ्रातरम् कृत्वा रामो वचनम् अब्रवीत्
श्यामम् नलिन पत्र अक्षम् मत्त हंस स्वरः स्वयम्

tam anke bhrātaram kṛtvā rāmo vacanam abravīt
śyāmam nalina patra akṣam matta haṃsa svaraḥ svayam

SYNONYMS

svayam aṇkekṟṭitvā: placing on his lap | tam bharatam: that Bharata | śyāmam: of dark hue | nalina patrākṣam: wtih eyes resembling lotus-petals | matta hamsa svaram: having a voice of a swan in rut | rāmaḥ: Rama | abravīt: spoke | vacanam: (the following) words. |

TRANSLATION

Placing on his lap, that Bharata of dark hue, with eyes resembling lotus-petals and having a voice like that of a swan in rut, Rama spoke the following words to him:

VERSE 16

आगता त्वाम् इयम् बुद्धिः स्वजा वैनयिकी च या
भृशम् उत्सहसे तात रक्षितुम् पृथिवीम् अपि

āgatā tvām iyam buddhiḥ svajā vainayikī ca yā
bhṛśam utsahase tāta rakṣitum pṛthivīm api

SYNONYMS

tātaḥ: O dear brother! | yā buddhiḥ: which intellect | iyam: this | tvām: you | āgatā: obtained | svajā: self-born | vainayikīca: and by training | utsahase: you are competent | bhṛśam: very much | rakṣitum api: even to rule | pṛthivīm: the earth. |

TRANSLATION

"O, my dear brother! You are very much competent to rule the earth, by the intellect you obtained both inherently and by training."

VERSE 17

अमात्यैः च सुहृद्भिः च बुद्धिमद्भिः च मन्त्रिभिः
सर्व कार्याणि सम्मन्त्र्य सुमहान्त्य् अपि कारय

amātyaiḥ ca suhṛdbhiḥ ca buddhimadbhiḥ ca mantribhiḥ
sarva kāryāṇi sammantrya sumahānty api kāraya

SYNONYMS

sammantrya: take counsel with | amātyaiśca: ministers | suhṛdbhiśca: companions | buddhi madbhiḥ: and intelligent | mantribhiśca: counsellors | kāraya: and get done | sarva kāryāṇi: all activities | sumhāntyapi: even if they are gigantic. |

TRANSLATION

"Take counsel with your ministers, companions and intelligent counsellors and get all activities done, even if they are gigantic."

VERSE 18

लक्ष्मीः चन्द्राद् अपेयाद् वा हिमवान् वा हिमम् त्यजेत्
अतीयात् सागरो वेलाम् न प्रतिज्नाम् अहम् पितुः

lakṣmīḥ candrād apeyād vā himavān vā himam tyajet
atīyāt sāgaro velām na pratijnām aham pituḥ

SYNONYMS

lakṣmīḥ: light | apeyādvā: may go off | candrāt: from the moon | himam: snow | tyajedvā: may decam | himavān: from a Himalayan mountain | sagaraḥ: ocean | atīyāt: may transgress | aham: (But) I | na: will not transgress | pituḥ: my father's | pratijṇām: promise. |

TRANSLATION

"Light may go off from the moon; Himalayan mountain may shake off its snows; the sea may transgress its shores, but I will never be false to my father's vow!"

VERSE 19

कामाद् वा तात लोभाद् वा मात्रा तुभ्यम् इदम् कृतम्
न तन् मनसि कर्तव्यम् वर्तितव्यम् च मातृवत्

kāmād vā tāta lobhād vā mātrā tubhyam idam kṛtam
na tan manasi kartavyam vartitavyam ca mātṛvat

SYNONYMS

tāta: my dear brother! | idam: this | kṛtam: was done | mātrā: by your mother | kāmādvā: from her affection | lobhādvā: or covetousness | tat: that | nakartavyam: should not be carried out | manasi: in your mind | vartitavyam: you ought to obey | mātṛvat: towards your mother. |

TRANSLATION

"My dear brother! Your mother acted thus, for your sake, out of her affection or ambition. It should not be carried out in your mind. You ought to obey her as your mother."

VERSE 20

एवम् ब्रुवाणम् भरतः कौसल्या सुतम् अब्रवीत्
तेजसा आदित्य सम्काशम् प्रतिपच् चन्द्र दर्शनम्

evam bruvāṇam bharataḥ kausalyā sutam abravīt
tejasā āditya samkāśam pratipac candra darśanam

SYNONYMS

bharataḥ: Bharata | abravīt: replied | (as follovs) kausalyāsutam: to Rama | bruvāṇam: who was speaking | evam: thus | āditya saṇkāśam: who was equal to sun | tejasā: by his splendour | pratipaccandradarśanam: or to the moon in its first quarter. |

TRANSLATION

Bharata replied (as follows) to Rama, who was speaking as aforesaid and who was equal to sun by his splendour or to the moon in its first quarter.

VERSE 21

अधिरोह आर्य पादाभ्याम् पादुके हेम भूषिते
एते हि सर्व लोकस्य योग क्षेमम् विधास्यतः

adhiroha ārya pādābhyām pāduke hema bhūṣite
ete hi sarva lokasya yoga kṣemam vidhāsyataḥ

SYNONYMS

ārya: O | pādabhyām: by your feet | adhiroha: mount on | pāduke: (these) wooden sandals | hemabhūṣite: whjich are adorned with gold | ete: these sandals | vidhāsyataḥ hi: indeed will bestow | yogakṣemam: gain and security | sarva lokasya: to the entire people. |

TRANSLATION

"O, noble brother! Pray mount with your feet on the wooden sandals adorned with gold! Surely, these will bestow, gain and security to all the people!"

VERSE 22

सो अधिरुह्य नर व्याघ्रः पादुके ह्य् अवरुह्य च
प्रायग्च्छत् सुमहा तेजा भरताय महात्मने

so adhiruhya nara vyāghraḥ pāduke hy avaruhya ca
prāyagcchat sumahā tejā bharatāya mahātmane

SYNONYMS

saḥ: that Rama | naravyāghraḥ: the tiger among men | sumahātejāḥ: possessing exceptional glory | adhiruhya: placing his feet | pāduke: on the sandals | avaruhyaca: and leaving them | prāyacchat: gave them | mahātmane: to the magnanimous | bharatāya: Bharata. |

TRANSLATION

Rama, the tiger among men, possessing exceptional glory, placing his feet on the sandals and leaving them, gave them to the magnanimous Bharata.

VERSE 23

स पादुके सम्प्रणम्य रामं वचनम्ब्रवीत्
चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि जटाचीरधरो ह्यहम्

sa pāduke sampraṇamya rāmaṃ vacanambravīt
caturdaśa hi varṣāṇi jaṭācīradharo hyaham

SYNONYMS

24| sampraṇamya: bowing before | pāduke: the sandals | saḥ: that Bharata | abravīt: spoke | vacanam: (these) words | rāmam: to Rama | paramtapa: O | vīraḥ: and the Hero! | caturdaśa: for fourteen | varṣāṇi: your | aham: I | jaṭācīradharaḥ: shall wear matted locks and and robes of bark | phala mūlāśanaḥ: live on fruits and roots | raghunandana: O | vasan: and live | bhaveyam: staying bahiH = outside | nagarāt: the city | nyasta rājya tantraḥ: offering the ruling of the kingdom | tava: to your | pādukayoḥ: sandals |

TRANSLATION

Bowing before the sandals, Bharata spoke the following words to Rama: "O, Rama the hero and the tormentator of enemies! For fourteen years, I shall wear matted locks and robes of bark, live on fruits and roots O Rama, and live outside the city, offering the ruling of the kingdom to your sandals."

VERSE 25

तवागमनमाकाङ्क्षन् वसन्वै नगराद्बहिः

tavāgamanamākāṅkṣan vasanvai nagarādbahiḥ

SYNONYMS

rahūttama: O | nadrakṣyāmi yadi: If I do not see | tvām: you | ahani: on the day | sampūrṇe: after completion of | caturdaśe varṣe: fourteen the year | pravekṣyāmi: I shall enter | hutāśanam: the fire once for all. |

TRANSLATION

"O, Rama! If I do not see you the following day when the fourteenth year has fully ended, I shall enter the fire once for all."

VERSE 26

तथेति च प्रतिज्ञाय तं परिष्वज्य सादरम्

tatheti ca pratijñāya taṃ pariṣvajya sādaram

SYNONYMS

tatheti: "so be it" | pratiñāya: promised Rama | pariṣvajya śatrughnam: took Shatrughna also in his arms | abravīt: and spoke | idam: these words | bharatamca: to Bharata. |

TRANSLATION

"So be it" promised Rama, embraced that Bharata with affection, took Shatrughna also in his arms and spoke to Bharata as follows:

VERSE 27

मातरम् रक्ष कैकेयीम् मा रोषम् कुरु तां प्रति

mātaram rakṣa kaikeyīm mā roṣam kuru tāṃ prati

SYNONYMS

28| raghusattama: O | rakṣa: protect | mātaram: your mother | kaikeyīm: Kaikeyi | mā kuru: do not get | roṣam: angry | tām prati: with her | asi: you are | śaptaḥ: taken vow | mayāca: by me | sītayācaiva: and by Seetha | uktvā: speaking | iti: thus | aśruparītakṣaḥ: having his eyes filled iwth tears | visarjaha: bade farewell | bhrātaram: to his brother. |

TRANSLATION

"O Bharata! Protect your mother, Kaikeyi. Do not get angry with her. You are taken vow thus by me and by Seetha." speaking thus, Rama with his eyes filled iwth tears, bade farewell to his brother.

VERSE 29

स पादुके ते भरतः प्रतापवान्
स्वलम्कृते सम्परिगृह्य धर्मवित्
प्रदक्षिणम् चैव चकार राघवम्
चकार चैव उत्तम नाग मूर्धनि

sa pāduke te bharataḥ pratāpavān
svalamkṛte samparigṛhya dharmavit
pradakṣiṇam caiva cakāra rāghavam
cakāra caiva uttama nāga mūrdhani

SYNONYMS

saḥ bharataḥ: that Bharata | pratāpavān: the valiant man | dharmavit: who knew righteousness | samparipūjya: worshipped | te pāduke: those sandals | svalaṇk͟h^ṟite: decorated well | cakāra: and kept | pradakṣiṇam: circumambulation | rāghavam: to Rama | te: those sandals | uttama nāga mūrdhani: on the head of an excellent elephant. |

TRANSLATION

The valiant Bharata, who knew righteousness worshipped those sandals which were well-decorated made a circumambulation to Rama and kept the sandals on the head of an excellent elephant.

VERSE 30

अथ आनुपूर्व्यात् प्रतिपूज्य तम् जनम्
गुरूम्ः च मन्त्रि प्रकृतीः तथा अनुजौ
व्यसर्जयद् राघव वंश वर्धनः
स्थितः स्व धर्मे हिमवान् इव अचलः

atha ānupūrvyāt pratipūjya tam janam
gurūmḥ ca mantri prakṛtīḥ tathā anujau
vyasarjayad rāghava vaṃśa vardhanaḥ
sthitaḥ sva dharme himavān iva acalaḥ

SYNONYMS

atha: then | rāghava vamśavardhanaḥ: rama | sthiraḥ: firm | himavān acalaḥ iva: as a Himalayan rock | svadharme: (abiding in) his own duty | pratinandya: greeted | tam: those men | ānupūrvyā: in accord with their rank | gurūmśca: the host of his preceptors | mantriprakṛtīḥ: ministers his subjects | tatha: and | anujau: and his brothers | vyasarjayat: and bade farewell. |

TRANSLATION

Rama, the augmentator of Raghu dynasty, being firm as a Himalayan rock in abiding in his own righteousness, greeted those men, in accord with their rank, the host of his preceptors, ministers, subjects and his brothers and bade farewell to all of them.

VERSE 31

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे द्वादशोत्तरशततमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe dvādaśottaraśatatamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

mātaraḥ: his mothers | baṣpagṛhīta kaṇṭhyaḥ: their voices choked with tears | duḥkhena: by sorrow | na śekurhi: were unable | āmantrayitam: to bid farewell verbally | tam: to Rama | saḥ: that | rāma eva: Rama himself | abhivādya: offered his salutations | sarvāḥ: to all | mātṛiḥ: his mothers | praviveśa: and entered | svām: his | kuṭīm: hermitage | rudan: weeping. |

TRANSLATION

His mothers, their voices choked with tears due to sorrow, were unable to bid farewell verbally to Rama. However, Rama himself offered his salutations to all his mothers and entered his hermitage, weeping.