Chapter 115

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

ततो निक्षिप्य मातृऋः स अयोध्यायाम् दृढ व्रतः
भरतः शोक सम्तप्तो गुरून् इदम् अथ अब्रवीत्

tato nikṣipya mātṛṛḥ sa ayodhyāyām dṛḍha vrataḥ
bharataḥ śoka samtapto gurūn idam atha abravīt

SYNONYMS

saḥ bharataḥ: that Bharata | dṛḍha vrataḥ: fixed in his resolve | tataḥ: then | nikṣipya: having brought | mātṛiḥ: his mother | ayodhyām: (back) to Ayodhya | śoka santaptaḥ: sore stricken with grief | abravīt: spoke | atha: thereafter | gurūn: to Vaishta and the elders (as follows): |

TRANSLATION

Having brought his mothers back to Ayodhya; Bharata, fixed in his resolve but sore stricken with grief, spoke to Vasishta and the elders (as follows)

VERSE 2

नन्दि ग्रामम् गमिष्यामि सर्वान् आमन्त्रये अद्य वः
तत्र दुह्खम् इदम् सर्वम् सहिष्ये राघवम् विना

nandi grāmam gamiṣyāmi sarvān āmantraye adya vaḥ
tatra duhkham idam sarvam sahiṣye rāghavam vinā

SYNONYMS

adya: now | gamiṣyāmi: I am going | nandigrāmam: to Nandigrama village | āmantraye: I take leave | sarvān: of all | vaḥ: of you | tatra: there | sahiṣye: I shall endure | sarvam: all | idam: this | duḥkham: woe | rāghavam vinā: occasioned by Rama's absence." |

TRANSLATION

"I am going to Nandigrama village. I take leave of all of you. There, I shall be able to endure all this woe, occasioned by Rama's absence."

VERSE 3

गतः च हि दिवम् राजा वनस्थः च गुरुर् मम
रामम् प्रतीक्षे राज्याय स हि राजा महा यशाः

gataḥ ca hi divam rājā vanasthaḥ ca gurur mama
rāmam pratīkṣe rājyāya sa hi rājā mahā yaśāḥ

SYNONYMS

rājā: is the lord | gataḥ: went | divam: to heaven | mama guruḥ: my elder brother | vanasthaḥ: is in the forest | pratīkṣye: I shall await | rāmam: for Rama (to return) | rājyāya: tot he kindom | saḥ hi: since verily he alone | mahāyaśāḥ: the celebrated. |

TRANSLATION

"The king Dasaratha went to heaven. My elder brother is in the forest. I shall await for Rama to return to the kingdom; since verily he alone is the celebrated Lord of Ayodhya."

VERSE 4

एतत् श्रुत्वा शुभम् वाक्यम् भरतस्य महात्मनः
अब्रुवन् मन्त्रिणः सर्वे वसिष्ठः च पुरोहितः

etat śrutvā śubham vākyam bharatasya mahātmanaḥ
abruvan mantriṇaḥ sarve vasiṣṭhaḥ ca purohitaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | etat: these | śubham: auspicious | vākyam: words | bharatasya: of Bharata | mahātmanaḥ: the magnanimous one | vasiṣṭaśca: Vasishta | purohitaḥ: the preceptor | sarve: and all | mantriṇaḥ: the ministers | abruvan: spoke (as follows): |

TRANSLATION

Hearing those auspicious words of the magnanimous Bharata, Vasishta the preceptor and all the ministers spoke as follows:

VERSE 5

सदृशम् श्लाघनीयम् च यद् उक्तम् भरत त्वया
वचनम् भ्रातृ वात्सल्याद् अनुरूपम् तव एव तत्

sadṛśam ślāghanīyam ca yad uktam bharata tvayā
vacanam bhrātṛ vātsalyād anurūpam tava eva tat

SYNONYMS

bharata: O | vacanam: the words | yat: which | uktam: have been spoken | tvayā: by you | bhrātṛvātsalyāt: in devotion to your brother | subhṛśam: are very much | ślāghanīyam: appreciable | tat: that | anurūpam: is worthy | tavaiva: of you along." |

TRANSLATION

"O, Bharata! The words which your have spoken by you in devotion to your brother are very much appreciable. It is worthy of you alone."

VERSE 6

नित्यम् ते बन्धु लुब्धस्य तिष्ठतो भ्रातृ सौहृदे
आर्य मार्गम् प्रपन्नस्य न अनुमन्येत कः पुमान्

nityam te bandhu lubdhasya tiṣṭhato bhrātṛ sauhṛde
ārya mārgam prapannasya na anumanyeta kaḥ pumān

SYNONYMS

kaḥ pumām: what man | nānumanyate: would not approve | te: of the proposal of you | bandhulubdhasya: who are deeply fascinated of your relatives | nityam: always | tiṣṭhataḥ: firmly | bhrātṛ sauhṛde: affectionate to your brother | prapannasya: and devoted | ārya mārgam: to the path of elders. |

TRANSLATION

"What man would not approve of the proposal of your highness, who are deeply fascinated of your relative, always affectionate to your brother and devoted to the path of elders?"

VERSE 7

मन्त्रिणाम् वचनम् श्रुत्वा यथा अभिलषितम् प्रियम्
अब्रवीत् सारथिम् वाक्यम् रथो मे युज्यताम् इति

mantriṇām vacanam śrutvā yathā abhilaṣitam priyam
abravīt sārathim vākyam ratho me yujyatām iti

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | priyam: the affectionate | vacanam: words | mantriṇām: of his counsellors | yathābhilaṣitam: according to his wish | abravīt: spoke | iti: these | vākyam: words | sārathim: to the charioteer | me rathaḥ: (Let) my chariot | yujyatām: be made ready." |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the affectionate words of his counsellors, who spoke according to his wish, Bharata said to his charioteer, "Let my chariot be made ready!"

VERSE 8

प्रहृष्ट वदनः सर्वा मातृऋः समभिवाद्य सः
आरुरोह रथम् श्रीमान् शत्रुघ्नेन समन्वितः

prahṛṣṭa vadanaḥ sarvā mātṛṛḥ samabhivādya saḥ
āruroha ratham śrīmān śatrughnena samanvitaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrīmān: the illustrious | saḥ: Bharata | prahṛṣṭavadanaḥ: looking pleased | samabhivādya: having offered salutation | sarvā: to all | mātṛiḥ: his mothers | āruroha: ascended | ratham: his chariot | samanvitaḥ: along with | śatrughne: Shatrughna. |

TRANSLATION

The illustrious Bharata, looking pleased and having offered salutation to all his mothers, entered his chariot along with Shatrughna.

VERSE 9

आरुह्य तु रथम् शीघ्रम् शत्रुघ्न भरताउ उभौ
ययतुः परम प्रीतौ वृतौ मन्त्रि पुरोहितैः

āruhya tu ratham śīghram śatrughna bharatāu ubhau
yayatuḥ parama prītau vṛtau mantri purohitaiḥ

SYNONYMS

ubhau: both | śatrughna bharatau: Shatrughana and Bharata | āruhya ca: having mounted | ratham: the chariot | śīgram: quickly | param prītau: and exceedingly rejoiced | yayatuḥ: set out | vṛtau: accompanied by | mantri purohitaiḥ: ministers and family-priests. |

TRANSLATION

Both Shatrughna and Bharata, having quickly mounted the chariot and exceedingly rejoiced, set out, accompanied by ministers and family-priests.

VERSE 10

अग्रतो पुरवः तत्र वसिष्ठ प्रमुखा द्विजाः
प्रययुः प्रान् मुखाः सर्वे नन्दि ग्रामो यतो अभवत्

agrato puravaḥ tatra vasiṣṭha pramukhā dvijāḥ
prayayuḥ prān mukhāḥ sarve nandi grāmo yato abhavat

SYNONYMS

gurvaḥ: the preceptors | sarve: all | tatra: there | vasiṣṭha pramukhāh: headed by Vasishta | dvijāḥ: and (other) Brahmanas | agrataḥ: being in the forefront | prayayuḥ: went | prāṇmukhāḥ: eastward | yataḥ: in which direction | nandigrāmaḥ: Nandigrama | abhavat: was there. |

TRANSLATION

All the preceptors there, headed by Vasishta and other brahmanas being in the forefront, proceeded eastward, in which direction Nandigrama village was situated.

VERSE 11

बलम् च तद् अनाहूतम् गज अश्व रथ सम्कुलम्
प्रययौ भरते याते सर्वे च पुर वासिनः

balam ca tad anāhūtam gaja aśva ratha samkulam
prayayau bharate yāte sarve ca pura vāsinaḥ

SYNONYMS

bharate: (Wile) Bharata | yāte: had left | balamca: the army too | prayayau: followed him | tadanāhutam: unbidden | gajāśvaratha samkulam: abounding in elephants | sarve: all | puravāsinaḥ ca: the residents of the city also (followed suit). |

TRANSLATION

When Bharata had left, the army too, abounding in elephants, horses and chariots marched unbidden. The residents of the city also followed suit.

VERSE 12

रथस्थः स तु धर्म आत्मा भरतो भ्रातृ वत्सलः
नन्दि ग्रामम् ययौ तूर्णम् शिरस्य् आधाय पादुके

rathasthaḥ sa tu dharma ātmā bharato bhrātṛ vatsalaḥ
nandi grāmam yayau tūrṇam śirasy ādhāya pāduke

SYNONYMS

saḥ bharataḥ: that Bharata | bhrātṛvatsalaḥ: affectionate of is brother | dharmātmā: and magnanimous | ādāya: kept | pāduke: the sandals | śirasi: on his head | rathasthaḥ: while remaining in the chariot | tūrṇam: and quickly | yayau: set out | nandigrāmam: for Nandigrama. |

TRANSLATION

The magnanimous Bharata, affectionate of his brother, bearing the sandals belong to Rama on his head, set out for Nandigrama.

VERSE 13

ततः तु भरतः क्षिप्रम् नन्दि ग्रामम् प्रविश्य सः
अवतीर्य रथात् तूर्णम् गुरून् इदम् उवाच ह

tataḥ tu bharataḥ kṣipram nandi grāmam praviśya saḥ
avatīrya rathāt tūrṇam gurūn idam uvāca ha

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | praviśya: having entered | nandigrāmam: Nandigram | kṣipram: briskly | saḥ bharataḥ: that Bharat | avatīrya: descended | rathāt: from his chariot | tūrṇam: quickly | uvāca ha: and spoke | idam: these words | gurūn: to his preceptors. |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, having entered Nandigrama briskly Bharata descended his chariot quickly and spoke to his preceptors as follows:

VERSE 14

एतद् राज्यम् मम भ्रात्रा दत्तम् सम्न्यासवत् स्वयम्
योग क्षेम वहे च इमे पादुके हेम भूषिते

etad rājyam mama bhrātrā dattam samnyāsavat svayam
yoga kṣema vahe ca ime pāduke hema bhūṣite

SYNONYMS

etat rājyam: this kingdom | dattam: has been given | mama: to me | sannyāsavat: as a trust | bhrātā: by my brother | svayam: himself | ime pāduke ca: these sandals | hema bhūṣite: embellished with gold | yogakṣamavahe: diffuse gain and security (to the people) |

TRANSLATION

"My brother, Rama has given to me this kingdom as a trust. These sandals, embellished with gold diffuse gain and security to the people."

VERSE 15

भरतः शिरसा कृत्वा सन्न्यासम् पादुके ततः
अब्रवीद्दुःखसम्तप्तः सर्वं प्रकृतिमण्डलम्

bharataḥ śirasā kṛtvā sannyāsam pāduke tataḥ
abravīdduḥkhasamtaptaḥ sarvaṃ prakṛtimaṇḍalam

SYNONYMS

kṛtvā: having dedicated | sannyāsam: the sacred trust | pāduke: to the wooden sandals | bharataḥ: Bharata | tataḥ: then | abravīt: spoke | sarvam: to the entire | prakṛtimaṇḍalam: body of his ministers | duḥkha samtapataḥ: sore stricken with anguish |

TRANSLATION

Having dedicated the sacred trust to the wooden sandals, Bharata sore-stricken with anguish, spoke to the entire body of his ministers as follows:

VERSE 16

चत्रम् धारयत क्षिप्रमार्यपादाविमौ मतौ
अभ्याम् राज्ये स्थितो धर्मः पादुकाभ्याम् गुरोर्मम

catram dhārayata kṣipramāryapādāvimau matau
abhyām rājye sthito dharmaḥ pādukābhyām gurormama

SYNONYMS

dhārayata: hold | chatram: the state canopy | kṣipram: speedily | imau: these | matau: have been accepted | ārya pādau: as symbols of the feet of my noble brother | ābhyām pādukābhyām: by these wooden sandals | mama guroḥ: of my brother | dharmaḥ: piety | sthitaḥ: has been established | rājye: in the kingdom. |

TRANSLATION

"Hold the state canopy speedily over these wooden sandals, which have been accepted as symbols of the feet of Rama, my noble brother. By the presence of these wooden sandals of my brother here, a piety has been established in the kingdom."

VERSE 17

भ्रात्रा हि मयि सम्न्यासो निक्षिप्तः सौहृदादयम्
तमिमम् पालयिष्यामि राघवागमनम् प्रति २११५१७

bhrātrā hi mayi samnyāso nikṣiptaḥ sauhṛdādayam
tamimam pālayiṣyāmi rāghavāgamanam prati 2-115-17

SYNONYMS

sauhṛdāt: by compassion | ayam: this | samnyāsaḥ: trust | mayi nikṣiptaḥ: has been placed at my disposal | bhrātrā: by my brother | imam: the trust | tat: as such | pālayiṣyāmi: will be protected | rāghava agamanam prati: till the arrival of Rama. |

TRANSLATION

"As a mark of compassion, this trust has been placed at my disposal, by my brother. There trust as such will be preserved till his return."

VERSE 18

क्षिप्रम् सम्योजयित्वा तु राघवस्य पुनः स्वयम्
चरणौ तौ तु रामस्य द्रक्ष्यामि सहपादुकौ

kṣipram samyojayitvā tu rāghavasya punaḥ svayam
caraṇau tau tu rāmasya drakṣyāmi sahapādukau

SYNONYMS

samyojayitvā: having restored | svayam: personally | rāghavasya: to Rama's feet | kṣipram: immediately | punaḥ: again | drakṣyāmi: I shall behold | tau: those | caraṇau: feet | rāmasya: of Rama | sahapādukau: along with these sandals. |

TRANSLATION

"Having restored these wooden sandals personally to Rama's feet immediately after his return, I shall behold those feet of Rama along with these sandals."

VERSE 19

ततो निक्षिप्तभारो।अहम् राघवेण समागतः
निवेद्य गुरवे राज्यम् भजिष्ये गुरुवृत्तिताम् २११५१९

tato nikṣiptabhāro|aham rāghaveṇa samāgataḥ
nivedya gurave rājyam bhajiṣye guruvṛttitām 2-115-19

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: thereafter | aham: I | nikṣipta bhāraḥ: on whom thus burden has been imposed | samāgataḥ: having been united | rāghaveṇa: with Rama | nivedya: and having restored | rājyam: the kingdom | gurave: to my elder brother | bhajiṣye: I shall assume | guruvṛttitām: the role of a servant of my elder brother. |

TRANSLATION

"Restoring the kingdom to my elder brother, when re-united with him and thereby laying down the burden, I shall then assume the role of a servant of my elder brother."

VERSE 20

ताघवाय च सम्न्यासम् दत्त्वेमे वरपादुके
राज्यम् चेदमयोध्याम् च धूतपापोभवामि च २११५२०

tāghavāya ca samnyāsam dattveme varapāduke
rājyam cedamayodhyām ca dhūtapāpobhavāmi ca 2-115-20

SYNONYMS

dattvā: giving away | ime vara pāduke: these excellent wooden sandals | samnyāsam: the symbols of trust | idam rājyam ca: this kingdom | ayodhyāmca: as well as the city of Ayodhya | rāghavāya: to Rama | bhavāmica: I shall become | dhūta pātaḥ: washed of all my sins. |

TRANSLATION

"By giving away these excellent wooden sandals, the symbols of trust, this kingdom, as well as the City of Ayodhya to Rama, I shall be washed of all my sins."

VERSE 21

अभिषिक्ते तु काकुत्थ्से प्रहृष्टमुदिते जने
प्रीतिर्मम यशश्चैव भवेद्राज्याच्चतुर्गुणम्

abhiṣikte tu kākutthse prahṛṣṭamudite jane
prītirmama yaśaścaiva bhavedrājyāccaturguṇam

SYNONYMS

kākutthse: Rama | abhiṣikte: will be installed | jane: and his subjects | prahṛṣṭamudite: made happy | bhavet: It will be | caturguṇam: a four-fold | yaśascaiva: more fame | prītiḥ: and happiness | mama: for me | rājyāt: than (that having obtained) from the kingdom. |

TRANSLATION

"Rama will be installed and his subjects made happy. It will be a four-fold more fame and happiness for me than that having obtained from the kingdom."

VERSE 22

एवम् तु विलपन्धीनो भरतः स महायशाः
नन्दिग्रामे।अकरोद्राज्यम् दुःखितो मन्त्रिभिस्सह

evam tu vilapandhīno bharataḥ sa mahāyaśāḥ
nandigrāme|akarodrājyam duḥkhito mantribhissaha

SYNONYMS

saḥ bharataḥ: that Bharata | mahāyaśāḥ: the highly illustrious man | dīnaḥ: (but) a distressed man | vilapan: lamenting | evam: thus | duḥkhitaḥ: and pained | akarot: looked after | rājyam: the state administration | mantribhiḥ saha: along with his ministers | nandrigrāme: at Nandigrama. |

TRANSLATION

The highly illustrious Bharata though a distressed man, thus lamenting and pained, looked after the state administration along with his ministers from Nandigrama.

VERSE 23

स वल्कलजटाधारी मुनिवेषधरः प्रभुः
नन्दिग्रामे।अवसद्वीरः ससैन्यो भरतस्तदा २११५२३

sa valkalajaṭādhārī muniveṣadharaḥ prabhuḥ
nandigrāme|avasadvīraḥ sasainyo bharatastadā 2-115-23

SYNONYMS

valkalajaṭādhārī: Assuming bark robes and matted locks | muniveṣadhārī: in the guise of an ascetic | prabhuḥ: the lord | vīraḥ: and the hero | saḥ bharataḥ: that Bharata | tadā: then | avasat: dwelt | nandigrāme: in Nandigrama | sa sainyaḥ: protected by the army. |

TRANSLATION

Assuming bark robes and matted locks in the guise of an ascetic, the lord and the hero Bharata dwelt in Nandigrama, protected by the army.

VERSE 24

रामागमनमाकाङ्क्षन् भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः
भ्रातुर्वचनकारी च प्रतिज्ञापारगस्तदा

rāmāgamanamākāṅkṣan bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ
bhrāturvacanakārī ca pratijñāpāragastadā

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | bharataḥ: Bharata | bhrātṛḥ vacanakārīca: obedient to his elder brother | bhrātṛvatsalaḥ: affectionate of his brothers | pratijña pāragaḥ: and faithful to his vow | tathā: thus | avasat: resided | nandirgrāme: in Nandigrama | abhiṣicya: coronating | pāduke: the wooden sandals ( on the throne) | ākāṇkṣan: and wishing | rāmāgamanam: the return of Rama. |

TRANSLATION

Bharata, obedient to his elder brother, affectionate of his brothers and faithful to his vow, thus resided in Nandigrama, coronating the wooden sandals on the throne and wishing always for the return of Rama.

VERSE 25

स वालव्यजनम् चत्रम् धारयामास स स्वयम्

sa vālavyajanam catram dhārayāmāsa sa svayam

SYNONYMS

bharataḥ: Bharata | nivedayan: reporting | sarvam: all | śāsanam: the royal orders | pādukābhyām: to the wooden sandals | dharayāmāsa: was holding | svayam: personally | chatram: the royal canopy | savālavyajanam: together with the chowrie (to the sandals) |

TRANSLATION

Reporting all the royal orders to the wooden sandals, Bharata was holding the royal canopy together with the chowrie to those sandals.

VERSE 26

ततस्तु भरतः श्रीमानभिषिच्यार्यपादुके

tatastu bharataḥ śrīmānabhiṣicyāryapāduke

SYNONYMS

abhiṣicya: coronating | ārya pāduke: the wooden sandals of his elder brother | śrīmān: the illustrious | bharataḥ: Bharata | tataḥ: thereafter | kāryāmāsa: carried out | rājyam: the state administration | tadadhīnaḥ: being subservient to them | sarvadā: always. |

TRANSLATION

Coronating the wooden sandals of his elder brother, the illustrious Bharata thereafter carried out the state administration, always maintaining his subservience to them.

VERSE 27

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे पंचदशोत्तरशततमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe paṃcadaśottaraśatatamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

yatkimcit: whatever small | kāryam: affair | upaiti: came up | mahārham: or a high-valued | upāyanam: gift | upahṛtam: was offered | saḥ bharataḥ: that Bharata | tadā: then | prathamam: first | nivedya: has reported (it) | pādukābhyām: to the wooden sandals | paścāt: and thereafter | cakāra: acted yathaavat = accordingly. |

TRANSLATION

Whatever a small affair of the state came up or whenever a high-valued gift was offered, Bharata used to report that matter to the wooden sandals and then only dealt with it in the proper way afterwards.