Lord Ramachandra's Reign and Departure

Verse 1 (bhagavata.9.11.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच भगवानात्मनात्मानं राम उत्तमकल्पकैः । सर्वदेवमयं देवमीजेऽथाचार्यवान् मखैः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca bhagavān ātmanātmānaṁ rāma uttama-kalpakaiḥ sarva-devamayaṁ devam īje ’thācāryavān makhaiḥ

Shri Shuka said: Thereafter Bhagavan Rama, having taken an acharya, worshiped with the finest sacrificial rites his own self — the deity who is the very embodiment of all the gods.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.9.11.2)

होत्रेऽददाद् दिशं प्राचीं ब्रह्मणे दक्षिणां प्रभुः । अध्वर्यवे प्रतीचीं वा उत्तरां सामगाय सः ॥ २ ॥

hotre ’dadād diśaṁ prācīṁ brahmaṇe dakṣiṇāṁ prabhuḥ adhvaryave pratīcīṁ vā uttarāṁ sāmagāya saḥ

The Lord gave the eastern quarter to the Hota priest, the southern to the Brahma priest, the western to the Adhvaryu, and the northern to the chanter of the Sama Veda.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.9.11.3)

आचार्याय ददौ शेषां यावती भूस्तदन्तरा । मन्यमान इदं कृत्स्नं ब्राह्मणोऽर्हति निःस्पृहः ॥ ३ ॥

ācāryāya dadau śeṣāṁ yāvatī bhūs tad-antarā manyamāna idaṁ kṛtsnaṁ brāhmaṇo ’rhati niḥspṛhaḥ

Thinking, "This entire earth rightly belongs to the desireless brahmana," he gave to his acharya whatever land remained between those quarters.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.9.11.4)

इत्ययं तदलङ्कारवासोभ्यामवशेषितः । तथा राज्ञ्यपि वैदेही सौमङ्गल्यावशेषिता ॥ ४ ॥

ity ayaṁ tad-alaṅkāra- vāsobhyām avaśeṣitaḥ tathā rājñy api vaidehī saumaṅgalyāvaśeṣitā

Thus he kept back for himself only his own ornaments and garments; and the queen, Vaidehi, likewise kept back only the auspicious marks of her married state.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.9.11.5)

ते तु ब्राह्मणदेवस्य वात्सल्यं वीक्ष्य संस्तुतम् । प्रीताः क्लिन्नधियस्तस्मै प्रत्यर्प्येदं बभाषिरे ॥ ५ ॥

te tu brāhmaṇa-devasya vātsalyaṁ vīkṣya saṁstutam prītāḥ klinna-dhiyas tasmai pratyarpyedaṁ babhāṣire

Seeing this celebrated affection of him who holds the brahmanas as his very deity, they, their hearts melted with love, returned everything to him and spoke thus.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.9.11.6)

अप्रत्तं नस्त्वया किं नु भगवन् भुवनेश्वर । यन्नोऽन्तर्हृदयं विश्य तमो हंसि स्वरोचिषा ॥ ६ ॥

aprattaṁ nas tvayā kiṁ nu bhagavan bhuvaneśvara yan no ’ntar-hṛdayaṁ viśya tamo haṁsi sva-rociṣā

"O Lord, master of all the worlds, what is there that you have not already given us — you who have entered the very core of our hearts and dispelled our darkness with your own radiance?"

Verse 7 (bhagavata.9.11.7)

नमो ब्रह्मण्यदेवाय रामायाकुण्ठमेधसे । उत्तमश्लोकधुर्याय न्यस्तदण्डार्पिताङ्घ्रये ॥ ७ ॥

namo brahmaṇya-devāya rāmāyākuṇṭha-medhase uttamaśloka-dhuryāya nyasta-daṇḍārpitāṅghraye

"Obeisance to Rama, the deity of the brahmanas, whose intellect is never dulled, foremost among those of glorious renown, at whose feet bow even those sages who have renounced the very rod of punishment."

Verse 8 (bhagavata.9.11.8)

कदाचिल्लोकजिज्ञासुर्गूढो रात्र्यामलक्षितः । चरन्वाचोऽशृणोद् रामो भार्यामुद्दिश्य कस्यचित् ॥ ८ ॥

kadācil loka-jijñāsur gūḍho rātryām alakṣitaḥ caran vāco ’śṛṇod rāmo bhāryām uddiśya kasyacit

Once, wishing to learn the opinion of the people, Rama walked about the city at night, hidden and unrecognized, and overheard a man speaking about his own wife.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.9.11.9)

नाहं बिभर्मि त्वां दुष्टामसतीं परवेश्मगाम् । स्त्रैणो हि बिभृयात् सीतां रामो नाहं भजे पुनः ॥ ९ ॥

nāhaṁ bibharmi tvāṁ duṣṭām asatīṁ para-veśma-gām straiṇo hi bibhṛyāt sītāṁ rāmo nāhaṁ bhaje punaḥ

"I will not keep you, wicked and unchaste woman who went to another man's house. Only a wife-controlled man like Rama would take back a Sita — I am not like him; I will not accept you again."

Verse 10 (bhagavata.9.11.10)

इति लोकाद् बहुमुखाद् दुराराध्यादसंविदः । पत्या भीतेन सा त्यक्ता प्राप्ता प्राचेतसाश्रमम् ॥ १० ॥

iti lokād bahu-mukhād durārādhyād asaṁvidaḥ patyā bhītena sā tyaktā prāptā prācetasāśramam

Fearing the many-tongued, hard-to-satisfy, undiscerning talk of the people, her husband abandoned her; and thus Sita came to the hermitage of the son of Prachetas.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.9.11.11)

अन्तर्वत्न्यागते काले यमौ सा सुषुवे सुतौ । कुशो लव इति ख्यातौ तयोश्चक्रे क्रिया मुनिः ॥ ११ ॥

antarvatny āgate kāle yamau sā suṣuve sutau kuśo lava iti khyātau tayoś cakre kriyā muniḥ

Being with child, when her time came she gave birth to twin sons, who became known as Kusha and Lava; the sage performed their birth rites.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.9.11.12)

अङ्गदश्चित्रकेतुश्च लक्ष्मणस्यात्मजौ स्मृतौ । तक्षः पुष्कल इत्यास्तां भरतस्य महीपते ॥ १२ ॥

aṅgadaś citraketuś ca lakṣmaṇasyātmajau smṛtau takṣaḥ puṣkala ity āstāṁ bharatasya mahīpate

O king, Lakshmana's sons are remembered as Angada and Chitraketu; Bharata's were Taksha and Pushkala.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.9.11.13)

सुबाहुः श्रुतसेनश्च शत्रुघ्नस्य बभूवतुः । गन्धर्वान् कोटिशो जघ्ने भरतो विजये दिशाम् ॥ १३ ॥

subāhuḥ śrutasenaś ca śatrughnasya babhūvatuḥ gandharvān koṭiśo jaghne bharato vijaye diśām

Shatrughna's sons were Subahu and Shrutasena. While conquering the directions, Bharata slew Gandharvas by the millions.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.9.11.14)

तदीयं धनमानीय सर्वं राज्ञे न्यवेदयत् । शत्रुघ्नश्च मधोः पुत्रं लवणं नाम राक्षसम् । हत्वा मधुवने चक्रे मथुरां नाम वै पुरीम् ॥ १४ ॥

tadīyaṁ dhanam ānīya sarvaṁ rājñe nyavedayat śatrughnaś ca madhoḥ putraṁ lavaṇaṁ nāma rākṣasam hatvā madhuvane cakre mathurāṁ nāma vai purīm

He brought back all their wealth and offered it entirely to the king. Shatrughna, for his part, slew the rakshasa Lavana, son of Madhu, and in the forest called Madhuvana founded the city named Mathura.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.9.11.15)

मुनौ निक्षिप्य तनयौ सीता भर्त्रा विवासिता । ध्यायन्ती रामचरणौ विवरं प्रविवेश ह ॥ १५ ॥

munau nikṣipya tanayau sītā bhartrā vivāsitā dhyāyantī rāma-caraṇau vivaraṁ praviveśa ha

Sita, banished by her husband, left her two sons in the sage's care, and, meditating upon Rama's feet, entered a fissure in the earth.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.9.11.16)

तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान् रामो रुन्धन्नपि धिया शुचः । स्मरंस्तस्या गुणांस्तांस्तान्नाशक्नोद् रोद्धुमीश्वरः ॥ १६ ॥

tac chrutvā bhagavān rāmo rundhann api dhiyā śucaḥ smaraṁs tasyā guṇāṁs tāṁs tān nāśaknod roddhum īśvaraḥ

On hearing this, Bhagavan Rama tried to hold back his grief through sheer resolve, yet remembering her many virtues, even the Lord himself could not restrain it.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.9.11.17)

स्त्रीपुंप्रसङ्ग एतादृक्सर्वत्र त्रासमावहः । अपीश्वराणां किमुत ग्राम्यस्य गृहचेतसः ॥ १७ ॥

strī-puṁ-prasaṅga etādṛk sarvatra trāsam-āvahaḥ apīśvarāṇāṁ kim uta grāmyasya gṛha-cetasaḥ

Such is the bond between man and woman — it brings anxiety everywhere, even to the great controllers of the universe; what then of an ordinary man whose mind is fixed on household life?

Verse 18 (bhagavata.9.11.18)

तत ऊर्ध्वं ब्रह्मचर्यं धार्यन्नजुहोत् प्रभुः । त्रयोदशाब्दसाहस्रमग्निहोत्रमखण्डितम् ॥ १८ ॥

tata ūrdhvaṁ brahmacaryaṁ dhāryann ajuhot prabhuḥ trayodaśābda-sāhasram agnihotram akhaṇḍitam

From that time on the Lord observed unbroken celibacy and kept the sacred fire burning without interruption for thirteen thousand years.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.9.11.19)

स्मरतां हृदि विन्यस्य विद्धं दण्डककण्टकैः । स्वपादपल्लवं राम आत्मज्योतिरगात् ततः ॥ १९ ॥

smaratāṁ hṛdi vinyasya viddhaṁ daṇḍaka-kaṇṭakaiḥ sva-pāda-pallavaṁ rāma ātma-jyotir agāt tataḥ

Rama then placed his tender feet — once pierced by the thorns of the Dandaka forest — within the hearts of those who remember him, and departed into his own effulgence.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.9.11.20)

नेदं यशो रघुपतेः सुरयाच्ञयात्त- लीलातनोरधिकसाम्यविमुक्तधाम्नः । रक्षोवधो जलधिबन्धनमस्त्रपूगैः किं तस्य शत्रुहनने कपयः सहायाः ॥ २० ॥

nedaṁ yaśo raghupateḥ sura-yācñayātta- līlā-tanor adhika-sāmya-vimukta-dhāmnaḥ rakṣo-vadho jaladhi-bandhanam astra-pūgaiḥ kiṁ tasya śatru-hanane kapayaḥ sahāyāḥ

This — the slaying of the demon with showers of arrows, the binding of the ocean — is not really the full glory of the lord of the Raghus, who takes up his sportive form only at the gods' entreaty and whose abode admits neither equal nor superior; for one who has no equal, what real need had he of monkeys as allies in destroying his enemy?

Verse 21 (bhagavata.9.11.21)

यस्यामलं नृपसदःसु यशोऽधुनापि गायन्त्यघघ्नमृषयो दिगिभेन्द्रपट्टम् । तं नाकपालवसुपालकिरीटजुष्ट- पादाम्बुजं रघुपतिं शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ २१ ॥

yasyāmalaṁ nṛpa-sadaḥsu yaśo ’dhunāpi gāyanty agha-ghnam ṛṣayo dig-ibhendra-paṭṭam taṁ nākapāla-vasupāla-kirīṭa-juṣṭa- pādāmbujaṁ raghupatiṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadye

I take refuge in that lord of the Raghus, whose spotless fame, destroyer of sin, sages still sing even today in the assemblies of kings, as one sings of the banner-cloth of the elephant that has conquered every quarter — he at whose lotus feet the crowned heads of the guardians of heaven and the protectors of the earth alike bow down.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.9.11.22)

स यैः स्पृष्टोऽभिदृष्टो वा संविष्टोऽनुगतोऽपि वा । कोसलास्ते ययुः स्थानं यत्र गच्छन्ति योगिनः ॥ २२ ॥

sa yaiḥ spṛṣṭo ’bhidṛṣṭo vā saṁviṣṭo ’nugato ’pi vā kosalās te yayuḥ sthānaṁ yatra gacchanti yoginaḥ

All the people of Koshala who had touched him, beheld him, sat beside him, or simply followed after him, went to that very abode which yogis strive to reach.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.9.11.23)

पुरुषो रामचरितं श्रवणैरुपधारयन् । आनृशंस्यपरो राजन् कर्मबन्धैर्विमुच्यते ॥ २३ ॥

puruṣo rāma-caritaṁ śravaṇair upadhārayan ānṛśaṁsya-paro rājan karma-bandhair vimucyate

O king, whoever attentively hears the account of Rama's deeds, and thereby becomes free of cruelty, is released from the bondage of karma.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.9.11.24)

श्रीराजोवाच कथं स भगवान् रामो भ्रातृन् वा स्वयमात्मनः । तस्मिन् वा तेऽन्ववर्तन्त प्रजाः पौराश्च ईश्वरे ॥ २४ ॥

śrī-rājovāca kathaṁ sa bhagavān rāmo bhrātṝn vā svayam ātmanaḥ tasmin vā te ’nvavartanta prajāḥ paurāś ca īśvare

The king asked: How did Bhagavan Rama himself behave toward his brothers, who were his own very self? And how did they, and the citizens, in turn behave toward him, their lord?

Verse 25 (bhagavata.9.11.25)

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच अथादिशद् दिग्विजये भ्रातृंस्त्रिभुवनेश्वरः । आत्मानं दर्शयन् स्वानां पुरीमैक्षत सानुगः ॥ २५ ॥

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca athādiśad dig-vijaye bhrātṝṁs tri-bhuvaneśvaraḥ ātmānaṁ darśayan svānāṁ purīm aikṣata sānugaḥ

Shri Badarayani said: The lord of the three worlds then sent his brothers out to conquer every direction, while he himself, showing himself to his own people, watched over the capital together with his attendants.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.9.11.26)

आसिक्तमार्गां गन्धोदैः करिणां मदशीकरैः । स्वामिनं प्राप्तमालोक्य मत्तां वा सुतरामिव ॥ २६ ॥

āsikta-mārgāṁ gandhodaiḥ kariṇāṁ mada-śīkaraiḥ svāminaṁ prāptam ālokya mattāṁ vā sutarām iva

Its streets sprinkled with fragrant water and with drops from the temples of rutting elephants, the city, seeing its lord return, seemed almost to reel in joy, like one intoxicated.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.9.11.27)

प्रासादगोपुरसभाचैत्यदेवगृहादिषु । विन्यस्तहेमकलशैः पताकाभिश्च मण्डिताम् ॥ २७ ॥

prāsāda-gopura-sabhā- caitya-deva-gṛhādiṣu vinyasta-hema-kalaśaiḥ patākābhiś ca maṇḍitām

Its palaces, gateways, assembly halls, shrines and temples were all adorned with golden waterpots set in place and decked with banners.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.9.11.28)

पूगैः सवृन्तै रम्भाभिः पट्टिकाभिः सुवाससाम् । आदर्शैरंशुकैः स्रग्भिः कृतकौतुकतोरणाम् ॥ २८ ॥

pūgaiḥ savṛntai rambhābhiḥ paṭṭikābhiḥ suvāsasām ādarśair aṁśukaiḥ sragbhiḥ kṛta-kautuka-toraṇām

Welcome-arches had been raised with betel-palms and banana trees still bearing their fruit, with strips of fine cloth, mirrors, silks and garlands.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.9.11.29)

तमुपेयुस्तत्र तत्र पौरा अर्हणपाणयः । आशिषो युयुजुर्देव पाहीमां प्राक्त्वयोद्धृताम् ॥ २९ ॥

tam upeyus tatra tatra paurā arhaṇa-pāṇayaḥ āśiṣo yuyujur deva pāhīmāṁ prāk tvayoddhṛtām

Everywhere the citizens came before him with offerings in hand, uttering blessings: "O Lord, protect this earth now, just as you once raised her up from the deep."

Verse 30 (bhagavata.9.11.30)

ततः प्रजा वीक्ष्य पतिं चिरागतं दिदृक्षयोत्सृष्टगृहाः स्त्रियो नराः । आरुह्य हर्म्याण्यरविन्दलोचन- मतृप्तनेत्राः कुसुमैरवाकिरन् ॥ ३० ॥

tataḥ prajā vīkṣya patiṁ cirāgataṁ didṛkṣayotsṛṣṭa-gṛhāḥ striyo narāḥ āruhya harmyāṇy aravinda-locanam atṛpta-netrāḥ kusumair avākiran

Then, on seeing their lord return after so long, the people, men and women alike, left their homes in eagerness to see him, climbed onto the rooftops, and, their eyes never satisfied with gazing upon that lotus-eyed one, showered him with flowers.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.9.11.31)

अथ प्रविष्टः स्वगृहं जुष्टं स्वैः पूर्वराजभिः । अनन्ताखिलकोषाढ्यमनर्घ्योरुपरिच्छदम् ॥ ३१ ॥

atha praviṣṭaḥ sva-gṛhaṁ juṣṭaṁ svaiḥ pūrva-rājabhiḥ anantākhila-koṣāḍhyam anarghyoruparicchadam

He then entered his own ancestral home, once dwelt in by the kings before him, rich with treasures beyond measure and furnished with priceless things.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.9.11.32)

विद्रुमोदुम्बरद्वारैर्वैदूर्यस्तम्भपङ्क्तिभिः । स्थलैर्मारकतैः स्वच्छैर्भ्राजत्स्फटिकभित्तिभिः ॥ ३२ ॥

vidrumodumbara-dvārair vaidūrya-stambha-paṅktibhiḥ sthalair mārakataiḥ svacchair bhrājat-sphaṭika-bhittibhiḥ

Its doorways were of coral, its rows of pillars of cat's-eye gem, its courtyards paved with clear emerald, its walls gleaming with crystal.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.9.11.33)

चित्रस्रग्भिः पट्टिकाभिर्वासोमणिगणांशुकैः । मुक्ताफलैश्चिदुल्लासैः कान्तकामोपपत्तिभिः ॥ ३३ ॥

citra-sragbhiḥ paṭṭikābhir vāso-maṇi-gaṇāṁśukaiḥ muktā-phalaiś cid-ullāsaiḥ kānta-kāmopapattibhiḥ

It was hung with many-colored garlands and banners, silks studded with jewels, and lustrous pearls — furnished with everything that could fulfill a lover's desire.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.9.11.34)

धूपदीपैः सुरभिभिर्मण्डितं पुष्पमण्डनैः । स्त्रीपुम्भिः सुरसङ्काशैर्जुष्टं भूषणभूषणैः ॥ ३४ ॥

dhūpa-dīpaiḥ surabhibhir maṇḍitaṁ puṣpa-maṇḍanaiḥ strī-pumbhiḥ sura-saṅkāśair juṣṭaṁ bhūṣaṇa-bhūṣaṇaiḥ

It was made lovely with fragrant incense, lamps and flowers, and filled with men and women resembling gods, whose very ornaments seemed adorned by them.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.9.11.35)

तस्मिन्स भगवान् रामः स्निग्धया प्रिययेष्टया । रेमे स्वारामधीराणामृषभः सीतया किल ॥ ३५ ॥

tasmin sa bhagavān rāmaḥ snigdhayā priyayeṣṭayā reme svārāma-dhīrāṇām ṛṣabhaḥ sītayā kila

There Bhagavan Rama, foremost among the self-contented and steadfast, took his delight together with his beloved and devoted wife, Sita.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.9.11.36)

बुभुजे च यथाकालं कामान् धर्ममपीडयन् । वर्षपूगान् बहून् नृणामभिध्याताङ्घ्रिपल्लवः ॥ ३६ ॥

bubhuje ca yathā-kālaṁ kāmān dharmam apīḍayan varṣa-pūgān bahūn nṝṇām abhidhyātāṅghri-pallavaḥ

For many long years he thus enjoyed his desires in due season, never violating dharma — he whose tender feet devotees hold ever in meditation.