Beholding Bharata's Dwelling at Nandigrama

Verse 1 (padma.5.1.1)

श्रीगणेशाय नमः। श्रीकुलदेवतायै नमः। श्रीगुरुचरणारविंदाभ्यां नमः । नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् । देवींसरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत्

śrīgaṇeśāya namaḥ śrīkuladevatāyai namaḥ śrīgurucaraṇāraviṁdābhyāṁ namaḥ nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtya naraṁ caiva narottamam devīṁsarasvatīṁ vyāsaṁ tato jayamudīrayet

Salutation to Sri Ganesha. Salutation to the family deity. Salutation to the lotus feet of the guru. Having bowed to Narayana and to Nara, best among men, and having called to mind the goddess Sarasvati and Vyasa, one should then utter the cry of victory.

Verse 2 (padma.5.1.2)

ऋषय ऊचुः। श्रुतं सर्वं महाभाग स्वर्गखंडं मनोहरम् । त्वत्तोऽधुना वदायुष्मञ्छ्रीरामचरितं हि नः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ śrutaṁ sarvaṁ mahābhāga svargakhaṁḍaṁ manoharam tvatto'dhunā vadāyuṣmañchrīrāmacaritaṁ hi naḥ

The sages said: O greatly fortunate one, we have heard in full the enchanting Svarga Khanda; now, O long-lived one, tell us the story of Shri Rama's deeds.

Verse 3 (padma.5.1.3)

सूत उवाच। अथैकदा धराधारं पृष्टवान्भुजगेश्वरम् । वात्स्यायनो मुनिवरः कथामेतां सुनिर्मलाम्

sūta uvāca athaikadā dharādhāraṁ pṛṣṭavānbhujageśvaram vātsyāyano munivaraḥ kathāmetāṁ sunirmalām

Suta said: Once the great sage Vatsyayana asked Bhujageshvara, lord of serpents, who bears up the earth, for this utterly pure story.

Verse 4 (padma.5.1.4)

श्रीवात्स्यायन उवाच। शेषाशेष कथास्त्वत्तो जगत्सर्गलयादिकाः । भूगोलश्च खगोलश्च ज्योतिश्चक्रविनिर्णयः

śrīvātsyāyana uvāca śeṣāśeṣa kathāstvatto jagatsargalayādikāḥ bhūgolaśca khagolaśca jyotiścakravinirṇayaḥ

Shri Vatsyayana said: From you I have heard every remaining account — of the world's creation and dissolution, of the sphere of the earth and the sphere of the heavens, and the reckoning of the wheel of the constellations.

Verse 5 (padma.5.1.5)

महत्तत्त्वादिसृष्टीनां पृथक्तत्त्वविनिर्णयः । नानाराजचरित्राणि कथितानि त्वयानघ

mahattattvādisṛṣṭīnāṁ pṛthaktattvavinirṇayaḥ nānārājacaritrāṇi kathitāni tvayānagha

You have told me the separate determination of the principles beginning with Mahat, and the many histories of kings, O sinless one.

Verse 6 (padma.5.1.6)

सूर्यवंशभवानां च राज्ञां चारित्रमद्भुतम् । तत्रानेकमहापापहरा रामकृता कथा

sūryavaṁśabhavānāṁ ca rājñāṁ cāritramadbhutam tatrānekamahāpāpaharā rāmakṛtā kathā

You have told the wondrous conduct of the kings born in the Solar line, among them the deeds of Rama, whose story removes many great sins.

Verse 7 (padma.5.1.7)

तस्य वीरस्य रामस्य हयमेधकथा श्रुता । संक्षेपतो मया त्वत्तस्तामिच्छामि सविस्तराम्

tasya vīrasya rāmasya hayamedhakathā śrutā saṁkṣepato mayā tvattastāmicchāmi savistarām

I have heard from you, in brief, the story of that hero Rama's horse-sacrifice; now I wish to hear it in full detail.

Verse 8 (padma.5.1.8)

या श्रुता संस्मृता चोक्ता महापातकहारिणी । चिंतितार्थप्रदात्री च भक्तचित्तप्रतोषदा

yā śrutā saṁsmṛtā coktā mahāpātakahāriṇī ciṁtitārthapradātrī ca bhaktacittapratoṣadā

That story, when heard, remembered, or told, destroys great sin, grants what one has longed for, and brings contentment to the hearts of devotees.

Verse 9 (padma.5.1.9)

शेष उवाच। धन्योसि द्विजवर्य त्वं यस्य ते मतिरीदृशी । रघुवीरपदद्वंद्व मकरंद स्पृहावती

śeṣa uvāca dhanyosi dvijavarya tvaṁ yasya te matirīdṛśī raghuvīrapadadvaṁdva makaraṁda spṛhāvatī

Shesha said: Blessed are you, best among the twice-born, whose mind is such — one that longs for the honeyed nectar of the pair of lotus-feet of Raghu's hero.

Verse 10 (padma.5.1.10)

वदंति मुनयः सर्वे साधूनां संगमं वरम् । यस्मात्पापक्षयकरी रघुनाथकथा भवेत्

vadaṁti munayaḥ sarve sādhūnāṁ saṁgamaṁ varam yasmātpāpakṣayakarī raghunāthakathā bhavet

All sages declare that the company of the virtuous is best, for it is from that company that the sin-destroying story of Raghunatha comes.

Verse 11 (padma.5.1.11)

त्वया मेऽनुग्रहः सृष्टो यद्रामः स्मारितः पुनः । सुरासुरकिरीटौघ मणिनीराजितांघ्रिकः

tvayā me'nugrahaḥ sṛṣṭo yadrāmaḥ smāritaḥ punaḥ surāsurakirīṭaugha maṇinīrājitāṁghrikaḥ

You have shown me this grace, that you have made me remember Rama once more — he whose feet are radiant with the crown-jewels of both gods and demons.

Verse 12 (padma.5.1.12)

रावणारिकथा वार्द्धौ मशको मादृशः कियान् । यत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा मोहिता न विदंत्यपि

rāvaṇārikathā vārddhau maśako mādṛśaḥ kiyān yatra brahmādayo devā mohitā na vidaṁtyapi

The story of Ravana's foe is an ocean — how small a gnat am I beside it, a story in which even Brahma and the other gods, bewildered, cannot know it fully!

Verse 13 (padma.5.1.13)

तथापि भो मया तुभ्यं वक्तव्यं स्वीयशक्तितः । पक्षिणः स्वगतिं श्रित्वा खे गच्छंति सुविस्तरे

tathāpi bho mayā tubhyaṁ vaktavyaṁ svīyaśaktitaḥ pakṣiṇaḥ svagatiṁ śritvā khe gacchaṁti suvistare

Yet, good sir, I shall tell it to you as far as my own power allows; birds too, relying only on their own strength of flight, cross the vast sky.

Verse 14 (padma.5.1.14)

चरितं रघुनाथस्य शतकोटिप्रविस्तरम् । येषां वै यादृशी बुद्धिस्ते वदंत्येव तादृशम्

caritaṁ raghunāthasya śatakoṭipravistaram yeṣāṁ vai yādṛśī buddhiste vadaṁtyeva tādṛśam

The story of Raghunatha extends across a hundred million tellings; each person speaks of it according to the understanding they possess.

Verse 15 (padma.5.1.15)

रघुनाथसतीकीर्तिर्मद्बुद्धिं निर्मलीमसाम् । करिष्यति स्वसंपर्कात्कनकं त्वनलो यथा

raghunāthasatīkīrtirmadbuddhiṁ nirmalīmasām kariṣyati svasaṁparkātkanakaṁ tvanalo yathā

The sacred fame of Raghunatha will, by its own contact, purify my clouded understanding — just as fire refines gold.

Verse 16 (padma.5.1.16)

सूत उवाच। इत्युक्त्वा तं मुनिवरं ध्यानस्तिमितलोचनः । ज्ञानेनालोकयांचक्रे कथां लोकोत्तरां शुभाम्

sūta uvāca ityuktvā taṁ munivaraṁ dhyānastimitalocanaḥ jñānenālokayāṁcakre kathāṁ lokottarāṁ śubhām

Suta said: Having spoken thus to that great sage, Shesha, his eyes stilled in meditation, beheld through knowledge that transcendent and auspicious story.

Verse 17 (padma.5.1.17)

गद्गदस्वरसंयुक्तो महाहर्षांकितांगकः । कथयामास विशदां कथां दाशरथेः पुनः

gadgadasvarasaṁyukto mahāharṣāṁkitāṁgakaḥ kathayāmāsa viśadāṁ kathāṁ dāśaratheḥ punaḥ

With his voice choked with feeling, his body thrilling with great joy, he began once more to tell the clear story of Dasharatha's son.

Verse 18 (padma.5.1.18)

शेष उवाच। लंकेश्वरे विनिहते देवदानवदुःखदे । अप्सरोगणवक्त्राब्जचंद्रमः कांतिहर्तरि

śeṣa uvāca laṁkeśvare vinihate devadānavaduḥkhade apsarogaṇavaktrābjacaṁdramaḥ kāṁtihartari

Shesha said: When the lord of Lanka — tormentor of gods and demons, who had robbed the moonlike faces of the apsarases of their radiance — was slain,

Verse 19 (padma.5.1.19)

सुराः सर्वे सुखं प्रापुरिंद्र प्रभृतयस्तदा । सुखं प्राप्ताः स्तुतिं चक्रुर्दासवत्प्रणतिं गताः

surāḥ sarve sukhaṁ prāpuriṁdra prabhṛtayastadā sukhaṁ prāptāḥ stutiṁ cakrurdāsavatpraṇatiṁ gatāḥ

then all the gods, Indra foremost among them, found happiness; having attained happiness they offered praise, bowing low like servants.

Verse 20 (padma.5.1.20)

लंकायां च प्रतिष्ठाप्य धर्मयुक्तं बिभीषणम् । सीतयासहितो रामः पुष्पकं समुपाश्रितः

laṁkāyāṁ ca pratiṣṭhāpya dharmayuktaṁ bibhīṣaṇam sītayāsahito rāmaḥ puṣpakaṁ samupāśritaḥ

Having established righteous Vibhishana upon the throne of Lanka, Rama, together with Sita, took his seat upon the Pushpaka chariot.

Verse 21 (padma.5.1.21)

सुग्रीवहनुमत्सीतालक्ष्मणैः संयुतस्तदा । बिभीषणोऽपि सचिवैरन्वगाद्विरहोत्सुकः

sugrīvahanumatsītālakṣmaṇaiḥ saṁyutastadā bibhīṣaṇo'pi sacivairanvagādvirahotsukaḥ

Then, together with Sugriva, Hanuman, Sita and Lakshmana, Vibhishana too, aching at the parting, followed behind with his ministers.

Verse 22 (padma.5.1.22)

लंकां स पश्यन्बहुधा भग्नप्राकारतोरणाम् । दृष्ट्वाऽशोकवनं तत्र सीतास्थानं मुमूर्च्छ ह

laṁkāṁ sa paśyanbahudhā bhagnaprākāratoraṇām dṛṣṭvā'śokavanaṁ tatra sītāsthānaṁ mumūrccha ha

Seeing Lanka with its ramparts and gates shattered in many places, and beholding there the Ashoka grove where Sita had stayed, he fell senseless.

Verse 23 (padma.5.1.23)

शिंशपांस्तत्र वृक्षांश्च पुष्पितान्कोरकैर्युतान् । राक्षसीभिः समाकीर्णान्मृताभिर्हनुमद्भयात्

śiṁśapāṁstatra vṛkṣāṁśca puṣpitānkorakairyutān rākṣasībhiḥ samākīrṇānmṛtābhirhanumadbhayāt

seeing there the shinshapa trees, flowering and budding, strewn with the corpses of rakshasis who had died in terror of Hanuman —

Verse 24 (padma.5.1.24)

इत्थं सर्वं विलोक्याशु रामः प्रायात्पुरीं प्रति । ब्रह्मादिदेवैः सहितः स्वीयस्वीयविमानकैः

itthaṁ sarvaṁ vilokyāśu rāmaḥ prāyātpurīṁ prati brahmādidevaiḥ sahitaḥ svīyasvīyavimānakaiḥ

Having thus beheld it all, Rama at once set out for his own city, accompanied by Brahma and the other gods, each seated in his own celestial chariot.

Verse 25 (padma.5.1.25)

देवदुंदुभिनिर्घोषाञ्छृण्वञ्छ्रोत्रसुखावहान् । तथैवाप्सरसां नृत्यैः पूज्यमानो रघूत्तमः

devaduṁdubhinirghoṣāñchṛṇvañchrotrasukhāvahān tathaivāpsarasāṁ nṛtyaiḥ pūjyamāno raghūttamaḥ

hearing the ear-pleasing roar of the celestial kettledrums, and honored too by the dances of the apsarases, that best of Raghus —

Verse 26 (padma.5.1.26)

सीतायै दर्शयन्मार्गे तीर्थान्याश्रमवंति च । मुनींश्च मुनिपुत्रांश्च मुनिपत्नीः पतिव्रताः

sītāyai darśayanmārge tīrthānyāśramavaṁti ca munīṁśca muniputrāṁśca munipatnīḥ pativratāḥ

showing Sita, along the way, the sacred fords and hermitages, the sages and their sons, and the chaste wives of the sages —

Verse 27 (padma.5.1.27)

यत्रयत्र कृतावासाः पूर्वं रामेण धीमता । तान्सर्वान्दर्शयामास लक्ष्मणेन समन्वितः

yatrayatra kṛtāvāsāḥ pūrvaṁ rāmeṇa dhīmatā tānsarvāndarśayāmāsa lakṣmaṇena samanvitaḥ

together with Lakshmana, he showed her every place where the wise Rama had once made his dwelling.

Verse 28 (padma.5.1.28)

इत्येवं दर्शयंस्तस्यै रामोऽद्राक्षीत्स्वकां पुरीम् । तस्याः पुनः समीपे तु नंदिग्रामं ददर्श ह

ityevaṁ darśayaṁstasyai rāmo'drākṣītsvakāṁ purīm tasyāḥ punaḥ samīpe tu naṁdigrāmaṁ dadarśa ha

Showing her all this, Rama then beheld his own city; and near it he saw Nandigrama.

Verse 29 (padma.5.1.29)

यत्र वै भरतो राजा पालयन्धर्ममास्थितः । भ्रातुर्वियोगजनितं दुःखचिह्नं वहन्बहु

yatra vai bharato rājā pālayandharmamāsthitaḥ bhrāturviyogajanitaṁ duḥkhacihnaṁ vahanbahu

where King Bharata, abiding in righteousness even as he ruled, bore the many marks of grief born from separation from his brother.

Verse 30 (padma.5.1.30)

गर्तशायी ब्रह्मचारी जटावल्कलसंयुतः । कृशांगयष्टिर्दुःखार्तः कुर्वन्रामकथां मुहुः

gartaśāyī brahmacārī jaṭāvalkalasaṁyutaḥ kṛśāṁgayaṣṭirduḥkhārtaḥ kurvanrāmakathāṁ muhuḥ

sleeping upon the bare earth, a celibate ascetic, wearing matted locks and bark garments, his body wasted, tormented by grief, ever repeating the story of Rama.

Verse 31 (padma.5.1.31)

यवान्नमपि नो भुंक्ते जलं पिबति नो मुहुः । उद्यंतं सवितारं यो नमस्कृत्य ब्रवीति च

yavānnamapi no bhuṁkte jalaṁ pibati no muhuḥ udyaṁtaṁ savitāraṁ yo namaskṛtya bravīti ca

He would not even take barley grain, nor drink water regularly; bowing each day to the rising sun, he would say —

Verse 32 (padma.5.1.32)

जगन्नेत्रसुरस्वामिन्हर मे दुष्कृतं महत् । मदर्थे रामचंद्रोऽपि जगत्पूज्यो वनं ययौ

jagannetrasurasvāminhara me duṣkṛtaṁ mahat madarthe rāmacaṁdro'pi jagatpūjyo vanaṁ yayau

O lord of the gods, eye of the world, take away this great sin of mine — for because of me Ramachandra, worshipped by all the world, went into exile.

Verse 33 (padma.5.1.33)

सीतया सुकुमारांग्या सेव्यमानोऽटवीं गतः । या सीता पुष्पपर्यंके वृंतमासाद्य दुःखिता

sītayā sukumārāṁgyā sevyamāno'ṭavīṁ gataḥ yā sītā puṣpaparyaṁke vṛṁtamāsādya duḥkhitā

Sita, of delicate limbs, followed him into the forest — that same Sita who once was distressed even upon a bed of flowers.

Verse 34 (padma.5.1.34)

या सीता रविसंतापं कदापि प्राप नो सती । मदर्थे जानकी सा च प्रत्यरण्यं भ्रमत्यहो

yā sītā ravisaṁtāpaṁ kadāpi prāpa no satī madarthe jānakī sā ca pratyaraṇyaṁ bhramatyaho

That chaste Sita, who never once endured the heat of the sun — for my sake that same Janaki now wanders from forest to forest!

Verse 35 (padma.5.1.35)

या सीता राजवृंदैश्च न दृष्टा नयनैः कदा । सा सीता दृश्यते नूनं किरातैः कालरूपिभिः

yā sītā rājavṛṁdaiśca na dṛṣṭā nayanaiḥ kadā sā sītā dṛśyate nūnaṁ kirātaiḥ kālarūpibhiḥ

That Sita whom crowds of kings never once beheld with their own eyes — that same Sita is now looked upon by fearsome, death-like forest-dwellers!

Verse 36 (padma.5.1.36)

या सीता मधुरं त्वन्नं भोजिता न बुभुक्षति । सा सीताद्य वनस्थानि फलानि प्रार्थयत्यहो

yā sītā madhuraṁ tvannaṁ bhojitā na bubhukṣati sā sītādya vanasthāni phalāni prārthayatyaho

That Sita who never felt hunger even when served the sweetest food — that same Sita now, alas, longs for the fruits of the forest!

Verse 37 (padma.5.1.37)

इत्येवमन्वहं सूर्यमुपस्थाय वदत्यदः । प्रातःप्रातर्महाराजो भरतो रामवल्लभः

ityevamanvahaṁ sūryamupasthāya vadatyadaḥ prātaḥprātarmahārājo bharato rāmavallabhaḥ

Thus, day after day, standing before the sun, great King Bharata, beloved of Rama, would utter these words each morning.

Verse 38 (padma.5.1.38)

यश्चोच्यमानः सचिवैः समदुःखसुखैर्बुधैः । नीतिज्ञैः शास्त्रनिपुणैरिति प्रोवाच तान्नृपः

yaścocyamānaḥ sacivaiḥ samaduḥkhasukhairbudhaiḥ nītijñaiḥ śāstranipuṇairiti provāca tānnṛpaḥ

When his ministers — sharing equally in his sorrow and joy, versed in statecraft, skilled in the scriptures — spoke to him thus, the king replied —

Verse 39 (padma.5.1.39)

अमात्या दुर्भगं मां किं प्रब्रूत पुरुषाधमम् । मदर्थे मेऽग्रजो रामो वनं प्राप्यावसीदति

amātyā durbhagaṁ māṁ kiṁ prabrūta puruṣādhamam madarthe me'grajo rāmo vanaṁ prāpyāvasīdati

O ministers, what more can you say to me, this unfortunate, basest of men? Because of me my elder brother Rama suffers, having gone to dwell in the forest.

Verse 40 (padma.5.1.40)

दुर्भगस्य मम प्रस्वाः पापमार्जनमादरात् । करोमि रामचंद्रांघ्रिं स्मारं स्मारं सुमंत्रिणः

durbhagasya mama prasvāḥ pāpamārjanamādarāt karomi rāmacaṁdrāṁghriṁ smāraṁ smāraṁ sumaṁtriṇaḥ

To wash away the sin brought on by my own misfortune, I reverently call to mind, again and again, the feet of Ramachandra.

Verse 41 (padma.5.1.41)

धन्या सुमित्रा सुतरां वीरसूः स्वपतिप्रिया । यस्यास्तनूजो रामस्य चरणौ सेवतेऽन्वहम्

dhanyā sumitrā sutarāṁ vīrasūḥ svapatipriyā yasyāstanūjo rāmasya caraṇau sevate'nvaham

Blessed indeed is Sumitra, mother of a hero and beloved of her husband, whose son daily serves at Rama's feet.

Verse 42 (padma.5.1.42)

यत्र ग्रामे स्थितो नूनं भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः । विलापं प्रकरोत्युच्चैस्तं ग्रामं स ददर्श ह

yatra grāme sthito nūnaṁ bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ vilāpaṁ prakarotyuccaistaṁ grāmaṁ sa dadarśa ha

The very village where he, so devoted to his brother, dwelt lamenting aloud — that same village Rama now beheld.