Beholding Rama's Capital

Verse 1 (padma.5.2.1)

शेष उवाच। अथ तद्दर्शनोत्कण्ठा विह्वलीकृतचेतसा । पुनः पुनः स्मृतो भ्राता भरतो धार्मिकाग्रणीः

śeṣa uvāca atha taddarśanotkaṇṭhā vihvalīkṛtacetasā punaḥ punaḥ smṛto bhrātā bharato dhārmikāgraṇīḥ

Shesha said: Then, his mind overwhelmed by eagerness to see him, his brother Bharata, foremost among the righteous, was remembered again and again.

Verse 2 (padma.5.2.2)

उवाच च हनूमंतं बलवंतं समीरजम् । प्रस्फुरद्दशनव्याज चन्द्रकांतिहतांधकः

uvāca ca hanūmaṁtaṁ balavaṁtaṁ samīrajam prasphuraddaśanavyāja candrakāṁtihatāṁdhakaḥ

And Rama spoke to Hanuman, the mighty son of the wind, whose gleaming teeth shone with a radiance that could dispel darkness like moonlight.

Verse 3 (padma.5.2.3)

शृणु वीर हनूमंस्त्वं मद्गिरं भ्रातृनोदिताम् । चिरंतनवियोगेन गद्गदीकृतविह्वलाम्

śṛṇu vīra hanūmaṁstvaṁ madgiraṁ bhrātṛnoditām ciraṁtanaviyogena gadgadīkṛtavihvalām

"Listen, hero Hanuman, to these my words, prompted by brotherly love, made faltering by long separation."

Verse 4 (padma.5.2.4)

गच्छ तं भ्रातरं वीर समीरणतनूद्भव । मद्वियोगकृशां यष्टिं वपुषो बिभ्रतं हठात्

gaccha taṁ bhrātaraṁ vīra samīraṇatanūdbhava madviyogakṛśāṁ yaṣṭiṁ vapuṣo bibhrataṁ haṭhāt

"Go, hero, son of the Wind, to that brother of mine, who forcibly bears a frame wasted by separation from me —"

Verse 5 (padma.5.2.5)

यो वल्कलं परीधत्ते जटां धत्ते शिरोरुहे । फलानां भक्षणमपि न कुर्याद्विरहातुरः

yo valkalaṁ parīdhatte jaṭāṁ dhatte śiroruhe phalānāṁ bhakṣaṇamapi na kuryādvirahāturaḥ

"who wears bark garments and matted hair upon his head, and who, tormented by separation, will not even eat fruits;"

Verse 6 (padma.5.2.6)

परस्त्री यस्य मातेव लोष्टवत्कांचनं पुनः । प्रजाः पुत्रानिवोद्रक्षेद्बांधवो मम धर्मवित्

parastrī yasya māteva loṣṭavatkāṁcanaṁ punaḥ prajāḥ putrānivodrakṣedbāṁdhavo mama dharmavit

"to whom another's wife is like his own mother, gold like a mere clod of earth; who, knowing dharma, protects his people like his own sons — that kinsman of mine —"

Verse 7 (padma.5.2.7)

मद्वियोगजदुःखाग्निज्वालादग्धकलेवरम् । मदागमनसंदेश पयोवृष्ट्याशु सिंचतम्

madviyogajaduḥkhāgnijvālādagdhakalevaram madāgamanasaṁdeśa payovṛṣṭyāśu siṁcatam

"his body scorched by the flame of the fire of grief born from separation from me — quickly sprinkle him with the rain-shower of the news of my arrival."

Verse 8 (padma.5.2.8)

सीतया सहितं रामं लक्ष्मणेन समन्वितम् । सुग्रीवादिकपींद्रैश्च रक्षोभिः सबिभीषणैः

sītayā sahitaṁ rāmaṁ lakṣmaṇena samanvitam sugrīvādikapīṁdraiśca rakṣobhiḥ sabibhīṣaṇaiḥ

"Tell him, gladly, that Rama has arrived together with Sita, accompanied by Lakshmana, with Sugriva and the other monkey-lords, and the rakshasas headed by Vibhishana,"

Verse 9 (padma.5.2.9)

प्राप्तं निवेदय सुखात्पुष्पकासनसंस्थितम् । येन मे सोऽनुजः शीघ्रं सुखमेति मदागमात्

prāptaṁ nivedaya sukhātpuṣpakāsanasaṁsthitam yena me so'nujaḥ śīghraṁ sukhameti madāgamāt

"seated upon the Pushpaka throne — so that my younger brother may quickly find happiness through my arrival."

Verse 10 (padma.5.2.10)

इति श्रुत्वा ततो वाक्यं रघुवीरस्य धीमतः । जगाम भरतावासं नंदिग्रामं निदेशकृत्

iti śrutvā tato vākyaṁ raghuvīrasya dhīmataḥ jagāma bharatāvāsaṁ naṁdigrāmaṁ nideśakṛt

Having heard this word of the wise hero of Raghu's line, he, carrying out the command, went to Bharata's dwelling, Nandigrama.

Verse 11 (padma.5.2.11)

गत्वा स नंदिग्रामं तु मंत्रिवृद्धैः सुसंयतम् । भरतं भ्रातृविरहक्लिन्नं धीमान्ददर्श ह

gatvā sa naṁdigrāmaṁ tu maṁtrivṛddhaiḥ susaṁyatam bharataṁ bhrātṛvirahaklinnaṁ dhīmāndadarśa ha

Reaching Nandigrama, well-attended by the elder ministers, the wise Hanuman beheld Bharata, wasted by separation from his brother —

Verse 12 (padma.5.2.12)

कथयंतं मंत्रिवृद्धान्रामचंद्रकथानकम् । तदीय पदापाथोज मकरंदसुनिर्भरः

kathayaṁtaṁ maṁtrivṛddhānrāmacaṁdrakathānakam tadīya padāpāthoja makaraṁdasunirbharaḥ

telling the elder ministers the story of Ramachandra, wholly absorbed in the honeyed sweetness of Rama's lotus feet.

Verse 13 (padma.5.2.13)

नमश्चकार भरतं धर्मं मूर्तियुतं किल । विधात्रा सकलांशेन सत्त्वेनैव विनिर्मितम्

namaścakāra bharataṁ dharmaṁ mūrtiyutaṁ kila vidhātrā sakalāṁśena sattvenaiva vinirmitam

Hanuman bowed to Bharata, dharma incarnate indeed, as though fashioned by the Creator wholly and entirely out of goodness alone.

Verse 14 (padma.5.2.14)

तं दृष्ट्वा भरतः शीघ्रं प्रत्युत्थाय कृतांजलि । स्वागतं चेति होवाच रामस्य कुशलं वद

taṁ dṛṣṭvā bharataḥ śīghraṁ pratyutthāya kṛtāṁjali svāgataṁ ceti hovāca rāmasya kuśalaṁ vada

Seeing him, Bharata quickly rose, joined his palms, and said, "Welcome! Tell me — is Rama well?"

Verse 15 (padma.5.2.15)

इत्येवं वदतस्तस्य भुजो दक्षिणतोऽस्फुरत् । हृदयाच्च गतः शोको हर्षास्रैः पूरिताननः

ityevaṁ vadatastasya bhujo dakṣiṇato'sphurat hṛdayācca gataḥ śoko harṣāsraiḥ pūritānanaḥ

As he spoke thus, his right arm throbbed as a good omen; grief left his heart, and his face filled with tears of joy.

Verse 16 (padma.5.2.16)

विलोक्य तादृशं भूपं प्रत्युवाच कपीश्वरः । निकटे हि पुरः प्राप्तं विद्धि रामं सलक्ष्मणम्

vilokya tādṛśaṁ bhūpaṁ pratyuvāca kapīśvaraḥ nikaṭe hi puraḥ prāptaṁ viddhi rāmaṁ salakṣmaṇam

Seeing the king in such a state, the lord of monkeys replied, "Know that Rama, with Lakshmana, has arrived nearby, right before you."

Verse 17 (padma.5.2.17)

रामागमनसंदेशामृतसिक्तकलेवरः । प्रापयद्धर्षपूरं हि सहस्रास्यो न वेद्म्यहम्

rāmāgamanasaṁdeśāmṛtasiktakalevaraḥ prāpayaddharṣapūraṁ hi sahasrāsyo na vedmyaham

"My body, sprinkled with the nectar of the news of Rama's coming, was flooded with such joy that even thousand-mouthed Shesha could not describe it — how then could I?"

Verse 18 (padma.5.2.18)

जगाद मम तन्नास्ति यत्तुभ्यं दीयते मया । दासोऽस्मि जन्मपर्यंतं रामसंदेशहारकः

jagāda mama tannāsti yattubhyaṁ dīyate mayā dāso'smi janmaparyaṁtaṁ rāmasaṁdeśahārakaḥ

"He said to me, 'There is nothing of mine that I would not give you'; I am his servant for life, the bearer of Rama's message."

Verse 19 (padma.5.2.19)

वसिष्ठोऽपि गृहीत्वार्घ्यं मंत्रिवृद्धाः सुहर्षिताः । जग्मुस्ते रामचंद्रं च हनुमद्दर्शिताध्वना

vasiṣṭho'pi gṛhītvārghyaṁ maṁtrivṛddhāḥ suharṣitāḥ jagmuste rāmacaṁdraṁ ca hanumaddarśitādhvanā

Vasishtha too, taking the offering of welcome, and the elder ministers, greatly overjoyed, went toward Ramachandra by the path Hanuman had shown.

Verse 20 (padma.5.2.20)

दृष्ट्वा दूरात्समायांतं रामचंद्रं मनोरमम् । पुष्पकासनमध्यस्थं ससीतं सहलक्ष्मणम्

dṛṣṭvā dūrātsamāyāṁtaṁ rāmacaṁdraṁ manoramam puṣpakāsanamadhyasthaṁ sasītaṁ sahalakṣmaṇam

Seeing from afar the lovely Ramachandra approaching, seated in the midst of the Pushpaka throne together with Sita and Lakshmana,

Verse 21 (padma.5.2.21)

रामोऽपि दृष्ट्वा भरतं पादचारेण संगतम् । जटावल्कलकौपीन परिधानसमन्वितम्

rāmo'pi dṛṣṭvā bharataṁ pādacāreṇa saṁgatam jaṭāvalkalakaupīna paridhānasamanvitam

Rama too saw Bharata coming on foot, clad in matted locks, bark garment, and loincloth —

Verse 22 (padma.5.2.22)

अमात्यान्भ्रातृवेषेण समवेषाञ्जटाधरान् । नित्यं तपः क्लिष्टतया कृशरूपान्ददर्श ह

amātyānbhrātṛveṣeṇa samaveṣāñjaṭādharān nityaṁ tapaḥ kliṣṭatayā kṛśarūpāndadarśa ha

and his ministers, dressed like his brother, matted-haired like him, their bodies wasted from constant austerity.

Verse 23 (padma.5.2.23)

रामोऽपि चिंतयामास दृष्ट्वा वै तादृशं नृपम् । अहो दशरथस्यायं राजराजस्य धीमतः

rāmo'pi ciṁtayāmāsa dṛṣṭvā vai tādṛśaṁ nṛpam aho daśarathasyāyaṁ rājarājasya dhīmataḥ

Seeing the king in such a state, Rama thought: "Alas! This is the son of wise Dasharatha, king of kings —"

Verse 24 (padma.5.2.24)

पुत्रः पदातिरायाति जटावल्कलवेषभृत् । न दुःखं तादृशं मेऽन्यद्वनमध्यगतस्य हि

putraḥ padātirāyāti jaṭāvalkalaveṣabhṛt na duḥkhaṁ tādṛśaṁ me'nyadvanamadhyagatasya hi

"my own son, coming on foot, wearing matted locks and bark! Even while I dwelt in the forest, no grief of mine was as great"

Verse 25 (padma.5.2.25)

यादृशं मद्वियोगेन चैतस्य परिवर्त्तते । अहो पश्यत मे भ्राता प्राणात्प्रियतमः सखा

yādṛśaṁ madviyogena caitasya parivarttate aho paśyata me bhrātā prāṇātpriyatamaḥ sakhā

"as what now overtakes me at the sight of what separation from me has done to him. Behold my brother, dearer to me than life, my friend —"

Verse 26 (padma.5.2.26)

श्रुत्वा मां निकटे प्राप्तं मंत्रिवृद्धैः सुहर्षितैः । द्रष्टुं मां भरतोऽभ्येति वसिष्ठेन समन्वितः

śrutvā māṁ nikaṭe prāptaṁ maṁtrivṛddhaiḥ suharṣitaiḥ draṣṭuṁ māṁ bharato'bhyeti vasiṣṭhena samanvitaḥ

"hearing that I have come near, together with the joyful elder ministers, Bharata comes to see me, accompanied by Vasishtha."

Verse 27 (padma.5.2.27)

इति ब्रुवन्नरपतिः पुष्पकान्नभसोंऽगणात् । बिभीषणहनूमद्भ्यां लक्ष्मणेन कृतादरः

iti bruvannarapatiḥ puṣpakānnabhasoṁ'gaṇāt bibhīṣaṇahanūmadbhyāṁ lakṣmaṇena kṛtādaraḥ

So saying, the king, honored by Vibhishana, Hanuman, and Lakshmana, quickly descended from the Pushpaka out of the courtyard of the sky.

Verse 28 (padma.5.2.28)

यानादवतताराशु विरहात्क्लिन्नमानसः । भ्रातर्भ्रातः पुनर्भ्रातर्भ्रातर्भ्रातर्वदन्मुहुः

yānādavatatārāśu virahātklinnamānasaḥ bhrātarbhrātaḥ punarbhrātarbhrātarbhrātarvadanmuhuḥ

His heart melting with longing, he descended swiftly from the chariot, crying again and again, "Brother! Brother! O brother, brother, brother!"

Verse 29 (padma.5.2.29)

दृष्ट्वा समुत्तीर्णमिमं रामचंद्रं सुरैर्युतम् । भरतो भ्रातृविरहक्लिन्नं धीमान्ददर्श ह । हर्षाश्रूणि प्रमुंचंश्च दंडवत्प्रणनाम ह

dṛṣṭvā samuttīrṇamimaṁ rāmacaṁdraṁ surairyutam bharato bhrātṛvirahaklinnaṁ dhīmāndadarśa ha harṣāśrūṇi pramuṁcaṁśca daṁḍavatpraṇanāma ha

Seeing Ramachandra thus descended, accompanied by the gods, wise Bharata, wasted by separation from his brother, shed tears of joy and fell prostrate before him like a staff.

Verse 30 (padma.5.2.30)

रघुनाथोऽपि तं दृष्ट्वा दंडवत्पतितं भुवि । उत्थाप्य जगृहे दोर्भ्यां हर्षालोकसमन्वितः

raghunātho'pi taṁ dṛṣṭvā daṁḍavatpatitaṁ bhuvi utthāpya jagṛhe dorbhyāṁ harṣālokasamanvitaḥ

Raghunatha too, seeing him fallen prostrate on the earth, lifted him up and, his eyes filled with joy, embraced him with both arms.

Verse 31 (padma.5.2.31)

उत्थापितोऽपि हि भृशं नोदतिष्ठद्रुदन्मुहुः । रामचंद्रपदांभोजग्रहणासक्तबाहुभृत्

utthāpito'pi hi bhṛśaṁ nodatiṣṭhadrudanmuhuḥ rāmacaṁdrapadāṁbhojagrahaṇāsaktabāhubhṛt

Though lifted up, he could not rise, weeping again and again, his arms clinging fast to grasp Ramachandra's lotus feet.

Verse 32 (padma.5.2.32)

भरत उवाच। दुराचारस्य दुष्टस्य पापिनो मे कृपां कुरु । रामचंद्र महाबाहो कारुण्यात्करुणानिधे

bharata uvāca durācārasya duṣṭasya pāpino me kṛpāṁ kuru rāmacaṁdra mahābāho kāruṇyātkaruṇānidhe

Bharata said: "Have mercy on me, ill-behaved, wicked, sinful — O mighty-armed Ramachandra, ocean of compassion, out of your kindness."

Verse 33 (padma.5.2.33)

यस्ते विदेहजा पाणिस्पर्शं क्रूरममन्यत । स एव चरणो राम वने बभ्राम मत्कृते

yaste videhajā pāṇisparśaṁ krūramamanyata sa eva caraṇo rāma vane babhrāma matkṛte

"O Rama, that very foot of yours which Videha's daughter thought it cruel even to touch, wandered through the forest because of me."

Verse 34 (padma.5.2.34)

इत्युक्त्वाश्रुमुखो दीनः परिरभ्य पुनः पुनः । प्रांजलिः पुरतस्तस्थौ हर्षविह्वलिताननः

ityuktvāśrumukho dīnaḥ parirabhya punaḥ punaḥ prāṁjaliḥ puratastasthau harṣavihvalitānanaḥ

Having said this, his face wretched and tearful, he embraced him again and again, and stood before him with joined palms, his face overcome with joy.

Verse 35 (padma.5.2.35)

रघुनाथस्तमनुजं परिष्वज्य कृपानिधिः । प्रणम्य च महामंत्रिमुख्यानापृच्छ्य सादरम्

raghunāthastamanujaṁ pariṣvajya kṛpānidhiḥ praṇamya ca mahāmaṁtrimukhyānāpṛcchya sādaram

Raghunatha, the ocean of mercy, embraced his younger brother, and having bowed, respectfully asked after the chief ministers' welfare.

Verse 36 (padma.5.2.36)

भरतेन समं भ्रात्रा पुष्पकासनमास्थितः । सीतां ददर्श भरतो भ्रातृपत्नीमनिंदिताम्

bharatena samaṁ bhrātrā puṣpakāsanamāsthitaḥ sītāṁ dadarśa bharato bhrātṛpatnīmaniṁditām

Seated together with his brother on the Pushpaka throne, Bharata beheld his blameless sister-in-law Sita —

Verse 37 (padma.5.2.37)

अनसूयामिवात्रेः किं लोपामुद्रां घटोद्भुवः । पतिव्रतां जनकजाममन्यतननाम च

anasūyāmivātreḥ kiṁ lopāmudrāṁ ghaṭodbhuvaḥ pativratāṁ janakajāmamanyatananāma ca

thinking her none other than Anasuya, wife of Atri, or Lopamudra, born of a pot — so did he regard that chaste daughter of Janaka.

Verse 38 (padma.5.2.38)

मातः क्षमस्व यदघं मया कृतमबुद्धिना । त्वत्सदृश्यः पतिपराः सर्वेषां साधुकारिकाः

mātaḥ kṣamasva yadaghaṁ mayā kṛtamabuddhinā tvatsadṛśyaḥ patiparāḥ sarveṣāṁ sādhukārikāḥ

"Mother, forgive the sin I have committed in my folly; women devoted to their husbands as you are stand as the model of virtue for all."

Verse 39 (padma.5.2.39)

जानक्यापि महाभागा देवरं वीक्ष्य सादरम् । आशीर्भिरभियुज्याथ समपृच्छदनामयम्

jānakyāpi mahābhāgā devaraṁ vīkṣya sādaram āśīrbhirabhiyujyātha samapṛcchadanāmayam

Janaki too, greatly blessed, looking upon her brother-in-law with reverence, blessed him and asked after his welfare.

Verse 40 (padma.5.2.40)

विमानवरमारूढास्ते सर्वे नभसोंऽगणे । क्षणादालोकयांचक्रे निकटे स्वपितुः पुरीम्

vimānavaramārūḍhāste sarve nabhasoṁ'gaṇe kṣaṇādālokayāṁcakre nikaṭe svapituḥ purīm

All of them, mounted upon that excellent celestial vehicle, in an instant beheld, close at hand amid the courtyard of the sky, their father's own city.