Bharata's Speech

Verse 1 (padma.5.56.1)

शेष उवाच। प्रातर्नित्यं विधायासौ ब्राह्मणान्वेदवित्तमान् । हिरण्यदानैः संतर्प्य विधिवत्संसदं ययौ

śeṣa uvāca prātarnityaṁ vidhāyāsau brāhmaṇānvedavittamān hiraṇyadānaiḥ saṁtarpya vidhivatsaṁsadaṁ yayau

Shesha said: Having performed the daily morning rites, and satisfied brahmins, foremost knowers of the Veda, with gifts of gold, he went, according to rule, to his assembly.

Verse 2 (padma.5.56.2)

लोकाः सर्वे नमस्कर्तुं रघुनाथं महीपतिम् । पुत्रवत्स्वप्रजाः सर्वाः पालयंतं ययुः सभाम्

lokāḥ sarve namaskartuṁ raghunāthaṁ mahīpatim putravatsvaprajāḥ sarvāḥ pālayaṁtaṁ yayuḥ sabhām

All the people came into the assembly to bow before Raghunatha, lord of the earth, who protected all his subjects as though they were his own children.

Verse 3 (padma.5.56.3)

लक्ष्मणेनातपत्रं तु धृतं मूर्धनि भूपतेः । तदा भरतशत्रुघ्नौ चामरद्वंद्व धारिणौ

lakṣmaṇenātapatraṁ tu dhṛtaṁ mūrdhani bhūpateḥ tadā bharataśatrughnau cāmaradvaṁdva dhāriṇau

Lakshmana held the royal umbrella above the king's head; and Bharata and Shatrughna, bearing a pair of chowries —

Verse 4 (padma.5.56.4)

वसिष्ठप्रमुखास्तत्र मुनयः पर्युपासत । सुमंत्रप्रमुखास्तत्र मंत्रिणो न्यायकर्तृकाः

vasiṣṭhapramukhāstatra munayaḥ paryupāsata sumaṁtrapramukhāstatra maṁtriṇo nyāyakartṛkāḥ

There the sages, headed by Vasishtha, waited in attendance; there too the ministers, headed by Sumantra, dispensers of justice —

Verse 5 (padma.5.56.5)

एवं प्रवृत्ते समये षट्चारास्ते स्वलंकृताः । समाजग्मुर्नरपतिं नमस्कर्तुं सभास्थितम्

evaṁ pravṛtte samaye ṣaṭcārāste svalaṁkṛtāḥ samājagmurnarapatiṁ namaskartuṁ sabhāsthitam

As this occasion thus proceeded, those six well-adorned spies came into the assembly to bow before the king.

Verse 6 (padma.5.56.6)

तान्वक्तुकामान्संवीक्ष्य चारान्नृपतिसत्तमः । सभायामंतरावेश्म रहः प्राविशदुत्सुकः

tānvaktukāmānsaṁvīkṣya cārānnṛpatisattamaḥ sabhāyāmaṁtarāveśma rahaḥ prāviśadutsukaḥ

Seeing those spies eager to speak, that best of kings went eagerly into a private inner chamber within the assembly hall.

Verse 7 (padma.5.56.7)

एकांते तांश्चरान्सर्वान्पप्रच्छ सुमतिर्नृपः । कथयंतु चरा मह्यं यथातथ्यमरिंदमाः

ekāṁte tāṁścarānsarvānpapraccha sumatirnṛpaḥ kathayaṁtu carā mahyaṁ yathātathyamariṁdamāḥ

In privacy the wise king questioned all those spies: "Tell me, O spies, subduers of foes, the truth exactly as it stands."

Verse 8 (padma.5.56.8)

लोका ब्रुवंति मां कीदृग्भार्याया मम कीदृशम् । मंत्रिणां कीदृशं लोका वदंति चरितं कथम्

lokā bruvaṁti māṁ kīdṛgbhāryāyā mama kīdṛśam maṁtriṇāṁ kīdṛśaṁ lokā vadaṁti caritaṁ katham

"What do the people say of me, and what of my own wife? What do they say of the conduct of my ministers — tell me plainly."

Verse 9 (padma.5.56.9)

इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य चारा राममथाब्रुवन् । मेघगंभीरया वाचा पृच्छंतं रघुनायकम्

iti vākyaṁ samākarṇya cārā rāmamathābruvan meghagaṁbhīrayā vācā pṛcchaṁtaṁ raghunāyakam

Hearing this word, the spies replied to Rama, lord of the Raghus, who had questioned them in a voice deep as thunder —

Verse 10 (padma.5.56.10)

चारा ऊचुः। नाथ कीर्तिर्जनान्सर्वान्पावयत्यधुना भुवि । गृहेगृहे श्रुतास्माभिः पुरुषैः स्त्रीभिरीडिता

cārā ūcuḥ nātha kīrtirjanānsarvānpāvayatyadhunā bhuvi gṛhegṛhe śrutāsmābhiḥ puruṣaiḥ strībhirīḍitā

The spies said: "My lord, your fame now purifies all people upon this earth; we have heard it praised, house after house, by men and women alike."

Verse 11 (padma.5.56.11)

विवस्वतो महान्वंशो भवता परमेष्ठिना । अलंकर्तुं गतं भूमौ कीर्तिर्विस्तारिता बहुः

vivasvato mahānvaṁśo bhavatā parameṣṭhinā alaṁkartuṁ gataṁ bhūmau kīrtirvistāritā bahuḥ

"The great lineage of Vivasvat, O supreme being, has come in you to adorn the earth — and your fame has spread very far and wide."

Verse 12 (padma.5.56.12)

अनेके सगराद्याश्च कीर्तिमंतो महाबलाः । अभवंस्तादृशी कीर्तिस्तेषां नाभूद्यथा तव

aneke sagarādyāśca kīrtimaṁto mahābalāḥ abhavaṁstādṛśī kīrtisteṣāṁ nābhūdyathā tava

"Sagara and many others have been famous and mighty; but never has their fame been such as yours."

Verse 13 (padma.5.56.13)

त्वया नाथेन सकलाः कृतार्थाश्च प्रजाः कृताः । यासां नाकालमरणं न च रागाद्युपद्रुतिः

tvayā nāthena sakalāḥ kṛtārthāśca prajāḥ kṛtāḥ yāsāṁ nākālamaraṇaṁ na ca rāgādyupadrutiḥ

"By you, my lord, all your subjects have been made fulfilled — for them there is neither untimely death nor any affliction of passion."

Verse 14 (padma.5.56.14)

यादृशश्चंद्रमालोके यादृशी जाह्नवी सरित् । तादृक्तव च सत्कीर्तिः प्रकाशयति भूतलम्

yādṛśaścaṁdramāloke yādṛśī jāhnavī sarit tādṛktava ca satkīrtiḥ prakāśayati bhūtalam

"As the moon is in the sky, as the river Jahnavi flows upon the earth — so does your excellent fame illuminate this world."

Verse 15 (padma.5.56.15)

ब्रह्मादिका भवत्कीर्तिमाकर्ण्य त्रपिता भृशम् । नाथ सर्वत्र ते कीर्तिः पावयत्यधुना जनान्

brahmādikā bhavatkīrtimākarṇya trapitā bhṛśam nātha sarvatra te kīrtiḥ pāvayatyadhunā janān

"Brahma and the other gods, hearing of your fame, grow greatly abashed; my lord, your fame purifies people everywhere now."

Verse 16 (padma.5.56.16)

वयं धन्यतमाः सर्वे ये चारास्तव भूपते । क्षणेक्षणे तव मुखं लोकयाम मनोहरम्

vayaṁ dhanyatamāḥ sarve ye cārāstava bhūpate kṣaṇekṣaṇe tava mukhaṁ lokayāma manoharam

"We are the most blessed of all, O king, we who are your spies; at every moment we behold your lovely face."

Verse 17 (padma.5.56.17)

इत्यादिवाक्यं चाराणां पंचानां वीक्ष्य राघवः । षष्ठं पप्रच्छ चारं तं विलक्षणमुखांकितम्

ityādivākyaṁ cārāṇāṁ paṁcānāṁ vīkṣya rāghavaḥ ṣaṣṭhaṁ papraccha cāraṁ taṁ vilakṣaṇamukhāṁkitam

Hearing this and other such words from the five spies, Raghava questioned the sixth spy, whose face bore a strange, troubled look.

Verse 18 (padma.5.56.18)

राम उवाच। सत्यं वद महाबुद्धे यच्छ्रुतं लोकसंकरे । तादृक्प्रशंस मे सर्वमन्यथा पातकादिकृत्

rāma uvāca satyaṁ vada mahābuddhe yacchrutaṁ lokasaṁkare tādṛkpraśaṁsa me sarvamanyathā pātakādikṛt

Rama said: "Speak the truth, O one of great wisdom, whatever you have heard among the common people; tell me all such praise, or else you commit a sin."

Verse 19 (padma.5.56.19)

पुनः पुनश्च तं रामः पप्रच्छाशु सविस्तरम् । तथापि न ब्रवीत्येव रामं लौकिकभाषितम्

punaḥ punaśca taṁ rāmaḥ papracchāśu savistaram tathāpi na bravītyeva rāmaṁ laukikabhāṣitam

Again and again Rama questioned him swiftly and in detail, and still he would not tell Rama what the common people had said.

Verse 20 (padma.5.56.20)

तदा रामः प्रत्यवोचच्चारं मुखविलक्षितम् । शपामि त्वां तु सत्येन शंस सर्वं यथातथम्

tadā rāmaḥ pratyavocaccāraṁ mukhavilakṣitam śapāmi tvāṁ tu satyena śaṁsa sarvaṁ yathātatham

Then Rama said to that spy, his face still betraying his distress: "I adjure you by truth itself — tell me everything just as it is."

Verse 21 (padma.5.56.21)

तदा रामं प्रत्युवाच चारो वाक्यं शनैः शनैः । अकथ्यमपि ते वाच्यं वाक्यं कारुजनोदितम्

tadā rāmaṁ pratyuvāca cāro vākyaṁ śanaiḥ śanaiḥ akathyamapi te vācyaṁ vākyaṁ kārujanoditam

Then the spy said to Rama, slowly and hesitantly: "Though it ought not to be spoken, this word, uttered by a craftsman, must be told to you."

Verse 22 (padma.5.56.22)

चार उवाच। स्वामिन्सर्वत्र ते कीर्तिर्दशाननवधादिका । अन्यत्र राक्षसगृहे स्थितायास्ते स्त्रिया अहो

cāra uvāca svāminsarvatra te kīrtirdaśānanavadhādikā anyatra rākṣasagṛhe sthitāyāste striyā aho

The spy said: "My lord, everywhere your fame is spoken of — the slaying of the ten-headed one and the rest; but elsewhere, alas, concerning your wife who once dwelt in the rakshasa's house —"

Verse 23 (padma.5.56.23)

कारुरेकस्तु रजको निशीथे महिलां स्वकाम् । अन्यगेहोषितां दृष्ट्वा धिक्कुर्वन्समताडयत्

kārurekastu rajako niśīthe mahilāṁ svakām anyagehoṣitāṁ dṛṣṭvā dhikkurvansamatāḍayat

"— a certain washerman, a craftsman, seeing at midnight his own wife, who had stayed a while in another man's house, reproached her and began to strike her."

Verse 24 (padma.5.56.24)

तन्माता प्रत्युवाचेमां कथं ताडयसेऽनघाम् । गृहाण मा कृथा निंदां स्त्रियं मद्वाक्यमाचर

tanmātā pratyuvācemāṁ kathaṁ tāḍayase'naghām gṛhāṇa mā kṛthā niṁdāṁ striyaṁ madvākyamācara

"His own mother said to him: 'Why do you strike this blameless woman? Take her back, do not censure her; act as I tell you.'"

Verse 25 (padma.5.56.25)

तदावोचत्स रजको नाहं रामो महीपतिः । यद्राक्षसगृहेध्युष्टां सीतामंगीचकार सः

tadāvocatsa rajako nāhaṁ rāmo mahīpatiḥ yadrākṣasagṛhedhyuṣṭāṁ sītāmaṁgīcakāra saḥ

"Then the washerman said: 'I am not Rama, that lord of the earth, who took back Sita after she had dwelt in a rakshasa's house.'"

Verse 26 (padma.5.56.26)

सर्वं राज्ञः कृतं कर्म नीतिमद्भवति प्रभो । अन्येषां पुण्यकर्तॄणामपि कृत्यमनीतिमत्

sarvaṁ rājñaḥ kṛtaṁ karma nītimadbhavati prabho anyeṣāṁ puṇyakartṝṇāmapi kṛtyamanītimat

"'Whatever the king himself does becomes proper policy, my lord — but for others, even the pious among them, such an act remains improper.'"

Verse 27 (padma.5.56.27)

पुनः पुनरुवाचासौ नाहं रामो महीपतिः । चुक्रुधे समये राजन्मया वाक्यं तव स्मृतम्

punaḥ punaruvācāsau nāhaṁ rāmo mahīpatiḥ cukrudhe samaye rājanmayā vākyaṁ tava smṛtam

"He said this again and again: 'I am not Rama, that lord of the earth.' Then, O king, in that very moment, I remembered a word of yours."

Verse 28 (padma.5.56.28)

तदानीं शिर आच्छिद्य पातयामि महीतले। कृतः पुनर्विचारोमे क्व रामो रजकः क्व नु

tadānīṁ śira ācchidya pātayāmi mahītale kṛtaḥ punarvicārome kva rāmo rajakaḥ kva nu

"In that instant I would have cut off his head and cast it to the ground; but then I thought again — where is Rama, and where a mere washerman?"

Verse 29 (padma.5.56.29)

अयं दुष्टोऽनृतं वक्ति न हीदं तथ्यमुच्यते । आज्ञापयसि चेद्राम सांप्रतं मारयामि तम्

ayaṁ duṣṭo'nṛtaṁ vakti na hīdaṁ tathyamucyate ājñāpayasi cedrāma sāṁprataṁ mārayāmi tam

"This wicked man speaks a falsehood — surely this cannot be true. O Rama, if you command it, I shall go this instant and slay him."

Verse 30 (padma.5.56.30)

अवाच्यमपि ते प्रोक्तं त्वदाग्रहत उन्नयम् । राजा प्रमाणमत्रेदं विचारयतु संगतम्

avācyamapi te proktaṁ tvadāgrahata unnayam rājā pramāṇamatredaṁ vicārayatu saṁgatam

"Though it ought not to have been spoken, I have told it, at your own insistence, that it be brought to light. The king alone is the authority here — let him weigh what is fitting."

Verse 31 (padma.5.56.31)

शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य महावज्रनिभाक्षरम् । निःश्वसन्मुहुरुच्छ्वासमाचरन्मूर्च्छितोऽपतत्

śeṣa uvāca iti vākyaṁ samākarṇya mahāvajranibhākṣaram niḥśvasanmuhurucchvāsamācaranmūrcchito'patat

Shesha said: Hearing this word, its very syllables like a great thunderbolt, breathing hard again and again, he fell into a swoon.

Verse 32 (padma.5.56.32)

तं मूर्च्छितं नृपं दृष्ट्वा चारा दुःखसमन्विताः । वीजयामासुर्वासोग्रैर्दुःखापनय हेतवे

taṁ mūrcchitaṁ nṛpaṁ dṛṣṭvā cārā duḥkhasamanvitāḥ vījayāmāsurvāsograirduḥkhāpanaya hetave

Seeing the king thus fallen in a swoon, the spies, filled with sorrow, fanned him with fine garments to ease his distress.

Verse 33 (padma.5.56.33)

स लब्धसंज्ञो नृपतिर्मुहूर्तेन जगाद तान् । गच्छंतु भरतं शीघ्रं प्रेषयंतु च मां प्रति

sa labdhasaṁjño nṛpatirmuhūrtena jagāda tān gacchaṁtu bharataṁ śīghraṁ preṣayaṁtu ca māṁ prati

Regaining his senses after a moment, the king said to them: "Go quickly, and send Bharata to me."

Verse 34 (padma.5.56.34)

ते दुःखिताश्चरास्तूर्णं भरतस्य गृहं गताः । कथयामासु रामस्य संदेशं नयहारकाः

te duḥkhitāścarāstūrṇaṁ bharatasya gṛhaṁ gatāḥ kathayāmāsu rāmasya saṁdeśaṁ nayahārakāḥ

Those grieving spies went at once to Bharata's house, and, bearing that message with due discretion, delivered Rama's word.

Verse 35 (padma.5.56.35)

भरतो रामसंदेशं श्रुत्वा धीमान्ययौ सदः । रामं प्रति रहःसंस्थं श्रुत्वा तं त्वरया युतः

bharato rāmasaṁdeśaṁ śrutvā dhīmānyayau sadaḥ rāmaṁ prati rahaḥsaṁsthaṁ śrutvā taṁ tvarayā yutaḥ

Wise Bharata, hearing Rama's message, went at once to the assembly; and hearing he was alone in private, he hastened there with speed.

Verse 36 (padma.5.56.36)

आगत्य तं प्रतीहारं प्रत्युवाच महामनाः । कुत्रास्ते रामभद्रोऽसौ मम भ्राता कृपानिधिः

āgatya taṁ pratīhāraṁ pratyuvāca mahāmanāḥ kutrāste rāmabhadro'sau mama bhrātā kṛpānidhiḥ

Arriving there, that great-hearted one said to the doorkeeper: "Where is my brother, that treasure of compassion, Ramabhadra?"

Verse 37 (padma.5.56.37)

तन्निर्दिष्टं गृहं वीरो ययौ रत्नमनोहरम् । रामं विलोक्य विक्लांतं भयमाप स मानसे

tannirdiṣṭaṁ gṛhaṁ vīro yayau ratnamanoharam rāmaṁ vilokya viklāṁtaṁ bhayamāpa sa mānase

Directed there, the hero went to that jewel-lovely chamber; and seeing Rama so distressed, fear rose up in his heart.

Verse 38 (padma.5.56.38)

किं वासौ कुपितो रामः किं वा दुःखमिदं विभोः । तदा प्रोवाच नृपतिं निःश्वसंतं मुहुर्मुहुः

kiṁ vāsau kupito rāmaḥ kiṁ vā duḥkhamidaṁ vibhoḥ tadā provāca nṛpatiṁ niḥśvasaṁtaṁ muhurmuhuḥ

"Is Rama angry, or is this some sorrow of my lord's?" Then he said to the king, who was sighing again and again —

Verse 39 (padma.5.56.39)

स्वामिन्सुखसमाराध्यं वक्त्रं ते कथमानतम् । अश्रुभिर्लक्ष्यते राहुग्रस्तदेहः शशीव ते

svāminsukhasamārādhyaṁ vaktraṁ te kathamānatam aśrubhirlakṣyate rāhugrastadehaḥ śaśīva te

"My lord, your face, so easily glad with joy — why has it fallen so? Marked with tears, your very form appears like the moon caught fast in Rahu's grip."

Verse 40 (padma.5.56.40)

सर्वं मे कारणं तथ्यं ब्रूहि मां किं करोमि ते । त्यज दुःखं महाराज कथं दुःखस्य भाजनम्

sarvaṁ me kāraṇaṁ tathyaṁ brūhi māṁ kiṁ karomi te tyaja duḥkhaṁ mahārāja kathaṁ duḥkhasya bhājanam

"Tell me the whole true cause of it — what am I to do for you? Cast off this grief, great king — how could you ever be a vessel for sorrow?"

Verse 41 (padma.5.56.41)

एवं भ्रात्रा प्रोच्यमानो गद्गदस्वरया गिरा । प्रोवाच भ्रातरं वीरो रामचंद्रश्च धार्मिकः

evaṁ bhrātrā procyamāno gadgadasvarayā girā provāca bhrātaraṁ vīro rāmacaṁdraśca dhārmikaḥ

Thus addressed by his brother, in a voice choked with feeling, that righteous hero, Ramachandra, said to him —

Verse 42 (padma.5.56.42)

शृणु भ्रातर्वचो मह्यं मम दुःखस्य कारणम् । तन्मार्जनं कुरुष्वाद्य भ्रातः प्रातर्महामते

śṛṇu bhrātarvaco mahyaṁ mama duḥkhasya kāraṇam tanmārjanaṁ kuruṣvādya bhrātaḥ prātarmahāmate

"Hear my own words, brother, the cause of my sorrow; and set it right today, this very hour, O great-minded brother."

Verse 43 (padma.5.56.43)

वंशे वैवस्वते राजा न कश्चिदयशः क्षतः । मत्कीर्तिरद्य कलुषा गंगायमुनया गता

vaṁśe vaivasvate rājā na kaścidayaśaḥ kṣataḥ matkīrtiradya kaluṣā gaṁgāyamunayā gatā

"In the lineage of Vaivasvata no king has ever until now been touched by ill fame; and today my own fame, once as pure as the Ganga and Yamuna, has become sullied."

Verse 44 (padma.5.56.44)

येषां यशो नृणां भूमौ तेषामेव सुजीवितम् । अपकीर्तिक्षतानां तु जीवितं मृतकैः समम्

yeṣāṁ yaśo nṛṇāṁ bhūmau teṣāmeva sujīvitam apakīrtikṣatānāṁ tu jīvitaṁ mṛtakaiḥ samam

"Only those men whose fame endures upon the earth truly live; but for those struck down by ill fame, their life is no better than the life of the dead."

Verse 45 (padma.5.56.45)

येषां यशो भवेद्भूमौ तेषां लोकाः सनातनाः । अपकीर्त्युरगी दष्टास्तेषां भूयादधोगतिः

yeṣāṁ yaśo bhavedbhūmau teṣāṁ lokāḥ sanātanāḥ apakīrtyuragī daṣṭāsteṣāṁ bhūyādadhogatiḥ

"Those whose fame endures upon this earth attain to the eternal worlds; those bitten by the very serpent of ill fame meet with nothing but a fall."

Verse 46 (padma.5.56.46)

अद्य मे कलुषा कीर्तिः स्वर्धुनी लोकविश्रुता । तच्छृणुष्व वचो मेऽद्य रजकेन यथोदितम्

adya me kaluṣā kīrtiḥ svardhunī lokaviśrutā tacchṛṇuṣva vaco me'dya rajakena yathoditam

"Today that fame of mine, once renowned through all the worlds like the very river of heaven, has become sullied; now hear my words, and what the washerman said."

Verse 47 (padma.5.56.47)

अस्मिन्पुरेऽद्य रजक उक्तवाञ्जानकीभवम् । किंचिद्वाच्यं ततो भ्रातः किं करोमि महीतले

asminpure'dya rajaka uktavāñjānakībhavam kiṁcidvācyaṁ tato bhrātaḥ kiṁ karomi mahītale

"In this very city today a washerman spoke of a matter touching Janaki; something must be said of it, brother — what should I do now, upon this earth?"

Verse 48 (padma.5.56.48)

किमात्मानं जहाम्यद्य किमेनां जानकीं स्त्रियम् । उभयोः किं मया कार्यं तत्तथ्यं ब्रूहि मे भवान्

kimātmānaṁ jahāmyadya kimenāṁ jānakīṁ striyam ubhayoḥ kiṁ mayā kāryaṁ tattathyaṁ brūhi me bhavān

"Shall I today abandon myself, or shall I abandon this wife of mine, Janaki? Tell me the truth of what I must do concerning us both."

Verse 49 (padma.5.56.49)

इत्युक्त्वा निर्गलद्बाष्पो वेपथु क्षुभितांगकः । पपात भूमौ विरजो धार्मिकाणां शिरोमणिः

ityuktvā nirgaladbāṣpo vepathu kṣubhitāṁgakaḥ papāta bhūmau virajo dhārmikāṇāṁ śiromaṇiḥ

Having spoken thus, tears streaming down, his limbs trembling and shaken, that crest-jewel of the righteous, free of all passion, fell to the ground.

Verse 50 (padma.5.56.50)

भ्रातरं पतितं दृष्ट्वा भरतो दुःखसंयुतः । संवीक्ष्य शनकै रामं प्राप्तसंज्ञं चकार सः

bhrātaraṁ patitaṁ dṛṣṭvā bharato duḥkhasaṁyutaḥ saṁvīkṣya śanakai rāmaṁ prāptasaṁjñaṁ cakāra saḥ

Seeing his brother fallen, Bharata, overcome with sorrow at the sight, slowly brought Rama back to his senses.

Verse 51 (padma.5.56.51)

संज्ञां प्राप्तं तु संवीक्ष्य रामचंद्रं सुदुःखितम् । उवाच दुःखनाशाय वाक्यं तु सुमनोहरम्

saṁjñāṁ prāptaṁ tu saṁvīkṣya rāmacaṁdraṁ suduḥkhitam uvāca duḥkhanāśāya vākyaṁ tu sumanoharam

Seeing Ramachandra, so greatly sorrowful, thus restored to his senses, he spoke a most lovely word, to take away his grief —

Verse 52 (padma.5.56.52)

कोऽयं वै रजकः किंतु वाच्यं वाक्यं यथाब्रवीत् । जिह्वाच्छेदं करिष्यामि जानकीवाच्यकारिणः

ko'yaṁ vai rajakaḥ kiṁtu vācyaṁ vākyaṁ yathābravīt jihvācchedaṁ kariṣyāmi jānakīvācyakāriṇaḥ

"Who is this mere washerman? Whatever he said, however he said it — I shall cut out the very tongue of this man who has slandered Janaki."

Verse 53 (padma.5.56.53)

तदा रामोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं रजकस्य मुखोद्गतम् । श्रुतं चारेण तत्सर्वं भरताय महात्मने

tadā rāmo'bravīdvākyaṁ rajakasya mukhodgatam śrutaṁ cāreṇa tatsarvaṁ bharatāya mahātmane

Then Rama told great-souled Bharata every one of those words that had come from the washerman's mouth, all that the spy had heard.

Verse 54 (padma.5.56.54)

तच्छ्रुत्वा भरतः प्राह भ्रातरं दुःखशोकिनम् । जानकीवह्निशुद्धाभूल्लंकायां वीरपूजिता

tacchrutvā bharataḥ prāha bhrātaraṁ duḥkhaśokinam jānakīvahniśuddhābhūllaṁkāyāṁ vīrapūjitā

Hearing this, Bharata said to his sorrowing, grief-stricken brother: "Janaki was purified by fire, and was honored by heroes in Lanka itself."

Verse 55 (padma.5.56.55)

ब्रह्माब्रवीदियं शुद्धा पिता दशरथस्तव । कथं सा रजकोक्तित्वाद्धातव्या लोकपूजिता

brahmābravīdiyaṁ śuddhā pitā daśarathastava kathaṁ sā rajakoktitvāddhātavyā lokapūjitā

"Brahma himself declared her pure; so too did your own father Dasharatha — how then, on account of a mere washerman's word, should she, honored by all the world, be cast aside?"

Verse 56 (padma.5.56.56)

ब्रह्मादिसंस्तुता कीर्तिस्तवलोकान्पुनाति हि । सा कथं रजकोक्त्या वै कलुषाद्य भविष्यति

brahmādisaṁstutā kīrtistavalokānpunāti hi sā kathaṁ rajakoktyā vai kaluṣādya bhaviṣyati

"Your fame, praised by Brahma and the other gods, purifies the very worlds — how, then, could a washerman's word sully it today?"

Verse 57 (padma.5.56.57)

तस्मात्त्यज महादुःखं सीतावाच्यसमुद्भवम् । कुरु राज्यं तया सार्धमंतर्वत्न्या सुभाग्यया

tasmāttyaja mahāduḥkhaṁ sītāvācyasamudbhavam kuru rājyaṁ tayā sārdhamaṁtarvatnyā subhāgyayā

"Therefore cast off this great sorrow born of slander concerning Sita; rule your kingdom together with her, blessed as she is and now with child."

Verse 58 (padma.5.56.58)

त्वं कथं स्वशरीरं तु हातुमिच्छसि शोभनम् । वयं हताः स्म सर्वेऽद्य त्वां विना दुःखनाशकम्

tvaṁ kathaṁ svaśarīraṁ tu hātumicchasi śobhanam vayaṁ hatāḥ sma sarve'dya tvāṁ vinā duḥkhanāśakam

"How could you wish to abandon your own excellent body? O remover of our sorrows, without you we shall all be as good as dead this very day."

Verse 59 (padma.5.56.59)

क्षणं सीता न जीवेत त्वां विना सुमहोदया । तस्मात्पतिव्रता साकं भुनक्तु विपुलां श्रियम्

kṣaṇaṁ sītā na jīveta tvāṁ vinā sumahodayā tasmātpativratā sākaṁ bhunaktu vipulāṁ śriyam

"Sita, of such great and rising fortune, could not live a single moment without you; let that devoted wife, then, enjoy this vast prosperity together with you."

Verse 60 (padma.5.56.60)

इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य भरतस्य च धार्मिकः । पुनरेव जगादेमं वाक्यं वाक्यविदां वरः

iti vākyaṁ samākarṇya bharatasya ca dhārmikaḥ punareva jagādemaṁ vākyaṁ vākyavidāṁ varaḥ

Hearing this word of Bharata's, that righteous one, foremost among speakers, said this to him once again —

Verse 61 (padma.5.56.61)

यत्त्वं कथयसि भ्रातस्तत्सर्वं धर्मसंयुतम् । परं यद्वच्म्यहं वाक्यं तत्कुरुष्व ममाज्ञया

yattvaṁ kathayasi bhrātastatsarvaṁ dharmasaṁyutam paraṁ yadvacmyahaṁ vākyaṁ tatkuruṣva mamājñayā

"Whatever you say, brother, is entirely in accordance with Dharma; but do what I now tell you, at my own command."

Verse 62 (padma.5.56.62)

जानाम्येनां वह्निशुद्धां पवित्रां लोकपूजिताम् । लोकापवादाद्भीतोऽहं त्यजामि स्वां तु जानकीम्

jānāmyenāṁ vahniśuddhāṁ pavitrāṁ lokapūjitām lokāpavādādbhīto'haṁ tyajāmi svāṁ tu jānakīm

"I know that she is purified by fire, pure, and honored by the whole world; yet, fearing the censure of the people, I abandon my own Janaki."

Verse 63 (padma.5.56.63)

तस्मात्करे शितं धृत्वा करवालं सुदारुणम् । शिरश्छिंध्यथवा जायां जानकीं मुंच वै वने

tasmātkare śitaṁ dhṛtvā karavālaṁ sudāruṇam śiraśchiṁdhyathavā jāyāṁ jānakīṁ muṁca vai vane

"Therefore, taking a sharp and terrible sword in your hand — either cut off my own head, or else leave my wife Janaki in the forest."

Verse 64 (padma.5.56.64)

इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य रामस्य भरतोऽपतत् । मूर्च्छितः सन्क्षितौ देहे कंपयुक्तः सबाष्पकः

iti vākyaṁ samākarṇya rāmasya bharato'patat mūrcchitaḥ sankṣitau dehe kaṁpayuktaḥ sabāṣpakaḥ

Hearing this word of Rama's, Bharata fell in a swoon to the ground, his body seized with trembling, his eyes filled with tears.