Bharata's Fast Before Rama

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.111.1)

वसिष्ठः तु तदा रामम् उक्त्वा राज पुरोहितः। अब्रवीद् धर्म संयुक्तम् पुनर् एव अपरम् वचः॥ 111.1 ॥

vasiṣṭhaḥ tu tadā rāmam uktvā rāja purohitaḥ| abravīd dharma saṃyuktam punar eva aparam vacaḥ

Then Vasishtha the royal priest, having spoken thus to Rama, uttered these further words full of righteousness.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.111.2)

पुरुषस्य इह जातस्य भवन्ति गुरवः त्रयः। आचार्यः चैव काकुत्स्थ पिता माता च राघव॥ 111.2 ॥

puruṣasya iha jātasya bhavanti guravaḥ trayaḥ| ācāryaḥ caiva kākutstha pitā mātā ca rāghava

O Kakutstha, O Raghava! For a man born into this world there are three teachers: his preceptor, and his father and mother.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.111.3)

पिता ह्य् एनम् जनयति पुरुषम् पुरुष ऋषभ। प्रज्ञाम् ददाति च आचार्यः तस्मात् स गुरुर् उच्यते॥ 111.3 ॥

pitā hy enam janayati puruṣam puruṣa ṛṣabha| prajñām dadāti ca ācāryaḥ tasmāt sa gurur ucyate

O bull among men, the father indeed begets this man, and the teacher imparts knowledge to him; therefore the teacher is called guru.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.111.4)

सः ते अहम् पितुर् आचार्यः तव चैव परम् तप। मम त्वम् वचनम् कुर्वन् न अतिवर्तेः सताम् गतिम्॥ 111.4 ॥

saḥ te aham pitur ācāryaḥ tava caiva param tapa| mama tvam vacanam kurvan na ativarteḥ satām gatim

O scorcher of foes, I am the preceptor of your father, and of you as well; by heeding my word you will not stray from the path that the virtuous follow.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.111.5)

इमा हि ते परिषदः श्रेणयः च समागताः। एषु तात चरन् धर्मम् न अतिवर्तेः सताम् गतिम्॥ 111.5 ॥

imā hi te pariṣadaḥ śreṇayaḥ ca samāgatāḥ| eṣu tāta caran dharmam na ativarteḥ satām gatim

These, dear one, are your councils and guilds, all assembled here; walking the path of duty among them, you will not depart from the way of the virtuous.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.111.6)

वृद्धाया धर्म शीलाया मातुर् न अर्हस्य् अवर्तितुम्। अस्याः तु वचनम् कुर्वन् न अतिवर्तेः सताम् गतिम्॥ 111.6 ॥

vṛddhāyā dharma śīlāyā mātur na arhasy avartitum| asyāḥ tu vacanam kurvan na ativarteḥ satām gatim

You ought not to disregard your aged mother, who is of virtuous conduct; by carrying out her word, you will not depart from the path of the virtuous.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.111.7)

भरतस्य वचः कुर्वन् याचमानस्य राघव। आत्मानम् न अतिवर्तेः त्वम् सत्य धर्म पराक्रम॥ 111.7 ॥

bharatasya vacaḥ kurvan yācamānasya rāghava| ātmānam na ativarteḥ tvam satya dharma parākrama

O Raghava, mighty in truth and righteousness, by fulfilling the plea of Bharata who entreats you, you will not be untrue to yourself.

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.111.8)

एवम् मधुरम् उक्तः तु गुरुणा राघवः स्वयम्। प्रत्युवाच समासीनम् वसिष्ठम् पुरुष ऋषभः॥ 111.8 ॥

evam madhuram uktaḥ tu guruṇā rāghavaḥ svayam| pratyuvāca samāsīnam vasiṣṭham puruṣa ṛṣabhaḥ

Thus sweetly addressed by his preceptor, Raghava himself, that bull among men, replied to Vasishtha who sat before him.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.111.9)

यन् मातापितरौ वृत्तम् तनये कुरुतः सदा। न सुप्रतिकरम् तत् तु मात्रा पित्रा च यत् कृतम्॥ 111.9 ॥

yan mātāpitarau vṛttam tanaye kurutaḥ sadā| na supratikaram tat tu mātrā pitrā ca yat kṛtam

The good conduct which parents ever show toward their child cannot be adequately repaid—that which mother and father do for him,

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.111.10)

यथा शक्ति प्रदानेन स्नापनाच् चादनेन च। नित्यम् च प्रिय वादेन तथा संवर्धनेन च॥ 111.10 ॥

yathā śakti pradānena snāpanāc cādanena ca| nityam ca priya vādena tathā saṃvardhanena ca

by giving to the utmost of their power, by bathing and anointing him, by speaking ever kindly, and by nurturing him well.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.111.11)

स हि राजा जनयिता पिता दशरथो मम। आज्ञातम् यन् मया तस्य न तन् मिथ्या भविष्यति॥ 111.11 ॥

sa hi rājā janayitā pitā daśaratho mama| ājñātam yan mayā tasya na tan mithyā bhaviṣyati

That king, my father Dasharatha, is indeed the one who begot me; what he has commanded me shall not go unfulfilled.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.111.12)

एवम् उक्तः तु रामेण भरतः प्रत्यनन्तरम्। उवाच परम उदारः सूतम् परम दुर्मनाः॥ 111.12 ॥

evam uktaḥ tu rāmeṇa bharataḥ pratyanantaram| uvāca parama udāraḥ sūtam parama durmanāḥ

Thus addressed by Rama, Bharata, greatly distressed, at once said this to the charioteer Sumantra.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.111.13)

इह मे स्थण्डिले शीघ्रम् कुशान् आस्तर सारथे। आर्यम् प्रत्युपवेक्ष्यामि यावन् मे न प्रसीदति॥ 111.13 ॥

iha me sthaṇḍile śīghram kuśān āstara sārathe| āryam pratyupavekṣyāmi yāvan me na prasīdati

O charioteer, quickly spread kusha grass for me here on this bare spot; I shall sit facing the noble one until he relents toward me.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.111.14)

अनाहारो निरालोको धन हीनो यथा द्विजः। शेष्ये पुरस्तात् शालाया यावन् न प्रतियास्यति॥ 111.14 ॥

anāhāro nirāloko dhana hīno yathā dvijaḥ| śeṣye purastāt śālāyā yāvan na pratiyāsyati

Without food, without light, like a destitute brahmin, I shall lie before his hut's door until he turns back.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.111.15)

स तु रामम् अवेक्षन्तम् सुमन्त्रम् प्रेक्ष्य दुर्मनाः। कुश उत्तरम् उपस्थाप्य भूमाउ एव आस्तरत् स्वयम्॥ 111.15 ॥

sa tu rāmam avekṣantam sumantram prekṣya durmanāḥ| kuśa uttaram upasthāpya bhūmāu eva āstarat svayam

Then, seeing Sumantra gazing at Rama for a sign, the despondent Bharata himself spread out the tips of kusha grass and made his bed upon the ground.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.111.16)

तम् उवाच महा तेजा रामो राज ऋषि सत्तमाः। किम् माम् भरत कुर्वाणम् तात प्रत्युपवेक्ष्यसि॥ 111.16 ॥

tam uvāca mahā tejā rāmo rāja ṛṣi sattamāḥ| kim mām bharata kurvāṇam tāta pratyupavekṣyasi

The greatly resplendent Rama, best of royal sages, said to him, "O dear Bharata, what have I done that you should lie down before me like this?"

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.111.17)

ब्राह्मणो ह्य् एक पार्श्वेन नरान् रोद्धुम् इह अर्हति। न तु मूर्धा अवसिक्तानाम् विधिः प्रत्युपवेशने॥ 111.17 ॥

brāhmaṇo hy eka pārśvena narān roddhum iha arhati| na tu mūrdhā avasiktānām vidhiḥ pratyupaveśane

A brahmin may indeed sit to one side to restrain men by such means in this world; but this manner of protest is not the rule for those anointed kings.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.111.18)

उत्तिष्ठ नर शार्दूल हित्वा एतद् दारुणम् व्रतम्। पुर वर्याम् इतः क्षिप्रम् अयोध्याम् याहि राघव॥ 111.18 ॥

uttiṣṭha nara śārdūla hitvā etad dāruṇam vratam| pura varyām itaḥ kṣipram ayodhyām yāhi rāghava

Rise, O tiger among men, giving up this harsh vow, and go quickly from here to Ayodhya, best of cities, O Raghava.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.111.19)

आसीनः तु एव भरतः पौर जानपदम् जनम्। उवाच सर्वतः प्रेक्ष्य किम् आर्यम् न अनुशासथ॥ 111.19 ॥

āsīnaḥ tu eva bharataḥ paura jānapadam janam| uvāca sarvataḥ prekṣya kim āryam na anuśāsatha

Bharata, still seated as he was, looked all around at the assembled citizens and country-folk and asked, "Why do you not entreat the noble one?"

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.111.20)

ते तम् ऊचुर् महात्मानम् पौर जानपदा जनाः। काकुत्स्थम् अभिजानीमः संयग् वदति राघवः॥ 111.20 ॥

te tam ūcur mahātmānam paura jānapadā janāḥ| kākutstham abhijānīmaḥ saṃyag vadati rāghavaḥ

Those citizens and country-folk said to the great-souled Bharata, "We know Kakutstha well; Raghava speaks rightly."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.111.21)

एषो अपि हि महा भागः पितुर् वचसि तिष्ठति। अत एव न शक्ताः स्मो व्यावर्तयितुम् अञ्जसा॥ 111.21 ॥

eṣo api hi mahā bhāgaḥ pitur vacasi tiṣṭhati| ata eva na śaktāḥ smo vyāvartayitum añjasā

This most fortunate one stands firm on his father's word alone; therefore we are not able to turn him back outright.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.111.22)

तेषाम् आज्ञाय वचनम् रामो वचनम् अब्रवीत्। एवम् निबोध वचनम् सुहृदाम् धर्म चक्षुषाम्॥ 111.22 ॥

teṣām ājñāya vacanam rāmo vacanam abravīt| evam nibodha vacanam suhṛdām dharma cakṣuṣām

Having heard their words, Rama said this to Bharata, "Understand in this way the words of these friends whose eye is dharma."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.111.23)

एतच् च एव उभयम् श्रुत्वा सम्यक् सम्पश्य राघव। उत्तिष्ठ त्वम् महा बाहो माम् च स्पृश तथा उदकम्॥ 111.23 ॥

etac ca eva ubhayam śrutvā samyak sampaśya rāghava| uttiṣṭha tvam mahā bāho mām ca spṛśa tathā udakam

Having heard both these accounts and considered them well, O Raghava, rise, O mighty-armed one, and touch me, as well as this water.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.111.24)

अथ उत्थाय जलम् स्पृष्ट्वा भरतो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्। शृण्वन्तु मे परिषदो मन्त्रिणः श्रेणयः तथा॥ 111.24 ॥

atha utthāya jalam spṛṣṭvā bharato vākyam abravīt| śṛṇvantu me pariṣado mantriṇaḥ śreṇayaḥ tathā

Then, rising and touching water, Bharata spoke these words, "Let the assembly hear me, the ministers, and the guilds as well."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.111.25)

न याचे पितरम् राज्यम् न अनुशासामि मातरम्। आर्यम् परम धर्मज्ञम् अभिजानामि राघवम्॥ 111.25 ॥

na yāce pitaram rājyam na anuśāsāmi mātaram| āryam parama dharmajñam abhijānāmi rāghavam

I do not beg the kingdom of my father, nor do I instruct my mother; I know the noble Raghava to be supreme in the knowledge of dharma.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.111.26)

यदि तु अवश्यम् वस्तव्यम् कर्तव्यम् च पितुर् वचः। अहम् एव निवत्स्यामि चतुर्दश वने समाः॥ 111.26 ॥

yadi tu avaśyam vastavyam kartavyam ca pitur vacaḥ| aham eva nivatsyāmi caturdaśa vane samāḥ

But if it is truly necessary that someone dwell there and our father's word be carried out, then I myself shall live fourteen years in the forest.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.111.27)

धर्म आत्मा तस्य तथ्येन भ्रातुर् वाक्येन विस्मितः। उवाच रामः सम्प्रेक्ष्य पौर जानपदम् जनम्॥ 111.27 ॥

dharma ātmā tasya tathyena bhrātur vākyena vismitaḥ| uvāca rāmaḥ samprekṣya paura jānapadam janam

Rama, the righteous-souled, astonished by his brother's true words, looked upon the citizens and country-folk and spoke.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.111.28)

विक्रीतम् आहितम् क्रीतम् यत् पित्रा जीवता मम। न तल् लोपयितुम् शक्यम् मया वा भरतेन वा॥ 111.28 ॥

vikrītam āhitam krītam yat pitrā jīvatā mama| na tal lopayitum śakyam mayā vā bharatena vā

Whatever was sold, entrusted, or bought by my father while he lived cannot be nullified, either by me or by Bharata.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.111.29)

उपधिर् न मया कार्यो वन वासे जुगुप्सितः। युक्तम् उक्तम् च कैकेय्या पित्रा मे सुकृतम् कृतम्॥ 111.29 ॥

upadhir na mayā kāryo vana vāse jugupsitaḥ| yuktam uktam ca kaikeyyā pitrā me sukṛtam kṛtam

I must not practice any deceit regarding this dwelling in the forest, which would be despised; what Kaikeyi urged was proper, and what my father did was rightly done.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.111.30)

जानामि भरतम् क्षान्तम् गुरु सत्कार कारिणम्। सर्वम् एव अत्र कल्याणम् सत्य संधे महात्मनि॥ 111.30 ॥

jānāmi bharatam kṣāntam guru satkāra kāriṇam| sarvam eva atra kalyāṇam satya saṃdhe mahātmani

I know Bharata to be forbearing, one who honors his elders; in this great-souled, truth-keeping one, all is indeed auspicious.

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.111.31)

अनेन धर्म शीलेन वनात् प्रत्यागतः पुनः। भ्रात्रा सह भविष्यामि पृथिव्याः पतिर् उत्तमः॥ 111.31 ॥

anena dharma śīlena vanāt pratyāgataḥ punaḥ| bhrātrā saha bhaviṣyāmi pṛthivyāḥ patir uttamaḥ

Having returned from the forest through this righteous brother's help, I shall again, together with him, become the supreme lord of the earth.

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.111.32)

वृतो राजा हि कैकेय्या मया तद् वचनम् कृतम्। अनृतान् मोचय अनेन पितरम् तम् मही पतिम्॥ 111.32 ॥

vṛto rājā hi kaikeyyā mayā tad vacanam kṛtam| anṛtān mocaya anena pitaram tam mahī patim

The king was indeed bound by his word to Kaikeyi; I have fulfilled that word of his. Free my father, this lord of the earth, from the blame of falsehood.