The Return Journey from Chitrakuta

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.113.1)

ततः शिरसि कृत्वा तु पादुके भरतः तदा। आरुरोह रथम् हृष्टः शत्रुघ्नेन समन्वितः॥ 113.1 ॥

tataḥ śirasi kṛtvā tu pāduke bharataḥ tadā| āruroha ratham hṛṣṭaḥ śatrughnena samanvitaḥ

Thereafter, keeping the sandals upon his head, Bharata joyfully mounted his chariot along with Shatrughna.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.113.2)

वसिष्ठो वामदेवः च जाबालिः च दृढ व्रतः। अग्रतः प्रययुः सर्वे मन्त्रिणो मन्त्र पूजिताः॥ 113.2 ॥

vasiṣṭho vāmadevaḥ ca jābāliḥ ca dṛḍha vrataḥ| agrataḥ prayayuḥ sarve mantriṇo mantra pūjitāḥ

Vasishtha, Vamadeva, and the firm-vowed Jabali, along with all the counsel-honoured ministers, went ahead.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.113.3)

मन्दाकिनीम् नदीम् रम्याम् प्रान् मुखाः ते ययुः तदा। प्रदक्षिणम् च कुर्वाणाः चित्र कूटम् महा गिरिम्॥ 113.3 ॥

mandākinīm nadīm ramyām prān mukhāḥ te yayuḥ tadā| pradakṣiṇam ca kurvāṇāḥ citra kūṭam mahā girim

Facing eastward, they journeyed then along the charming river Mandakini, and advanced making a circumambulation of the great mountain Chitrakuta.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.113.4)

पश्यन् धातु सहस्राणि रम्याणि विविधानि च। प्रययौ तस्य पार्श्वेन ससैन्यो भरतः तदा॥ 113.4 ॥

paśyan dhātu sahasrāṇi ramyāṇi vividhāni ca| prayayau tasya pārśvena sasainyo bharataḥ tadā

Beholding the many charming veins of mineral ore, Bharata, with his army, advanced along the mountain's side.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.113.5)

अदूराच् चित्र कूटस्य ददर्श भरतः तदा। आश्रमम् यत्र स मुनिर् भरद्वाजः कृत आलयः॥ 113.5 ॥

adūrāc citra kūṭasya dadarśa bharataḥ tadā| āśramam yatra sa munir bharadvājaḥ kṛta ālayaḥ

Drawing near Chitrakuta, Bharata then saw the hermitage where the sage Bharadvaja had made his dwelling.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.113.6)

स तम् आश्रमम् आगम्य भरद्वाजस्य बुद्धिमान्। अवतीर्य रथात् पादौ ववन्दे कुल नन्दनः॥ 113.6 ॥

sa tam āśramam āgamya bharadvājasya buddhimān| avatīrya rathāt pādau vavande kula nandanaḥ

That wise Bharata, having reached that hermitage, descending from his chariot, bowed—that joy of his lineage—at Bharadvaja's feet.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.113.7)

ततो हृष्टो भरद्वाजो भरतम् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्। अपि कृत्यम् कृतम् तात रामेण च समागतम्॥ 113.7 ॥

tato hṛṣṭo bharadvājo bharatam vākyam abravīt| api kṛtyam kṛtam tāta rāmeṇa ca samāgatam

Then the delighted Bharadvaja spoke this word to Bharata, "Dear one, has your purpose been accomplished? Has Rama been met?"

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.113.8)

एवम् उक्तः तु भरतो भरद्वाजेन धीमता। प्रत्युवाच भरद्वाजम् भरतो धर्म वत्सलः॥ 113.8 ॥

evam uktaḥ tu bharato bharadvājena dhīmatā| pratyuvāca bharadvājam bharato dharma vatsalaḥ

Thus addressed by the wise Bharadvaja, Bharata, affectionate to dharma, replied to Bharadvaja.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.113.9)

स याच्यमानो गुरुणा मया च दृढ विक्रमः। राघवः परम प्रीतो वसिष्ठम् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्॥ 113.9 ॥

sa yācyamāno guruṇā mayā ca dṛḍha vikramaḥ| rāghavaḥ parama prīto vasiṣṭham vākyam abravīt

Even when entreated by our preceptor and by me, unshakeable Raghava, of firm resolve, most cheerfully spoke this word to Vasishtha.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.113.10)

पितुः प्रतिज्ञाम् ताम् एव पालयिष्यामि तत्त्वतः। चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि य प्रतिज्ञा पितुर् मम॥ 113.10 ॥

pituḥ pratijñām tām eva pālayiṣyāmi tattvataḥ| caturdaśa hi varṣāṇi ya pratijñā pitur mama

"I shall faithfully keep that very pledge of my father; for fourteen years—the pledge which my father made is mine to fulfil as well."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.113.11)

एवम् उक्तो महा प्राज्ञो वसिष्ठः प्रत्युवाच ह। वाक्यज्ञो वाक्य कुशलम् राघवम् वचनम् महत्॥ 113.11 ॥

evam ukto mahā prājño vasiṣṭhaḥ pratyuvāca ha| vākyajño vākya kuśalam rāghavam vacanam mahat

Thus addressed, the greatly wise Vasishtha, skilled in speech, replied to Raghava, master of words, with this weighty utterance.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.113.12)

एते प्रयच्छ संहृष्टः पादुके हेम भूषिते। अयोध्यायाम् महा प्राज्ञ योग क्षेम करे तव॥ 113.12 ॥

ete prayaccha saṃhṛṣṭaḥ pāduke hema bhūṣite| ayodhyāyām mahā prājña yoga kṣema kare tava

"O one of great wisdom, joyfully bestow these gold-adorned sandals, for the welfare and security of Ayodhya."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.113.13)

एवम् उक्तो वसिष्ठेन राघवः प्रान् मुखः स्थितः। पादुके हेम विकृते मम राज्याय ते ददौ॥ 113.13 ॥

evam ukto vasiṣṭhena rāghavaḥ prān mukhaḥ sthitaḥ| pāduke hema vikṛte mama rājyāya te dadau

Thus addressed by Vasishtha, Raghava, standing facing east, gave me those gold-set sandals for my regency.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.113.14)

निवृत्तो अहम् अनुज्ञातो रामेण सुमहात्मना। अयोध्याम् एव गच्छामि गृहीत्वा पादुके शुभे॥ 113.14 ॥

nivṛtto aham anujñāto rāmeṇa sumahātmanā| ayodhyām eva gacchāmi gṛhītvā pāduke śubhe

Taking leave, given permission by the great-souled Rama, I now go, having received the auspicious sandals, straight to Ayodhya.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.113.15)

एतत् श्रुत्वा शुभम् वाक्यम् भरतस्य महात्मनः। भरद्वाजः शुभतरम् मुनिर् वाक्यम् उदाहरत्॥ 113.15 ॥

etat śrutvā śubham vākyam bharatasya mahātmanaḥ| bharadvājaḥ śubhataram munir vākyam udāharat

Having heard this auspicious word of the great-souled Bharata, the sage Bharadvaja spoke to him a word yet more auspicious.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.113.16)

न एतच् चित्रम् नर व्याघ्र शील वृत्तवताम् वर। यद् आर्यम् त्वयि तिष्ठेत् तु निम्ने वृष्टिम् इव उदकम्॥ 113.16 ॥

na etac citram nara vyāghra śīla vṛttavatām vara| yad āryam tvayi tiṣṭhet tu nimne vṛṣṭim iva udakam

"O tiger among men, best of those of noble conduct, it is no wonder that nobility abides in you, just as water of itself settles into low ground.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.113.17)

अमृतः स महा बाहुः पिता दशरथः तव। यस्य त्वम् ईदृशः पुत्रो धर्म आत्मा धर्म वत्सलः॥ 113.17 ॥

amṛtaḥ sa mahā bāhuḥ pitā daśarathaḥ tava| yasya tvam īdṛśaḥ putro dharma ātmā dharma vatsalaḥ

Your father, the mighty-armed Dasharatha, is immortal—for a son such as you, so given to dharma and devoted to it, was his."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.113.18)

तम् ऋषिम् तु महात्मानम् उक्त वाक्यम् कृत अञ्जलिः। आमन्त्रयितुम् आरेभे चरणाउ उपगृह्य च॥ 113.18 ॥

tam ṛṣim tu mahātmānam ukta vākyam kṛta añjaliḥ| āmantrayitum ārebhe caraṇāu upagṛhya ca

Having heard that great-souled sage's word, Bharata, with joined palms, clasped his feet and began to take his leave.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.113.19)

ततः प्रदक्षिणम् कृत्वा भरद्वाजम् पुनः पुनः। भरतः तु ययौ श्रीमान् अयोध्याम् सह मन्त्रिभिः॥ 113.19 ॥

tataḥ pradakṣiṇam kṛtvā bharadvājam punaḥ punaḥ| bharataḥ tu yayau śrīmān ayodhyām saha mantribhiḥ

Then, having circumambulated Bharadvaja again and again, the glorious Bharata journeyed on toward Ayodhya together with his ministers.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.113.20)

यानैः च शकटैः चैव हयैः नागैः च सा चमूः। पुनर् निवृत्ता विस्तीर्णा भरतस्य अनुयायिनी॥ 113.20 ॥

yānaiḥ ca śakaṭaiḥ caiva hayaiḥ nāgaiḥ ca sā camūḥ| punar nivṛttā vistīrṇā bharatasya anuyāyinī

That vast army, equipped with carriages, carts, horses and elephants, turned back again, following Bharata.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.113.21)

ततः ते यमुनाम् दिव्याम् नदीम् तीर्त्वा ऊर्मि मालिनीम्। ददृशुः ताम् पुनः सर्वे गङ्गाम् शिव जलाम् नदीम्॥ 113.21 ॥

tataḥ te yamunām divyām nadīm tīrtvā ūrmi mālinīm| dadṛśuḥ tām punaḥ sarve gaṅgām śiva jalām nadīm

Then, having crossed the wave-garlanded, divine river Yamuna, they beheld once more the river Ganga of auspicious waters.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.113.22)

ताम् रम्य जल सम्पूर्णाम् संतीर्य सह बान्धवः। शृङ्ग वेर पुरम् रम्यम् प्रविवेश ससैनिकः॥ 113.22 ॥

tām ramya jala sampūrṇām saṃtīrya saha bāndhavaḥ| śṛṅga vera puram ramyam praviveśa sasainikaḥ

Having crossed that river, full of charming waters, together with his kinsmen, he entered, with his army, the beautiful town of Shringaverapura.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.113.23)

अयोध्याम् च ततो दृष्ट्वा पित्रा भ्रात्रा विवर्जिताम्। भरतो दुःख संतप्तः सारथिम् च इदम् अब्रवीत्॥ 113.23 ॥

ayodhyām ca tato dṛṣṭvā pitrā bhrātrā vivarjitām| bharato duḥkha saṃtaptaḥ sārathim ca idam abravīt

From Shringaverapura, going on, he then beheld Ayodhya, bereft of both father and brother; and Bharata, tormented with grief, spoke this to the charioteer.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.113.24)

सारथे पश्य विध्वस्ता अयोध्या न प्रकाशते। निराकारा निरानन्दा दीना प्रतिहत स्वना॥ 113.24 ॥

sārathe paśya vidhvastā ayodhyā na prakāśate| nirākārā nirānandā dīnā pratihata svanā

"O charioteer, see how this ruined Ayodhya no longer shows her radiance—without form, without joy, wretched, her every voice choked."