Bharata's Ascetic Regency at Nandigrama

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.115.1)

ततो निक्षिप्य मातॄः स अयोध्यायाम् दृढ व्रतः। भरतः शोक संतप्तो गुरून् इदम् अथ अब्रवीत्॥ 115.1 ॥

tato nikṣipya mātṝḥ sa ayodhyāyām dṛḍha vrataḥ| bharataḥ śoka saṃtapto gurūn idam atha abravīt

Then, having settled his mothers in Ayodhya, Bharata, firm in his resolve, sore stricken with grief, spoke thus to the elders.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.115.2)

नन्दि ग्रामम् गमिष्यामि सर्वान् आमन्त्रये अद्य वः। तत्र दुःखम् इदम् सर्वम् सहिष्ये राघवम् विना॥ 115.2 ॥

nandi grāmam gamiṣyāmi sarvān āmantraye adya vaḥ| tatra duḥkham idam sarvam sahiṣye rāghavam vinā

"I shall go to Nandigrama; today I take my leave of you all. There, without Raghava, I shall bear all this sorrow."

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.115.3)

गतः च हि दिवम् राजा वनस्थः च गुरुर् मम। रामम् प्रतीक्षे राज्याय स हि राजा महा यशाः॥ 115.3 ॥

gataḥ ca hi divam rājā vanasthaḥ ca gurur mama| rāmam pratīkṣe rājyāya sa hi rājā mahā yaśāḥ

"The king has gone to heaven, and my elder brother dwells in the forest; I shall await Rama for the sake of the kingdom, for he alone is its illustrious king."

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.115.4)

एतत् श्रुत्वा शुभम् वाक्यम् भरतस्य महात्मनः। अब्रुवन् मन्त्रिणः सर्वे वसिष्ठः च पुरोहितः॥ 115.4 ॥

etat śrutvā śubham vākyam bharatasya mahātmanaḥ| abruvan mantriṇaḥ sarve vasiṣṭhaḥ ca purohitaḥ

Having heard this auspicious word of the great-souled Bharata, all the ministers, and Vasishtha the priest, spoke thus.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.115.5)

सदृशम् श्लाघनीयम् च यद् उक्तम् भरत त्वया। वचनम् भ्रातृ वात्सल्याद् अनुरूपम् तव एव तत्॥ 115.5 ॥

sadṛśam ślāghanīyam ca yad uktam bharata tvayā| vacanam bhrātṛ vātsalyād anurūpam tava eva tat

"Fitting and praiseworthy is what you have spoken, O Bharata; that word, born of brotherly love, is worthy of you alone.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.115.6)

नित्यम् ते बन्धु लुब्धस्य तिष्ठतो भ्रातृ सौहृदे। आर्य मार्गम् प्रपन्नस्य न अनुमन्येत कः पुमान्॥ 115.6 ॥

nityam te bandhu lubdhasya tiṣṭhato bhrātṛ sauhṛde| ārya mārgam prapannasya na anumanyeta kaḥ pumān

What man would fail to approve of one who is ever devoted to kinship, standing firm in brotherly affection, and given over to the path of the noble?"

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.115.7)

मन्त्रिणाम् वचनम् श्रुत्वा यथा अभिलषितम् प्रियम्। अब्रवीत् सारथिम् वाक्यम् रथो मे युज्यताम् इति॥ 115.7 ॥

mantriṇām vacanam śrutvā yathā abhilaṣitam priyam| abravīt sārathim vākyam ratho me yujyatām iti

Having heard the ministers' words, agreeable to his own wish, he spoke this word to the charioteer, "Let my chariot be yoked."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.115.8)

प्रहृष्ट वदनः सर्वा मातॄः समभिवाद्य सः। आरुरोह रथम् श्रीमान् शत्रुघ्नेन समन्वितः॥ 115.8 ॥

prahṛṣṭa vadanaḥ sarvā mātṝḥ samabhivādya saḥ| āruroha ratham śrīmān śatrughnena samanvitaḥ

With joyful face, having saluted all his mothers, the illustrious one mounted the chariot together with Shatrughna.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.115.9)

आरुह्य तु रथम् शीघ्रम् शत्रुघ्न भरताउ उभौ। ययतुः परम प्रीतौ वृतौ मन्त्रि पुरोहितैः॥ 115.9 ॥

āruhya tu ratham śīghram śatrughna bharatāu ubhau| yayatuḥ parama prītau vṛtau mantri purohitaiḥ

Having quickly mounted the chariot, the two—Shatrughna and Bharata—set forth greatly rejoicing, surrounded by ministers and priests.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.115.10)

अग्रतो पुरवः तत्र वसिष्ठ प्रमुखा द्विजाः। प्रययुः प्रान् मुखाः सर्वे नन्दि ग्रामो यतो अभवत्॥ 115.10 ॥

agrato puravaḥ tatra vasiṣṭha pramukhā dvijāḥ| prayayuḥ prān mukhāḥ sarve nandi grāmo yato abhavat

Ahead of them went the citizens, and the twice-born headed by Vasishtha, all facing east, in the direction where Nandigrama lay.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.115.11)

बलम् च तद् अनाहूतम् गज अश्व रथ संकुलम्। प्रययौ भरते याते सर्वे च पुर वासिनः॥ 115.11 ॥

balam ca tad anāhūtam gaja aśva ratha saṃkulam| prayayau bharate yāte sarve ca pura vāsinaḥ

And the army too, uncalled, thronging with elephants, horses and chariots, set out once Bharata had gone, and all the city's people followed as well.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.115.12)

रथस्थः स तु धर्म आत्मा भरतो भ्रातृ वत्सलः। नन्दि ग्रामम् ययौ तूर्णम् शिरस्य् आधाय पादुके॥ 115.12 ॥

rathasthaḥ sa tu dharma ātmā bharato bhrātṛ vatsalaḥ| nandi grāmam yayau tūrṇam śirasy ādhāya pāduke

Standing in the chariot, that righteous-souled Bharata, devoted to his brother, bearing the sandals upon his head, went swiftly toward Nandigrama.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.115.13)

ततः तु भरतः क्षिप्रम् नन्दि ग्रामम् प्रविश्य सः। अवतीर्य रथात् तूर्णम् गुरून् इदम् उवाच ह॥ 115.13 ॥

tataḥ tu bharataḥ kṣipram nandi grāmam praviśya saḥ| avatīrya rathāt tūrṇam gurūn idam uvāca ha

Then Bharata, having quickly entered Nandigrama, descending at once from the chariot, spoke thus to the elders.

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.115.14)

एतद् राज्यम् मम भ्रात्रा दत्तम् संन्यासवत् स्वयम्। योग क्षेम वहे च इमे पादुके हेम भूषिते॥ 115.14 ॥

etad rājyam mama bhrātrā dattam saṃnyāsavat svayam| yoga kṣema vahe ca ime pāduke hema bhūṣite

"This kingdom has been entrusted to me by my brother himself, as a sacred charge; these gold-adorned sandals bring welfare and security to the people."

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.115.15)

भरतः शिरसा कृत्वा सन्न्यासम् पादुके ततः। अब्रवीद्दुःखसंतप्तः सर्वं प्रकृतिमण्डलम्॥ 115.15 ॥

bharataḥ śirasā kṛtvā sannyāsam pāduke tataḥ| abravīdduḥkhasaṃtaptaḥ sarvaṃ prakṛtimaṇḍalam

Then Bharata, having placed that trust from his own head onto the sandals, sore stricken with grief, spoke to the entire circle of ministers.

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.115.16)

छत्रम् धारयत क्षिप्रमार्यपादाविमौ मतौ। अभ्याम् राज्ये स्थितो धर्मः पादुकाभ्याम् गुरोर्मम॥ 115.16 ॥

chatram dhārayata kṣipramāryapādāvimau matau| abhyām rājye sthito dharmaḥ pādukābhyām gurormama

"Hold up the royal canopy at once over these sandals of my noble brother, accepted as his very feet; through these sandals dharma stands established in my brother's kingdom."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.115.17)

भ्रात्रा हि मयि संन्यासो निक्षिप्तः सौहृदादयम्। तमिमम् पालयिष्यामि राघवागमनम् प्रति॥ 115.17 ॥

bhrātrā hi mayi saṃnyāso nikṣiptaḥ sauhṛdādayam| tamimam pālayiṣyāmi rāghavāgamanam prati

"For my brother, out of affection, has placed this trust in me; I shall faithfully guard it until Raghava's return.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.115.18)

क्षिप्रम् संयोजयित्वा तु राघवस्य पुनः स्वयम्। चरणौ तौ तु रामस्य द्रक्ष्यामि सहपादुकौ॥ 115.18 ॥

kṣipram saṃyojayitvā tu rāghavasya punaḥ svayam| caraṇau tau tu rāmasya drakṣyāmi sahapādukau

Having swiftly restored it myself to Raghava once more, I shall then behold those feet of Rama, together with these very sandals.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.115.19)

ततो निक्षिप्तभारोऽहम् राघवेण समागतः। निवेद्य गुरवे राज्यम् भजिष्ये गुरुवृत्तिताम्॥ 115.19 ॥

tato nikṣiptabhāro'ham rāghaveṇa samāgataḥ| nivedya gurave rājyam bhajiṣye guruvṛttitām

Then, this burden laid down, once reunited with Raghava, having offered the kingdom back to my elder brother, I shall live in the manner of one devoted to serving his elder.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.115.20)

राघवाय च संन्यासम् दत्त्वेमे वरपादुके। राज्यम् चेदमयोध्याम् च धूतपापोभवामि च॥ 115.20 ॥

rāghavāya ca saṃnyāsam dattveme varapāduke| rājyam cedamayodhyām ca dhūtapāpobhavāmi ca

And having given to Raghava this trust, these excellent sandals, and this kingdom and city of Ayodhya as well, I shall become free of all sin.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.115.21)

अभिषिक्ते तु काकुत्स्थे प्रहृष्टमुदिते जने। प्रीतिर्मम यशश्चैव भवेद्राज्याच्चतुर्गुणम्॥ 115.21 ॥

abhiṣikte tu kākutsthe prahṛṣṭamudite jane| prītirmama yaśaścaiva bhavedrājyāccaturguṇam

When Kakutstha is anointed and the people rejoice, my joy and my fame will be four times greater than they would be from ruling the kingdom myself."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.115.22)

एवम् तु विलपन्धीनो भरतः स महायशाः। नन्दिग्रामेऽकरोद्राज्यम् दुःखितो मन्त्रिभिस्सह॥ 115.22 ॥

evam tu vilapandhīno bharataḥ sa mahāyaśāḥ| nandigrāme'karodrājyam duḥkhito mantribhissaha

Thus lamenting, wretched yet greatly renowned, Bharata administered the kingdom from Nandigrama, sorrowing, together with his ministers.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.115.23)

स वल्कलजटाधारी मुनिवेषधरः प्रभुः। नन्दिग्रामेऽवसद्वीरः ससैन्यो भरतस्तदा॥ 115.23 ॥

sa valkalajaṭādhārī muniveṣadharaḥ prabhuḥ| nandigrāme'vasadvīraḥ sasainyo bharatastadā

Wearing bark garments and matted locks, in the guise of an ascetic, that lordly hero Bharata then dwelt at Nandigrama with his army.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.115.24)

रामागमनमाकाङ्क्षन् भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः। भ्रातुर्वचनकारी च प्रतिज्ञापारगस्तदा। पादुके त्वभिषिच्याथ नन्दिग्रामेऽवसत्तथा॥ 115.24 ॥

rāmāgamanamākāṅkṣan bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ| bhrāturvacanakārī ca pratijñāpāragastadā| pāduke tvabhiṣicyātha nandigrāme'vasattathā

Longing for Rama's return, devoted to his brother, obedient to his word and steadfast in his vow, Bharata, having thus enthroned the sandals, dwelt on at Nandigrama.

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.115.25)

स वालव्यजनम् छत्रम् धारयामास स स्वयम्। भरतः शासनम् सर्वम् पादुकाभ्याम् निवेदयन्॥ 115.25 ॥

sa vālavyajanam chatram dhārayāmāsa sa svayam| bharataḥ śāsanam sarvam pādukābhyām nivedayan

He himself held the royal canopy together with the chowrie, and Bharata reported all the business of the state to those sandals.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.115.26)

ततस्तु भरतः श्रीमानभिषिच्यार्यपादुके। तदधीनस्तदा राज्यम् कारयामास सर्वदा॥ 115.26 ॥

tatastu bharataḥ śrīmānabhiṣicyāryapāduke| tadadhīnastadā rājyam kārayāmāsa sarvadā

Thereafter the illustrious Bharata, having enthroned his noble brother's sandals, administered the kingdom ever after, always in subservience to them.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.115.27)

तदा हि यत्कार्यमुपैति किंचि। दुपायनम् चोपहृतम् महार्हम्। स पादुकाभ्याम् प्रथमम् निवेद्य। चकार पश्चाद्भरतो यथावत्॥ 115.27 ॥

tadā hi yatkāryamupaiti kiṃci| dupāyanam copahṛtam mahārham| sa pādukābhyām prathamam nivedya| cakāra paścādbharato yathāvat

Then, whatever small matter arose, or whatever costly gift was offered, Bharata would first present it before the sandals, and only then, in due form, attend to it.