At Bharadvaja's Hermitage

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.54.1)

ते तु तस्मिन् महावृक्षे उषित्वा रजनीं शुभाम्। विमलेऽभ्युदिते सूर्ये तस्माद् देशात् प्रतस्थिरे॥ २-५४-१ ॥

te tu tasmin mahāvṛkṣe uṣitvā rajanīṃ śubhām | vimale'bhyudite sūrye tasmād deśāt pratasthire

Having spent that blessed night beneath the great tree, they set out from that place at the clear rising of the sun.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.54.2)

यत्र भागीरथीं गङ्गां यमुनाभिप्रवर्तते। जग्मुस्तं देशमुद्दिश्य विगाह्य सुमहद् वनम्॥ २-५४-२ ॥

yatra bhāgīrathīṃ gaṅgāṃ yamunābhipravartate | jagmustaṃ deśamuddiśya vigāhya sumahad vanam

Toward the place where Yamuna joins the Ganga's Bhagirathi stream, they went, entering a great forest.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.54.3)

ते भूमिभागान् विविधान् देशांश्चापि मनोहरान्। अदृष्टपूर्वान् पश्यन्तस्तत्र तत्र यशस्विनः॥ २-५४-३ ॥

te bhūmibhāgān vividhān deśāṃścāpi manoharān | adṛṣṭapūrvān paśyantastatra tatra yaśasvinaḥ

Those glorious ones went on, gazing here and there at varied stretches of land and enchanting regions never seen before.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.54.4)

यथा क्षेमेण सम्पश्यन् पुष्पितान् विविधान् द्रुमान्। निर्वृत्तमात्रे दिवसे रामः सौमित्रिमब्रवीत्॥ २-५४-४ ॥

yathā kṣemeṇa sampaśyan puṣpitān vividhān drumān | nirvṛttamātre divase rāmaḥ saumitrimabravīt

Thus surveying, at ease, the many flowering trees, just as the day was drawing to its close, Rama spoke to Saumitri.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.54.5)

प्रयागमभितः पश्य सौमित्रे धूममुत्तमम्। अग्नेर्भगवतः केतुं मन्ये संनिहितो मुनिः॥ २-५४-५ ॥

prayāgamabhitaḥ paśya saumitre dhūmamuttamam | agnerbhagavataḥ ketuṃ manye saṃnihito muniḥ

"Look, Saumitri, toward Prayaga at that fine column of smoke; I think it is the banner of the blessed fire-god - surely some sage dwells near."

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.54.6)

नूनं प्राप्ताः स्म सम्भेदं गङ्गायमुनयोर्वयम्। तथा हि श्रूयते शब्दो वारिणोरिघर्षजः॥ २-५४-६ ॥

nūnaṃ prāptāḥ sma sambhedaṃ gaṅgāyamunayorvayam | tathā hi śrūyate śabdo vāriṇorigharṣajaḥ

"Surely we have reached the meeting-place of Ganga and Yamuna; for that sound, born of two currents striking against each other, can be heard."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.54.7)

दारूणि परिभिन्नानि वनजैरुपजीविभिः। छिन्नाश्चाप्याश्रमे चैते दृश्यन्ते विविधा द्रुमाः॥ २-५४-७ ॥

dārūṇi paribhinnāni vanajairupajīvibhiḥ | chinnāścāpyāśrame caite dṛśyante vividhā drumāḥ

"Logs split by those who live off the forest's roots and fruit lie scattered about, and near the hermitage too many kinds of felled trees can be seen."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.54.8)

धन्विनौ तौ सुखं गत्वा लम्बमाने दिवाकरे। गङ्गायमुनयोः संधौ प्रापतुर्निलयं मुनेः॥ २-५४-८ ॥

dhanvinau tau sukhaṃ gatvā lambamāne divākare | gaṅgāyamunayoḥ saṃdhau prāpaturnilayaṃ muneḥ

So journeying at ease, those two bowmen, as the sun sank low, arrived at the sage's dwelling by the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.54.9)

रामस्त्वाश्रममासाद्य त्रासयन् मृगपक्षिणः। गत्वा मुहूर्तमध्वानं भरद्वाजमुपागमत्॥ २-५४-९ ॥

rāmastvāśramamāsādya trāsayan mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ | gatvā muhūrtamadhvānaṃ bharadvājamupāgamat

Reaching the hermitage, startling the deer and birds as he came, Rama, after walking but a moment's distance, arrived before Bharadvaja.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.54.10)

ततस्त्वाश्रममासाद्य मुनेर्दर्शनकांक्षिणौ। सीतयानुगतौ वीरौ दूरादेवावतस्थतुः॥ २-५४-१० ॥

tatastvāśramamāsādya munerdarśanakāṃkṣiṇau | sītayānugatau vīrau dūrādevāvatasthatuḥ

Then, having reached the hermitage and wishing to see the sage, the two heroes, with Sita, halted at a distance.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.54.11)

स प्रविश्य महात्मानमृषिं शिष्यगणैर्वृतम्। संशितव्रतमेकाग्रं तपसा लब्धचक्षुषम्॥ २-५४-११ ॥

sa praviśya mahātmānamṛṣiṃ śiṣyagaṇairvṛtam | saṃśitavratamekāgraṃ tapasā labdhacakṣuṣam

Approaching that great sage, surrounded by his disciples, of firm vows and one-pointed mind, who had won by austerity the power of far-seeing sight.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.54.12)

हुताग्निहोत्रं दृष्ट्वैव महाभागः कृताञ्जलिः। रामः सौमित्रिणा सार्धं सीतया चाभ्यवादयत्॥ २-५४-१२ ॥

hutāgnihotraṃ dṛṣṭvaiva mahābhāgaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ | rāmaḥ saumitriṇā sārdhaṃ sītayā cābhyavādayat

The instant he saw him, having just finished the fire-offering, glorious Rama, with joined palms, bowed to him, together with Saumitri and Sita.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.54.13)

न्यवेदयत चात्मानं तस्मै लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः। पुत्रौ दशरथस्यावां भगवन् रामलक्ष्मणौ॥ २-५४-१३ ॥

nyavedayata cātmānaṃ tasmai lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ | putrau daśarathasyāvāṃ bhagavan rāmalakṣmaṇau

Then Lakshmana's elder brother made himself known to him: "Reverend one, we, Rama and Lakshmana, are the sons of Dasharatha."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.54.14)

भार्या ममेयं कल्याणी वैदेही जनकात्मजा। मां चानुयाता विजनं तपोवनमनिन्दिता॥ २-५४-१४ ॥

bhāryā mameyaṃ kalyāṇī vaidehī janakātmajā | māṃ cānuyātā vijanaṃ tapovanamaninditā

"This blameless, gracious lady, Vaidehi, Janaka's daughter, is my wife, who has followed me even into this lonely penance-forest."

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.54.15)

पित्रा प्रव्राज्यमानं मां सौमित्रिरनुजः प्रियः। अयमन्वगमद् भ्राता वनमेव धृतव्रतः॥ २-५४-१५ ॥

pitrā pravrājyamānaṃ māṃ saumitriranujaḥ priyaḥ | ayamanvagamad bhrātā vanameva dhṛtavrataḥ

"When our father sent me into exile, this dear younger brother of mine, Saumitri, also took up the vow and followed me into the forest."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.54.16)

पित्रा नियुक्ता भगवन् प्रवेक्ष्यामस्तपोवनम्। धर्ममेवाचरिष्यामस्तत्र मूलफलाशनाः॥ २-५४-१६ ॥

pitrā niyuktā bhagavan pravekṣyāmastapovanam | dharmamevācariṣyāmastatra mūlaphalāśanāḥ

"Reverend one, appointed by our father's command, we shall enter the penance-forest and, living on roots and fruit, follow only the path of dharma."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.54.17)

तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा राजपुत्रस्य धीमतः। उपानयत धर्मात्मा गामर्घ्यमुदकं ततः॥ २-५४-१७ ॥

tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā rājaputrasya dhīmataḥ | upānayata dharmātmā gāmarghyamudakaṃ tataḥ

Hearing the wise prince's words, the righteous Bharadvaja then brought forth a cow, water for greeting, and water for the guest-offering.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.54.18)

नानाविधानन्नरसान् वन्यमूलफलाश्रयान्। तेभ्यो ददौ तप्ततपा वासं चैवाभ्यकल्पयत्॥ २-५४-१८ ॥

nānāvidhānannarasān vanyamūlaphalāśrayān | tebhyo dadau taptatapā vāsaṃ caivābhyakalpayat

That ascetic gave them many kinds of dishes drawn from the forest's roots and fruits, and arranged lodging for them as well.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.54.19)

मृगपक्षिभिरासीनो मुनिभिश्च समन्ततः। राममागतमभ्यर्च्य स्वागतेनागतं मुनिः॥ २-५४-१९ ॥

mṛgapakṣibhirāsīno munibhiśca samantataḥ | rāmamāgatamabhyarcya svāgatenāgataṃ muniḥ

Seated there, ringed all about by deer, birds, and sages, the sage honoured Rama's arrival with a warm welcome.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.54.20)

प्रतिगृह्य च तामर्चामुपविष्टं स राघवम्। भरद्वाजोऽब्रवीद् वाक्यं धर्मयुक्तमिदं तदा॥ २-५४-२० ॥

pratigṛhya ca tāmarcāmupaviṣṭaṃ sa rāghavam | bharadvājo'bravīd vākyaṃ dharmayuktamidaṃ tadā

Having accepted that hospitality, Bharadvaja then spoke these words, in keeping with dharma, to Raghava, now seated.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.54.21)

चिरस्य खलु काकुत्स्थ पश्याम्यहमुपागतम्। श्रुतं तव मया चैव विवासनमकारणम्॥ २-५४-२१ ॥

cirasya khalu kākutstha paśyāmyahamupāgatam | śrutaṃ tava mayā caiva vivāsanamakāraṇam

"O Kakutstha, after so long a time I now see you arrived here; I have also heard that you have been exiled without cause."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.54.22)

अवकाशो विविक्तोऽयं महानद्योः समागमे। पुण्यश्च रमणीयश्च वसत्विह भवान् सुखम्॥ २-५४-२२ ॥

avakāśo vivikto'yaṃ mahānadyoḥ samāgame | puṇyaśca ramaṇīyaśca vasatviha bhavān sukham

"This place at the meeting of two great rivers is secluded, sacred, and lovely; dwell here happily."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.54.23)

एवमुक्तस्तु वचनं भरद्वाजेन राघवः। प्रत्युवाच शुभं वाक्यं रामः सर्वहिते रतः॥ २-५४-२३ ॥

evamuktastu vacanaṃ bharadvājena rāghavaḥ | pratyuvāca śubhaṃ vākyaṃ rāmaḥ sarvahite rataḥ

Hearing these words spoken by Bharadvaja, Rama, intent on the welfare of all, gave him this fair reply.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.54.24)

भगवन्नित आसन्नः पौरजानपदो जनः। सुदर्शमिह मां प्रेक्ष्य मन्येऽहमिममाश्रमम्॥ २-५४-२४ ॥

bhagavannita āsannaḥ paurajānapado janaḥ | sudarśamiha māṃ prekṣya manye'hamimamāśramam

"Reverend one, from here the people of the town and country are near; knowing me easily seen here, they will keep coming to this hermitage."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.54.25)

आगमिष्यति वैदेहीं मां चापि प्रेक्षको जनः। अनेन कारणेनाहमिह वासं न रोचये॥ २-५४-२५ ॥

āgamiṣyati vaidehīṃ māṃ cāpi prekṣako janaḥ | anena kāraṇenāhamiha vāsaṃ na rocaye

"People will come here to look upon me and upon Vaidehi; for this reason I do not favour dwelling here."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.54.26)

एकान्ते पश्य भगवन्नाश्रमस्थानमुत्तमम्। रमते यत्र वैदेही सुखार्दा जनकात्मजा॥ २-५४-२६ ॥

ekānte paśya bhagavannāśramasthānamuttamam | ramate yatra vaidehī sukhārdā janakātmajā

"Reverend one, find for us some excellent, secluded hermitage-site, where Vaidehi, Janaka's daughter, deserving of comfort, may dwell content."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.54.27)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा शुभं वाक्यं भरद्वाजो महामुनिः। राघवस्य तु तद् वाक्यमर्थग्राहकमब्रवीत्॥ २-५४-२७ ॥

etacchrutvā śubhaṃ vākyaṃ bharadvājo mahāmuniḥ | rāghavasya tu tad vākyamarthagrāhakamabravīt

Hearing these fair words, the great sage Bharadvaja gave a reply that grasped the very purpose of Raghava's request.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.54.28)

दशक्रोश इतस्तात गिरिर्यस्मिन् निवत्स्यसि। महर्षिसेवितः पुण्यः पर्वतः शुभदर्शनः॥ २-५४-२८ ॥

daśakrośa itastāta giriryasmin nivatsyasi | maharṣisevitaḥ puṇyaḥ parvataḥ śubhadarśanaḥ

"Dear friend, ten leagues from here stands a mountain where you shall dwell; it is frequented by great sages, sacred, and fair to see."

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.54.29)

गोलाङ्गूलानुचरितो वानरर्क्षनिषेवितः। चित्रकूट इति ख्यातो गन्धमादनसंनिभः॥ २-५४-२९ ॥

golāṅgūlānucarito vānararkṣaniṣevitaḥ | citrakūṭa iti khyāto gandhamādanasaṃnibhaḥ

"There langurs roam, and monkeys and bears frequent it too; it is renowned by the name Chitrakuta and is like Gandhamadana."

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.54.30)

यावता चित्रकूटस्य नरः शृङ्गाण्यवेक्षते। कल्याणानि समाधत्ते न पापे कुरुते मनः॥ २-५४-३० ॥

yāvatā citrakūṭasya naraḥ śṛṅgāṇyavekṣate | kalyāṇāni samādhatte na pāpe kurute manaḥ

"So long as a man beholds Chitrakuta's peaks, he fixes his mind on wholesome deeds, never on wrong."

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.54.31)

ऋषयस्तत्र बहवो विहृत्य शरदां शतम्। तपसा दिवमारूढाः कपालशिरसा सह॥ २-५४-३१ ॥

ṛṣayastatra bahavo vihṛtya śaradāṃ śatam | tapasā divamārūḍhāḥ kapālaśirasā saha

"Many sages there, having spent a hundred autumns, rose to heaven by their austerities, skull-like heads and all."

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.54.32)

प्रविविक्तमहं मन्ये तं वासं भवतः सुखम्। इह वा वनवासाय वस राम मया सह॥ २-५४-३२ ॥

praviviktamahaṃ manye taṃ vāsaṃ bhavataḥ sukham | iha vā vanavāsāya vasa rāma mayā saha

"I consider that solitary dwelling a happy one for you; or else, Rama, stay here with me for your forest exile."

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.54.33)

स रामं सर्वकामैस्तं भरद्वाजः प्रियातिथिम्। सभार्यं सह च भ्रात्रा प्रतिजग्राह हर्षयन्॥ २-५४-३३ ॥

sa rāmaṃ sarvakāmaistaṃ bharadvājaḥ priyātithim | sabhāryaṃ saha ca bhrātrā pratijagrāha harṣayan

Thus Bharadvaja, gladdening him, honoured that dear guest Rama, together with his wife and brother, with every desired thing.

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.54.34)

तस्य प्रयागे रामस्य तं महर्षिमुपेयुषः। प्रपन्ना रजनी पुण्या चित्राः कथयतः कथाः॥ २-५४-३४ ॥

tasya prayāge rāmasya taṃ maharṣimupeyuṣaḥ | prapannā rajanī puṇyā citrāḥ kathayataḥ kathāḥ

That sacred night passed for Rama, come to that great sage at Prayaga, in the telling of many wondrous tales.

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.54.35)

सीतातृतीयः काकुत्स्थः परिश्रान्तः सुखोचितः। भरद्वाजाश्रमे रम्ये तां रात्रिमवसत् सुखम्॥ २-५४-३५ ॥

sītātṛtīyaḥ kākutsthaḥ pariśrāntaḥ sukhocitaḥ | bharadvājāśrame ramye tāṃ rātrimavasat sukham

With Sita, weary from the journey though fit for comfort, Kakutstha spent that night happily in Bharadvaja's lovely hermitage.

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.54.36)

प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां भरद्वाजमुपागमत्। उवाच नरशार्दूलो मुनिं ज्वलिततेजसम्॥ २-५४-३६ ॥

prabhātāyāṃ tu śarvaryāṃ bharadvājamupāgamat | uvāca naraśārdūlo muniṃ jvalitatejasam

When morning came, Rama, best among men, went to Bharadvaja and spoke thus to that radiant sage.

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.54.37)

शर्वरीं भगवन्नद्य सत्यशील तवाश्रमे। उषिताः स्मोऽद्य वसतिमनुजानातु नो भवान्॥ २-५४-३७ ॥

śarvarīṃ bhagavannadya satyaśīla tavāśrame | uṣitāḥ smo'dya vasatimanujānātu no bhavān

"Reverend one, true of nature, we have spent this night in your hermitage; grant us now your leave to go on."

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.54.38)

रात्र्यां तु तस्यां व्युष्टायां भरद्वाजोऽब्रवीदिदम्। मधुमूलफलोपेतं चित्रकूटं व्रजेति ह॥ २-५४-३८ ॥

rātryāṃ tu tasyāṃ vyuṣṭāyāṃ bharadvājo'bravīdidam | madhumūlaphalopetaṃ citrakūṭaṃ vrajeti ha

When that night had passed, Bharadvaja said this: "Go to Chitrakuta, rich in honey and roots and fruit."

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.54.39)

वासमौपयिकं मन्ये तव राम महाबल। नानानगगणोपेतः किन्नरोरगसेवितः॥ २-५४-३९ ॥

vāsamaupayikaṃ manye tava rāma mahābala | nānānagagaṇopetaḥ kinnaroragasevitaḥ

"O mighty Rama, I hold that dwelling fit for you; it is graced with clusters of every kind of tree and frequented by kinnaras and serpent-folk."

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.54.40)

मयूरनादाभिरुतो गजराजनिषेवितः। गम्यतां भवता शैलश्चित्रकूटः स विश्रुतः। पुण्यश्च रमणीयश्च बहुमूलफलायुतः॥ २-५४-४० ॥

mayūranādābhiruto gajarājaniṣevitaḥ | gamyatāṃ bhavatā śailaścitrakūṭaḥ sa viśrutaḥ | puṇyaśca ramaṇīyaśca bahumūlaphalāyutaḥ

"It resounds with the cries of peacocks and is frequented by lordly elephants; go to that renowned mountain Chitrakuta, sacred, delightful, and rich in many roots and fruits."

Shloka 41 (ayodhya.54.41)

तत्र कुञ्जरयूथानि मृगयूथानि चाभितः। विचरन्ति वनान्तेषु तानि द्रक्ष्यसि राघव॥ २-५४-४१ ॥

tatra kuñjarayūthāni mṛgayūthāni cābhitaḥ | vicaranti vanānteṣu tāni drakṣyasi rāghava

"There, within the forest, herds of elephants and deer roam about on every side; you shall see them there, Raghava."

Shloka 42 (ayodhya.54.42)

सरित्प्रस्रवणप्रस्थान् दरीकन्दरनिर्झरान्। चरतः सीतया सार्धं नन्दिष्यति मनस्तव॥ २-५४-४२ ॥

saritprasravaṇaprasthān darīkandaranirjharān | carataḥ sītayā sārdhaṃ nandiṣyati manastava

"Roaming there with Sita among rivers, cascades, mountain plateaus, ravines, caves, and rills, your mind shall find delight."

Shloka 43 (ayodhya.54.43)

प्रहृष्टकोयष्टिककोकिलस्वनैर्विनादितं तं वसुधाधरं शिवम्। मृगैश्च मत्तैर्बहुभिश्च कुञ्जरैः सुरम्यमासाद्य समावसाश्रमम्॥ २-५४-४३ ॥

prahṛṣṭakoyaṣṭikakokilasvanairvināditaṃ taṃ vasudhādharaṃ śivam | mṛgaiśca mattairbahubhiśca kuñjaraiḥ suramyamāsādya samāvasāśramam

"Reaching that most delightful and auspicious mountain, ringing with the calls of joyful koyashtika birds and cuckoos, and thronged with rutting deer and many elephants, settle there and make your hermitage."