Bharata Sets Out for Ayodhya

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.70.1)

भरते ब्रुवति स्वप्नं दूतास्ते क्लान्तवाहनाः। प्रविश्यासह्यपरिखं रम्यं राजगृहं पुरम्॥ २-७०-१ ॥

bharate bruvati svapnaṃ dūtāste klāntavāhanāḥ| praviśyāsahyaparikhaṃ ramyaṃ rājagṛhaṃ puram

Even as Bharata was telling of his dream, those messengers, their mounts now weary, entered the lovely city of Rajagriha with its impassable moat.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.70.2)

समागम्य तु राज्ञा च राजपुत्रेण चार्चिताः। राज्ञः पादौ गृहीत्वा तु तमूचुर्भरतं वचः॥ २-७०-२ ॥

samāgamya tu rājñā ca rājaputreṇa cārcitāḥ| rājñaḥ pādau gṛhītvā tu tamūcurbharataṃ vacaḥ

Meeting there with the king and with the prince, and being received honorably by them, they clasped the king's feet and spoke these words to Bharata.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.70.3)

पुरोहितस्त्वां कुशलं प्राह सर्वे च मन्त्रिणः। त्वरमाणश्च निर्याहि कृत्यमात्ययिकं त्वया॥ २-७०-३ ॥

purohitastvāṃ kuśalaṃ prāha sarve ca mantriṇaḥ| tvaramāṇaśca niryāhi kṛtyamātyayikaṃ tvayā

"'The royal priest asks after your welfare, and so do all the ministers; come at once, hastening, for there is an urgent task for you to do.'"

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.70.4)

इमानि च महार्हाणि वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च। प्रतिगृह्य विशालाक्ष मातुलस्य च दापय॥ २-७०-४ ॥

imāni ca mahārhāṇi vastrāṇyābharaṇāni ca| pratigṛhya viśālākṣa mātulasya ca dāpaya

"Take, wide-eyed prince, these costly garments and jewels, and see that they are given also to your maternal uncle."

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.70.5)

अत्र विंशतिकोट्यस्तु नृपतेर्मातुलस्य ते। दश कोट्यस्तु संपूर्णास्तथैव च नृपात्मज॥ २-७०-५ ॥

atra viṃśatikoṭyastu nṛpatermātulasya te| daśa koṭyastu saṃpūrṇāstathaiva ca nṛpātmaja

"In this, twenty crores' worth is for the king, your maternal uncle, and likewise a full ten crores besides, O prince."

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.70.6)

प्रतिगृह्य च तत्सर्वं स्वनुरक्तः सुहृज्जने। दूतानुवाच भरतः कामैः संप्रतिपूज्य तान्॥ २-७०-६ ॥

pratigṛhya ca tatsarvaṃ svanuraktaḥ suhṛjjane| dūtānuvāca bharataḥ kāmaiḥ saṃpratipūjya tān

Accepting all of it, and being naturally devoted to his kin, Bharata honored those messengers with gifts to their liking, and then spoke to them.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.70.7)

कच्चित्सुकुशली राजा पिता दशरथो मम। कच्चिच्चारोगता रामे लक्ष्मणे वा महात्मनि॥ २-७०-७ ॥

kaccitsukuśalī rājā pitā daśaratho mama| kacciccārogatā rāme lakṣmaṇe vā mahātmani

"Is my father, King Dasharatha, in perfect health? And are Rama and the great-souled Lakshmana also free from illness?"

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.70.8)

आर्या च धर्मनिरता धर्मज्ञा धर्मदर्शिनी। अरोगा चापि कौसल्या माता रामस्य धीमतः॥ २-७०-८ ॥

āryā ca dharmaniratā dharmajñā dharmadarśinī| arogā cāpi kausalyā mātā rāmasya dhīmataḥ

"And is the noble lady, devoted to righteousness, knower of righteousness, who sees righteousness in all things - Kausalya, mother of the wise Rama - also in good health?"

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.70.9)

कच्चित्सुमित्रा धर्मज्ञा जननी लक्ष्मणस्य या। शत्रुघ्नस्य च वीरस्य सारोगा चापि मध्यमा॥ २-७०-९ ॥

kaccitsumitrā dharmajñā jananī lakṣmaṇasya yā| śatrughnasya ca vīrasya sārogā cāpi madhyamā

"Is Sumitra, knower of righteousness, mother of Lakshmana and of the heroic Shatrughna, our middle mother, also in good health?"

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.70.10)

आत्मकामा सदा चण्डी क्रोधना प्राज्ञमानिनी। अरोगा चापि कैकेयी माता मे किमुवाच ह॥ २-७०-१० ॥

ātmakāmā sadā caṇḍī krodhanā prājñamāninī| arogā cāpi kaikeyī mātā me kimuvāca ha

"And my mother Kaikeyi - ever self-willed, quick to anger, proud of her own cleverness - is she too well? What did she have to say?"

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.70.11)

एवमुक्तास्तु ते दूता भरतेन महात्मना। ऊचुः संप्रश्रितं वाक्यमिदं तं भरतं तदा॥ २-७०-११ ॥

evamuktāstu te dūtā bharatena mahātmanā| ūcuḥ saṃpraśritaṃ vākyamidaṃ taṃ bharataṃ tadā

Thus questioned by the great-souled Bharata, those messengers then respectfully spoke this reply to him.

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.70.12)

कुशलास्ते नरव्याघ्र येषां कुशलमिच्छसि। श्रीश्च त्वां वृणुते पद्मा युज्यतां चापि ते रथः॥ २-७०-१२ ॥

kuśalāste naravyāghra yeṣāṃ kuśalamicchasi| śrīśca tvāṃ vṛṇute padmā yujyatāṃ cāpi te rathaḥ

"Tiger among men, all those about whom you ask are well. Lakshmi of the lotus hand herself favors you - now let your chariot be made ready."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.70.13)

भरतश्चापि तान् दूतानेवमुक्तोऽभ्यभाषत। आपृच्छेऽहं महाराजं दूताः संत्वरयन्ति माम्॥ २-७०-१३ ॥

bharataścāpi tān dūtānevamukto'bhyabhāṣata| āpṛcche'haṃ mahārājaṃ dūtāḥ saṃtvarayanti mām

Thus addressed, Bharata in turn said to those messengers, "I shall take leave of the king; the messengers are urging me to hurry."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.70.14)

एवमुक्त्वा तु तान् दूतान् भरतः पार्थिवात्मजः। दूतैः संचोदितो वाक्यं मातामहमुवाच ह॥ २-७०-१४ ॥

evamuktvā tu tān dūtān bharataḥ pārthivātmajaḥ| dūtaiḥ saṃcodito vākyaṃ mātāmahamuvāca ha

Having spoken thus to the messengers, the prince Bharata, urged on by them, then addressed these words to his grandfather.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.70.15)

राजन् पितुर्गमिष्यामि सकाशं दूतचोदितः। पुनरप्यहमेष्यामि यदा मे त्वं स्मरिष्यसि॥ २-७०-१५ ॥

rājan piturgamiṣyāmi sakāśaṃ dūtacoditaḥ| punarapyahameṣyāmi yadā me tvaṃ smariṣyasi

"O king, urged by these messengers I go now to my father; and I shall come again whenever you remember me and call."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.70.16)

भरतेनैवमुक्तस्तु नृपो मातामहस्तदा। तमुवाच शुभं वाक्यं शिरस्याघ्राय राघवम्॥ २-७०-१६ ॥

bharatenaivamuktastu nṛpo mātāmahastadā| tamuvāca śubhaṃ vākyaṃ śirasyāghrāya rāghavam

Thus addressed by Bharata, the king, his grandfather, kissed the top of his head and spoke these auspicious words to him.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.70.17)

गच्छ तातानुजाने त्वां कैकेयी सुप्रजास्त्वया। मातरं कुशलं ब्रूयाः पितरं च परंतप॥ २-७०-१७ ॥

gaccha tātānujāne tvāṃ kaikeyī suprajāstvayā| mātaraṃ kuśalaṃ brūyāḥ pitaraṃ ca parantapa

"Go, my child, I give you leave; Kaikeyi is blessed to have a son like you. Give my greetings of welfare to your mother and to your father, scorcher of foes."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.70.18)

पुरोहितं च कुशलं ये चान्ये द्विजसत्तमाः। तौ च तात महेष्वासौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥ २-७०-१८ ॥

purohitaṃ ca kuśalaṃ ye cānye dvijasattamāḥ| tau ca tāta maheṣvāsau bhrātarau rāmalakṣmaṇau

"Ask also of the welfare of the family priest and the other most eminent Brahmins, my child, and of your two brothers, the great archers Rama and Lakshmana."

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.70.19)

तस्मै हस्त्युत्तमांश्चित्रान् कम्बलानजिनानि च। अभिसत्कृत्य कैकेयो भरताय धनं ददौ॥ २-७०-१९ ॥

tasmai hastyuttamāṃścitrān kambalānajināni ca| abhisatkṛtya kaikeyo bharatāya dhanaṃ dadau

Then, honoring him fittingly, the king of the Kekayas gave to Bharata the finest of elephants, richly colored blankets, deerskins, and other wealth.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.70.20)

रुक्मनिष्कसहस्रे द्वे षोडशाश्वशतानि च। सत्कृत्य कैकेयीपुत्रं केकयो धनमादिशत्॥ २-७०-२० ॥

rukmaniṣkasahasre dve ṣoḍaśāśvaśatāni ca| satkṛtya kaikeyīputraṃ kekayo dhanamādiśat

Honoring Kaikeyi's son, the king of the Kekayas ordered given to him two thousand gold coins and sixteen hundred horses besides.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.70.21)

तथामात्यानभिप्रेतान् विश्वास्यांश्च गुणान्वितान्। ददावश्वपतिः शीघ्रं भरतायानुयायिनः॥ २-७०-२१ ॥

tathāmātyānabhipretān viśvāsyāṃśca guṇānvitān| dadāvaśvapatiḥ śīghraṃ bharatāyānuyāyinaḥ

The lord of horses, Ashvapati, likewise quickly gave Bharata trusted, virtuous ministers of his own choosing to accompany him.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.70.22)

ऐरावतानैन्द्रशिरान् नागान् वै प्रियदर्शनान्। खरान् शीघ्रान् संयुक्तान् मातुलोऽस्मै धनं ददौ॥ २-७०-२२ ॥

airāvatānaindraśirān nāgān vai priyadarśanān| kharān śīghrān saṃyuktān mātulo'smai dhanaṃ dadau

His maternal uncle gave him, as gifts, elephants of Airavata's line born on the Indra Range, delightful to behold, and swift, well-trained mules.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.70.23)

अन्तःपुरेऽतिसंवृद्धान् व्याघ्रवीर्यबलान्वितान्। दंष्ट्रायुधान् महाकायान् शुनश्चोपायनं ददौ॥ २-७०-२३ ॥

antaḥpure'tisaṃvṛddhān vyāghravīryabalānvitān| daṃṣṭrāyudhān mahākāyān śunaścopāyanaṃ dadau

He gave him too, as a gift, huge dogs, raised within the inner palace, endowed with a tiger's strength and vigor, their very fangs their weapons.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.70.24)

स मातामहमापृच्छ्य मातुलं च युधाजितम्। रथमारुह्य भरतः शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ॥ २-७०-२४ ॥

sa mātāmahamāpṛcchya mātulaṃ ca yudhājitam| rathamāruhya bharataḥ śatrughnasahito yayau

Taking leave of his grandfather and of his uncle Yudhajit, Bharata mounted his chariot and set out, together with Shatrughna.

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.70.25)

बभूव ह्यस्य हृदि चिन्ता सुमहती तदा। त्वरया चापि दूतानां स्वप्नस्यापि च दर्शनात्॥ २-७०-२५ ॥

babhūva hyasya hṛdi cintā sumahatī tadā| tvarayā cāpi dūtānāṃ svapnasyāpi ca darśanāt

For a great anxiety had by then risen in his heart, born both of the messengers' urgency and of the dream he had seen.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.70.26)

स स्ववेश्माभ्यतिक्रम्य नरनागाश्वसंवृतम्। प्रपेदे सुमहच्छ्रीमान् राजमार्गमनुत्तमम्॥ २-७०-२६ ॥

sa svaveśmābhyatikramya naranāgāśvasaṃvṛtam| prapede sumahacchrīmān rājamārgamanuttamam

Passing beyond his own residence, that glorious prince came out onto the great and unrivalled royal highway, thronged with men, elephants, and horses.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.70.27)

अभ्यतीत्य ततोऽपश्यदन्तःपुरमुदारधीः। ततस्तद्भरतः श्रीमानाविवेशानिवारितः॥ २-७०-२७ ॥

abhyatītya tato'paśyadantaḥpuramudāradhīḥ| tatastadbharataḥ śrīmānāviveśānivāritaḥ

Passing beyond that too, the noble-minded prince caught sight of the inner apartments; and then that glorious Bharata entered them, unhindered by anyone.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.70.28)

स मातामहमापृच्छ्य मातुलं च युधाजितम्। रथमारुह्य भरतः शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ॥ २-७०-२८ ॥

sa mātāmahamāpṛcchya mātulaṃ ca yudhājitam| rathamāruhya bharataḥ śatrughnasahito yayau

Taking leave of his grandfather and of his uncle Yudhajit, Bharata mounted his chariot and set out, together with Shatrughna.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.70.29)

रथान् मण्डलचक्रांश्च योजयित्वा परः शतम्। उष्ट्रगोऽश्वखरैर्भृत्या भरतं यान्तमन्वयुः॥ २-७०-२९ ॥

rathān maṇḍalacakrāṃśca yojayitvā paraḥ śatam| uṣṭrago'śvakhairbhṛtyā bharataṃ yāntamanvayuḥ

With more than a hundred round-wheeled chariots made ready, servants mounted on camels, oxen, horses, and mules followed after Bharata as he went.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.70.30)

बलेन गुप्तो भरतो महात्मा सहार्यकस्यात्मसमैरमात्यैः। आदाय शत्रुघ्नमपेतशत्रुः गृहाद्ययौ सिद्धैव इन्द्रलोकात्॥ २-७०-३० ॥

balena gupto bharato mahātmā sahāryakasyātmasamairamātyaiḥ| ādāya śatrughnamapetaśatruḥ gṛhādyayau siddhaiva indralokāt

Guarded by his army, that noble Bharata, free of enemies, taking Shatrughna with him and accompanied by his grandfather's ministers, men as worthy as himself, set out from that house as a perfected being might set out from the world of Indra.