Bharata Orders the March to the Forest

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.82.1)

ताम् आर्य गण सम्पूर्णाम् भरतः प्रग्रहाम् सभाम्। ददर्श बुद्धि सम्पन्नः पूर्ण चन्द्राम् निशाम् इव॥ 82.1 ॥

tām ārya gaṇa sampūrṇām bharataḥ pragrahām sabhām| dadarśa buddhi sampannaḥ pūrṇa candrām niśām iva

Bharata, endowed with wisdom, beheld that well-ordered assembly, filled with the whole company of noble men, shining like a night under the full moon.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.82.2)

आसनानि यथा न्यायम् आर्याणाम् विशताम् तदा। अदृश्यत घन अपाये पूर्ण चन्द्रा इव शर्वरी॥ 82.2 ॥

āsanāni yathā nyāyam āryāṇām viśatām tadā| adṛśyata ghana apāye pūrṇa candrā iva śarvarī

As the noble men took their proper seats in due order, the assembly then appeared like a cloudless night bathed in the light of the full moon.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.82.3)

सा विद्वज्जनसम्पूर्णा सभा सुरुचिरा तदा। अदृश्यत घनापाये पूर्णचन्द्रेव शर्वरी॥ 82.3 ॥

sā vidvajjanasampūrṇā sabhā surucirā tadā| adṛśyata ghanāpāye pūrṇacandreva śarvarī

That radiant assembly, filled with learned men, then looked like a clear autumn night lit by the full moon.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.82.4)

राज्ञः तु प्रकृतीः सर्वाः समग्राः प्रेक्ष्य धर्मवित्। इदम् पुरोहितः वाक्यम् भरतम् मृदु च अब्रवीत्॥ 82.4 ॥

rājñaḥ tu prakṛtīḥ sarvāḥ samagrāḥ prekṣya dharmavit| idam purohitaḥ vākyam bharatam mṛdu ca abravīt

Seeing all the king's subjects gathered there entire, the righteous priest spoke these gentle words to Bharata.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.82.5)

तात राजा दशरथः स्वर् गतः धर्मम् आचरन्। धन धान्यवतीम् स्फीताम् प्रदाय पृथिवीम् तव॥ 82.5 ॥

tāta rājā daśarathaḥ svar gataḥ dharmam ācaran| dhana dhānyavatīm sphītām pradāya pṛthivīm tava

"Dear child, King Dasharatha, ever practicing righteousness, has gone to heaven, having bestowed upon you this vast earth, rich in wealth and grain."

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.82.6)

रामः तथा सत्य धृतिः सताम् धर्मम् अनुस्मरन्। न अजहात् पितुर् आदेशम् शशी ज्योत्स्नाम् इव उदितः॥ 82.6 ॥

rāmaḥ tathā satya dhṛtiḥ satām dharmam anusmaran| na ajahāt pituḥ ādeśam śaśī jyotsnām iva uditaḥ

"And Rama, steadfast in truth, mindful of the duty of the righteous, did not forsake his father's command, just as the risen moon never forsakes its own moonlight."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.82.7)

पित्रा भ्रात्रा च ते दत्तम् राज्यम् निहत कण्टकम्। तत् भुन्क्ष्व मुदित अमात्यः क्षिप्रम् एव अभिषेचय॥ 82.7 ॥

pitrā bhrātrā ca te dattam rājyam nihata kaṇṭakam| tat bhunkṣva mudita amātyaḥ kṣipram eva abhiṣecaya

"This kingdom, its thorns cleared away, has been given to you by both your father and your brother. Enjoy it with your rejoicing ministers, and have yourself anointed at once."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.82.8)

उदीच्याः च प्रतीच्याः च दाक्षिणात्याः च केवलाः। कोट्या अपर अन्ताः सामुद्रा रत्नानि अभिहरन्तु ते॥ 82.8 ॥

udīcyāḥ ca pratīcyāḥ ca dākṣiṇātyāḥ ca kevalāḥ| koṭyā apara antāḥ sāmudrā ratnāni abhiharantu te

"Let the peoples of the north, of the west, of the whole south, of the western borderlands, and the sea-faring traders bring you crores of jewels as tribute."

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.82.9)

तत् श्रुत्वा भरतः वाक्यम् शोकेन अभिपरिप्लुतः। जगाम मनसा रामम् धर्मज्ञो धर्म कान्क्षया॥ 82.9 ॥

tat śrutvā bharataḥ vākyam śokena abhipariplutaḥ| jagāma manasā rāmam dharmajño dharma kāṅkṣayā

Hearing those words, Bharata, knower of righteousness, overwhelmed with grief, turned his mind to Rama, yearning for what was just.

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.82.10)

स बाष्प कलया वाचा कल हंस स्वरः युवा। विललाप सभा मध्ये जगर्हे च पुरोहितम्॥ 82.10 ॥

sa bāṣpa kalayā vācā kala haṃsa svaraḥ yuvā| vilalāpa sabhā madhye jagarhe ca purohitam

That youth, his voice as sweet as a swan's yet choked with tears, lamented in the midst of the assembly, and even reproached the priest.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.82.11)

चरित ब्रह्मचर्यस्य विद्या स्नातस्य धीमतः। धर्मे प्रयतमानस्य को राज्यम् मद्विधो हरेत्॥ 82.11 ॥

carita brahmacaryasya vidyā snātasya dhīmataḥ| dharme prayatamānasya ko rājyam madvidho haret

"How could one such as I rob the kingdom from him who has kept the vow of brahmacharya, who is versed in all learning, wise, and ever devoted to righteousness?"

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.82.12)

कथम् दशरथाज् जातः भवेद् राज्य अपहारकः। राज्यम् च अहम् च रामस्य धर्मम् वक्तुम् इह अर्हसि॥ 82.12 ॥

katham daśarathāj jātaḥ bhaved rājya apahārakaḥ| rājyam ca aham ca rāmasya dharmam vaktum iha arhasi

"How could one born of Dasharatha become a usurper of the kingdom? Both the realm and I myself belong to Rama alone. You ought to declare to me the law in this matter."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.82.13)

ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठः च धर्म आत्मा दिलीप नहुष उपमः। लब्धुम् अर्हति काकुत्स्थो राज्यम् दशरथो यथा॥ 82.13 ॥

jyeṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ ca dharma ātmā dilīpa nahuṣa upamaḥ| labdhum arhati kākutstho rājyam daśaratho yathā

"Rama, the eldest and the noblest, righteous of soul, the equal of Dilipa and Nahusha, alone deserves to obtain this kingdom, even as Dasharatha did."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.82.14)

अनार्य जुष्टम् अस्वर्ग्यम् कुर्याम् पापम् अहम् यदि। इक्ष्वाकूणाम् अहम् लोके भवेयम् कुल पांसनः॥ 82.14 ॥

anārya juṣṭam asvargyam kuryām pāpam aham yadi| ikṣvākūṇām aham loke bhaveyam kula pāṃsanaḥ

"If I were to commit such a sin—one practiced only by the ignoble, and barring the way to heaven—I would become, in this world, a defiler of the Ikshvaku line."

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.82.15)

यद्द् हि मात्रा कृतम् पापम् न अहम् तत् अभिरोचये। इहस्थो वन दुर्गस्थम् नमस्यामि कृत अन्जलिः॥ 82.15 ॥

yad dhi mātrā kṛtam pāpam na aham tat abhirocaye| ihastho vana durgastham namasyāmi kṛta añjaliḥ

"I do not, in any way, approve of that sin committed by my mother. Standing right here, I offer my salutation, with joined palms, to him who dwells in that impassable forest."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.82.16)

रामम् एव अनुगच्चामि स राजा द्विपदाम् वरः। त्रयाणाम् अपि लोकानाम् राघवो राज्यम् अर्हति॥ 82.16 ॥

rāmam eva anugacchāmi sa rājā dvipadām varaḥ| trayāṇām api lokānām rāghavo rājyam arhati

"I will follow Rama alone. He, the foremost among men, is the true king. Raghava deserves sovereignty even over all three worlds."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.82.17)

तत् वाक्यम् धर्म सम्युक्तम् श्रुत्वा सर्वे सभासदः। हर्षान् मुमुचुर् अश्रूणि रामे निहित चेतसः॥ 82.17 ॥

tat vākyam dharma saṃyuktam śrutvā sarve sabhāsadaḥ| harṣān mumucur aśrūṇi rāme nihita cetasaḥ

Hearing those righteous words, all the members of the assembly, their hearts fixed upon Rama, shed tears of joy.

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.82.18)

यदि तु आर्यम् न शक्ष्यामि विनिवर्तयितुम् वनात्। वने तत्र एव वत्स्यामि यथा आर्यो लक्ष्मणः तथा॥ 82.18 ॥

yadi tu āryam na śakṣyāmi vinivartayitum vanāt| vane tatra eva vatsyāmi yathā āryo lakṣmaṇaḥ tathā

"But if I am unable to bring my noble brother back from the forest, then I shall dwell in that very forest myself, just as noble Lakshmana does."

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.82.19)

सर्व उपायम् तु वर्तिष्ये विनिवर्तयितुम् बलात्। समक्षम् आर्य मिश्राणाम् साधूनाम् गुण वर्तिनाम्॥ 82.19 ॥

sarva upāyam tu vartiṣye vinivartayitum balāt| samakṣam ārya miśrāṇām sādhūnām guṇa vartinām

"Yet I shall use every possible means, even force if need be, to bring him back, before the eyes of these noble and virtuous men."

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.82.20)

विष्टिकर्मान्तिकाः सर्वे मार्गशोधनरक्षकाः। प्रस्थापिता मया पूर्वम् यात्रापि मम रोचते॥ 82.20 ॥

viṣṭikarmāntikāḥ sarve mārgaśodhanarakṣakāḥ| prasthāpitā mayā pūrvam yātrāpi mama rocate

"All those skilled in clearing and guarding the road have already been sent ahead by me, and this journey is indeed to my liking."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.82.21)

एवम् उक्त्वा तु धर्म आत्मा भरतः भ्रातृ वत्सलः। समीपस्थम् उवाच इदम् सुमन्त्रम् मन्त्र कोविदम्॥ 82.21 ॥

evam uktvā tu dharma ātmā bharataḥ bhrātṛ vatsalaḥ| samīpastham uvāca idam sumantram mantra kovidam

Having spoken thus, the righteous Bharata, devoted to his brother, then said this to Sumantra, skilled in counsel, who stood close by.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.82.22)

तूर्णम् उत्थाय गच्च त्वम् सुमन्त्र मम शासनात्। यात्राम् आज्ञापय क्षिप्रम् बलम् चैव समानय॥ 82.22 ॥

tūrṇam utthāya gaccha tvam sumantra mama śāsanāt| yātrām ājñāpaya kṣipram balam caiva samānaya

"Rise quickly, Sumantra, and go forth at my command. Order the journey to be arranged at once, and gather the army together."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.82.23)

एवम् उक्तः सुमन्त्रः तु भरतेन महात्मना। हृष्टः सो अदिशत् सर्वम् यथा सम्दिष्टम् इष्टवत्॥ 82.23 ॥

evam uktaḥ sumantraḥ tu bharatena mahātmanā| hṛṣṭaḥ so adiśat sarvam yathā saṃdiṣṭam iṣṭavat

Thus commanded by the great-souled Bharata, Sumantra, filled with delight, arranged everything exactly as ordered and wished.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.82.24)

ताः प्रहृष्टाः प्रकृतयो बल अध्यक्षा बलस्य च। श्रुत्वा यात्राम् समाज्ञप्ताम् राघवस्य निवर्तने॥ 82.24 ॥

tāḥ prahṛṣṭāḥ prakṛtayo bala adhyakṣā balasya ca| śrutvā yātrām samājñaptām rāghavasya nivartane

Those ministers and the commanders of the army, hearing that the journey had been ordered for the return of Raghava, were overjoyed.

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.82.25)

ततः योध अन्गनाः सर्वा भर्तॄन् सर्वान् गृहे गृहे। यात्रा गमनम् आज्ञाय त्वरयन्ति स्म हर्षिताः॥ 82.25 ॥

tataḥ yodha aṅganāḥ sarvā bhartṝn sarvān gṛhe gṛhe| yātrā gamanam ājñāya tvarayanti sma harṣitāḥ

Then, on learning of the coming march, the wives of the warriors, in every household, joyfully hurried their husbands to make ready.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.82.26)

ते हयैः गो रथैः शीघ्रैः स्यन्दनैः च मनो जवैः। सह योधैः बल अध्यक्षा बलम् सर्वम् अचोदयन्॥ 82.26 ॥

te hayaiḥ go rathaiḥ śīghraiḥ syandanaiḥ ca mano javaiḥ| saha yodhaiḥ bala adhyakṣā balam sarvam acodayan

The army-commanders, together with the warriors, spurred the entire army onward with swift horses, ox-drawn carts, and chariots swift as thought.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.82.27)

सज्जम् तु तत् बलम् दृष्ट्वा भरतः गुरु सम्निधौ। रथम् मे त्वरयस्व इति सुमन्त्रम् पार्श्वतः अब्रवीत्॥ 82.27 ॥

sajjam tu tat balam dṛṣṭvā bharataḥ guru sannidhau| ratham me tvarayasva iti sumantram pārśvataḥ abravīt

Seeing that army ready, Bharata, in the presence of his preceptor, said to Sumantra standing at his side, "Make my chariot ready at once."

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.82.28)

भरतस्य तु तस्य आज्ञाम् प्रतिगृह्य प्रहर्षितः। रथम् गृहीत्वा प्रययौ युक्तम् परम वाजिभिः॥ 82.28 ॥

bharatasya tu tasya ājñām pratigṛhya praharṣitaḥ| ratham gṛhītvā prayayau yuktam parama vājibhiḥ

Accepting Bharata's command with delight, Sumantra took up a chariot yoked with the finest horses and drove toward him.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.82.29)

स राघवः सत्य धृतिः प्रतापवान्। ब्रुवन् सुयुक्तम् दृढ सत्य विक्रमः। गुरुम् महा अरण्य गतम् यशस्विनम्। प्रसादयिष्यन् भरतः अब्रवीत् तदा॥ 82.29 ॥

sa rāghavaḥ satya dhṛtiḥ pratāpavān| bruvan suyuktam dṛḍha satya vikramaḥ| gurum mahā araṇya gatam yaśasvinam| prasādayiṣyan bharataḥ abravīt tadā

Then Bharata, of Raghu's line, steadfast in truth, majestic, of firm and true valour, speaking most fittingly, and resolved to win over his illustrious elder brother who had gone into the great forest, spoke as follows.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.82.30)

तूर्णम् समुत्थाय सुमन्त्र गच्च। बलस्य योगाय बल प्रधानान्। आनेतुम् इच्चामि हि तम् वनस्थम्। प्रसाद्य रामम् जगतः हिताय॥ 82.30 ॥

tūrṇam samutthāya sumantra gaccha| balasya yogāya bala pradhānān| ānetum icchāmi hi tam vanastham| prasādya rāmam jagataḥ hitāya

"Rise up quickly, Sumantra, and go to the chief officers of the army, to muster the troops. For I wish, having won his favour, to bring back Rama, who dwells in the forest, for the good of all the world."

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.82.31)

स सूत पुत्रः भरतेन सम्यग्। आज्ञापितः सम्परिपूर्ण कामः। शशास सर्वान् प्रकृति प्रधानान्। बलस्य मुख्यामः च सुहृज् जनम् च॥ 82.31 ॥

sa sūta putraḥ bharatena samyag| ājñāpitaḥ samparipūrṇa kāmaḥ| śaśāsa sarvān prakṛti pradhānān| balasya mukhyāmaḥ ca suhṛj janam ca

That son of the charioteer, thus fully commanded by Bharata and his own wish thereby fulfilled, gave orders to all the chief ministers, the leaders of the army, and the well-wishing folk.

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.82.32)

ततः समुत्थाय कुले कुले ते। राजन्य वैश्या वृषलाः च विप्राः। अयूयुजन्न् उष्ट्र रथान् खरामः च। नागान् हयामः चैव कुल प्रसूतान्॥ 82.32 ॥

tataḥ samutthāya kule kule te| rājanya vaiśyā vṛṣalāḥ ca viprāḥ| ayūyujann uṣṭra rathān kharāmaḥ ca| nāgān hayāmaḥ caiva kula prasūtān

Then, rising up in every household, the Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and Brahmins harnessed their chariots to camels and mules, and to well-bred elephants and horses.