Bharata Meets Rama at Chitrakuta

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.99.1)

निविष्टायां तु सेनायामुत्सुको भरतस्तदा। जगाम भ्रातरं द्रष्टुं शत्रुघ्नमनुदर्शयन्॥ 99.1 ॥

niviṣṭāyāṃ tu senāyāmutsuko bharatastadā| jagāma bhrātaraṃ draṣṭuṃ śatrughnamanudarśayan

Then, the army having encamped, eager Bharata set off to see his brother, with Shatrughna following in his wake.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.99.2)

ऋषिं वसिष्ठं सन्दिश्य मातरं मे शीघ्रमानय। इति त्वरितमग्रे स जगाम गुरुवत्सलः॥ 99.2 ॥

ṛṣiṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ sandiśya mātaraṃ me śīghramānaya| iti tvaritamagre sa jagāma guruvatsalaḥ

Having sent word to sage Vasishtha, "bring my mother quickly," that one devoted to his elders hastened on ahead.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.99.3)

सुमन्त्रस्त्वपि शत्रुघ्नमदूरादन्वपद्यत। रामदर्शनजस्तर्षो भरतस्येव तस्य च॥ 99.3 ॥

sumantrastvapi śatrughnamadūrādanvapadyata| rāmadarśanajastarṣo bharatasyeva tasya ca

Sumantra too followed close behind Shatrughna, filled with the very same longing to see Rama that burned in Bharata.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.99.4)

गच्छन्नेवाथ भरतस्तापसालयसंस्थिताम्। भ्रातुः पर्णकुटीं श्रीमानुटजं च ददर्श ह॥ 99.4 ॥

gacchannevātha bharatastāpasālayasaṃsthitām| bhrātuḥ parṇakuṭīṃ śrīmānuṭajaṃ ca dadarśa ha

Then, while going along, the glorious Bharata saw his brother's leaf-hut and hermitage-cottage, built like an ascetic's dwelling.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.99.5)

शालायास्त्वग्रतस्तस्या ददर्श भरतस्तदा। काष्ठानि चावभग्नानि पुष्पाण्युपचितानि च॥ 99.5 ॥

śālāyāstvagratastasyā dadarśa bharatastadā| kāṣṭhāni cāvabhagnāni puṣpāṇyupacitāni ca

In front of that hut Bharata then saw broken pieces of wood and flowers that had been gathered.

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.99.6)

सलक्ष्मणस्य रामस्य ददर्शाश्रममीयुषः। कृतं वृक्षेष्वभिज्ञानं कुशचीरैः क्वचित् क्वचित्॥ 99.6 ॥

salakṣmaṇasya rāmasya dadarśāśramamīyuṣaḥ| kṛtaṃ vṛkṣeṣvabhijñānaṃ kuśacīraiḥ kvacit kvacit

Near that hermitage which Rama had reached together with Lakshmana, he saw marks made here and there upon the trees with strips of kusha grass and bark.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.99.7)

ददर्श च वने तस्मिन् महतः सञ्चयान् कृतान्। मृगाणां महिषाणां च करीषैः शीतकारणात्॥ 99.7 ॥

dadarśa ca vane tasmin mahataḥ sañcayān kṛtān| mṛgāṇāṃ mahiṣāṇāṃ ca karīṣaiḥ śītakāraṇāt

And in that forest he saw great heaps of deer- and buffalo-dung, gathered there as fuel against the cold.

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.99.8)

गच्छन्नेव महाबाहुर्द्युतिमान् भरतस्तदा। शत्रुघ्नं चाब्रवीद्धृष्टस्तानमात्यांश्च सर्वशः॥ 99.8 ॥

gacchanneva mahābāhurdyutimān bharatastadā| śatrughnaṃ cābravīddhṛṣṭastānamātyāṃśca sarvaśaḥ

Then, while still walking on, the mighty-armed, radiant Bharata, filled with delight, spoke to Shatrughna and to all the ministers.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.99.9)

मन्ये प्राप्ताः स्म तं देशं भरद्वाजो यमब्रवीत्। नातिदूरे हि मन्येऽहं नदीं मन्दाकिनीमितः॥ 99.9 ॥

manye prāptāḥ sma taṃ deśaṃ bharadvājo yamabravīt| nātidūre hi manye'haṃ nadīṃ mandākinīmitaḥ

"I believe we have reached that very place which the sage Bharadvaja spoke of; I think the river Mandakini cannot be far from here."

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.99.10)

उच्चैर्बद्धानि चीराणि लक्ष्मणेन भवेदयम्। अभिज्ञानकृतः पन्था विकाले गन्तुमिच्छता॥ 99.10 ॥

uccairbaddhāni cīrāṇi lakṣmaṇena bhavedayam| abhijñānakṛtaḥ panthā vikāle gantumicchatā

"These strips of bark tied up high must be the trail-marker made by Lakshmana, meant to guide the way for one travelling at a late hour."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.99.11)

इदं चोदात्तदन्तानां कुञ्जराणां तरस्विनाम्। शैलपार्श्वे परिक्रान्तमन्योन्यमभिगर्जताम्॥ 99.11 ॥

idaṃ codāttadantānāṃ kuñjarāṇāṃ tarasvinām| śailapārśve parikrāntamanyonyamabhigarjatām

"And here is the track of swift, tusked elephants that roam the mountainside, trumpeting at one another."

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.99.12)

यमेवाधातुमिच्छन्ति तापसाः सततं वने। तस्यासौ दृश्यते धूमः सङ्कुलः कृष्णवर्त्मनः॥ 99.12 ॥

yamevādhātumicchanti tāpasāḥ satataṃ vane| tasyāsau dṛśyate dhūmaḥ saṅkulaḥ kṛṣṇavartmanaḥ

"There, that thick column of smoke one sees is surely from the very fire which the ascetics always keep burning in the forest."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.99.13)

अत्राहं पुरुषव्याघ्रं गुरुसंस्कारकारिणम्। आर्यं द्रक्ष्यामि संहृष्टो महर्षिमिव राघवम्॥ 99.13 ॥

atrāhaṃ puruṣavyāghraṃ gurusaṃskārakāriṇam| āryaṃ drakṣyāmi saṃhṛṣṭo maharṣimiva rāghavam

"Here, joyfully, I shall behold that noble tiger among men, Raghava, dutiful toward our elders, revered like a great sage."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.99.14)

अथ गत्वा मुहूर्तं तु चित्रकूटं स राघवः। मन्दाकिनीमनुप्राप्तस्तं जनं चेदमब्रवीत्॥ 99.14 ॥

atha gatvā muhūrtaṃ tu citrakūṭaṃ sa rāghavaḥ| mandākinīmanuprāptastaṃ janaṃ cedamabravīt

Then, after walking on a little while and reaching Chitrakuta, having come upon the Mandakini, Bharata spoke thus to his people.

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.99.15)

जगत्यां पुरुषव्याघ्र आस्ते वीरासने रतः। जनेन्द्रो निर्जनं प्राप्य धिङ्मे जन्म सजीवितम्॥ 99.15 ॥

jagatyāṃ puruṣavyāghra āste vīrāsane rataḥ| janendro nirjanaṃ prāpya dhiṅme janma sajīvitam

"That tiger among men, lord of the people, who once sat in majesty upon a hero's throne, now dwells in this desolate place — shame upon my birth and my life!"

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.99.16)

मत्कृते व्यसनं प्राप्तो लोकनाथो महाद्युतिः। सर्वान् कामान् परित्यज्य वने वसति राघवः॥ 99.16 ॥

matkṛte vyasanaṃ prāpto lokanātho mahādyutiḥ| sarvān kāmān parityajya vane vasati rāghavaḥ

"Because of me alone, the glorious lord of the world has fallen into calamity; abandoning every pleasure, Raghava now dwells in the forest."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.99.17)

इति लोकसमाक्रुष्टः पादेष्वद्य प्रसादयन्। रामस्य निपतिष्यामि सीताया लक्ष्मणस्य च॥ 99.17 ॥

iti lokasamākruṣṭaḥ pādeṣvadya prasādayan| rāmasya nipatiṣyāmi sītāyā lakṣmaṇasya ca

"Thus reviled by all the world, today, seeking their forgiveness, I shall fall down at the feet of Rama, of Sita, and of Lakshmana."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.99.18)

एवं स विलपंस्तस्मिन् वने दशरथात्मजः। ददर्श महतीं पुण्यां पर्णशालां मनोरमाम्॥ 99.18 ॥

evaṃ sa vilapaṃstasmin vane daśarathātmajaḥ| dadarśa mahatīṃ puṇyāṃ parṇaśālāṃ manoramām

Lamenting thus in that forest, Dasharatha's son saw a great, sacred, and lovely leaf-hut.

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.99.19)

सालतालाश्वकर्णानां पर्णैर्बहुभिरावृताम्। विशालां मृदुभिस्तीर्णां कुशैर्वेदिमिवाध्वरे॥ 99.19 ॥

sālatālāśvakarṇānāṃ parṇairbahubhirāvṛtām| viśālāṃ mṛdubhistīrṇāṃ kuśairvedimivādhvare

It was covered over with many leaves of sala, tala and ashvakarna trees, spacious, and strewn with soft kusha grass like a sacrificial altar.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.99.20)

शक्रायुधनिकाशैश्च कार्मुकैर्भारसाधनैः। रुक्मपृष्ठैर्महासारैः शोभितां शत्रुबाधकैः॥ 99.20 ॥

śakrāyudhanikāśaiśca kārmukairbhārasādhanaiḥ| rukmapṛṣṭhairmahāsāraiḥ śobhitāṃ śatrubādhakaiḥ

It was adorned with mighty, gold-backed bows, capable of a heavy draw and destructive of foes, gleaming like Indra's own weapon.

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.99.21)

अर्करश्मिप्रतीकाशैर्घोरैस्तूणीगतैः शरैः। शोभितां दीप्तवदनैः सर्पैर्भोगवतीमिव॥ 99.21 ॥

arkaraśmipratīkāśairghoraistūṇīgataiḥ śaraiḥ| śobhitāṃ dīptavadanaiḥ sarpairbhogavatīmiva

Adorned with terrible arrows in their quivers, gleaming like the sun's rays, it seemed like the serpent-city Bhogavati, adorned with blazing-faced serpents.

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.99.22)

महारजतवासोभ्यामसिभ्यां च विराजिताम्। रुक्मबिन्दुविचित्राभ्यां चर्मभ्यां चापि शोभिताम्॥ 99.22 ॥

mahārajatavāsobhyāmasibhyāṃ ca virājitām| rukmabinduvicitrābhyāṃ carmabhyāṃ cāpi śobhitām

It shone with two swords in bright silvery sheaths, and was adorned also with two shields dappled with spots of gold.

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.99.23)

गोधाङ्गुलित्रैरासक्तैश्चित्रैः काञ्चनभूषितैः। अरिसङ्घैरनाधृष्यां मृगैः सिंहगुहामिव॥ 99.23 ॥

godhāṅgulitrairāsaktaiścitraiḥ kāñcanabhūṣitaiḥ| arisaṅghairanādhṛṣyāṃ mṛgaiḥ siṃhaguhāmiva

Hung with wondrous, gold-adorned iguana-hide finger-guards, it was as unassailable to hosts of enemies as a lion's den is to deer.

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.99.24)

प्रागुदक्प्रवणां वेदिं विशालां दीप्तपावकाम्। ददर्श भरतस्तत्र पुण्यां रामनिवेशने॥ 99.24 ॥

prāgudakpravaṇāṃ vediṃ viśālāṃ dīptapāvakām| dadarśa bharatastatra puṇyāṃ rāmaniveśane

There, at Rama's dwelling, Bharata saw a broad and sacred altar, sloping toward the north-east, its sacrificial fire ablaze.

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.99.25)

निरीक्ष्य स मुहूर्तं तु ददर्श भरतो गुरुम्। उटजे राममासीनं जटामण्डलधारिणम्॥ 99.25 ॥

nirīkṣya sa muhūrtaṃ tu dadarśa bharato gurum| uṭaje rāmamāsīnaṃ jaṭāmaṇḍaladhāriṇam

Gazing for a moment, Bharata then saw his elder brother Rama seated in the hut, wearing a crown of matted locks.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.99.26)

तं तु कृष्णाजिनधरं चीरवल्कलवाससम्। ददर्श राममासीनमभितः पावकोपमम्॥ 99.26 ॥

taṃ tu kṛṣṇājinadharaṃ cīravalkalavāsasam| dadarśa rāmamāsīnamabhitaḥ pāvakopamam

He saw Rama, clad in black antelope-skin and bark-garments, seated there, blazing on every side like fire.

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.99.27)

सिंहस्कन्धं महाबाहुं पुण्डरीकनिभेक्षणम्। पृथिव्याः सागरान्तायाः भर्तारं धर्मचारिणम्॥ 99.27 ॥

siṃhaskandhaṃ mahābāhuṃ puṇḍarīkanibhekṣaṇam| pṛthivyāḥ sāgarāntāyāḥ bhartāraṃ dharmacāriṇam

They saw him with shoulders like a lion's, mighty-armed, his eyes like white lotuses — the righteous lord of the earth bounded by the sea.

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.99.28)

उपविष्टं महाबाहुं ब्रह्माणमिव शाश्वतम्। स्थण्डिले दर्भसंस्तीर्णे सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च॥ 99.28 ॥

upaviṣṭaṃ mahābāhuṃ brahmāṇamiva śāśvatam| sthaṇḍile darbhasaṃstīrṇe sītayā lakṣmaṇena ca

That mighty-armed one sat there, together with Sita and Lakshmana, upon a bare altar-ground strewn with darbha grass, like the eternal Brahma himself.

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.99.29)

तं दृष्ट्वा भरतः श्रीमान् दुःखशोकपरिप्लुतः। अभ्यधावत धर्मात्मा भरतः कैकयीसुतः॥ 99.29 ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā bharataḥ śrīmān duḥkhaśokapariplutaḥ| abhyadhāvata dharmātmā bharataḥ kaikayīsutaḥ

The instant he saw him, the glorious and righteous Bharata, Kaikeyi's son, overwhelmed with grief and sorrow, ran forward toward him.

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.99.30)

दृष्ट्वैव विललापार्त्तो बाष्पसन्दिग्धया गिरा। अशक्नुवन् धारयितुं धैर्याद्वचनमब्रवीत्॥ 99.30 ॥

dṛṣṭvaiva vilalāpārtto bāṣpasandigdhayā girā| aśaknuvan dhārayituṃ dhairyādvacanamabravīt

The instant he saw him he wailed in anguish, his voice thick with tears; unable to hold to his composure, he yet managed to speak these words.

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.99.31)

यः संसदि प्रकृतिभिर्भवेद्युक्त उपासितुम्। वन्यैर्मृगैरुपासीनः सोऽयमास्ते ममाग्रजः॥ 99.31 ॥

yaḥ saṃsadi prakṛtibhirbhavedyukta upāsitum| vanyairmṛgairupāsīnaḥ so'yamāste mamāgrajaḥ

"He who was fit to be attended by his subjects in the royal court — here now sits my elder brother, attended only by wild deer."

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.99.32)

वासोभिर्बहुसाहस्रैर्यो महात्मा पुरोचितः। मृगाजिने सोऽयमिह प्रवस्ते धर्ममाचरन्॥ 99.32 ॥

vāsobhirbahusāhasrairyo mahātmā purocitaḥ| mṛgājine so'yamiha pravaste dharmamācaran

"That great soul, once accustomed in the city to garments worth many thousands, now dwells here clothed in deer-skin, practising austerity."

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.99.33)

अधारयद्यो विविधाश्चित्राः सुमनसस्तदा। सोऽयं जटाभारमिमं वहते राघवः कथम्॥ 99.33 ॥

adhārayadyo vividhāścitrāḥ sumanasastadā| so'yaṃ jaṭābhāramimaṃ vahate rāghavaḥ katham

"He who once wore flowers of every wondrous kind — how does this Raghava now bear the weight of these matted locks?"

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.99.34)

यस्य यज्ञैर्यथोद्दिष्टैर्युक्तो धर्मस्य सञ्चयः। शरीरक्लेशसम्भूतं स धर्मं परिमार्गते॥ 99.34 ॥

yasya yajñairyathoddiṣṭairyukto dharmasya sañcayaḥ| śarīrakleśasambhūtaṃ sa dharmaṃ parimārgate

"He whose store of merit, won through the prescribed sacrifices, was already complete — he now seeks the dharma that is born of bodily hardship."

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.99.35)

चन्दनेन महार्हेण यस्याङ्गमुपसेवितम्। मलेन तस्याङ्गमिदं कथमार्यस्य सेव्यते॥ 99.35 ॥

candanena mahārheṇa yasyāṅgamupasevitam| malena tasyāṅgamidaṃ kathamāryasya sevyate

"He whose body was once anointed with costly sandal-paste — how does the noble one's body now come to be covered with dirt?"

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.99.36)

मन्निमित्तमिदं दुःखं प्राप्तो रामः सुखोचितः। धिग्जीवितं नृशंसस्य मम लोकविगर्हितम्॥ 99.36 ॥

mannimittamidaṃ duḥkhaṃ prāpto rāmaḥ sukhocitaḥ| dhigjīvitaṃ nṛśaṃsasya mama lokavigarhitam

"Because of me, Rama, who deserved every happiness, has met with this sorrow. Shame on the life of one so cruel as I, condemned by all the world!"

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.99.37)

इत्येवं विलपन् दीनः प्रस्विन्नमुखपङ्कजः। पादावप्राप्य रामस्य पपात भरतो रुदन्॥ 99.37 ॥

ityevaṃ vilapan dīnaḥ prasvinnamukhapaṅkajaḥ| pādāvaprāpya rāmasya papāta bharato rudan

Lamenting thus, wretched, his lotus-face bathed in sweat, Bharata, weeping, fell to the ground before he could even reach Rama's feet.

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.99.38)

दुःखाभितप्तो भरतो राजपुत्रो महाबलः। उक्त्वार्येति सकृद्दीनं पुनर्नोवाच किञ्चन॥ 99.38 ॥

duḥkhābhitapto bharato rājaputro mahābalaḥ| uktvāryeti sakṛddīnaṃ punarnovāca kiñcana

Tormented with grief, the mighty prince Bharata, having once piteously uttered "noble brother!", could say nothing more.

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.99.39)

बाष्पापिहितकण्ठश्च प्रेक्ष्य रामं यशस्विनम्। आर्येत्येवाथ संक्रुश्य व्याहर्तुं नाशकत्तदा॥ 99.39 ॥

bāṣpāpihitakaṇṭhaśca prekṣya rāmaṃ yaśasvinam| āryetyevātha saṃkruśya vyāhartuṃ nāśakattadā

His throat choked with tears, gazing upon the glorious Rama, he could only cry out "noble brother!" — unable to utter anything further.

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.99.40)

शत्रुघ्नश्चापि रामस्य ववन्दे चरणौ रुदन्। तावुभौ स समालिङ्ग्य रामश्चाश्रूण्यवर्त्तयत्॥ 99.40 ॥

śatrughnaścāpi rāmasya vavande caraṇau rudan| tāvubhau sa samāliṅgya rāmaścāśrūṇyavarttayat

Shatrughna too, weeping, bowed at Rama's feet. Embracing both of them, Rama himself let his own tears fall.

Shloka 41 (ayodhya.99.41)

ततः सुमन्त्रेण गुहेन चैव समीयतू राजसुतावरण्ये। दिवाकरश्चैव निशाकरश्च यथाम्बरे शुक्रबृहस्पतिभ्याम्॥ 99.41 ॥

tataḥ sumantreṇa guhena caiva samīyatū rājasutāvaraṇye| divākaraścaiva niśākaraśca yathāmbare śukrabṛhaspatibhyām

Then, together with Sumantra and with Guha, the two princes came together in that forest, as the sun and moon meet in the sky in the company of Venus and Jupiter.

Shloka 42 (ayodhya.99.42)

तान् पार्थिवान् वारणयूथपाभान् समागतांस्तत्र महत्यरण्ये। वनौकसस्तेऽपि समीक्ष्य सर्वेप्यश्रूण्यमुञ्चन् प्रविहाय हर्षम्॥ 99.42 ॥

tān pārthivān vāraṇayūthapābhān samāgatāṃstatra mahatyaraṇye| vanaukasaste'pi samīkṣya sarvepyaśrūṇyamuñcan pravihāya harṣam

Seeing those princes, like lordly elephants, thus united there in that vast forest, even the creatures dwelling in the woods all shed tears, forgetting their joy.