Rama Summons His Brothers

Shloka 1 (uttara.44.1)

विसृज्य तु सुहृद्वर्गं बुद्ध्या निश्चित्य राघवः । समीपे द्वाःस्थमासीनमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। 44.1 ।।

visṛjya tu suhṛdvargaṃ buddhyā niścitya rāghavaḥ | samīpe dvāḥsthamāsīnamidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 44.1 ||

Having dismissed his circle of friends, and having resolved something in his mind, Raghava said this to the doorkeeper seated nearby.

Shloka 2 (uttara.44.2)

शीघ्रमानय सौमित्रिं लक्ष्मणं शुभलक्षणम् । भरतं च महाभागं शत्रुघ्नमपराजितम् ।। 44.2 ।।

śīghramānaya saumitriṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ śubhalakṣaṇam | bharataṃ ca mahābhāgaṃ śatrughnamaparājitam || 44.2 ||

"Quickly bring Saumitri, Lakshmana of auspicious marks, and the illustrious Bharata, and the unconquered Shatrughna."

Shloka 3 (uttara.44.3)

रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा द्वाःस्थो मूर्ध्नि कृताञ्जलिः । लक्ष्मणस्य गृहं गत्वा प्रविवेशानिवारितः ।। 44.3 ।।

rāmasya vacanaṃ śrutvā dvāḥstho mūrdhni kṛtāñjaliḥ | lakṣmaṇasya gṛhaṃ gatvā praviveśānivāritaḥ || 44.3 ||

Hearing Rama's word, the doorkeeper, with hands joined to his head, went to Lakshmana's house and entered unhindered.

Shloka 4 (uttara.44.4)

उवाच सुमहात्मानं वर्धयित्वा कृताञ्जलिः । द्रष्टुमिच्छति राजा त्वां गम्यतां तत्र मा चिरम् ।। 44.4 ।।

uvāca sumahātmānaṃ vardhayitvā kṛtāñjaliḥ | draṣṭumicchati rājā tvāṃ gamyatāṃ tatra mā ciram || 44.4 ||

With joined palms, having offered blessing, he said to that great soul, "The king wishes to see you; go there without delay."

Shloka 5 (uttara.44.5)

बाढमित्येव सौमित्रिः श्रुत्वा राघवशासनम् । प्राद्रवद्रथमारुह्य राघवस्य निवेशनम् ।। 44.5 ।।

bāḍhamityeva saumitriḥ śrutvā rāghavaśāsanam | prādravadrathamāruhya rāghavasya niveśanam || 44.5 ||

Saying only "So be it," Saumitri, on hearing Raghava's command, mounted his chariot and hastened to Raghava's dwelling.

Shloka 6 (uttara.44.6)

प्रयान्तं लक्ष्मणं दृष्ट्वा द्वाःस्थो भरतमन्तिकात् । उवाच भरतं तत्र वर्धयित्वा कृताञ्जलिः ।। 44.6 ।।

prayāntaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā dvāḥstho bharatamantikāt | uvāca bharataṃ tatra vardhayitvā kṛtāñjaliḥ || 44.6 ||

Seeing Lakshmana depart, the doorkeeper went from there to Bharata nearby, and, with joined palms, having offered blessing, spoke to Bharata.

Shloka 7 (uttara.44.7)

विनयावनतो भूत्वा राजा त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति । भरतस्तु वचःश्रुत्वा द्वाःस्थाद्रामसमीरितम् ।। 44.7 ।।

vinayāvanato bhūtvā rājā tvāṃ draṣṭumicchati | bharatastu vacaḥśrutvā dvāḥsthādrāmasamīritam || 44.7 ||

"Bowing in humility, he said, 'The king wishes to see you.'" Bharata, hearing this word of Rama spoken by the doorkeeper,

Shloka 8 (uttara.44.8)

उत्पपातासनात्तूर्णं पद्भ्यामेव ययौ बली । दृष्ट्वा प्रयान्तं भरतं त्वरमाणः कृताञ्जलिः ।। 44.8 ।।

utpapātāsanāttūrṇaṃ padbhyāmeva yayau balī | dṛṣṭvā prayāntaṃ bharataṃ tvaramāṇaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ || 44.8 ||

the mighty one sprang up swiftly from his seat and went on foot. Seeing Bharata depart, the doorkeeper, hastening, with joined palms,

Shloka 9 (uttara.44.9)

शत्रुघ्नभवनं गत्वा ततो वाक्यमुवाच ह । एह्यागच्छ रघुश्रेष्ठ राजा त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति ।। 44.9 ।।

śatrughnabhavanaṃ gatvā tato vākyamuvāca ha | ehyāgaccha raghuśreṣṭha rājā tvāṃ draṣṭumicchati || 44.9 ||

went to Shatrughna's dwelling and then spoke this word, "Come, O best of the Raghus, the king wishes to see you.

Shloka 10 (uttara.44.10)

गतो हि लक्ष्मणः पूर्वं भरतश्च महायशाः । श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्य शत्रुघ्नः परमासनात् ।। 44.10 ।।

gato hi lakṣmaṇaḥ pūrvaṃ bharataśca mahāyaśāḥ | śrutvā tu vacanaṃ tasya śatrughnaḥ paramāsanāt || 44.10 ||

Lakshmana has already gone, and the greatly renowned Bharata too." Hearing his word, Shatrughna, from his splendid seat,

Shloka 11 (uttara.44.11)

शिरसा धरणीं प्राप्य प्रययौ यत्र राघवः । द्वाःस्थस्त्वागम्य रामाय सर्वानेव कृताञ्जलिः । निवेदयामास तदा भ्रातॄन्स्वान्समुपस्थितान् ।। 44.11 ।।

śirasā dharaṇīṃ prāpya prayayau yatra rāghavaḥ | dvāḥsthastvāgamya rāmāya sarvāneva kṛtāñjaliḥ | nivedayāmāsa tadā bhrātṝnsvānsamupasthitān || 44.11 ||

touching the ground with his head in salutation, set out to where Raghava was. And the doorkeeper, coming to Rama, with joined palms, then announced that all his own brothers had arrived.

Shloka 12 (uttara.44.12)

कुमारानागताञ्छ्रुत्वा चिन्ताव्याकुलितेन्द्रियः । अवाङ्मुखो दीनमना द्वाःस्थं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। 44.12 ।।

kumārānāgatāñchrutvā cintāvyākulitendriyaḥ | avāṅmukho dīnamanā dvāḥsthaṃ vacanamabravīt || 44.12 ||

Hearing that the princes had arrived, his senses troubled with anxiety, his face bowed down, his mind sorrowful, he said this word to the doorkeeper.

Shloka 13 (uttara.44.13)

प्रवेशय कुमारांस्त्वं मत्समीपं त्वरान्वितः । एतेषु जीवितं मह्यमेते प्राणाः प्रिया मम ।। 44.13 ।।

praveśaya kumārāṃstvaṃ matsamīpaṃ tvarānvitaḥ | eteṣu jīvitaṃ mahyamete prāṇāḥ priyā mama || 44.13 ||

"Bring the princes in to my presence quickly; my life is in them, they are my dear life-breaths."

Shloka 14 (uttara.44.14)

आज्ञप्तास्तु नरेन्द्रेण कुमाराः शक्रतेजसः । प्रह्वाः प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा विविशुस्ते समाहिताः ।। 44.14 ।।

ājñaptāstu narendreṇa kumārāḥ śakratejasaḥ | prahvāḥ prāñjalayo bhūtvā viviśuste samāhitāḥ || 44.14 ||

Commanded thus by the king, the princes, of Indra-like splendour, bowing low with joined palms, entered, composed.

Shloka 15 (uttara.44.15)

ते तु दृष्ट्वा मुखं तस्य सग्रहं शशिनं यथा । सन्ध्यागतमिवादित्यं प्रभया परिवर्जितम् ।। 44.15 ।।

te tu dṛṣṭvā mukhaṃ tasya sagrahaṃ śaśinaṃ yathā | sandhyāgatamivādityaṃ prabhayā parivarjitam || 44.15 ||

But seeing his face, like the moon eclipsed by a planet, like the sun at twilight, bereft of its radiance,

Shloka 16 (uttara.44.16)

बाष्पपूर्णे च नयने दृष्ट्वा रामस्य धीमतः । हतशोभं यथा पद्मं मुखं वीक्ष्य च तस्य ते ।। 44.16 ।।

bāṣpapūrṇe ca nayane dṛṣṭvā rāmasya dhīmataḥ | hataśobhaṃ yathā padmaṃ mukhaṃ vīkṣya ca tasya te || 44.16 ||

and seeing the tear-filled eyes of wise Rama, and beholding his face, like a lotus whose beauty had faded,

Shloka 17 (uttara.44.17)

ततो ऽभिवाद्य त्वरिताः पादौ रामस्य मूर्धभिः । तस्थुः समाहिताः सर्वे रामस्त्वश्रूण्यवर्तयत् ।। 44.17 ।।

tato 'bhivādya tvaritāḥ pādau rāmasya mūrdhabhiḥ | tasthuḥ samāhitāḥ sarve rāmastvaśrūṇyavartayat || 44.17 ||

then, hastening, they saluted Rama's feet with their heads, and all stood composed, while Rama shed tears.

Shloka 18 (uttara.44.18)

तान्परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यामुत्थाप्य च महाबलः । आसनेष्वासतेत्युक्त्वा ततो वाक्यं जगाद ह ।। 44.18 ।।

tānpariṣvajya bāhubhyāmutthāpya ca mahābalaḥ | āsaneṣvāsatetyuktvā tato vākyaṃ jagāda ha || 44.18 ||

The mighty one, embracing them with his arms, and raising them up, said, "Be seated," and then spoke this word.

Shloka 19 (uttara.44.19)

भवन्तो मम सर्वस्वं भवन्तो जीवितं मम । भवद्भिश्च कृतं राज्यं पालयामि नरेश्वराः ।। 44.19 ।।

bhavanto mama sarvasvaṃ bhavanto jīvitaṃ mama | bhavadbhiśca kṛtaṃ rājyaṃ pālayāmi nareśvarāḥ || 44.19 ||

"You are my all; you are my very life. It is because of you that I rule this kingdom, O lords of men.

Shloka 20 (uttara.44.20)

भवन्तः कृतशास्त्रार्था बुद्ध्या च परिनिष्ठिताः । सम्भूय च मदर्थो ऽयमन्वेष्टव्यो नरेश्वराः ।। 44.20 ।।

bhavantaḥ kṛtaśāstrārthā buddhyā ca pariniṣṭhitāḥ | sambhūya ca madartho 'yamanveṣṭavyo nareśvarāḥ || 44.20 ||

You are versed in the meaning of the scriptures and firmly grounded in wisdom; O lords of men, coming together, you must now seek out this purpose of mine."

Shloka 21 (uttara.44.21)

तथा वदति काकुत्स्थे अवधानपरायणाः । उद्विग्नमनसः सर्वे किं नु राजाभिधास्यति ।। 44.21 ।।

tathā vadati kākutsthe avadhānaparāyaṇāḥ | udvignamanasaḥ sarve kiṃ nu rājābhidhāsyati || 44.21 ||

As Kakutstha spoke thus, all of them, intent on listening, their minds troubled, wondered: what indeed would the king now say?