Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 115 of 119 · 27 verses
Bharata Rules from Nandigrama
Having left his mothers in Ayodhya, Bharata, firm in his vows, burning with grief, says to his elders: “I will go to Nandigrama; I take leave of you all today. There I will bear all this sorrow without Raghava. The king has gone to heaven and my elder is in the forest; I will wait for Rama to take the kingdom, for he is the glorious king.” Hearing great-souled Bharata’s auspicious words, all the ministers and the priest Vasishtha say: “What you have said, Bharata, out of love for your brother, is most praiseworthy and worthy of you alone. Who would not approve of you, always devoted to your kin, standing in brotherly affection, following the noble path?” Hearing the ministers’ words, just as he wished, he says to the charioteer: “Let my chariot be yoked.” His face glad, he salutes all his mothers and mounts the chariot with Shatrughna. Shatrughna and Bharata, delighted, surrounded by ministers and priests, go quickly. In front go the elders, the brahmanas led by Vasishtha, all facing east toward Nandigrama. The army, crowded with elephants, horses and chariots, goes uncalled when Bharata goes, and all the citizens too. Righteous Bharata, loving his brother, goes quickly in his chariot to Nandigrama, carrying the sandals on his head.
Entering Nandigrama quickly and getting down from the chariot, Bharata says to his elders: “This kingdom was given to me by my brother himself as a trust, and these gold-adorned sandals bring welfare and security.” Placing the sandals, the trust, on his head, Bharata, burning with sorrow, says to the whole circle of subjects: “Hold the umbrella over them at once; these are considered the noble one’s feet. Dharma is established in the kingdom by these sandals of my elder. My brother has placed this trust in me out of affection; I will guard it until Raghava comes. Having quickly joined them again myself to Raghava, I will see Rama’s feet together with their sandals. Then, my burden laid down, joined with Raghava, having handed the kingdom to my elder, I will take up the conduct of one who serves his elder. Having given back to Raghava the trust, these fine sandals, this kingdom and Ayodhya, I shall be freed of sin. When Kakutstha is consecrated and the people are glad and rejoicing, my joy and my fame will be four times greater than from a kingdom.” Lamenting so, wretched, glorious Bharata rules the kingdom from Nandigrama with his ministers, in sorrow. Wearing bark and matted hair, in the dress of a sage, the heroic lord Bharata lives in Nandigrama with the army, longing for Rama’s return, loving his brother, doing his brother’s word and keeping his promise to the end. Having consecrated the sandals, he lives in Nandigrama and reports all business of government to the sandals. Having consecrated his noble brother’s sandals, glorious Bharata, dependent on them, always has the kingdom governed. Whatever business arises, whatever costly gift is brought, Bharata first reports it to the sandals and only then does it properly.
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ततो निक्षिप्य मातऽः स अयोध्यायां दृढव्रतः । भरतः शोकसन्तप्तो गुरूनिदमथाब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥
Then, having left his mothers in Ayodhya, Bharata, firm in his vows, burning with grief, said this to his elders:
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Bharata Rules from Nandigrama 1 min read.
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नन्दिग्रामं गमिष्यामि सर्वानामन्त्रये ऽद्य वः । तत्र दुःखमिदं सर्वं सहिष्ये राघवं विना ॥ २ ॥
“I will go to Nandigrama; I take leave of you all today. There I will bear all this sorrow without Raghava.
गतश्च हि दिवं राजा वनस्थश्च गुरुर्मम । रामं प्रतीक्षे राज्याय स हि राजा महायशाः ॥ ३ ॥
“The king has gone to heaven, and my elder is in the forest. I await Rama for the kingdom; for he is the glorious king.”
एतच्छ्रुत्वा शुभं वाक्यं भरतस्य महात्मनः । अब्रुवन् मन्त्रिणः सर्वे वसिष्ठश्च पुरोहितः ॥ ४ ॥
Hearing these auspicious words of great-souled Bharata, all the ministers and the priest Vasishtha said:
सुभृशं श्लाघनीयं च यदुक्तं भरत त्वया । वचनं भ्रातृवात्सल्यादनुरूपं तवैव तत् ॥ ५ ॥
“Very praiseworthy indeed is what you have said, Bharata, out of love for your brother; those words are worthy of you alone.
नित्यं ते बन्धुलुब्धस्य तिष्ठतो भ्रातृसौहृदे । आर्यमार्गं प्रपन्नस्य नानुमन्येत कः पुमान् ॥ ६ ॥
“What man would not approve of you, always devoted to your kin, standing in brotherly friendship, having taken the noble path?”
मन्त्रिणां वचनं श्रुत्वा यथाभिलषितं प्रियम् । अब्रवीत्सारथिं वाक्यं रथो मे युज्यतामिति ॥ ७ ॥
Hearing the ministers’ words, pleasing and as he wished, he said to the charioteer: “Let my chariot be yoked.”
प्रहृष्टवदनः सर्वा मातऽः समभिवाद्य सः । आरुरोह रथं श्रीमान् शत्रुघ्नेन समन्वितः ॥ ८ ॥
His face delighted, having saluted all his mothers, the glorious one mounted the chariot together with Shatrughna.
आरुह्य च रथं शीघ्रं शत्रुघ्नभरतावुभौ । ययतुः परमप्रीतौ वृतौ मन्त्रिपुरोहितैः ॥ ९ ॥
Having quickly mounted the chariot, Shatrughna and Bharata, both very pleased, went, surrounded by ministers and priests.
अग्रतो गुरवस्तत्र वसिष्ठप्रमुखा द्विजाः । प्रययुः प्राङ्मुखाः सर्वे नन्दिग्रामो यतो ऽभवत् ॥ १० ॥
In front went the elders there, the brahmanas led by Vasishtha, all facing east, toward where Nandigrama was.
बलं च तदनाहूतं गजाश्वरथसङ्कुलम् । प्रययौ भरते याते सर्वे च पुरवासिनः ॥ ११ ॥
And the army, crowded with elephants, horses and chariots, went uncalled when Bharata went, and all the citizens.
रथस्थः स हि धर्मात्मा भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः । नन्दिग्रामं ययौ तूर्णं शिरस्याधाय पादुके ॥ १२ ॥
Standing in the chariot, righteous Bharata, loving his brother, went quickly to Nandigrama, having placed the sandals on his head.
ततस्तु भरतः क्षिप्रं नन्दिग्रामं प्रविश्य सः । अवतीर्य्य रथात्तूर्णं गुरूनिदमुवाच ह ॥ १३ ॥
Then Bharata, having quickly entered Nandigrama and got down quickly from the chariot, said this to his elders:
एतद्राज्यं मम भ्रात्रा दत्तं संन्यासवत् स्वयम् । योगक्षेमवहे चेमे पादुके हेमभूषिते ॥ १४ ॥
“This kingdom was given to me by my brother himself as a trust, and these gold-adorned sandals are the bringers of welfare and security.”
भरतः शिरसा कृत्वा संन्यासं पादुके ततः । अब्रवीद्दुःखसन्तप्तः सर्वं प्रकृतिमण्डलम् ॥ १५ ॥
Then, placing the sandals, the trust, on his head, Bharata, burning with sorrow, said to the whole circle of subjects:
छत्रं धारयत क्षिप्रमार्यपादाविमौ मतौ । आभ्यां राज्ये स्थितो धर्मः पादुकाभ्यां गुरोर्मम ॥ १६ ॥
“Quickly hold the umbrella; these are considered the noble one’s feet. By these sandals of my elder, dharma is established in the kingdom.
भ्रात्रा हि मयि संन्यासो निक्षिप्तः सौहृदादयम् । तमिमं पालयिष्यामि राघवागमनं प्रति ॥ १७ ॥
“This trust has been placed in me by my brother out of affection; I will protect it until Raghava returns.
क्षिप्रं संयोजयित्वा तु राघवस्य पुनः स्वयम् । चरणौ तौ तु रामस्य द्रक्ष्यामि सहपादुकौ ॥ १८ ॥
“Having quickly joined them again myself to Raghava, I will see those feet of Rama together with the sandals.
ततो निक्षिप्तभारो ऽहं राघवेण समागतः । निवेद्य गुरवे राज्यं भजिष्ये गुरुवृत्तिताम् ॥ १९ ॥
“Then, my burden laid down, joined with Raghava, having handed the kingdom to my elder, I will take up the conduct of service to my elder.
राघवाय च संन्यासं दत्त्वे मे वरपादुके । राज्यं चेदमयोध्यां च धूतपापो भवामि च ॥ २० ॥
“And having given to Raghava the trust, these excellent sandals, and this kingdom and Ayodhya, I shall be cleansed of sin.
अभिषिक्ते तु काकुत्स्थे प्रहृष्टमुदिते जने । प्रीतिर्मम यशश्चैव भवेद्राज्याच्चतुर्गुणम् ॥ २१ ॥
“When Kakutstha is consecrated and the people are delighted and glad, my joy and my fame will be four times greater than from the kingdom.”
एवं तु विलपन् दीनो भरतः स महायशाः । नन्दिग्रामे ऽकरोद्राज्यं दुःखितो मन्त्रिभिः सह ॥ २२ ॥
Lamenting so, wretched, that greatly glorious Bharata, grieving, carried on the kingdom at Nandigrama with his ministers.
स वल्कलजटाधारी मुनिवेषधरः प्रभुः । नन्दिग्रामे ऽवसद्वीरः ससैन्यो भरतस्तदा ॥ २३ ॥
Wearing bark and matted hair, bearing the dress of a sage, the lord, the hero Bharata, then lived at Nandigrama with the army,
रामागमनमाकाङ्क्षन् भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः । भ्रातुर्वचनकारी च प्रतिज्ञापारगस्तथा ॥ २४ ॥
Bharata, loving his brother, longing for Rama’s return, doing his brother’s word and seeing his promise through.
पादुके त्वभिषिच्याथ नन्द्रिग्रामे ऽवसत्तदा । भरतः शासनं सर्वं पादुकाभ्यां न्यवेदयत् ॥ २५ ॥
Having consecrated the sandals, he then lived at Nandigrama; Bharata reported all government to the sandals.
ततस्तु भरतः श्रीमानभिषिच्यार्य्यपादुके । तदधीनस्तदा राज्यं कारयामास सर्वदा ॥ २६ ॥
Then glorious Bharata, having consecrated his noble brother’s sandals, dependent on them, always had the kingdom carried on.
तदा हि यत्कार्य्यमुपैति किञ्चिदुपायनं चोपहृतं महार्हम् । स पादुकाभ्यां प्रथमं निवेद्य चकार पश्चाद्भरतो यथावत् ॥ २७ ॥
Then, whatever business came, whatever very costly present was brought, Bharata first reported it to the sandals, and afterwards acted properly.