Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 82 of 119 · 32 verses
The Council: “Raghava Deserves the Kingdom”
Wise Bharata looks at the assembly, full of noble people and leaders, like a night with the full moon. As the nobles take their seats in proper order, the hall, full of learned men, looks lovely, like a night with the full moon when the clouds have gone. Seeing all the king’s subjects gathered, the priest, who knows dharma, says gently to Bharata: “Dear child, King Dasharatha, practising dharma, has gone to heaven, having given you the prosperous earth, rich in wealth and grain. And Rama, steadfast in truth, remembering the dharma of the good, did not abandon his father’s command, as the risen moon does not abandon its light. The kingdom, its thorns removed, has been given to you by your father and your brother. Enjoy it with your ministers glad; have yourself consecrated quickly. Let the kings of the north, west and south, and those of the ocean shores beyond, bring you their jewels in crores.”
Hearing this, Bharata, flooded with grief, goes to Rama in his mind, wishing for dharma. With a voice broken by tears, the young man with the voice of a swan laments in the middle of the assembly and rebukes the priest: “How could someone like me, who has lived as a celibate student, bathed after completing his learning, and strives for dharma, steal the kingdom? How could a son of Dasharatha be a usurper? The kingdom and I both belong to Rama; you should speak dharma here. The eldest and best, righteous, like Dilipa and Nahusha, Kakutstha deserves the kingdom, as Dasharatha did. If I committed this sin, practised by the ignoble and barring heaven, I would be the disgrace of the Ikshvakus in the world. I do not approve of the sin my mother committed. Standing here, I bow with joined palms to him who is in the forest’s hard places. I will follow Rama; he is king, best of two-footed beings. Raghava deserves the kingship even of the three worlds.” Hearing these righteous words, all the members of the assembly, their minds fixed on Rama, shed tears of joy. “If I cannot bring my noble brother back from the forest, I will live there in the forest, as noble Lakshmana does. I will use every means to bring him back by force, before the assembled nobles and the good and virtuous. I have already sent out all the labourers, workmen, road-clearers and guards; the journey pleases me too.” Having said this, righteous Bharata, devoted to his brother, says to Sumantra, skilled in counsel, standing nearby: “Rise quickly and go, Sumantra, at my command; order the journey at once and gather the army.” Sumantra joyfully gives every order as instructed. The subjects and the army commanders, hearing that the journey has been ordered to bring Raghava back, are delighted. The warriors’ wives in every house urge their husbands to hurry, joyful at the news. With swift horses, ox-carts and chariots fast as thought, the commanders and their warriors set the whole army moving. Seeing the army ready, Bharata, in the presence of his elders, says to Sumantra beside him: “Hurry my chariot.” Accepting the order joyfully, Sumantra brings the chariot yoked with the best horses. Then Raghava, steadfast in truth, powerful, firm in true valour, speaking sensibly, wishing to win the favour of his glorious elder brother gone to the great forest, says: “Rise quickly, Sumantra, and go to the army commanders to yoke the army; I wish to win Rama’s favour and bring him back from the forest for the good of the world.” The charioteer’s son, rightly commanded by Bharata, his wish fulfilled, instructs all the leading subjects, the chiefs of the army and the well-wishers. Then, rising in every household, kshatriyas, vaishyas, shudras and brahmanas yoke camels, chariots and donkeys, elephants and well-bred horses.
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तामार्यगणसम्पूर्णां भरतः प्रग्रहां सभाम् । ददर्श बुद्धिसम्पन्नः पूर्णचन्द्रां निशामिव ॥ १ ॥
Wise Bharata looked at that assembly, full of hosts of nobles and leaders, like a night with the full moon.
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The Council: “Raghava Deserves the Kingdom” 1 min read.
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आसनानि यथान्यायमार्याणां विशतां तदा । वस्त्राङ्गरागप्रभया द्योतिता सा सभोत्तमा ॥ २ ॥
As the nobles took their seats in due order, that excellent hall glowed with the lustre of their garments and unguents.
सा विद्वज्जनसम्पूर्णा सभा सुरुचिरा तदा । अदृश्यत घनापाये पूर्णचन्द्रेव शर्वरी ॥ ३ ॥
That very lovely assembly, full of learned people, then looked like a night with the full moon when the clouds have gone.
राज्ञस्तु प्रकृतीः सर्वाः समग्राः प्रेक्ष्य धर्मवित् । इदं पुरोहितो वाक्यं भरतं मृदु चाब्रवीत् ॥ ४ ॥
Seeing all the king’s subjects present together, the priest, who knew dharma, said these gentle words to Bharata:
तात राजा दशरथः स्वर्गतो धर्ममाचरन् । धनधान्यवतीं स्फीतां प्रदाय पृथिवीं तव ॥ ५ ॥
“Dear child, King Dasharatha, practising dharma, has gone to heaven, having given you the flourishing earth, rich in wealth and grain.
रामस्तथा सत्य धृतिः सतां धर्ममनुस्मरन् । नाजहात्पितुरादेशं शशी ज्योत्स्नामिवोदितः ॥ ६ ॥
“And Rama, steadfast in truth, remembering the dharma of the good, did not abandon his father’s command, as the risen moon does not abandon its light.
पित्रा भ्रात्रा च ते दत्तं राज्यं निहतकण्टकम् । तद्भुङ्क्ष्व मुदितामात्यः क्षिप्रमेवाभिषेचय ॥ ७ ॥
“The kingdom, its thorns destroyed, has been given to you by your father and your brother. Enjoy it, with your ministers rejoicing; have yourself consecrated quickly.
उदीच्याश्च प्रतीच्याश्च दाक्षिणात्याश्च केवलाः । कोट्यापरान्ताः सामुद्रा रत्नान्यभिहरन्तु ते ॥ ८ ॥
“Let the northern, western and southern kings, all of them, and those of the ocean beyond, bring you jewels by the crore.”
तच्छ्रुत्वा भरतो वाक्यं शोकेनाभिपरिप्लुतः । जगाम मनसा रामं धर्मज्ञो धर्मकाङ्क्षया ॥ ९ ॥
Hearing those words, Bharata, flooded with grief, went to Rama in his mind, knowing dharma, desiring dharma.
स बाष्पकलया वाचा कलहंसस्वरो युवा । विललाप सभामध्ये जगर्हे च पुरोहितम् ॥ १० ॥
With a voice faltering with tears, the young man with the voice of a swan lamented in the middle of the assembly and rebuked the priest:
चरितब्रह्मचर्यस्य विद्यास्नातस्य धीमतः । धर्मे प्रयतमानस्य को राज्यं मद्विधो हरेत् ॥ ११ ॥
“Who like me, who has practised celibate studentship, bathed after completing his learning, wise, striving in dharma, would seize the kingdom?
कथं दशरथाज्जातो भवेद्राज्यापहारकः । राज्यं चाहं च रामस्य धर्मं वक्तुमिहार्हसि ॥ १२ ॥
“How could one born of Dasharatha be a usurper of the kingdom? The kingdom and I belong to Rama. You should speak dharma here.
ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठश्च धर्मात्मा दिलीपनहुषोपमः । लब्धुमर्हति काकुत्स्थो राज्यं दशरथो यथा ॥ १३ ॥
“The eldest and best, righteous, like Dilipa and Nahusha, Kakutstha deserves to receive the kingdom, as Dasharatha did.
अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यं कुर्यां पापमहं यदि । इक्ष्वाकूणामहं लोके भवेयं कुलपांसनः ॥ १४ ॥
“If I were to commit a sin, practised by the ignoble and not leading to heaven, I would be the disgrace of the Ikshvaku family in the world.
यद्धि मात्रा कृतं पापं नाहं तदपि रोचये । इहस्थो वनदुर्गस्थं नमस्यामि कृताञ्जलिः ॥ १५ ॥
“The sin my mother committed, I do not approve. Standing here, I bow with joined palms to him who is in the forest’s fastness.
राममेवानुगच्छामि स राजा द्विपदां वरः । त्रयाणामपि लोकानां राघवो राज्यमर्हति ॥ १६ ॥
“I will follow Rama alone; he is king, best of two-footed beings. Raghava deserves the kingship even of the three worlds.”
तद्वाक्यं धर्मसंयुक्तं श्रुत्वा सर्वे सभासदः । हर्षान्मुमुचुरश्रूणि रामे निहितचेतसः ॥ १७ ॥
Hearing those words joined with dharma, all the members of the assembly, their minds set on Rama, shed tears of joy.
यदि त्वार्यं न शक्ष्यामि विनिवर्तयितुं वनात् । वने तत्रैव वत्स्यामि यथार्यो लक्ष्मणस्तथा ॥ १८ ॥
“If I cannot bring my noble brother back from the forest, I will live there in the forest, as noble Lakshmana does.
सर्वोपायं तु वर्तिष्ये विनिवर्तयितुं बलात् । समक्षमार्यमिश्राणां साधूनां गुणवर्तिनाम् ॥ १९ ॥
“I will use every means to bring him back by force, before the nobles assembled and the good who follow virtue.
विष्टिकर्मान्तिकाः सर्वे मार्गशोधनरक्षकाः । प्रस्थापिता मया पूर्वं यात्रापि मम रोचते ॥ २० ॥
“All the labourers and workmen, road-clearers and guards, have already been sent out by me; and the journey pleases me.”
एवमुक्त्वा तु धर्मात्मा भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः । समीपस्थमुवाचेदं सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रकोविदम् ॥ २१ ॥
Having said this, righteous Bharata, loving his brother, said this to Sumantra, skilled in counsel, standing near:
तूर्णमुत्थाय गच्छ त्वं सुमन्त्र मम शासनात् । यात्रामाज्ञापय क्षिप्रं बलं चैव समानय ॥ २२ ॥
“Rise quickly and go, Sumantra, at my command. Order the journey at once, and bring the army together.”
एवमुक्तः सुमन्त्रस्तु भरतेन महात्मना । हृष्टः सोऽदिशत् सर्वं यथासंदिष्टमिष्टवत् ॥ २३ ॥
Spoken to so by great-souled Bharata, Sumantra, delighted, gave all the orders as instructed, as he would have wished.
ताः प्रहृष्टाः प्रकृतयो बलाध्यक्षा बलस्य च । श्रुत्वा यात्रां समाज्ञप्तां राघवस्य निवर्तने ॥ २४ ॥
Those subjects were delighted, and the chiefs of the army, hearing that a journey had been ordered for bringing Raghava back.
ततो योधाङ्गनाः सर्वा भर्तृऋन् सर्वान् गृहे गृहे । यात्रागमनमाज्ञाय त्वरयन्ति स्म हर्षिताः ॥ २५ ॥
Then all the warriors’ wives, in house after house, learning of the setting out on the journey, joyfully urged on all their husbands.
ते हयैर्गोरथैः शीघ्रैः स्यन्दनैश्च मनोजवैः । सह योधैर्बलाध्यक्षा बलं सर्वमचोदयन् ॥ २६ ॥
With horses, swift ox-carts and chariots fast as thought, the army chiefs with the warriors set the whole army moving.
सज्जं तु तद्बलं दृष्ट्वा भरतो गुरुसंनिधौ । रथं मे त्वरयस्वेति सुमन्त्रं पार्श्वतोऽब्रवीत् ॥ २७ ॥
Seeing the army ready, Bharata, in the presence of his elders, said to Sumantra at his side: “Hurry my chariot.”
भरतस्य तु तस्याज्ञां प्रतिगृह्य प्रहर्षितः । रथं गृहीत्वा प्रययौ युक्तं परमवाजिभिः ॥ २८ ॥
Accepting Bharata’s command, delighted, he took the chariot, yoked with the finest horses, and went.
स राघवः सत्यधृतिः प्रतापवान्ब्रुवन्सुयुक्तं दृढसत्यविक्रमः । गुरुं महारण्यगतं यशस्विनं प्रसादयिष्यन् भरतोऽब्रवीत् तदा ॥ २९ ॥
Then Raghava, steadfast in truth, powerful, firm in true valour, speaking well and fittingly, wishing to win the favour of his glorious elder gone to the great forest, Bharata said:
तूण समुत्थाय सुमन्त्र गच्छ बलस्य योगाय बलप्रधानान् । आनेतुमिच्छामि हि तं वनस्थं प्रसाद्य रामं जगतो हिताय ॥ ३० ॥
“Rise quickly and go, Sumantra, to the chiefs of the army to have the army yoked. For I wish to win the favour of Rama, who is in the forest, and bring him back for the good of the world.”
स सूतपुत्रो भरतेन सम्यगाज्ञापितः सम्परिपूर्णकामः । शशास सर्वान्प्रकृतिप्रधानान्बलस्य मुख्यांश्च सुहृज्जनं च ॥ ३१ ॥
The charioteer’s son, properly commanded by Bharata, his wish fulfilled, instructed all the leading subjects, the chiefs of the army and the circle of friends.
ततः समुत्थाय कुले कुले ते राजन्यवैश्या वृषलाश्च विप्राः । अयूयुजन्नुष्ट्ररथान् खरांश्च नागान् हयांश्चैव कुलप्रसूतान् ॥ ३२ ॥
Then, rising in family after family, kshatriyas, vaishyas, shudras and brahmanas yoked camel-chariots and donkeys, elephants and horses of good breed.