Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 92 of 119 · 39 verses
Bharata Presents His Mothers
After that night, having received such hospitality, Bharata and his retinue go to Bharadvaja to take leave. The seer, having made his fire-offering, sees the tiger among men come with joined palms and asks: “Did you spend a pleasant night here in our country? Were all your people satisfied with the hospitality? Tell me, sinless one.” Bharata bows with joined palms to the brilliant seer as he comes out of the hermitage: “I stayed happily, lord, with my whole army and mounts; you have satisfied me and my ministers with every desire. Free of fatigue and distress, well fed and well lodged, even the servants, we all spent the night very happily. I take my leave of you, best of seers; look kindly on me as I set out to my brother. Tell me, knower of dharma, the way to the hermitage of that righteous great soul, and how far it is.” Bharadvaja answers: “Two and a half yojanas from here, Bharata, in an uninhabited forest, is the mountain Chitrakuta, with lovely caves and woods. On its north side flows the river Mandakini, covered with flowering trees, its woods lovely with blossoms. Between that river and the mountain Chitrakuta is their leaf hut; they surely live there. Lead your army of elephants, horses and chariots by the southern road, or the south-west one, fortunate leader, and then you will see Raghava.”
Hearing of the departure, the women of the king of kings get down from their carriages and surround the brahmana. Trembling, thin and wretched, Kausalya, with Queen Sumitra, clasps the sage’s feet with her hands. Kaikeyi, her desire unfulfilled, condemned by the whole world, clasps his feet in shame. Having walked round the lord, the great sage, she stands not far from Bharata, sick at heart. Then Bharadvaja, firm in his vows, asks Bharata: “I wish to know about your mothers in particular, Raghava.” Bharata, righteous and skilled in speech, joins his palms and answers: “She whom you see, lord, wretched and wasted by grief and fasting, the chief queen of my father, like a goddess: this is Kausalya, who bore that tiger among men Rama, who walks with a lion’s stride, as Aditi bore Dhatri. She who stands clinging to her left arm, downcast, like a branch of karnikara in the forest whose flowers have fallen: she is Queen Sumitra, whose sons are the two godlike princes Lakshmana and Shatrughna, heroes of true valour. And she because of whom the two tigers among men have gone from here as if to death, and Dasharatha, bereft of his son, has gone to heaven: angry, unwise, proud, thinking herself fortunate, greedy for power, ignoble though noble in appearance, cruel and of wicked resolve: know this one to be my mother Kaikeyi, in whom I see the root of my great calamity.” Saying this in a voice choked with tears, his eyes red, the tiger among men sighs like an angry snake. The great seer Bharadvaja, very wise, says these meaningful words: “You should not think of Kaikeyi as at fault, Bharata. This banishment of Rama will end in happiness. Good will come from Rama’s exile for the gods, the danavas and the seers who have perfected themselves.” Having saluted him and walked round him, his purpose fulfilled, Bharata takes leave and orders, “Let the army be yoked.” Then many people of many kinds, eager to go, mount the fine horse-chariots adorned with gold. Female and male elephants with golden girths and banners set out roaring like clouds at the end of summer. Carriages of many kinds, great and small, very costly, go, and foot soldiers walk. Then the women led by Kausalya, longing to see Rama, go joyfully in the best carriages. Glorious Bharata, with his retinue, sets out in a fine palanquin shining like the young moon and sun. That great army, crowded with elephants, horses and chariots, covering the southern direction, rises like a great cloud. Passing forests full of beasts and birds, beyond the Ganga, over mountains and rivers, with its delighted birds, horses and warriors, terrifying herds of deer and birds, plunging into that great forest, Bharata’s army shines.
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ततस्तां रजनीं व्युष्य भरतः सपरिच्छदः । कृतातिथ्यो भरद्वाजं कामादभिजगाम ऺह ॥ १ ॥
Then, having spent that night, Bharata, with his retinue, having received hospitality, went to Bharadvaja to take leave.
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तमृषिः पुरुषव्याघ्रं प्राञ्जलिं प्रेक्ष्य चागतम् । हुताग्निहोत्रो भरतं भरद्वाजो ऽभ्यभाषत ॥ २ ॥
Seeing the tiger among men come with joined palms, the seer Bharadvaja, having made his fire-offering, addressed Bharata:
कच्चिदत्र सुखा रात्रिस्तवास्मद्विषये गता । समग्रस्ते जनः कच्चिदातिथ्ये शंस मे ऽनघ ॥ ३ ॥
“Did you spend a pleasant night here in our country? Were all your people satisfied with the hospitality? Tell me, sinless one.”
तमुवाचाञ्जलिं कृत्वा भरतो ऽभिप्रणम्य च । आश्रमादभिनिष्क्रान्तमृषिमुत्तमतेजसम् ॥ ४ ॥
Bharata, joining his palms and bowing, said to the seer of supreme splendour, who had come out of the hermitage:
सुखोषितो ऽस्मि भगवन् समग्रबलवाहनः । तर्पितः सर्वकामैश्च सामात्यो बलवत्त्वया ॥ ५ ॥
“I stayed happily, lord, with my whole army and mounts; and I with my ministers have been fully satisfied by you with every desire.
अपेतक्लमसन्तापाः सुभिक्षाः सुप्रतिश्रयाः । अपि प्रेष्यानुपादाय सर्वे स्म सुसुखोषिताः ॥ ६ ॥
“Free of fatigue and distress, well fed and well lodged, even including the servants, we all stayed very happily.
आमन्त्रये ऽहं भगवन् कामं त्वामृषिसत्तम । समीपं प्रस्थितं भ्रातुर्मैत्रेणेक्षस्व चक्षुषा ॥ ७ ॥
“I take leave of you, lord, best of seers, as I wish. Look with a friendly eye on me as I set out to my brother’s side.
आश्रमं तस्य धर्मज्ञ धार्मिकस्य महात्मनः । आचक्ष्व कतमो मार्गः कियानिति च शंस मे ॥ ८ ॥
“Tell me, knower of dharma, which is the way to the hermitage of that righteous great soul, and how far it is.”
इति पृष्टस्तु भरतं भ्रातृदर्शनलालसम् । प्रत्युवाच महातेजा भरद्वाजो महातपाः ॥ ९ ॥
Asked so by Bharata, eager to see his brother, the very powerful Bharadvaja, of great austerity, replied:
भरतार्द्धतृतीयेषु योजनेष्वजने वने । चित्रकूटो गिरिस्तत्र रम्यनिर्दरकाननः ॥ १० ॥
“Two and a half yojanas away, Bharata, in an uninhabited forest, is the mountain Chitrakuta, with lovely caves and woods.
उत्तरं पार्श्वमासाद्य तस्य मन्दाकिनी नदी । पुष्ऺिपतद्रुमसञ्छन्ना रम्यपुष्पितकानना ॥ ११ ॥
“Reaching its northern side, there is the river Mandakini, covered with flowering trees, with lovely flowering woods.
अनन्तरं तत्सरितश्चित्रकूटश्च पर्वतः । तयोः पर्णकुटी तात तत्र तौ वसतो ध्रुवम् ॥ १२ ॥
“Next to that river is the mountain Chitrakuta; between them is the leaf hut, dear child; those two surely live there.
दक्षिणेनैव मार्गेण सव्यदक्षिणमेव वा । गजवाजिरथाकीर्णां वाहिनीं वाहिनीपते । वाहयस्व महाभाग ततो द्रक्ष्यसि राघवम् ॥ १३ ॥
“Lead your army, crowded with elephants, horses and chariots, by the southern road, or the south-west, leader of armies, fortunate one; then you will see Raghava.”
प्रयाणमिति तच्छ्रुत्वा राजराजस्य योषितः । हित्वा यानानि यानार्हा ब्राह्मणं पर्य्यवारयन् ॥ १४ ॥
Hearing “departure”, the women of the king of kings, worthy of carriages, left their carriages and surrounded the brahmana.
वेपमाना कृशा ऺदीना सह देव्या सुमित्रया । कौसल्या तत्र जग्राह कराभ्यां चरणौ मुनेः ॥ १५ ॥
Trembling, thin and wretched, together with Queen Sumitra, Kausalya there clasped the sage’s feet with her hands.
असमृद्धेन कामेन सर्वलोकस्य गर्हिता । कैकेयी तस्य जग्राह चरणौ सव्यपत्रपा ॥ १६ ॥
Kaikeyi, condemned by the whole world because of her unfulfilled desire, clasped his feet with shame.
तं प्रदक्षिणमागम्य भगवन्तं महामुनिम् । अदूराद्भरतस्यैव तस्थौ दीनमनास्तदा ॥ १७ ॥
Having walked round the lord, the great sage, she then stood not far from Bharata, sick at heart.
ततः पप्रच्छ भरतं भरद्वाजो दृढव्रतः । विशेषं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि मातऽणां तव राघव ॥ १८ ॥
Then Bharadvaja, firm in his vows, asked Bharata: “I wish to know about your mothers in particular, Raghava.”
एवमुक्तस्तु भरतो भरद्वाजेन धार्मिकः । उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा वाक्यं वचनकोविदः ॥ १९ ॥
Spoken to so by Bharadvaja, righteous Bharata, skilled in speech, joined his palms and said:
यामिमां भगवन् दीनां शोकानशनकर्शिताम् । पितुर्हि महिषीं देवीं देवतामिव पश्यसि ॥ २० ॥
“She whom you see, lord, wretched, wasted by grief and fasting, the chief queen of my father, like a goddess:
एषा तं पुरुषव्याघ्रं सिंहविक्रान्तगामिनम् । कौसल्या सुषुवे रामं धातारमदितिर्यथा ॥ २१ ॥
“this is Kausalya, who bore that tiger among men Rama, who walks with a lion’s stride, as Aditi bore Dhatri.
अस्यावामभुजं श्लिष्टा यैषा तिष्ठति दुर्मनाः । कर्णिकारस्य शाखेव शीर्णपुष्पा वनान्तरे ॥ २२ ॥
“She who stands clinging to her left arm, downcast, like a branch of karnikara in the forest whose flowers have withered:
एतस्यास्तु सुतौ देव्याः कुमारौ देववर्णिनौ । उभौ लक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्नौ वीरौ सत्यपराक्रमौ ॥ २३ ॥
“this queen’s sons are the two princes of godlike complexion, Lakshmana and Shatrughna, both heroes of true valour.
यस्याः कृते नरव्याघ्रौ जीवनाशमितो गतौ । राजपुत्रविहीनश्च स्वर्गं दशरथो गतः ॥ २४ ॥
“And she because of whom the two tigers among men have gone from here to the loss of life, and Dasharatha, bereft of his son, has gone to heaven:
क्रोधनामकृतप्रज्ञां दृप्तां सुभगमानिनीम् । ऐश्वर्यकामां कैकेयीमनार्य्यामार्यरूपिणीम् ॥ २५ ॥
“angry, of undeveloped wisdom, proud, thinking herself fortunate, longing for power, ignoble in noble form,
ममैतां मातरं विद्धि नृशंसां पापनिश्चयाम् । यतो मूलं हि पश्यामि व्यसनं महदात्मनः ॥ २६ ॥
“know her to be my mother Kaikeyi, cruel, of evil resolve, in whom I see the root of my great calamity.”
इत्युक्त्वा नरशार्दूलो बाष्पगद्गदया गिरा । स निशश्वास ताम्राक्षो नागः क्रुद्ध इव श्वसन् ॥ २७ ॥
Having said this in a voice choked with tears, the tiger among men, his eyes red, sighed like an angry snake breathing.
भरद्वाजो महर्षिस्तं ब्रुवन्तं भरतं तथा । प्रत्युवाच महाबुद्धिरिदं वचनमर्थवत् ॥ २८ ॥
The great seer Bharadvaja, very wise, answered Bharata, who spoke so, with these meaningful words:
न दोषेणावगन्तव्या कैकेयी भरत त्वया । रामप्रव्राजनं ह्येतत् सुखोदर्कं भविष्यति ॥ २९ ॥
“You should not regard Kaikeyi as at fault, Bharata. For this banishment of Rama will turn out happily.
देवानां दानवानां च ऋषीणां भावितात्मनाम् । हितमेव भविष्यद्धि रामप्रव्राजनादिह ॥ ३० ॥
“For good will come from Rama’s banishment here to the gods and the danavas and the seers of perfected selves.”
अभिवाद्य तु संसिद्धः कृत्वा चैनं प्रदक्षिणम् । आमन्त्र्य भरतः सेन्यं युज्यतामित्यचोदयत् ॥ ३१ ॥
Having saluted him and walked round him, his purpose accomplished, Bharata took leave and ordered the army: “Let it be yoked.”
ततो वाजिरथान् युक्त्वा दिव्यान् हेमपरिष्कृतान् । अध्यारोहत् प्रयाणार्थी बहून् बहुविधो जनः ॥ ३२ ॥
Then many people of many kinds, wishing to set out, mounted the yoked horse-chariots, heavenly and adorned with gold.
गजकन्या गजाश्चैव हेमकक्ष्याः पताकिनः । जीमूता इव घर्मान्ते सघोषाः सम्प्रतस्थिरे ॥ ३३ ॥
Female and male elephants with golden girths and banners set out, roaring like clouds at the end of the hot season.
विविधान्यपि यानानि महान्ति च लघूनि च । प्रययुः सुमहार्हाणि पादैरेव पदातयः ॥ ३४ ॥
Carriages of many kinds, great and small, very costly, went, and foot soldiers went on foot.
अथ यानप्रवेकैस्तु कौसल्याप्रमुखाः स्त्रियः । रामदर्शनकांक्षिण्यः प्रययुर्मुदितास्तदा ॥ ३५ ॥
Then the women led by Kausalya, longing to see Rama, went joyfully in the finest carriages.
चन्द्रार्कतरुणाभासां नियुक्तां शिबिकां शुभाम् । आस्थाय प्रययौ श्रीमान् भरतः सपरिच्छदः ॥ ३६ ॥
Mounting an auspicious, well-yoked palanquin shining like the young moon and sun, glorious Bharata set out with his retinue.
सा प्रयाता महासेना गजवाजिरथाकुला । दक्षिणां दिशमावृत्य महामेघ इवोत्थितः ॥ ३७ ॥
That great army, crowded with elephants, horses and chariots, covering the southern direction, set out like a great risen cloud.
वनानि तु व्यतिक्रम्य जुष्टानि मृगपक्षिभिः । गङ्गायाः परवेलायां गिरिष्वपि नदीषु च ॥ ३८ ॥
सा सम्प्रहृष्टद्विजवाजियोधा वित्रासयन्ती मृगपक्षिसङ्घान् । महद्वनं तत्प्रतिगाहमाना रराज सेना भरतस्य तत्र ॥ ३९ ॥
Passing forests frequented by beasts and birds, on the far shore of the Ganga, over mountains and rivers, its birds, horses and warriors delighted, terrifying the herds of beasts and birds, plunging into that great forest, Bharata’s army shone there.