Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 99 of 119 · 42 verses
The Brothers Meet
With the army camped, Bharata, eager, goes to see his brother, pointing the way to Shatrughna. Asking the seer Vasishtha to bring his mothers quickly, he hurries ahead, loving his elder. Sumantra follows Shatrughna closely; his thirst to see Rama is as great as Bharata’s. As he goes, glorious Bharata sees his brother’s leaf hut and cottage among the ascetics’ dwellings. In front of the hut he sees broken firewood and gathered flowers, and here and there marks made on the trees with strips of kusha grass and bark by Rama and Lakshmana going to the hermitage. In the forest he sees great heaps of dung of deer and buffaloes, gathered against the cold. Delighted, mighty-armed Bharata says to Shatrughna and all the ministers: “I think we have reached the place Bharadvaja spoke of; I think the river Mandakini is not far from here. These strips of bark tied up high must be Lakshmana’s marks, made for finding the path at night. And this is where powerful tuskers have circled the mountainside, trumpeting at one another. There is the thick smoke of the black-trailed fire that ascetics always want to keep alive in the forest. Here I shall joyfully see my noble brother, the tiger among men, who honours his elders, Raghava, like a great seer.”
Going on a little toward Chitrakuta, Raghava reaches the Mandakini and says to his people: “The tiger among men, the lord of men, sits on the bare ground in the posture of a hero, having come to a place without men. Shame on my birth and my life! Because of me the radiant lord of the world has fallen into calamity; giving up all pleasures, Raghava lives in the forest. Cursed by the world as I am, I will fall at the feet of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana today to win their favour.” Lamenting so in the forest, Dasharatha’s son sees a great, holy, lovely leaf hut, covered with many leaves of sala, tala and ashvakarna, wide, strewn with soft kusha like an altar at a sacrifice; adorned with heavy, gold-backed bows like Indra’s, very strong, oppressors of foes; with terrible arrows in quivers, bright as the sun’s rays, as Bhogavati is adorned with serpents with shining mouths; shining with two swords in cases of fine gold and two shields bright with gold dots; hung with bright finger-guards of iguana skin decorated with gold; unassailable by hosts of enemies, as a lion’s cave is by deer. In Rama’s dwelling Bharata sees a holy altar sloping to the north-east, wide, with a blazing fire. Looking a moment, Bharata sees his elder sitting in the hut, wearing a circle of matted hair, wearing a black deerskin and garments of bark and rags; he sees Rama sitting, like a fire, lion-shouldered, mighty-armed, lotus-eyed, lord of the earth to the ocean’s edge, practising dharma, mighty-armed, sitting like eternal Brahma on the bare ground strewn with darbha, with Sita and Lakshmana. Seeing him, glorious, righteous Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, flooded with sorrow and grief, runs toward him. As soon as he sees him he laments, distressed, in a voice choked with tears, unable to hold steady: “He who should sit in the assembly attended by his subjects, my elder brother, sits here attended by forest beasts. The great soul who used to wear thousands of garments wears a deerskin here, practising dharma. How does Raghava, who wore many lovely flowers, carry this load of matted hair? He whose store of dharma came from sacrifices duly performed now seeks dharma born of bodily hardship. How is the body of the noble one, once served with the costliest sandal, now served by dirt? Rama, used to comfort, has met this sorrow because of me. Shame on my cruel life, condemned by the world!” Lamenting so, wretched, his lotus face sweating, Bharata falls weeping before he even reaches Rama’s feet. Burning with sorrow, the mighty prince says “Noble one!” once, piteously, and nothing more. His throat choked with tears, looking at glorious Rama, he cries “Noble one!” and can say nothing else. Shatrughna too, weeping, salutes Rama’s feet. Rama embraces them both and sheds tears. Then the two princes meet Sumantra and Guha in the forest, like the sun and moon in the sky meeting Venus and Jupiter. Seeing those princes, like leaders of elephant herds, met together in the great forest, all the forest-dwellers too shed tears, their joy set aside.
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निविष्टायां तु सेनायामुत्सुको भरतस्तदा । जगाम भ्रातरं द्रष्टुं शत्रुध्नमनुदर्शयन् ॥ १ ॥
When the army had been camped, Bharata, eager, then went to see his brother, showing the way to Shatrughna.
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ऋषिं वसिष्ठं सन्दिश्य मातऽर्मे शीघ्रमानय । इति त्वरितमग्रे स जगाम गुरुवत्सलः ॥ २ ॥
Instructing the seer Vasishtha, “Bring my mothers quickly,” he went ahead in haste, loving his elder.
सुमन्त्रस्त्वपि शत्रुघ्नमदूरादन्वपद्यत । रामदर्शनजस्तर्षो भरतस्येव तस्य च ॥ ३ ॥
Sumantra too followed Shatrughna not far behind; his thirst, born of the wish to see Rama, was like Bharata’s.
गच्छन्नेवाथ भरतस्तापसालयसंस्थिताम् । भ्रातुः पर्णकुटीं श्रीमानुटजं च ददर्श ह ॥ ४ ॥
As he went, glorious Bharata saw his brother’s leaf hut and cottage standing among the dwellings of ascetics.
शालायास्त्वग्रतस्तस्या ददर्श भरतस्तदा । काष्ठानि चावभग्नानि पुष्पाण्युपचितानि च ॥ ५ ॥
Then in front of that hut Bharata saw broken firewood and flowers gathered together.
सलक्ष्मणस्य रामस्य ददर्शाश्रममीयुषः । कृतं वृक्षेष्वभिज्ञानं कुशचीरैः क्वचित् क्वचित् ॥ ६ ॥
He saw marks made on the trees here and there with kusha and bark by Rama and Lakshmana, who had gone to the hermitage.
ददर्श च वने तस्मिन् महतः सञ्चयान् कृतान् । मृगाणां महिषाणां च कऺरीषैः शीतकारणात् ॥ ७ ॥
And in that forest he saw great heaps made of the dung of deer and buffaloes, for the sake of the cold.
गच्छन्नेव महाबाहुर्द्युतिमान् भरतस्तदा । शत्रुघ्नं चाब्रवीद्धृष्टस्तानमात्यांश्च सर्वशः ॥ ८ ॥
As he went, mighty-armed, radiant Bharata, delighted, said to Shatrughna and to all those ministers:
मन्ये प्राप्ताः स्म तं देशं भरद्वाजो यमब्रवीत् । नातिदूरे हि मन्येऽहं नदीं मन्दाकिनीमितः ॥ ९ ॥
“I think we have reached that place Bharadvaja spoke of; for I think the river Mandakini is not far from here.
उच्चैर्बद्धानि चीराणि लक्ष्मणेन भवेदयम् । अभिज्ञानकृतः पन्था विकाले गन्तुमिच्छता ॥ १० ॥
“These strips of bark tied up high must be Lakshmana’s; this is a path marked by one wishing to go at the wrong hour.
इदं चोदात्तदन्तानां कुञ्जराणां तरस्विनाम् । शैलपार्श्वे परिक्रान्तमन्योन्यमभिगर्जताम् ॥ ११ ॥
“And this is where powerful elephants with lofty tusks have circled on the mountainside, trumpeting at one another.
यमेवाधातुमिच्छन्ति तापसाः सततं वने । तस्यासौ दृश्यते धूमः सङ्कुलः कृष्णवर्त्मनः ॥ १२ ॥
“That is seen to be the thick smoke of the black-trailed fire that ascetics always wish to keep in the forest.
अत्राहं पुरुषव्याघ्रं गुरुसंस्कारकारिणम् । आर्यं द्रक्ष्यामि संहृष्टो महर्षिमिव राघवम् ॥ १३ ॥
“Here I shall joyfully see my noble brother, the tiger among men, who does honour to his elders, Raghava, like a great seer.”
अथ गत्वा मुहूर्तं तु चित्रकूटं स राघवः । मन्दाकिनीमनुप्राप्तस्तं जनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥ १४ ॥
Then, having gone a short while, that Raghava reached Chitrakuta and the Mandakini, and said this to the people:
जगत्यां पुरुषव्याघ्र आस्ते वीरासने रतः । जनेन्द्रो निर्जनं प्राप्य धिङ्मे जन्म सजीवितम् ॥ १५ ॥
“The tiger among men, the lord of men, sits on the bare ground, devoted to the hero’s posture, having come to a place without people. Shame on my birth and my life!
मत्कृते व्यसनं प्राप्तो लोकनाथो महाद्युतिः । सर्वान् कामान् परित्यज्य वने वसति राघवः ॥ १६ ॥
“Because of me the radiant lord of the world has fallen into calamity; having given up all desires, Raghava lives in the forest.
इति लोकसमाक्रुष्टः पादेष्वद्य प्रसादयन् । रामस्य निपतिष्यामि सीताया लक्ष्मणस्य च ॥ १७ ॥
“Cursed so by the world, I will fall today at the feet of Rama, of Sita and of Lakshmana, to win their favour.”
एवं स विलपंस्तस्मिन् वने दशरथात्मजः । ददर्श महतीं पुण्यां पर्णशालां मनोरमाम् ॥ १८ ॥
Lamenting so in that forest, the son of Dasharatha saw a great, holy, lovely leaf hut,
सालतालाश्वकर्णानां पर्णैर्बहुभिरावृताम् । विशालां मृदुभिस्तीर्णां कुशैर्वेदिमिवाध्वरे ॥ १९ ॥
covered with many leaves of sala, tala and ashvakarna trees, wide, strewn with soft kusha, like an altar at a sacrifice;
शक्रायुधनिकाशैश्च कार्मुकैर्भारसाधनैः । रुक्मपृष्टष्ठैर्महासारैः शोभितां शत्रुबाधकैः ॥ २० ॥
adorned with bows like Indra’s weapon, able to bear great weight, gold-backed, of great strength, oppressors of enemies;
अर्करश्मिप्रतीकाशैर्घोरैस्तूणीगतैः शरैः । शोभितां दीप्तवदनैः सर्प्पैर्भोगवतीमिव ॥ २१ ॥
adorned with terrible arrows in quivers, like the sun’s rays, as Bhogavati is adorned with serpents with shining mouths;
महारजतवासोभ्यामसिभ्यां च विराजिताम् । रुक्मबिन्दुविचित्राभ्यां चर्मभ्यां चापि शोभिताम् ॥ २२ ॥
resplendent with two swords in sheaths of fine gold and adorned with two shields bright with dots of gold;
गोधाङ्गुलित्रैरासक्तैश्चित्रैः काञ्चनभूषितैः । अरिसङ्घैरनाधृष्यां मृगैः सिंहगुहामिव ॥ २३ ॥
with bright finger-guards of iguana skin decorated with gold hanging there, unassailable by hosts of enemies, as a lion’s cave is by deer.
प्रागुदक्प्रवणां वेदिं विशालां दीप्तपावकाम् । ददर्श भरतस्तत्र पुण्यां रामनिवेशने ॥ २४ ॥
There in Rama’s dwelling Bharata saw a holy altar, sloping to the north-east, wide, with a blazing fire.
निरीक्ष्य स मुहूर्त्तं तु ददर्श भरतो गुरम् । उटजे राममासीनं जटामण्डलधारिणम् ॥ २५ ॥
Looking for a moment, Bharata saw his elder, Rama, sitting in the hut, wearing a circle of matted hair.
तं तु कृष्णाजिनधरं चीरवल्कलवाससम् । ददर्श राममासीनमभितः पावकोपमम् ॥ २६ ॥
He saw that Rama sitting, wearing a black deerskin, dressed in rags and bark, like a fire all around,
सिंहस्कन्धं महाबाहुं पुण्डरीकनिभेक्षणम् । पृथिव्याः सागरान्ताया भर्त्तारं धर्मचारिणम् ॥ २७ ॥
lion-shouldered, mighty-armed, with eyes like white lotuses, the lord of the earth bounded by the ocean, practising dharma,
उपविष्टं महाबाहुं ब्रह्माणमिव शाश्वतम् । स्थण्डिले दर्भसंस्तीर्णे सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च ॥ २८ ॥
the mighty-armed one seated like eternal Brahma on the bare ground strewn with darbha, with Sita and Lakshmana.
तं दृष्ट्वा भरतः श्रीमान् दुःखशोकपरिप्लुतः । अभ्यधावत धर्मात्मा भरतः कैकयीसुतः ॥ २९ ॥
Seeing him, glorious Bharata, flooded with sorrow and grief, righteous Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, ran toward him.
दृष्ट्वैव विललापार्त्तो बाष्पसन्दिग्धया गिरा । अशक्नुवन् धारयितुं धैर्याद्वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ ३० ॥
As soon as he saw him, distressed, he lamented in a voice choked with tears, and, unable to hold himself steady, said:
यः संसदि प्रकृतिभिर्भवेद्युक्त उपासितुम् । वन्यैर्मृगैरुपासीनः सोऽयमास्ते ममाग्रजः ॥ ३१ ॥
“He who should be attended in the assembly by his subjects, that elder brother of mine sits here attended by forest beasts.
वासोभिर्बहुसाहस्रैर्यो महात्मा पुरोचितः । मृगाजिने सोऽयमिह प्रवस्ते धर्ममाचरन् ॥ ३२ ॥
“The great soul who was formerly used to garments by many thousands wears a deerskin here, practising dharma.
अधारयद्यो विविधाश्चित्राः सुमनसस्तदा । सोऽयं जटाभारमिमं वहते राघवः कथम् ॥ ३३ ॥
“He who then wore many kinds of bright flowers: how does that Raghava carry this load of matted hair?
यस्य यज्ञैर्यथोद्दिष्टैर्युक्तो धर्मस्य सञ्चयः । शरीरक्लेशसम्भूतं स धर्मं परिमार्गते ॥ ३४ ॥
“He who was joined to a store of dharma by sacrifices as prescribed now seeks dharma born of hardship to the body.
चन्दनेन महार्हेण यस्याङ्गमुपसेवितम् । मलेन तस्याङ्गमिदं कथमार्यस्य सेव्यते ॥ ३५ ॥
“The limbs of the noble one, which were served with the costliest sandal: how are they served by dirt?
मन्निमित्तमिदं दुःखं प्राप्तो रामः सुखोचितः । धिग्जीवितं नृशंसस्य मम लोकविगर्हितम् ॥ ३६ ॥
“Rama, used to comfort, has met this sorrow because of me. Shame on the life of cruel me, condemned by the world!”
इत्येवं विलपन् दीनः प्रस्विन्नमुखपङ्कजः । पादावप्राप्य रामस्य पपात भरतो रुदन् ॥ ३७ ॥
Lamenting so, wretched, his lotus face sweating, Bharata fell weeping without reaching Rama’s feet.
दुःखाभितप्तो भरतो राजपुत्रो महाबलः । उक्त्वार्येति सकृद्दीनं पुनर्नोवाच किञ्चन ॥ ३८ ॥
Burning with sorrow, the mighty prince Bharata said “Noble one!” once, piteously, and said nothing more.
बाष्पापिहितकण्ठश्च प्रेक्ष्य रामं यशस्विनम् । आर्येत्येवाथ संक्रुश्य व्याहर्त्तुं नाशकत्तदा ॥ ३९ ॥
His throat choked with tears, looking at glorious Rama, he cried out “Noble one!” and then could not speak.
शत्रुघ्नश्चापि रामस्य ववन्दे चरणौ रुदन् । तावुभौ स समालिङ्ग्य रामश्चाश्रूण्यवर्त्तयत् ॥ ४० ॥
And Shatrughna too, weeping, saluted Rama’s feet. Embracing them both, Rama too shed tears.
ततः सुमन्त्रेण गुहेन चैव समीयतू राजसुतावरण्ये । दिवाकरश्चैव निशाकरश्च यथाम्बरे शुक्रबृहस्पतिभ्याम् ॥ ४१ ॥
Then the two princes met Sumantra and Guha in the forest, like the sun and the moon in the sky with Venus and Jupiter.
तान् पार्थिवान् वारणयूथपाभान् समागतांस्तत्र महत्यरण्ये । वनौकसस्तेऽपि समीक्ष्य सर्वेप्यश्रूण्यमुञ्चन् प्रविहाय हर्षम् ॥ ४२ ॥
Seeing those lords of the earth, like leaders of elephant herds, met together in the great forest, all the forest-dwellers too shed tears, setting aside their joy.