Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 125 of 128 · 46 verses
Hanuman Brings the News to Bharata
Looking toward Ayodhya, Raghava, wishing to do what is pleasing, thinks; then, swift in action, the wise one turns his eyes to the monkeys and says to Hanuman: go quickly to Ayodhya, best of leapers, and find out whether all is well in the king’s palace. At Shringaverapura, tell Guha, lord of the Nishadas, who lives in the woods, that I am well; hearing that I am well, healthy and free from fever, Guha will be pleased, for he is my friend, equal to my own self; and the Nishada lord, pleased, will show you the way to Ayodhya and give you news of Bharata. Tell Bharata, in my words, that I am well; tell him I have achieved my purpose, with my wife and Lakshmana; tell him of the carrying off of the Vaidehi by mighty Ravana, the meeting with Sugriva, Vali’s death in battle, the search for Maithili and how you found her by leaping the great water, the unfailing lord of rivers, our coming to the ocean and the sight of it, how the bridge was built and Ravana killed, the boons given by great Indra, Brahma and Varuna, and my meeting with my father through Mahadeva’s grace. Tell Bharata, gentle one, that I have come with the king of the rakshasas and the lord of the monkeys: “Rama, having conquered the hosts of his enemies and won unsurpassed fame, comes with his purpose achieved and with his mighty friends.” Notice the expression Bharata takes on when he hears this, and learn all his feelings toward me; learn all that is happening and his gestures, truly, from the colour of his face, his look and his speech. For whose mind would not be turned by a father’s and grandfather’s kingdom, rich in every desire, crowded with elephants, horses and chariots? If glorious Bharata, through long association, should himself desire the kingdom, let the delight of the Raghus rule the whole earth. Learn his mind and his resolve, monkey, and come back quickly, before we have gone far.
So instructed, Hanuman, son of the Wind, takes human form and leaps up swiftly toward Ayodhya, like Garuda swooping on a great serpent. Crossing his father’s path, the lovely home of the lord of birds, passing the terrible meeting of the Ganga and Yamuna, he reaches Shringaverapura and, coming to Guha, says gladly in auspicious words: your friend Kakutstha Rama, of true valour, with Sita and Saumitri, sends you his greetings. Having spent tonight, the fifth, at the sage’s word, with Bharadvaja’s leave, you will see Raghava here. Having said this, the radiant one, his hair thrilling with joy, leaps up with great speed without hesitation; he sees Rama’s ford, the river Valukini, the Varuthi and Gomati, the terrible sala forest, many thousands of people and prosperous lands, and, travelling far quickly, the elephant among monkeys reaches flowering trees near Nandigrama, like the trees in Caitraratha, the garden of the king of the gods, among women with their sons and grandsons, well adorned, at play. A krosha from Ayodhya he sees Bharata, dressed in bark and black antelope skin, wretched and thin, living as a hermit, his hair matted, his body smeared with dirt, worn by his brother’s misfortune, eating fruit and roots, self-controlled, an ascetic walking in dharma, with a high mass of matted hair, in bark and deerskin, disciplined, purified in spirit, with the radiance of a brahmin sage, ruling the earth with the sandals placed before him, protecting the people of the four classes from every fear, attended by ministers, pure priests and the chief men of the army in ochre robes; for the citizens, loving dharma, would not resolve to enjoy pleasures while their prince wore bark and black deerskin. To him, like dharma itself in another bodily form, Hanuman, son of the Wind, says with joined palms: Kakutstha, for whom you grieve as he lives in the Dandaka forest in bark and matted hair, sends you his greetings. I bring you good news, my lord; give up your terrible grief; in this very hour you will be reunited with your brother Rama. Having killed Ravana and recovered Maithili, Rama is coming with his purpose achieved, with his mighty friends, and Lakshmana of great radiance and the glorious Vaidehi, Sita, safe and whole with Rama, as Shachi with great Indra.
Hearing Hanuman, Bharata, Kaikeyi’s son, falls suddenly in joy and faints from happiness. After a moment, recovering, Bharata the Raghava rises, embraces the monkey who has spoken such welcome words in his excitement, and bathes him with great tears of joy, born not of grief but of love: whether you are a god or a man who has come here out of compassion, gentle one, I give you a gift for your good news: a hundred thousand cows, a hundred of the finest villages, and sixteen virtuous maidens to be wives, golden-skinned, with fine noses and thighs, with faces gentle as the moon, adorned with every ornament, of good family and birth. Hearing from the hero among monkeys the wondrous news of Rama’s coming, the prince, thrilled with joy and longing to see Rama, speaks again in his joy.
Press › to begin with verse 1.
अयोध्यां तु समालोक्य चिन्तयामास राघवः । प्रियकामः प्रियं रामस्ततस्त्वरितविक्रमः ॥ १ ॥
Looking at Ayodhya, Raghava reflected; then Rama, wishing to do what was pleasing, swift in action,
Commentary on the whole sarga
Hanuman Brings the News to Bharata 1 min read.
Read the commentary
चिन्तयित्वा ततो दृष्टिं वानरेषु न्यपातयत् । उवाच धीमांस्तेजस्वी हनूमन्तं प्लवंगमम् ॥ २ ॥
having reflected, then cast his eyes on the monkeys; the wise, radiant one said to the leaper Hanuman:
अयोध्यां त्वरितो गत्वा शीघ्रं प्लवगसत्तम । जानीहि कच्चित् कुशली जनो नृपतिमन्दिरे ॥ ३ ॥
“Go quickly to Ayodhya, best of leapers, swiftly, and find out whether the people in the king’s palace are well.
शृङ्गवेरपुरं प्राप्य गुहं गहनगोचरम् । निषादाधिपतिं ब्रूहि कुशलं वचनान्मम ॥ ४ ॥
“Reaching Shringaverapura, tell Guha, who roams the thickets, lord of the Nishadas, in my words, that I am well.
श्रुत्वा तु मां कुशलिनमरोगं विगतज्वरम् । भविष्यति गुहः प्रीतः स ममात्मसमः सखा ॥ ५ ॥
“Hearing that I am well, healthy, free from fever, Guha will be pleased; he is my friend, equal to my own self.
अयोध्यायाश्च ते मार्गं प्रवृत्तिं भरतस्य च । निवेदयिष्यति प्रीतो निषादाधिपतिर्गुहः ॥ ६ ॥
“And Guha, lord of the Nishadas, pleased, will tell you the way to Ayodhya and the news of Bharata.
भरतस्तु त्वया वाच्यः कुशलं वचनान्मम । सिद्धार्थं शंस मां तस्मै सभार्यं सहलक्ष्मणम् ॥ ७ ॥
“And Bharata is to be told by you, in my words, that I am well; tell him I have achieved my purpose, with my wife and with Lakshmana.
हरणं चापि वैदेह्या रावणेन बलीयसा । सुग्रीवेण च संवादं वालिनश्च वधं रणे ॥ ८ ॥
“And the carrying off of the Vaidehi by mighty Ravana, the meeting with Sugriva, and Vali’s killing in battle,
मैथिल्यन्वेषणं चैव यथा चाधिगता त्वया । लङ्घयित्वा महातोयमापगापतिमव्ययम् ॥ ९ ॥
“and the search for Maithili, and how she was found by you, having leapt the great water, the unfailing lord of rivers,
उपयानं समुद्रस्य सागरस्य च दर्शनम् । यथा च कारितः सेतू रावणश्च यथा हतः ॥ १० ॥
“the approach to the ocean and the sight of the sea, and how the bridge was made to be built, and how Ravana was killed,
वरदानं महेन्द्रेण ब्रह्मणा वरुणेन च । महादेवप्रसादाच्च पित्रा मम समागमम् ॥ ११ ॥
“the giving of boons by great Indra, by Brahma and by Varuna, and, by Mahadeva’s grace, the meeting with my father:
उपयातं च मां सौम्य भरताय निवेदय । सह राक्षसराजेन हरीणामीश्वरेण च ॥ १२ ॥
“and tell Bharata, gentle one, that I have come, with the king of the rakshasas and with the lord of the monkeys.
जित्वा शत्रुगणान् रामः प्राप्य चानुत्तमं यशः । उपायाति समृद्धार्थः सह मित्रैर्महाबलैः ॥ १३ ॥
“’Having conquered the hosts of his enemies and obtained unsurpassed fame, Rama comes, his purpose prospered, with his very mighty friends.’
एतच्छ्रुत्वा यमाकारं भजते भरतस्ततः । स च ते वेदितव्यः स्यात् सर्वं यच्चापि मां प्रति ॥ १४ ॥
“Hearing this, whatever expression Bharata then takes on, that should be known by you, and all that he has toward me.
ज्ञेयाः सर्वे च वृत्तान्ता भरतस्येङ्गितानि च । तत्त्वेन मुखवर्णेन दृष्ट्या व्याभाषितेन च ॥ १५ ॥
“All the happenings and Bharata’s gestures are to be known truly, by the colour of his face, by his look and by his speech.
सर्वकामसमृद्धं हि हस्त्यश्वरथसंकुलम् । पितृपैतामहं राज्यं कस्य नावर्तयेन्मनः ॥ १६ ॥
“For whose mind would not turn toward a kingdom of father and grandfather, rich in all desires, crowded with elephants, horses and chariots?
संगत्या भरतः श्रीमान् राज्येनार्थी स्वयं भवेत् । प्रशास्तु वसुधां सर्वामखिलां रघुनन्दनः ॥ १७ ॥
“If, through long association, glorious Bharata himself should desire the kingdom, let the delight of the Raghus rule the whole entire earth.
तस्य बुद्धिं च विज्ञाय व्यवसायं च वानर । यावन्न दूरं याताः स्मः क्षिप्रमागन्तुमर्हसि ॥ १८ ॥
“Learning his mind and his resolve, monkey, you should come back quickly, before we have gone far.”
इति प्रतिसमादिष्टो हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । मानुषं धारयन् रूपमयोध्यां त्वरितो ययौ ॥ १९ ॥
So instructed, Hanuman, son of the Wind, taking on human form, went quickly to Ayodhya.
अथोत्पपात वेगेन हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । गरुत्मानिव वेगेन जिघृक्षन्नुरगोत्तमम् ॥ २० ॥
Then Hanuman, son of the Wind, flew up with speed, like Garuda with speed, wishing to seize the best of serpents.
लङ्घयित्वा पितृपथं विहगेन्द्रालयं शुभम् । गङ्गायमुनयोर्भीमं समतीत्य समागमम् ॥ २१ ॥
Crossing his father’s path, the lovely home of the lord of birds, passing beyond the terrible meeting of the Ganga and Yamuna,
शृङ्गवेरपुरं प्राप्य गुहमासाद्य वीर्यवान् । स वाचा शुभया हृष्टो हनूमानिदमब्रवीत् ॥ २२ ॥
reaching Shringaverapura and coming to Guha, the valiant Hanuman, delighted, said this with auspicious speech:
सखा तु तव काकुत्स्थो रामः सत्यपराक्रमः । ससीतः सह सौमित्रिः स त्वां कुशलमब्रवीत् ॥ २३ ॥
“Your friend Kakutstha Rama, of true valour, with Sita, with Saumitri, sends you greetings.
पञ्चमीमद्य रजनीमुषित्वा वचनान्मुनेः । भरद्वाजाभ्यनुज्ञातं द्रक्ष्यस्यत्रैव राघवम् ॥ २४ ॥
“Having spent tonight, the fifth night, at the sage’s word, you will see Raghava right here, permitted by Bharadvaja.”
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजाः सम्प्रहृष्टतनूरुहः । उत्पपात महावेगाद् वेगवानविचारयन् ॥ २५ ॥
Having said this, the very radiant one, his hair thrilling with joy, flew up with great speed, swift, without hesitation.
सोऽपश्यद् रामतीर्थं च नदीं वालुकिनीं तथा । वरूथीं गोमतीं चैव भीमं शालवनं तथा ॥ २६ ॥
He saw Rama’s ford, and the river Valukini likewise, the Varuthi and the Gomati, and likewise the terrible sala forest,
प्रजाश्च बहुसाहस्रीः स्फीताञ्जनपदानपि । स गत्वा दूरमध्वानं त्वरितः कपिकुञ्जरः ॥ २७ ॥
and many thousands of people and prosperous lands. Having gone a long way quickly, the elephant among monkeys
आससाद द्रुमान् फुल्लान् नन्दिग्रामसमीपगान् । सुराधिपस्योपवने यथा चैत्ररथे द्रुमान् ॥ २८ ॥
reached flowering trees near Nandigrama, like the trees in Caitraratha, the garden of the lord of the gods,
स्त्रीभिः सपुत्रैः पौत्रैश्च रममाणैः स्वलंकृतैः । क्रोशमात्रे त्वयोध्यायाश्चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरम् ॥ २९ ॥
with women with sons and grandsons playing, well adorned. A krosha from Ayodhya, dressed in bark and black antelope skin,
ददर्श भरतं दीनं कृशमाश्रमवासिनम् । जटिलं मलदिग्धाङ्गं भ्रातृव्यसनकर्शितम् ॥ ३० ॥
he saw Bharata, wretched, thin, living in a hermitage, with matted hair, his limbs smeared with dirt, worn by his brother’s misfortune,
फलमूलाशिनं दान्तं तापसं धर्मचारिणम् । समुन्नतजटाभारं वल्कलाजिनवाससम् ॥ ३१ ॥
eating fruit and roots, self-controlled, an ascetic walking in dharma, with a lofty mass of matted hair, wearing bark and deerskin,
नियतं भावितात्मानं ब्रह्मर्षिसमतेजसम् । पादुके ते पुरस्कृत्य प्रशासन्तं वसुंधराम् ॥ ३२ ॥
disciplined, purified in self, with radiance equal to a brahmin sage’s, placing those sandals before him, ruling the earth,
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य लोकस्य त्रातारं सर्वतो भयात् । उपस्थितममात्यैश्च शुचिभिश्च पुरोहितैः ॥ ३३ ॥
protector of the world of the four classes from every fear, attended by ministers and pure priests,
बलमुख्यैश्च युक्तैश्च काषायाम्बरधारिभिः । नहि ते राजपुत्रं तं चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरम् ॥ ३४ ॥
and by the chief men of the army, devoted, wearing ochre robes. For those citizens, loving dharma, do not resolve to enjoy pleasures
परिभोक्तुं व्यवस्यन्ति पौरा वै धर्मवत्सलाः । तं धर्ममिव धर्मज्ञं देहबन्धमिवापरम् ॥ ३५ ॥
while that prince wears bark and black deerskin. To him, knower of dharma, like dharma in another bodily form,
उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः । वसन्तं दण्डकारण्ये यं त्वं चीरजटाधरम् ॥ ३६ ॥
Hanuman, son of the Wind, with joined palms, said these words: “He for whom you grieve, Kakutstha, living in the Dandaka forest wearing bark and matted hair,
अनुशोचसि काकुत्स्थं स त्वां कौशलमब्रवीत् । प्रियमाख्यामि ते देव शोकं त्यज सुदारुणम् ॥ ३७ ॥
“has sent you greetings. I bring you good news, my lord; give up your very terrible grief.
अस्मिन् मुहूर्ते भ्रात्रा त्वं रामेण सह संगतः । निहत्य रावणं रामः प्रतिलभ्य च मैथिलीम् ॥ ३८ ॥
“In this hour you are joined with your brother Rama. Having killed Ravana and recovered Maithili, Rama
उपयाति समृद्धार्थः सह मित्रैर्महाबलैः । लक्ष्मणश्च महातेजा वैदेही च यशस्विनी । सीता समग्रा रामेण महेन्द्रेण शची यथा ॥ ३९ ॥
“comes, his purpose prospered, with his very mighty friends; and Lakshmana of great radiance, and the glorious Vaidehi, Sita, whole, with Rama, as Shachi with great Indra.”
एवमुक्तो हनुमता भरतः कैकयीसुतः । पपात सहसा हृष्टो हर्षान्मोहमुपागमत् ॥ ४० ॥
Spoken to so by Hanuman, Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, suddenly fell in joy and from joy came to a faint.
ततो मुहूर्तादुत्थाय प्रत्याश्वस्य च राघवः । हनूमन्तमुवाचेदं भरतः प्रियवादिनम् ॥ ४१ ॥
Then, rising after a moment and recovering, Bharata, the Raghava, said this to Hanuman, the speaker of good news.
अशोकजैः प्रीतिमयैः कपिमालिङ्ग्य सम्भ्रमात् । सिषेच भरतः श्रीमान् विपुलैरश्रुबिन्दुभिः ॥ ४२ ॥
Embracing the monkey in his excitement, glorious Bharata bathed him with great drops of tears born not of grief but of love:
देवो वा मानुषो वा त्वमनुक्रोशादिहागतः । प्रियाख्यानस्य ते सौम्य ददामि ब्रुवतः प्रियम् ॥ ४३ ॥
“Whether you are a god or a man who has come here out of compassion, I give you, gentle one, for telling good news, something pleasing:
गवां शतसहस्रं च ग्रामाणां च शतं परम् । सकुण्डलाः शुभाचारा भार्याः कन्यास्तु षोडश ॥ ४४ ॥
“a hundred thousand cows, and a hundred of the best villages, and sixteen maidens of good conduct as wives,
हेमवर्णाः सुनासोरूः शशिसौम्याननाः स्त्रियः । सर्वाभरणसम्पन्नाः सम्पन्नाः कुलजातिभिः ॥ ४५ ॥
“women golden-skinned, with fine noses and thighs, with faces gentle as the moon, endowed with all ornaments, endowed with family and birth.”
निशम्य रामागमनं नृपात्मजः कपिप्रवीरस्य तदाद्भुतोपमम् । प्रहर्षितो रामदिदृक्षयाभवत् पुनश्च हर्षादिदमब्रवीद् वचः ॥ ४६ ॥
Hearing from the hero among the monkeys the news of Rama’s coming, like a wonder, the prince, thrilled with joy, longing to see Rama, spoke these words again from joy.