Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 127 of 128 · 64 verses
Bharata Meets Rama
Hearing the supremely joyful news, Bharata, of true valour, joyfully orders Shatrughna: let pure men worship all the gods and shrines of the city with fragrant garlands and music; let bards versed in praises and ancient lore, all the heralds, musicians and courtesans, the royal wives and ministers, the soldiers and the army’s women, brahmins and kshatriyas, and the heads of guilds and companies go out to see Rama’s moon-like face. Shatrughna sets many thousands of labourers to work in groups: level the hollows and the uneven ground; clear the places beyond Nandigrama; sprinkle the whole road with ice-cold water; let others scatter parched grain and flowers everywhere; raise banners in the streets of the finest city; decorate the houses by sunrise; let hundreds of men strew the royal road, kept clear, with garlands, loose flowers and five-coloured gold. Joyfully, at Shatrughna’s order, Dhrishti, Jayanta, Vijaya, Siddhartha, Arthasadhaka, Ashoka, Mantrapala and Sumantra go out, on thousands of rutting, bannered elephants and she-elephants with golden girths, on horses and in great chariots, surrounded by thousands of horsemen with spears, swords and nooses and thousands of foot soldiers. All of Dasharatha’s wives, led by Kausalya and Sumitra, with Kaikeyi, come to Nandigrama in carriages. Righteous Bharata, surrounded by the chief brahmins, the heads of guilds and merchants and ministers carrying garlands and sweets, greeted with conches, drums and bards, carrying his noble brother’s sandals on his head, with a white umbrella decorated with white garlands and two white royal yak-tail fans adorned with gold, thin from fasting, wretched, in bark and black deerskin, but already filled with joy at hearing of his brother’s return, goes out with his ministers to meet Rama. The earth seems to shake with the sound of hooves, chariot wheels, conches and drums and the trumpeting of elephants; the whole city comes to Nandigrama.
Looking around, Bharata says to the son of the Wind: I hope it is not the fickleness of monkeys at work; I do not see noble Kakutstha Rama, scorcher of foes, nor the monkeys who take any form at will. Hanuman explains: they have reached the trees, always fruiting, flowering and flowing with honey through Bharadvaja’s grace, humming with drunken bees; Vasava gave him that boon, and he entertained the army with every hospitality. Listen to the joyful roar of the forest-dwellers; I think the monkey army is crossing the river Gomati. See the shower of dust over the sala forest; I think the monkeys are shaking the lovely sala forest. And there in the distance is the aerial chariot, like the moon: the heavenly Pushpaka, made by Brahma with his mind, won by the great soul when he killed Ravana with his kin, bright as the morning sun, Rama’s vehicle, heavenly, swift as thought by the Lord of Wealth’s grace; in it are the two heroic Raghava brothers with the Vaidehi, radiant Sugriva and the rakshasa Vibhishana. Then a joyful roar touches heaven as women, children, young and old cry, “That is Rama!” Getting down from chariots, elephants and horses onto the ground, the people see him in the aerial chariot like the moon in the sky. Bharata, with joined palms, overjoyed, facing Raghava, honours Rama with guest-water, water for the feet and the other offerings. In the chariot made by Brahma’s mind, Bharata’s elder brother, wide- and long-eyed, shines like the immortal who holds the thunderbolt. Bharata bows to his brother Rama at the front of the chariot like the sun on Meru. Permitted by Rama, the matchless swan-drawn chariot comes down to earth with great speed. Brought up into the chariot, Bharata, of true valour, reaches Rama and joyfully salutes him again; Kakutstha raises him, so long out of his sight, sets him on his lap and embraces him with joy. Then, coming to Lakshmana and the Vaidehi, Bharata, scorcher of foes, salutes them gladly and says his name. Kaikeyi’s son embraces Sugriva, Jambavan, Angada, Mainda, Dvivida, Nila, Rishabha, Sushena, Nala, Gavaksha, Gandhamadana, Sharabha and Panasa all around; and the monkeys, who take any form, putting on human form, joyfully ask Bharata how he is. Embracing Sugriva, bull among monkeys, the radiant prince Bharata, best of the righteous, says: you are our fifth brother, Sugriva, among us four; a friend is born from kindness, and harm is the mark of an enemy. To Vibhishana Bharata speaks gently: by good fortune, with you as helper, a very hard deed has been done. Then heroic Shatrughna salutes Rama and Lakshmana and humbly bows at Sita’s feet. Rama goes to his mother, pale and worn by grief, and bowing clasps her feet, gladdening her heart; saluting Sumitra and glorious Kaikeyi and all the mothers, he goes to the family priest. All the citizens, with joined palms, say to Rama: welcome, mighty-armed one, increaser of Kausalya’s joy; and Bharata’s elder brother sees those thousands of joined palms raised by the citizens like opening lotuses. Righteous Bharata himself takes Rama’s sandals and fits them to the king’s feet, and with joined palms says to Rama: here is the whole kingdom, held in trust, which I now return to you. Today my birth has found its purpose and my wish is fulfilled, since I see you, the king, come back to Ayodhya. Look over the treasury, the granary, the palace and the army; by your power I have made it all tenfold. Seeing Bharata, so devoted to his brother, speak like this, the monkeys and the rakshasa Vibhishana shed tears. Then joyfully Raghava takes Bharata onto his lap and goes with his army in the chariot to Bharata’s hermitage; reaching it, he steps down from the chariot onto the ground and says to the matchless chariot: carry the god Vaishravana; I give you leave; go. Permitted by Rama, the matchless chariot sets off for the north, to the Lord of Wealth’s abode; the heavenly Pushpaka, once seized by the rakshasa, goes swiftly to Kubera, urged by Rama’s words. Valiant Raghava presses the feet of his family priest, his true friend, as Shakra, lord of the immortals, presses Brihaspati’s, and sits down with him on a fine separate seat.
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श्रुत्वा तु परमानन्दं भरतः सत्यविक्रमः । हृष्टमाज्ञापयामास शत्रुघ्नं परवीरहा ॥ १ ॥
Hearing the supremely joyful news, Bharata of true valour, slayer of enemy heroes, delighted, ordered Shatrughna:
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दैवतानि च सर्वाणि चैत्यानि नगरस्य च । सुगन्धमाल्यैर्वादित्रैरर्चन्तु शुचयो नराः ॥ २ ॥
“Let pure men worship all the gods and the shrines of the city with fragrant garlands and with musical instruments.
सूताः स्तुतिपुराणज्ञाः सर्वे वैतालिकास्तथा । सर्वे वादित्रकुशला गणिकाश्चैव सर्वशः ॥ ३ ॥
“Let the bards, knowers of praises and ancient lore, all the heralds likewise, all skilled in instruments, and the courtesans everywhere,
राजदारास्तथामात्याः सैन्याः सेनाङ्गनागणाः । ब्राह्मणाश्च सराजन्याः श्रेणीमुख्यास्तथा गणाः ॥ ४ ॥
“the royal wives and the ministers, the soldiers and the bands of the army’s women, the brahmins with the kshatriyas, and the heads of guilds and companies,
अभिनिर्यान्तु रामस्य द्रष्टुं शशिनिभं मुखम् । भरतस्य वचः श्रुत्वा शत्रुघ्नः परवीरहा ॥ ५ ॥
“go out to see Rama’s moon-like face.” Hearing Bharata’s words, Shatrughna, slayer of enemy heroes,
विष्टीरनेकसाहस्रीश्चोदयामास भागशः । समीकुरुत निम्नानि विषमाणि समानि च ॥ ६ ॥
urged on many thousands of labourers in divisions: “Make the hollows level, and the uneven places even.
स्थानानि च निरस्यन्तां नन्दिग्रामादितः परम् । सिञ्चन्तु पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां हिमशीतेन वारिणा ॥ ७ ॥
“And let the places beyond Nandigrama be cleared; let them sprinkle the whole ground with water cold as ice.
ततोऽभ्यवकिरन्त्वन्ये लाजैः पुष्पैश्च सर्वतः । समुच्छ्रितपताकास्तु रथ्याः पुरवरोत्तमे ॥ ८ ॥
“Then let others strew it everywhere with parched grain and flowers; let the streets of the finest of cities have banners raised.
शोभयन्तु च वेश्मानि सूर्यस्योदयनं प्रति । स्रग्दाममुक्तपुष्पैश्च सुवर्णैः पञ्चवर्णकैः ॥ ९ ॥
“And let them adorn the houses by the rising of the sun; with garlands and strings, with loose flowers and with five-coloured gold,
राजमार्गमसम्बाधं किरन्तु शतशो नराः । ततस्तच्छासनं श्रुत्वा शत्रुघ्नस्य मुदान्विताः ॥ १० ॥
“let hundreds of men strew the royal road, unobstructed.” Then, hearing that command of Shatrughna, filled with joy,
धृष्टिर्जयन्तो विजयः सिद्धार्थश्चार्थसाधकः । अशोको मन्त्रपालश्च सुमन्त्रश्चापि निर्ययुः ॥ ११ ॥
Dhrishti, Jayanta, Vijaya, Siddhartha and Arthasadhaka, Ashoka, Mantrapala and Sumantra too went out,
मत्तैर्नागसहस्रैश्च सध्वजैः सुविभूषितैः । अपरे हेमकक्षाभिः सगजाभिः करेणुभिः ॥ १२ ॥
with thousands of rutting elephants with banners, well adorned; others with she-elephants with elephants, with golden girths,
निर्ययुस्तुरगाक्रान्ता रथैश्च सुमहारथाः । शक्त्यृष्टिपाशहस्तानां सध्वजानां पताकिनाम् ॥ १३ ॥
went out mounted on horses, and great chariot-fighters with chariots; with spears, swords and nooses in hand, with banners, with pennants,
तुरगाणां सहस्रैश्च मुख्यैर्मुख्यतरान्वितैः । पदातीनां सहस्रैश्च वीराः परिवृता ययुः ॥ १४ ॥
with thousands of horses, chief ones with still more chief, and with thousands of foot soldiers, the heroes went, surrounded.
ततो यानान्युपारूढाः सर्वा दशरथस्त्रियः । कौसल्यां प्रमुखे कृत्वा सुमित्रां चापि निर्ययुः ॥ १५ ॥
Then all the wives of Dasharatha, mounted in carriages, putting Kausalya first and Sumitra too, went out;
कैकेय्या सहिताः सर्वा नन्दिग्राममुपागमन् ॥ १६ ॥
all, with Kaikeyi, came to Nandigrama.
द्विजातिमुख्यैर्धर्मात्मा श्रेणीमुख्यैः सनैगमैः । माल्यमोदकहस्तैश्च मन्त्रिभिर्भरतो वृतः ॥ १७ ॥
Righteous Bharata, surrounded by the chief brahmins, by the heads of guilds with the merchants, and by ministers with garlands and sweets in their hands,
शङ्खभेरीनिनादैश्च बन्दिभिश्चाभिनन्दितः । आर्यपादौ गृहीत्वा तु शिरसा धर्मकोविदः ॥ १८ ॥
greeted with the sounds of conches and drums and by bards, the knower of dharma, carrying his noble one’s sandals on his head,
पाण्डुरं छत्रमादाय शुक्लमाल्योपशोभितम् । शुक्ले च वालव्यजने राजार्हे हेमभूषिते ॥ १९ ॥
taking a white umbrella decorated with white garlands, and two white yak-tail fans fit for a king, adorned with gold,
उपवासकृशो दीनश्चीरकृष्णाजिनाम्बरः । भ्रातुरागमनं श्रुत्वा तत्पूर्वं हर्षमागतः ॥ २० ॥
thin from fasting, wretched, wearing bark and black deerskin, having come to joy already on hearing of his brother’s return,
प्रत्युद्ययौ यदा रामं महात्मा सचिवैः सह । अश्वानां खुरशब्दैश्च रथनेमिस्वनेन च ॥ २१ ॥
when the great soul went out with his ministers to meet Rama, with the sound of horses’ hooves and the noise of chariot wheels,
शङ्खदुन्दुभिनादेन संचचालेव मेदिनी । गजानां बृंहितैश्चापि शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनैः ॥ २२ ॥
with the sound of conches and drums the earth seemed to shake; with the trumpeting of elephants too, and the sounds of conches and drums,
कृत्स्नं तु नगरं तत् तु नन्दिग्राममुपागमत् । समीक्ष्य भरतो वाक्यमुवाच पवनात्मजम् ॥ २३ ॥
that whole city came to Nandigrama. Looking around, Bharata said to the son of the Wind:
कच्चिन्न खलु कापेयी सेव्यते चलचित्तता । नहि पश्यामि काकुत्स्थं राममार्यं परंतपम् ॥ २४ ॥
“I hope the fickle-mindedness of monkeys is not being followed; for I do not see Kakutstha Rama, the noble one, scorcher of foes.
कच्चिन्न चानुदृश्यन्ते कपयः कामरूपिणः । अथैवमुक्ते वचने हनूमानिदमब्रवीत् ॥ २५ ॥
“Nor are the monkeys, taking any form at will, seen.” When these words had been spoken, Hanuman said this,
अर्थ्यं विज्ञापयन्नेव भरतं सत्यविक्रमम् । सदाफलान् कुसुमितान् वृक्षान् प्राप्य मधुस्रवान् ॥ २६ ॥
making the matter known to Bharata of true valour: “Having reached the trees, always fruiting, flowering, flowing with honey,
भरद्वाजप्रसादेन मत्तभ्रमरनादितान् । तस्य चैव वरो दत्तो वासवेन परंतप ॥ २७ ॥
“resounding with drunken bees, by Bharadvaja’s grace; for that boon was given to him by Vasava, scorcher of foes,
ससैन्यस्य तदातिथ्यं कृतं सर्वगुणान्वितम् । निःस्वनः श्रूयते भीमः प्रहृष्टानां वनौकसाम् ॥ २८ ॥
“and hospitality endowed with every quality was then given to him with his army. A terrible noise is heard of the delighted forest-dwellers;
मन्ये वानरसेना सा नदीं तरति गोमतीम् । रजोवर्षं समुद्भूतं पश्य सालवनं प्रति ॥ २९ ॥
“I think that monkey army is crossing the river Gomati. See the shower of dust that has arisen over the sala forest;
मन्ये सालवनं रम्यं लोलयन्ति प्लवंगमाः । तदेतद् दृश्यते दूराद् विमानं चन्द्रसंनिभम् ॥ ३० ॥
“I think the leapers are shaking the lovely sala forest. And that is seen from afar, the aerial chariot like the moon,
विमानं पुष्पकं दिव्यं मनसा ब्रह्मनिर्मितम् । रावणं बान्धवैः सार्धं हत्वा लब्धं महात्मना ॥ ३१ ॥
“the heavenly aerial chariot Pushpaka, made by Brahma with his mind, won by the great soul when he killed Ravana with his kin,
तरुणादित्यसंकाशं विमानं रामवाहनम् । धनदस्य प्रसादेन दिव्यमेतन्मनोजवम् ॥ ३२ ॥
“the aerial chariot like the morning sun, the vehicle of Rama, by the Lord of Wealth’s grace heavenly, swift as thought.
एतस्मिन् भ्रातरौ वीरौ वैदेह्या सह राघवौ । सुग्रीवश्च महातेजा राक्षसश्च विभीषणः ॥ ३३ ॥
“In it are the two heroic brothers, the Raghavas, with the Vaidehi, and very radiant Sugriva, and the rakshasa Vibhishana.”
ततो हर्षसमुद्भूतो निःस्वनो दिवमस्पृशत् । स्त्रीबालयुववृद्धानां रामोऽयमिति कीर्तिते ॥ ३४ ॥
Then a noise born of joy touched heaven, of women, children, young and old, crying “This is Rama!”
रथकुञ्जरवाजिभ्यस्तेऽवतीर्य महीं गताः । ददृशुस्तं विमानस्थं नराः सोममिवाम्बरे ॥ ३५ ॥
Getting down from chariots, elephants and horses, they went to the ground; the men saw him standing in the aerial chariot, like the moon in the sky.
प्राञ्जलिर्भरतो भूत्वा प्रहृष्टो राघवोन्मुखः । यथार्थेनार्घ्यपाद्याद्यैस्ततो राममपूजयत् ॥ ३६ ॥
With joined palms, delighted, facing Raghava, Bharata then honoured Rama duly with guest-water, foot-water and the rest.
मनसा ब्रह्मणा सृष्टे विमाने भरताग्रजः । रराज पृथुदीर्घाक्षो वज्रपाणिरिवामरः ॥ ३७ ॥
In the aerial chariot made by Brahma with his mind, Bharata’s elder brother, broad- and long-eyed, shone like the immortal with the thunderbolt in his hand.
ततो विमानाग्रगतं भरतो भ्रातरं तदा । ववन्दे प्रणतो रामं मेरुस्थमिव भास्करम् ॥ ३८ ॥
Then Bharata bowed and saluted his brother Rama, standing at the front of the aerial chariot, like the sun standing on Meru.
ततो रामाभ्यनुज्ञातं तद् विमानमनुत्तमम् । हंसयुक्तं महावेगं निपपात महीतलम् ॥ ३९ ॥
Then, permitted by Rama, that matchless aerial chariot, yoked with swans, very swift, came down to the ground.
आरोपितो विमानं तद् भरतः सत्यविक्रमः । राममासाद्य मुदितः पुनरेवाभ्यवादयत् ॥ ४० ॥
Brought up into that aerial chariot, Bharata of true valour, reaching Rama, delighted, saluted him again.
तं समुत्थाय काकुत्स्थश्चिरस्याक्षिपथं गतम् । अङ्के भरतमारोप्य मुदितः परिषस्वजे ॥ ४१ ॥
Raising him, Kakutstha, glad, set on his lap Bharata, who had come into the path of his eyes after a long time, and embraced him.
ततो लक्ष्मणमासाद्य वैदेहीं च परंतपः । अथाभ्यवादयत् प्रीतो भरतो नाम चाब्रवीत् ॥ ४२ ॥
Then, coming to Lakshmana and the Vaidehi, the scorcher of foes saluted them, pleased, and said his name.
सुग्रीवं केकयीपुत्रो जाम्बवन्तमथाङ्गदम् । मैन्दं च द्विविदं नीलमृषभं चैव सस्वजे ॥ ४३ ॥
Kaikeyi’s son embraced Sugriva, Jambavan and Angada, Mainda and Dvivida, Nila and Rishabha,
सुषेणं च नलं चैव गवाक्षं गन्धमादनम् । शरभं पनसं चैव परितः परिषस्वजे ॥ ४४ ॥
and Sushena and Nala, Gavaksha and Gandhamadana, Sharabha and Panasa, all around.
ते कृत्वा मानुषं रूपं वानराः कामरूपिणः । कुशलं पर्यपृच्छंस्ते प्रहृष्टा भरतं तदा ॥ ४५ ॥
Those monkeys, who take any form at will, taking on human form, delighted, asked Bharata then of his welfare.
अथाब्रवीद् राजपुत्रः सुग्रीवं वानरर्षभम् । परिष्वज्य महातेजा भरतो धर्मिणां वरः ॥ ४६ ॥
Then the prince, very radiant Bharata, best of the righteous, embracing Sugriva, bull among monkeys, said:
त्वमस्माकं चतुर्णां वै भ्राता सुग्रीव पञ्चमः । सौहृदाज्जायते मित्रमपकारोऽरिलक्षणम् ॥ ४७ ॥
“You, Sugriva, are a fifth brother to us four; a friend is born from kindness; harm is the mark of an enemy.”
विभीषणं च भरतः सान्त्ववाक्यमथाब्रवीत् । दिष्ट्या त्वया सहायेन कृतं कर्म सुदुष्करम् ॥ ४८ ॥
And Bharata then said gentle words to Vibhishana: “By good fortune, with you as helper, a very hard deed has been done.”
शत्रुघ्नश्च तदा राममभिवाद्य सलक्ष्मणम् । सीतायाश्चरणौ वीरो विनयादभ्यवादयत् ॥ ४९ ॥
And Shatrughna then, saluting Rama with Lakshmana, the hero humbly saluted Sita’s feet.
रामो मातरमासाद्य विवर्णां शोककर्शिताम् । जग्राह प्रणतः पादौ मनो मातुः प्रहर्षयन् ॥ ५० ॥
Rama, coming to his mother, pale, worn with grief, bowing, clasped her feet, gladdening his mother’s mind.
अभिवाद्य सुमित्रां च कैकेयीं च यशस्विनीम् । स मातॄश्च ततः सर्वाः पुरोहितमुपागमत् ॥ ५१ ॥
Saluting Sumitra and glorious Kaikeyi, and then all the mothers, he went to the family priest.
स्वागतं ते महाबाहो कौसल्यानन्दवर्धन । इति प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे नागरा राममब्रुवन् ॥ ५२ ॥
“Welcome to you, mighty-armed one, increaser of Kausalya’s joy”: so all the citizens, with joined palms, said to Rama.
तान्यञ्जलिसहस्राणि प्रगृहीतानि नागरैः । व्याकोशानीव पद्मानि ददर्श भरताग्रजः ॥ ५३ ॥
Bharata’s elder brother saw those thousands of joined palms raised by the citizens like opening lotuses.
पादुके ते तु रामस्य गृहीत्वा भरतः स्वयम् । चरणाभ्यां नरेन्द्रस्य योजयामास धर्मवित् ॥ ५४ ॥
Bharata himself, knower of dharma, taking those sandals of Rama’s, fitted them to the feet of the king of men.
अब्रवीच्च तदा रामं भरतः स कृताञ्जलिः । एतत् ते सकलं राज्यं न्यासं निर्यातितं मया ॥ ५५ ॥
And then Bharata, with joined palms, said to Rama: “This whole kingdom of yours, held in trust, is returned by me.
अद्य जन्म कृतार्थं मे संवृत्तश्च मनोरथः । यत् त्वां पश्यामि राजानमयोध्यां पुनरागतम् ॥ ५६ ॥
“Today my birth has found its purpose, and my wish has come to pass, since I see you, the king, come back again to Ayodhya.
अवेक्षतां भवान् कोशं कोष्ठागारं गृहं बलम् । भवतस्तेजसा सर्वं कृतं दशगुणं मया ॥ ५७ ॥
“Let your honour look over the treasury, the granary, the palace and the army; by your power all has been made tenfold by me.”
तथा ब्रुवाणं भरतं दृष्ट्वा तं भ्रातृवत्सलम् । मुमुचुर्वानरा बाष्पं राक्षसश्च विभीषणः ॥ ५८ ॥
Seeing that Bharata, loving to his brother, speaking so, the monkeys and the rakshasa Vibhishana shed tears.
ततः प्रहर्षाद् भरतमङ्कमारोप्य राघवः । ययौ तेन विमानेन ससैन्यो भरताश्रमम् ॥ ५९ ॥
Then, from joy, Raghava, taking Bharata onto his lap, went with his army by that aerial chariot to Bharata’s hermitage.
भरताश्रममासाद्य ससैन्यो राघवस्तदा । अवतीर्य विमानाग्रादवतस्थे महीतले ॥ ६० ॥
Reaching Bharata’s hermitage, Raghava with his army then, getting down from the top of the aerial chariot, stood on the ground.
अब्रवीत् तु तदा रामस्तद् विमानमनुत्तमम् । वह वैश्रवणं देवमनुजानामि गम्यताम् ॥ ६१ ॥
And then Rama said to that matchless aerial chariot: “Carry the god Vaishravana; I give you leave; go.”
ततो रामाभ्यनुज्ञातं तद् विमानमनुत्तमम् । उत्तरां दिशमुद्दिश्य जगाम धनदालयम् ॥ ६२ ॥
Then, permitted by Rama, that matchless aerial chariot, making for the northern direction, went to the abode of the Lord of Wealth.
विमानं पुष्पकं दिव्यं संगृहीतं तु रक्षसा । अगमद् धनदं वेगाद् रामवाक्यप्रचोदितम् ॥ ६३ ॥
The heavenly aerial chariot Pushpaka, which had been seized by the rakshasa, went swiftly to the Lord of Wealth, urged by Rama’s words.
पुरोहितस्यात्मसखस्य राघवो बृहस्पतेः शक्र इवामराधिपः । निपीड्य पादौ पृथगासने शुभे सहैव तेनोपविवेश वीर्यवान् ॥ ६४ ॥
Valiant Raghava, pressing the feet of his family priest, his own friend, as Shakra, lord of the immortals, those of Brihaspati, sat down with him on a fine separate seat.