Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 90

भरद्वाजाश्रमं दृष्ट्वा क्रोशादेव नरर्षभः। बलं सर्वमवस्थाप्य जगाम सह मन्त्रिभिः।।2.90.1।। पद्भ्यामेव हि धर्मज्ञो न्यस्तशस्त्रपरिच्छदः। वसानो वाससी क्षौमे पुरोधाय पुरोधसम्।।2.90.2।।

bharadvājāśramaṃ dṛṣṭvā krośādeva nararṣabhaḥ| balaṃ sarvamavasthāpya jagāma saha mantribhiḥ padbhyāmeva hi dharmajño nyastaśastraparicchadaḥ| vasāno vāsasī kṣaume purodhāya purodhasam

Bharata, the knower of righteous ways and the best among men, saw the hermitage of Bharadwaja from a distance of one krosa and brought his entire army to a halt. He laid aside all his royal robes and weapons. Clad in silk garments, he went on foot along with his ministers, with the family priest Vasistha ahead of him.

भरद्वाजाश्रमं दृष्ट्वा क्रोशादेव नरर्षभः। बलं सर्वमवस्थाप्य जगाम सह मन्त्रिभिः।।2.90.1।। पद्भ्यामेव हि धर्मज्ञो न्यस्तशस्त्रपरिच्छदः। वसानो वाससी क्षौमे पुरोधाय पुरोधसम्।।2.90.2।।

bharadvājāśramaṃ dṛṣṭvā krośādeva nararṣabhaḥ| balaṃ sarvamavasthāpya jagāma saha mantribhiḥ padbhyāmeva hi dharmajño nyastaśastraparicchadaḥ| vasāno vāsasī kṣaume purodhāya purodhasam

Bharata, the knower of righteous ways and the best among men, saw the hermitage of Bharadwaja from a distance of one krosa and brought his entire army to a halt. He laid aside all his royal robes and weapons. Clad in silk garments, he went on foot along with his ministers, with the family priest Vasistha ahead of him.

तत स्सन्दर्शने तस्य भरद्वाजस्य राघवः। मन्त्रिणस्तानवस्थाप्य जगामानुपुरोहितम्।।2.90.3।।

tata ssandarśane tasya bharadvājasya rāghavaḥ| mantriṇastānavasthāpya jagāmānupurohitam

Then the scion of the Raghu race (Bharata) halted his ministers within sight of Bharadwaja's (hermitage) and went along following his priest Vasistha.

वसिष्ठमथ दृष्ट्वैव भरद्वाजो महातपाः। सञ्चचाऽलासनात्तूर्णं शिष्यानर्घ्यमिति ब्रुवन्।।2.90.4।।

vasiṣṭhamatha dṛṣṭvaiva bharadvājo mahātapāḥ| sañcacā'lāsanāttūrṇaṃ śiṣyānarghyamiti bruvan

On seeing Vasistha, the great ascetic Bharadwaja immediately left his seat and said to his disciples, Bring offerings of water.

समागम्य वसिष्ठेन भरतेनाभिवादितः। अबुद्ध्यत महातेजास्सुतं दशरथस्य तम्।।2.90.5।।

samāgamya vasiṣṭhena bharatenābhivāditaḥ| abuddhyata mahātejāssutaṃ daśarathasya tam

After meeting Vasistha and greeted by Bharata, the radiant Bharadwaja could recognize he was the son of Dasaratha.

ताभ्यामर्घ्यं च पाद्यं च दत्वा पश्चात्फलानि च। आनुपूर्व्याच्छ धर्मज्ञः पप्रच्छ कुशलं कुले।।2.90.6।।

tābhyāmarghyaṃ ca pādyaṃ ca datvā paścātphalāni ca| ānupūrvyāccha dharmajñaḥ papraccha kuśalaṃ kule

Offering them both in order arghya (welcomeoffering), water to wash their feet and fruits in accordance with the practice, he enquired Bharata about the welfare of the family.

अयोध्यायां बले कोशे मित्रेष्वपि च मन्त्रिषु। जानन् दशरथं वृत्तं न राजानमुदाहरत्।।2.90.7।।

ayodhyāyāṃ bale kośe mitreṣvapi ca mantriṣu| jānan daśarathaṃ vṛttaṃ na rājānamudāharat

He enquired about the welfare of Ayodhya, of the army, treasury, friends and the ministers. But knowingly did not mention about Dasaratha's wellbeing (the knew Dasaratha was dead).

वसिष्ठो भरतश्चैनं पप्रच्छतुरनामयम्। शरीरेऽग्निषु वृक्षेषु शिष्येषु मृगपक्षिषु।।2.90.8।।

vasiṣṭho bharataścainaṃ papracchaturanāmayam| śarīre'gniṣu vṛkṣeṣu śiṣyeṣu mṛgapakṣiṣu

Vasistha and Bharata also enquired about his health and welfare of his sacred fires, his disciples, animals and birds and trees of the hermitage.

तथेति तत्प्रतिज्ञाय भरद्वाजो महातपाः। भरतं प्रत्युवाचेदं राघवस्नेहबन्धनात्।।2.90.9।।

tatheti tatpratijñāya bharadvājo mahātapāḥ| bharataṃ pratyuvācedaṃ rāghavasnehabandhanāt

Saying, all is well, the great ascetic Bharadwaja, out of his affection for Rama, said to Bharata:

किमिहाऽगमने कार्यं तव राज्यं प्रशासतः। एतदाचक्ष्व मे सर्वं न हि मे शुद्ध्यते मनः।।2.90.10।।

kimihā'gamane kāryaṃ tava rājyaṃ praśāsataḥ| etadācakṣva me sarvaṃ na hi me śuddhyate manaḥ

Why have you come here when you ought to be ruling the kingdom? Tell me everything about this. My mind is not clear in this matter.

सुषुवे यममित्रघ्नं कौसल्यानऽन्दवर्धनम्। भ्रात्रा सह सभार्यो यश्चिरं प्रव्राजितो वनम्।।2.90.11।। नियुक्तः स्त्रीनियुक्तेन पित्रा योऽसौ महायशाः। वनवासी भवेतीह समाः किल चतुर्दश।।2.90.12।। कच्छिन्न तस्यापापस्य पापं कर्तुमिहेच्छसि। अकण्टकं भोक्तुमना राज्यं तस्यानुजस्य च।।2.90.13।।

suṣuve yamamitraghnaṃ kausalyāna'ndavardhanam| bhrātrā saha sabhāryo yaściraṃ pravrājito vanam niyuktaḥ strīniyuktena pitrā yo'sau mahāyaśāḥ| vanavāsī bhavetīha samāḥ kila caturdaśa kacchinna tasyāpāpasya pāpaṃ kartumihecchasi| akaṇṭakaṃ bhoktumanā rājyaṃ tasyānujasya ca

Rama, destroyer of enemies and enhancer of the delight of his mother Kausalya, has been banished to the forest for a long time along with his wife and brother. That illustrious one has been ordered by his father to live in the forest for fourteen years through the pursuasion of a woman. To enjoy the kingdom without obstacles do you intend to cause any harm to that irreproachable Rama and his brother?

सुषुवे यममित्रघ्नं कौसल्यानऽन्दवर्धनम्। भ्रात्रा सह सभार्यो यश्चिरं प्रव्राजितो वनम्।।2.90.11।। नियुक्तः स्त्रीनियुक्तेन पित्रा योऽसौ महायशाः। वनवासी भवेतीह समाः किल चतुर्दश।।2.90.12।। कच्छिन्न तस्यापापस्य पापं कर्तुमिहेच्छसि। अकण्टकं भोक्तुमना राज्यं तस्यानुजस्य च।।2.90.13।।

suṣuve yamamitraghnaṃ kausalyāna'ndavardhanam| bhrātrā saha sabhāryo yaściraṃ pravrājito vanam niyuktaḥ strīniyuktena pitrā yo'sau mahāyaśāḥ| vanavāsī bhavetīha samāḥ kila caturdaśa kacchinna tasyāpāpasya pāpaṃ kartumihecchasi| akaṇṭakaṃ bhoktumanā rājyaṃ tasyānujasya ca

Rama, destroyer of enemies and enhancer of the delight of his mother Kausalya, has been banished to the forest for a long time along with his wife and brother. That illustrious one has been ordered by his father to live in the forest for fourteen years through the pursuasion of a woman. To enjoy the kingdom without obstacles do you intend to cause any harm to that irreproachable Rama and his brother?

सुषुवे यममित्रघ्नं कौसल्यानऽन्दवर्धनम्। भ्रात्रा सह सभार्यो यश्चिरं प्रव्राजितो वनम्।।2.90.11।। नियुक्तः स्त्रीनियुक्तेन पित्रा योऽसौ महायशाः। वनवासी भवेतीह समाः किल चतुर्दश।।2.90.12।। कच्छिन्न तस्यापापस्य पापं कर्तुमिहेच्छसि। अकण्टकं भोक्तुमना राज्यं तस्यानुजस्य च।।2.90.13।।

suṣuve yamamitraghnaṃ kausalyāna'ndavardhanam| bhrātrā saha sabhāryo yaściraṃ pravrājito vanam niyuktaḥ strīniyuktena pitrā yo'sau mahāyaśāḥ| vanavāsī bhavetīha samāḥ kila caturdaśa kacchinna tasyāpāpasya pāpaṃ kartumihecchasi| akaṇṭakaṃ bhoktumanā rājyaṃ tasyānujasya ca

Rama, destroyer of enemies and enhancer of the delight of his mother Kausalya, has been banished to the forest for a long time along with his wife and brother. That illustrious one has been ordered by his father to live in the forest for fourteen years through the pursuasion of a woman. To enjoy the kingdom without obstacles do you intend to cause any harm to that irreproachable Rama and his brother?

एवमुक्तो भरद्वाजं भरतः प्रत्युवाच ह। पर्यश्रुनयनो दुःखाद्वाचा संसज्जमानया।।2.90.14।।

evamukto bharadvājaṃ bharataḥ pratyuvāca ha| paryaśrunayano duḥkhādvācā saṃsajjamānayā

At these words, Bharata, eyes filled with tears of grief, replied to Bharadwaja in a stumbling voice:

हतोऽस्मि यदि मामेवं भगवानपि मन्यते। मत्तो न दोषमाशङ्के नैवं मामनुशास्तु हि।2.90.15।।

hato'smi yadi māmevaṃ bhagavānapi manyate| matto na doṣamāśaṅke naivaṃ māmanuśāstu hi|2.90.15||

When one so venerable like you too misunderstands me, I am gone. There is no danger for him from me. Do not rebuke me this way.

न चैतदिष्टं माता मे यदवोचन्मदन्तरे। नाहमेतेन तुष्टश्च न तद्वचनमाददे।।2.90.16।।

na caitadiṣṭaṃ mātā me yadavocanmadantare| nāhametena tuṣṭaśca na tadvacanamādade

I do not approve of whatever my mother said in my absence. I am not happy with those words and I do not accept them.

अहं तु तं नरव्याघ्रमुपयातः प्रसादकः। प्रतिनेतुमयोध्यां च पादौ तस्याभिवन्दितुम्।।2.90.17।।

ahaṃ tu taṃ naravyāghramupayātaḥ prasādakaḥ| pratinetumayodhyāṃ ca pādau tasyābhivanditum

I have come to worship the feet of Rama, the best of men and persuade him to return to Ayodhya.

त्वं मामेवंगतं मत्वा प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि। शंस मे भगवन्रामः क्व सम्प्रति महीपतिः।।2.90.18।।

tvaṃ māmevaṃgataṃ matvā prasādaṃ kartumarhasi| śaṃsa me bhagavanrāmaḥ kva samprati mahīpatiḥ

O venerable one in consideration of the circumstances I am in, be kind to me and tell me the whereabouts of Rama, lord of the earth.

वशिष्ठादिभिः ऋत्विग्भिर्याचितो भगवांस्ततः। उवाच तं भरद्वाजः प्रसादाद्भरतं वचः।2.90.19।।

vaśiṣṭhādibhiḥ ṛtvigbhiryācito bhagavāṃstataḥ| uvāca taṃ bharadvājaḥ prasādādbharataṃ vacaḥ|2.90.19||

Likewise besought by Vasistha and other priests, the venerable Bharadwaja was pleased to tell Bharata:

त्वय्येतत्पुरुषव्याघ्र युक्तं राघववंशजे। गुरुवृत्तिर्दमश्चैव साधूनामनुयायिता।।2.90.20।।

tvayyetatpuruṣavyāghra yuktaṃ rāghavavaṃśaje| guruvṛttirdamaścaiva sādhūnāmanuyāyitā

O best of men (Bharata) your conduct towards the preceptors, your selfrestraint and devotion to the virtuous are all in keeping with those born in the race of Raghu.

जाने चैतन्मनस्थं ते दृढीकरणमस्त्विति। अपृच्छं त्वां तथाऽत्यर्थं कीर्तिं समभिवर्धयन्।।2.90.21।।

jāne caitanmanasthaṃ te dṛḍhīkaraṇamastviti| apṛcchaṃ tvāṃ tathā'tyarthaṃ kīrtiṃ samabhivardhayan

I am aware of the feelings in your heart. Even then I enquired in order to confirm it and to further your fame.

जाने च रामं धर्मज्ञं ससीतं सहलक्ष्मणम्। असौ वसति ते भ्राता चित्रकूटे महागिरौ।।2.90.22।।

jāne ca rāmaṃ dharmajñaṃ sasītaṃ sahalakṣmaṇam| asau vasati te bhrātā citrakūṭe mahāgirau

I know your brother who is conversant with righteousness is living on Chitrakuta mountain with Sita and Lakshmana.

श्वस्तु गन्तासि तं देशं वसाद्य सह मन्त्रिभिः। एतन्मे कुरु सुप्राज्ञ कामं कामार्थकोविद।।2.90.23।।

śvastu gantāsi taṃ deśaṃ vasādya saha mantribhiḥ| etanme kuru suprājña kāmaṃ kāmārthakovida

O supremely sagacious prince gifted with the knowledge of kama (desire) and artha (wealth), tomorrow you go, but to night stay here with your ministers and fulfil my desire.

ततस्तथेत्येवमुदारदर्शनः प्रतीतरूपो भरतोऽब्रवीद्वचः। चकार बुद्धिं च तदा तदाश्रमे निशानिवासाय नराधिपाऽत्मजः।।2.90.24।।

tatastathetyevamudāradarśanaḥ pratītarūpo bharato'bravīdvacaḥ| cakāra buddhiṃ ca tadā tadāśrame niśānivāsāya narādhipā'tmajaḥ

A man of liberal disposition, Bharata expressed his intention, saying, 'Be it so'. Then the prince made up him mind to spend the might in that hermitage. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे नवतितमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the ninetieth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.