Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 97

सुसंरब्धं तु सौमित्रिं लक्ष्मणं क्रोधमूर्छितम्। रामस्तु परिसान्त्व्याथ वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्।।2.97.1।।

susaṃrabdhaṃ tu saumitriṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ krodhamūrchitam| rāmastu parisāntvyātha vacanaṃ cedamabravīt

Thereafter, Rama pacified Lakshmana, son of Sumitra who was violently agitated. He said to him who had swooned with rage:

किमत्र धनुषा कार्यमसिना वा सचर्मणा। महेष्वासे महाप्राज्ञे भरते स्वयमागते।।2.97.2।।

kimatra dhanuṣā kāryamasinā vā sacarmaṇā| maheṣvāse mahāprājñe bharate svayamāgate

When sagacious Bharata of great strength has come here, where is the need for a bow or a sword or a shield.

पितुस्सत्यं प्रतिश्रुत्य हत्वा भरतमागतम्। किं करिष्यामि राज्येन सापवादेन लक्ष्मण।।2.97.3।।

pitussatyaṃ pratiśrutya hatvā bharatamāgatam| kiṃ kariṣyāmi rājyena sāpavādena lakṣmaṇa

O Lakshmana, having sworn that I would make father's word true, what shall I do with the kingdom earned slanderously by slaying Bharata who has come (to see me)?

यद्द्रव्यं बान्धवानां वा मित्राणां वा क्षये भवेत्। नाहं तत्प्रतिगृह्णीयां भक्षान्विषकृतानिव।।2.97.4।।

yaddravyaṃ bāndhavānāṃ vā mitrāṇāṃ vā kṣaye bhavet| nāhaṃ tatpratigṛhṇīyāṃ bhakṣānviṣakṛtāniva

I shall never accept any wealth obtained by destroying kith and kin or friends which is akin to taking food prepared with poison.

धर्ममर्थं च कामं च पृथिवीं चापि लक्ष्मण। इच्छामि भवतामर्थे एतत् प्रतिशृणोमि ते।।2.97.5।।

dharmamarthaṃ ca kāmaṃ ca pṛthivīṃ cāpi lakṣmaṇa| icchāmi bhavatāmarthe etat pratiśṛṇomi te

O Lakshmana, on the oath of righteousness, I wish wealth and pleasure as well as this kingdom for the sake of you all.

भ्रात्रूणां संग्रहार्थं च सुखार्थं चापि लक्ष्मण। राज्यमप्यहमिच्छामि सत्येनाऽयुधमालभे।।2.97.6।।

bhrātrūṇāṃ saṃgrahārthaṃ ca sukhārthaṃ cāpi lakṣmaṇa| rājyamapyahamicchāmi satyenā'yudhamālabhe

O Lakshmana, I desire this kingdom only for the unity and happiness of my brothers. I swear on the weapon I hold.

नेयं मम मही सौम्य दुर्लभा सागराम्बरा। न हीच्छेयमधर्मेण शक्रत्वमपि लक्ष्मण।।2.97.7।।

neyaṃ mama mahī saumya durlabhā sāgarāmbarā| na hīccheyamadharmeṇa śakratvamapi lakṣmaṇa

O gentle Lakshmana, lordship of this earth with the sea as its garment is not difficult to obtain (for me). But I do not desire even Indrahood by unrighteous means.

यद्विना भरतं त्वां च शत्रुघ्नं चापि मानद। भवेन्मम सुखं किञ्चिद्भस्म तत्कुरुतां शिखी।।2.97.8।।

yadvinā bharataṃ tvāṃ ca śatrughnaṃ cāpi mānada| bhavenmama sukhaṃ kiñcidbhasma tatkurutāṃ śikhī

O protector of honour even if there were to be some happiness which I could enjoy without you, Bharata, and Satrughna, let it be reduced to ashes by fire.

मन्येऽहमागतोऽयोध्यां भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः। मम प्राणात्प्रियतरः कुलधर्ममनुस्मरन्।।2.97.9।। श्रुत्वा प्रव्राजितं मां हि जटावल्कलधारिणम्। जानक्यासहितं वीर त्वया च पुरुषर्षभ।।2.97.10।। स्नेहेनाऽक्रान्तहृदय श्शोकेनाकुलितेन्द्रियः। द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो ह्येष भरतो नान्यथाऽगतः।।2.97.11।।

manye'hamāgato'yodhyāṃ bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ| mama prāṇātpriyataraḥ kuladharmamanusmaran śrutvā pravrājitaṃ māṃ hi jaṭāvalkaladhāriṇam| jānakyāsahitaṃ vīra tvayā ca puruṣarṣabha snehenā'krāntahṛdaya śśokenākulitendriyaḥ| draṣṭumabhyāgato hyeṣa bharato nānyathā'gataḥ

O best among men, O valiant one I think Bharata who is affectionate towards his brothers and who is dearer to me than my life, must have returned to Ayodhya and has heard that I had been exiled along with you and Janaki, wearing barks and matted locks. Remembering the duties of the race with an afflicted mind and with agitated senses he has come here to see me. He has not come with any other intention.

मन्येऽहमागतोऽयोध्यां भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः। मम प्राणात्प्रियतरः कुलधर्ममनुस्मरन्।।2.97.9।। श्रुत्वा प्रव्राजितं मां हि जटावल्कलधारिणम्। जानक्यासहितं वीर त्वया च पुरुषर्षभ।।2.97.10।। स्नेहेनाऽक्रान्तहृदय श्शोकेनाकुलितेन्द्रियः। द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो ह्येष भरतो नान्यथाऽगतः।।2.97.11।।

manye'hamāgato'yodhyāṃ bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ| mama prāṇātpriyataraḥ kuladharmamanusmaran śrutvā pravrājitaṃ māṃ hi jaṭāvalkaladhāriṇam| jānakyāsahitaṃ vīra tvayā ca puruṣarṣabha snehenā'krāntahṛdaya śśokenākulitendriyaḥ| draṣṭumabhyāgato hyeṣa bharato nānyathā'gataḥ

O best among men, O valiant one I think Bharata who is affectionate towards his brothers and who is dearer to me than my life, must have returned to Ayodhya and has heard that I had been exiled along with you and Janaki, wearing barks and matted locks. Remembering the duties of the race with an afflicted mind and with agitated senses he has come here to see me. He has not come with any other intention.

मन्येऽहमागतोऽयोध्यां भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः। मम प्राणात्प्रियतरः कुलधर्ममनुस्मरन्।।2.97.9।। श्रुत्वा प्रव्राजितं मां हि जटावल्कलधारिणम्। जानक्यासहितं वीर त्वया च पुरुषर्षभ।।2.97.10।। स्नेहेनाऽक्रान्तहृदय श्शोकेनाकुलितेन्द्रियः। द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो ह्येष भरतो नान्यथाऽगतः।।2.97.11।।

manye'hamāgato'yodhyāṃ bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ| mama prāṇātpriyataraḥ kuladharmamanusmaran śrutvā pravrājitaṃ māṃ hi jaṭāvalkaladhāriṇam| jānakyāsahitaṃ vīra tvayā ca puruṣarṣabha snehenā'krāntahṛdaya śśokenākulitendriyaḥ| draṣṭumabhyāgato hyeṣa bharato nānyathā'gataḥ

O best among men, O valiant one I think Bharata who is affectionate towards his brothers and who is dearer to me than my life, must have returned to Ayodhya and has heard that I had been exiled along with you and Janaki, wearing barks and matted locks. Remembering the duties of the race with an afflicted mind and with agitated senses he has come here to see me. He has not come with any other intention.

अम्बां च कैकयीं रुष्य परुषं चाप्रियं वदन्। प्रसाद्य पितरं श्रीमार्नाज्यं मे दातुमागतः।।2.97.12।।

ambāṃ ca kaikayīṃ ruṣya paruṣaṃ cāpriyaṃ vadan| prasādya pitaraṃ śrīmārnājyaṃ me dātumāgataḥ

Auspicious Bharata, angry with Kaikeyi and having spoken to her unpleasant, bitter words and having propitiated our father, has come here to offer me the kingdom.

प्राप्तकालं यदेषोऽस्मान्भरतो द्रष्टुमिच्छति। अस्मासु मनसाऽप्येष नाप्रियं किञ्चिदाचरेत्।।2.97.13।।

prāptakālaṃ yadeṣo'smānbharato draṣṭumicchati| asmāsu manasā'pyeṣa nāpriyaṃ kiñcidācaret

Finding the time appropriate, Bharata has come to see us. Even in his mind he would have never thought of causing any harm to us in any way.

विप्रियं कृतपूर्वं ते भरतेन कदा नु किम्। ईदृशं वा भयं तेऽद्य भरतं योऽत्र शङ्कसे।।2.97.14।।

vipriyaṃ kṛtapūrvaṃ te bharatena kadā nu kim| īdṛśaṃ vā bhayaṃ te'dya bharataṃ yo'tra śaṅkase

Why are you suspicious of Bharata? Has he done anything disagreeable to you any time in the past?

न हि ते निष्ठुरं वाच्यो भरतो नाप्रियं वचः। अहं ह्यप्रियमुक्त स्स्यां भरतस्याप्रिये कृते।।2.97.15।।

na hi te niṣṭhuraṃ vācyo bharato nāpriyaṃ vacaḥ| ahaṃ hyapriyamukta ssyāṃ bharatasyāpriye kṛte

You must not speak any harsh or unpleasant words against Bharata. If you do, they will be deemed to be directed against me.

कथं नु पुत्राः पितरं हन्युः कस्यां चिदापदि। भ्राता वा भ्रातरं हन्यात्सौमित्रे प्राणमात्मनः।।2.97.16।।

kathaṃ nu putrāḥ pitaraṃ hanyuḥ kasyāṃ cidāpadi| bhrātā vā bhrātaraṃ hanyātsaumitre prāṇamātmanaḥ

Whatever be the calamity, O Lakshmana, how will sons slay their father, or a brother kill his own brother who is as dear to him as his own life?

यदि राज्यस्य हेतोस्त्वमिमां वाचं प्रभाषसे। वक्ष्यामि भरतं दृष्ट्वा राज्यमस्मै प्रदीयताम्।।2.97.17।।

yadi rājyasya hetostvamimāṃ vācaṃ prabhāṣase| vakṣyāmi bharataṃ dṛṣṭvā rājyamasmai pradīyatām

If you are saying all these words only for the sake of the kingdom, then I shall ask Bharata when I see him to offer this kingdom to you.

उच्यमानोऽपि भरतो मया लक्ष्मण तद्वचः। राज्यमस्मै प्रयच्छेति बाढमित्येव वक्ष्यति।।2.97.18।।

ucyamāno'pi bharato mayā lakṣmaṇa tadvacaḥ| rājyamasmai prayaccheti bāḍhamityeva vakṣyati

O Lakshmana if I earnestly exhort Bharata to offer this kingdom to you, then on hearing those words, he would say, 'Certainly so'.

तथोक्तो धर्मशीलेन भ्रात्रा तस्य हिते रतः। लक्ष्मणः प्रविवेशेव स्वानि गात्राणि लज्जया।।2.97.19।।

tathokto dharmaśīlena bhrātrā tasya hite rataḥ| lakṣmaṇaḥ praviveśeva svāni gātrāṇi lajjayā

Having heard the words uttered by his brother, Rama of virtuous disposition, Lakshmana who was devoted to his brother's welfare, shrank.

तद्वाक्यं लक्ष्मण श्श्रुत्वा व्रीलितः प्रत्युवाच ह। त्वां मन्ये द्रष्टुमायातः पिता दशरथ स्स्वयम्।।2.97.20।।

tadvākyaṃ lakṣmaṇa śśrutvā vrīlitaḥ pratyuvāca ha| tvāṃ manye draṣṭumāyātaḥ pitā daśaratha ssvayam

Hearing the words of Rama, Lakshmana was abashed and said I think it is our father, king Dasaratha who has come here personally to see you.

व्रीलितं लक्ष्मणं दृष्ट्वा राघवः प्रत्युवाच ह। एष मन्ये महाबाहुरिहास्मान्द्रष्टुमागतः।।2.97.21।।

vrīlitaṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā rāghavaḥ pratyuvāca ha| eṣa manye mahābāhurihāsmāndraṣṭumāgataḥ

Observing Lakshmana's abashment, Rama said I think the mightyarmed king Dasaratha has come to see all of us here.

अथवा नौ ध्रुवं मन्ये मन्यमान स्सुखोचितौ। वनवासमनुध्याय गृहाय प्रतिनेष्यति।।2.97.22।।

athavā nau dhruvaṃ manye manyamāna ssukhocitau| vanavāsamanudhyāya gṛhāya pratineṣyati

Or rather having thought of the adversities of dwelling in a forest and also by realising that both of us are accustomed to comforts, I think he has certainly come to take us back home.

इमां वाप्येष वैदेहीमत्यन्तसुखसेविनीम्। पिता मे राघव श्श्रीमान्वनादादाय यास्यति।।2.97.23।।

imāṃ vāpyeṣa vaidehīmatyantasukhasevinīm| pitā me rāghava śśrīmānvanādādāya yāsyati

Our father, the prosperous Dasaratha, after withdrawing this princess Vaidehi who is brought up in luxury from the forest (to Ayodhya), will return.

एतौ तौ सम्प्रकाशेते गोत्रवन्तौ मनोरमौ। वायुवेगसमौ वीर जवनौ तुरगोत्तमौ।।2.97.24।।

etau tau samprakāśete gotravantau manoramau| vāyuvegasamau vīra javanau turagottamau

O valiant warrior, you can see those two splendid horses of high pedigree, charming, swift and equal to wind in speed are shining (in the army).

स एष सुमहाकायः कम्पते वाहिनीमुखे। नागश्शत्रुञ्जयो नाम वृद्धस्तातस्य धीमतः।।2.97.25।।

sa eṣa sumahākāyaḥ kampate vāhinīmukhe| nāgaśśatruñjayo nāma vṛddhastātasya dhīmataḥ

There is that huge and aged elephant named Satrunjaya which belogns to our sagacious father proceeding at the head of the army.

न तु पश्यामि तच्छत्रं पाण्डुरं लोकसत्कृतम् | पितुर्दिव्यं महाबाहो संशयो भवतीह मे।।2.97.26।।

na tu paśyāmi tacchatraṃ pāṇḍuraṃ lokasatkṛtam | piturdivyaṃ mahābāho saṃśayo bhavatīha me

I do not see, O long-armed one! that splendid white canopy of my father, well-respected by men. And this gives rise to doubts in my mind.

वृक्षाग्रादवरोह त्वं कुरु लक्ष्मण मद्वचः। इतीव रामो धर्मात्मा सौमित्रिं तमुवाच ह।।2.97.27।।

vṛkṣāgrādavaroha tvaṃ kuru lakṣmaṇa madvacaḥ| itīva rāmo dharmātmā saumitriṃ tamuvāca ha

Get off the treetop, O Lakshmana, and do what I say said the righteous Rama.

अवतीर्य तु सालाग्रात्तस्मात्स समितिञ्जयः। लक्ष्मणः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा तस्थौ रामस्य पार्श्वतः।।2.97.28।।

avatīrya tu sālāgrāttasmātsa samitiñjayaḥ| lakṣmaṇaḥ prāñjalirbhūtvā tasthau rāmasya pārśvataḥ

Lakshmana, the conqueror of foes, descended from the top of the sala tree and stood by the side of Rama with folded palms.

भरतेनापि सन्दिष्टा सम्मर्दो न भवेदिति। समन्तात्तस्य शैलस्य सेना वासमकल्पयत्।।2.97.29।।

bharatenāpi sandiṣṭā sammardo na bhavediti| samantāttasya śailasya senā vāsamakalpayat

Let not the hermitage be crowded commanded Bharata, and the army encamped around the mountain.

अध्यर्धमिक्ष्वाकुचमूर्योजनं पर्वतस्य सा। पार्श्वे न्यविशदावृत्य गजवाजिरथाकुला।।2.97.30।।

adhyardhamikṣvākucamūryojanaṃ parvatasya sā| pārśve nyaviśadāvṛtya gajavājirathākulā

Bharata's army full of horses, elephants and chariots covering a distance of more than one and a half yojanas encamped by the side of the mountain.

सा चित्रकूटे भरतेन सेना धर्मं पुरस्कृत्य विधूय दर्पम्। प्रसादनार्थं रघुनन्दनस्य विराजते नीतिमता प्रणीता।।2.97.31।।

sā citrakūṭe bharatena senā dharmaṃ puraskṛtya vidhūya darpam| prasādanārthaṃ raghunandanasya virājate nītimatā praṇītā

The army brought by Bharata, the great moralist, was shining around Chitrakuta mountain following dharma, and casting off all pride, in order to please Rama. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तनवतितमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the ninetyseventh sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.