Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— पृच्छमानो मुनींस्तस्य चित्रकूटवनालयान्। दर्शयन् मन्त्रिणो मान्यान् कौतुकानि च भूरिशः॥१॥
Brahmā said: Bharata questioned the sages who dwelt in Citrakūṭa's forest and pointed out its many wonders to his honored ministers.
Passage 2
लक्ष्मणस्य च कृत्यानि वने तस्मिन् विलोकयन्। नदीं मन्दाकिनीमारात् सम्पश्यञ्छीतलानिलाम्॥२॥
He observed Lakṣmaṇa's handiwork in that forest and saw nearby the Mandākinī River, cooled by gentle breezes.
Passage 3
फलानि चापि पुष्पाणि पर्णानि विविधानि च। रामलक्ष्मणसीताभिरुच्चैरवचितान्यलम्॥३॥
He saw fruits, flowers, and leaves of many kinds abundantly gathered by Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā.
Passage 4
कलयन् कलनादांश्च शृण्वन् विविधपक्षिणाम्। सम्प्राप तं शुभं देशं यत्रार्यः सह सीतया॥४॥
Attending to the sweet calls of varied birds, he reached the blessed place where his noble brother dwelt with Sītā—
Passage 5
लक्ष्मणेन च संयुक्तो मोदते हास्यकेलिभिः। अत्युत्कण्ठाभराक्रान्तः पुलकाञ्चितविग्रहः॥५॥
—joined by Lakṣmaṇa and delighting in playful laughter. Bharata was overcome by intense longing, his body covered with horripilation.
Passage 6
प्राप्य मन्दाकिनीं पुण्यां बृहदूर्मिभुजाकुलाम्। अब्रवीत्स्वजनांस्तत्र विषादविकलो भवन्॥६॥
Reaching the sacred Mandākinī, crowded with the great arms of its waves, he became distraught with sorrow and spoke to his companions.
Passage 7
अद्य द्रक्ष्याम्यहं भाग्यैर्वीरेन्द्रं धर्मपालकम्। मृगाजिनधरं शान्तं वन्यवृत्तिसमाश्रयम्॥७॥
"By good fortune, today I shall see the heroic guardian of dharma, peaceful, clad in deerskin, and living by the forest way.
Passage 8
पर्णशालास्थितं धीरं कन्दमूलफलाशिनम्। धिङ्मां यस्य कृते त्वार्य एवंगतिमुपागतः॥८॥
"I shall see the steadfast one dwelling in a leaf-hut and eating roots, tubers, and fruits. Shame upon me, for whose sake this noble one has come to such a condition!"
Passage 9
इत्येवं विलपन् भूयो भरतस्त्रपयाकुलः। ददर्श पर्णशालां तां लक्ष्मणेन विनिर्मिताम्॥९॥
Lamenting again in this way and overwhelmed by shame, Bharata saw the leaf-hut built by Lakṣmaṇa.
Passage 10
वन्यवृक्षदलैर्व्याप्तां विशालां कान्तिशालिनीम्। यज्ञवेदिसमां पुण्यां तुणीशरविभूषिताम्॥१०॥
It was spacious and beautiful, covered with leaves from forest trees, sacred as a sacrificial altar, and adorned with quivers and arrows.
Passage 11
द्योतयन्तीं दिशः कान्त्या दुर्धर्षामितरैर्जनैः। वंशस्तम्भयुतां रम्यां श्रीरामेण चिरोषिताम्॥११॥
Its splendor illumined the quarters; other people could not assail it. Lovely, supported by bamboo posts, it had long been inhabited by Śrī Rāma.
Passage 12
सुवर्णविन्दुशालिभ्यां धनुर्भ्यां च विभूषिताम्। असिभ्यां हेममुष्टिभ्यां द्योतमानां स्वभावतः॥१२॥
It was adorned by two bows ornamented with golden dots and shone naturally with two swords whose hilts were gold.
Passage 13
गोधाङ्गुलित्रशोभाढ्यां सिंहस्येव गुहां तु ताम्। बहिर्वेदिप्रविन्यस्तपावकोज्ज्वलदीपिताम्॥१३॥
Richly adorned with iguana-hide finger guards, it resembled a lion's cave and was brilliantly lit by the fire placed outside upon the altar. Bharata Sees Rāma
Passage 14
तत्र सीतासहासीनं जटापुञ्जविभूषितम्। वल्कलौघकृतावासं कृष्णाजिनधरं प्रभुम्॥१४॥
There Bharata saw the Lord seated with Sītā, adorned by a mass of matted hair, dwelling in layers of bark cloth, and wearing a black antelope skin.
Passage 15
चीरवाससमुद्भ्रान्तं सहजेन स्वतेजसा। त्रैलोक्यभोगभोक्तारमग्रजं स्वं ददर्श सः॥१५॥
Though dressed in bark, his elder brother shone with his own innate radiance; he was the true enjoyer of all the delights of the three worlds.
Passage 16
लक्ष्मणेन सहासीनं सिंहस्कन्धं महाभुजम्। प्रसादसुमुखं सौम्यं दीप्तिमन्तं स्वभावतः॥१६॥
He sat with Lakṣmaṇa, lion-shouldered and mighty-armed, serene and gracious of face, naturally radiant.
Passage 17
सर्वभूम्येकगोप्तारं सर्वत्रैलोक्यरक्षणम्। दृष्ट्वैव दूरतः शोकाद् विललाप सुदुःखितः॥१७॥
Seeing from afar the sole protector of the whole earth and guardian of all the three worlds, Bharata lamented in profound anguish.
Passage 18
अहो क्व सा सभा नाथ प्रजामण्डलशोभिता। क्वेयं वनमृगव्याप्ता पर्णशाला त्वयोषिता॥१८॥
"Alas, Lord, where is that royal hall adorned by assemblies of your subjects, and where is this leaf-hut inhabited by you and surrounded by forest animals?
Passage 19
क्व तानि दिव्यवासांसि महार्हाणि तव प्रभो। क्वेमानि मृगचर्माणि वल्कलानि च भूरुहाम्॥१९॥
"Lord, where are those divine and exceedingly precious garments of yours, and where are these animal skins and the bark of trees?
Passage 20
क्व तानि सुविचित्राणि माल्यानि सुरभीणि ते। क्वेमा जटा भस्मचिताः शिरसा वहसि स्फुटम्॥२०॥
"Where are your wonderfully varied and fragrant garlands, and where are these matted locks visibly covered with ash that you bear upon your head?
Passage 21
क्व ते यज्ञोद्भवो धर्मो भूरिसौख्यकरः प्रभो। क्व चायं वनवासोत्थः शरीरक्लेशसंचयः॥२१॥
"Lord, where is the dharma arising from royal sacrifice that brought abundant happiness, and where is this accumulation of bodily hardship born of forest exile?
Passage 22
क्व तेऽङ्गरागा विविधाः सुगन्धाश्चन्दनादिभिः। मलदिग्धाङ्गता क्वेयं महाराजकुमार ते॥२२॥
"Where are your varied fragrant unguents of sandal and the like, great prince, and where is this condition in which your limbs are smeared with dirt?
Passage 23
हा हन्त मन्निमित्तं ते दुःखमेतदुपस्थितम्। सुखसंवर्धितस्योच्चैः श्रीशालिनि पितुर्गृहे॥२३॥
"Alas! This suffering has come upon you because of me, though you were raised in great comfort in our father's splendid home.
Passage 24
धिङ्मां नृशंसया जातं मात्रा तादृशकर्मणा। तव प्रवासदं यस्य जीवनं लोकगर्हितम्॥२४॥
"Shame upon me, born from a cruel mother who performed such a deed! My life, which caused your exile, is condemned by the world."
Passage 25
इत्युच्चैर्विलपन् दूराद् वाष्पान्धितविलोचनः। अप्राप्य पादग्रहणं न्यपतद्भरतो भुवि॥२५॥
Lamenting loudly from afar, his eyes blinded by tears, Bharata fell to the ground before he could reach and clasp Rāma's feet. The Four Brothers Reunite
Passage 26
शोकाभितप्तो रामस्य व्यलुठत्पुरतो रुदन्। हा हार्येति सकृत्प्रोच्य न किञ्चित्पुनरूचिवान्॥२६॥
Scorched by grief, he rolled upon the ground before Rāma, weeping. He cried once, "Alas, noble brother!" and could say nothing more.
Passage 27
वाष्पव्याकुलकण्ठोऽसौ पुनः प्रेक्ष्यार्यमूर्च्छितः। रुदन्नार्येति सम्प्रोच्य वक्तुं किमपि नाशकत्॥२७॥
His throat choked with tears, he looked again at his noble brother and fainted. Weeping and crying, "Noble brother!" he could utter nothing else.
Passage 28
रुदंस्तथैव शत्रुघ्नो ननाम चरणौ प्रभोः। उभौ तौ परिरभ्यार्यो बभूवाश्रुकलान्धितः॥२८॥
Śatrughna likewise wept and bowed at the Lord's feet. The noble Rāma embraced them both and became blinded by a flood of tears.
Passage 29
ततः सुमन्त्र आदाय तावुभौ करयोर्दृढम्। भक्त्या निवेदयामास रामलक्ष्मणयोः पुरः॥२९॥
Then Sumantra firmly took the two brothers by their hands and reverently presented them before Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.
Passage 30
रामलक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्नभरतांस्तत्र संगतान्। विलोक्य करुणाभ्यक्ता रुरुदुर्वनवासिनः॥३०॥
Seeing Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Śatrughna, and Bharata gathered there, the forest dwellers were overcome with compassion and wept.
Passage 31
तेऽयोध्यापतितनया गजेन्द्रतुल्या आजानुप्रथितविशालबाहुदण्डाः। सिंहांसाः परिपृथुवक्षसस्तदानीं संसक्ता मिथ उदभासयन् वनं तत्॥३१॥
Those sons of Ayodhyā's king, equal to lordly elephants, had immense arms extending to their knees, shoulders like lions, and broad, full chests. Joined together then, they made that forest shine.