Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— राजदारान् पुरस्कृत्य वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः। तं देशमागमच्छीघ्रं पश्यन् मन्दाकिनीं शुभाम्॥१॥
Brahmā said: With the royal women before him, eminent Vasiṣṭha quickly reached that region, beholding the auspicious Mandākinī.
Passage 2
कौसल्या वीक्ष्य तां पुण्यां नदीं मन्दाकिनीं ततः। सुमित्रामब्रवीद् वाक्यं तप्यन्ती सुतशोकतः॥२॥
Seeing the sacred river, Kauśalyā, tormented by grief for her son, addressed Sumitrā.
Passage 3
इतस्ते तनयः साध्वि भ्रातुराहरते जलम्। स वीरो राजपुत्रश्च प्राप्तोऽत्यनुचितां दशाम्॥३॥
"Virtuous lady, your son carries water from here for his brother. That heroic prince has been reduced to a condition wholly unworthy of him.
Passage 4
इदमेङ्गुदिपिण्याकं प्रायो रामेण भूतले। निर्वापितं पितुर्दर्भेष्वीक्ष्यते स्वर्गतस्य हि॥४॥
"This cake of iṅguda pulp seen upon the darbha on the ground was evidently offered by Rāma for his father who has gone to heaven.
Passage 5
अहो इदं तस्य भोज्यमुचितं भूरिभोगिनः। आसमुद्रक्षितिपतेर्न्युप्तं पुत्रेण ह्यापदि॥५॥
"Alas, is this food fitting for that enjoyer of abundance, lord of the earth to the ocean's bounds, placed here by his son in adversity?
Passage 6
भुक्त्वा स विविधान् भोगानासमुद्रक्षितीश्वरः। इदमापदि पुत्रेण न्युप्तं भोक्ष्यति भोजनम्॥६॥
"Having enjoyed every royal pleasure, the sovereign of the ocean-bounded earth must now receive this food placed by his son in misfortune."
Passage 7
इत्यादि विलपन्ती सा कौसल्या प्रापदाश्रमम्। रामस्य पर्णशालां तां दृष्ट्वा तत्र सुदुःखिता॥७॥
Lamenting in this way, Kauśalyā reached the hermitage and became deeply distressed upon seeing Rāma's leaf-hut.
Passage 8
तत्र स्थितं सुतं दृष्ट्वा त्यक्तभोगं जटाधरम्। वल्कलाजिनचीरौघैः संवीतामलविग्रहम्॥८॥
There she saw her son, who had renounced enjoyment, wore matted hair, and covered his pure body with bark, antelope skin, and coarse cloth.
Passage 9
अश्रूण्यमुञ्चदत्यार्ता शोकविह्वलमानसा। दृष्ट्वैव रामो जग्राह मातॄणां चरणान् पृथक्॥९॥
In extreme anguish, her mind overcome by grief, she shed tears. On seeing the mothers, Rāma immediately clasped each one's feet.
Passage 10
तथैव लक्ष्मणो भक्त्या सर्वा मातॄरवन्दत। सीता च पादान् श्वश्रूणामग्रहीद् भूरिदुःखिता॥१०॥
Lakṣmaṇa likewise bowed devotedly to every mother, and the deeply grieving Sītā clasped the feet of her mothers-in-law.
Passage 11
अश्रुपूर्णाक्षिवदना शोचन्ती श्वशुरं मुहुः। तां दृष्ट्वोवाच कौसल्या निःश्वस्य करुणं वचः॥११॥
Sītā's eyes and face were full of tears as she repeatedly mourned her father-in-law. Seeing her, Kauśalyā sighed and spoke piteously.
Passage 12
हा विदेहनरेन्द्रस्य सुता दशरथस्नुषा। वीरेन्द्रस्य वधूर्भव्या कथमेवं सुदुःखिता॥१२॥
"Alas, how can the daughter of Videha's king, Daśaratha's daughter-in-law and the noble bride of the foremost hero, be suffering so greatly?
Passage 13
इदं ते वदनं कान्तं चन्द्रादपि सुशीतलम्। उत्फुल्लपद्मरुचिरं कथमेवं दशां गतम्॥१३॥
"Your lovely face, cooler than the moon and beautiful as a fully opened lotus, has come to such a condition!
Passage 14
नितान्तमातपग्लान्तं मलिनं वनवासतः। दृष्ट्वा तवाद्य कल्याणि हृदयं दीर्यते मम॥१४॥
"Auspicious lady, seeing you today utterly wearied by the sun and soiled by forest life makes my heart break." The Assembly at Citrakūṭa
Passage 15
ततो रामो वसिष्ठस्य पादौ जग्राह भक्तिमान्। अमात्यान् मन्त्रिणः सर्वान् प्रधानान् पुरवासिनः॥१५॥
Devoted Rāma then clasped Vasiṣṭha's feet and received the officials, ministers, leading men, and citizens—
Passage 16
आगतान् परिजग्राह परिरम्भेक्षणादिभिः। सर्वैः समेत्य विधिवदुपविष्टश्च राघवः॥१६॥
—who had arrived, honoring them with embraces, glances, and other courtesies. Joined by everyone, Rāma sat down in due order.
Passage 17
उपोपविष्टाः सकला भ्रातरो मुनयस्तथा। पुरोहिता अमात्याश्च मन्त्रिणो राजमानिताः॥१७॥
Around him sat all the brothers and sages, along with priests, officials, and ministers honored by the king.
Passage 18
कृताञ्जलिपुटो धीमान् भरतो भक्तिसंनतः। पुरो रामस्योपविष्टो विवक्षुः प्रणयान्वितः॥१८॥
Wise Bharata sat before Rāma, palms joined and head bowed in devotion, eager to speak with loving affection.
Passage 19
तूष्णींभूताः स्थिताः सर्वे पश्यन्तो भरताननम्। किमेष वक्ष्यति बुधो राममानेतुमागतः॥१९॥
Everyone fell silent and watched Bharata's face, wondering what the wise prince who had come to bring Rāma home would say.
Passage 20
रामलक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्नभरतास्ते सुहृज्जनैः। वृतास्तत्र व्यराजन्त वीक्षमाणाः परस्परम्॥२०॥
Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Śatrughna, and Bharata, surrounded by well-wishers and gazing at one another, shone there.
Passage 21
निन्युस्तां रजनीं कृत्स्नां ते चिरान्मिलिता मिथः। ततः प्रभाते निमज्य मन्दाकिन्यां यथोचितम्॥२१॥
Reunited after so long, they passed the entire night together. At dawn they bathed properly in the Mandākinī.
Passage 22
पर्णशालामुपागच्छन् सर्वे तूष्णींगिरो जनाः। भरतोऽथ सुसत्कृत्य रामं भक्तिसुसन्नतः॥२२॥
All returned silently to the leaf-hut. Bharata then duly honored Rāma and bowed deeply in devotion. Bharata's Public Appeal
Passage 23
पश्यतां सुहृदां मध्ये इदमाह स धर्मवित्। नतोऽस्मि रघुवर्य त्वामात्मना दास्यशीर्षणा॥२३॥
In the midst of the watching well-wishers, the knower of dharma said, "Best of the Raghus, I bow to you with my whole being, my head bent in service.
Passage 24
प्रसीद मह्यं नम्राय करुणां कर्तुमर्हसि। गच्छायोध्यां निजपुरीं पालयास्मान् स्वसेवकान्॥२४॥
"Be gracious to me as I bow; please show compassion. Return to your city of Ayodhyā and protect us, your servants.
Passage 25
प्रजाश्च सकला राजन् गोपाय निजधर्मतः। भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं निजं प्राप्तं पितृपैतामहं क्रमात्॥२५॥
"King, protect every subject according to your own dharma and enjoy the kingdom inherited in succession from father and forefathers.
Passage 26
अगाधे नौरिवाम्भोधौ प्रचण्डानिललोलिता। त्वां विना राम राज्यश्रीरसौ नाशोन्मुखी क्षणात्॥२६॥
"Rāma, without you the fortune of the kingdom faces immediate ruin, like a boat tossed by a violent wind upon a bottomless ocean.
Passage 27
भवन्तमनुवर्तन्तां राज्यासनमधिष्ठितम्। प्रजाः प्रकृतयः सर्वास्तारा इव निशाकरम्॥२७॥
"Let all subjects and officers attend you seated upon the royal throne, as stars attend the moon.
Passage 28
गायन्तु पुरनार्यश्च तव प्रावेशिकं पुरे। अन्तःपुरस्थितास्ताश्च सेवन्तां त्वां स्मरोपमम्॥२८॥
"Let the women of the city sing for your entry, and let those of the inner palace serve you, who resemble the god of love.
Passage 29
श्रीजानकीं पुरस्कृत्य सहस्रवनिताः पुरे। चन्द्राननास्त्वया सार्धं लभन्तां भोगमुत्तमम्॥२९॥
"With glorious Jānakī at their head, let thousands of moon-faced women in the city enjoy supreme happiness with you.
Passage 30
नरनागनगेन्द्राणां कन्या दिग्विजयार्जिताः। क्लिश्यन्त्यस्त्वद्वियोगेन पश्यन्तु त्वां गृहागतम्॥३०॥
"Let the daughters of kings, nāgas, and mountain lords, won through conquest of the quarters and now pained by your absence, see you return home.
Passage 31
नाहमर्होऽस्य राज्यस्य रासभोऽश्वगतेरिव। श्वेव हयाङ्कणादस्य काको हंसगतेरिव॥३१॥
"I am no more fit for this kingdom than a donkey for a horse's gait, a dog for a royal riding ground, or a crow for the movement of a swan.
Passage 32
पितर्युपरतेऽस्माकमनाथानां गतिर्भवान्। त्रायस्व नः स्वपदवीमधितिष्ठन् रघूद्वह॥३२॥
"With our father gone, you are the refuge of us orphans. Foremost Raghu, ascend your rightful station and save us."
Passage 33
इति सम्भाषमाणस्य भरतस्य वचोऽमृतम्। अन्वमोदन्त तत्रस्थाः सभ्या नरमुनीश्वराः॥३३॥
The assembled citizens, men, and eminent sages approved Bharata's nectar-like speech. Rāma Upholds Daśaratha's Word
Passage 34
विलपन्तं मुहुर्वीक्ष्य भरतं रामचन्द्रमाः। उवाच मन्दसंयुक्तं धर्मभृत्प्रवरः स्वयम्॥३४॥
Seeing Bharata repeatedly lament, moonlike Rāma, foremost upholder of dharma, answered him gently.
Passage 35
क्षयिष्णु सकलं मन्ये यद्दृश्यं सदसत्तथा। संयुज्य विप्रयुज्यन्ते संयुज्यन्ते वियुज्य च॥३५॥
"I hold everything visible, manifest or unmanifest, to be perishable. Those who meet are parted, and after joining they separate.
Passage 36
सर्वं मृत्युवशं मन्ये जगदेतच्चराचरम्। मूढास्तस्य कृते सत्यं त्यजन्ति किमु कामुकाः॥३६॥
"This whole world, moving and unmoving, is subject to death. Only fools driven by desire abandon truth for its sake.
Passage 37
इष्ट्वा बहुविधैर्यज्ञैर्मखैः सर्वस्वदक्षिणैः। महानुभावस्तातो नो मयि यातो समाधितः॥३७॥
"After performing many sacrifices and giving away all in sacrificial gifts, our noble father entered final absorption while thinking of me.
Passage 38
तद्वचः सत्यसम्बद्धं कथमुल्लङ्घ्यतां मया। स्वर्गतं च्यावये तातं सत्यातिक्रमणादहम्॥३८॥
"How could I violate his word, which was bound to truth? By transgressing truth I would make our father fall from heaven.
Passage 39
न मया सत्यमुल्लङ्घ्य वर्तितव्यं कदाचन। नाहं द्विर्भाषितुं जाने व्रतमेतत्परं मम॥३९॥
"I must never live by violating truth. I do not know how to speak twice; this is my supreme vow.
Passage 40
यो मेऽनुकूलो बन्धुश्च न निबन्धं करोत्विह। यद्भावि तद्भूतमिदं को निवर्तयितुं क्षमः॥४०॥
"Let no relative who favors me press me further here. What was destined has occurred—who is capable of reversing it?"
Passage 41
इत्यभिधाय निदेशकरः पितुराहितसत्यवचः परिरक्षं- स्तत्क्षणमेष ततो विरराम नराधिपसूनुरघमर्षविपक्षः। शृण्वति सर्वमुनिप्रकरे भरतः पुनरेव ततोऽभिबभाषे चेतसि भूरि विचित्य चिरं रघुनाथनिवर्तनसाध्वभिलाषे॥४१॥
Having spoken, the king's son—obedient to his father's command, guarding the truth entrusted to him, and opposed to sin—fell silent. Before the entire assembly of sages, Bharata reflected deeply and at length upon his righteous desire to bring Lord Rāma back, then spoke again.