Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— कथं निवर्तयाम्येनमार्यं विपिनवासतः। इति युक्तं विचिन्त्यैष भरतस्तमवोचत॥१॥
Brahmā said: Bharata carefully considered, "How can I turn my noble brother back from dwelling in the forest?" He then addressed Rāma.
Passage 2
क्षुद्रा मे जननी चक्रे यत्पातकमकारणम्। मय्यजानति ते दासे मातुलेष्वधितिष्ठति॥२॥
"While I, your servant, knew nothing and was staying with my maternal family, my petty mother committed this causeless sin.
Passage 3
तदनिष्टमहं मन्ये महदेवात्मनाशनम्। त्वद्भयाच्च न धर्मात्मन् मातरं दण्डयाम्यहम्॥३॥
"I regard her deed as a great evil that destroys the soul. Righteous brother, only fear of displeasing you keeps me from punishing my mother.
Passage 4
ममापकारिणी पापा प्रकृत्या राक्षसी त्वियम्। तदुत्पन्नश्च सुतरामहं पापकसम्भवः॥४॥
"This sinful woman, demonic by nature, has harmed me. Born from her, I am all the more a product of sin.
Passage 5
तथापि न करिष्यामि कर्म गर्हितमात्मना। यत्तातेन कृतं तत्तु किं नु गर्हामि सम्प्रति॥५॥
"Even so, I shall not personally perform a condemned act. And why should I now condemn what Father did?
Passage 6
मृतो न गर्हितुं योग्यस्तत्रापि जनकः स नः। अन्तकालेऽभवत्तस्य मोह एष न संशयः॥६॥
"Our father, now dead, should not be censured. Without doubt this delusion overtook him at the end of his life.
Passage 7
यत्कृतं मुह्यता तेन पित्रा नः कर्म गर्हितम्। तद्भवान् संशमयतु तस्मिन् स्वर्गमितेऽधुना॥७॥
"Now that he has gone to heaven, please correct the blameworthy act our father performed while bewildered.
Passage 8
एतदेव च कर्तव्यं सत्पुत्रेण ननु त्वया। कैकेय्या यत्कृतं पापं तामेवानुप्रयातु तत्॥८॥
"Surely this is what a good son such as you must do. Let the sin Kaikeyī committed follow her alone.
Passage 9
त्रायस्व नः कुलपते प्रकृतीश्च विशेषतः। सुहृदो बान्धवांल्लोकान् क्लिश्यतस्तव शोकतः॥९॥
"Lord of our lineage, save us—especially the subjects, friends, relatives, and people who suffer from grief for you.
Passage 10
इदं तेऽनुचितं मन्ये वनवासजटादिकम्। आत्मनः कुलधर्मेण व्याहतं किं चिकीर्षसि॥१०॥
"I consider forest exile, matted hair, and the rest unfitting for you. Why do you wish to act contrary to the hereditary duty of your own lineage?
Passage 11
ब्रह्मक्षत्रे उभे नित्ये स्वस्वलक्षणलक्षिते। विज्ञाय तद्भवान् सर्वमन्यत्कर्तुं न चार्हसि॥११॥
"The priestly and royal orders are both eternal and defined by their own characteristics. Knowing all this, you should not act otherwise.
Passage 12
विपरीतमिदं चार्य यन्मया तेऽनुशासनम्। जीवनायात्मनः किं तु त्वां शिक्षितुमहं यते॥१२॥
"Noble brother, it is improper that I instruct you; yet to preserve my life I am attempting to persuade you. Bharata Requests Consecration
Passage 13
शाधि राज्यं स्वधर्मं च धर्मज्ञानां शिखामणे। इहैव बन्धुभिः सर्वैरात्मानमभिषेचय॥१३॥
"Crest-jewel of those who know dharma, govern the kingdom and practice your own duty. Have yourself consecrated here and now by all your kinsmen.
Passage 14
आभिषेचनिकं द्रव्यं सर्वमेतदुपाहृतम्। कृतार्थयतरामार्यं कृत्वा त्वं स्वाभिषेचनम्॥१४॥
"Every article required for consecration has been brought. Noble brother, fulfill our deepest longing by accepting your consecration.
Passage 15
मुदिताः सन्त्विमे सर्वे वीक्ष्य त्वामभिषेकिनम्। पापाद्रक्षस्व जनकं ज्येष्ठस्यातिक्रमोद्भवात्॥१५॥
"Let everyone rejoice upon seeing you consecrated. Save Father from the sin born of passing over his eldest son.
Passage 16
दासस्य मे वचः श्रुत्वा हृदि नाथ कृपास्तु ते। तथा सर्वेषु लोकेषु बान्धवेषु दयां कुरु॥१६॥
"Lord, hear the words of your servant and let compassion arise in your heart. Show mercy to all the people and your relatives.
Passage 17
पराङ्मुखमथ भवान् यदि गन्ता वनं प्रति। तदाहमपि गन्तास्मि पादलग्नः क्व नु व्रजे॥१७॥
"But if you turn away and go toward the forest, I too shall go, clinging to your feet. Where else could I go?"
Passage 18
इत्यार्तस्य वचो रामः श्रुत्वा तस्य सभान्तरे। उवाच शृण्वतां तेषां सर्वेषां धर्मसागरः॥१८॥
Hearing the anguished prince's words before the assembly, Rāma, ocean of dharma, replied while everyone listened. Rāma Explains the Two Boons
Passage 19
युक्तमेतत्त्वयि सदा यद्धर्मयुतमब्रवीः। पुत्रो दशरथस्यासि मम भ्राता शुभाशयः॥१९॥
"It is fitting that you should always speak words joined with dharma. You are Daśaratha's son, my brother, and pure in intention.
Passage 20
पुरा तव प्रसूस्तात तव मातामहान्नृपात्। लब्धा राज्यं प्रतिश्रुत्य पित्रा नः सत्यभाषिणा॥२०॥
"Long ago, dear brother, our truth-speaking father received your mother from your royal maternal grandfather after promising her the kingdom.
Passage 21
अथ दैवासुरे युद्धे तव मात्रा पिता स नः। वरं सम्प्रार्थितः सत्यं द्वयं तत्राभियाचितम्॥२१॥
"Then, during the war between gods and demons, your mother asked our father for a boon and claimed two promises from him.
Passage 22
तव राज्यं मम पुनर्वने प्रवसनं यथा। तन्नः पित्रा भवन्मात्रे सम्यगेव प्रतिश्रुतम्॥२२॥
"They were that you should receive the kingdom and that I should dwell in the forest. Our father duly promised this to your mother.
Passage 23
सोऽहं चतुर्दशाब्दानि वने वत्स्यामि धर्मतः। पितुः सत्याभिरक्षार्थं ससीतः सानुजस्तथा॥२२॥
"Therefore I shall rightfully live in the forest for fourteen years with Sītā and my younger brother, to protect Father's truth. The witness repeats printed marker 22 for this independent passage. It is registered editorially as passage 23; the printed marker is preserved above.
Passage 24
कर्तुं सत्यगिरं तातं भवान् तदनुमन्यताम्। यास्तु मिथ्यावचास्तातः कैकेयीयाचिते वरे॥२४॥
"Permit Father to remain true to his word, dear brother. Otherwise his words concerning the boon sought by Kaikeyī would become false.
Passage 25
त्वं शाधि मतिमन् राज्यं पित्रा दत्तमकण्टकम्। सम्मोचय ऋणात्तातं सत्पुत्रोऽसि रघोः कुले॥२५॥
"Wise Bharata, govern the trouble-free kingdom given by Father. Free him from his debt, for you are a worthy son in Raghu's lineage.
Passage 26
नरकाद्रक्ष पितरं सत्यवाक्यानुरक्षणात्। गच्छायोध्यां प्रजाः पाहि पित्रा तुभ्यं निदेशिताः॥२६॥
"Save Father from hell by preserving his truthful word. Go to Ayodhyā and protect the subjects entrusted to you by him. The Two Brothers' Realms
Passage 27
तव राज्येऽस्तु शत्रुघ्नः सहायः समितिञ्जयः। ममारण्यनिवासे च सहायोऽयं तदग्रजः॥२७॥
"Let battle-conquering Śatrughna assist you in your kingdom, while his elder brother Lakṣmaṇa assists me in forest life.
Passage 28
त्वं राजापुरवास्तूनां नराणां धर्मशासनात्। अहं वनमृगाणां च राजास्मि विधिना कृतः॥२८॥
"By governing through dharma, you are king of the people dwelling in the city. By destiny I have been made king of the forest animals.
Passage 29
त्वं गच्छ प्रयतमते पुरीमयोध्यां गन्ताहं तपसि सुखेन दण्डकांश्च। छत्रं ते शिरसि वलक्षमातपघ्नं छाया मे शिरसि मता वनद्रुमाणाम्॥२९॥
"Pure-minded brother, return to the city of Ayodhyā; I shall gladly go to the Daṇḍaka forest for austerity. A bright parasol will shield your head from the sun, while I accept the shade of forest trees above mine."