Passage 1
ब्रह्मोवाच— अयोध्यायां प्रविन्यस्य मातॄः शोकनिपीडिताः। स्वयमुद्विग्नहृदयो वसिष्ठादीनुवाच सः॥१॥
Brahmā said: After settling his grief-stricken mothers in Ayodhyā, Bharata, himself troubled at heart, addressed Vasiṣṭha and the other elders.
Passage 2
नाहमत्र निवत्स्यामि शून्यप्रायां पुरीं मम। राज्ञा च रामचन्द्रेण लक्ष्मणेन च सीतया॥२॥
"I shall not live here in my city, now almost empty without the king, Rāmacandra, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā.
Passage 3
रहितं राजभवनं न भाति किमपीह मे। अतोऽहमधिवत्स्यामि नन्दिग्रामं मनोरमम्॥३॥
"The royal palace bereft of them gives me no pleasure at all. Therefore I shall reside in delightful Nandigrāma.
Passage 4
युक्तं सुखितगोपेन व्रजवासिजनैस्तथा। श्रीमन्माङ्गल्यकामुख्यव्रजदारजनाकुलम्॥४॥
"It is joined with the cowherd Sukhita and the people dwelling in the pastoral settlement, and thronged by the women of Vraja headed by splendid Māṅgalyakā.
Passage 5
दधिमन्थनकालीनगोपीसङ्गीतमञ्जुलम्। नैचिकीचयसंवीतं महावृषनिनादितम्॥५॥
"It is lovely with the cowherd women's songs at butter-churning time, wrapped in flocks of low-flying birds and resounding with the calls of mighty bulls.
Passage 6
श्रीरामस्य पुरा स्थानं गोपलीलाविलासिनः। नित्योत्सवं नित्यसुखं नित्यमाङ्गल्यमण्डितम्॥६॥
"Long ago it was the abode of Śrī Rāma as he delighted in cowherd play. Its festivals, happiness, and auspicious adornment are eternal.
Passage 7
तत्राहं निवसन्नार्यपादुकार्चनतत्परः। विनोदयिष्य आत्मानं गोपालैः सुखितादिभिः॥७॥
"Living there, devoted to worshiping my noble brother's sandals, I shall console myself with cowherds headed by Sukhita.
Passage 8
अन्यथेदं महद्दुःखं मया सोढुं न शक्यते। तत्र स्थितो विनेष्यामि कथञ्चित्कष्टवासरान्॥८॥
"Otherwise I cannot endure this immense sorrow. Remaining there, I shall somehow pass these painful days."
Passage 9
तमब्रुवंस्ततो वृद्धा वसिष्ठाद्याश्च मन्त्रिणः। यदुक्तं भवता वीर तद्युक्तमिति गम्यते॥९॥
The elders and counselors headed by Vasiṣṭha replied: "Hero, what you have said appears fitting.
Passage 10
भ्रातृवात्सल्यसदृशमुपपन्नमिदं त्वयि। सर्वैरनुमतं तात यत्त्वया मनसा मतम्॥१०॥
"It befits your brotherly affection. Dear Bharata, all approve what you have resolved in your heart." The Journey to Nandigrāma
Passage 11
एवमुक्ते तु भरतः सर्वानामन्त्र्य मन्त्रिणः। सुमन्त्रमब्रवीत् सूत रथं मे योजयेति सः॥११॥
When they had spoken, Bharata took leave of all the counselors and told Sumantra, "Charioteer, harness my chariot."
Passage 12
यथानुपूर्वं सकला मातॄश्चैव गुरूंस्तथा। अभिवाद्य महाबाहुरारुरोह रथोत्तमम्॥१२॥
Mighty-armed Bharata saluted all his mothers and gurus in due order, then mounted the excellent chariot.
Passage 13
शत्रुघ्नसहितो वीरः सहमन्त्रिपुरोहितः। वसिष्ठाद्यैर्द्विजश्रेष्ठैः प्राङ्मुखैरग्रतः स्थितैः॥१३॥
The hero traveled with Śatrughna, the counselors, and the priest. Eminent brāhmaṇas headed by Vasiṣṭha stood before him facing east.
Passage 14
सूच्यमानपथः श्रीमांश्चतुरङ्गबलान्वितः। पुरवासिजनैः श्रेष्ठैः पृष्ठतोऽनुगतस्तथा॥१४॥
Shown the way, glorious Bharata advanced with the fourfold army while the foremost city residents followed behind.
Passage 15
श्रीरामपादुकायुग्मसमुद्भासितमस्तकः। नन्दिग्रामं ययौ रम्यं पुण्यारण्यनिषेवितम्॥१५॥
His head shining beneath Śrī Rāma's pair of sandals, he went to lovely Nandigrāma, attended by sacred woodland.
Passage 16
सुखिताद्यैः स गोपालैर्दूरादेवातिमानितः। वन्दितः पूजितश्चैव दधिकुम्भैः सुमङ्गलैः॥१६॥
Cowherds headed by Sukhita honored him greatly from afar. They bowed and worshiped him with auspicious pots of yogurt.
Passage 17
तैः सङ्गम्य महास्नेहवश्यैर्गोपालराजकैः। उवास परमप्रीतो नन्दिग्रामे मनोरमे॥१७॥
Meeting those cowherd chiefs, who were governed by immense affection, Bharata dwelt in delightful Nandigrāma with great joy. The Sandals Govern
Passage 18
सोऽब्रवीन्मन्त्रिणः सर्वान् वसिष्ठाद्यान् द्विजोत्तमान्। इदं सुविपुलं राज्यं दत्त्वा मे रामचन्द्रमाः॥१८॥
He addressed all the counselors and eminent brāhmaṇas headed by Vasiṣṭha: "Rāmacandra gave this vast kingdom to me—
Passage 19
अरण्यं प्राविशद् घोरं सीतासौमित्रिसङ्गतः। क्षेमार्थं प्रददौ स्वीये पादुके रत्नमण्डिते॥१९॥
"—and entered the terrible forest with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa. For the kingdom's security he gave his own jewel-adorned sandals.
Passage 20
एतयोराज्ञया भूमिं पालयिष्ये सुनिर्भयः। अनयोरास्थितं राज्यं रामपादुकयोर्ध्रुवम्॥२०॥
"By their command I shall govern the earth without fear. The kingdom is surely vested in these sandals of Rāma.
Passage 21
रामस्यागमनं यावत् करिष्ये राज्यशासनम्। आयाते तु प्रभौ रामे कृतराज्याभिषेचने॥२१॥
"I shall administer it until Rāma returns. When Lord Rāma arrives and has been consecrated as king—
Passage 22
अयोध्यायां गमिष्यामि इत्थं मे व्रतमाहितम्। इत्युक्त्वा सोऽवसद् धीरो नन्दिग्रामे महाव्रजे॥२२॥
"—I shall go to Ayodhyā. Such is the vow I have undertaken." Having said this, steadfast Bharata settled in Nandigrāma, the great pastoral settlement.
Passage 23
गोपालैर्गोपिकाभिश्च शुभा लीलाः प्रभोः स्मरन्। बिभ्रज्जटावल्कलादींस्तापसव्रतवेषभृत्॥२३॥
With the cowherd men and women he remembered the Lord's auspicious pastimes. He wore matted locks and bark cloth, assuming the vow and dress of an ascetic.
Passage 24
ससैन्यो न्यवसत्तत्र व्रजं चानुपमं दधत्। श्रीरामागमनाकाङ्क्षी पादुकाज्ञापरायणः॥२४॥
He lived there with the army, sustaining that incomparable pastoral community, longing for Śrī Rāma's return and wholly devoted to the sandals' command.
Passage 25
स प्रमोदवने तत्र योगपीठे महोत्तमे। महासिंहासनवरे तस्य ते पादुके न्यधात्॥२५॥
There in Pramoda forest, upon the supreme sacred seat, he placed the sandals upon a magnificent royal throne.
Passage 26
तयोरुपरि स छत्रं वालव्यजनमेव च। धारयामास भरतो रामभक्तिरसाञ्चितः॥२६॥
Filled with the savor of devotion to Rāma, Bharata held a royal parasol and a yak-tail fan above them.
Passage 27
रञ्जयन् प्रकृतीः सर्वाः पूजयन् रामपादुके। गायँल्लीलागुणग्रामं रामस्य रसनिर्भरम्॥२७॥
He pleased all the subjects, worshiped Rāma's sandals, and sang Rāma's pastimes and hosts of virtues, overflowing with devotional savor.
Passage 28
कालं चिक्षेप भरतो भ्रातुरागमसस्पृहः। विरहार्तैर्व्रजजनैः सहितो विरहातुरः॥२८॥
Yearning for his brother's arrival, Bharata passed the time tormented by separation, together with the people of Vraja who suffered the same longing.
Passage 29
इदमधिकपवित्रं पादुकायुग्मदानं दशरथसुतयोर्यः सादरं संश्रुणोति। स भवति कृतकृत्यो रामभक्तिप्रसादादुपचितधनधान्यः श्रीयशःक्षेमयुक्तः॥२९॥
Whoever reverently hears this supremely sacred account of the sandals given between Daśaratha's sons becomes fulfilled through the grace of devotion to Rāma, gains abundant wealth and grain, and is joined with prosperity, fame, and well-being.