The Sandals Return to Ayodhya while Rama Remains beneath the Forest Sky
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 63
Doha 65 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bhushundi's narration reaches the coronation preparations, then the king's word breaks the royal joy. Ayodhya fills with the sorrow of separation. Rama and Lakshmana speak, the forest road opens, the boatman offers his devotion, and the Ganga carries the exiles toward their stay at Prayaga.
Valmiki receives the Lord, and Chitrakoot becomes his dwelling. Behind them, the minister returns, Dasharatha dies, and Bharata comes home into grief. After the funeral rites, Bharata travels with the citizens to the treasure-house of joy, and love gathers the divided city beneath the forest trees.
Rama counsels him in many ways. Bharata finally returns bearing the sandals that will rule while he lives in renunciation. Bhushundi sings Bharata's manner of life, the deed of Indra's son, and the meeting with Atri. In swift succession the whole Ayodhya Kanda passes before Garuda, every departure and return bound together by fidelity to Rama's word.
The throne waits in Ayodhya, the Lord remains in the forest, and Bharata carries home only the sandals that make absence sacred.
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बहुरि राम अभिषेक प्रसंगा। पुनि नृप बचन राज रस भंगा।। पुरबासिन्ह कर बिरह बिषादा। कहेसि राम लछिमन संबादा।। बिपिन गवन केवट अनुरागा। सुरसरि उतरि निवास प्रयागा।। बालमीक प्रभु मिलन बखाना। चित्रकूट जिमि बसे भगवाना।। सचिवागवन नगर नृप मरना। भरतागवन प्रेम बहु बरना।। करि नृप क्रिया संग पुरबासी। भरत गए जहँ प्रभु सुख रासी।। पुनि रघुपति बहु बिधि समुझाए। लै पादुका अवधपुर आए।। भरत रहनि सुरपति सुत करनी। प्रभु अरु अत्रि भेंट पुनि बरनी।।
Then he told of Rama's coronation ceremony, and how the king's words shattered the joy of royal celebration. He described the grief and sorrow of the citizens in separation, and the dialogue between Rama and Lakshmana. The journey to the forest, the boatman's devotion, the crossing of the Ganga, and the dwelling at Prayaga. The meeting with sage Valmiki is told, and how the Lord dwelt at Chitrakoot. The minister's journey to the city, the king's death, and Bharata's return, described with great love. After performing the king's funeral rites together with the citizens, Bharata went to where the Lord, the treasure of joy, resided. Then Raghupati counseled Bharata in many ways. Taking the Lord's sandals, Bharata returned to Ayodhya. Bharata's way of living is told, as is the meeting of the Lord with sage Atri.