After returning to Ayodhya, Bharata expresses his desire to proceed to Nandigrama village. Vasishta and the other elders agree to his proposal. Bharata along with Shatrughna ascend the chariot and proceed towards Nandigram. The ministers, family-priest, the army and the citizens of Ayodhya followed Bharata in his journey. Installing the wooden sandals of Rama on the royal throne, Bharata puts on the garb of an ascetic and carries on the rule under orders of the sandals, holding the royal canopy over them.
tato nikṣipya mātṛṛḥ sa ayodhyāyām dṛḍha vrataḥ |
bharataḥ śoka samtapto gurūn idam atha abravīt || 2-115-1
1. saH bharataH = that Bharata; dR^iDha vrataH = fixed in his resolve; tataH = then; nikSipya = having brought; maatR^iiH = his mother; ayodhyaam = (back) to Ayodhya; shoka santaptaH = sore stricken with grief; abraviit = spoke; atha = thereafter; guruun = to Vaishta and the elders (as follows):
Having brought his mothers back to Ayodhya; Bharata, fixed in his resolve but sore stricken with grief, spoke to Vasishta and the elders (as follows)
nandi grāmam gamiṣyāmi sarvān āmantraye adya vaḥ |
tatra duhkham idam sarvam sahiṣye rāghavam vinā || 2-115-2
2. adya = now; gamiSyaami = I am going; nandigraamam = to Nandigrama village; aamantraye = I take leave; sarvaan = of all; vaH = of you; tatra = there; sahiSye = I shall endure; sarvam = all; idam = this; duHkham = woe; raaghavam vinaa = occasioned by Rama's absence."
"I am going to Nandigrama village. I take leave of all of you. There, I shall be able to endure all this woe, occasioned by Rama's absence."
gataḥ ca hi divam rājā vanasthaḥ ca gurur mama |
rāmam pratīkṣe rājyāya sa hi rājā mahā yaśāḥ || 2-115-3
3. raajaa = the king Dasaratha; gataH = went; divam = to heaven; mama guruH = my elder brother; vanasthaH = is in the forest; pratiikSye = I shall await; raamam = for Rama (to return); raajyaaya = tot he kindom; saH hi = since verily he alone; raajaa = is the lord; mahaayashaaH = the celebrated.
"The king Dasaratha went to heaven. My elder brother is in the forest. I shall await for Rama to return to the kingdom; since verily he alone is the celebrated Lord of Ayodhya."
etat śrutvā śubham vākyam bharatasya mahātmanaḥ |
abruvan mantriṇaḥ sarve vasiṣṭhaḥ ca purohitaḥ || 2-115-4
4. shrutvaa = hearing; etat = these; shubham = auspicious; vaakyam = words; bharatasya = of Bharata; mahaatmanaH = the magnanimous one; vasiSTashcha = Vasishta; purohitaH = the preceptor; sarve = and all; mantriNaH = the ministers; abruvan = spoke (as follows):
Hearing those auspicious words of the magnanimous Bharata, Vasishta the preceptor and all the ministers spoke as follows:
sadṛśam ślāghanīyam ca yad uktam bharata tvayā |
vacanam bhrātṛ vātsalyād anurūpam tava eva tat || 2-115-5
5. bharata = O; Bharata!; vachanam = the words; yat = which; uktam = have been spoken; tvayaa = by you; bhraatR^ivaatsalyaat = in devotion to your brother; subhR^isham = are very much; shlaaghaniiyam = appreciable; tat = that; anuruupam = is worthy; tavaiva = of you along."
"O, Bharata! The words which your have spoken by you in devotion to your brother are very much appreciable. It is worthy of you alone."
nityam te bandhu lubdhasya tiṣṭhato bhrātṛ sauhṛde |
ārya mārgam prapannasya na anumanyeta kaḥ pumān || 2-115-6
6. kaH pumaam = what man; naanumanyate = would not approve; te = of the proposal of you; bandhulubdhasya = who are deeply fascinated of your relatives; nityam = always; tiSThataH = firmly; bhraatR^i sauhR^ide = affectionate to your brother; prapannasya = and devoted; aarya maargam = to the path of elders.
"What man would not approve of the proposal of your highness, who are deeply fascinated of your relative, always affectionate to your brother and devoted to the path of elders?"
mantriṇām vacanam śrutvā yathā abhilaṣitam priyam |
abravīt sārathim vākyam ratho me yujyatām iti || 2-115-7
7. shrutvaa = hearing; priyam = the affectionate; vachanam = words; mantriNaam = of his counsellors; yathaabhilaSitam = according to his wish; (Bharata); abraviit = spoke; iti = these; vaakyam = words; saarathim = to the charioteer; me rathaH = (Let) my chariot; yujyataam = be made ready."
Hearing the affectionate words of his counsellors, who spoke according to his wish, Bharata said to his charioteer, "Let my chariot be made ready!"
prahṛṣṭa vadanaḥ sarvā mātṛṛḥ samabhivādya saḥ |
āruroha ratham śrīmān śatrughnena samanvitaḥ || 2-115-8
8. shriimaan = the illustrious; saH = Bharata; prahR^iSTavadanaH = looking pleased; samabhivaadya = having offered salutation; sarvaa = to all; maatR^iiH = his mothers; aaruroha = ascended; ratham = his chariot; samanvitaH = along with; shatrughne = Shatrughna.
The illustrious Bharata, looking pleased and having offered salutation to all his mothers, entered his chariot along with Shatrughna.
āruhya tu ratham śīghram śatrughna bharatāu ubhau |
yayatuḥ parama prītau vṛtau mantri purohitaiḥ || 2-115-9
9. ubhau = both; shatrughna bharatau = Shatrughana and Bharata; aaruhya cha = having mounted; ratham = the chariot; shiigram = quickly; param priitau = and exceedingly rejoiced; yayatuH = set out; vR^itau = accompanied by; mantri purohitaiH = ministers and family-priests.
Both Shatrughna and Bharata, having quickly mounted the chariot and exceedingly rejoiced, set out, accompanied by ministers and family-priests.
agrato puravaḥ tatra vasiṣṭha pramukhā dvijāḥ |
prayayuḥ prān mukhāḥ sarve nandi grāmo yato abhavat || 2-115-10
10. gurvaH = the preceptors; sarve = all; tatra = there; vasiSTha pramukhaah = headed by Vasishta; dvijaaH = and (other) Brahmanas; agrataH = being in the forefront; prayayuH = went; praaNmukhaaH = eastward; yataH = in which direction; nandigraamaH = Nandigrama; abhavat = was there.
All the preceptors there, headed by Vasishta and other brahmanas being in the forefront, proceeded eastward, in which direction Nandigrama village was situated.
balam ca tad anāhūtam gaja aśva ratha samkulam |
prayayau bharate yāte sarve ca pura vāsinaḥ || 2-115-11
11. bharate = (Wile) Bharata; yaate = had left; balamcha = the army too; prayayau = followed him; tadanaahutam = unbidden; gajaashvaratha samkulam = abounding in elephants; horses and chariots; sarve = all; puravaasinaH cha = the residents of the city also (followed suit).
When Bharata had left, the army too, abounding in elephants, horses and chariots marched unbidden. The residents of the city also followed suit.
rathasthaḥ sa tu dharma ātmā bharato bhrātṛ vatsalaḥ |
nandi grāmam yayau tūrṇam śirasy ādhāya pāduke || 2-115-12
12. saH bharataH = that Bharata; bhraatR^ivatsalaH = affectionate of is brother; dharmaatmaa = and magnanimous; aadaaya = kept; paaduke = the sandals; shirasi = on his head; rathasthaH = while remaining in the chariot; tuurNam = and quickly; yayau = set out; nandigraamam = for Nandigrama.
The magnanimous Bharata, affectionate of his brother, bearing the sandals belong to Rama on his head, set out for Nandigrama.
tataḥ tu bharataḥ kṣipram nandi grāmam praviśya saḥ |
avatīrya rathāt tūrṇam gurūn idam uvāca ha || 2-115-13
13. tataH = thereafter; pravishya = having entered; nandigraamam = Nandigram; kSipram = briskly; saH bharataH = that Bharat; avatiirya = descended; rathaat = from his chariot; tuurNam = quickly; uvaacha ha = and spoke; idam = these words; guruun = to his preceptors.
Thereafter, having entered Nandigrama briskly Bharata descended his chariot quickly and spoke to his preceptors as follows:
etad rājyam mama bhrātrā dattam samnyāsavat svayam |
yoga kṣema vahe ca ime pāduke hema bhūṣite || 2-115-14
14. etat raajyam = this kingdom; dattam = has been given; mama = to me; sannyaasavat = as a trust; bhraataa = by my brother; Rama; svayam = himself; ime paaduke cha = these sandals; hema bhuuSite = embellished with gold; yogakSamavahe = diffuse gain and security (to the people)
"My brother, Rama has given to me this kingdom as a trust. These sandals, embellished with gold diffuse gain and security to the people."
bharataḥ śirasā kṛtvā sannyāsam pāduke tataḥ |
abravīdduḥkhasamtaptaḥ sarvaṃ prakṛtimaṇḍalam || 2-115-15
15. kR^itvaa = having dedicated; sannyaasam = the sacred trust; paaduke = to the wooden sandals; bharataH = Bharata; tataH = then; abraviit = spoke; sarvam = to the entire; prakR^itimaNDalam = body of his ministers; duHkha samtapataH = sore stricken with anguish; as he was.
Having dedicated the sacred trust to the wooden sandals, Bharata sore-stricken with anguish, spoke to the entire body of his ministers as follows:
catram dhārayata kṣipramāryapādāvimau matau |
abhyām rājye sthito dharmaḥ pādukābhyām gurormama || 2-115-16
16. dhaarayata = hold; chhatram = the state canopy; kSipram = speedily; imau = these; matau = have been accepted; aarya paadau = as symbols of the feet of my noble brother; aabhyaam paadukaabhyaam = by these wooden sandals; mama guroH = of my brother; dharmaH = piety; sthitaH = has been established; raajye = in the kingdom.
"Hold the state canopy speedily over these wooden sandals, which have been accepted as symbols of the feet of Rama, my noble brother. By the presence of these wooden sandals of my brother here, a piety has been established in the kingdom."
bhrātrā hi mayi samnyāso nikṣiptaḥ sauhṛdādayam |
tamimam pālayiṣyāmi rāghavāgamanam prati 2-115-17
17. sauhR^idaat = by compassion; ayam = this; samnyaasaH = trust; mayi nikSiptaH = has been placed at my disposal; bhraatraa = by my brother; imam = the trust; tat = as such; paalayiSyaami = will be protected; raaghava agamanam prati = till the arrival of Rama.
"As a mark of compassion, this trust has been placed at my disposal, by my brother. There trust as such will be preserved till his return."
kṣipram samyojayitvā tu rāghavasya punaḥ svayam |
caraṇau tau tu rāmasya drakṣyāmi sahapādukau || 2-115-18
18. samyojayitvaa = having restored; (these wooden sandals); svayam = personally; raaghavasya = to Rama's feet; kSipram = immediately; punaH = again; drakSyaami = I shall behold; tau = those; charaNau = feet; raamasya = of Rama; sahapaadukau = along with these sandals.
"Having restored these wooden sandals personally to Rama's feet immediately after his return, I shall behold those feet of Rama along with these sandals."
tato nikṣiptabhāro.aham rāghaveṇa samāgataḥ |
nivedya gurave rājyam bhajiṣye guruvṛttitām 2-115-19
19. tataH = thereafter; aham = I; nikSipta bhaaraH = on whom thus burden has been imposed; samaagataH = having been united; raaghaveNa = with Rama; nivedya = and having restored; raajyam = the kingdom; gurave = to my elder brother; bhajiSye = I shall assume; guruvR^ittitaam = the role of a servant of my elder brother.
"Restoring the kingdom to my elder brother, when re-united with him and thereby laying down the burden, I shall then assume the role of a servant of my elder brother."
tāghavāya ca samnyāsam dattveme varapāduke |
rājyam cedamayodhyām ca dhūtapāpobhavāmi ca 2-115-20
20. dattvaa = giving away; ime vara paaduke = these excellent wooden sandals; samnyaasam = the symbols of trust; idam raajyam cha = this kingdom; ayodhyaamcha = as well as the city of Ayodhya; raaghavaaya = to Rama; bhavaamicha = I shall become; dhuuta paataH = washed of all my sins.
"By giving away these excellent wooden sandals, the symbols of trust, this kingdom, as well as the City of Ayodhya to Rama, I shall be washed of all my sins."
abhiṣikte tu kākutthse prahṛṣṭamudite jane |
prītirmama yaśaścaiva bhavedrājyāccaturguṇam || 2-115-21
21. kaakutthse = Rama; abhiSikte = will be installed; jane = and his subjects; prahR^iSTamudite = made happy; bhavet = It will be; chaturguNam = a four-fold; yashaschaiva = more fame; priitiH = and happiness; mama = for me; raajyaat = than (that having obtained) from the kingdom.
"Rama will be installed and his subjects made happy. It will be a four-fold more fame and happiness for me than that having obtained from the kingdom."
evam tu vilapandhīno bharataḥ sa mahāyaśāḥ |
nandigrāme.akarodrājyam duḥkhito mantribhissaha || 2-115-22
22. saH bharataH = that Bharata; mahaayashaaH = the highly illustrious man; diinaH = (but) a distressed man; vilapan = lamenting; evam = thus; duHkhitaH = and pained; akarot = looked after; raajyam = the state administration; mantribhiH saha = along with his ministers; nandrigraame = at Nandigrama.
The highly illustrious Bharata though a distressed man, thus lamenting and pained, looked after the state administration along with his ministers from Nandigrama.
sa valkalajaṭādhārī muniveṣadharaḥ prabhuḥ |
nandigrāme.avasadvīraḥ sasainyo bharatastadā 2-115-23
23. valkalajaTaadhaarii = Assuming bark robes and matted locks; muniveSadhaarii = in the guise of an ascetic; prabhuH = the lord; viiraH = and the hero; saH bharataH = that Bharata; tadaa = then; avasat = dwelt; nandigraame = in Nandigrama; sa sainyaH = protected by the army.
Assuming bark robes and matted locks in the guise of an ascetic, the lord and the hero Bharata dwelt in Nandigrama, protected by the army.
rāmāgamanamākāṅkṣan bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ |
bhrāturvacanakārī ca pratijñāpāragastadā || 2-115-24
pāduke tvabhiṣicyātha nandigrāme.avasattathā |
24. tadaa = then; bharataH = Bharata; bhraatR^iH vachanakaariicha = obedient to his elder brother; bhraatR^ivatsalaH = affectionate of his brothers; pratijJNa paaragaH = and faithful to his vow; tathaa = thus; avasat = resided; nandirgraame = in Nandigrama; abhiSichya = coronating; paaduke = the wooden sandals ( on the throne); aakaaNkSan = and wishing; raamaagamanam = the return of Rama.
Bharata, obedient to his elder brother, affectionate of his brothers and faithful to his vow, thus resided in Nandigrama, coronating the wooden sandals on the throne and wishing always for the return of Rama.
sa vālavyajanam catram dhārayāmāsa sa svayam || 2-115-25
bharataḥ śāsanam sarvam pādukābhyām nivedayan |
25. bharataH = Bharata; nivedayan = reporting; sarvam = all; shaasanam = the royal orders; paadukaabhyaam = to the wooden sandals; dharayaamaasa = was holding; svayam = personally; chhatram = the royal canopy; savaalavyajanam = together with the chowrie (to the sandals)
Reporting all the royal orders to the wooden sandals, Bharata was holding the royal canopy together with the chowrie to those sandals.
tatastu bharataḥ śrīmānabhiṣicyāryapāduke || 2-115-26
tadadhīnastadā rājyam kārayāmāsa sarvadā |
26. abhiSichya = coronating; aarya paaduke = the wooden sandals of his elder brother; shriimaan = the illustrious; bharataH = Bharata; tataH = thereafter; kaaryaamaasa = carried out; raajyam = the state administration; tadadhiinaH = being subservient to them; sarvadaa = always.
Coronating the wooden sandals of his elder brother, the illustrious Bharata thereafter carried out the state administration, always maintaining his subservience to them.
tadā hi yatkāryamupaiti kiṃci |
dupāyanam copahṛtam mahārham |
sa pādukābhyām prathamam nivedya |
cakāra paścādbharato yathāvat || 2-115-27
27. yatkimchit = whatever small; kaaryam = affair; upaiti = came up; mahaarham = or a high-valued; upaayanam = gift; upahR^itam = was offered; saH bharataH = that Bharata; tadaa = then; prathamam = first; nivedya = has reported (it); paadukaabhyaam = to the wooden sandals; pashchaat = and thereafter; chakaara = acted yathaavat = accordingly.
Whatever a small affair of the state came up or whenever a high-valued gift was offered, Bharata used to report that matter to the wooden sandals and then only dealt with it in the proper way afterwards.
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ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe paṃcadaśottaraśatatamaḥ sargaḥ
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© September 2005, K. M. K. Murthy