Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 89, Shloka 22
गङ्गातरणम्
Bharata’s Ferrying of the Army across the Ganga
आश्वासयित्वा च चमूं महात्मा निवेशयित्वा च यथोपजोषम्।द्रष्टुं भरद्वाजमृषिप्रवर्य मृत्विग्वृतस्सन्भरतः प्रतस्थे।।।।
āśvāsayitvā ca camūṃ mahātmā niveśayitvā ca yathopajoṣam | draṣṭuṃ bharadvājam ṛṣipravaryaṃ ṛtvigvṛtaḥ san bharataḥ pratasthē ||
After giving rest to the army and settling it as they wished, the noble Bharata—accompanied by his priests—set out to meet the foremost sage, Bharadvāja.
O king (Guha)! the night passed comfortably for us. We have been honoured by you in many ways. Let your fishermen be ordered to ferry us across the Ganga in their boats.
FAQs
Dharma is leadership joined with reverence: Bharata responsibly settles the army’s needs and then approaches a sage, honoring spiritual authority and counsel.
Having reached the Prayāga region, Bharata encamps his forces and goes with priests to visit sage Bharadvāja.
Bharata’s prudent command and humility before learned ascetics.