Sarga 112

Verse 1

तमप्रतिमतेजोभ्यां भ्रातृभ्यां रोमहर्षणम्। विस्मिता: स‌ङ्गमं प्रेक्ष्य समवेता महर्षयः।।2.112.1।।

The great sages assembled there were astonished, beholding that hair-raising meeting of the two brothers, both of unmatched splendor.

Verse 2

अन्तर्हिता मुनिगणास्सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः। तौ भ्रातरौ महात्मानौ काकुत्स्थौ प्रशशंसिरे।।2.112.2।।

Invisible to sight, hosts of sages—along with siddhas and great seers—praised those two magnanimous brothers of the Kakutstha line.

Verse 3

स धन्यो यस्य पुत्रौ द्वौ धर्मज्ञौ धर्मविक्रमौ।श्रुत्वा वयं हि सम्भाषामुभयोस्स्पृहयामहे।।2.112.3।।

Blessed indeed is he whose two sons know dharma, and whose valor is rooted in dharma; for having heard the discourse of those two, we are filled with deep admiration for them both.

Verse 4

ततस्त्वृषिगणाः क्षिप्रं दशग्रीववधैषिणः। भरतं राजशार्दूलमित्यूचु: स‌ङ्गता वचः।।2.112.4।।

Then hosts of sages, longing for the swift slaying of Daśagrīva, addressed Bharata—the tiger among kings—with these well-considered words.

Verse 5

कुले जात महाप्राज्ञ महावृत्त महायशः।ग्राह्यं रामस्य वाक्यं ते पितरं यद्यवेक्षसे।।2.112.5।।

O you born of a noble line—great in wisdom, great in conduct, and great in renown—accept Rāma’s word, if you hold your father in reverence.

Verse 6

सदाऽनृणमिमं रामं वयमिच्छामहे पितुः। आनृणत्वाच्च कैकेय्या: स्वर्गम् दशरथो गतः।।2.112.6।।

We ever wish that this Rāma remain free of debt toward his father; and it was by being released from his obligation to Kaikeyī that Daśaratha went to heaven.

Verse 7

एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं गन्धर्वा: स‌महर्षयः। राजर्षयश्चैव तदा सर्वे स्वां स्वां गतिं गताः।।2.112.7।।

Having spoken only so much, the Gandharvas along with the great sages—and the royal sages as well—then all departed to their respective abodes.

Verse 8

ह्लादितस्तेन वाक्येन शुभेन शुभदर्शनः।राम स्संहृष्टवदनस्तानृषीनभ्यपूजयत्।।2.112.8।।

Rāma, of auspicious form, gladdened by those blessed words, honored the sages with a radiant and delighted face.

Verse 9

त्रस्तगात्रस्तु भरतस्स वाचा सज्जमानया।कृताञ्जलिरिदं वाक्यं राघवं पुनरब्रवीत्।।2.112.9।।

But Bharata, his limbs trembling and his voice faltering, with hands folded in reverence, again spoke these words to Rāghava.

Verse 10

राजधर्ममनुप्रेक्ष्य कुलधर्मानुसन्ततिम्।कर्तुमर्हसि काकुत्स्थ मम मातुश्च याचनाम्।।2.112.10।।

O Kakutstha, considering the kingly dharma and the unbroken tradition of our family’s dharma, it is fitting that you grant my supplication—and my mother’s as well.

Verse 11

रक्षितुं सुमहद्राज्यमहमेकस्तु नोत्सहे।पौरजानपदांश्चापि रक्तान्रञ्जयितुं तथा।।2.112.11।।

Alone, I do not dare to safeguard this vast kingdom, nor can I by myself keep pleased the loyal citizens of the city and the countryside.

Verse 12

ज्ञातयश्च हि योधाश्च मित्राणि सुहृदश्च नः।त्वामेव प्रतिवीक्षन्ते पर्जन्यमिव कर्षकाः।।2.112.12।।

Our kinsmen, warriors, friends, and well-wishers look only to you—just as farmers long for the rain-cloud.

Verse 13

इदं राज्यं महाप्राज्ञ स्थापय प्रतिपद्य हि।शक्तिमानसि काकुत्स्थ लोकस्य परिपालने।।2.112.13।।

O supremely wise one, accept this kingdom and establish it firmly in right order; O Kakutstha, you are fully able to govern and protect the world.

Verse 14

इत्युक्त्वा न्यपतद्भ्रातुः पादयोर्भरतस्तदा।भृशं सम्प्रार्थयामास राममेव प्रियंवदः।।2.112.14।।

Having spoken thus, Bharata then fell at his brother’s feet and, with gentle words, earnestly pleaded with Rāma alone.

Verse 15

तमङ्के भरतं कृत्वा रामो वचनमब्रवीत्।श्यामं नलिनपत्राक्षं मत्तहंसस्वरं स्वयम्।।2.112.15।।

Drawing Bharata into his lap, Rāma himself spoke—Bharata dark-hued, lotus-petaled in his eyes, and sweet-voiced like an intoxicated swan.

Verse 16

आगता त्वामियं बुद्धिस्स्वजा वैनयिकी च या।भृशमुत्सहसे तात रक्षितुं पृथिवीमपि।।2.112.16।।

Dear child, this understanding has come to you—both innate and refined by discipline; with it you are fully able, even to protect the earth.

Verse 17

अमात्यैश्च सुहृद्भिश्च बुद्धिमद्भिश्च मन्त्रिभिः।सर्वकार्याणि सम्मन्त्र्य सुमहन्त्यपि कारय।।2.112.17।।

Consulting with ministers, friends, and wise counsellors, deliberate on every undertaking and have it carried out—even those that appear exceedingly difficult.

Verse 18

लक्ष्मीश्चन्द्रादपेयाद्वा हिमवान्वा हिमं त्यजेत्।अतीयात्सागरो वेलां न प्रतिज्ञामहं पितुः।।2.112.18।।

The moon may lose its radiance, the Himālaya may cast off its snow, the ocean may overstep its boundary—yet I will not forsake my father’s promise.

Verse 19

कामाद्वा तात लोभाद्वा मात्रातुभ्यमिदं कृतम्।न तन्मनसि कर्तव्यं वर्तितव्यं च मातृवत्।।2.112.19।।

My child, whether from affection or from greed, your mother did this for your sake; do not let it settle in your mind as bitterness—conduct yourself toward her as toward a mother.

Verse 20

एवं ब्रुवाणं भरतः कौसल्यासुतमब्रवीत्।तेजसाऽऽदित्यसङ्काशं प्रतिपच्चन्द्रदर्शनम्।।2.112.20।।

As Rāma spoke thus, Bharata replied to Kausalyā’s son—radiant in splendor like the sun, and gentle in appearance like the new moon.

Verse 21

आधिरोहाऽर्य पादाभ्यां पादुके हेमभूषिते।एतेहि सर्वलोकस्य योगक्षेमं विधास्यतः।।2.112.21।।

O noble one, place your feet upon these sandals adorned with gold; for these will indeed secure the welfare and safety of all the people.

Verse 22

सोऽधिरुह्य नरव्याघ्रः पादुके ह्यवरुह्य च।प्रायच्छत्सुमहातेजा भरताय महात्मने।।2.112.22।।

Rāma, tiger among men and resplendent in great glory, stepped onto the sandals and then stepped down; thereafter he presented them to the great-souled Bharata.

Verse 23

स पादुके सम्प्रणम्य रामं वचनमब्रवीत्चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि जटाचीरधरो ह्याहम्।।2.112.23।।फलमूलाशनो वीर भवेयं रघुनन्दन।तवाऽगमनमाकाङ्क्षान्वसन्वै नगराद्बहिः।।2.112.24।।तव पादुकयोर्न्यस्तराज्यतन्त्रः परन्तप।

Bowing down to the sacred sandals, Bharata spoke to Rama: “For fourteen years, O hero, O joy of the Raghu line, I shall wear matted locks and garments of bark, living on fruits and roots. Entrusting the rule of the kingdom to your sandals, O scorcher of foes, I shall dwell outside the city, awaiting your return.”

Verse 24

स पादुके सम्प्रणम्य रामं वचनमब्रवीत्चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि जटाचीरधरो ह्याहम्।।2.112.23।।फलमूलाशनो वीर भवेयं रघुनन्दन।तवाऽगमनमाकाङ्क्षान्वसन्वै नगराद्बहिः।।2.112.24।।तव पादुकयोर्न्यस्तराज्यतन्त्रः परन्तप।

But, O best of the Raghus, if on the day the fourteen years are completed I do not behold you, then I shall enter the consuming fire.

Verse 25

चतुर्दशे तु संपूर्णे वर्षेऽहनि रघूत्तम।।2.112.25।।न द्रक्ष्यामि यदि त्वां तु प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम्।

But, O best of the Raghus, if on the day the fourteen years are completed I do not behold you, then I shall enter the consuming fire.

Verse 26

तथेति च प्रतिज्ञाय तं परिष्वज्य सादरम्।।2.112.26।।शत्रुघ्नं च परिष्वज्य भरतं चेदमब्रवीत्।

“So be it,” Rama promised; and embracing Bharata with affection, and embracing Śatrughna as well, he then spoke these words to Bharata.

Verse 27

मातरं रक्ष कैकेयीं मा रोषं कुरु तां प्रति।।2.112.27।।मया च सीतया चैव शप्तोऽसि रघुसत्तम।इत्युक्त्वाऽश्रुपरीताक्षो भ्रातरं विससर्ज ह।।2.112.28।।

“Protect your mother Kaikeyī; do not turn your anger toward her. You are bound by oath—by me and by Sītā as well, O foremost of the Raghus.” Having spoken thus, Rama—his eyes filled with tears—took leave of his brother.

Verse 28

मातरं रक्ष कैकेयीं मा रोषं कुरु तां प्रति।।2.112.27।।मया च सीतया चैव शप्तोऽसि रघुसत्तम।इत्युक्त्वाऽश्रुपरीताक्षो भ्रातरं विससर्ज ह।।2.112.28।।

“Protect mother Kaikeyī; do not turn your anger upon her. You are bound by an oath—by me and by Sītā.” Saying this, Rāma, his eyes filled with tears, took leave of his brother.

Verse 29

स पादुके ते भरतः प्रतापवान् स्वलङ्कृते सम्परिपूज्य धर्मवित्।प्रदक्षिणं चैव चकार राघवम् चकार ते चोत्तमनागमूर्धनि।।2.112.29।।

Then Bharata—valiant and discerning of dharma—reverently worshipped those well-adorned sandals, circumambulated Rāghava, and placed the sandals upon the head of the finest elephant.

Verse 30

अथाऽनुपूर्व्यात्प्रतिनन्द्य तं जनं गुरूंश्च मन्त्रिप्रकृतीस्तथाऽनुजौ।व्यसर्जयद्राघववंशवर्धनस्थिरः स्वधर्मे हिमवानिवाचलः।।2.112.30।।

Thereafter, greeting the people in due order, and likewise the preceptors, ministers, and subjects, and blessing his younger brothers, Rāma—enhancer of Raghu’s line—steadfast in his own dharma like the unmoving Himavān, sent them on their way.

Verse 31

तं मातरो बाष्पगृहीतकण्ठ्यो दुःखेन नामन्त्रयितुं हि शेकुः।स त्वेव मात्रृ़रभिवाद्य सर्वारुदन्कुटीं स्वां प्रविवेश राघवः।।2.112.31।।

His mothers, their throats choked with tears, were unable in their grief even to bid him farewell; but Rāghava bowed to all his mothers and, weeping, entered his own hut.