Sarga 70

Verse 1

भरते ब्रुवति स्वप्नं दूतास्ते क्लान्तवाहनाः।प्रविश्यासह्यपरिखं रम्यं राजगृहं पुरम्।।2.70.1।।समागम्य तु राज्ञा च राजपुत्रेण चार्चिताः राज्ञः पादौ गृहीत्वा तु तमूचुर्भरतं वचः।।2.70.2।।

As Bharata was describing a dream, those messengers—mounted on weary steeds—entered the lovely city of Rājagṛha, guarded by an impassable moat.

Verse 2

भरते ब्रुवति स्वप्नं दूतास्ते क्लान्तवाहनाः।प्रविश्यासह्यपरिखं रम्यं राजगृहं पुरम्।।2.70.1।।समागम्य तु राज्ञा च राजपुत्रेण चार्चिताः राज्ञः पादौ गृहीत्वा तु तमूचुर्भरतं वचः।।2.70.2।।

As Bharata was speaking of his dream, those messengers—mounted on weary steeds—entered the lovely city of Rājagṛha, ringed by an impassable moat. Meeting the Kekaya king and the prince, they were honored; and after reverently taking the king’s feet, they addressed Bharata with their message.

Verse 3

पुरोहितस्त्वां कुशलं प्राह सर्वे च मन्त्रिणः।त्वरमाणश्च निर्याहि कृत्यमात्ययिकं त्वया।।2.70.3।।

The family priest and all the ministers have inquired after your well-being. Hurry and return at once—an urgent duty awaits your attention.

Verse 4

इमानि च महार्हाणि वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च।प्रतिगृह्य विशालक्ष मातुलस्य च दापय।।2.70.4।।

O large-eyed prince, accept these precious garments and ornaments, and have them presented as well to your maternal uncle.

Verse 5

अत्र विशंतिकोट्यस्तु नृपतेर्मातुलस्य ते।दशकोट्यस्तु सम्पूर्णास्तथैव च नृपात्मज।।2.70.5।।

O prince, here are gifts amounting to twenty crores for the king, and likewise a complete ten crores for your maternal uncle.

Verse 6

प्रतिगृह्य तु तत्सर्वं स्वनुरक्त स्सुहृज्जने।दूतानुवाच भरतः कामैस्सम्प्रतिपूज्य तान्।।2.70.6।।

Bharata—deeply affectionate toward his kinsmen and friends—accepted all that had been brought, and then, honoring the messengers in return with gifts of their choosing, addressed them.

Verse 7

कच्चित्सुकुशली राजा पिता दशरथो मम।कच्चिच्चारोगता रामे लक्ष्मणे च महात्मनि।।2.70.7।।

“I trust my father, King Daśaratha, is well. And I trust that Rāma—and the great-souled Lakṣmaṇa—are in good health.”

Verse 8

आर्या च धर्मनिरता धर्मज्ञा धर्मदर्शिनी।अरोगा चापि कौसल्या माता रामस्य धीमतः।।2.70.8।।

And is Kauśalyā—Rāma’s mother—also in good health: that venerable lady devoted to dharma, learned in dharma, and living by what dharma enjoins?

Verse 9

कच्चित्सुमित्रा धर्मज्ञा जननी लक्ष्मणस्य या।शत्रुघ्नस्य च वीरस्य साऽरोगा चापि मध्यमा।।2.70.9।।

And I hope Sumitrā—versed in dharma, the mother of Lakṣmaṇa and of the valiant Śatrughna, the middle queen—is also free from illness?

Verse 10

आत्मकामा सदा चण्डी क्रोधना प्राज्ञमानिनी।अरोगा चापि मे माता कैकेयी किमुवाच ह।।2.70.10।।

And what did my mother Kaikeyī say—ever self-willed, harsh-tempered, quick to anger, and proud of her own cleverness? Is she, at least, free from illness?

Verse 11

एवमुक्तास्तु ते दूताः भरतेन महात्मना।ऊचुस्सप्रश्रयं वाक्यमिदं तं भरतं तदा।।2.70.11।।

Thus addressed by the magnanimous Bharata, the messengers then spoke to him these words with due humility and respect.

Verse 12

कुशलास्ते नरव्याघ्र येषां कुशलमिच्छसि।श्रीश्च त्वां वृणुते पद्मा युज्यतां चापि ते रथः।।2.70.12।।

O tiger among men, those whose well-being you inquire after are safe and sound. May Śrī—Padmā (Lakṣmī)—favor you, and may your chariot too be yoked and made ready.

Verse 13

भरतश्चापि तान् दूतानेवमुक्तोऽभ्यभाषत।आपृच्चेऽहं महाराजं दूतास्सन्त्वरयन्ति माम्।।2.70.13।।

Thus addressed, Bharata replied to the messengers: “I will take leave of the great king; the envoys are urging me to make haste.”

Verse 14

एवमुक्त्वा तु तान् दूतान्भरतः पार्थिवात्मजः।दूतै स्सञ्चोदितो वाक्यं मातामहमुवाच ह।।2.70.14।।

Having spoken thus to the messengers, Bharata—the prince—pressed by their urgency, spoke these words to his maternal grandfather.

Verse 15

राजन् पितुर्गमिष्यामि सकाशं दूतचोदितः।पुनरप्यहमेष्यामि यदा मे त्वं स्मरिष्यसि।।2.70.15।।

O King, urged by the messengers, I shall go into my father’s presence. And whenever you think of me, I will come again.

Verse 16

भरतेनैवमुक्तस्तु नृपो मातामहस्तदा।तमुवाच शुभं वाक्यं शिरस्याघ्राय राघवम्।।2.70.16।।

Thus addressed by Bharata, the king—his maternal grandfather—then kissed the Rāghava upon the head and spoke to him auspicious words.

Verse 17

गच्छ तातानुजाने त्वां कैकेयीसुप्रजास्त्वया।मातरं कुशलं ब्रूयाः पितरं च परन्तप।।2.70.17।।

Go, my child; I grant you leave. Kaikeyī is blessed with a worthy son in you. O subduer of foes, convey my welfare-wishes to your mother and to your father as well.

Verse 18

पुरोहितं च कुशलं ये चान्ये द्विजसत्तमाः।तौ च तात महेष्वासौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।।2.70.18।।

And convey my welfare-wishes to your family priest, and to those other best of twice-born. Also, my child, to those two great bowmen—your brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Verse 19

तस्मै हस्त्युत्तमांश्चित्रान्कम्बलानजिनानि च।अभिसत्कृत्य कैकेयो भरताय धनं ददौ।।2.70.19।।

Having duly honored him, the king of Kekaya bestowed wealth upon Bharata—excellent elephants, many-colored blankets, and antelope-skins as well.

Verse 20

रुक्मनिष्कसहस्रे द्वे षोडशाश्वशतानि च।सत्कृत्य कैकयीपुत्रं केकयो धनमादिशत्।।2.70.20।।

Honoring Kaikeyī’s son, the king of Kekaya granted him wealth: two thousand gold niṣkas and sixteen hundred horses as well.

Verse 21

तथाऽमात्यानभिप्रेतान्विश्वास्यांश्च गुणान्वितान्।ददावश्वपतिः क्षिप्रं भरतायानुयायिनः।।2.70.21।।

Likewise, Aśvapati promptly gave Bharata counselors to accompany his journey—men agreeable, trustworthy, and endowed with noble qualities.

Verse 22

ऐरावतानैन्द्रशिरान्नागान्वै प्रियदर्शनान्।खरान् श्रीघ्रान्सुसंयुक्तान्मातुलोऽस्मै धनं ददौ।।2.70.22।।

His maternal uncle also bestowed wealth upon him—handsome elephants from Airāvata and Aindraśira, and swift, well-trained asses fit for easy yoking.

Verse 23

अन्तःपुरेऽति संवृद्धान् व्याघ्रवीर्यबलान्वितान्। दंष्ट्राऽऽयुधान्महाकायान् शुनश्चोपायनं ददौ।।2.70.23।।

He also presented as a gift dogs reared in the inner quarters—huge-bodied, endowed with tiger-like valor and strength, their fangs serving as weapons.

Verse 24

स दत्तं केकयेन्द्रेण धनं तन्नाभ्यनन्दत।भरतः कैकयीपुत्रो गमनत्वरया तदा।।2.70.24।।

Then Bharata, Kaikeyi’s son, in his haste to depart, found no joy in the wealth given by the king of Kekaya.

Verse 25

बभूव ह्यस्य हृदये चिन्ता सुमहती तदा।त्वरया चापि दूतानां स्वप्नस्यापि च दर्शनात्।।2.70.25।।

Then a great anxiety arose in his heart—both from the messengers’ haste and from having seen a dream.

Verse 26

स स्ववेश्माभ्यतिक्रम्य नरनागाश्वसंवृतम्।प्रपेदे सुमहच्छ्रीमान्राजमार्गमनुत्तमम्।।2.70.26।।

Leaving his own residence, the splendid Bharata reached the incomparable royal highway, crowded with men, elephants, and horses.

Verse 27

अभ्यतीत्य ततोऽपश्यदन्तःपुरमुदारधीः।ततस्तद्भरतश्श्रीमानाविवेशानिवारितः।।2.70.27।।

Having gone on, the noble-minded Bharata saw the inner palace quarters; then the splendid Bharata entered them without hindrance.

Verse 28

स मातामहमापृच्छ्य मातुलं च युधाजितम्।रथमारुह्य भरतश्शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ।।2.70.28।।

Having taken leave of his maternal grandfather and his maternal uncle Yudhājit, Bharata, accompanied by Śatrughna, mounted the chariot and departed.

Verse 29

रथान्मण्डल चक्रांश्च योजयित्वा परश्शतम्।उष्ट्र गोऽश्वबलैर्भृत्या भरतं यान्तमन्वयुः।।2.70.29।।

The servants, having harnessed more than a hundred chariots with well-rounded wheels, followed Bharata as he set out, along with forces of camels, oxen, and horses.

Verse 30

बलेन गुप्तो भरतो महात्मा सहार्यकस्याऽत्मसमैरमात्यैः।आदाय शत्रुघ्नमपेतशत्रुर्गृहाद्ययौ सिद्ध इवेन्द्रलोकात्।।2.70.30।।

Guarded by an army, the great-souled Bharata—free of foes—departed from his venerable grandfather Āryaka’s house, taking Śatrughna with him and accompanied by ministers equal to himself, like a siddha leaving Indra’s realm.