Sarga 87

Verse 2.87.1

गुहस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा भरतो भृशमप्रियम्।ध्यानं जगाम तत्रैव यत्र तच्छ्रुतमप्रियम्।।।।

Hearing Guha’s deeply distressing words, Bharata fell into silent reflection right there, at the very spot where he heard that painful news.

Verse 2.87.2

सुकुमारो महासत्त्वस्सिंहस्कन्धो महाभुजः।पुण्डरीकविशालाक्ष स्तरुणः प्रियदर्शनः।।।।प्रत्याश्वस्य मुहूर्तं तु कालं परमदुर्मनाः।पपात सहसा तोत्रैर्ह्यतिविद्ध इव द्विपः।।।।

Upon that bedding Rāma lay down with Sītā. Lakṣmaṇa washed their feet and then withdrew to a place at some distance.

Verse 2.87.3

सुकुमारो महासत्त्वस्सिंहस्कन्धो महाभुजः।पुण्डरीकविशालाक्ष स्तरुणः प्रियदर्शनः।।2.87.2।।प्रत्याश्वस्य मुहूर्तं तु कालं परमदुर्मनाः।पपात सहसा तोत्रैर्ह्यतिविद्ध इव द्विपः।।2.87.3।।

Reviving for only a moment, Bharata—his mind overwhelmed with anguish—suddenly collapsed, like an elephant struck hard by a goad.

Verse 2.87.4

तदवस्थं तु भरतं शत्रुघ्नोऽनन्तरस्थितः।परिष्वज्य रुरोदोच्चैर्विसंज्ञश्शोककर्शितः।।।।

Seeing Bharata in that condition, Śatrughna, standing close by, embraced him and cried aloud; wasted by grief, he lost consciousness.

Verse 2.87.5

ततस्सर्वास्समापेतुर्मातरो भरतस्य ताः।उपवासकृशा दीना भर्तृव्यसनकर्शिताः।।।।

Then all of Bharata’s mothers hurried to him—thin from fasting, desolate, and worn down by the calamity that had befallen their husband.

Verse 2.87.6

ताश्च तं पतितं भूमौ रुदन्त्यः पर्यवारयन्।कौसल्या त्वनुसृत्यैनं दुर्मनाः परिषस्वजे।।।।

Weeping, they surrounded him as he lay fallen on the ground; and Kausalyā, approaching in deep dejection, clasped Bharata in her arms.

Verse 2.87.7

वत्सला स्वं यथा वत्समुपगूह्य तपस्विनी।परिपप्रच्छ भरतं रुदन्ती शोकलालसा।।।।

Kausalyā, with motherly tenderness, clasped Bharata as though he were her own child; weeping and yearning to pour out her grief, she questioned him.

Verse 2.87.8

पुत्र व्याधिर्न ते कच्चिच्छरीरं परिबाधते।अद्य राजकुलस्यास्य त्वदधीनं हि जीवितम्।।।।

“My son, I pray no illness troubles your body. For now the very life of this royal house depends upon you.”

Verse 2.87.9

त्वां दृष्ट्वा पुत्र जीवामि रामे सभ्रातृकेगते।वृत्ते दशरथे राज्ञि नाथ एकस्त्वमद्य नः।।।।

“My son, I live on only because I see you—when Rāma has gone away with his brother, and King Daśaratha has passed from this world. From now on, you alone are our protector.”

Verse 2.87.10

कच्चिन्न लक्ष्मणे पुत्र श्रुतं ते किंचदप्रियम्।पुत्रे वाऽप्येकपुत्राया स्सहभार्ये वनं गते।।।।

My son, I hope you have heard no troubling news—about Lakṣmaṇa, or about my only son Rāma who has gone to the forest together with his wife.

Verse 2.87.11

स मुहूर्तं समाश्वस्य रुदन्नेव महायशाः।कौसल्यां परिसान्त्वेद्यं गुहं वचनमब्रवीत्।।।।

Bharata, famed for his renown, steadied himself for a moment; still in tears, he reassured Kausalyā and then spoke these words to Guha.

Verse 2.87.12

भ्राता मे क्वावसद्रात्रौ क्व सीता क्व च लक्ष्मणः।अस्वपच्छयने कस्मिन् किं भुक्त्वा गुह शंस मे।।।।

O Guha, where did my brother stay that night—where was Sītā, and where Lakṣmaṇa? On what bed did he sleep, and what did they eat? Tell me.

Verse 2.87.13

सोऽब्रवीद्भरतं हृष्टो निषादाधिपतिर्गुहः।यद्विधं प्रतिपेदे च रामे प्रियहितेऽतिथौ।।।।

Delighted, Guha—the lord of the Niṣādas—told Bharata in what manner he had received and served Rāma, his beloved friend and honored guest.

Verse 2.87.14

अन्नमुच्चावचं भक्षाः फलानि विविधानि च।रामायाभ्यवहारार्थं बहुचोपहृतं मया।।।।

I brought for Rāma, for his meal, rice of many kinds, assorted foods, and various fruits—offered in great abundance.

Verse 2.87.15

तत्सर्वं प्रत्यनुज्ञासीद्राम स्सत्यपराक्रमः।न तु तत्प्रत्यगृह्णात्स क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन्।।।।

Rāma—whose true strength is steadfast truth—graciously acknowledged all of it; yet, remembering the dharma of a kṣatriya, he did not accept the offering.

Verse 2.87.16

न ह्यस्माभिः प्रतिग्राह्यं सखे देयं तु सर्वदा।इति तेन वयं राजन्ननुनीता महात्मना।।।।

‘Friend, we should not receive gifts; rather, we should always give.’—With these words, O king, that great-souled one gently soothed and entreated us.

Verse 2.87.17

लक्ष्मणेन समानीतं पीत्वा वारि महायशाः।औपवास्यं तदाऽकार्षीद्राघवस्सह सीतया।।।।

Then the illustrious Rāghava, together with Sītā, drank only the water brought by Lakṣmaṇa and undertook a fast.

Verse 2.87.18

ततस्तु जलशेषेण लक्ष्मणोऽप्यकरोत्तदा।वाग्यतास्ते त्रय स्सन्ध्यां समुपासत संहिताः।।।।

Thereafter Lakṣmaṇa too made do with the remaining water. Then all three, restrained in speech and recollected in mind, performed the twilight worship (sandhyā).

Verse 2.87.19

सौमित्रिस्तु ततः पश्चादकरोत्स्वास्तरं शुभम्।स्वयमानीय बर्हींषि क्षिप्रं राघवकारणात्।।।।

After that, Saumitrī (Lakṣmaṇa) quickly prepared an auspicious bedding, himself bringing the grass for Rāghava’s sake.

Verse 2.87.20

तस्मिन्समाविशद्राम स्स्वास्तरे सह सीतया।प्रक्षाल्य च तयोः पादावपचक्राम लक्ष्मणः।।।।

This is that very iṅgudī tree’s root, and this the very grass-bed on which Rāma and Sītā—both of them—slept that night.

Verse 2.87.21

एतत्तदिङ्गुदीमूलमिदमेव च तत्तृणम्।यस्मिन्रामश्च सीता च रात्रिं तां शयितावुभौ।।।।

Lakṣmaṇa, scorcher of foes, wearing guards for palm and fingers, with two quivers filled with arrows upon his back, held his great bow strung and ready, and stood through the night—alone—keeping watch all around Rāma.

Verse 2.87.22

नियम्य पृष्ठे तु तलाङ्गुलित्रवान् शरैस्सुपूर्णाविषुधी परन्तपः।महाद्धनु स्सज्यमुपोह्य लक्ष्मणो निशामतिष्ठत्परितोऽस्य केवलम्।।।।

Bharata—delicate yet mighty in spirit, lion-shouldered, strong-armed, lotus-wide-eyed, youthful and fair to behold—revived for a moment; then, his mind overwhelmed with grief, he suddenly fell, like an elephant struck hard by a goad.

Verse 2.87.23

तत स्त्वहंचोत्तमबाणचापधृत् स्थितोऽभवं तत्र स यत्र लक्ष्मणः।अतन्द्रितैर्ज्ञातिभिरात्तकार्मुकैर्महेन्द्रकल्पं परिपालयंस्तदा।।।।

Thereafter, with bow and excellent arrows in hand, I remained stationed where Lakṣmaṇa stood; and together with my indefatigable kinsmen, bows readied, I guarded Rāma then, who was like Mahendra (Indra).