Prakarana 1

Verse 11 (श्लोक)

सीता सहित अवध कहुँ कीन्ह कृपाल प्रनाम। सजल नयन तन पुलकित पुनि पुनि हरषित राम।।120(क)।।

sītā sahita avadha kahũ kīnha kṛpāla pranāma | sajala nayana tana pulakita puni-puni haraṣita rāma ||120(ka)||

With Sita beside him, the Compassionate bowed toward Ayodhya; his eyes brimmed with tears, his body thrilled, and again and again Rama rejoiced.

Verse 12 (दोहा/सोरठा)

पुनि प्रभु आइ त्रिबेनीं हरषित मज्जनु कीन्ह। कपिन्ह सहित बिप्रन्ह कहुँ दान बिबिध बिधि दीन्ह।।120(ख)।।

puni prabhu āi tribenī̃ haraṣita majjanu kīnha | kapin̄hi sahita bipran̄ha kahũ dāna bibidhi bidhi dīnha ||120(kha)||

Then the Lord came to Triveni and, rejoicing, bathed there; with the monkeys beside him, he bestowed gifts upon the Brahmins in many ways.

Verse 13 (चौपाई)

रहेउ एक दिन अवधि अधारा। समुझत मन दुख भयउ अपारा।। कारन कवन नाथ नहिं आयउ। जानि कुटिल किधौं मोहि बिसरायउ।। अहह धन्य लछिमन बड़भागी। राम पदारबिंदु अनुरागी।। कपटी कुटिल मोहि प्रभु चीन्हा। ताते नाथ संग नहिं लीन्हा।। जौं करनी समुझै प्रभु मोरी। नहिं निस्तार कलप सत कोरी।। जन अवगुन प्रभु मान न काऊ। दीन बंधु अति मृदुल सुभाऊ।। मोरि जियँ भरोस दृढ़ सोई। मिलिहहिं राम सगुन सुभ होई।। बीतें अवधि रहहि जौं प्राना। अधम कवन जग मोहि समाना।।

raheu eka dina avadhi adhārā | samujhata mana dukha bhayu apārā || kārana kavana nātha nahiṁ āyu | jāni kuṭila kidhauṁ mohi bisarāyu || ahaha dhanya lachimana baṛabhāgī | rāma padārabindu anurāgī || kapaṭī kuṭila mohi prabhu cīnhā | tāte nātha saṅga nahiṁ līnhā || jauṁ karanī samujhai prabhu morī | nahiṁ nistāra kalapa sata korī || jana avaguna prabhu māna na kāū | dīna baṁdhu ati mṛdula subhāū || mori jiyaṁ bharosa dṛṛha soī | milihahiṁ rāma saguna subha hoī || bīteṁ avadhi rahahi jauṁ prānā | adhama kavana jaga mohi samānā ||

A whole day passed for him without support or solace; as he reflected, his heart was overwhelmed with boundless grief. “What cause is there that my Lord has not come? Perhaps, knowing me crooked, He has forgotten me. Ah—blessed is the greatly fortunate Lakshman, ever in love with Rama’s lotus-feet. The Lord has recognized me as deceitful and perverse; therefore the Master has not taken me with Him. If the Lord were to reckon my deeds, there would be no deliverance for me in hundreds of crores of ages. Yet the Lord counts no one’s faults—He is the kinsman of the lowly, of supremely tender nature. This alone is my firm trust within: I shall meet Rama; auspicious signs will surely arise. If, after the time has passed, my life yet remains—what wretch in the world would be equal to me?”

Verse 14 (दोहा/सोरठा)

राम बिरह सागर महँ भरत मगन मन होत। बिप्र रूप धरि पवन सुत आइ गयउ जनु पोत।।1(क)।। बैठि देखि कुसासन जटा मुकुट कृस गात। राम राम रघुपति जपत स्त्रवत नयन जलजात।।1(ख)।।

rāma biraha sāgara mahaṁ bharata magana mana hota | bipra rūpa dhari pavana suta āi gayau janu pota ||1(ka)|| baiṭhi dekhi kusāsana jaṭā mukuṭa kṛsa gāta | rāma rāma raghupati japata stravata nayana jalajāta ||1(kha)||

Bharata’s mind was drowning in the ocean of separation from Rama. Assuming a brahmin’s guise, the Wind-god’s son arrived—like a boat, as it were. (1k) Seated there, he beheld him on a kusa-seat, with matted locks as a crown, his body grown lean; murmuring ‘Rama, Rama’—invoking Raghupati—his eyes streaming with watery tears. (1kh)

Verse 15 (चौपाई)

देखत हनूमान अति हरषेउ। पुलक गात लोचन जल बरषेउ।। मन महँ बहुत भाँति सुख मानी। बोलेउ श्रवन सुधा सम बानी।। जासु बिरहँ सोचहु दिन राती। रटहु निरंतर गुन गन पाँती।। रघुकुल तिलक सुजन सुखदाता। आयउ कुसल देव मुनि त्राता।। रिपु रन जीति सुजस सुर गावत। सीता सहित अनुज प्रभु आवत।। सुनत बचन बिसरे सब दूखा। तृषावंत जिमि पाइ पियूषा।। को तुम्ह तात कहाँ ते आए। मोहि परम प्रिय बचन सुनाए।। मारुत सुत मैं कपि हनुमाना। नामु मोर सुनु कृपानिधाना।। दीनबंधु रघुपति कर किंकर। सुनत भरत भेंटेउ उठि सादर।। मिलत प्रेम नहिं हृदयँ समाता। नयन स्त्रवत जल पुलकित गाता।। कपि तव दरस सकल दुख बीते। मिले आजु मोहि राम पिरीते।। बार बार बूझी कुसलाता। तो कहुँ देउँ काह सुनु भ्राता।। एहि संदेस सरिस जग माहीं। करि बिचार देखेउँ कछु नाहीं।। नाहिन तात उरिन मैं तोही। अब प्रभु चरित सुनावहु मोही।। तब हनुमंत नाइ पद माथा। कहे सकल रघुपति गुन गाथा।। कहु कपि कबहुँ कृपाल गोसाईं। सुमिरहिं मोहि दास की नाईं।।

dekhata hanūmāna ati haraṣeu | pulaka gāta locana jala baraṣeu || mana mahaṁ bahuta bhāँti sukha mānī | boleu śravana sudhā sama bānī || jāsu birahaṁ socahu dina rātī | raṭahu nirantara guna gana pāṁtī || raghukula tilaka sujana sukhadātā | āyu kusala deva muni trātā || ripu rana jīti sujasa sura gāvata | sītā sahita anuja prabhu āvata || sunata bacana bisare saba dūkhā | tṛṣāvanta jimi pāi piyūṣā || ko tumha tāta kahāँ te āe | mohi parama priya bacana sunāe || māruta suta maiṁ kapi hanumānā | nāmu mora sunu kṛpānidhānā || dīnabandhu raghupati kara kiṅkara | sunata bharata bheṁṭeu uṭhi sādara || milata prema nahiṁ hṛdayaँ samātā | nayana stravata jala pulakita gātā || kapi tava darasa sakala dukha bīte | mile āju mohi rāma pirīte || bāra bāra būjhī kusalātā | to kahuँ deuँ kāha sunu bhrātā || ehi saṁdesa sarisa jaga māhīṁ | kari bicāra dekheuँ kachu nāhīṁ || nāhina tāta urina maiṁ tohī | aba prabhu carita sunāvahu mohī || taba hanumaṁta nāi pada māthā | kahe sakala raghupati guna gāthā || kahu kapi kabahuँ kṛpāla gosāīṁ | sumirahiṁ mohi dāsa kī nāīṁ ||

At the sight, Hanuman was filled with great joy; his body thrilled with rapture and tears poured from his eyes. In his heart he felt happiness in many ways, and he spoke words like nectar to the ear: “He for whose separation you grieve day and night, whose virtues you continually recite in ordered lines— the crown of Raghu’s race, giver of joy to the good, protector of gods and sages—has returned in safety. Having conquered the foe in battle, while the gods sing his fair renown, the Lord is coming with Sita and his younger brother.” Hearing these words, all sorrow was forgotten—like a thirsty man who finds ambrosia. “Who are you, dear one, and from where have you come, to tell me such supremely beloved tidings?” “I am the Wind’s son, the monkey Hanuman; hear my name, O treasure-house of compassion.” “I am the servant of Raghupati, friend of the poor.” On hearing this, Bharata rose and embraced him with reverence. In their meeting, love could not be contained in the heart; tears streamed and their bodies trembled with joy. “O monkey, by your very sight all my grief has passed; today I have met Rama’s love itself.” Again and again he asked of welfare; then he said, “What can I give you, brother—tell me?” “No message in the world equals this; I have considered and found nothing comparable. Dear one, I can never repay you; now recount to me the Lord’s deeds.” Then Hanuman bowed, placing his head at his feet, and told the whole tale of Raghupati’s virtues. Bharata said, “Tell me, O monkey—does the compassionate Lord ever remember me as His servant?”

Verse 16 (छंद)

निज दास ज्यों रघुबंसभूषन कबहुँ मम सुमिरन कर् यो। सुनि भरत बचन बिनीत अति कपि पुलकित तन चरनन्हि पर् यो।। रघुबीर निज मुख जासु गुन गन कहत अग जग नाथ जो। काहे न होइ बिनीत परम पुनीत सदगुन सिंधु सो।।

nija dāsa jyoṁ raghubaṁsabhūṣana kabahuṁ mama sumirana kar yo | suni bharata bacana binīta ati kapi pulakita tana carananhī par yo || raghubīra nija mukha jāsu guna gana kahata aga jaga nātha jo | kāhe na hoi binīta parama punīta sadaguna siṁdhu so ||

“Does the ornament of Raghu’s line ever remember me, as His own servant?” Hearing Bharata’s words, the monkey—exceedingly humble—his body thrilled with rapture, fell at his feet. He whose countless virtues the mighty Raghu-hero himself proclaims from his own lips—He who is the Lord of the world beyond measure— how could that supremely pure ocean of abiding excellences not make one perfectly humble?”

Verse 17 (दोहा/सोरठा)

राम प्रान प्रिय नाथ तुम्ह सत्य बचन मम तात। पुनि पुनि मिलत भरत सुनि हरष न हृदयँ समात।।2(क)।। भरत चरन सिरु नाइ तुरित गयउ कपि राम पहिं। कही कुसल सब जाइ हरषि चलेउ प्रभु जान चढ़ि।।2(ख)।।

rāma prāna priya nātha tumha satya bacana mama tāta | puni puni milata bharata suni haraṣa na hṛdayaँ samāta ||2(ka)|| bharata carana siru nāi turita gayau kapi rāma pahiṁ | kahī kusala saba jāi haraṣi caleu prabhu jāna caṛhi ||2(kha)||

“O lord, dearer than life—your words are true, my friend.” Meeting him again and again, Bharata heard this and his joy could not be contained in his heart. (2k) Bowing his head at Bharata’s feet, the monkey swiftly went to Rama; he told all the welfare-tidings, and the Lord—rejoicing—set forth, with Janaki by his side. (2kh)

Verse 18 (चौपाई)

हरषि भरत कोसलपुर आए। समाचार सब गुरहि सुनाए।। पुनि मंदिर महँ बात जनाई। आवत नगर कुसल रघुराई।। सुनत सकल जननीं उठि धाईं। कहि प्रभु कुसल भरत समुझाई।। समाचार पुरबासिन्ह पाए। नर अरु नारि हरषि सब धाए।। दधि दुर्बा रोचन फल फूला। नव तुलसी दल मंगल मूला।। भरि भरि हेम थार भामिनी। गावत चलिं सिंधु सिंधुरगामिनी।। जे जैसेहिं तैसेहिं उटि धावहिं। बाल बृद्ध कहँ संग न लावहिं।। एक एकन्ह कहँ बूझहिं भाई। तुम्ह देखे दयाल रघुराई।। अवधपुरी प्रभु आवत जानी। भई सकल सोभा कै खानी।। बहइ सुहावन त्रिबिध समीरा। भइ सरजू अति निर्मल नीरा।।

haraṣi bharata kosalapura āe | samācāra saba gurahi sunāe || puni mandira mahā̃ bāta janāī | āvata nagara kusala raghurāī || sunata sakala jananī̃ uṭhi dhāī̃ | kahi prabhu kusala bharata samujhāī || samācāra pura-bāsinh pāe | nara aru nāri haraṣi saba dhāe || dadhi durbā rocan phala phūlā | nava tulasī dala maṅgala mūlā || bhari-bhari hema thāra bhāminī | gāvata caliṁ sindhu sindhuragāminī || je jaisehiṁ taisehiṁ uṭhi dhāvahiṁ | bāla bṛddha kahaṁ saṅga na lāvahiṁ || eka-ekanha kahaṁ būjhahiṁ bhāī | tumha dekhe dayāla raghurāī || avadhapurī prabhu āvata jānī | bhaī sakala sobhā kai khānī || bahai suhāvana tribidha samīrā | bhaī sarajū ati nirmala nīrā ||

Rejoicing, Bharata came to the city of Kosala and reported all the tidings to the Guru. Then he informed the household within the palace: “Raghurāī is coming to the city in safety.” Hearing this, all the mothers rose and ran forth; Bharata, speaking of the Lord’s well-being, reassured them. The townspeople received the news; men and women alike ran in joy. With curd, dūrvā grass, saffron, fruits and flowers, and fresh tulasī leaves—the very root of auspiciousness—they prepared their welcome. The ladies, filling golden trays, went singing along, moving with stately, elephant-like grace. Each sprang up and ran as best they could; neither child nor elder could be held back. One asked another, “Brother, have you seen the compassionate Raghurāī?” Knowing that the Lord was coming, Ayodhyā became a mine of beauty. A lovely threefold breeze began to blow, and the Sarayū’s waters grew exceedingly pure.

Verse 19 (दोहा/सोरठा)

हरषित गुर परिजन अनुज भूसुर बृंद समेत। चले भरत मन प्रेम अति सन्मुख कृपानिकेत।।3(क)।। बहुतक चढ़ी अटारिन्ह निरखहिं गगन बिमान। देखि मधुर सुर हरषित करहिं सुमंगल गान।।3(ख)।। राका ससि रघुपति पुर सिंधु देखि हरषान। बढ़यो कोलाहल करत जनु नारि तरंग समान।।3(ग)।।

haraṣita guru parijana anuj bhūsura bṛnda sameta | cale bharata mana prema ati sanmukha kṛpāniketa ||3(ka)|| bahutaka caṛhī aṭāri-nha nirakhahiṁ gagana bimāna | dekhi madhura sura haraṣita karahiṁ sumaṅgala gāna ||3(kha)|| rākā sasi raghupati pura sindhu dekhi haraṣāna | baṛhayo kolāhala karata janu nāri taraṅga samāna ||3(ga)||

Rejoicing—Guru, kinsmen, younger brothers, and the company of Brahmins together—Bharata set out, his heart overflowing with love, toward the Abode of mercy. Many climbed to the terraces to behold the aerial car in the sky; hearing its sweet sound, they rejoiced and sang auspicious songs. Seeing the ocean of Raghupati’s city under the full moon, the uproar swelled—like waves rising in a sea of womenfolk.

Verse 20 (चौपाई)

इहाँ भानुकुल कमल दिवाकर। कपिन्ह देखावत नगर मनोहर।। सुनु कपीस अंगद लंकेसा। पावन पुरी रुचिर यह देसा।। जद्यपि सब बैकुंठ बखाना। बेद पुरान बिदित जगु जाना।। अवधपुरी सम प्रिय नहिं सोऊ। यह प्रसंग जानइ कोउ कोऊ।। जन्मभूमि मम पुरी सुहावनि। उत्तर दिसि बह सरजू पावनि।। जा मज्जन ते बिनहिं प्रयासा। मम समीप नर पावहिं बासा।। अति प्रिय मोहि इहाँ के बासी। मम धामदा पुरी सुख रासी।। हरषे सब कपि सुनि प्रभु बानी। धन्य अवध जो राम बखानी।।

ihā̃ bhānukula kamala divākara | kapinha dekhāvata nagara manohara || sunu kapīsa aṅgada laṅkesā | pāvana purī rucira yaha desā || jadyapi saba baikunṭha bakhānā | beda purāna bidita jagu jānā || avadhapurī sama priya nahiṁ soū | yaha prasaṅga jānai kou koū || janmabhūmi mama purī suhāvani | uttara disi baha sarajū pāvani || jā majjana te binahiṁ prayāsā | mama samīpa nara pāvahiṁ bāsā || ati priya mohi ihā̃ ke bāsī | mama dhāmadā purī sukha rāsī || haraṣe saba kapi suni prabhu bānī | dhanya avadha jo rāma bakhānī ||

Here the Sun to the lotus of the Solar race was showing the monkeys the lovely city. “Listen, O lord of the apes, O Angada, O king of Lanka: this land is fair, and this city is purifying. Though all proclaim Vaikuṇṭha—known to the world through Veda and Purāṇa—yet none is dear to me like Ayodhyā. Few understand this mystery. This beautiful city is my birthplace; to its north flows the holy Sarayū. By bathing there, without effort, people gain a dwelling near me. The residents here are exceedingly dear to me; this city, bestower of my abode, is a treasury of happiness.” All the monkeys rejoiced on hearing the Lord’s words: blessed is Avadh, which Rama himself extols.

Verse 21 (दोहा/सोरठा)

आवत देखि लोग सब कृपासिंधु भगवान। नगर निकट प्रभु प्रेरेउ उतरेउ भूमि बिमान।।4(क)।। उतरि कहेउ प्रभु पुष्पकहि तुम्ह कुबेर पहिं जाहु। प्रेरित राम चलेउ सो हरषु बिरहु अति ताहु।।4(ख)।।

āvata dekhi loga saba kṛpāsiṁdhu bhagavāna | nagara nikaṭa prabhu prerēu utarēu bhūmi bimāna ||4(ka)|| utari kahēu prabhu puṣpakahi tumha kubera pahiṁ jāhu | prerita rāma calēu so haraṣu birahu ati tāhu ||4(kha)||

Seeing the Ocean of compassion, the Lord, approaching, all the people looked on. Near the city, the Lord directed the aerial car to descend to the earth. Alighting, the Lord said to Pushpaka, “Go back to Kubera.” Sent by Rama, it departed—rejoicing, yet with deep pangs of separation.

Verse 22 (चौपाई)

आए भरत संग सब लोगा। कृस तन श्रीरघुबीर बियोगा।। बामदेव बसिष्ठ मुनिनायक। देखे प्रभु महि धरि धनु सायक।। धाइ धरे गुर चरन सरोरुह। अनुज सहित अति पुलक तनोरुह।। भेंटि कुसल बूझी मुनिराया। हमरें कुसल तुम्हारिहिं दाया।। सकल द्विजन्ह मिलि नायउ माथा। धर्म धुरंधर रघुकुलनाथा।। गहे भरत पुनि प्रभु पद पंकज। नमत जिन्हहि सुर मुनि संकर अज।। परे भूमि नहिं उठत उठाए। बर करि कृपासिंधु उर लाए।। स्यामल गात रोम भए ठाढ़े। नव राजीव नयन जल बाढ़े।।

āe bharata saṅga saba logā | kṛsa tana śrīraghubīra biyogā || bāmadeva basiṣṭha munināyaka | dekhe prabhu mahi dhari dhanu sāyaka || dhāi dhare guru carana saroruhā | anuj sahita ati pulaka tanoruhā || bheṁṭi kusala बूझī munirāyā | hamareṁ kusala tumhārihiṁ dāyā || sakala dvijanha mili nāyu māthā | dharma dhuraṁdhara raghukulnāthā || gahē bharata puni prabhu pada paṅkaja | namata jinhahi sura muni saṅkara aja || parē bhūmi nahiṁ uṭhata uṭhāe | bara kari kṛpāsiṁdhu ura lāe || syāmala gāta roma bhae ṭhāḍhe | nava rājīva nayana jala bāḍhe ||

Bharata came with all the people—his body worn thin by separation from Śrī Raghubīra. Bāmadeva and Vasiṣṭha, lords among sages, beheld the Lord standing on the earth, bow and arrows in hand. Running forward, they clasped the Guru’s lotus-feet; with the younger brothers beside them, their bodies thrilled with rapture. After meeting, the sage-king asked of their welfare: “Our welfare is only by your compassion.” All the Brahmins together bowed their heads to the standard-bearer of dharma, the lord of Raghu’s line. Then Bharata seized the Lord’s lotus-feet—feet before which gods, sages, Śaṅkara, and even Brahmā bow. He fell to the ground and would not rise though urged; the Ocean of mercy, granting him a boon, lifted him and pressed him to his breast. Rama’s dark limbs stood with hairs bristling; from his fresh-lotus eyes the flood of tears rose up.

Verse 23 (छंद)

राजीव लोचन स्त्रवत जल तन ललित पुलकावलि बनी॥ अति प्रेम हृदयँ लगाइ अनुजहि मिले प्रभु त्रिभुअन धनी॥ प्रभु मिलत अनुजहि सोह मो पहिं जाति नहिं उपमा कही॥ जनु प्रेम अरु सिंगार तनु धरि मिले बर सुषमा लही॥1॥ बूझत कृपानिधि कुसल भरतहि बचन बेगि न आवई॥ सुनु सिवा सो सुख बचन मन ते भिन्न जान जो पावई॥ अब कुसल कौसलनाथ आरत जानि जन दरसन दियो॥ बूड़त बिरह बारीस कृपानिधान मोहि कर गहि लियो॥2॥

rājīva-locana stravata jala tana lalita pulakāvali banī. ati prema hṛdayã lagāi anujahi mile prabhu tribhuana dhanī.. prabhu milata anujahi soha mo pahĩ jāti nahĩ upamā kahī. janu prema aru siṅgāra tanu dhari mile bara suṣamā lahī..1.. būjhata kṛpānidhi kusala bharatahi bacana begi na āvaī. sunu sivā so sukha bacana mana te bhinna jāna jo pāvaī.. aba kusala kausalnātha ārata jāni jana darasana diyo. būṛata biraha bārīsa kṛpānidhāna mohi kara gahi liyo..2..

Lotus-eyed Rama’s tears flowed; his graceful body was wreathed in lovely thrills of rapture. In boundless love he clasped his younger brother to his heart—the Lord, master of the three worlds. The beauty of the Lord meeting his brother is beyond my power to match with any simile; it was as though Love and Adornment themselves had taken bodily form and met, gaining a supreme radiance. When the ocean of compassion asked after Bharata’s welfare, words would not quickly come. O Uma, know that only one who is inwardly other than the mind—one who has passed beyond mere mental speech—can attain and recognize such blissful utterance. Now the Lord of Kosala, knowing his servant’s anguish, granted him his sight; and as I was drowning in the sea of separation, the compassionate Lord took me by the hand and drew me to safety.