Bharata Informs Rama about Dasaratha's Death

तम् तु रामः समाश्वास्य भ्रातरम् गुरु वत्सलम् | लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा प्रष्टुम् समुपचक्रमे || २-१०१-१

tam tu raamaH samaashvaasya bhraataram guru vatsalam | lakShmaNena saha bhraatraa praShTum samupacakrame || 2-101-1

Rama along with Lakshmana, his younger brother, began to question Bharata, his brother who was devoted to elders (as follows):

किम् एतद् इग्च्छेयम् अहम् श्रोतुम् प्रव्याहृतम् त्वया | यस्मात् त्वम् आगतो देशम् इमम् चीर जटा अजिनी || २-१०१-२

kim etad igcchheyam aham shrotum pravyaahR^itam tvayaa | yasmaat tvam aagato desham imam ciira jaTaa ajinii || 2-101-2

"I desire to hear from you, why you have come tot his place in robes of bark and an antelope-skin."

किम् निमित्तम् इमम् देशम् कृष्ण अजिन जटा धरः | हित्वा राज्यम् प्रविष्टः त्वम् तत् सर्वम् वक्तुम् अर्हसि || २-१०१-३

kim nimittam imam desham kR^iShNa ajina jaTaa dharaH | hitvaa raajyam praviShTaH tvam tat sarvam vaktum arhasi || 2-101-3

"You ought to tell me all about the purpose for which you entered this place, clad in deer-skin and matted hair, relinquishing the kingdom."

इत्य् उक्तः केकयी पुत्रः काकुत्स्थेन महात्मना | प्रगृह्य बलवद् भूयः प्रान्जलिर् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् || २-१०१-४

ity uktaH kekayii putraH kaakutsthena mahaatmanaa | pragR^ihya balavad bhuuyaH praanjalir vaakyam abraviit || 2-101-4

Thus questioned by the high souled Rama, by closely embracing him again, Bharata with joined palms answered as follows:

आर्यम् तातः परित्यज्य कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम् | गतः स्वर्गम् महा बाहुः पुत्र शोक अभिपीडितः || २-१०१-५

aaryam taataH parityajya kR^itvaa karma suduShkaram | gataH svargam mahaa baahuH putra shoka abhipiiDitaH || 2-101-5

"O, noble brother! Our father the mighty armed, after performing a deed must difficult to perform, and having abandoned us has gone the divine region; he died of grief on account of separation from his son."

स्त्रिया नियुक्तः कैकेय्या मम मात्रा परम् तप | चकार सुमहत् पापम् इदम् आत्म यशो हरम् || २-१०१-६

striyaa niyuktaH kaikeyyaa mama maatraa param tapa | cakaara sumahat paapam idam aatma yasho haram || 2-101-6

"O, tormented of foes! As urged by his wife and my mother Kaikeyi;, our father committed this great sin that has taken away his own reputation."

सा राज्य फलम् अप्राप्य विधवा शोक कर्शिता | पतिष्यति महा घोरे निरये जननी मम || २-१०१-७

saa raajya phalam apraapya vidhavaa shoka karshitaa | patiShyati mahaa ghore niraye jananii mama || 2-101-7

"Without having plucked the fruit of kingdom, widowed and emaciated with grief my mother will fall into the most terrific hell."

तस्य मे दास भूतस्य प्रसादम् कर्तुम् अर्हसि | अभिषिन्चस्व च अद्य एव राज्येन मघवान् इव || २-१०१-८

tasya me daasa bhuutasya prasaadam kartum arhasi | abhiShincasva ca adya eva raajyena maghavaan iva || 2-101-8

"Grant me, who am your true servant, a favour! This very day, as Indra the Lord of celestials himself, receive the royal anointing!"

इमाः प्रकृतयः सर्वा विधवा मातुरः च याः | त्वत् सकाशम् अनुप्राप्ताः प्रसादम् कर्तुम् अर्हसि || २-१०१-९

imaaH prakR^itayaH sarvaa vidhavaa maaturaH ca yaaH | tvat sakaasham anupraaptaaH prasaadam kartum arhasi || 2-101-9

"Grant all these people and these widowed Queens, who have come here to see you, this felicity!"

तदा आनुपूर्व्या युक्तम् च युक्तम् च आत्मनि मानद | राज्यम् प्राप्नुहि धर्मेण सकामान् सुहृदः कुरु || २-१०१-१०

tadaa aanupuurvyaa yuktam ca yuktam ca aatmani maanada | raajyam praapnuhi dharmeNa sakaamaan suhR^idaH kuru || 2-101-10

"O, Prince! For that reason, accept the throne that is befitting; endowed to you as per succession and that is yours by right fulfill, as your should, the desires of your friends."

भवतु अविधवा भूमिः समग्रा पतिना त्वया | शशिना विमलेन इव शारदी रजनी यथा || २-१०१-११

bhavatu avidhavaa bhuumiH samagraa patinaa tvayaa | shashinaa vimalena iva shaaradii rajanii yathaa || 2-101-11

"Bring the widowhood of the entire world to an end by becoming her Lord, as does the immaculate moon to the autumn-night."

एभिः च सचिवैः सार्धम् शिरसा याचितो मया | भ्रातुः शिष्यस्य दासस्य प्रसादम् कर्तुम् अर्हसि || २-१०१-१२

ebhiH ca sacivaiH saardham shirasaa yaacito mayaa | bhraatuH shiShyasya daasasya prasaadam kartum arhasi || 2-101-12

"Grant this grace to your brother, who prostrates at your feet along with your ministers is both your discipline and your slave."

तद् इदम् शाश्वतम् पित्र्यम् सर्वम् सचिव मण्डलम् | पूजितम् पुरुष व्याघ्र न अतिक्रमितुम् उत्सहे || २-१०१-१३

tad idam shaashvatam pitryam sarvam saciva maNDalam | puujitam puruSha vyaaghra na atikramitum utsahe || 2-101-13

"O, Tiger among men! You cannot disregard this unbroken kingdom, which is eternal, ancestral and honoured."

एवम् उक्त्वा महा बाहुः सबाष्पः केकयी सुतः | रामस्य शिरसा पादौ जग्राह भरतः पुनः || २-१०१-१४

evam uktvaa mahaa baahuH sabaaShpaH kekayii sutaH | raamasya shirasaa paadau jagraaha bharataH punaH || 2-101-14

Thus speaking, the mighty armed Bharata, with tears, once again seized Rama's feet in great honour, as per precept.

तम् मत्तम् इव मातन्गम् निह्श्वसन्तम् पुनः पुनः | भ्रातरम् भरतम् रामः परिष्वज्य इदम् अब्रवीत् || २-१०१-१५

tam mattam iva maatangam nihshvasantam punaH punaH | bhraataram bharatam raamaH pariShvajya idam abraviit || 2-101-15

Rama embraced his brother Bharata, who sighed again and again like an elephant in rut, and spoke as follows:-

कुलीनः सत्त्व सम्पन्नः तेजस्वी चरित व्रतः | राज्य हेतोः कथम् पापम् आचरेत् त्वद् विधो जनः || २-१०१-१६

kuliinaH sattva sampannaH tejasvii carita vrataH | raajya hetoH katham paapam aacaret tvad vidho janaH || 2-101-16

"How should a man of noble birth, rich in Sattva (goodness), dignified and who has observed sacred vows like myself, commit sin for the sake of a mere kingdom?"

न दोषम् त्वयि पश्यामि सूक्ष्मम् अप्य् अरि सूदन | न च अपि जननीम् बाल्यात् त्वम् विगर्हितुम् अर्हसि || २-१०१-१७

na doSham tvayi pashyaami suukShmam apy ari suudana | na ca api jananiim baalyaat tvam vigarhitum arhasi || 2-101-17

"O, Bharata the annihilator of enemies! I do not see the slightest fault in you and you should not reproach your mother for a childish action."

कामकरो महाप्राअज्ञ गुरूणां सर्वदानघ | उपपन्नेषु दारेषु पुत्रेषु च विधीयते || २-१०१-१८

kaamakaro mahaapraaajJNa guruuNaaM sarvadaanagha | upapanneShu daareShu putreShu cha vidhiiyate || 2-101-18

"O, Bharata the highly intelligent and the faultless man! It is incumbent always on the part of the elders to act freely with reference to their wives and progeny."

वयमस्य यथा लोके संख्याताः सुअम्य साधुभिः | भार्याः पुत्राश्च शिष्याश्छ त्वमनुज्ञातुमर्हसि || २-१०१-१९

vayamasya yathaa loke saMkhyaataaH suamya saadhubhiH | bhaaryaaH putraashcha shiShyaashchha tvamanujJNaatumarhasi || 2-101-19

"O, gentle brother! Since it was said thus by virtuous men in this world, we should all, women children and disciples, obey our Lord; this must be known to you."

वने वा चीरवसनं सौम्यकृष्णाजिनाम्बरम् | राज्ये वापि महाराजो मां वासयितुमीश्वरः || २-१०१-२०

vane vaa chiiravasanaM saumyakR^iShNaajinaambaram | raajye vaapi mahaaraajo maaM vaasayitumiishvaraH || 2-101-20

"The great king is the master, who has a discretion either to make me reside in the forest, wearing bark robes and a black antelope skin or to sit on the throne, O gentle brother!"

यावत् पितरि धर्मज्न गौरवम् लोक सत्कृते | तावद् धर्मभृताम् श्रेष्ठ जनन्याम् अपि गौरवम् || २-१०१-२१

yaavat pitari dharmajna gauravam loka satkR^ite | taavad dharmabhR^itaam shreShTha jananyaam api gauravam || 2-101-21

"O, excellent among the supporters of law and the virtuous! The same degree of respect is to be paid to our mother, as is due to our father, who is honoured by all."

एताभ्याम् धर्म शीलाभ्याम् वनम् गग्च्छ इति राघव | माता पितृभ्याम् उक्तो अहम् कथम् अन्यत् समाचरे || २-१०१-२२

etaabhyaam dharma shiilaabhyaam vanam gagcchha iti raaghava | maataa pitR^ibhyaam ukto aham katham anyat samaacare || 2-101-22

"How can I do otherwise, while both my parents of virtuous nature ask me to go to the forest?"

त्वया राज्यम् अयोध्यायाम् प्राप्तव्यम् लोक सत्कृतम् | वस्तव्यम् दण्डक अरण्ये मया वल्कल वाससा || २-१०१-२३

tvayaa raajyam ayodhyaayaam praaptavyam loka satkR^itam | vastavyam daNDaka araNye mayaa valkala vaasasaa || 2-101-23

"It is for you to occupy the throne in Ayodhya that the world reveres and it is for me to occupy this Dandaka forest, wearing bark robes."

एवम् कृत्वा महा राजो विभागम् लोक सम्निधौ | व्यादिश्य च महा तेजा दिवम् दशरथो गतः || २-१०१-२४

evam kR^itvaa mahaa raajo vibhaagam loka samnidhau | vyaadishya ca mahaa tejaa divam dasharatho gataH || 2-101-24

"Having commanded thus, the emperor Dasaratha with a great splendour, made the division of duties in this manner (for us two) in the presence of the people and then ascended to heaven."

स च प्रमाणम् धर्म आत्मा राजा लोक गुरुः तव | पित्रा दत्तम् यथा भागम् उपभोक्तुम् त्वम् अर्हसि || २-१०१-२५

sa ca pramaaNam dharma aatmaa raajaa loka guruH tava | pitraa dattam yathaa bhaagam upabhoktum tvam arhasi || 2-101-25

"That pious souled king, the preceptor of the world is the standard authority for you and you have to enjoy the share given by our father accordingly."

चतुर्दश समाः सौम्य दण्डक अरण्यम् आश्रितः | उपभोक्ष्ये तु अहम् दत्तम् भागम् पित्रा महात्मना || २-१०१-२६

caturdasha samaaH saumya daNDaka araNyam aashritaH | upabhokShye tu aham dattam bhaagam pitraa mahaatmanaa || 2-101-26

"I, for my part, shall enjoy the share given to me by our high-souled father for fourteen years, taking my abode in Dandaka forest, O gentle brother!"