Bharata Requests Rama to Accept the Kingdom

ततः पुरुष सिम्हानाम् वृतानाम् तैः सुहृद् गणैः | शोचताम् एव रजनी दुह्खेन व्यत्यवर्तत || २-१०५-१

tataH puruSha simhaanaam vR^itaanaam taiH suhR^id gaNaiH | shocataam eva rajanii duhkhena vyatyavartata || 2-105-1

While those lions among men amidst a host of friends were lamenting, that night elapsed with a much difficulty.

रजन्याम् सुप्रभातायाम् भ्रातरः ते सुहृद् वृताः | मन्दाकिन्याम् हुतम् जप्यम् कृत्वा रामम् उपागमन् || २-१०५-२

rajanyaam suprabhaataayaam bhraataraH te suhR^id vR^itaaH | mandaakinyaam hutam japyam kR^itvaa raamam upaagaman || 2-105-2

When the beautiful dawn broke, Rama's brothers along with their companions, having made their offerings and recited their prayers on the banks of River Madakini, approached Rama.

तूष्णीम् ते समुपासीना न कश्चित् किंचिद् अब्रवीत् | भरतः तु सुहृन् मध्ये राम वचनम् अब्रवीत् || २-१०५-३

tuuShNiim te samupaasiinaa na kashcit ki.ncid abraviit | bharataH tu suhR^in madhye raama vacanam abraviit || 2-105-3

Sitting in silence, no one uttered a word. Bharata, on his part, amidst his companions, addressed Rama as follows:

सान्त्विता मामिका माता दत्तम् राज्यम् इदम् मम | तद् ददामि तव एव अहम् भुन्क्ष्व राज्यम् अकण्टकम् || २-१०५-४

saantvitaa maamikaa maataa dattam raajyam idam mama | tad dadaami tava eva aham bhunkShva raajyam akaNTakam || 2-105-4

"My mother has been consoled (by you) by giving this kingdom to me. I am giving back that kingdom to you. Enjoy it without hindrance!"

महता इव अम्बु वेगेन भिन्नः सेतुर् जल आगमे | दुरावारम् त्वद् अन्येन राज्य खण्डम् इदम् महत् || २-१०५-५

mahataa iva ambu vegena bhinnaH setur jala aagame | duraavaaram tvad anyena raajya khaNDam idam mahat || 2-105-5

"As a dam breached by a great on-rush of water during a rainy season cannot be repaired so easily, this great continent cannot be defended by any one other than you."

गतिम् खर इव अश्वस्य तार्क्ष्यस्य इव पतत्रिणः | अनुगन्तुम् न शक्तिर् मे गतिम् तव मही पते || २-१०५-६

gatim khara iva ashvasya taarkShyasya iva patatriNaH | anugantum na shaktir me gatim tava mahii pate || 2-105-6

"As a donkey cannot emulate the tempo of a horse, or an ordinary bird the movement of Garuda (a kind of falcon), neither can I follow in your footsteps, O, Lord of the world!"

सुजीवम् नित्यशः तस्य यः परैर् उपजीव्यते | राम तेन तु दुर्जीवम् यः परान् उपजीवति || २-१०५-७

sujiivam nityashaH tasya yaH parair upajiivyate | raama tena tu durjiivam yaH paraan upajiivati || 2-105-7

"O, Rama! Know his life to be blessed forever, on whom others depend Life is, however, difficult for him who depends on others for this life."

यथा तु रोपितो वृक्षः पुरुषेण विवर्धितः | ह्रस्वकेन दुरारोहो रूढ स्कन्धो महा द्रुमः || २-१०५-८ स यदा पुष्पितो भूत्वा फलानि न विदर्शयेत् | स ताम् न अनुभवेत् प्रीतिम् यस्य हेतोः प्रभावितः || २-१०५-९ एषा उपमा महा बाहो त्वम् अर्थम् वेत्तुम् अर्हसि | यदि त्वम् अस्मान् ऋषभो भर्ता भृत्यान् न शाधि हि || २-१०५-१०

yathaa tu ropito vR^ikShaH puruSheNa vivardhitaH | hrasvakena duraaroho ruuDha skandho mahaa drumaH || 2-105-8 sa yadaa puShpito bhuutvaa phalaani na vidarshayet | sa taam na anubhavet priitim yasya hetoH prabhaavitaH || 2-105-9 eShaa upamaa mahaa baaho tvam artham vettum arhasi | yadi tvam asmaan R^iShabho bhartaa bhR^ityaan na shaadhi hi || 2-105-10

"As a tree planted by a man may grow and with its great branches and immense trunk, become inaccessible to a dwarf, yet though it may come to flowering, does not bear fruit, it yeilds no pleasure for him. O, mighty armed! You ought to understand the import of theis simile and being the distinguished Lord of all, may you guide us, your sevants!"

श्रेणयः त्वाम् महा राज पश्यन्तु अग्र्याः च सर्वशः | प्रतपन्तम् इव आदित्यम् राज्ये स्थितम् अरिम् दमम् || २-१०५-११

tasya saadhu ity amanyanta naagaraa vividhaa janaaH | bharatasya vacaH shrutvaa raamam pratyanuyaacataH || 2-105-13

"O, emperor, the conqueror of foes! May all behold you, shining resplendent on all sides like the sun, seated on the throne!"

तव अनुयाने काकुत्ष्थ मत्ता नर्दन्तु कुञ्जराः | अन्तः पुर गता नार्यो नन्दन्तु सुसमाहिताः || २-१०५-१२

tam evam duhkhitam prekShya vilapantam yashasvinam | raamaH kR^ita aatmaa bharatam samaashvaasayad aatmavaan || 2-105-14

"O, Rama! May the elephants, intoxicated with ichor be heard trumpeting on the highway, when you do return and the women of the inner apartments rejoice, all happily joined together."

तस्य साधु इत्य् अमन्यन्त नागरा विविधा जनाः | भरतस्य वचः श्रुत्वा रामम् प्रत्यनुयाचतः || २-१०५-१३

na aatmanaH kaama kaaro asti puruSho ayam aniishvaraH | itaH ca itarataH ca enam kR^ita antaH parikarShati || 2-105-15

Hearing the words of Bharata, who was thus appealing to Rama, the various people of the city in approbation, said "Excellent! Well said!"

तम् एवम् दुह्खितम् प्रेक्ष्य विलपन्तम् यशस्विनम् | रामः कृत आत्मा भरतम् समाश्वासयद् आत्मवान् || २-१०५-१४

sarve kShaya antaa nicayaaH patana antaaH samugcchhrayaaH | samyogaa viprayoga antaa maraNa antam ca jiivitam || 2-105-16

On seeing the illustrious and sorrowful Bharata thus lamenting, the prudent and self-conposed Rama began to console him as follows:

न आत्मनः काम कारो अस्ति पुरुषो अयम् अनीश्वरः | इतः च इतरतः च एनम् कृत अन्तः परिकर्षति || २-१०५-१५

yathaa phalaanam pakvaanaam na anyatra patanaad bhayam | evam narasya jaatasya na anyatra maraNaad bhayam || 2-105-17

"Man is not able to do what he wills. He is not the Master A fixed form or name drives him hither and thither."

सर्वे क्षय अन्ता निचयाः पतन अन्ताः समुग्च्छ्रयाः | सम्योगा विप्रयोग अन्ता मरण अन्तम् च जीवितम् || २-१०५-१६

yathaa agaaram dR^iDha sthuuNam jiirNam bhuutvaa avasiidati | tathaa avasiidanti naraa jaraa mR^ityu vasham gataaH || 2-105-18

"All that is piled up, is finally disbursed. What rises, ends in a fall. Unio ends in separation. Life ends in death."

यथा फलानम् पक्वानाम् न अन्यत्र पतनाद् भयम् | एवम् नरस्य जातस्य न अन्यत्र मरणाद् भयम् || २-१०५-१७

atyeti rajanii yaa tu saa na pratinivartate | yaatyeva yamunaa puurNaa samudramudakaakulam || 2-105-19

"How a ripe fruit does not fear for anything other than its falling, so also a man once born, does not fear for anything other than his death."

यथा अगारम् दृढ स्थूणम् जीर्णम् भूत्वा अवसीदति | तथा अवसीदन्ति नरा जरा मृत्यु वशम् गताः || २-१०५-१८

aho raatraaNi gagcchhanti sarveShaam praaNinaam iha | aayuumShi kShapayanty aashu griiShme jalam iva a.nshavaH || 2-105-20

"As a house that is solidly contructed ultimately falls into decay, human being too is subject to age and death."

अत्येति रजनी या तु सा न प्रतिनिवर्तते | यात्येव यमुना पूर्णा समुद्रमुदकाकुलम् || २-१०५-१९

aatmaanam anushoca tvam kim anyam anushocasi | aayuH te hiiyate yasya sthitasya ca gatasya ca || 2-105-21

"The night that has passed, does not return and the buntiful River Yamuna just marches on towards the all-sufficient abounding in water."

अहो रात्राणि गग्च्छन्ति सर्वेषाम् प्राणिनाम् इह | आयूम्षि क्षपयन्त्य् आशु ग्रीष्मे जलम् इव अंशवः || २-१०५-२०

saha eva mR^ityur vrajati saha mR^ityur niShiidati | gatvaa sudiirgham adhvaanam saha mR^ityur nivartate || 2-105-22

"The pasing days and nights in this world quickly decrease the life-span of all living being as in the summer, the rays of the sun dry up the water (in a pool)."

आत्मानम् अनुशोच त्वम् किम् अन्यम् अनुशोचसि | आयुः ते हीयते यस्य स्थितस्य च गतस्य च || २-१०५-२१

gaatreShu valayaH praaptaaH shvetaaH caiva shiro ruhaaH | jarayaa puruSho jiirNaH kim hi kR^itvaa prabhaavayet || 2-105-23

"You grieve for yourself. Why do you grieve for another? Even while you stay at home, or departed to another place, your life-span gets shortened."

सह एव मृत्युर् व्रजति सह मृत्युर् निषीदति | गत्वा सुदीर्घम् अध्वानम् सह मृत्युर् निवर्तते || २-१०५-२२

nandanty udita aaditye nandanty astam ite ravau | aatmano na avabudhyante manuShyaa jiivita kShayam || 2-105-24

"Death walks just with us (as we walk) and sits with us (as we sit). Having travelled a very long distance (with us), death returns along with us (as we return)."

गात्रेषु वलयः प्राप्ताः श्वेताः चैव शिरो रुहाः | जरया पुरुषो जीर्णः किम् हि कृत्वा प्रभावयेत् || २-१०५-२३

hR^iShyanty R^itu mukham dR^iShTvaa navam navam iha aagatam | R^ituunaam parivartena praaNinaam praaNa samkShayaH || 2-105-25

"When folds have appeared on limbs and hair have turned grey; on what expedient can a man having got decayed with age, come back to the original splendour?"

नन्दन्त्य् उदित आदित्ये नन्दन्त्य् अस्तम् इते रवौ | आत्मनो न अवबुध्यन्ते मनुष्या जीवित क्षयम् || २-१०५-२४

yathaa kaaShTham ca kaaShTham ca sameyaataam mahaa arNave | sametya ca vyapeyaataam kaalam aasaadya ka.ncana || 2-105-26 evam bhaaryaaH ca putraaH ca jnaatayaH ca vasuuni ca | sametya vyavadhaavanti dhruvo hy eShaam vinaa bhavaH || 2-105-27

"People are deligted when the sun has risen and also when the day ends. But they are not able to perceive the waning in their life-span."

हृष्यन्त्य् ऋतु मुखम् दृष्ट्वा नवम् नवम् इह आगतम् | ऋतूनाम् परिवर्तेन प्राणिनाम् प्राण सम्क्षयः || २-१०५-२५

na atra kashcid yathaa bhaavam praaNii samabhivartate | tena tasmin na saamarthyam pretasya asty anushocataH || 2-105-28

"Seeing the onset of season, people rejoice, as though it has come something newly. But the succession of the seasons devours the life of being."

यथा काष्ठम् च काष्ठम् च समेयाताम् महा अर्णवे | समेत्य च व्यपेयाताम् कालम् आसाद्य कंचन || २-१०५-२६ एवम् भार्याः च पुत्राः च ज्नातयः च वसूनि च | समेत्य व्यवधावन्ति ध्रुवो ह्य् एषाम् विना भवः || २-१०५-२७

yathaa hi saartham gagcchhantam bruuyaat kashcit pathi sthitaH | aham apy aagamiShyaami pR^iShThato bhavataam iti || 2-105-29 evam puurvair gato maargaH pitR^i paitaamaho dhruvaH | tam aapannaH katham shoced yasya na asti vyatikramaH || 2-105-30

"As pieces of drift-wood floating on the ocean coe toghether for a span, so wives, children, kinsmen wealth and property come together for a while and part with us. Their parting in deed inevitable."

न अत्र कश्चिद् यथा भावम् प्राणी समभिवर्तते | तेन तस्मिन् न सामर्थ्यम् प्रेतस्य अस्त्य् अनुशोचतः || २-१०५-२८

dharma aatmaa sa shubhaiH kR^itsnaiH kratubhiH ca aapta dakShiNaiH | dhuuta paapo gataH svargam pitaa naH pR^ithivii patiH || 2-105-32

"Here, no being can escape its destiny ( in the form of birth and death). For that reason, the power to avert his own death does not ingrain in a man mourning for a dead person."

यथा हि सार्थम् गग्च्छन्तम् ब्रूयात् कश्चित् पथि स्थितः | अहम् अप्य् आगमिष्यामि पृष्ठतो भवताम् इति || २-१०५-२९ एवम् पूर्वैर् गतो मार्गः पितृ पैतामहो ध्रुवः | तम् आपन्नः कथम् शोचेद् यस्य न अस्ति व्यतिक्रमः || २-१०५-३०

bhR^ityaanaam bharaNaat samyak prajaanaam paripaalanaat | artha aadaanaac ca dhaarmeNa pitaa naH tridivam gataH || 2-105-33

"As a caravan is passing on a road, one stationed at the way-side says, I too will come behind you. In the same manner, we should inevitably follow the path taken by fathers and fire fathers. Why a man who obtained that path, for which there is no return, distress himself.

वयसः पतमानस्य स्रोतसो वा अनिवर्तिनः | आत्मा सुखे नियोक्तव्यः सुख भाजः प्रजाः स्मृताः || २-१०५-३१

iShTvaa bahuvidhair yajnair bhogaamH ca avaapya puShkalaan | uttamam ca aayur aasaadya svar gataH pR^ithivii patiH || 2-105-35

"While the age reshes on, without any return like a flowing river, one's self should be emplyoed in a pursuit leading to blessedness. It is said that beings are meant to be happy?"

धर्म आत्मा स शुभैः कृत्स्नैः क्रतुभिः च आप्त दक्षिणैः | धूत पापो गतः स्वर्गम् पिता नः पृथिवी पतिः || २-१०५-३२

aayuruttamamaasaadya bhogaanapi cha raaghavaH | sa na shochyaH pitaa taata svargataH satkR^itaH sataam || 2-105-36

"The king Dasaratha, our pious minded father performed almost all auspicious sacrifices and paid plentiful sacrificial fees (to the officitaing preists and Brahmins) and went to heaven."

भृत्यानाम् भरणात् सम्यक् प्रजानाम् परिपालनात् | अर्थ आदानाच् च धार्मेण पिता नः त्रिदिवम् गतः || २-१०५-३३

sa jiirNam maanuSham deham parityajya pitaa hi naH | daiviim R^iddhim anupraapto brahma loka vihaariNiim || 2-105-37

"Our father reached heaven because he maintained his servants properly, protected his subjects and realised the taxes in the manner prescribed by scriptures from them."

कर्मभिस्तु शुभैरिष्टैः क्रतुभिश्चाव्तदक्षिणः | स्वर्गं दशरथः प्राप्तः पिता नः पृथिवीपतिः || २-१०५-३४

tam tu na evam vidhaH kashcit praajnaH shocitum arhati | tvad vidho yad vidhaH ca api shrutavaan buddhimattaraH || 2-105-38

"Our father, the king Dasaratha obtained heaven because of his auspicious acts and perfoming sacrifices involving heavy sacrificial fees."

इष्ट्वा बहुविधैर् यज्नैर् भोगामः च अवाप्य पुष्कलान् | उत्तमम् च आयुर् आसाद्य स्वर् गतः पृथिवी पतिः || २-१०५-३५

ete bahu vidhaaH shokaa vilaapa rudite tathaa | varjaniiyaa hi dhiireNa sarva avasthaasu dhiimataa || 2-105-39

"Having perfomed many types of sacrifices, enjoying worldly pleasure abundantly and having obtained a long and virtuous life, king Dasaratha reached heaven."

आयुरुत्तममासाद्य भोगानपि च राघवः | स न शोच्यः पिता तात स्वर्गतः सत्कृतः सताम् || २-१०५-३६

sa svastho bhava maa shoco yaatvaa ca aavasa taam puriim | tathaa pitraa niyukto asi vashinaa vadataamu vara || 2-105-40

"O, dear brother! King Dasaratha, our father who was treated with respect by all virtuous men and who secured excellent life-span and enjoyments, is not to be pitied."

स जीर्णम् मानुषम् देहम् परित्यज्य पिता हि नः | दैवीम् ऋद्धिम् अनुप्राप्तो ब्रह्म लोक विहारिणीम् || २-१०५-३७

yatra aham api tena eva niyuktaH puNya karmaNaa | tatra eva aham kariShyaami pitur aaryasya shaasanam || 2-105-41

"King Dasaratha, our father, having abandoned his worn-out human body, indeed has attained the celstial state, by which he can stroll in the realm of Brahma (the highest heaven).

तम् तु न एवम् विधः कश्चित् प्राज्नः शोचितुम् अर्हति | त्वद् विधो यद् विधः च अपि श्रुतवान् बुद्धिमत्तरः || २-१०५-३८

na mayaa shaasanam tasya tyaktum nyaayyam arim dama | tat tvayaa api sadaa maanyam sa vai bandhuH sa naH pitaa || 2-105-42

"No wise, learned and exceptionally clever man, would weep in such a manner, such as I and you, about the emperor.

एते बहु विधाः शोका विलाप रुदिते तथा | वर्जनीया हि धीरेण सर्व अवस्थासु धीमता || २-१०५-३९

tadvachaH piturevaahaM sammatam dharmachaariNaH | karmaNaa paalayiShyaami vanavaasena raaghava || 2-105-43

"The wise, who are steadfast, should indeed relinquish these sorrows, lamentatious, weepings and such other states of misery."

स स्वस्थो भव मा शोचो यात्वा च आवस ताम् पुरीम् | तथा पित्रा नियुक्तो असि वशिना वदतामु वर || २-१०५-४०

dhaarmikeNaanR^ishaMsena nareNa guruvartinaa | bhavitavyaM naravyaaghram paralokaM jigiiShataa 2-105-44

"Be composed, O Most eloquent of orators! Control your grief, return to the City of Ayodhya in order to obey the command of our father, the subduer of his senses."

यत्र अहम् अपि तेन एव नियुक्तः पुण्य कर्मणा | तत्र एव अहम् करिष्यामि पितुर् आर्यस्य शासनम् || २-१०५-४१

aatmaanamanutiShTha tvaM svabhaavena nararShabha | nishaamya tu shubhaM vR^ittaM piturdasharathasya naH 2-105-45

"I also will fulfil the command of our father, the venrable man in that very place, whre I have been ordered to stay by that king Dasaratha of virtuous deeds."

न मया शासनम् तस्य त्यक्तुम् न्याय्यम् अरिम् दम | तत् त्वया अपि सदा मान्यम् स वै बन्धुः स नः पिता || २-१०५-४२

ityevamuktvaa vachanam mahaatmaa| piturnideshapratipaalanaartham | yuviiyasam bhraataramarthavachcha | prabhurmuhuurtaadviraraama raamaH || 2-105-46

"O Bharata the Vanquisher of Foes! It is not justifiable for me to violate the command of our father. You also must honour it to the end, for it comes from our father, out own blood."

तद्वचः पितुरेवाहं सम्मतम् धर्मचारिणः | कर्मणा पालयिष्यामि वनवासेन राघव || २-१०५-४३

"O, Bharata! Hence, I shall conform to the honourable word of our father, the practiser of virtue, by my act of dwelling in the forest."

धार्मिकेणानृशंसेन नरेण गुरुवर्तिना | भवितव्यं नरव्याघ्रम् परलोकं जिगीषता २-१०५-४४

O, Tigher among men! Thus should a pious man act, who seeks to harm none, who is obedient to his elders and who aspires to conquer the higher world."

आत्मानमनुतिष्ठ त्वं स्वभावेन नरर्षभ | निशाम्य तु शुभं वृत्तं पितुर्दशरथस्य नः २-१०५-४५

"O, excellent among men! perceiving the virutous conduct of our father, the King Dasaratha, act in conformity to your own nature."

इत्येवमुक्त्वा वचनम् महात्मा| पितुर्निदेशप्रतिपालनार्थम् | युवीयसम् भ्रातरमर्थवच्च | प्रभुर्मुहूर्ताद्विरराम रामः || २-१०५-४६

Having uttered in about an hour, these meaningful words in this manner to his younger brother on the need of abedience to his father's will, the magnamous and the mighty Rama became silent.