Keeping Rama's Sandals on his Head, Bharata Ascends his Chariot

ततः शिरसि कृत्वा तु पादुके भरतः तदा | आरुरोह रथम् हृष्टः शत्रुघ्नेन समन्वितः || २-११३-१

tataH shirasi kR^itvaa tu paaduke bharataH tadaa | aaruroha ratham hR^iShTaH shatrughnena samanvitaH || 2-113-1

Thereafter, keeping the sandals on his head, Bharata delightfully ascended his chariot along with Shatrughna.

वसिष्ठो वामदेवः च जाबालिः च दृढ व्रतः | अग्रतः प्रययुः सर्वे मन्त्रिणो मन्त्र पूजिताः || २-११३-२

vasiShTho vaamadevaH ca jaabaaliH ca dR^iDha vrataH | agrataH prayayuH sarve mantriNo mantra puujitaaH || 2-113-2

Before him, Vasishta, Vasudeva of firm vows, Jabali and all the ministers distinguished for their counsels, went ahead.

मन्दाकिनीम् नदीम् रम्याम् प्रान् मुखाः ते ययुः तदा | प्रदक्षिणम् च कुर्वाणाः चित्र कूटम् महा गिरिम् || २-११३-३

mandaakiniim nadiim ramyaam praan mukhaaH te yayuH tadaa | pradakShiNam ca kurvaaNaaH citra kuuTam mahaa girim || 2-113-3

Them, they advanced eastwards, by the charming Mandakini River, after making a round of Chitrakuta Mountain.

पश्यन् धातु सहस्राणि रम्याणि विविधानि च | प्रययौ तस्य पार्श्वेन ससैन्यो भरतः तदा || २-११३-४

pashyan dhaatu sahasraaNi ramyaaNi vividhaani ca | prayayau tasya paarshvena sasainyo bharataH tadaa || 2-113-4

Observing various types of thousands of enchanting rocks, Bharata advanced along with his troops along the side of the mountain.

अदूराच् चित्र कूटस्य ददर्श भरतः तदा | आश्रमम् यत्र स मुनिर् भरद्वाजः कृत आलयः || २-११३-५

aduuraac citra kuuTasya dadarsha bharataH tadaa | aashramam yatra sa munir bharadvaajaH kR^ita aalayaH || 2-113-5

In the vicinity of Chitrakuta Mountain, Bharata saw a hermitage where the sage Bharadwaja resided.

स तम् आश्रमम् आगम्य भरद्वाजस्य बुद्धिमान् | अवतीर्य रथात् पादौ ववन्दे कुल नन्दनः || २-११३-६

sa tam aashramam aagamya bharadvaajasya buddhimaan | avatiirya rathaat paadau vavande kula nandanaH || 2-113-6

Then, that Bharata endowed with understanding reached that hermitage of Bharadwaja, descended from his chariot and bowed down to the feet of Bharadwaja in saluation.

ततो हृष्टो भरद्वाजो भरतम् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् | अपि कृत्यम् कृतम् तात रामेण च समागतम् || २-११३-७

tato hR^iShTo bharadvaajo bharatam vaakyam abraviit | api kR^ityam kR^itam taata raameNa ca samaagatam || 2-113-7

The, Bharadvaja full of joy, enquired of Bharata saying, "O, dear prince! Has your purpose been accomplished? Have you met Rama?"

एवम् उक्तः तु भरतो भरद्वाजेन धीमता | प्रत्युवाच भरद्वाजम् भरतो धर्म वत्सलः || २-११३-८

evam uktaH tu bharato bharadvaajena dhiimataa | pratyuvaaca bharadvaajam bharato dharma vatsalaH || 2-113-8

Hearing the words of the learned sage, Bharadvaja, Bharata who was affectionate towards his brothers, replied to Bharadvaja (as follows)

स याच्यमानो गुरुणा मया च दृढ विक्रमः | राघवः परम प्रीतो वसिष्ठम् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत् || २-११३-९

sa yaacyamaano guruNaa mayaa ca dR^iDha vikramaH | raaghavaH parama priito vasiShTham vaakyam abraviit || 2-113-9

Despite the entreaties of his preceptor and of mine, Rama is unshakeable in his resolve and most cheerfully spoke the following words to Vasishta.

पितुः प्रतिज्नाम् ताम् एव पालयिष्यामि तत्त्वतः | चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि य प्रतिज्ना पितुर् मम || २-११३-१०

pituH pratijnaam taam eva paalayiShyaami tattvataH | caturdasha hi varShaaNi ya pratijnaa pitur mama || 2-113-10

"I shall honour the promise of my father scrupulously and reside in the forest for fourteen years as I promised him."

एवम् उक्तो महा प्राज्नो वसिष्ठः प्रत्युवाच ह | वाक्यज्नो वाक्य कुशलम् राघवम् वचनम् महत् || २-११३-११

evam ukto mahaa praajno vasiShThaH pratyuvaaca ha | vaakyajno vaakya kushalam raaghavam vacanam mahat || 2-113-11

Hearing the words of Rama, the highly wise Vasishta, the knower of proper mode of expression, replied to Rama who is the most skilful of orators, in the following great words:

एते प्रयग्च्छ सम्हृष्टः पादुके हेम भूषिते | अयोध्यायाम् महा प्राज्न योग क्षेम करे तव || २-११३-१२

ete prayagcchha samhR^iShTaH paaduke hema bhuuShite | ayodhyaayaam mahaa praajna yoga kShema kare tava || 2-113-12

"O, the extremely segacious prince! Bestow joyfully thse gold-encrusted sandals of yours on us and ensure peace and harmony in Ayodhya."

एवम् उक्तो वसिष्ठेन राघवः प्रान् मुखः स्थितः | पादुके हेम विकृते मम राज्याय ते ददौ || २-११३-१३

evam ukto vasiShThena raaghavaH praan mukhaH sthitaH | paaduke hema vikR^ite mama raajyaaya te dadau || 2-113-13

"Hearing the words of Vasishta, Rama stood up and turning to the East, placed his feet in those sandals and gave them to me as a sign of regency."

निवृत्तो अहम् अनुज्नातो रामेण सुमहात्मना | अयोध्याम् एव गग्च्छामि गृहीत्वा पादुके शुभे || २-११३-१४

nivR^itto aham anujnaato raameNa sumahaatmanaa | ayodhyaam eva gagcchhaami gR^ihiitvaa paaduke shubhe || 2-113-14

"Having taken leave of the very high-souled Rama, I turned back after receiving the auspicious sandals. Now, I am proceeding to Ayodhya."

एतत् श्रुत्वा शुभम् वाक्यम् भरतस्य महात्मनः | भरद्वाजः शुभतरम् मुनिर् वाक्यम् उदाहरत् || २-११३-१५

etat shrutvaa shubham vaakyam bharatasya mahaatmanaH | bharadvaajaH shubhataram munir vaakyam udaaharat || 2-113-15

Hearing those auspicious words of the high-souled Bharata, the sage Bharadvaja spoke to him the following words.

न एतच् चित्रम् नर व्याघ्र शील वृत्तवताम् वर | यद् आर्यम् त्वयि तिष्ठेत् तु निम्ने वृष्टिम् इव उदकम् || २-११३-१६

na etac citram nara vyaaghra shiila vR^ittavataam vara | yad aaryam tvayi tiShThet tu nimne vR^iShTim iva udakam || 2-113-16

"O Bharata the Tiger among men and excellent among those having virtue and good conduct! There is no surprise that a noble trait prevails in you, as naturally as the water allowed to go, always settles downwards."

अमृतः स महा बाहुः पिता दशरथः तव | यस्य त्वम् ईदृशः पुत्रो धर्म आत्मा धर्म वत्सलः || २-११३-१७

amR^itaH sa mahaa baahuH pitaa dasharathaH tava | yasya tvam iidR^ishaH putro dharma aatmaa dharma vatsalaH || 2-113-17

"Your valiant father, Dasaratha, is immortal in having such a son as you are, the knower of righteousness and loving peity."

तम् ऋषिम् तु महात्मानम् उक्त वाक्यम् कृत अन्जलिः | आमन्त्रयितुम् आरेभे चरणाउ उपगृह्य च || २-११३-१८

tam R^iShim tu mahaatmaanam ukta vaakyam kR^ita anjaliH | aamantrayitum aarebhe caraNaau upagR^ihya ca || 2-113-18

Hearing the words of that sage, Bharata with his joined palms, touched his feet in salutation and began taking leave from him.

ततः प्रदक्षिणम् कृत्वा भरद्वाजम् पुनः पुनः | भरतः तु ययौ श्रीमान् अयोध्याम् सह मन्त्रिभिः || २-११३-१९

tataH pradakShiNam kR^itvaa bharadvaajam punaH punaH | bharataH tu yayau shriimaan ayodhyaam saha mantribhiH || 2-113-19

Then, the glorious Bharata made circumambulation again and again to Bharadwaja and proceeded to Ayodhya along with hims ministers.

यानैः च शकटैः चैव हयैः नागैः च सा चमूः | पुनर् निवृत्ता विस्तीर्णा भरतस्य अनुयायिनी || २-११३-२०

yaanaiH ca shakaTaiH caiva hayaiH naagaiH ca saa camuuH | punar nivR^ittaa vistiirNaa bharatasya anuyaayinii || 2-113-20

Thata extensive army of Bharata, following him with vehicles, carts and elephants, turned back again towards Ayodhya.

ततः ते यमुनाम् दिव्याम् नदीम् तीर्त्वा ऊर्मि मालिनीम् | ददृशुः ताम् पुनः सर्वे गन्गाम् शिव जलाम् नदीम् || २-११३-२१

tataH te yamunaam divyaam nadiim tiirtvaa uurmi maaliniim | dadR^ishuH taam punaH sarve gangaam shiva jalaam nadiim || 2-113-21

Thereafter, all of them crossed the charming River Yamuna wreathed with waves and moreover saw the River Ganga with its pure water.

ताम् रम्य जल सम्पूर्णाम् सम्तीर्य सह बान्धवः | शृन्ग वेर पुरम् रम्यम् प्रविवेश ससैनिकः || २-११३-२२ शृन्ग वेर पुराद् भूय अयोध्याम् संददर्श ह |

taam ramya jala sampuurNaam samtiirya saha baandhavaH | shR^inga vera puram ramyam pravivesha sasainikaH || 2-113-22 shR^inga vera puraad bhuuya ayodhyaam sa.ndadarsha ha |

Bharata accompanied by his relative and his army crossed that River Ganga, full of charming waters and entered the beautiful town of Shringibhera. From Shringibhera, he saw Ayodhya again.

अयोध्याम् च ततो दृष्ट्वा पित्रा भ्रात्रा विवर्जिताम् | भरतो दुह्ख सम्तप्तः सारथिम् च इदम् अब्रवीत् || २-११३-२३

ayodhyaam cha tato dR^iShTvaa pitraa bhraatraa vivarjitaam | bharato duhkha samtaptaH saarathim ca idam abraviit || 2-113-23

Beholding the City of Ayodhya, which was bereft of his father and brother, Bharata tormented with grief, spoke the following words to the charioteer:

सारथे पश्य विध्वस्ता अयोध्या न प्रकाशते | निराकारा निरानन्दा दीना प्रतिहत स्वना || २-११३-२४

saarathe pashya vidhvastaa ayodhyaa na prakaashate | niraakaaraa niraanandaa diinaa pratihata svanaa || 2-113-24

"O, Charioteer! See that Ayodhya city, ruined, with a vacant look, joyless, miserable, and with an impeded voice."