Bharata Expresses his Desire to Proceed to Nandigrama Village

ततो निक्षिप्य मातृऋः स अयोध्यायाम् दृढ व्रतः | भरतः शोक सम्तप्तो गुरून् इदम् अथ अब्रवीत् || २-११५-१

tato nikShipya maatR^iR^iH sa ayodhyaayaam dR^iDha vrataH | bharataH shoka samtapto guruun idam atha abraviit || 2-115-1

Having brought his mothers back to Ayodhya; Bharata, fixed in his resolve but sore stricken with grief, spoke to Vasishta and the elders (as follows)

नन्दि ग्रामम् गमिष्यामि सर्वान् आमन्त्रये अद्य वः | तत्र दुह्खम् इदम् सर्वम् सहिष्ये राघवम् विना || २-११५-२

nandi graamam gamiShyaami sarvaan aamantraye adya vaH | tatra duhkham idam sarvam sahiShye raaghavam vinaa || 2-115-2

"I am going to Nandigrama village. I take leave of all of you. There, I shall be able to endure all this woe, occasioned by Rama's absence."

गतः च हि दिवम् राजा वनस्थः च गुरुर् मम | रामम् प्रतीक्षे राज्याय स हि राजा महा यशाः || २-११५-३

gataH ca hi divam raajaa vanasthaH ca gurur mama | raamam pratiikShe raajyaaya sa hi raajaa mahaa yashaaH || 2-115-3

"The king Dasaratha went to heaven. My elder brother is in the forest. I shall await for Rama to return to the kingdom; since verily he alone is the celebrated Lord of Ayodhya."

एतत् श्रुत्वा शुभम् वाक्यम् भरतस्य महात्मनः | अब्रुवन् मन्त्रिणः सर्वे वसिष्ठः च पुरोहितः || २-११५-४

etat shrutvaa shubham vaakyam bharatasya mahaatmanaH | abruvan mantriNaH sarve vasiShThaH ca purohitaH || 2-115-4

Hearing those auspicious words of the magnanimous Bharata, Vasishta the preceptor and all the ministers spoke as follows:

सदृशम् श्लाघनीयम् च यद् उक्तम् भरत त्वया | वचनम् भ्रातृ वात्सल्याद् अनुरूपम् तव एव तत् || २-११५-५

sadR^isham shlaaghaniiyam ca yad uktam bharata tvayaa | vacanam bhraatR^i vaatsalyaad anuruupam tava eva tat || 2-115-5

"O, Bharata! The words which your have spoken by you in devotion to your brother are very much appreciable. It is worthy of you alone."

नित्यम् ते बन्धु लुब्धस्य तिष्ठतो भ्रातृ सौहृदे | आर्य मार्गम् प्रपन्नस्य न अनुमन्येत कः पुमान् || २-११५-६

nityam te bandhu lubdhasya tiShThato bhraatR^i sauhR^ide | aarya maargam prapannasya na anumanyeta kaH pumaan || 2-115-6

"What man would not approve of the proposal of your highness, who are deeply fascinated of your relative, always affectionate to your brother and devoted to the path of elders?"

मन्त्रिणाम् वचनम् श्रुत्वा यथा अभिलषितम् प्रियम् | अब्रवीत् सारथिम् वाक्यम् रथो मे युज्यताम् इति || २-११५-७

mantriNaam vacanam shrutvaa yathaa abhilaShitam priyam | abraviit saarathim vaakyam ratho me yujyataam iti || 2-115-7

Hearing the affectionate words of his counsellors, who spoke according to his wish, Bharata said to his charioteer, "Let my chariot be made ready!"

प्रहृष्ट वदनः सर्वा मातृऋः समभिवाद्य सः | आरुरोह रथम् श्रीमान् शत्रुघ्नेन समन्वितः || २-११५-८

prahR^iShTa vadanaH sarvaa maatR^iR^iH samabhivaadya saH | aaruroha ratham shriimaan shatrughnena samanvitaH || 2-115-8

The illustrious Bharata, looking pleased and having offered salutation to all his mothers, entered his chariot along with Shatrughna.

आरुह्य तु रथम् शीघ्रम् शत्रुघ्न भरताउ उभौ | ययतुः परम प्रीतौ वृतौ मन्त्रि पुरोहितैः || २-११५-९

aaruhya tu ratham shiighram shatrughna bharataau ubhau | yayatuH parama priitau vR^itau mantri purohitaiH || 2-115-9

Both Shatrughna and Bharata, having quickly mounted the chariot and exceedingly rejoiced, set out, accompanied by ministers and family-priests.

अग्रतो पुरवः तत्र वसिष्ठ प्रमुखा द्विजाः | प्रययुः प्रान् मुखाः सर्वे नन्दि ग्रामो यतो अभवत् || २-११५-१०

agrato puravaH tatra vasiShTha pramukhaa dvijaaH | prayayuH praan mukhaaH sarve nandi graamo yato abhavat || 2-115-10

All the preceptors there, headed by Vasishta and other brahmanas being in the forefront, proceeded eastward, in which direction Nandigrama village was situated.

बलम् च तद् अनाहूतम् गज अश्व रथ सम्कुलम् | प्रययौ भरते याते सर्वे च पुर वासिनः || २-११५-११

balam ca tad anaahuutam gaja ashva ratha samkulam | prayayau bharate yaate sarve ca pura vaasinaH || 2-115-11

When Bharata had left, the army too, abounding in elephants, horses and chariots marched unbidden. The residents of the city also followed suit.

रथस्थः स तु धर्म आत्मा भरतो भ्रातृ वत्सलः | नन्दि ग्रामम् ययौ तूर्णम् शिरस्य् आधाय पादुके || २-११५-१२

rathasthaH sa tu dharma aatmaa bharato bhraatR^i vatsalaH | nandi graamam yayau tuurNam shirasy aadhaaya paaduke || 2-115-12

The magnanimous Bharata, affectionate of his brother, bearing the sandals belong to Rama on his head, set out for Nandigrama.

ततः तु भरतः क्षिप्रम् नन्दि ग्रामम् प्रविश्य सः | अवतीर्य रथात् तूर्णम् गुरून् इदम् उवाच ह || २-११५-१३

tataH tu bharataH kShipram nandi graamam pravishya saH | avatiirya rathaat tuurNam guruun idam uvaaca ha || 2-115-13

Thereafter, having entered Nandigrama briskly Bharata descended his chariot quickly and spoke to his preceptors as follows:

एतद् राज्यम् मम भ्रात्रा दत्तम् सम्न्यासवत् स्वयम् | योग क्षेम वहे च इमे पादुके हेम भूषिते || २-११५-१४

etad raajyam mama bhraatraa dattam samnyaasavat svayam | yoga kShema vahe ca ime paaduke hema bhuuShite || 2-115-14

"My brother, Rama has given to me this kingdom as a trust. These sandals, embellished with gold diffuse gain and security to the people."

भरतः शिरसा कृत्वा सन्न्यासम् पादुके ततः | अब्रवीद्दुःखसम्तप्तः सर्वं प्रकृतिमण्डलम् || २-११५-१५

bharataH shirasaa kR^itvaa sannyaasam paaduke tataH | abraviidduHkhasamtaptaH sarvaM prakR^itimaNDalam || 2-115-15

Having dedicated the sacred trust to the wooden sandals, Bharata sore-stricken with anguish, spoke to the entire body of his ministers as follows:

चत्रम् धारयत क्षिप्रमार्यपादाविमौ मतौ | अभ्याम् राज्ये स्थितो धर्मः पादुकाभ्याम् गुरोर्मम || २-११५-१६

chatram dhaarayata kShipramaaryapaadaavimau matau | abhyaam raajye sthito dharmaH paadukaabhyaam gurormama || 2-115-16

"Hold the state canopy speedily over these wooden sandals, which have been accepted as symbols of the feet of Rama, my noble brother. By the presence of these wooden sandals of my brother here, a piety has been established in the kingdom."

भ्रात्रा हि मयि सम्न्यासो निक्षिप्तः सौहृदादयम् | तमिमम् पालयिष्यामि राघवागमनम् प्रति २-११५-१७

bhraatraa hi mayi samnyaaso nikShiptaH sauhR^idaadayam | tamimam paalayiShyaami raaghavaagamanam prati 2-115-17

"As a mark of compassion, this trust has been placed at my disposal, by my brother. There trust as such will be preserved till his return."

क्षिप्रम् सम्योजयित्वा तु राघवस्य पुनः स्वयम् | चरणौ तौ तु रामस्य द्रक्ष्यामि सहपादुकौ || २-११५-१८

kShipram samyojayitvaa tu raaghavasya punaH svayam | charaNau tau tu raamasya drakShyaami sahapaadukau || 2-115-18

"Having restored these wooden sandals personally to Rama's feet immediately after his return, I shall behold those feet of Rama along with these sandals."

ततो निक्षिप्तभारोऽहम् राघवेण समागतः | निवेद्य गुरवे राज्यम् भजिष्ये गुरुवृत्तिताम् २-११५-१९

tato nikShiptabhaaro.aham raaghaveNa samaagataH | nivedya gurave raajyam bhajiShye guruvR^ittitaam 2-115-19

"Restoring the kingdom to my elder brother, when re-united with him and thereby laying down the burden, I shall then assume the role of a servant of my elder brother."

ताघवाय च सम्न्यासम् दत्त्वेमे वरपादुके | राज्यम् चेदमयोध्याम् च धूतपापोभवामि च २-११५-२०

taaghavaaya cha samnyaasam dattveme varapaaduke | raajyam chedamayodhyaam cha dhuutapaapobhavaami cha 2-115-20

"By giving away these excellent wooden sandals, the symbols of trust, this kingdom, as well as the City of Ayodhya to Rama, I shall be washed of all my sins."

अभिषिक्ते तु काकुत्थ्से प्रहृष्टमुदिते जने | प्रीतिर्मम यशश्चैव भवेद्राज्याच्चतुर्गुणम् || २-११५-२१

abhiShikte tu kaakutthse prahR^iShTamudite jane | priitirmama yashashcaiva bhavedraajyaachchaturguNam || 2-115-21

"Rama will be installed and his subjects made happy. It will be a four-fold more fame and happiness for me than that having obtained from the kingdom."

एवम् तु विलपन्धीनो भरतः स महायशाः | नन्दिग्रामेऽकरोद्राज्यम् दुःखितो मन्त्रिभिस्सह || २-११५-२२

evam tu vilapandhiino bharataH sa mahaayashaaH | nandigraame.akarodraajyam duHkhito mantribhissaha || 2-115-22

The highly illustrious Bharata though a distressed man, thus lamenting and pained, looked after the state administration along with his ministers from Nandigrama.

स वल्कलजटाधारी मुनिवेषधरः प्रभुः | नन्दिग्रामेऽवसद्वीरः ससैन्यो भरतस्तदा २-११५-२३

sa valkalajaTaadhaarii muniveShadharaH prabhuH | nandigraame.avasadviiraH sasainyo bharatastadaa 2-115-23

Assuming bark robes and matted locks in the guise of an ascetic, the lord and the hero Bharata dwelt in Nandigrama, protected by the army.

रामागमनमाकाङ्क्षन् भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः | भ्रातुर्वचनकारी च प्रतिज्ञापारगस्तदा || २-११५-२४ पादुके त्वभिषिच्याथ नन्दिग्रामेऽवसत्तथा |

raamaagamanamaakaaN^kShan bharato bhraatR^ivatsalaH | bhraaturvachanakaarii cha pratijJNaapaaragastadaa || 2-115-24 paaduke tvabhiShichyaatha nandigraame.avasattathaa |

Bharata, obedient to his elder brother, affectionate of his brothers and faithful to his vow, thus resided in Nandigrama, coronating the wooden sandals on the throne and wishing always for the return of Rama.

स वालव्यजनम् चत्रम् धारयामास स स्वयम् || २-११५-२५ भरतः शासनम् सर्वम् पादुकाभ्याम् निवेदयन् |

sa vaalavyajanam chatram dhaarayaamaasa sa svayam || 2-115-25 bharataH shaasanam sarvam paadukaabhyaam nivedayan |

Reporting all the royal orders to the wooden sandals, Bharata was holding the royal canopy together with the chowrie to those sandals.

ततस्तु भरतः श्रीमानभिषिच्यार्यपादुके || २-११५-२६ तदधीनस्तदा राज्यम् कारयामास सर्वदा |

tatastu bharataH shriimaanabhiShichyaaryapaaduke || 2-115-26 tadadhiinastadaa raajyam kaarayaamaasa sarvadaa |

Coronating the wooden sandals of his elder brother, the illustrious Bharata thereafter carried out the state administration, always maintaining his subservience to them.

तदा हि यत्कार्यमुपैति किंचि | दुपायनम् चोपहृतम् महार्हम् | स पादुकाभ्याम् प्रथमम् निवेद्य | चकार पश्चाद्भरतो यथावत् || २-११५-२७

tadaa hi yatkaaryamupaiti ki.nchi | dupaayanam chopahR^itam mahaarham | sa paadukaabhyaam prathamam nivedya | chakaara pashchaadbharato yathaavat || 2-115-27

Whatever a small affair of the state came up or whenever a high-valued gift was offered, Bharata used to report that matter to the wooden sandals and then only dealt with it in the proper way afterwards.