The King-makers Request Bharata to Take Over Ayodhya Kingdom

ततः प्रभात समये दिवसे अथ चतुर्दशे | समेत्य राज कर्तारः भरतम् वाक्यम् अब्रुवन् || २-७९-१

tataH prabhaata samaye divase atha caturdashe | sametya raaja kartaaraH bharatam vaakyam abruvan || 2-79-1

Thereafter, early in the morning on the fourteenth day, the king-makers coming together, spoke to Bharata the following words.

गतः दशरथः स्वर्गम् यो नो गुरुतरः गुरुः | रामम् प्रव्राज्य वै ज्येष्ठम् लक्ष्मणम् च महा बलम् || २-७९-२

gataH dasharathaH svargam yo no gurutaraH guruH | raamam pravraajya vai jyeShTham lakShmaNam ca mahaa balam || 2-79-2

"Dasaratha, who was our highly venerable master, went to heaven after sending his elder son Rama and the exceedingly strong Lakshmana to forest."

त्वम् अद्य भव नो राजा राज पुत्र महा यशः | सम्गत्या न अपराध्नोति राज्यम् एतत् अनायकम् || २-७९-३

tvam adya bhava no raajaa raaja putra mahaa yashaH | samgatyaa na aparaadhnoti raajyam etat anaayakam || 2-79-3

"O, the highly illustrious prince! From now on, do you be our king. Fortunately, this kingdom has not yet missed the mark, even without a king."

आभिषेचनिकम् सर्वम् इदम् आदाय राघव | प्रतीक्षते त्वाम् स्व जनः श्रेणयः च नृप आत्मज || २-७९-४

aabhiShecanikam sarvam idam aadaaya raaghava | pratiikShate tvaam sva janaH shreNayaH ca nR^ipa aatmaja || 2-79-4

"O, prince Bharata! Taking all the things needed for coronation, your own people (the counsellers and the ministers) as well as the citizens are awaiting for you."

राज्यम् गृहाण भरत पितृ पैतामहम् महत् | अभिषेचय च आत्मानम् पाहि च अस्मान् नर ऋषभ || २-७९-५

raajyam gR^ihaaNa bharata pitR^i paitaamaham mahat | abhiShecaya ca aatmaanam paahi ca asmaan nara R^iShabha || 2-79-5

"O, Bharata the excellent among men! Take over the stable kingdom, which came in succession from your ancestors, coronate yourself and rule us."

आभिषेचनिकम् भाण्डम् कृत्वा सर्वम् प्रदक्षिणम् | भरतः तम् जनम् सर्वम् प्रत्युवाच धृत व्रतः || २-७९-६

aabhiShecanikam bhaaNDam kR^itvaa sarvam pradakShiNam | bharataH tam janam sarvam pratyuvaaca dhR^ita vrataH || 2-79-6

The firmly resolute Bharata performed circumambulation clockwise around all the things kept ready for consecration and replied to all those people as follows:

ज्येष्ठस्य राजता नित्यम् उचिता हि कुलस्य नः | न एवम् भवन्तः माम् वक्तुम् अर्हन्ति कुशला जनाः || २-७९-७

jyeShThasya raajataa nityam ucitaa hi kulasya naH | na evam bhavantaH maam vaktum arhanti kushalaa janaaH || 2-79-7

"It is indeed appropriate to bestow kingship always to the eldest of our clan. You, being the conversant people, ought not to tell in this manner to me."

रामः पूर्वो हि नो भ्राता भविष्यति मही पतिः | अहम् तु अरण्ये वत्स्यामि वर्षाणि नव पन्च च || २-७९-८

raamaH puurvo hi no bhraataa bhaviShyati mahii patiH | aham tu araNye vatsyaami varShaaNi nava panca ca || 2-79-8

"Our eldest brother, Rama will become the king. I then will reside in the forest for fourteen years."

युज्यताम् महती सेना चतुर् अन्ग महा बला | आनयिष्याम्य् अहम् ज्येष्ठम् भ्रातरम् राघवम् वनात् || २-७९-९

yujyataam mahatii senaa catur anga mahaa balaa | aanayiShyaamy aham jyeShTham bhraataram raaghavam vanaat || 2-79-9

"Let a great and exceptionally powerful army consisting of all the four limbs be kept ready. I shall bring Rama our elder brother from the forest."

आभिषेचनिकम् चैव सर्वम् एतत् उपस्कृतम् | पुरः कृत्य गमिष्यामि राम हेतोर् वनम् प्रति || २-७९-१०

aabhiShecanikam caiva sarvam etat upaskR^itam | puraH kR^itya gamiShyaami raama hetor vanam prati || 2-79-10

"Keeping in front, all the assembled requisites needed for consecration, I shall proceed to the forest for the sake of bringing back Rama."

तत्र एव तम् नर व्याघ्रम् अभिषिच्य पुरः कृतम् | आनेष्यामि तु वै रामम् हव्य वाहम् इव अध्वरात् || २-७९-११

tatra eva tam nara vyaaghram abhiShicya puraH kR^itam | aaneShyaami tu vai raamam havya vaaham iva adhvaraat || 2-79-11

"Consecrating him, the tiger among men there itself, I shall surely bring Rama solemnized in front, as bringing home the sacred fire from a sacrificial rite, after performing it outside the city."

न सकामा करिष्यामि स्वम् इमाम् मातृ गन्धिनीम् | वने वत्स्याम्य् अहम् दुर्गे रामः राजा भविष्यति || २-७९-१२

na sakaamaa kariShyaami svam imaam maatR^i gandhiniim | vane vatsyaamy aham durge raamaH raajaa bhaviShyati || 2-79-12

"I shall not make her, my so-called mother, fulfil her desire. I will reside in the impassable forest. Rama will become the king."

क्रियताम् शिल्पिभिः पन्थाः समानि विषमाणि च | रक्षिणः च अनुसम्यान्तु पथि दुर्ग विचारकाः || २-७९-१३

kriyataam shilpibhiH panthaaH samaani viShamaaNi ca | rakShiNaH ca anusamyaantu pathi durga vicaarakaaH || 2-79-13

"Let a path-way be prepared by those skilled in that profession, by leveling the uneven surfaces. Let guards who can easily move in the inaccessible forests accompany us in the path."

एवम् सम्भाषमाणम् तम् राम हेतोर् नृप आत्मजम् | प्रत्युवाच जनः सर्वः श्रीमद् वाक्यम् अनुत्तमम् || २-७९-१४

evam sambhaaShamaaNam tam raama hetor nR^ipa aatmajam | pratyuvaaca janaH sarvaH shriimad vaakyam anuttamam || 2-79-14

Hearing Prince Bharata, talking in consideration of Rama's cause, all the people replied in the following illustrious and excellent words:

एवम् ते भाषमाणस्य पद्मा श्रीर् उपतिष्ठताम् | यः त्वम् ज्येष्ठे नृप सुते पृथिवीम् दातुम् इच्चसि || २-७९-१५

evam te bhaaShamaaNasya padmaa shriir upatiShThataam | yaH tvam jyeShThe nR^ipa sute pR^ithiviim daatum icchasi || 2-79-15

"Let the gracious goddess of prosperity abide with you, who are speaking thus, desirous of giving kingdom to Rama the eldest son of the king."

अनुत्तमम् तत् वचनम् नृप आत्मज | प्रभाषितम् संश्रवणे निशम्य च | प्रहर्षजाः तम् प्रति बाष्प बिन्दवो | निपेतुर् आर्य आनन नेत्र सम्भवाः || २-७९-१६

anuttamam tat vacanam nR^ipa aatmaja | prabhaaShitam sa.nshravaNe nishamya ca | praharShajaaH tam prati baaShpa bindavo | nipetur aarya aanana netra sambhavaaH || 2-79-16

Hearing those excellent words spoken by the prince close to their ears, tears born of joy fell from the face and eyes of those venerable men.

ऊचुस् ते वचनम् इदम् निशम्य हृष्टाः | सामात्याः सपरिषदो वियात शोकाः | पन्थानम् नर वर भक्तिमान् जनः च | व्यादिष्टः तव वचनाच् च शिल्पि वर्गः || २-७९-१७

uucus te vacanam idam nishamya hR^iShTaaH | saamaatyaaH sapariShado viyaata shokaaH | panthaanam nara vara bhaktimaan janaH ca | vyaadiShTaH tava vacanaac ca shilpi vargaH || 2-79-17

Hearing these words, the people there along with council and the ministers felt cheerful, being relieved of their anxiety and spoke the following words : "As per your command, devoted men and a group of artisans have been instructed to make the path-way."