द्भरद्वाज आश्रमम् दृष्ट्वा क्रोशाद् एव नर ऋषभः | बलम् सर्वम् अवस्थाप्य जगाम सह मन्त्रिभिः || २-९०-१ पद्भ्याम् एव हि धर्मज्नो न्यस्त शस्त्र परिग्च्छदः | वसानो वाससी क्षौमे पुरोधाय पुरोहितम् || २-९०-२
dbharadvaaja aashramam dR^iShTvaa kroshaad eva nara R^iShabhaH | balam sarvam avasthaapya jagaama saha mantribhiH || 2-90-1 padbhyaam eva hi dharmajno nyasta shastra parigcchhadaH | vasaano vaasasii kShaume purodhaaya purohitam || 2-90-2
Having seen Bharadwaja's hermitage at a couple of miles away, that excellent man Bharata, knowing what is right, leaving all his army behind, discarding his weapons and ornaments, and wearing simple silken garment, went forwards by foot, proceeded by Vasishta, his spiritual preceptor.
ततः संदर्शने तस्य भरद्वाजस्य राघवः | मन्त्रिणः तान् अवस्थाप्य जगाम अनु पुरोहितम् || २-९०-३
vasiShTham atha dR^iShTvaa eva bharadvaajo mahaa tapaaH | sa.ncacaala aasanaat tuurNam shiShyaan arghyam iti bruvan || 2-90-4
Leaving his ministers behind at a visible distance to Bharadwaja, Bharata then went along with Vasishta, his spiritual preceptor.
वसिष्ठम् अथ दृष्ट्वा एव भरद्वाजो महा तपाः | संचचाल आसनात् तूर्णम् शिष्यान् अर्घ्यम् इति ब्रुवन् || २-९०-४
samaagamya vasiShThena bharatena abhivaaditaH | abudhyata mahaa tejaaH sutam dasharathasya tam || 2-90-5
On seeing Vasishta, Bharadwaja the great ascetic rose quickly from his seat, asking his disciples to fetch water to wash the hand (of the distinguished guests) with.
समागम्य वसिष्ठेन भरतेन अभिवादितः | अबुध्यत महा तेजाः सुतम् दशरथस्य तम् || २-९०-५
taabhyaam arghyam ca paadyam ca dattvaa pashcaat phalaani ca | aanupuurvyaac ca dharmajnaH papragcchha kushalam kule || 2-90-6
Having met Vasishta and greeted by Bharata, Bharadwaja of great splendour recognized him to be a son of Dasaratha.
ताभ्याम् अर्घ्यम् च पाद्यम् च दत्त्वा पश्चात् फलानि च | आनुपूर्व्याच् च धर्मज्नः पप्रग्च्छ कुशलम् कुले || २-९०-६
ayodhyaayaam bale koshe mitreShu api ca mantriShu | jaanan dasharatham vR^ittam na raajaanam udaaharat || 2-90-7
Bharadwaja, knowing what is right, offering them both, in order of seniority, water to wash theri hands and feet with and fruits afterwards, made enquiries concerning the welfare of their family.
अयोध्यायाम् बले कोशे मित्रेषु अपि च मन्त्रिषु | जानन् दशरथम् वृत्तम् न राजानम् उदाहरत् || २-९०-७
vasiShTho bharataH ca enam papragcchhatur anaamayam | shariire agniShu vR^ikSheShu shiShyeShu mR^iga pakShiShu || 2-90-8
Subsequently, Bharadwaja made enquires with both of them as to whether all were well in the city of Ayodhya, with the army, with the treasury, friends and counsellors. But knowing Dasaratha friends and counsellors. But knowing Dasaratha to be dead, he did not speak of the king.
वसिष्ठो भरतः च एनम् पप्रग्च्छतुर् अनामयम् | शरीरे अग्निषु वृक्षेषु शिष्येषु मृग पक्षिषु || २-९०-८
tathaa iti ca pratijnaaya bharadvaajo mahaa tapaaH | bharatam pratyuvaaca idam raaghava sneha bandhanaat || 2-90-9
Vasishta and Bharata in return made enquires with Bharadwaja, if all were well with his body his sacred fires, his disciples, the trees, the deer and birds in the hermitage.
तथा इति च प्रतिज्नाय भरद्वाजो महा तपाः | भरतम् प्रत्युवाच इदम् राघव स्नेह बन्धनात् || २-९०-९
kim iha aagamane kaaryam tava raajyam prashaasataH | etad aacakShva me sarvam na hi me shudhyate manaH || 2-90-10
The great ascetic Bharadwaja replied, "All is well" and spoke the following words to Bharata, bound as he was with affection to Rama.
किम् इह आगमने कार्यम् तव राज्यम् प्रशासतः | एतद् आचक्ष्व मे सर्वम् न हि मे शुध्यते मनः || २-९०-१०
suShuve yama mitraghnam kausalya aananda vardhanam | bhraatraa saha sabhaaryo yaH ciram pravraajito vanam || 2-90-11 niyuktaH strii niyuktena pitraa yo asau mahaa yashaaH | vana vaasii bhava iti iha samaaH kila caturdasha || 2-90-12 kaccin na tasya apaapasya paapam kartum iha igcchhasi | akaNTakam bhoktu manaa raajyam tasya anujasya ca || 2-90-13
"For what reason have you, who are ruling the kingdom, come here? Tell me all this, for my mind is not getting cleared of doubts."
सुषुवे यम मित्रघ्नम् कौसल्य आनन्द वर्धनम् | भ्रात्रा सह सभार्यो यः चिरम् प्रव्राजितो वनम् || २-९०-११ नियुक्तः स्त्री नियुक्तेन पित्रा यो असौ महा यशाः | वन वासी भव इति इह समाः किल चतुर्दश || २-९०-१२ कच्चिन् न तस्य अपापस्य पापम् कर्तुम् इह इग्च्छसि | अकण्टकम् भोक्तु मना राज्यम् तस्य अनुजस्य च || २-९०-१३
evam ukto bharadvaajam bharataH pratyuvaaca ha | paryashru nayano duhkhaad vaacaa sa.nsajjamaanayaa || 2-90-14
"That annihilator of enemies, born of Kausalya for the increase of her happiness, he who with his brother and his wife have been exiled to the forest for a long period, that Rama who is full of glory, through the intrigues of a woman was condemned to dwell in the forest for fourteen years by his father. I hope you do not intend to do any harm to that irreproachable prince and his younger brother in order to enjoy the throne without hindrance."
एवम् उक्तो भरद्वाजम् भरतः प्रत्युवाच ह | पर्यश्रु नयनो दुह्खाद् वाचा संसज्जमानया || २-९०-१४
aham tu tam nara vyaaghram upayaataH prasaadakaH | pratinetum ayodhyaam ca paadau tasya abhivanditum || 2-90-17
"Thus spoken to as aforesaid, Bharata with his eyes filled with tears in grief and in a faltering tone, replied to Bharadwaja as follows:
हतो अस्मि यदि माम् एवम् भगवान् अपि मन्यते | मत्तो न दोषम् आशन्केर् न एवम् माम् अनुशाधि हि || २-९०-१५
tvam maam evam gatam matvaa prasaadam kartum arhasi | sha.nsa me bhagavan raamaH kva samprati mahii patiH || 2-90-18
"If you the Blessed One, regard me like this, I am lost indeed! I cannot conceive of any harm towards Rama having proceeded from me. do not charge me thus."
न च एतद् इष्टम् माता मे यद् अवोचन् मद् अन्तरे | नाहम् एतेन तुष्टः च न तद् वचनम् आददे || २-९०-१६
vashiShThaadibhi R^itvigbhi ryaacito bhagavaaMstataH | uvaaca tam bharadvaajaH prasaadaad bharatam vacaH || 2-90-19
" I do not approve of what my mother has done when I was away from home. I am not pleased with her nor do I accept her word in this matter."
अहम् तु तम् नर व्याघ्रम् उपयातः प्रसादकः | प्रतिनेतुम् अयोध्याम् च पादौ तस्य अभिवन्दितुम् || २-९०-१७
tvayy etat puruSha vyaaghram yuktam raaghava va.nshaje | guru vR^ittir damaH caiva saadhuunaam ca anuyaayitaa || 2-90-20
"I, on my part, came to take back that tiger among men to Ayodhya, after prostrating myself at his feet and having propitiated him."
त्वम् माम् एवम् गतम् मत्वा प्रसादम् कर्तुम् अर्हसि | शंस मे भगवन् रामः क्व सम्प्रति मही पतिः || २-९०-१८
jaane ca etan manahstham te dR^iDhii karaNam astu iti | apR^igcchham tvaam tava atyartham kiirtim samabhivardhayan || 2-90-21
"O, venerable one! Believing me to have come for the aforesaid purpose, you ought to do a favour for me. Tell me where Rama the Lord of the world is to be found now?"
वशिष्ठादिभि ऋत्विग्भि र्याचितो भगवांस्ततः | उवाच तम् भरद्वाजः प्रसादाद् भरतम् वचः || २-९०-१९
jaane ca raamaM dharmajJNaM sasiitaM sahalakShmaNam | asau vasati te bhraataa citra kuuTe mahaa girau || 2-90-22
Requested by Vasishta and other priests likewise, Bharadwaja answered Bharata in affectionate words as follows:
त्वय्य् एतत् पुरुष व्याघ्रम् युक्तम् राघव वंशजे | गुरु वृत्तिर् दमः चैव साधूनाम् च अनुयायिता || २-९०-२०
shvaH tu gantaa asi tam desham vasa adya saha mantribhiH | etam me kuru supraajna kaamam kaama artha kovida || 2-90-23
"O, Bharata the tiger among men! Good manners towards teachers as well as self control and walking in the footsteps of virtuous men-these qualities are worthy of you, born as you are in the Raghu dynasty."
जाने च एतन् मनह्स्थम् ते दृढी करणम् अस्तु इति | अपृग्च्छम् त्वाम् तव अत्यर्थम् कीर्तिम् समभिवर्धयन् || २-९०-२१
tataH tathaa ity evam udaara darshanaH | pratiita ruupo bharato abraviid vacaH | cakaara buddhim ca tadaa mahaa aashrame | nishaa nivaasaaya nara adhipa aatmajaH || 2-90-24
" I was aware of your purpose in your mind. But, I desired to confirm it and it is on this account that I asked you, in order to strengthen you fame immeasurably."
जाने च रामं धर्मज्ञं ससीतं सहलक्ष्मणम् | असौ वसति ते भ्राता चित्र कूटे महा गिरौ || २-९०-२२
"I know where the virtuous Rama along with Seetha and LakSmana are to be found. Your elder brother is staying on the great mountain called Chitrakuta."
श्वः तु गन्ता असि तम् देशम् वस अद्य सह मन्त्रिभिः | एतम् मे कुरु सुप्राज्न कामम् काम अर्थ कोविद || २-९०-२३
"You may proceed to that place tomorrow. Stay here today along with your ministers. O, man of great wisdom, who understands legitimate interest and desire! Grant me this desire."
ततः तथा इत्य् एवम् उदार दर्शनः | प्रतीत रूपो भरतो अब्रवीद् वचः | चकार बुद्धिम् च तदा महा आश्रमे | निशा निवासाय नर अधिप आत्मजः || २-९०-२४
Bharata of a broad outlook and whose reality (as an admirer of Rama) had now come to be known, answered thus: "So be it". Then, the prince made up his mind to stay for that night in the hermitage."
