Bharata Continues his Search for Rama's Hermitage

निवेश्य सेनाम् तु विभुः पद्भ्याम् पादवताम् वरः | अभिगन्तुम् स काकुत्स्थम् इयेष गुरु वर्तकम् || २-९८-१

niveshya senaam tu vibhuH padbhyaam paadavataam varaH | abhigantum sa kaakutstham iyeSha guru vartakam || 2-98-1

After encamping the army, the mighty Bharata the excellent among men, sought to approach on foot, Rama who was complying with the words of his father.

निविष्ट मात्रे सैन्ये तु यथा उद्देशम् विनीतवत् | भरतो भ्रातरम् वाक्यम् शत्रुघ्नम् इदम् अब्रवीत् || २-९८-२

niviShTa maatre sainye tu yathaa uddesham viniitavat | bharato bhraataram vaakyam shatrughnam idam abraviit || 2-98-2

Soon after encamping the army in a well-behaved manner per the guidelines, Bharata spoke the following words to Shatrughna:

क्षिप्रम् वनम् इदम् सौम्य नर सम्घैः समन्ततः | लुब्धैः च सहितैर् एभिः त्वम् अन्वेषितुम् अर्हसि || २-९८-३

kShipram vanam idam saumya nara samghaiH samantataH | lubdhaiH ca sahitair ebhiH tvam anveShitum arhasi || 2-98-3

"O, gentle brother! You, along with a troop of men and trackers, ought to search on all sides of this forest."

गुहो ज्ञातिसहस्रेण शरचापासिधारिणा | समन्वेषतु काकुत्थ्समस्मिन् परिवृतः स्वयम् || २-९८-४

guho jJNaatisahasreNa sharachaapaasidhaariNaa | samanveShatu kaakutthsamasmin parivR^itaH svayam || 2-98-4

"Let Guha search for Rama and Lakshmana in this forest, himself accompanied by a multitude of his kinsmen, duly wielding their bows, arrows and swords."

अमात्यैः सह पौरैश्च गुरुभिश्च द्विजातिभिः | वनं सर्वं चरिष्यामि पद्भ्यां परिवृतः स्वयम् || २-९८-५

amaatyaiH saha pauraishcha gurubhishcha dvijaatibhiH | vanaM sarvaM chariShyaami padbhyaaM parivR^itaH svayam || 2-98-5

"I too, surrounded by the ministers, citizens, priests and Brahmanas; shall personally go round the entire forest on foot.

यावन् न रामम् द्रक्ष्यामि लक्ष्मणम् वा महा बलम् | वैदेहीम् वा महा भागाम् न मे शान्तिर् भविष्यति || २-९८-६

yaavan na raamam drakShyaami lakShmaNam vaa mahaa balam | vaidehiim vaa mahaa bhaagaam na me shaantir bhaviShyati || 2-98-6

"Peace will not be with me until I do not see Rama or the very mighty Lakshmana or the illustrious Seetha."

यावन् न चन्द्र सम्काशम् द्रक्ष्यामि शुभम् आननम् | भ्रातुः पद्म पलाश अक्षम् न मे शान्तिर् भविष्यति || २-९८-७

yaavan na candra samkaasham drakShyaami shubham aananam | bhraatuH padma palaasha akSham na me shaantir bhaviShyati || 2-98-7

"Peace will not be with me until I do not see the auspicious face of my elder brother, resembling the moon and having eyes bearing resemblance to lotus-leaves.

यावन् न चरणौ भ्रातुः पार्थिव व्यन्जन अन्वितौ | शिरसा धारयिष्यामि न मे शान्तिर् भविष्यति || २-९८-८

yaavan na caraNau bhraatuH paarthiva vyanjana anvitau | shirasaa dhaarayiShyaami na me shaantir bhaviShyati || 2-98-8

"Peace will nt be with me until I do not hold firmly on my head, the soles of my elder brother, bearing royal insignia.

यावन् राज्ये राज्य अर्हः पितृ पैतामहे स्थितः | अभिषेक जल क्लिन्नो न मे शान्तिर् भविष्यति || २-९८-९

yaavan raajye raajya arhaH pitR^i paitaamahe sthitaH | abhiSheka jala klinno na me shaantir bhaviShyati || 2-98-9

"Peace will not come to me until my elder brother, who is eligible for the crown, is not installed in the kingdom of Ayodhya, which was derived from our father and grand father and consecrated by sprinkling water on his head (as a symbol of crowing the kingdom)."

सिद्धार्थः खलु सौमित्रिर्यश्चन्द्रविमलोवमम् | मुखं पश्यति रामस्य राजीवाक्षं महाद्युति || २-९८-१०

siddhaarthaH khalu saumitriryashchandravimalovamam | mukhaM pashyati raamasya raajiivaakShaM mahaadyuti || 2-98-10

"Lakshmana, who is seeing regularly the face of Rama having a great luminance resembling the bright moon and having lotus eyes, is indeed an accomplished man."

कृत कृत्या महा भागा वैदेही जनक आत्मजा | भर्तारम् सागर अन्तायाः पृथिव्या या अनुगग्च्छति || २-९८-११

kR^ita kR^ityaa mahaa bhaagaa vaidehii janaka aatmajaa | bhartaaram saagara antaayaaH pR^ithivyaa yaa anugagcchhati || 2-98-11

"Seetha, the illustrious daughter of Janaka, who is following the steps of Rama the Lord of the earth extending to the sea, has fulfilled her object."

सुभगः चित्र कूटो असौ गिरि राज उपमो गिरिः | यस्मिन् वसति काकुत्स्थः कुबेर इव नन्दने || २-९८-१२

subhagaH citra kuuTo asau giri raaja upamo giriH | yasmin vasati kaakutsthaH kubera iva nandane || 2-98-12

"That enchanting mountain of Chitrakuta resembles the King of Mountains on which Rama is residing, as Kubera the Lord of riches is living in the garden of Nandana."

कृत कार्यम् इदम् दुर्गम् वनम् व्याल निषेवितम् | यद् अध्यास्ते महा तेजा रामः शस्त्रभृताम् वरः || २-९८-१३

kR^ita kaaryam idam durgam vanam vyaala niShevitam | yad adhyaaste mahaa tejaa raamaH shastrabhR^itaam varaH || 2-98-13

"Blessed is this dense forest, inhabited by wild animals, where Rama, the great warrior and the excellent man among the wielders of weapons, dwells."