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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 103: Bharata attempts a fast

Summary. He spreads grass and refuses to leave, then offers to serve the exile himself, Rāma rejects substitution and promises to rule after fourteen years

Sequence

  1. Vasiṣṭha adds that a teacher, like a father and mother, deserves obedience, and asks Rāma to heed him (2.103.1–4)
  2. he also invokes the requests of Kausalyā, Bharata, and the assembled people (2.103.5–7)
  3. Rāma replies that he can never fully repay his parents' care and will not invalidate the command he accepted from his father (2.103.8–11)
  4. Bharata asks Sumantra to spread grass so he can fast outside the hut until Rāma relents → when Sumantra looks to Rāma instead, Bharata spreads it himself (2.103.12–15)
  5. Rāma asks him to abandon this attempt to compel him and return to Ayodhyā (2.103.16–18)
  6. Bharata appeals to the people, but they now acknowledge that Rāma's commitment to his father's word cannot readily be overturned (2.103.19–21)
  7. at Rāma's urging Bharata rises and touches water (2.103.22–24)
  8. he publicly repeats that he never asked for the Kingdom or directed his mother's action, and offers to serve the fourteen years himself (2.103.25–27)
  9. Rāma refuses that substitution as an evasion of the actual promise → he affirms Bharata's integrity and says he will accept rule after completing the exile. (2.103.28–32)

Verses 2.103.1–32

2.103.1

vasiṣṭhas tu tadā rāmam uktvā rājapurohitaḥ
abravīd dharmasaṃyuktaṃ punar evāparaṃ vacaḥ

Then Vasiṣṭha, the royal chaplain, having spoken to Rāma, uttered yet another word full of dharma:

Words: vasiṣṭhas — Vasiṣṭha; tu — and; tadā — then; rāmam — to Rāma; uktvā — having spoken; rājapurohitaḥ — the royal chaplain; abravīd — spoke; dharmasaṃyuktaṃ — filled with dharma; punar — again; evāparaṃ — indeed another; vacaḥ — word

2.103.2

puruṣasyeha jātasya bhavanti guravas trayaḥ
ācāryaś caiva kākutstha pitā mātā ca rāghava

For a man born into this world there are three venerable elders: the teacher, and the father, and the mother, O Kākutstha, O Rāghava.

Words: puruṣasyeha — for a man here; jātasya — born; bhavanti — there are; guravas — gurus, elders; trayaḥ — three; ācāryaś — the teacher; caiva — and indeed; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; pitā — the father; mātā — the mother; ca — and; rāghava — O Rāghava

2.103.3

pitā hy enaṃ janayati puruṣaṃ puruṣarṣabha
prajñāṃ dadāti cācāryas tasmāt sa gurur ucyate

For the father begets this man, O bull among men, and the teacher bestows wisdom — therefore he too is called a guru.

Words: pitā — the father; hy — for; enaṃ — this; janayati — begets; puruṣaṃ — man; puruṣarṣabha — O bull among men; prajñāṃ — wisdom; dadāti — gives; cācāryas — and the teacher; tasmāt — therefore; sa — he; gurur — guru; ucyate — is called

2.103.4

sa te 'haṃ pitur ācāryas tava caiva paraṃtapa
mama tvaṃ vacanaṃ kurvan nātivarteḥ satāṃ gatim

I am that teacher of your father, and of you as well, O scorcher of foes; by doing my bidding you would not stray from the path of the good.

Words: sa — that; te — your (father's); 'haṃ — I; pitur — of the father; ācāryas — teacher; tava — of you; caiva — and indeed; paraṃtapa — O scorcher of foes; mama — my; tvaṃ — you; vacanaṃ — word; kurvan — doing; nātivarteḥ — you would not transgress; satāṃ — of the good; gatim — the path

2.103.5

imā hi te pariṣadaḥ śreṇayaś ca samāgatāḥ
eṣu tāta caran dharmaṃ nātivarteḥ satāṃ gatim

Here indeed are your assemblies and the guilds gathered together; practicing dharma among these, dear son, you would not stray from the path of the good.

Words: imā — these; hi — indeed; te — your; pariṣadaḥ — assemblies; śreṇayaś — guilds; ca — and; samāgatāḥ — gathered together; eṣu — among these; tāta — dear son; caran — practicing; dharmaṃ — dharma; nātivarteḥ — you would not transgress; satāṃ — of the good; gatim — the path

2.103.6

vṛddhāyā dharmaśīlāyā mātur nārhasy avartitum
asyās tu vacanaṃ kurvan nātivarteḥ satāṃ gatim

You ought not to turn away from your aged, righteous-natured mother; by doing her word you would not stray from the path of the good.

Words: vṛddhāyā — of the aged; dharmaśīlāyā — of righteous nature; mātur — of the mother; nārhasy — you ought not; avartitum — to turn away, to disregard; asyās — her; tu — and; vacanaṃ — word; kurvan — doing; nātivarteḥ — you would not transgress; satāṃ — of the good; gatim — the path

2.103.7

bharatasya vacaḥ kurvan yācamānasya rāghava
ātmānaṃ nātivartes tvaṃ satyadharmaparākrama

By doing the word of Bharata, who entreats you, O Rāghava, you would not fail your own self, O you whose valor is truth and dharma.

Words: bharatasya — of Bharata; vacaḥ — word; kurvan — doing; yācamānasya — of (him) entreating; rāghava — O Rāghava; ātmānaṃ — yourself; nātivartes — you would not go against; tvaṃ — you; satyadharmaparākrama — O you of true dharma and valor

2.103.8

evaṃ madhuram uktas tu guruṇā rāghavaḥ svayam
pratyuvāca samāsīnaṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ puruṣarṣabhaḥ

Thus sweetly addressed by his teacher, Rāghava, that bull among men, himself replied to Vasiṣṭha seated near:

Words: evaṃ — thus; madhuram — sweetly; uktas — addressed; tu — and; guruṇā — by the guru; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; svayam — himself; pratyuvāca — replied; samāsīnaṃ — seated near; vasiṣṭhaṃ — to Vasiṣṭha; puruṣarṣabhaḥ — the bull among men

2.103.9

yan mātāpitarau vṛttaṃ tanaye kurutaḥ sadā
na supratikaraṃ tat tu mātrā pitrā ca yat kṛtam

The service that mother and father always render to a child — that which is done by mother and father is not easily repaid.

Words: yan — what; mātāpitarau — mother and father; vṛttaṃ — service, treatment; tanaye — for the child; kurutaḥ — the two do; sadā — always; na — not; supratikaraṃ — easily requited; tat — that; tu — indeed; mātrā — by the mother; pitrā — by the father; ca — and; yat — what; kṛtam — is done

2.103.10

yathāśakti pradānena snāpanāc chādanena ca
nityaṃ ca priyavādena tathā saṃvardhanena ca

— by giving to the best of their ability, by bathing and clothing, by constant kind words, and likewise by nurturing.

Words: yathāśakti — according to ability; pradānena — by giving; snāpanāc — by bathing; chādanena — by clothing; ca — and; nityaṃ — constantly; ca — and; priyavādena — by kind speech; tathā — likewise; saṃvardhanena — by nurturing; ca — and

2.103.11

sa hi rājā janayitā pitā daśaratho mama
ājñātaṃ yan mayā tasya na tan mithyā bhaviṣyati

For that King Daśaratha is my father who begot me; what has been commanded by him and accepted by me shall not be made false.

Words: sa — that; hi — for; rājā — king; janayitā — the begetter; pitā — father; daśaratho — Daśaratha; mama — my; ājñātaṃ — what was commanded; yan — which; mayā — by me (accepted); tasya — his; na — not; tan — that; mithyā — false; bhaviṣyati — will become

2.103.12

evam uktas tu rāmeṇa bharataḥ pratyanantaram
uvāca paramodāraḥ sūtaṃ paramadurmanāḥ

Thus addressed by Rāma, Bharata, exceedingly noble yet utterly disheartened, thereupon said to the charioteer:

Words: evam — thus; uktas — addressed; tu — but; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; bharataḥ — Bharata; pratyanantaram — immediately thereupon; uvāca — said; paramodāraḥ — exceedingly noble; sūtaṃ — to the charioteer; paramadurmanāḥ — deeply disheartened

2.103.13

iha me sthaṇḍile śīghraṃ kuśān āstara sārathe
āryaṃ pratyupavekṣyāmi yāvan me na prasīdati

Here on the bare ground quickly spread kuśa grass for me, O charioteer; I shall sit fasting before the noble one until he relents toward me.

Words: iha — here; me — for me; sthaṇḍile — on the bare ground; śīghraṃ — quickly; kuśān — kuśa grasses; āstara — spread; sārathe — O charioteer; āryaṃ — the noble one; pratyupavekṣyāmi — I shall sit fasting before; yāvan — until; me — toward me; na — not; prasīdati — he relents

2.103.14

anāhāro nirāloko dhanahīno yathā dvijaḥ
śeṣye purastāc chālāyā yāvan na pratiyāsyati

Without food, seeing no one, like a penniless brahmin, I shall lie before his hut until he consents to return.

Words: anāhāro — without food; nirāloko — seeing no one, secluded; dhanahīno — destitute of wealth; yathā — like; dvijaḥ — a brahmin; śeṣye — I shall lie; purastāc — in front of; chālāyā — of the hut; yāvan — until; na — not; pratiyāsyati — he will turn back, return

2.103.15

sa tu rāmam avekṣantaṃ sumantraṃ prekṣya durmanāḥ
kuśottaram upasthāpya bhūmāv evāstarat svayam

But he, disheartened, seeing Sumantra look toward Rāma, fetched kuśa-tipped grass and spread it himself upon the ground.

Words: sa — he; tu — but; rāmam — at Rāma; avekṣantaṃ — looking; sumantraṃ — Sumantra; prekṣya — having seen; durmanāḥ — disheartened; kuśottaram — topped with kuśa; upasthāpya — having brought, set out; bhūmāv — on the ground; evāstarat — indeed spread; svayam — himself

2.103.16

tam uvāca mahātejā rāmo rājarṣisattamāḥ
kiṃ māṃ bharata kurvāṇaṃ tāta pratyupavekṣyasi

To him spoke Rāma of great splendor, best of royal sages: “For what deed of mine, dear Bharata, will you sit fasting against me?

Words: tam — to him; uvāca — said; mahātejā — of great splendor; rāmo — Rāma; rājarṣisattamāḥ — best of royal sages (nom. sg. expected -sattamaḥ); kiṃ — for what; māṃ — against me; bharata — O Bharata; kurvāṇaṃ — doing; tāta — dear one; pratyupavekṣyasi — will you sit fasting against

2.103.17

brāhmaṇo hy ekapārśvena narān roddhum ihārhati
na tu mūrdhāvasiktānāṃ vidhiḥ pratyupaveśane

For a brahmin, by lying fasting on one side, may here constrain men; but for the consecrated (kshatriyas) there is no ordinance for sitting in protest.

Words: brāhmaṇo — a brahmin; hy — for; ekapārśvena — by (lying on) one side; narān — men; roddhum — to constrain; ihārhati — is entitled here; na — not; tu — but; mūrdhāvasiktānāṃ — of the consecrated (kings); vidhiḥ — ordinance, rule; pratyupaveśane — in sitting-in-protest

2.103.18

uttiṣṭha naraśārdūla hitvaitad dāruṇaṃ vratam
puravaryām itaḥ kṣipram ayodhyāṃ yāhi rāghava

Rise, O tiger among men, abandoning this cruel vow; go quickly from here to Ayodhyā, the finest of cities, O Rāghava.

Words: uttiṣṭha — rise; naraśārdūla — O tiger among men; hitvaitad — abandoning this; dāruṇaṃ — cruel; vratam — vow; puravaryām — to the finest of cities; itaḥ — from here; kṣipram — quickly; ayodhyāṃ — to Ayodhyā; yāhi — go; rāghava — O Rāghava

2.103.19

āsīnas tv eva bharataḥ paurajānapadaṃ janam
uvāca sarvataḥ prekṣya kim āryaṃ nānuśāsatha

But Bharata, still seated, looking all around at the town and country folk, said: “Why do you not urge the noble one?”

Words: āsīnas — seated; tv — but; eva — still; bharataḥ — Bharata; paurajānapadaṃ — town and country; janam — people; uvāca — said; sarvataḥ — all around; prekṣya — having looked; kim — why; āryaṃ — the noble one; nānuśāsatha — do you not urge

2.103.20

te tam ūcur mahātmānaṃ paurajānapadā janāḥ
kākutstham abhijānīmaḥ samyag vadati rāghavaḥ

The town and country folk said to that great-souled one: “We acknowledge Kākutstha's stand — Rāghava speaks rightly.

Words: te — they; tam — to him; ūcur — said; mahātmānaṃ — the great-souled; paurajānapadā — town and country (folk); janāḥ — people; kākutstham — Kākutstha; abhijānīmaḥ — we acknowledge; samyag — rightly; vadati — speaks; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava

2.103.21

eṣo 'pi hi mahābhāgaḥ pitur vacasi tiṣṭhati
ata eva na śaktāḥ smo vyāvartayitum añjasā

For this greatly fortunate one too abides by his father's word; for that very reason we are unable to turn him back readily.

Words: eṣo — this one; 'pi — also; hi — for; mahābhāgaḥ — greatly fortunate; pitur — of the father; vacasi — in the word; tiṣṭhati — abides, stands; ata — from this; eva — very; na — not; śaktāḥ — able; smo — we are; vyāvartayitum — to turn back; añjasā — readily

2.103.22

teṣām ājñāya vacanaṃ rāmo vacanam abravīt
evaṃ nibodha vacanaṃ suhṛdāṃ dharmacakṣuṣām

Having grasped their words, Rāma spoke: “Thus, hear the word of well-wishers who see with the eye of dharma.

Words: teṣām — their; ājñāya — having grasped, understood; vacanaṃ — word; rāmo — Rāma; vacanam — word; abravīt — spoke; evaṃ — thus; nibodha — understand, hear; vacanaṃ — the word; suhṛdāṃ — of the well-wishers; dharmacakṣuṣām — of those with the eye of dharma

2.103.23

etac caivobhayaṃ śrutvā samyak saṃpaśya rāghava
uttiṣṭha tvaṃ mahābāho māṃ ca spṛśa tathodakam

Having heard both these, consider well, O Rāghava; rise, mighty-armed one, and touch me and likewise the water.

Words: etac — this; caivobhayaṃ — and both; śrutvā — having heard; samyak — well; saṃpaśya — consider, look; rāghava — O Rāghava; uttiṣṭha — rise; tvaṃ — you; mahābāho — O mighty-armed; māṃ — me; ca — and; spṛśa — touch; tathodakam — and likewise the water

2.103.24

athotthāya jalaṃ spṛṣṭvā bharato vākyam abravīt
śṛṇvantu me pariṣado mantriṇaḥ śreṇayas tathā

Then, rising and touching the water, Bharata spoke: “Let my assemblies, the ministers, and likewise the guilds hear me.

Words: athotthāya — then rising; jalaṃ — the water; spṛṣṭvā — having touched; bharato — Bharata; vākyam — word; abravīt — spoke; śṛṇvantu — let (them) hear; me — me; pariṣado — assemblies; mantriṇaḥ — ministers; śreṇayas — guilds; tathā — likewise

2.103.25

na yāce pitaraṃ rājyaṃ nānuśāsāmi mātaram
āryaṃ paramadharmajñam abhijānāmi rāghavam

I did not beg the kingdom of my father, nor did I direct my mother; I acknowledge the noble Rāghava, supreme knower of dharma.

Words: na — not; yāce — I ask, begged; pitaraṃ — of the father; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; nānuśāsāmi — nor do I direct; mātaram — the mother; āryaṃ — the noble; paramadharmajñam — supreme knower of dharma; abhijānāmi — I acknowledge; rāghavam — Rāghava

2.103.26

yadi tv avaśyaṃ vastavyaṃ kartavyaṃ ca pitur vacaḥ
aham eva nivatsyāmi caturdaśa vane samāḥ

But if there must necessarily be a forest-dwelling, and the father's word must be fulfilled, then I myself shall dwell in the forest for fourteen years.

Words: yadi — if; tv — but; avaśyaṃ — necessarily; vastavyaṃ — it must be dwelt; kartavyaṃ — must be done; ca — and; pitur — of the father; vacaḥ — word; aham — I; eva — myself; nivatsyāmi — shall dwell; caturdaśa — fourteen; vane — in the forest; samāḥ — years

2.103.27

dharmātmā tasya tathyena bhrātur vākyena vismitaḥ
uvāca rāmaḥ saṃprekṣya paurajānapadaṃ janam

The righteous Rāma, amazed by the truthful word of his brother, gazing at the town and country folk, said:

Words: dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; tasya — his; tathyena — by the truthful; bhrātur — of the brother; vākyena — by the word; vismitaḥ — amazed; uvāca — said; rāmaḥ — Rāma; saṃprekṣya — gazing at; paurajānapadaṃ — town and country; janam — people

2.103.28

vikrītam āhitaṃ krītaṃ yat pitrā jīvatā mama
na tal lopayituṃ śakyaṃ mayā vā bharatena vā

Whatever was sold, pledged, or bought by my father while he lived — that can be annulled neither by me nor by Bharata.

Words: vikrītam — sold; āhitaṃ — pledged, mortgaged; krītaṃ — bought; yat — what; pitrā — by the father; jīvatā — while living; mama — my; na — not; tal — that; lopayituṃ — to annul; śakyaṃ — possible; mayā — by me; vā — or; bharatena — by Bharata; vā — or

2.103.29

upadhir na mayā kāryo vanavāse jugupsitaḥ
yuktam uktaṃ ca kaikeyyā pitrā me sukṛtaṃ kṛtam

No blameworthy evasion is to be practiced by me in this forest-dwelling; what Kaikeyī said was fitting, and my father did well.

Words: upadhir — evasion, fraud; na — not; mayā — by me; kāryo — to be done; vanavāse — in the forest-dwelling; jugupsitaḥ — blameworthy; yuktam — fitting, proper; uktaṃ — said; ca — and; kaikeyyā — by Kaikeyī; pitrā — by the father; me — my; sukṛtaṃ — a good deed; kṛtam — done

2.103.30

jānāmi bharataṃ kṣāntaṃ gurusatkārakāriṇam
sarvam evātra kalyāṇaṃ satyasaṃdhe mahātmani

I know Bharata to be forbearing, a doer of honor to his elders; everything in this great-souled one, true to his word, is wholly auspicious.

Words: jānāmi — I know; bharataṃ — Bharata; kṣāntaṃ — forbearing; gurusatkārakāriṇam — doer of honor to elders; sarvam — everything; evātra — indeed here; kalyāṇaṃ — auspicious; satyasaṃdhe — in (him) true to his word; mahātmani — in the great-souled

2.103.31

anena dharmaśīlena vanāt pratyāgataḥ punaḥ
bhrātrā saha bhaviṣyāmi pṛthivyāḥ patir uttamaḥ

Returned again from the forest, together with this righteous-natured brother, I shall become the supreme lord of the earth.

Words: anena — with this; dharmaśīlena — righteous-natured; vanāt — from the forest; pratyāgataḥ — returned; punaḥ — again; bhrātrā — with the brother; saha — together; bhaviṣyāmi — I shall become; pṛthivyāḥ — of the earth; patir — lord; uttamaḥ — supreme

2.103.32

vṛto rājā hi kaikeyyā mayā tad vacanaṃ kṛtam
anṛtān mocayānena pitaraṃ taṃ mahīpatim

The king was solicited by Kaikeyī, and I have fulfilled that word of his; by this deed free our father, that lord of the earth, from untruth.

Words: vṛto — solicited, chosen; rājā — the king; hi — indeed; kaikeyyā — by Kaikeyī; mayā — by me; tad — that; vacanaṃ — word; kṛtam — fulfilled, done; anṛtān — from untruth; mocayānena — free (him) by this; pitaraṃ — the father; taṃ — that; mahīpatim — lord of the earth

← 2.102 Vasiṣṭha recounts the royal lineage · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.104 Bharata receives Rāma’s sandals →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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