← 2.103 Bharata attempts a fast · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.105 Bharata carries the sandals home →
Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 104: Bharata receives Rāma’s sandals
Summary. Rāma steps into the gold-adorned sandals and returns them, Bharata circles him and prepares to depart
Sequence
- The ṛṣis admire the brothers' conduct (2.104.1–3)
- desiring the eventual destruction of Rāvaṇa, they urge Bharata to accept Rāma's decision and let him fulfill the obligation (2.104.4–6)
- they depart after receiving Rāma's respect (2.104.7–8)
- Bharata makes one more appeal, saying the people look to Rāma and that he cannot protect the Kingdom alone (2.104.9–13)
- Rāma embraces him and assures him that his natural ability, education, and advisers make him capable of governing (2.104.14–17)
- he repeats that he will not break the promise and asks Bharata to treat Kaikeyī as his mother despite what happened (2.104.18–19)
- Bharata presents gold-adorned sandals and asks Rāma to place his feet in them → Rāma does so, steps out, and hands them back → Bharata walks respectfully around him and has the sandals placed on an elephant for the return → Rāma says goodbye to the gathering and his mothers, then goes back into the hut in tears. (2.104.20–25)
Verses 2.104.1–25
2.104.1
tam apratimatejobhyāṃ bhrātṛbhyāṃ romaharṣaṇam
vismitāḥ saṃgamaṃ prekṣya samavetā maharṣayaḥ
The great sages assembled there, amazed, beholding that hair-thrilling meeting of the two brothers of incomparable splendor —
Words: tam — that; apratimatejobhyāṃ — of incomparable splendor (dual); bhrātṛbhyāṃ — of the two brothers; romaharṣaṇam — hair-thrilling; vismitāḥ — amazed; saṃgamaṃ — the meeting; prekṣya — having beheld; samavetā — assembled; maharṣayaḥ — the great sages
2.104.2
antarhitās tv ṛṣigaṇāḥ siddhāś ca paramarṣayaḥ
tau bhrātarau mahātmānau kākutsthau praśaśaṃsire
— the invisible hosts of ṛṣis, the siddhas, and the supreme sages praised those two great-souled brothers, the Kākutsthas.
Words: antarhitās — invisible, hidden; tv — and; ṛṣigaṇāḥ — hosts of ṛṣis; siddhāś — siddhas; ca — and; paramarṣayaḥ — the supreme sages; tau — those two; bhrātarau — brothers; mahātmānau — great-souled (dual); kākutsthau — the two Kākutsthas; praśaśaṃsire — praised
2.104.3
sa dhanyo yasya putrau dvau dharmajñau dharmavikramau
śrutvā vayaṃ hi saṃbhāṣām ubhayoḥ spṛhayāmahe
“Blessed is he whose two sons are knowers of dharma and valiant in dharma; for having heard the converse of the two, we ourselves are filled with longing.”
Words: sa — he; dhanyo — blessed, fortunate; yasya — whose; putrau — two sons; dvau — two; dharmajñau — knowers of dharma (dual); dharmavikramau — valiant in dharma (dual); śrutvā — having heard; vayaṃ — we; hi — indeed; saṃbhāṣām — the conversation; ubhayoḥ — of the two; spṛhayāmahe — we feel longing
2.104.4
tatas tv ṛṣigaṇāḥ kṣipraṃ daśagrīvavadhaiṣiṇaḥ
bharataṃ rājaśārdūlam ity ūcuḥ saṃgatā vacaḥ
Then the hosts of ṛṣis, desiring the slaying of the ten-necked Rāvaṇa, assembled and quickly spoke these words to Bharata, tiger among kings:
Words: tatas — then; tv — and; ṛṣigaṇāḥ — hosts of ṛṣis; kṣipraṃ — quickly; daśagrīvavadhaiṣiṇaḥ — desiring the slaying of the ten-necked one; bharataṃ — to Bharata; rājaśārdūlam — tiger among kings; ity — thus; ūcuḥ — said; saṃgatā — assembled; vacaḥ — word
2.104.5
kule jāta mahāprājña mahāvṛtta mahāyaśaḥ
grāhyaṃ rāmasya vākyaṃ te pitaraṃ yady avekṣase
“O nobly born, greatly wise, of great conduct and great fame — Rāma's word should be accepted by you, if you have regard for your father.
Words: kule — in a (noble) family; jāta — O born; mahāprājña — O greatly wise; mahāvṛtta — O of great conduct; mahāyaśaḥ — O of great fame; grāhyaṃ — to be accepted; rāmasya — of Rāma; vākyaṃ — word; te — by you; pitaraṃ — the father; yady — if; avekṣase — you regard
2.104.6
sadānṛṇam imaṃ rāmaṃ vayam icchāmahe pituḥ
anṛṇatvāc ca kaikeyyāḥ svargaṃ daśaratho gataḥ
We wish this Rāma to be ever free of debt to his father; and by discharging the debt to Kaikeyī, Daśaratha has gone to heaven.
Words: sadānṛṇam — ever free of debt; imaṃ — this; rāmaṃ — Rāma; vayam — we; icchāmahe — we wish; pituḥ — to the father; anṛṇatvāc — because of freedom from debt; ca — and; kaikeyyāḥ — toward Kaikeyī; svargaṃ — to heaven; daśaratho — Daśaratha; gataḥ — has gone
2.104.7
etāvad uktvā vacanaṃ gandharvāḥ samaharṣayaḥ
rājarṣayaś caiva tathā sarve svāṃ svāṃ gatiṃ gatāḥ
Having spoken thus much, the gandharvas together with the great sages, and likewise the royal sages, all went each to his own abode.
Words: etāvad — this much; uktvā — having spoken; vacanaṃ — word; gandharvāḥ — gandharvas; samaharṣayaḥ — together with the great sages; rājarṣayaś — royal sages; caiva — and indeed; tathā — likewise; sarve — all; svāṃ svāṃ — each his own; gatiṃ — abode, path; gatāḥ — went
2.104.8
hlāditas tena vākyena śubhena śubhadarśanaḥ
rāmaḥ saṃhṛṣṭavadanas tān ṛṣīn abhyapūjayat
Gladdened by that auspicious word, the fair-featured Rāma, his face thrilled with joy, honored those sages.
Words: hlāditas — gladdened; tena — by that; vākyena — word; śubhena — auspicious; śubhadarśanaḥ — of fair appearance; rāmaḥ — Rāma; saṃhṛṣṭavadanas — with a face thrilled with joy; tān — those; ṛṣīn — sages; abhyapūjayat — honored, worshipped
2.104.9
srastagātras tu bharataḥ sa vācā sajjamānayā
kṛtāñjalir idaṃ vākyaṃ rāghavaṃ punar abravīt
But Bharata, his limbs drooping, with faltering voice and joined palms, again spoke this word to Rāghava:
Words: srastagātras — with drooping limbs; tu — but; bharataḥ — Bharata; sa — he; vācā — with voice; sajjamānayā — faltering, sticking; kṛtāñjalir — with palms joined; idaṃ — this; vākyaṃ — word; rāghavaṃ — to Rāghava; punar — again; abravīt — spoke
2.104.10
rājadharmam anuprekṣya kuladharmānusaṃtatim
kartum arhasi kākutstha mama mātuś ca yācanām
Considering the duty of a king and the unbroken continuity of family dharma, you ought, O Kākutstha, to grant the entreaty of me and of my mother.
Words: rājadharmam — the king's dharma; anuprekṣya — having considered; kuladharmānusaṃtatim — the continuity of family dharma; kartum — to fulfill; arhasi — you ought; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; mama — of me; mātuś — of the mother; ca — and; yācanām — the entreaty
2.104.11
rakṣituṃ sumahad rājyam aham ekas tu notsahe
paurajānapadāṃś cāpi raktān rañjayituṃ tathā
But I alone am not able to guard so vast a kingdom, nor likewise to keep contented the devoted town and country folk.
Words: rakṣituṃ — to guard; sumahad — very great; rājyam — kingdom; aham — I; ekas — alone; tu — but; notsahe — am not able; paurajānapadāṃś — town and country folk; cāpi — and also; raktān — the devoted, attached; rañjayituṃ — to keep content, please; tathā — likewise
2.104.12
jñātayaś ca hi yodhāś ca mitrāṇi suhṛdaś ca naḥ
tvām eva pratikāṅkṣante parjanyam iva karṣakāḥ
For our kinsmen and warriors, friends and well-wishers, all look to you alone, as farmers look to the rain-cloud.
Words: jñātayaś — kinsmen; ca — and; hi — for; yodhāś — warriors; ca — and; mitrāṇi — friends; suhṛdaś — well-wishers; ca — and; naḥ — our; tvām — you; eva — alone; pratikāṅkṣante — await, look to; parjanyam — the rain-cloud; iva — like; karṣakāḥ — farmers
2.104.13
idaṃ rājyaṃ mahāprājña sthāpaya pratipadya hi
śaktimān asi kākutstha lokasya paripālane
Take up and establish this kingdom, O greatly wise one; you are capable, O Kākutstha, of protecting the world.
Words: idaṃ — this; rājyaṃ — kingdom; mahāprājña — O greatly wise; sthāpaya — establish; pratipadya — having taken up; hi — indeed; śaktimān — capable; asi — you are; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; lokasya — of the world; paripālane — in protecting
2.104.14
ity uktvā nyapatad bhrātuḥ pādayor bharatas tadā
bhṛśaṃ saṃprārthayām āsa rāmam evaṃ priyaṃ vadaḥ
Having said this, Bharata then fell at his brother's feet and, speaking thus fondly, earnestly implored Rāma.
Words: ity — thus; uktvā — having said; nyapatad — fell; bhrātuḥ — of the brother; pādayor — at the feet; bharatas — Bharata; tadā — then; bhṛśaṃ — earnestly; saṃprārthayām āsa — implored; rāmam — Rāma; evaṃ — thus; priyaṃ — fondly, kindly; vadaḥ — speaking
2.104.15
tam aṅke bhrātaraṃ kṛtvā rāmo vacanam abravīt
śyāmaṃ nalinapatrākṣaṃ mattahaṃsasvaraḥ svayam
Taking that brother — dark-hued, with eyes like lotus-petals — onto his lap, Rāma himself, with the voice of an exultant goose, spoke:
Words: tam — that; aṅke — on the lap; bhrātaraṃ — brother; kṛtvā — having placed; rāmo — Rāma; vacanam — word; abravīt — spoke; śyāmaṃ — dark-hued; nalinapatrākṣaṃ — with lotus-petal eyes; mattahaṃsasvaraḥ — with the voice of an exultant goose; svayam — himself
2.104.16
āgatā tvām iyaṃ buddhiḥ svajā vainayikī ca yā
bhṛśam utsahase tāta rakṣituṃ pṛthivīm api
This wisdom that has come to you — both inborn and won by discipline — by which, dear one, you are well able even to protect the whole earth:
Words: āgatā — come; tvām — to you; iyaṃ — this; buddhiḥ — wisdom, intelligence; svajā — inborn, self-born; vainayikī — gained by discipline; ca — and; yā — which; bhṛśam — well, greatly; utsahase — you are able; tāta — dear one; rakṣituṃ — to protect; pṛthivīm — the earth; api — even
2.104.17
amātyaiś ca suhṛdbhiś ca buddhimadbhiś ca mantribhiḥ
sarvakāryāṇi saṃmantrya sumahānty api kāraya
Taking counsel on all matters with ministers, friends, and wise counselors, have even the very greatest affairs carried out.
Words: amātyaiś — with ministers; ca — and; suhṛdbhiś — with friends; ca — and; buddhimadbhiś — with the wise; ca — and; mantribhiḥ — with counselors; sarvakāryāṇi — all affairs; saṃmantrya — having taken counsel; sumahānty — even the very great; api — even; kāraya — have (them) done
2.104.18
lakṣmīś candrād apeyād vā himavān vā himaṃ tyajet
atīyāt sāgaro velāṃ na pratijñām ahaṃ pituḥ
Sooner might radiance depart from the moon, or the Himālaya forsake its snow, or the ocean overpass its shore, than I my father's promise.
Words: lakṣmīś — radiance, splendor; candrād — from the moon; apeyād — might depart; vā — or; himavān — the Himālaya; vā — or; himaṃ — snow; tyajet — might forsake; atīyāt — might overpass; sāgaro — the ocean; velāṃ — the shore, bound; na — not; pratijñām — the promise; ahaṃ — I; pituḥ — of the father
2.104.19
kāmād vā tāta lobhād vā mātrā tubhyam idaṃ kṛtam
na tan manasi kartavyaṃ vartitavyaṃ ca mātṛvat
Whether from desire or from greed, dear one, your mother did this for you — it must not be taken to heart, and she must be treated as a mother.
Words: kāmād — from desire; vā — whether; tāta — dear one; lobhād — from greed; vā — or; mātrā — by the mother; tubhyam — for you; idaṃ — this; kṛtam — done; na — not; tan — that; manasi — to heart; kartavyaṃ — to be taken; vartitavyaṃ — she is to be treated (behaved toward); ca — and; mātṛvat — as toward a mother
2.104.20
evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ bharataḥ kausalyāsutam abravīt
tejasādityasaṃkāśaṃ pratipaccandradarśanam
To the son of Kausalyā speaking thus — resembling the sun in splendor, with the aspect of the first-day moon — Bharata said:
Words: evaṃ — thus; bruvāṇaṃ — speaking; bharataḥ — Bharata; kausalyāsutam — the son of Kausalyā; abravīt — said; tejasādityasaṃkāśaṃ — resembling the sun in splendor; pratipaccandradarśanam — with the look of the first-day moon
2.104.21
adhirohārya pādābhyāṃ pāduke hemabhūṣite
ete hi sarvalokasya yogakṣemaṃ vidhāsyataḥ
“Mount with your feet, O noble one, these sandals adorned with gold; for these shall secure the welfare and safety of the whole world.”
Words: adhirohārya — mount, O noble one; pādābhyāṃ — with the two feet; pāduke — the two sandals; hemabhūṣite — adorned with gold (dual); ete — these; hi — for; sarvalokasya — of the whole world; yogakṣemaṃ — welfare and safety; vidhāsyataḥ — the two shall secure, provide
2.104.22
so 'dhiruhya naravyāghraḥ pāduke hy avaruhya ca
prāyacchat sumahātejā bharatāya mahātmane
That tiger among men, of very great splendor, having mounted the sandals and then stepped down, gave them to the great-souled Bharata.
Words: so — he; 'dhiruhya — having mounted; naravyāghraḥ — tiger among men; pāduke — the two sandals; hy — indeed; avaruhya — having stepped down; ca — and; prāyacchat — gave; sumahātejā — of very great splendor; bharatāya — to Bharata; mahātmane — the great-souled
2.104.23
sa pāduke te bharataḥ pratāpavān svalaṃkṛte saṃparigṛhya dharmavit
pradakṣiṇaṃ caiva cakāra rāghavaṃ cakāra caivottamanāgamūrdhani
That valiant, dharma-knowing Bharata, taking up those two well-adorned sandals, circumambulated Rāghava and set them upon the head of a splendid elephant.
Words: sa — he; pāduke — the two sandals; te — those; bharataḥ — Bharata; pratāpavān — valiant; svalaṃkṛte — well-adorned (dual); saṃparigṛhya — having taken up; dharmavit — knower of dharma; pradakṣiṇaṃ — circumambulation; caiva — and indeed; cakāra — made; rāghavaṃ — of Rāghava (around Rāghava); cakāra — set, placed; caivottamanāgamūrdhani — and upon the head of the best elephant
2.104.24
athānupūrvyāt pratipūjya taṃ janaṃ gurūṃś ca mantriprakṛtīs tathānujau
vyasarjayad rāghavavaṃśavardhanaḥ sthitaḥ svadharme himavān ivācalaḥ
Then, honoring in due order that assembly of people, the elders, the ministers and officials, and likewise his two younger brothers, Rāma, augmenter of the Raghu line, dismissed them, standing firm in his own dharma, unshaken like the Himālaya.
Words: athānupūrvyāt — then in due order; pratipūjya — having honored; taṃ — that; janaṃ — people; gurūṃś — the elders; ca — and; mantriprakṛtīs — the ministers and officials; tathānujau — and likewise the two younger brothers; vyasarjayad — dismissed; rāghavavaṃśavardhanaḥ — augmenter of the Rāghava line; sthitaḥ — standing; svadharme — in his own dharma; himavān — the Himālaya; ivācalaḥ — like the immovable
2.104.25
taṃ mātaro bāṣpagṛhītakaṇṭho duḥkhena nāmantrayituṃ hi śekuḥ
sa tv eva mātṝr abhivādya sarvā rudan kuṭīṃ svāṃ praviveśa rāmaḥ
His mothers, their throats choked with tears, could not for grief even bid him farewell; but Rāma, having saluted all the mothers, entered his own hut, weeping.
Words: taṃ — him; mātaro — the mothers; bāṣpagṛhītakaṇṭho — with throats seized by tears; duḥkhena — for grief; nāmantrayituṃ — to bid farewell; hi — indeed; śekuḥ — were able; sa — he; tv — but; eva — indeed; mātṝr — the mothers; abhivādya — having saluted; sarvā — all; rudan — weeping; kuṭīṃ — the hut; svāṃ — his own; praviveśa — entered; rāmaḥ — Rāma
← 2.103 Bharata attempts a fast · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.105 Bharata carries the sandals home →
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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