← 2.104 Bharata receives Rāma’s sandals · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.106 Bharata returns without Rāma →
Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 105: Bharata carries the sandals home
Summary. The company circles Citrakūṭa, Bharata reports Rāma’s decision to Bharadvāja and recrosses the Yamunā & Gaṅgā toward Ayodhyā
Sequence
- Placing the sandals on his own head, Bharata mounts his chariot with Śatrughna, while Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva, Jābāli, and the ministers proceed ahead → travelling eastward beside the Mandākinī, the departing company makes a rightward circuit of the great mountain Citrakūṭa, and Bharata journeys with his army along its flank, viewing its varied mineral formations (2.105.1–4)
- on the return route he visits Bharadvāja, who asks whether he met Rāma and achieved his purpose (2.105.5–8)
- Bharata explains that Rāma remained firm about completing the fourteen years (2.105.9–10)
- in this retelling, Bharata says Vasiṣṭha asked Rāma to give the gold-adorned sandals, and Rāma stood facing east and handed them over to him for the Kingship → he is returning with Rāma's permission to administer the Kingdom under that trust (2.105.11–14)
- Bharadvāja praises his conduct and says that such a son preserves Daśaratha's good name (2.105.15–17)
- Bharata takes leave and resumes the journey (2.105.18–20)
- the company crosses the Yamunā and Gaṅgā, passes through Śṛṅgaverapura, and continues toward Ayodhyā → as he approaches home, Bharata again notices its desolation. (2.105.21–24)
Verses 2.105.1–24
2.105.1
tataḥ śirasi kṛtvā tu pāduke bharatas tadā
āruroha rathaṃ hṛṣṭaḥ śatrughnena samanvitaḥ
Then, having set the sandals upon his head, Bharata, delighted, mounted the chariot, accompanied by Śatrughna.
Words: tataḥ — then; śirasi — on his head; kṛtvā tu — having placed; pāduke — the two sandals; bharatas — Bharata; tadā — then; āruroha — mounted; rathaṃ — the chariot; hṛṣṭaḥ — delighted; śatrughnena — by Śatrughna; samanvitaḥ — accompanied
2.105.2
vasiṣṭho vāmadevaś ca jābāliś ca dṛḍhavrataḥ
agrataḥ prayayuḥ sarve mantriṇo mantrapūjitāḥ
Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva, and Jābāli of firm vows, and all the counselors honored for their counsel, went on ahead.
Words: vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; vāmadevaś ca — and Vāmadeva; jābāliś ca — and Jābāli; dṛḍhavrataḥ — of firm vows; agrataḥ — in front; prayayuḥ — went forth; sarve — all; mantriṇo — the counselors; mantrapūjitāḥ — honored for their counsel
2.105.3
mandākinīṃ nadīṃ ramyāṃ prāṅmukhās te yayus tadā
pradakṣiṇaṃ ca kurvāṇāś citrakūṭaṃ mahāgirim
Then, facing east, they proceeded along the lovely river Mandākinī, making a rightward circuit of the great mountain Citrakūṭa.
Words: mandākinīṃ — the Mandākinī; nadīṃ — river; ramyāṃ — lovely; prāṅmukhās — facing east; te — they; yayus — went; tadā — then; pradakṣiṇaṃ ca — and a rightward circuit; kurvāṇāś — making; citrakūṭaṃ — around Citrakūṭa; mahāgirim — the great mountain
2.105.4
paśyan dhātusahasrāṇi ramyāṇi vividhāni ca
prayayau tasya pārśvena sasainyo bharatas tadā
Gazing at thousands of lovely and varied mineral-veins, Bharata then journeyed along its flank with his army.
Words: paśyan — gazing at; dhātusahasrāṇi — thousands of ore-veins; ramyāṇi — lovely; vividhāni ca — and manifold; prayayau — journeyed on; tasya — of it; pārśvena — along the flank; sasainyo — with his army; bharatas — Bharata; tadā — then
2.105.5
adūrāc citrakūṭasya dadarśa bharatas tadā
āśramaṃ yatra sa munir bharadvājaḥ kṛtālayaḥ
Not far from Citrakūṭa, Bharata then saw the hermitage where the sage Bharadvāja had made his abode.
Words: adūrāc — not far; citrakūṭasya — from Citrakūṭa; dadarśa — saw; bharatas — Bharata; tadā — then; āśramaṃ — the hermitage; yatra — where; sa — that; munir — sage; bharadvājaḥ — Bharadvāja; kṛtālayaḥ — had made his abode
2.105.6
sa tam āśramam āgamya bharadvājasya buddhimān
avatīrya rathāt pādau vavande kulanandanaḥ
That wise delight of his line, having come to Bharadvāja's hermitage and descended from the chariot, saluted his feet.
Words: sa — he; tam āśramam — that hermitage; āgamya — having come to; bharadvājasya — of Bharadvāja; buddhimān — the wise one; avatīrya — having descended; rathāt — from the chariot; pādau — the feet; vavande — saluted; kulanandanaḥ — the delight of his line
2.105.7
tato hṛṣṭo bharadvājo bharataṃ vākyam abravīt
api kṛtyaṃ kṛtaṃ tāta rāmeṇa ca samāgatam
Then the delighted Bharadvāja said to Bharata: “Has your task been accomplished, my son, and did the meeting with Rāma take place?”
Words: tato — then; hṛṣṭo — delighted; bharadvājo — Bharadvāja; bharataṃ — to Bharata; vākyam — these words; abravīt — said; api — (question particle); kṛtyaṃ — the task; kṛtaṃ — done; tāta — my son; rāmeṇa — with Rāma; ca — and; samāgatam — a meeting
2.105.8
evam uktas tu bharato bharadvājena dhīmatā
pratyuvāca bharadvājaṃ bharato dharmavatsalaḥ
Thus addressed by the sagacious Bharadvāja, Bharata, cherishing dharma, replied to Bharadvāja:
Words: evam — thus; uktas tu — being addressed; bharato — Bharata; bharadvājena — by Bharadvāja; dhīmatā — the sagacious; pratyuvāca — replied to; bharadvājaṃ — Bharadvāja; bharato — Bharata; dharmavatsalaḥ — fond of dharma
2.105.9
sa yācyamāno guruṇā mayā ca dṛḍhavikramaḥ
rāghavaḥ paramaprīto vasiṣṭhaṃ vākyam abravīt
“Though entreated by our preceptor and by me, that Rāghava of steadfast valor, greatly pleased, spoke these words to Vasiṣṭha:
Words: sa — he; yācyamāno — being entreated; guruṇā — by the preceptor; mayā ca — and by me; dṛḍhavikramaḥ — of firm valor; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; paramaprīto — greatly pleased; vasiṣṭhaṃ — to Vasiṣṭha; vākyam — these words; abravīt — spoke
2.105.10
pituḥ pratijñāṃ tām eva pālayiṣyāmi tattvataḥ
caturdaśa hi varṣāṇi ya pratijñā pitur mama
‘That very promise of my father I shall keep faithfully; for fourteen years is my father's pledge.’
Words: pituḥ — of the father; pratijñāṃ — the promise; tām eva — that very; pālayiṣyāmi — I shall keep; tattvataḥ — faithfully, in truth; caturdaśa — fourteen; hi — for; varṣāṇi — years; ya — which; pratijñā — the promise; pitur — of the father; mama — my
2.105.11
evam ukto mahāprājño vasiṣṭhaḥ pratyuvāca ha
vākyajño vākyakuśalaṃ rāghavaṃ vacanaṃ mahat
So addressed, the greatly wise Vasiṣṭha, a knower of speech, replied to the eloquent Rāghava this weighty word:
Words: evam — thus; ukto — addressed; mahāprājño — the greatly wise; vasiṣṭhaḥ — Vasiṣṭha; pratyuvāca ha — replied; vākyajño — the knower of speech; vākyakuśalaṃ — to the one skilled in speech; rāghavaṃ — to Rāghava; vacanaṃ — word; mahat — weighty
2.105.12
ete prayaccha saṃhṛṣṭaḥ pāduke hemabhūṣite
ayodhyāyāṃ mahāprājña yogakṣemakare tava
‘Gladly hand over these two gold-adorned sandals, O greatly wise one, which will secure your welfare and safety in Ayodhyā.’
Words: ete — these two; prayaccha — hand over; saṃhṛṣṭaḥ — gladly, well-pleased; pāduke — the two sandals; hemabhūṣite — adorned with gold; ayodhyāyāṃ — in Ayodhyā; mahāprājña — O greatly wise one; yogakṣemakare — securing welfare and safety; tava — your
2.105.13
evam ukto vasiṣṭhena rāghavaḥ prāṅmukhaḥ sthitaḥ
pāduke hemavikṛte mama rājyāya te dadau
Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, Rāghava, standing and facing east, gave over to me, for the kingship, those two sandals wrought with gold.
Words: evam — thus; ukto — addressed; vasiṣṭhena — by Vasiṣṭha; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; prāṅmukhaḥ — facing east; sthitaḥ — standing; pāduke — the two sandals; hemavikṛte — wrought of gold; mama — to me; rājyāya — for the kingship; te — those two; dadau — gave
2.105.14
nivṛtto 'ham anujñāto rāmeṇa sumahātmanā
ayodhyām eva gacchāmi gṛhītvā pāduke śubhe
Permitted by the greatly noble Rāma, I have turned back, and, taking the auspicious sandals, I am going to Ayodhyā itself.”
Words: nivṛtto — turned back; 'ham — I; anujñāto — permitted; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; sumahātmanā — the greatly noble; ayodhyām — to Ayodhyā; eva — itself; gacchāmi — I am going; gṛhītvā — having taken; pāduke — the sandals; śubhe — auspicious
2.105.15
etac chrutvā śubhaṃ vākyaṃ bharatasya mahātmanaḥ
bharadvājaḥ śubhataraṃ munir vākyam udāharat
Having heard this auspicious speech of the great-souled Bharata, the sage Bharadvāja uttered a still more auspicious word:
Words: etac — this; chrutvā — having heard; śubhaṃ — auspicious; vākyaṃ — speech; bharatasya — of Bharata; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; bharadvājaḥ — Bharadvāja; śubhataraṃ — a still more auspicious; munir — the sage; vākyam — word; udāharat — uttered
2.105.16
naitac citraṃ naravyāghra śīlavṛttavatāṃ vara
yad āryaṃ tvayi tiṣṭhet tu nimne vṛṣṭim ivodakam
“This is no wonder, O tiger among men, O best of those endowed with good conduct, that nobility should dwell in you, as rainwater settles in a hollow.
Words: naitac — this is not; citraṃ — a wonder; naravyāghra — O tiger among men; śīlavṛttavatāṃ — of those endowed with good conduct; vara — O best; yad — that; āryaṃ — what is noble; tvayi — in you; tiṣṭhet — should dwell; tu — indeed; nimne — in a hollow; vṛṣṭim — rain; ivodakam — as water
2.105.17
amṛtaḥ sa mahābāhuḥ pitā daśarathas tava
yasya tvam īdṛśaḥ putro dharmātmā dharmavatsalaḥ
Undying is that mighty-armed father of yours, Daśaratha, of whom you are such a son — righteous-souled and cherishing dharma.”
Words: amṛtaḥ — undying, immortal; sa — that; mahābāhuḥ — mighty-armed; pitā — father; daśarathas — Daśaratha; tava — your; yasya — of whom; tvam — you; īdṛśaḥ — such; putro — a son; dharmātmā — righteous-souled; dharmavatsalaḥ — cherishing dharma
2.105.18
tam ṛṣiṃ tu mahātmānam uktavākyaṃ kṛtāñjaliḥ
āmantrayitum ārebhe caraṇāv upagṛhya ca
With joined palms, and clasping his feet, he began to take leave of that great-souled sage who had thus spoken.
Words: tam — that; ṛṣiṃ tu — the seer; mahātmānam — great-souled; uktavākyaṃ — who had spoken his word; kṛtāñjaliḥ — with joined palms; āmantrayitum — to take leave; ārebhe — he began; caraṇāv — the feet; upagṛhya — having clasped; ca — and
2.105.19
tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā bharadvājaṃ punaḥ punaḥ
bharatas tu yayau śrīmān ayodhyāṃ saha mantribhiḥ
Then, having circled Bharadvāja to the right again and again, the illustrious Bharata set out for Ayodhyā with his counselors.
Words: tataḥ — then; pradakṣiṇaṃ — a rightward circuit; kṛtvā — having made; bharadvājaṃ — of Bharadvāja; punaḥ punaḥ — again and again; bharatas tu — and Bharata; yayau — set out; śrīmān — the illustrious; ayodhyāṃ — for Ayodhyā; saha mantribhiḥ — with the counselors
2.105.20
yānaiś ca śakaṭaiś caiva hayaiś nāgaiś ca sā camūḥ
punar nivṛttā vistīrṇā bharatasyānuyāyinī
That vast army following Bharata, with its carriages, carts, horses, and elephants, turned back again.
Words: yānaiś ca — and with carriages; śakaṭaiś caiva — and with carts; hayaiś — with horses; nāgaiś ca — and with elephants; sā — that; camūḥ — army; punar — again; nivṛttā — turned back; vistīrṇā — vast, spread out; bharatasyānuyāyinī — following Bharata
2.105.21
tatas te yamunāṃ divyāṃ nadīṃ tīrtvormimālinīm
dadṛśus tāṃ punaḥ sarve gaṅgāṃ śivajalāṃ nadīm
Then, having crossed the divine river Yamunā garlanded with waves, they all again beheld the river Ganges with its wholesome waters.
Words: tatas — then; te — they; yamunāṃ — the Yamunā; divyāṃ — divine; nadīṃ — river; tīrtvormimālinīm — having crossed the wave-garlanded one; dadṛśus — beheld; tāṃ — it, that; punaḥ — again; sarve — all; gaṅgāṃ — the Ganges; śivajalāṃ — of wholesome waters; nadīm — river
2.105.22
tāṃ ramyajalasaṃpūrṇāṃ saṃtīrya saha bāndhavaḥ
śṛṅgaverapuraṃ ramyaṃ praviveśa sasainikaḥ
Having crossed that river brimming with lovely waters, together with his kinsmen and army he entered the pleasant city of Śṛṅgaverapura.
Words: tāṃ — that; ramyajalasaṃpūrṇāṃ — brimming with lovely waters; saṃtīrya — having crossed; saha bāndhavaḥ — together with kinsmen; śṛṅgaverapuraṃ — Śṛṅgaverapura; ramyaṃ — pleasant; praviveśa — entered; sasainikaḥ — with his army
2.105.23
śṛṅgaverapurād bhūya ayodhyāṃ saṃdadarśa ha
bharato duḥkhasaṃtaptaḥ sārathiṃ cedam abravīt
From Śṛṅgaverapura, Bharata, tormented by grief, again looked upon Ayodhyā and said this to the charioteer:
Words: śṛṅgaverapurād — from Śṛṅgaverapura; bhūya — again; ayodhyāṃ — Ayodhyā; saṃdadarśa ha — looked upon; bharato — Bharata; duḥkhasaṃtaptaḥ — tormented by grief; sārathiṃ — to the charioteer; cedam — and this; abravīt — said
2.105.24
sārathe paśya vidhvastā ayodhyā na prakāśate
nirākārā nirānandā dīnā pratihatasvanā
“Charioteer, look — Ayodhyā, laid waste, shines no more; formless, joyless, forlorn, its sounds all stilled.”
Words: sārathe — O charioteer; paśya — look; vidhvastā — laid waste, shattered; ayodhyā — Ayodhyā; na prakāśate — shines not; nirākārā — formless; nirānandā — joyless; dīnā — forlorn, wretched; pratihatasvanā — its sounds stilled
← 2.104 Bharata receives Rāma’s sandals · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.106 Bharata returns without Rāma →
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.
Plain text: /text/2/105.md · JSON: /data/2/105.json