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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 107: Bharata establishes rule at Nandigrāma

Summary. He places Rāma’s sandals on the throne, governs in their name and wears bark and matted hair while awaiting Rāma’s return

Sequence

  1. After settling the mothers in Ayodhyā, Bharata tells the elders that he will live at Nandigrāma while waiting for Rāma, whom he recognizes as the King (2.107.1–3)
  2. Vasiṣṭha and the ministers approve (2.107.4–6)
  3. he takes leave of the Queens and departs with Śatrughna, priests, and advisers (2.107.7–9)
  4. the army and many citizens follow, while Bharata carries the sandals with honor (2.107.10–12)
  5. at Nandigrāma he declares that the Kingdom is a trust received from his brother, to be returned when Rāma comes home (2.107.13–15)
  6. he looks forward to surrendering that responsibility and resuming his own place in Rāma's service (2.107.16–18)
  7. he establishes the sandals on the throne and conducts the affairs of government in their name → wearing bark and matted hair, he lives there with his advisers and waits for Rāma's return. (2.107.19–22)

Verses 2.107.1–22

2.107.1

tato nikṣipya mātṝh sa ayodhyāyāṃ dṛḍhavrataḥ
bharataḥ śokasaṃtapto gurūn idam athābravīt

Then, having settled his mothers in Ayodhyā, the firm-vowed Bharata, tormented by grief, spoke thus to his elders:

Words: tato — then; nikṣipya — having settled, entrusted; mātṝh — the mothers; sa — he; ayodhyāyāṃ — in Ayodhyā; dṛḍhavrataḥ — of firm vows; bharataḥ — Bharata; śokasaṃtapto — tormented by grief; gurūn — to the elders; idam — this; athābravīt — then said

2.107.2

nandigrāmaṃ gamiṣyāmi sarvān āmantraye 'dya vaḥ
tatra duḥkham idaṃ sarvaṃ sahiṣye rāghavaṃ vinā

“I shall go to Nandigrāma; today I take leave of you all. There, without Rāghava, I shall endure all this sorrow.

Words: nandigrāmaṃ — to Nandigrāma; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; sarvān — you all; āmantraye — I take leave of; 'dya — today; vaḥ — you; tatra — there; duḥkham idaṃ sarvaṃ — all this sorrow; sahiṣye — I shall endure; rāghavaṃ vinā — without Rāghava

2.107.3

gataś ca hi divaṃ rājā vanasthaś ca gurur mama
rāmaṃ pratīkṣe rājyāya sa hi rājā mahāyaśāḥ

For the king has gone to heaven, and my elder dwells in the forest; I await Rāma for the kingship, for he of great renown is the (true) king.”

Words: gataś ca hi — for (he) has gone; divaṃ — to heaven; rājā — the king; vanasthaś ca — and forest-dwelling; gurur — my elder; mama — my; rāmaṃ — for Rāma; pratīkṣe — I await; rājyāya — for the kingship; sa hi — for he; rājā — is the king; mahāyaśāḥ — of great renown

2.107.4

etac chrutvā śubhaṃ vākyaṃ bharatasya mahātmanaḥ
abruvan mantriṇaḥ sarve vasiṣṭhaś ca purohitaḥ

Having heard this noble speech of the great-souled Bharata, all the counselors and Vasiṣṭha the family priest spoke:

Words: etac — this; chrutvā — having heard; śubhaṃ — noble; vākyaṃ — speech; bharatasya — of Bharata; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; abruvan — spoke; mantriṇaḥ — the counselors; sarve — all; vasiṣṭhaś ca — and Vasiṣṭha; purohitaḥ — the family priest

2.107.5

sadṛśaṃ ślāghanīyaṃ ca yad uktaṃ bharata tvayā
vacanaṃ bhrātṛvātsalyād anurūpaṃ tavaiva tat

“Fitting and praiseworthy is the word you have spoken, Bharata, out of love for your brother; that speech well befits none but you.

Words: sadṛśaṃ — fitting, becoming; ślāghanīyaṃ ca — and praiseworthy; yad — which; uktaṃ — spoken; bharata — O Bharata; tvayā — by you; vacanaṃ — the word; bhrātṛvātsalyād — out of love for your brother; anurūpaṃ — befitting; tavaiva — of you alone; tat — that

2.107.6

nityaṃ te bandhulubdhasya tiṣṭhato bhrātṛsauhṛde
āryamārgaṃ prapannasya nānumanyeta kaḥ pumān

What man would not approve of you — ever devoted to your kin, steadfast in brotherly love, and walking the noble path?”

Words: nityaṃ — ever, always; te — of you; bandhulubdhasya — devoted to kin; tiṣṭhato — abiding; bhrātṛsauhṛde — in brotherly affection; āryamārgaṃ — the noble path; prapannasya — who has entered upon; nānumanyeta — would not approve; kaḥ pumān — what man

2.107.7

mantriṇāṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā yathābhilaṣitaṃ priyam
abravīt sārathiṃ vākyaṃ ratho me yujyatām iti

Hearing the counselors' words, welcome and just as he wished, he said to the charioteer: “Let my chariot be yoked.”

Words: mantriṇāṃ — of the counselors; vacanaṃ — the word; śrutvā — having heard; yathābhilaṣitaṃ — just as desired; priyam — welcome, pleasing; abravīt — spoke; sārathiṃ — to the charioteer; vākyaṃ — word; ratho me — my chariot; yujyatām — let it be yoked; iti — thus

2.107.8

prahṛṣṭavadanaḥ sarvā mātṝh samabhivādya saḥ
āruroha rathaṃ śrīmāñ śatrughnena samanvitaḥ

With a joyful face, having saluted all his mothers, the illustrious one mounted the chariot, accompanied by Śatrughna.

Words: prahṛṣṭavadanaḥ — with a joyful face; sarvā — all; mātṝh — the mothers; samabhivādya — having saluted; saḥ — he; āruroha — mounted; rathaṃ — the chariot; śrīmāñ — illustrious; śatrughnena — by Śatrughna; samanvitaḥ — accompanied

2.107.9

āruhya tu rathaṃ śīghraṃ śatrughnabharatāv ubhau
yayatuḥ paramaprītau vṛtau mantripurohitaiḥ

Having quickly mounted the chariot, Śatrughna and Bharata both, greatly pleased and surrounded by the counselors and priests, set out.

Words: āruhya tu — having mounted; rathaṃ — the chariot; śīghraṃ — quickly; śatrughnabharatāv — Śatrughna and Bharata; ubhau — both; yayatuḥ — the two went forth; paramaprītau — greatly pleased; vṛtau — surrounded; mantripurohitaiḥ — by counselors and priests

2.107.10

agrato puravas tatra vasiṣṭha pramukhā dvijāḥ
prayayuḥ prāṅmukhāḥ sarve nandigrāmo yato 'bhavat

There in front the townsmen, and the brahmins headed by Vasiṣṭha, all went facing east, toward where Nandigrāma lay.

Words: agrato — in front; puravas — the townsmen; tatra — there; vasiṣṭha pramukhā — headed by Vasiṣṭha; dvijāḥ — the brahmins; prayayuḥ — went forth; prāṅmukhāḥ — facing east; sarve — all; nandigrāmo — Nandigrāma; yato — where; 'bhavat — was

2.107.11

balaṃ ca tad anāhūtaṃ gajāśvarathasaṃkulam
prayayau bharate yāte sarve ca puravāsinaḥ

And that army, unbidden, thronged with elephants, horses, and chariots, set out when Bharata departed, and so did all the townsfolk.

Words: balaṃ ca tad — and that army; anāhūtaṃ — unbidden, uncalled; gajāśvarathasaṃkulam — thronged with elephants, horses, and chariots; prayayau — set out; bharate yāte — when Bharata had gone; sarve ca — and all; puravāsinaḥ — the townsfolk

2.107.12

rathasthaḥ sa tu dharmātmā bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ
nandigrāmaṃ yayau tūrṇaṃ śirasy ādhāya pāduke

That righteous Bharata, loving his brother, seated in his chariot, went swiftly to Nandigrāma, having placed the sandals upon his head.

Words: rathasthaḥ — seated in the chariot; sa tu dharmātmā — that righteous one; bharato — Bharata; bhrātṛvatsalaḥ — fond of his brother; nandigrāmaṃ — to Nandigrāma; yayau — went; tūrṇaṃ — swiftly; śirasy — on his head; ādhāya — having placed; pāduke — the sandals

2.107.13

tatas tu bharataḥ kṣipraṃ nandigrāmaṃ praviśya saḥ
avatīrya rathāt tūrṇaṃ gurūn idam uvāca ha

Then Bharata, quickly entering Nandigrāma and swiftly descending from the chariot, said this to his elders:

Words: tatas tu — then; bharataḥ — Bharata; kṣipraṃ — quickly; nandigrāmaṃ — Nandigrāma; praviśya — having entered; saḥ — he; avatīrya — having descended; rathāt — from the chariot; tūrṇaṃ — swiftly; gurūn — to the elders; idam — this; uvāca ha — said

2.107.14

etad rājyaṃ mama bhrātrā dattaṃ saṃnyāsavat svayam
yogakṣemavahe ceme pāduke hemabhūṣite
tam imaṃ pālayiṣyāmi rāghavāgamanaṃ prati

“This kingdom was given to me by my brother himself, as a trust, and these gold-adorned sandals bear its welfare and safety; this very trust I shall guard until Rāghava's return.

Words: etad rājyaṃ — this kingdom; mama — to me; bhrātrā — by my brother; dattaṃ — given; saṃnyāsavat — like a trust, deposit; svayam — himself; yogakṣemavahe — bearing welfare and safety; ceme — and these; pāduke — sandals; hemabhūṣite — adorned with gold; tam imaṃ — this very (trust); pālayiṣyāmi — I shall guard; rāghavāgamanaṃ — Rāghava's coming; prati — until, toward

2.107.15

kṣipraṃ saṃyojayitvā tu rāghavasya punaḥ svayam
caraṇau tau tu rāmasya drakṣyāmi sahapādukau

Having quickly made over (the kingdom) to Rāghava again myself, I shall behold those very feet of Rāma, together with their sandals.

Words: kṣipraṃ — quickly; saṃyojayitvā tu — having made over, restored; rāghavasya — to Rāghava; punaḥ — again; svayam — myself; caraṇau tau tu — those very two feet; rāmasya — of Rāma; drakṣyāmi — I shall see; sahapādukau — together with their sandals

2.107.16

tato nikṣiptabhāro 'haṃ rāghaveṇa samāgataḥ
nivedya gurave rājyaṃ bhajiṣye guruvṛttitām

Then, my burden laid down and reunited with Rāghava, having handed the kingdom over to my elder, I shall take up the service of my elder.

Words: tato — then; nikṣiptabhāro — with my burden laid down; 'haṃ — I; rāghaveṇa — with Rāghava; samāgataḥ — reunited; nivedya — having handed over; gurave — to my elder; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; bhajiṣye — I shall take up, resort to; guruvṛttitām — the service of my elder

2.107.17

rāghavāya ca saṃnyāsaṃ dattveme varapāduke
rājyaṃ cedam ayodhyāṃ ca dhūtapāpo bhavāmi ca

And having given over to Rāghava the trust — these excellent sandals, this kingdom, and Ayodhyā — I become cleansed of sin.”

Words: rāghavāya ca — and to Rāghava; saṃnyāsaṃ — the trust; dattveme — having given these; varapāduke — excellent sandals; rājyaṃ cedam — and this kingdom; ayodhyāṃ ca — and Ayodhyā; dhūtapāpo — cleansed of sin; bhavāmi ca — and I become

2.107.18

abhiṣikte tu kākutsthe prahṛṣṭamudite jane
prītir mama yaśaś caiva bhaved rājyāc caturguṇam

When Kākutstha is consecrated and the people rejoice in delight, my joy and fame would be fourfold that of the kingship.

Words: abhiṣikte — when consecrated; tu — and; kākutsthe — Kākutstha (Rāma); prahṛṣṭamudite — joyful and glad; jane — when the people (are); prītir — joy; mama — my; yaśaś caiva — and fame; bhaved — would be; rājyāc — than of the kingship; caturguṇam — fourfold

2.107.19

evaṃ tu vilapan dīno bharataḥ sa mahāyaśāḥ
nandigrāme 'karod rājyaṃ duḥkhito mantribhiḥ saha

Thus lamenting, forlorn, the greatly renowned Bharata, sorrowful, carried on the rule at Nandigrāma together with the counselors.

Words: evaṃ tu — thus; vilapan — lamenting; dīno — forlorn; bharataḥ — Bharata; sa mahāyaśāḥ — that greatly renowned one; nandigrāme — at Nandigrāma; 'karod — carried on; rājyaṃ — the rule; duḥkhito — sorrowful; mantribhiḥ saha — together with the counselors

2.107.20

sa valkalajaṭādhārī muniveṣadharaḥ prabhuḥ
nandigrāme 'vasad vīraḥ sasainyo bharatas tadā

Wearing bark garments and matted locks, clad in the garb of a sage, the mighty hero Bharata then dwelt at Nandigrāma with his army.

Words: sa — he; valkalajaṭādhārī — wearing bark and matted locks; muniveṣadharaḥ — clad in a sage's garb; prabhuḥ — the lord; nandigrāme — at Nandigrāma; 'vasad — dwelt; vīraḥ — the hero; sasainyo — with his army; bharatas — Bharata; tadā — then

2.107.21

rāmāgamanam ākāṅkṣan bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ
bhrātur vacanakārī ca pratijñāpāragas tadā

Bharata, loving his brother, awaiting Rāma's return, obedient to his brother's word, and then carrying his vow through to the end —

Words: rāmāgamanam — Rāma's coming; ākāṅkṣan — longing for; bharato — Bharata; bhrātṛvatsalaḥ — fond of his brother; bhrātur — of his brother; vacanakārī ca — and doing the word (obedient); pratijñāpāragas — carrying his vow to the end; tadā — then

2.107.22

pāduke tv abhiṣicyātha nandigrāme 'vasat tadā
bharataḥ śāsanaṃ sarvaṃ pādukābhyāṃ nyavedayat

— having consecrated the sandals upon the throne, he then dwelt at Nandigrāma; Bharata submitted every command to the two sandals.

Words: pāduke — the sandals; tv — indeed; abhiṣicyātha — having consecrated, then; nandigrāme — at Nandigrāma; 'vasat — dwelt; tadā — then; bharataḥ — Bharata; śāsanaṃ sarvaṃ — every command; pādukābhyāṃ — to the two sandals; nyavedayat — submitted, referred

← 2.106 Bharata returns without Rāma · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.108 The ṛṣis leave Citrakūṭa →

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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