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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 64: Bharata leaves Kekaya

Summary. The messengers conceal the crisis, his grandfather and uncle provide gifts and an escort, Bharata departs with Śatrughna

Sequence

  1. The messengers deliver the urgent summons while Bharata is speaking of his dream (2.64.1–3)
  2. gifts are presented and accepted (2.64.4–5)
  3. Bharata asks after his father, brothers, and each of his mothers (2.64.6–9)
  4. the messengers tell him that those he asks about are well, withholding the death and exile as instructed → he takes leave of his grandfather, explaining that he must go at once (2.64.10–13)
  5. his grandfather blesses him and sends greetings to the family and priests (2.64.14–16)
  6. his grandfather equips him with wealth, elephants, horses, blankets, and attendants → his maternal uncle adds elephants, mules, and large, fierce dogs raised in the palace (2.64.17–21)
  7. Bharata and Śatrughna depart with chariots, servants, and an escort. (2.64.22–24)

Verses 2.64.1–24

2.64.1

bharate bruvati svapnaṃ dūtās te klāntavāhanāḥ
praviśyāsahyaparikhaṃ ramyaṃ rājagṛhaṃ puram

While Bharata was recounting his dream, those messengers, their mounts worn out, entered the lovely city of Rājagṛha with its unassailable moat.

Words: bharate — while Bharata; bruvati — was speaking; svapnaṃ — the dream; dūtās — the messengers; te — those; klāntavāhanāḥ — their mounts worn out; praviśyāsahyaparikhaṃ — having entered (the city) with its unassailable moat; ramyaṃ — lovely; rājagṛhaṃ — Rājagṛha; puram — city

2.64.2

samāgamya tu rājñā ca rājaputreṇa cārcitāḥ
rājñaḥ pādau gṛhītvā tu tam ūcur bharataṃ vacaḥ

Having met with and been honoured by the king and the prince, and clasping the king's feet, they spoke these words to Bharata.

Words: samāgamya — having met, approached; tu — and; rājñā — by the king; ca — and; rājaputreṇa — by the prince; cārcitāḥ — and honoured; rājñaḥ — of the king; pādau — the two feet; gṛhītvā — having grasped; tu — and; tam — to him; ūcur — said; bharataṃ — Bharata; vacaḥ — words

2.64.3

purohitas tvā kuśalaṃ prāha sarve ca mantriṇaḥ
tvaramāṇaś ca niryāhi kṛtyam ātyayikaṃ tvayā

“The house-priest asks after your welfare, and so do all the ministers; set out with haste, for there is an urgent task for you to do.

Words: purohitas — the house-priest; tvā — you (acc.); kuśalaṃ — welfare; prāha — asks after, tells; sarve — all; ca — and; mantriṇaḥ — the ministers; tvaramāṇaś — hastening; ca — and; niryāhi — set out, go forth; kṛtyam — a task to be done; ātyayikaṃ — urgent, pressing; tvayā — by you

2.64.4

atra viṃśatikoṭyas tu nṛpater mātulasya te
daśakoṭyas tu saṃpūrṇās tathaiva ca nṛpātmaja

Here, O prince, are twenty crores from the king your maternal uncle, and a full ten crores as well.

Words: atra — here; viṃśatikoṭyas — twenty crores; tu — and; nṛpater — of the king; mātulasya — of the maternal uncle; te — your; daśakoṭyas — ten crores; tu — and; saṃpūrṇās — full, complete; tathaiva — likewise; ca — and; nṛpātmaja — O prince

2.64.5

pratigṛhya ca tat sarvaṃ svanuraktaḥ suhṛjjane
dūtān uvāca bharataḥ kāmaiḥ saṃpratipūjya tān

Accepting all that, Bharata, well-devoted to his circle of friends, honoured the messengers with what they wished and spoke to them.

Words: pratigṛhya — having accepted; ca — and; tat sarvaṃ — all that; svanuraktaḥ — well-devoted; suhṛjjane — to his circle of friends; dūtān — the messengers; uvāca — spoke to; bharataḥ — Bharata; kāmaiḥ — with (their) wishes; saṃpratipūjya — having honoured, rewarded; tān — them

2.64.6

kaccit sukuśalī rājā pitā daśaratho mama
kaccic cārāgatā rāme lakṣmaṇe vā mahātmani

“Is my father King Daśaratha quite well? And is all going well with regard to Rāma or the great-souled Lakṣmaṇa?

Words: kaccit — is it that (interrog.); sukuśalī — quite well, in good health; rājā — the king; pitā — father; daśaratho — Daśaratha; mama — my; kaccic — is it that; cārāgatā — and (is it) gone well, prospering; rāme — with regard to Rāma; lakṣmaṇe — with regard to Lakṣmaṇa; vā — or; mahātmani — the great-souled

2.64.7

āryā ca dharmaniratā dharmajñā dharmadarśinī
arogā cāpi kausalyā mātā rāmasya dhīmataḥ

And is the noble Kausalyā, devoted to dharma, a knower of dharma, a seer of dharma, the mother of wise Rāma, free from illness too?

Words: āryā — the noble lady; ca — and; dharmaniratā — devoted to dharma; dharmajñā — knower of dharma; dharmadarśinī — seer of dharma; arogā — free from illness; cāpi — and also; kausalyā — Kausalyā; mātā — mother; rāmasya — of Rāma; dhīmataḥ — of the wise

2.64.8

kaccit sumitrā dharmajñā jananī lakṣmaṇasya yā
śatrughnasya ca vīrasya sārogā cāpi madhyamā

Is the middle mother Sumitrā, knower of dharma, who is the mother of Lakṣmaṇa and of heroic Śatrughna, also free from illness?

Words: kaccit — is it that; sumitrā — Sumitrā; dharmajñā — knower of dharma; jananī — the mother; lakṣmaṇasya — of Lakṣmaṇa; yā — who; śatrughnasya — of Śatrughna; ca — and; vīrasya — the heroic; sārogā — she (is) free from illness; cāpi — and also; madhyamā — the middle (queen)

2.64.9

ātmakāmā sadā caṇḍī krodhanā prājñamāninī
arogā cāpi kaikeyī mātā me kim uvāca ha

And is Kaikeyī — ever self-seeking, fierce, prone to anger, and fancying herself wise — free from illness; and what did my mother say?”

Words: ātmakāmā — self-seeking, selfish; sadā — always; caṇḍī — fierce, hot-tempered; krodhanā — irascible, prone to anger; prājñamāninī — fancying herself wise; arogā — free from illness; cāpi — and also; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; mātā — mother; me — my; kim — what; uvāca — did say; ha — indeed

2.64.10

evam uktās tu te dūtā bharatena mahātmanā
ūcuḥ saṃpraśritaṃ vākyam idaṃ taṃ bharataṃ tadā
kuśalās te naravyāghra yeṣāṃ kuśalam icchasi

Thus addressed by great-souled Bharata, those messengers then spoke this very deferential word to Bharata: “They whose welfare you desire, O tiger among men, are well.”

Words: evam — thus; uktās — addressed; tu — and; te — those; dūtā — messengers; bharatena — by Bharata; mahātmanā — great-souled; ūcuḥ — said; saṃpraśritaṃ — very deferential, humble; vākyam — word; idaṃ — this; taṃ — to him; bharataṃ — Bharata; tadā — then; kuśalās — well, in good health; te — those; naravyāghra — O tiger among men; yeṣāṃ — of whom; kuśalam — welfare; icchasi — you desire

2.64.11

bharataś cāpi tān dūtān evam ukto 'bhyabhāṣata
āpṛcche 'haṃ mahārājaṃ dūtāḥ saṃtvarayanti mām

And Bharata, thus addressed, said to those messengers: “I shall take leave of the great king, for the messengers are urging me on.”

Words: bharataś — Bharata; cāpi — and also; tān — those; dūtān — messengers; evam — thus; ukto — addressed; 'bhyabhāṣata — spoke; āpṛcche — I take leave of, ask; 'haṃ — I; mahārājaṃ — the great king; dūtāḥ — the messengers; saṃtvarayanti — urge to hurry; mām — me

2.64.12

evam uktvā tu tān dūtān bharataḥ pārthivātmajaḥ
dūtaiḥ saṃcodito vākyaṃ mātāmaham uvāca ha

Having so spoken to the messengers, Bharata the prince, urged on by them, addressed these words to his maternal grandfather.

Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; tu — and; tān — those; dūtān — messengers; bharataḥ — Bharata; pārthivātmajaḥ — the prince, king's son; dūtaiḥ — by the messengers; saṃcodito — urged on; vākyaṃ — word; mātāmaham — maternal grandfather; uvāca — said; ha — indeed

2.64.13

rājan pitur gamiṣyāmi sakāśaṃ dūtacoditaḥ
punar apy aham eṣyāmi yadā me tvaṃ smariṣyasi

“O king, urged by the messengers I shall go to my father's presence; I shall come again whenever you remember me.”

Words: rājan — O king; pitur — of the father; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; sakāśaṃ — to the presence, near; dūtacoditaḥ — urged by the messengers; punar — again; apy — also; aham — I; eṣyāmi — shall come; yadā — when; me — me; tvaṃ — you; smariṣyasi — will remember

2.64.14

bharatenaivam uktas tu nṛpo mātāmahas tadā
tam uvāca śubhaṃ vākyaṃ śirasy āghrāya rāghavam

Thus addressed by Bharata, the king his maternal grandfather then, kissing the Rāghava on the head, spoke to him this gracious word:

Words: bharatenaivam — thus by Bharata; uktas — addressed; tu — and; nṛpo — the king; mātāmahas — maternal grandfather; tadā — then; tam — to him; uvāca — said; śubhaṃ — gracious, auspicious; vākyaṃ — word; śirasy — on the head; āghrāya — having kissed (lit. smelled); rāghavam — the Rāghava (Bharata)

2.64.15

gaccha tātānujāne tvāṃ kaikeyī suprajās tvayā
mātaraṃ kuśalaṃ brūyāḥ pitaraṃ ca paraṃtapa

“Go, my child, I give you leave; Kaikeyī is blessed with a fine son in you; convey my good wishes to your mother and your father, O scorcher of foes,

Words: gaccha — go; tātānujāne — my child, I grant leave; tvāṃ — you; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; suprajās — blessed with fine offspring; tvayā — by you; mātaraṃ — mother; kuśalaṃ — good wishes, welfare; brūyāḥ — you should tell; pitaraṃ — father; ca — and; paraṃtapa — O scorcher of foes

2.64.16

purohitaṃ ca kuśalaṃ ye cānye dvijasattamāḥ
tau ca tāta maheṣvāsau bhrātaru rāmalakṣmaṇau

and good wishes to the house-priest and the other most excellent brahmins, and to those two, my child, the great archers, your brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.”

Words: purohitaṃ — the house-priest; ca — and; kuśalaṃ — good wishes, welfare; ye — who; cānye — and other; dvijasattamāḥ — the best of brahmins; tau — those two; ca — and; tāta — my child; maheṣvāsau — the two great archers; bhrātaru — the two brothers; rāmalakṣmaṇau — Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa

2.64.17

tasmai hastyuttamāṃś citrān kambalān ajināni ca
abhisatkṛtya kaikeyo bharatāya dhanaṃ dadau

Honouring him, the Kekaya king gave to Bharata as wealth excellent elephants, variegated woollen blankets, and deerskins.

Words: tasmai — to him; hastyuttamāṃś — excellent elephants; citrān — variegated, colourful; kambalān — woollen blankets; ajināni — deerskins, hides; ca — and; abhisatkṛtya — having honoured; kaikeyo — the Kekaya (king); bharatāya — to Bharata; dhanaṃ — wealth; dadau — gave

2.64.18

rukma niṣkasahasre dve ṣoḍaśāśvaśatāni ca
satkṛtya kaikeyī putraṃ kekayo dhanam ādiśat

Two thousand gold niṣkas and sixteen hundred horses — having honoured Kaikeyī's son, the Kekaya king bestowed this wealth.

Words: rukma — gold, golden; niṣkasahasre — two thousand niṣkas; dve — two; ṣoḍaśāśvaśatāni — sixteen hundred horses; ca — and; satkṛtya — having honoured; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī('s); putraṃ — son; kekayo — the Kekaya (king); dhanam — wealth; ādiśat — bestowed, assigned

2.64.19

tathāmātyān abhipretān viśvāsyāṃś ca guṇānvitān
dadāv aśvapatiḥ śīghraṃ bharatāyānuyāyinaḥ

Likewise Aśvapati quickly gave to Bharata, to be his attendants, agreeable and trustworthy ministers endowed with virtues.

Words: tathāmātyān — likewise ministers; abhipretān — desired, agreeable; viśvāsyāṃś — trustworthy; ca — and; guṇānvitān — endowed with virtues; dadāv — gave; aśvapatiḥ — Aśvapati (the Kekaya king); śīghraṃ — quickly; bharatāyānuyāyinaḥ — to Bharata, as attendants

2.64.20

airāvatān aindraśirān nāgān vai priyadarśanān
kharāñ śīghrān susaṃyuktān mātulo 'smai dhanaṃ dadau

The maternal uncle gave him as wealth elephants of Airāvata's line, crested like Indra's, of pleasing aspect, and swift, well-harnessed mules.

Words: airāvatān — (elephants) of Airāvata's line; aindraśirān — crested like Indra's; nāgān — elephants; vai — indeed; priyadarśanān — of pleasing appearance; kharāñ — mules, asses; śīghrān — swift; susaṃyuktān — well-harnessed; mātulo — the maternal uncle; 'smai — to him; dhanaṃ — as wealth; dadau — gave

2.64.21

antaḥpure 'tisaṃvṛddhān vyāghravīryabalānvitān
daṃṣṭrāyudhān mahākāyāñ śunaś copāyanaṃ dadau

And he gave as a present dogs reared within the inner apartments, endowed with the strength and valour of tigers, armed with fangs and of huge body.

Words: antaḥpure — in the inner apartments; 'tisaṃvṛddhān — very well grown, reared; vyāghravīryabalānvitān — endowed with the valour and strength of tigers; daṃṣṭrāyudhān — armed with fangs; mahākāyāñ — of huge body; śunaś — dogs; copāyanaṃ — and as a present; dadau — gave

2.64.22

sa mātāmaham āpṛcchya mātulaṃ ca yudhājitam
ratham āruhya bharataḥ śatrughnasahito yayau

Taking leave of his maternal grandfather and of his uncle Yudhājit, Bharata mounted his chariot and set out, accompanied by Śatrughna.

Words: sa — he; mātāmaham — maternal grandfather; āpṛcchya — having taken leave of; mātulaṃ — the maternal uncle; ca — and; yudhājitam — Yudhājit; ratham — chariot; āruhya — having mounted; bharataḥ — Bharata; śatrughnasahito — accompanied by Śatrughna; yayau — went, set out

2.64.23

rathān maṇḍalacakrāṃś ca yojayitvā paraḥśatam
uṣṭrago'śvakharair bhṛtyā bharataṃ yāntam anvayuḥ

Having harnessed more than a hundred chariots with circular wheels, the servants with camels, oxen, horses, and mules followed Bharata as he went.

Words: rathān — chariots; maṇḍalacakrāṃś — with circular wheels; ca — and; yojayitvā — having harnessed, yoked; paraḥśatam — more than a hundred; uṣṭrago'śvakharair — with camels, oxen, horses and mules; bhṛtyā — the servants; bharataṃ — Bharata; yāntam — going, as he went; anvayuḥ — followed

2.64.24

balena gupto bharato mahātmā sahāryakasyātmasamair amātyaiḥ
ādāya śatrughnam apetaśatrur gṛhād yayau siddha ivendralokāt

Guarded by an army, and by his grandfather's ministers who were his own equals, the great-souled Bharata, free of foes, taking Śatrughna, set out from the house like a Siddha from Indra's world.

Words: balena — by an army, force; gupto — guarded; bharato — Bharata; mahātmā — great-souled; sahāryakasyātmasamair — together with his grandfather's ministers, his equals; amātyaiḥ — with ministers; ādāya — having taken; śatrughnam — Śatrughna; apetaśatrur — free of foes; gṛhād — from the house; yayau — went, set out; siddha — a Siddha (perfected being); ivendralokāt — as if from Indra's world

← 2.63 Bharata’s ominous dream · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.65 Bharata reaches Ayodhyā →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. 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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