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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 69: Kausalyā accepts Bharata’s innocence
Summary. Suspected of seeking the Kingdom, Bharata invokes curses on anyone who approved the exile and wins her trust
Sequence
- Hearing Bharata, Kausalyā goes to see him as he and Śatrughna also approach her; the brothers support her when she collapses (2.69.1–5)
- believing the Kingdom is what he wanted, she reproaches him and asks to be sent to Rāma (2.69.6–11)
- Bharata protests that he knew nothing of the scheme and has always loved his brother (2.69.12–14)
- he solemnly calls down on whoever consented to the exile the consequences of injustice, betrayal, abandonment of dependents, failure to protect subjects, and neglect of parents and sacred duties (2.69.15–28)
- his distress convinces Kausalyā → she asks him to stop the terrible oaths, acknowledges his integrity, and blesses him (2.69.29–32)
- he spends the night overwhelmed by grief. (2.69.33–34)
Verses 2.69.1–34
2.69.1
tathaiva krośatas tasya bharatasya mahātmanaḥ
kausalyā śabdam ājñāya sumitrām idam abravīt
Just so, recognizing the cry of that great-souled Bharata as he wept, Kausalyā spoke this to Sumitrā.
Words: tathaiva — just so; krośatas — of him crying out; tasya — that; bharatasya — of Bharata; mahātmanaḥ — great-souled; kausalyā — Kausalyā; śabdam — the sound, cry; ājñāya — having recognized, made out; sumitrām — to Sumitrā; idam — this; abravīt — spoke
2.69.2
āgataḥ krūrakāryāyāḥ kaikeyyā bharataḥ sutaḥ
tam ahaṃ draṣṭum icchāmi bharataṃ dīrghadarśinam
Bharata, son of Kaikeyī of cruel deeds, has come; I wish to see him, far-sighted Bharata.
Words: āgataḥ — has come; krūrakāryāyāḥ — of her of cruel deeds; kaikeyyā — of Kaikeyī; bharataḥ — Bharata; sutaḥ — son; tam — him; ahaṃ — I; draṣṭum — to see; icchāmi — wish; bharataṃ — Bharata; dīrghadarśinam — far-sighted
2.69.3
evam uktvā sumitrāṃ sā vivarṇā malināmbarā
pratasthe bharato yatra vepamānā vicetanā
Having spoken thus to Sumitrā, she—pale, in soiled garments, trembling and bereft of her senses—set out for where Bharata was.
Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; sumitrāṃ — to Sumitrā; sā — she; vivarṇā — pale, discoloured; malināmbarā — in soiled garments; pratasthe — set out; bharato — Bharata; yatra — where; vepamānā — trembling; vicetanā — senseless, dazed
2.69.4
sa tu rāmānujaś cāpi śatrughnasahitas tadā
pratasthe bharato yatra kausalyāyā niveśanam
And that Bharata too, the younger brother of Rāma, accompanied by Śatrughna, then set out for where Kausalyā's dwelling was.
Words: sa — he; tu — and; rāmānujaś — the younger brother of Rāma; cāpi — and too; śatrughnasahitas — accompanied by Śatrughna; tadā — then; pratasthe — set out; bharato — Bharata; yatra — where; kausalyāyā — of Kausalyā; niveśanam — dwelling, residence
2.69.5
tataḥ śatrughna bharatau kausalyāṃ prekṣya duḥkhitau
paryaṣvajetāṃ duḥkhārtāṃ patitāṃ naṣṭacetanām
Then Śatrughna and Bharata, grieving as they beheld Kausalyā—afflicted with sorrow, fallen, her consciousness lost—embraced her.
Words: tataḥ — then; śatrughna bharatau — Śatrughna and Bharata (dual); kausalyāṃ — Kausalyā; prekṣya — having beheld; duḥkhitau — grieving (both); paryaṣvajetāṃ — the two embraced; duḥkhārtāṃ — afflicted with sorrow; patitāṃ — fallen; naṣṭacetanām — her consciousness lost
2.69.6
bharataṃ pratyuvācedaṃ kausalyā bhṛśaduḥkhitā
idaṃ te rājyakāmasya rājyaṃ prāptam akaṇṭakam
saṃprāptaṃ bata kaikeyyā śīghraṃ krūreṇa karmaṇā
Kausalyā, deeply grieved, answered Bharata thus: “This thornless kingdom has come to you who longed for the kingdom; alas, it was swiftly secured by Kaikeyī through a cruel deed.”
Words: bharataṃ — to Bharata; pratyuvācedaṃ — answered this; kausalyā — Kausalyā; bhṛśaduḥkhitā — deeply grieved; idaṃ — this; te — to you; rājyakāmasya — who longs for the kingdom; rājyaṃ — kingdom; prāptam — obtained, come; akaṇṭakam — thornless, free of enemies; saṃprāptaṃ — secured, attained; bata — alas; kaikeyyā — by Kaikeyī; śīghraṃ — swiftly; krūreṇa — cruel; karmaṇā — by a deed
2.69.7
prasthāpya cīravasanaṃ putraṃ me vanavāsinam
kaikeyī kaṃ guṇaṃ tatra paśyati krūradarśinī
Having sent my son off clad in bark to dwell in the forest, what merit does cruel-eyed Kaikeyī see in that?
Words: prasthāpya — having sent off; cīravasanaṃ — clad in bark garments; putraṃ — son; me — my; vanavāsinam — forest-dwelling; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; kaṃ — what; guṇaṃ — merit, virtue; tatra — in that, therein; paśyati — sees; krūradarśinī — cruel-eyed, of cruel gaze
2.69.8
kṣipraṃ mām api kaikeyī prasthāpayitum arhati
hiraṇyanābho yatrāste suto me sumahāyaśāḥ
Kaikeyī ought quickly to send me off too, to where my son of great renown, Hiraṇyanābha, abides.
Words: kṣipraṃ — quickly; mām — me; api — too; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; prasthāpayitum — to send off; arhati — ought; hiraṇyanābho — Hiraṇyanābha; yatrāste — where dwells; suto — son; me — my; sumahāyaśāḥ — of very great renown
2.69.9
atha vā svayam evāhaṃ sumitrānucarā sukham
agnihotraṃ puraskṛtya prasthāsye yatra rāghavaḥ
Or else I myself, gladly, with Sumitrā as my companion, placing the sacred fire before me, will set out for where Rāghava is.
Words: atha vā — or else; svayam — myself; evāhaṃ — very I; sumitrānucarā — with Sumitrā as companion; sukham — gladly, at ease; agnihotraṃ — the sacred fire-offering; puraskṛtya — placing in front; prasthāsye — I shall set out; yatra — where; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava (Rāma)
2.69.10
kāmaṃ vā svayam evādya tatra māṃ netum arhasi
yatrāsau puruṣavyāghras tapyate me tapaḥ sutaḥ
Or indeed you yourself ought this very day to lead me there, to where that tiger among men, my son, performs his austerities.
Words: kāmaṃ — indeed, if you will; vā — or; svayam — yourself; evādya — this very day; tatra — there; māṃ — me; netum — to lead; arhasi — you ought; yatrāsau — where that; puruṣavyāghras — tiger among men; tapyate — performs austerity; me — my; tapaḥ — austerity, penance; sutaḥ — son
2.69.11
idaṃ hi tava vistīrṇaṃ dhanadhānyasamācitam
hastyaśvarathasaṃpūrṇaṃ rājyaṃ niryātitaṃ tayā
For this vast kingdom, heaped with wealth and grain and full of elephants, horses and chariots, has been handed over to you by her.
Words: idaṃ — this; hi — for, indeed; tava — your, to you; vistīrṇaṃ — vast, extensive; dhanadhānyasamācitam — heaped with wealth and grain; hastyaśvarathasaṃpūrṇaṃ — full of elephants, horses and chariots; rājyaṃ — kingdom; niryātitaṃ — handed over, delivered; tayā — by her
2.69.12
evaṃ vilapamānāṃ tāṃ bharataḥ prāñjalis tadā
kausalyāṃ pratyuvācedaṃ śokair bahubhir āvṛtām
To Kausalyā thus lamenting, enveloped in many griefs, Bharata then, with joined palms, answered this:
Words: evaṃ — thus; vilapamānāṃ — lamenting; tāṃ — her; bharataḥ — Bharata; prāñjalis — with joined palms; tadā — then; kausalyāṃ — Kausalyā; pratyuvācedaṃ — answered this; śokair — with griefs; bahubhir — many; āvṛtām — enveloped, covered
2.69.13
ārye kasmād ajānantaṃ garhase mām akilbiṣam
vipulāṃ ca mama prītiṃ sthirāṃ jānāsi rāghave
O noble lady, why do you reproach me—guiltless and unknowing—when you know my abundant and steadfast love for Rāghava?
Words: ārye — O noble lady; kasmād — why; ajānantaṃ — unknowing; garhase — you reproach; mām — me; akilbiṣam — guiltless; vipulāṃ — abundant, great; ca — and; mama — my; prītiṃ — love, affection; sthirāṃ — steadfast, firm; jānāsi — you know; rāghave — for Rāghava
2.69.14
kṛtā śāstrānugā buddhir mā bhūt tasya kadā cana
satyasaṃdhaḥ satāṃ śreṣṭho yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ
May the mind schooled in scripture never be his—he at whose consent the noble one, true to his word, the best of the good, went forth.
Words: kṛtā — made, formed; śāstrānugā — conforming to scripture; buddhir — mind, understanding; mā bhūt — let it never be; tasya — his; kadā cana — ever; satyasaṃdhaḥ — true to his word; satāṃ — of the good; śreṣṭho — best; yasyāryo — he at whose... the noble one; 'numate — at the consent; gataḥ — went (into exile)
2.69.15
praiṣyaṃ pāpīyasāṃ yātu sūryaṃ ca prati mehatu
hantu pādena gāṃ suptāṃ yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ
May he sink to the servitude of the vilest, and pass water facing the sun, and kick a sleeping cow with his foot—he at whose consent the noble one went forth.
Words: praiṣyaṃ — servitude, drudgery; pāpīyasāṃ — of the more wicked, the vilest; yātu — let him go to; sūryaṃ — the sun; ca — and; prati — towards, facing; mehatu — let him pass water; hantu — let him strike; pādena — with the foot; gāṃ — a cow; suptāṃ — sleeping; yasyāryo — he at whose... the noble one; 'numate — at the consent; gataḥ — went (into exile)
2.69.16
kārayitvā mahat karma bhartā bhṛtyam anarthakam
adharmo yo 'sya so 'syās tu yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ
May the sin of a master who, having had a servant perform a great task, then leaves him unrewarded be his—he at whose consent the noble one went forth.
Words: kārayitvā — having caused to do; mahat — great; karma — work, task; bhartā — master, employer; bhṛtyam — servant; anarthakam — unrewarded, to no purpose; adharmo — the sin, unrighteousness; yo — which; 'sya — is his (the servant's); so 'syās tu — let that be his; yasyāryo — he at whose... the noble one; 'numate — at the consent; gataḥ — went (into exile)
2.69.17
paripālayamānasya rājño bhūtāni putravat
tatas tu druhyatāṃ pāpaṃ yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ
May the sin of those who then work harm against a king who guards his creatures like his own children be his—he at whose consent the noble one went forth.
Words: paripālayamānasya — of the one protecting; rājño — of the king; bhūtāni — the creatures, subjects; putravat — like his own children; tatas — then; tu — but, and; druhyatāṃ — of those doing harm; pāpaṃ — the sin; yasyāryo — he at whose... the noble one; 'numate — at the consent; gataḥ — went (into exile)
2.69.18
baliṣaḍbhāgam uddhṛtya nṛpasyārakṣataḥ prajāḥ
adharmo yo 'sya so 'syāstu yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ
May the sin of a king who exacts the sixth part as tribute yet fails to protect his subjects be his—he at whose consent the noble one went forth.
Words: baliṣaḍbhāgam — the sixth part as tribute; uddhṛtya — having levied, exacted; nṛpasyārakṣataḥ — of the king who does not protect; prajāḥ — the subjects; adharmo — the sin, unrighteousness; yo — which; 'sya — is his; so 'syāstu — let that be his; yasyāryo — he at whose... the noble one; 'numate — at the consent; gataḥ — went (into exile)
2.69.19
saṃśrutya ca tapasvibhyaḥ satre vai yajñadakṣiṇām
tāṃ vipralapatāṃ pāpaṃ yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ
May the sin of those who, having promised the sacrificial fee to ascetics at a sacrifice, then deny it be his—he at whose consent the noble one went forth.
Words: saṃśrutya — having promised; ca — and; tapasvibhyaḥ — to the ascetics; satre — at the sacrificial session; vai — indeed; yajñadakṣiṇām — the sacrificial fee; tāṃ — that (fee); vipralapatāṃ — of those going back on it, reneging; pāpaṃ — the sin; yasyāryo — he at whose... the noble one; 'numate — at the consent; gataḥ — went (into exile)
2.69.20
hastyaśvarathasaṃbādhe yuddhe śastrasamākule
mā sma kārṣīt satāṃ dharmaṃ yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ
In a battle thronged with elephants, horses and chariots and teeming with weapons, may he never do the duty of the brave—he at whose consent the noble one went forth.
Words: hastyaśvarathasaṃbādhe — thronged with elephants, horses and chariots; yuddhe — in battle; śastrasamākule — teeming with weapons; mā sma kārṣīt — let him never do; satāṃ — of the good, the brave; dharmaṃ — the duty; yasyāryo — he at whose... the noble one; 'numate — at the consent; gataḥ — went (into exile)
2.69.21
upadiṣṭaṃ susūkṣmārthaṃ śāstraṃ yatnena dhīmatā
sa nāśayatu duṣṭātmā yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ
May that evil-souled one squander the teaching of most subtle import imparted with care by a wise man—he at whose consent the noble one went forth.
Words: upadiṣṭaṃ — taught, imparted; susūkṣmārthaṃ — of most subtle meaning; śāstraṃ — teaching, treatise; yatnena — with care, effort; dhīmatā — by a wise man; sa — he; nāśayatu — let him squander, destroy; duṣṭātmā — the evil-souled; yasyāryo — he at whose... the noble one; 'numate — at the consent; gataḥ — went (into exile)
2.69.22
pāyasaṃ kṛsaraṃ chāgaṃ vṛthā so 'śnātu nirghṛṇaḥ
gurūṃś cāpy avajānātu yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ
May that pitiless one eat milk-rice, sesame-rice and goat's flesh in vain, offering none, and scorn his elders—he at whose consent the noble one went forth.
Words: pāyasaṃ — milk-rice; kṛsaraṃ — a dish of rice and sesame; chāgaṃ — goat's flesh; vṛthā — in vain, uselessly; so — he; 'śnātu — let him eat; nirghṛṇaḥ — pitiless; gurūṃś — his elders, teachers; cāpy — and also; avajānātu — let him scorn, despise; yasyāryo — he at whose... the noble one; 'numate — at the consent; gataḥ — went (into exile)
2.69.23
putrair dāraiś ca bhṛtyaiś ca svagṛhe parivāritaḥ
sa eko mṛṣṭam aśnātu yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ
Surrounded in his own house by sons, wife and servants, may he alone eat the dainty fare—he at whose consent the noble one went forth.
Words: putrair — by sons; dāraiś — by a wife; ca — and; bhṛtyaiś — by servants; ca — and; svagṛhe — in his own house; parivāritaḥ — surrounded; sa — he; eko — alone; mṛṣṭam — the dainty, choice food; aśnātu — let him eat; yasyāryo — he at whose... the noble one; 'numate — at the consent; gataḥ — went (into exile)
2.69.24
rājastrībālavṛddhānāṃ vadhe yat pāpam ucyate
bhṛtyatyāge ca yat pāpaṃ tat pāpaṃ pratipadyatām
Whatever sin is declared in the slaying of kings, women, children and the aged, and whatever sin lies in forsaking a dependent—may he incur that sin.
Words: rājastrībālavṛddhānāṃ — of kings, women, children and the aged; vadhe — in the slaying; yat — which; pāpam — sin; ucyate — is declared; bhṛtyatyāge — in forsaking a dependent; ca — and; yat — which; pāpaṃ — sin; tat — that; pāpaṃ — sin; pratipadyatām — let him incur
2.69.25
ubhe saṃdhye śayānasya yat pāpaṃ parikalpyate
tac ca pāpaṃ bhavet tasya yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ
Whatever sin is reckoned for one who sleeps through both twilights—may that sin too be his—he at whose consent the noble one went forth.
Words: ubhe — both; saṃdhye — at the two twilights; śayānasya — of one lying asleep; yat — which; pāpaṃ — sin; parikalpyate — is reckoned, assigned; tac — that; ca — and, too; pāpaṃ — sin; bhavet — let it be; tasya — his; yasyāryo — he at whose... the noble one; 'numate — at the consent; gataḥ — went (into exile)
2.69.26
yad agnidāyake pāpaṃ yat pāpaṃ gurutalpage
mitradrohe ca yat pāpaṃ tat pāpaṃ pratipadyatām
Whatever sin attaches to an arsonist, whatever sin to one who defiles his teacher's bed, and whatever sin to the betrayal of a friend—may he incur that sin.
Words: yad — which; agnidāyake — in an arsonist, fire-setter; pāpaṃ — sin; yat — which; pāpaṃ — sin; gurutalpage — in one who violates the teacher's bed; mitradrohe — in the betrayal of a friend; ca — and; yat — which; pāpaṃ — sin; tat — that; pāpaṃ — sin; pratipadyatām — let him incur
2.69.27
devatānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca mātā pitros tathaiva ca
mā sma kārṣīt sa śuśrūṣāṃ yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ
May he never render service to the gods, to the ancestors, and likewise to mother and father—he at whose consent the noble one went forth.
Words: devatānāṃ — of the gods; pitṝṇāṃ — of the ancestors; ca — and; mātā pitros — of mother and father; tathaiva — likewise; ca — and; mā sma kārṣīt — let him never do; sa — he; śuśrūṣāṃ — service, obedient attendance; yasyāryo — he at whose... the noble one; 'numate — at the consent; gataḥ — went (into exile)
2.69.28
satāṃ lokāt satāṃ kīrtyāḥ sajjuṣṭāt karmaṇas tathā
bhraśyatu kṣipram adyaiva yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ
May he fall this very instant from the world of the good, from the good's renown, and likewise from the conduct the good approve—he at whose consent the noble one went forth.
Words: satāṃ — of the good; lokāt — from the world; satāṃ — of the good; kīrtyāḥ — from the renown; sajjuṣṭāt — from that approved by the good; karmaṇas — from the conduct; tathā — likewise; bhraśyatu — let him fall; kṣipram — quickly; adyaiva — this very day; yasyāryo — he at whose... the noble one; 'numate — at the consent; gataḥ — went (into exile)
2.69.29
vihīnāṃ patiputrābhyāṃ kausalyāṃ pārthivātmajaḥ
evam āśvasayann eva duḥkhārto nipapāta ha
Even as he thus consoled Kausalyā, bereft of husband and son, the king's son, himself stricken with grief, fell down.
Words: vihīnāṃ — bereft, deprived; patiputrābhyāṃ — of husband and son; kausalyāṃ — Kausalyā; pārthivātmajaḥ — the king's son; evam — thus; āśvasayann — consoling; eva — even, indeed; duḥkhārto — stricken with grief; nipapāta — fell down; ha — indeed
2.69.30
tathā tu śapathaiḥ kaṣṭaiḥ śapamānam acetanam
bharataṃ śokasaṃtaptaṃ kausalyā vākyam abravīt
To Bharata, swearing such grievous oaths, senseless and consumed with grief, Kausalyā spoke these words:
Words: tathā — thus, so; tu — and; śapathaiḥ — with oaths; kaṣṭaiḥ — grievous, painful; śapamānam — swearing; acetanam — senseless, unconscious; bharataṃ — Bharata; śokasaṃtaptaṃ — consumed with grief; kausalyā — Kausalyā; vākyam — words; abravīt — spoke
2.69.31
mama duḥkham idaṃ putra bhūyaḥ samupajāyate
śapathaiḥ śapamāno hi prāṇān uparuṇatsi me
This grief of mine, my son, grows all the greater, for by swearing these oaths you choke off my very life-breaths.
Words: mama — my; duḥkham — grief; idaṃ — this; putra — O son; bhūyaḥ — the more, again; samupajāyate — arises, grows; śapathaiḥ — with oaths; śapamāno — swearing; hi — for; prāṇān — the life-breaths; uparuṇatsi — you choke off, obstruct; me — my
2.69.32
diṣṭyā na calito dharmād ātmā te sahalakṣmaṇaḥ
vatsa satyapratijño me satāṃ lokān avāpsyasi
Thank heaven your heart, together with Lakṣmaṇa's, has not swerved from dharma; my child, true to your vow, you shall win the worlds of the good.
Words: diṣṭyā — thank heaven, by good fortune; na — not; calito — swerved, moved; dharmād — from dharma; ātmā — the self, heart; te — your; sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — together with Lakṣmaṇa; vatsa — O child, dear one; satyapratijño — true to your vow; me — my (dear to me); satāṃ — of the good; lokān — the worlds; avāpsyasi — you shall attain
2.69.33
evaṃ vilapamānasya duḥkhārtasya mahātmanaḥ
mohāc ca śokasaṃrodhād babhūva lulitaṃ manaḥ
As the great-souled one lamented thus, stricken with grief, his mind became distraught from bewilderment and the stifling of sorrow.
Words: evaṃ — thus; vilapamānasya — of the one lamenting; duḥkhārtasya — stricken with grief; mahātmanaḥ — great-souled; mohāc — from bewilderment; ca — and; śokasaṃrodhād — from the stifling of grief; babhūva — became; lulitaṃ — agitated, distraught; manaḥ — mind
2.69.34
lālapyamānasya vicetanasya pranaṣṭabuddheḥ patitasya bhūmau
muhur muhur niḥśvasataś ca dīrghaṃ sā tasya śokena jagāma rātriḥ
For him wailing, out of his senses, his wits utterly lost, fallen upon the ground and sighing deep again and again, that night passed away in grief.
Words: lālapyamānasya — of him wailing, lamenting piteously; vicetanasya — out of his senses; pranaṣṭabuddheḥ — his wits utterly lost; patitasya — fallen; bhūmau — on the ground; muhur muhur — again and again; niḥśvasataś — sighing; ca — and; dīrghaṃ — deeply, long; sā — that; tasya — his; śokena — in grief; jagāma — passed, went by; rātriḥ — the night
← 2.68 Surabhi’s tears and Bharata’s vow · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.70 Daśaratha’s cremation →
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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