← 2.81 Rāma and Sītā’s grass bed · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.83 Guha ferries Bharata’s company →
Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 82: Bharata examines the grass bed
Summary. Traces of Sītā’s gold and silk reveal where she slept, he vows to adopt forest life and offer himself in Rāma’s place
Sequence
- Bharata examines the flattened grass and contrasts it with Rāma's former bedding and palace life (2.82.1–8)
- the reversal seems almost unbelievable, especially with Sītā sharing it (2.82.9–11)
- he notices traces of gold and silk in the grass and infers that she slept there still wearing her ornaments and clothing (2.82.12–15)
- he praises her loyalty while lamenting what Rāma has lost (2.82.16–18)
- he worries about the Kingdom's lack of leadership, though he believes Rāma's reputation still deters enemies (2.82.19–22)
- he vows to sleep on the ground, eat forest food, and wear bark and matted hair himself (2.82.23–24)
- he proposes remaining in the forest with Śatrughna while Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa return to rule → if Rāma refuses, Bharata will follow him rather than return alone. (2.82.25–27)
Verses 2.82.1–27
2.82.1
tac chrutvā nipuṇaṃ sarvaṃ bharataḥ saha mantribhiḥ
iṅgudīmūlam āgamya rāmaśayyām avekṣya tām
Having heard all this attentively, Bharata, together with his ministers, came to the foot of the iṅgudī tree and, gazing upon that bed of Rāma's,
Words: tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; nipuṇaṃ — attentively, closely; sarvaṃ — all; bharataḥ — Bharata; saha — together with; mantribhiḥ — with the ministers; iṅgudīmūlam — to the foot of the iṅgudī tree; āgamya — having come; rāmaśayyām — the bed of Rāma; avekṣya — having looked upon; tām — that
2.82.2
abravīj jananīḥ sarvā iha tena mahātmanā
śarvarī śayitā bhūmāv idam asya vimarditam
said to all the mothers: “Here the night was passed lying on the ground by that great soul; this is the grass he crushed down.
Words: abravīj — spoke; jananīḥ — the mothers; sarvā — all; iha — here; tena — by that; mahātmanā — great soul; śarvarī — the night; śayitā — was spent lying; bhūmāv — on the ground; idam — this; asya — of his; vimarditam — crushed, pressed down
2.82.3
mahābhāgakulīnena mahābhāgena dhīmatā
jāto daśarathenorvyāṃ na rāmaḥ svaptum arhati
Born on this earth of Daśaratha — of illustrious lineage, greatly blessed, and wise — Rāma does not deserve to sleep thus.
Words: mahābhāgakulīnena — of illustrious lineage; mahābhāgena — greatly blessed; dhīmatā — by the wise one; jāto — born; daśarathenorvyāṃ — of Daśaratha, on the earth; na — not; rāmaḥ — Rāma; svaptum — to sleep; arhati — deserves
2.82.4
ajinottarasaṃstīrṇe varāstaraṇasaṃcaye
śayitvā puruṣavyāghraḥ kathaṃ śete mahītale
Accustomed to lying upon a heap of the finest coverlets spread over with deerskin, how does this tiger among men lie upon the bare earth?
Words: ajinottarasaṃstīrṇe — spread over with deerskin; varāstaraṇasaṃcaye — on a heap of excellent spreads; śayitvā — having lain; puruṣavyāghraḥ — the tiger among men; kathaṃ — how; śete — lies; mahītale — on the surface of the earth
2.82.5
prāsādāgra vimāneṣu valabhīṣu ca sarvadā
haimarājatabhaumeṣu varāstaraṇaśāliṣu
Always in the tops of palaces and in lofty mansions and upon turrets, on floors of gold and silver, splendid with excellent spreads,
Words: prāsādāgra — on the tops of palaces; vimāneṣu — in the lofty mansions; valabhīṣu — on the turrets, rooftops; ca — and; sarvadā — always; haimarājatabhaumeṣu — on floors of gold and silver; varāstaraṇaśāliṣu — resplendent with excellent spreads
2.82.6
puṣpasaṃcayacitreṣu candanāgarugandhiṣu
pāṇḍurābhraprakāśeṣu śukasaṃgharuteṣu ca
variegated with masses of flowers, fragrant with sandal and aloe, gleaming white as clouds, and resounding with flocks of parrots,
Words: puṣpasaṃcayacitreṣu — variegated with masses of flowers; candanāgarugandhiṣu — fragrant with sandal and aloe; pāṇḍurābhraprakāśeṣu — gleaming white like clouds; śukasaṃgharuteṣu — resounding with the cries of flocks of parrots; ca — and
2.82.7
gītavāditranirghoṣair varābharaṇaniḥsvanaiḥ
mṛdaṅgavaraśabdaiś ca satataṃ pratibodhitaḥ
constantly awakened by the strains of song and instruments, by the tinkling of fine ornaments, and by the noble beat of the mṛdaṅga drum,
Words: gītavāditranirghoṣair — by the resounding of song and instruments; varābharaṇaniḥsvanaiḥ — by the sounds of fine ornaments; mṛdaṅgavaraśabdaiś — by the excellent sounds of the mṛdaṅga drum; ca — and; satataṃ — constantly; pratibodhitaḥ — awakened
2.82.8
bandibhir vanditaḥ kāle bahubhiḥ sūtamāgadhaiḥ
gāthābhir anurūpābhiḥ stutibhiś ca paraṃtapaḥ
and praised at the proper time by bards, by many sūtas and māgadhas, with fitting songs and eulogies — that scorcher of foes —
Words: bandibhir — by panegyrists; vanditaḥ — praised, saluted; kāle — at the (proper) time; bahubhiḥ — by many; sūtamāgadhaiḥ — by sūtas and māgadhas (bards); gāthābhir — with songs, verses; anurūpābhiḥ — fitting, suitable; stutibhiś — with praises; ca — and; paraṃtapaḥ — the scorcher of foes
2.82.9
aśraddheyam idaṃ loke na satyaṃ pratibhāti mā
muhyate khalu me bhāvaḥ svapno 'yam iti me matiḥ
This is incredible in the world; it does not appear true to me; surely my mind is bewildered — my thought is that this is a dream.
Words: aśraddheyam — incredible, unbelievable; idaṃ — this; loke — in the world; na — not; satyaṃ — true; pratibhāti — appears; mā — to me; muhyate — is bewildered; khalu — surely; me — my; bhāvaḥ — mind, feeling; svapno — a dream; 'yam — this; iti — thus; me — my; matiḥ — thought
2.82.10
na nūnaṃ daivataṃ kiṃ cit kālena balavattaram
yatra dāśarathī rāmo bhūmāv evaṃ śayīta saḥ
Surely there is no deity mightier than Time, since Rāma, the son of Daśaratha, should lie thus upon the ground.
Words: na — not; nūnaṃ — surely; daivataṃ — deity; kiṃ cit — any; kālena — than Time; balavattaram — mightier; yatra — in that, since; dāśarathī — the son of Daśaratha; rāmo — Rāma; bhūmāv — on the ground; evaṃ — thus; śayīta — should lie; saḥ — he
2.82.11
videharājasya sutā sītā ca priyadarśanā
dayitā śayitā bhūmau snuṣā daśarathasya ca
And Sītā, the daughter of the king of Videha, lovely to behold, the beloved wife and daughter-in-law of Daśaratha, has lain upon the ground.
Words: videharājasya — of the king of Videha; sutā — daughter; sītā — Sītā; ca — and; priyadarśanā — lovely to behold; dayitā — the beloved; śayitā — has lain; bhūmau — on the ground; snuṣā — daughter-in-law; daśarathasya — of Daśaratha; ca — and
2.82.12
iyaṃ śayyā mama bhrātur idaṃ hi parivartitam
sthaṇḍile kaṭhine sarvaṃ gātrair vimṛditaṃ tṛṇam
This is my brother's bed; here indeed he tossed and turned; upon the hard bare ground all the grass has been crushed by his limbs.
Words: iyaṃ — this; śayyā — bed; mama — my; bhrātur — of the brother; idaṃ — this; hi — indeed; parivartitam — tossed and turned upon; sthaṇḍile — on the bare ground; kaṭhine — hard; sarvaṃ — all; gātrair — by his limbs; vimṛditaṃ — crushed, ground down; tṛṇam — grass
2.82.13
manye sābharaṇā suptā sītāsmiñ śayane tadā
tatra tatra hi dṛśyante saktāḥ kanakabindavaḥ
I think Sītā slept upon this couch then still wearing her ornaments, for here and there are seen clinging specks of gold.
Words: manye — I think; sābharaṇā — wearing ornaments; suptā — slept; sītāsmiñ — Sītā, on this; śayane — couch; tadā — then; tatra tatra — here and there; hi — for; dṛśyante — are seen; saktāḥ — clinging, stuck; kanakabindavaḥ — specks of gold
2.82.14
uttarīyam ihāsaktaṃ suvyaktaṃ sītayā tadā
tathā hy ete prakāśante saktāḥ kauśeyatantavaḥ
Clearly Sītā's upper garment caught here at that time, for thus these clinging silken threads shine forth.
Words: uttarīyam — the upper garment; ihāsaktaṃ — caught here; suvyaktaṃ — very clearly; sītayā — by Sītā; tadā — then; tathā — so; hy — for; ete — these; prakāśante — shine forth; saktāḥ — clinging; kauśeyatantavaḥ — silken threads
2.82.15
manye bhartuḥ sukhā śayyā yena bālā tapasvinī
sukumārī satī duḥkhaṃ na vijānāti maithilī
I think a wife finds her husband's bed pleasant, for by this the young, ascetic Maithilī, delicate though she is, knows no hardship.
Words: manye — I think; bhartuḥ — of the husband; sukhā — pleasant; śayyā — the bed; yena — whereby, for which reason; bālā — the young girl; tapasvinī — the ascetic, poor thing; sukumārī — delicate, tender; satī — being (a faithful wife); duḥkhaṃ — hardship; na — not; vijānāti — knows, feels; maithilī — Maithilī (princess of Mithilā)
2.82.16
sārvabhauma kule jātaḥ sarvalokasukhāvahaḥ
sarvalokapriyas tyaktvā rājyaṃ priyam anuttamam
Born in a line of universal emperors, a bringer of happiness to all the world and dear to all the world — having abandoned the pleasant, unsurpassed kingdom —
Words: sārvabhauma — of universal sovereigns; kule — in the family; jātaḥ — born; sarvalokasukhāvahaḥ — bringing happiness to all the world; sarvalokapriyas — dear to all the world; tyaktvā — having abandoned; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; priyam — pleasant; anuttamam — unsurpassed
2.82.17
katham indīvaraśyāmo raktākṣaḥ priyadarśanaḥ
sukhabhāgī ca duḥkhārhaḥ śayito bhuvi rāghavaḥ
how is it that Rāghava — dark as a blue lotus, red-eyed, lovely to behold, entitled to comfort and deserving no sorrow — lies upon the ground?
Words: katham — how; indīvaraśyāmo — dark as a blue lotus; raktākṣaḥ — red-eyed; priyadarśanaḥ — lovely to behold; sukhabhāgī — entitled to comfort; ca — and; duḥkhārhaḥ — (un)deserving of sorrow; śayito — lying; bhuvi — on the ground; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava
2.82.18
siddhārthā khalu vaidehī patiṃ yānugatā vanam
vayaṃ saṃśayitāḥ sarve hīnās tena mahātmanā
Vaidehī has indeed attained her purpose, since she has followed her husband to the forest; but we are all in peril, bereft of that great soul.
Words: siddhārthā — one whose purpose is fulfilled; khalu — indeed; vaidehī — Vaidehī; patiṃ — the husband; yānugatā — who has followed; vanam — to the forest; vayaṃ — we; saṃśayitāḥ — in doubt, in peril; sarve — all; hīnās — bereft; tena — of that; mahātmanā — great soul
2.82.19
akarṇadhārā pṛthivī śūnyeva pratibhāti mā
gate daśarathe svarge rāme cāraṇyam āśrite
With Daśaratha gone to heaven and Rāma withdrawn to the forest, the earth, left without a helmsman, appears to me as if empty.
Words: akarṇadhārā — without a helmsman; pṛthivī — the earth; śūnyeva — as if empty; pratibhāti — appears; mā — to me; gate — having gone; daśarathe — Daśaratha; svarge — to heaven; rāme — Rāma; cāraṇyam — and to the forest; āśrite — having resorted
2.82.20
na ca prārthayate kaś cin manasāpi vasuṃdharām
vane 'pi vasatas tasya bāhuvīryābhirakṣitām
And no one covets the earth, even in thought, for it is guarded by the might of his arms though he dwells in the forest.
Words: na — not; ca — and; prārthayate — covets, desires; kaś cin — anyone; manasāpi — even in mind; vasuṃdharām — the earth; vane — in the forest; 'pi — even; vasatas — of him dwelling; tasya — his; bāhuvīryābhirakṣitām — guarded by the might of his arms
2.82.21
śūnyasaṃvaraṇārakṣām ayantritahayadvipām
apāvṛtapuradvārāṃ rājadhānīm arakṣitām
The royal capital lies unguarded — its ramparts and watch left empty, its horses and elephants unchecked, its city gates thrown open —
Words: śūnyasaṃvaraṇārakṣām — with ramparts and guards left empty; ayantritahayadvipām — with unrestrained horses and elephants; apāvṛtapuradvārāṃ — with its city gates thrown open; rājadhānīm — the royal capital; arakṣitām — unguarded
2.82.22
aprahṛṣṭabalāṃ nyūnāṃ viṣamasthām anāvṛtām
śatravo nābhimanyante bhakṣyān viṣakṛtān iva
— its army dispirited, depleted, in disarray, and exposed — yet enemies do not venture to attack it, as men will not touch food that has been poisoned.
Words: aprahṛṣṭabalāṃ — with a dispirited army; nyūnāṃ — depleted, deficient; viṣamasthām — in a precarious state; anāvṛtām — exposed, uncovered; śatravo — enemies; nābhimanyante — do not venture to attack; bhakṣyān — food; viṣakṛtān — poisoned; iva — like
2.82.23
adya prabhṛti bhūmau tu śayiṣye 'haṃ tṛṇeṣu vā
phalamūlāśano nityaṃ jaṭācīrāṇi dhārayan
From this day forward I too will sleep on the ground or on grass, ever eating fruits and roots, wearing matted locks and bark garments.
Words: adya — today; prabhṛti — from ... onward; bhūmau — on the ground; tu — indeed; śayiṣye — I will sleep; 'haṃ — I; tṛṇeṣu — on grass; vā — or; phalamūlāśano — eating fruits and roots; nityaṃ — always; jaṭācīrāṇi — matted locks and bark garments; dhārayan — wearing
2.82.24
tasyārtham uttaraṃ kālaṃ nivatsyāmi sukhaṃ vane
taṃ pratiśravam āmucya nāsya mithyā bhaviṣyati
For his sake I shall dwell happily in the forest for the time to come; by taking upon myself that pledge of his, it shall not be rendered false.
Words: tasyārtham — for his sake; uttaraṃ — later, subsequent; kālaṃ — time; nivatsyāmi — I will dwell; sukhaṃ — happily; vane — in the forest; taṃ — that; pratiśravam — promise, pledge; āmucya — having taken on, assumed; nāsya — not his; mithyā — false; bhaviṣyati — it will be
2.82.25
vasantaṃ bhrātur arthāya śatrughno mānuvatsyati
lakṣmaṇena saha tv āryo ayodhyāṃ pālayiṣyati
Śatrughna will dwell along with me as I abide in the forest for our brother's sake, while the noble Rāma, together with Lakṣmaṇa, shall rule Ayodhyā.
Words: vasantaṃ — (me) dwelling; bhrātur — for the brother; arthāya — for the sake; śatrughno — Śatrughna; mānuvatsyati — will dwell along with me; lakṣmaṇena — with Lakṣmaṇa; saha — together; tv — but; āryo — the noble one; ayodhyāṃ — Ayodhyā; pālayiṣyati — will rule, protect
2.82.26
abhiṣekṣyanti kākutstham ayodhyāyāṃ dvijātayaḥ
api me devatāḥ kuryur imaṃ satyaṃ manoratham
The brahmins shall consecrate Kākutstha in Ayodhyā; may the gods make this heart's desire of mine come true.
Words: abhiṣekṣyanti — will consecrate, anoint; kākutstham — Kākutstha (Rāma); ayodhyāyāṃ — in Ayodhyā; dvijātayaḥ — the twice-born (brahmins); api — may (particle of wish); me — my; devatāḥ — the gods; kuryur — may make; imaṃ — this; satyaṃ — true; manoratham — heart's desire
2.82.27
prasādyamānaḥ śirasā mayā svayaṃ bahuprakāraṃ yadi na prapatsyate
tato 'nuvatsyāmi cirāya rāghavaṃ vane vasan nārhati mām upekṣitum
If, though entreated in person by me with bowed head in every manner, he will not consent, then I shall follow Rāghava into the forest for a long time; dwelling there, he cannot rightly disregard me.
Words: prasādyamānaḥ — being entreated, propitiated; śirasā — with (my) head; mayā — by me; svayaṃ — in person; bahuprakāraṃ — in many ways; yadi — if; na — not; prapatsyate — will consent, agree; tato — then; 'nuvatsyāmi — I will follow and dwell; cirāya — for a long time; rāghavaṃ — Rāghava; vane — in the forest; vasan — dwelling; nārhati — cannot, ought not; mām — me; upekṣitum — to disregard, neglect
← 2.81 Rāma and Sītā’s grass bed · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.83 Guha ferries Bharata’s company →
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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