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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 84: Bharadvāja questions Bharata

Summary. Bharata leaves his army and weapons behind, denies seeking to eliminate his brothers and is invited to stay before continuing

Sequence

  1. Bharata halts the army away from the hermitage, lays aside his weapons, and approaches on foot behind Vasiṣṭha (2.84.1–3)
  2. Bharadvāja welcomes them with water and fruit (2.84.4–6)
  3. they exchange inquiries about the Kingdom and hermitage, but the maharṣi, already aware of Daśaratha's death, does not ask after him (2.84.7–9)
  4. Bharadvāja asks whether Bharata has come to eliminate Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa as rivals (2.84.10–13)
  5. distressed that even the maharṣi suspects him, Bharata rejects his mother's actions (2.84.14–16)
  6. he explains that he has come as a petitioner to bring Rāma back and asks where to find him (2.84.17–18)
  7. Bharadvāja says he already knew Bharata's intention and asked so that his character would become evident → he identifies Citrakūṭa as Rāma's home but invites Bharata to rest before going there the next day. (2.84.19–22)

Verses 2.84.1–22

2.84.1

bharadvājāśramaṃ dṛṣṭvā krośād eva nararṣabhaḥ
balaṃ sarvam avasthāpya jagāma saha mantribhiḥ

Sighting Bharadvāja's hermitage from a krośa away, that bull among men halted his whole army and went forward with his ministers.

Words: bharadvājāśramaṃ — Bharadvāja's hermitage; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; krośād — from a krośa (about two miles); eva — even, only; nararṣabhaḥ — the bull among men; balaṃ — the army, force; sarvam — whole; avasthāpya — having halted, stationed; jagāma — went; saha — together with; mantribhiḥ — with the ministers

2.84.2

padbhyām eva hi dharmajño nyastaśastraparicchadaḥ
vasāno vāsasī kṣaume purodhāya purohitam

On foot indeed, that knower of dharma, having laid aside his weapons and trappings, wearing a pair of linen garments and placing his family priest before him,

Words: padbhyām — on foot, with the two feet; eva — even, indeed; hi — for; dharmajño — the knower of dharma; nyastaśastraparicchadaḥ — having laid aside his weapons and trappings; vasāno — wearing; vāsasī — the two garments; kṣaume — of linen; purodhāya — having placed in front; purohitam — the family priest

2.84.3

tataḥ saṃdarśane tasya bharadvājasya rāghavaḥ
mantriṇas tān avasthāpya jagāmānu purohitam

then, within sight of that Bharadvāja, Rāghava left his ministers behind and went on behind the priest.

Words: tataḥ — then; saṃdarśane — within sight; tasya — of that; bharadvājasya — of Bharadvāja; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava (Bharata); mantriṇas — the ministers; tān — those; avasthāpya — having stationed; jagāmānu — went after; purohitam — the family priest

2.84.4

vasiṣṭham atha dṛṣṭvaiva bharadvājo mahātapāḥ
saṃcacālāsanāt tūrṇaṃ śiṣyān arghyam iti bruvan

Now Bharadvāja of great austerity, the moment he saw Vasiṣṭha, rose quickly from his seat, telling his disciples, “The guest-offering!”

Words: vasiṣṭham — Vasiṣṭha; atha — now, then; dṛṣṭvaiva — as soon as he saw; bharadvājo — Bharadvāja; mahātapāḥ — of great austerity; saṃcacālāsanāt — rose from his seat; tūrṇaṃ — quickly; śiṣyān — to the disciples; arghyam — the guest-water offering; iti — thus; bruvan — saying

2.84.5

samāgamya vasiṣṭhena bharatenābhivāditaḥ
abudhyata mahātejāḥ sutaṃ daśarathasya tam

Having met with Vasiṣṭha and been saluted by Bharata, the greatly effulgent sage recognized him as that son of Daśaratha.

Words: samāgamya — having met; vasiṣṭhena — with Vasiṣṭha; bharatenābhivāditaḥ — saluted by Bharata; abudhyata — recognized, understood; mahātejāḥ — the greatly effulgent one; sutaṃ — the son; daśarathasya — of Daśaratha; tam — him

2.84.6

tābhyām arghyaṃ ca pādyaṃ ca dattvā paścāt phalāni ca
ānupūrvyāc ca dharmajñaḥ papraccha kuśalaṃ kule

Having offered the two of them guest-water and water for the feet, and afterward fruits, that knower of dharma asked in due order after the welfare of the family.

Words: tābhyām — to the two; arghyaṃ — guest-water; ca — and; pādyaṃ — water for the feet; ca — and; dattvā — having given; paścāt — afterward; phalāni — fruits; ca — and; ānupūrvyāc — in due order; ca — and; dharmajñaḥ — the knower of dharma; papraccha — asked; kuśalaṃ — welfare; kule — in the family

2.84.7

ayodhyāyāṃ bale kośe mitreṣv api ca mantriṣu
jānan daśarathaṃ vṛttaṃ na rājānam udāharat

He asked about Ayodhyā, the army, the treasury, and about allies and ministers as well; but knowing that Daśaratha had passed away, he did not mention the king.

Words: ayodhyāyāṃ — about Ayodhyā; bale — the army; kośe — the treasury; mitreṣv — among allies; api — also; ca — and; mantriṣu — among ministers; jānan — knowing; daśarathaṃ — Daśaratha; vṛttaṃ — deceased, come to his end; na — not; rājānam — the king; udāharat — mentioned, uttered

2.84.8

vasiṣṭho bharataś cainaṃ papracchatur anāmayam
śarīre 'gniṣu vṛkṣeṣu śiṣyeṣu mṛgapakṣiṣu

Vasiṣṭha and Bharata in turn inquired after his well-being — as to his body, his sacred fires, the trees, the disciples, and the beasts and birds.

Words: vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; bharataś — Bharata; cainaṃ — and him; papracchatur — the two asked; anāmayam — about well-being; śarīre — concerning the body; 'gniṣu — the sacred fires; vṛkṣeṣu — the trees; śiṣyeṣu — the disciples; mṛgapakṣiṣu — the beasts and birds

2.84.9

tatheti ca pratijñāya bharadvājo mahātapāḥ
bharataṃ pratyuvācedaṃ rāghavasnehabandhanāt

And Bharadvāja of great austerity, affirming “So it is [well],” answered Bharata as follows, out of the bond of his affection for Rāghava:

Words: tatheti — “so [it is]”; ca — and; pratijñāya — having assented, affirmed; bharadvājo — Bharadvāja; mahātapāḥ — of great austerity; bharataṃ — to Bharata; pratyuvācedaṃ — replied this; rāghavasnehabandhanāt — from the bond of affection for Rāghava

2.84.10

kim ihāgamane kāryaṃ tava rājyaṃ praśāsataḥ
etad ācakṣva me sarvaṃ na hi me śudhyate manaḥ

“What purpose have you in coming here, you who govern the kingdom? Tell me all of this, for my mind is not at ease.

Words: kim — what; ihāgamane — in coming here; kāryaṃ — purpose, business; tava — your, of you; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; praśāsataḥ — of one governing; etad — this; ācakṣva — tell; me — to me; sarvaṃ — all; na — not; hi — for; me — my; śudhyate — is clear, at ease; manaḥ — mind

2.84.11

suṣuve yama mitraghnaṃ kausalyānandavardhanam
bhrātrā saha sabhāryo yaś ciraṃ pravrājito vanam

He whom Kausalyā bore, the slayer of foes, the increaser of Kausalyā's joy — who, together with his brother and his wife, was banished for long to the forest,

Words: suṣuve — she bore; yama mitraghnaṃ — whom, the slayer of foes; kausalyānandavardhanam — the increaser of Kausalyā's joy; bhrātrā — with his brother; saha — together with; sabhāryo — together with his wife; yaś — who; ciraṃ — for long; pravrājito — banished, sent into exile; vanam — to the forest

2.84.12

niyuktaḥ strīniyuktena pitrā yo 'sau mahāyaśāḥ
vanavāsī bhavetīha samāḥ kila caturdaśa

that greatly renowned one who was commanded by his father — himself directed by a woman — ‘Be a forest-dweller here for fourteen years’—

Words: niyuktaḥ — commanded, enjoined; strīniyuktena — directed by a woman; pitrā — by the father; yo — who; 'sau — that; mahāyaśāḥ — greatly renowned; vanavāsī — a forest-dweller; bhavetīha — ‘let him be here’; samāḥ — years; kila — indeed; caturdaśa — fourteen

2.84.13

kaccin na tasyāpāpasya pāpaṃ kartum ihecchasi
akaṇṭakaṃ bhoktumanā rājyaṃ tasyānujasya ca

surely you do not wish here to do harm to that sinless one, minded to enjoy, free of all rivals, the kingdom of him and of his younger brother?

Words: kaccin — surely (not); na — not; tasyāpāpasya — of that sinless one; pāpaṃ — harm, wrong; kartum — to do; ihecchasi — do you wish here; akaṇṭakaṃ — free of thorns, unopposed; bhoktumanā — minded to enjoy; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; tasyānujasya — of his younger brother; ca — and

2.84.14

evam ukto bharadvājaṃ bharataḥ pratyuvāca ha
paryaśru nayano duḥkhād vācā saṃsajjamānayā

So addressed, Bharata answered Bharadvāja, his eyes brimming with tears from grief, in a voice that faltered:

Words: evam — thus; ukto — addressed; bharadvājaṃ — to Bharadvāja; bharataḥ — Bharata; pratyuvāca — replied; ha — indeed; paryaśru nayano — with tear-filled eyes; duḥkhād — from grief; vācā — with a voice; saṃsajjamānayā — faltering, sticking

2.84.15

hato 'smi yadi mām evaṃ bhagavān api manyate
matto na doṣam āśaṅker naivaṃ mām anuśādhi hi

“I am undone if even the venerable one thinks thus of me! You need suspect no fault in me — so do not admonish me in this way.

Words: hato — ruined, undone; 'smi — I am; yadi — if; mām — me; evaṃ — thus; bhagavān — the venerable one; api — even; manyate — thinks; matto — from me; na — not; doṣam — fault; āśaṅker — you should suspect; naivaṃ — not thus; mām — me; anuśādhi — admonish, instruct; hi — indeed

2.84.16

aṃś caitad iṣṭaṃ mātā me yad avocan madantare
nāham etena tuṣṭaś ca na tad vacanam ādade

Nor is that pleasing to me which my mother spoke on my behalf; I am not satisfied with it, and I do not accept that speech.

Words: aṃś — nor (text uncertain); caitad — and this; iṣṭaṃ — desired, pleasing; mātā — mother; me — my; yad — which; avocan — she said; madantare — on my behalf, concerning me; nāham — not I; etena — with this; tuṣṭaś — satisfied; ca — and; na — not; tad — that; vacanam — speech; ādade — I accept, take up

2.84.17

ahaṃ tu taṃ naravyāghram upayātaḥ prasādakaḥ
pratinetum ayodhyāṃ ca pādau tasyābhivanditum

But I have come to that tiger among men as a suppliant, to lead him back to Ayodhyā and to reverence his feet.

Words: ahaṃ — I; tu — but; taṃ — that; naravyāghram — tiger among men; upayātaḥ — have approached; prasādakaḥ — as a conciliator, suppliant; pratinetum — to lead back; ayodhyāṃ — to Ayodhyā; ca — and; pādau — the two feet; tasyābhivanditum — to reverence his

2.84.18

tvaṃ mām evaṃ gataṃ matvā prasādaṃ kartum arhasi
śaṃsa me bhagavan rāmaḥ kva saṃprati mahīpatiḥ

Knowing me to be in this state, you should show me grace; tell me, venerable one — where is Rāma, the lord of the earth, now?”

Words: tvaṃ — you; mām — me; evaṃ — thus; gataṃ — gone, disposed; matvā — having considered; prasādaṃ — grace, favor; kartum — to show, make; arhasi — you ought; śaṃsa — tell; me — to me; bhagavan — O venerable one; rāmaḥ — Rāma; kva — where; saṃprati — now; mahīpatiḥ — the lord of the earth

2.84.19

uvāca taṃ bharadvājaḥ prasādād bharataṃ vacaḥ
tvayy etat puruṣavyāghraṃ yuktaṃ rāghavavaṃśaje
guruvṛttir damaś caiva sādhūnāṃ cānuyāyitā

Bharadvāja graciously spoke these words to Bharata: “This is fitting in you, tiger among men, born in the line of Raghu — dutiful service to elders, self-restraint, and the following of the good.

Words: uvāca — said; taṃ — to him; bharadvājaḥ — Bharadvāja; prasādād — graciously; bharataṃ — to Bharata; vacaḥ — words; tvayy — in you; etat — this; puruṣavyāghraṃ — O tiger among men; yuktaṃ — fitting, proper; rāghavavaṃśaje — O one born in Rāghava's line; guruvṛttir — dutiful conduct toward elders; damaś — self-restraint; caiva — and indeed; sādhūnāṃ — of the good; cānuyāyitā — and the following

2.84.20

jāne caitan manaḥsthaṃ te dṛḍhīkaraṇam astv iti
apṛcchaṃ tvāṃ tavātyarthaṃ kīrtiṃ samabhivardhayan

And I know this that is in your mind; let it be but a confirmation — I questioned you only to make your glory grow the greater.

Words: jāne — I know; caitan — and this; manaḥsthaṃ — abiding in the mind; te — your; dṛḍhīkaraṇam — a confirmation, strengthening; astv — let it be; iti — thus; apṛcchaṃ — I asked; tvāṃ — you; tavātyarthaṃ — your exceedingly; kīrtiṃ — fame, glory; samabhivardhayan — increasing

2.84.21

asau vasati te bhrātā citrakūṭe mahāgirau
śvas tu gantāsi taṃ deśaṃ vasādya saha mantribhiḥ
etaṃ me kuru suprājña kāmaṃ kāmārthakovida

That brother of yours dwells on the great mountain Citrakūṭa; you will go to that place tomorrow — stay here today with your ministers. Grant me this wish, O wise one, skilled in matters of desire and gain.”

Words: asau — that; vasati — dwells; te — your; bhrātā — brother; citrakūṭe — on Citrakūṭa; mahāgirau — on the great mountain; śvas — tomorrow; tu — but; gantāsi — you will go; taṃ — that; deśaṃ — region, place; vasādya — stay today; saha — together with; mantribhiḥ — the ministers; etaṃ — this; me — for me; kuru — do, grant; suprājña — O very wise one; kāmaṃ — wish; kāmārthakovida — O you skilled in desire and gain

2.84.22

tatas tathety evam udāradarśanaḥ pratītarūpo bharato 'bravīd vacaḥ
cakāra buddhiṃ ca tadā mahāśrame niśānivāsāya narādhipātmajaḥ

Then the noble-looking Bharata, with a pleased face, said “So be it,” and the prince resolved to lodge for the night there in that great hermitage.

Words: tatas — then; tathety — “so [be it]”; evam — thus; udāradarśanaḥ — of noble appearance; pratītarūpo — with a pleased look; bharato — Bharata; 'bravīd — spoke; vacaḥ — the word; cakāra — made; buddhiṃ — the resolve, mind; ca — and; tadā — then; mahāśrame — in the great hermitage; niśānivāsāya — for spending the night; narādhipātmajaḥ — the son of the king

← 2.83 Guha ferries Bharata’s company · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.85 Bharadvāja’s divine feast →

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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