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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 86: Bharadvāja directs Bharata to Citrakūṭa
Summary. The Mandākinī and leaf hut identify Rāma’s home, Bharata introduces the Queens and is urged not to blame Kaikeyī
Sequence
- The next morning Bharata thanks Bharadvāja, saying that even the servants have been fully cared for (2.86.1–6)
- he asks the way to his brother (2.86.7–8)
- Bharadvāja directs him toward Citrakūṭa, two and a half yojanas away, and identifies the Mandākinī and the nearby leaf hut as landmarks (2.86.9–13)
- the Queens approach to take leave (2.86.14–17)
- asked to identify them, Bharata introduces Kausalyā and Sumitrā with affection, then bitterly identifies Kaikeyī as the cause of the disaster (2.86.18–25)
- Bharadvāja asks him not to blame her, assuring him that the exile will have a good outcome (2.86.26–28)
- Bharata orders the army to prepare, and the expedition heads south, with the Queens eager to see Rāma. (2.86.29–36)
Verses 2.86.1–36
2.86.1
tatas tāṃ rajanīm uṣya bharataḥ saparicchadaḥ
kṛtātithyo bharadvājaṃ kāmād abhijagāma ha
Then, having passed that night, Bharata with his retinue, his hospitality accomplished, went eagerly to Bharadvāja.
Words: tatas — then; tāṃ — that; rajanīm — night; uṣya — having passed, dwelt; bharataḥ — Bharata; saparicchadaḥ — with his retinue; kṛtātithyo — whose hospitality was accomplished; bharadvājaṃ — to Bharadvāja; kāmād — eagerly, out of desire; abhijagāma — went to, approached; ha — indeed
2.86.2
tam ṛṣiḥ puruṣavyāghraṃ prekṣya prāñjalim āgatam
hutāgnihotro bharataṃ bharadvājo 'bhyabhāṣata
Seeing that tiger among men, Bharata, come to him with joined palms, the sage Bharadvāja, having offered the fire-oblation, addressed him.
Words: tam — him; ṛṣiḥ — the sage; puruṣavyāghraṃ — tiger among men; prekṣya — having seen; prāñjalim — with joined palms; āgatam — come; hutāgnihotro — having offered the fire-oblation; bharataṃ — Bharata; bharadvājo — Bharadvāja; 'bhyabhāṣata — addressed, spoke to
2.86.3
kaccid atra sukhā rātris tavāsmadviṣaye gatā
samagras te janaḥ kaccid ātithye śaṃsa me 'nagha
“Was the night passed happily by you here in our domain? And was your whole company (content) with the hospitality? Tell me, O sinless one.”
Words: kaccid — I hope, was it that; atra — here; sukhā — happy; rātris — night; tavāsmadviṣaye — by you in our domain; gatā — passed; samagras — whole, entire; te — your; janaḥ — company, people; kaccid — I hope; ātithye — with the hospitality; śaṃsa — tell; me — to me; 'nagha — O sinless one
2.86.4
tam uvācāñjaliṃ kṛtvā bharato 'bhipraṇamya ca
āśramād abhiniṣkrantam ṛṣim uttama tejasaṃ
Joining his palms and bowing, Bharata said to that sage of surpassing splendour, who had come out of the hermitage:
Words: tam — to him; uvācāñjaliṃ — said... his palms; kṛtvā — having made; bharato — Bharata; 'bhipraṇamya ca — and having bowed; āśramād — from the hermitage; abhiniṣkrantam — having come out; ṛṣim — the sage; uttama tejasaṃ — of surpassing splendour
2.86.5
sukhoṣito 'smi bhagavan samagrabalavāhanaḥ
tarpitaḥ sarvakāmaiś ca sāmātyo balavat tvayā
“I have passed the night in comfort, O venerable one, together with my whole army and its mounts; and I, with my ministers, have been abundantly gratified by you with all delights.
Words: sukhoṣito 'smi — I have dwelt happily; bhagavan — O venerable one; samagrabalavāhanaḥ — with my whole army and mounts; tarpitaḥ — gratified; sarvakāmaiś ca — and with all desires; sāmātyo — with my ministers; balavat — abundantly, mightily; tvayā — by you
2.86.6
apetaklamasaṃtāpāḥ subhakṣyāḥ supratiśrayāḥ
api preṣyān upādāya sarve sma susukhoṣitāḥ
Freed from fatigue and distress, with good food and good shelter, all of us — even including the servants — have dwelt in great comfort.
Words: apetaklamasaṃtāpāḥ — freed from fatigue and distress; subhakṣyāḥ — with good food; supratiśrayāḥ — with good shelter; api — even; preṣyān — the servants; upādāya — including, taking along; sarve — all; sma — (emphatic); susukhoṣitāḥ — have dwelt in great comfort
2.86.7
āmantraye 'haṃ bhagavan kāmaṃ tvām ṛṣisattama
samīpaṃ prasthitaṃ bhrātur maireṇekṣasva cakṣuṣā
I take my leave of you now, O venerable best of sages; as I set out toward my brother, look upon me with a kindly eye.
Words: āmantraye — I take leave, bid farewell; 'haṃ — I; bhagavan — O venerable one; kāmaṃ — indeed, willingly; tvām — of you, you; ṛṣisattama — O best of sages; samīpaṃ — near, toward; prasthitaṃ — setting out; bhrātur — of my brother; maireṇekṣasva — look with a kindly (eye); cakṣuṣā — with the eye
2.86.8
āśramaṃ tasya dharmajña dhārmikasya mahātmanaḥ
ācakṣva katamo mārgaḥ kiyān iti ca śaṃsa me
O knower of dharma, point out the hermitage of that righteous, great-souled one; tell me which is the road, and how far it is.
Words: āśramaṃ — the hermitage; tasya — of that; dharmajña — O knower of dharma; dhārmikasya — of the righteous one; mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled one; ācakṣva — tell, point out; katamo — which; mārgaḥ — road; kiyān — how far, how great; iti ca — and thus; śaṃsa — tell; me — to me
2.86.9
iti pṛṣṭas tu bharataṃ bhrātṛdarśanalālasaṃ
pratyuvāca mahātejā bharadvājo mahātapāḥ
Thus questioned, the greatly splendid Bharadvāja of great penance answered Bharata, who longed to see his brother.
Words: iti — thus; pṛṣṭas — questioned; tu — and; bharataṃ — Bharata; bhrātṛdarśanalālasaṃ — longing to see his brother; pratyuvāca — answered; mahātejā — greatly splendid; bharadvājo — Bharadvāja; mahātapāḥ — of great penance
2.86.10
bharatārdhatṛtīyeṣu yojaneṣv ajane vane
citrakūṭo giris tatra ramyanirdarakānanaḥ
“O Bharata, two and a half yojanas away, in an uninhabited forest, is the mountain Citrakūṭa, with lovely glens and woods.
Words: bharatārdhatṛtīyeṣu — O Bharata, at two and a half; yojaneṣv — yojanas; ajane — uninhabited; vane — in the forest; citrakūṭo — Citrakūṭa; giris — mountain; tatra — there; ramyanirdarakānanaḥ — with lovely glens and woods
2.86.11
uttaraṃ pārśvam āsādya tasya mandākinī nadī
puṣpitadrumasaṃchannā ramyapuṣpitakānanā
Reaching its northern side, one comes to the river Mandākinī, covered with flowering trees, with lovely blossoming woods.
Words: uttaraṃ — northern; pārśvam — side; āsādya — having reached; tasya — its; mandākinī — Mandākinī; nadī — river; puṣpitadrumasaṃchannā — covered with flowering trees; ramyapuṣpitakānanā — with lovely blossoming woods
2.86.12
anantaraṃ tat saritaś citrakūṭaś ca parvataḥ
tato parṇakuṭī tāta tatra tau vasato dhruvam
Just beyond that river is the mountain Citrakūṭa, and beyond that a leaf-hut, my dear; there the two surely dwell.
Words: anantaraṃ — immediately beyond; tat — that; saritaś — of the river; citrakūṭaś ca — and Citrakūṭa; parvataḥ — mountain; tato — beyond that; parṇakuṭī — a leaf-hut; tāta — my dear; tatra — there; tau — the two; vasato — dwell; dhruvam — surely
2.86.13
dakṣiṇenaiva mārgeṇa savyadakṣiṇam eva ca
gajavājirathākīrṇāṃ vāhinīṃ vāhinīpate
vāhayasva mahābhāga tato drakṣyasi rāghavam
By the southern road, keeping it to your right, O lord of the army, lead your host thronged with elephants, horses and chariots, O illustrious one; then you shall behold Rāghava.
Words: dakṣiṇenaiva — by the southern; mārgeṇa — road; savyadakṣiṇam eva ca — keeping it to the right; gajavājirathākīrṇāṃ — thronged with elephants, horses and chariots; vāhinīṃ — the host, army; vāhinīpate — O lord of the army; vāhayasva — drive, lead; mahābhāga — O illustrious one; tato — then; drakṣyasi — you will see; rāghavam — Rāghava (Rāma)
2.86.14
prayāṇam iti ca śrutvā rājarājasya yoṣitaḥ
hitvā yānāni yānārhā brāhmaṇaṃ paryavārayan
And hearing “the march!”, the women of the king of kings, though worthy of vehicles, left their conveyances and gathered round the brahmin.
Words: prayāṇam — departure, march; iti ca — and thus; śrutvā — having heard; rājarājasya — of the king of kings; yoṣitaḥ — the women; hitvā — having left; yānāni — the vehicles; yānārhā — though worthy of vehicles; brāhmaṇaṃ — the brahmin; paryavārayan — surrounded, gathered round
2.86.15
vepamānā kṛśā dīnā saha devyā sumantriyā
kausalyā tatra jagrāha karābhyāṃ caraṇau muneḥ
Trembling, emaciated, and wretched, Kausalyā there, together with Queen Sumitrā, grasped the sage's feet with both her hands.
Words: vepamānā — trembling; kṛśā — emaciated; dīnā — wretched; saha devyā — together with the queen; sumantriyā — (with) Sumitrā; kausalyā — Kausalyā; tatra — there; jagrāha — grasped; karābhyāṃ — with both hands; caraṇau — the two feet; muneḥ — of the sage
2.86.16
asamṛddhena kāmena sarvalokasya garhitā
kaikeyī tasya jagrāha caraṇau savyapatrapā
Kaikeyī, censured by all the world, her desire unfulfilled and ashamed, grasped his feet as well.
Words: asamṛddhena — unfulfilled; kāmena — in her desire; sarvalokasya — by all the world; garhitā — censured; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; tasya — his; jagrāha — grasped; caraṇau — the two feet; savyapatrapā — ashamed, bashful
2.86.17
taṃ pradakṣiṇam āgamya bhagavantaṃ mahāmunim
adūrād bharatasyaiva tasthau dīnamanās tadā
Having circumambulated that venerable great sage, she then stood, downcast, not far from Bharata.
Words: taṃ — him; pradakṣiṇam — in circumambulation; āgamya — having gone around; bhagavantaṃ — the venerable; mahāmunim — great sage; adūrād — not far; bharatasyaiva — of Bharata; tasthau — stood; dīnamanās — downcast in mind; tadā — then
2.86.18
tataḥ papraccha bharataṃ bharadvājo dṛḍhavrataḥ
viśeṣaṃ jñātum icchāmi mātṝṇāṃ tava rāghava
Then Bharadvāja, of firm vows, asked Bharata: “I wish to know the particulars of your mothers, O Rāghava.”
Words: tataḥ — then; papraccha — asked; bharataṃ — Bharata; bharadvājo — Bharadvāja; dṛḍhavrataḥ — of firm vows; viśeṣaṃ — the distinction, particulars; jñātum — to know; icchāmi — I wish; mātṝṇāṃ — of the mothers; tava — your; rāghava — O Rāghava
2.86.19
evam uktas tu bharato bharadvājena dhārmikaḥ
uvāca prāñjalir bhūtvā vākyaṃ vacanakovidaḥ
Thus addressed by Bharadvāja, the righteous Bharata, skilled in speech, joined his palms and spoke these words:
Words: evam uktas — thus addressed; tu — and; bharato — Bharata; bharadvājena — by Bharadvāja; dhārmikaḥ — the righteous; uvāca — said; prāñjalir — with joined palms; bhūtvā — having become; vākyaṃ — words; vacanakovidaḥ — skilled in speech
2.86.20
yām imāṃ bhagavan dīnāṃ śokān aśanakarśitām
pitur hi mahiṣīṃ devīṃ devatām iva paśyasi
“This wretched lady whom you see, O venerable one, wasted by grief and fasting — she is my father's chief queen, like a very goddess —
Words: yām imāṃ — this one whom; bhagavan — O venerable one; dīnāṃ — wretched; śokān — by grief (and); aśanakarśitām — emaciated by fasting; pitur — of my father; hi — indeed; mahiṣīṃ — chief queen; devīṃ — queen; devatām iva — like a deity; paśyasi — you see
2.86.21
eṣā taṃ puruṣavyāghraṃ siṃhavikrāntagāminam
kausalyā suṣuve rāmaṃ dhātāram aditir yathā
this is Kausalyā, who bore that tiger among men, Rāma, whose gait is a lion's stride, just as Aditi bore Dhātṛ.
Words: eṣā — this (woman); taṃ — that; puruṣavyāghraṃ — tiger among men; siṃhavikrāntagāminam — walking with a lion's stride; kausalyā — Kausalyā; suṣuve — bore, gave birth to; rāmaṃ — Rāma; dhātāram — Dhātṛ; aditir yathā — just as Aditi
2.86.22
asyā vāmabhujaṃ śliṣṭā yaiṣā tiṣṭhati durmanāḥ
karṇikārasya śākheva śīrṇapuṣpā vanāntare
And she who stands here downcast, clinging to her left arm, is like a branch of the karṇikāra with its flowers withered, in the depths of the forest.
Words: asyā — her; vāmabhujaṃ — left arm; śliṣṭā — clinging to; yaiṣā — who, this; tiṣṭhati — stands; durmanāḥ — downcast; karṇikārasya — of the karṇikāra (tree); śākheva — like a branch; śīrṇapuṣpā — with withered flowers; vanāntare — in the depth of the forest
2.86.23
etasyās tau sutau devyāḥ kumārau devavarṇinau
ubhau lakṣmaṇaśatrughnau vīrau satyaparākramau
The two sons of this queen are the youths of godlike hue, both Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna, heroes of true valour.
Words: etasyās — of this; tau — the two; sutau — sons; devyāḥ — of the queen; kumārau — the two youths, princes; devavarṇinau — of godlike hue; ubhau — both; lakṣmaṇaśatrughnau — Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna; vīrau — the two heroes; satyaparākramau — of true valour
2.86.24
yasyāḥ kṛte narayāghrau jīvanāśam ito gatau
rājā putravihīnaś ca svargaṃ daśaratho gataḥ
she for whose sake the two tigers among men came to loss of their life here, and for whose sake King Daśaratha, bereft of his sons, went to heaven —
Words: yasyāḥ kṛte — for whose sake; narayāghrau — the two tigers among men; jīvanāśam — loss of life; ito — from here, hence; gatau — the two went; rājā — the king; putravihīnaś ca — and bereft of sons; svargaṃ — to heaven; daśaratho — Daśaratha; gataḥ — went
2.86.25
aiśvaryakāmāṃ kaikeyīm anāryām āryarūpiṇīm
mamaitāṃ mātaraṃ viddhi nṛśaṃsāṃ pāpaniścayām
yatomūlaṃ hi paśyāmi vyasanaṃ mahad ātmanaḥ
Know this Kaikeyī — greedy for power, ignoble though noble in appearance, cruel and of wicked resolve — to be my mother, in whom I see the very root of this great calamity of mine.
Words: aiśvaryakāmāṃ — greedy for power; kaikeyīm — Kaikeyī; anāryām — ignoble; āryarūpiṇīm — noble in appearance; mamaitāṃ — this my; mātaraṃ — mother; viddhi — know; nṛśaṃsāṃ — cruel; pāpaniścayām — of wicked resolve; yatomūlaṃ — of which as the root; hi — indeed; paśyāmi — I see; vyasanaṃ — calamity; mahad — great; ātmanaḥ — of myself, my own
2.86.26
ity uktvā naraśārdūlo bāṣpagadgadayā girā
sa niśaśvāsa tāmrākṣo kruddho nāga ivāsakṛt
Having spoken thus in a voice choked with tears, that tiger among men, his eyes coppery-red, sighed again and again like an angry serpent.
Words: ity uktvā — having spoken thus; naraśārdūlo — tiger among men; bāṣpagadgadayā — choked with tears; girā — with a voice; sa — he; niśaśvāsa — sighed, breathed hard; tāmrākṣo — with coppery-red eyes; kruddho — angry; nāga ivāsakṛt — like a serpent, again and again
2.86.27
bharadvājo maharṣis taṃ bruvantaṃ bharataṃ tadā
pratyuvāca mahābuddhir idaṃ vacanam arthavat
To Bharata as he spoke thus, the great sage Bharadvāja of great wisdom then made this meaningful reply:
Words: bharadvājo — Bharadvāja; maharṣis — the great sage; taṃ — him; bruvantaṃ — speaking; bharataṃ — Bharata; tadā — then; pratyuvāca — replied; mahābuddhir — of great wisdom; idaṃ — this; vacanam — word; arthavat — meaningful
2.86.28
na doṣeṇāvagantavyā kaikeyī bharata tvayā
rāmapravrājanaṃ hy etat sukhodarkaṃ bhaviṣyati
“Kaikeyī should not be regarded by you as at fault, Bharata; for this banishing of Rāma will prove to have a happy outcome.
Words: na — not; doṣeṇāvagantavyā — to be regarded with blame; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; bharata — O Bharata; tvayā — by you; rāmapravrājanaṃ — the banishing of Rāma; hy — indeed; etat — this; sukhodarkaṃ — having a happy outcome; bhaviṣyati — will be
2.86.29
abhivādya tu saṃsiddhaḥ kṛtvā cainaṃ pradakṣiṇam
āmantrya bharataḥ sainyaṃ yujyatām ity acodayat
Having saluted and circumambulated him, Bharata, resolved, took his leave and urged on the army: “Let it be made ready!”
Words: abhivādya — having saluted; tu — and; saṃsiddhaḥ — resolved, prepared; kṛtvā — having made; cainaṃ — and him; pradakṣiṇam — circumambulation; āmantrya — having taken leave; bharataḥ — Bharata; sainyaṃ — the army; yujyatām — let it be made ready; ity — thus; acodayat — urged, commanded
2.86.30
tato vājirathān yuktvā divyān hemapariṣkritān
adhyārohat prayāṇārthī bahūn bahuvidho janaḥ
Then, harnessing the divine horse-chariots adorned with gold, the manifold host, eager to set out, mounted the many vehicles.
Words: tato — then; vājirathān — horse-chariots; yuktvā — having yoked; divyān — divine; hemapariṣkritān — adorned with gold; adhyārohat — mounted; prayāṇārthī — eager to set out; bahūn — many; bahuvidho — of many kinds; janaḥ — people, host
2.86.31
gajakanyāgajāś caiva hemakakṣyāḥ patākinaḥ
jīmūtā iva gharmānte saghoṣāḥ saṃpratasthire
And the she-elephants and bull-elephants, with golden girths and banners, set forth resounding like thunderclouds at the end of the hot season.
Words: gajakanyāgajāś caiva — the she-elephants and bull-elephants; hemakakṣyāḥ — with golden girths; patākinaḥ — with banners; jīmūtā iva — like thunderclouds; gharmānte — at the end of the hot season; saghoṣāḥ — resounding; saṃpratasthire — set forth
2.86.32
vividhāny api yānāni mahāni ca laghūni ca
prayayuḥ sumahārhāṇi pādair eva padātayaḥ
Various vehicles too, both great and small, most costly, went forward; and the foot-soldiers went on foot.
Words: vividhāny api — various too; yānāni — vehicles; mahāni ca — both great; laghūni ca — and small; prayayuḥ — went forth; sumahārhāṇi — most costly; pādair eva — on foot indeed; padātayaḥ — the foot-soldiers
2.86.33
atha yānapravekais tu kausalyāpramukhāḥ striyaḥ
rāmadarśanakāṅkṣiṇyaḥ prayayur muditās tadā
Then the women, headed by Kausalyā, longing to see Rāma, went forth joyfully in the finest vehicles.
Words: atha — then; yānapravekais tu — with the finest vehicles; kausalyāpramukhāḥ — headed by Kausalyā; striyaḥ — the women; rāmadarśanakāṅkṣiṇyaḥ — longing to see Rāma; prayayur — went forth; muditās — joyful; tadā — then
2.86.34
sa cārkataruṇābhāsāṃ niyuktāṃ śibikāṃ śubhām
āsthāya prayayau śrīmān bharataḥ saparicchadaḥ
And the illustrious Bharata, with his retinue, mounting a splendid palanquin harnessed to bearers and shining like the young sun, set forth.
Words: sa — he; cārkataruṇābhāsāṃ — and shining like the young sun; niyuktāṃ — harnessed, appointed; śibikāṃ — palanquin; śubhām — splendid, fine; āsthāya — having mounted; prayayau — set forth; śrīmān — the illustrious; bharataḥ — Bharata; saparicchadaḥ — with his retinue
2.86.35
sā prayātā mahāsenā gajavājirathākulā
dakṣiṇāṃ diśam āvṛtya mahāmegha ivotthitaḥ
vanāni tu vyatikramya juṣṭāni mṛgapakṣibhiḥ
That great army, thronged with elephants, horses and chariots, set out, turning toward the southern quarter like a great cloud risen up, and passing through forests frequented by beasts and birds.
Words: sā — that; prayātā — set out; mahāsenā — great army; gajavājirathākulā — thronged with elephants, horses and chariots; dakṣiṇāṃ — southern; diśam — quarter, direction; āvṛtya — having turned toward; mahāmegha ivotthitaḥ — like a great risen cloud; vanāni — forests; tu — and; vyatikramya — having passed through; juṣṭāni — frequented; mṛgapakṣibhiḥ — by beasts and birds
2.86.36
sā saṃprahṛṣṭadvipavājiyodhā vitrāsayantī mṛgapakṣisaṃghān
mahad vanaṃ tat pravigāhamānā rarāja senā bharatasya tatra
That army of Bharata, with its exultant elephants, horses and warriors, terrifying the flocks of beasts and birds, plunging into that great forest, shone resplendent there.
Words: sā — that; saṃprahṛṣṭadvipavājiyodhā — with exultant elephants, horses and warriors; vitrāsayantī — terrifying; mṛgapakṣisaṃghān — the flocks of beasts and birds; mahad — great; vanaṃ — forest; tat — that; pravigāhamānā — plunging into; rarāja — shone; senā — army; bharatasya — of Bharata; tatra — there
← 2.85 Bharadvāja’s divine feast · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.87 Bharata locates Citrakūṭa →
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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