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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 97: Bharata offers Rāma the Kingdom

Summary. Rāma absolves him of blame but insists that both brothers honour their father’s division between Kingdom and forest

Sequence

  1. Rāma asks why Bharata has abandoned the Kingdom and come dressed as a tapasvin (2.97.1–3)
  2. Bharata recounts their father's grief and his mother's role in the disaster (2.97.4–7)
  3. he asks Rāma to accept his hereditary Kingdom for the sake of the people, the widowed Queens, and his brother (2.97.8–11)
  4. he places his head at Rāma's feet as a younger brother, pupil, and servant (2.97.12–14)
  5. Rāma embraces him and says he sees no fault in him, but asks him not to condemn their mother (2.97.15–17)
  6. he explains that he owes obedience to both parents (2.97.18–20)
  7. in his view, Daśaratha assigned Bharata Ayodhyā and himself the forest, and each must now fulfill that assignment → he values keeping it above any Kingdom. (2.97.21–24)

Verses 2.97.1–24

2.97.1

taṃ tu rāmaḥ samāśvāsya bhrātaraṃ guruvatsalam
lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā praṣṭuṃ samupacakrame

But Rāma, having comforted that brother of his who was devoted to their elders, together with his brother Lakṣmaṇa set about to question him.

Words: taṃ — him; tu — but; rāmaḥ — Rāma; samāśvāsya — having comforted; bhrātaraṃ — brother; guruvatsalam — devoted to elders; lakṣmaṇena saha — together with Lakṣmaṇa; bhrātrā — with his brother; praṣṭuṃ — to question; samupacakrame — set about, began

2.97.2

kim etad iccheyam ahaṃ śrotuṃ pravyāhṛtaṃ tvayā
yasmāt tvam āgato deśam imaṃ cīrajaṭājinī

“What is this? I would wish to hear it spoken by you — the reason why you have come to this region clad in bark, matted hair, and hides.

Words: kim — what; etad — this; iccheyam — I would wish; ahaṃ — I; śrotuṃ — to hear; pravyāhṛtaṃ — spoken, uttered; tvayā — by you; yasmāt — the reason for which; tvam — you; āgato — have come; deśam — region; imaṃ — this; cīrajaṭājinī — clad in bark, matted hair, and hide

2.97.3

yannimittam imaṃ deśaṃ kṛṣṇājinajaṭādharaḥ
hitvā rājyaṃ praviṣṭas tvaṃ tat sarvaṃ vaktum arhasi

For what reason you, wearing a black antelope-hide and matted hair, having abandoned the kingdom, have entered this region — all that you should tell.

Words: yannimittam — for what reason; imaṃ — this; deśaṃ — region; kṛṣṇājinajaṭādharaḥ — wearing black antelope-hide and matted hair; hitvā — having abandoned; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; praviṣṭas — entered; tvaṃ — you; tat — that; sarvaṃ — all; vaktum — to tell; arhasi — you should

2.97.4

ity uktaḥ kekayīputraḥ kākutsthena mahātmanā
pragṛhya balavad bhūyaḥ prāñjalir vākyam abravīt

Addressed thus by the great-souled Kākutstha, the son of Kaikeyī, controlling himself firmly, again with joined palms spoke these words:

Words: ity uktaḥ — thus addressed; kekayīputraḥ — the son of Kaikeyī; kākutsthena — by Kākutstha (Rāma); mahātmanā — by the great-souled; pragṛhya — having restrained (himself); balavad — firmly, strongly; bhūyaḥ — again; prāñjalir — with joined palms; vākyam — words; abravīt — spoke

2.97.5

āryaṃ tātaḥ parityajya kṛtvā karma suduṣkaram
gataḥ svargaṃ mahābāhuḥ putraśokābhipīḍitaḥ

“Father, having forsaken the noble one and done a most difficult deed, the mighty-armed one, tormented by grief for his son, has gone to heaven.

Words: āryaṃ — the noble one; tātaḥ — father; parityajya — having forsaken; kṛtvā — having done; karma — a deed; suduṣkaram — most difficult; gataḥ — gone; svargaṃ — to heaven; mahābāhuḥ — the mighty-armed; putraśokābhipīḍitaḥ — tormented by grief for his son

2.97.6

striyā niyuktaḥ kaikeyyā mama mātrā paraṃtapa
cakāra sumahat pāpam idam ātmayaśoharam

Impelled by a woman, my mother Kaikeyī, O scorcher of foes, he committed this very great sin that robbed him of his own fame.

Words: striyā — by a woman; niyuktaḥ — impelled, urged; kaikeyyā — by Kaikeyī; mama — my; mātrā — by the mother; paraṃtapa — O scorcher of foes; cakāra — committed, did; sumahat — very great; pāpam — sin; idam — this; ātmayaśoharam — robbing his own fame

2.97.7

sā rājyaphalam aprāpya vidhavā śokakarśitā
patiṣyati mahāghore niraye jananī mama

She, having failed to obtain the fruit of the kingdom — a widow, wasted by grief, my mother — will fall into a most terrible hell.

Words: sā — she; rājyaphalam — the fruit of the kingdom; aprāpya — not having obtained; vidhavā — a widow; śokakarśitā — wasted by grief; patiṣyati — will fall; mahāghore — most terrible; niraye — into hell; jananī — mother; mama — my

2.97.8

tasya me dāsabhūtasya prasādaṃ kartum arhasi
abhiṣiñcasva cādyaiva rājyena maghavān iva

To me who have become your servant you should show grace; consecrate yourself this very day with the kingdom, like Maghavat.

Words: tasya me — of me, to me; dāsabhūtasya — who have become a servant; prasādaṃ — grace, favour; kartum — to show, make; arhasi — you should; abhiṣiñcasva — consecrate yourself; cādyaiva — and this very day; rājyena — with the kingdom; maghavān iva — like Maghavat (Indra)

2.97.9

imāḥ prakṛtayaḥ sarvā vidhavā māturaś ca yāḥ
tvat sakāśam anuprāptāḥ prasādaṃ kartum arhasi

All these subjects, and the widowed queen-mothers who have come into your presence — to them you should show grace.

Words: imāḥ — these; prakṛtayaḥ — subjects; sarvā — all; vidhavā — widowed; māturaś ca yāḥ — and the mothers who; tvat sakāśam — to your presence; anuprāptāḥ — have come; prasādaṃ — grace; kartum arhasi — you should show

2.97.10

tadānupūrvyā yuktaṃ ca yuktaṃ cātmani mānada
rājyaṃ prāpnuhi dharmeṇa sakāmān suhṛdaḥ kuru

Therefore, O bestower of honour, obtain by dharma the kingdom, which is fitting by succession and fitting for yourself, and make your friends' wishes fulfilled.

Words: tadānupūrvyā — therefore by succession; yuktaṃ ca — and fitting; yuktaṃ cātmani — and fitting for yourself; mānada — O bestower of honour; rājyaṃ — the kingdom; prāpnuhi — obtain; dharmeṇa — by dharma, righteously; sakāmān — (having their) desires fulfilled; suhṛdaḥ — friends; kuru — make

2.97.11

bhavatv avidhavā bhūmiḥ samagrā patinā tvayā
śaśinā vimaleneva śāradī rajanī yathā

Let the whole earth become un-widowed through you as her lord, as an autumn night is made radiant by the spotless moon.

Words: bhavatv — let it become; avidhavā — un-widowed; bhūmiḥ — the earth; samagrā — whole, entire; patinā tvayā — through you as her lord; śaśinā — through the moon; vimaleneva — as by the spotless one; śāradī — autumnal; rajanī — night; yathā — as

2.97.12

ebhiś ca sacivaiḥ sārdhaṃ śirasā yācito mayā
bhrātuḥ śiṣyasya dāsasya prasādaṃ kartum arhasi

Entreated by me with bowed head, together with these ministers, you should show grace to your brother, your disciple, your servant.

Words: ebhiś ca sacivaiḥ — and with these ministers; sārdhaṃ — together; śirasā — with the head; yācito — entreated; mayā — by me; bhrātuḥ — to your brother; śiṣyasya — your disciple; dāsasya — your servant; prasādaṃ — grace; kartum arhasi — you should show

2.97.13

tad idaṃ śāśvataṃ pitryaṃ sarvaṃ sacivamaṇḍalam
pūjitaṃ puruṣavyāghra nātikramitum utsahe

O tiger among men, this whole hereditary, ancestral, honoured circle of ministers — I cannot bring myself to overstep it.

Words: tad idaṃ — this; śāśvataṃ — perpetual, hereditary; pitryaṃ — ancestral, paternal; sarvaṃ — whole; sacivamaṇḍalam — circle of ministers; pūjitaṃ — honoured; puruṣavyāghra — O tiger among men; nātikramitum — not to overstep; utsahe — I am able, I dare

2.97.14

evam uktvā mahābāhuḥ sabāṣpaḥ kekayīsutaḥ
rāmasya śirasā pādau jagrāha bharataḥ punaḥ

Having spoken thus, the mighty-armed Bharata, son of Kaikeyī, in tears, again clasped Rāma's feet with his head.

Words: evam uktvā — having spoken thus; mahābāhuḥ — the mighty-armed; sabāṣpaḥ — in tears; kekayīsutaḥ — son of Kaikeyī; rāmasya — of Rāma; śirasā — with his head; pādau — the two feet; jagrāha — grasped; bharataḥ — Bharata; punaḥ — again

2.97.15

taṃ mattam iva mātaṅgaṃ niḥśvasantaṃ punaḥ punaḥ
bhrātaraṃ bharataṃ rāmaḥ pariṣvajyedam abravīt

Embracing his brother Bharata, who was sighing again and again like a rutting elephant, Rāma spoke this:

Words: taṃ — him; mattam iva mātaṅgaṃ — like a rutting elephant; niḥśvasantaṃ — sighing; punaḥ punaḥ — again and again; bhrātaraṃ — brother; bharataṃ — Bharata; rāmaḥ — Rāma; pariṣvajyedam — having embraced, this; abravīt — spoke

2.97.16

kulīnaḥ sattvasaṃpannas tejasvī caritavrataḥ
rājyahetoḥ kathaṃ pāpam ācaret tvadvidho janaḥ

“How could a person like you — well-born, endowed with goodness, splendid, and true to his vows — commit sin for the sake of a kingdom?

Words: kulīnaḥ — well-born; sattvasaṃpannas — endowed with goodness; tejasvī — splendid, energetic; caritavrataḥ — true to his vows; rājyahetoḥ — for the sake of a kingdom; kathaṃ — how; pāpam — sin; ācaret — would commit; tvadvidho — one like you; janaḥ — person

2.97.17

na doṣaṃ tvayi paśyāmi sūkṣmam apy ari sūdana
na cāpi jananīṃ bālyāt tvaṃ vigarhitum arhasi

I see no fault in you, not even a subtle one, O slayer of foes; nor should you out of childishness censure our mother.

Words: na doṣaṃ — no fault; tvayi — in you; paśyāmi — I see; sūkṣmam apy — even a subtle one; ari sūdana — O slayer of foes; na cāpi — nor; jananīṃ — the mother; bālyāt — out of childishness; tvaṃ — you; vigarhitum — to censure; arhasi — should

2.97.18

yāvat pitari dharmajña gauravaṃ lokasatkṛte
tāvad dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭha jananyām api gauravam

As great as the reverence due to a father honoured by the world, O knower of dharma, so great, O best of the dharma-bearers, is the reverence due also to a mother.

Words: yāvat — as much as; pitari — toward the father; dharmajña — O knower of dharma; gauravaṃ — reverence; lokasatkṛte — honoured by the world; tāvad — so much; dharmabhṛtāṃ — of the dharma-bearers; śreṣṭha — O best; jananyām api — also toward the mother; gauravam — reverence

2.97.19

etābhyāṃ dharmaśīlābhyāṃ vanaṃ gaccheti rāghava
mātā pitṛbhyām ukto 'haṃ katham anyat samācare

By these two of righteous conduct, mother and father, I was told, 'Go to the forest,' O Rāghava; how could I do otherwise?

Words: etābhyāṃ — by these two; dharmaśīlābhyāṃ — of righteous conduct; vanaṃ — to the forest; gaccheti — ‘go,’ thus; rāghava — O Rāghava; mātā pitṛbhyām — by mother and father; ukto 'haṃ — I was told; katham — how; anyat — otherwise; samācare — could I act

2.97.20

tvayā rājyam ayodhyāyāṃ prāptavyaṃ lokasatkṛtam
vastavyaṃ daṇḍakāraṇye mayā valkalavāsasā

By you the world-honoured kingdom in Ayodhyā is to be obtained; by me, clad in bark garments, the Daṇḍaka forest is to be dwelt in.

Words: tvayā — by you; rājyam — the kingdom; ayodhyāyāṃ — in Ayodhyā; prāptavyaṃ — to be obtained; lokasatkṛtam — world-honoured; vastavyaṃ — to be dwelt in; daṇḍakāraṇye — in the Daṇḍaka forest; mayā — by me; valkalavāsasā — clad in bark garments

2.97.21

evaṃ kṛtvā mahārājo vibhāgaṃ lokasaṃnidhau
vyādiśya ca mahātejā divaṃ daśaratho gataḥ

Having thus made the division in the presence of the world, and having so ordained, the great king Daśaratha of great splendour went to heaven.

Words: evaṃ — thus; kṛtvā — having made; mahārājo — the great king; vibhāgaṃ — the division, apportionment; lokasaṃnidhau — in the presence of the world; vyādiśya ca — and having ordained; mahātejā — of great splendour; divaṃ — to heaven; daśaratho — Daśaratha; gataḥ — went

2.97.22

sa ca pramāṇaṃ dharmātmā rājā lokagurus tava
pitrā dattaṃ yathābhāgam upabhoktuṃ tvam arhasi

And that righteous king, the elder of the world, is your authority; you should enjoy the share given by your father accordingly.

Words: sa ca — and he; pramāṇaṃ — authority, standard; dharmātmā — righteous-souled; rājā — king; lokagurus — elder of the world; tava — your; pitrā — by the father; dattaṃ — given; yathābhāgam — according to the share; upabhoktuṃ — to enjoy; tvam arhasi — you should

2.97.23

caturdaśa samāḥ saumya daṇḍakāraṇyam āśritaḥ
upabhokṣye tv ahaṃ dattaṃ bhāgaṃ pitrā mahātmanā

For fourteen years, gentle one, dwelling in the Daṇḍaka forest, I shall enjoy the share given by my great-souled father.

Words: caturdaśa — fourteen; samāḥ — years; saumya — O gentle one; daṇḍakāraṇyam — the Daṇḍaka forest; āśritaḥ — having resorted to, dwelling in; upabhokṣye — I shall enjoy; tv ahaṃ — but I; dattaṃ — given; bhāgaṃ — the share; pitrā — by the father; mahātmanā — great-souled

2.97.24

yad abravīn māṃ naralokasatkṛtaḥ pitā mahātmā vibudhādhipopamaḥ
tad eva manye paramātmano hitaṃ na sarvalokeśvarabhāvam avyayam

What my great-souled father — honoured in the world of men and like the lord of the gods — told me, that alone I regard as the highest good for myself, not the imperishable sovereignty over all the worlds.”

Words: yad — what; abravīn — told; māṃ — me; naralokasatkṛtaḥ — honoured in the world of men; pitā — father; mahātmā — great-souled; vibudhādhipopamaḥ — like the lord of the gods; tad eva — that alone; manye — I regard; paramātmano — for the highest self; hitaṃ — the good, benefit; na — not; sarvalokeśvarabhāvam — the state of being lord of all worlds; avyayam — imperishable

← 2.96 The mothers reach Rāma’s hut · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.98 Bharata’s appeal and Rāma’s answer →

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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