← 2.98.70 · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 98: Bharata’s appeal and Rāma’s answer
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa 2.98.71
Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 98: Bharata’s appeal and Rāma’s answer. Bharata asks him to restore the Kingdom, Rāma teaches the inevitability of loss, separation and death
In the sequence: he says ruling and maintaining a household are appropriate duties for Rāma at this stage of life → he asks Vasiṣṭha to install Rāma there in the forest and offers once again to stay if Rāma will not return → Rāma remains firm, while the gathering joins Bharata's appeal.
2.98.71
tam ṛtvijo naigamayūthavallabhās tathā visaṃjñāśrukalāś ca mātaraḥ
tathā bruvāṇaṃ bharataṃ pratuṣṭuvuḥ praṇamya rāmaṃ ca yayācire saha
The priests, the leaders dear to the throngs of townsfolk, and likewise the mothers, swooning and choked with tears, extolled Bharata as he spoke thus; and bowing to Rāma, they entreated him together with him.
Words: tam — him (Bharata); ṛtvijo — the priests; naigamayūthavallabhās — the leaders dear to the townsfolk-throngs; tathā — likewise; visaṃjñāśrukalāś ca mātaraḥ — and the mothers, swooning and tearful; tathā bruvāṇaṃ bharataṃ — Bharata as he spoke thus; pratuṣṭuvuḥ — extolled, praised; praṇamya rāmaṃ ca — and having bowed to Rāma; yayācire — they entreated; saha — together (with him)
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.