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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 99: Rāma explains Daśaratha’s obligations
Summary. The marriage pledge and wartime boons bind the succession, Bharata & Śatrughna must govern while Rāma & Lakṣmaṇa remain in the forest
Sequence
- Rāma acknowledges that Bharata's appeal is worthy of their family (2.99.1–2)
- he recalls Daśaratha's promise of the Kingdom as a bride-price to Kaikeyī's father at her marriage, followed by the boons granted to Kaikeyī after the war between Devas and asuras → he treats Kaikeyī's later demands as claims their father was bound to fulfill (2.99.3–6)
- his own part is the fourteen-year exile; Bharata's is to accept abhiṣeka (2.99.7–9)
- he urges Bharata to free their father from his debt, citing Gaya's explanation that a son is called putra because he saves his father from the hell called Put → he recalls the wish for many righteous sons so that at least one may perform the ancestral rites at Gayā (2.99.10–14)
- he tells Bharata to return with Śatrughna and govern the people, while he continues with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa into Daṇḍaka (2.99.15–17)
- Bharata will have the royal parasol, Rāma the shade of forest trees → with one brother helping each of them, all four can preserve Daśaratha's word. (2.99.18–19)
Verses 2.99.1–19
2.99.1
punar evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ tu bharataṃ lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ
pratyuvaca tataḥ śrīmāñ jñātimadhye 'tisatkṛtaḥ
Then the glorious elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa (Rāma), highly honoured in the midst of his kinsmen, replied to Bharata, who was speaking thus once more:
Words: punar — again; evaṃ — thus; bruvāṇaṃ — speaking; tu — but, and; bharataṃ — to Bharata; lakṣmaṇāgrajaḥ — the elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa (Rāma); pratyuvaca — replied; tataḥ — then; śrīmāñ — the glorious one; jñātimadhye — in the midst of his kinsmen; 'tisatkṛtaḥ — highly honoured
2.99.2
upapannam idaṃ vākyaṃ yat tvam evam abhāṣathāḥ
jātaḥ putro daśarathāt kaikeyyāṃ rājasattamāt
Fitting is this speech that you have spoken thus, born as you are the son of Daśaratha, best of kings, in the womb of Kaikeyī.
Words: upapannam — fitting, proper; idaṃ vākyaṃ — this speech; yat — that, which; tvam — you; evam — thus; abhāṣathāḥ — you have spoken; jātaḥ — born; putro — the son; daśarathāt — from Daśaratha; kaikeyyāṃ — in (the womb of) Kaikeyī; rājasattamāt — the best of kings
2.99.3
purā bhrātaḥ pitā naḥ sa mātaraṃ te samudvahan
mātāmahe samāśrauṣīd rājyaśulkam anuttamam
Long ago, O brother, when our father took your mother in marriage, he promised to her father (your maternal grandfather) the kingdom as an unsurpassed bride-price.
Words: purā — formerly, long ago; bhrātaḥ — O brother; pitā naḥ — our father; sa — he; mātaraṃ te — your mother; samudvahan — marrying, taking in wedlock; mātāmahe — to the maternal grandfather; samāśrauṣīd — promised, pledged; rājyaśulkam — the kingdom as bride-price; anuttamam — unsurpassed
2.99.4
devāsure ca saṃgrāme jananyai tava pārthivaḥ
saṃprahṛṣṭo dadau rājā varam ārādhitaḥ prabhuḥ
And in the war between gods and asuras, the king, the lord, well pleased and gratified, granted a boon to your mother.
Words: devāsure — of gods and asuras; ca — and; saṃgrāme — in the battle; jananyai tava — to your mother; pārthivaḥ — the king; saṃprahṛṣṭo — well pleased; dadau — gave, granted; rājā — the king; varam — a boon; ārādhitaḥ — gratified, propitiated; prabhuḥ — the lord
2.99.5
tataḥ sā saṃpratiśrāvya tava mātā yaśasvinī
ayācata naraśreṣṭhaṃ dvau varau varavarṇinī
Then your illustrious mother, of lovely complexion, having secured his pledge, asked the best of men for two boons.
Words: tataḥ — then; sā — she; saṃpratiśrāvya — having exacted his promise; tava mātā — your mother; yaśasvinī — the illustrious; ayācata — asked, begged; naraśreṣṭhaṃ — the best of men; dvau varau — two boons; varavarṇinī — of lovely complexion
2.99.6
tava rājyaṃ naravyāghra mama pravrājanaṃ tathā
tac ca rājā tathā tasyai niyuktaḥ pradadau varam
The kingdom for you, O tiger among men, and my banishment — and the king, bound by his word, granted her that boon accordingly.
Words: tava rājyaṃ — the kingdom for you; naravyāghra — O tiger among men; mama pravrājanaṃ — my banishment; tathā — and, likewise; tac ca — and that; rājā — the king; tathā — so, accordingly; tasyai — to her; niyuktaḥ — bound, obligated; pradadau — granted, bestowed; varam — the boon
2.99.7
tena pitrāham apy atra niyuktaḥ puruṣarṣabha
caturdaśa vane vāsaṃ varṣāṇi varadānikam
By that father I too, O bull among men, was accordingly directed to a dwelling in the forest for fourteen years, as the fulfilment of the boon.
Words: tena — by that; pitrāham — father, I; apy — too; atra — herein, in this matter; niyuktaḥ — was directed, appointed; puruṣarṣabha — O bull among men; caturdaśa — fourteen; vane — in the forest; vāsaṃ — dwelling, residence; varṣāṇi — years; varadānikam — as the granting of the boon
2.99.8
so 'haṃ vanam idaṃ prāpto nirjanaṃ lakṣmaṇānvitaḥ
śītayā cāpratidvandvaḥ satyavāde sthitaḥ pituḥ
So I, peerless, have come to this desolate forest, accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā, standing firm in my father's truthfulness.
Words: so 'haṃ — I, that same one; vanam idaṃ — this forest; prāpto — reached, arrived at; nirjanaṃ — desolate, uninhabited; lakṣmaṇānvitaḥ — accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa; śītayā — with Sītā; cāpratidvandvaḥ — and without a rival, peerless; satyavāde — in truthfulness of speech; sthitaḥ — standing firm, abiding; pituḥ — of the father
2.99.9
bhavān api tathety eva pitaraṃ satyavādinam
kartum arhati rājendraṃ kṣipram evābhiṣecanāt
You too, by your 'so be it,' ought to make our father, the lord of kings, a keeper of his word, by promptly accepting the consecration.
Words: bhavān api — you too; tathety — 'so be it'; eva — indeed; pitaraṃ — the father; satyavādinam — truthful, a speaker of truth; kartum arhati — ought to make; rājendraṃ — the lord of kings; kṣipram — quickly; evābhiṣecanāt — indeed by the consecration
2.99.10
ṛṇān mocaya rājānaṃ matkṛte bharata prabhum
pitaraṃ trāhi dharmajña mātaraṃ cābhinandaya
For my sake, Bharata, free the king, the lord, from his debt; save our father, O knower of dharma, and gladden your mother.
Words: ṛṇān — from the debt; mocaya — free, release; rājānaṃ — the king; matkṛte — for my sake; bharata — O Bharata; prabhum — the lord; pitaraṃ — the father; trāhi — save, deliver; dharmajña — O knower of dharma; mātaraṃ — the mother; cābhinandaya — and gladden, please
2.99.11
śrūyate hi purā tāta śrutir gītā yaśasvinī
gayena yajamānena gayeṣv eva pitṝn prati
For it is heard, dear one, that long ago a glorious sacred verse was sung by Gaya while performing sacrifice at Gayā, concerning the ancestors:
Words: śrūyate hi — for it is heard; purā — of old; tāta — dear one; śrutir — a sacred saying, verse; gītā — sung; yaśasvinī — glorious; gayena — by Gaya; yajamānena — while sacrificing; gayeṣv eva — at Gayā itself; pitṝn prati — concerning the ancestors
2.99.12
puṃ nāmnā narakād yasmāt pitaraṃ trāyate sutaḥ
tasmāt putra iti proktaḥ pitṝn yat pāti vā sutaḥ
“Because a son saves his father from the hell named 'Put,' he is therefore called 'putra' (son) — or so called because a son protects his ancestors.”
Words: puṃ nāmnā — by the name 'Put'; narakād — from the hell; yasmāt — because, from which; pitaraṃ — the father; trāyate — saves, rescues; sutaḥ — the son; tasmāt — therefore; putra iti — 'putra' thus; proktaḥ — is called, declared; pitṝn — the ancestors; yat — because, in that; pāti vā — or protects; sutaḥ — the son
2.99.13
eṣṭavyā bahavaḥ putrā guṇavanto bahuśrutāḥ
teṣāṃ vai samavetānām api kaś cid gayāṃ vrajet
Many sons should be desired, virtuous and deeply learned; for out of them, assembled together, at least one might go to Gayā (to perform the rites).
Words: eṣṭavyā — should be desired; bahavaḥ putrā — many sons; guṇavanto — virtuous; bahuśrutāḥ — deeply learned; teṣāṃ vai — of them indeed; samavetānām — of those assembled; api kaś cid — even someone, at least one; gayāṃ — to Gayā; vrajet — might go
2.99.14
evaṃ rājarṣayaḥ sarve pratītā rājanandana
tasmāt trāhi naraśreṣṭha pitaraṃ narakāt prabho
Thus all the royal seers are firmly convinced, O delight of kings; therefore, O best of men, save our father from hell, O lord.
Words: evaṃ — thus; rājarṣayaḥ — the royal seers; sarve — all; pratītā — are convinced, hold it established; rājanandana — O delight of kings; tasmāt — therefore; trāhi — save, deliver; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; pitaraṃ — the father; narakāt — from hell; prabho — O lord
2.99.15
ayodhyāṃ gaccha bharata prakṛtīr anurañjaya
śatrughna sahito vīra saha sarvair dvijātibhiḥ
Go to Ayodhyā, Bharata, and win the affection of the subjects, accompanied by Śatrughna, O hero, together with all the twice-born.
Words: ayodhyāṃ — to Ayodhyā; gaccha — go; bharata — O Bharata; prakṛtīr — the subjects; anurañjaya — win over, please; śatrughna sahito — accompanied by Śatrughna; vīra — O hero; saha sarvair — together with all; dvijātibhiḥ — the twice-born (brahmins)
2.99.16
pravekṣye daṇḍakāraṇyam aham apy avilambayan
ābhyāṃ tu sahito rājan vaidehyā lakṣmaṇena ca
I too, without delay, shall enter the Daṇḍaka forest, accompanied by these two, O king — by Vaidehī and by Lakṣmaṇa.
Words: pravekṣye — I shall enter; daṇḍakāraṇyam — the Daṇḍaka forest; aham apy — I too; avilambayan — without delaying; ābhyāṃ tu sahito — accompanied by these two; rājan — O king; vaidehyā — by Vaidehī (Sītā); lakṣmaṇena ca — and by Lakṣmaṇa
2.99.17
tvaṃ rājā bhava bharata svayaṃ narāṇāṃ vanyānām aham api rājarāṇ mṛgāṇām
gaccha tvaṃ puravaram adya saṃprahṛṣṭaḥ saṃhṛṣṭas tv aham api daṇḍakān pravekṣye
You, Bharata, be king of men yourself; and I too shall be king of the wild beasts. Go today, well pleased, to the best of cities; and I too, delighted, shall enter the Daṇḍakas.
Words: tvaṃ — you; rājā — king; bhava — become, be; bharata — O Bharata; svayaṃ — yourself; narāṇāṃ — of men; vanyānām — of the forest (creatures); aham api — I too; rājarāṇ — king; mṛgāṇām — of the beasts; gaccha tvaṃ — go you; puravaram — to the best of cities; adya — today; saṃprahṛṣṭaḥ — well pleased; saṃhṛṣṭas tv — and delighted; aham api — I too; daṇḍakān — the Daṇḍaka (forests); pravekṣye — shall enter
2.99.18
chāyāṃ te dinakarabhāḥ prabādhamānaṃ varṣatraṃ bharata karotu mūrdhni śītām
eteṣām aham api kānanadrumāṇāṃ chāyāṃ tām atiśayinīṃ sukhaṃ śrayiṣye
Let the parasol, warding off the sun's rays, cast cool shade upon your head, Bharata; while I too shall happily resort to that surpassing shade of these forest trees.
Words: chāyāṃ — shade; te — for you; dinakarabhāḥ — the sun's rays; prabādhamānaṃ — warding off; varṣatraṃ — the parasol (rain-shield); bharata — O Bharata; karotu — let it make, cast; mūrdhni — on the head; śītām — cool; eteṣām — of these; aham api — I too; kānanadrumāṇāṃ — of the forest trees; chāyāṃ tām — that shade; atiśayinīṃ — surpassing, excellent; sukhaṃ — happily, in comfort; śrayiṣye — shall resort to
2.99.19
śatrughnaḥ kuśalamatis tu te sahāyaḥ saumitrir mama viditaḥ pradhānamitram
catvāras tanayavarā vayaṃ narendraṃ satyasthaṃ bharata carāma mā viṣādam
Skilful-minded Śatrughna is your helper, and Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa) is known as my chief friend; we four, the finest of sons, shall keep the king true to his word — grieve not, Bharata.
Words: śatrughnaḥ — Śatrughna; kuśalamatis — of skilful mind; tu — and; te sahāyaḥ — your helper; saumitrir — Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); mama — my; viditaḥ — known; pradhānamitram — chief friend; catvāras — four; tanayavarā — the finest of sons; vayaṃ — we; narendraṃ — the lord of men (the king); satyasthaṃ — established in truth; bharata — O Bharata; carāma — let us keep, render; mā viṣādam — grieve not
← 2.98 Bharata’s appeal and Rāma’s answer · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.100 Jābāli challenges the exile →
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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