# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 104 — Bharata receives Rāma’s sandals *Rāma steps into the gold-adorned sandals and returns them, Bharata circles him and prepares to depart* Portion: Rāma’s sandals and rule at Nandigrāma · Verses: 25 · Ref format: 2.104. ## Sequence - The ṛṣis admire the brothers' conduct (104.1–3) - desiring the eventual destruction of Rāvaṇa, they urge Bharata to accept Rāma's decision and let him fulfill the obligation (104.4–6) - they depart after receiving Rāma's respect (104.7–8) - Bharata makes one more appeal, saying the people look to Rāma and that he cannot protect the Kingdom alone (104.9–13) - Rāma embraces him and assures him that his natural ability, education, and advisers make him capable of governing (104.14–17) - he repeats that he will not break the promise and asks Bharata to treat Kaikeyī as his mother despite what happened (104.18–19) - Bharata presents gold-adorned sandals and asks Rāma to place his feet in them → Rāma does so, steps out, and hands them back → Bharata walks respectfully around him and has the sandals placed on an elephant for the return → Rāma says goodbye to the gathering and his mothers, then goes back into the hut in tears (104.20–25). ## Verses **2.104.1** tam apratimatejobhyāṃ bhrātṛbhyāṃ romaharṣaṇam vismitāḥ saṃgamaṃ prekṣya samavetā maharṣayaḥ The great sages assembled there, amazed, beholding that hair-thrilling meeting of the two brothers of incomparable splendor — **2.104.2** antarhitās tv ṛṣigaṇāḥ siddhāś ca paramarṣayaḥ tau bhrātarau mahātmānau kākutsthau praśaśaṃsire — the invisible hosts of ṛṣis, the siddhas, and the supreme sages praised those two great-souled brothers, the Kākutsthas. **2.104.3** sa dhanyo yasya putrau dvau dharmajñau dharmavikramau śrutvā vayaṃ hi saṃbhāṣām ubhayoḥ spṛhayāmahe “Blessed is he whose two sons are knowers of dharma and valiant in dharma; for having heard the converse of the two, we ourselves are filled with longing.” **2.104.4** tatas tv ṛṣigaṇāḥ kṣipraṃ daśagrīvavadhaiṣiṇaḥ bharataṃ rājaśārdūlam ity ūcuḥ saṃgatā vacaḥ Then the hosts of ṛṣis, desiring the slaying of the ten-necked Rāvaṇa, assembled and quickly spoke these words to Bharata, tiger among kings: **2.104.5** kule jāta mahāprājña mahāvṛtta mahāyaśaḥ grāhyaṃ rāmasya vākyaṃ te pitaraṃ yady avekṣase “O nobly born, greatly wise, of great conduct and great fame — Rāma's word should be accepted by you, if you have regard for your father. **2.104.6** sadānṛṇam imaṃ rāmaṃ vayam icchāmahe pituḥ anṛṇatvāc ca kaikeyyāḥ svargaṃ daśaratho gataḥ We wish this Rāma to be ever free of debt to his father; and by discharging the debt to Kaikeyī, Daśaratha has gone to heaven. **2.104.7** etāvad uktvā vacanaṃ gandharvāḥ samaharṣayaḥ rājarṣayaś caiva tathā sarve svāṃ svāṃ gatiṃ gatāḥ Having spoken thus much, the gandharvas together with the great sages, and likewise the royal sages, all went each to his own abode. **2.104.8** hlāditas tena vākyena śubhena śubhadarśanaḥ rāmaḥ saṃhṛṣṭavadanas tān ṛṣīn abhyapūjayat Gladdened by that auspicious word, the fair-featured Rāma, his face thrilled with joy, honored those sages. **2.104.9** srastagātras tu bharataḥ sa vācā sajjamānayā kṛtāñjalir idaṃ vākyaṃ rāghavaṃ punar abravīt But Bharata, his limbs drooping, with faltering voice and joined palms, again spoke this word to Rāghava: **2.104.10** rājadharmam anuprekṣya kuladharmānusaṃtatim kartum arhasi kākutstha mama mātuś ca yācanām Considering the duty of a king and the unbroken continuity of family dharma, you ought, O Kākutstha, to grant the entreaty of me and of my mother. **2.104.11** rakṣituṃ sumahad rājyam aham ekas tu notsahe paurajānapadāṃś cāpi raktān rañjayituṃ tathā But I alone am not able to guard so vast a kingdom, nor likewise to keep contented the devoted town and country folk. **2.104.12** jñātayaś ca hi yodhāś ca mitrāṇi suhṛdaś ca naḥ tvām eva pratikāṅkṣante parjanyam iva karṣakāḥ For our kinsmen and warriors, friends and well-wishers, all look to you alone, as farmers look to the rain-cloud. **2.104.13** idaṃ rājyaṃ mahāprājña sthāpaya pratipadya hi śaktimān asi kākutstha lokasya paripālane Take up and establish this kingdom, O greatly wise one; you are capable, O Kākutstha, of protecting the world. **2.104.14** ity uktvā nyapatad bhrātuḥ pādayor bharatas tadā bhṛśaṃ saṃprārthayām āsa rāmam evaṃ priyaṃ vadaḥ Having said this, Bharata then fell at his brother's feet and, speaking thus fondly, earnestly implored Rāma. **2.104.15** tam aṅke bhrātaraṃ kṛtvā rāmo vacanam abravīt śyāmaṃ nalinapatrākṣaṃ mattahaṃsasvaraḥ svayam Taking that brother — dark-hued, with eyes like lotus-petals — onto his lap, Rāma himself, with the voice of an exultant goose, spoke: **2.104.16** āgatā tvām iyaṃ buddhiḥ svajā vainayikī ca yā bhṛśam utsahase tāta rakṣituṃ pṛthivīm api This wisdom that has come to you — both inborn and won by discipline — by which, dear one, you are well able even to protect the whole earth: **2.104.17** amātyaiś ca suhṛdbhiś ca buddhimadbhiś ca mantribhiḥ sarvakāryāṇi saṃmantrya sumahānty api kāraya Taking counsel on all matters with ministers, friends, and wise counselors, have even the very greatest affairs carried out. **2.104.18** lakṣmīś candrād apeyād vā himavān vā himaṃ tyajet atīyāt sāgaro velāṃ na pratijñām ahaṃ pituḥ Sooner might radiance depart from the moon, or the Himālaya forsake its snow, or the ocean overpass its shore, than I my father's promise. **2.104.19** kāmād vā tāta lobhād vā mātrā tubhyam idaṃ kṛtam na tan manasi kartavyaṃ vartitavyaṃ ca mātṛvat Whether from desire or from greed, dear one, your mother did this for you — it must not be taken to heart, and she must be treated as a mother. **2.104.20** evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ bharataḥ kausalyāsutam abravīt tejasādityasaṃkāśaṃ pratipaccandradarśanam To the son of Kausalyā speaking thus — resembling the sun in splendor, with the aspect of the first-day moon — Bharata said: **2.104.21** adhirohārya pādābhyāṃ pāduke hemabhūṣite ete hi sarvalokasya yogakṣemaṃ vidhāsyataḥ “Mount with your feet, O noble one, these sandals adorned with gold; for these shall secure the welfare and safety of the whole world.” **2.104.22** so 'dhiruhya naravyāghraḥ pāduke hy avaruhya ca prāyacchat sumahātejā bharatāya mahātmane That tiger among men, of very great splendor, having mounted the sandals and then stepped down, gave them to the great-souled Bharata. **2.104.23** sa pāduke te bharataḥ pratāpavān svalaṃkṛte saṃparigṛhya dharmavit pradakṣiṇaṃ caiva cakāra rāghavaṃ cakāra caivottamanāgamūrdhani That valiant, dharma-knowing Bharata, taking up those two well-adorned sandals, circumambulated Rāghava and set them upon the head of a splendid elephant. **2.104.24** athānupūrvyāt pratipūjya taṃ janaṃ gurūṃś ca mantriprakṛtīs tathānujau vyasarjayad rāghavavaṃśavardhanaḥ sthitaḥ svadharme himavān ivācalaḥ Then, honoring in due order that assembly of people, the elders, the ministers and officials, and likewise his two younger brothers, Rāma, augmenter of the Raghu line, dismissed them, standing firm in his own dharma, unshaken like the Himālaya. **2.104.25** taṃ mātaro bāṣpagṛhītakaṇṭho duḥkhena nāmantrayituṃ hi śekuḥ sa tv eva mātṝr abhivādya sarvā rudan kuṭīṃ svāṃ praviveśa rāmaḥ His mothers, their throats choked with tears, could not for grief even bid him farewell; but Rāma, having saluted all the mothers, entered his own hut, weeping.