# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 105 — Bharata carries the sandals home *The company circles Citrakūṭa, Bharata reports Rāma’s decision to Bharadvāja and recrosses the Yamunā & Gaṅgā toward Ayodhyā* Portion: Rāma’s sandals and rule at Nandigrāma · Verses: 24 · Ref format: 2.105. ## Sequence - Placing the sandals on his own head, Bharata mounts his chariot with Śatrughna, while Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva, Jābāli, and the ministers proceed ahead → travelling eastward beside the Mandākinī, the departing company makes a rightward circuit of the great mountain Citrakūṭa, and Bharata journeys with his army along its flank, viewing its varied mineral formations (105.1–4) - on the return route he visits Bharadvāja, who asks whether he met Rāma and achieved his purpose (105.5–8) - Bharata explains that Rāma remained firm about completing the fourteen years (105.9–10) - in this retelling, Bharata says Vasiṣṭha asked Rāma to give the gold-adorned sandals, and Rāma stood facing east and handed them over to him for the Kingship → he is returning with Rāma's permission to administer the Kingdom under that trust (105.11–14) - Bharadvāja praises his conduct and says that such a son preserves Daśaratha's good name (105.15–17) - Bharata takes leave and resumes the journey (105.18–20) - the company crosses the Yamunā and Gaṅgā, passes through Śṛṅgaverapura, and continues toward Ayodhyā → as he approaches home, Bharata again notices its desolation (105.21–24). ## Verses **2.105.1** tataḥ śirasi kṛtvā tu pāduke bharatas tadā āruroha rathaṃ hṛṣṭaḥ śatrughnena samanvitaḥ Then, having set the sandals upon his head, Bharata, delighted, mounted the chariot, accompanied by Śatrughna. **2.105.2** vasiṣṭho vāmadevaś ca jābāliś ca dṛḍhavrataḥ agrataḥ prayayuḥ sarve mantriṇo mantrapūjitāḥ Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva, and Jābāli of firm vows, and all the counselors honored for their counsel, went on ahead. **2.105.3** mandākinīṃ nadīṃ ramyāṃ prāṅmukhās te yayus tadā pradakṣiṇaṃ ca kurvāṇāś citrakūṭaṃ mahāgirim Then, facing east, they proceeded along the lovely river Mandākinī, making a rightward circuit of the great mountain Citrakūṭa. **2.105.4** paśyan dhātusahasrāṇi ramyāṇi vividhāni ca prayayau tasya pārśvena sasainyo bharatas tadā Gazing at thousands of lovely and varied mineral-veins, Bharata then journeyed along its flank with his army. **2.105.5** adūrāc citrakūṭasya dadarśa bharatas tadā āśramaṃ yatra sa munir bharadvājaḥ kṛtālayaḥ Not far from Citrakūṭa, Bharata then saw the hermitage where the sage Bharadvāja had made his abode. **2.105.6** sa tam āśramam āgamya bharadvājasya buddhimān avatīrya rathāt pādau vavande kulanandanaḥ That wise delight of his line, having come to Bharadvāja's hermitage and descended from the chariot, saluted his feet. **2.105.7** tato hṛṣṭo bharadvājo bharataṃ vākyam abravīt api kṛtyaṃ kṛtaṃ tāta rāmeṇa ca samāgatam Then the delighted Bharadvāja said to Bharata: “Has your task been accomplished, my son, and did the meeting with Rāma take place?” **2.105.8** evam uktas tu bharato bharadvājena dhīmatā pratyuvāca bharadvājaṃ bharato dharmavatsalaḥ Thus addressed by the sagacious Bharadvāja, Bharata, cherishing dharma, replied to Bharadvāja: **2.105.9** sa yācyamāno guruṇā mayā ca dṛḍhavikramaḥ rāghavaḥ paramaprīto vasiṣṭhaṃ vākyam abravīt “Though entreated by our preceptor and by me, that Rāghava of steadfast valor, greatly pleased, spoke these words to Vasiṣṭha: **2.105.10** pituḥ pratijñāṃ tām eva pālayiṣyāmi tattvataḥ caturdaśa hi varṣāṇi ya pratijñā pitur mama ‘That very promise of my father I shall keep faithfully; for fourteen years is my father's pledge.’ **2.105.11** evam ukto mahāprājño vasiṣṭhaḥ pratyuvāca ha vākyajño vākyakuśalaṃ rāghavaṃ vacanaṃ mahat So addressed, the greatly wise Vasiṣṭha, a knower of speech, replied to the eloquent Rāghava this weighty word: **2.105.12** ete prayaccha saṃhṛṣṭaḥ pāduke hemabhūṣite ayodhyāyāṃ mahāprājña yogakṣemakare tava ‘Gladly hand over these two gold-adorned sandals, O greatly wise one, which will secure your welfare and safety in Ayodhyā.’ **2.105.13** evam ukto vasiṣṭhena rāghavaḥ prāṅmukhaḥ sthitaḥ pāduke hemavikṛte mama rājyāya te dadau Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, Rāghava, standing and facing east, gave over to me, for the kingship, those two sandals wrought with gold. **2.105.14** nivṛtto 'ham anujñāto rāmeṇa sumahātmanā ayodhyām eva gacchāmi gṛhītvā pāduke śubhe Permitted by the greatly noble Rāma, I have turned back, and, taking the auspicious sandals, I am going to Ayodhyā itself.” **2.105.15** etac chrutvā śubhaṃ vākyaṃ bharatasya mahātmanaḥ bharadvājaḥ śubhataraṃ munir vākyam udāharat Having heard this auspicious speech of the great-souled Bharata, the sage Bharadvāja uttered a still more auspicious word: **2.105.16** naitac citraṃ naravyāghra śīlavṛttavatāṃ vara yad āryaṃ tvayi tiṣṭhet tu nimne vṛṣṭim ivodakam “This is no wonder, O tiger among men, O best of those endowed with good conduct, that nobility should dwell in you, as rainwater settles in a hollow. **2.105.17** amṛtaḥ sa mahābāhuḥ pitā daśarathas tava yasya tvam īdṛśaḥ putro dharmātmā dharmavatsalaḥ Undying is that mighty-armed father of yours, Daśaratha, of whom you are such a son — righteous-souled and cherishing dharma.” **2.105.18** tam ṛṣiṃ tu mahātmānam uktavākyaṃ kṛtāñjaliḥ āmantrayitum ārebhe caraṇāv upagṛhya ca With joined palms, and clasping his feet, he began to take leave of that great-souled sage who had thus spoken. **2.105.19** tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā bharadvājaṃ punaḥ punaḥ bharatas tu yayau śrīmān ayodhyāṃ saha mantribhiḥ Then, having circled Bharadvāja to the right again and again, the illustrious Bharata set out for Ayodhyā with his counselors. **2.105.20** yānaiś ca śakaṭaiś caiva hayaiś nāgaiś ca sā camūḥ punar nivṛttā vistīrṇā bharatasyānuyāyinī That vast army following Bharata, with its carriages, carts, horses, and elephants, turned back again. **2.105.21** tatas te yamunāṃ divyāṃ nadīṃ tīrtvormimālinīm dadṛśus tāṃ punaḥ sarve gaṅgāṃ śivajalāṃ nadīm Then, having crossed the divine river Yamunā garlanded with waves, they all again beheld the river Ganges with its wholesome waters. **2.105.22** tāṃ ramyajalasaṃpūrṇāṃ saṃtīrya saha bāndhavaḥ śṛṅgaverapuraṃ ramyaṃ praviveśa sasainikaḥ Having crossed that river brimming with lovely waters, together with his kinsmen and army he entered the pleasant city of Śṛṅgaverapura. **2.105.23** śṛṅgaverapurād bhūya ayodhyāṃ saṃdadarśa ha bharato duḥkhasaṃtaptaḥ sārathiṃ cedam abravīt From Śṛṅgaverapura, Bharata, tormented by grief, again looked upon Ayodhyā and said this to the charioteer: **2.105.24** sārathe paśya vidhvastā ayodhyā na prakāśate nirākārā nirānandā dīnā pratihatasvanā “Charioteer, look — Ayodhyā, laid waste, shines no more; formless, joyless, forlorn, its sounds all stilled.”