# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 107 — Bharata establishes rule at Nandigrāma *He places Rāma’s sandals on the throne, governs in their name and wears bark and matted hair while awaiting Rāma’s return* Portion: Rāma’s sandals and rule at Nandigrāma · Verses: 22 · Ref format: 2.107. ## Sequence - After settling the mothers in Ayodhyā, Bharata tells the elders that he will live at Nandigrāma while waiting for Rāma, whom he recognizes as the King (107.1–3) - Vasiṣṭha and the ministers approve (107.4–6) - he takes leave of the Queens and departs with Śatrughna, priests, and advisers (107.7–9) - the army and many citizens follow, while Bharata carries the sandals with honor (107.10–12) - at Nandigrāma he declares that the Kingdom is a trust received from his brother, to be returned when Rāma comes home (107.13–15) - he looks forward to surrendering that responsibility and resuming his own place in Rāma's service (107.16–18) - he establishes the sandals on the throne and conducts the affairs of government in their name → wearing bark and matted hair, he lives there with his advisers and waits for Rāma's return (107.19–22). ## Verses **2.107.1** tato nikṣipya mātṝh sa ayodhyāyāṃ dṛḍhavrataḥ bharataḥ śokasaṃtapto gurūn idam athābravīt Then, having settled his mothers in Ayodhyā, the firm-vowed Bharata, tormented by grief, spoke thus to his elders: **2.107.2** nandigrāmaṃ gamiṣyāmi sarvān āmantraye 'dya vaḥ tatra duḥkham idaṃ sarvaṃ sahiṣye rāghavaṃ vinā “I shall go to Nandigrāma; today I take leave of you all. There, without Rāghava, I shall endure all this sorrow. **2.107.3** gataś ca hi divaṃ rājā vanasthaś ca gurur mama rāmaṃ pratīkṣe rājyāya sa hi rājā mahāyaśāḥ For the king has gone to heaven, and my elder dwells in the forest; I await Rāma for the kingship, for he of great renown is the (true) king.” **2.107.4** etac chrutvā śubhaṃ vākyaṃ bharatasya mahātmanaḥ abruvan mantriṇaḥ sarve vasiṣṭhaś ca purohitaḥ Having heard this noble speech of the great-souled Bharata, all the counselors and Vasiṣṭha the family priest spoke: **2.107.5** sadṛśaṃ ślāghanīyaṃ ca yad uktaṃ bharata tvayā vacanaṃ bhrātṛvātsalyād anurūpaṃ tavaiva tat “Fitting and praiseworthy is the word you have spoken, Bharata, out of love for your brother; that speech well befits none but you. **2.107.6** nityaṃ te bandhulubdhasya tiṣṭhato bhrātṛsauhṛde āryamārgaṃ prapannasya nānumanyeta kaḥ pumān What man would not approve of you — ever devoted to your kin, steadfast in brotherly love, and walking the noble path?” **2.107.7** mantriṇāṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā yathābhilaṣitaṃ priyam abravīt sārathiṃ vākyaṃ ratho me yujyatām iti Hearing the counselors' words, welcome and just as he wished, he said to the charioteer: “Let my chariot be yoked.” **2.107.8** prahṛṣṭavadanaḥ sarvā mātṝh samabhivādya saḥ āruroha rathaṃ śrīmāñ śatrughnena samanvitaḥ With a joyful face, having saluted all his mothers, the illustrious one mounted the chariot, accompanied by Śatrughna. **2.107.9** āruhya tu rathaṃ śīghraṃ śatrughnabharatāv ubhau yayatuḥ paramaprītau vṛtau mantripurohitaiḥ Having quickly mounted the chariot, Śatrughna and Bharata both, greatly pleased and surrounded by the counselors and priests, set out. **2.107.10** agrato puravas tatra vasiṣṭha pramukhā dvijāḥ prayayuḥ prāṅmukhāḥ sarve nandigrāmo yato 'bhavat There in front the townsmen, and the brahmins headed by Vasiṣṭha, all went facing east, toward where Nandigrāma lay. **2.107.11** balaṃ ca tad anāhūtaṃ gajāśvarathasaṃkulam prayayau bharate yāte sarve ca puravāsinaḥ And that army, unbidden, thronged with elephants, horses, and chariots, set out when Bharata departed, and so did all the townsfolk. **2.107.12** rathasthaḥ sa tu dharmātmā bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ nandigrāmaṃ yayau tūrṇaṃ śirasy ādhāya pāduke That righteous Bharata, loving his brother, seated in his chariot, went swiftly to Nandigrāma, having placed the sandals upon his head. **2.107.13** tatas tu bharataḥ kṣipraṃ nandigrāmaṃ praviśya saḥ avatīrya rathāt tūrṇaṃ gurūn idam uvāca ha Then Bharata, quickly entering Nandigrāma and swiftly descending from the chariot, said this to his elders: **2.107.14** etad rājyaṃ mama bhrātrā dattaṃ saṃnyāsavat svayam yogakṣemavahe ceme pāduke hemabhūṣite tam imaṃ pālayiṣyāmi rāghavāgamanaṃ prati “This kingdom was given to me by my brother himself, as a trust, and these gold-adorned sandals bear its welfare and safety; this very trust I shall guard until Rāghava's return. **2.107.15** kṣipraṃ saṃyojayitvā tu rāghavasya punaḥ svayam caraṇau tau tu rāmasya drakṣyāmi sahapādukau Having quickly made over (the kingdom) to Rāghava again myself, I shall behold those very feet of Rāma, together with their sandals. **2.107.16** tato nikṣiptabhāro 'haṃ rāghaveṇa samāgataḥ nivedya gurave rājyaṃ bhajiṣye guruvṛttitām Then, my burden laid down and reunited with Rāghava, having handed the kingdom over to my elder, I shall take up the service of my elder. **2.107.17** rāghavāya ca saṃnyāsaṃ dattveme varapāduke rājyaṃ cedam ayodhyāṃ ca dhūtapāpo bhavāmi ca And having given over to Rāghava the trust — these excellent sandals, this kingdom, and Ayodhyā — I become cleansed of sin.” **2.107.18** abhiṣikte tu kākutsthe prahṛṣṭamudite jane prītir mama yaśaś caiva bhaved rājyāc caturguṇam When Kākutstha is consecrated and the people rejoice in delight, my joy and fame would be fourfold that of the kingship. **2.107.19** evaṃ tu vilapan dīno bharataḥ sa mahāyaśāḥ nandigrāme 'karod rājyaṃ duḥkhito mantribhiḥ saha Thus lamenting, forlorn, the greatly renowned Bharata, sorrowful, carried on the rule at Nandigrāma together with the counselors. **2.107.20** sa valkalajaṭādhārī muniveṣadharaḥ prabhuḥ nandigrāme 'vasad vīraḥ sasainyo bharatas tadā Wearing bark garments and matted locks, clad in the garb of a sage, the mighty hero Bharata then dwelt at Nandigrāma with his army. **2.107.21** rāmāgamanam ākāṅkṣan bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ bhrātur vacanakārī ca pratijñāpāragas tadā Bharata, loving his brother, awaiting Rāma's return, obedient to his brother's word, and then carrying his vow through to the end — **2.107.22** pāduke tv abhiṣicyātha nandigrāme 'vasat tadā bharataḥ śāsanaṃ sarvaṃ pādukābhyāṃ nyavedayat — having consecrated the sandals upon the throne, he then dwelt at Nandigrāma; Bharata submitted every command to the two sandals.