# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 48 — Bharadvāja directs Rāma to Citrakūṭa *Rāma seeks seclusion beyond the Gaṅgā–Yamunā confluence, Bharadvāja recommends the food-rich mountain* Portion: The river journey to Citrakūṭa · Verses: 36 · Ref format: 2.48. ## Sequence - The next morning they set out toward the meeting of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā (48.1–4) - near day's end Rāma notices smoke, hears the waters meeting, and sees cut timber and signs of a hermitage → they reach the muni Bharadvāja’s dwelling at Prayāga (48.5–8) - Rāma introduces himself, Lakṣmaṇa, and Sītā and explains why they have come to live in the forest (48.9–15) - Bharadvāja receives him with a cow, the arghya guest-offering, and water, welcomes him, and invites them to remain at the sacred confluence (48.16–20) - Rāma explains that the site is too close to settlements: visitors will come to see him and Sītā → he asks for a more secluded place where they can live peacefully (48.21–24) - Bharadvāja recommends Citrakūṭa, ten krośas away, with abundant food, animals, and places frequented by maharṣis → they spend the night as his guests, and at dawn he sends them toward the mountain (48.25–36). ## Verses **2.48.1** te tu tasmin mahāvṛkṣa uṣitvā rajanīṃ śivām vimale 'bhyudite sūrye tasmād deśāt pratasthire Having passed a comfortable night beneath that great tree, when the sun had risen clear they set out from that spot. **2.48.2** yatra bhāgīrathī gaṅgā yamunām abhivartate jagmus taṃ deśam uddiśya vigāhya sumahad vanam Making for that spot where the Bhāgīrathī Gaṅgā flows toward the Yamunā, they went on, plunging through a very great forest. **2.48.3** te bhūmim āgān vividhān deśāṃś cāpi manoramān adṛṣṭapūrvān paśyantas tatra tatra yaśasvinaḥ Those illustrious ones came upon land and various delightful regions never seen before, gazing at them here and there. **2.48.4** yathākṣemeṇa gacchan sa paśyaṃś ca vividhān drumān nivṛttamātre divase rāmaḥ saumitrim abravīt Going along safely and gazing at trees of many kinds, when the day had just turned to its close Rāma said to the son of Sumitrā: **2.48.5** prayāgam abhitaḥ paśya saumitre dhūmam unnatam agner bhagavataḥ ketuṃ manye saṃnihito muniḥ “Look, son of Sumitrā, at the smoke rising high all about Prayāga—I take it for the banner of the blessed fire-god; the sage must be near at hand.” **2.48.6** nūnaṃ prāptāḥ sma saṃbhedaṃ gaṅgāyamunayor vayam tathā hi śrūyate śambdo vāriṇā vārighaṭṭitaḥ “Surely we have reached the meeting of the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā, for so is heard the sound of water dashed against water.” **2.48.7** dārūṇi paribhinnāni vanajair upajīvibhiḥ bharadvājāśrame caite dṛśyante vividhā drumāḥ “Here are logs cut up by those who live off the forest, and at Bharadvāja's āśrama these trees of many kinds are seen.” **2.48.8** dhanvinau tau sukhaṃ gatvā lambamāne divākare gaṅgāyamunayoḥ saṃdhau prāpatur nilayaṃ muneḥ The two bowmen, travelling easily, as the sun was sinking, arrived at the sage's dwelling at the junction of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā. **2.48.9** rāmas tv āśramam āsādya trāsayan mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ gatvā muhūrtam adhvānaṃ bharadvājam upāgamat Rāma, reaching the āśrama and startling the beasts and birds, after going a little way came up to Bharadvāja. **2.48.10** tatas tv āśramam āsādya muner darśanakāṅkṣiṇau sītayānugatau vīrau dūrād evāvatasthatuḥ Then, having reached the āśrama and longing for a sight of the sage, the two heroes, followed by Sītā, halted while still at a distance. **2.48.11** hutāgnihotraṃ dṛṣṭvaiva mahābhāgaṃ kṛtāñjaliḥ rāmaḥ saumitriṇā sārdhaṃ sītayā cābhyavādayat The moment he saw the greatly blessed one who had offered the fire-oblation, Rāma, with folded hands, together with the son of Sumitrā and with Sītā, made obeisance. **2.48.12** nyavedayata cātmānaṃ tasmai lakṣmaṇapūrvajaḥ putrau daśarathasyāvāṃ bhagavan rāmalakṣmaṇau And the elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa announced himself to him: “We two, revered one, are Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the sons of Daśaratha.” **2.48.13** bhāryā mameyaṃ vaidehī kalyāṇī janakātmajā māṃ cānuyātā vijanaṃ tapovanam aninditā “This is my wife, the Videhan princess, the auspicious daughter of Janaka, and, blameless, she has followed me to the solitary penance-grove.” **2.48.14** pitrā pravrājyamānaṃ māṃ saumitrir anujaḥ priyaḥ ayam anvagamad bhrātā vanam eva dṛḍhavrataḥ “As I was being sent into exile by my father, this my dear younger brother, the son of Sumitrā, firm in his vow, followed me into the very forest.” **2.48.15** pitrā niyuktā bhagavan praveṣyāmas tapovanam dharmam evācariṣyāmas tatra mūlaphalāśanāḥ “Enjoined by my father, revered one, we shall enter the penance-grove; there, living on roots and fruits, we shall practise dharma alone.” **2.48.16** tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā rājaputrasya dhīmataḥ upānayata dharmātmā gām arghyam udakaṃ tataḥ Hearing that speech of the wise prince, the righteous one then brought forward a cow, the arghya-offering and water. **2.48.17** mṛgapakṣibhir āsīno munibhiś ca samantataḥ rāmam āgatam abhyarcya svāgatenāha taṃ muniḥ Seated amid beasts and birds and sages on every side, the sage, having honoured the arriving Rāma, addressed him with a word of welcome. **2.48.18** pratigṛhya ca tām arcām upaviṣṭaṃ sarāghavam bharadvājo 'bravīd vākyaṃ dharmayuktam idaṃ tadā And when Rāma, having received that honour, was seated together with the Rāghava (Lakṣmaṇa), Bharadvāja then spoke this speech in accord with dharma: **2.48.19** cirasya khalu kākutstha paśyāmi tvām ihāgatam śrutaṃ tava mayā cedaṃ vivāsanam akāraṇam “After a long time indeed, O Kākutstha, I see you come here; and I have heard this of your banishment, which was without cause.” **2.48.20** avakāśo vivikto 'yaṃ mahānadyoḥ samāgame puṇyaś ca ramaṇīyaś ca vasatv iha bhagān sukham “This is a secluded open spot at the meeting of the great rivers, holy and delightful; let your Honour dwell here in comfort.” **2.48.21** evam uktas tu vacanaṃ bharadvājena rāghavaḥ pratyuvāca śubhaṃ vākyaṃ rāmaḥ sarvahite rataḥ Thus addressed by Bharadvāja with that speech, the Rāghava Rāma, devoted to the good of all, replied with an auspicious word: **2.48.22** bhagavann ita āsannaḥ paurajānapado janaḥ āgamiṣyati vaidehīṃ māṃ cāpi prekṣako janaḥ anena kāraṇenāham iha vāsaṃ na rocaye “Revered one, from here the townsfolk and country-folk are near; people come as onlookers to see the Videhan lady and myself—for this reason I do not favour dwelling here.” **2.48.23** ekānte paśya bhagavann āśramasthānam uttamam ramate yatra vaidehī sukhārhā janakātmajā “Look out, revered one, in a solitary place for an excellent site for a hermitage, where the Videhan princess, daughter of Janaka, who deserves comfort, may find delight.” **2.48.24** etac chrutvā śubhaṃ vākyaṃ bharadvājo mahāmuniḥ rāghavasya tato vākyam artha grāhakam abravīt Hearing this auspicious speech of the Rāghava, the great sage Bharadvāja then spoke words full of meaning: **2.48.25** daśakrośa itas tāta girir yasmin nivatsyasi maharṣisevitaḥ puṇyaḥ sarvataḥ sukha darśanaḥ “Ten krośas from here, my child, is a mountain on which you shall dwell, frequented by great seers, holy, on every side fair to look upon.” **2.48.26** golāṅgūlānucarito vānararkṣaniṣevitaḥ citrakūṭa iti khyāto gandhamādanasaṃnibhaḥ “Roamed by langurs and haunted by monkeys and bears, it is renowned as Citrakūṭa, resembling Gandhamādana.” **2.48.27** yāvatā citra kūṭasya naraḥ śṛṅgāṇy avekṣate kalyāṇāni samādhatte na pāpe kurute manaḥ “As long as a man beholds the peaks of Citrakūṭa, he accomplishes auspicious deeds and sets not his mind on evil.” **2.48.28** ṛṣayas tatra bahavo vihṛtya śaradāṃ śatam tapasā divam ārūḍhāḥ kapālaśirasā saha “Many seers there, having sported for a hundred autumns, mounted to heaven through their austerity, together with Kapālaśiras.” **2.48.29** praviviktam ahaṃ manye taṃ vāsaṃ bhavataḥ sukham iha vā vanavāsāya vasa rāma mayā saha “I hold that dwelling there to be secluded and comfortable for you; or else, Rāma, dwell here with me for your forest life.” **2.48.30** sa rāmaṃ sarvakāmais taṃ bharadvājaḥ priyātithim sabhāryaṃ saha ca bhrātrā pratijagrāha dharmavit That Bharadvāja, knower of dharma, received Rāma, his welcome guest, with all objects of desire, together with his wife and his brother. **2.48.31** tasya prayāge rāmasya taṃ maharṣim upeyuṣaḥ prapannā rajanī puṇyā citrāḥ kathayataḥ kathāḥ For Rāma, who at Prayāga had come to that great seer and was telling wondrous tales, the holy night set in. **2.48.32** prabhātāyāṃ rajanyāṃ tu bharadvājam upāgamat uvāca naraśārdūlo muniṃ jvalitatejasaṃ When the night had brightened into dawn, that tiger among men went up to Bharadvāja and spoke to the sage of blazing splendour: **2.48.33** śarvarīṃ bhavanann adya satyaśīla tavāśrame uṣitāḥ smeha vasatim anujānātu no bhavān “O you of truthful conduct, having spent the night today in your āśrama, we have lodged here; let your Honour give us leave.” **2.48.34** rātryāṃ tu tasyāṃ vyuṣṭāyāṃ bharadvājo 'bravīd idam madhumūlaphalopetaṃ citrakūṭaṃ vrajeti ha When that night had passed, Bharadvāja said this: “Go to Citrakūṭa, well-supplied with honey, roots and fruits.” **2.48.35** tatra kuñjarayūthāni mṛgayūthāni cābhitaḥ vicaranti vanānteṣu tāni drakṣyasi rāghava “There herds of elephants and herds of deer roam about on every side within the forest tracts; those you shall see, O Rāghava.” **2.48.36** prahṛṣṭakoyaṣṭikakokilasvanair vināditaṃ taṃ vasudhādharaṃ śivam mṛgaiś ca mattair bahubhiś ca kuñjaraiḥ suramyam āsādya samāvasāśramam mṛgaiś ca mattair bahubhiś ca kuñjaraiḥ suramyam āsādya samāvasāśramam Reaching that auspicious, most lovely mountain, resounding with the cries of joyous lapwings and cuckoos and with the many rutting deer and elephants, take up your dwelling in a hermitage there.