# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 69 — Kausalyā accepts Bharata’s innocence *Suspected of seeking the Kingdom, Bharata invokes curses on anyone who approved the exile and wins her trust* Portion: Bharata rejects the Kingdom · Verses: 34 · Ref format: 2.69. ## Sequence - Hearing Bharata, Kausalyā goes to see him as he and Śatrughna also approach her; the brothers support her when she collapses (69.1–5) - believing the Kingdom is what he wanted, she reproaches him and asks to be sent to Rāma (69.6–11) - Bharata protests that he knew nothing of the scheme and has always loved his brother (69.12–14) - he solemnly calls down on whoever consented to the exile the consequences of injustice, betrayal, abandonment of dependents, failure to protect subjects, and neglect of parents and sacred duties (69.15–28) - his distress convinces Kausalyā → she asks him to stop the terrible oaths, acknowledges his integrity, and blesses him (69.29–32) - he spends the night overwhelmed by grief (69.33–34). ## Verses **2.69.1** tathaiva krośatas tasya bharatasya mahātmanaḥ kausalyā śabdam ājñāya sumitrām idam abravīt Just so, recognizing the cry of that great-souled Bharata as he wept, Kausalyā spoke this to Sumitrā. **2.69.2** āgataḥ krūrakāryāyāḥ kaikeyyā bharataḥ sutaḥ tam ahaṃ draṣṭum icchāmi bharataṃ dīrghadarśinam Bharata, son of Kaikeyī of cruel deeds, has come; I wish to see him, far-sighted Bharata. **2.69.3** evam uktvā sumitrāṃ sā vivarṇā malināmbarā pratasthe bharato yatra vepamānā vicetanā Having spoken thus to Sumitrā, she—pale, in soiled garments, trembling and bereft of her senses—set out for where Bharata was. **2.69.4** sa tu rāmānujaś cāpi śatrughnasahitas tadā pratasthe bharato yatra kausalyāyā niveśanam And that Bharata too, the younger brother of Rāma, accompanied by Śatrughna, then set out for where Kausalyā's dwelling was. **2.69.5** tataḥ śatrughna bharatau kausalyāṃ prekṣya duḥkhitau paryaṣvajetāṃ duḥkhārtāṃ patitāṃ naṣṭacetanām Then Śatrughna and Bharata, grieving as they beheld Kausalyā—afflicted with sorrow, fallen, her consciousness lost—embraced her. **2.69.6** bharataṃ pratyuvācedaṃ kausalyā bhṛśaduḥkhitā idaṃ te rājyakāmasya rājyaṃ prāptam akaṇṭakam saṃprāptaṃ bata kaikeyyā śīghraṃ krūreṇa karmaṇā Kausalyā, deeply grieved, answered Bharata thus: “This thornless kingdom has come to you who longed for the kingdom; alas, it was swiftly secured by Kaikeyī through a cruel deed.” **2.69.7** prasthāpya cīravasanaṃ putraṃ me vanavāsinam kaikeyī kaṃ guṇaṃ tatra paśyati krūradarśinī Having sent my son off clad in bark to dwell in the forest, what merit does cruel-eyed Kaikeyī see in that? **2.69.8** kṣipraṃ mām api kaikeyī prasthāpayitum arhati hiraṇyanābho yatrāste suto me sumahāyaśāḥ Kaikeyī ought quickly to send me off too, to where my son of great renown, Hiraṇyanābha, abides. **2.69.9** atha vā svayam evāhaṃ sumitrānucarā sukham agnihotraṃ puraskṛtya prasthāsye yatra rāghavaḥ Or else I myself, gladly, with Sumitrā as my companion, placing the sacred fire before me, will set out for where Rāghava is. **2.69.10** kāmaṃ vā svayam evādya tatra māṃ netum arhasi yatrāsau puruṣavyāghras tapyate me tapaḥ sutaḥ Or indeed you yourself ought this very day to lead me there, to where that tiger among men, my son, performs his austerities. **2.69.11** idaṃ hi tava vistīrṇaṃ dhanadhānyasamācitam hastyaśvarathasaṃpūrṇaṃ rājyaṃ niryātitaṃ tayā For this vast kingdom, heaped with wealth and grain and full of elephants, horses and chariots, has been handed over to you by her. **2.69.12** evaṃ vilapamānāṃ tāṃ bharataḥ prāñjalis tadā kausalyāṃ pratyuvācedaṃ śokair bahubhir āvṛtām To Kausalyā thus lamenting, enveloped in many griefs, Bharata then, with joined palms, answered this: **2.69.13** ārye kasmād ajānantaṃ garhase mām akilbiṣam vipulāṃ ca mama prītiṃ sthirāṃ jānāsi rāghave O noble lady, why do you reproach me—guiltless and unknowing—when you know my abundant and steadfast love for Rāghava? **2.69.14** kṛtā śāstrānugā buddhir mā bhūt tasya kadā cana satyasaṃdhaḥ satāṃ śreṣṭho yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ May the mind schooled in scripture never be his—he at whose consent the noble one, true to his word, the best of the good, went forth. **2.69.15** praiṣyaṃ pāpīyasāṃ yātu sūryaṃ ca prati mehatu hantu pādena gāṃ suptāṃ yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ May he sink to the servitude of the vilest, and pass water facing the sun, and kick a sleeping cow with his foot—he at whose consent the noble one went forth. **2.69.16** kārayitvā mahat karma bhartā bhṛtyam anarthakam adharmo yo 'sya so 'syās tu yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ May the sin of a master who, having had a servant perform a great task, then leaves him unrewarded be his—he at whose consent the noble one went forth. **2.69.17** paripālayamānasya rājño bhūtāni putravat tatas tu druhyatāṃ pāpaṃ yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ May the sin of those who then work harm against a king who guards his creatures like his own children be his—he at whose consent the noble one went forth. **2.69.18** baliṣaḍbhāgam uddhṛtya nṛpasyārakṣataḥ prajāḥ adharmo yo 'sya so 'syāstu yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ May the sin of a king who exacts the sixth part as tribute yet fails to protect his subjects be his—he at whose consent the noble one went forth. **2.69.19** saṃśrutya ca tapasvibhyaḥ satre vai yajñadakṣiṇām tāṃ vipralapatāṃ pāpaṃ yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ May the sin of those who, having promised the sacrificial fee to ascetics at a sacrifice, then deny it be his—he at whose consent the noble one went forth. **2.69.20** hastyaśvarathasaṃbādhe yuddhe śastrasamākule mā sma kārṣīt satāṃ dharmaṃ yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ In a battle thronged with elephants, horses and chariots and teeming with weapons, may he never do the duty of the brave—he at whose consent the noble one went forth. **2.69.21** upadiṣṭaṃ susūkṣmārthaṃ śāstraṃ yatnena dhīmatā sa nāśayatu duṣṭātmā yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ May that evil-souled one squander the teaching of most subtle import imparted with care by a wise man—he at whose consent the noble one went forth. **2.69.22** pāyasaṃ kṛsaraṃ chāgaṃ vṛthā so 'śnātu nirghṛṇaḥ gurūṃś cāpy avajānātu yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ May that pitiless one eat milk-rice, sesame-rice and goat's flesh in vain, offering none, and scorn his elders—he at whose consent the noble one went forth. **2.69.23** putrair dāraiś ca bhṛtyaiś ca svagṛhe parivāritaḥ sa eko mṛṣṭam aśnātu yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ Surrounded in his own house by sons, wife and servants, may he alone eat the dainty fare—he at whose consent the noble one went forth. **2.69.24** rājastrībālavṛddhānāṃ vadhe yat pāpam ucyate bhṛtyatyāge ca yat pāpaṃ tat pāpaṃ pratipadyatām Whatever sin is declared in the slaying of kings, women, children and the aged, and whatever sin lies in forsaking a dependent—may he incur that sin. **2.69.25** ubhe saṃdhye śayānasya yat pāpaṃ parikalpyate tac ca pāpaṃ bhavet tasya yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ Whatever sin is reckoned for one who sleeps through both twilights—may that sin too be his—he at whose consent the noble one went forth. **2.69.26** yad agnidāyake pāpaṃ yat pāpaṃ gurutalpage mitradrohe ca yat pāpaṃ tat pāpaṃ pratipadyatām Whatever sin attaches to an arsonist, whatever sin to one who defiles his teacher's bed, and whatever sin to the betrayal of a friend—may he incur that sin. **2.69.27** devatānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca mātā pitros tathaiva ca mā sma kārṣīt sa śuśrūṣāṃ yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ May he never render service to the gods, to the ancestors, and likewise to mother and father—he at whose consent the noble one went forth. **2.69.28** satāṃ lokāt satāṃ kīrtyāḥ sajjuṣṭāt karmaṇas tathā bhraśyatu kṣipram adyaiva yasyāryo 'numate gataḥ May he fall this very instant from the world of the good, from the good's renown, and likewise from the conduct the good approve—he at whose consent the noble one went forth. **2.69.29** vihīnāṃ patiputrābhyāṃ kausalyāṃ pārthivātmajaḥ evam āśvasayann eva duḥkhārto nipapāta ha Even as he thus consoled Kausalyā, bereft of husband and son, the king's son, himself stricken with grief, fell down. **2.69.30** tathā tu śapathaiḥ kaṣṭaiḥ śapamānam acetanam bharataṃ śokasaṃtaptaṃ kausalyā vākyam abravīt To Bharata, swearing such grievous oaths, senseless and consumed with grief, Kausalyā spoke these words: **2.69.31** mama duḥkham idaṃ putra bhūyaḥ samupajāyate śapathaiḥ śapamāno hi prāṇān uparuṇatsi me This grief of mine, my son, grows all the greater, for by swearing these oaths you choke off my very life-breaths. **2.69.32** diṣṭyā na calito dharmād ātmā te sahalakṣmaṇaḥ vatsa satyapratijño me satāṃ lokān avāpsyasi Thank heaven your heart, together with Lakṣmaṇa's, has not swerved from dharma; my child, true to your vow, you shall win the worlds of the good. **2.69.33** evaṃ vilapamānasya duḥkhārtasya mahātmanaḥ mohāc ca śokasaṃrodhād babhūva lulitaṃ manaḥ As the great-souled one lamented thus, stricken with grief, his mind became distraught from bewilderment and the stifling of sorrow. **2.69.34** lālapyamānasya vicetanasya pranaṣṭabuddheḥ patitasya bhūmau muhur muhur niḥśvasataś ca dīrghaṃ sā tasya śokena jagāma rātriḥ For him wailing, out of his senses, his wits utterly lost, fallen upon the ground and sighing deep again and again, that night passed away in grief.