# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 76 — Bharata’s declaration to the assembly *He rejects the throne offered by Vasiṣṭha, declares Rāma the rightful ruler and orders Sumantra to prepare the expedition* Portion: The expedition to bring Rāma back · Verses: 30 · Ref format: 2.76. ## Sequence - Vasiṣṭha addresses the assembled court (76.1–3) - he tells Bharata that Daśaratha assigned him the Kingdom and that Rāma has honored the command, so he should now accept abhiṣeka (76.4–7) - Bharata refuses to take the position of his virtuous elder brother, saying that both he and the Kingdom belong to Rāma (76.8–11) - he publicly rejects his mother's scheme and identifies Rāma alone as the rightful ruler (76.12–15) - he vows to use every means to bring Rāma back, even force in the presence of the elders; if he cannot turn him back, he will remain in the forest too (76.16–18) - he orders Sumantra to organize the march (76.19–21) - commanders assemble their forces, households prepare for departure, and the chariots and other transport are brought together (76.22–30). ## Verses **2.76.1** tām āryagaṇasaṃpūrṇāṃ bharataḥ pragrahāṃ sabhām dadarśa buddhisaṃpannaḥ pūrṇacandrāṃ niśām iva Bharata, endowed with wisdom, gazed upon that eminent assembly-hall filled with the host of noble men, like a night graced by the full moon. **2.76.2** āsanāni yathānyāyam āryāṇāṃ viśatāṃ tadā adṛśyata ghanāpāye pūrṇacandreva śarvarī As the noble ones entered and took their seats in due order, the hall then appeared like the night lit by the full moon when the clouds have passed. **2.76.3** rājñas tu prakṛtīḥ sarvāḥ samagrāḥ prekṣya dharmavit idaṃ purohito vākyaṃ bharataṃ mṛdu cābravīt Seeing all the king's subjects fully assembled, the family priest, knower of dharma, gently spoke these words to Bharata: **2.76.4** tāta rājā daśarathaḥ svargato dharmam ācaran dhana dhānyavatīṃ sphītāṃ pradāya pṛthivīṃ tava My child, King Daśaratha, practising dharma, has gone to heaven, having bestowed upon you this prosperous earth rich in wealth and grain. **2.76.5** rāmas tathā satyadhṛtiḥ satāṃ dharmam anusmaran nājahāt pitur ādeśaṃ śaśī jyotsnām ivoditaḥ Likewise Rāma, firm in truth, mindful of the dharma of the good, did not forsake his father's command, as the risen moon does not forsake its light. **2.76.6** pitrā bhrātrā ca te dattaṃ rājyaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam tad bhuṅkṣva muditāmātyaḥ kṣipram evābhiṣecaya The kingdom, its thorns removed, has been given to you by your father and your brother; enjoy it, your ministers rejoicing, and be consecrated at once. **2.76.7** udīcyāś ca pratīcyāś ca dākṣiṇātyāś ca kevalāḥ koṭyāparāntāḥ sāmudrā ratnāny abhiharantu te Let the northern, western, and southern peoples entire, those of the far coasts, and the sea-dwellers bring you their treasures. **2.76.8** tac chrutvā bharato vākyaṃ śokenābhipariplutaḥ jagāma manasā rāmaṃ dharmajño dharmakāṅkṣayā Hearing that speech, Bharata, overwhelmed with grief — that knower of dharma — went in his mind to Rāma, out of longing for righteousness. **2.76.9** sa bāṣpakalayā vācā kalahaṃsasvaro yuvā vilalāpa sabhāmadhye jagarhe ca purohitam He, the young man whose voice was like a wild goose's, lamented in the midst of the assembly in a voice faltering with tears, and reproached the family priest: **2.76.10** caritabrahmacaryasya vidyā snātasya dhīmataḥ dharme prayatamānasya ko rājyaṃ madvidho haret Who, being of my kind, would seize the kingdom from a man who has fulfilled his vow of studentship, is graduate in learning, wise, and striving in dharma? **2.76.11** kathaṃ daśarathāj jāto bhaved rājyāpahārakaḥ rājyaṃ cāhaṃ ca rāmasya dharmaṃ vaktum ihārhasi How could one born of Daśaratha become a usurper of the kingdom? Both the kingdom and I belong to Rāma; you ought here to declare what is right. **2.76.12** jyeṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhaś ca dharmātmā dilīpanahuṣopamaḥ labdhum arhati kākutstho rājyaṃ daśaratho yathā The Kākutstha (Rāma) — eldest and best, righteous of soul, the peer of Dilīpa and Nahuṣa — deserves to obtain the kingdom, just as Daśaratha did. **2.76.13** anāryajuṣṭam asvargyaṃ kuryāṃ pāpam ahaṃ yadi ikṣvākūṇām ahaṃ loke bhaveyaṃ kulapāṃsanaḥ If I were to commit this sin — resorted to only by the ignoble and barring one from heaven — I would become in the world a disgrace to the Ikṣvākus. **2.76.14** yad dhi mātrā kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ nāhaṃ tad abhirocaye ihastho vanadurgasthaṃ namasyāmi kṛtāñjaliḥ For the sin my mother has done, I do not approve of it; standing here, with palms joined I salute him who dwells in the forest wilderness. **2.76.15** rāmam evānugacchāmi sa rājā dvipadāṃ varaḥ trayāṇām api lokānāṃ rāghavo rājyam arhati It is Rāma alone whom I will follow; he is the king, the best of men; Rāghava deserves the kingship even of the three worlds. **2.76.16** tad vākyaṃ dharmasaṃyuktaṃ śrutvā sarve sabhāsadaḥ harṣān mumucur aśrūṇi rāme nihitacetasaḥ Hearing that righteous speech, all the members of the assembly, their hearts set on Rāma, shed tears of joy. **2.76.17** yadi tv āryaṃ na śakṣyāmi vinivartayituṃ vanāt vane tatraiva vatsyāmi yathāryo lakṣmaṇas tathā But if I cannot turn the noble one back from the forest, then I too will dwell there in that very forest, just as the noble Lakṣmaṇa does. **2.76.18** sarvopāyaṃ tu vartiṣye vinivartayituṃ balāt samakṣam ārya miśrāṇāṃ sādhūnāṃ guṇavartinām By every means I will strive to bring him back, even by force, in the presence of the venerable, good men who live by virtue. **2.76.19** evam uktvā tu dharmātmā bharato bhrātṛvatsalaḥ samīpastham uvācedaṃ sumantraṃ mantrakovidam Having spoken thus, the righteous Bharata, fond of his brother, said this to Sumantra, skilled in counsel, who stood nearby: **2.76.20** tūrṇam utthāya gaccha tvaṃ sumantra mama śāsanāt yātrām ājñāpaya kṣipraṃ balaṃ caiva samānaya Rise quickly and go, Sumantra, at my command; order the march at once and muster the army. **2.76.21** evam uktaḥ sumantras tu bharatena mahātmanā prahṛṣṭaḥ so 'diśat sarvaṃ yathā saṃdiṣṭam iṣṭavat Thus addressed by the great-souled Bharata, Sumantra, delighted, ordered everything exactly as instructed, and gladly. **2.76.22** tāḥ prahṛṣṭāḥ prakṛtayo balādhyakṣā balasya ca śrutvā yātrāṃ samājñaptāṃ rāghavasya nivartane Those subjects, and the commanders of the army, were delighted on hearing that a march had been ordered for the return of Rāghava. **2.76.23** tato yodhāṅganāḥ sarvā bhartṝn sarvān gṛhegṛhe yātrā gamanam ājñāya tvarayanti sma harṣitāḥ Then all the warriors' wives, in house after house, learning of the departure for the march, joyfully urged on all their husbands. **2.76.24** te hayair gorathaiḥ śīghraiḥ syandanaiś ca manojavaiḥ saha yodhair balādhyakṣā balaṃ sarvam acodayan The army-commanders, together with the warriors, set the whole army in motion with horses, swift ox-carts, and chariots swift as thought. **2.76.25** sajjaṃ tu tad balaṃ dṛṣṭvā bharato gurusaṃnidhau rathaṃ me tvarayasveti sumantraṃ pārśvato 'bravīt Seeing that army made ready, Bharata, in the presence of his elder, said to Sumantra at his side, 'Make ready my chariot with speed.' **2.76.26** bharatasya tu tasyājñāṃ pratigṛhya praharṣitaḥ rathaṃ gṛhītvā prayayau yuktaṃ paramavājibhiḥ Receiving that command of Bharata's, Sumantra, delighted, took the chariot yoked with excellent horses and drove up. **2.76.27** sa rāghavaḥ satyadhṛtiḥ pratāpavān bruvan suyuktaṃ dṛḍhasatyavikramaḥ guruṃ mahāraṇyagataṃ yaśasvinaṃ prasādayiṣyan bharato 'bravīt tadā Then Bharata — that Rāghava, firm in truth, majestic, of steadfast truth and prowess — speaking what was fitting and wishing to win over his illustrious elder who had gone to the great forest, said: **2.76.28** tūṇa samutthāya sumantra gaccha balasya yogāya balapradhānān ānetum icchāmi hi taṃ vanasthaṃ prasādya rāmaṃ jagato hitāya 'Rise quickly, Sumantra, and go; for the equipping of the army summon its chief officers. For I wish to bring back him who dwells in the forest — to win over Rāma, for the good of the world.' **2.76.29** sa sūtaputro bharatena samyag ājñāpitaḥ saṃparipūrṇakāmaḥ śaśāsa sarvān prakṛtipradhānān balasya mukhyāṃś ca suhṛjjanaṃ ca That son of the charioteer, duly commanded by Bharata, his wishes wholly fulfilled, gave orders to all the chief ministers, to the leaders of the army, and to the company of friends. **2.76.30** tataḥ samutthāya kule kule te rājanyavaiśyā vṛṣalāś ca viprāḥ ayūyujann uṣṭrarathān kharāṃś ca nāgān hayāṃś caiva kulaprasūtān Then, rising up in family after family, kshatriyas, vaishyas, shudras, and brahmins yoked camel-carts and donkeys, and elephants and horses of good breed.