# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 82 — Bharata examines the grass bed *Traces of Sītā’s gold and silk reveal where she slept, he vows to adopt forest life and offer himself in Rāma’s place* Portion: Guha and the Gaṅgā crossing · Verses: 27 · Ref format: 2.82. ## Sequence - Bharata examines the flattened grass and contrasts it with Rāma's former bedding and palace life (82.1–8) - the reversal seems almost unbelievable, especially with Sītā sharing it (82.9–11) - he notices traces of gold and silk in the grass and infers that she slept there still wearing her ornaments and clothing (82.12–15) - he praises her loyalty while lamenting what Rāma has lost (82.16–18) - he worries about the Kingdom's lack of leadership, though he believes Rāma's reputation still deters enemies (82.19–22) - he vows to sleep on the ground, eat forest food, and wear bark and matted hair himself (82.23–24) - he proposes remaining in the forest with Śatrughna while Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa return to rule → if Rāma refuses, Bharata will follow him rather than return alone (82.25–27). ## Verses **2.82.1** tac chrutvā nipuṇaṃ sarvaṃ bharataḥ saha mantribhiḥ iṅgudīmūlam āgamya rāmaśayyām avekṣya tām Having heard all this attentively, Bharata, together with his ministers, came to the foot of the iṅgudī tree and, gazing upon that bed of Rāma's, **2.82.2** abravīj jananīḥ sarvā iha tena mahātmanā śarvarī śayitā bhūmāv idam asya vimarditam said to all the mothers: “Here the night was passed lying on the ground by that great soul; this is the grass he crushed down. **2.82.3** mahābhāgakulīnena mahābhāgena dhīmatā jāto daśarathenorvyāṃ na rāmaḥ svaptum arhati Born on this earth of Daśaratha — of illustrious lineage, greatly blessed, and wise — Rāma does not deserve to sleep thus. **2.82.4** ajinottarasaṃstīrṇe varāstaraṇasaṃcaye śayitvā puruṣavyāghraḥ kathaṃ śete mahītale Accustomed to lying upon a heap of the finest coverlets spread over with deerskin, how does this tiger among men lie upon the bare earth? **2.82.5** prāsādāgra vimāneṣu valabhīṣu ca sarvadā haimarājatabhaumeṣu varāstaraṇaśāliṣu Always in the tops of palaces and in lofty mansions and upon turrets, on floors of gold and silver, splendid with excellent spreads, **2.82.6** puṣpasaṃcayacitreṣu candanāgarugandhiṣu pāṇḍurābhraprakāśeṣu śukasaṃgharuteṣu ca variegated with masses of flowers, fragrant with sandal and aloe, gleaming white as clouds, and resounding with flocks of parrots, **2.82.7** gītavāditranirghoṣair varābharaṇaniḥsvanaiḥ mṛdaṅgavaraśabdaiś ca satataṃ pratibodhitaḥ constantly awakened by the strains of song and instruments, by the tinkling of fine ornaments, and by the noble beat of the mṛdaṅga drum, **2.82.8** bandibhir vanditaḥ kāle bahubhiḥ sūtamāgadhaiḥ gāthābhir anurūpābhiḥ stutibhiś ca paraṃtapaḥ and praised at the proper time by bards, by many sūtas and māgadhas, with fitting songs and eulogies — that scorcher of foes — **2.82.9** aśraddheyam idaṃ loke na satyaṃ pratibhāti mā muhyate khalu me bhāvaḥ svapno 'yam iti me matiḥ This is incredible in the world; it does not appear true to me; surely my mind is bewildered — my thought is that this is a dream. **2.82.10** na nūnaṃ daivataṃ kiṃ cit kālena balavattaram yatra dāśarathī rāmo bhūmāv evaṃ śayīta saḥ Surely there is no deity mightier than Time, since Rāma, the son of Daśaratha, should lie thus upon the ground. **2.82.11** videharājasya sutā sītā ca priyadarśanā dayitā śayitā bhūmau snuṣā daśarathasya ca And Sītā, the daughter of the king of Videha, lovely to behold, the beloved wife and daughter-in-law of Daśaratha, has lain upon the ground. **2.82.12** iyaṃ śayyā mama bhrātur idaṃ hi parivartitam sthaṇḍile kaṭhine sarvaṃ gātrair vimṛditaṃ tṛṇam This is my brother's bed; here indeed he tossed and turned; upon the hard bare ground all the grass has been crushed by his limbs. **2.82.13** manye sābharaṇā suptā sītāsmiñ śayane tadā tatra tatra hi dṛśyante saktāḥ kanakabindavaḥ I think Sītā slept upon this couch then still wearing her ornaments, for here and there are seen clinging specks of gold. **2.82.14** uttarīyam ihāsaktaṃ suvyaktaṃ sītayā tadā tathā hy ete prakāśante saktāḥ kauśeyatantavaḥ Clearly Sītā's upper garment caught here at that time, for thus these clinging silken threads shine forth. **2.82.15** manye bhartuḥ sukhā śayyā yena bālā tapasvinī sukumārī satī duḥkhaṃ na vijānāti maithilī I think a wife finds her husband's bed pleasant, for by this the young, ascetic Maithilī, delicate though she is, knows no hardship. **2.82.16** sārvabhauma kule jātaḥ sarvalokasukhāvahaḥ sarvalokapriyas tyaktvā rājyaṃ priyam anuttamam Born in a line of universal emperors, a bringer of happiness to all the world and dear to all the world — having abandoned the pleasant, unsurpassed kingdom — **2.82.17** katham indīvaraśyāmo raktākṣaḥ priyadarśanaḥ sukhabhāgī ca duḥkhārhaḥ śayito bhuvi rāghavaḥ how is it that Rāghava — dark as a blue lotus, red-eyed, lovely to behold, entitled to comfort and deserving no sorrow — lies upon the ground? **2.82.18** siddhārthā khalu vaidehī patiṃ yānugatā vanam vayaṃ saṃśayitāḥ sarve hīnās tena mahātmanā Vaidehī has indeed attained her purpose, since she has followed her husband to the forest; but we are all in peril, bereft of that great soul. **2.82.19** akarṇadhārā pṛthivī śūnyeva pratibhāti mā gate daśarathe svarge rāme cāraṇyam āśrite With Daśaratha gone to heaven and Rāma withdrawn to the forest, the earth, left without a helmsman, appears to me as if empty. **2.82.20** na ca prārthayate kaś cin manasāpi vasuṃdharām vane 'pi vasatas tasya bāhuvīryābhirakṣitām And no one covets the earth, even in thought, for it is guarded by the might of his arms though he dwells in the forest. **2.82.21** śūnyasaṃvaraṇārakṣām ayantritahayadvipām apāvṛtapuradvārāṃ rājadhānīm arakṣitām The royal capital lies unguarded — its ramparts and watch left empty, its horses and elephants unchecked, its city gates thrown open — **2.82.22** aprahṛṣṭabalāṃ nyūnāṃ viṣamasthām anāvṛtām śatravo nābhimanyante bhakṣyān viṣakṛtān iva — its army dispirited, depleted, in disarray, and exposed — yet enemies do not venture to attack it, as men will not touch food that has been poisoned. **2.82.23** adya prabhṛti bhūmau tu śayiṣye 'haṃ tṛṇeṣu vā phalamūlāśano nityaṃ jaṭācīrāṇi dhārayan From this day forward I too will sleep on the ground or on grass, ever eating fruits and roots, wearing matted locks and bark garments. **2.82.24** tasyārtham uttaraṃ kālaṃ nivatsyāmi sukhaṃ vane taṃ pratiśravam āmucya nāsya mithyā bhaviṣyati For his sake I shall dwell happily in the forest for the time to come; by taking upon myself that pledge of his, it shall not be rendered false. **2.82.25** vasantaṃ bhrātur arthāya śatrughno mānuvatsyati lakṣmaṇena saha tv āryo ayodhyāṃ pālayiṣyati Śatrughna will dwell along with me as I abide in the forest for our brother's sake, while the noble Rāma, together with Lakṣmaṇa, shall rule Ayodhyā. **2.82.26** abhiṣekṣyanti kākutstham ayodhyāyāṃ dvijātayaḥ api me devatāḥ kuryur imaṃ satyaṃ manoratham The brahmins shall consecrate Kākutstha in Ayodhyā; may the gods make this heart's desire of mine come true. **2.82.27** prasādyamānaḥ śirasā mayā svayaṃ bahuprakāraṃ yadi na prapatsyate tato 'nuvatsyāmi cirāya rāghavaṃ vane vasan nārhati mām upekṣitum If, though entreated in person by me with bowed head in every manner, he will not consent, then I shall follow Rāghava into the forest for a long time; dwelling there, he cannot rightly disregard me.