Sloka & Translation

[Vasistha explains the value of conforming to righteousness -- pleads with Rama to grant the wishes of Bharata and respect his request -- Rama declines.]

वसिष्ठस्तु तदा राममुक्त्वा राजपुरोहितः।

अब्रवीद्धर्मसंयुक्तं पुनरेवापरं वचः।।2.111.1।।


राजपुरोहितः royal priest, वसिष्टस्तु Vasistha on his part, तदा then, रामम् to Rama, उक्त्वा spoke further, पुनरेव again, धर्मसंयुक्तम् on righteousness, अपरं वचः some otherword, अब्रवीत् said.

Vasistha, the family priest, continued to speak to Rama on righteousness.
पुरुषस्येह जातस्य भवन्ति गुरवस्त्रयः।

आचार्यश्चैव काकुत्स्थ पिता माता च राघव।।2.111.2।।


काकुत्स्थ O Kakutstha, राघव Rama, जातस्य of one who is born, पुरुषस्य for a person, आचार्यश्चैव the preceptor, पिता the father, माता च the mother, त्रयः three, गुरवः भवन्ति become gurus.

Every man born has three preceptors. They are his teacher, father and mother.
पिता ह्येवं जनयति पुरुषं पुरुषर्षभ।

प्रज्ञां ददाति चाचार्यस्तस्मात्स गुरुरुच्यते।।2.111.3।।


पुरुषर्षभ O best of men, एवं पुरुषम् in such a way a man, पिता father, जनयति हि begets, आचार्यः teacher, प्रज्ञाम् wisdom, ददाति gives, तस्मात् therefore, सः that (teacher), गुरुः become guru, उच्यते is called.

O best of men, the father brings forth a son. The teacher imparts him wisdom.
Therefore, the teacher is considered superior.
सोऽहं ते पितुराचार्यस्तव चैव परन्तप।

मम त्वं वचनं कुर्वन्नातिवर्तेस्सतां गतिम्।।2.111.4।।


सः अहम् that I, ते पितुः of your father, तव चैव and also your, आचार्यः preceptor, परन्तप O destroyer of foes, त्वम् you, मम my, वचनम् order, कुर्वन् carrying out, सताम् of virtuous men's, गतिम् path, नातिवर्तेः you will not transgress.

I was preceptor to your father and also to you. O destroyer of foes, by following my words, you will not transgress the path of the virtuous.
इमा हि ते परिषद श्श्रेणयश्च द्विजास्तथा।

एषु तात चरन्धर्मं नातिवर्ते: स‌तां गतिम्।।2.111.5।।
 

तात my child, इमाः these, परिषदः assembly of men, श्रेणयश्च guilds of merchants and others, तथा also, द्विजाः the twiceborn, ते हि are yours, एषु towards them, धर्मम् duty, चरन् while practising, सताम् of the virtuous, गतिम् path, नातिवर्तेः you will never swerve.

All these learned men, guilds of merchants and the twiceborn (brahmins) of this assembly are your men. By fulfilling your duty towards them, you will never swerve
from the path of the virtuous.
वृद्धाया धर्मशीलाया मातुर्नार्हस्यवर्तितुम्।

अस्या हि वचनं कुर्वन्नातिवर्तेस्सतां गतिम्।।2.111.6।।
 

वृद्धायाः of an aged woman, धर्मशीलायाः of a righteousminded woman, मातुः of the mother, अवर्तितुम् not to attend her, नार्हसि is not proper, अस्याः her, वचनम् words, कुर्वन् obeying, सताम् of the virtuous, गतिम् path, नातिवर्तेः you will not deviate.

Here is your aged and righteous mother. It does not behove you to deny your service to her. By obeying her, you will never deviate from the path of the virtuous.
भरतस्य वचः कुर्वन्याचमानस्य राघव।

आत्मानं नातिवर्तेस्त्वं सत्यधर्मपराक्रम।।2.111.7।।


सत्यधर्मपराक्रम one whose strength comes from truth and righteousness, राघव Rama, त्वम् you, याचमानस्य of the supplicant, भरतस्य Bharata's, वचः words, कुर्वन् by following, आत्मानम् call of your soul, नातिवर्तेः will not ignore.

O scion of the Raghus whose strength springs from truth and righteousness, if you accede to the prayers of Bharata, you will not ignore the call of your soul.
एवं मधुरमुक्तस्सन् गुरुणा राघवस्स्वयम्।

प्रत्युवाच समासीनं वसिष्ठं पुरुषर्षभः।।2.111.8।।


पुरुषर्षभः the best of men, राघवः Rama, गुरुणा by the preceptor, स्वयम् personally, एवम् in that way, मधुरम् with sweet words, उक्तस्सन् by having been addressed, समासीनम् who was sitting beside, वसिष्ठम् to Vasistha, प्रत्युवाच replied.

When Rama, the best of men, was advised personally by Vasistha, the preceptor, with sweet words, he replied to him who was sitting beside him:
यन्मातापितरौ वृत्तं तनये कुरुत: स‌दा।

न सुप्रतिकरं तत् तु मात्रा पित्रा च यत्कृतम्।।2.111.9।।

यथाशक्ति प्रदानेन स्वापनोच्छादनेन च।

नित्यं च प्रियवादेन तथा संवर्धनेन च।।2.111.10।।
 

मातापितरौ parents, तनये in relation to son, सदा always, यत् what, वृत्तम् course of action, कुरुतः perform, यथाशक्तिप्रदानेन by conferring benefits according to their resources, स्वापनोच्छादनेन च by lulling him to sleep, clothing him, नित्यं च always, प्रियवादेन with affectionate words, तथा similarly, संवर्धनेन च bringing him up, मात्रा by mother, पित्रा च and
by father, यत् what, कृतम् was done, तत्तु all that, न सुप्रतिकरम् cannot easily be repaid.

The course of action the parents always adopt in respect of their son, the benefits they confer on him according to their resources, the way they lull him to sleep and clothe him, the affectionate words they always speak to him and the way they bring him up all these cannot be repaid.
यन्मातापितरौ वृत्तं तनये कुरुतस्सदा।

न सुप्रतिकरं तत्तु मात्रा पित्रा च यत्कृतम्।।2.111.9।।

यथाशक्तिप्रदानेन स्वापनोच्छादनेन च।

नित्यं च प्रियवादेन तथा संवर्धनेन च।।2.111.10।।


मातापितरौ parents, तनये in relation to son, सदा always, यत् what, वृत्तम् course of action, कुरुतः perform, यथाशक्तिप्रदानेन by conferring benefits according to their resources, स्वापनोच्छादनेन च by lulling him to sleep, clothing him, नित्यं च always, प्रियवादेन with affectionate words, तथा similarly, संवर्धनेन च bringing him up, मात्रा by mother, पित्रा च and
by father, यत् what, कृतम् was done, तत्तु all that, न सुप्रतिकरम् cannot easily be repaid.

The course of action the parents always adopt in respect of their son, the benefits they confer on him according to their resources, the way they lull him to sleep and clothe him, the affectionate words they always speak to him and the way they bring him up all these cannot be repaid.
स हि राजा जनयिता पिता दशरथो मम।

आज्ञातं यन्मया तस्य न तन्मिथ्या भविष्यति।।2.111.11।।


मम my, पिता father, सः that, राजा दशरथः king Dasaratha, जनयिता हि he begot me, मया by me, तस्य to him, यत् whatever, आज्ञातं was promised, तत् that one, मिथ्या false, न भविष्यति shall not become.

King Dasaratha is my father who begot me. The promise I made him shall not prove false.
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण भरतः प्रत्यनन्तरम्।

उवाच परमोदारस्सूतं परमदुर्मनाः।।2.111.12।।


परमोदारः a man of great generosity, भरतः Bharata, रामेण by Rama, एवम् in this way, उक्तः
having been addressed, परमदुर्मनाः with extremely distressed mind, प्रत्यनन्तरं who was nearby, सूतम् to the charioteer, उवाच said.

Having been addressed by Rama in this way, Bharata of great generosity, in extreme distress, addressing the charioteer who was standing nearby said:
इह मे स्थण्डिले शीघ्रं कुशानास्तर सारथे।

आर्यं प्रत्युपवेक्ष्यामि यावन्मे न प्रसीदति।।2.111.13।।


सारथे O charioteer, मे to me, इह here, स्थण्डिले on the bare ground, शीघ्रम् quickly, कुशान् kusa grass, आस्तर spread, यावत् till such time, मे to me, न प्रसीदति does not show his
grace, आर्यम् esteemed brother Rama, प्रत्युपवेक्ष्यामि shall lie down here waiting for him.

O charioteer, quickly spread kusa grass on the bare ground. Until my esteemed brother shows his grace, I shall lie down here -- waiting.
अनाहारो निरालोको धनहीनो यथा द्विजः।

शेष्ये पुरस्ताच्छालाया यावन्न प्रतियास्यति।।2.111.14।।


धनहीन: poor, द्विजः यथा like a brahmin, अनाहारः starve, निरालोकः without seeing the light (of the day), शालायाः of the hut, पुरस्तात् in front of, यावत् till such time, न प्रतियास्यति does not return, शेष्ये I shall lie down.

Like a poor brahmin, starving, my face muffled, I shall lie down in front of the hut until he agrees to return.
स तु राममवेक्षन्तं सुमन्त्रं पेक्ष्य दुर्मनाः।

कुशोत्तरमुपस्थाप्य भूमावेवाऽस्तरत्स्वयम्।।2.111.15।।


दुर्मनाः of troubled mind, स तु that Bharata, रामम् at Rama, अवेक्षन्तम् glancing at, सुमन्त्रम् Sumantra, प्रेक्ष्य seeing, स्वयमेव himself, कुशोत्तरम् of kusa grass, उपस्थाप्य having brought, भूमौ on the ground, आस्तरत् spread.

Bharata was mentally disturbed saw Sumantra waiting for Rama's order. Then he himself brought a heap of kusa grass and spread it on the ground.
तमुवाच महातेजा रामो राजर्षिसत्तमः।

किं मां भरत कुर्वाणं तात प्रत्युपवेक्ष्यसि।।2.111.16।।


महातेजाः highly powerful, राजर्षिसत्तमः the foremost of royal sages, रामः Rama, तम् to him (Bharata), उवाच said, तातः O dear one, भरत Bharata, किं कुर्वाणम् what have I done, माम् before me, प्रत्युपवेक्ष्यसि preventing me by lying down?

Rama, the foremost of royal sages and highly powerful said, 'Dear Bharata, what wrong have I done that you should prevent me by lying down in front of me?'
ब्राह्मणो ह्येकपार्श्वेन नरान्रोद्धुमिहार्हति।

न तु मूर्धाभिषिक्तानां विधिः प्रत्युपवेशने।।2.111.17।।


ब्राह्मणः brahmin, एकपार्श्वेन (lying down) on one side, नरान् to men, इह in this world, रोद्धुम् to prevent, अर्हति हि is competent, मूर्धाभिषिक्तानां तु for one who is anointed king, प्रत्युपवेशने to sit in protest, विधिः न there is no tradition.

A brahmin alone is competent in this world to prevent a person by lying down on one side (in front of him). One who is anointed king is not permitted by (scriptural) tradition to squat in protest.
उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल हित्वैतद्दारुणं व्रतम्।

पुरवर्यामितः क्षिप्रमयोध्यां याहि राघव।।2.111.18।।


नरशार्दूल O best of men, राघव Bharata, एतत् all this, दारुणम् formidable, व्रतम् resolve, हित्वा
give up, उत्तिष्ठ arise, इतः from here, क्षिप्रम् quickly, पुरवर्याम् to the best of cities, अयोध्याम् Ayodhya, याहि you may return.

O Bharata, O tiger among men, O scion of the Raghu race give up this formidable vow. Arise and quickly return to Ayodhya, the best of cities.
आसीनस्त्वेव भरतः पौरजानपदं जनम्।

उवाच सर्वतः प्रेक्ष्य किमार्यं नानुशासथ।।2.111.19।।


भरतः Bharata, आसीनस्त्वेव while remaining seated, पौरजानपदम् men inhabiting towns and villages, जनम् men, सर्वतः on all sides, प्रेक्ष्य looking, आर्यम् esteemed brother, किम् why, नानुशासथ don't you all persuade, उवाच said.

While remaining seated, Bharata looking all around at the inhabitants from towns and
villages, questioned them 'why don't you all persuade my esteemed brother to return'.
ते तदोचुर्महात्मानं पौरजानपदा जनाः।

काकुत्स्थमभिजानीमः सम्यग् वदति राघवः।।2.111.20।।


पौरजानपदाः inhabiting in towns and villages, ते जनाः those people, महात्मानम् magnanimous, तम् to Bharata, ऊचुः uttered, काकुत्स्थम् about Kakustha (Rama), अभिजानीयः we know very well, राघवः Rama, सम्यक् properly, वदति says.

Those inhabitants from towns and villages replied to the magnanimous Bharata 'we know the scion of the Kakutha dynasty, Rama, very well. What he has said is proper'.
एषोऽपि हि महाभागः पितुर्वचसि तिष्ठति।

अत एव न शक्ताः स्मो व्यावर्तयितुमञ्जसा।।2.111.21।।


एषः this, महाभागः highly distinguished Rama, पितुः father's, वचसि word, तिष्ठति हि is fixed, अत एव that is why, अञ्जसा quickly, व्यावर्तयितुम् to make him return, शक्ताः capable, न स्मः not.

Highly distinguished Rama is firmly fixed on the command of his father. That is why we are incapable of making him return quickly.
तेषामाज्ञाय वचनं रामो वचनमब्रवीत्।

एवं निबोध वचनं सुहृदां धर्मचक्षुषाम्।।2.111.22।।


रामः Rama, तेषाम् their, वचनम् words, आज्ञाय having understood, वचनम् words, अब्रवीत् said, धर्मचक्षुषाम् through righteous vision, सुहृदाम् friends, एवम् in this way, वचनम् words, निबोध understand.

Having understood their words, Rama said to him, 'Listen to the words of our friends who have a righteous vision.'
एतच्चैवोभयं श्रुत्वा सम्यक्सम्पश्य राघव।

उत्तिष्ठ त्वं महाबाहो मां च स्पृश तथोदकम्।।2.111.23।।


महाबाहो O mightyarmed one, राघव Bharata, एतत् all this, उभयं चैव both, श्रुत्वा having heard, सम्यक् carefully, सम्पश्य having thought over, त्वम् you, उत्तिष्ठ arise, मां च me, तथा as also, उदकम् water, स्पृश touch.

O mightyarmed son of the Raghus, you have heard both (them and me). Carefully think over. Arise. Touch me and sip water.
अथोत्थाय जलंस्पृष्ट्वा भरतो वाक्यमब्रवीत्।

श्रुण्वन्तु मे परिषदो मन्त्रिण श्श्रेणयस्तथा।।2.111.24।।


अथ then, भरतः Bharata, उत्थाय having stood up, जलम् water, स्पृष्ट्वा having touched, वाक्यम् these words, अब्रवीत् said, परिषदः O men of the assembly, मन्त्रिणः O counsellors, तथा also, श्रेणयः O guildsmen, मे me, श्रुण्वन्तु listen.

Then Bharata stood up and performed achamana (sipping of water) and said 'let the
assembly of learned men, counsellors and guildsmen hear me'.
न याचे पितरं राज्यं नानुशासामि मातरम्।

आर्यं परमधर्मज्ञं नानुजानामि राघवम्।।2.111.25।।


पितरम् my father, राज्यम् kingdom, न याचे did not ask, मातरम् mother, नानुशासामि did not urge, परमधर्मज्ञम् supremely knowleldgeable in ways of righteousness, आर्यम् esteemed, राघवम् Rama, नानुजानामि I did not consent.

I never asked my father to confer the kingdom on me. I never urged my mother to seek the kingdom for me. I never supported the exile of my esteemed brother Rama, who is supreme in the knowleldge of righteousness.
यदित्ववश्यं वस्तव्यं कर्तव्यं च पितुर्वचः।

अहमेव निवत्स्यामि चतुर्दश समा वने।।2.111.26।।


अवश्यम् absolutely, वस्तव्यं यदि if it is essential to live in the forest, पितुः father's, वचः words, कर्तव्यं च must be done, अहमेव I myself, चतुर्दश समाः fourteen years, वने in the forest, निवत्स्यामि I will reside.

If it is absolutely essential to live in the forest in accordance with the command of my father, I myself shall also dwell in the forest for fourteen years.
धर्मात्मा तस्य तथ्येन भ्रातुर्वाक्येन विस्मितः।

उवाच राम स्सम्प्रेक्ष्य पौरजानपदं जनम्।।2.111.27।।


धर्मात्मा righteous, रामः Rama, तस्य his, भ्रातुः brother's, तथ्येन genuine, वाक्येन with words, विस्मितः was astonished, पौरजानपदम् inhabiting the towns and villages, जनम् people, सम्प्रेक्ष seeing, उवाच said.

On hearing the genuine sentiments of his brother, righteous Rama was astonished. He said to the inhabitants from towns and villages:
विक्रीतमाहितं क्रीतं यत्पित्रा जीवता मम।

न तल्लोपयितुं शक्यं मया वा भरतेन वा।।2.111.28।।


मम my, जीवता while living, पित्रा by father, यत् what, विक्रीतम् was sold, आहितम् pledged, क्रीतम् bought, तत् that, लोपयितुं to annul, मया वा by me or, भरतेन वा or Bharata, न शक्यम् not possible.

Neither Bharata nor I can in any way annul anything which was sold, pledged or bought by my father during his lifetime.
उपधिर्न मया कार्यो वनवासे जुगुप्सितः।

युक्तमुक्तं च कैकेय्या पित्रा मे सुकृतं कृतम्।।2.111.29।।


मया by me, वनवासे in the matter of living in the forest, जुगुप्सितः reprehensible, उपधिः placing a substitute, न कार्यः shall not be done, कैकेय्या by Kaikeyi, युक्तम् rightly, उक्तम् spoken, मे पित्रा by my father, सुकृतम् good deed, कृतम् has been done.

As far as living in the forest is concerned it is reprehensible to keep a subsitute for me and it shall not be done. Kaikeyi has acted rightfully and my father has taken the proper decision.
जानामि भरतं क्षान्तं गुरुसत्कारकारिणम्।

सर्वमेवात्र कल्याणं सत्यसन्धे महात्मनि।।2.111.30।।


भरतम् Bharata, क्षान्तम् a man of forbearance, गुरुसत्कारकारिणम् honours elders, जानामि I know, सत्यसन्धे true to his word, महात्मनि great, अत्र for him, सर्वमेव everything, कल्याणम् will be auspicious.

I know Bharata as a man of forbearance and one who honours elders. Everything will turn out well for this great soul wedded to truth.
अनेन धर्मशीलेन वनात्प्रत्यागतः पुनः।

भ्रात्रा सह भविष्यामि पृथिव्याः पतिरुत्तमः।।2.111.31।।


वनात् from the forest, पुनः again, प्रत्यागतः when returned, धर्मशीलेन of virtuous conduct, अनेन भ्रात्रा सह along with this brother, पृथिव्याः of the earth, उत्तमः supreme, पतिः lord, भविष्यामि I shall become.

On returning from the forest, I shall become the supreme lord of this earth along with this virtuous brother.
वृतो हि राजा कैकेय्या मया तद्वचनं कृतम्।

अनृतान्मोचयानेन पितरं तं महीपतिम्।।2.111.32।।


राजा the king (Dasaratha), कैकेय्या by Kaikeyi, वृतो हि has been solicited, मया by me, तद्वचनं those words, कृतम् are followed, अनेन for that reason, महीपतिम् the lord of the earth, तं पितरम् that father, अनृतात् from falsehood, मोचय you may release.

The king (Dasaratha) was solicited by Kaikeyi and I shall abide. Therefore, you also release the lord of the earth, our father from the charge of falsehood.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे एकादशोत्तरशततमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the hundredeleventh sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.