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.]

vasiṣṭhastu tadā rāmamuktvā rājapurōhitaḥ.

abravīddharmasaṅyuktaṅ punarēvāparaṅ vacaḥ৷৷2.111.1৷৷


rājapurōhitaḥ royal priest, vasiṣṭastu Vasistha on his part, tadā then, rāmam to Rama, uktvā spoke further, punarēva again, dharmasaṅyuktam on righteousness, aparaṅ vacaḥ some otherword, abravīt said.

Vasistha, the family priest, continued to speak to Rama on righteousness.
puruṣasyēha jātasya bhavanti guravastrayaḥ.

ācāryaścaiva kākutstha pitā mātā ca rāghava৷৷2.111.2৷৷


kākutstha O Kakutstha, rāghava Rama, jātasya of one who is born, puruṣasya for a person, ācāryaścaiva the preceptor, pitā the father, mātā ca the mother, trayaḥ three, guravaḥ bhavanti become gurus.

Every man born has three preceptors. They are his teacher, father and mother.
pitā hyēvaṅ janayati puruṣaṅ puruṣarṣabha.

prajñāṅ dadāti cācāryastasmātsa gururucyatē৷৷2.111.3৷৷


puruṣarṣabha O best of men!, ēvaṅ puruṣam in such a way a man, pitā father, janayati hi begets, ācāryaḥ teacher, prajñām wisdom, dadāti gives, tasmāt therefore, saḥ that (teacher), guruḥ become guru, ucyatē is called.

O best of men, the father brings forth a son. The teacher imparts him wisdom.
Therefore, the teacher is considered superior.
sō.haṅ tē piturācāryastava caiva parantapa.

mama tvaṅ vacanaṅ kurvannātivartēssatāṅ gatim৷৷2.111.4৷৷


saḥ aham that I, tē pituḥ of your father, tava caiva and also your, ācāryaḥ preceptor, parantapa O destroyer of foes!, tvam you, mama my, vacanam order, kurvan carrying out, satām of virtuous men's, gatim path, nātivartēḥ 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.
imā hi tē pariṣada śśrēṇayaśca dvijāstathā.

ēṣu tāta carandharmaṅ nātivartē ssatāṅ gatim৷৷2.111.5৷৷


tāta my child, imāḥ these, pariṣadaḥ assembly of men, śrēṇayaśca guilds of merchants and others, tathā also, dvijāḥ the twice-born, tē hi are yours, ēṣu towards them, dharmam duty, caran while practising, satām of the virtuous, gatim path, nātivartēḥ you will never swerve.

All these learned men, guilds of merchants and the twice-born (brahmins) of this assembly are your men. By fulfilling your duty towards them, you will never swerve
from the path of the virtuous.
vṛddhāyā dharmaśīlāyā māturnārhasyavartitum.

asyāstu vacanaṅ kurvannātivartēssatāṅ gatim৷৷2.111.6৷৷


vṛddhāyāḥ of an aged woman, dharmaśīlāyāḥ of a righteous-minded woman, mātuḥ of the mother, avartitum not to attend her, nārhasi is not proper, asyāḥ her, vacanam words, kurvan obeying, satām of the virtuous, gatim path, nātivartēḥ 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.
bharatasya vacaḥ kurvanyācamānasya rāghava!.

ātmānaṅ nātivartēstvaṅ satyadharmaparākrama!৷৷2.111.7৷৷


satyadharmaparākrama! one whose strength comes from truth and righteousness, rāghava! Rama, tvam you, yācamānasya of the supplicant, bharatasya Bharata's, vacaḥ words, kurvan by following, ātmānam call of your soul, nātivartēḥ 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.
ēvaṅ madhuramuktassan guruṇā rāghavassvayam.

pratyuvāca samāsīnaṅ vasiṣṭhaṅ puruṣarṣabhaḥ৷৷2.111.8৷৷


puruṣarṣabhaḥ the best of men, rāghavaḥ Rama, guruṇā by the preceptor, svayam personally, ēvam in that way, madhuram with sweet words, uktassan by having been addressed, samāsīnam who was sitting beside, vasiṣṭham to Vasistha, pratyuvāca 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:
yanmātāpitarau vṛttaṅ tanayē kurutassadā.

na supratikaraṅ tattu mātrā pitrā ca yatkṛtam৷৷2.111.9৷৷

yathāśakti pradānēna svāpanōcchādanēna ca.

nityaṅ ca priyavādēna tathā saṅvardhanēna ca৷৷2.111.10৷৷


mātāpitarau parents, tanayē in relation to son, sadā always, yat what, vṛttam course of action, kurutaḥ perform, yathāśaktipradānēna by conferring benefits according to their resources, svāpanōcchādanēna ca by lulling him to sleep, clothing him, nityaṅ ca always, priyavādēna with affectionate words, tathā similarly, saṅvardhanēna ca bringing him up, mātrā by mother, pitrā ca and
by father, yat what, kṛtam was done, tattu all that, na supratikaram 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.
sa hi rājā janayitā pitā daśarathō mama.

ājñātaṅ yanmayā tasya na tanmithyā bhaviṣyati৷৷2.111.11৷৷


mama my, pitā father, saḥ that, rājā daśarathaḥ king Dasaratha, janayitā hi he begot me, mayā by me, tasya to him, yat whatever, ājñātaṅ was promised, tat that one, mithyā false, na bhaviṣyati shall not become.

King Dasaratha is my father who begot me. The promise I made him shall not prove false.
ēvamuktastu rāmēṇa bharataḥ pratyanantaram.

uvāca paramōdārassūtaṅ paramadurmanāḥ৷৷2.111.12৷৷


paramōdāraḥ a man of great generosity, bharataḥ Bharata, rāmēṇa by Rama, ēvam in this way, uktaḥ
having been addressed, paramadurmanāḥ with extremely distressed mind, pratyanantaraṅ who was nearby, sūtam to the charioteer, uvāca said.

Having been addressed by Rama in this way, Bharata of great generosity, in extreme distress, addressing the charioteer who was standing nearby said:
iha mē sthaṇḍilē śīghraṅ kuśānāstara sārathē.

āryaṅ pratyupavēkṣyāmi yāvanmē na prasīdati৷৷2.111.13৷৷


sārathē O charioteer, mē to me, iha here, sthaṇḍilē on the bare ground, śīghram quickly, kuśān kusa grass, āstara spread, yāvat till such time, mē to me, na prasīdati does not show his
grace, āryam esteemed brother Rama, pratyupavēkṣyāmi 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.
anāhārō nirālōkō dhanahīnō yathā dvijaḥ.

śēṣyē purastācchālāyā yāvanna pratiyāsyati৷৷2.111.14৷৷


dhanahīna: poor, dvijaḥ yathā like a brahmin, anāhāraḥ starve, nirālōkaḥ without seeing the light (of the day), śālāyāḥ of the hut, purastāt in front of, yāvat till such time, na pratiyāsyati does not return, śēṣyē 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.
sa tu rāmamavēkṣantaṅ sumantraṅ pēkṣya durmanāḥ.

kuśōttaramupasthāpya bhūmāvēvā.staratsvayam৷৷2.111.15৷৷


durmanāḥ of troubled mind, sa tu that Bharata, rāmam at Rama, avēkṣantam glancing at, sumantram Sumantra, prēkṣya seeing, svayamēva himself, kuśōttaram of kusa grass, upasthāpya having brought, bhūmau on the ground, āstarat 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.
tamuvāca mahātējā rāmō rājarṣisattamaḥ.

kiṅ māṅ bharata kurvāṇaṅ tāta pratyupavēkṣyasi৷৷2.111.16৷৷


mahātējāḥ highly powerful, rājarṣisattamaḥ the foremost of royal sages, rāmaḥ Rama, tam to him (Bharata), uvāca said, tātaḥ O dear one, bharata Bharata, kiṅ kurvāṇam what have I done, mām before me, pratyupavēkṣyasi 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?'
brāhmaṇō hyēkapārśvēna narānrōddhumihārhati.

na tu mūrdhābhiṣiktānāṅ vidhiḥ pratyupavēśanē৷৷2.111.17৷৷


brāhmaṇaḥ brahmin, ēkapārśvēna (lying down) on one side, narān to men, iha in this world, rōddhum to prevent, arhati hi is competent, mūrdhābhiṣiktānāṅ tu for one who is anointed king, pratyupavēśanē to sit in protest, vidhiḥ na 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.
uttiṣṭha naraśārdūla hitvaitaddāruṇaṅ vratam.

puravaryāmitaḥ kṣipramayōdhyāṅ yāhi rāghava৷৷2.111.18৷৷


naraśārdūla O best of men, rāghava Bharata, ētat all this, dāruṇam formidable, vratam resolve, hitvā
give up, uttiṣṭha arise, itaḥ from here, kṣipram quickly, puravaryām to the best of cities, ayōdhyām Ayodhya, yāhi 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.
āsīnastvēva bharataḥ paurajānapadaṅ janam.

uvāca sarvataḥ prēkṣya kimāryaṅ nānuśāsatha৷৷2.111.19৷৷


bharataḥ Bharata, āsīnastvēva while remaining seated, paurajānapadam men inhabiting towns and villages, janam men, sarvataḥ on all sides, prēkṣya looking, āryam esteemed brother, kim why, nānuśāsatha don't you all persuade, uvāca 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'.
tē tamūcurmahātmānaṅ paurajānapadā janāḥ.

kākutsthamabhijānīyassamyagvadati rāghavaḥ৷৷2.111.20৷৷


paurajānapadāḥ inhabiting in towns and villages, tē janāḥ those people, mahātmānam magnanimous, tam to Bharata, ūcuḥ uttered, kākutstham about Kakustha (Rama), abhijānīyaḥ we know very well, rāghavaḥ Rama, samyak properly, vadati 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'.
ēṣō.pi hi mahābhāgaḥ piturvacasi tiṣṭhati.

ata ēva na śaktāḥ smō vyāvartayitumañjasā৷৷2.111.21৷৷


ēṣaḥ this, mahābhāgaḥ highly distinguished Rama, pituḥ father's, vacasi word, tiṣṭhati hi is fixed, ata ēva that is why, añjasā quickly, vyāvartayitum to make him return, śaktāḥ capable, na smaḥ not.

Highly distinguished Rama is firmly fixed on the command of his father. That is why we are incapable of making him return quickly.
tēṣāmājñāya vacanaṅ rāmō vacanamabravīt.

ēvaṅ nibōdha vacanaṅ suhṛdāṅ dharmacakṣuṣām৷৷2.111.22৷৷


rāmaḥ Rama, tēṣām their, vacanam words, ājñāya having understood, vacanam words, abravīt said, dharmacakṣuṣām through righteous vision, suhṛdām friends, ēvam in this way, vacanam words, nibōdha understand.

Having understood their words, Rama said to him, 'Listen to the words of our friends who have a righteous vision.'
ētaccaivōbhayaṅ śrutvā samyaksampaśya rāghava.

uttiṣṭha tvaṅ mahābāhō māṅ ca spṛśa tathōdakam৷৷2.111.23৷৷


mahābāhō O mighty-armed one!, rāghava Bharata, ētat all this, ubhayaṅ caiva both, śrutvā having heard, samyak carefully, sampaśya having thought over, tvam you, uttiṣṭha arise, māṅ ca me, tathā as also, udakam water, spṛśa touch.

O mighty-armed son of the Raghus, you have heard both (them and me). Carefully think over. Arise. Touch me and sip water.
athōtthāya jalaṅspṛṣṭvā bharatō vākyamabravīt.

śruṇvantu mē pariṣadō mantriṇa śśrēṇayastathā৷৷2.111.24৷৷


atha then, bharataḥ Bharata, utthāya having stood up, jalam water, spṛṣṭvā having touched, vākyam these words, abravīt said, pariṣadaḥ O men of the assembly, mantriṇaḥ O counsellors, tathā also, śrēṇayaḥ O guildsmen, mē me, śruṇvantu listen.

Then Bharata stood up and performed achamana (sipping of water) and said 'let the
assembly of learned men, counsellors and guildsmen hear me'.
na yācē pitaraṅ rājyaṅ nānuśāsāmi mātaram.

āryaṅ paramadharmajñaṅ nānujānāmi rāghavam৷৷2.111.25৷৷


pitaram my father, rājyam kingdom, na yācē did not ask, mātaram mother, nānuśāsāmi did not urge, paramadharmajñam supremely knowleldgeable in ways of righteousness, āryam esteemed, rāghavam Rama, nānujānāmi 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.
yaditvavaśyaṅ vastavyaṅ kartavyaṅ ca piturvacaḥ.

ahamēva nivatsyāmi caturdaśa samā vanē৷৷2.111.26৷৷


avaśyam absolutely, vastavyaṅ yadi if it is essential to live in the forest, pituḥ father's, vacaḥ words, kartavyaṅ ca must be done, ahamēva I myself, caturdaśa samāḥ fourteen years, vanē in the forest, nivatsyāmi 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.
dharmātmā tasya tathyēna bhrāturvākyēna vismitaḥ.

uvāca rāma ssamprēkṣya paurajānapadaṅ janam৷৷2.111.27৷৷


dharmātmā righteous, rāmaḥ Rama, tasya his, bhrātuḥ brother's, tathyēna genuine, vākyēna with words, vismitaḥ was astonished, paurajānapadam inhabiting the towns and villages, janam people, samprēkṣa seeing, uvāca said.

On hearing the genuine sentiments of his brother, righteous Rama was astonished. He said to the inhabitants from towns and villages:
vikrītamāhitaṅ krītaṅ yatpitrā jīvatā mama.

na tallōpayituṅ śakyaṅ mayā vā bharatēna vā৷৷2.111.28৷৷


mama my, jīvatā while living, pitrā by father, yat what, vikrītam was sold, āhitam pledged, krītam bought, tat that, lōpayituṅ to annul, mayā vā by me or, bharatēna vā or Bharata, na śakyam not possible.

Neither Bharata nor I can in any way annul anything which was sold, pledged or bought by my father during his lifetime.
upadhirna mayā kāryō vanavāsē jugupsitaḥ.

yuktamuktaṅ ca kaikēyyā pitrā mē sukṛtaṅ kṛtam৷৷2.111.29৷৷


mayā by me, vanavāsē in the matter of living in the forest, jugupsitaḥ reprehensible, upadhiḥ placing a substitute, na kāryaḥ shall not be done, kaikēyyā by Kaikeyi, yuktam rightly, uktam spoken, mē pitrā by my father, sukṛtam good deed, kṛtam 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.
jānāmi bharataṅ kṣāntaṅ gurusatkārakāriṇam.

sarvamēvātra kalyāṇaṅ satyasandhē mahātmani৷৷2.111.30৷৷


bharatam Bharata, kṣāntam a man of forbearance, gurusatkārakāriṇam honours elders, jānāmi I know, satyasandhē true to his word, mahātmani great, atra for him, sarvamēva everything, kalyāṇam 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.
anēna dharmaśīlēna vanātpratyāgataḥ punaḥ.

bhrātrā saha bhaviṣyāmi pṛthivyāḥ patiruttamaḥ৷৷2.111.31৷৷


vanāt from the forest, punaḥ again, pratyāgataḥ when returned, dharmaśīlēna of virtuous conduct, anēna bhrātrā saha along with this brother, pṛthivyāḥ of the earth, uttamaḥ supreme, patiḥ lord, bhaviṣyāmi I shall become.

On returning from the forest, I shall become the supreme lord of this earth along with this virtuous brother.
vṛtō hi rājā kaikēyyā mayā tadvacanaṅ kṛtam.

anṛtānmōcayānēna pitaraṅ taṅ mahīpatim৷৷2.111.32৷৷


rājā the king (Dasaratha), kaikēyyā by Kaikeyi, vṛtō hi has been solicited, mayā by me, tadvacanaṅ those words, kṛtam are followed, anēna for that reason, mahīpatim the lord of the earth, taṅ pitaram that father, anṛtāt from falsehood, mōcaya 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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē ēkādaśōttaraśatatamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the hundredeleventh sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.