Sloka & Translation

[Return of Bharata and Satrughna with Rama's sandals as the representative of Rama.]

tata śśirasi kṛtvā tu pādukē bharatastadā.

ārurōha rathaṅ hṛṣṭaḥ śatrughnēna samanvitaḥ৷৷2.113.1৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, tadā then, bharataḥ Bharata, pādukē sandals, śirasi upon his head, kṛtvā having placed, hṛṣṭaḥ in delight, śatrughnēna with Satrughna, samanvitaḥ accompanied by, ratham chariot, ārurōha boarded.

Then Bharata accompanied by Satrughna, placing the sandals on his head in delight, boarded the chariot.
vasiṣṭhō vāmadēvaśca jābāliśca dṛḍhavrataḥ.

agrataḥ prayayu ssarvē mantriṇō mantrapūjitāḥ৷৷2.113.2৷৷


vasiṣṭhaḥ Vasistha, vāmadēvaśca Vamadeva, dṛḍhavrataḥ of rigid penance, jābāliśca Jabali, mantrapūjitāḥ honoured for their counselling, sarvē mantriṇaḥ all the ministers, agrataḥ in the forefront, prayayuḥ proceeded.

Vasishta, Vamadeva, Jabali of rigorous penance and all the ministers honoured for their counsel proceeded ahead.
mandākinīṅ nadīṅ ramyāṅ prāṅmukhāstē yayustadā.

pradakṣiṇaṅ ca kurvāṇāścitrakūṭaṅ mahāgirim৷৷2.113.3৷৷


tadā then, tē they, citrakūṭaṅ mahāgirim mighty mountain, Chitrakuta, pradakṣiṇam circumambulation, kurvāṇāḥ doings, prāṅmukhāḥ facing eastward, mandākinīm river Mandakini, ramyām charming, nadīm to river, yayuḥ proceeded.

All of them circumambulated the mighty mountain Chitrakuta and proceeded east
towards the charming river Mandakini.
paśyandhātusahasrāṇi ramyāṇi vividhāni ca.

prayayau tasya pārśvēna sasainyō bharatastadā৷৷2.113.4৷৷


tadā then, bharataḥ Bharata, ramyāṇi beautiful, vividhāni various, dhātusahasrāṇi a thousand varieties of minerals, paśyan beholding, sasainyaḥ with army, tasya that mountain's, pārśvē alongside, prayayau went.

Beholding a thousand varieties of beautiful minerals, Bharata with his army proceeded alongside the mountain.
adūrāccitrakūṭasya dadarśa bharatastadā.

āśramaṅ yatra sa munirbharadvājaḥ kṛtālayaḥ৷৷2.113.5৷৷


tadā then, bharataḥ Bharata, citrakūṭasya of Chitrakuta, adūrāt not far from there, yatra where, muniḥ sage, saḥ bharadvājaḥ that Bharadwaja, kṛtālayaḥ made his residence, āśramam hermitage, dadarśa beheld.

Not far from Chitrakuta mountain, Bharata beheld a hermitage where sage Bharadwaja resided.
sa tamāśramamāgamya bharadvājasya buddhimān.

avatīrya rathātpādau vavandē bharatastadā৷৷2.113.6৷৷


tadā then, buddhimān sagacious, saḥ bharataḥ that Bharata, bharadvājasya Bharadwaja's, tam āśramam that hermitage, āgamya having reached, rathāt from the chariot, avitīrya alighting, pādau at his feet, vavandē prostrated.

On approaching the hermitage of sage Bharadwaja, Bharata alighted from the chariot,
and prostrated at his feet.
tatō hṛṣṭō bharadvājō bharataṅ vākyamabravīt.

api kṛtyaṅ kṛtaṅ tāta! rāmēṇa ca samāgatam৷৷2.113.7৷৷


tataḥ then, hṛṣṭaḥ delighted, bharadvājaḥ Bharadwaja, bharatam to Bharata, vākyam these words, abravīt said, tāta O child, kṛtyam the task, api kṛtam has it been accomplished?, rāmēṇa ca with Rama, api samāgatam have you met?

Then Bhardwaja asked Bharata in delight, My son, have you accomplished your task? Did you meet Rama?
ēvamukta ssa tu tatō bharadvājēna dhīmatā.

pratyuvāca bharadvājaṅ bharatō dharmavatsalaḥ৷৷2.113.8৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, dhīmatā by the wise, bharadvājēna by Bharadwaja, ēvam in this way, uktaḥ having been addressed, dharmavatsalaḥ devoted to righteousness, bharataḥ Bharata, bharadvājam to Bharadwaja, pratyuvāca replied.

Having been thus addressed by wise Bharadwaja, Bharata, devoted to righteousness, replied:
sa yācyamānō guruṇā mayā ca dṛḍhavikramaḥ.

rāghavaḥ paramaprītō vaśiṣṭhaṅ vākyamabravīt৷৷2.113.9৷৷


guruṇā by the preceptor (Vasistha), mayā by me, yācyamānaḥ entreated, dṛḍhavikramaḥ of firmness of mind, rāghavaḥ Rama, paramaprītaḥ highly pleased, vasiṣṭham to Vasistha, vākyam these words, abravīt said.

Entreated by me and by preceptor (Vasistha), the highly pleased Rama with his firmness of mind replied to Vasistha:
pituḥ pratijñāṅ tāmēva pālayiṣyāmi tattvataḥ.

caturdaśa hi varṣāṇi yā pratijñā piturmama৷৷2.113.10৷৷


caturdaśa varṣāṇi hi fourteen years indeed, mama pituḥ to my father, yā pratijñā that promise, pituḥ of my father, tāṅ pratijñām ēva that promise only, tattvataḥ truly, pālayiṣyāmi shall honour.

In sooth, I shall honour the words of promise given by my father and live in the forest for fourteen years, as promised.
ēvamuktō mahāprājñō vasiṣṭhaḥ pratyuvāca ha.

vākyajñō vākyakuśalaṅ rāghavaṅ vacanaṅ mahat৷৷2.113.11৷৷


ēvam in this way, uktaḥ spoken, mahāprājñaḥ great intellectual, vākyajñaḥ eloquent, vasiṣṭhaḥ Vasistha, vākyakuśalam skilled in words, rāghavam Rama, mahat of deep significance, vacanam words, pratyuvāca ha replied.

On hearing him, Vasistha a great intellectual and highly eloquent one replied to Rama, skilled in words of deep significance.
ētē prayaccha saṅhṛṣṭaḥ pādukē hēmabhūṣitē.

ayōdhyāyāṅ mahāprājña yōgakṣēmakarē tava৷৷2.113.12৷৷


mahāprājña O extemely sagacious one, saṅhṛṣṭaḥ with pleasure, ayōdhyāyām of Ayodhya, yōgakṣēmakarē securing safety and security, ētē these two, hēmabhūṣitē decorated with gold, tava pādukē your pair of sandals, prayaccha bestow.

O extremely sagacious one, bestow with pleasure your sandals decked with gold for security and safety of Ayodhya.
ēvamuktō vasiṣṭhēna rāghavaḥ prāṅmukhaḥ sthitaḥ.

pādukē hyadhiruhyaitē mama rājyāya vai dadau৷৷2.113.13৷৷


vasiṣṭhēna by Vasistha, ēvam in this way, uktaḥ having spoken, rāghavaḥ Rama, prāṅmukhaḥ sthitaḥ standing eastward, ētē these, pādukē sandals, adhiruhya wearing, mama to me, rājyāya for the
sake of ruling the kingdom, dadau bestowed.

Thus addressed by Vasistha, Rama stood facing eastward wearing these sandals. and bestowed them on me for the sake of ruling the kingdom.
nivṛttō.hamanujñātō rāmēṇa sumahātmanā.

ayōdhyāmēva gacchāmi gṛhītvā pādukē śubhē৷৷2.113.14৷৷


sumahātmanā by the highly magnanimous, rāmēṇa by Rama, anujñātaḥ having been permitted, aham I, nivṛttaḥ am returning, śubhē auspicious, pādukē sandals, gṛhītvā taking, ayōdhyāmēva to Ayodhya only, gacchāmi am going.

I am now returning to Ayodhya with these auspicious sandals permitted by the magnanimous Rama.
ētacchrutvā śubhaṅ vākyaṅ bharatasya mahātmanaḥ.

bharadvājaśśubhataraṅ munirvākyamuvāca tam৷৷2.113.15৷৷


mahātmanaḥ of the magnanimous, bharatasya Bharata's, śubham auspicious, ētat all these, vākyam words, śrutvā having heard, bharadvāja: Bharadwaja, muniḥ sage, śubhataram the more auspicious, vākyam words, tam addressing Bharata, uvāca said.

Hearing the auspicious words of the magnanimous Bharata, sage Bharadwaja said to him in words still more auspicious.
naitaccitraṅ naravyāghra śīlavṛttavatāṅ vara.

yadāryaṅ tvayi tiṣṭhēttu nimnē sṛṣṭamivōdakam৷৷2.113.16৷৷


naravyāghra O best of men, śīlavṛttavatām among men of excellent character and dispositon, vara foremost, sṛṣṭam poured out, udakam water, nimnē iva like downward, āryam noble, tvayi
in you, yat tiṣṭhēt reside, ētat that one, citram surprising, na not.

O best of men, foremost among men of excellent character and dispositon, it is not surprising that all noble qualities come to reside in you naturally like water poured flowing downward.
amṛta ssamahābāhuḥ pitā daśarathastava.

yasya tvamīdṛśa: putrō dharmajñō dharmavatsalaḥ৷৷2.113.17৷৷


yasya of whom, dharmajñaḥ knower of righteousness, dharmavatsalaḥ one who is devoted to duty, īdṛśaḥ endowed with such qualties, tvam you, putraḥ as son, saḥ such, mahābāhuḥ mighty-armed man, tava your, pitā father, daśarathaḥ Dasaratha, amṛtaḥ is not dead.

With you as his son, endowed with qualities of righteousness and devotion to duty, your mighty-armed father Dasaratha is not dead. (He lives through you).
tamṛṣiṅ tu mahātmānamuktavākyaṅ kṛtāñjaliḥ.

āmantrayitumārēbhē caraṇāvupagṛhya ca৷৷2.113.18৷৷


kṛtāñjaliḥ with folded palms, uktavākyam having spoken thus, mahātmānam magnanimous one, taṅ ṛṣim that sage, caraṇau feet, upagṛhya clasping, āmantrayitum to take leave of, ārēbhē he commenced.

Hearing the words of the magnanimous Bharadwaja, Bharata paid his respect, folding his palms, and clasping the feet of the sage and sought his permission to leave.
tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṅ kṛtvā bharadvājaṅ punaḥ punaḥ.

bharatastu yayau śrīmānayōdhyāṅ saha mantribhiḥ৷৷2.113.19৷৷


tataḥ then, śrīmān the illustrious, bharataḥ Bharata, puna punaḥ again and again, bharadvājam to
Bharadwaja, pradakṣiṇam circumambulation, kṛtvā having done, mantribhissaha along with the counsellors, ayōdhyām to Ayodhya, yayau set out.

Then illustrious Bharata circumambulated the sage several times in homage before he
set out for Ayodhya with his counsellors.
yānaiśca śakaṭaiścaiva hayairnāgaiśca sā camūḥ.

punarnivṛttā vistīrṇā bharatasyānuyāyinī৷৷2.113.20 ৷৷


bharatasya Bharata's, vistīrṇā vast, sā camūḥ that army, anuyāyinī following, yānaiśca with carriages, śakaṭaiścaiva with carts, hayaiḥ with horses, nāgaiśca with elephants, punaḥ again, nivṛttā turned back towards Ayodhya.

The vast army of Bharata with all its carriages, carts, horses and elephants following him again turned back towards Ayodhya.
tatastē yamunāṅ divyāṅ nadīṅ tīrtvōrmimālinīm.

dadṛśustāṅ puna ssarvē gaṅgāṅ śubhajalāṅ nadīm৷৷2.113.21৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, tē sarvē all of them, divyām divine, ūrmimālinīm wreathed with waves, yamunāṅ nadīm river Yamuna, tīrtvā having crossed, śubhajalām of auspicious waters of, tāṅ gaṅgāṅ that Ganga, nadīm river, punaḥ again, dadṛśuḥ beheld.

Thereafter, all of them crossed the divine river Yamuna wreathed in waves and, beheld the Ganga of sacred waters once again.
tāṅ ramyajalasaṅpūrṇāṅ santīrya sahabāndhavaḥ

śṛṅgibērapuraṅ ramyaṅ pravivēśa sasainikaḥ.

śṛṅgibērapurādbhūya stvayōdhyāṅ sandadarśa ha৷৷2.113.22৷৷


ramyajalasaṅpūrṇām overflowing with wonderful waters, tām to Ganga , sahabāndhavaḥ with relations,
santīrya having crossed, sasainikaḥ with army, ramyam beautiful, śṛṅgibērapuram Sringiberapura, pravivēśa entered, śṛṅgibērapurāt from Sringiberapura, bhūyaḥ again, ayōdhyām Ayodhya, sandadarśa ha
beheld.

Bharata along with his kins and his army crossed the Ganga with its overflowing, wonderful waters and entered the beautiful city of Sringiberapura and from there he proceeded until he beheld the city of Ayodhya.
ayōdhyāṅ ca tatō dṛṣṭvā pitrā bhrātrā vivarjitām.

bharatō duḥkha santapta ssārathiṅ cēdamabravīt৷৷2.113.23৷৷


tataḥ then, bharataḥ Bharata, pitrā by father, bhrātrā by brothers, vivarjitām deserted, ayōdhyām Ayodhya, dṛṣṭvā after seeing, duḥkha santaptaḥ consumed with grief, sārathim to the charioteer, idam these words, abravīt said.

On seeing the city of Ayodhya bereft of his father and brothers, Bharata, consumed with grief, said to the charioteer:
sārathē paśya vidhvastā sā.yōdhyā na prakāśatē.

nirākāra nirānandā dīnā pratihatasvarā৷৷2.113.24৷৷


sārathē O charioteer, vidhvastā ruined, sā āyōdhyā that Ayodhya, nirākārā formless, nirānandā cheerless, dīnā desolate, pratihatasvarā silent, na prakāśatē does not shine, paśya see.

O charioteer, look, Ayodhya is in shapeless shambles. It is silent and cheerless. It is dull and desolate. It shines no more.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē trayōdaśōraśatatamassargaḥ.
Thus ends the hundredthirteenth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.