Sloka & Translation

[Bharata proceeds to Nandigrama along with Satrughna -- Consecration of Rama's sandals.]

ततो निक्षिप्य मातृ़ स्स अयोध्यायां दृढ व्रतः।

भरत श्शोकसन्तप्तो गुरूनिदमथाब्रवीत्।।2.115.1।।


दृढव्रतः firm in his vows, सः भरतः that Bharata, ततः thereafter, मातृ़ mothers, अयोध्यायाम् in Ayodhya, निक्षिप्य having kept, शोकसन्तप्तः striken with grief, गुरून् to the elders, अथ thereafter, अब्रवीत् said.

After keeping his mothers in Ayodhya, the griefstricken Bharata who was firm in his vows, said to the elders:
नन्दिग्रामं गमिष्यामि सर्वानामन्त्रयेऽद्य वः।

तत्र दुःखमिदं सर्वं सहिष्ये राघवं विना।।2.115.2।।


अद्य now, नन्दिग्रामम् to Nandigrama, गमिष्यामि I am going, वः you, सर्वान् all, आमन्त्रये seeking leave of, तत्र there, राघवं विना without Rama, इदम् this, सर्वम् all, दुःखम् grief, सहिष्ये
I will endure.

I take leave of all of you. I am going to Nandigrama where I shall keep company with grief on account of Rama's absence.
गतश्च वा दिवं राजा वनस्थश्च गुरुर्मम।

रामं प्रतीक्षे राज्याय स हि राजा महायशाः।।2.115.3।।


राजा the king, दिवम् to heaven, गतः has gone, मम गुरुः my brother, वनस्थः is in the forest, राज्याय for the kingdom, रामम् for Rama, प्रतीक्षे I am awaiting, महायशाः the illustrious one, सः he, राजा हि alone is the king.

King Dasaratha has gone to heaven. My elder brother and guru is in the forest. I shall await his return for ruling the kingdom since he alone is the illustrious king of Ayodhya.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा शुभं वाक्यं भरतस्य महात्मनः।

अब्रुवन्मन्त्रिणस्सर्वे वसिष्ठश्च पुरोहितः।।2.115.4।।


महात्मनः of the great soul, भरतस्य Bharata's, शुभम् auspicious, एतत् these, वाक्यम् words, श्रुत्वा on hearing, सर्वे all, मन्त्रिणः counsellors, पुरोहितः the priest, वसिष्ठश्च also, अब्रुवन् spoke.

Hearing the auspicious words of the magnanimous Bharata the counsellors, priests including Vasistha replied:
सुभृशं श्लाघनीयं च यदुक्तं भरत त्वया।

वचनं भ्रातृवात्सल्यादनुरूपं तवैव तत्।।2.115.5।।


भरतः O Bharata, त्वया by you, भ्रातृवात्सल्यात् out of devotion towards your brother, यत् वचनम् the words, उक्तम् uttered, सुभृशम् highly, श्लाघनीयं praiseworthy, तत् that one, तवैव you alone, अनुरूपम् befits.

O Bharata, the words you have uttered out of devotion to your brother which befit
you alone are highly praiseworthy.
नित्यं ते बन्धुलुब्धस्य तिष्ठतो भ्रातृसौहृदे।

आर्यमार्गं प्रपन्नस्य नानुमन्येत कः पुमान्।।2.115.6।।


बन्धुलुब्धस्य attached to your relations, नित्यम् always, भ्रातृसौहृदे in the welfare of your brothers, तिष्ठतः established, आर्यमार्गम् noble path, प्रपन्नस्य following, ते to you, कः पुमान् which man, नानुमन्येत would not approve?

You are always attached to your relations, firmly established in the welfare of your brothers and are pursuing a noble path. Who would not approve of this?
मन्त्रिणां वचनं श्रुत्वा यथाभिलषितं प्रियम्।

अब्रवीत्सारथिं वाक्यं रथो मे युज्यतामिति।।2.115.7।।


यथाभिलषितम् in accordance with his desire, प्रियम् agreeable, मन्त्रिणाम् counsellors', वचनम् words, श्रुत्वा having heard, सारथिम् to the charioteer, मे रथः my chariot, युज्यताम् be harnessed, इति thus, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् said.

On hearing the pleasing words of the counsellors which were in conformity with his desire, Bharata said to his charioteer, 'Harness my chariot'.
प्रहृष्टवदन स्सर्वा मातृ़ स्समभिवाद्य सः।

आरुरोह रथं श्रीमान् शत्रुघ्नेन समन्वितः।।2.115.8।।


श्रीमान् illustrious, सः Bharata, प्रहृष्टवदनः with cheerful countenance, सर्वाः all, मातृ़ः mothers, समभिवाद्य paying obeisance, शत्रुघ्न with Satrughna, समन्वितः accompanied by, रथम् the chariot, आरुरोह ascended.

With a cheerful countenance illustrious Bharata paid obeisance to all his mothers and,
acompanied by Satrughna, ascended the chariot.
आरुह्य च रथं शीघ्रं शत्रुघ्नभरतावुभौ।

ययतुः परमप्रीतौ वृतौ मन्त्रिपुरोहितैः।।2.115.9।।


शत्रुघ्नभरतौ Satrughna and Bharata, उभौ both, शीघ्रम् speedily, रथम् chariot, आरुह्य च having ascended, परमप्रीतौ highly pleased, मन्त्रिपुरोहितैः with counsellors and priests, वृतौ surrounded by, ययतुः proceeded.

Highly pleased, Bharata and Satrughna ascended the chariot and, surrounded by counsellors and priests, set out speedily.
अग्रतो गुरव: सर्वे वसिष्ठप्रमुखा द्विजाः।

प्रययुः प्राङ्ग्मुखा स्सर्वे नन्दिग्रामो यतोऽभवत्।।2.115.10।।
 

तत्र there, गुरवः preceptors, वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः headed by Vasistha, सर्वे all, द्विजाः brahmins, प्राङ्मुखाः eastward, नन्दिग्रामः Nandigrama, यतः wherever, अभवत् existed, that side, अग्रतः ahead of, प्रययुः went.

Preceded by preceptors, like Vasistha and other brahmins, all of them proceeded eastward in the direction of Nandigrama.
बलं च तदनाहूतं गजाश्वरथसङ्कुलम्।

प्रययौ भरते याते सर्वे च पुरवासिनः।।2.115.11।।


भरते Bharata, याते having gone, तदनाहूतम् unbidden, गजाश्वरथसङ्कुलम् crowded with elephants, horses and chariots, बलं च army also, प्रययौ set off, सर्वे all, पुरवासिनः च also the inhabitants of Ayodhya.

When Bharata left, the army with hordes of elephants, horses and chariots and inhabitants of Ayodhya followed him unbidden.
रथस्थः स तु धर्मात्मा भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः।

नन्दिग्रामं ययौ तूर्णं शिरस्यादाय पादुके।।2.115.12।।


भ्रातृवत्सलः deeply attched to his brother, धर्मात्मा a righteous man, सः भरतः that Bharata, रथस्थः while riding on the chariot, पादुके sandals, शिरसि on head, आदाय bearing, तूर्णम् speedily, नन्दिग्रामम् Nandigrama, ययौ went.

Righteous Bharata who was deeply attached to his brother proceeded speedily towards Nandigrama on the chariot bearing the sandals of Rama on his head.
ततस्तु भरतः क्षिप्रं नन्दिग्रामं प्रविश्य सः।

अवतीर्य रथात्तूर्णं गुरूनिदमुवाच ह।।2.115.13।।


ततः then, सः भरतः that Bharata, क्षिप्रम् swiftly, नन्दिग्रामम् Nandigrama, प्रविश्य having entered, तूर्णम् at once, रथात् from the chariot, अवतीर्य having alighted, गुरून् to the preceptors, इदम् these words, उवाच ह spoke.

Bharata entered Nandigrama quickly, alighted from the chariot and then, addressing, the preceptors, said:
एतद्राज्यं मम भ्रात्रा दत्तं सन्नयासवत्स्वयम्।

योगक्षेमवहे चेमे पादुके हेमभूषिते।।2.115.14।।


एतत् राज्यम् all this kingdom, भ्रात्रा by my brother, स्वयम् by himself, सन्नयासवत् like a trust, मम to me, दत्तम् given, योगक्षेमवहे prosperity and security, हेमभूषिते decorated with gold, इमे पादुके च these sandals also bestowed.

My brother gave me this kingdom as a trust. He gave me the sandals decorated with gold for securing the prosperity and security (of the kingdom).
भरत श्शिरसा कृत्वा सन्न्यासं पादुके ततः।

अब्रवीद्धुःखसंतप्त स्सर्वं प्रकृतिमण्डलम्।।2.115.15।।


ततः then, भरतः Bharata, सन्न्यासम् held in trust, पादुके sandals, शिरसा on head, कृत्वा having placed, दुःखसंतप्तः overcome with grief, सर्वम् all, प्रकृतिमण्डलम् addressing the concourse of subjects, अब्रवीत् said.

Then Bharata placed the sandals held in trust on his head and, overcome with grief, he addressed the concourse of subjects:
छत्रं धारयत क्षिप्रमार्यपादाविमौ मतौ।

आभ्यां राज्ये स्थितो धर्मः पादुकाभ्यां गुरोर्मम।।2.115.16।।


क्षिप्रम् at once, छत्रम् royal parasol, धारयत you may hold, इमौ these, आर्यपादौ as exalted feet of my brother, मतौ accepted, मम गुरोः my esteemed brother's, आभ्यां पादुकाभ्याम् with these sandals, राज्ये in the kingdom, धर्मः righteousness, स्थितः is established.

Hold the royal paresol now. This is the accepted symbol of the exalted feet of my brother. These sandals shall establish righteousness in the kingdom.
भ्रात्रा हि मयि संन्यासो निक्षिप्त स्सौहृदादयम्।

तमिमं पालयिष्यामि राघवागमनं प्रति।।2.115.17।।


भ्रात्रा by my brother Rama, अयम् this (kingdom), संन्यासः on trust, सौहृदात् out of affection, मयि in me, निक्षिप्तः has been deposited, तम् such, इमम् this trust, राघवागमनं प्रति till Rama returns, पालयिष्यामि I will rule.

This kingdom has been given me by my brother out of affection as a trust. I shall safeguard it until Rama's return.
क्षिप्रं संयोजयित्वातु राघवस्य पुनस्स्वयम्।

चरणौ तौ तु रामस्य द्रक्ष्यामि सहपादुकौ।।2.115.18।।


क्षिप्रम् soon, पुनः again, राघवस्य of Rama, स्वयम् by myself, संयोजयित्वा reunited, सहपादुकौ
with sandals, रामस्य Rama's, तौ चरणौ those feet, द्रक्ष्यामि shall behold.

'I myself shall see soon Rama's feet reunited with these sandals.
ततो निक्षिप्तभारोऽहं राघवेण समागतः।

निवेद्य गुरवे राज्यं भजिष्ये गुरुवृत्तिताम्।।2.115.19।।


ततः then, निक्षिप्तभारः with the burden cast on me, अहम् I, राघवेण with Rama, समागतः reunited, राज्यम् kingdom, गुरवे to my guru (Rama), निवेद्य making over, गुरुवृत्तिताम्
engaged in serving guru, भजिष्ये I shall obtain.

The burden of this kingdom has been cast on me. On reunion with Rama, I shall hand it over to my brother, my guru and shall be engaged in his service.
राघवाय च सन्यासं दत्त्वेमे वरपादुके।

राज्यं चेदमयोध्यां च धूतपापो भवामि च।।2.115.20।।


सन्यासम् this trust, इमे वरपादुके these sacred sandals, इदं राज्यं च and this kingdom, अयोध्यां च and Ayodhya, राघवाय to Rama, दत्त्वा having given back, धूतपापः cleansed of the sin, भवामि च I shall become.

Restoring the sacred sandals, the kingdom and this city of Ayodhya held as a trust by me, I shall be cleansed of the sin.
अभिषिक्ते तु काकुत्स्थे प्रहृष्टमुदिते जने।

प्रीतिर्मम यशश्चैव भवेद्राज्याच्चतुर्गुणम्।।2.115.21।।


काकुस्त्थे Rama, अभिषिक्ते having been coronated, जने people, प्रहृष्टमुदिते having been delighted and pleased, मम to me, राज्यात् of the kingdom, चतुर्गुणम् four times, प्रीतिः joy, यशश्चैव and renown, भवेत् will be (greater than by ruling).

After Rama is coronated and the people are delighted and pleased, the renown and
pleasure for me will be fourfold (what is obtained from ruling the kingdom).
एवं तु विलपन्दीनो भरत स्समहायशाः।

नन्दिग्रामेऽकरोद्राज्यं दुःखितो मन्त्रिभिस्सह।।2.115.22।।


महायशाः illustrious, सः भरतः that Bharata, दीनः lonely, एवम् in this way, विलपन् lamenting, दुःखितः in grief, मन्त्रिभिस्सह along with the counsellors, नन्दिग्रामे from Nandigrama, राज्यम् kingdom, अकरोत् ruled.

Thus lamenting in desolation and grief, the illustrious Bharata lived in Nandigrama along with his counsellors and started ruling the kingdom.
स वल्कलजटाधारी मुनिवेषधरः प्रभुः।

नन्दिग्रामेऽवसद्वीर स्ससैन्यो भरतस्तदा।।2.115.23।।


प्रभुः lord, वीरः warrior, सः भरतः that Bharata, तदा then, वल्कलजटाधारी wearing bark garments and matted locks, मुनिवेषधरः dressed as an ascetic, ससैन्यः with his army, नन्दिग्रामे in Nandigrama, अवसत् lived.

Bharata, the warrior and lord, wore bark garments and matted locks and lived the life of an ascetic in Nandigrama along with his army.
रामागमनमाकाङ्क्षन्भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः।

भ्रातुर्वचनकारी च प्रतिज्ञापारगस्तथा।।2.115.24।।

पादुके त्वभिषिच्याथ नन्दिग्रामेऽवसत्तदा।


तदा then, भ्रातृवत्सलः attached to his brother, भरतः Bharata, रामागमनम् return of Rama, आकाङ्क्षन् longing, भ्रातुः brother's, वचनकारी च obeying his word, प्रतिज्ञापारगः fulfilling his vow, अथ thereafter, पादुके to the sandals, अभिषिच्य having coronated, नन्दिग्रामे in
Nandigrama, तथा like that, अवसत् lived.

Bharata who was attached to his brother and ever obedient to him, fulfilled his vow. He coronated the sandals and lived at Nandigrama longing for the return of Rama.
स वालव्यजनं छत्रं धारयामास स स्वयं।

भरत श्शासनं सर्वं पादुकाभ्यां निवेदयन्।।2.115.25।।


सः भरतः Bharata, सर्वम् all, शासनम् orders, पादुकाभ्याम् to the sandals, निवेदयन् informing, स्वयम् himself, सवालव्यजनम् along with chamara, छत्रम् royal parasol, धारयामास held.

Bharata reported everything relating to the kingdom to the sandals first. Waving the chamaras (a fan made of yak tail) himself, he held the royal parasol over them.
ततस्तु भरत शश्रीमानभिषिच्याऽऽर्यपादुके।

तदधीनस्तदा राज्यं कारयामास सर्वदा।।2.115.26।।


ततः then, श्रीमान् illustrious, भरतः Bharata, आर्यपादुके sandals of his esteemed brother, अभिषिच्य having consecrated, सर्वदा always, तदधीनः subordinating himself to them, राज्यम् kingdom, कारयामास ruled.

After the coronation of the sandals of his esteemed brother Rama, illustrious Bharata ruled the kingdom, subordianating himself to them.
तदा हि यत्कार्यमुपैति किञ्चिदुपायनं चोपहृतं महार्हम्।

स पादुकाभ्यां प्रथमं निवेद्य चकार पश्चाद्भरतो यथावत्।।2.115.27।।


सः भरतः Bharata, तदा then, यत्किञ्चित् however small, कार्यम् deed, उपैति arises, उपहृतम् brought, महार्हम् expensive, उपायनम् gifts, प्रथमम् at first, पादुकाभ्याम् to the sandals, निवेद्य after offering, पश्चात् later, यथावत् appropriately, चकार carried out the work.

Whenever an issue, however small, arose, Bharata kept the sandals informed. Whenever a valuable gift was presented, he offered it to the sandals before he accepted it.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे पञ्चदशोत्तरशततमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the hundredfifteenth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.