Sloka & Translation

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

tatō nikṣipya mātṛ ssa ayōdhyāyāṅ dṛḍha vrataḥ.

bharata śśōkasantaptō gurūnidamathābravīt৷৷2.115.1৷৷


dṛḍhavrataḥ firm in his vows, saḥ bharataḥ that Bharata, tataḥ thereafter, mātṛ mothers, ayōdhyāyām in Ayodhya, nikṣipya having kept, śōkasantaptaḥ striken with grief, gurūn to the elders, atha thereafter, abravīt said.

After keeping his mothers in Ayodhya, the grief-stricken Bharata who was firm in his vows, said to the elders:
nandigrāmaṅ gamiṣyāmi sarvānāmantrayē.dya vaḥ.

tatra duḥkhamidaṅ sarvaṅ sahiṣyē rāghavaṅ vinā৷৷2.115.2৷৷


adya now, nandigrāmam to Nandigrama, gamiṣyāmi I am going, vaḥ you, sarvān all, āmantrayē seeking leave of, tatra there, rāghavaṅ vinā without Rama, idam this, sarvam all, duḥkham grief, sahiṣyē
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.
gataśca vā divaṅ rājā vanasthaśca gururmama.

rāmaṅ pratīkṣē rājyāya sa hi rājā mahāyaśāḥ৷৷2.115.3৷৷


rājā the king, divam to heaven, gataḥ has gone, mama guruḥ my brother, vanasthaḥ is in the forest, rājyāya for the kingdom, rāmam for Rama, pratīkṣē I am awaiting, mahāyaśāḥ the illustrious one, saḥ he, rājā hi 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.
ētacchrutvā śubhaṅ vākyaṅ bharatasya mahātmanaḥ.

abruvanmantriṇassarvē vasiṣṭhaśca purōhitaḥ৷৷2.115.4৷৷


mahātmanaḥ of the great soul, bharatasya Bharata's, śubham auspicious, ētat these, vākyam words, śrutvā on hearing, sarvē all, mantriṇaḥ counsellors, purōhitaḥ the priest, vasiṣṭhaśca also, abruvan spoke.

Hearing the auspicious words of the magnanimous Bharata the counsellors, priests including Vasistha replied:
subhṛśaṅ ślāghanīyaṅ ca yaduktaṅ bharata tvayā.

vacanaṅ bhrātṛvātsalyādanurūpaṅ tavaiva tat৷৷2.115.5৷৷


bharataḥ O Bharata, tvayā by you, bhrātṛvātsalyāt out of devotion towards your brother, yat vacanam the words, uktam uttered, subhṛśam highly, ślāghanīyaṅ praiseworthy, tat that one, tavaiva you alone, anurūpam befits.

O Bharata, the words you have uttered out of devotion to your brother which befit
you alone are highly praiseworthy.
nityaṅ tē bandhulubdhasya tiṣṭhatō bhrātṛsauhṛdē.

āryamārgaṅ prapannasya nānumanyēta kaḥ pumān৷৷2.115.6৷৷


bandhulubdhasya attached to your relations, nityam always, bhrātṛsauhṛdē in the welfare of your brothers, tiṣṭhataḥ established, āryamārgam noble path, prapannasya following, tē to you, kaḥ pumān which man, nānumanyēta 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?
mantriṇāṅ vacanaṅ śrutvā yathābhilaṣitaṅ priyam.

abravītsārathiṅ vākyaṅ rathō mē yujyatāmiti৷৷2.115.7৷৷


yathābhilaṣitam in accordance with his desire, priyam agreeable, mantriṇām counsellors', vacanam words, śrutvā having heard, sārathim to the charioteer, mē rathaḥ my chariot, yujyatām be harnessed, iti thus, vākyam words, abravīt said.

On hearing the pleasing words of the counsellors which were in conformity with his desire, Bharata said to his charioteer, 'Harness my chariot'.
prahṛṣṭavadana ssarvā mātṛ ssamabhivādya saḥ.

ārurōha rathaṅ śrīmān śatrughnēna samanvitaḥ৷৷2.115.8৷৷


śrīmān illustrious, saḥ Bharata, prahṛṣṭavadanaḥ with cheerful countenance, sarvāḥ all, mātṛḥ mothers, samabhivādya paying obeisance, śatrughna with Satrughna, samanvitaḥ accompanied by, ratham the chariot, ārurōha ascended.

With a cheerful countenance illustrious Bharata paid obeisance to all his mothers and,
acompanied by Satrughna, ascended the chariot.
āruhya ca rathaṅ śīghraṅ śatrughnabharatāvubhau.

yayatuḥ paramaprītau vṛtau mantripurōhitaiḥ৷৷2.115.9৷৷


śatrughnabharatau Satrughna and Bharata, ubhau both, śīghram speedily, ratham chariot, āruhya ca having ascended, paramaprītau highly pleased, mantripurōhitaiḥ with counsellors and priests, vṛtau surrounded by, yayatuḥ proceeded.

Highly pleased, Bharata and Satrughna ascended the chariot and, surrounded by counsellors and priests, set out speedily.
agratō guravastatra vasiṣṭhapramukhā dvijāḥ.

prayayuḥ prāṅgmukhā ssarvē nandigrāmō yatō.bhavat৷৷2.115.10৷৷


tatra there, guravaḥ preceptors, vasiṣṭhapramukhāḥ headed by Vasistha, sarvē all, dvijāḥ brahmins, prāṅmukhāḥ eastward, nandigrāmaḥ Nandigrama, yataḥ wherever, abhavat existed, that side, agrataḥ ahead of, prayayuḥ went.

Preceded by preceptors, like Vasistha and other brahmins, all of them proceeded eastward in the direction of Nandigrama.
balaṅ ca tadanāhūtaṅ gajāśvarathasaṅkulam.

prayayau bharatē yātē sarvē ca puravāsinaḥ৷৷2.115.11৷৷


bharatē Bharata, yātē having gone, tadanāhūtam unbidden, gajāśvarathasaṅkulam crowded with elephants, horses and chariots, balaṅ ca army also, prayayau set off, sarvē all, puravāsinaḥ ca also the inhabitants of Ayodhya.

When Bharata left, the army with hordes of elephants, horses and chariots and inhabitants of Ayodhya followed him unbidden.
rathastha ssahi dharmātmā bharatō bhrātṛvatsalaḥ.

nandigrāmaṅ yayau tūrṇaṅ śirasyādāya pādukē৷৷2.115.12৷৷


bhrātṛvatsalaḥ deeply attched to his brother, dharmātmā a righteous man, saḥ bharataḥ that Bharata, rathasthaḥ while riding on the chariot, pādukē sandals, śirasi on head, ādāya bearing, tūrṇam speedily, nandigrāmam Nandigrama, yayau 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.
tatastu bharataḥ kṣipraṅ nandigrāmaṅ praviśya saḥ.

avatīrya rathāttūrṇaṅ gurūnidamuvāca ha৷৷2.115.13৷৷


tataḥ then, saḥ bharataḥ that Bharata, kṣipram swiftly, nandigrāmam Nandigrama, praviśya having entered, tūrṇam at once, rathāt from the chariot, avatīrya having alighted, gurūn to the preceptors, idam these words, uvāca ha spoke.

Bharata entered Nandigrama quickly, alighted from the chariot and then, addressing, the preceptors, said:
ētadrājyaṅ mama bhrātrā dattaṅ sannayāsavatsvayam.

yōgakṣēmavahē cēmē pādukē hēmabhūṣitē৷৷2.115.14৷৷


ētat rājyam all this kingdom, bhrātrā by my brother, svayam by himself, sannayāsavat like a trust, mama to me, dattam given, yōgakṣēmavahē prosperity and security, hēmabhūṣitē decorated with gold, imē pādukē ca 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).
bharata śśirasā kṛtvā sannyāsaṅ pādukē tataḥ.

abravīddhuḥkhasaṅtapta ssarvaṅ prakṛtimaṇḍalam৷৷2.115.15৷৷


tataḥ then, bharataḥ Bharata, sannyāsam held in trust, pādukē sandals, śirasā on head, kṛtvā having placed, duḥkhasaṅtaptaḥ overcome with grief, sarvam all, prakṛtimaṇḍalam addressing the concourse of subjects, abravīt said.

Then Bharata placed the sandals held in trust on his head and, overcome with grief, he addressed the concourse of subjects:
chatraṅ dhārayata kṣipramāryapādāvimau matau.

ābhyāṅ rājyē sthitō dharmaḥ pādukābhyāṅ gurōrmama৷৷2.115.16৷৷


kṣipram at once, chatram royal parasol, dhārayata you may hold, imau these, āryapādau as exalted feet of my brother, matau accepted, mama gurōḥ my esteemed brother's, ābhyāṅ pādukābhyām with these sandals, rājyē in the kingdom, dharmaḥ righteousness, sthitaḥ 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.
bhrātrā hi mayi saṅnyāsō nikṣipta ssauhṛdādayam.

tamimaṅ pālayiṣyāmi rāghavāgamanaṅ prati৷৷2.115.17৷৷


bhrātrā by my brother Rama, ayam this (kingdom), saṅnyāsaḥ on trust, sauhṛdāt out of affection, mayi in me, nikṣiptaḥ has been deposited, tam such, imam this trust, rāghavāgamanaṅ prati till Rama returns, pālayiṣyāmi 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.
kṣipraṅ saṅyōjayitvātu rāghavasya punassvayam.

caraṇau tau tu rāmasya drakṣyāmi sahapādukau৷৷2.115.18৷৷


kṣipram soon, punaḥ again, rāghavasya of Rama, svayam by myself, saṅyōjayitvā reunited, sahapādukau
with sandals, rāmasya Rama's, tau caraṇau those feet, drakṣyāmi shall behold.

'I myself shall see soon Rama's feet reunited with these sandals.
tatō nikṣiptabhārō.haṅ rāghavēṇa samāgataḥ.

nivēdya guravē rājyaṅ bhajiṣyē guruvṛttitām৷৷2.115.19৷৷


tataḥ then, nikṣiptabhāraḥ with the burden cast on me, aham I, rāghavēṇa with Rama, samāgataḥ reunited, rājyam kingdom, guravē to my guru (Rama), nivēdya making over, guruvṛttitām
engaged in serving guru, bhajiṣyē 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.
rāghavāya ca sanyāsaṅ dattvēmē varapādukē.

rājyaṅ cēdamayōdhyāṅ ca dhūtapāpō bhavāmi ca৷৷2.115.20৷৷


sanyāsam this trust, imē varapādukē these sacred sandals, idaṅ rājyaṅ ca and this kingdom, ayōdhyāṅ ca and Ayodhya, rāghavāya to Rama, dattvā having given back, dhūtapāpaḥ cleansed of the sin, bhavāmi ca 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.
abhiṣiktē tu kākutsthē prahṛṣṭamuditē janē.

prītirmama yaśaścaiva bhavēdrājyāccaturguṇam৷৷2.115.21৷৷


kākustthē Rama, abhiṣiktē having been coronated, janē people, prahṛṣṭamuditē having been delighted and pleased, mama to me, rājyāt of the kingdom, caturguṇam four times, prītiḥ joy, yaśaścaiva and renown, bhavēt 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).
ēvaṅ tu vilapandīnō bharata ssamahāyaśāḥ.

nandigrāmē.karōdrājyaṅ duḥkhitō mantribhissaha৷৷2.115.22৷৷


mahāyaśāḥ illustrious, saḥ bharataḥ that Bharata, dīnaḥ lonely, ēvam in this way, vilapan lamenting, duḥkhitaḥ in grief, mantribhissaha along with the counsellors, nandigrāmē from Nandigrama, rājyam kingdom, akarōt ruled.

Thus lamenting in desolation and grief, the illustrious Bharata lived in Nandigrama along with his counsellors and started ruling the kingdom.
sa valkalajaṭādhārī munivēṣadharaḥ prabhuḥ.

nandigrāmē.vasadvīra ssasainyō bharatastadā৷৷2.115.23৷৷


prabhuḥ lord, vīraḥ warrior, saḥ bharataḥ that Bharata, tadā then, valkalajaṭādhārī wearing bark garments and matted locks, munivēṣadharaḥ dressed as an ascetic, sasainyaḥ with his army, nandigrāmē in Nandigrama, avasat 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.
rāmāgamanamākāṅkṣanbharatō bhrātṛvatsalaḥ.

bhrāturvacanakārī ca pratijñāpāragastathā৷৷2.115.24৷৷

pādukē tvabhiṣicyātha nandigrāmē.vasattadā.


tadā then, bhrātṛvatsalaḥ attached to his brother, bharataḥ Bharata, rāmāgamanam return of Rama, ākāṅkṣan longing, bhrātuḥ brother's, vacanakārī ca obeying his word, pratijñāpāragaḥ fulfilling his vow, atha thereafter, pādukē to the sandals, abhiṣicya having coronated, nandigrāmē in
Nandigrama, tathā like that, avasat 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.
sa vālavyajanaṅ chatraṅ dhārayāmāsa sa svayaṅ.

bharata śśāsanaṅ sarvaṅ pādukābhyāṅ nivēdayan৷৷2.115.25৷৷


saḥ bharataḥ Bharata, sarvam all, śāsanam orders, pādukābhyām to the sandals, nivēdayan informing, svayam himself, savālavyajanam along with chamara, chatram royal parasol, dhārayāmāsa 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.
tatastu bharata śaśrīmānabhiṣicyā৷৷ryapādukē.

tadadhīnastadā rājyaṅ kārayāmāsa sarvadā৷৷2.115.26৷৷


tataḥ then, śrīmān illustrious, bharataḥ Bharata, āryapādukē sandals of his esteemed brother, abhiṣicya having consecrated, sarvadā always, tadadhīnaḥ subordinating himself to them, rājyam kingdom, kārayāmāsa ruled.

After the coronation of the sandals of his esteemed brother Rama, illustrious Bharata ruled the kingdom, subordianating himself to them.
tadā hi yatkāryamupaiti kiñcidupāyanaṅ cōpahṛtaṅ mahārham.

sa pādukābhyāṅ prathamaṅ nivēdya cakāra paścādbharatō yathāvat৷৷2.115.27৷৷


saḥ bharataḥ Bharata, tadā then, yatkiñcit however small, kāryam deed, upaiti arises, upahṛtam brought, mahārham expensive, upāyanam gifts, prathamam at first, pādukābhyām to the sandals, nivēdya after offering, paścāt later, yathāvat appropriately, cakāra 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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē pañcadaśōttaraśatatamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the hundredfifteenth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.