Sloka & Translation

[Bharata addresses the assembly -- declines Vasistha's plea to accept the throne -- gets ready to depart for the forest with the citizens of Ayodhya.]

तामार्यगणसम्पूर्णां भरतः प्रग्रहां सभाम्।

ददर्श बुद्धिसम्पन्नः पूर्णचन्द्रो निशामिव।।2.82.1।।


बुद्धिसम्पन्नः sagacious, भरतः Bharata, आर्यगणसम्पूर्णाम् full of honourable members, तां सभाम् that assembly hall, पूर्णचन्द्रः fullmoon, प्रग्रहाम् stretching forth, निशामिव like night, ददर्श beheld.

Sagacious Bharata beheld that assembly hall filled with honourable members, like the fullmoon beholds the night stretching forth (with stars).
आसनानि यथान्यायमार्याणां विशतां तदा।

वस्त्राङ्गरागप्रभया द्योतिता सा सभोत्तमा।।2.82.2।।


तदा then, उत्तमा august, सा सभा that assembly, यथान्यायम् according to their rank, आसनानि seats, विशताम् entered, आर्याणाम् honourable members', वस्त्राङ्गरागप्रभया with the brilliance of their apparels and fragrance of unguents, द्योतिता looked splendid.

When the seats were occupied by the honourable members according to their rank, that august assembly looked splendid with the brilliance of their apparels and fragrance of unguents.
सा विद्वज्जनसम्पूर्णा सभा सुरुचिरा तदा।

अदृश्यत घनापाये पूर्णचन्द्रेव शर्वरी।।2.82.3।।


तदा then, विद्वज्जनसम्पूर्णा filled with learned people, सुरुचिरा most splendid, सा सभा that assembly, घनापाये after the departure of rains, पूर्णचन्द्रा with fullmoon, शर्वरीव like the
night, अदृश्यत looked.

The most splendid assembly filled with learned people looked brilliant like the night with the autumnal fullmoon.
राज्ञस्तु प्रकृती स्सर्वा स्समग्राः प्रेक्ष्य धर्मवित्।

इदं पुरोहितो वाक्यं भरतं मृदु चाब्रवीत्।।2.82.4।।


धर्मवित् knower of righteousness, पुरोहितः the chief priest, समग्राः complete, सर्वाः all, राज्ञः king's, प्रकृतीः ministers, प्रेक्ष्य having seen, भरतम् Bharata, मृदु in a gentle way, इदम् these, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

The chief priest Vasistha, knower of righteousness, looked at all the ministers present and addressed Bharata in a gentle voice.
तात राजा दशरथ स्स्वर्गतो धर्ममाचरन्।

धनधान्यवतीं स्फीतां प्रदाय पृथिवीं तव।।2.82.5।।


तात dear child, राजा king, दशरथः Dasaratha, धर्मम् righteousness, आचरन् while following, धनधान्यवतीम् abounding in wealth and grains, स्फीताम् vast, पृथिवीम् kingdom, तव to you, प्रदाय having given, स्वर्गतः attained heaven.

O dear child following the righteous path king Dasaratha conferred on you this vast kingdom abounding in wealth and grains before attaining heaven.
रामस्तथा सत्यधृतिस्सतां धर्ममनुस्मरन्।

नाजहात्पितुरादेशं शशी ज्योत्स्नामिवोदितः।।2.82.6।।


तथा and, सत्यधृतिः abiding in truth, रामः Rama, सताम् of the virtuous, धर्मम् righteousness, अनुस्मरन् remembering, उदितः rising, शशी moon, ज्योत्स्नामिव like moon light, पितुः father's, आदेशम् command, नाजहात् did not abandon.

Abiding in truth, remembering the righteous ways of virtuous men just as the rising Moon does not leave its beams, Rama too did not move away from his father's command.
पित्रा भ्रात्रा च ते दत्तं राज्यं निहतकण्टकम्।

तद्भुङ्क्ष्व मुदितामात्यः क्षिप्रमेवाभिषेचय।।2.82.7।।


पित्रा by your father, भ्रात्रा च by your brother also, निहतकण्टकम् all thorns removed, राज्यम् kingdom, ते to you, दत्तम् has been given, मुदितामात्यः with ministers pleased, तत् that king dom, भुङ्क्ष्व enjoy, क्षिप्रमेव quickly, अभिषेचय be consecrated.

The kingdom free from obstacles has been passed on to you by your father and brother. Get yourself coronated quickly and enjoy it along with your cheerful ministers.
उदीच्या श्च प्रतीच्या श्च दाक्षिणात्याश्च केवलाः।

कोट्यापरान्तास्सामुद्रारत्नान्यभिहरन्तुते।।2.82.8।।


उदीच्याः kings from the north, प्रतीच्या श्च from the west, दाक्षिणात्याश्च from the south, केवलाः solely, अपरान्ताः kings of the bordering kingdoms, सामुद्राः seatraders, ते they, कोट्या crores in number, रत्नानि gems, अभिहरन्तु may offer to you as gift.

Let kings from the north, the west, the south, the bordering kingdoms, and the seatraders offer you crores of gems as gifts.
तच्छ्रुत्वा भरतो वाक्यं शोकेनाभिपरिप्लुतः।

जगाम मनसा रामं धर्मज्ञो धर्मकाङ्क्षया।।2.82.9।।


धर्मज्ञः knower of duty, भरतः Bharata, तत् that, वाक्यम् words, श्रुत्वा having heard, शोकेन with distress, अभिपरिप्लुतः overwhelmed, धर्मकाङ्क्षया wishing to abide by righteousness, रामम् Rama, मनसा with mind, जगाम reached.

On hearing those words, Bharata who knew his duty was overwhelmed with distress
and, resolved to abide by righteousness, reached Rama through his mind (thought of Rama).
सबाष्पकलया वाचा कलहंसस्वरो युवा।

विललाप सभामध्ये जगर्हे च पुरोहितम्।।2.82.10।।


कलहंसस्वरः voice resembling the melodious cackle of a swan, युवा the young man, सबाष्पकलया voice choked with sobs, वाचा words, सभामध्ये in the midst of the assembly, विललाप lamented, पुरोहितम् to the family priest Vasistha, जगर्हे च reproached.

Young Bharata with the melodious voice of a swan, choked with tears, lamenting in the assembly, reproached the family priest Vasistha, saying:
चरितब्रह्मचर्यस्य विद्यास्नातस्य धीमतः।

धर्मे प्रयतमानस्य को राज्यं मद्विधो हरेत्।।2.82.11।।


चरितब्रह्मचर्यस्य one who practised brahmacharaya, विद्यास्नातस्य who is wellversed in all branches of learning, धीमतः of the sagacious, धर्मे in righteousness, प्रयतमानस्य endeavouring, राज्यम् kingdom, मद्विधः a man like me, कः who, हरेत् will seize?

Would any man seize this kingdom which rightfully belongs to sagacious Rama, who practises brahmacharya, who is wellversed in all branches of learning and who endeavours to protect righteousness?
कथं दशरथाज्जातो भवेद्राज्यापहारकः।

राज्यं चाहं च रामस्य धर्मं वक्तुमिहार्हसि।।2.82.12।।


दशरथात् from Dasaratha, जातः born, राज्यापहारकः usurper of the kingdom, कथम् भवेत् how will he become?, राज्यं च kingdom, अहं च I also, रामस्य belong to Rama, इह in this matter, धर्मम् truth, वक्तुम् to tell, अर्हसि it behoves you.

How can any usurper of the kingdom be born of Dasaratha? Or, how would any
progeny of Dasaratha become the usurper of the kingdom? I and the kingdom, both belong to Rama. You should tell the truth about this.
ज्येष्ठ श्श्रेष्ठश्च धर्मात्मा दिलीपनहुषोपमः।

लब्धुमर्हति काकुत्स्थो राज्यं दशरथो यथा।।2.82.13।।


ज्येष्ठः eldest, श्रेष्ठः च and also eminent, धर्मात्मा righteous one, दिलीपनहुषोपमः comparable to Dilipa and Nahusha, काकुत्स्थ Rama of Kakutstha dynasty, दशरथो यथा like Dasaratha, राज्यम् kingdom, लब्धुम् to inherit, अर्हति deserves.

The eldest, eminent and righteous Rama, the scion of the Kakutstha dynasty, who is comparable to Dilipa and Nahusha deserves to inherit this kingdom just as Dasaratha did.
अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यं कुर्यां पापमहं यदि।

इक्ष्वाकूणामहं लोके भवेयं कुलपांसनः।।2.82.14।।


अहम् I, अनार्यजुष्टम् followed by wretched ones, अस्वर्ग्यम् not leading to heaven, पापम् sin, कुर्यां यदि if I do, लोके in this world, इक्ष्वाकूणाम् to the Ikshvaku kings, कुलपांसनः one who is a disgrace to the family, भवेयम् I shall become.

If I commit this evil act followed by wretched people which would not lead any one to heaven, I shall only be bringing disgrace to the kings of the Ikshvaku dynasty.
यद्धि मात्रा कृतं पापं नाहं तदपि रोचये।

इहस्थो वनदुर्गस्थं नमस्यामि कृताञ्जलिः।।2.82.15।।


मात्रा by my mother, यत् which, पापम् sin, कृतम् was committed, तत् अपि that one also, अहम् I, न रोचये हि do not accept, इहस्थः from here, वनदुर्गस्थम् one staying in impenetrable forest, कृताञ्जलिः with folded palms, नमस्यामि pay obeisance.

I will never accept the evil deed committed by my mother. From here itself I shall pay
obeisance with folded palms to my brother who dwells in the impenetrable forest.
राममेवानुगच्छामि राजा स द्विपदां वरः।

त्रयाणामपि लोकानां राज्यमर्हति राघवः।।2.82.16।।


राममेव Rama alone, अनुगच्छामि I will follow, द्विपदां वरः best among men, सः he alone, राजा is the king, राघवः Rama, त्रयाणां लोकानाम् of the three worlds', राज्यमपि kingdom, अर्हति deserves.

I shall follow Rama the best among men. He alone and no one else deserves to rule over the kingdom of the three worlds.
तद्वाक्यं धर्मसंयुक्तं श्रुत्वा सर्वे सभासदः।

हर्षान्मुमुचुरश्रूणि रामे निहितचेतसः।।2.82.17।।


सर्वे all, सभासदः members of the assembly, धर्मसंयुक्तम् bound by righteousness, तद्वाक्यम् those words, श्रुत्वा having heard, रामे on Rama, निहितचेतसः fixing their thoughts, हर्षात् out of joy, अश्रूणि tears, मुमुचुः shed.

Hearing the words of Bharata full of righteousness, all the men assembled there shed tears of joy, thinking of Rama.
यदि त्वार्यं न शक्ष्यामि विनिवर्तयितुं वनात्।

वने तत्रैव वत्स्यामि यथाऽर्यो लक्ष्मणस्तथा।।2.82.18।।


आर्यम् my noble brother, वनात् from the forest, विनिवर्तयितुम् to bring back, न शक्ष्यामि यदि if I am not able, आर्यः noble brother, लक्ष्मणः Lakshmana, यथा as, तथा so, तत्र there, वने एव in the forest itself, वत्स्यामि I shall dwell.

If I am not able to bring back my noble brother (Rama) from the forest, I shall also dwell there like my noble brother Lakshmana.
सर्वोपायं तु वर्तिष्ये विनिवर्तयितुं बलात्।

समक्षमार्यमिश्राणां साधूनां गुणवर्तिनाम्।।2.82.19।।


गुणवर्तिनाम् of the virtuous, साधूनाम् of the pious, आर्यमिश्राणाम् noble ones, समक्षम् in the presence, बलात् with all force, विनिवर्तयितुम् to bring back, सर्वोपायम् by all means, वर्तिष्ये I shall attempt.

I shall employ all possible means to bring him back and join you who are respectable, virtuous and pious.
विष्टिकर्मान्तिका स्सर्वे मार्गशोधकरक्षकाः।

प्रस्थापिता मया पूर्वं यत्रापि मम रोचते।।2.82.20।।


मार्गशोधकरक्षकाः explorers and protectors of the paths, सर्वे all, विष्टिकर्मान्तिकाः who work for wages and no wages, मया by me, पूर्वम् previously, प्रस्थापिताः have been despatched, मम for me, यात्रापि this journey, रोचते pleases.

I have already despatched the explorers and protectors of roads who work for wages and without wages as well. It also pleases me to undertake this journey.
एवमुक्त्वा तु धर्मात्मा भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः।

समीपस्थमुवाचेदं सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रकोविदम्।।2.82.21।।


धर्मात्मा righteous one, भ्रातृवत्सलः a devoted brother, भरतः Bharata, एवम् in this way, उक्त्वा तु having uttered, समीपस्थम् standing nearby, मन्त्रकोविदम् skilled in counselling, सुमन्त्रम् to Sumantra, इदम् these words, उवाच said.

Righteous Bharata who was full of devotion towards his brother having uttered thus, addressed the skilful counsellor Sumantra standing nearby:
तूर्णमुत्थाय गच्छ त्वं सुमन्त्र मम शासनात्।

यात्रामाज्ञापय क्षिप्रं बलं चैव समानय।।2.82.22।।


सुमन्त्र Sumantra, मम my, शासनात् on command, तूर्णम् quickly, उत्थाय after rising, गच्छ त्वं go, क्षिप्रम् speedily, यात्राम् expedition, आज्ञापय order, बलं चैव army also, समानय bring.

O Sumantra quickly rise and go. On my authority, order the expedition and let the army be marshalled at once.
एवमुक्त स्सुमन्त्रस्तु भरतेन महात्मना।

हृष्टस्तदाऽदिशत्सर्वं यथासन्दिष्टमिष्टवत्।।2.82.23।।


महात्मना magnanimous, भरतेन by Bharata, एवम् in that way, उक्तः having been instructed, सुमन्त्रः Sumantra, हृष्टः in delight, तत् then, सर्वम् entirely, यथासन्दिष्टम् as has been commanded, इष्टवत् as if he longed, आदिशत् ordered.

On hearing the words of the magnanimous Bharata, Sumantra was delighted and as instructed, ordered everything as if he was anxious to do it himself.
ताः प्रहृष्टाः प्रकृतयो बलाध्यक्षा बलस्य च।

श्रुत्वा यात्रां समाज्ञप्तां राघवस्य निवर्तने।।2.82.24।।


राघवस्य Rama's, निवर्तने return, समाज्ञप्ताम् ordered, बलस्य च army's, यात्राम् the expedition, श्रुत्वा having heard, ताः those, प्रकृतयः subjects, बलाध्यक्षाः chiefs of army, प्रहृष्टाः were delighted.

Having come to know that orders were issued to send the army on an expedition to bring back Rama, the subjects and the army chiefs were delighted.
ततो योधाङ्गना स्सर्वा भर्त्रून्सर्वान्गृहेगृहे।

यात्रागमनमाज्ञाय त्वरयन्ति स्म हर्षिताः।।2.82.25।।


ततः thereafter, गृहेगृहे in every house, सर्वाः all, योधाङ्गनाः wives of soldiers, यात्रागमनम् for expedition, आज्ञाय having come to know, हर्षिताः gladly, सर्वान् all, भर्त्रून् their husbands, त्वरयन्ति स्म hastened them up.

Then, the wives of the soldiers having come to know of the expedition were all delighted and in every household hastened up their husbands.
ते हयैर्गोरथैश्शीघ्रैस्स्यन्दनैश्च महाजवैः

सह योधैर्बलाध्यक्षा बलं सर्वमचोदयन्।।2.82.26।।


ते those, बलाध्यक्षाः chiefs of army, हयैः horses, शीघ्रैः fastmoving, गोरथैः bullock carts, महाजवैः of swift, स्यन्दनैश्च by chariots, योधैश्च सह with soldiers, सर्वम् all, बलम् army, अचोदयन् urged.

Those chiefs of the army urged the soldiers, horses, fastmoving bullockcarts and swift chariots (to move on).
सज्जं तु तद्बलं दृष्ट्वा भरतो गुरुसन्निधौ।

रथं मे त्वरयस्वेति सुमन्त्रं पार्श्वतोऽब्रवीत्।।2.82.27।।


भरतः Bharata, सज्जम् ready, तत् बलम् that army, दृष्ट्वा having seen, गुरुसन्निधौ in the presence of the preceptor (Vasistha), पार्श्वतः on his side, सुमन्त्रम् to Sumantra, मे my, रथम् chariot, त्वरयस्व quickly prepare, इति like this, अब्रवीत् said.

When Bharata saw that the army was ready, he instructed Sumantra who was standing by the side of the preceptor to quickly prepare his chariot.
भरतस्य तु तस्याज्ञां प्रतिगृह्य च हर्षितः।

रथं गृहीत्वा प्रययौ युक्तं परमवाजिभिः।।2.82.28।।


तस्य भरतस्य that Bharata's, आज्ञाम् command, प्रतिगृह्य having received, हर्षितः delighted, परमवाजिभिः with excellent horses, युक्तम् harnessed, रथम् chariot, गृहीत्वा grasping, प्रययौ
went.

He (Sumantra) received the command of Bharata in great delight and set out with a chariot harnessed with excellent horses.
स राघव स्सत्यधृतिः प्रतापवान् ब्रुवन् सुयुक्तं दृढसत्यविक्रमः।

गुरुं महारण्यगतं यशस्विनं प्रसादयिष्यन्भरतोऽब्रवीत्तदा।।2.82.29।।


तदा then, राघवः Bharata, सत्यधृतिः firm in truth, प्रतापवान् valiant, दृढसत्यविक्रमः whose valour comes out of unshakable truth, सुयुक्तम् judiciously, ब्रुवन् speaking, भरतः Bharata, महारण्यगतम् gone to the great forest, यशस्विनम् illustrious, गुरुम् esteemed brother, प्रसादयिष्यन् to propitiate, अब्रवीत् said.

Bharata, a descendant of the Raghu race, firm in truth, one whose valour comes out of unswerving truth, speaking judiciously said this to propitiate his esteemed brother who was in the dense forest:
तूर्णं समुत्थाय सुमन्त्र गच्छ बलस्य योगाय बलप्रधानान्।

आनेतुमिच्छामि हि तं वनस्थं प्रसाद्य रामं जगतो हिताय।।2.82.30।।


सुमन्त्र Sumantra, समुत्थाय arise, बलस्य the army's, योगाय to assemble, बलप्रधानान् to leaders of the army, तूर्णम् quickly, गच्छ go, वनस्थम् who is in the forest, तम् रामम् that Rama, प्रसाद्य having appeased, जगतः world's, हिताय welfare, आनेतुम् to bring, इच्छामि हि am wishing.

O Sumantra, arise, go at once to the leaders of the army and ask them to assemble the troops. I shall propifiate Rama who is in the deep forest and bring him back for the welfare of the world.
ससूतपुत्रो भरतेन सम्यगाज्ञापितस्सम्परिपूर्णकामः।

शशास सर्वान्प्रकृतिप्रधानान्बलस्य मुख्यांश्च सुहृज्जनं च।।2.82.31।।


भरतेन by Bharata, सम्यक् distinctly, आज्ञापितः having been ordered, सम्परिपूर्णकामः with his desire fulfilled, सः that, सूतपुत्रः charioteer, सर्वान् all, प्रकृतिप्रधानान् to important subjects, बलस्य army's, मुख्यांश्च chiefs, सुहृज्जनं च to friends, शशास ordered.

The charioteer categorically commanded by Bharata, his desire fulfilled, communicated the royal mandate to all important subjects, chiefs of army and friends.
तत स्समुत्थाय कुले कुले ते राजन्यवैश्या वृषलाश्च विप्राः।

अयूयुजन्नुष्ट्रखरान्रथांश्च नागान्हयांश्चैव कुलप्रसूतान्।।2.82.32।।


ततः there after, कुले कुले in every household, ते those, राजन्यवैश्याः kshatriyas, vaisyas वृषलाश्च sudras, विप्राः brahmins, समुत्थाय after rising up, उष्ट्रखरान् camels and asses, रथांश्च chariots, कुलप्रसूतान् born in a good race, नागान् elephants, हयांश्चैव horses as well, अयूयुजन् harnessed.

Thereafter, men from every household, kshatriyas, vaisyas, sudras and brahmins came out and harnessed their chariots to the camels and asses, elephants and horses of high pedigree.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे द्व्यशीतितमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the eightysecond sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.