Sloka & Translation

[Bharata takes leave of Bharadwaja --- departs for mount Chitrakuta.]

tatastāṅ rajanīmuṣya bharatassaparicchadaḥ.

kṛtātithyō bharadvājaṅ kāmādabhijagāma ha৷৷2.92.1৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, kṛtātithyaḥ having received the hospitality, saparicchadaḥ with his retinue, bharataḥ Bharata, tāṅ rajanīm that night, uṣya having spent, kāmāt intention of, bharadvājam Bharadwaja, abhijagāma ha approached.

Bharata with his retinue received the hospitality and spent the night at Bharadwaja's ashram. Then he approached Bharadwaja on his own.
taṅ ṛṣiḥ puruṣavyāghraṅ prāñjaliṅ prēkṣya cā.gatam.

hutāgnihōtrō bharataṅ bharadvājō.bhyabhāṣata৷৷2.92.2৷৷


hutāgnihōtraḥ who had completed his fire-sacrifice, bharadvājaḥ ṛṣiḥ sage Bharadwaja, puruṣavyāghram tiger among men, prāñjalim with folded palms, āgatam arrived, taṅ bharatam to Bharata, prēkṣya having seen, abhyabhāṣata spoke.

Seeing Bharata, the best among men, who stood with folded palms, sage Bharadwaja, who had just completed his fire-sacrifice, said to him:
kaccidatra sukhā rātristavāsmadviṣayē gatā.

samagrastē janaḥ kaccidātithyē śaṅsa mē.nagha৷৷2.92.3৷৷


atra here, asmadviṣayē at our place, tava to you, rātriḥ night, sukham happily, gatā kaccit hope you spent, hē anagha O sinless one, ātithyē in the matter of hospitality, tē janaḥ your people, samagraḥ kaccit all well, mē śaṅsa tell me.

O sinless one! hope, you spent the night at our hermitage well? Tell me whether all your people enjoyed the hospitality?
tamuvācāñjaliṅ kṛtvā bharatō.bhipraṇamya ca.

āśramādabhiniṣkrāntamṛṣimuttamatējasam৷৷2.92.4৷৷


bharataḥ Bharata, āśramāt from the hermitage, abhiniṣkrāntam emerging, uttamatējasam great power, tam ṛṣim that sage, añjaliṅ kṛtvā with palms joined together, abhipraṇamya ca and saluting him, uvāca said:

Bharata saluted with folded palms the sage of great powers. And emerging from the hermitage, replied:
sasukhōṣitō.smi bhagavansamagrabalavāhanaḥ.

tarpitassarvakāmaiśca sāmātyō balavattvayā৷৷2.92.5৷৷


bhagavan O holy one, sāmātyaḥ with my ministers, samagrabalavāhanaḥ with the entire army and animals, tvayā by you, balavat exceedingly, sarvakāmaiḥ with all desires, tarpitaḥ gratified, sukhōṣitaḥ asmi passed pleasantly.

O holy one, I with my ministers and the entire army of men and animals passed the night happily. All our desires have been gratified by you.
apētaklamasantāpā ssubhikṣāssupratiśrayāḥ.

api prēṣyānupādāya sarvē sma susukhōṣitāḥ৷৷2.92.6৷৷


prēṣyān api even the messengers, upādāya including, sarvē all of us, apētaklamasantāpāḥ freed from fatigue and heat, subhikṣāḥ well-nourished, supratiśrayāḥ well-housed, susukhōṣitāḥ smaḥ we passed (the night) happily

All of us including the messengers were released from fatigue and heat. We were well-fed and well-housed and the night was well-spent.
āmantrayē.haṅ bhagavan kāmaṅ tvāmṛṣisattamaḥ.

samīpaṅ prasthitaṅ bhrāturmaitrēṇēkṣasva cakṣuṣā৷৷2.92.7৷৷


bhagavan O venerable one, ṛṣisattamaḥ O excellent of the ascetics, aham I, tvām you, kāmam greatly, āmantrayē I take leave of you, bhrātuḥ brother's, samīpam to, prasthitam set out, maitrēṇa friendly, cakṣuṣā with eye, īkṣasva you may consider.

O venerable one! O excellent of the ascetics! I seek your leave. As I am proceeding to see my brother, bless me with a kindly look.
āśramaṅ tasya dharmajña dhārmikasya mahātmanaḥ.

ācakṣva katamō mārgaḥ kiyāniti ca śaṅsa mē৷৷2.92.8৷৷


dharmajña O knower of righteous ways, dhārmikasya of the righteous, tasya mahātmanaḥ of that magnanimous one, āśramam hermitage, ācakṣva tell me, katamaḥ which, mārgaḥ is the path kiyān how far, iti ca that one also, mē to me, śaṅsa tell.

O knower of righteousness! Tell me which path leads to the hermitage of that righteous and magnanimous one (Rama)? And how far is it (from here)?
iti pṛṣṭastu bharataṅ bhrātṛdarśanalālasam.

pratyuvāca mahātējā bharadvājō mahātapāḥ৷৷2.92.9৷৷


mahātējāḥ brilliant, mahātapāḥ a great sage, bharadvājaḥ Bharadwaja, iti thus, pṛṣṭaḥ questioned, bhrātṛdarśanalālasam yearning to see his brother, bharatam to Bharata, pratyuvāca replied.

Thus questioned, the great sage, brilliant Bharadwaja replied to Bharata who was yearning to see his brother:
bharatārdhatṛtīyēṣu yōjanēṣvajanē vanē.

citrakūṭō giristatra ramyanirjharakānanaḥ৷৷2.92.10৷৷


bharata O Bharata, ardhatṛtīyēṣu three and a half, yōjanēṣu yojanas (one yojana is equivalent to eight miles), tatra there, ajanē lonely, vanē forest, ramyanirjharakānanaḥ with charming streams and woodlands, citrakūṭaḥ Chitrakuta, giriḥ mountain (is there).

O Bharata, three and a half yojanas from here in the lonely forest stands mount Chitrakuta, with its charming streams and woodlands
uttaraṅ pārśvamāsādya tasya mandākinī nadī.

puṣpitadrumasañchannā ramyapuṣpitakānanā৷৷2.92.11৷৷


tasya its, uttaraṅ pārśvam northern side, āsādya having reached, puṣpitadrumasañcannā covered with flowering trees, ramyapuṣpitakānanā with lovely, blossoming woods, mandākinī nadī there is river Mandakini.

On its northern side flows the river Mandakini which is densely covered with flowering trees and lovely blossoming woods (on its banks).
anantaraṅ tatsaritaścitrakūṭaśca parvataḥ.

tayōḥ parṇakuṭī tāta tatra tau vasatō dhruvam৷৷2.92.12৷৷


tatsaritaḥ that river, anantaram beyond, citrakūṭaḥ Chitrkuta, parvataḥ mountain, tayōḥ their, parṇakuṭī leafy hut, tāta O dear child, tau both of them, tatra there, vasataḥ are living, dhruvam this is certain.

O dear child, beyond that river lies mount Chitrakuta on which there is a hut made of leaves where, for sure, they both dwell.
dakṣiṇēnaiva mārgēṇa savyadakṣiṇamēva vā.

gajavājirathākīrṇāṅ vāhinīṅ vāhinīpatē!৷৷2.92.13৷৷

vāhayasva mahābhāga! tatō drakṣyasi rāghavam.


vāhinīpatē! lord of the army, mahābhāga! O distinguished one, gajavājirathākīrṇām consisting of elephants, horses and chariots, vāhinīm army, dakṣiṇēnaiva to its south, mārgēṇa through the path, savyadakṣiṇamēva vā or towards south-west, vāhayasva lead, tataḥ thereafter, rāghavam Rama, drakṣayasi you will see.

O distinguished lord of the army, if you lead your army full of elephants, horses and chariots through the southern path or towards the south-west, you will come across Rama there.
prayāṇamiti tacchrutvā rajarājasya yōṣitaḥ.

hitvā yānāni yānārhāḥ brāhmaṇaṅ paryavārayan৷৷2.92.14৷৷


iti thus, prayāṇam about journey, śrutvā having heard, yānārhāḥ chariots worthy of them,
rājarājasya king of kings, Dasaratha's, yōṣitaḥ wives, yānāni carriages, hitvā leaving, brāhmaṇam that brahmin, paryavārayan stood around.

When they heard about the journey, the wives of Dasaratha descended from their chariots worthy of them and stood around the brahmin, Bharadwaja.
vēpamānā kṛśā dīnā saha dēvyā sumitrayā.

kausalyā tatra jagrāha karābhyāṅ caraṇau munēḥ৷৷2.92.15৷৷


tatra among them, kṛśā emaciated, dīnā desolate, kausalyā Kausalya, vēpamānā trembling, munēḥ sage's, caraṇau feet, sumitrayā dēvyā saha along with Sumitra, jagrāha grasped.

Among them was Kausalya, trembling, emaciated and desolate, along with Sumitra. They grasped the feet of sage Bharadwaja with their hands.
asamṛddhēna kāmēna sarvalōkasya garhitā.

kaikēyī tasya jagrāha caraṇau savyapatrapā৷৷2.92.16৷৷


asamṛddhēna with unfulfilled, kāmēna with desire, sarvalōkasya for all the worlds, garhitā despised, kaikēyī Kaikeyi, savyapatrapā overcome with shame, tasya his, caraṇau feet, jagrāha grasped.

Kaikeyi with her unfulfilled desire and despised in all the worlds overcome with shame, also grasped his feet.
taṅ pradakṣiṇamāgamya bhagavantaṅ mahāmunim.

adūrārbharatasyaiva tasthau dīnamanāstadā৷৷2.92.17৷৷


tadā then, bhagavantam divine, taṅ mahāmunim that great ascetic, pradakṣiṇaṅ āgamya reverently circumambulated, dīnamanāḥ with a sad heart, bharatasya from Bharata, adūrādēva not far away, tasthau stood.

She reverently circumambulated that great and divine ascetic and stood not far away
from Bharata with a sad heart.
tataḥ papraccha bharataṅ bharadvājō dṛḍhavrataḥ.

viśēṣaṅ jñātumicchāmi mātrūṇāṅ tava rāghava৷৷2.92.18৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, dṛḍhavrataḥ firm in vows, bharadvājaḥ Bharadwaja, bharatam Bharata, papraccha enquired, rāghava O Bharata, tava your, mātrūṇām mothers, viśēṣam individually, jñātum to know, icchāmi want desiring.

Then Bharadwaja, firm in his vows, said to Bharata, I want to know about your mothers individually.
ēvamuktastu bharatō bharadvājēna dhīmatā.

uvāca prāñjalirbhūtvā vākyaṅ vacanakōvidaḥ৷৷2.92.19৷৷


dhīmatā by the sagacious, bharadvājēna by Bharadwaja, ēvam thus, uktaḥ asked, vacanakōvidaḥ
proficient in speech, bharataḥ Bharata, prāñjali: bhūtvā with palms joined together in reverence, vākyam words, uvāca said.

Thus asked by the sagacious Bharadwaja, Bharata, proficient in speech, replied with palms folded in reverence:
yāmimāṅ bhagavan dīnāṅ śōkānaśanakarśitām.

piturhi mahiṣīṅ dēvīṅ dēvatāmiva paśyasi৷৷2.92.20৷৷

ēṣā taṅ puraṣavyāghraṅ siṅhavikrāntagāminam.

kausalyā suṣuvē rāmaṅ dhātāramaditiryathā৷৷2.92.21৷৷


bhagavan O venerable one, dīnām desolate, śōkānaśanakarśitām emaciated due to grief and fasting, pituḥ father's, mahiṣīm principal queen, dēvatāmiva resembling a goddess, yām imām dēvīm that this queen, paśyasi you are seeing, ēṣā she, kausalyā is Kausalya, aditiḥ Aditi,
dhātāraṅ yathā like Dhata, siṅhavikrāntagāminam walking with the powerful stride of a lion, puruṣavyāghram tiger among men, taṅ rāmam that Rama, suṣuvē gave birth.

O venerable sage, this queen you are looking at, forlorn and emaciated due to grief and fasting, and who resembles a goddess is Kausalya, the principal queen of my father. As Aditi bore Dhata, she bore Rama, the best among men who walks with the powerful stride of a lion.
asyā vāmabhujaṅ śliṣṭā yaiṣā tiṣṭhati durmanāḥ.

karṇikārasya śākhēva śīrṇapuṣpā vanāntarē৷৷2.92.22৷৷

ētasyāstu sutau dēvyāḥ kumārau dēvavarṇinau.

ubhau lakṣmaṇaśatrughnau vīrau satyaparākramau৷৷2.92.23৷৷


yā ēṣā this woman, durmanāḥ plunged in grief, vanāntarē in the midst of the forest, śīrṇapuṣpā with blossoms withered, karṇikārasya of the karnikara tree, śākhēva like a branch, asyāḥ this Kausalya's, vāmabhujam left arm, śliṣṭā leaning, tiṣṭhati standing, kumārau two princes, dēvavarṇinau
equal to gods in beauty, vīrau heroes, satyaparākramau possessing no vain prowess, lakṣaṇaśatrughnau Lakshmana and Satrughna, ubhau both, ētasyā dēvyā: this queen's, sutau sons.

This lady plunged in grief, resembling the branch of a karnikara tree in the midst of the forest with blossoms withered and leaning on the left arm of Kausalya, is queen Sumitra, mother of two heroes, comparable to gods in beauty and possessing true prowess -- Lakshmana and Satrughna.
yasyāḥ kṛtē naravyāghrau jīvanāśamitō gatau.

rājaputravihīnaśca svargaṅ daśarathō gataḥ৷৷2.92.24৷৷

krōdhanāmakṛtaprajñāṅ dṛptāṅ subhagamāninīm.

aiśvaryakāmāṅ kaikēyīmanāryāmāryārūpiṇīm৷৷2.92.25৷৷

mamaitāṅ mātaraṅ viddhi nṛśaṅsāṅ pāpaniścayām.

yatōmūlaṅ hi paśyāmi vyasanaṅ mahadātmanaḥ৷৷2.92.26৷৷


yasyāḥ kṛtē on whose account, naravyāghrau best of men (Rama and Lakshmana), itaḥ from here, jīvanāśam destruction of life, gatau obtained, rājā daśarathaḥ king Dasaratha, putravihīnaśca deprived of his son, svargam heaven, gataḥ attained, ātmana: mine, mahat great, vyasanam calamity, yatōmūlam the root cause of, paśyāmi I see, krōdhānām irascible, akṛtaprajñām is not discerning, dṛptām proud, subhagamāninīm considers herself beautiful, aiśvaryakāmām ambitious of wealth, anāryām ignoble, āryarūpiṇīm in the guise of a noble woman, ētām she, nṛśaṅsām wicked, pāpaniścayām intent on sinful acts, mama my, mātaram mother, kaikēyīm Kaikeyi, viddhi you may know.

She is my mother Kaikeyi who is irascible, lacks the power of discrimination, proud, boastful of her beauty, ambitious of wealth, ignoble in the guise of a noble woman, wicked and intent on sinful acts. Behold her. You may know that because of her, Rama and Lakshmana the best of men entered the forest which may cause their destruction and king Dasaratha attained heaven. She alone is the root of this great calamity that I am presently confronting.
ityuktvā naraśārdūlō bāṣpagadgadayā girā.

sa niśsvāsa tāmrākṣō nāgaḥ kṛddha iva śvasan৷৷2.92.27৷৷


tāmrākṣaḥ with reddened eyes, naraśārdūlaḥ tiger among men, saḥ that Bharata, bāṣpagadgadayā in a voice choked with tears, girā with words, iti thus,uktvā having said, kṛddhaḥ angry, śvasan sighing, nāgaḥ iva like a king cobra, niśsvāsa heaved sighs.

Thus spoke Bharata, the best of men, with his eyes reddened and voice choked with sobs and hissing like a king cobra.
bharadvājō maharṣistaṅ bruvantaṅ bharataṅ tathā.

pratyuvāca mahābuddhiridaṅ vacanamarthavat৷৷2.92.28৷৷


mahābuddhi: wise, maharṣiḥ great sage Maharshi, bharadvājaḥ Bharadwaja, tathā thus, bruvantam speaking, taṅ bharatam to that Bharata, arthavat significant, idaṅ vacanam these words, pratyuvāca
replied.

Hearing the words of Bharata, the great sage, wise Bharadwaja replied with meaningful words:
na dōṣēṇāvagantavyā kaikēyī bharata tvayā.

rāmapravrājanaṅ hyētatsukhōdarkaṅ bhaviṣyati৷৷2.92.29৷৷


bharata O Bharata, kaikēyī Kaikeyi, tvayā by you, dōṣēṇa with any fault, na avagantavyā should not be imputed, ētat this, rāmapravrājanam banishment of Rama, sukhōdarkam of great felicity, bhaviṣyati hi will become.

O Bharata, you should not find fault with Kaikeyi. Rama's banishment will prove a great source of happiness in future (for mankind).
dēvānāṅ dānavānāṅ ca ṛṣīṇāṅ bhāvitātmanām.

hitamēva bhaviṣyaddhi rāmapravrājanādiha৷৷2.92.30৷৷


iha now, rāmapravrājanāt by banishing Rama, dēvānām of gods, dānavānāṅ ca of demous, bhāvitātmanām of purified souls, ṛṣīṇāṅ rishis', hitamēva also welfare, bhaviṣyaddhi shall become.

Banishment of Rama will bring about the welfare of the gods, the demons, and the sages of purified souls.
abhivādya tu saṅsiddhaḥ kṛtvā cainaṅ pradakṣiṇam.

āmantrya bharata ssainyaṅ yujyatāmityacōdayat৷৷2.92.31৷৷


bharataḥ Bharata, ēnam him, abhivādya having paid obeisance, saṅsiddhaḥ getting ready for the journey, pradakṣiṇaṅ ca kṛtvā having circumambulated, āmantrya having taken leave of him, yujyatām iti Be harnessed, sainyam the army, acōdayat urged.

Having paid obeisance, the accomplished Bharata circumambulated sage Bharadwaja,
look leave of him, and ordered his army to get ready.
tatō vājirathānyuktān divyānhēmapariṣkṛtān.

adhyārōhatprayāṇārthī bahūnbahuvidhō janaḥ৷৷2.92.32৷৷


tataḥ then, bahuvidhaḥ different types, janaḥ people, prayāṇārthī wishing to proceed, divyān excellent, hēmapariṣkṛtān decorated with gold, yuktān harnessed, vājirathān horse-chariots, adhyārōhat mounted.

Different groups of people intending to depart harnessed excellent horse-chariots decorated with gold.
gajakanyā gajāścaiva hēmakakṣyāḥ patākinaḥ.

jīmūtā iva gharmāntē saghōṣāssampratasthirē৷৷2.92.33৷৷


hēmakakṣyāḥ with golden girths, patākinaḥ with pennants, gajakanyāḥ female elephants, gajāścaiva
also male elephants, gharmāntē at the close of summer, jīmūtāḥ iva like thunder-clouds, saghōṣāḥ with sounds, sampratasthirē set forth.

The male and female elephants wearing golden girths and decorated with pennants, set forth with their bells sounding like thunder-clouds at the end of summer.
vividhānyapi yānāni mahanti ca laghūni ca.

prayayu ssumahārhāṇi pādai rēva padātayaḥ৷৷2.92.34৷৷


mahanti ca large ones, laghūni ca small ones, vividhāni of various kinds, sumahārhāṇi costly, yānāni had carriages, prayayuḥ set forth, padātayaḥ foot-soldiers, pādairēva set out on foot it self.

Various types of costly carriages, large and small, set forth, while the infantry marched on.
atha yānapravēkaistu kausalyāpramukhāḥ striyaḥ.

rāmadarśanakāṅkṣiṇyaḥ prayayurmuditāstadā৷৷2.92.35৷৷


atha thereafter, kausalyāpramukhāḥ headed by Kausalya, striyaḥ women, rāmadarśanakāṅkṣiṇyaḥ eager to see Rama, muditāḥ delightfully, tadā then, yānapravēkaiḥ in distinguished carriages, prayayuḥ went.

The women headed by Kausalya, eager to see Rama, proceeded delightfully in distinguished carriages.
candrārkataruṇābhāsāṅ niryuktāṅ śibikāṅ śubhām.

āsthāya prayayau śrīmānbharata ssaparicchadaḥ৷৷2.92.36৷৷


śrīmān majestic, bharataḥ Bharata, candrārkataruṇābhāsām with the splendour of the Sun and the Moon, niryuktām kept ready, śubhām auspicious, śibikām palanquin, āsthāya having got in, saparicchadaḥ with retinue, prayayau proceeded.

Magnanimous Bharata got into an auspicious palanquin of the splendour of the Sun and the Moon kept ready and proceeded amidst escorts.
sā prayātā mahāsēnā gajavājirathākulā.

dakṣiṇāṅ diśamāvṛtya mahāmēgha ivōtthitaḥ৷৷2.92.37৷৷

vanāni tu vyatikramya juṣṭāni mṛgapakṣibhiḥ.

gaṅgāyāḥ paravēlāyāṅ giriṣvapi nadīṣu ca৷৷2.92.38৷৷


gajavājirathākulā teeming with elephants, horses and chariots, sā mahāsēnā that vast army, utthitaḥ that has arisen, mahāmēgha iva like a lofty cloud, dakṣiṇāṅ diśam southward, āvṛtya having spread, mṛgapakṣibhiḥ with birds and beasts, juṣṭāni visited, vanāni forests, vyatikramya traversing, gaṅgāyā: river Ganga's, paravēlāyām on the other side, giriṣvapi through mountains also, nadīṣu ca and streams, prayātā proceeded.

That vast army teeming with elephants, horses and chariots proceeded southward spreading like a lofty cloud that had risen in the sky, traversing through the forests full of birds and beasts, passing through the mountains and streams on the other side of the river Ganga.
sā samprahṛṣṭadvipavājiyōdhā vitrāsayantī mṛgapakṣisaṅghān.

mahadvanaṅ tatpratigāhamānā rarāja sēnā bharatasya tatra৷৷2.92.39৷৷


samprahṛṣṭadvipavājiyōdhā with soldiers, elephants and horses in high spirits, mṛgapakṣisaṅghān flocks of birds and beasts, vitrāsayantī frightening, bharatasya Bharata's, sā sēnā that army, tatra there, tat that, mahat great, vanam forest, pratigāhamānā while entering, rarāja looked splendid.

Bharata's army of soldiers, elephants and horses, all in high spirits, looked splendid while entering the forest full of frightening flocks of birds and beasts.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē dvinavatitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the ninetysecond sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.