अयोध्या-काण्ड > भरत का चित्रकूट के लिए प्रस्थान



Bharata approaches the sage Bharadwaja and seeks his permission to leave. Bharata asks Bhardwaja the exact route by which he can reach the abode of Rama. Bharadwaja gives the details of the path towards the banks of river Mandakini, situated at the north of Chitrakuta mountain, where Rama is stationed along with Seetha and Lakshmana. Hearing of the journey, Dasaratha's wives approach Bharadwaja and offer their salutations to him. Bharata introduces his mothers one by one to Bharadwaja. While introducing his mother, Kaikeyi to Bharadwaja, Bharata describes Kaikeyi as the root-cause of their family's misfortune. But, the sage Bharadwaja consoles him, saying that the exile of Rama would ultimately result in happiness the sages, celestials and even the demons. Bharata finally bids farewell to the sage and proceeds to Chitrakuta, along with his retinue.
ततः ताम् रजनीम् उष्य भरतः सपरिग्च्छदः |
कृत आतिथ्यो भरद्वाजम् कामाद् अभिजगाम ह || २-९२-१
Thereafter, Bharata along with his routine, who were treated hospitably, spent that night there and sought out Bharadwaja with fondness.
तम् ऋषिः पुरुष व्याघ्रम् प्रेक्ष्य प्रान्जलिम् आगतम् |
हुत अग्नि होत्रो भरतम् भरद्वाजो अभ्यभाषत || २-९२-२
The sage Bharadwaja, who had offered oblations in sacred fire, spoke to Bharata the tiger among men, who had come there with joined palms, saying.
कच्चिद् अत्र सुखा रात्रिः तव अस्मद् विषये गता |
समग्रः ते जनः कच्चिद् आतिथ्ये शंस मे अनघ || २-९२-३
"O, handsome Bharata! Have you passed this night at out place comfortably? Is your retinue fully satisfied with my hospitality? Tell me."
तम् उवाच अन्जलिम् कृत्वा भरतो अभिप्रणम्य च |
आश्रमाद् अभिनिष्क्रन्तम् ऋषिम् उत्तम तेजसम् || २-९२-४
After joining his palms in salutation, Bharata replied to the very glorious sage Bharawaja, who came out from his hermitage (as follows):
सुख उषितो अस्मि भगवन् समग्र बल वाहनः |
तर्पितः सर्व कामैः च सामात्यो बलवत् त्वया || २-९२-५
"O, venerable sage! With all the enjoyments in plenty provided by you, I felt comfortable and satisfied, along with very ministers my entire army and our animals too used in riding.
अपेत क्लम सम्तापाः सुभक्ष्याः सुप्रतिश्रयाः |
अपि प्रेष्यान् उपादाय सर्वे स्म सुसुख उषिताः || २-९२-६
"All of us including our servants have become very much satisfied with our fatigue and pains removed, having eaten a good food and having been provided an excellent accommodation."
आमन्त्रये अहम् भगवन् कामम् त्वाम् ऋषि सत्तम |
समीपम् प्रस्थितम् भ्रातुर् मैरेण ईक्षस्व चक्षुषा || २-९२-७
"O, Blessed one! O, excellent sage I am taking leave of you. Look on me with favour as I find myself in my brother's vicinity."
आश्रमम् तस्य धर्मज्न धार्मिकस्य महात्मनः |
आचक्ष्व कतमो मार्गः कियान् इति च शंस मे || २-९२-८
"O, knower of piety! Tell me about the abode of that high-souled and pious man, Rama. Tell me as to which way I have to go, how much distance it is from here and so forth."
इति पृष्टः तु भरतम् भ्रातृ दर्शन लालसम् |
प्रत्युवाच महा तेजा भरद्वाजो महा तपाः || २-९२-९
The highly glorious Bharadwaaja, of rigid asceticism, thus questioned by Bharata (who intensely desired to see his brother again), answered him as follows:
भरत अर्ध तृतीयेषु योजनेषु अजने वने |
चित्र कूटो गिरिः तत्र रम्य निर्दर काननः || २-९२-१०
"O, Bharata! About twenty eight miles from here, there is a mountain called Chitrakuta, in the middle of a lonely forest with its charming Cascades and groves."
उत्तरम् पार्श्वम् आसाद्य तस्य मन्दाकिनी नदी |
पुष्पित द्रुम संचन्ना रम्य पुष्पित कानना || २-९२-११
"Going towards its northern side, you will find River Mandakini, which is entirely enveloped with flowering trees and having forests flourished with charming blossoms."
अनन्तरम् तत् सरितः चित्र कूटः च पर्वतः |
ततो पर्ण कुटी तात तत्र तौ वसतो ध्रुवम् || २-९२-१२
"O, beloved Bharata! Beyond that river, there is a mountain called Chitrakuta and on it, their hut made of leafy twigs. Both of them are residing there. It is sure."
दक्षिणेन एव मार्गेण सव्य दक्षिणम् एव च |
गज वाजि रथ आकीर्णाम् वाहिनीम् वाहिनी पते || २-९२-१३
वाहयस्व महा भाग ततो द्रक्ष्यसि राघवम् |
"O, the illustrious chief of army! Direct the forces filled with elephants horses and chariots either towards the southern route or to the left proceeding southward. You can see Rama then."
प्रयाणम् इति च श्रुत्वा राज राजस्य योषितः |
हित्वा यानानि यान अर्हा ब्राह्मणम् पर्यवारयन् || २-९२-१४
Hearing him speak of the journey, Dasaratha's wives eligible of sitting in palanquins, descended from their palanquins and stood encircling Bharadwaja.
वेपमाना कृशा दीना सह देव्या सुमन्त्रिया |
कौसल्या तत्र जग्राह कराभ्याम् चरणौ मुनेः || २-९२-१५
Kaikeyi with her unfulfilled desire and despised by the whole world, clasped the sage's feet with bashfulness.
असमृद्धेन कामेन सर्व लोकस्य गर्हिता |
कैकेयी तस्य जग्राह चरणौ सव्यपत्रपा || २-९२-१६
Kaikeyi with her unfulfilled desire and despised by the whole world, clasped the sage's feet with bashfullness.
तम् प्रदक्षिणम् आगम्य भगवन्तम् महा मुनिम् |
अदूराद् भरतस्य एव तस्थौ दीन मनाः तदा || २-९२-१७
Then, having gone around that venerable and eminent sage clock-wise, she stood close to Bharata himself, distressed as she was at heart.
ततः पप्रग्च्छ भरतम् भरद्वाजो दृढ व्रतः |
विशेषम् ज्नातुम् इग्च्छामि मातृऋणाम् तव राघव || २-९२-१८
Then, Bharadwaja, firm in austerity, enquired Bharata as follows: "O, Bharata! I wish to know the distinctions of your mothers."
एवम् उक्तः तु भरतो भरद्वाजेन धार्मिकः |
उवाच प्रान्जलिर् भूत्वा वाक्यम् वचन कोविदः || २-९२-१९
Hearing the words of the learned sage, Bharadwaja, Bharata who was skilled in expression, with joined palms, spoke the following words.
याम् इमाम् भगवन् दीनाम् शोकान् अशन कर्शिताम् |
पितुर् हि महिषीम् देवीम् देवताम् इव पश्यसि || २-९२-२०
एषा तम् पुरुष व्याघ्रम् सिम्ह विक्रान्त गामिनम् |
कौसल्या सुषुवे रामम् धातारम् अदितिर् यथा || २-९२-२१
"O, venerable sage! This miserable queen emaciated by grief and fasting, is the royal consort of my father, who you see resembling a goddess - it is she, Kausalya who, as Aditi gave birth to Upendra, begot that Tiger among the heroes, with the great gait and pride of a lion that Rama."
अस्या वाम भुजम् श्लिष्टा या एषा तिष्ठति दुर्मनाः |
कर्णिकारस्य शाखा इव शीर्ण पुष्पा वन अन्तरे || २-९२-२२
एतस्याः तौ सुतौ देव्याः कुमारौ देव वर्णिनौ |
उभौ लक्ष्मण शत्रुघ्नौ वीरौ सत्य पराक्रमौ || २-९२-२३
She, who stands clinging to the left shoulder of Kausalya, plunged in grief is the unfortunate Sumitra, looking like a branch of Karnikara tree with withered flowers standing in the interior of the grove. Both Lakshmana and Shatrughna, the two heroic princes of god-like appearance and unfailing prowess are the sons of this godly woman, Sumitra.
यस्याः कृते नर याघ्रौ जीव नाशम् इतो गतौ |
राजा पुत्र विहीनः च स्वर्गम् दशरथो गतः || २-९२-२४
क्रोधनामकृतप्रज्ञां दृप्तां सुभगमानिनीम् |
ऐश्वर्य कामाम् कैकेयीम् अनार्याम् आर्य रूपिणीम् || २-९२-२५
मम एताम् मातरम् विद्धि नृशंसाम् पाप निश्चयाम् |
यतो मूलम् हि पश्यामि व्यसनम् महद् आत्मनः || २-९२-२६
"She, through whose fault, those two tigers among men have to obtain a miserable existence and King Dasaratha deprived of his son, has gone to heaven this woman, who is irate, imprudent, arrogant, who esteems herself to be good-looking, who is covetous of power, unworthy though noble to all appearance, know her to be Kaikeyi, my mother of wicked and sinful resolve, in whom I see the root cause of my great misfortune."
इत्य् उक्त्वा नर शार्दूलो बाष्प गद्गदया गिरा |
स निशश्वास ताम्र अक्षो क्रुद्धो नाग इव असकृत् || २-९२-२७
Bharata, the tiger among men, with his red eyes spoke thus in a voice broken by sobs and breathing as he like an enraged and hissing snake.
भरद्वाजो महर्षिः तम् ब्रुवन्तम् भरतम् तदा |
प्रत्युवाच महा बुद्धिर् इदम् वचनम् अर्थवत् || २-९२-२८
Hearing the aforesaid words spoken by Bharata, Bharadwaja the great intellectual sage replied in the following meaningful words.
न दोषेण अवगन्तव्या कैकेयी भरत त्वया |
राम प्रव्राजनम् ह्य् एतत् सुख उदर्कम् भविष्यति || २-९२-२९
"O, Bharata! Kaikeyi is not intended to be understood by you accusatively. The exile of Rama with indeed become ultimately a cause for happiness!"
देवानाम् दानवानाम् च ऋषीणाम् भावितात्मनाम् |
हितमेव भविष्यद्धि रामप्रव्राजनादिह || २-९२-३०
"Now, due to Rama's exile, there will indeed be a benefit to the celestials the demons and the sages whose souls are purified by meditating on the Universal Spirit."
अभिवाद्य तु संसिद्धः कृत्वा च एनम् प्रदक्षिणम् |
आमन्त्र्य भरतः सैन्यम् युज्यताम् इत्य् अचोदयत् || २-९२-३१
Bharata satisfied, paid obeisance to him and circumambulated him in bidding a farewell, directing the army to get prepared to leave.
ततो वाजि रथान् युक्त्वा दिव्यान् हेम परिष्क्रितान् |
अध्यारोहत् प्रयाण अर्थी बहून् बहु विधो जनः || २-९२-३२
Then, setting out for their destination, countless people ascended many excellent chariots, decorated with gold, duly harnessed to horses.
गज कन्या गजाः चैव हेम कक्ष्याः पताकिनः |
जीमूता इव घर्म अन्ते सघोषाः सम्प्रतस्थिरे || २-९२-३३
Female and male elephants, wearing golden chains and flags, distinguished by the sound of bells, like thundering clouds at the end of a summer marched in a form.
विविधान्य् अपि यानानि महानि च लघूनि च |
प्रययुः सुमहा अर्हाणि पादैर् एव पदातयः || २-९२-३४
Various precious conveyances, both big and small, marched forward. Pedestrians marched forward by foot.
अथ यान प्रवेकैः तु कौसल्या प्रमुखाः स्त्रियः |
राम दर्शन कान्क्षिण्यः प्रययुर् मुदिताः तदा || २-९२-३५
Desirous of seeing Rama and delighted, Kausalya and other honourable women thereafter advanced on their excellent conveyances.
चंद्र्क तरुण आभासाम् नियुक्ताम् शिबिकाम् शुभाम् |
आस्थाय प्रययौ श्रीमान् भरतः सपरिग्च्छदः || २-९२-३६
The illustrious Bharata mounted a readily kept palanquin which was auspiciously shining like rising moon and sun and proceeded along with his escort.
सा प्रयाता महा सेना गज वाजि रथ आकुला |
दक्षिणाम् दिशम् आवृत्य महा मेघ इव उत्थितः || २-९२-३७
वनानि तु व्यतिक्रम्य जुष्टानि मृग पक्षिभिः |
गङ्गायाः परवेलायां गिरिष्वपि नदीषु च २-९२-३८
That vast army with its countless elephants horses and chariots proceeded, covering the southern direction, like a great cloud that has risen in the sky and on the other bank of the Ganges, by mountains and streams, crossing the woods inhabited by deer and birds.
सा सम्प्रहृष्ट द्विप वाजि योधा |
वित्रासयन्ती मृग पक्षि सम्घान् |
महद् वनम् तत् प्रविगाहमाना |
रराज सेना भरतस्य तत्र || २-९२-३९
That army of Bharata, with its squadrons of rejoicing elephants horses and warriors, penetrating into the vast forest, frightening innumerable beasts and birds, appeared resplendent there.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे द्विननवतितमः सर्गः