Chapter [Sarga] 101

Introduction

Rama asks Bharata why he has come to the forest, wearing robes of bark and antelope skin, abandoning Ayodhya kingdom. Bharata informs Rama about Dasaratha's death and requests Rama to take over the kingdom, endowed to him as per succession. Rama says that since king Dasaratha allotted two different duties to the two of them one enjoining the exile of his elder brother being binding on him and the other bequeathing the kingdom to Bharata, they must be implicitly obeyed by both of them.


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tam tu r˜ma× sam˜þv˜sya bhr˜taram guru vatsalam |
lakÿmaõena saha bhr˜tr˜ praÿ÷um samupacakrame || 2-101-1

1. raamaH= rama; lakSmaNe saha= along with Lakshman; bhraatraa= his younger brother; samupachakrame= began; praSTum= to question; tam= that Bharata; bhraataram= his brother; guruvatsalam= who was devoted to his elders.

Rama along with Lakshmana, his younger brother, began to question Bharata, his brother who was devoted to elders (as follows):

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kim etad igceyam aham þrotum pravy˜h®tam tvay˜ |
yasm˜t tvam ˜gato deþam imam cŸra ja÷˜ ajinŸ || 2-101-2

2. aham= I; ichchhayam= desire; shrotum= to hear; pravyaahR^itam= as said; tvayaa= by you; yasmaat= why; kim= and what; etat= in this manner; tvam= you; aagataH= have come; imam desham= to this place; chiira jaTaa jinaH= in robes of bark and an antelope-skin.

"I desire to hear from you, why you have come tot his place in robes of bark and an antelope-skin."

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kim nimittam imam deþam k®ÿõa ajina ja÷˜ dhara× |
hitv˜ r˜jyam praviÿ÷a× tvam tat sarvam vaktum arhasi || 2-101-3

3. arhasi= you ought; vaktum= to tell; sarvam= all; tat= that; kimnimittam= for what purpose; tvam= you; praviSTaH= entered; imam desham= this place; kR^iSNaajinajaTaadharaH= clad in deer-skin and matted hair; hitvaa= leaving; raajyam= the kingdom.

"You ought to tell me all about the purpose for which you entered this place, clad in deer-skin and matted hair, relinquishing the kingdom."

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ity ukta× kekayŸ putra× k˜kutsthena mah˜tman˜ |
prag®hya balavad bh¨ya× pr˜njalir v˜kyam abravŸt || 2-101-4

4. iti= this; uktaH= spoken; kaakutthsena= by Rama; mahaatmanaa= the high souled; bhuuyaH= again; balavat= closely; pragR^ihya= embracing him; kaikeyiiputraH= Bharata; praaNjaliH= with joined palms; abraviit= spoke; vaakyam= (the following) words:

Thus questioned by the high souled Rama, by closely embracing him again, Bharata with joined palms answered as follows:

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˜ryam t˜ta× parityajya k®tv˜ karma suduÿkaram |
gata× svargam mah˜ b˜hu× putra þoka abhipŸýita× || 2-101-5

5. aaryam= my noble brother!; taataH= our father; mahaabaahuH= the mighty armed; kR^itvaa= after performing; karma= a deed; suduSkaram= most difficult to perform; parityajya= and having abandoned (us); gataH= has gone; svaragam= to divine region; putra shokaabhipiiDitaH= with grief caused by separation from him son.

"O, noble brother! Our father the mighty armed, after performing a deed must difficult to perform, and having abandoned us has gone the divine region; he died of grief on account of separation from his son."

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striy˜ niyukta× kaikeyy˜ mama m˜tr˜ param tapa |
cak˜ra sumahat p˜pam idam ˜tma yaþo haram || 2-101-6

6. paramtapa= O, tormented of foes!; niyuktaH= as urged; striyaa= by his wife; mania= and my; maatvaa= mother; kaikeyyaa= Kaikeyi; chakaara= he made; idam= this; sumahat= great; paapam= sin; aatma yashokaram= that has taken away his own reputation.

"O, tormented of foes! As urged by his wife and my mother Kaikeyi;, our father committed this great sin that has taken away his own reputation."

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s˜ r˜jya phalam apr˜pya vidhav˜ þoka karþit˜ |
patiÿyati mah˜ ghore niraye jananŸ mama || 2-101-7

7. apraapya= having not got; raajyaphalam= the fruit of the kingdom; vidhavaa= (but only) having become a widow; shika kashitaa= and emaciated by grief; mama= my; jananii= mother; saa= that kaikeyi; patiSyati= will fall; mahaaghore= in a highly terrible; neraye= hell.

"Without having plucked the fruit of kingdom, widowed and emaciated with grief my mother will fall into the most terrific hell."

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tasya me d˜sa bh¨tasya pras˜dam kartum arhasi |
abhiÿincasva ca adya eva r˜jyena maghav˜n iva || 2-101-8

8. arhasi= you ought; kartum= to show; prasaadam= kindness; me= to me; daasa bhuutasya= a true servant; tasya= as such; abhiSiN^chasva= and get anointed; raajyena= in the kingdom; adyaiva= this very day; maghanaaniva= like Devendra the Lord of celestials.

"Grant me, who am your true servant, a favour! This very day, as Indra the Lord of celestials himself, receive the royal anointing!"

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im˜× prak®taya× sarv˜ vidhav˜ m˜tura× ca y˜× |
tvat sak˜þam anupr˜pt˜× pras˜dam kartum arhasi || 2-101-9

9. sarvaaH= all; imaaH= these; prakR^itayaH= people; vidhavaaH= the widowed; maatarashcha= mothers; anupraaptaaH= have reached; tvat sakaasham= your proximity; arhasi= you ought; kartum= to show; prasaadam= your kindness.

"Grant all these people and these widowed Queens, who have come here to see you, this felicity!"

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tad˜ ˜nup¨rvy˜ yuktam ca yuktam ca ˜tmani m˜nada |
r˜jyam pr˜pnuhi dharmeõa sak˜m˜n suh®da× kuru || 2-101-10

10. maanada= O, proud Prince!; tat= for that reason; praapriuhi= accept indeed; raajyam= the kingdom; yuktam= that is befitting; aatmani= you; yuktam= and endowed to you; anupuurvyaa= as per succession; dharmeNa= and as per your right; kuru= and fulfill; sakaamaan= the desires; suhR^idaH= of your friends.

"O, Prince! For that reason, accept the throne that is befitting; endowed to you as per succession and that is yours by right fulfill, as your should, the desires of your friends."

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bhavatu avidhav˜ bh¨mi× samagr˜ patin˜ tvay˜ |
þaþin˜ vimalena iva þ˜radŸ rajanŸ yath˜ || 2-101-11

11. samagraa= (Let) the entire; bhuumiH= world; bhavau= become; avidhavaa= bereft of widowhood; tvayaa= by you; patinaa= the Lord; vimalena iva= as the immaculate; shashinaa= moon; shaaradii= to the autumn; rajanii yathaa= night.

"Bring the widowhood of the entire world to an end by becoming her Lord, as does the immaculate moon to the autumn-night."

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ebhi× ca sacivai× s˜rdham þiras˜ y˜cito may˜ |
bhr˜tu× þiÿyasya d˜sasya pras˜dam kartum arhasi || 2-101-12

12. arhasi= you ought; kartum= to grant; prasaadam= this grace; bhraatuH= to your brother; yaachitaH shivasaa= who prostratas at your feet; ebhiH sachivaiH saartham= with your ministers; mayaa= by me; shiSyasya= who is a discipline; daasasya= and a slave.

"Grant this grace to your brother, who prostrates at your feet along with your ministers is both your discipline and your slave."

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tad idam þ˜þvatam pitryam sarvam saciva maõýalam |
p¨jitam puruÿa vy˜ghra na atikramitum utsahe || 2-101-13

13. puruSa vyaaghraH= O, Tiger among men!; naarhasi= you cannot; atikramitum= disregard; idam= this; prakR^itimaN^Dalam= unbroken kingdom; shaashvatam= which is eternal; pitryam= ancestral; puujitam= and honoured.

"O, Tiger among men! You cannot disregard this unbroken kingdom, which is eternal, ancestral and honoured."

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evam uktv˜ mah˜ b˜hu× sab˜ÿpa× kekayŸ suta× |
r˜masya þiras˜ p˜dau jagr˜ha bharata× puna× || 2-101-14

14. evam= Thus; uktvaa= speaking; mahaa baahuH= the mighty armed; kaikeyiisutaH= Bharata; sa baaSpaH= with tears; punaH= again; jagraha= seized raamasya= Rama's paadau= feet; shirasaa= in great honour; vidhivat= as per precept.

Thus speaking, the mighty armed Bharata, with tears, once again seized Rama's feet in great honour, as per precept.

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tam mattam iva m˜tangam nihþvasantam puna× puna× |
bhr˜taram bharatam r˜ma× pariÿvajya idam abravŸt || 2-101-15

15. raamaH= Rama; pariSvjya= embraced; bhraataram= his brother; tam= bharata; that Bharata; niH shvasantam= who sighed; punaH punaH= again and again; maataN^gam iva= like an elephant; mattam= in rut; abraviit= and spoke; idam= these words.

Rama embraced his brother Bharata, who sighed again and again like an elephant in rut, and spoke as follows:-

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kulŸna× sattva sampanna× tejasvŸ carita vrata× |
r˜jya heto× katham p˜pam ˜caret tvad vidho jana× || 2-101-16

16. katham= how; janaH= should a man; madvidhaH= like myself; kuliinaH= of noble birth; sattva sampannaH= rich in Sattva (goodness); tejasvii= dignified; charita vrataH= and who has observed sacred vows; aacharet= commit; paapam= sin; raajya hetoH= for the sake of a mere kingdom?

"How should a man of noble birth, rich in Sattva (goodness), dignified and who has observed sacred vows like myself, commit sin for the sake of a mere kingdom?"

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na doÿam tvayi paþy˜mi s¨kÿmam apy ari s¨dana |
na ca api jananŸm b˜ly˜t tvam vigarhitum arhasi || 2-101-17

17. arisuudanaH= O, Bharata the annihilator of enemies!; na pashyaami= I do not see; suukSmamapi= even a little; doSam= of fault; tvayi= in you; naarhasi chaapi= you ought not even; vigarhitum= to abuse; jananiim= your mother; baalyaat= for a childish action.

"O, Bharata the annihilator of enemies! I do not see the slightest fault in you and you should not reproach your mother for a childish action."

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k˜makaro mah˜pr˜ajña gur¨õ˜Õ sarvad˜nagha |
upapanneÿu d˜reÿu putreÿu ca vidhŸyate || 2-101-18

18. mahaapraaj^Na= O, Bharata the highly intelligent!; anagha= and the faultless man!; vidhiiyate= It is incumbent; sarvadaa= always; guruuNaam= on the part of the elders; kaamakaaraH= to act freely; upapanneSu= with reference to their esteemed; daareSu= wife; putreSu aha= and progeny.

"O, Bharata the highly intelligent and the faultless man! It is incumbent always on the part of the elders to act freely with reference to their wives and progeny."

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vayamasya yath˜ loke saðkhy˜t˜× suamya s˜dhubhi× |
bh˜ry˜× putr˜þca þiÿy˜þcha tvamanujñ˜tumarhasi || 2-101-19

19. saumya= O, gentle brother!; yathaa= In what manner; samkhyaataaH= it was said; saadhubhiH= by virtuous men; loke= in this world; (in the same manner); tvam= you; arhasi= ought; anj^Naatum= to know; (that); vayam= we; bhaaryaaH= the women; putraashcha= children; shiSyaashcha= and disciples; (obey); asya= our Lord.

"O, gentle brother! Since it was said thus by virtuous men in this world, we should all, women children and disciples, obey our Lord; this must be known to you."

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vane v˜ cŸravasanaÕ saumyak®ÿõ˜jin˜mbaram |
r˜jye v˜pi mah˜r˜jo m˜Õ v˜sayitumŸþvara× || 2-101-20

20. mahaaraajaH= The great king; iishvaraH= is the master; vaasaye tum maam= who may either make me reside; vane vaa= in the forest; chiiravasanam= wearing bark robes; kR^iSNaajinaambaram= and a black antelope skin; raajye vaapi= or to sit on the throne; saumya= O gentle brother!.

"The great king is the master, who has a discretion either to make me reside in the forest, wearing bark robes and a black antelope skin or to sit on the throne, O gentle brother!"

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y˜vat pitari dharmajna gauravam loka satk®te |
t˜vad dharmabh®t˜m þreÿ÷ha janany˜m api gauravam || 2-101-21

21. shreSTha= O, excellent; dharma bhR^itaam= among the supporters of law!; djar,ak^Ne= and the virtuous!; taavat= the same degree; gouravam= of respect; jananyaamapi= is due to our mother; yaavat= as is due; pitari= to our fathrs; lokasatkR^itam= who was honoured by the world.

"O, excellent among the supporters of law and the virtuous! The same degree of respect is to be paid to our mother, as is due to our father, who is honoured by all."

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et˜bhy˜m dharma þŸl˜bhy˜m vanam gagca iti r˜ghava |
m˜t˜ pit®bhy˜m ukto aham katham anyat sam˜care || 2-101-22

22. katham= how; aham samaachare= can I do; anyat= otherwise; uktaH= while i was spoken; etaabhyaam maataa pitR^ibhyaam= by both my mother and father; dharmashiilaabhyaam= of virtuous nature; vanam gachchha iti= to go to the forest.

"How can I do otherwise, while both my parents of virtuous nature ask me to go to the forest?"

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tvay˜ r˜jyam ayodhy˜y˜m pr˜ptavyam loka satk®tam |
vastavyam daõýaka araõye may˜ valkala v˜sas˜ || 2-101-23

23. raajyam= The throne; ayodhyaam= in Ayodhya; loka satkR^itam= that the world reveres; praaptavyam= is to be occupied; tvayaa= by you, daN^DakaaraNye= and in the Dandaka forest; vastavyam= is to be occupied; mayaa= by me; valkalavaasasaa= wearing bark robes.

"It is for you to occupy the throne in Ayodhya that the world reveres and it is for me to occupy this Dandaka forest, wearing bark robes."

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evam k®tv˜ mah˜ r˜jo vibh˜gam loka samnidhau |
vy˜diþya ca mah˜ tej˜ divam daþaratho gata× || 2-101-24

24. vyaadishyacha= having commanded thus; mahaaraajaH= the great king; mahaatejaaH= with a great splendour; dasharathaH= Dasaratha; kR^itvaa= made; vibhaagam= the division of duties; evam= in this manner; loka sannidhau= in the presence of the people; gataH= and scended; divam= to heaven.

"Having commanded thus, the emperor Dasaratha with a great splendour, made the division of duties in this manner (for us two) in the presence of the people and then ascended to heaven."

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sa ca pram˜õam dharma ˜tm˜ r˜j˜ loka guru× tava |
pitr˜ dattam yath˜ bh˜gam upabhoktum tvam arhasi || 2-101-25

25. saH raajaa= that king; dharmaatmaa= the pious souled; lokaguruH= and the preceptor of the world; pramaaNam= is the standard authority; tava= for you; tvam= you; arhasi= ought; upabhoktum= to enjoy; yathaablaagam= according to the share; dattam= given; pitraa= by our father.

"That pious souled king, the preceptor of the world is the standard authority for you and you have to enjoy the share given by our father accordingly."

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caturdaþa sam˜× saumya daõýaka araõyam ˜þrita× |
upabhokÿye tu aham dattam bh˜gam pitr˜ mah˜tman˜ || 2-101-26

26. aham tu= I, for my part; upabhokSye= souled; pitraa= father; chaturdasha= for fourteen; samaaH= years; aashritaH= taking my abode; daN^Dakaaranyam= in Dandaka forest; saumya= O, gentle brother.

"I, for my part, shall enjoy the share given to me by our high-souled father for fourteen years, taking my abode in Dandaka forest, O gentle brother!"

 

ity˜rÿe þrŸmadr˜m˜yaõe ˜dik˜vye ayodhy˜k˜õýe ekottaraþatatama× sarga×

Thus completes 101st Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.


Verse Locator for Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya : Chapter 101

 

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© February 2005, K. M. K. Murthy