saa tam muurdhni samupaaghraaya parisvajya yashasvinam |

ake bharatam aaropya prastum samupacakrame || 2-72-4

Kaikeyi smelled (as mark of affection) the head of the illustrious Bharata, embraced him, made him to ascend on her lap and started questions.

adya te katicit raatryah cyutasya aaryaka veshmanah |

api na adhva shramah shiighram rathena aapatatah tava || 2-72-5

 “How many days passed since you have left your maternal grand father’s house? Is there no travel fatigue to you, who have come speedily in a chariot?”

aaryakah te sukushalo yudhaa jin maatulah tava |

pravaasaac ca sukham putra sarvam me vaktum arhasi || 2-72-6

 “O, son! Is your grand father doing well? Is Yudhaajit, your maternal uncle doing well? Were you happy in being absent from home? Be good enough to tell me all?”

evam pristhah tu kaikeyyaa priyam paarthiva nandanah |

aacasta bharatah sarvam maatre raajiiva locanah || 2-72-7

Affectionately enquired thus by Kaikeyi, the lotus eyed Bharata, the prince, narrated all to his mother.

adya me saptamii raatrih cyutasya aaryaka veshmanah |

ambaayaah kushalii taatah yudhaajin maatulah ca me || 2-72-8

 “It is seventh day to me today since I left the grand father’s house. Yudhaajit, your father as well as my maternal uncle are doing well”

yan me dhanam ca ratnam ca dadau raajaa param tapah |

parishraantam pathi abhavat tatah aham puurvam aagatah || 2-72-9

 “Carrying the gifts and jewels, given to me by the king who annihilates enemies my followers became tired on the way and I arrived ahead of them”

raaja vaalya haraih duutaiah tvaryamaano aham aagatah |

yad aham prastum icchaami tat ambaa vaktum arhasi || 2-72-10

 “I came soon because of the horridness communicated by royal messengers. Let my mother be good enough to tell that which I desire to ask her.”

shuunyo ayam shayaniiyah te paryanko hema bhuusitah |

na ca ayam iksvaaku janah prahristah pratibhaati me || 2-72-11

 “This couch of yours, which is fit for rest and decorated with gold, is empty. These men and women of Ikshvaku race do not appear to me to be cheerful.”

raajaa bhavati bhuuyisthgam iha ambaayaa niveshane |

tam aham na adya pashyaami drastum icchann iha aagatah || 2-72-12

 “King Dasaratha mostly used to here in your house. Now, I am not seeing him. I came here, desirous of seeing him.”

pitur grahiisye caranau tam mama aakhyaahi pricchatah |

aahosvid amba jyesthaayaah kausalyaayaa niveshane || 2-72-13

 “O, mother! I will grasp in obeisance my father’s feet. Tell about him, as I ask you. Or is he in the house of Kausalya the senior most of my mothers?”

tam pratyuvaaca kaikeyii priyavad ghoram apriyam |

ajaanantam prajaanantii raajya lobhena mohitaa || 2-72-14

Deluded by the greed for kingdom, Kaikeyi who knew everything closely, told the terribly unpleasant news to Bharata, who did not know anything, as though the news was delightful.

yaa gatih sarva bhuutaanaam taam gatim te pitaa gatah |

raajaa mahaatmaa tejasvii yaayajuukah sataam gatih || 2-72-15

 “King Dasaratha, your father who was having a noble nature, who was respect and performing frequent sacrifices as well as a refuge to good men followed that path which all beings follow.”

tat shrutvaa bharatah vaakyam dharma abhijanavaan shucih |

papaata sahasaa bhuumau pitri shoka bala arditah || 2-72-16

Bharata, a righteous man with a noble descent and an honest man, hearing that news , immediately fell down on the ground, being exceedingly tormented by the grief for his father.

haa haato.asmiiti kripanaam diinaam vaacamudiirayan |

nipapaata mahaabaahurbaahu vikshipya viiryavaan || 2-72-17

The mighty armed and heroic Bharata, raising his grievous and depressed voice, cried, “Alas, I am undone’ and lifting up his arms, fell down.

tatah shokena samviitah pitur marana duhkhitah |

vilalaapa mahaa tejaa bhraanta aakulita cetanah || 2-72-18

Then, Bharata of great majesty, who was enveloped in grief and whose mind was troubled by reeling under the death of his father, lamented profusely.

etat suruciram bhaati pitur me shayanam puraa |

shashinevaamalam raatrau gaganam toyadaatyaye || 2-72-19

 “These beautiful couch of my father earlier used to enhance its charm with his splendor, as the moon irradiates the stainless sky in the night at the end of a rainy season.”

tat idam na vibhaati adya vihiinam tena dhiimataa |

vyomeva shshinaa hiinamapbhuska iva saagarah || 2-72-20

 “Being unoccupied by my virtuous father, the same couch now is bereft of its glory, like the sky without the moon or like the sea with its water dried up.”

baaspamutsrijya kanthe svaatmanaa paripiiditah |

aacchaadya vadanam shriimadvastrena jayataam varah || 2-72-21

Covering his lovely face with raiment [clothing], Bharata the first of those who are victorious, with a profound distress in his mind shed tears in lamentation.

tam aartam deva samkaasham samiiksya patitam bhuvi |

nikrittamiva saalasya skandham parashunaa vane || 2-72-22

mattamaatagasamkaasham candraarkasadrisham bhuvah |

utthaapayitvaa shoka aartam vacanam ca idam abraviit || 2-72-23

Kaikeyi lifted up from the floor, her son Bharata, who was pained with sorrow, looking like a god, who fell on the ground like a sala tree, cut off by an axe, appearing like an elephant in rut, looking like the moon and sun, afflicted with grief as he was and spoke the following words:

uttistha uttistha kim shese raaja putra mahaa yashah |

tvad vidhaa na hi shocanti santah sadasi sammataah || 2-72-24

 “O, the highly illustrious prince! Arise, arise! Why are you lying down? Gentlemen, like you, respected in the assembly of men, do not grieve indeed.”

daanayajjnaadhikaaraa hi shiilashrutivaconugaa |

buddhiste buddhisampanna prabhevaarkasya mandire || 2-72-25

 “O, Bharata endowed with understanding! Your intellect, which follows good character as well as sacred scriptures, has an authority to donate and sacrifice, ever shining as such like a splendor in the abode of the sun.

sa rudatyaa ciram kaalam bhuumau viparivritya ca |

jananiim pratyuvaaca idam shokaih bahubhir aavritah || 2-72-26

Encircled by numerous afflictions, Bharata weeping for a long time, rolled over the floor and replied to his mother as follows:

abhiseksyati raamam tu raajaa yajnam nu yaksyati |

iti aham krita samkalpo hristah yaatraam ayaasisam || 2-72-27

 “Making up my mind that the king was either going to anoint Rama as a prince regent or to perform a sacrifice, I cheerfully got into the journey.”

tat idam hi anyathaa bhuutam vyavadiirnam mano mama |

pitaram yo na pashyaami nityam priya hite ratam || 2-72-28

 “All this turned to be otherwise. By not beholding my father, who was forever interested in my wishes and welfare, my heart is broken to pieces”

amba kena atyagaat raajaa vyaadhinaa mayy anaagate |

dhanyaa raama aadayah sarve yaih pitaa samskritah svayam || 2-72-29

 “O, mother! On what ailment did the king die, when I was not here? Rama and others who performed purificatory rites by themselves for our father indeed fortunate.”

na nuunam maam mahaa raajah praaptam jaanaati kiirtimaan |

upajighredd hi maam muurdhni taatah samnamya satvaram || 2-72-30

 “It is sure that the illustrious monarch does not know the fact of my arrival. Otherwise, my father quickly would have indeed smelled my head, by bending me in affection.”

kva sa paanih sukha sparshah taatasya aklista karmanah |

yena maam rajasaa dhvastam abhiiksnam parimaarjati || 2-72-31

 “Where is the caressing hand of my dear father of unwearied action wipe away the dust with which I am covered?”

yo me bhraataa pitaa bandhur yasya daaso asmi dhiimatah |

tasya maam shiighram aakhyaahi raamasya aklista karmanah || 2-72-32

 “Announce soon about my arrival to Rama of immortal exploits, he who is a wise brother to me, my father, my friend and to whom I am a servant.”

pitaa hi bhavati jyestho dharmam aaryasya jaanatah |

tasya paadau grahiisyaami sa hi idaaniim gatir mama || 2-72-33

 “An elder brother indeed becomes a father for a faithful man who knows righteousness. I will grasp his feet in obeisance. He is indeed the refuge for me now.”

dharmaviddharmanityashca satyasandho dridhavratah |

aarye kim abraviid raajaa pitaa me satya vikramah || 2-72-34

 “What did my father the king, who know virtue , who was forever pious, who was true to his promise, who was strictly truthful, who was truly valiant and who was honorable, say?”

pashcimam saadhu samdesham icchaami shrotum aatmanah |

iti pristaa yathaa tattvam kaikeyii vaakyam abraviit || 2-72-35

 “I want to hear exactly the last message of my father to me.” Thus requested by Bharata, Kaikeyi spoke the following words in accordance with truth.

raama iti raajaa vilapan haa siite laksmana iti ca |

sa mahaatmaa param lokam gatah gatimataam varah || 2-72-36

That high soled king, who was excellent in understanding the Universal spirit, departed to the world, crying ‘O, Rama, O, Sita, O, Lakshmana!’

imaam tu pashcimaam vaacam vyaajahaara pitaa tava |

kaala dharma pariksiptah paashaih iva mahaa gajah || 2-72-37

 “Your father spoke the following last words also, when he was abandoned by the operation of time, like a huge elephant surrendered into a trap.”

siddha arthaah tu naraa raamam aagatam siitayaa saha |

laksmanam ca mahaa baahum draksyanti punar aagatam || 2-72-38

 “Those men who are able to see Rama returning Sita and the mighty armed Lakshmana are those who are fortunate enough”

tat shrutvaa visasaada eva dvitiiyaa priya shamsanaat |

visanna vadano bhuutvaa bhuuyah papraccha maataram || 2-72-39

Hearing the aforesaid pronouncement, which disclosed second unpleasant news, Bharata was dejected. Becoming gloomy faced, he once again asked his mother as follows:

kva ca idaaniim sa dharma aatmaa kausalya aananda vardhanah |

laksmanena saha bhraatraa siitayaa ca samam gatah || 2-72-40

 “Where did the virtuous Rama, who augments Kausalya’s delight, go now along with my brother Lakshmana and with Sita?”

tathaa pristaa yathaa tattvam aakhyaatum upacakrame |

maataa asya yugapad vaakyam vipriyam priya shankayaa || 2-72-41

Asked by Bharata in this manner, his mother started telling so greatly unpleasant words, exactly as it had happened, as though they were very pleasant words.

sa hi raaja sutah putra ciira vaasaa mahaa vanam |

dandakaan saha vaidehyaa laksmana anucarah gatah || 2-72-42

 “O, son! He, that prince Rama, wearing long narrow pieces of bark, went indeed to the great forest of Dandaka, followed by Lakshmana and also Sita.”

tat shrutvaa bharatah trastah bhraatuh caaritra shankayaa |

svasya vamshasya maahaatmyaat prastum samupacakrame || 2-72-43

Hearing these words, Bharata being aware of the glory of his race, doubted and feared whether Rama was sent to exile because of his unrighteous conduct, if any and again asked his mother as follows:

kaccin na braahmana vadham hritam raamena kasyacit |

kaccin na aadhyo daridrah vaa tena apaapo vihimsitah || 2-72-44

 “Has not Rama indeed stolen the wealth of some Brahmana? Has not he done any harm either to a rich or to a poor virtuous man?”

kaccin na para daaraan vaa raaja putrah abhimanyate |

kasmaat sa dandaka aranye bhruunahaa iva vivaasitah || 2-72-45

 “Has the prince indeed not longed for the wife of another? Why was my brother Rama expelled to the forest of Dandaka?”

atha asya capalaa maataa tat sva karma yathaa tatham |

tena eva strii svabhaavena vyaahartum upacakrame || 2-72-46

Thereafter his mother, an unsteady woman, on account of her feminine nature began to narrate her act which was the exact state of the case.

evamuktaa tu kaikeyii bharatena mahaatmanaa |

uvaaca vacanam hristaa muudhaa panditamaaninii || 2-72-47

Kaikeyi, a fool thing herself to be learned, after hearing the queries of the virtuous Bharata, delightfully spoke the following words:

na braahmana dhanam kimcidd hritam raamena kasyacit |

kashcin na aadhyo daridrah vaa tena apaapo vihimsitah || 2-72-48

na raamah para daaraamh ca caksurbhyaam api pashyati |

 “Not even a little of belonging to a Brahman was stolen by Rama,No harm was done by him either to a rich or to a poor virtuous man. Rama does not even look with his eyes, the wives of others.”

mayaa tu putra shrutvaa eva raamasya eva abhisecanam || 2-72-49

yaacitah te pitaa raajyam raamasya ca vivaasanam |

 “O, son! Immediately on hearing decidedly about the coronation ceremony of Rama by me then, I asked your father to bestow kingdom to you and for banishment of Rama to the forest”

sa sva vrittim samaasthaaya pitaa te tat tathaa akarot || 2-72-50

raamah ca saha saumitrih presitah saha siitayaa |

 “Submitting to his own decree, King Dasaratha, your father has done all that was requested by me. Rama along with Lakshmana and Sita too were sent into exile.”

tam apashyan priyam putram mahii paalo mahaa yashaah || 2-72-51

putra shoka paridyuunah pancatvam upapedivaan |

 “That beloved son having not been seen, the very celebrated monarch was made miserable by the grief for his son and obtained death”

tvayaa tu idaaniim dharmajna raajatvam avalambyataam || 2-72-52

tvat krite hi mayaa sarvam idam evam vidham kritam |

 “O, Bharata knowing righteousness! The king- ship may be taken charge by you now. All this was indeed done for your sake in this manner by me.”

maa shokam maa ca samtaapam dhairyamaashraya putraka || 2-72-53

tvadadhiinaa hi nagarii raajyam caitadanaamayam |

 “O, son! Do not dwell in grief and anguish. Dwell in courage. This city along with the salubrious kingdom indeed is subservient to you.”

tat putra shiighram vidhinaa vidhijnaih |

vasistha mukhyaih sahitah dvija indraih |

samkaalya raajaanam adiina sattvam |

aatmaanam urvyaam abhisecayasva || 2-72-54

 “Hence, meet the chiefs of Brahmanas like Vasishta and others who know the rituals, perform soon the sacred rites to the king and become crowned as a king yourself to the earth, being not depressed in spirit.

ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyaakaande dvisaptatitamah sargah

Thus completes 72nd Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate

References

K. M. K. Murthy. (1999). Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya.

Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com.

Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com.