Bharata replies that it is an established practice for the eldest son to become a king and requests Rama to come to Ayodhya and get crowned in the kingdom for the welfare of Ikshvaku race. Bharata requests Rama to offer traditional libations of water to their deceased father, who died with the thought of Rama alone, absorbed in his mind.
Chapter [Sarga] 102 in Detail
raamasya vachanam shrutvaa bharatah pratyuvaacha ha |
kim me dharmaadvihiinasya raajadharmah karisyati || 2-102-1
Hearing Rama's words, Bharata replied as follows: "What will the discharge of royal duties amount to me, who is outside of that code?"
shaashvato.ayam sadaa dhramah sthito.asmaasu nararsabha |
jesthaputre sthte raajan na kaniiyaan nripo bhavet || 2-102-2
"O, the foremost of men! O, Majesty! It has been ever the established tradition in us that while the elder son is there, the younger one cannot become a king."
sa samriddhaam mayaa saardhamayodhyaam gachchha raaghava |
abhisechaya chaatmaanam kulasyaasya bhavaaya nah ||2-102-3
"O, Rama! Therefore, come to the prosperous Ayodhya along with me and get anointed in kingdom for the welfare of our race."
raajaanam maanusam praahurdevatve sammato mama |
yasya dharmaarthasahitam vrittamaahuramaanusam || 2-102-4
"The king, whom people speak of as a human being and whose conduct is in conformity with righteousness and worldly prosperity, they declare as super- human, is conceded by me as a god-head."
kekayasthe cha mayi tu tvayi chaaranyamaashrite |
divamaaryo gato raajaa yaayajuukah sataam matah || 2-102-5
"While I was there in Kekaya kingdom and you had proceeded tot he forest, the king Dasaratha, the revered one who was given to the performance of sacrifices and was honored by the virtuous, has gone to heaven."
niskraantamaatre bhavati sahasiite salakshmane |
duhkhashokaabhibhuutastu raajaa tridivamabhyagaat || 2-102-6
"Hardly were you gone with Seetha and Lakshmana, than the king succumbed to misfortune and grief and ascended to the most sacred heaven."
uttistha purusavyaaghra kriyataamudakam pituh |
aham chaayam cha shatrughnah puurvameva kritodakau || 2-102-7
"Arise, O the Tiger among men! Let the traditional libations of water be offered to our father. Shatrughna and I have previously done it."
priyena khalu dattam hi pitrilokesu raaghava |
akshayyam bhavatiityaahurbhavaamshchaiva pituh priyah || 2-102-8
"O, Rama! It is said that the one given by an affectionate son becomes measureless and you undoubtedly are beloved to our father."
tvaameva shochamstava darshanepsuh |
tvayeva saktaamanivartya buddhim |
tvayaa vihiinastava shokamagna |
stvaam samsmarannastamitah pitaa te || 2-102-9
"Entirely abandoned by you, lamenting about you, desirous of beholding you, being not able to turn away his mind absorbed in you alone, immersed in grief of you and recollecting you, your father died."
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyaakaande duvyttarashatatamah sargah
Thus completes 102nd Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate