Bharata requests Rama, giving various reasons, to accept the throne of Ayodhya. He abuses his deceased father for having transgressed the righteousness merely for a fear of wrath from Kaikeyi and requests Rama to reverse that transgression of righteousness. Bharata takes a vow not to return to Ayodhya but to continue to stay in the forest in case Rama did not heed to his request. Rama's mothers also join Bharata and urge Rama to grant his request, when they find Rama lukewarm in the matter and insistent on implementing the words of his deceased father.
Chapter [Sarga] 106 in Detail
evam uktvaa tu virate raame vacanam arthavat |
tato mandaakiniitiire raamam prakritivatsalam || 2-106-1
uvaaca bharatah citram dhaarmiko dhaarmikam vacah |
When Rama thus kept silent after uttering those meaningful words as aforesaid, the pious Bharata for his part addressed to virtuous Rama who was fond of people conformable to justice at the banks of that River Mandakini.
ko hi syaad iidrisho loke yaadrishah tvam arim dama || 2-106-2
na tvaam pravyathayed duhkham priitir vaa na praharshayet |
sammatah ca asi vriddhaanaam taamh ca prigccasi samshayaan || 2-106-3
"Who, in this world, is endowed with such qualities like you, O annihilator of enemies! Neither does sorrow disturb you nor does joy enrapture you. You are highly honored by elders and you clarify your doubts from them.
yathaa mritah tathaa jiivan yathaa asati tathaa sati |
yasya esha budhdi laabhah syaat paritapyeta kena sah || 2-106-4
"By what should he be moved, who looks on life and death, misfortune or prosperity with an equal eye?"
paraavarajjno yashcha syaat yathaa tvam manujaadhipa |
sa evam vyasanam praapya na vishiiditum arhati || 2-106-5
"O, King! He who knows the totality of time as you do ought not to feel despondent even on meeting with adversity."
amara upama sattvah tvam mahaatmaa satya samgarah |
sarvajnah sarva darshii ca buddhimaamh ca asi raaghava || 2-106-6
"O, the magnanimous Rama! you are equally strong as celestials. You are true to your promise, all-knowing, all-viewing and endowed with understanding."
na tvaam evam gunair yuktam prabhava abhava kovidam |
avishahyatamam duhkham aasaadayitum arhati || 2-106-7
"Even the most fearful calamity ought not to attack you, endowed as you are, with such attributes; and recognizing the birth and end of all beings."
proshite mayi yat paapam maatraa mat kaaranaat kritam |
kshudrayaa tad anishtam me prasiidatu bhavaan mama || 2-106-8
"The sinful deed, committed by my mean mother for my sake during my absence, was not to my liking. (Hence) be gracious to me."
dharma bandhena baddho asmi tena imaam na iha maataram |
hanmi tiivrena dandena danda arhaam paapa kaariniim || 2-106-9
"I am bound by the chains of morality. For that reason, I do not kill with a severe punishment, my mother who was of perverse conduct and worthy of retribution."
katham dasharathaaj jaatah shuddha abhijana karmanah |
jaanan dharmam adharmishtham kuryaam karma jugupsitam || 2-106-10
"How can I, born of Dasaratha of noble birth and deeds and conversant of right and wrong, do the most wicked and horrible act?"
guruh kriyaavaan vriddhah ca raajaa pretah pitaa iti ca |
taatam na parigarheyam daivatam ca iti samsadi || 2-106-11
"The King Dasaratha was my preceptor, had several sacrificial performances to his credit was aged, was my father, equal to a deity and is now dead. Hence, I cannot reproach him in an open assembly."
ko hi dharma arthayor hiinam iidrisham karma kilbisham |
striyaah priya cikiirshuh san kuryaad dharmajna dharmavit || 2-106-12
"O Rama the knower of piety! What man, who knows the principles of righteousness, would commit such an improper act, bereft of one's interest and duty, in order just to please a woman?"
anta kaale hi bhuutaani muhyanti iti puraa shrutih |
raajnaa evam kurvataa loke pratyakshaa saa shrutih kritaa || 2-106-13
"There is an ancient saying that at the time of death, beings lose their judgment. The king, acting as he did, has made this saying indeed true in the eyes of the world."
saadhu artham abhisamdhaaya krodhaan mohaac ca saahasaat |
taatasya yad atikraantam pratyaaharatu tad bhavaan || 2-106-14
"This transgression of righteousness was done by our father for fear of anger (of Kaikeyi) or through infatuation and over-haste. You do keep in view a noble purpose and reverse that transgression."
pitur hi samatikraantam putro yah saadhu manyate |
tad apatyam matam loke vipariitam ato anyathaa || 2-106-15
"A son who honors only a good deviation (from righteousness) of a father is accepted as a real son in this world. He who acts otherwise than this would be facing a quite reverse situation."
tad apatyam bhavaan astu maa bhavaan dushkritam pituh |
abhipat tat kritam karma loke dhiira vigarhitam || 2-106-16
"You be that real son. Do not lend yourself to the infamous act, committed by our father, which in this world, confident men freely condemn."
kaikeyiim maam ca taatam ca suhrido baandhavaamh ca nah |
paura jaanapadaan sarvaamh traatu sarvam idam bhavaan || 2-106-17
"Save Kaikeyi and me, our father, our friends, our relatives, all the urbanites and the villagers as well as the entire kingdom."
kva ca aranyam kva ca kshaatram kva jataah kva ca paalanam |
iidrisham vyaahatam karma na bhavaan kartum arhati || 2-106-18
"Where is the forest and where is the princely dignity? Where is the matted hair and where is the protection of a kingdom? You ought not to do such a contradictory act."
esa hi prathamo dharmah ksatriyasyaabhisechanam |
yena shakyam mahaapraajjn prajaanaam paripaalanam 2-106-19
"O, the highly enlightened hero! The first duty of a warrior is indeed to get crowned, so that he may then protect his subjects."
kashcha pratyaksamutsrijya samshayasthamalaksanam |
aayatistham chareddharmam ksatrabandhuranishchitam 2-106-20
"Which man of warrior-caste would set aside his manifest [obvious] duty and practice a virtue that gives doubtful result, which does not promise happiness, which has a mental restraint and which is uncertain?"
atha kleshajam eva tvam dharmam caritum igccasi |
dharmena caturo varnaan paalayan klesham aapnuhi || 2-106-21
"If you desire to pursue a virtue alone; although born of pain, then take pains while protecting the four castes as per tradition, by recourse to righteousness."
caturnaam aashramaanaam hi gaarhasthyam shreshtham aashramam |
paahur dharmajna dharmajnaah tam katham tyaktum arhasi || 2-106-22
"O, Rama the knower of righteousness! The knower of what is right indeed tell that the life of a house-holder is the noblest of all the four* stages of life. How can you abandon it?"
shrutena baalah sthaanena janmanaa bhavato hy aham |
sa katham paalayishyaami bhuumim bhavati tishthati || 2-106-23
"I am indeed junior to you in the point of learning, situation and by birth. How should I rule the earth, while still you are living?"
hiina buddhi guno baalo hiinah sthaanena ca apy aham |
bhavataa ca vinaa bhuuto na vartayitum utsahe || 2-106-24
"I, a mere child, who am devoted of intelligence and virtues besides placed in an inferior position, cannot even live without you."
idam nikhilam avyagram pitryam raajyam akantakam |
anushaadhi svadharmena dharmajna saha baandhavaih || 2-106-25
"O, Rama the knower of righteousness! Rule this entire kingdom belonging to your father, without distraction, without hindrance and as per the conduct prescribed for you along with your relatives."
iha eva tvaa abhishincantu dharmajna saha baandhavaih |
ritvijah savasishthaah ca mantravan mantra kovidaah || 2-106-26
"Let all the king's ministers along with Vasishta and other priests well-versed in sacred formulas, crown you, the knower of sacred texts, here itself."
abhishiktah tvam asmaabhir ayodhyaam paalane vraja |
vijitya tarasaa lokaan marudbhir iva vaasavah || 2-106-27
"You, having been crowned thus, may proceed to Ayodhya along with us to rule it, like Indra the Lord of celestials, having conquered all the worlds with his might, proceeds to his kingdom along with celestials."
rinaani triiny apaakurvan durhridah saadhu nirdahan |
suhridah tarpayan kaamaih tvam eva atra anushaadhi maam || 2-106-28
"You shall discharge the three obligations subdue all the enemies, gratify the wishes of all your friends and you alone rule me in Ayodhya."
adya aarya muditaah santu suhridah te abhishecane |
adya bhiitaah paalayantaam durhridah te disho dasha || 2-106-29
"O, noble brother! May your friends rejoice today at your enthronement [to seat ceremonially on a throne]. May your enemies, full of terror, flee today to the ten quarters."
aakrosham mama maatuh ca pramrijya purusha rishabha |
adya tatra bhavantam ca pitaram raksha kilbishaat || 2-106-30
"O, excellent among men! Wipe off my mother's curse today and protect our venerable father from his sin."
shirasaa tvaa abhiyaace aham kurushva karunaam mayi |
baandhaveshu ca sarveshu bhuuteshu iva mahaa iishvarah || 2-106-31
"I request you by bowing my head before you. Show compassion on me and on all our relatives as Lord Shiva (the Supreme Deity) on all beings."
atha vaa prishthatah kritvaa vanam eva bhavaan itah |
gamishyati gamishyaami bhavataa saardham apy aham || 2-106-32
"Else if you disregard my entire request and move again into the forest form here, I too will go along with you."
tathaapi raamo bharatena taamyata |
prasaadyamaanah shirasaa mahii patih |
na caiva cakre gamanaaya sattvavaan |
matim pituh tad vacane pratishthitah || 2-106-33
Even while being propitiated by Bharata as above, by bowing his head duly sinking in his spirit, the illustrious Rama, the Lord of the earth was still abiding in the words of his father and did not feel inclined to return to Ayodhya.
tad adbhutam sthairyam avekshya raaghave |
samam jano harsham avaapa duhkhitah |
na yaaty ayodhyaam iti duhkhito abhavat |
sthira pratijnatvam avekshya harshitah || 2-106-34
Seeing that wonderful staunchness in Rama, the people of Ayodhya felt sorrowful and at the same time, experienced joy. They became distressed that he was not going to Ayodhya and felt rejoiced to see his firmness of resolve.
tam ritvijo naigama yuutha vallabhaah |
tathaa visamjnaa ashru kalaah ca maatarah |tathaa bruvaanam bharatam
ratushtuvuh |
pranamya raamam ca yayaacire saha || 2-106-35
The priests, citizens and elders of that multitude as well as Queens, distracted and weeping bitterly, acclaimed Bharata who was then speaking thus, duly prostrating himself before Rama and added their supplications to Rama.
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyaakaande saduttarashatatamah sargah
Thus completes 106th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate