Keeping Rama's sandals on his head, Bharata ascends his chariot along with Shatrughna. Bharata advances along with his troops along side the mountain of Chitrakuta. On the way, he beholds Bharadwaja’s hermitage and meets the sage. Bharata informs the sage about the insistence of Rama to stay back in the forest for fourteen years so as to honor the promise of his father scrupulously and also Vashishta’s advice to Rama to offer his sandals to Bharata, to ensure peace and harmony in Ayodhya.
Chapter [Sarga] 113 in Detail
tatah shirasi kritvaa tu paaduke bharatah tadaa |
aaruroha ratham hrishtah shatrughnena samanvitah || 2-113-1
Thereafter, keeping the sandals on his head, Bharata delightfully ascended his chariot along with Shatrughna.
vasishtho vaamadevah ca jaabaalih ca dridha vratah |
agratah prayayuh sarve mantrino mantra puujitaah || 2-113-2
Before him, Vasishta, Vasudeva of firm vows, Jabali and all the ministers distinguished for their counsels, went ahead.
mandaakiniim nadiim ramyaam praan mukhaah te yayuh tadaa |
pradakshinam ca kurvaanaah citra kuutam mahaa girim || 2-113-3
Them, they advanced eastwards, by the charming Mandakini River, after making a round of Chitrakuta Mountain.
pashyan dhaatu sahasraani ramyaani vividhaani ca |
prayayau tasya paarshvena sasainyo bharatah tadaa || 2-113-4
Observing various types of thousands of enchanting rocks, Bharata advanced along with his troops along the side of the mountain.
aduuraac citra kuutasya dadarsha bharatah tadaa |
aashramam yatra sa munir bharadvaajah krita aalayah || 2-113-5
In the vicinity of Chitrakuta Mountain, Bharata saw a hermitage where the sage Bharadwaja resided.
sa tam aashramam aagamya bharadvaajasya buddhimaan |
avatiirya rathaat paadau vavande kula nandanah || 2-113-6
Then, that Bharata endowed with understanding reached that hermitage of Bharadwaja, descended from his chariot and bowed down to the feet of Bharadwaja in salutation.
tato hrishto bharadvaajo bharatam vaakyam abraviit |
api krityam kritam taata raamena ca samaagatam || 2-113-7
The, Bharadvaja full of joy, enquired of Bharata saying, "O, dear prince! Has your purpose been accomplished? Have you met Rama?"
evam uktah tu bharato bharadvaajena dhiimataa |
pratyuvaaca bharadvaajam bharato dharma vatsalah || 2-113-8
Hearing the words of the learned sage, Bharadvaja, Bharata who was affectionate towards his brothers, replied to Bharadvaja (as follows)
sa yaacyamaano gurunaa mayaa ca dridha vikramah |
raaghavah parama priito vasishtham vaakyam abraviit || 2-113-9
Despite the entreaties of his preceptor and of mine, Rama is unshakeable in his resolve and most cheerfully spoke the following words to Vasishta.
pituh pratijnaam taam eva paalayishyaami tattvatah |
caturdasha hi varshaani ya pratijnaa pitur mama || 2-113-10
"I shall honor the promise of my father scrupulously and reside in the forest for fourteen years as I promised him."
evam ukto mahaa praajno vasishthah pratyuvaaca ha |
vaakyajno vaakya kushalam raaghavam vacanam mahat || 2-113-11
Hearing the words of Rama, the highly wise Vasishta, the knower of proper mode of expression, replied to Rama who is the most skilful of orators, in the following great words:
ete prayagcca samhrishtah paaduke hema bhuushite |
ayodhyaayaam mahaa praajna yoga kshema kare tava || 2-113-12
"O, the extremely sagacious prince! Bestow joyfully thse gold-encrusted sandals of yours on us and ensure peace and harmony in Ayodhya."
evam ukto vasishthena raaghavah praan mukhah sthitah |
paaduke hema vikrite mama raajyaaya te dadau || 2-113-13
"Hearing the words of Vasishta, Rama stood up and turning to the East, placed his feet in those sandals and gave them to me as a sign of regency."
nivritto aham anujnaato raamena sumahaatmanaa |
ayodhyaam eva gagccaami grihiitvaa paaduke shubhe || 2-113-14
"Having taken leave of the very high-souled Rama, I turned back after receiving the auspicious sandals. Now, I am proceeding to Ayodhya."
etat shrutvaa shubham vaakyam bharatasya mahaatmanah |
bharadvaajah shubhataram munir vaakyam udaaharat || 2-113-15
Hearing those auspicious words of the high-souled Bharata, the sage Bharadvaja spoke to him the following words.
na etac citram nara vyaaghra shiila vrittavataam vara |
yad aaryam tvayi tishthet tu nimne vrishtim iva udakam || 2-113-16
"O Bharata the Tiger among men and excellent among those having virtue and good conduct! There is no surprise that a noble trait prevails in you, as naturally as the water allowed to go, always settles downwards."
amritah sa mahaa baahuh pitaa dasharathah tava |
yasya tvam iidrishah putro dharma aatmaa dharma vatsalah || 2-113-17
"Your valiant father, Dasaratha, is immortal in having such a son as you are the knower of righteousness and loving piety."
tam rishim tu mahaatmaanam ukta vaakyam krita anjalih |
aamantrayitum aarebhe caranaau upagrihya ca || 2-113-18
Hearing the words of that sage, Bharata with his joined palms, touched his feet in salutation and began taking leave from him.
tatah pradakshinam kritvaa bharadvaajam punah punah |
bharatah tu yayau shriimaan ayodhyaam saha mantribhih || 2-113-19
Then, the glorious Bharata made circumambulation again and again to Bharadwaja and proceeded to Ayodhya along with his ministers.
yaanaih ca shakataih caiva hayaih naagaih ca saa camuuh |
punar nivrittaa vistiirnaa bharatasya anuyaayinii || 2-113-20
That extensive army of Bharata, following him with vehicles, carts and elephants, turned back again towards Ayodhya.
tatah te yamunaam divyaam nadiim tiirtvaa uurmi maaliniim |
dadrishuh taam punah sarve gangaam shiva jalaam nadiim || 2-113-21
Thereafter, all of them crossed the charming River Yamuna wreathed with waves and moreover saw the River Ganga with its pure water.
taam ramya jala sampuurnaam samtiirya saha baandhavah |
shringa vera puram ramyam pravivesha sasainikah || 2-113-22
shringa vera puraad bhuuya ayodhyaam samdadarsha ha |
Bharata accompanied by his relative and his army crossed that River Ganga, full of charming waters and entered the beautiful town of Shringibhera. From Shringibhera, he saw Ayodhya again.
ayodhyaam cha tato dristvaa pitraa bhraatraa vivarjitaam |
bharato duhkha samtaptah saarathim ca idam abraviit || 2-113-23
Beholding the City of Ayodhya, which was bereft of his father and brother, Bharata tormented with grief, spoke the following words to the charioteer:
saarathe pashya vidhvastaa ayodhyaa na prakaashate |
niraakaaraa niraanandaa diinaa pratihata svanaa || 2-113-24
"O, Charioteer! See that Ayodhya city, ruined, with a vacant look, joyless, miserable, and with an impeded voice."
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyaakaande rayodashottarashatatamah sargah
Thus completes 113th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate