The king-makers request Bharata to take over Ayodhya kingdom. Bharata refuses to do so and promises to bring back Rama to Ayodhya and make him only as the king. Bharata further orders for construction of a path-way to reach the forest.
Chapter [Sarga] 79 in Detail
tatah prabhaata samaye divase atha caturdashe |
sametya raaja kartaarah bharatam vaakyam abruvan || 2-79-1
Thereafter, early in the morning on the fourteenth day, the king-makers coming together, spoke to Bharata the following words.
gatah dasharathah svargam yo no gurutarah guruh |
raamam pravraajya vai jyestham laksmanam ca mahaa balam || 2-79-2
“Dasaratha, who was our highly venerable master, went to heaven after sending his elder son Rama and the exceedingly strong Lakshmana to forest.”
tvam adya bhava no raajaa raaja putra mahaa yashah |
samgatyaa na aparaadhnoti raajyam etat anaayakam || 2-79-3
“O, the highly illustrious prince! From now on, do you be our king. Fortunately, this kingdom has not yet missed the mark, even without a king.”
aabhisecanikam sarvam idam aadaaya raaghava |
pratiiksate tvaam sva janah shrenayah ca nripa aatmaja || 2-79-4
“O, prince Bharata! Taking all the things needed for coronation, your own people (the counselors and the ministers) as well as the citizens are awaiting for you.”
raajyam grihaana bharata pitri paitaamaham mahat |
abhisecaya ca aatmaanam paahi ca asmaan nara risabha || 2-79-5
“O, Bharata the excellent among men! Take over the stable kingdom, which came in succession from your ancestors, coronate yourself and rule us.”
aabhisecanikam bhaandam kritvaa sarvam pradaksinam |
bharatah tam janam sarvam pratyuvaaca dhrita vratah || 2-79-6
The firmly resolute Bharata performed circumambulation clockwise around all the things kept ready for consecration and replied to all those people as follows:
jyesthasya raajataa nityam ucitaa hi kulasya nah |
na evam bhavantah maam vaktum arhanti kushalaa janaah || 2-79-7
“It is indeed appropriate to bestow kingship always to the eldest of our clan. You, being the conversant people, ought not to tell in this manner to me.”
raamah puurvo hi no bhraataa bhavisyati mahii patih |
aham tu aranye vatsyaami varsaani nava panca ca || 2-79-8
“Our eldest brother, Rama will become the king. I then will reside in the forest for fourteen years.”
yujyataam mahatii senaa catur anga mahaa balaa |
aanayisyaamy aham jyestham bhraataram raaghavam vanaat || 2-79-9
“Let a great and exceptionally powerful army consisting of all the four limbs be kept ready. I shall bring Rama our elder brother from the forest.”
aabhisecanikam caiva sarvam etat upaskritam |
purah kritya gamisyaami raama hetor vanam prati || 2-79-10
“Keeping in front, all the assembled requisites needed for consecration, I shall proceed to the forest for the sake of bringing back Rama.”
tatra eva tam nara vyaaghram abhisicya purah kritam |
aanesyaami tu vai raamam havya vaaham iva adhvaraat || 2-79-11
“Consecrating him, the tiger among men there itself, I shall surely bring Rama solemnized in front, as bringing home the sacred fire from a sacrificial rite, after performing it outside the city.”
na sakaamaa karisyaami svam imaam maatri gandhiniim |
vane vatsyaamy aham durge raamah raajaa bhavisyati || 2-79-12
“I shall not make her, my so-called mother, fulfil her desire. I will reside in the impassable forest. Rama will become the king.”
kriyataam shilpibhih panthaah samaani visamaani ca |
raksinah ca anusamyaantu pathi durga vicaarakaah || 2-79-13
“Let a path-way be prepared by those skilled in that profession, by leveling the uneven surfaces. Let guards who can easily move in the inaccessible forests accompany us in the path.”
evam sambhaasamaanam tam raama hetor nripa aatmajam |
pratyuvaaca janah sarvah shriimad vaakyam anuttamam || 2-79-14
Hearing Prince Bharata, talking in consideration of Rama’s cause, all the people replied in the following illustrious and excellent words:
evam te bhaasamaanasya padmaa shriir upatisthataam |
yah tvam jyesthe nripa sute prithiviim daatum icchasi || 2-79-15
“Let the gracious goddess of prosperity abide with you, who are speaking thus, desirous of giving kingdom to Rama the eldest son of the king.”
anuttamam tat vacanam nripa aatmaja |
prabhaasitam samshravane nishamya ca |
praharsajaah tam prati baaspa bindavo |
nipetur aarya aanana netra sambhavaah || 2-79-16
Hearing those excellent words spoken by the prince close to their ears, tears born of joy fell from the face and eyes of those venerable men.
uucus te vacanam idam nishamya hristaah |
saamaatyaah saparisado viyaata shokaah |
panthaanam nara vara bhaktimaan janah ca |
vyaadistah tava vacanaac ca shilpi vargah || 2-79-17
Hearing these words, the people there along with council and the ministers felt cheerful, being relieved of their anxiety and spoke the following words: “As per your command, devoted men and a group of artisans have been instructed to make the path-way.”
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyaakaande ekonaashiititamah sargah
Thus completes 79th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate