Bharata instructs Shatrughna and Guha along with some troops each to search for Rama and Lakshmana in the forest. Bharata, personally, along with his ministers citizens and priests, proceed on foot to some other side of the forest for the search. He goes through the forest for some time. Climbing up a sala tree, Bharata observes a plume of smoke at a distance and conjectures that place as Rama's hermitage. Bharata quickly proceeds with quick steps, along with Guha, to see Rama.
Chapter [Sarga] 98 in Detail
niveshya senaam tu vibhuh padbhyaam paadavataam varah |
abhigantum sa kaakutstham iyesha guru vartakam || 2-98-1
After encamping the army, the mighty Bharata the excellent among men, sought to approach on foot, Rama who was complying with the words of his father.
nivishta maatre sainye tu yathaa uddesham viniitavat |
bharato bhraataram vaakyam shatrughnam idam abraviit || 2-98-2
Soon after encamping the army in a well-behaved manner per the guidelines, Bharata spoke the following words to Shatrughna:
kshipram vanam idam saumya nara samghaih samantatah |
lubdhaih ca sahitair ebhih tvam anveshitum arhasi || 2-98-3
"O, gentle brother! You, along with a troop of men and trackers, ought to search on all sides of this forest."
guho jjnaatisahasrena sharachaapaasidhaarinaa |
samanvesatu kaakutthsamasmin parivritah svayam || 2-98-4
"Let Guha search for Rama and Lakshmana in this forest, himself accompanied by a multitude of his kinsmen, duly wielding their bows, arrows and swords."
amaatyaih saha pauraishcha gurubhishcha dvijaatibhih |
vanam sarvam charisyaami padbhyaam parivritah svayam || 2-98-5
"I too, surrounded by the ministers, citizens, priests and Brahmanas; shall personally go round the entire forest on foot.
yaavan na raamam drakshyaami lakshmanam vaa mahaa balam |
vaidehiim vaa mahaa bhaagaam na me shaantir bhavishyati || 2-98-6
"Peace will not be with me until I do not see Rama or the very mighty Lakshmana or the illustrious Seetha."
yaavan na candra samkaasham drakshyaami shubham aananam |
bhraatuh padma palaasha aksham na me shaantir bhavishyati || 2-98-7
"Peace will not be with me until I do not see the auspicious face of my elder brother, resembling the moon and having eyes bearing resemblance to lotus-leaves.
yaavan na caranau bhraatuh paarthiva vyanjana anvitau |
shirasaa dhaarayishyaami na me shaantir bhavishyati || 2-98-8
"Peace will not be with me until I do not hold firmly on my head, the soles of my elder brother, bearing royal insignia.
yaavan raajye raajya arhah pitri paitaamahe sthitah |
abhisheka jala klinno na me shaantir bhavishyati || 2-98-9
"Peace will not come to me until my elder brother, who is eligible for the crown, is not installed in the kingdom of Ayodhya, which was derived from our father and grand father and consecrated by sprinkling water on his head (as a symbol of crowing the kingdom)."
siddhaarthah khalu saumitriryashchandravimalovamam |
mukham pashyati raamasya raajiivaaksam mahaadyuti || 2-98-10
"Lakshmana, who is seeing regularly the face of Rama having a great luminance resembling the bright moon and having lotus eyes, is indeed an accomplished man."
krita krityaa mahaa bhaagaa vaidehii janaka aatmajaa |
bhartaaram saagara antaayaah prithivyaa yaa anugagccati || 2-98-11
"Seetha, the illustrious daughter of Janaka, who is following the steps of Rama the Lord of the earth extending to the sea, has fulfilled her object."
subhagah citra kuuto asau giri raaja upamo girih |
yasmin vasati kaakutsthah kubera iva nandane || 2-98-12
"That enchanting mountain of Chitrakuta resembles the King of Mountains on which Rama is residing, as Kubera the Lord of riches is living in the garden of Nandana."
krita kaaryam idam durgam vanam vyaala nishevitam |
yad adhyaaste mahaa tejaa raamah shastrabhritaam varah || 2-98-13
"Blessed is this dense forest, inhabited by wild animals, where Rama, the great warrior and the excellent man among the wielders of weapons, dwells."
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyakaande astanavatitamah sargah
Thus completes 98th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate