Bharata observes various signs, proving Rama's hermitage in the vicinity of his place of search. After proceeding for a distance, Bharata beholds Rama's hermitage and Rama too seated in the hut, wearing matted locks. Bharata laments on Rama's misfortune of living as an ascetic Bharata and Shatrughna throw themselves on Rama's feet in salutation. Rama embraces them both.
Chapter [Sarga] 99 in Detail
nivishtaayaam tu senaayaam utsuko bharatah tadaa |
jagaama bhraataram drashtum shatrughnam anudarshayan || 2-99-1
Having stationed his forces, Bharata set out eagerly to see his brother, pointing out the sign of Rama's habitation to Shatrughna.
rishim vasishtham samdishya maatririr me shiighram aanaya |
iti taritam agre sa jaagama guru vatsalah || 2-99-2
Bharata, who was affectionate towards the elders, asked the sage Vasishta to bring his mothers soon thereafter and went ahead quickly.
sumantrah tu api shatughnam aduuraad anvapadyata |
raama daarshanajah tarsho bharatasya iva tasya ca || 2-99-3
Sumantra also, equally desirous of seeing Rama; followed Shatrughna at a little distance.
gagccann eva atha bharatah taapasa aalaya samsthitaam |
bhraatuh parna kutiim shriimaan utajam ca dadarsha ha || 2-99-4
While the illustrious Bharata passed on, he observed in that wood of ascetics, a leafy hut of his brother together with a small hut made of leaves, nearby.
shaalaayaah tu agratah tasyaa dadarsha bharatah tadaa |
kaashtaani ca avabhagnaani pushpaany avacitaani ca || 2-99-5
Bharata then beheld wood that had been broken up and heaps of flowers gathered in front of that hermitage.
sa lakshmanasya raamasya dadarshaashramamiiyusah |
kritam vriksesvabhijjnaanam kushachiiraih kvachit kvachit || 2-99-6
While coming to the hermitage, Bharata saw some signs here and there serving as a proper direction to that hermitage, tufts of Kusha grass and strips of bark tied to the trees by Rama and Lakshmana.
sa dadarsha vane tasmin mahatah samcayaan kritaan |
mrigaanaam mahishaanaam ca kariishaih shiita kaaranaat || 2-99-7
Bharata also saw in the vicinity great heaps of dried dung of deers and buffaloes, kept ready for protection against cold.
gagccan eva mahaa baahur dyutimaan bharatah tadaa |
shatrughnam ca abraviidd hrishtah taan amaatyaamh ca sarvashah || 2-99-8
Then, proceeding further, the valiant and the mighty armed Bharata spoke to Shatrughna in joy, as also those ministers who surrounded him.
manye praaptaah sma tam desham bharadvaajo yam abraviit |
na atiduure hi manye aham nadiim mandaakiniim itah || 2-99-9
"I think we have reached the place about which Bharadwaja directed us. I believe Mandakini River is not far from here."
uccair baddhaani ciiraani lakshmanena bhaved ayam |
abhijnaana kritah panthaa vikaale gantum igccataa || 2-99-10
"These pieces of bark have been tied up from above. This may be the path provided as signs by Lakshmana in order to find his way back in odd hours of darkness."
idam ca udaatta dantaanaam kunjaraanaam tarasvinaam |
shaila paarshve parikraantam anyonyam abhigarjataam || 2-99-11
"At the side of the mountain, this is a roaming place of elephants, having huge teeth, violent as they are and ferociously roaring at each other."
yam eva aadhaatum igccanti taapasaah satatam vane |
tasya asau drishyate dhuumah samkulah krishta vartmanah || 2-99-12
"See this intense smoke coming from that fire which the sages in the forest always desire to keep in their hermitages."
atra aham purusha vyaaghram guru satkaara kaarinam |
aaryam drakshyaami samhrishto maharshim iva raaghavam || 2-99-13
"Here, I can see joyfully Rama, the tiger among men, who gives respect to elders and is as venerable as a sage."
atha gatvaa muhuurtam tu citra kuutam sa raaghavah |
mandaakiniim anupraaptah tam janam ca idam abraviit || 2-99-14
Proceeding for a while on Chitrakuta mountain and reaching the River Mandakini, that Bharata said to his ministers and others as follows:
jagatyaam purusha vyaaghra aaste viira aasane ratah |
jana indro nirjanam praapya dhin me janma sajiivitam || 2-99-15
"The foremost of men and the Lord of the people, having sought seclusion, sat on the floor, delighted as he was in the posture of a hero (with his left foot placed on his right knee). O Fie unto my birth and life!"
mat krite vyasanam praapto loka naatho mahaa dyutih |
sarvaan kaamaan parityajya vane vasati raaghavah || 2-99-16
"Rama the Lord of Men with great luster, has been overtaken by this misfortune because of me and leaving all enjoyments, is living in the forest."
iti loka samaakrushtah paadeshu adya prasaadayan |
raamasya nipatishyaami siitaayaah ca punah punah || 2-99-17
"Thus abhorred [hated] by the world, I will fall on the feet of Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana and seek to regain Rama's grace."
evam sa vilapamh tasmin vane dasharatha aatmajah |
dadarsha mahatiim punyaam parna shaalaam mano ramaam || 2-99-18
saala taala ashva karnaanaam parnair bahubhir aavritaam |
vishaalaam mridubhih tiirnaam kushair vedim iva adhvare || 2-99-19
shakra aayudha nikaashaih ca kaarmukair bhaara saadhanaih |
rukma prishthair mahaa saaraih shobhitaam shatru baadhakaih || 2-99-20
arka rashmi pratiikaashair ghoraih tuunii gataih sharaih |
shobhitaam diipta vadanaih sarpair bhogavatiim iva || 2-99-21
mahaa rajata vaasobhyaam asibhyaam ca viraajitaam |
rukma bindu vicitraabhyaam carmabhyaam ca api shobhitaam || 2-99-22
godhaa angulitrair aasaaktaih citraih kaancana bhuushitaih |
ari samghair anaadhrishyaam mrigaih simha guhaam iva || 2-99-23
As Bharata was lamenting thus, he beheld in that forest, a splendid and sacred leafy hut, which was covered with many soft leaves of Sala, Tala and Asvakarna trees, overspread with blades of Kusa grass in a sacrificial performance, appearing like an extensive altar and it was adorned with bows plated with gold, like unto the weapons of Indra the Lord of celestials, constructed for heroic exploits, having great power, the torments of their foes, graced with fearful arrows in their quivers, like unto the rays of the sun, bright as serpents with shining hoods, in the same way of Bhagavati (the realm of Nagas), decked with a couple of swords encased in sheaths of gold, adorned with two shields decorated with flowers of gold, finger-guards embroidered with gold and in different colors suspended on walls and which hut was unassailable by hordes of enemies as is a lion's cave to deer.
praag udak sravanaam vedim vishaalaam diipta paavakaam |
dadarsha bharatah tatra punyaam raama niveshane || 2-99-24
Bharata saw a sacrificial altar in the north-east corner having a steep descent, extensive in area and having a sacred fire burned in the hermitage of Rama.
niriikshya sa muhuurtam tu dadarsha bharato gurum |
utaje raamam aasiinaam jataa mandala dhaarinam || 2-99-25
Looking around for a moment, Bharata beheld his elder brother, Rama himself seated in the hut, wearing matted locks.
tam tu krishna ajina dharam ciira valkala vaasasam |
dadarsha raamam aasiinam abhitah paavaka upamam || 2-99-26
simha skandham mahaa baahum pundariika nibha iikshanam |
prithivyaah sagara antaayaa bhartaaram dharma caarinam || 2-99-27
upavishtam mahaa baahum brahmaanam iva shaashvatam |
sthandile darbha sasmtiirne siitayaa lakshmanena ca || 2-99-28
Bharata saw that Rama clad in an antelope-skin and robes of bark, seated close by, resembling a fire (in brilliance), with the neck and shoulders of a lion, mighty arms and eyes resembling the lotus, the very virtuous Lord of the Earth extending upto the ocean, the Eternal Brahma, and seated on the ground spread with Darbha grass, with Seetha and Lakshmana.
tam drishtvaa bharatah shriimaan duhkha moha pariplutah |
abhyadhaavata dharma aatmaa bharatah kaikayii sutah || 2-99-29
Beholding him, the illustrious and the high-souled Bharata the son of Kaikeyi distraught by the grief that possessed him, rushed towards Rama.
drishtvaa ca vilalaapa aarto baashpa samdigdhayaa giraa |
ashaknuvan dhaarayitum dhairyaad vacanam abraviit || 2-99-30
"My elder brother, who is fit to be honored in an assembly by a body of ministers around him, is now being served by a body of wild beasts around him in this jungle."
yah samsadi prakritibhir bhaved yukta upaasitum |
vanyair mrigair upaasiinah so ayam aaste mama agrajah || 2-99-31
"My elder brother, who is fit to be honored in an assembly by a body of ministers around him, is now being served by a body of wild beasts around him in this jungle."
vaasobhir bahu saahasrair yo mahaatmaa pura ucitah |
mriga ajine so ayam iha pravaste dharmam aacaran || 2-99-32
"That magnanimous hero, who formerly used to possess countless articles of apparel, is now wearing two antelope-skins, following ascetic righteousness.
adhaarayad yo vividhaah citraah sumanasah tadaa |
so ayam jataa bhaaram imam sahate raaghavah katham || 2-99-33
"How this Rama, who used to wear various kinds of colorful flowers, is bearing this burden of matted locks now?"
yasya yajnair yathaa aadishtair yukto dharmasya samcayah |
shariira klesha sambhuutam sa dharmam parimaargate || 2-99-34
"He who acquired merit through countless sacrifices performed according to the prescribed injunctions, now follows the path of righteousness through asceticism!"
candanena mahaa arhena yasya angam upasevitam |
malena tasya angam idam katham aaryasya sevyate || 2-99-35
"He, whose body was formerly rendered fragrant by white sandal paste, has only dust with which to smear the limbs of this venerable elder brother!"
man nimittam idam duhkham praapto raamah sukha ucitah |
dhig jiivitam nrishamsasya mama loka vigarhitam || 2-99-36
"Rama, who used to have happiness, has fallen into this misfortune, because of me cursed be my reprehensive existence that the whole world condemns!"
ity evam vilapan diinah prasvinna mukha pankajah |
paadaau apraapya raamasya papaata bharato rudan || 2-99-37
Thus did that pitiable Bharata lament, perspiration be-dewing his lotus-like countenance and, without touching Rama's feet, fell down grooming.
duhkha abhitapto bharato raaja putro mahaa balah |
uktvaa aarya iti sakrid diinam punar na uvaaca kimcana || 2-99-38
Overcome with grief, the highly valiant prince Bharata cried out "O, Noble One!" once and in his distress, was unable to speak anything further.
baashpa apihita kanthah ca prekshya raamam yashasvinam |
aarya ity eva abhisamkrushya vyaahartum na ashakat tatah || 2-99-39
Crying at the top of his voice, "O, Noble One" only, on seeing the illustrious Rama, he was unable to speak further, his throat choked with tears.
shatrughnah ca api raamasya vavande caranau rudan |
taau ubhau sa samaalingya raamo apy ashruuny avartayat || 2-99-40
Shatrughna too, weeping, threw himself at Rama's feet and Rama too, embracing them both, allowed his tears to fall.
tatah sumantrena guhena caiva |
samiiyatuu raaja sutaau aranye |
divaa karah caiva nishaa karah ca |
yathaa ambare shukra brihaspatibhyaam || 2-99-41
Then, in that forest, the princes Rama and Lakshmana were seen by Sumantra and Guha, as in the sky, the sun and the moon are seen in conjunction with Venus and Jupiter.
taan paarthivaan vaarana yuuthapa aabhaan |
samaagataamh tatra mahaty aranye |
vana okasah te api samiikshya sarve apy |
ashruuny amuncan pravihaaya harsham || 2-99-42
All those dwellers in the woods, seeing those princes resembling leaders of elephant-herbs meeting together there in that great forest, losing their cheerfulness, began to shed tears.
ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyaakaande ekonashatatamah sargah
Thus completes 99th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate