Bharata Meets Bharadvaja
“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”
Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 90
Bharata Meets Bharadvaja
Summary
Bharata along with Vasishta proceed to see Bharadwaja. Bharadwaja welcomes both of them hospitable. After exchanging pleasantries Bharadwaja asks Bharata whether he is coming to the forest to do any harm to Rama and Lakshmana. Bharata replies that he is coming to the forest for the purpose of taking back Rama to Ayodhya. When enquired by Bharata about the whereabouts of Rama, Bharadwaja informs that Rama along with Seetha and Lakshmana are staying on the Chitrakuta Mountain. Thereafter, at the request of Bharadwaja, Bharata along with his routine decides to make a night halt on that day at that hermitage and to proceed to Chitrakuta on the following morning.
Chapter [Sarga] 90 in Detail
dbharadvaaja aashramam drishtvaa kroshaad eva nara rishabhah |
balam sarvam avasthaapya jagaama saha mantribhih || 2-90-1
padbhyaam eva hi dharmajno nyasta shastra parigccadah |
vasaano vaasasii kshaume purodhaaya purohitam || 2-90-2
Having seen Bharadwaja's hermitage at a couple of miles away, that excellent man Bharata, knowing what is right, leaving all his army behind, discarding his weapons and ornaments, and wearing simple silken garment, went forwards by foot, proceeded by Vasishta, his spiritual preceptor.
tatah samdarshane tasya bharadvaajasya raaghavah |
mantrinah taan avasthaapya jagaama anu purohitam || 2-90-3
Leaving his ministers behind at a visible distance to Bharadwaja, Bharata then went along with Vasishta, his spiritual preceptor.
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Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 90 vasishtham atha drishtvaa eva bharadvaajo mahaa tapaah |
samcacaala aasanaat tuurnam shishyaan arghyam iti bruvan || 2-90-4
On seeing Vasishta, Bharadwaja the great ascetic rose quickly from his seat, asking his disciples to fetch water to wash the hand (of the distinguished guests) with.
samaagamya vasishthena bharatena abhivaaditah |
abudhyata mahaa tejaah sutam dasharathasya tam || 2-90-5
Having met Vasishta and greeted by Bharata, Bharadwaja of great splendor recognized him to be a son of Dasaratha.
taabhyaam arghyam ca paadyam ca dattvaa pashcaat phalaani ca |
aanupuurvyaac ca dharmajnah papragcca kushalam kule || 2-90-6
Bharadwaja, knowing what is right, offering them both, in order of seniority, water to wash their hands and feet with and fruits afterwards, made enquiries concerning the welfare of their family.
ayodhyaayaam bale koshe mitreshu api ca mantrishu |
jaanan dasharatham vrittam na raajaanam udaaharat || 2-90-7
Subsequently, Bharadwaja made enquires with both of them as to whether all were well in the city of Ayodhya, with the army, with the treasury, friends and counselors. But knowing Dasaratha friends and counselors. But knowing Dasaratha to be dead, he did not speak of the king.
vasishtho bharatah ca enam papragccatur anaamayam |
shariire agnishu vriksheshu shishyeshu mriga pakshishu || 2-90-8
Vasishta and Bharata in return made enquires with Bharadwaja, if all were well with his body his sacred fires, his disciples, the trees, the deer and birds in the hermitage.
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Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 90 tathaa iti ca pratijnaaya bharadvaajo mahaa tapaah |
bharatam pratyuvaaca idam raaghava sneha bandhanaat || 2-90-9
The great ascetic Bharadwaja replied, "All is well" and spoke the following words to Bharata, bound as he was with affection to Rama.
kim iha aagamane kaaryam tava raajyam prashaasatah |
etad aacakshva me sarvam na hi me shudhyate manah || 2-90-10
"For what reason have you, who are ruling the kingdom, come here? Tell me all this, for my mind is not getting cleared of doubts."
sushuve yama mitraghnam kausalya aananda vardhanam |
bhraatraa saha sabhaaryo yah ciram pravraajito vanam || 2-90-11
niyuktah strii niyuktena pitraa yo asau mahaa yashaah |
vana vaasii bhava iti iha samaah kila caturdasha || 2-90-12
kaccin na tasya apaapasya paapam kartum iha igccasi |
akantakam bhoktu manaa raajyam tasya anujasya ca || 2-90-13
"That annihilator of enemies, born of Kausalya for the increase of her happiness, he who with his brother and his wife have been exiled to the forest for a long period, that Rama who is full of glory, through the intrigues of a woman was condemned to dwell in the forest for fourteen years by his father. I hope you do not intend to do any harm to that irreproachable prince and his younger brother in order to enjoy the throne without hindrance."
evam ukto bharadvaajam bharatah pratyuvaaca ha |
paryashru nayano duhkhaad vaacaa samsajjamaanayaa || 2-90-14
"Thus spoken to as aforesaid, Bharata with his eyes filled with tears in grief and in a faltering tone, replied to Bharadwaja as follows:
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Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 90 hato asmi yadi maam evam bhagavaan api manyate |
matto na dosham aashanker na evam maam anushaadhi hi || 2-90-15
"If you the Blessed one regard me like this, I am lost indeed! I cannot conceive of any harm towards Rama having proceeded from me. do not charge me thus."
na ca etad ishtam maataa me yad avocan mad antare |
naaham etena tushtah ca na tad vacanam aadade || 2-90-16
"I do not approve of what my mother has done when I was away from home. I am not pleased with her nor do I accept her word in this matter."
aham tu tam nara vyaaghram upayaatah prasaadakah |
pratinetum ayodhyaam ca paadau tasya abhivanditum || 2-90-17
"I, on my part, came to take back that tiger among men to Ayodhya, after prostrating myself at his feet and having propitiated him."
tvam maam evam gatam matvaa prasaadam kartum arhasi |
shamsa me bhagavan raamah kva samprati mahii patih || 2-90-18
"O, venerable one! Believing me to have come for the aforesaid purpose, you ought to do a favor for me. Tell me where Rama the Lord of the world is to be found now?"
vashisthaadibhi ritvigbhi ryaacito bhagavaamstatah |
uvaaca tam bharadvaajah prasaadaad bharatam vacah || 2-90-19
Requested by Vasishta and other priests likewise, Bharadwaja answered Bharata in affectionate words as follows:
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Valmiki Ramayana – Ayodhya Kanda – Chapter 90 tvayy etat purusha vyaaghram yuktam raaghava vamshaje | guru vrittir damah caiva saadhuunaam ca anuyaayitaa || 2-90-20 "O, Bharata the tiger among men! Good manners towards teachers as well as self control and walking in the footsteps of virtuous men-these qualities are worthy of you, born as you are in the Raghu dynasty." jaane ca etan manahstham te dridhii karanam astu iti | aprigccam tvaam tava atyartham kiirtim samabhivardhayan || 2-90-21 “I was aware of your purpose in your mind. But, I desired to confirm it and it is on this account that I asked you, in order to strengthen you fame immeasurably." jaane ca raamam dharmajjnam sasiitam sahalaksmanam | asau vasati te bhraataa citra kuute mahaa girau || 2-90-22 "I know where the virtuous Rama along with Seetha and Lakshmana are to be found. Your elder brother is staying on the great mountain called Chitrakuta." shvah tu gantaa asi tam desham vasa adya saha mantribhih | etam me kuru supraajna kaamam kaama artha kovida || 2-90-23 "You may proceed to that place tomorrow. Stay here today along with your ministers. O, man of great wisdom, who understands legitimate interest and desire! Grant me this desire." tatah tathaa ity evam udaara darshanah | pratiita ruupo bharato abraviid vacah | cakaara buddhim ca tadaa mahaa aashrame | nishaa nivaasaaya nara adhipa aatmajah || 2-90-24 Bharata of a broad outlook and whose reality (as an admirer of Rama) had now come to be known, answered thus: "So be it". Then, the prince made up his mind to stay for that night in the hermitage." ityaarse shriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyaakaande navatitamah sargah Thus completes 90th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic. Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate
References
K. M. K. Murthy. (1999). Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya.
Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com.
Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com.
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