Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 107

Meaning

Thereupon the glorious Śrī Rāma, eldest brother of Lakṣmaṇa, highly respected among his clansmen, replied to the said Bharata, who was speaking again in that strain : (1)

Meaning

“The assertion that you—a son born of Daśaratha, the foremost of kings, through Kaikeyī—have made just now, as above, is reasonable. (2)

Meaning

“In the past, while marrying Kaikeyī your mother, O brother, our celebrated father promised to your maternal grandfather the kingdom of Ayodhyā in favour of her issue as the best price for the marriage. (3)

Meaning

“Nay, propitiated by standing him in goodstead in a conflict between the gods and the demons, and immensely delighted, the powerful king, who held sway over the entire globe, granted a boon to your mother. (4)

Meaning

“Then, binding him with a solemn oath your aforesaid illustrious mother, who was endowed with an excellent complexion, sought the following two boons of Daśaratha, the foremost of men, viz., (1) rulership for you, O tiger among men, and (2) exile for me; and urged thus, the king granted the aforesaid boons to her. (5-6)

Meaning

“I, too, O jewel among men, have been enjoined by our aforesaid father to dwell here in the forest for fourteen years in consequence of the boon granted by our father to your mother. (7)

Meaning

“As such I, who have no rival in this world and stand by the veracity of my father, have come to this lonely forest accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā. (8)

Meaning

“You too, O ruler of kings, ought likewise, as enjoined by our father, to vindicate the truthfulness of our father by getting yourself consecrated on the throne of Ayodhyā immediately. (9)

Meaning

“For my sake, O Bharata, exonerate the powerful king from the debt he owes to Kaikeyī. Save our father by redeeming his promise and delight your mother, O knower of what is right ! (10)

Meaning

“The following utterance, which is held sacred as a Śruti text, is heard to have been addressed to the manes by the wise and illustrious king named Gaya, who is believed to have founded the city of Gayā, while performing sacrifices in the territory of Gaya (the region which is now covered by the district of Gayā) : ‘Since a son delivers his father from the hell named ‘Put’ he is designated as Putra. According to another interpretation, a son is he who protects his father in all possible ways. (11-12)

Meaning

“A number of sons, endowed with virtues and versed in many Śāstras, should be desired so that at least one of them may proceed to Gayā and perform Śrāddha there.” (13)

Meaning

“So did all royal sages believe, O powerful scion of Raghu ! Therefore, O jewel among men, protect your father from hell. (14)

Meaning

“Accompanied by Śatrughna and together with all Brāhmaṇas return, O gallant Bharata, to Ayodhyā and protect the people. (15)

Meaning

“I too, for my part, accompanied by these two, viz., Sītā, a princess of the Videha kingdom, and Lakṣmaṇa, shall enter the Daṇḍaka forest without tarrying here any longer. (16)

Meaning

“Be you, O Bharata, the ruler of the people themselves. I too shall be the emperor of wild beasts. Return you, extremely delighted, to Ayodhyā, the foremost of cities, this very day and I too shall enter the Daṇḍaka forest highly rejoiced. (17)

Meaning

“Let the royal umbrella, O Bharata, repulsing the rays of the sun, spread a cool shade over your head. I too shall gradually seek that dense shade of these forest trees. (18)

Meaning

“Let Śatrughna of peerless wisdom for his part be your assistant and the well-known Lakṣmaṇa, son of Sumitrā, be my chief friend. Let us, his four worthy sons, enable the king to adhere to truth. Do not feel dejected.” (19)