---
title: "Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 115"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/ayodhya-kanda/sarga-115"
lang: "en"
---

# Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 115

> ततो निक्षिप्य मातॄस्ता अयोध्यायां दृढव्रतः।  
> भरतः शोकसंतप्तो गुरूनिदमथाब्रवीत्॥ १॥

Having brought his celebrated mothers back to Ayodhyā, Bharata of steadfast vows, sore stricken with grief as he was, then submitted to his preceptors (Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva and others) forthwith as follows : (1)

> नन्दिग्रामं गमिष्यामि सर्वानामन्त्रयेऽत्र वः।  
> तत्र दुःखमिदं सर्वं सहिष्ये राघवं विना॥ २॥

“I take leave of you all here: I shall at once proceed to Nandigrāma. Bereft of Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, I shall endure all this suffering there. (2)

> गतश्चाहो दिवं राजा वनस्थः स गुरुर्मम।  
> रामं प्रतीक्षे राज्याय स हि राजा महायशाः॥ ३॥

“Alas, the king has ascended to heaven and that elder brother of mine has taken up his abode in the forest. I look forward to Śrī Rāma to take care of the kingdom; for he is the highly illustrious ruler of Ayodhyā.” (3)

> एतच्छ्रुत्वा शुभं वाक्यं भरतस्य महात्मनः।  
> अब्रुवन् मन्त्रिणः सर्वे वसिष्ठश्च पुरोहितः॥ ४॥

Hearing this blessed utterance of the high-souled Bharata, all his counsellors as well as Vasiṣṭha, the chief family-priest, replied as follows : (4)

> सुभृशं श्लाघनीयं च यदुक्तं भरत त्वया।  
> वचनं भ्रातृवात्सल्यादनुरूपं तवैव तत्॥ ५॥

“The statement that has been made by you through loving devotion to your elder brother is extremely laudable; nay, it is worthy of you alone. (5)

> नित्यं ते बन्धुलुब्धस्य तिष्ठतो भ्रातृसौहृदे।  
> मार्गमार्यं प्रपन्नस्य नानुमन्येत कः पुमान्॥ ६॥

“What man would not approve of the resolution of Your Royal Highness, who are ever covetous of the welfare of your kinsmen and are steadfast in your affection for your brothers, nay, who have taken to the noble path, the path of virtue?” (6)

> मन्त्रिणां वचनं श्रुत्वा यथाभिलषितं प्रियम्।  
> अब्रवीत् सारथिं वाक्यं रथो मे युज्यतामिति॥ ७॥

Hearing the agreeable reply of the counsellors, which was in consonance with his desire, Bharata spoke as follows to the charioteer, Sumantra : “Let my chariot be got ready !” (7)

> प्रहृष्टवदनः सर्वा मातृः समभिभाष्य च।  
> आरुरोह रथं श्रीमान्शत्रुघ्नेन समन्वितः॥ ८॥

Having spoken kindly with a most cheerful countenance, to all his mothers and accompanied by Śatrughna, the glorious prince got into the chariot. (8)

> आरुह्य तु रथं क्षिप्रं शत्रुघ्नभरतावुभौ।  
> ययतुः परमप्रीतौ वृतौ मन्त्रिपुरोहितैः॥ ९॥

Mounting the chariot, supremely delighted and surrounded by the counsellors and family priests, both Bharata and Śatrughna for their part quickly departed. (9)

> अग्रतो गुरवः सर्वे वसिष्ठप्रमुखा द्विजाः।  
> प्रययुः प्राङ्मुखाः सर्वे नन्दिग्रामो यतो भवेत्॥ १०॥

All the preceptors, headed by Vasiṣṭha, and other Brāhmaṇas being in the forefront, all proceeded with their face turned eastward on the path by which Nandigrāma could be reached. (10)

> बलं च तदनाहूतं गजाश्वरथसंकुलम्।  
> प्रययौ भरते याते सर्वे च पुरवासिनः॥ ११॥

When Bharata had left, the army too, full of elephants, horses and chariots, marched, though not called by Bharata, as well as the citizens. (11)

> रथस्थः स तु धर्मात्मा भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः।  
> नन्दिग्रामं ययौ तूर्णं शिरस्यादाय पादुके॥ १२॥

Seated in his chariot, the celebrated Bharata, for his part, whose mind was given to piety and who was so lovingly devoted to his elder brother, drove fast to Nandigrāma, taking the pair of wooden sandals on his head. (12)

> भरतस्तु ततः क्षिप्रं नन्दिग्रामं प्रविश्य सः।  
> अवतीर्य रथात् तूर्णं गुरूनिदमभाषत॥ १३॥

Having speedily entered Nandigrāma and quickly alighting from his chariot, the said Bharata for his part then submitted to his preceptors as follows : (13)

> एतद् राज्यं मम भ्रात्रा दत्तं संन्यासमुत्तमम्।  
> योगक्षेमवहे चेमे पादुके हेमभूषिते॥ १४॥

“This kingdom has been given to me by my elder brother, Śrī Rāma, as a foremost sacred trust, as well as these wooden sandals decked with gold, which will supply all our needs and bring security to us.” (14)

> भरतः शिरसा कृत्वा संन्यासं पादुके ततः।  
> अब्रवीद् दुःखसंतप्तः सर्वं प्रकृतिमण्डलम्॥ १५॥

Having dedicated the sacred trust to the pair of wooden sandals with his head bent low, Bharata, who was sore stricken with agony, then spoke as follows to the entire body of his ministers : (15)

> छत्रं धारयत क्षिप्रमार्यपादाविमौ मतौ।  
> आभ्यां राज्ये स्थितो धर्मः पादुकाभ्यां गुरोर्मम॥ १६॥

“Hold the royal umbrella over these sandals; they are considered by me to be as good as the feet of my elder brother. By these wooden sandals of my elder brother will righteousness be established in the kingdom. (16)

> भ्रात्रा तु मयि संन्यासो निक्षिप्तः सौहृदादयम्।  
> तमिमं पालयिष्यामि राघवागमनं प्रति॥ १७॥

“From affection alone has this sacred trust been committed to my charge by my elder brother. I shall keep this aforesaid trust till the return of Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu. (17)

> क्षिप्रं संयोजयित्वा तु राघवस्य पुनः स्वयम्।  
> चरणौ तौ तु रामस्य द्रक्ष्यामि सहपादुकौ॥ १८॥

“Having undoubtedly restored these wooden sandals to Śrī Rāma’s feet immediately on his return to the capital myself, I for my part shall behold those feet placed on the wooden sandals. (18)

> ततो निक्षिप्तभारोऽहं राघवेण समागतः।  
> निवेद्य गुरवे राज्यं भजिष्ये गुरुवर्तिताम्॥ १९॥

“Having restored the kingdom to my elder brother, when re-united with Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, and thereby laid down the burden of responsibility, I shall then assume the role of a servant of my elder brother. (19)

> राघवाय च संन्यासं दत्त्वेमे वरपादुके।  
> राज्यं चेदमयोध्यां च धूतपापो भवाम्यहम्॥ २०॥

“Nay, having given back to Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu, this kingdom, held as a trust till then, as well as the city of Ayodhyā and the pair of excellent wooden sandals, I shall have shaken off the stigma of having been instrumental in bringing about the exile of my elder brother. (20)

> अभिषिक्ते तु काकुत्स्थे प्रहृष्टमुदिते जने।  
> प्रीतिर्मम यशश्चैव भवेद् राज्याच्चतुर्गुणम्॥ २१॥

“After Śrī Rama, descendant of the Kakutstha lineage, is coronated on the throne and the subjects are blissfully happy, it will give me fourfold more fame and happiness than that from having obtained the kingdom.” (21)

> एवं तु विलपन् दीनो भरतः स महायशाः।  
> नन्दिग्रामेऽकरोद् राज्यं दुःखितो मन्त्रिभिः सह॥ २२॥

Lamenting this way the dispirited Bharata of great fame, even though sad, looked after the state administration alongwith the council of ministers from Nandigrāma. (22)

> स वल्कलजटाधारी मुनिवेषधरः प्रभुः।  
> नन्दिग्रामेऽवसद् धीरः ससैन्यो भरतस्तदा॥ २३॥

Wearing the bark of trees on his person and matted locks on his head and thus assuming the garb of an ascetic, the said powerful and wise Bharata then lived at Nandigrāma with the army; (23)

> रामागमनमाकांक्षन् भरतो भ्रातृवत्सलः।  
> भ्रातुर्वचनकारी च प्रतिज्ञापारगस्तदा।  
> पादुके त्वभिषिच्याथ नन्दिग्रामेऽवसत् तदा॥ २४॥

Bharata, obedient to his elder brother, fulfiller of his vows, lover of his brothers, wishing always the return of Śrī Rāma, lived in Nandigrāma after coronating the wooden-sandals on the throne. (24)

> सवालव्यजनं छत्रं धारयामास स स्वयम्।  
> भरतः शासनं सर्वं पादुकाभ्यां निवेदयन्॥ २५॥

Committing the whole administration to the care of the wooden sandals, the celebrated Bharata himself held the royal umbrella alongwith the Chowrie over them as a mark of respect. (25)

> ततस्तु भरतः श्रीमानभिषिच्यार्यपादुके।  
> तदधीनस्तदा राज्यं कारयामास सर्वदा॥ २६॥

Having then consecrated the wooden sandals of his elder brother on the throne of Ayodhyā, the glorious Bharata for his part now carried on the rule, being always subordinate to them. (26)

> तदा हि यत् कार्यमुपैति किंचि-  
> दुपायनं चोपहृतं महार्हम्।  
> स पादुकाभ्यां प्रथमं निवेद्य  
> चकार पश्चाद् भरतो यथावत्॥ २७॥

Submitting in the first instance to the wooden sandals whatever affair of the State came up before him, nay, whatever highly valuable present was offered to the State, the said Bharata dealt with it in the proper way afterwards. (27)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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