Bharadwaj Honors Bharata and His Retinue
Sage Bharadwaj receives Bharata and all who accompany him with wondrous hospitality born of ascetic power. By the sage’s grace, the forest hermitage becomes a place of splendid welcome.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 33 / 49
Episode Text
सुनि मुनि बचन भरत हियँ सोचू। भयउ कुअवसर कठिन सँकोचू॥ जानि गरुइ गुर गिरा बहोरी। चरन बंदि बोले कर जोरी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni muni bacana bharata hiyaṃ socū। bhayau kuavasara kaṭhina saṃkocū॥ jāni garu'i gura girā bahorī। carana bandi bole kara jorī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing the sage's words, Bharata's heart was troubled: how awkward and untimely this difficult hesitation had come upon him! Then, recognizing the words of the guru as weighty and worthy of honor, he bowed at the feet and spoke with folded hands.
सिर धरि आयसु करिअ तुम्हारा। परम धरम यहु नाथ हमारा॥ भरत बचन मुनिबर मन भाए। सुचि सेवक सिष निकट बोलाए॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sira dhari āyasu kari'a tumhārā। parama dharama yahu nātha hamārā॥ bharata bacana munibara mana bhāe। suci sevaka siṣa nikaṭa bolāe॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, to place your command upon our head and obey it is our supreme duty. The sage was pleased with Bharata's words. He called trustworthy servants and disciples near to him.
चाहिअ कीन्हि भरत पहुनाई। कंद मूल फल आनहु जाई॥ भलेहिं नाथ कहि तिन्ह सिर नाए। प्रमुदित निज निज काज सिधाए॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
cāhia kīnhi bharata pahunāī। kaṃda mūla phala ānahu jāī॥ bhalehiṃ nātha kahi tinha sira nāe। pramudita nija nija kāja sidhāe॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
[And he said:] Bharata must be honored with proper hospitality. Go and bring roots and fruits. Saying, 'Very well, O Lord,' they bowed their heads and then departed joyfully to their respective tasks.
मुनिहि सोच पाहुन बड़ नेवता। तसि पूजा चाहिअ जस देवता॥ सुनि रिधि सिधि अनिमादिक आईं। आयसु होइ सो करहिं गोसाईं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
munihi soca pāhuna baḍa nevātā। tasi pūjā cāhia jasa devatā॥ suni ridhi sidhi animādika āīṃ। āyasu hoi so karahiṃ gosāīṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The sage felt concern, thinking: we have invited a very great guest; now the worship should be fitting, just as for a deity. Hearing this, Riddhi, Siddhi, and the powers such as Anima came and said: O Gosain, whatever you command, we shall do.
राम बिरह ब्याकुल भरतु सानुज सहित समाज। पहुनाई करि हरहु श्रम कहा मुदित मुनिराज॥ २१३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma biraha byākula bharatu sānuja sahita samāja। pahunāī kari harahu śrama kahā mudita munirāja॥ 213 ॥
Meaning:
The king of sages, pleased, said: Bharata, along with his younger brother and the whole company, is distressed by separation from Rama. Show them hospitality and relieve their fatigue.
रिधि सिधि सिर धरि मुनिबर बानी। बड़भागिनि आपुहि अनुमानी॥ कहहिं परसपर सिधि समुदाई। अतुलित अतिथि राम लघु भाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ridhi sidhi sira dhari munibara bānī। baḍabhāgini āpuhi anumānī॥ kahahiṃ parasapara sidhi samudāī। atulita atithi rāma laghu bhāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The Siddhis placed the sage's words upon their heads and considered themselves most fortunate. The Siddhis began saying among themselves: 'These guests are incomparable—the younger brother of Rama.'
मुनि पद बंदि करिअ सोइ आजू। होइ सुखी सब राज समाजू॥ अस कहि रचेउ रुचिर गृह नाना। जेहि बिलोकि बिलखाहिं बिमाना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
muni pada bandi kari'a soi ājū। hoi sukhī saba rāja samājū॥ asa kahi racieu ruchira gṛha nānā। jēhi biloki bilakhāhiṃ bimānā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Therefore, let us bow to the sage's feet today and do that which will make the entire royal assembly happy.' Saying this, they fashioned many beautiful houses; even the celestial cars seem to blush when they see them.
भोग बिभूति भूरि भरि राखे। देखत जिन्हहि अमर अभिलाषे॥ दासीं दास साजु सब लीन्हें। जोगवत रहहिं मनहि मनु दीन्हें॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhoga bibhūti bhūri bhari rākhē। dekhata jinhahiṃ amara abhilāṣē॥ dāsīṃ dāsa sāju saba līnhēṃ। jogavata rahahiṃ manahiṃ manu dīnhēṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
They filled those houses with abundant enjoyments and splendor; just seeing them, even the gods were tempted. Servants and maidservants were appointed with all manner of furnishings, attentively serving according to their masters' wishes.
सब समाजु सजि सिधि पल माहीं। जे सुख सुरपुर सपनेहुँ नाहीं॥ प्रथमहिं बास दिए सब केही। सुंदर सुखद जथा रुचि जेही॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saba samāju sajai sidhi pala māhīṃ। je sukha surapura sapanehuṃ nāhīṃ॥ prathamahiṃ bāsa die saba kehī। sundara sukhada jathā ruci jēhī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
All the arrangements of delight, such as are not found even in heaven or in dreams, the Siddhis made ready in a moment. First they gave everyone a residence—beautiful and delightful—according to each one's preference.
बहुरि सपरिजन भरत कहुँ रिषि अस आयसु दीन्ह। बिधि बिसमय दायकु बिभव मुनिबर तपबल कीन्ह॥ २१४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bahuri saparijana bharata kahuṃ riṣi asa āyasu dīnh। bidhi bisamaya dāyaku bibhava munibara tapabala kīnh॥ 214 ॥
Meaning:
And then, with their families, they were assigned to Bharata, for such had been the sage's command. [Bharata wished that all his companions should be comfortable; knowing his wish, the sage first arranged lodging for them and then ordered that Bharata and his family be given their place.] By the power of austerity, the foremost sage created splendor that astonished even Brahma.
मुनि प्रभाउ जब भरत बिलोका। सब लघु लगे लोकपति लोका॥ सुख समाजु नहिं जाइ बखानी। देखत बिरति बिसारहिं ग्यानी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
muni prabhāu jaba bharata bilokā। saba laghu lage lokapati lokā॥ sukha samāju nahiṃ jāi bakhānī। dekhata birati bisārahiṃ gyānī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
When Bharata saw the sage's splendor, all the realms of the guardians of the worlds seemed insignificant to him. The arrangement of delight cannot be described; even the wise forget detachment when they behold it.
आसन सयन सुबसन बिताना। बन बाटिका बिहग मृग नाना॥ सुरभि फूल फल अमिअ समाना। बिमल जलासय बिबिध बिधाना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
āsana sayana subasana bitānā। bana bāṭikā bihaga mṛga nānā॥ surabhi phūla phala amia samānā। bimala jalāsaya bibidha bidhānā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
There were seats, beds, fine garments, canopies, forests, gardens, countless birds and beasts, fragrant flowers, fruits as sweet as nectar, and many kinds of spotless reservoirs of water.
असन पान सुचि अमिअ अमी से। देखि लोग सकुचात जमी से॥ सुर सुरभी सुरतरु सबही कें। लखि अभिलाषु सुरेस सची कें॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asana pāna suci amia amī se। dekhi loga sakucāta jamī se॥ sura surabhī surataru sabahī keṃ। lakhi abhilāṣu suresa sachī keṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
There were pure foods and drinks, sweeter than nectar itself; seeing them, people felt as shy as ascetics. In every dwelling there were wish-fulfilling cows and trees; even Indra and Indrani longed for them when they saw them.
रितु बसंत बह त्रिबिध बयारी। सब कहँ सुलभ पदारथ चारी॥ स्रक चंदन बनितादिक भोगा। देखि हरष बिसमय बस लोगा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ritu basanta baha tribidha bayārī। saba kahaṃ sulabha padāratha chārī॥ sraka candana banitādika bhogā। dekhi haraṣa bismaya basa logā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
It was springtime. A threefold breeze was blowing—cool, gentle, and fragrant. The four goals of life were easily available to all. Seeing garlands, sandalwood, and the pleasures of women, the people were overcome by both joy and wonder. [Joy arose from the splendor of the enjoyments and the power of the sage's austerity, while wonder and dismay came from the thought: in separation from Rama, why have we fallen into worldly luxury? If we become attached to these things, may our minds not abandon our vows.]
संपति चकई भरतु चक मुनि आयस खेलवार। तेहि निसि आश्रम पिंजराँ राखे भा भिनुसार॥ २१५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sampati chakai bharatu chaka muni āyasa khelavāra। tehi nisi āśrama piṃjarāṃ rākhē bhā bhinusāra॥ 215 ॥
Meaning:
Wealth and worldly pleasures were like the chakai bird, Bharata like the chakava bird, and the sage's command was their playmate; that night the two were kept in the hermitage like birds in a cage, and dawn came. [Just as a pair of chakava birds, even when placed in a cage by a hunter, do not meet at night, so too Bharata, though surrounded all night by pleasures by Bharadwaja's command, did not touch them even in his mind.]
कीन्ह निमज्जनु तीरथराजा। नाइ मुनिहि सिरु सहित समाजा॥ रिषि आयसु असीस सिर राखी। करि दंडवत बिनय बहु भाषी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kīnha nimajjana tīratharājā। nāi munihi sira sahita samājā॥ riṣi āyasu asīsa sira rākhī। kari daṃḍavata binaya bahu bhāṣī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
At daybreak Bharata bathed in the king of holy places, bowed to the sage along with the assembly, placed the sage's command and blessings upon his head, and prostrated himself, speaking many humble prayers.
पथ गति कुसल साथ सब लीन्हें। चले चित्रकूटहिं चितु दीन्हें॥ रामसखा कर दीन्हें लागू। चलत देह धरि जनु अनुरागू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
patha gati kusala sātha saba līnhēṃ। chale citrakūṭahiṃ chitu dīnhēṃ॥ rāmasakhā kara dīnhēṃ lāgū। calata deha dhari janu anurāgū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Then, taking all the people with him and accompanied by guides who knew the path, Bharata moved toward Chitrakuta with his mind fixed on it. Bharata walked with his hand in Guha's, Rama's friend, as though love itself had taken bodily form.
नहिं पद त्रान सीस नहिं छाया। पेमु नेमु ब्रतु धरमु अमाया॥ लखन राम सिय पंथ कहानी। पूँछत सखहि कहत मृदु बानी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nahiṃ pada trāna sīsa nahiṃ chāyā। pemu nemu bratu dharamu amāyā॥ lakhana rāma siya pantha kahānī। pūṃchata sakhahi kahata mṛdu bānī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
There were no shoes on their feet and no shade over their heads. Their love, discipline, vows, and righteousness were pure and guileless. They ask their friend Guha about the path taken by Lakshmana, Rama, and Sita, and he answers in gentle words.
राम बास थल बिटप बिलोकें। उर अनुराग रहत नहिं रोकें॥ देखि दसा सुर बरिसहिं फूला। भइ मृदु महि मगु मंगल मूला॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma bāsa thala biṭapa bilokẽ। ura anurāga rahata nahiṃ rokẽ॥ dekhi dasā sura barisahiṃ phūlā। bhai mṛdu mahi magu maṃgala mūlā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the places where Rama had stayed and the trees there, love in their hearts could not be restrained. Seeing Bharata's state, the gods showered flowers. The earth became soft, and the road itself became the source of auspiciousness.
किएँ जाहिं छाया जलद सुखद बहइ बर बात। तस मगु भयउ न राम कहँ जस भा भरतहि जात॥ २१६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kieṃ jāhiṃ chāyā jalada sukhada bahai bara bāta। tasa magu bhayau na rāma kahaṃ jasa bhā bharatahi jāta॥ 216 ॥
Meaning:
Clouds cast their shade, and a pleasant, soothing breeze is blowing. The road became so delightful for Bharata's journey that even for Rama it had not been so pleasant.
जड़ चेतन मग जीव घनेरे। जे चितए प्रभु जिन्ह प्रभु हेरे॥ ते सब भए परम पद जोगू। भरत दरस मेटा भव रोगू॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaḍa cetana maga jīva ghanere। je citae prabhu jinha prabhu here॥ te saba bhae parama pada jogū। bharata darasa meṭā bhava rogū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
There were countless sentient and insentient beings on the road. Those whom Lord Rama looked upon, and those who looked upon Lord Rama, all became fit for the supreme state. But Bharata's sight of them removed even their disease of worldly existence.
यह बड़ि बात भरत कइ नाहीं। सुमिरत जिनहि रामु मन माहीं॥ बारक राम कहत जग जेऊ। होत तरन तारन नर तेऊ॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yaha baṛi bāta bharata kai nāhīṃ। sumirata jinahiṃ rāmu mana māhīṃ॥ bāraka rāma kahata jaga jēū। hota tarana tārana nara tēū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
For Bharata, this is no great matter, since Lord Rama continually remembers him in His own heart. In this world, even those who utter the name 'Rama' once become beings who can ferry others across the sea of existence.
भरतु राम प्रिय पुनि लघु भ्राता। कस न होइ मगु मंगलदाता॥ सिद्ध साधु मुनिबर अस कहहीं। भरतहि निरखि हरषु हियँ लहहीं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bharatu rāma priya puni laghu bhrātā। kasa na hoi magu maṃgaladātā॥ siddha sādhu munibara asa kahahīṃ। bharatahi nirakhi haraṣu hiyaṃ lahahīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Since Bharata is dear to Rama and is His younger brother, how could the road not become an auspicious bestower? The siddhas, saints, and great sages say so, and seeing Bharata, they find joy in their hearts.