Bharata Meets Nishad and Reveals His Loving Devotion
When Nishadraj recognizes the purity of Bharata’s heart and his devotion to Rama, the two meet in deep affection. Bharata’s love moves not only Nishadraj but also the people traveling with him.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 31 / 49
Episode Text
लखब सनेहु सुभायँ सुहाएँ। बैरु प्रीति नहिं दुरइँ दुराएँ॥ अस कहि भेंट सँजोवन लागे। कंद मूल फल खग मृग मागे॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lakhab sanehu subhāyaṃ suhāẽ। bairu prīti nahiṃ duraiṃ durāẽ॥ asa kahi bheṃṭa saṃjovana lāge। kanda mūla phala khaga mṛga māge॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
By their lovely nature I shall recognize their affection. Enmity and love cannot be hidden by concealment. Saying this, he began arranging gifts and had roots, fruits, birds, and deer brought.
मीन पीन पाठीन पुराने। भरि भरि भार कहारन्ह आने॥ मिलन साजु सजि मिलन सिधाए। मंगल मूल सगुन सुभ पाए॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mīna pīna pāṭhīna purāne। bhari bhari bhāra kahāranha āne॥ milana sāju saji milana sidhāe। maṃgala mūla saguna subha pāe॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
The porters brought load after load of old, fat fish called pathīna. When they set out, having arranged the offerings for the meeting, they received auspicious, blessing-filled omens.
देखि दूरि तें कहि निज नामू। कीन्ह मुनीसहि दंड प्रनामू॥ जानि रामप्रिय दीन्हि असीसा। भरतहि कहेउ बुझाइ मुनीसा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhi dūri teṃ kahi nija nāmū। kīhna munīsahi daṃḍa pranāmū॥ jāni rāmapriya dīnhi asīsā। bharatahi kaheu bujhāi munīsā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the sage Vashishtha from afar, he spoke his name and offered a prostration from a distance. Knowing him to be dear to Rama, the sage blessed him and explained to Bharata.
राम सखा सुनि संदनु त्यागा। चले उतरि उमगत अनुरागा॥ गाउँ जाति गुहँ नाउँ सुनाई। कीन्ह जोहारु माथ महि लाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma sakhā suni sandanu tyāgā। cale utari umagata anurāgā॥ gāuṃ jāti guhaṃ nāuṃ sunāī। kīnha johāru mātha mahi lāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing that he was Rama's friend, Bharata left his chariot. He descended and walked on, surging with love. Guha announced his village, caste, and name, and bowed his head to the earth in greeting.
करत दंडवत देखि तेहि भरत लीन्ह उर लाइ। मनहुँ लखन सन भेंट भइ प्रेमु न हृदयँ समाइ॥ १९३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
karata daṃḍavata dekhi tehi bharata līnha ura lāi। manahuṃ lakhana sana bheṃṭa bhai prema na hṛdayaṃ samāi॥ 193 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing him making prostrations, Bharata took him to his heart and embraced him. Love could not be contained in the heart, as if Lakshmana himself had come to meet him.
भेंटत भरतु ताहि अति प्रीती। लोग सिहाहिं प्रेम कै रीती॥ धन्य धन्य धुनि मंगल मूला। सुर सराहि तेहि बरिसहिं फूला॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bheṃṭata bharatu tāhi ati prītī। loga sihāhiṃ prema kai rītī॥ dhanya dhanya dhuni maṃgala mūlā। sura sarāhi tehi barisahiṃ phūlā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Bharata is embracing Guha with great affection. All behold and marvel at the ways of love, and the gods, praising the scene with cries of 'Blessed! Blessed!', shower flowers.
लोक बेद सब भाँतिहिं नीचा। जासु छाँह छुइ लेइअ सींचा॥ तेहि भरि अंक राम लघु भ्राता। मिलत पुलक परिपूरित गाता॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
loka beda saba bhāṃtihiṃ nīcā। jāsu chhāṃha chhui leia sīṃcā॥ tehi bhari aṃka rāma laghu bhrātā। milata pulaka paripūrita gātā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
He who is considered low in every way by both the world and the Veda, whose mere shadow-touch requires a bath—that very Guha is being embraced to the bosom by Rama's younger brother Bharata, whose body overflows with horripilation.
राम राम कहि जे जमुहाहीं। तिन्हहि न पाप पुंज समुहाहीं॥ यह तौ राम लाइ उर लीन्हा। कुल समेत जगु पावन कीन्हा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma rāma kahi je jamuhāhīṃ। tinhahi na pāpa puṃja samuhāhīṃ॥ yaha tau rāma lāi ura līnhā। kula sameta jagu pāvana kīnhā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Those who yawn saying 'Rama, Rama'—so that even in idle moments Rama's name comes from their lips—do not find any heap of sins approaching them. And as for this Guha, Rama himself took him to His heart and made him pure, along with his entire line.
करमनास जलु सुरसरि परई। तेहि को कहहु सीस नहिं धरई॥ उलटा नामु जपत जगु जाना। बालमीकि भए ब्रह्म समाना॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
karamanāsa jalu surasari paraī। tehi ko kahahu sīsa nahiṃ dharai॥ ulṭā nāmu japata jagu jānā। bālamīki bhae brahma samānā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The waters of the Karmanasha flow into the Ganga; then tell me, who would not place it upon his head? The world knows that by chanting the reversed name, Valmiki became like Brahma.
स्वपच सबर खस जमन जड़ पावँर कोल किरात। रामु कहत पावन परम होत भुवन बिख्यात॥ १९४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
svapaca sabara khas jamana jaḍa pāvaṃra kola kirāta। rāmu kahata pāvana parama hota bhuvana bikhyāta॥ 194 ॥
Meaning:
Even outcastes, hunters, Khasas, Yavanas, the foolish and lowly, Kolas, and Kiratas become supremely pure and renowned throughout the world merely by uttering Rama's name.
नहि अचिरिजु जुग जुग चलि आई। केहि न दीन्हि रघुबीर बड़ाई॥ राम नाम महिमा सुर कहहीं। सुनि सुनि अवध लोग सुखु लहहीं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nahi aciriju juga juga cali āī। kehi na dīnhi raghubīra baṛāī॥ rāma nāma mahimā sura kahahīṃ। suni suni avadha loga sukhu lahahīṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
There is nothing surprising in this; this has been the way through age after age. To whom has Lord Raghubir not given honor? Thus the gods speak of the glory of Rama’s Name, and hearing it again and again, the people of Ayodhya find joy.
रामसखहि मिलि भरत सप्रेमा। पूँछी कुसल सुमंगल खेमा॥ देखि भरत कर सीलु सनेहू। भा निषाद तेहि समय बिदेहू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāmasakhahi mili bharata sapremā। pūṃchī kusala sumaṃgala khemā॥ dekhi bharata kara sīlu sanehū। bhā niṣāda tehi samaya bidehū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Rama’s friend Nishad met Bharata with deep affection, and Bharata asked after his well-being, welfare, and safety. Seeing Bharata’s character and loving nature, Nishad at that moment became like one without awareness of his body, absorbed in devotion.
सकुच सनेहु मोदु मन बाढ़ा। भरतहि चितवत एकटक ठाढ़ा॥ धरि धीरजु पद बंदि बहोरी। बिनय सप्रेम करत कर जोरी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sakuca sanehu modu mana bāḍhā। bharatahi citavata ekataka ṭhāḍhā॥ dhari dhīraju pada bandi bahorī। binaya saprema karata kara jorī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Shyness, affection, and joy rose so much in his heart that he stood there gazing at Bharata without blinking. Then, gathering courage, he bowed at Bharata’s feet and, with folded hands, began to speak in loving humility.
कुसल मूल पद पंकज पेखी। मैं तिहुँ काल कुसल निज लेखी॥ अब प्रभु परम अनुग्रह तोरें। सहित कोटि कुल मंगल मोरें॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kusala mūla pada paṃkaja pekhī। maiṃ tihuṃ kāla kusala nija lekhī॥ aba prabhu parama anugraha toreṃ। sahita koṭi kula maṃgala moreṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, the very source of well-being! By beholding your lotus feet, I have known my welfare in all the three times. Now, by your supreme grace, blessings and auspiciousness have come upon me, along with my countless generations.
समुझि मोरि करतूति कुलु प्रभु महिमा जियँ जोइ। जो न भजइ रघुबीर पद जग बिधि बंचित सोइ॥ १९५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
samujhi mori karatūti kulu prabhu mahimā jiyaṃ joi। jo na bhajai raghubīra pada jaga bidhi baṃcita soi॥ 195 ॥
Meaning:
Reflecting on my own conduct and lineage, and on the greatness of Lord Shri Ramchandra in my heart—how low I am, and how He is the Lord of countless universes—one should understand that even a person like me has been accepted by His causeless grace. Whoever does not worship the feet of Raghubir Rama is, in this world, deprived and cheated by destiny.
कपटी कायर कुमति कुजाती। लोक बेद बाहेर सब भाँती॥ राम कीन्ह आपन जबही तें। भयउँ भुवन भूषन तबही तें॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kapṭī kāyara kumati kujātī। loka beda bāhera saba bhāṃtī॥ rāma kīnha āpana jabahī teṃ। bhayauṃ bhuvana bhūṣana tabahī teṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
I am deceitful, timid, of evil intelligence, and of low birth, outside all bounds of worldly and scriptural propriety. But ever since Rama took me as His own, I have become an ornament of the world.
देखि प्रीति सुनि बिनय सुहाई। मिलेउ बहोरि भरत लघु भाई॥ कहि निषाद निज नाम सुबानीं। सादर सकल जोहारीं रानीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhi prīti suni binaya suhāī। mileu bahori bharata laghu bhāī॥ kahi niṣāda nija nāma subānīṃ। sādara sakala johārīṃ rānīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing Nishadraj’s affection and hearing his graceful humility, Bharata’s younger brother met him again. Then Nishad, repeating his own name, respectfully greeted all the queens in sweet and gentle speech.
जानि लखन सम देहिं असीसा। जिअहु सुखी सय लाख बरीसा॥ निरखि निषादु नगर नर नारी। भए सुखी जनु लखनु निहारी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāni lakhana sama dehiṃ asīsā। jiahu sukhī saya lākha barīsā॥ nirakhi niṣādu nagara nara nārī। bhaye sukhī janu lakhanu nihārī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Taking him to be like Lakshmana, the queens blessed him, saying, “May you live happily for a hundred million years.” Seeing Nishad, the men and women of the city became joyful, as though they were beholding Lakshmana himself.
कहहिं लहेउ एहिं जीवन लाहू। भेंटेउ रामभद्र भरि बाहू॥ सुनि निषादु निज भाग बड़ाई। प्रमुदित मन लइ चलेउ लेवाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahahiṃ laheu ehiṃ jīvana lāhū। bheṭeu rāma bhadra bhari bāhū॥ suni niṣādu nija bhāga baṛāī। pramudita mana lai caleu levāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
All say that he alone has truly gained the fruit of life, whom the gracious Rama embraced with His arms. Hearing praise of his good fortune, Nishad became greatly delighted in his heart and led everyone along with him.
सनकारे सेवक सकल चले स्वामि रुख पाइ। घर तरु तर सर बाग बन बास बनाएन्हि जाइ॥ १९६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sanakāre sevaka sakala cale svāmi rukha pāi। ghara taru tara sara bāga bana bāsa banāeñhi jāi॥ 196 ॥
Meaning:
He signaled all his servants. Receiving their master’s instruction, they went and prepared resting places in homes, beneath trees, by tanks, and in gardens and forests.
सृंगबेरपुर भरत दीख जब। भे सनेहँ सब अंग सिथिल तब॥ सोहत दिएँ निषादहि लागू। जनु तनु धरें बिनय अनुरागू॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sṛṅgaberapura bharata dīkha jaba। bhe sanehaṃ saba aṅga sithila taba॥ sohata dieṃ niṣādahi lāgū। janu tanu dhareṃ binaya anurāgū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
When Bharata saw Srngaberpur, all his limbs became weak with love. With Nishad at his side, he appeared as though humility and affection themselves had taken bodily form.
एहि बिधि भरत सेनु सबु संगा। दीखि जाइ जग पावनि गंगा॥ रामघाट कहँ कीन्ह प्रनामू। भा मनु मगनु मिले जनु रामू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi bidhi bharata senu sabu saṃgā। dīkhi jāi jaga pāvani gaṃgā॥ rāmaghāṭa kahaṃ kīnha praṇāmū। bhā manu maganu mile janu rāmū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Thus Bharata, taking the whole army with him, came to behold the Ganga, purifier of the world. He bowed to Ramghat, the place where Rama had once bathed and offered prayers. His mind became so immersed in joy that it seemed as if he had met Rama Himself.
करहिं प्रनाम नगर नर नारी। मुदित ब्रह्ममय बारि निहारी॥ करि मज्जनु मागहिं कर जोरी। रामचंद्र पद प्रीति न थोरी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
karahiṃ praṇāma nagara nara nārī। mudita brahmamaya bāri nihārī॥ kari majjanu māgahiṃ kara jorī। rāmacandra pada prīti na thorī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The men and women of the city bow in reverence and rejoice at the sight of the Ganga’s water, which is filled with Brahman. After bathing in the Ganga, all pray with folded hands that their love for the feet of Rama Chandra may never diminish.
भरत कहेउ सुरसरि तव रेनू। सकल सुखद सेवक सुरधेनू॥ जोरि पानि बर मागउँ एहू। सीय राम पद सहज सनेहू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bharata kaheu surasari tava renū। sakala sukhada sevaka suradhenū॥ jori pāni bara māgauṃ ehū। sīya rāma pada sahaja sanehū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Bharata said, “O celestial river! Your dust is a source of happiness for all, and to a servant it is like the wish-fulfilling cow. With folded hands I ask this boon: may I have natural love for the feet of Siya-Ram.”
एहि बिधि मज्जनु भरतु करि गुर अनुसासन पाइ। मातु नहानीं जानि सब डेरा चले लवाइ॥ १९७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi bidhi majjanu bharatu kari guru anusāsana pāi। mātu nahānīṃ jāni saba ḍērā cale lavai॥ 197 ॥
Meaning:
In this way, Bharata bathed, received the guru’s instruction, and, knowing that all the mothers had finished bathing, had the camp packed up and moved on.
जहँ तहँ लोगन्ह डेरा कीन्हा। भरत सोधु सबही कर लीन्हा॥ सुर सेवा करि आयसु पाई। राम मातु पहिं गे दोउ भाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jahaṃ tahaṃ loganha ḍērā kīnhā। bharata sodhu sabahī kara līnhā॥ sura sevā kari āyasu pāī। rāma mātu pahiṃ ge dou bhāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
People set up camp here and there. Bharata made inquiries about everyone [to see whether all had arrived and settled comfortably]. Then, after worshipping the gods and receiving permission, the two brothers went to Rama’s mother, Kaushalya.
चरन चाँपि कहि कहि मृदु बानी। जननीं सकल भरत सनमानी॥ भाइहि सौंपि मातु सेवकाई। आपु निषादहि लीन्ह बोलाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
carana cāṃpi kahi kahi mrdu bānī। jananīṃ sakala bharata sanmānī॥ bhāihi saumpi mātu sevakāī। āpu niṣādahi līna bolāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Gently pressing their feet and speaking sweet words again and again, Bharata honored all the mothers. Then, entrusting the mothers’ service to his brother, he called Nishad to him.
चले सखा कर सों कर जोरें। सिथिल सरीरु सनेह न थोरें॥ पूँछत सखहि सो ठाउँ देखाऊ। नेकु नयन मन जरनि जुड़ाऊ॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
cale sakhā kara soṃ kara joreṃ। sithila sarīru saneha na thoreṃ॥ pūṃchata sakhahi so ṭhauṃ dikhāū। neku nayana mana jarani juḍāū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Bharata went forward with his hand joined to his friend Nishad’s. Their affection was no small thing; it had made his body weak. Bharata asks his friend to show him that place—and to cool the burning grief in his eyes and heart.
जहँ सिय रामु लखनु निसि सोए। कहत भरे जल लोचन कोए॥ भरत बचन सुनि भयउ बिषादू। तुरत तहाँ लइ गयउ निषादू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jahaṃ siya ramu lakhanu nisi soe। kahata bhare jala locana koe॥ bharata bacana suni bhayau biṣādū। turata tahāṃ lai gayau niṣādū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
There, where Sita, Rama, and Lakshmana had slept at night, his eyes immediately filled with tears. Hearing Bharata’s words, Nishad became deeply sorrowful, and at once took him there.
जहँ सिंसुपा पुनीत तर रघुबर किय बिश्रामु। अति सनेहँ सादर भरत कीन्हेउ दंड प्रनामु॥ १९८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jahaṃ siṃsupā punīta tara raghubara kiya biśrāmu। ati sanehaṃ sādara bharata kīnhau daṃḍa praṇāmu॥ 198 ॥
Meaning:
Where Lord Raghubara had rested beneath the sacred shisham tree, Bharata bowed there with deep affection and full reverence, offering a prostration.
कुस साँथरी निहारि सुहाई। कीन्ह प्रनामु प्रदच्छिन जाई॥ चरन रेख रज आँखिन्ह लाई। बनइ न कहत प्रीति अधिकाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kusa sāṃtharī nihāri suhāī। kīnha praṇāmu pradacchina jāī॥ carana rekh raja āṃkhinha lāī। banai na kahata prīti adhikāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the lovely bed of kusa grass, he circumambulated it and offered his bow. He applied to his eyes the dust of Rama’s footprints. The intensity of that love cannot be described.
कनक बिंदु दुइ चारिक देखे। राखे सीस सीय सम लेखे॥ सजल बिलोचन हृदयँ गलानी। कहत सखा सन बचन सुबानी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kanaka biṃdu dui cārika dekhe। rākhē sīsa sīya sama lekhe॥ sajala bilocana hṛdayaṃ galānī। kahata sakhā sana bacana subānī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Bharata saw a few golden specks—perhaps grains of gold or stars fallen from Sita’s ornaments and garments—and, taking them as equal to Sita, placed them on his head. His eyes were filled with tears, and his heart was heavy with sorrow. In gentle words he spoke to his friend:
श्रीहत सीय बिरहँ दुतिहीना। जथा अवध नर नारि बिलीना॥ पिता जनक देउँ पटतर केही। करतल भोगु जोगु जग जेही॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
śrīhata siya birahaṃ dutihīnā। jathā avadha nara nāri bilīnā॥ pitā janaka deūṃ paṭatara kēhī। karatala bhogu jogu jaga jehī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Even these specks of gold are becoming bereft of beauty and luster through separation from Sita, just as the men and women of Ayodhya have faded in Rama’s absence. To whose likeness can I compare King Janaka, Sita’s father, whose hands hold both enjoyment and renunciation in this world?
ससुर भानुकुल भानु भुआलू। जेहि सिहात अमरावतिपालू॥ प्राननाथु रघुनाथ गोसाईं। जो बड़ होत सो राम बड़ाईं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sasura bhānukula bhānu bhualū। jēhi sihāta amarāvatipālū॥ prānanāthu raghunātha gosāīṃ। jo baṛa hota so rāma baṛāīṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
King Dasharatha, the sun of the solar race, is her father-in-law; even Indra, lord of Amaravati, coveted his splendor. And Lord Raghunath, her beloved husband, is such that whoever becomes great does so only by Rama’s grace and honor.
पति देवता सुतीय मनि सीय साँथरी देखि। बिहरत हृदउ न हहरि हर पबि तें कठिन बिसेषि॥ १९९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pati devatā sutiya mani sīya sāṃtharī dekhi। biharata hṛdaya na hahari hara pabi teṃ kaṭhina biśeṣi॥ 199 ॥
Meaning:
When I behold the bed of Sita, the jewel among devoted wives, how does my heart not tremble and burst? O Shambhu, this is harder than even a thunderbolt!
लालन जोगु लखन लघु लोने। भे न भाइ अस अहहिं न होने॥ पुरजन प्रिय पितु मातु दुलारे। सिय रघुबीरहि प्रानपिआरे॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lālana jogu lakhana laghu lōne। bhē na bhāi asa ahahiṃ na hone॥ purajana priya pitu mātu dulāre। siya raghubīrahi prānapiāre॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
My younger brother Lakshman is very handsome and lovable. Such a brother neither has been, nor is, nor ever will be. Lakshman is dear to the people of Ayodhya, beloved of his parents, and dear to Sita and Rama.
मृदु मूरति सुकुमार सुभाऊ। तात बाउ तन लाग न काऊ॥ ते बन सहहिं बिपति सब भाँती। निदरे कोटि कुलिस एहिं छाती॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mṛdu mūrati sukumāra subhāū। tāta bāu tana lāga na kāū॥ te bana sahahiṃ bipati saba bhāṃtī। nidare koṭi kulisa ehiṃ chātī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Those whose form is tender and whose nature is delicate, and whose body has never even been touched by harsh weather, are now enduring every kind of hardship in the forest. Alas! This heart of mine has defied even millions of thunderbolts in its hardness; otherwise it would long ago have broken.
राम जनमि जगु कीन्ह उजागर। रूप सील सुख सब गुन सागर॥ पुरजन परिजन गुर पितु माता। राम सुभाउ सबहि सुखदाता॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma janami jagu kīhna ujāgara। rūpa sīla sukha saba guna sāgara॥ purajana parijana guru pitu mātā। rāma subhāu sabahi sukhadātā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
By taking birth, Rama illumined the world. He is an ocean of beauty, virtue, joy, and all good qualities. To the townspeople, relatives, teacher, father, and mother alike, Rama's very nature is a source of happiness.
बैरिउ राम बड़ाई करहीं। बोलनि मिलनि बिनय मन हरहीं॥ सारद कोटि कोटि सत सेषा। करि न सकहिं प्रभु गुन गन लेखा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bairiu rāma baṛāī karahīṃ। bolani milani binaya mana harahīṃ॥ sārada koṭi koṭi sata seṣā। kari na sakahīṃ prabhu guna gana lekhā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Even enemies praise Rama. His speech, his manner of meeting others, and his humility captivate the mind. Even countless Saraswatis and countless Sheshas cannot reckon the number of Lord Rama's virtues.
सुखस्वरूप रघुबंसमनि मंगल मोद निधान। तेसोवत कुस डासि महि बिधि गति अति बलवान॥ २०० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sukhasvarūpa raghubansamani maṅgala moda nidhāna। tesovata kusa ḍāsi mahi bidhi gati ati balavāna॥ 200 ॥
Meaning:
That Rama, jewel of the Raghu dynasty, embodiment of bliss, and storehouse of auspiciousness and joy, lies sleeping on the ground spread with kusa grass. Truly, the ways of Providence are exceedingly powerful.
राम सुना दुखु कान न काऊ। जीवनतरु जिमि जोगवइ राऊ॥ पलक नयन फनि मनि जेहि भाँती। जोगवहिं जननि सकल दिन राती॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma sunā dukhu kāna na kāū। jīvanataru jimi jogavai rāū॥ palaka nayana phani mani jehi bhāṃtī। jogavahiṃ janani sakala dina rātī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Rama had never even heard the name of sorrow with his ears. The king himself tended him like a wish-fulfilling tree of life. All the mothers cared for him day and night in the same way that the eyelids protect the eyes and a snake guards its jewel.
ते अब फिरत बिपिन पदचारी। कंद मूल फल फूल अहारी॥ धिग कैकई अमंगल मूला। भइसि प्रान प्रियतम प्रतिकूला॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
te aba phirata bipina padacārī। kanda mūla phala phūla ahārī॥ dhiga kaikai amaṅgala mūlā। bhaisi prāna priyatama pratikūlā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
That very Rama now wanders through the forest on foot and lives on roots, fruits, and flowers. Woe to Kaikeyi, the root of all ill, who has become hostile to her own beloved lord.
मैं धिग धिग अघ उदधि अभागी। सबु उतपातु भयउ जेहि लागी॥ कुल कलंकु करि सृजेउ बिधाताँ। साइँदोह मोहि कीन्ह कुमाताँ॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
maiṃ dhiga dhiga agha udadhi abhāgī। sabu utapātu bhayau jehi lāgī॥ kula kalaṃku kari sṛjeu bidhātāṃ। sāiṃdoha mohi kīhna kumātāṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Woe, woe to me, an unfortunate ocean of sin! Because of me all these calamities have arisen. The Creator made me a stain upon my lineage, and an evil mother made me disloyal to my lord.
सुनि सप्रेम समुझाव निषादू। नाथ करिअ कत बादि बिषादू॥ राम तुम्हहि प्रिय तुम्ह प्रिय रामहि। यह निरजोसु दोसु बिधि बामहि॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni saprema samujhāva niṣādū। nātha kariya kata bādi biṣādū॥ rāma tumhahi priya tumha priya rāmahi। yaha nirajosu dosu bidhi bāmahi॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing this, Nishad spoke lovingly and consoled him: 'O Lord, why do you grieve in vain? Rama is dear to you, and you are dear to Rama. This is the settled truth; the fault lies with adverse Fate.'
बिधि बाम की करनी कठिन जेहिं मातु कीन्ही बावरी। तेहि राति पुनि पुनि करहिं प्रभु सादर सरहना रावरी॥ तुलसी न तुम्ह सो राम प्रीतमु कहतु हौं सौंहें किएँ। परिनाम मंगल जानि अपने आनिए धीरजु हिएँ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bidhi bāma kī karanī kaṭhina jehiṃ mātu kīhnī bāvarī। tehi rāti puni puni karahiṃ prabhu sādar sarahanā rāvarī॥ tulasī na tumha so rāma prītamu kahatu hauṃ sauṃheṃ kieṃ। parināma maṅgala jāni apane ānie dhīraju hieṃ॥
Meaning:
The doings of adverse Fate are severe; it made Mother Kaikeyi mad with delusion. That night the Lord repeatedly praised you with great reverence. Tulsidas says: 'I swear that there is no one dearer to Rama than you. Knowing that the outcome will be auspicious, bring patience into your heart.'
अंतरजामी रामु सकुच सप्रेम कृपायतन। चलिअ करिअ बिश्रामु यह बिचारि दृढ़ आनि मन॥ २०१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aṃtarajāmī rāmu sakuca saprema kṛpāyatana। calia kariya biśrāmu yaha bicāri dṛḍha āni mana॥ 201 ॥
Meaning:
Rama is the indwelling knower, and the abode of modesty, love, and compassion; reflecting on this and steadied in mind, go ahead and rest.
सखा बचन सुनि उर धरि धीरा। बास चले सुमिरत रघुबीरा॥ यह सुधि पाइ नगर नर नारी। चले बिलोकन आरत भारी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sakhā bacana suni ura dhari dhīrā। bāsa chale sumirata raghubīrā॥ yaha sudhi pāi nagara nara nārī। chale bilokana ārata bhārī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing his friend's words, Bharata gathered courage in his heart and, remembering Rama, went to the camp. When the townsmen learned of it, all the men and women went in great eagerness to behold the place.
परदखिना करि करहिं प्रनामा। देहिं कैकइहि खोरि निकामा॥ भरि भरि बारि बिलोचन लेहीं। बाम बिधातहि दूषन देहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
paradakhinā kari karahiṃ pranāmā। dehiṃ kaikaihi khori nikāmā॥ bhari bhari bāri bilocana lehīṃ। bāma bidhātahi dūṣana dehīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
They walk around the place in circumambulation and bow in reverence; they heap blame upon Kaikeyi. Their eyes fill again and again with tears, and they curse adverse Fate.
एक सराहहिं भरत सनेहू। कोउ कह नृपति निबाहेउ नेहू॥ निंदहिं आपु सराहि निषादहि। को कहि सकइ बिमोह बिषादहि॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eka sarāhahiṃ bharata sanehū। kou kaha nṛpati nibāheu nehū॥ nindahiṃ āpu sarāhi niṣādahi। ko kahi sakai bimoha biṣādahi॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Some praise Bharata's affection, while others say that the king truly upheld his love. They blame themselves and praise Nishad. Who can describe the bewilderment and grief of that moment?
एहि बिधि राति लोगु सबु जागा। भा भिनुसार गुदारा लागा॥ गुरहि सुनावँ चढ़ाइ सुहाईं। नईं नाव सब मातु चढ़ाईं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi bidhi rāti logu sabu jāgā। bhā bhinusāra gudārā lāgā॥ gurahi sunāvaṃ chaḍhāi suhāīṃ। naīṃ nāva saba mātu chaḍhāīṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
In this way everyone stayed awake through the night. At dawn the ferrying began. Guru was put on a beautiful boat, and then all the mothers were placed on a new boat.
प्रातक्रिया करि मातु पद बंदि गुरहि सिरु नाइ। आगें किए निषाद गन दीन्हेउ कटकु चलाइ॥ २०२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prātakriyā kari mātu pada bandi gurahi siru nāi। āgeṃ kie niṣāda gana dīhneu kaṭaku calāi॥ 202 ॥
Meaning:
After performing the morning rites, bowing at his mother's feet, and lowering his head before the guru, Bharata placed the Nishads in front and set the army in motion.