Bharata and Shatrughna Arrive in Ayodhya and Grieve
Bharata and Shatrughna return to Ayodhya and are distressed to find the city sunk in sorrow. When they learn of King Dasharatha’s passing and Rama’s exile, they are overcome with grief.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 26 / 49
Episode Text
चले समीर बेग हय हाँके। नाघत सरित सैल बन बाँके॥ हृदयँ सोचु बड़ कछु न सोहाई। अस जानहिं जियँ जाउँ उड़ाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
chale samīra bega haya hāṃke। nāghata sarita saila bana bāṃke॥ hṛdayaṃ socu baḍa kachu na sohāī। asa jānahiṃ jiyaṃ jāuṃ uṛāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Driving the horses at a wind-like speed, they crossed wild rivers, mountains, and forests. Bharata’s heart was burdened with anxiety, and nothing seemed pleasing. He kept thinking, ‘If only I could fly and reach there!’
एक निमेष बरष सम जाई। एहि बिधि भरत नगर निअराई॥ असगुन होहिं नगर पैठारा। रटहिं कुभाँति कुखेत करारा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eka nimeṣa baraṣa sama jāī। ehi bidhi bharata nagara niarāī॥ asaguna hohiṃ nagara paithārā। raṭahiṃ kubhāṃti kukheta karārā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Each moment seemed to pass like a year. In this way Bharata approached the city. As he entered, ominous signs began to appear. Crows were perched in bad places, cawing harshly.
खर सिआर बोलहिं प्रतिकूला। सुनि सुनि होइ भरत मन सूला॥ श्रीहत सर सरिता बन बागा। नगरु बिसेषि भयावनु लागा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
khara siyāra bolahiṃ pratikūlā। suni suni hoi bharata mana sūlā॥ shrīhata sara saritā bana bāgā। nagaru biseṣi bhayāvanu lāgā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Donkeys and jackals were uttering inauspicious cries. Hearing them again and again, Bharata felt deep pain in his heart. The lakes, rivers, forests, and gardens all seemed devoid of beauty, and the city appeared extremely dreadful.
खग मृग हय गय जाहिं न जोए। राम बियोग कुरोग बिगोए॥ नगर नारि नर निपट दुखारी। मनहुँ सबन्हि सब संपति हारी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
khaga mṛga haya gaya jāhiṃ na joe। rāma biyoga kuroga bigoe॥ nagara nāri nara nipaṭa dukhārī। manahuṃ sabhani saba saṃpati hārī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Birds and beasts, horses and elephants, tormented by the dreadful disease of separation from Rama, seemed unbearable to behold. The men and women of the city were terribly sorrowful, as though everyone had lost all their wealth.
पुरजन मिलहिं न कहहिं कछु गवँहिं जोहारहिं जाहिं। भरत कुसल पूँछि न सकहिं भय बिषाद मन माहिं॥ १५८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
purajana milahiṃ na kahahiṃ kachaṃu gavahiṃ johārahiṃ jāhiṃ। bharata kusala pūṃchi na sakahiṃ bhaya biṣāda mana māhiṃ॥ 158 ॥
Meaning:
The townspeople met him, but said nothing; they merely bowed in silence and departed. Bharata too could not ask anyone about their welfare, for fear and sorrow had filled his mind.
हाट बाट नहिं जाइ निहारी। जनु पुर दहँ दिसि लागि दवारी॥ आवत सुत सुनि कैकयनंदिनि। हरषी रबिकुल जलरुह चंदिनि॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hāṭa bāṭa nahiṃ jāi nihārī। janu pura dahaṃ disi lāgi davārī॥ āvata suta suni kaikayanandini। harṣī rabikula jalaruha candini॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The market and the roads could hardly be seen. It was as though a forest fire were blazing in all ten directions within the city. Hearing that her son had arrived, Kaikeyi—the moonlight for the lotus-like Solar dynasty—was delighted.
सजि आरती मुदित उठि धाई। द्वारेहिं भेंटि भवन लेइ आई॥ भरत दुखित परिवारु निहारा। मानहुँ तुहिन बनज बनु मारा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saji āratī mudita uṭhi dhāī। dwārehiṃ bheṃṭi bhavana lei āī॥ bharata dukhita parivāru nihārā। manahuṃ tuhina banaja bana mārā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
She prepared an aarti, rose joyfully, hurried out, met him at the door, and brought him into the house. Bharata saw the entire family in sorrow, as though frost had struck a forest of lotuses.
कैकेई हरषित एहि भाँती। मनहुँ मुदित दव लाइ किराती॥ सुतहि ससोच देखि मनु मारें। पूँछति नैहर कुसल हमारें॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kaikeī harṣita ehi bhāṃtī। manahuṃ mudita dava lāi kirātī॥ sutahi sasocha dekhi manu mārẽ। pūṃchati naihara kusala hamārẽ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Only Kaikeyi seemed delighted in this way, like a huntress rejoicing after setting a forest ablaze. Seeing her son anxious and downcast, she asked, “Is everything well in our parental home?”
सकल कुसल कहि भरत सुनाई। पूँछी निज कुल कुसल भलाई॥ कहु कहँ तात कहाँ सब माता। कहँ सिय राम लखन प्रिय भ्राता॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sakala kusala kahi bharata sunāī। pūṃchī nija kula kusala bhalāī॥ kahu kahaṃ tātā kahāṃ saba mātā। kahaṃ siya rāma lakhana priya bhrātā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Bharata told her all the good news. Then he asked about the well-being of his own family. He said, “Tell me, Father, where is he? Where are all my mothers? Where are Sita and my dear brothers Rama and Lakshmana?”
सुनि सुत बचन सनेहमय कपट नीर भरि नैन। भरत श्रवन मन सूल सम पापिनि बोली बैन॥ १५९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni suta bacana sanehamaya kapaṭa nīra bhari naina। bharata shravana mana sūla sama pāpini bolī baina॥ 159 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing her son’s affectionate words, the wicked Kaikeyi filled her eyes with deceitful tears and spoke words that pierced Bharata’s ears and heart like a spear.
तात बात मैं सकल सँवारी। भै मंथरा सहाय बिचारी॥ कछुक काज बिधि बीच बिगारेउ। भूपति सुरपति पुर पगु धारेउ॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāta bāta maiṃ sakala saṃvārī। bhai mantharā sahāya bicārī॥ kachuka kāja bidhi bīca baigaaraeu। bhūpati surapati pura pagu dhāreu॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
“Father, I had arranged everything. Poor Manthara helped me. But fate spoiled matters a little in between; the king has gone to the heavenly realm.”
सुनत भरतु भए बिबस बिषादा। जनु सहमेउ करि केहरि नादा॥ तात तात हा तात पुकारी। परे भूमितल ब्याकुल भारी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunata bharatu bhaye bibasa biṣādā। janu sahameu kari kehari nādā॥ tāta tāta hā tāta pukārī। pare bhūmitala byākula bhārī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing this, Bharata became helpless with grief. It was as though an elephant had been startled by a lion’s roar. Crying, “Father! Father! Alas, Father!” he fell to the ground in great anguish.
चलत न देखन पायउँ तोही। तात न रामहि सौंपेहु मोही॥ बहुरि धीर धरि उठे सँभारी। कहु पितु मरन हेतु महतारी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
calata na dekhan pāyauṃ tohī। tāta na rāmahi sauṃpehu mohī॥ bahuri dhīra dhari uṭhe saṃbhārī। kahu pitu marana hetu mahatārī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
And he lamented, “Father, I could not even see you depart. Alas, you did not entrust me to Rama! Then, collecting himself, he rose and said, ‘Mother, tell me the cause of Father’s death.’”
सुनि सुत बचन कहति कैकेई। मरमु पाँछि जनु माहुर देई॥ आदिहु तें सब आपनि करनी। कुटिल कठोर मुदित मन बरनी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni suta bacana kahati kaikeī। maramu pāṃchi janu māhura deī॥ ādihu teṃ saba āpani karanī। kuṭila kaṭhora mudita mana baranī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing her son’s words, Kaikeyi began to speak, as though stabbing the most tender place and pouring poison into it. The crooked and harsh Kaikeyi then recounted all her deeds from the beginning to the end with great satisfaction.
भरतहि बिसरेउ पितु मरन सुनत राम बन गौनु। हेतु अपनपउ जानि जियँ थकित रहे धरि मौनु॥ १६० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bharatahi bisareu pitu marana sunata rāma bana gaunu। hetu apanapau jāni jiyaṃ thakita rahe dhari maunu॥ 160 ॥
Meaning:
When Bharata heard that Shri Ramchandra had gone to the forest, he even forgot his father’s death. Realizing in his heart that he himself was the cause of all this calamity, he remained silent and stunned.
बिकल बिलोकि सुतहि समुझावति। मनहुँ जरे पर लोनु लगावति॥ तात राउ नहिं सोचै जोगू। बिढ़इ सुकृत जसु कीन्हेउ भोगू॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bikala biloki sutahi samujhāvati। manahuṃ jare para lona lagāvati॥ tāta rāu nahiṃ socai jogū। biṛhai sukṛta jasu kīneu bhogū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing her son distressed, Kaikeyi began to console him—like rubbing salt into a burn. She said, “Father, the king is not someone over whom one should grieve. He earned merit and fame and fully enjoyed their fruits.”
जीवत सकल जनम फल पाए। अंत अमरपति सदन सिधाए॥ अस अनुमानि सोच परिहरहू। सहित समाज राज पुर करहू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jīvata sakala janama phala pāe। anta amarapati sadana sidhāe॥ asa anumāni soca pariharahu। sahita samāja rāja pura karahu॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
In their lifetime they had already attained the full fruit of birth, and in the end they went to Indra’s abode. Thinking thus, cast aside sorrow and govern the kingdom with the people of the city.
सुनि सुठि सहमेउ राजकुमारू। पाकें छत जनु लाग अँगारू॥ धीरज धरि भरि लेहिं उसासा। पापिनि सबहि भाँति कुल नासा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni suṭhi sahameu rājakumārū। pākeṃ chata janu lāga aṃgārū॥ dhīraja dhari bhari lehiṃ usāsā। pāpini sabahi bhāṃti kula nāsā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing this, Prince Bharata was utterly shaken, as though a coal had touched a ripe wound. Gathering himself, he drew a long breath and said, “Wicked woman! You have destroyed the family in every way.”
जौं पै कुरुचि रही अति तोही। जनमत काहे न मारे मोही॥ पेड़ काटि तैं पालउ सींचा। मीन जिअन निति बारि उलीचा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaṃū pai kuruci rahī ati tohī। janamata kāhe na māre mohī॥ peṛa kāṭi taiṃ pālau sīṃcā। mīna jiana nīti bāri ulīcā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Alas! If you had such an utterly wicked intention, why did you not kill me at birth? You have cut down a tree and watered the leaves, and you have poured out water for a fish to live on! In trying to help me, you have done me the opposite harm.
हंसबंसु दसरथु जनकु राम लखन से भाइ। जननी तूँ जननी भई बिधि सन कछु न बसाइ॥ १६१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
haṃsabaṃsu dasarathu janaku rāma lakhana se bhāi। jananī tūṃ jananī bhaī bidhi sana kachu na basāi॥ 161 ॥
Meaning:
I was granted a Solar dynasty-like lineage, a father like King Dasharatha, and brothers like Rama and Lakshmana. But, O mother, it was you who gave birth to me! What can be done? One has no control over fate.
जब तैं कुमति कुमत जियँ ठयऊ। खंड खंड होइ हृदउ न गयऊ॥ बर मागत मन भइ नहिं पीरा। गरि न जीह मुहँ परेउ न कीरा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaba taiṃ kumati kumata jiyaṃ ṭhayau। khaṃḍa khaṃḍa hoi hṛdau na gayau॥ bara māgata mana bhai nahīṃ pīrā। gari na jīha muhaṃ pareu na kīrā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O wicked mind! When you conceived that evil resolve in your heart, why did your heart not shatter into pieces then and there? When you were asking for a boon, did you feel no pain at all? Did your tongue not rot? Did worms not fall into your mouth?
भूपँ प्रतीति तोरि किमि कीन्ही। मरन काल बिधि मति हरि लीन्ही॥ बिधिहुँ न नारि हृदय गति जानी। सकल कपट अघ अवगुन खानी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhūpaṃ pratīti tori kimi kīnhī। marana kāla bidhi mati hari līnhī॥ bidhihuṃ na nāri hṛdaya gati jānī। sakala kapaṭa agha avaguna khānī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
How did the king come to trust you? It seems that at the time of death Fate had stolen away his wisdom. Even Providence could not know the workings of a woman's heart. She is the mine of all deceit, sin, and faults.
सरल सुसील धरम रत राऊ। सो किमि जानै तीय सुभाऊ॥ अस को जीव जंतु जग माहीं। जेहि रघुनाथ प्रानप्रिय नाहीं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sarala susīla dharama rata rāū। so kimi jānai tīya subhāū॥ asa ko jīva jaṃtu jaga māhīṃ। jehi raghunātha prānapriya nāhīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The king was simple, gentle, and devoted to righteousness. How could he know the nature of women? And who among the living beings in the world is there who is not dear to Raghunatha as life itself?
भे अति अहित रामु तेउ तोही। को तू अहसि सत्य कहु मोही॥ जो हसि सो हसि मुहँ मसि लाई। आँखि ओट उठि बैठहि जाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhē ati ahita rāmu teu tohī। ko tū ahasi satya kahu mohī॥ jo hasi so hasi muhaṃ masi lāī। āṃkhi oṭa uṭhi baithahi jāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Has Lord Rama also become hostile to you? Who are you? Tell me the truth! Whatever you are, so be it. Now smear your face with soot and, getting up, go sit out of my sight.
राम बिरोधी हृदय तें प्रगट कीन्ह बिधि मोहि। मो समान को पातकी बादि कहउँ कछु तोहि॥ १६२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma birodhī hṛdaya teṃ pragaṭa kīna bidhi mohi। mo samāna ko pātakī bādi kahauṃ kachu tohi॥ 162 ॥
Meaning:
Fate has brought me forth from a heart opposed to Rama [or, made me openly a foe of Rama]. Who is a sinner like me? I am speaking to you in vain.
सुनि सत्रुघुन मातु कुटिलाई। जरहिं गात रिस कछु न बसाई॥ तेहि अवसर कुबरी तहँ आई। बसन बिभूषन बिबिध बनाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni satrughuna mātu kuṭilāī। jarahiṃ gāta risa kachu na basāī॥ tehi avasara kubarī tahaṃ āī। basana bibhūṣana bibidha banāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
On hearing of the mother's crookedness, all of Shatrughna's limbs burned with anger, yet he had no control. At that very moment, Kubari came there, decked out in various garments and ornaments.
लखि रिस भरेउ लखन लघु भाई। बरत अनल घृत आहुति पाई॥ हुमगि लात तकि कूबर मारा। परि मुह भर महि करत पुकारा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lakhi risa bhareu lakhana laghu bhāī। barata anala ghṛta āhuti pāī॥ humagi lāta taki kūbara mārā। pari muha bhara mahi karata pukārā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing her, Shatrughna, Lakshmana's younger brother, was filled with rage, as though ghee had been poured onto a blazing fire. He drew back his foot and struck her hump with a forceful kick. Crying out, she fell face down on the ground.
कूबर टूटेउ फूट कपारू। दलित दसन मुख रुधिर प्रचारू॥ आह दइअ मैं काह नसावा। करत नीक फलु अनइस पावा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kūbara ṭūṭeu phūṭa kapāru। dalita dasana mukha rudhira pracāru॥ āha daia maiṃ kāha nasāvā। karata nīka phalu anaisa pāvā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Her hump was broken, her head split open, her teeth were knocked out, and blood flowed from her mouth. [Groaning, she cried:] Alas, fate! What harm had I done? I did good, yet received evil in return.
सुनि रिपुहन लखि नख सिख खोटी। लगे घसीटन धरि धरि झोंटी॥ भरत दयानिधि दीन्हि छड़ाई। कौसल्या पहिं गे दोउ भाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni ripuhana lakhi nakha sikha khoṭī। lage ghasīṭana dhari dhari jhoṃṭī॥ bharata dayānidhi dīnhi chaṛāī। kausalyā pahiṃ ge dou bhāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
On hearing her words, and seeing her to be wicked from head to toe, Shatrughna began dragging her by the hair, seizing it again and again. Then the merciful Bharata set her free, and both brothers went to Kaushalya.