Bharata, Shatrughna, and the People of Ayodhya Set Out for the Forest
Bharata, Shatrughna, the queens, the sages, and many citizens of Ayodhya depart for the forest to meet Rama. The journey is filled with devotion, longing, and hope.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 29 / 49
Episode Text
चक्क चक्कि जिमि पुर नर नारी। चहत प्रात उर आरत भारी॥ जागत सब निसि भयउ बिहाना। भरत बोलाए सचिव सुजाना॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
cakka cakki jimi pura nara nārī। cahata prāta ura ārata bhārī॥ jāgata saba nisi bhayau bihānā। bharata bolāe saciva sujānā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The men and women of the city, like the chakwa and chakwi birds, were deeply afflicted in their hearts and longed for morning to come. The night passed in wakefulness, and dawn arrived. Then Bharata called his wise ministers.
कहेउ लेहु सबु तिलक समाजू। बनहिं देब मुनि रामहि राजू॥ बेगि चलहु सुनि सचिव जोहारे। तुरत तुरग रथ नाग सँवारे॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kaheu lehu sabu tilaka samājū। banahiṃ deba muni rāmahi rājū॥ begi calahu suni saciva johāre। turata turaga ratha nāga saṃvāre॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
He said, 'Take along all the materials for the coronation. In the forest itself, the sage will confer the kingdom upon Shri Ramchandra; come quickly.' On hearing this, the ministers bowed, and at once had horses, chariots, and elephants made ready.
अरुंधती अरु अगिनि समाऊ। रथ चढ़ि चले प्रथम मुनिराऊ॥ बिप्र बृंद चढ़ि बाहन नाना। चले सकल तप तेज निधाना॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aruṃdhatī aru agini samāū। ratha chaḍhi cale prathama munirāū॥ bipra bṛnda chaḍhi bāhana nānā। cale sakala tapa teja nidhānā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
First of all, the sage Vasistha rode off in the chariot, with Arundhati and the sacred fire arrangements. Then the group of Brahmins, all of them stores of austerity and brilliance, set out on various conveyances.
नगर लोग सब सजि सजि जाना। चित्रकूट कहँ कीन्ह पयाना॥ सिबिका सुभग न जाहिं बखानी। चढ़ि चढ़ि चलत भईं सब रानी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nagara loga saba saji saji jānā। citrakūṭa kahaṃ kīhna payānā॥ sibikā subhaga na jāhiṃ bakhānī। chaḍhi chaḍhi calata bhaīṃ saba rānī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
All the people of the city, having made themselves ready, set out for Chitrakoot. The queens rode again and again in beautiful palanquins beyond description.
सौंपि नगर सुचि सेवकनि सादर सकल चलाइ। सुमिरि राम सिय चरन तब चले भरत दोउ भाइ॥ १८७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sauṃpi nagara suci sevakani sādara sakala calāi। sumiri rāma siya carana taba cale bharata dou bhāi॥ 187 ॥
Meaning:
Entrusting the city to trustworthy servants and respectfully sending everyone off, Bharata and Shatrughna then remembered the feet of Rama and Sita and departed.
राम दरस बस सब नर नारी। जनु करि करिनि चले तकि बारी॥ बन सिय रामु समुझि मन माहीं। सानुज भरत पयादेहिं जाहीं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma darasa basa saba nara nārī। janu kari karini cale taki bārī॥ bana siya rāmu samujhi mana māhīṃ। sānuja bharata payādehiṃ jāhīṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
All men and women, overwhelmed by the longing to see Rama, moved like thirsty male and female elephants rushing toward water. Thinking in their hearts that Sita and Rama were living in the forest, Bharata went on foot with his younger brother.
देखि सनेहु लोग अनुरागे। उतरि चले हय गय रथ त्यागे॥ जाइ समीप राखि निज डोली। राम मातु मृदु बानी बोली॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhi sanehu loga anurāge। utari cale haya gaya ratha tyāge॥ jāi samīpa rākhi nija ḍolī। rāma mātu mṛdu bānī bolī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing their affection, the people became absorbed in love and got down from horses, elephants, and chariots, walking on foot. Then Rama's mother, Kaushalya, went near Bharata, placed her palanquin beside him, and spoke in a soft voice:
तात चढ़हु रथ बलि महतारी। होइहि प्रिय परिवारु दुखारी॥ तुम्हरें चलत चलिहि सबु लोगू। सकल सोक कृस नहिं मग जोगू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāta caḍhahu ratha bali mahatārī। hoihi priya parivāru dukhārī॥ tumhareṃ calata calihi sabu logū। sakala soka kṛsa nahiṃ maga jogū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
'Son, your mother begs you, mount the chariot, otherwise the dear family will be distressed. If you walk, everyone will walk. They are all growing thin from grief; they are not fit for a walking journey.'
सिर धरि बचन चरन सिरु नाई। रथ चढ़ि चलत भए दोउ भाई॥ तमसा प्रथम दिवस करि बासू। दूसर गोमति तीर निवासू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sira dhari bacana carana siru nāī। ratha chaḍhi calata bhae dou bhāī॥ tamasā prathama divasa kari bāsū। dūsara gomati tīra nivāsū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Placing her command upon their heads and bowing at her feet, both brothers mounted the chariot and departed. They stayed the first day at the Tamsa, and the second day on the bank of the Gomati.
पय अहार फल असन एक निसि भोजन एक लोग। करत राम हित नेम ब्रत परिहरि भूषन भोग॥ १८८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
paya ahāra phala asana eka nisi bhojana eka loga। karata rāma hita nema brata parihari bhūṣana bhoga॥ 188 ॥
Meaning:
Some lived on milk alone, some on fruit, and some took food only once at night. Abandoning adornment and luxury, they all observed vows and disciplines for Rama's sake.