Bharata Establishes the Sacred Waters and Tours Chitrakoot
Bharata reverently establishes the sacred waters brought from holy pilgrimage sites and then visits the sanctified places of Chitrakoot. Every act reflects his devotion to Rama and his reverence for the holy land.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 47 / 49
Episode Text
भरत अत्रि अनुसासन पाई। जल भाजन सब दिए चलाई॥ सानुज आपु अत्रि मुनि साधू। सहित गए जहँ कूप अगाधू॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bharata atri anusāsana pāī। jala bhājana saba die calāī॥ sānuja āpu atri muni sādhū। sahita gae jahaṃ kūpa agādhū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Receiving Atri's instruction, Bharata sent off all the vessels of water, and with his younger brother, Atri, and the other holy men, he went to the deep, bottomless well.
पावन पाथ पुन्यथल राखा। प्रमुदित प्रेम अत्रि अस भाषा॥ तात अनादि सिद्ध थल एहू। लोपेउ काल बिदित नहिं केहू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pāvana pātha puṇyathala rākhā। pramudita prema atri asa bhāṣā॥ tāta anādi siddha thala ehū। lopeu kāla bidita nahiṃ kehū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
The sacred water was placed in that holy spot. Then, filled with loving joy, Atri said: 'Dear child, this is an ancient siddha-place. In the course of time it had been lost, so no one knew of it.'
तब सेवकन्ह सरस थलु देखा। कीन्ह सुजल हित कूप बिसेषा॥ बिधिबस भयउ बिस्व उपकारू। सुगम अगम अति धरम बिचारू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba sevakanahaṃ sarasa thalu dekhā। kīnha sujala hita kūpa biseṣā॥ bidhibasa bhayau bisva upakārū। sugama agama ati dharama bicārū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Then the servants saw that water-rich place and constructed a special well for the beautiful waters of the holy place. By providence, it became a benefit to the whole world. The thought of dharma, which is often hard to approach, became easy.
भरतकूप अब कहिहहिं लोगा। अति पावन तीरथ जल जोगा॥ प्रेम सनेम निमज्जत प्रानी। होइहहिं बिमल करम मन बानी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bharatakūpa aba kahihahiṃ logā। ati pāvana tīratha jala jogā॥ prema sanema nimajjata prānī। hoihahiṃ bimala karama mana bānī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
From now on, people will call it Bharatkupa. Through the coming together of sacred waters, it has become supremely pure. By bathing here with love and discipline, beings will become pure in mind, speech, and deed.
कहत कूप महिमा सकल गए जहाँ रघुराउ। अत्रि सुनायउ रघुबरहि तीरथ पुन्य प्रभाउ॥ ३१० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahata kūpa mahimā sakala gae jahaṃ raghurāu। atri sunāyau raghubarahi tīratha punya prabhāu॥ 310 ॥
Meaning:
Speaking of the well's glory, everyone went to where Lord Raghunath was. Atri then explained to Rama the holy merit and power of that sacred place.
कहत धरम इतिहास सप्रीती। भयउ भोरु निसि सो सुख बीती॥ नित्य निबाहि भरत दोउ भाई। राम अत्रि गुर आयसु पाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahata dharama itihāsa saprītī। bhayau bhoru nisi so sukha bītī॥ nitya nibāhi bharata dou bhāī। rāma atri gura āyasu pāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Speaking lovingly of the sacred account of righteousness, the night passed in happiness and dawn broke. After completing their daily rites, Bharata and both brothers received the command of Rama, Atri, and the guru.
सहित समाज साज सब सादें। चले राम बन अटन पयादें॥ कोमल चरन चलत बिनु पनहीं। भइ मृदु भूमि सकुचि मन मनहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sahita samāja sāja saba sādẽ। cale rāma bana aṭana payādeṃ॥ komala carana calata binu panahīṃ। bhai mrdu bhūmi sakuci mana manahīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Together with the whole company, in their plain attire, Rama set out on foot into the forest. His tender feet were walking without shoes, and seeing this, the earth herself, as if shy, became soft in heart.
कुस कंटक काँकरीं कुराईं। कटुक कठोर कुबस्तु दुराईं॥ महि मंजुल मृदु मारग कीन्हे। बहत समीर त्रिबिध सुख लीन्हे॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kusa kaṇṭaka kāṅkarīṃ kurāīṃ। kaṭuka kaṭhora kubastu durāīṃ॥ mahi mañjula mrdu māraga kīnhe। bahata samīra tribidha sukha līnhe॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Grass, thorns, pebbles, cracks, and other harsh, hard, and ugly things were hidden away. The earth made the path lovely and soft, and the breeze began to blow, bringing threefold delight.
सुमन बरषि सुर घन करि छाहीं। बिटप फूलि फलि तृन मृदुताहीं॥ मृग बिलोकि खग बोलि सुबानी। सेवहिं सकल राम प्रिय जानी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sumana baraṣi sura ghana kari chāhīṃ। biṭapa phūli phali tṛna mrdutāhīṃ॥ mrga biloki khaga boli subānī। sevahiṃ sakala rāma priya jānī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The gods showered flowers, the clouds cast shade, the trees blossomed and bore fruit, the grasses became soft, and the deer and birds too seemed to welcome him; all, knowing Bharata dear to Rama, began to serve him.
सुलभ सिद्धि सब प्राकृतहु राम कहत जमुहात। राम प्रानप्रिय भरत कहुँ यह न होइ बड़ि बात॥ ३११ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sulabha siddhi saba prākṛtahu rāma kahata jamuhāta। rāma prānapriya bharata kahuṃ yaha na hoi baḍi bāta॥ 311 ॥
Meaning:
If even an ordinary person, while yawning, can obtain all attainments simply by saying 'Rama,' then for Bharata, Rama's dearest life-breath, this is certainly no great wonder.
एहि बिधि भरतु फिरत बन माहीं। नेमु प्रेमु लखि मुनि सकुचाहीं॥ पुन्य जलाश्रय भूमि बिभागा। खग मृग तरु तृन गिरि बन बागा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi bidhi bharatu phirata bana māhīṃ। nemu premu lakhi muni sakucāhīṃ॥ punya jalāśraya bhūmi bibhāgā। khaga mrga taru tṛna giri bana bāgā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
In this way Bharata keeps wandering through the forest. Seeing his discipline and devotion, even the sages feel shy. The holy waters, the different parts of the land, birds, beasts, trees, grasses, mountains, forests, and gardens—
चारु बिचित्र पबित्र बिसेषी। बूझत भरतु दिब्य सब देखी॥ सुनि मन मुदित कहत रिषिराऊ। हेतु नाम गुन पुन्य प्रभाऊ॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
cāru bicitra pabitra biseṣī। būjhata bharatu dibya saba dekhī॥ suni mana mudita kahata riṣirāū। hetu nāma guna punya prabhāū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing everything to be especially beautiful, wondrous, pure, and divine, Bharata asks about them all. Hearing him, Sage Atri rejoices and explains their cause, names, qualities, and the power of their merit.
कतहुँ निमज्जन कतहुँ प्रनामा। कतहुँ बिलोकत मन अभिरामा॥ कतहुँ बैठि मुनि आयसु पाई। सुमिरत सीय सहित दोउ भाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
katahuṃ nimajjana katahuṃ pranāmā। katahuṃ bilokata mana abhirāmā॥ katahuṃ baiṭhi muni āyasu pāī। sumirata sīya sahita dou bhāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
At some places Bharata bathes, at some he bows down, at some he beholds delightful sights, and at some, having received the sage's command, he sits and remembers both brothers together with Sita.
देखि सुभाउ सनेहु सुसेवा। देहिं असीस मुदित बनदेवा॥ फिरहिं गएँ दिनु पहर अढ़ाई। प्रभु पद कमल बिलोकहिं आई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhi subhāu sanehu susevā। dehiṃ asīsa mudita bandevā॥ phirahiṃ gaeṃ dinu pahara aḍhāī। prabhu pada kamala bilokahiṃ āī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing Bharata's nature, affection, and devoted service, the forest deities gladly offer blessings. Thus he wanders about, and after two and a half pahars have passed, he returns and comes to behold the Lord's lotus feet.
देखे थल तीरथ सकल भरत पाँच दिन माझ। कहत सुनत हरि हर सुजसु गयउ दिवसु भइ साँझ॥ ३१२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhe thala tīratha sakala bharata pāṃca dina mājha। kahata sunata hari hara sujasu gayau divasu bhai sāṃjha॥ 312 ॥
Meaning:
Bharata visited all the sacred places in five days. Speaking and hearing the beautiful glory of Hari and Hara, that day too passed, and evening came.