Arrival at Prayag and Meeting Bharadwaj
On reaching Prayag, Rama meets Sage Bharadwaj and is reverently welcomed at his hermitage. The people near the Yamuna also shower the Lord with simple affection.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 18 / 49
Episode Text
तेहि दिन भयउ बिटप तर बासू। लखन सखाँ सब कीन्ह सुपासू॥ प्रात प्रातकृत करि रघुराई। तीरथराजु दीख प्रभु जाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehi dina bhayau bitapa tara bāsū। lakhana sakhāṃ saba kīnha supāsū॥ prāta prātakṛta kari raghurāī। tīratharāju dīkha prabhu jāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
That day they stayed beneath a tree. Lakshman and Guha made all the arrangements for rest. In the morning, after performing His morning duties, Lord Rama went and beheld Prayag, the king of pilgrimage places.
सचिव सत्य श्रद्धा प्रिय नारी। माधव सरिस मीतु हितकारी॥ चारि पदारथ भरा भँडारू। पुन्य प्रदेस देस अति चारू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saciva satya śraddhā priya nārī। mādhava sarisa mītu hitakārī॥ cāri padāratha bharā bhaṇḍārū। punya pradesa desa ati cārū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
For that king, truth is the minister, faith is the beloved wife, and a friend like Madhava is beneficial. His treasury is filled with the four aims of life, and that sacred region itself is his beautiful kingdom.
छेत्रु अगम गढ़ु गाढ़ सुहावा। सपनेहुँ नहिं प्रतिपच्छिन्ह पावा॥ सेन सकल तीरथ बर बीरा। कलुष अनीक दलन रनधीरा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
chetru agama gaṛhu gāṛha suhāvā। sapanehuṃ nahiṃ pratipacchiṃha pāvā॥ sena sakala tīratha bara bīrā। kaluṣa anīka dalana ranadhīrā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The sacred region of Prayag is itself an inaccessible, strong, and beautiful fort, which even in dreams the enemy cannot conquer. All the holy places are its noble warrior troops, crushing the armies of sin and fearless in battle.
संगमु सिंहासनु सुठि सोहा। छत्रु अखयबटु मुनि मनु मोहा॥ चवँर जमुन अरु गंग तरंगा। देखि होहिं दुख दारिद भंगा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saṅgamu siṃhāsanu suṭhi sohā। chatru akhayabaṭu muni manu mohā॥ cavaṃra jamuna aru gaṅga taraṃgā। dekhi hohiṃ dukha dārida bhaṃgā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The confluence itself is his splendid throne. The Akshayavat is his canopy, captivating even the minds of sages. The waves of the Yamuna and Ganga are his chamars, and merely seeing them dispels sorrow and poverty.
सेवहिं सुकृती साधु सुचि पावहिं सब मनकाम। बंदी बेद पुरान गन कहहिं बिमल गुन ग्राम॥ १०५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sevahiṃ sukṛtī sādhu suci pāvahiṃ saba manakāma। baṃdī beda purāna gana kahahiṃ bimala guna grāma॥ 105 ॥
Meaning:
The virtuous and pure saints serve it and obtain all their wishes. The groups of the Vedas and Puranas sing there like bards, praising its spotless cluster of virtues.
को कहि सकइ प्रयाग प्रभाऊ। कलुष पुंज कुंजर मृगराऊ॥ अस तीरथपति देखि सुहावा। सुख सागर रघुबर सुखु पावा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ko kahi sakai prayāga prabhāū। kaluṣa puñja kuñjara mṛgarāū॥ asa tīrathapati dekhi suhāvā। sukha sāgara raghubara sukhu pāvā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Who can describe the glory of Prayag, which is like a lion to destroy the elephant of sin? Seeing such a charming lord of pilgrimage places, Rama, the ocean of bliss, also found great joy.
कहि सिय लखनहि सखहि सुनाई। श्रीमुख तीरथराज बड़ाई॥ करि प्रनामु देखत बन बागा। कहत महातम अति अनुरागा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahi siya lakhanahi sakhahi sunāī। śrīmukha tīratharāja baṛāī॥ kari pranāmu dekhat bana bāgā। kahata mahātama ati anurāgā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
With His own sacred mouth, He told Sita, Lakshman, and Guha about the glory of the king of pilgrimages. Then, after bowing, He looked at the forests and gardens, speaking of its greatness with deep love.
एहि बिधि आइ बिलोकी बेनी। सुमिरत सकल सुमंगल देनी॥ मुदित नहाइ कीन्हि सिव सेवा। पूजि जथाबिधि तीरथ देवा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi bidhi āi bilokī benī। sumirata sakala sumaṅgala dēnī॥ mudita nahāi kīnhi siva sevā। pūji jathābidhi tīratha dēvā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
In this way Rama came and beheld the Triveni, which grants all auspiciousness even when remembered. Then, bathing joyfully, He served Shiva and worshiped the deities of the holy place according to proper ritual.
तब प्रभु भरद्वाज पहिं आए। करत दंडवत मुनि उर लाए॥ मुनि मन मोद न कछु कहि जाई। ब्रह्मानंद रासि जनु पाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba prabhu bharadvāja pahiṃ āe। karata daṇḍavata muni ura lāe॥ muni mana moda na kachu kahi jāī। brahmānanda rāsi janu pāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
After completing the bathing, worship, and all else, Lord Rama came to Bharadwaj. As Rama bowed down, the sage embraced Him to his heart. The joy of the sage’s mind cannot be described; it was as if he had received a treasury of divine bliss.
दीन्हि असीस मुनीस उर अति अनंदु अस जानि। लोचनगोचर सुकृत फल मनहुँ किए बिधि आनि॥ १०६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dīnhi asīsa munīsa ura ati anandu asa jāni। locanagocara sukṛta phala manahuṃ kie bidhi āni॥ 106 ॥
Meaning:
The sage Bharadwaj offered blessings, and his heart was greatly delighted, knowing that today the Creator had, as it were, brought before his eyes the fruit of all his merits by granting the sight of Lord Rama with Sita and Lakshman.
कुसल प्रस्न करि आसन दीन्हे। पूजि प्रेम परिपूरन कीन्हे॥ कंद मूल फल अंकुर नीके। दिए आनि मुनि मनहुँ अमी के॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kusala prasna kari āsana dīnhe। pūji prema paripūrana kīnhe॥ kanda mūla phala aṅkura nīke। die āni muni manahuṃ amī ke॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
After asking after their welfare, the sage gave them seats and honored them with love. Then he brought and offered excellent roots, fruits, and shoots, as though they were made of nectar itself.
सीय लखन जन सहित सुहाए। अति रुचि राम मूल फल खाए॥ भए बिगतश्रम रामु सुखारे। भरद्वाज मृदु बचन उचारे॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sīya lakhana jana sahita suhāe। ati ruci rāma mūla phala khāe॥ bhae bigataśrama rāmu sukhāre। bharadvāja mṛdu bacana uccāre॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Sita, Lakshman, and the servant Guha were with Him, and Rama ate those lovely roots and fruits with great relish. When His fatigue was gone, Rama became refreshed. Then Bharadwaj spoke gentle words.
आजु सुफल तपु तीरथ त्यागू। आजु सुफल जप जोग बिरागू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
āju suphala tapu tīratha tyāgū। āju suphala japa joga birāgū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Today my austerity has borne fruit, and my renunciation of pilgrimages has borne fruit as well. Today, my chanting, yoga, and detachment have all become fruitful.
लाभ अवधि सुख अवधि न दूजी। तुम्हरें दरस आस सब पूजी॥ अब करि कृपा देहु बर एहू। निज पद सरसिज सहज सनेहू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lābha avadhi sukha avadhi na dūjī। tumhareṃ darasa āsa saba pūjī॥ aba kari kṛpā dehu bara ehū। nija pada sarasija sahaja sanehū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
There is no other limit to gain or joy except Your holy sight. All my hopes have been fulfilled by Your दर्शन. Now, out of grace, please grant me this boon: that I may have natural love for Your lotus feet.
करम बचन मन छाड़ि छलु जब लगि जनु न तुम्हार। तब लगि सुखु सपनेहुँ नहीं किएँ कोटि उपचार॥ १०७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
karama bacana mana chāṛi chalu jaba lagi janu na tumhāra। taba lagi sukhu sapanehuṃ nahīṃ kieṃ koṭi upacāra॥ 107 ॥
Meaning:
So long as a person has not abandoned deceit in deed, word, and mind and become Your servant, so long, even with millions of efforts, he does not attain that happiness, not even in a dream.
सुनि मुनि बचन रामु सकुचाने। भाव भगति आनंद अघाने॥ तब रघुबर मुनि सुजसु सुहावा। कोटि भाँति कहि सबहि सुनावा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni muni bacana rāmu sakucāne। bhāva bhagati ānanda aghāne॥ taba raghubara muni sujasu suhāvā। koṭi bhāṃti kahi sabahiṃ sunāvā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing the sage’s words, Lord Rama, filled to the brim with joy through heartfelt devotion, felt bashful in the play of divine humility. Then Lord Rama, concealing His majesty, recounted the beautiful fame of Sage Bharadwaj in countless ways and made everyone hear it.
सो बड़ सो सब गुन गन गेहू। जेहि मुनीस तुम्ह आदर देहू॥ मुनि रघुबीर परसपर नवहीं। बचन अगोचर सुखु अनुभवहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so baṛa so saba guna gana gehū। jehi munīsa tumha ādara dehū॥ muni raghubīra paraspara navahīṃ। bacana agocara sukhu anubhavahīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
He said, “O great sage, whoever receives your honor is truly great and is the home of all virtues.” Thus Rama and Sage Bharadwaj were both bowing to one another and experiencing indescribable bliss.
यह सुधि पाइ प्रयाग निवासी। बटु तापस मुनि सिद्ध उदासी॥ भरद्वाज आश्रम सब आए। देखन दसरथ सुअन सुहाए॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yaha sudhi pāi prayāga nivāsī। baṭu tāpasa muni siddha udāsī॥ bharadvāja āśrama saba āe। dekhana dasaratha suana suhāe॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
When the news of Rama, Lakshman, and Sita’s arrival reached them, the residents of Prayag—brahmacaris, ascetics, sages, siddhas, and renunciants—all came to Bharadwaj’s hermitage to see the beautiful sons of King Dasharatha.
राम प्रनाम कीन्ह सब काहू। मुदित भए लहि लोयन लाहू॥ देहिं असीस परम सुखु पाई। फिरे सराहत सुंदरताई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma pranāma kīnha saba kāhū। mudita bhae lahi loyana lāhū॥ dehiṃ asīsa parama sukhu pāī। phire sarāhata sundaratāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Rama bowed to everyone. Having gained the blessing of seeing Him, all became joyful and, filled with supreme delight, began offering blessings. They returned praising Rama’s beauty.
राम कीन्ह बिश्राम निसि प्रात प्रयाग नहाइ। चले सहित सिय लखन जन मुदित मुनिहि सिरु नाइ॥ १०८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma kīnha biśrāma nisi prāta prayāga nahāi। cale sahita siya lakhana jana mudita munihi siru nāi॥ 108 ॥
Meaning:
Rama rested there through the night, and at daybreak, after bathing at Prayag and joyfully bowing His head to the sage, He departed with Sita, Lakshman, and the servant Guha.
राम सप्रेम कहेउ मुनि पाहीं। नाथ कहिअ हम केहि मग जाहीं॥ मुनि मन बिहसि राम सन कहहीं। सुगम सकल मग तुम्ह कहुँ अहहीं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Rāma saprema kaheu muni pāhīṃ। Nātha kahia hama kehi maga jāhīṃ॥ Muni mana bihasi Rāma sana kahahīṃ। Sugama sakala maga tumha kahuṃ ahahīṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
While setting out, Rama said to the sage with great love, 'Lord, tell us by which path we should go.' The sage laughed inwardly and said to Rama, 'For you, all paths are easy.'
साथ लागि मुनि सिष्य बोलाए। सुनि मन मुदित पचासक आए॥ सबन्हि राम पर प्रेम अपारा। सकल कहहिं मगु दीख हमारा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Sātha lāgi muni sisya bolāe। Suni mana mudita pacāsaka āe॥ Sabhani Rāma para prema apārā। Sakala kahahiṃ magu dīkha hamārā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Then the sage called his disciples to go along. Hearing this, about fifty disciples arrived, joyful in their hearts. All of them had boundless love for Rama. They all said, 'We know the way.'
मुनि बटु चारि संग तब दीन्हे। जिन्ह बहु जनम सुकृत सब कीन्हे॥ करि प्रनामु रिषि आयसु पाई। प्रमुदित हृदयँ चले रघुराई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Muni baṭu cāri saṅga taba dīhne। Jinha bahu janama sukṛta saba kīhne॥ Kari pranāmu riṣi āyasu pāī। Pramudita hṛdayaṃ cale raghurāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Then the sage sent four brahmacharis along with them, men who through many births had accumulated good deeds. After bowing and receiving the sage's blessing, Lord Raghunatha departed with a heart full of delight.
ग्राम निकट जब निकसहिं जाई। देखहिं दरसु नारि नर धाई॥ होहिं सनाथ जनम फलु पाई। फिरहिं दुखित मनु संग पठाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Grāma nikaṭa jaba nikasahiṃ jāī। Dekhahiṃ darasu nāri nara dhāī॥ Hohīṃ sanātha janama phalu pāī। Firahiṃ dukhita manu saṅga paṭhāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Whenever they pass near a village, men and women run out to see them. Having gained the fruit of life, they feel sheltered and blessed, and then return sorrowfully, sending their minds along with them.
बिदा किए बटु बिनय करि फिरे पाइ मन काम। उतरि नहाए जमुन जल जो सरीर सम स्याम॥ १०९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Bidā kie baṭu binaya kari phire pāi mana kāma। Utari nahāe jamuna jala jo sarīra sama syāma॥ 109 ॥
Meaning:
Thereafter Rama took leave of the four brahmacharis with due courtesy; they returned, having gained what their hearts desired. Crossing over, they bathed in the waters of the Yamuna, which were dark blue like the body of Shri Ramachandra.
सुनत तीरबासी नर नारी। धाए निज निज काज बिसारी॥ लखन राम सिय सुंदरताई। देखि करहिं निज भाग्य बड़ाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Sunata tīrabāsī nara nārī। Dhāe nija nija kāja bisārī॥ Lakhana Rāma siya sundaratāī। Dekhi karahiṃ nija bhāgya baṛāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The men and women living on the riverbank ran out, forgetting their own work. Seeing the beauty of Lakshmana, Rama, and Sita, they praised their own good fortune.
अति लालसा बसहिं मन माहीं। नाउँ गाउँ बूझत सकुचाहीं॥ जे तिन्ह महुँ बयबिरिध सयाने। तिन्ह करि जुगुति रामु पहिचाने॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Ati lālasā basahiṃ mana māhīṃ। Nāuṃ gāuṃ būjhata sakucāhīṃ॥ Je tinha mahuṃ bayabiridha sayāne। Tinha kari juguti Rāmu pahicāne॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Their hearts were full of longing to learn who these people were, yet they hesitated to ask their names and village. Among them, the elderly and wise ones recognized Shri Ramchandra through clever deduction.
सकल कथा तिन्ह सबहि सुनाई। बनहि चले पितु आयसु पाई॥ सुनि सबिषाद सकल पछिताहीं। रानी रायँ कीन्ह भल नाहीं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
Sakala kathā tinha sabahiṃ sunāī। Banahi cale pitu āyasu pāī॥ Suni sabiṣāda sakala pachitāhīṃ। Rānī rāyaṃ kīhna bhal nāhīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
They told everyone the whole story: that, having received their father's command, they had gone to the forest. Hearing this, all were distressed and full of regret, saying that the queen and king had not acted well.