Rama Gives His Sandals to Bharata Before the Farewell
In their final exchange, Bharata repeatedly implores Rama to return to Ayodhya, but Rama remains firm in honoring their father’s word. At last, Rama gives Bharata his sandals, which Bharata accepts as the sacred trust of the kingdom before departing.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 48 / 49
Episode Text
भोर न्हाइ सबु जुरा समाजू। भरत भूमिसुर तेरहुति राजू॥ भल दिन आजु जानि मन माहीं। रामु कृपाल कहत सकुचाहीं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhora nhāi sabu jurā samājū। bharata bhūmisura terahuti rājū॥ bhala dina āju jāni mana māhīṃ। rāmu kṛpāla kahata sakucāhīṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
At dawn, after bathing, the whole assembly gathered—Bharata, the Brahmins, and the king of Mithila. Though he knew in his heart that today was a good day for sending everyone away, compassionate Rama still felt shy to speak.
गुर नृप भरत सभा अवलोकी। सकुचि राम फिरि अवनि बिलोकी॥ सील सराहि सभा सब सोची। कहुँ न राम सम स्वामि सँकोची॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gura nṛpa bharata sabhā avalokī। sakuci rāma phiri avani bilokī॥ sīla sarāhi sabhā saba socī। kahuṃ na rāma sama svāmi saṃkochī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Rama looked at the guru, the king, Bharata, and the whole assembly; then, bashfully turning away, he looked down at the ground. Praising his gentle character, the assembly thought, 'There is no lord as modest as Rama.'
भरत सुजान राम रुख देखी। उठि सप्रेम धरि धीर बिसेषी॥ करि दंडवत कहत कर जोरी। राखीं नाथ सकल रुचि मोरी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bharata sujāna rāma rukha dekhī। uṭhi saprema dhari dhīra biseṣī॥ kari daṇḍavata kahata kara jorī। rākhīṃ nātha sakala ruci morī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Wise Bharata, seeing Rama's manner, rose with love and great composure. Bowing prostrate with folded hands, he said, 'O Lord, You have fulfilled all my wishes.'
मोहि लगि सहेउ सबहिं संतापू। बहुत भाँति दुखु पावा आपू॥ अब गोसाइँ मोहि देउ रजाई। सेवौं अवध अवधि भरि जाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mohi lagi saheu sabahiṃ santāpū। bahuta bhāṃti dukhu pāvā āpū॥ aba gosāiṃ mohi deu rajāī। sevauṃ avadha avadhi bhari jāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
For my sake everyone endured sorrow, and You Yourself suffered in many ways. Now, O Lord, give me Your command. Let me go and serve Ayodhya for the full term.
जेहिं उपाय पुनि पाय जनु देखै दीनदयाल। सो सिख देइअ अवधि लगि कोसलपाल कृपाल॥ ३१३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jehiṃ upāya puni pāya janu dekhai dīnadayāla। so sikha deia avadhi lagi kosalapāla kṛpāla॥ 313 ॥
Meaning:
O compassionate Lord, by whatever means this servant may again behold Your feet—O Lord of Kosala, O merciful One—please teach me that path for the duration of the term.
पुरजन परिजन प्रजा गोसाईं। सब सुचि सरस सनेहँ सगाईं॥ राउर बदि भल भव दुख दाहू। प्रभु बिनु बादि परम पद लाहू॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
purajana parijana prajā gosāīṃ। saba suci sarasa sanehaṃ sagāīṃ॥ rāura badi bhala bhava dukha dāhū। prabhu binu bādi parama pada lāhū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O Gosain, through your affection and association, the townspeople, relatives, and subjects are all pure and filled with delight. For you, even burning in the fire of worldly suffering is good, and without the Lord, even the highest attainment is empty.
स्वामि सुजानु जानि सब ही की। रुचि लालसा रहनि जन जी की॥ प्रनतपालु पालिहि सब काहू। देउ दुहू दिसि ओर निबाहू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
svāmi sujānu jāni saba hī kī। ruci lālasā rahani jana jī kī॥ pranatapālu pālihi saba kāhū। deu duhū disa ori nibāhū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, being all-knowing, You know the wishes, longings, and way of life in everyone's heart, and in this servant's heart too. O Protector of the surrendered, You will sustain all, and O God, You will uphold both sides.
अस मोहि सब बिधि भूरि भरोसो। किएँ बिचारु न सोचु खरो सो॥ आरति मोर नाथ कर छोहू। दुहुँ मिलि कीन्ह ढीठु हठि मोहू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa mohi saba bidhi bhūri bharoso। kieṃ bicāru na socu kharo so॥ ārati mora nātha kara chohū। duhuṃ mili kīnha ḍhīṭhu haṭhi mohū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
I have great confidence in every way. On reflection, not even a straw's worth of worry remains. My helplessness and my Lord's affection have together made me bold against my will.
यह बड़ दोषु दूरि करि स्वामी। तजि सकोच सिखइअ अनुगामी॥ भरत बिनय सुनि सबहिं प्रसंसी। खीर नीर बिबरन गति हंसी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
yaha baḍa doṣu dūri kari svāmī। taji saṃkoca sikhaiya anugāmī॥ bharata binaya suni sabahiṃ prasaṃsī। khīra nīra bibarana gati haṃsī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, remove this great fault and, casting aside hesitation, instruct me, your follower. Hearing Bharata's plea—whose graceful movement is like a swan separating milk from water—all praised him.
दीनबंधु सुनि बंधु के बचन दीन छलहीन। देस काल अवसर सरिस बोले रामु प्रबीन॥ ३१४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dīnabandhu suni bandhu ke bacana dīna chalahīna। desa kāla avasara sarisa bole rāmu pravīna॥ 314 ॥
Meaning:
The compassionate Lord of the humble, hearing Bharata's simple and guileless words, spoke words suited to the place, time, and occasion.
तात तुम्हारि मोरि परिजन की। चिंता गुरहि नृपहि घर बन की॥ माथे पर गुर मुनि मिथिलेसू। हमहि तुम्हहि सपनेहुँ न कलेसू॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāta tumhāri mori parijana kī। cintā gurahi nṛpahi ghara bana kī॥ māthe para gura muni mithilesū। hamahiṃ tumhahiṃ sapanehuṃ na kalesū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O dear one, the care for you, for me, for our family, for the house, and for the forest rests with Guru and the king. With the Guru, the sage, and Janak upon our heads, there is no suffering for us or for you, even in dreams.
मोर तुम्हार परम पुरुषारथु। स्वारथु सुजसु धरमु परमारथु॥ पितु आयसु पालिहिं दुहु भाईं। लोक बेद भल भूप भलाईं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mora tumhāra parama puruṣārathu। svārathu sujasu dharamu paramārathu॥ pitu āyasu pālihiṃ duhu bhāīṃ। loka beda bhala bhūpa bhalāīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
For you and for me, the highest human aim, self-interest, fame, righteousness, and spiritual good all lie in this: that the two brothers obey our father's command. The king's welfare is good for both the world and the Veda.
गुर पितु मातु स्वामि सिख पालें। चलेहुँ कुमग पग परहिं न खालें॥ अस बिचारि सब सोच बिहाई। पालहु अवध अवधि भरि जाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gura pitu mātu svāmi sikha pāleṃ। calehuṃ kumaga paga parahiṃ na khāleṃ॥ asa bicāri saba soca bihāī। pālahu avadha avadhi bhari jāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
By obeying the teaching of guru, father, mother, and master, even when one walks on a wrong path one does not fall into a pit. Thinking thus, abandon all worry and go to Ayodhya; dwell there for the full term.
देसु कोसु परिजन परिवारू। गुर पद रजहिं लाग छरुभारू॥ तुम्ह मुनि मातु सचिव सिख मानी। पालेहु पुहुमि प्रजा रजधानी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
desu kosu parijana parivārū। gura pada rajahiṃ lāga charubhārū॥ tumha muni mātu saciva sikha mānī। pālehu puhumi prajā rajadhānī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The burden of the country, treasury, family, and household all rests on the dust of the Guru's feet. You, having accepted the teaching of sage Vasishtha, the mothers, and the ministers, should continue to protect the earth, the people, and the capital.
मुखिआ मुखु सो चाहिऐ खान पान कहुँ एक। पालइ पोषइ सकल अँग तुलसी सहित बिबेक॥ ३१५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mukhiā mukhu so cāhie khāna pāna kahuṃ eka। pālai poṣai sakala aṅga tulasī sahita bibeka॥ 315 ॥
Meaning:
Tulsidas says—[Rama said—] the leader should be like the mouth: it eats and drinks alone, yet with discernment nourishes all the limbs.
राजधरम सरबसु एतनोई। जिमि मन माहँ मनोरथ गोई॥ बंधु प्रबोधु कीन्ह बहु भाँती। बिनु अधार मन तोषु न साँती॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rājadharma sarabasu etanoī। jimi mana māhṃ manoratha goī॥ bandhu prabodhu kīnha bahu bhāṃtī। binu adhāra mana toṣu na sāṃtī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The whole essence of righteous kingship is this: just as a desire lies hidden within the mind. Lord Raghunatha instructed brother Bharata in many ways, but without some support his mind found neither contentment nor peace.
भरत सील गुर सचिव समाजू। सकुच सनेह बिबस रघुराजू॥ प्रभु करि कृपा पाँवरीं दीन्हीं। सादर भरत सीस धरि लीन्हीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bharata sīla gura saciva samājū। sakuca saneha bibasa raghurājū॥ prabhu kari kṛpā pāṃvarīṃ dīnhīṃ। sādara bharata sīsa dhari līnhīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
On one side was Bharata’s noble character, and on the other the presence of the gurus, ministers, and the assembly. Seeing this, Lord Raghunatha became especially overcome by shyness and affection. (That is, moved by Bharata’s love, He wished to give him His sandals, yet at the same time felt restraint before the elders.) Finally, out of grace, Lord Rama gave the sandals, and Bharata reverently placed them on his head.
चरनपीठ करुनानिधान के। जनु जुग जामिक प्रजा प्रान के॥ संपुट भरत सनेह रतन के। आखर जुग जनु जीव जतन के॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
caranapīṭha karuṇānidhāna ke। janu juga jāmika prajā prāna ke॥ sampuṭa bharata saneha ratana ke। ākhara juga janu jīva jatana ke॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The sandals of the ocean of compassion, Rama, are like two guardians for the lives of the people. They are like a casket for the jewel of Bharata’s love, and for the soul’s discipline they are like the two letters of Rama’s name.
कुल कपाट कर कुसल करम के। बिमल नयन सेवा सुधरम के॥ भरत मुदित अवलंब लहे तें। अस सुख जस सिय रामु रहे तें॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kula kapāṭa kara kusala karama ke। bimala nayana sevā sudharama ke॥ bharata mudita avalamba lahe teṃ। asa sukha jasa siya rāmu rahe teṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
For the Raghukul, they are like two doors; for performing good and skillful deeds, they are like helpful hands. For teaching the noble dharma of service, they are like pure eyes. Bharata is overjoyed to have found this support. He experienced the same bliss as when Sita and Rama dwell together.
मागेउ बिदा प्रनामु करि राम लिए उर लाइ। लोग उचाटे अमरपति कुटिल कुअवसरु पाइ॥ ३१६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
māgeu bidā pranāmu kari rāma lie ura lāi। loka ucāṭe amarapati kuṭila kuavasaru pāi॥ 316 ॥
Meaning:
Bharata asked for leave, bowing in reverence, and then Lord Rama embraced him to His heart. Meanwhile, the crafty Indra took advantage of the moment and caused the people to be restless and distraught.
सो कुचालि सब कहँ भइ नीकी। अवधि आस सम जीवनि जी की॥ नतरु लखन सिय राम बियोगा। हहरि मरत सब लोग कुरोगा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so kuchāli saba kahaṃ bhaī nīkī। avadhi āsa sama jīvani jī kī॥ nataru lakhana siya rāma biyogā। hahari marata saba loga kurogā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
That very ill deed turned out to be beneficial for everyone. It became like the hope of Ayodhya, like a life-giving remedy for life itself. Otherwise, if the people had not been thus stirred, they would have been overcome by the terrible disease of separation from Lakshmana, Sita, and Rama, and would have died in anguish.
रामकृपाँ। अवरेब सुधारी। बिबुध धारि भइ गुनद गोहारी॥ भेंटत भुज भरि भाइ भरत सो। राम प्रेम रसु कहि न परत सो॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāmakṛpāṃ। avareba sudhārī। bibudha dhāri bhai gunada gohārī॥ bheṃṭata bhuja bhari bhāi bharata so। rāma prema rasu kahi na parata so॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
By Rama’s grace, everything was set right. The host of gods, which had come to plunder, turned beneficent and protective. Lord Rama was meeting brother Bharata, enfolding him in His arms. The sweetness of Rama’s love cannot be described.
तन मन बचन उमग अनुरागा। धीर धुरंधर धीरजु त्यागा॥ बारिज लोचन मोचत बारी। देखि दसा सुर सभा दुखारी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tana mana bacana umaga anurāgā। dhīra dhurandhara dhīraju tyāgā॥ bārija locana mocata bārī। dekhī dasā sura sabhā dukhārī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Love surged forth in body, mind, and speech. The steadfast and mighty Lord gave up His composure. With lotus-like eyes He began to shed tears, and seeing His condition, the assembly of gods was grieved.
मुनिगन गुर धुर धीर जनक से। ग्यान अनल मन कसें कनक से॥ जे बिरंचि निरलेप उपाए। पदुम पत्र जिमि जग जल जाए॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
munigana gura dhura dhīra janaka se। gyāna anala mana kaseṃ kanaka se॥ je biranchi niralepa upāe। paduma patra jimi jaga jala jāe॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The sages, the guru Vashistha, and the steadfast Janaka-like souls had tightly tempered their minds like gold in the fire of knowledge. Brahma created them stainless, and they were born in the world like lotus leaves in water—living in the world, yet untouched by it.
तेउ बिलोकि रघुबर भरत प्रीति अनूप अपार। भए मगन मन तन बचन सहित बिराग बिचार॥ ३१७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
teu biloki raghubara bharata prīti anūpa apāra। bhae magana mana tana bacana sahita birāga bicāra॥ 317 ॥
Meaning:
They too, beholding the incomparable and boundless love of Rama and Bharata, became absorbed in that love with detachment and discernment—through body, mind, and speech.
जहाँ जनक गुर गति मति भोरी। प्राकृत प्रीति कहत बड़ि खोरी॥ बरनत रघुबर भरत बियोगू। सुनि कठोर कबि जानिहि लोगू॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jahāṃ janaka gura gati mati bhorī। prākṛta prīti kahata baṛi khorī॥ baranata raghubara bharata biyogū। suni kaṭhora kabi jānihi logū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Where even the understanding of Janaka and the guru Vashistha is overwhelmed, it is a great fault to call that sublime love worldly. If one describes the separation of Rama and Bharata, people will think the poet heartless.
सो सकोच रसु अकथ सुबानी। समउ सनेहु सुमिरि सकुचानी॥ भेंटि भरतु रघुबर समुझाए। पुनि रिपुदवनु हरषि हियँ लाए॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so sakocha rasu akatha subānī। samau sanehu sumiri sakucānī॥ bheṃṭi bharatu raghubara samujhāe। puni ripudavanu haraṣi hiyaṃ lāe॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
That tender feeling of reserve is beyond words. Thus the poet’s beautiful speech, remembering that love, became shy. After meeting Bharata, Lord Raghunatha consoled him, and then, overjoyed, He embraced Shatrughna to His heart.
सेवक सचिव भरत रुख पाई। निज निज काज लगे सब जाई॥ सुनि दारुन दुखु दुहूँ समाजा। लगे चलन के साजन साजा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sevaka saciva bharata rukha pāī। nija nija kāja lage saba jāī॥ suni dāruna dukhu duhūṃ samājā। lage calana ke sājana sājā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The servants and ministers, having received Bharata’s instruction, all set about their own tasks. Hearing this, both assemblies were filled with terrible sorrow. They began making preparations to depart.
प्रभु पद पदुम बंदि दोउ भाई। चले सीस धरि राम रजाई॥ मुनि तापस बनदेव निहोरी। सब सनमानि बहोरि बहोरी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prabhu pada paduma bandi dou bhāī। cale sīsa dhari rāma rajāī॥ muni tāpasa banadeva nihorī। saba sanmāni bahori bahorī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Bowring before the Lord’s lotus feet and taking Rama’s command upon their heads, both brothers departed. They repeatedly honored the sages, ascetics, and forest deities, and humbly sought their leave.
लखनहि भेंटि प्रनामु करि सिर धरि सिय पद धूरि। चले सप्रेम असीस सुनि सकल सुमंगल मूरि॥ ३१८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lakhanahi bheṃṭi pranāmu kari sira dhari siya pada dhūri। cale saprema asīsa suni sakala sumaṃgala mūri॥ 318 ॥
Meaning:
Then, meeting Lakshmana and bowing in reverence, and placing the dust of Sita’s feet on their heads, they set forth lovingly after hearing blessings—the very source of all auspiciousness.