Vashishtha’s Address in the Assembly
In the Chitrakoot assembly, Vashishtha speaks on dharma, royal duty, and the tradition of the lineage. His words offer guidance and balance to all who are grieving and uncertain.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 40 / 49
Episode Text
बोले मुनिबरु समय समाना। सुनहु सभासद भरत सुजाना॥ धरम धुरीन भानुकुल भानू। राजा रामु स्वबस भगवानू॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bole munibaru samaya samānā। sunahu sabhāsada bharata sujānā॥ dharama dhurīna bhānukula bhānū। rājā rāmu svabasa bhagavānū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The noble sage Vashishtha spoke words suited to the moment: 'Listen, noble Bharata, and all assembled here. Rama of the सूर्यवंश is the sun among kings, steadfast in dharma and the independent Lord Himself.'
सत्यसंध पालक श्रुति सेतू। राम जनमु जग मंगल हेतू॥ गुर पितु मातु बचन अनुसारी। खल दलु दलन देव हितकारी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
satyasandha pālaka śruti setū। rāma janamu jaga maṅgala hetū॥ gura pitu mātu bacana anusārī। khala dalu dalana deva hitakārī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
He is true to his word and the guardian of the Vedas' boundary. Rama's incarnation exists for the welfare of the world. He follows the words of guru, father, and mother. He is the destroyer of the host of wicked and the benefactor of the gods.
नीति प्रीति परमारथ स्वारथु। कोउ न राम सम जान जथारथु॥ बिधि हरि हरु ससि रबि दिसिपाला। माया जीव करम कुलि काला॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nīti prīti paramāratha svārathu। kou na rāma sama jāna jathārathu॥ bidhi hari haru sasi rabi disipālā। māyā jīva karama kuli kālā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
No one knows truthfully, like Rama, the reality of policy, love, liberation, and self-interest. Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, the moon, the sun, the guardians of the directions, Maya, beings, karma, and time.
अहिप महिप जहँ लगि प्रभुताई। जोग सिद्धि निगमागम गाई॥ करि बिचार जियँ देखहु नीकें। राम रजाइ सीस सबही कें॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ahipa mahipa jahaṃ lagi prabhutāī। joga siddhi nigamāgama gāī॥ kari bicāra jiyaṃ dekhahu nīkẽ। rāma rajāi sīsa sabahī keṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Reflect well in your heart and see: from Shesha to the kings of earth and of the netherworld, as far as sovereignty extends, and the yogic powers praised in the Vedas and scriptures, Rama's command is above all their heads.
राखें राम रजाइ रुख हम सब कर हित होइ। समुझि सयाने करहु अब सब मिलि संमत सोइ॥ २५४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rākhẽ rāma rajāi rukha hama saba kara hita hoi। samujhi sayāne karahu aba saba mili sammata soi॥ 254 ॥
Meaning:
So keeping to Rama's command and inclination is what will benefit us all. Understanding this truth and mystery, now you wise ones, in agreement with all, should act together accordingly.
सब कहुँ सुखद राम अभिषेकू। मंगल मोद मूल मग एकू॥ केहि बिधि अवध चलहिं रघुराऊ। कहहु समुझि सोइ करिअ उपाऊ॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saba kahuṃ sukhada rāma abhiṣekū। maṅgala moda mūla maga ekū॥ kehi bidhi avadha calahiṃ raghurāū। kahahu samujhi soi kari'a upāū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Rama's coronation is beneficial for everyone. It is the one path, the source of auspiciousness and joy. How shall Lord Raghunath go to Ayodhya? Think it through and tell us; let that be the remedy.
सब सादर सुनि मुनिबर बानी। नय परमारथ स्वारथ सानी॥ उतरु न आव लोग भए भोरे। तब सिरु नाइ भरत कर जोरे॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saba sādara suni munibara bānī। naya paramāratha svāratha sānī॥ utaru na āva loga bhae bhore। taba siru nāi bharata kara jore॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
All listened respectfully to the noble sage's counsel, laced with policy, liberation, and worldly benefit. But no one could answer; everyone was bewildered. Then Bharata bowed his head and folded his hands.
भानुबंस भए भूप घनेरे। अधिक एक तें एक बड़ेरे॥ जनम हेतु सब कहँ पितु माता। करम सुभासुभ देइ बिधाता॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhānubaṃsa bhae bhūpa ghanere। adhika eka teṃ eka baḍere॥ janama hetu saba kahuṃ pitu mātā। karama subhāsubha dei bidhātā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Many kings arose in the सूर्यवंश, one greater than another. For all, father and mother are the cause of birth, and the Lord of fate grants the fruits of good and evil deeds.
दलि दुख सजइ सकल कल्याना। अस असीस राउरि जगु जाना॥ सो गोसाइँ बिधि गति जेहिं छेंकी। सकइ को टारि टेक जो टेकी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dali dukha saja'i sakala kalyānā। asa asīsa rāuri jagu jānā॥ so gosāiṃ bidhi gati jehiṃ chẽkī। saka'i ko ṭāri ṭeka jo ṭekī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Your blessing alone is such that it destroys sorrow and adorns every kind of happiness; the world knows this. O Lord, you are the one who even halted the course of destiny. Who can turn aside the resolve you have set?
बूझिअ मोहि उपाउ अब सो सब मोर अभागु। सुनि सनेहमय बचन गुर उर उमगा अनुरागु॥ २५५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
būjhia mohi upāu aba so saba mora abhāgu। suni sanehamaya bacana guru ura umagā anurāgu॥ 255 ॥
Meaning:
Now you ask me for the remedy; that is all due to my own ill fortune. Hearing Bharata's affectionate words, love surged in the Guru's heart.
तात बात फुरि राम कृपाहीं। राम बिमुख सिधि सपनेहुँ नाहीं॥ सकुचउँ तात कहत एक बाता। अरध तजहिं बुध सरबस जाता॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāta bāta phuri rāma kṛpāhīṃ। rāma bimukha sidhi sapanehuṃ nāhīṃ॥ sakucaũ tāta kahata eka bātā। aradha tajahiṃ budha sarabasa jātā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O dear one, the matter is true only by Rama's grace. For one who turns away from Rama, there is no attainment even in dreams. O dear one, I hesitate to say one thing: wise men, seeing all their wealth gone, abandon even half to save the rest.
तुम्ह कानन गवनहु दोउ भाई। फेरिअहिं लखन सीय रघुराई॥ सुनि सुबचन हरषे दोउ भ्राता। भे प्रमोद परिपूरन गाता॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tumha kānana gavanahu dou bhāī। pheriahiṃ lakhana sīya raghurāī॥ suni subacana haraṣe dou bhrātā। bhe pramoda paripūrana gātā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Therefore you two brothers should go to the forest, and Lakshmana, Sita, and Lord Raghuraj should be brought back. Hearing these fine words, both brothers rejoiced. Their whole bodies were filled with delight.
मन प्रसन्न तन तेजु बिराजा। जनु जिय राउ रामु भए राजा॥ बहुत लाभ लोगन्ह लघु हानी। सम दुख सुख सब रोवहिं रानी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mana prasanna tana teju birājā। janu jiya rāu rāmu bhae rājā॥ bahuta lābha loganha laghu hānī। sama dukha sukha saba rovahiṃ rānī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Their minds became pleased; brilliance shone in their bodies, as if King Dasharatha had come to life and Rama had become king! For the others, it seemed that gain was greater and loss slight. But for the queens, sorrow and joy were one and the same; reflecting thus, they all began to weep.
कहहिं भरतु मुनि कहा सो कीन्हे। फलु जग जीवन्ह अभिमत दीन्हे॥ कानन करउँ जनम भरि बासू। एहि तें अधिक न मोर सुपासू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahahiṃ bharatu muni kahā so kīnhē। phalu jaga jīvana abhimata dīnhē॥ kānana karaũ janama bhari bāsū। ehi teṃ adhika na mora supāsū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Bharata said, 'If the sage's words are carried out, it will bring the fruit of granting each being in the world what it longs for. I shall live in the forest for as long as I live. Nothing is more pleasing to me than this.'
अंतरजामी रामु सिय तुम्ह सरबग्य सुजान। जौं फुर कहहु त नाथ निज कीजिअ बचनु प्रवान॥ २५६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aṃtarajāmī rāmu siya tumha sarabagya sujāna। jaũ phura kahahu ta nātha nija kījia bacanu pravāna॥ 256 ॥
Meaning:
Rama and Sita know the heart, and you are all-knowing and wise. If you speak truly, then, O Lord, make your words authoritative by putting them into effect.
भरत बचन सुनि देखि सनेहू। सभा सहित मुनि भए बिदेहू॥ भरत महा महिमा जलरासी। मुनि मति ठाढ़ि तीर अबला सी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bharata bacana suni dekhi sanehū। sabhā sahita muni bhae bidehū॥ bharata mahā mahimā jalarāsī। muni mati ṭhāṛhi tīra abalā sī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing Bharat's words and seeing his affection, the sage Vasistha, along with the whole assembly, became forgetful of the body. Bharat's great glory is like an ocean, and the sage's intellect stands on its shore like a helpless woman.
गा चह पार जतनु हियँ हेरा। पावति नाव न बोहितु बेरा॥ औरु करिहि को भरत बड़ाई। सरसी सीपि कि सिंधु समाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
gā caha pāra jatanu hiyaṃ herā। pāvati nāva na bohitu berā॥ auru karihi ko bharata baṛāī। sarasī sīpi ki sindhu samāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
She wants to cross that ocean and has searched for ways in her heart, but she finds no boat, ship, or raft to carry her across. Who else can praise Bharat's greatness? Can the ocean fit into a shell in a pond?
भरतु मुनिहि मन भीतर भाए। सहित समाज राम पहिं आए॥ प्रभु प्रनामु करि दीन्ह सुआसनु। बैठे सब सुनि मुनि अनुसासनु॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bharatu munihi mana bhītara bhāe। sahita samāja rāma pahiṃ āe॥ prabhu pranāmu kari dīna suāsanu। baiṭhe saba suni muni anusāsanu॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Bharat was deeply pleasing to the sage Vasistha, and with the whole assembly he came to Rama. The Lord bowed to them and offered an excellent seat. Everyone sat down upon hearing the sage's instruction.
बोले मुनिबरु बचन बिचारी। देस काल अवसर अनुहारी॥ सुनहु राम सरबग्य सुजाना। धरम नीति गुन ग्यान निधाना॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bole munibaru bacana bicārī। desa kāla avasara anuhārī॥ sunahu rāma sarabagya sujānā। dharama nīti guna gyāna nidhānā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The noble sage spoke, considering the place, time, and occasion: 'Listen, Rama, all-knowing and wise one, treasure-house of dharma, policy, virtue, and knowledge.'
सब के उर अंतर बसहु जानहु भाउ कुभाउ। पुरजन जननी भरत हित होइ सो कहिअ उपाउ॥ २५७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saba ke ura antara basahu jānahu bhāu kubhāu। purajana jananī bharata hita hoi so kahia upāu॥ 257 ॥
Meaning:
You dwell within everyone's heart and know every good and bad feeling. Tell us the course that will be beneficial for the townspeople, the mothers, and Bharat.
आरत कहहिं बिचारि न काऊ। सूझ जुआरिहि आपन दाऊ॥ सुनि मुनि बचन कहत रघुराऊ। नाथ तुम्हारेहि हाथ उपाऊ॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ārata kahahiṃ bicāri na kāū। sūjha juārihi āpana dāū॥ suni muni bacana kahata raghurāū। nātha tumhārehi hātha upāū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
People in distress do not speak after thinking carefully; a gambler sees only his own stake. Hearing the sage's words, Lord Raghunath said, 'O Lord, the means is in your own hands.'
सब कर हित रुख राउरि राखें। आयसु किएँ मुदित फुर भाषें॥ प्रथम जो आयसु मो कहुँ होई। माथें मानि करौं सिख सोई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saba kara hita rukha rāuri rākhẽ। āyasu kieṃ mudita fura bhāṣẽ॥ prathama jo āyasu mo kahuṃ hoi। mātheṃ māni karauṃ sikha soī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
It is for everyone's good to keep to your wishes and joyfully obey your command as truth. First, whatever order comes to me, I shall place that teaching on my head and follow it.
पुनि जेहि कहँ जस कहब गोसाईं। सो सब भाँति घटिहि सेवकाईं॥ कह मुनि राम सत्य तुम्ह भाषा। भरत सनेहँ बिचारु न राखा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
puni jehi kahaṃ jasa kahaba gosāīṃ। so saba bhāṃti ghaṭihi sevakāī॥ kaha muni rāma satya tumhā bhāṣā। bharata sanehẽ bicāru na rākhā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
And, O Lord, whatever you say to whomever will in every way become service. The sage Vasistha said, 'Rama, you have spoken truly. But Bharat's affection has not allowed reflection to remain.'
तेहि तें कहउँ बहोरि बहोरी। भरत भगति बस भइ मति मोरी॥ मोरें जान भरत रुचि राखी। जो कीजिअ सो सुभ सिव साखी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehi teṃ kahauṃ bahori bahorī। bharata bhagati basa bhaī mati morī॥ moreṃ jāna bharata ruci rākhī। jo kījia so subha siva sākhī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
That is why I say it again and again: my mind has come under the sway of Bharat's devotion. In my view, whatever is done keeping Bharat's wishes in mind will surely be auspicious; Shiva himself is witness to this.
भरत बिनय सादर सुनिअ करिअ बिचारु बहोरि। करब साधुमत लोकमत नृपनय निगम निचोरि॥ २५८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bharata binaya sādara suniya kariya bicāru bahori। karaba sādhumat lokamata nṛpanaya nigama nichori॥ 258 ॥
Meaning:
First listen respectfully to Bharat's plea, then think it over. After that, drawing out the essence of the counsel of the good, public opinion, statecraft, and the Vedas, do accordingly.
गुर अनुरागु भरत पर देखी। राम हृदयँ आनंदु बिसेषी॥ भरतहि धरम धुरंधर जानी। निज सेवक तन मानस बानी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
guru anurāgu bharata para dekhī। rāma hṛdayaṃ ānandu biśeṣī॥ bharatahi dharama dhurandhara jānī। nija sevaka tana mānasa bānī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the guru's affection for Bharat, Rama was especially delighted in his heart. Knowing Bharat to be steadfast in dharma and his servant in body, mind, and speech—
बोले गुर आयस अनुकूला। बचन मंजु मृदु मंगलमूला॥ नाथ सपथ पितु चरन दोहाई। भयउ न भुअन भरत सम भाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bole guru āyasa anukūlā। bacana maṃju mr̥du maṃgalamūlā॥ nātha sapatha pitu carana dohāī। bhayau na bhuana bharata sama bhāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
In accordance with the guru's command, Lord Rama spoke words that were lovely, gentle, and the source of all auspiciousness: 'O Lord, by your oath and by my father's feet, I declare truthfully that there has never been a brother like Bharat in all the world.'
जे गुर पद अंबुज अनुरागी। ते लोकहुँ बेदहुँ बड़भागी॥ राउर जा पर अस अनुरागू। को कहि सकइ भरत कर भागू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
je guru pada ambuja anurāgī। te lokahuṃ bedahuṃ baṛabhāgī॥ rāura jā para asa anurāgū। ko kahi sakai bharata kara bhāgū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Those who are devoted to the lotus feet of the guru are fortunate both in the world and in the Vedas. And then, when you yourself have such affection for him, who can describe Bharat's fortune?
लखि लघु बंधु बुद्धि सकुचाई। करत बदन पर भरत बड़ाई॥ भरतु कहहिं सोइ किएँ भलाई। अस कहि राम रहे अरगाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lakhi laghu bandhu buddhi sakucāī। karata badana para bharata baṛāī॥ bharatu kahahiṃ soi kieṃ bhalaī। asa kahi rāma rahe aragāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing him as my younger brother, my mind feels shy about praising Bharat to his face. Yet I will say only this: whatever Bharat says, doing that is good. Saying this, Lord Rama remained silent.
तब मुनि बोले भरत सन सब सँकोचु तजि तात। कृपासिंधु प्रिय बंधु सन कहहु हृदय कै बात॥ २५९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba muni bole bharata sana saba saṃkoca taji tāta। kṛpāsindhu priya bandhu sana kahahu hṛdaya kai bāta॥ 259 ॥
Meaning:
Then the sage said to Bharat, 'O child, give up all hesitation and tell your heart's thoughts to your beloved brother, the ocean of compassion.'