Sita’s Dream, News of Bharata’s Arrival, and Lakshmana’s Anger
Sita sees a troubling dream, and soon the forest dwellers bring news of Bharata’s approach. Rama is moved by concern for the family’s suffering, while Lakshmana reacts with protective anger.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 36 / 49
Episode Text
सकल सनेह सिथिल रघुबर कें। गए कोस दुइ दिनकर ढरकें॥ जलु थलु देखि बसे निसि बीतें। कीन्ह गवन रघुनाथ पिरीतें॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sakala saneha sithila raghubara keṃ। gae kosa dui dinakara ḍharakeṃ॥ jalu thalu dekhi base nisi bīteṃ। kīnha gavana raghunātha pirīteṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Because of their love for Raghubara, everyone became weary, and by sunset they had gone only two kos. Seeing water and land, they stayed there through the night; at dawn they resumed the journey out of devotion to Raghunatha.
उहाँ रामु रजनी अवसेषा। जागे सीयँ सपन अस देखा॥ सहित समाज भरत जनु आए। नाथ बियोग ताप तन ताए॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
uhāṃ rāmu rajanī avaseṣā। jāge sīyaṃ sapana asa dekhā॥ sahita samāja bharata janu āe। nātha biyoga tāpa tana tāe॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Meanwhile Rama awoke before the night had fully passed. In the night Sita saw such a dream that she was about to tell it to Rama: it was as though Bharata had come here with his whole retinue, and his body was scorched by the fire of separation from the Lord.
सकल मलिन मन दीन दुखारी। देखीं सासु आन अनुहारी॥ सुनि सिय सपन भरे जल लोचन। भए सोचबस सोच बिमोचन॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sakala malina mana dīna dukhārī। dekhīṃ sāsu āna anuhārī॥ suni siya sapana bhare jala locana। bhae socabasa soca bimochana॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Everyone was dull of mind, poor in spirit, and sorrowful. The mothers-in-law appeared to have changed their looks. Hearing Sita's dream, Rama's eyes filled with tears, and the Lord who removes all sorrow Himself became subject to sorrow [for His divine play].
लखन सपन यह नीक न होई। कठिन कुचाह सुनाइहि कोई॥ अस कहि बंधु समेत नहाने। पूजि पुरारि साधु सनमाने॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lakhana sapana yaha nīka na hoī। kaṭhina kuchāha sunāihi koī॥ asa kahi bandhu sameta nahāne। pūji purāri sādhu sanamāne॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
[And he said,] 'Lakshmana, this dream is not a good one. Someone will surely bring terrible news.' Saying this, he bathed with his brother, worshipped Tripurari (Shiva), and honored the ascetics.
सनमानि सुर मुनि बंदि बैठे उतर दिसि देखत भए। नभ धूरि खग मृग भूरि भागे बिकल प्रभु आश्रम गए॥ तुलसी उठे अवलोकि कारनु काह चित सचकित रहे। सब समाचार किरात कोलन्हि आइ तेहि अवसर कहे॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sanamāni sura muni bandi baiṭhe uttara disi dekhata bhae। nabha dhūri khaga mṛga bhūri bhāge bikal prabhu āśrama gae॥ tulasī uṭhe avaloki kāranu kāha cita sacakita rahe। saba samācāra kirāta kolanhi āi tehi avasara kahe॥
Meaning:
After honoring the gods and bowing to the sages, Rama sat down and looked toward the north. Dust was rising in the sky; many birds and beasts, bewildered and fleeing, were coming to the Lord's hermitage. Tulsi says that Rama rose on seeing this and wondered what the cause might be. His mind was filled with astonishment. Just then the Kirats and Kols came and told him all the news.
सुनत सुमंगल बैन मन प्रमोद तन पुलक भर। सरद सरोरुह नैन तुलसी भरे सनेह जल॥ २२६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunata sumangala baina mana pramoda tana pulaka bhara। sarada saroruha naina tulasī bhare saneha jala॥ 226 ॥
Meaning:
Tulsi says that on hearing those auspicious words, Rama's mind was filled with joy. His body thrilled with goosebumps, and his eyes, like autumn lotuses, brimmed with tears of love.
बहुरि सोचबस भे सियरवनू। कारन कवन भरत आगवनू॥ एक आइ अस कहा बहोरी। सेन संग चतुरंग न थोरी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bahuri socabasa bhe siyaravanū। kārana kavana bharata āgavanū॥ eka āi asa kahā bahorī। sena saṅga caturaṅga na thorī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Again Rama, lord of Sita, was overcome with worry: what could be the reason for Bharata's coming? Then one man came and said that there was also a large fourfold army with him.
सो सुनि रामहि भा अति सोचू। इत पितु बच इत बंधु सकोचू॥ भरत सुभाउ समुझि मन माहीं। प्रभु चित हित थिति पावत नाहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so suni rāmahi bhā ati socū। ita pitu baca ita bandhu sakochū॥ bharata subhāu samujhi mana māhīṃ। prabhu cita hita thiti pāvata nāhīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing this, Rama was greatly troubled—on one side was his father's command, and on the other Bharata's hesitation. Reflecting in his mind on Bharata's nature, the Lord could find no rest for his heart.
समाधान तब भा यह जाने। भरतु कहे महुँ साधु सयाने॥ लखन लखेउ प्रभु हृदयँ खभारू। कहत समय सम नीति बिचारू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
samādhāna taba bhā yaha jāne। bharatu kahe mahuṃ sādhu sayāne॥ lakhana lakheu prabhu hṛdayaṃ khabārū। kahata samaya sama nīti bicārū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Then this thought brought relief: Bharata is virtuous and wise, and he will do what I say. Lakshmana saw that worry lay in Lord Rama's heart, so he began to speak in a timely and wise manner—
बिनु पूछें कछु कहउँ गोसाईं। सेवकु समयँ न ढीठ ढिठाईं॥ तुम्ह सर्बग्य सिरोमनि स्वामी। आपनि समुझि कहउँ अनुगामी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
binu pūṃcheṃ kachhu kahauṃ gosāīṃ। sevaku samayaṃ na ḍhīṭha ḍhiṭhāīṃ॥ tumha sarbagya siromani svāmī। āpani samujhi kahauṃ anugāmī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
My Lord, even without being asked I say a few words; a servant is not taken as insolent for speaking at the proper time. You, my Lord, are the crest-jewel among the all-knowing. I, your servant, speak only according to my understanding.
नाथ सुहृद सुठि सरल चित सील सनेह निधान। सब पर प्रीति प्रतीति जियँ जानिअ आपु समान॥ २२७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nātha suhṛda suṭhi sarala cita sīla saneha nidhāna। saba para prīti pratīti jiyaṃ jānia āpu samāna॥ 227 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, you are a true friend, utterly simple of heart, and a treasure-house of virtue and love. You have affection and trust for all, and in your heart you regard everyone as your equal.
बिषई जीव पाइ प्रभुताई। मूढ़ मोह बस होहिं जनाई॥ भरतु नीति रत साधु सुजाना। प्रभु पद प्रेमु सकल जगु जाना॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
biṣaī jīva pāi prabhutāī। mūḍha moha basa hohiṃ janāī॥ bharatu nīti rata sādhu sujānā। prabhu pada premu sakalu jagu jānā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
But deluded sense-bound beings, once they gain power, reveal their true nature under the sway of illusion. Bharata is devoted to right conduct, saintly, and wise, and the whole world knows of his love for the Lord's feet.
तेऊ आजु राम पदु पाई। चले धरम मरजाद मेटाई॥ कुटिल कुबंधु कुअवसरु ताकी। जानि राम बनबास एकाकी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
teū āju rāma padu pāī। cale dharama marajāda meṭāī॥ kuṭila kubandhu kuavasaru tākī। jāni rāma banabāsa ekākī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Even Bharata, having attained Rama's station today, has gone forth, overturning the bounds of dharma. The crafty brother Bharata came, watching for the wrong time and knowing that Rama was alone in exile.
करि कुमंत्रु मन साजि समाजू। आए करै अकंटक राजू॥ कोटि प्रकार कलपि कुटिलाई। आए दल बटोरि दोउ भाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kari kumantru mana sāji samājū। āe karai akaṇṭaka rājū॥ koṭi prakāra kalapi kuṭilāī। āe dala baṭori dou bhāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Having devised evil in their minds and gathered an assembly, they have come here to make the kingdom free of obstacles. Having plotted in countless crooked ways, the two brothers have brought together their forces and come.
जौं जियँ होति न कपट कुचाली। केहि सोहाति रथ बाजि गजाली॥ भरतहि दोसु देइ को जाएँ। जग बौराइ राज पदु पाएँ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jauṃ jiyaṃ hoti na kapaṭa kuchālī। kehi sohāti ratha bāji gajālī॥ bharatahi dosu dei ko jāeṃ। jaga baurāi rāja padu pāeṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
If there were no deceit and wicked intent in their hearts, who would find a line of chariots, horses, and elephants pleasing at such a time? And who would rightly blame Bharata? When one attains royal power, the whole world goes mad.
ससि गुर तिय गामी नघुषु चढ़ेउ भूमिसुर जान। लोक बेद तें बिमुख भा अधम न बेन समान॥ २२८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sasi guru tiya gāmī naghusu caṛheu bhūmisura jāna। loka beda teṃ bimukha bhā adhama na bena samāna॥ 228 ॥
Meaning:
The moon became one who went to a teacher's wife; King Nahusha mounted a Brahmin's palanquin. And there is none more base than King Vena, who turned away from both the world and the Veda.
सहसबाहु सुरनाथु त्रिसंकू। केहि न राजमद दीन्ह कलंकू॥ भरत कीन्ह यह उचित उपाऊ। रिपु रिन रंच न राखब काऊ॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sahasabāhu suranāthu trisaṃkū। kehi na rājamada dīna kalankaū॥ bharata kīnhi yaha ucita upāū। ripu rina ranca na rākhaba kāū॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Sahasrabāhu, Indra the king of the gods, and Triśaṅku—who has royal pride not stained? Bharata has done what was right. For one should never leave even the slightest remnant of an enemy or a debt.
एक कीन्हि नहिं भरत भलाई। निदरे रामु जानि असहाई॥ समुझि परिहि सोउ आजु बिसेषी। समर सरोष राम मुखु पेखी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eka kīnhi nahiṃ bharata bhalāī। nidarē rāmu jāni asahāī॥ samujhi parihi soū āju visesī। samara sarosa rāma mukhu pekhī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Yes, Bharata did one thing that was not good: he disrespected Rama, thinking Him helpless. But seeing Lord Rama's wrathful face in battle today, he will understand this matter even more clearly then.
एतना कहत नीति रस भूला। रन रस बिटपु पुलक मिस फूला॥ प्रभु पद बंदि सीस रज राखी। बोले सत्य सहज बलु भाषी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
etiṃā kahata nīti rasa bhūlā। rana rasa biṭapu pulaka misa phūlā॥ prabhu pada bandi sīsa raja rākhī। bole satya sahaja balu bhāṣī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
As he spoke thus, Lakshmana forgot the taste of policy, and the tree of battle-joy seemed to blossom with goosebumps. Bowing at Lord Rama's feet and placing the dust of those feet on his head, he spoke, telling his true and natural strength.
अनुचित नाथ न मानब मोरा। भरत हमहि उपचार न थोरा॥ कहँ लगि सहिअ रहिअ मनु मारें। नाथ साथ धनु हाथ हमारें॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
anucita nātha na mānaba morā। bharata hamahi upacāra na thorā॥ kahaṃ lagi sahia rahia manu māreṃ। nātha sātha dhanu hāta hamāreṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, please do not take my words as improper. Bharata has not treated us lightly. How long should one endure and keep one's mind subdued, when the master is with us and the bow is in our hands?
छत्रि जाति रघुकुल जनमु राम अनुग जगु जान। लातहुँ मारें चढ़ति सिर नीच को धूरि समान॥ २२९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
chatri jāti raghukula janamu rāma anuga jagu jāna। lātahuṃ māreṃ caṛhati sira nīca ko dhūri samāna॥ 229 ॥
Meaning:
The world knows that I was born in the Kshatriya race, in the Raghu line, and that I am Rama's follower. [Then how can this be endured?] Who is lower than dust? Yet even dust rises to the head when kicked.
उठि कर जोरि रजायसु मागा। मनहुँ बीर रस सोवत जागा॥ बाँधि जटा सिर कसि कटि भाथा। साजि सरासनु सायकु हाथा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
uṭhi kara jora rajāyasu māgā। manahuṃ bīra rasa sovat jāgā॥ bāṃdhi jaṭā sira kasi kaṭi bhāthā। sāji sarāsanu sāyaku hāthā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Saying this, Lakshmana rose, joined his hands, and asked for permission. It was as if the spirit of heroism had awakened from sleep. He tied his matted hair on his head, tightened his quiver at his waist, and taking up bow and arrows in hand, said—
आजु राम सेवक जसु लेऊँ। भरतहि समर सिखावन देऊँ॥ राम निरादर कर फलु पाई। सोवहुँ समर सेज दोउ भाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
āju rāma sevaka jasu leūṃ। bharatahi samara sikhāvana deūṃ॥ rāma nirādara kara phalu pāī। sovahuṃ samara seja dou bhāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Today I shall win the fame of being Rama's servant and teach Bharata a lesson in battle. Let the fruit of disrespecting Lord Rama be obtained, and let both brothers sleep on the battlefield!
आइ बना भल सकल समाजू। प्रगट करउँ रिस पाछिल आजू॥ जिमि करि निकर दलइ मृगराजू। लेइ लपेटि लवा जिमि बाजू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
āi banā bhala sakala samājū। pragaṭa karauṃ risa pāchila ājū॥ jimi kari nikara dalai mṛgarājū। lei lapeṭi lavā jimi bājū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Good that the entire gathering has come together. Today I shall bring out all my long-suppressed anger. Like a lion crushing a herd of elephants, or a hawk seizing a lark in its grasp.
तैसेहिं भरतहि सेन समेता। सानुज निदरि निपातउँ खेता॥ जौं सहाय कर संकरु आई। तौ मारउँ रन राम दोहाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taisehiṃ bharatahi sena sametā। sānuja nidari nipātauṃ khetā॥ jauṃ sahāya kara śaṃkaru āī। tau mārauṃ rana rāma dohāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
In the same way, I shall hurl Bharata down in the field, together with his army and his younger brother, after scornfully defeating them. If Lord Shankara himself comes to aid them, even then, I swear by Rama, I will slay them in battle.
अति सरोष माखे लखनु लखि सुनि सपथ प्रवान। सभय लोक सब लोकपति चाहत भभरि भगान॥ २३० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ati sarosa mākhe lakhanu lakhi suni sapatha pravāna। sabhaya loka saba lokapati cāhata bhabhari bhagāna॥ 230 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing Lakshmana blazing with intense anger, and hearing his solemn oath, everyone becomes frightened, and the guardians of the worlds want to flee in panic.