कृतकार्यमिदं दुर्गं वनं व्यालनिषेवितम्। यदध्यास्ते महातेजा राम: शस्त्रभृतां वर: ।। २.९८.
This formidable forest, frequented by wild beasts, has fulfilled its purpose, for the mighty Rāma, foremost among warriors, dwells here.
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा भरत: पुरुषर्षभ:। पद्भ्यामेव महाबाहु: प्रविवेश महद्वनम् ।। २.९८.
Having spoken thus, the illustrious Bharata, best among men and strong-armed, entered the great forest on foot.
स तानि द्रुमजालानि जातानि गिरिसानुषु। पुष्पिताग्राणि मध्येन जगाम वदतां वर: ।। २.९८.
He, the best of speakers, passed through the clusters of trees growing on the mountain slopes, their tops blossoming.
समीपत्वात्तन्मूलदर्शनमिति न पुनरुक्ति: ।। २.९८.
Because of his nearness, seeing the roots there is not repeated again.
तं दृष्ट्वा भरत: श्रीमान् मुमोह सहबान्धव:। अत्र राम इति ज्ञात्वा गत: पारमिवाम्भस: ।। २.९८.
Seeing him, the illustrious Bharata, along with his companions, became bewildered, realizing 'Here is Rāma,' as if one had reached the far shore of the waters.
स चित्रकूटे तु गिरौ निशम्य रामाश्रमं पुण्यजनोपपन्नम्। गुहेन सार्द्धं त्वरितो जगाम पुनर्निवेश्यैव चमूं महात्मा ।। २.९८.
Then, on the mountain Citrakūṭa, having heard of Rāma's hermitage, blessed and inhabited by holy people, the great-souled one, together with Guha, quickly went there after arranging the army.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टनवतितम: सर्ग:
Thus ends the ninety-eighth sarga in the glorious Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa of the ancient and illustrious Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
thumb|नववतितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center निविष्टायां तु सेनायामुत्सुको भरतस्तदा। जगाम भ्रातरं द्रष्टुं शत्रुध्नमनुदर्शयन् ।। २.९९.
When the army had settled, Bharata, eager, went to see his brother, showing the way to Śatrughna.
ऋषिं वसिष्ठं सन्दिश्य मातऽर्मे शीघ्रमानय। इति त्वरितमग्रे स जगाम गुरुवत्सल: ।। २.९९.
He sent word to the sage Vasiṣṭha, saying, 'Quickly bring my mother,' and, devoted to his elders, hastened ahead.
सुमन्त्रस्त्वपि शत्रुघ्नमदूरादन्वपद्यत। रामदर्शनजस्तर्षो भरतस्येव तस्य च ।। २.९९.
Sumantra too followed Śatrughna closely, for both he and Bharata were eager to see Rāma.
गच्छन्नेवाथ भरतस्तापसालयसंस्थिताम्। भ्रातु: पर्णकुटीं श्रीमानुटजं च ददर्श ह ।। २.९९.
As Bharata went, he saw his brother's leaf-hut and the hermitage situated among the dwellings of ascetics.
शालायास्त्वग्रतस्तस्या ददर्श भरतस्तदा। काष्ठानि चावभग्नानि पुष्पाण्युपचितानि च ।। २.९९.
In front of that hut, Bharata saw wood that had been split and heaps of gathered flowers.
सलक्ष्मणस्य रामस्य ददर्शाश्रममीयुष:। कृतं वृक्षेष्वभिज्ञानं कुशचीरै: क्वचित् क्वचित् ।। २.९९.
He saw the hermitage of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, who had come there, and recognized their presence by the scattered kuśa grass garments on the trees.
ददर्श च वने तस्मिन् महत: सञ्चयान् कृतान्। मृगाणां महिषाणां च कऺरीषै: शीतकारणात् ।। २.९९.
In that forest, he saw large piles made for warmth from the hides of deer and buffalo.
गच्छन्नेव महाबाहुर्द्युतिमान् भरतस्तदा। शत्रुघ्नं चाब्रवीद्धृष्टस्तानमात्यांश्च सर्वश: ।। २.९९.
As the mighty and radiant Bharata went, he confidently spoke to Śatrughna and all the ministers there.
मन्ये प्राप्ता: स्म तं देशं भरद्वाजो यमब्रवीत्। नातिदूरे हि मन्येऽहं नदीं मन्दाकिनीमित: ।। २.९९.
'I think we have reached the place that Bharadvāja mentioned; for I believe the Mandākinī river is not far from here.'
उच्चैर्बद्धानि चीराणि लक्ष्मणेन भवेदयम्। अभिज्ञानकृत: पन्था विकाले गन्तुमिच्छता ।। २.९९.
'These garments of bark, tied high up, must have been placed by Lakṣmaṇa as a marker for the path, wishing to travel at an unusual hour.'
इदं चोदात्तदन्तानां कुञ्जराणां तरस्विनाम्। शैलपार्श्वे परिक्रान्तमन्योन्यमभिगर्जताम् ।। २.९९.
'Here, on the mountainside, are the tracks of the swift elephants with noble tusks, circling and trumpeting at one another.'
यमेवाधातुमिच्छन्ति तापसा: सततं वने। तस्यासौ दृश्यते धूम: सङ्कुल: कृष्णवर्त्मन: ।। २.९९.
That smoke, dense and dark along the path, is seen rising where ascetics always wish to offer oblations in the forest.
अत्राहं पुरुषव्याघ्रं गुरुसंस्कारकारिणम्। आर्यं द्रक्ष्यामि संहृष्टो महर्षिमिव राघवम् ।। २.९९.
Here, filled with joy, I shall see the noble Rāghava, a tiger among men, who performs the sacred rites of his elders, like a great sage.
अथ गत्वा मुहूर्तं तु चित्रकूटं स राघव:। मन्दाकिनीमनुप्राप्तस्तं जनं चेदमब्रवीत् ।। २.९९.
Then, after a short while, Rāghava reached Citrakūṭa and arrived at the Mandākinī river; he spoke these words to the people.
जगत्यां पुरुषव्याघ्र आस्ते वीरासने रत:। जनेन्द्रो निर्जनं प्राप्य धिङ्मे जन्म सजीवितम् ।। २.९९.
The tiger among men sits upon the earth, delighting in the seat of heroes; the lord of men has entered solitude—alas for my birth and life!
मत्कृते व्यसनं प्राप्तो लोकनाथो महाद्युति:। सर्वान् कामान् परित्यज्य वने वसति राघव: ।। २.९९.
For my sake, the lord of the world, radiant and mighty, has met with misfortune; abandoning all desires, Rāghava dwells in the forest.
इति लोकसमाक्रुष्ट: पादेष्वद्य प्रसादयन्। रामस्य निपतिष्यामि सीताया लक्ष्मणस्य च ।। २.९९.
Thus, blamed by the world, today I shall fall at the feet of Rāma, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa, seeking their forgiveness.
एवं स विलपंस्तस्मिन् वने दशरथात्मज:। ददर्श महतीं पुण्यां पर्णशालां मनोरमाम् ।। २.९९.
Lamenting thus in that forest, the son of Daśaratha beheld a great, auspicious, and beautiful leaf-hut.
सालतालाश्वकर्णानां पर्णैर्बहुभिरावृताम्। विशालां मृदुभिस्तीर्णां कुशैर्वेदिमिवाध्वरे ।। २.९९.
It was spacious, covered with many leaves of sāla, tāla, and aśvakarṇa trees, softly spread with kuśa grass, like an altar prepared for sacrifice.
शक्रायुधनिकाशैश्च कार्मुकैर्भारसाधनै:। रुक्मपृष्टष्ठैर्महासारै: शोभितां शत्रुबाधकै: ।। २.९९.
Adorned with bows resembling Indra’s weapon, strong and gold-backed, mighty and fit for battle, shining as weapons that destroy enemies.
अर्करश्मिप्रतीकाशैर्घोरैस्तूणीगतै: शरै:। शोभितां दीप्तवदनै: सर्प्पैर्भोगवतीमिव ।। २.९९.
Adorned with arrows, fierce and radiant as the sun’s rays, stored in quivers, their shining faces like serpents, making it resemble a serpent’s abode.
महारजतवासोभ्यामसिभ्यां च विराजिताम्। रुक्मबिन्दुविचित्राभ्यां चर्मभ्यां चापि शोभिताम् ।। २.९९.
Splendid with great silver garments and swords, and decorated with shields marked with golden spots, it shone brightly.
गोधाङ्गुलित्रैरासक्तैश्चित्रै: काञ्चनभूषितै:। अरिसङ्घैरनाधृष्यां मृगै: सिंहगुहामिव ।। २.९९.
With curious lizard-skin gloves, adorned with gold, and surrounded by invincible groups of enemies, it was like a lion’s cave among wild beasts.