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.
प्रागुदक्प्रवणां वेदिं विशालां दीप्तपावकाम्। ददर्श भरतस्तत्र पुण्यां रामनिवेशने ।। २.९९.
Bharata saw there, in Rāma’s dwelling, a broad altar facing east and north, glowing with sacred fire and auspicious.
निरीक्ष्य स मुहूर्त्तं तु ददर्श भरतो गुरम्। उटजे राममासीनं जटामण्डलधारिणम् ।। २.९९.
After gazing for a moment, Bharata saw his revered elder, Rāma, seated in the hut, wearing a matted hair crown.
तं तु कृष्णाजिनधरं चीरवल्कलवाससम्। ददर्श राममासीनमभित: पावकोपमम् ।। २.९९.
He saw Rāma seated, clad in black antelope skin and bark garments, shining like fire, surrounded on all sides.
सिंहस्कन्धं महाबाहुं पुण्डरीकनिभेक्षणम्। पृथिव्या: सागरान्ताया भर्त्तारं धर्मचारिणम् ।। २.९९.
He saw the righteous lord of the earth, with lion-like shoulders, mighty arms, lotus-like eyes, ruler of the land bounded by the sea.
उपविष्टं महाबाहुं ब्रह्माणमिव शाश्वतम्। स्थण्डिले दर्भसंस्तीर्णे सीतया लक्ष्मणेन च ।। २.९९.
Seated with mighty arms, like eternal Brahmā, on a ground spread with darbha grass, together with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa.
तं दृष्ट्वा भरत: श्रीमान् दु:खशोकपरिप्लुत:। अभ्यधावत धर्मात्मा भरत: कैकयीसुत: ।। २.९९.
Seeing him, the illustrious Bharata, overwhelmed by grief and sorrow, rushed forward—the righteous son of Kaikeyī.
दृष्ट्वैव विललापार्त्तो बाष्पसन्दिग्धया गिरा। अशक्नुवन् धारयितुं धैर्याद्वचनमब्रवीत् ।। २.९९.
Seeing him, overwhelmed with pain, he lamented, his voice choked with tears, unable to maintain his composure, and spoke these words.
य: संसदि प्रकृतिभिर्भवेद्युक्त उपासितुम्। वन्यैर्मृगैरुपासीन: सोऽयमास्ते ममाग्रज: ।। २.९९.
He who was once worthy to be attended by the people in assembly, now sits here among wild forest animals—my elder brother.
वासोभिर्बहुसाहस्रैर्यो महात्मा पुरोचित:। मृगाजिने सोऽयमिह प्रवस्ते धर्ममाचरन् ।। २.९९.
That great soul who was formerly adorned with garments worth many thousands, now practices righteousness here, clad in a deerskin.
अधारयद्यो विविधाश्चित्रा: सुमनसस्तदा सोऽयं जटाभारमिमं वहते राघव: कथम् ।। २.९९.
He who once wore various beautiful garlands of flowers now bears this heavy mass of matted hair—how does Rāghava endure it?