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?
यस्य यज्ञैर्यथोद्दिष्टैर्युक्तो धर्मस्य सञ्चय:। शरीरक्लेशसम्भूतं स धर्मं परिमार्गते ।। २.९९.
He who, by sacrifices performed as prescribed, accumulated merit—now seeks righteousness through bodily hardship.
चन्दनेन महार्हेण यस्याङ्गमुपसेवितम्। मलेन तस्याङ्गमिदं कथमार्यस्य सेव्यते ।। २.९९.
He whose body was once anointed with precious sandalwood—how is it that this noble one’s body is now covered with dirt?
मन्निमित्तमिदं दु:खं प्राप्तो राम: सुखोचित:। धिग्जीवितं नृशंसस्य मम लोकविगर्हितम् ।। २.९९.
Because of me, Rāma—accustomed to comfort—has come to this suffering. Fie upon my cruel life, condemned by the world.
इत्येवं विलपन् दीन: प्रस्विन्नमुखपङ्कज:। पादावप्राप्य रामस्य पपात भरतो रुदन् ।। २.९९.
Thus lamenting in distress, his lotus-like face bathed in sweat, Bharata, weeping, fell at Rāma’s feet.
दु:खाभितप्तो भरतो राजपुत्रो महाबल:। उक्त्वार्येति सकृद्दीनं पुनर्नोवाच किञ्चन ।। २.९९.
Afflicted by sorrow, the mighty prince Bharata, having uttered 'Noble one' just once in his grief, could say nothing more.
बाष्पापिहितकण्ठश्च प्रेक्ष्य रामं यशस्विनम्। आर्येत्येवाथ संक्रुश्य व्याहर्त्तुं नाशकत्तदा ।। २.९९.
His throat blocked by tears, seeing the illustrious Rāma, he could only cry out 'Noble one'—he was unable to say anything further.
शत्रुघ्नश्चापि रामस्य ववन्दे चरणौ रुदन्। तावुभौ स समालिङ्ग्य रामश्चाश्रूण्यवर्त्तयत् ।। २.९९.
Shatrughna too, weeping, bowed at Rāma’s feet. Rāma embraced them both and wiped away their tears.
तत: सुमन्त्रेण गुहेन चैव समीयतू राजसुतावरण्ये। दिवाकरश्चैव निशाकरश्च यथाम्बरे शुक्रबृहस्पतिभ्याम् ।। २.९९.
Then, with Sumantra and Guha, the royal princes gathered in the forest, like the sun and moon joined in the sky with Venus and Jupiter.
तान् पार्थिवान् वारणयूथपाभान् समागतांस्तत्र महत्यरण्ये। वनौकसस्तेऽपि समीक्ष्य सर्वेप्यश्रूण्यमुञ्चन् प्रविहाय हर्षम् ।। २.९९.
Seeing those kings, resplendent as lordly elephants, assembled in the great forest, all the forest-dwellers too shed tears, abandoning their joy.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदयोध्याकाण्डे एकोनशततम: सर्ग:
Thus ends the ninety-ninth sarga of the glorious Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa in the ancient and sacred Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.