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.
thumb|शततमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center जटिलं चीरवसनं प्राञ्जलिं पतितं भुवि । ददर्श रामो दुर्दर्शं युगान्ते भास्करं यथा ।। २.१००.
Rāma saw Bharata, difficult to recognize, with matted hair and bark garments, palms joined, fallen to the ground—like the sun at the end of an age.
कथञ्चिदभिविज्ञाय विवर्णवदनं कृशम् । भ्रातरं भरतं राम: परिजग्राह बाहुना ।। २.१००.
Somehow recognizing his brother Bharata, whose face was pale and body emaciated, Rāma took hold of him with his arm.
आघ्राय रामस्तं मूर्ध्नि परिष्वज्य च राघव: । अङ्के भरतमारोप्य पर्यपृच्छत् समाहितः ।। २.१००.
Rāma, the descendant of Raghu, smelled his head, embraced him, lifted Bharata onto his lap, and questioned him with care.
क्व नु ते ऽभूत् पिता तात यदरण्यं त्वमागत: । न हि त्वं जीवतस्तस्य वनमागन्तुमर्हसि ।। २.१००.
Where is your father, dear one, that you have come to the forest? For as long as he lives, you should not have come here.
चिरस्य बत पश्यामि दूराद्भरतमागतम् । दुष्प्रतीकमरण्ये ऽस्मिन् किं तात वनमागत: ।। २.१००.
Ah, after so long I see Bharata approaching from afar; his appearance is unfamiliar in this forest—why, dear one, have you come here?
कच्चिद्धारयते तात राजा यत्त्वमिहागत: । कच्चिन्न दीन: सहसा राजा लोकान्तरं गत: ।। २.१००.
Is the king still alive, dear one, that you have come here? Or has the king, stricken with grief, suddenly departed this world?
कच्चित् सौम्य न ते राज्यं भ्रष्टं बालस्य शाश्वतम् ।। २.१००.
Gentle one, surely your kingdom, the lasting inheritance of a child, has not been lost?
कच्चिच्छुश्रूषसे तात पितरं सत्यविक्रमम् ।। २.१००.
Dear one, do you serve your father, who is true to his vows?
कच्चिद्दशरथो राजा कुशली सत्यसङ्गर: । राजसूयाश्वमेधानामाहर्त्ता धर्मनिश्चय: ।। २.१००.
Is King Dasharatha, steadfast in truth, well? The one who performed the Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifices, firm in righteousness?
स कच्चिद् ब्राह्मणो विद्वान् धर्मनित्यो महाद्युति: । इक्ष्वाकूणामुपाध्यायो यथावत्तात पूज्यते ।। २.१००.
Is the learned and ever-righteous Brāhmaṇa, the illustrious preceptor of the Ikṣvāku line, duly honored, dear one?