अन्तर्हितास्त्वृषिगणा: सिद्धाश्च परमर्षय: । तौ भ्रातरौ महात्मानौ महात्मानौ काकुत्स्थौ प्रशशंसिरे ।। २.११२.
Then the groups of seers and perfected sages, though invisible, praised those two great-souled sons of Kakutstha.
स धन्यो यस्य पुत्रौ द्वौ धर्मज्ञौ धर्मविक्रमौ । श्रुत्वा वयं हि सम्भाषामुभयो: स्पृहयामहे ।। २.११२.
Blessed is he whose two sons are both wise in dharma and mighty in righteousness; hearing their conversation, we all long for such sons.
ततस्त्वृषिगणा: क्षिप्रं दशग्रीववधैषिण: । भरतं राजशार्दूलमित्यूचु: सङ्गता वच: ।। २.११२.
Then the groups of seers, eager for the destruction of the ten-headed one, quickly gathered and spoke these words to Bharata, the tiger among kings.
कुले जात महाप्राज्ञ महावृत्त महायश: । ग्राह्यं रामस्य वाक्यं ते पितरं यद्यवेक्षसे ।। २.११२.
Born in a noble line, great in wisdom, conduct, and fame, you should accept Rāma's words if you regard your father.
सदानृणमिमं रामं वयमिच्छामहे पितु: । अनृणत्वाच्च कैकेय्या: स्वर्गं दशरथो गत: ।। २.११२.
We wish that Rāma may always be free of debt to his father; and because of Kaikeyī, Daśaratha has attained heaven, being free from debt.
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं गन्धर्वा: समहर्षय: । राजर्षयश्चैव तदा सर्वे स्वांस्वां गतिं गता: ।। २.११२.
Having spoken these words, the Gandharvas, great sages, and royal sages all departed each to their own abode.
ह्लादितस्तेन वाक्येन शुभेन शुभदर्शन: । राम: संहृष्टवदनस्तानृषीनभ्यपूजयत् ।। २.११२.
Delighted by those auspicious words, Rama, whose appearance was auspicious, honored those sages with a joyful face.
स्रस्तगात्रस्तु भरत: स वाचा सज्जमानया । कृताञ्जलिरिदं वाक्यं राघवं पुनरब्रवीत् ।। २.११२.
Bharata, his limbs weakened, with hands joined and voice trembling, again spoke these words to Raghava.
राजधर्ममनुप्रेक्ष्य कुलधर्मानुसन्ततिम् । कर्त्तुमर्हसि काकुत्स्थ मम मातुश्च याचनाम् ।। २.११२.
Considering royal duty and the tradition of our lineage, you ought to fulfill the request of my mother and myself, O Kakutstha.
रक्षितुं सुमहद्राज्यमहमेकस्तु नोत्सहे । पौरजानपदांश्चापि रक्तान् रञ्जयितुं तथा ।। २.११२.
I alone am not able to protect this vast kingdom, nor to please the citizens and countryfolk who are devoted.
ज्ञातयश्च हि योधाश्च मित्राणि सुहृदश्च न: । त्वामेव प्रतिकांक्षन्ते पर्जन्यमिव कर्षका: ।। २.११२.
Our kinsmen, warriors, friends, and companions all look to you alone, as farmers look to the raincloud.
इदं राज्यं महाप्राज्ञ स्थापय प्रतिपद्य हि । शक्तिमानसि काकुत्स्थ लोकस्य परिपालने ।। २.११२.
O wise one, establish and assume this kingdom; you are capable, O Kakutstha, of protecting the people.
इत्युक्त्वा न्यपतद् भ्रातु: पादयोर्भरतस्तदा । भृशं सम्प्रार्थयामास राममेव प्रियंवद: ।। २.११२.
Having spoken thus, Bharata then fell at his brother's feet, earnestly beseeching Rama, who spoke kindly.
तमङ्के भ्रातरं कृत्वा रामो वचनमब्रवीत् । श्यामं नलिनपत्राक्षं मत्तहंसस्वरं स्वयम् ।। २.११२.
Placing his brother on his lap, Rama spoke to him—whose eyes were like lotus petals, whose voice was like a drunken swan.
आगता त्वामियं बुद्धि: स्वजा वैनयिकी च या । भृशमुत्सहसे तात रक्षितुं पृथिवीमपि ।। २.११२.
This resolve has come to you, your own and full of humility; you are indeed capable, dear one, of protecting even the earth.
अमात्यैश्च सुहृद्भिश्च बुद्धिमद्भिश्च मन्त्रिभि: । सर्वकार्याणि सम्मन्त्र्य सुमहान्त्यपि कारय ।। २.११२.
With ministers, friends, and wise counselors, deliberate on all matters and accomplish even the greatest tasks.
लक्ष्मीश्चन्द्रादपेयाद्वा हिमवान् वा हिमं त्यजेत् । अतीयात् सागरो वेलां न प्रतिज्ञामहं पितु: ।। २.११२.
Fortune may depart from the moon, or the Himalaya may abandon its snow, or the ocean may cross its shore, but I will not break my father's promise.
कामाद्वा तात लोभाद्वा मात्रा तुभ्यमिदं कृतम् । न तन्मनसि कर्त्तव्यं वर्त्तितव्यं च मातृवत् ।। २.११२.
Whether from desire or greed, this was done for you by mother; do not dwell on it in your mind, but behave as one should toward a mother.
एवं ब्रुवाणं भरत: कौसल्यासुतमब्रवीत् । तेजसादित्यसङ्काशं प्रतिपच्चन्द्रदर्शनम् ।। २.११२.
As Rama spoke thus, Bharata addressed the son of Kausalya, whose radiance was like the sun and whose appearance was like the moon at the beginning of the month.
अधिरोहार्य पादाभ्यां पादुके हेमभूषिते । एते हि सर्वलोकस्य योगक्षेमं विधास्यत: ।। २.११२.
Ascend, O noble one, with your feet, these sandals adorned with gold; for these will ensure the welfare of all the people.
सो ऽधिरुह्य नरव्याघ्र: पादुके ह्यवरुह्य च । प्रायच्छत् सुमहातेजा भरताय महात्मने ।। २.११२.
The tiger among men, having ascended and then descended from the sandals, gave them to Bharata, the great-souled and radiant one.
स पादुके सम्प्रणम्य रामं वचनमब्रवीत् । चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि जटाचीरधरो ह्यहम् ।। २.११२.
Bharata, bowing to the sandals, spoke to Rama: 'For fourteen years, I will wear matted hair and bark garments.'
फलमूलाशनो वीर भवेयं रघुनन्दन । तवागमनमाकांक्षन् वसन् वै नगराद्बहि: ।। २.११२.
O descendant of Raghu, living outside the city, subsisting on fruits and roots, I will await your return, O hero.
तव पादुकयोर्न्यस्तराज्यतन्त्र: परन्तप । चतुर्दशे हि सम्पूर्णे वर्षे ऽहनि रघूत्तम । न द्रक्ष्यामि यदि त्वां तु प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम् ।। २.११२.
Entrusting the rule of the kingdom to your sandals, O subduer of foes, when the fourteenth year is complete, O best of Raghu's line, if I do not see you, I will enter the fire.
तथेति च प्रतिज्ञाय तं परिष्वज्य सादरम् । शत्रुघ्नं च परिष्वज्य भरतं चेदमब्रवीत् ।। २.११२.
Having agreed, he embraced him respectfully, and also embraced Shatrughna; then he spoke to Bharata as follows:
मातरं रक्ष कैकेयीं मा रोषं कुरु तां प्रति । मया च सीतया चैव शप्तो ऽसि रघुसत्तम ।। २.११२.
Protect your mother Kaikeyi; do not be angry with her. You have been bound by an oath from me and from Sita, O best of the Raghu lineage.
इत्युक्त्वा ऽश्रुपरीताक्षो भ्रातरं विससर्ज ऺह ।। २.११२.
Having spoken thus, with eyes filled with tears, he released his brother.
स पादुके ते भरत: प्रतापवान् स्वलङ्कृते सम्परिपूज्य धर्मवित् । प्रदक्षिणं चैव चकार राघवं चकार चैवोत्तमनागमूर्द्धनि ।। २.११२.
Then Bharata, powerful and righteous, after worshipping the well-adorned sandals, circumambulated Rāghava and also placed them upon his own head.
अथानुपूर्व्यात् प्रतिनन्द्य तं जनं गुरूंश्च मन्त्रिप्रकृतीस्तथानुजौ । व्यसर्जयद्राघववंशवर्द्धन: स्थिर: स्वधर्मे हिमवानिवाचल: ।। २.११२.
Then, in due order, after greeting the people, the elders, the ministers, his brothers, he dismissed them, steadfast in his duty like the immovable Himalaya.
तं मातरो बाष्पगृहीतकण्ठ्यो दु:खेन नामन्त्रयितुं हि शेकु: । स त्वेव मातऽरभिवाद्य सर्वा रुदन् कुटीं स्वां प्रविवेश राम: ।। २.११२.
The mothers, their throats choked with tears, were unable to speak to him out of sorrow; but he, after respectfully saluting all his mothers, entered his own hut, weeping.