Bharata’s desolation; meeting of Bharata and Hanumān; rejoicing in Ayodhyā

Dohas

rahā ēka dina avadhi kara ati ārata pura lōga.

jahaom tahaom sōcahiṃ nāri nara kṛsa tana rāma biyōga..

saguna hōhiṃ suṃdara sakala mana prasanna saba kēra.

prabhu āgavana janāva janu nagara ramya cahu phēra..

kausalyādi mātu saba mana anaṃda asa hōi.

āyau prabhu śrī anuja juta kahana cahata aba kōi..

bharata nayana bhuja dacchina pharakata bārahiṃ bāra.

jāni saguna mana haraṣa ati lāgē karana bicāra..

The term of Śrī Rāma’s exile was to expire only the next day, which made the people of the city extremely anxious. Wasted in body through separation from Śrī Rāma, men and women alike were plunged in thought everywhere. Meanwhile auspicious omens of all kinds occurred and everyone felt cheerful at heart. The city itself brightened up all round, as if to announce the Lord’s advent. Kausalyā and the other mothers all felt inwardly happy as if someone was about to tell them that the Lord had come with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa. Bharata’s right eye and arm throbbed again and again. Recognizing this to be a lucky omen, he felt overjoyed at heart; but the very next moment he became thoughtful again

Chaupais

rahēu ēka dina avadhi adhārā. samujhata mana dukha bhayau apārā..

kārana kavana nātha nahiṃ āyau. jāni kuṭila kidhauṃ mōhi bisarāyau.. [7-0-1]

ahaha dhanya lachimana baḍabhāgī. rāma padārabiṃdu anurāgī..

kapaṭī kuṭila mōhi prabhu cīnhā. tātē nātha saṃga nahiṃ līnhā.. [7-0-2]

jauṃ karanī samujhai prabhu mōrī. nahiṃ nistāra kalapa sata kōrī..

jana avaguna prabhu māna na kāū. dīna baṃdhu ati mṛdula subhāū.. [7-0-3]

mōri jiyaom bharōsa dṛḍha sōī. milihahiṃ rāma saguna subha hōī..

bītēṃ avadhi rahahi jauṃ prānā. adhama kavana jaga mōhi samānā.. [7-0-4]

The term of Śrī Rāma’s exile, which was the sole hope of his life, was going to expire only a day hence: the thought filled Bharata’s mind with untold grief. “How is it that the Lord did not turn up? Has He cast me out of His mind, knowing me to be crooked? Ah ! How blessed and fortunate is Lakṣmaṇa, who is truly devoted to Śrī Rāma’s lotus-feet. The Lord knew me to be false and perverse; that is why He refused to take me alongwith Him. If the Lord were to consider my doings, there would be no redemption for me even after countless cycles. But the Lord never takes into account the faults of His devotees, being a friend of the humble and most tender-hearted. I have a firm conviction in my heart that Śrī Rāma will surely meet me; for the omens are so propitious. But, if I outlive the expiry of the time-limit, no one would be so despicable in this world as I.”

Dohas

rāma biraha sāgara mahaom bharata magana mana hōta.

bipra rūpa dhari pavana suta āi gayau janu pōta..1ka.. [7-1(A)]

baiṭhi dēkhi kusāsana jaṭā mukuṭa kṛsa gāta.

rāma rāma raghupati japata stravata nayana jalajāta..1kha.. [7-1(B)]

While Bharata’s mind was thus sinking in the ocean of separation from Śrī Rāma, the son of the wind-god, disguised as a Brāhmaṇa, came like a bark to his rescue. He found Bharata seated on a mat of Kuśa grass, emaciated in body, with a coil of matted hair for a crown and the words, “Rāma, Rāma, Raghupati” on his lips, his lotus eyes streaming with tears.

Chaupais

dēkhata hanūmāna ati haraṣēu. pulaka gāta lōcana jala baraṣēu..

mana mahaom bahuta bhāomti sukha mānī. bōlēu śravana sudhā sama bānī.. [7-1(B)-1]

jāsu birahaom sōcahu dina rātī. raṭahu niraṃtara guna gana pāomtī..

raghukula tilaka sujana sukhadātā. āyau kusala dēva muni trātā.. [7-1(B)-2]

ripu rana jīti sujasa sura gāvata. sītā sahita anuja prabhu āvata..

sunata bacana bisarē saba dūkhā. tṛṣāvaṃta jimi pāi piyūṣā.. [7-1(B)-3]

kō tumha tāta kahāom tē āē. mōhi parama priya bacana sunāē..

māruta suta maiṃ kapi hanumānā. nāmu mōra sunu kṛpānidhānā.. [7-1(B)-4]

dīnabaṃdhu raghupati kara kiṃkara. sunata bharata bhēṃṭēu uṭhi sādara..

milata prēma nahiṃ hṛdayaom samātā. nayana stravata jala pulakita gātā.. [7-1(B)-5]

kapi tava darasa sakala dukha bītē. milē āju mōhi rāma pirītē..

bāra bāra būjhī kusalātā. tō kahu dēu kāha sunu bhrātā.. [7-1(B)-6]

ēhi saṃdēsa sarisa jaga māhīṃ. kari bicāra dēkhēu kachu nāhīṃ..

nāhina tāta urina maiṃ tōhī. aba prabhu carita sunāvahu mōhī.. [7-1(B)-7]

taba hanumaṃta nāi pada māthā. kahē sakala raghupati guna gāthā..

kahu kapi kabahu kṛpāla gōsāīṃ. sumirahiṃ mōhi dāsa kī nāīṃ.. [7-1(B)-8]

At this sight Hanumān was over-joyed; every hair on his body stood erect and his eyes rained copiously. He felt gratified at heart in everyway and addressed Bharata in words that were as nectar to his ears: “He, in whose absence you sorrow day and night, the catalogue of whose virtues you are incessantly recounting the glory of Raghu’s line, the delight of the virtuous and the deliverer of gods and sages, has safely arrived. Having conquered His foe in battle, with the gods to hymn His praises, the Lord is now on His way with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa.” The moment Bharata heard these words he forgot all his woes, like a thirsty man who has secured nectar. “Who are you, my beloved friend, and whence have you come? You have told me a most pleasing news.” ” Listen, O fountain of mercy: I am the son of the wind-god, a monkey; Hanumān is my name. I am a humble servant of Śrī Rāma (the Lord of the Raghus), the befriender of the meek.” Hearing this, Bharata rose and reverently embraced him. The affection with which he embraced him was too great for his heart to contain; his eyes streamed with tears and every hair on his body stood erect. “At your very sight, O Hanumān, all my woes have disappeared. In you I have embraced today my beloved Rāma Himself.” Again and again he enquired after Śrī Rāma’s health and said, “Listen, brother; what shall I give you (in return for this happy news)? I have pondered and found that there is nothing in this world to match the news you have brought. I am thus unable to repay my debt to you. Now, pray, recount to me the doings of my lord.” Then Hanumān bowed his head at Bharata’s feet and narrated all the meritorious deeds of Śrī Rāma (the Lord of the Raghus). “Tell me, Hanumān, does my gracious lord ever remember me as one of His servants?” (1-8)

Chhands

nija dāsa jyōṃ raghubaṃsabhūṣana kabahu mama sumirana kar yō.

suni bharata bacana binīta ati kapi pulakita tana carananhi par yō..

raghubīra nija mukha jāsu guna gana kahata aga jaga nātha jō.

kāhē na hōi binīta parama punīta sadaguna siṃdhu sō..

“Did the Jewel of Raghu’s line ever remember me as His servant ?” Hanumān was thrilled with joy to hear this over-modest question of Bharata and fell at the latter’s feet, saying to himself, “How can he be otherwise than humble, the holiest of the holy and an ocean of noble virtues, whose praises Śrī Rāma (the Hero of Raghu’s line), the lord of the animate and inanimate creation, recites with His own lips?”

Dohas

rāma prāna priya nātha tumha satya bacana mama tāta.

puni puni milata bharata suni haraṣa na hṛdayaom samāta..2ka.. [7-2(A)]

bharata carana siru nāi turita gayau kapi rāma pahiṃ.

kahī kusala saba jāi haraṣi calēu prabhu jāna caḍhai..2kha.. [7-2(A)-2(B)]

“To Rāma you are dear as life, my lord: take my words to be true, dear brother.” Hearing this, Bharata embraced Hanumān again and again with a joy which could not be contained in his heart. Bowing his head at Bharata’s feet, Hanumān forth with returned to Śrī Rāma and drawing close to Him told Him that all was well. The Lord then mounted His aerial car and joyfully proceeded (towards His destination).

Chaupais

haraṣi bharata kōsalapura āē. samācāra saba gurahi sunāē..

puni maṃdira mahaom bāta janāī. āvata nagara kusala raghurāī.. [7-2(A)-1]

sunata sakala jananīṃ uṭhi dhāīṃ. kahi prabhu kusala bharata samujhāī..

samācāra purabāsinha pāē. nara aru nāri haraṣi saba dhāē.. [7-2(A)-2]

dadhi durbā rōcana phala phūlā. nava tulasī dala maṃgala mūlā..

bhari bhari hēma thāra bhāminī. gāvata caliṃ siṃdhu siṃdhuragāminī.. [7-2(A)-3]

jē jaisēhiṃ taisēhiṃ uṭi dhāvahiṃ. bāla bṛddha kahaom saṃga na lāvahiṃ..

ēka ēkanha kahaom būjhahiṃ bhāī. tumha dēkhē dayāla raghurāī.. [7-2(A)-4]

avadhapurī prabhu āvata jānī. bhaī sakala sōbhā kai khānī..

bahai suhāvana tribidha samīrā. bhai sarajū ati nirmala nīrā.. [7-2(A)-5]

Bharata too returned with joy to Ayodhyā and broke all the news to his preceptor (the sage Vasiṣṭha). He then made it known inside the palace that the Lord of the Raghus was approaching Ayodhyā safe and sound. On hearing the news all the mothers started up and ran; but Bharata eased their mind by personally telling them of the Lord’s welfare. When the information reached the citizens, men and women all ran out in their joy (to meet their lord). With gold plates containing curds, Dūrvā grass, the sacred yellow pigment known by the name of Gorocana, fruits and flowers and young leaves of the sacred Tulasī (basil) plant, the root of all blessings, ladies sallied forth with the stately gait of an elephant, singing as they went. All ran out just as they happened to be and did not take children or old folk with them. People asked one another: “Brother, did you see the gracious Lord of the Raghus?” Having come to know of the Lord’s advent, the city of Ayodhyā became a mine of all beauty. A delightful breeze breathed soft, cool and fragrant. The Sarayū rolled down crystal clear water

Dohas

haraṣita gura parijana anuja bhūsura bṛṃda samēta.

calē bharata mana prēma ati sanmukha kṛpānikēta..3ka.. [7-3(A)]

bahutaka caḍhaī aṭārinha nirakhahiṃ gagana bimāna.

dēkhi madhura sura haraṣita karahiṃ sumaṃgala gāna..3kha.. [7-3(B)]

rākā sasi raghupati pura siṃdhu dēkhi haraṣāna.

baḍhayō kōlāhala karata janu nāri taraṃga samāna..3ga.. [7-3(C)]

Accompanied by his preceptor (the sage Vasiṣṭha) and kinsmen, his younger brother (Śatrughna) and a host of Brāhmaṇas, with a heart overflowing with affection, Bharata joyfully set forth to receive the All-merciful. Many women, who had climbed up their attics, looked above for the aerial car in the sky. And the moment they espied it they began in their joy to sing festal songs in melodious strains. Just as the sight of the full moon brings joy to the ocean and swells it, the city of Ayodhyā too joyfully rushed with a tumultuous noise to meet the Lord of the Raghus, the women of the city moving to and fro like so many waves.

Chaupais

ihāom bhānukula kamala divākara. kapinha dēkhāvata nagara manōhara..

sunu kapīsa aṃgada laṃkēsā. pāvana purī rucira yaha dēsā.. [7-3(C)-1]

jadyapi saba baikuṃṭha bakhānā. bēda purāna bidita jagu jānā..

avadhapurī sama priya nahiṃ sōū. yaha prasaṃga jānai kōu kōū.. [7-3(C)-2]

janmabhūmi mama purī suhāvani. uttara disi baha sarajū pāvani..

jā majjana tē binahiṃ prayāsā. mama samīpa nara pāvahiṃ bāsā.. [7-3(C)-3]

ati priya mōhi ihāom kē bāsī. mama dhāmadā purī sukha rāsī..

haraṣē saba kapi suni prabhu bānī. dhanya avadha jō rāma bakhānī.. [7-3(C)-4]

At the other end Śrī Rāma, who brought delight to the solar race as the sun to the lotus, was busy showing the charming city to the monkeys. “Listen, Sugrīva (lord of the monkeys), Aṅgada and Vibhīṣaṇa (lord of Laṅkā), holy is this city and beautiful this land. Although all have extolled Vaikuṇṭha (My divine Abode), which is familiar to the Vedas and the Purāṇas and known throughout the world, it is not so dear to Me as the city of Ayodhyā: only some rare soul knows this secret. This beautiful city is My birthplace; to the north of it flows the holy Sarayū, by bathing in which men secure a home near Me without any difficulty. The dwellers here are very dear to Me; the city is not only full of bliss itself but bestows a residence in My divine Abode.” The monkeys were all delighted to hear these words of the Lord and said, “Blessed indeed is Ayodhyā, that has evoked praise from Śrī Rāma Himself !”