{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry191.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry191.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry191.htm","text":"Bearing the sandals on his head\n Away triumphant Bharat sped,\n And clomb, S'atrughna by his side,\n The car wherein he wont to ride.\n Before the mighty army went\n The lords for counsel eminent,\n Vas'ishtha, V\u00e1madeva next,\n J\u00e1v\u00e1li, pure with prayer and text.\n \n \n Then from that lovely river they\n Turned eastward on their homeward way:\n With reverent steps from left to right\n They circled Chitrak\u00fata's height,\n And viewed his peaks on every side\n With stains of thousand metals dyed.\n Then Bharat saw, not far away,\n Where Bharadw\u00e1ja's dwelling lay,\n And when the chieftain bold and sage\n Had reached that holy hermitage,\n Down from the car he sprang to greet\n The saint, and bowed before his feet.\n High rapture filled the hermit's breast,\n Who thus the royal prince addressed:\n 'Say, Bharat, is thy duty done?\n Hast thou with R\u00e1ma met, my son?'\n \n \n The chief whose soul to virtue clave\n This answer to the hermit gave:\n 'I prayed him with our holy guide:\n But Raghu's son our prayer denied,\n And long besought by both of us\n He answered Saint Vas'ishtha thus:\n 'True to my vow, I still will be\n Observant of my sire's decree:\n Till fourteen years complete their course\n That promise shall remain in force.'\n The saint in highest wisdom caught,\n These solemn words with wisdom fraught,\n To him in lore of language learned\n Most eloquent himself returned:\n 'Obey my rede: let Bharat hold\n This pair of sandals decked with gold:\n They in Ayodhy\u00e1 shall ensure\n Our welfare, and our bliss secure.'\n When R\u00e1ma heard the royal priest\n He rose, and looking to the east\n Consigned the sandals to my hand\n That they for him might guard the land.\n Then from the high-souled chief's abode\n I turned upon my homeward road,\n Dismissed by him, and now this pair\n Of sandals to Ayodhy\u00e1 bear.'\n \n \n To him the hermit thus replied,\n Bv Bharat's tidings gratified:\n 'No marvel thoughts so just and true,\n Thou best of all who right pursue,\n Should dwell in thee, O Prince of men,\n As waters gather in the glen.\n He is not dead,we mourn in vain:\n Thy blessed father lives again,\n Whose noble son we thus behold\n Like Virtue's self in human mould.'\n He ceased: before him Bharat fell\n To clasp his feet, and said farewell:\n His reverent steps around him bent,\n And onward to Ayodhy\u00e1 went.\n His host of followers stretching far\n With many an elephant and car,\n Waggon and steed, and mighty train,\n Traversed their homeward way again.\n O'er holy Yamun\u00e1 they sped,\n Fair stream, with waves engarlanded,\n And then once more the rivers' queen,\n The blessed Gang\u00e1's self was seen.\n Then making o'er that flood his way,\n Where crocodiles and monsters lay,\n The king to S'ringavera drew\n His host and royal retinue.\n His onward way he thence pursued,\n And soon renowned Ayodhy\u00e1 viewed.\n Then burnt by woe and sad of cheer\n Bharat addressed the charioteer:\n 'Ah, see, Ayodhy\u00e1 dark and sad,\n Her glory gone, once bright and glad:\n Of joy and beauty reft, forlorn,\n In silent grief she seems to mourn.'","title":"Book II: Canto CXIII.: Bharat's Beturn.","type":"page"}