Ramayana Condensed in the Poet's Own Words /186

168
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
Therefere, what that father, the cause

of my origin, king Dasaratha, has com-

manded me to do-that shall not be

falsified."
 

 
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण भरतः प्रत्यनन्तरम् ।

उवाच परमोदारः सूतं परमदुर्मनाः ॥
 

As soon as Rama had spoken thus, the

extremely noble Bharata, being highly

afflicted with grief, said to the charioteer :
 

 
इह मे स्थण्डिले शीघ्ररं कुशानास्तर सारथे ।

आर्ययं प्रत्युपवेक्ष्यामि यावन्मे न प्रसीदति ॥
 

"O charioteer, here on this ground

spread the Kusa grass. I will lie down

before my noble brother (and abstain

from food) as long as he does not accede

to my request."
 

 
तमुवाच महातेजा रामो राजर्षिसत्तमः ॥
 

Rama, of great effulgence and the fore-

most of saintly kings, said to Bharata :
 

 
किं मां भरत कुर्वाणं तात प्रत्युपवेक्ष्यसि ॥
 

"O dear Bharata, what would you have

me do by your lying down thus (abstain-

ing from food) ?