जटिलं चीरवसनं प्राञ्जलिं पतितं भुवि। ददर्श रामो दुर्दर्श युगान्ते भास्करं यथा॥ कथंचिदभिविज्ञाय विवर्णवदनं कृशम्। भ्रातरं भरतं रामः परिजग्राह पाणिना॥ आघ्राय रामस्तं मूर्ध्नि परिष्वज्य च राघवम्। अङ्के भरतमारोप्य पर्यपृच्छत सादरम्॥
Then Rāma cast his eyes on (Bharata) as clad in bark and wearing matted locks he lay on the earth with joined hands, incapable of being gazed at, like the Sun at the time of the universal dissolution. Then recognizing him a little, he took by the hand his brother Bharata, lean, with a pallid countenance. And smelling the crown of his head, and embracing that descendant of Raghu, Rāma took Bharata on his lap and asked him affectionately.
क्व नु तेऽभूत् पिता तात यदरण्यं त्वमागतः। न हि त्वं जीवतस्तस्य वनमागन्तुमर्हसि ॥
Where was your father, child, that you have come to the forest? It certainly behoves you not to come to the forest while he is living.
चिरस्य बत पश्यामि दूराद् भरतमागतम्। दुष्प्रतीकमरण्येऽस्मिन् किं तात वनमागतः॥
Ah! I see you come from far after a long time. Why, my child, have you come to this gloomy forest?
कच्चिन्नु धरते तात राजा यत् त्वमिहागतः। क्वच्चिन्न दीनः सहसा राजा लोकान्तरं गतः॥
Is the king alive, my child, seeing that you have come hither; or, afflicted with grief, has he suddenly gone to the other world?
कच्चित् सौम्य न ते राज्यं भ्रष्टं बालस्य शाश्वतम्। कच्चिच्छुश्रूषसे तात पितुः सत्यपराक्रम।७।।
O mild one, child that you are, your kingdom ever yours has not been wrested from you? And, O you having truth for prowess, do you, my child, minister to our sire?
कच्चिद् दशरथो राजा कुशली सत्यसंगरः। राजसूयाश्वमेधानामाहर्ता धर्मनिश्चितः॥
Is that truthful one, that performer of Rajasüya and Aśvamedha, ever devoted to righteousness, king Dasaratha, well?
स कच्चिद् ब्राह्मणो विद्वान् धर्मनित्यो महाद्युतिः। इक्ष्वाकूणामुपाध्यायो यथावत् तात पूज्यते॥
My child, is that exceedingly effulgent and learned Brāhmaṇa ever steady in morality, the priest of the Iksvākus, duly honoured?
तात कच्चिच्च कौसल्या सुमित्रा च प्रजावती। सुखिनी कच्चिदार्या च देवी नन्दति कैकेयी॥
And, my child, are Kausalyā, and Sumitrā having a son, in happiness? And is the noble Kaikeyi in spirits?
कच्चिद् विनयसम्पन्नः कुलपुत्रो बहुश्रुतः। अनसूयरनुद्रष्टा सत्कृतस्ते पुरोहितः॥
And is that one, sprung from a mighty line, humble and versed in various lore, your priest, who performs every ceremony, who bears no ill will, and whose gaze is ever fixed upon our welfare, honoured?
कच्चिदग्निषु ते युक्तो विधिज्ञो मतिमानृजुः। हुतं च होष्यमाणं च काले वेदयते सदा॥
Do intelligent and sincere people cognizant of the rules, look after the sacrificial fire? And do they regularly inform you of the proper seasons for performing the fire-sacrifice?
कच्चिद् देवान् पितृन् भृत्यान् गुरून् पितृसमानपि। वृद्धांश्च तात वैद्यांश्च ब्राह्मणांश्चाभिमन्यसे॥
Do you regard the deities, the ancestral manes, the preceptors like to predecessors, the physicians, the Brahmanas, and the servants?
इष्वस्त्रवरसम्पन्नमर्थशास्त्रविशारदम्। सुधन्वानमुपाध्यायं कच्चित् त्वं तात मन्यसे ॥
And do not disregard the preceptor Sudhanvā versed in excellent arms whether inspired with mantras or not, and accomplished in the knowledge of polity?
कच्चिदात्मसमाः शूराः श्रुतवन्तो जितेन्द्रियाः। कुलीनाश्चेङ्गितज्ञाश्च कृतास्ते तात मन्त्रिणः॥
And, my child, have you employed as your controlled, well-born, and understanding signs, who are like your own self?
मन्त्री विजयमूलं हि राज्ञां भवति राघव। सुसंवृतो मन्त्रिधुरैरमात्यैः शास्त्रकोविदैः॥
O descendant of Raghu, counsel well kept by clever councillors versed in lore, is the root of victory with kings.
कच्चिन्निद्रावशं नैषि कच्चित् कालेऽवबुध्यसे। कच्चिच्चापररात्रेषु चिन्तयस्यर्थनैपुणम्॥
You have not come under the sway of sleep? and you awake at the proper hour? And do you during the short hours revolve the means of acquiring wealth?
कच्चिन्मन्त्रयसे नैकः कच्चिन्न बहुभिः सह। कच्चित् ते मन्त्रितो मन्त्रो राष्ट्रं न परिधावति॥
And you did not take counsel either with yourself alone, or (on the other hand) with a multiplicity of counsellors? and your counsel does not range the kingdom (i.e. does not take air)?
कच्चिदर्थं विनिश्चित्य लघुमूलं मदोदयम्। क्षिप्रमारभसे कर्म न दीर्घयसि राघव॥
O descendant of Raghu, having determined upon a course costing small effort but fraught with a mighty result, you set about it sharply and delay not?
कच्चिनु सुकृतान्येव कृतरूपाणि वा पुनः। विदुस्ते सर्वकार्याणि न कर्तव्यानि पार्थिवाः॥
Do the (auxiliary) kings know only those acts of yours that have been accomplished or those that are well nigh so, and not those that you intend to set yours hand to?
कच्चिन तर्कैर्युक्त्या वा ये चाप्यपरिकीर्तिताः। त्वया वा तव वामात्यैर्बुध्यते तात मन्त्रितम्॥
Do others through inference or appearances come at a knowledge of your counsels, although undivulged to others by yourself or your counsellors; and (do you and your ministers) attain to a knowledge of others' counsels?
कच्चित् सहस्रैर्मूर्खाणामेकमिच्छसि पण्डितम्। पण्डितो ह्यर्थकृच्छेषु कुर्यानिःश्रेयसं महत्॥
And passing by a thousand dunces, do you set your heart on having a single wise man? In times of pecuniary stress, a wise man stands in excellent stead.
सहस्राण्यपि मूर्खाणां यधुपास्ते महीपतिः। अथवाप्ययुतान्येव नास्ति तेषु सहायता॥
And although a king might be surrounded by a thousand or ten thousand fools, yet he can count upon no assistance (at their hands).
एकोऽप्यमात्यो मेधावी शूरो दक्षो विचक्षणः। राजानं राजपुत्रं वा प्रापयेन्महतीं श्रियम्॥
And a single able counsellor, intelligent, heroic, and sagacious, bring great prosperity upon a king or a prince.
कच्चिन्मुख्या महत्स्वेव मध्यमेषु च मध्यमा। जघन्याश्च जघन्येषु भृत्यास्ते तात योजिताः॥
And, my child, do you employ the best servants upon the best offices, the middling upon middling, and the worst upon the worst?
अमात्यानुपधातीतान् पितृपैतामहाशुचीन्। श्रेष्ठाञ्छेष्ठेषु कच्चित् त्वं नियोजयसि कर्मसु॥
And did you employ upon the most worthy offices counsellors who are above bribery, who have served your father and grand-father, and who are pure?
कच्चिन्नोग्रेण दण्डेन भृशमुद्वेजिताः प्रजाः। राष्ट्रे तवावजानन्ति मन्त्रिणः कैकयीसुत ॥
And do the subjects visited with condign, punishment, as well as the ministers, disregard you, O son of Kaikeyi?
कच्चित् त्वां नावजानन्ति याजकाः पतितं यथा। उग्राप्रतिग्रहीतारं कामयानमिव स्त्रियः॥
Do the priests scorn you like a fallen one, even as females do those lascivious folks who use force towards the former?
उपायकुशलं वैद्यं भृत्यसंदूषणे रतम्। शूरमैश्वर्यकामं च यो हन्ति न स हन्यते॥
He that does not slay a physician skilled in ways and means, a servant given to enlisting the sympathies of his fellow-servants against his master, or a hero that covets riches, is slain (by them).
कच्चिद् धृष्टश्च शूरश्च धृतिमान् मतिमाञ्छुचिः। कुलीनश्चानुरक्तश्च दक्षः सेनापतिः कृतः॥
And had you chosen for your general one that is confident, is endowed with intelligence and fortitude, sprung in a respectable race, and attached and able?
बलवन्तश्च कच्चित् ते मुख्या युद्धविशारदाः। दृष्टापदाना विक्रान्तास्त्वया सत्कृत्य मानिताः॥
And do you practically honour your foremost warriors possessed of prowess, who have already given evidence of their manliness?
कच्चिद् बलस्य भक्तं च वेतनं च यथोचितम्। सम्प्राप्तकालं दातव्यं ददासि न विलम्बसे॥
And do you at the proper time grant your soldiers what you should, provision and pay; and do not delay in doing this?
कालातिक्रमणे ह्येव भक्तवेतनयो ताः। भर्तुरप्यतिकुप्यन्ति सोऽनर्थः सुमहान् कृतः॥
If the proper time for granting provision and pay be passed, the servants get wroth with their master and tax him; and great is the evil that springs herefrom.
कच्चित् सर्वेऽनुरक्तास्त्वां कुलपुत्राः प्रधानतः। कच्चित् प्राणांस्तवार्थेषु संत्यजन्ति समाहिताः॥
And are the principal descendants of our race attached to you; and are they, when enlisted on your side with concentrated minds, ready to lay down their lives?
कच्चिज्जानपदो विद्वान् दक्षिणः प्रतिभानवान्। यथोक्तवादी दूतस्ते कृतो भरत पण्डितः॥
O Bharata, are your spies persons coming from the provinces, and learned, upright, endowed with presence of mind, representing the truth, and possessed of wisdon?
कच्चिदष्टादशान्येषु स्वपक्षे दश पञ्च च। त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरविज्ञातैत्सि तीर्थानि चारणैः॥
And do you acquire intelligence of the expedients, eighteen* in respect of others, and fifteen in respect of the own self, by means of every three spies appointed in connection with each of these expedients, men quite ignorant of each other's counsels? *1. Minister. 2. Priest. 3. Heir-apparent. 4. General. 5. Warder. 6. Gatekeeper of the inner-apartment. 7. Jailer. 8. Treasurer. 9. Conveyer of the royal orders. 10. Pleaders. 11. Judges. 12. Members of the council. 13. Distributor of pay and provision to the army. 14. Journeymen. 15. Justice of the peace. 16. Protector of the frontiers of the kingdom. 17. Magistrate. 18. Guards of rivers, hills, and fortresses.
कच्चिद् व्यपास्तानहितान् प्रतियातांश्च सर्वदा। दुर्बलाननवज्ञाय वर्तसे रिपुसूदन॥
And do you not contemn those. weak ones that, O destroyer of your. foes, having been expelled, have come again (to you)?
कच्चिन्न लोकायतिकान् ब्राह्मणांस्तात सेवसे। अनर्थकुशला ह्येते बालाः पण्डितमानिनः॥ धर्मशास्त्रेषु मुख्येषु विद्यमानेषु दुर्बुधाः। बुद्धिमान्वीक्षिकी प्राप्य निरर्थं प्रवदन्ति ते॥
And, my child, you did not minister to atheistical Brāhmaṇas? These childish persons proud of their learning are only fit for bringing evils upon others. While there are excellent scriptures, these people of subtle intellects, having acquired a knowledge of dialectics, speak vanities.
वीरैरध्युषितां पूर्वमस्माकं तात पूर्वकैः। सत्यनामां दृढद्वारा हस्त्यश्वरथसंकुलाम्॥ ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैर्वैश्यैः स्वकर्मनिरतैः सदा। जितेन्द्रियैर्महोत्साहैर्वृतामार्यैः सहस्रशः॥ प्रासादैर्विविधाकारैर्वृतां वैद्यजनाकुलाम्। कच्चित् समुदितां स्फीतामयोध्यां परिरक्षसे।॥
My child, do you protect the prosperous and renowned Ayodhyā, inhabited formerly by our heroic predecessors; bearing a true name; having strong gates; filled with elephants, steeds, and cars; thronged by thousands; with noble Brāhmaṇas, Kștriyas and Vaisyas breathing high spirits, and with their senses controlled, each engaged in his own task; abounding in people learned in the Veda; and surrounded with palatial mansions of various shapes?
कच्चिच्चैत्यशतैर्जुष्टः सुनिविष्टजनाकुलः। देवस्थानैः प्रपाभिश्च तटाकैश्चोपशोभितः॥ प्रहृष्टनरनारीक: समाजोत्सवशोभितः। सुकृष्टसीमापशुमान् हिंसाभिरभिवर्जितः॥ अदेवमातृको रम्यः श्वापदैः परिवर्जितः। परित्यक्तो भयैः सर्वैः खनिभिश्चोपशोभितः।।४५ । विवर्जितो नरैः पापैर्मम पूर्वैः सुरक्षितः। कच्चिज्जनपदः स्फीतः सुखं वसति राघव॥
And, O descendant of Raghu, are the flourishing provinces marked with hundreds of Chaityas, filled with prosperous people, graced with abodes of deities, places for distributing water, and tanks, with man and women in happy mood, gay with meetings and festivities, having their outskirts well furrowed, provided with beasts, void of ill feelings, depending on tanks for their water supply, charming, renounced by fierce animals, free from all kinds of fear, decked with mines, left by unrighteous people, and well governed by my predecessors, having a good time of it?
कच्चित् ते दयिताः सर्वे कृषिगोरक्षजीविनः। वार्तायां संश्रितस्तात लोकोऽयं सुखमेधते॥
And do agriculturists and cow herds find favour in your sight? And remaining in their respective vocations, do they enjoy happiness?
तेषां गुप्तिपरीहारैः कच्चित् ते भरणं कृतम्। रक्ष्या हि राज्ञा धर्मेण सर्वे विषयवासिनः।४८।।
And do you maintain them by securing to them what they wish for and removing from them what they wish away? All the dwellers in his dominions should be protected by the king.
कच्चित् स्त्रियः सान्त्वयसे कच्चित् तास्ते सुरक्षिताः। कच्चिन्न श्रद्दधास्यासां कच्चिद् गुह्यं न भाषसे॥
And do you conciliate the females; and are they well protected by you? And do you not regard them; and do you not open to them your mind?
कच्चिन्नागवनं गुप्तं कच्चित् ते सन्ति धेनुकाः। कच्चिन्न गणिकाश्वानां कुञ्जराणां च तृप्यसि॥
And are the woods where elephants breed, kept by you; and have you kine? And do you not foster mares and female-elephants?
कच्चिद् दर्शयसे नित्यं मानुषाणां विभूषितम्। उत्थायोत्थाय पूर्वाह्ने राजपुत्र महापथे॥
And do you show yourself daily in the court, well robed? And rising in the morning, do you show yourself in the high-ways?
कच्चिन्न सर्वे कर्मान्ताः प्रत्यक्षास्तेऽविशङ्कया। सर्वे वा पुनरुत्सृष्टा मध्यमेवात्र कारणम्॥
And do your servants boldly present themselves before you; or do they all keep away? A middle course contributes to their good fortune.
कच्चिद् दुर्गाणि सर्वाणि धनधान्यायुधोदकैः। यन्त्रैश्च प्रतिपूर्णानि तथा शिल्पिधनुधरैः॥
Are all the forts furnished with wealth, corn, arms water, machines, artisans, and bowmen?
आयस्ते विपुलः कच्चित् कच्चिदल्पतरो व्ययः। अपात्रेषु न ते कच्चित् कोषो गच्छति राघव॥
And are your incomings great and outgoings slender? And, O Raghu's descendant, you do not give away your coffers to the undeserving?
देवतार्थे च पित्रर्थे ब्राह्मणाभ्यागतेषु च। योधेषु मित्रवर्गेषु कच्चिद् गच्छति ते व्ययः॥
And did you spend your wealth in the interests of the deities, or the pitris, or the Brāhmaṇas who have come to you, or warriors, or friends?
कच्चिदार्योऽपि शुद्धात्मा क्षारितश्चापकर्मणा। अदृष्टः शास्त्रकुशलैर्न लोभाद् बध्यते शुचिः॥
If any respectable, pure-spirited and clean person happen to be accused by some one of theft or other crimes, do you from covetousness punish him without first having him tried by persons versed in scripture?
गृहीतश्चैव पृष्ठश्च काले दृष्टः सकारण:। कच्चिन्न मुच्यते चोरो धनलोभानरर्षभ॥
And, O best of men, is a thief, that has been caught, interrogated (as to his guilt), and found with the stolen property on his person, set free (by your men) from motives of gain.
व्यसने कच्चिदाढयस्य दुर्बलस्य च राघव। अर्थं विरागाः पश्यन्ति तवामात्या बहुश्रुताः।५८।।
And do your counsellors, o descendant of Raghu, accomplished in various lore, uninfluenced by greed, consider the conduct of both the rich and the poor involved in peril?
यानि मिथ्याभिशस्तानां पतन्त्यश्रूणि राघव। तानि पुत्रपशून् घ्नन्ति प्रीत्यर्थमनुशासतः॥
O son of the Raghu race, the tears of those who have been falsely charged with any offence, (and who have failed to obtain justice), dropping, destroy the sons as well as the beasts of the ruler that minds his own comfort only.
कच्चिद् वृदांश्च बालांश्च वैद्यान् मुख्यांश्च राघव। दानेन मनसा वाचा त्रिभिरेतैर्बुभूषसे॥
And do you with these three, gifts, mind and word, try to win over aged people, boys, physicians, and the principal ones?
कच्चिद् गुरुंश्च वृद्धांश्च तापसान् देवतातिथीन्। चैत्यांश्च सर्वान् सिद्धार्थान् ब्राह्मणांश्च नमस्यसि॥
And do you salute spiritual preceptors, aged persons, ascetics, gods, guests, Caityas, emancipated one, and Brāhmaṇās?
कच्चिदर्थेन वा धर्ममर्थं धर्मेण वा पुनः। उभौ वा प्रीतिलोभेन कामेन न विबाधसे ॥
And you do not oppose righteousness by interest, or interest by virtue, or both by desire, intent on gratifying the senses?
कच्चिदर्थं च कामं च धर्मं च जयतां वर। विभज्य काले कालज्ञ सर्वान् वरद सेवसे॥
And, O foremost of conquerors, do you, O you cognisant of time, in season resorting to interest, desire, and virtue respectively, attain them, O bestower of boons?
कच्चित् ते ब्राह्मणः शर्म सर्वशास्त्रार्थकोविदाः। आशंसन्ते महाप्राज्ञ पौरजानपदैः सह॥
And do Brāhmaṇas versed in all religious lore and knowing interest, together with the citizens and the inhabitants of the provinces wish for your happiness, O highly wise one?
नास्तिक्यमनृतं क्रोधं प्रमादं दीर्घसूत्रताम्। अदर्शनं ज्ञानवतामालस्यं पञ्चवृत्तिताम्॥ एकचिन्तनमर्थानामनर्थज्ञैश्च मन्त्रणम्। निश्चितानामनारम्भं मन्त्रस्यापरिरक्षणम्॥ मङ्गलाद्यप्रयोगं च प्रत्युत्थानं च सर्वतः। कच्चित् त्वं वर्जयस्येतान् राजदोषांश्चतुर्दश॥
Atheism, untruthfulness, inattention, anger, procrastination, companionship with evil persons, indolence, gratification of the senses, consultation with a single person concerning the needs of a kingdom, taking counsel with those that are cognisant of evils alone, omission to take in hand a task that has been decided upon, divulgence of counsel, non-commencement of a course in the morning, and marching against all the foes at one and the same time, have you eschewed these ten and four faults?
दशपञ्चचतुर्वर्गान् सप्तवर्गं च तत्त्वतः। अष्टवर्गं त्रिवर्गं च विद्यास्तिस्रश्च राघव॥ इन्द्रियाणां जयं बुद्ध्वा षाड्गुण्यं दैवमानुषम्। कृत्य विंशतिवर्गं च तथा प्रकृतिमण्डलम्॥ यात्रादण्डविधानं च द्वियोनी संधिविग्रहो। कच्चिदेतान् महाप्राज्ञ यथावदनुमन्यसे॥
O descendant of Raghu, truly understanding the tenth, fifth, fourth and seventh classes as well as the eighth, and third ones, and the three kinds of learning, and victory over the senses, and the evils human and superhuman, six attributes, and the (peculiar) duties (of royalty), and the twenty classes, and the kinds of Prakritis and Mandala, and Yatra chastisement, and war and peace having each two sources; do you with due order observe all these?
मन्त्रिभिस्त्वं यथोद्दिष्टं चतुर्भिस्त्रिभिरेव वा। कच्चित् समस्तैर्व्यस्तैश्च मन्त्रं मन्त्रयसे बुध ॥
And, O wise one, do you, as laid down in the ordinance, take counsel, severally and in a body with three or four men?
कच्चित्ते सफला वेदाः कच्चित्ते सफलाः क्रियाः। कच्चित्ते सफला दाराः कच्चित्ते सफलं श्रुतम्॥
And do you observe the Vedas? And do you perceive the fruit of your acts? And have your wives borne children? And has your knowledge of scripture borne fruit?
कच्चिदेषैव ते बुद्धिर्यथोक्ता मम राघव। आयुष्या च यशस्या च धर्मकामार्थसंहिता॥
O descendant of Raghu, is your intellect going the way that I have indicated above? This course is conducive to long life, and fame; and virtue, desire and interest.
यां वृत्तिं वर्तते तातो यां च नः प्रपितामहः। तां वृत्तिं वर्तसे कच्चिद् या च सत्पथगा शुभा॥
O child, are you following the course that was followed by our ancestors? And are you maintaining the conduct that is excellent and passes along pious ways?
कच्चित् स्वादुकृतं भोज्यमेको नाश्नासि राघव। कच्चिदाशंसमानेभ्यो मित्रेभ्यः सम्प्रयच्छसि॥
And, O son of Raghu, you do not alone partake of sapid meats yourself alone? And do you share them with those friends who expect it?
राजा तु धर्मेण हि पालयित्वा महीपतिर्दण्डधरः प्रजानाम्। दितश्च्युतः स्वर्गमुपैति विद्वान्।७६ ।।
The learned king ruling (all) righteously, that chastiser of the subjects, the monarch attaining duly the entire earth, going away from hence, acquires the celestial regions.