Hari Om.
Let us begin the ninety eighth sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
Sighting the large army heading their way and recognizing it to be that of the ikshvAkus going by the insignia of the kOvidara tree, lakshmaNa flies into a rage. Motivated by his unflinching love and loyalty for rAma, he trains his guns on bharata who he suspects to be leading the army and part of the scheme of kaikEyI to mitigate them and enjoy the kingdom unobstructed. Livid lakshmaNa tells rAma how he would unleash the wrath of his weapons on the enemy for this stupid and unrighteous misadventure. The eldest, very embodiment of righteousness gently admonishes lakshmaNa for suggesting so. He offers a masterclass on brotherhood and how he would rather stay in the forest than have the blood of his brothers and relations on his hands for the throne. The calm, assured and righteous words of rAma calmed down lakshmaNa! Onwards…
Having decided to approach rAma by foot, lord of the army, bharata ordered them to camp and set out on foot into the forest in the company of preceptors, ministers and eminent citizens in search of rAma. He advised Satrughna to look for rAma in the forest with the help of forest rangers. He also ordered guha to search for beloved rAma in the company of his kinsmen wielding bows and arrows. He added –
“as long as I don’t see rAma, lakshmaNa and sItA, I shall be bereft of peace.
So long as I don’t behold the moon-like radiant countenance of brother rAma whose eyes resemble lotus petals, I shall be devoid of peace.
Till such time I don’t hold the feet of brother rAma bearing the royal insignia on my head, peace shall not be upon me.
Until I ensure that the deserving elder brother is crowned on the throne of ayOdhyA belonging to the hallowed ikshvAku forefathers, I shall not be at peace.
Brother saumitri (lakshmaNa) is blessed indeed to be beholding the charming countenance of rAma all the time. And the illustrious vaidEhi (sItA) has achieved her purpose by unconditionally following rAma to the limits of the land!
Indeed this mountain chitrakUTa itself is blessed where kAkutstha (rAma) dwells like lord kubEra in his nandana gardens!
सुभगश्चित्रकूटोऽसौ गिरिराजोपमो गिरिः।
यस्मिन्वसति काकुत्स्थः कुबेर इव नन्दने।।2.98.12।।
This forest infested with wild beats is indeed blessed to be hosting rAma, the wielder of bow and arrows”
Reflecting thus about the good fortune of everyone and everything associated with rAma, bharata began to walk into the forest in search of rAma. He walked through the mountain slopes, meandering trails filled with fully bloomed trees hoping to find rAma there. There on the mountain top, he climbed a fully bloomed sAl tree in order to get a good view of the area around and identified a certain hermitage from which banner of smoke was emanating! Having spotted the holy hermitage, the auspicious bharata delighted, along with his companions like someone who reached the safe shores, in the knowledge that rAma could be residing here.
तं दृष्ट्वा भरत श्रीमान्मुमोद सह बान्धवः।
अत्र राम इति ज्ञात्वा गतः पारमिवाम्भसः।।2.98.17।।
Having identified the holy hermitage of rAma in the hallowed forests inhabited by the pious seekers, bharata proceeded along with guha towards the hermitage.
Here we conclude the ninety eighth sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 2.99. bhakti, thy name is bharata!
Previous: 2.97.Brotherhood exemplary!
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
