Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 1: Contents of the Rāmāyaṇa Summarized
Text 1.1.34
गत्वा तु सुमहात्मानं रामं सत्यपराक्रमम्।
अयाचद्भ्रातरं राममार्यभावपुरस्कृतः॥
gatvā tu sumahātmānaṁ rāmaṁ satya-parākramam
ayācad bhrātaraṁ rāmam ārya-bhāva-puraskṛtaḥ
gatvā tu = approaching; su mahā-ātmānam = the very great soul; rāmam = Rāma; satya-parākramam = who was heroic in being truthful to his words; ayācat = begged; bhrātaram = His brother; rāmam = Rāma; ārya-bhāva-puraskṛtaḥ= with a noble attitude.
Approaching the very great soul Rāma who was heroic in being truthful to His words, [Bharata] begged His brother Rāma with a noble attitude.
Ārya-bhāva-puraskṛtaḥ indicates that Bharata considered Himself honored to beg Rāma [to take the kingdom]. Sumahātmānam indicates that Lord Rāma’s heart was naturally pleasant. Bharata begged Rāma to fulfill His cherished desire, which is described in the next verse.