Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 76: Bharata Performs the Final Rites for Daśaratha
Text 2.76.1
तमेवं शोकसंतप्तं भरतं कैकयीसुतम्।
उवाच वदतांश्रेष्ठो वसिष्ठः श्रेष्ठवागृषिः॥
tam evaṁ śoka-santaptaṁ bharataṁ kaikayī-sutam
uvāca vadatāṁ śreṣṭho vasiṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭha-vāg ṛṣiḥ
tam = Him; evam = thus; śoka-santaptam = was burning in distress; bharatam = Bharata; kaikayī-sutam = Kaikeyī’s son; uvāca = told [the following]; vadatām = of speakers; śreṣṭhaḥ = and therefore the best; vasiṣṭhaḥ = Vasiṣṭha; śreṣṭha-vāk = of excellent speech; ṛṣiḥ = sage.
Kaikeyī’s son Bharata was thus burning in distress. Sage Vasiṣṭha of excellent speech and therefore the best of speakers, told Him [the following].