आश्वासयित्वा च चमूं महात्मा निवेशयित्वा च यथोपजोषम्।
द्रष्टुं भरद्वाजमृषिप्रवर्षमृत्विग्वृतः सन्भरतः प्रतस्थे॥
āśvāsayitvā ca camūṁ mahātmā
niveśayitvā ca yathopajoṣam
draṣṭuṁ bharadvājam ṛṣiṁ pravarṣam
ṛtvig-vṛtaḥ san bharataḥ pratasthe
āśvāsayitvā ca = consoled; camūm = the large army; mahā-ātmā = the greatly intelligent; niveśayitvā ca = had it rest; yathā-upajoṣam = at ease 6; draṣṭum = to see; bharadvājam = Bharadvāja; ṛṣim = sage; pravarṣam = the very old; ṛtvik-vṛtaḥ san = with sacrificial priests; bharataḥ = Bharata; pratasthe = and then set out.
The greatly intelligent Bharata consoled the large army, had it rest at ease and then set out with sacrificial priests to see the very old sage Bharadvāja.
1 An alternative reading of a portion of the commentary to this verse notes an alternative reading in the text itself—ṛṣi-pravaryam (“best of the sages”) instead of ṛṣiṁ pravarṣam. Ṛṣi indicates that Bharadvāja was old in terms of knowledge, that is, he was extremely advanced in Vedic knowledge, understanding and realization.
Bharata has been described as greatly intelligent here because though He was personally distressed, He was intent on encouraging others as if He wasn’t [personally] distressed. Bharataḥ [itself] signifies that He was expert in maintaining a kingdom: bharata iti rājyasya bharaṇāt.
Bharata encouraged the large army by speaking affectionate words, “[Oh,] all of you have taken up so much trouble!” He encouraged them to rest at ease, that is, to rest wherever they were comfortable.
Pravarṣam indicates that Bharadvāja had passed many years in his life as noted in the Śruti 7. Ṛṣim indicates that Bharadvāja was old in terms of his knowledge [too] as is well known from the Śruti 8.1
Bharata wanted to see and offer His respectful obeisances unto this sage. He wore a humble and presentable attire, and departed on foot.