Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 99: Bharata Meets Rāma
Text 2.99.10
उच्चैर्बद्धानि चीराणि लक्ष्मणेन भवेदयम्।
अभिज्ञानकृतः पन्था विकाले गन्तुमिच्छता॥
uccair baddhāni cīrāṇi lakṣmaṇena bhaved ayam
abhijñāna-kṛtaḥ panthā vikāle gantum icchatā
uccaiḥ = on high lands; baddhāni = have been tied; cīrāṇi = bark garments; lakṣmaṇena = placed by Lakṣmaṇa; bhavet = must be; ayam = this; abhijñāna-kṛtaḥ = for it has marks of identification; panthāḥ = the path; vikāle = at inappropriate times; gantum = to go; icchatā = wishing.
Bark garments have been tied on high lands. This must be the path for it has marks of identification placed by Lakṣmaṇa wishing to go at inappropriate times.
Bharata implied, “When Lakṣmaṇa wished to go and fetch fruits, roots and water in the evening and so on, He would have placed such marks to identify [the route back to their āśrama]. So, we should go by this route.”
Bharata thought that Lakṣmaṇa would have placed such marks of identification for a reason: without such marks it would be difficult to understand the route because of the difficulties caused by the trampling of elephants. He states that in the next verse.