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At his friend Guha’s words Bharata goes to the lodgings, remembering Rama. At the Triveni he asks for one boon, love for Rama’s feet birth after birth. Before Bharadvaja his great worry is that the sage will ask him something.
In this episode the men and women of the city go to see the place, and all the people are awake through the night. The company is ferried over at dawn, and Bharata walks with the riderless horses led beside him. At Prayaga he asks that his love for the feet of Sita and Rama may grow day by day, and a soft voice from the Triveni answers him. The dwellers of Prayaga praise his love and conduct. Bharadvaja runs to raise him and speaks of Kaikeyi, of the kingdom, and of a moon of fame. Bharata tells the circle of sages what he does not grieve for and what burns his breast. The sage asks the company to be his guests, and the riddhis and siddhis make bright houses for everyone. Among the splendors the people hesitate like the restrained, and the night passes until dawn.
Those who receive the sage’s hospitality
The main figures in this episode
- Bharata Rama’s younger brother, who hears his friend’s words and goes to the lodgings. He takes care of everyone across the river and goes to Prayaga on foot. He answers his servants that a servant’s dharma is the hardest of all. He begs the Triveni for love of Rama’s feet and no other boon. He sits before Bharadvaja with his head bowed. He tells the circle of sages that his grief is for Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita in the forest. He calls his mother’s ill thinking the carpenter, the root of sin. He says that to carry out the sage’s order is their highest dharma. He sees the sage’s power, and that night the sage’s order keeps him in the hermitage.
- Bharadvaja the sage of Prayaga, who sees Bharata prostrate himself in salute and counts him his own fortune in a body. Running to him and raising him, he takes him to his breast and gives him a seat. He says that he has had all the news and that Kaikeyi is not at fault. He tells Bharata of the night Lakshmana, Rama, and Sita spent praising him. He says that Bharata, in his view, is as if Rama’s love had taken a body, and that his fame is a moon that will never set. He calls the sight of Bharata the fruit of the fruit of every practice. He consoles Bharata and asks him and the company to be his love-dear guests. He sends his servants and disciples for tubers, roots, and fruit, and orders the riddhis and siddhis to remove the company’s weariness. By the power of his tapas he makes a splendor that amazes the Creator.
- Shatrughna Bharata’s younger brother, whom Bharata calls and gives along with the mothers’ palanquins. The sage’s order to the riddhis and siddhis speaks of Bharata, with his younger brother and the company, as distraught in separation from Rama.
- Guha Bharata’s friend, whose words Bharata hears before he goes to the lodgings. Praising him, the city’s men and women blame themselves. Bharata puts the Nishadas in front, and when the army sets out he makes Guha its leader.
- The riddhis and siddhis who come when they hear the sage’s worry, and say that they will do whatever he orders. Placing his word on their heads, they count themselves greatly fortunate and call Rama’s younger brother a guest without equal. They make bright houses filled with enjoyments, lodge everyone first, each as he likes, and then Bharata with his family.
Across the river in four dandas, and Prayaga by the third watch
Hearing his friend’s words and holding patience in his heart, Bharata went to the lodgings, remembering Rama. Getting this news, the men and women of the city went, greatly distressed, to see the place. The commentary reads the news as that of the place where Rama had stayed.
Going round it, they saluted it. They gave Kaikeyi much blame. Again and again they filled their eyes with water. They blamed the contrary Creator.
Some praised Bharata’s love. Some said the king had carried his love through. Praising Guha, they blamed themselves. Who can tell the delusion and dejection?
So all the people were awake through the night. As dawn came, the ferrying began. Putting the guru on a handsome boat, they put all the mothers on new boats. In four dandas, a short span, everyone was across. Getting down, Bharata then took care of everyone.
When he had done the morning rites, bowed at the mothers’ feet, and bowed his head to the guru, he put the Nishadas in front and set the army moving. The commentary sets them in front to show the way.
Bharata made Guha the leader and set all the mothers’ palanquins moving. He called Shatrughna and gave him along with them. The guru went with the brahmins.
Bharata himself saluted the Ganga. He remembered Sita and Rama, with Lakshmana. He went on foot. The riderless horses went along beside him, led by their reins.
His good servants said again and again, “Master, mount a horse.” Bharata answered, “Rama went on foot, and for us chariots, elephants, and horses have been made. It is fitting for me to go on my head. A servant’s dharma is the hardest of all.” Seeing Bharata’s state and hearing his soft words, all the servants melted with remorse.
At the third watch of the day Bharata entered Prayaga, saying “Rama Sita, Rama Sita,” his love overflowing again and again.
Bharata’s one request at the Triveni
The blisters on his feet shone like dewdrops on a lotus bud. Bharata had come on foot that day, and at the news the whole company grieved.
He learned that all the people had bathed. Coming to the Triveni, he saluted it. He bathed with every rite in the white and the dark waters. The commentary names them the Ganga’s and the Yamuna’s. He gave gifts and honored the brahmins.
Seeing the dark and the white waves, Bharata, his body thrilling, joined his hands. “King of holy places, you grant every wish. Your power is known in the Veda and manifest in the world. I beg alms, giving up my own dharma. What wrong deed does the distressed not do? Knowing this in their hearts, the wise and good givers make a beggar’s words fruitful in the world.”
The commentary reads the dharma he gives up as a kshatriya’s, the dharma of not begging.
Bharata went on. “I have no liking for wealth, nor for dharma, nor for pleasure. Nor do I want the state of release. Love for Rama’s feet, birth after birth. This is the boon, and no other.”
“Let Rama think me crooked. Let people call me a traitor to guru and master. May my love for the feet of Sita and Rama grow day by day, by your grace.”
“Let the cloud forget the chatak all its life. Let it drop thunderbolts and stones when the chatak begs for water. If the chatak’s cry grows less, the chatak is diminished. In the growing of its love is good in every way. As luster comes to gold in the fire, so it is when the vow at the beloved’s feet is kept.”
At Bharata’s words a soft voice came from the middle of the Triveni, the giver of good blessing. “Son Bharata, you are good in every way. Your love for Rama’s feet is fathomless. You feel remorse in your mind in vain. No one is as dear to Rama as you.”
At the Triveni’s favorable words his body thrilled, and there was joy in his heart. Saying “Blessed is Bharata, blessed,” the gods, glad, rained flowers.
The sage sees Bharata’s shyness and speaks
The dwellers of Prayaga were delighted, the forest hermits, the students, the householders, and the recluses. Meeting in tens and fives, they said to one another, “Bharata’s love and conduct are pure and true.”
Hearing Rama’s handsome virtues, Bharata came to Bharadvaja, the best of sages. The sage saw him prostrate himself in salute, and counted him his own fortune in a body. Running to him and raising him, he took him to his breast. He gave a blessing and made him fulfilled.
The sage gave him a seat. Bowing his head, Bharata sat as if he wished to run and enter the house of shyness. His great worry was that the sage would ask him something, and, in the commentary’s reading, what answer he would then give.
The rishi spoke, seeing his conduct and shyness. “Hear, Bharata. We have had all the news. Nothing avails against the Creator’s doing. Do not feel remorse in your heart, thinking of your mother’s deed. Son, Kaikeyi is not at fault. Sarasvati went and turned her wit.”
“No one will call even this a good thing to say. The world and the Veda are both approved by the wise. Son, by singing your spotless fame the world and the Veda will both gain greatness.”
“The world and the Veda agree, and everyone says it. He to whom the father gives the kingdom gets it. The king was true to his vow. Had he called you and given you the kingdom, there would have been happiness, dharma, and greatness.”
“Rama’s going to the forest is the root of the evil. Hearing of it, the whole world felt pain. That too was under fate. The unwise queen, under fate, made her ill move and repented at the end.”
“Whoever says you had a small offense even in that is base, unwise, and unholy. Had you ruled, no fault would have been yours. Rama, hearing of it, would have been content. Now, Bharata, you have done very well. This view is fitting for you. Love for Rama’s feet is the root of every good blessing in the world.”
Rama’s love, and a moon that never wanes
The sage went on. “That love is your wealth, your life, and your breath. Who is as greatly fortunate as you? This is no wonder in you, son. You are Dasharatha’s son and Rama’s dear brother.”
“Hear, Bharata. In Rama’s mind no one is such a vessel of love as you. Lakshmana, Rama, and Sita, with great love, spent the whole night praising you. I learned the secret when they bathed at Prayaga. They were absorbed in love for you.”
“Such is Rama’s love for you, as a dull man’s love for a happy life in the world. This is no great praise of Rama. Rama cherishes the family of those who bow to him. You, Bharata, in my view, are as if Rama’s love had taken a body.”
“For you, Bharata, this is a stain. For all of us it is a teaching. This hour has become Ganesha for the attainment of the savor of bhakti to Rama.” The commentary reads the name as a sign of great auspiciousness.
The sage went on. “Son, your fame is a new spotless moon. Rama’s servants are its lilies and its chakoras. Ever risen, it will never set. It will not wane in the sky of the world. Day by day it doubles.” The commentary sets the common moon beside it, which sets and wanes each day and so grieves the lily and the chakora.
The sage went on. “The three worlds, a chakravaka, will love it greatly. The sun of Rama’s glory will not steal its beauty. Night and day it always gives happiness to everyone. The Rahu of Kaikeyi’s deed will not swallow it. It is full of the nectar of Rama’s fair love. The fault of insulting the guru does not taint it. Now let Rama’s devotees sate themselves on the nectar. You have made nectar easy to come by on earth too.”
The fruit of the sight, and the fruit of that fruit
The sage went on. “King Bhagiratha brought the Ganga, whose remembrance is a mine of every good blessing. Dasharatha’s virtues cannot be told. What more is there to say? No one in the world is his equal. In the power of his love and hesitation Rama came and appeared, Rama whom Shiva never saw to his fill with the eyes of his heart.”
“You have made a matchless moon of fame, and in it Rama’s love dwells in the form of the deer. Son, you feel remorse in your heart in vain. You have found the philosopher’s stone, and you fear poverty.”
“Hear, Bharata, we do not speak falsely. We are indifferent, we are ascetics, and we live in the forest. The handsome good fruit of every practice is the sight of Lakshmana, Rama, and Sita, and we have gained it. The fruit of that fruit is the sight of you. With Prayaga, our fortune is great. Bharata, you are blessed. You have conquered the world with your fame.” Saying so, the sage was absorbed in love.
The commentary reads the three as grounds for his truth: the indifferent take no side, ascetics say nothing to please, and forest dwellers want nothing from anyone.
Hearing the sage’s words, the assembly rejoiced. Praising with “well done, well done,” the gods rained flowers. In the sky and at Prayaga there was a sound of “blessed, blessed.” Hearing it again and again, Bharata was absorbed in love.
His body thrilled, and Rama and Sita were in his heart. His eyes were full of water. Saluting the circle of sages, he spoke in a choked voice.
The true place of Bharata’s grief
Bharata said, “Here is the assembly of sages, and here is the king of holy places. Here even a true oath brings full harm. If anything made up is said in this place, no sin and no baseness is greater than that.”
“You are all-knowing, and I speak in true feeling. Rama knows the heart within. I have no worry about my mother’s deed. Nor is there grief in the heart that the world will think me base. I have no fear that my next world will be spoiled. I have no sorrow at my father’s death. His good merit and fair fame fill the worlds handsomely. He got sons like Lakshmana and Rama.”
“For the king, who gave up his momentary body in separation from Rama, what occasion is there to grieve? Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita, with no shoes on their feet, wearing the dress of sages, wander from forest to forest. Skins are their clothing and fruit their food. They sleep on the ground spread with kusha and leaves. Dwelling under trees, they always bear cold, heat, rain, and wind.”
“With the burning of this grief my breast burns day by day. There is no hunger by day and no sleep by night. There is no medicine for this ill sickness. I have searched the whole world in my mind.”
“My mother’s ill thinking is the carpenter, the root of sin. He made our good the adze. Of the ill wood of strife he made an ill engine. He buried it, reading the hard ill spell of the term. For my sake that carpenter set up this ill array. He ruined the whole world and broke it to pieces. This ill conjunction ends when Rama returns. By no other means is Ayodhya settled.”
The commentary maps the figure. In its reading the mother’s ill thinking is the carpenter, and the kingdom for Bharata is the adze. Rama’s exile, it adds, is the ill engine, and the term of fourteen years the ill spell.
The embarrassment of becoming a love-dear guest
Hearing Bharata’s words, the sage found happiness. Everyone praised him in many ways. The sage said, “Son, do not worry so much. All grief will end at the sight of Rama’s feet.”
Having consoled him, the best of sages said, “Be our love-dear guests. We give tubers, roots, fruit, and flowers. Take them, with kindness.”
At the sage’s words there was worry in Bharata’s heart. A hard embarrassment had come on an ill occasion. Knowing a guru’s word to be weighty and bowing again at the sage’s feet, he spoke with joined hands. “To place your order on our heads and carry it out is our highest dharma, master.”
Bharata’s words pleased the mind of the best of sages. The sage called his pure servants and disciples to his side. “Bharata’s hospitality must be done. Go and bring tubers, roots, and fruit.” Saying “Very well, master,” they bowed their heads. Delighted, they went each to his own task.
The sage was worried that a great guest had been invited, and that the worship must be such as the god is. Hearing it, the riddhis and siddhis came, the powers of plenty and of attainment, with anima, the power of growing small, among them. “Master, whatever your order is, that we will do.”
“Bharata, with his younger brother and the company, is distraught in separation from Rama. Do their hospitality and remove their weariness.” So said the king of sages, glad.
Lodgings for everyone first
Placing the sage’s word on their heads, the riddhis and siddhis counted themselves greatly fortunate. The host of siddhis said to one another, “Rama’s younger brother is a guest without equal. Bowing at the sage’s feet, one should do today that by which the whole royal company is happy.”
Saying so, they made many bright houses. At the sight of them the vimanas, the chariots of the sky, were downcast. They filled the houses with many enjoyments and splendors, at the sight of which the immortals longed. Maids and servants, holding every provision, kept watch with their minds given to the guests’ minds. The commentary reads it as service to each one’s liking.
In a moment the siddhis made ready the whole array, joys that heaven does not have even in dreams. First they gave lodgings to everyone, beautiful and happy, each as he liked. Then they lodged Bharata with his family. Such was the order the rishi had given. The commentary adds that Bharata wished his companions settled first, and that the sage, knowing his mind, had ordered it so.
By the power of his tapas the best of sages made a splendor that amazed the Creator. When Bharata saw the sage’s power, the worlds of the guardians of the worlds all seemed small. The commentary names the four, Indra, Varuna, Yama, and Kubera. The array of happiness cannot be told. At its sight the wise forget dispassion.
The splendors, and the night until dawn
Seats, beds, fine clothes, and canopies. Woods and gardens, and birds and beasts of many kinds. Fragrant flowers, and fruit like nectar. Pure pools of many designs, which the commentary names ponds, wells, and stepwells.
Food and drink, pure, nectar beyond nectar. Seeing them, the people hesitated like the restrained. Everyone had the gods’ cow and the gods’ tree, at the sight of which Indra and Shachi longed. The commentary reads both as givers of whatever is wished.
It was spring, and the threefold breeze blew. The four aims were easy for everyone. The commentary names them dharma, wealth, pleasure, and liberation.
Seeing the enjoyments, garlands, sandal, women, and the rest, the people were in the power of joy and dismay. The commentary gives the joy to the enjoyments and the sage’s tapas, and the dismay to their fear that, keeping vows in Rama’s absence, they had been caught among pleasures.
Wealth was the chakravaki, Bharata the chakravaka, and the sage’s order the player. That night it kept them in the cage of the hermitage, and it dawned. The commentary reads the player as a fowler. A chakravaka and a chakravaki shut in one cage, it says, do not meet at night. In its reading Bharata, kept among the enjoyments all night, did not touch them even in his mind.
The course of the episode
After Guha’s words Bharata went to the lodgings, and the city’s men and women went round the place, saluted, and blamed Kaikeyi and the Creator. All night the people were awake. At dawn the guru and the mothers were ferried over, and Bharata saw to everyone on the far bank. He made Guha the leader, gave Shatrughna to go with the palanquins, and went on foot. To his servants’ pleas he answered that a servant’s dharma is hardest. He reached Prayaga at the third watch. When all had bathed, he bathed in the Triveni and begged it for love of Rama’s feet. A voice from the water answered him, and the gods rained flowers.
The dwellers of Prayaga spoke of his love among themselves. Bharadvaja raised him from his prostration and took him to his breast. Seeing his conduct and shyness, the sage told him that Kaikeyi was not at fault and that ruling would have brought him no fault. He spoke of the night the three had spent praising Bharata, and of Bharata’s fame. Bharata saluted the circle of sages and named what burned his breast, the hardship of the three in the forest. He said it would end when Rama returned. The sage consoled him and asked the company to be his guests. Bharata said that to carry out his order was their highest dharma. The riddhis and siddhis lodged everyone, and then Bharata with his family. That night the sage’s order kept Bharata in the hermitage, and it dawned.
The same story, elsewhere: Valmiki’s Ramayana, chapter 10: The Coming of Bharata, and the Sandals.
Source: the Gita Press edition of Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, Ayodhyakand, doha 202 to 215, read with Hanuman Prasad Poddar’s Hindi commentary.