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Everyone in Bharata’s company is slack with love for Rama, and by sundown they go two kos and halt for the night where there is water and ground. At night’s end Bharata, who loves Rama, goes on. Lakshmana binds his matted hair, girds on his quiver, and swears by Rama that if Shiva comes to help Bharata and his army, he will kill them in battle. Rama answers with Bharata’s nature, and swears by Lakshmana and by their father that Bharata has no equal as a pure and good brother. As he goes toward the hermitage, Bharata fears that Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita may hear his name and go elsewhere.
In this episode Sita’s dream shows Bharata come with his company, and the mothers-in-law in another likeness. Rama sits looking north, and the Kiratas and Kols bring the news. One comes and says that a fourfold army is with Bharata. Lakshmana says that the two brothers have gathered an army and come for a kingdom free of thorns, and he asks which king royal pride has not stained. A voice in the sky praises his strength. Seeing Rama’s love for Bharata, the gods praise him. Bharata bathes in the Mandakini and goes on with Guha and Shatrughna, his feet quickening at the thought of Rama’s nature. Guha ponders the good omens. With Rama living there, the forest is a kingdom under King Discernment, and the beasts graze together, leaving enmity. At the sight of Rama’s hill love rises in Bharata’s heart.
Rama in the hermitage, Bharata on the road
The main figures in this episode
- Rama who wakes while night remains and hears Sita’s dream, and whose eyes fill. He tells Lakshmana that the dream is not good. He bathes, worships Shiva, and sits looking north, and he rises at the dust in the sky and the birds and beasts fleeing to the hermitage. At the fine words of blessing delight comes to his mind, and at the news of the army he worries. He finds comfort in knowing Bharata good, clever, and within his word. With Sita he honors Lakshmana, and he answers that royal pride will not come to Bharata. He swears an oath by Lakshmana and by their father. Telling Bharata’s virtues, he is absorbed in the ocean of love.
- Sita who has seen a dream in which Bharata comes with his company, his body burnt by the heat of parting from Rama. In the dream everyone is gloomy in mind, and the mothers-in-law are in another likeness. Rama hears it, and his eyes fill with water. With Rama she honors Lakshmana after the voice in the sky. At the gods’ voice she gains great happiness with Rama and Lakshmana. Bharata sets out for where she and Rama are.
- Lakshmana Rama’s younger brother, who sees the trouble in Rama’s heart and speaks policy as fits the hour. He says that Bharata, gaining Rama’s place, has come with an ill plan and an army to make the kingdom free of thorns. He asks whom royal pride has not stained among Sahasrabahu, Indra, and Trishanku. He asks for the order, binds his matted hair, girds his quiver, and takes bow and arrow. His oath by Rama is to kill them in battle even if Shiva comes to their help. At the voice in the sky he is embarrassed, and Rama and Sita honor him.
- Bharata Rama’s younger brother, who goes on at night’s end and bathes in the Mandakini with everyone. Asking the bidding of the mother, the guru, and the minister, he sets out with Guha and Shatrughna for where Sita and Rama are. Thinking of Kaikeyi’s deed, he is embarrassed, making ten million ill reasonings in his mind. He thinks that whether they leave him or honor him, his refuge is Rama’s sandals. His limbs are slack with shyness and love, and his feet quicken whenever he thinks of Rama’s nature. He knows Guha’s words true and comes near the hermitage. Gazing at the beauty of Rama’s hill, he feels great love in his heart.
- Shatrughna Bharata’s younger brother, who goes with Bharata and Guha toward the hermitage. Lakshmana charges that both brothers have come with an army.
- Guha the Nishada king and Rama’s friend, who goes with Bharata and Shatrughna toward the hermitage. Seeing Bharata’s worry and love, he becomes bodiless. Hearing and pondering the good omens, he says that worry will end, gladness will come, and dejection will follow in the end. Bharata knows all his words to be true.
A dream in the night, and dust in the north
Everyone in the company was slack with love for Rama. By the time the sun went down they had gone two kos. Seeing water and ground, they halted for the night. The commentary adds that they went without food or drink. When the night was over, Bharata, who loved Rama, went on.
There, while night remained, Rama woke. Sita had seen a dream. In the dream it was as if Bharata had come with his company, his body burnt by the heat of parting from Rama. Everyone was gloomy in mind, wretched, and grieving. She had seen the mothers-in-law in another likeness.
As Rama heard Sita’s dream, his eyes filled with water. The remover of worry came under the power of worry. In the commentary’s reading he did so in play. Rama said, “Lakshmana, this dream is not good. Someone will tell hard ill news.”
Saying this, he bathed with his brother. Worshiping Shiva, he honored the sadhus. Honoring the gods and bowing to the sages, he sat and looked toward the north. There was dust in the sky. Many birds and beasts came fleeing, distraught, to the hermitage. Rama rose at the sight, and his thought stayed amazed at what the cause might be. At that moment the Kiratas and Kols came and told all the news. The commentary gives the line of his rising to Tulsi.
At the fine words of blessing, delight came to his mind, and thrilling filled his body. His autumn-lotus eyes filled with the water of love. The commentary gives this line to Tulsi as well.
News of an army, and Lakshmana begins to speak
Again Rama came under the power of worry over what the cause of Bharata’s coming might be. After that, one came and said that a fourfold army was with him, and no small one. Hearing it, Rama felt great worry. Here was his father’s word, and here his brother’s shyness. Thinking of Bharata’s nature in his mind, Rama found no place for his thought to rest.
Comfort came then, with the knowing that Bharata was good, clever, and within Rama’s word. Lakshmana saw the trouble in Rama’s heart. He spoke his thought on policy, as fit the hour.
“Without being asked, I say something, master. At the right time a servant is not bold for his boldness. You are the crest-jewel of the all-knowing, master. I speak my own understanding, as your follower.”
“Master, you are a friend, very simple of heart, a treasure of conduct and love. You have love and trust for all, and in your heart you know all as yourself.”
“Men of the senses, gaining lordship, fools in the power of delusion, show what they are. Bharata is devoted to policy, good, and wise. The whole world knows his love for your feet.”
Lakshmana’s charges, and the stain of royal pride
Lakshmana went on. “Even he, today, gaining Rama’s place, has set out, wiping out the bounds of dharma. The crooked, bad brother has watched for an ill occasion, knowing Rama alone in his forest dwelling. Making an ill plan in his mind and gathering a company, he has come to make the kingdom free of thorns. Contriving crookedness in ten million ways, the two brothers have come, gathering an army.”
“If there were no deceit and ill moves in the heart, whom would chariots, horses, and rows of elephants please? Who would blame Bharata for nothing? Gaining the king’s place, the world goes mad.”
“The moon went to his guru’s wife. Nahusha rode on a vehicle of brahmins. Vena turned away from the world and the Veda. No one is as base as Vena. Sahasrabahu, Indra, Trishanku. To whom has royal pride not given a stain? Bharata has taken this fitting means. An enemy and a debt are never to be left in the slightest.”
“One thing Bharata did not do well. He scorned Rama, knowing him without help. Today he will understand that too, and sharply, seeing Rama’s angry face in battle.”
Saying this much, he forgot the savor of policy. The tree of the savor of battle flowered, with thrilling for its pretext.
The bow in hand, then a voice in the sky
Bowing at Rama’s feet and placing their dust on his head, Lakshmana spoke, telling his true and natural strength. “Do not, master, take my words as improper. Bharata has provoked us not a little. How long is one to bear it and stay with the mind held down, with the master beside us and the bow in our hand? A kshatriya by birth, born in Raghu’s line, and Rama’s follower, as the world knows. Even struck with a kick, the dust rises to the head. Who is as low as the dust?”
Rising and joining his hands, he asked for the order. It was as if the savor of heroism had woken from sleep. He bound his matted hair on his head and girded the quiver at his waist. He readied the bow and took an arrow in his hand.
“Today let me take the fame of Rama’s servant and teach Bharata a lesson in battle. Reaping the fruit of disrespect to Rama, let the two brothers sleep on the bed of battle. It is well that the whole company has come together. Today I will make my old anger plain. A lion crushes a herd of elephants, and a hawk takes a quail in its grip. In the same way, scorning Bharata, I will throw him down in the field with his army and his younger brother. If Shiva comes to help them, then I will kill them in battle. I swear by Rama.”
Seeing Lakshmana flaring in great anger, and hearing his oath, sure as proof, all the people were afraid. The guardians of the worlds wanted to run away in panic. The world was absorbed in fear. A voice came in the sky, praising Lakshmana’s vast strength of arm. “Son, who can tell your majesty and power, and who can know it? Whatever work there be, unfit or fit, let it be done after understanding. Everyone calls that good. Those who, acting in haste, repent afterward, the Vedas and the wise say, are not wise.”
Rama’s oath, and his trust in Bharata
Hearing the gods’ words, Lakshmana was embarrassed. Rama and Sita honored him with respect. Rama said, “Dear one, you have spoken pleasing policy. Royal pride is the hardest of all, brother. Those kings who have not served the assembly of sadhus become drunk the moment they sip it. Hear, Lakshmana. One as good as Bharata has not been heard of or seen in the Creator’s display of the world.”
“Royal pride will not come to Bharata, though he gain the place of the Creator, the Lord, and Shiva. Can drops of sour gruel ever spoil the ocean of milk?” The commentary names the three as Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahadeva. It adds that beside those the kingdom of Ayodhya is nothing to speak of.
Rama went on. “Darkness may swallow the young sun. The sky may be absorbed into the clouds and merge with them. The pot-born sage may drown in the water of a cow’s hoofprint. The earth may give up her natural forbearance. A mosquito’s breath may blow Meru away. Royal pride will not come to Bharata, brother. Lakshmana, I swear by you and by father. There is no pure and good brother like Bharata.” The commentary names the pot-born sage as Agastya.
Rama went on. “Virtue is milk and defect is water, dear one. The Creator mixes them and makes the world’s display. Bharata, born a swan in the lake of the Sun’s line, made a parting of virtue and fault. Taking the milk of virtue and leaving the water of defect, he lit the world with his fame.” Telling Bharata’s virtues, conduct, and nature, Rama was absorbed in the ocean of love.
The gods’ praise, and Bharata’s ill reasonings
Hearing Rama’s voice and seeing his love for Bharata, all the gods praised him. “Who is such a lord as Rama, a home of mercy? If Bharata had not been born in the world, who would bear the yoke of all dharma on the earth? The tale of Bharata’s virtues is out of reach of the race of poets. Who knows it but you, Rama?”
Hearing the gods’ voice, Lakshmana, Rama, and Sita gained a great happiness that cannot be told. Here Bharata, with everyone, bathed in the holy Mandakini.
Keeping all the people near the river, and asking the bidding of the mother, the guru, and the minister, Bharata set out for where Sita and Rama were. Guha and Shatrughna set out with him.
Thinking of Kaikeyi’s deed, he was embarrassed, making ten million ill reasonings in his mind. “May it not be that Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita, hearing my name, rise and go elsewhere, leaving the place. Whatever they do, counting me in my mother’s counsel, is little. Forgiving my sins and defects, they will honor me, thinking of their own side.” The commentary reads their own side as their renown and their bond with him.
Bharata’s refuge, whatever they do
Bharata went on in his mind. “Whether they leave me, knowing my mind soiled, or honor me, counting me a servant, my refuge is Rama’s sandals. Rama is a good master. The fault is all the servant’s. The vessels of fame in the world are the chatak and the fish, skilled in keeping their vow and their love ever new.”
Pondering so in his mind, he went along the road, every limb slack with shyness and love. It was as if the wrong Kaikeyi had done were turning him back. Bearing the yoke of patience, he went on by the strength of bhakti. Whenever he thought of Rama’s nature, his feet fell quickly on the road.
What was Bharata’s state at that moment? It was like the motion of a water-bee in a stream of water. Seeing Bharata’s worry and love, Guha at that time became bodiless. In the commentary’s reading he lost all sense of his body.
Good omens began to come. Hearing and pondering them, Guha said, “The worry will end, and gladness will come, and after it, in the end, dejection.” Bharata knew all his servant’s words to be true, and going on, he came near the hermitage. He saw the company of forest and hills. He was glad, as if a hungry man had found good food.
The kingdom of Discernment and its warriors
It was as if a people grieved by fear of calamity, afflicted by the three pains, cruel planets, and plague, going to a good kingdom and land, became happy. Bharata’s state was of that likeness. The commentary counts six calamities that hinder the fields, and names the three pains as those of the self, of the gods, and of the elements.
With Rama living there, the wealth of the forest shone. It was as if a people were happy, having found a good king. Dispassion was the minister and Discernment the king. The handsome forest was the holy land.
The restraints and observances were the warriors, and the hill was the capital. Peace and Good Sense were the two pure and beautiful queens. That fine king was complete in every limb. His thought, resting at Rama’s feet, was eager. The commentary lists five restraints and five observances, and the seven limbs of a kingdom.
Having beaten King Delusion and his army, King Discernment ruled a kingdom free of thorns. In his city were happiness, wealth, and good times.
Beasts that leave enmity and graze together
In the provinces of the forest the sages had many places to live. It was as if these were its cities, towns, villages, and hamlets. Many wondrous birds and beasts of many kinds were the company of its people, which cannot be told.
Seeing rhinoceros, elephants, lions, tigers, boars, buffalo, and bulls, one praised the king’s array. Leaving enmity, they grazed together, here and there, as if they were a fourfold army.
Waterfalls fell and rutting elephants trumpeted, as if kettledrums of many kinds were sounding. Flocks of chakravakas, chakoras, chataks, parrots, and cuckoos, and pleasing swans cooed with glad minds. Swarms of bees sang and peacocks danced, as if there were blessing on every side in the good kingdom. Creepers, trees, and grass were all in fruit and flower. The whole company was the root of joy and blessing.
Gazing at the beauty of Rama’s hill, Bharata felt great love in his heart. He was happy as an ascetic who gains the fruit of his tapas when his vow is finished.
The course of the episode
Bharata’s company halted for the night after two kos, and at night’s end Bharata went on. Rama woke while night remained and heard Sita’s dream, and he told Lakshmana that it was not good. After bathing and worship he sat looking north and saw dust in the sky. The Kiratas and Kols brought him the news, and at the good words delight came to him. When one came and told of the fourfold army, Rama worried, and then comfort came to him.
Seeing Rama’s trouble, Lakshmana spoke policy. He charged Bharata with an ill plan and asked whom royal pride had not stained. He told his strength at Rama’s feet, asked for the order, armed himself, and swore by Rama. All the people were afraid, and a voice in the sky praised his strength. Lakshmana was embarrassed, and Rama and Sita honored him. Rama said that royal pride would not come to Bharata, and he swore by Lakshmana and by their father. The gods praised Rama.
Bharata bathed in the Mandakini and went on with Guha and Shatrughna. Embarrassed at Kaikeyi’s deed, he made ill reasonings and thought Rama’s sandals his refuge. At his worry and love Guha became bodiless, and he pondered the omens. Bharata came near the hermitage and saw the forest and hills. The forest’s wealth shone with Rama living there. The beasts grazed together, the birds cooed, and the bees sang. Bharata gazed at Rama’s hill, and great love came into his heart.
The same story, elsewhere: Valmiki’s Ramayana, chapter 10, part 2: Bharata meets Rama at Chitrakuta.
Source: the Gita Press edition of Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, Ayodhyakand, sortha 226 to doha 236, read with Hanuman Prasad Poddar’s Hindi commentary.