Doha - 291
"O king! you are a storehouse of wisdom, clever, pious and staunch in unholding the cause of virtue. Who save you is able at the present moment to find a way out of this impasse?"
Chaupala
Janaka was overwhelmed with emotion on hearing the sage's words. His wisdom and dispassion themselves shrunk away from him when they saw his condition. Faint with love he reasoned to himself, " I have not done well in coming over to this place, King Dasaratha no doubt told Sri Rama to proceed to the woods; but at the same time he demonstrated the love he bore towards his beloved son. As for ourselves we shall now send him from this forest to another and return in triumph glorying over our wisdom!" Seeing and hearing all this the ascetics, hermits and the Brahmanas were overwhelmed with emotion Realizing the situation, the king took heart and proceeded with his followers to see Bharata; while the latter came ahead to receive him and gave him the best seat available in the circumstanes. "Dear Bharata, " said the king of Tirhut, "you know the disposition of Sri Rama (the Hero of Raghu's line)
Doha - 292
"Sri Rama is true to his vow adn devoted to his duty; he respects the feelings and affection of all. It is no account of this consideration for others's feelings that he has to suffer mental torture. Now give me your final word, so that the same may be communicated to him."
Chaupala
When Bharata heard these words, a thrill ran through his body and his eyes filled with tears. Imposing a great restraint upon himself he said, " My lord, you are dear and worthy of respect to me as my own father; and as regards my family preceptor (the sage Vasistah) my own parents are not so benevolent to me as he. Here is an assmbly of sages like Kausika (Visvamitra) as well as of ministers; and today you too, an ocean of wisdom, are present in our midst. Know me to be a mere child and an obedient servant and instruct me accordingly, my master. To think that you should seek my advice in this assembly (of wise men) and at this holy place ! Yet if I keep mum I shall be considered black of heart; and if I speak on this occasion it will be sheer madness on my part. Nevertheless I have the impudence to say some thing. Therefore. pray forgive me, knowing that Providence is against me. it is fully recognized in the Tantras. Vedas and Puranas and all the world knows. that the duty of a servant is hard indeed. Duty to a master incomplatible with selfishness. Hatred in blind and love is not discreet.
Doha - 293
"Therefore, knowing me to be a dependant, and with due deference to Sri Rama's wishes and consistent with his duty and sacred vow, pray do that which all approve and is good for all, recognizing the affection. everyone bears for him."
Chaupala
On hearing Bharata's words and obseving his disposition King Janaka and his followers applauded him Easily intelligible yet incomprehernsible, soft and sweet yet hard, pregnant with a vast meaning though too concise, his mysterious speech was as baffling as the reflection of one's face seen in a mirror, which cannot be grasped even though the mirror be held in one's own hand. King Janaka, Bharata, teh sage (Vasistha) and the whole assembly called on Sri Rama, who delights the gods even as the moon brings joy to the lilies. On hearing this news all the people were overwhelmed with anxiety even as fish on coming in contact with the water of the first shower (of the monsoon). The gods first observed the condition of the family preceptor (the sage Vasistha) and next watched the great affection of King Videha. And then they beheld Bharata. the very incarnation of devotion to Sri Rama. Seeing all this the selfish gods felt unnerved and lost heart. When they saw everyone full of love for Sri Rama, the gods were immensely perturbed.
Doha - 294
"Sri Rama, is full of love and consideration for others' feelings." Indra (the lord of celestials) sorrowfully said. "Therefore combine to contrive some underhand plot all of you, or else we are doomed."
Chaupala
The gods invoked goddess Sarada and praised her. They said, "O goddess, we celestials have sought refuge in you; pray protect us. Change Bharata's mind by exerting your Maya (deluding potency) and preserve the heavenly race from ruin by taking them under the cool shade of some deceptive trick. "When the wise goddess heard the gods' prayer, she understood that selfishness had robbed them of their sense, and accordingly replied (turning towards Indra in particular), "You ask me to alter Bharata's mind! It is a pity you cannot see Mount Meru even though you possers a thousand eyes. The Maya (deluding potency) even of Brahma (the Creator), Hari (the Preserver) and Hara (the Destroyer of the universe), exceedingly powerful as it is, cannot even face Bharata's reason. And yet you ask me to pervert it. What! Can the moonlight stal sway the sun? Bharata's heart is the abode of Sita and Sri Rama; can darkness enter where the sun shines?" So saying goddess Sarada returned to Brahma's heaven, leaving the gods as distressed as the Cakravaka bird at night.
Doha - 295
The gods, who were selfish by nature and malcious at heart, laid an illconceived plot and weaving a powerful net of deceptive artifice set up a wave of fear, confusion, ennui and vexation (among the people of Ayodhya).
Chaupala
Having started the mischief the lord of celestials thought within himself that the success and failure of his plans lay in Bharata's hands. (Now reverting to Citrakuta) when King Janaka went to the Lord of Raghus, the Glory of the solar race received them all with honour. The priest of Raghu's line then spoke words which were appropriate to the occasion as well as to the assembly in which he spoke and consistent with reighteousness. He reproduced the conversation that had taken place between King Janaka and Bharata and also repeated the charming speech of Bharata. " Dear Rama," he said, "whatever order you give all should obey: this is my proposal. " Hearing this the Lord of Raghus, with joined palms and in gentle accents, spoke words which were true and guileless: "In the presence of yourself and the lord of Mithila it will be altogether unseemly on my part to say anything. whatever order may be given by you and by the king of Mithila, everyone, I swear by yourself, will positively bow to it."
Doha - 296
On hearing Sri Rama's oathe the sage Vasistha and King Janaka as well the whole assembly were embarrassed. All fixed their eyes on Bharata, as no one could make any answer.
Chaupala
The demon Hiranyaksa in the form of grief had carried away the globe in the shape of the assembly's wit, which was the source of the entire creation in the form of a host of virtues, when the gigantic boar of Bharta's discretion playfully defully delivered the same in no time. Bharata bowed his head and joined his palms before all and thus prayed to Sri Rama, King Janaka, his preceptor (the sage Vasista) and other holy men present there, " With my juvenile lips I am going to make a harsh statement. Kindly forgive today this most unbecoming act of mine. "He now invoked in his heart the charming goddess Sarada who came from the Manasarovara lake of his mind to his lotus-like mouth. Bharata's speech, which was full of pure wisdom, piety and prudentce, resembled a lovely cygnet (in that it possessed the virtue of sifting goodness from evil).
Doha - 297
Bharata saw with the eyes of his wisdom that the assembly was faint with love, He, therefore, made obeisance to all and, invoking Sita and the Lord of Raghus, spoke as follows:-
Chaupala
"O Lord, you are my father, mother, friend, preceptor, the object of my adoration my greatest benefactor and my inner controller. Nay, you are a guileless and kind patron, the storehouse of amiability, the protector of the suppliant, all-knowing, clever, all-powerful, the befriender of those who take refuge in you, quick to appreciate merit and drive away vice and sin. You are the only master like you,my lord; while I am unique disloyalty to my master. Setting at naught in my folly the commands of my lord (your-self) and my father I came here with multitude of men and women. In this world there are good men and vile, high and low, nectar and immortality, on the one hand, and venom and death on the other. But nowhere have I seen or heard anyone who dare violate Sri Rama's (your) orders even in thought. Yet that is what I have presumed to do not only in thought but even in word and deed any my lord taken this presumption on my part as a taken affection and an act of service.
Doha - 298
"By his grace and goodness my lord has done me a good turn; my failings have became my adornments and my fair and bright renown has spread on all sides."
Chaupala
"Your ways, your noble disposition and your greatness known throughout the world and have been glorified in the Vedas and other sacred books. Even the cruel, the pervers, the vile, the evil-minded and the censured, nay, the low-minded, the impudent the godless and the unscrupulous are known to have been accepted by you as your own as soon as you heard that they had approached you for shelter and if they merely bowed to you only once. You have never taken their faults to heart even if you saw them with your own eyes; while you have proclaimed their virtues in the assembly of holy men if you but heard of them. Where is the master, so kind to his sevant, who would provide him with all his necessaries himself and, far from reckoning even in a dream what he has done for his servant would feel troubled at heart over any embarrassment caused to him? He is my lord (yourself) and no other: with uplifter arms I declare this on oath. A beast would dance and a parrot may attain proficiency in repeating what it is taught; but the proficiency of the bird and the rhythmic movements of the beast depend on the teacher and the dancing-master."
Doha - 299
"Thus by reforming your servants and treating them with honour you have made them the crest-jewels of holy men. Is there save the All-merciful (yourself) who will rigidly maintain his high reputation (as a kind and generous master)?"
Chaupala
"Through grief, affection or mere childishness I came here in defiance of your commands; yet, true to his own dispositon, my gracious lord (yoursefl) has taken my insolence in good part in every way. I have seen your most blessed feet and come to know that my master (yourself) is naturally propitious to me. In this august assembly I have seen my good fortune in that I continue to enjoy my master's affection in spite of great remissness on my part. My all-gracious lord(yourself) has been extremely kind and compassionate to me in every way: all this is more than I have ever deserved. By virtue of his own amiability, noble dispositon and goodness my lord (yourself) has ever been indulgent to me. Giving up all consideration for the feelings of my master and this assembly I have presumed too much by speaking politely or impolitely even as it pleased me; but perceiving my great distress I am sure my lord will pardon me.'
Doha - 300
"It is a great mistake to say too much to a loving, intelligent and good master. Therefore, be pleased, my lord, to give your command; for you have accomplished all my objects.
Chaupala
"Swearing by the dust of my lord's lotus feet, which is the glorious consummation of truth, virtue and happiness, I proclaim the desire which I have cherished in my heart at all time, whether waking, dreaming or fast asleep. It is to server my master with guileless and spontaneous affection forgetting my own interests and neglecting the four ends of human existence. And the greatest service to a noble master is to obey his orders. Let your servant, my lord, obtain this favour (in the form of an body and tears rushed to his eyes. In great distress he clasped the Lord's lotus feet; the excitement of the moment and the intenisity of affection cannot be described in words. The Ocean of Compassion honoured him with kind words and taking him by the hand seated him by His side. The whole assembly including the Lord of Raghus Himself was overpowered by love after hearing Bharata's entreaty and seeing his disposition.
Ch
The Lord of Raghus, the congregation of holy men, the sage Vasistha and the lord of Mithila, all were faint with love and admired in their the surpassing glory of Bharata's brotherly afection and devotion. The gods acclaimed Bharata and rained down flowers on him though with a doleful heart. Hearing of this, says, Tulasidas, everyone felt distrssed and uncomfortable even as lotuses get withered at the apprach of night.