Dasharatha Calls Bharata and Ram His Two Eyes
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 31
Doha 31 · Movement 1 of 2
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Kaikeyi seems like wrath with a sword drawn. Manthara's counsel forms the hilt, cruelty the blade, and the maid's whetstone has sharpened every edge. Dasharatha wonders whether this form will truly take his life.
Still he speaks humbly. Why destroy trust, faith, and love together? Bharata and Ram are his two eyes, he says with Shiva as witness.
At dawn he will summon Bharata and arrange his coronation with full ceremony. Dasharatha does not defend one son against another because no rivalry exists within him. He offers the kingdom freely to save Ram from exile, trying to restore two eyes to the one face of the family.
Dasharatha offers Bharata the crown because his heart has never seen the brothers as anything but two eyes.
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आगें दीखि जरत रिस भारी। मनहुँ रोष तरवारि उघारी।। मूठि कुबुद्धि धार निठुराई। धरी कूबरीं सान बनाई।। लखी महीप कराल कठोरा। सत्य कि जीवनु लेइहि मोरा।। बोले राउ कठिन करि छाती। बानी सबिनय तासु सोहाती।। प्रिया बचन कस कहसि कुभाँती। भीर प्रतीति प्रीति करि हाँती।। मोरें भरतु रामु दुइ आँखी। सत्य कहउँ करि संकरू साखी।। अवसि दूतु मैं पठइब प्राता। ऐहहिं बेगि सुनत दोउ भ्राता।। सुदिन सोधि सबु साजु सजाई। देउँ भरत कहुँ राजु बजाई।।
Before him he saw her blazing with terrible fury, as though wrath itself had unsheathed its sword. Evil counsel was the hilt, cruelty was the blade's edge, and the hunchback Manthara had sharpened it on her whetstone. The king perceived her fearsome and merciless form, and thought: "Will she truly take my life?" The king spoke with a hardened heart, yet his words were humble and pleasing to her. "Beloved, why do you speak such ill words, destroying trust, faith, and love all at once? Bharat and Rama are my two eyes. I speak the truth with Shankara as my witness. I will surely send a messenger at dawn. Both brothers will come swiftly upon hearing the summons. Choosing an auspicious day and making every preparation, I will ceremonially bestow the kingdom upon Bharat."