Ram Says Providence Smiles upon Him from Every Direction
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 42
Doha 42 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata, dear as Ram's own breath, will receive the kingdom. The forest will offer sacred purpose. Ram sees Providence smiling upon him from every direction and calls refusal the height of foolishness.
Why tend a castor plant while abandoning the wish fulfilling tree, or reject nectar to beg for poison? Such an opportunity cannot be wasted.
Only Dasharatha's condition troubles him. How can so steadfast an ocean of virtue suffer over so small a matter? Ram suspects some unknown fault of his own and asks Kaikeyi, under oath, to reveal the full truth. His equanimity does not make him indifferent to the father's pain.
Kingdom for Bharata and forest for himself seem blessings to Ram; only his father's silence weighs upon him.
Read the passage from the Manas
भरत प्रानप्रिय पावहिं राजू। बिधि सब बिधि मोहि सनमुख आजु। जों न जाउँ बन ऐसेहु काजा। प्रथम गनिअ मोहि मूढ़ समाजा।। सेवहिं अरँडु कलपतरु त्यागी। परिहरि अमृत लेहिं बिषु मागी।। तेउ न पाइ अस समउ चुकाहीं। देखु बिचारि मातु मन माहीं।। अंब एक दुखु मोहि बिसेषी। निपट बिकल नरनायकु देखी।। थोरिहिं बात पितहि दुख भारी। होति प्रतीति न मोहि महतारी।। राउ धीर गुन उदधि अगाधू। भा मोहि ते कछु बड़ अपराधू।। जातें मोहि न कहत कछु राऊ। मोरि सपथ तोहि कहु सतिभाऊ।।
Bharata, dearest to my very breath, shall receive the kingdom. Today, Providence smiles upon me from every direction. If I refuse to go to the forest when such a noble cause calls, let me be counted first among the world's fools. They tend the castor plant while forsaking the Kalpataru (wish-fulfilling tree); they cast aside amrit (nectar) and beg for poison instead. Even such misguided souls would not squander an opportunity like this. Reflect on it carefully in your heart, Mother. Mother, one grief alone weighs upon me: seeing the Naranaayak (king), lord among men, so utterly shaken. That father should suffer such heavy sorrow for so small a matter; I cannot bring myself to believe it, Mahataaree (dear mother). The king is dheer (steadfast), an unfathomable ocean of virtue. Surely some grave offense has been committed by me. That is why the king speaks nothing to me. I place my oath before you; tell me the truth, O faithful one.