Bharadvaja Asks Only for Natural Love
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 107
Doha 108क · Movement 1 of 2
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The sage asks after the travellers, gives them seats, and honors them with undivided love. Roots, tubers, fruits, and tender shoots arrive from the hermitage. Offered with affection, the forest meal tastes like nectar, and Ram eats gladly with Sita, Lakshmana, Guha, and the others.
When weariness has left them, Bharadvaja speaks. This sight of Ram has fulfilled his penance, pilgrimage, renunciation, repetition, yoga, dispassion, and every sacred discipline. No higher gain remains and no farther shore of happiness can be imagined.
From that completeness he asks one boon. Not power, heaven, or even an escape from birth, but effortless affection for the lotus feet of Ram. All accomplished practice bends toward the simplicity of love, and the sage seeks a devotion so natural that it no longer feels performed.
At the end of every discipline, Bharadvaja asks for the beginningless ease of simply loving Ram's feet.
Read the passage from the Manas
कुसल प्रस्न करि आसन दीन्हे। पूजि प्रेम परिपूरन कीन्हे।। कंद मूल फल अंकुर नीके। दिए आनि मुनि मनहुँ अमी के।। सीय लखन जन सहित सुहाए। अति रुचि राम मूल फल खाए।। भए बिगतश्रम रामु सुखारे। भरव्दाज मृदु बचन उचारे।। आजु सुफल तपु तीरथ त्यागू। आजु सुफल जप जोग बिरागू।। सफल सकल सुभ साधन साजू। राम तुम्हहि अवलोकत आजू।। लाभ अवधि सुख अवधि न दूजी। तुम्हारें दरस आस सब पूजी।। अब करि कृपा देहु बर एहू। निज पद सरसिज सहज सनेहू।।
Asking after their welfare, he offered them seats and honored them with love that held nothing back. The sage brought fine roots, tubers, fruits, and tender shoots, each one sweet as nectar itself. Rama, with Sita, Lakshmana, and His devoted followers, ate the forest offerings with great relish. When Rama was rested and at ease, Bharadvaja spoke in gentle tones: 'Today my penance, pilgrimage, and renunciation bear their fruit. Today my japa, yoga, and vairagya find their reward. All my auspicious practices and sacred disciplines are fulfilled, O Rama, by beholding You this day. There is no higher gain, no further shore of happiness. Your darshan has honored every hope I ever held. Now, by Your grace, grant me this one boon: natural, effortless love for Your lotus feet.'