Bharata Rides into a City Drained of Beauty
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 158
Doha 158 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata drives the wind swift horses across rivers, mountains, and curving forests. Nothing pleases him. Life itself seems to fly from his body, and each moment expands into a year before Ayodhya finally draws near.
At the gates, harsh birds cry in ominous tones. Donkeys and jackals answer against the path, piercing his heart again and again. Lakes, streams, groves, and gardens have lost their grace, while the city appears strangely threatening.
Birds, deer, horses, and elephants cannot be soothed. All are ravaged by the disease of separation from Ram. Citizens move like people who have lost every possession at once. Bharata enters his own home as though it were an afflicted country whose sorrow has altered land, animal, sound, and human face.
Bharata crosses Ayodhya's gate and finds Ram's absence written into every cry, garden, animal, and grieving face.
Read the passage from the Manas
चले समीर बेग हय हाँके। नाघत सरित सैल बन बाँके।। हृदयँ सोचु बड़ कछु न सोहाई। अस जानहिं जियँ जाउँ उड़ाई।। एक निमेष बरस सम जाई। एहि बिधि भरत नगर निअराई।। असगुन होहिं नगर पैठारा। रटहिं कुभाँति कुखेत करारा।। खर सिआर बोलहिं प्रतिकूला। सुनि सुनि होइ भरत मन सूला।। श्रीहत सर सरिता बन बागा। नगरु बिसेषि भयावनु लागा।। खग मृग हय गय जाहिं न जोए। राम बियोग कुरोग बिगोए।। नगर नारि नर निपट दुखारी। मनहुँ सबन्हि सब संपति हारी।।
He urged the wind-swift horses onward, crossing rivers, mountains, and winding forests. Great anxiety filled his heart; nothing gave him comfort. He felt as if his very life were flying away. Each moment passed like an entire year. In this way, Bharata drew near the city. Ill omens appeared as he entered the gates. Harsh, ominous birds cried out in ugly tones. Donkeys and jackals howled in hostile voices. Hearing them again and again, Bharata's heart was pierced with pain. The lakes, rivers, forests, and gardens had lost all their beauty. The city looked especially frightening. Birds, deer, horses, and elephants could not be calmed, all ravaged by the terrible affliction of separation from Rama. The men and women of the city were utterly grief-stricken, as though every one of them had lost all they possessed.