Bharata Rejects the Kingdom Bought with Ram's Exile
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 161
Doha 161 · Movement 1 of 2
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Kaikeyi tries to console her shattered son, but her words are salt pressed into a burn. Dasharatha, she says, achieved fame and heavenly reward. Bharata should set sorrow aside and rule the city with the assembled court.
The proposal strikes him like a live ember falling upon ripe fruit. Drawing a deep breath, he calls her destroyer of the family. If she bore such hostility toward him, why did she not end his life at birth?
Her plan cut down the tree and now asks him to water its leaves. It drained the pond and expects the fish to survive. Bharata sees father, Ram, household, and kingdom as one living organism. A crown separated from their welfare is not inheritance but the visible remnant of devastation.
Before Bharata, the offered throne looks like leaves watered after the tree has been felled at its root.
Read the passage from the Manas
बिकल बिलोकि सुतहि समुझावति। मनहुँ जरे पर लोनु लगावति।। तात राउ नहिं सोचे जोगू। बिढ़इ सुकृत जसु कीन्हेउ भोगू।। जीवत सकल जनम फल पाए। अंत अमरपति सदन सिधाए।। अस अनुमानि सोच परिहरहू। सहित समाज राज पुर करहू।। सुनि सुठि सहमेउ राजकुमारू। पाकें छत जनु लाग अँगारू।। धीरज धरि भरि लेहिं उसासा। पापनि सबहि भाँति कुल नासा।। जौं पै कुरुचि रही अति तोही। जनमत काहे न मारे मोही।। पेड़ काटि तैं पालउ सींचा। मीन जिअन निति बारि उलीचा।।
Seeing her son distressed, she tries to console him, as though rubbing salt upon a burn. "Son, the king is not one to grieve for. His good deeds only grew, and he enjoyed great fame. In his lifetime he reaped the fruits of all his births. At the end, he departed to the abode of Indra. Knowing this, cast away your sorrow and rule this city with your court." Hearing this, the young prince recoiled in shock, like a burning ember falling on ripe fruit. Steadying himself, he drew a deep breath: "O sinful one, you have destroyed this family in every way. If you bore such hatred for me, why did you not kill me at birth? You cut down the tree and then water the leaves. You drain the pond daily and expect the fish to live."