Kausalya Receives Bharata as Though Ram Returned
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 165
Doha 165 · Movement 1 of 2
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With her naturally noble heart, Kausalya holds Bharata as though beloved Ram himself has come back. She embraces Shatrughna too, unable to contain grief and affection. Those watching understand why she alone could be Ram's mother.
She seats Bharata in her lap, wipes his tears, and asks him to hold courage through this terrible hour. Loss and shame must not be allowed to settle in his heart, for the movement of time and karma exceeds human calculation.
Blame no one, she says. Providence has turned against her in every way. If it has kept her alive through such pain, its remaining purpose cannot yet be known. Kausalya does not deny causation; she refuses to let grief turn Bharata into another casualty of it.
Kausalya wipes Bharata's tears in her lap and protects Ram's brother from the guilt that threatens to exile him from himself.
Read the passage from the Manas
सरल सुभाय मायँ हियँ लाए। अति हित मनहुँ राम फिरि आए।। भेंटेउ बहुरि लखन लघु भाई। सोकु सनेहु न हृदयँ समाई।। देखि सुभाउ कहत सबु कोई। राम मातु अस काहे न होई।। माताँ भरतु गोद बैठारे। आँसु पौंछि मृदु बचन उचारे।। अजहुँ बच्छ बलि धीरज धरहू। कुसमउ समुझि सोक परिहरहू।। जनि मानहु हियँ हानि गलानी। काल करम गति अघटित जानि।। काहुहि दोसु देहु जनि ताता। भा मोहि सब बिधि बाम बिधाता।। जो एतेहुँ दुख मोहि जिआवा। अजहुँ को जानइ का तेहि भावा।।
With simple, noble nature the mother drew him to her heart, as though beloved Rama himself had returned. Then she embraced Lakshmana, the younger brother; her heart could not contain its grief and love. Seeing her gracious nature, everyone said, "Why should such a one not be Rama's own mother?" The mother seated Bharata in her lap, wiped his tears, and spoke these gentle words: "Even now, my dear child, hold firm to courage. Knowing this to be a time of trial, set your sorrow aside. Do not hold loss or shame in your heart, for the ways of time and destiny are beyond anyone's grasp. Blame no one, dear son. Providence has turned against me in every way. He who has kept me alive through such suffering, who can know what still pleases Him?"