Bharata Extends His Oath through Every Crooked Path
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 168
Doha 168 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata names those who sell sacred knowledge, exploit dharma, slander others, and attach false sins to them. He names deceit, crookedness, rage, quarrel, mockery of revelation, greed, lust, and desire for another's wealth or spouse.
May their fate become his if the plan for exile ever received his consent. He continues toward those who reject saintly company, turn from the supreme path, waste human birth without worship, and feel no joy in the fame of Hari and Hara.
Those who abandon the Vedic way and deceive the world through false disguises complete the dark procession. Bharata asks Shankara to send him among them if he knew the secret. Each condemned path becomes another seal upon the innocence he cannot yet feel within himself.
Bharata walks his oath through every form of corruption, asking to share its end if his heart ever consented to Ram's harm.
Read the passage from the Manas
बेचहिं बेदु धरमु दुहि लेहीं। पिसुन पराय पाप कहि देहीं।। कपटी कुटिल कलहप्रिय क्रोधी। बेद बिदूषक बिस्व बिरोधी।। लोभी लंपट लोलुपचारा। जे ताकहिं परधनु परदारा।। पावौं मैं तिन्ह के गति घोरा। जौं जननी यहु संमत मोरा।। जे नहिं साधुसंग अनुरागे। परमारथ पथ बिमुख अभागे।। जे न भजहिं हरि नरतनु पाई। जिन्हहि न हरि हर सुजसु सोहाई।। तजि श्रुतिपंथु बाम पथ चलहीं। बंचक बिरचि बेष जगु छलहीं।। तिन्ह कै गति मोहि संकर देऊ। जननी जौं यहु जानौं भेऊ।।
Those who sell the Vedas and wring profit from dharma, who slander others and pin false sins upon them. The deceitful, the crooked, the quarrelsome and the wrathful, who mock the Vedas and set themselves against all creation. The greedy, the lustful, the endlessly covetous, who cast hungry eyes upon another's wealth and another's wife. May I meet their terrible fate, O mother, if this was ever my resolve. Those unfortunate ones who feel no love for the company of saints and turn their backs on the path of supreme good. Those who obtain a human birth yet never worship Hari, to whom the glorious fame of Hari and Hara brings no delight. Abandoning the path of the Shrutis (Vedas), they walk the crooked way; these impostors fashion false disguises and deceive the world. May Shankara grant me their fate, O mother, if I know anything of this secret.