Kausalya Makes the Impossible Her Witness
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 169
Doha 169 · Movement 1 of 2
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Kausalya tells Bharata that Ram is dearer to him than life and that he is dearer to Raghupati than life itself. She summons impossibilities as witnesses: the moon may consume poison, fire may pour out snow, and creatures of water may become indifferent to water.
Knowledge might arise without dispelling delusion, but Bharata can never become hostile to Ram. Whoever attributes such an intention to him will find neither happiness nor noble destination, even in dream.
Then she draws him against her heart. Milk flows from her breasts and tears from her eyes, maternal truth answering the son who called his birth a curse. They lament together until night is spent. At dawn Vamadeva and Vasishtha arrive, gathering ministers and nobles around the bereaved prince.
Kausalya places Bharata's love beyond every natural impossibility, then holds him through the last darkness before duty arrives.
Read the passage from the Manas
राम प्रानहु तें प्रान तुम्हारे। तुम्ह रघुपतिहि प्रानहु तें प्यारे।। बिधु बिष चवै स्त्रवै हिमु आगी। होइ बारिचर बारि बिरागी।। भएँ ग्यानु बरु मिटै न मोहू। तुम्ह रामहि प्रतिकूल न होहू।। मत तुम्हार यहु जो जग कहहीं। सो सपनेहुँ सुख सुगति न लहहीं।। अस कहि मातु भरतु हियँ लाए। थन पय स्त्रवहिं नयन जल छाए।। करत बिलाप बहुत यहि भाँती। बैठेहिं बीति गइ सब राती।। बामदेउ बसिष्ठ तब आए। सचिव महाजन सकल बोलाए।। मुनि बहु भाँति भरत उपदेसे। कहि परमारथ बचन सुदेसे।।
Rama is dearer to you than your very life, and you are dearer to Raghupati than His own life. The moon may chew poison, fire may flow like snow, the ocean may grow indifferent to water. Knowledge may dawn and yet delusion remain unbroken, but you will never stand opposed to Rama. Those in the world who say this was your intention will find neither happiness nor salvation, even in dreams. Saying this, the mother drew Bharat to her heart; milk flowed from her breasts and tears filled her eyes. Weeping and lamenting in many such ways, they sat together through the entire night. Then the sages Vamadeva and Vasishtha arrived and summoned all the ministers and nobles. The sage instructed Bharat in many ways, speaking beautiful words of supreme truth.