Vasishtha Opens the Assembly with the Whole Truth
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 171
Doha 171 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata's loving acts for Dasharatha exceed description. When an auspicious day arrives, Vasishtha summons ministers and leading citizens. The royal assembly fills, and Bharata with Shatrughna is called before it.
The guru seats Bharata close and speaks through righteousness. He begins without concealment, recounting Kaikeyi's crooked deed. Then he praises Dasharatha's fidelity to truth, the king who surrendered his body rather than break love's promise.
When Vasishtha turns to Ram's character, tears enter his eyes and his skin thrills. Describing the love of Sita and Lakshmana overcomes even the sage with sorrow and tenderness. The council receives policy only after sacred feeling and moral truth have been allowed their full place.
Before speaking of a throne, Vasishtha fills the royal hall with Kaikeyi's deed, Dasharatha's truth, and the love surrounding Ram.
Read the passage from the Manas
पितु हित भरत कीन्हि जसि करनी। सो मुख लाख जाइ नहिं बरनी।। सुदिनु सोधि मुनिबर तब आए। सचिव महाजन सकल बोलाए।। बैठे राजसभाँ सब जाई। पठए बोलि भरत दोउ भाई।। भरतु बसिष्ठ निकट बैठारे। नीति धरममय बचन उचारे।। प्रथम कथा सब मुनिबर बरनी। कैकइ कुटिल कीन्हि जसि करनी।। भूप धरमब्रतु सत्य सराहा। जेहिं तनु परिहरि प्रेमु निबाहा।। कहत राम गुन सील सुभाऊ। सजल नयन पुलकेउ मुनिराऊ।। बहुरि लखन सिय प्रीति बखानी। सोक सनेह मगन मुनि ग्यानी।।
The loving deeds Bharat performed for his father's sake cannot be described even with a hundred thousand tongues. The great sage chose an auspicious day and arrived, then summoned all the ministers and nobles. Everyone went and took their seats in the royal assembly. Both brothers, Bharat and Shatrughna, were called. Vasishtha seated Bharat close beside him and spoke words steeped in righteousness and dharma. First, the great sage recounted the full story of the crooked deeds that Kaikeyi had done. He praised the king's vow of dharma and truth, the king who gave up his body to honor love's promise. When the sage spoke of Rama's virtues, his gentleness, his noble nature, tears filled his eyes and his body thrilled with emotion. Then, describing the love of Lakshmana and Sita, even that wise and knowing sage was overcome by grief and tenderness.