Dasharatha's Fame Crosses All Fourteen Worlds
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 173
Doha 173 · Movement 1 of 2
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The forest dweller who abandons austerity for pleasure is worthy of grief, as are the slanderer, the causelessly angry, the enemy of parent, teacher, and brother, the cruel person who harms others merely to nourish the body, and the false devotee who refuses to surrender deceit.
Dasharatha belongs to none of these. His radiance is known through all fourteen worlds. Vasishtha declares that no king like Bharata's father has existed, exists now, or will arise again.
Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, and the guardians of the directions sing his virtues. The dead king is not a ruined life requiring pity. He is a completed life whose truth has become praise across the cosmos, even while those nearest him still weep.
Ayodhya mourns an empty throne, while gods throughout the directions sing the finished glory of the king who kept his word.
Read the passage from the Manas
बैखानस सोइ सोचै जोगु। तपु बिहाइ जेहि भावइ भोगू।। सोचिअ पिसुन अकारन क्रोधी। जननि जनक गुर बंधु बिरोधी।। सब बिधि सोचिअ पर अपकारी। निज तनु पोषक निरदय भारी।। सोचनीय सबहि बिधि सोई। जो न छाड़ि छलु हरि जन होई।। सोचनीय नहिं कोसलराऊ। भुवन चारिदस प्रगट प्रभाऊ।। भयउ न अहइ न अब होनिहारा। भूप भरत जस पिता तुम्हारा।। बिधि हरि हरु सुरपति दिसिनाथा। बरनहिं सब दसरथ गुन गाथा।।
The forest-dweller (vanaprasthi) who forsakes austerity and craves worldly pleasures is truly worthy of grief. One should grieve for the slanderer who rages without cause and turns hostile to mother, father, guru, and brother. In every way one should grieve for those who harm others while nourishing only their own body with great cruelty. Worthy of grief in every way is the one who does not abandon deceit even while professing to be a devotee of Hari. The King of Kosala is not one to grieve for. His glorious radiance shines across all fourteen worlds. There never was, is not now, nor will there ever be a king like your father, O Bharat. Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, and the guardians of every direction all celebrate the virtuous glory of Dasharatha.