The Assembly Places Dasharatha's Command before Bharata
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 174
Doha 174 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Dasharatha was blessed in every way, Vasishtha says, so Bharata should release grief and place the royal command upon his head. The throne was explicitly given to him, and a father's word must be fulfilled.
Ram abandoned everything for that same word. Dasharatha, holding truth dearer than life, died in separation from the son who honored it. Now Bharata is asked to complete the other side of the promise by accepting rule.
The sage invokes severe examples of filial obedience: Parashurama carrying out his father's command against his mother, and Yayati's son yielding his own youth. The royal hall becomes a court of precedent, pressing Bharata to see acceptance not as ambition but as another form of submission to the dead king's truth.
The same promise that sent Ram into the forest now stands before Bharata as a throne he is commanded to bear.
Read the passage from the Manas
सब प्रकार भूपति बड़भागी। बादि बिषादु करिअ तेहि लागी।। यहु सुनि समुझि सोचु परिहरहू। सिर धरि राज रजायसु करहू।। राँय राजपदु तुम्ह कहुँ दीन्हा। पिता बचनु फुर चाहिअ कीन्हा।। तजे रामु जेहिं बचनहि लागी। तनु परिहरेउ राम बिरहागी।। नृपहि बचन प्रिय नहिं प्रिय प्राना। करहु तात पितु बचन प्रवाना।। करहु सीस धरि भूप रजाई। हइ तुम्ह कहँ सब भाँति भलाई।। परसुराम पितु अग्या राखी। मारी मातु लोक सब साखी।। तनय जजातिहि जौबनु दयऊ। पितु अग्याँ अघ अजसु न भयऊ।।
In every way the king was greatly blessed. It is futile to indulge in grief on his account. Having heard and understood this, abandon your worry. Accept the royal command and bow your head in reverence. The king bestowed the royal throne upon you. Your father's word must be fulfilled. For the sake of that very promise, Rama renounced everything. Consumed by the agony of separation from Rama, the king gave up his body. To the king, his word was dearer than life itself. O dear one, honour your father's sacred promise. Bow your head and accept the king's command. In every way, this will bring you the highest good. Parashurama (Parashurama) obeyed his father's command and struck down his own mother; the whole world bears witness to this. The son of Yayati (Yayati) offered his father his own youth. By following his father's command, he incurred neither sin nor infamy.