Kausalya Asks Bharata to Become Ayodhya's Support
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 176
Doha 176 · Movement 1 of 3
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Kausalya gathers courage and calls the guru's instruction healing medicine. Bharata should honor it, release grief, and recognize the movement of time. In the forest Raghupati shines like Indra among gods and a king among men.
Meanwhile family, subjects, ministers, and mothers all look toward Bharata as their support. Fate has turned hostile and the hour is hard, so patience must become protection for those who remain.
She asks him to carry Vasishtha's command upon his head, govern the people, and lift the household's sorrow. The guru's counsel and ministerial assent reach him like cooling sandalwood. Then his mother's voice, steeped in virtue and natural affection, enters more deeply, because it asks him to save others while her own loss remains immeasurable.
Kausalya places wounded Ayodhya in Bharata's hands and asks the grieving son to become shelter for everyone else.
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कौसल्या धरि धीरजु कहई। पूत पथ्य गुर आयसु अहई।। सो आदरिअ करिअ हित मानी। तजिअ बिषादु काल गति जानी।। बन रघुपति सुरपति नरनाहू। तुम्ह एहि भाँति तात कदराहू।। परिजन प्रजा सचिव सब अंबा। तुम्हही सुत सब कहँ अवलंबा।। लखि बिधि बाम कालु कठिनाई। धीरजु धरहु मातु बलि जाई।। सिर धरि गुर आयसु अनुसरहू। प्रजा पालि परिजन दुखु हरहू।। गुर के बचन सचिव अभिनंदनु। सुने भरत हिय हित जनु चंदनु।। सुनी बहोरि मातु मृदु बानी। सील सनेह सरल रस सानी।।
Kausalya, gathering her courage, spoke: "My son, the guru's command is what heals. Honour it, knowing it to be for your good. Let go of grief, understanding the ways of time." "In the forest Raghupati shines like Indra among the gods and a king among men. Why, dear child, do you torment yourself so?" "Family, subjects, ministers, all of them look to you as their sole support." "Seeing fate turn hostile and times grow hard, hold fast to patience, my child, I beg you." "Bear the guru's word upon your head and follow it. Protect the people and lift the sorrow from your family." The guru's words and the ministers' warm assent reached Bharat's heart like cooling sandalwood. Then he heard his mother's gentle voice, steeped in virtue, affection, and simple, pure feeling.