Bharata Names Kaikeyi's Gifts One by One
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 180
Doha 180 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata says that if life remains dear in separation from the beloved, worse sights and sounds must still await. Kaikeyi sent Sita, Ram, and Lakshmana into the forest, sent her husband to heaven, and took widowhood and disgrace upon herself.
She gave anguish to the people, yet supposedly gave Bharata happiness, fame, and a prosperous kingdom. In bitter irony, he says she accomplished everyone's purposes.
What good can come from such gifts? The assembly still proposes the royal mark. Bharata says that one born from Kaikeyi's womb should not consider any shame unfitting, for destiny has arranged his affairs completely. He asks why citizens and elders now support the last act of a design whose fruits they themselves mourn.
Bharata lays widowhood, exile, public grief, and kingship side by side and refuses the single gift addressed to him.
Read the passage from the Manas
कैकेई भव तनु अनुरागे। पाँवर प्रान अघाइ अभागे।। जौं प्रिय बिरहँ प्रान प्रिय लागे। देखब सुनब बहुत अब आगे।। लखन राम सिय कहुँ बनु दीन्हा। पठइ अमरपुर पति हित कीन्हा।। लीन्ह बिधवपन अपजसु आपू। दीन्हेउ प्रजहि सोकु संतापू।। मोहि दीन्ह सुखु सुजसु सुराजू। कीन्ह कैकेईं सब कर काजू।। एहि तें मोर काह अब नीका। तेहि पर देन कहहु तुम्ह टीका।। कैकई जठर जनमि जग माहीं। यह मोहि कहँ कछु अनुचित नाहीं।। मोरि बात सब बिधिहिं बनाई। प्रजा पाँच कत करहु सहाई।।
Kaikeyi was attached to this mortal body; the wretched, sinful creature, her unfortunate life was spent. If life becomes dear to me in separation from my beloved, I shall see and hear much more suffering ahead. She gave the forest to Lakshmana, Rama, and Sita, and sent her husband to the heavenly realm as if doing him a favour. She took widowhood and disgrace upon herself, and gave sorrow and anguish to the people. She gave me happiness, good fame, and a prosperous kingdom. Kaikeyi truly accomplished everyone's purpose! What good can come to me from all this? And yet you speak of bestowing the royal mark upon me. Born from Kaikeyi's womb into this world, nothing is unfitting for one such as me. All my affairs have been arranged by destiny. O people of the assembly, why do you offer your support?