One Fire Burns beneath Bharata's Fearless Heart
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 182
Doha 182 · Movement 1 of 2
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Even Vasishtha, ocean of discrimination for whom creation is small as a berry, prepares Bharata's coronation. When fate turns hostile, the prince says, every direction appears hostile too.
The world will claim that Sita and Ram were abandoned with Bharata's consent. He can bear that mud of accusation, for where water gathers, mud inevitably appears. He fears neither public disgrace nor the world beyond death.
Only one fire is unbearable: Sita and Ram suffer because of him. Lakshmana gained the fruit of life by abandoning everything for Ram's feet, while Bharata's birth served only as the occasion for exile. Reputation cannot wound a heart already burning at the beloved's pain.
Bharata accepts the mud of every accusation, but cannot endure the single flame of imagining Sita and Ram sorrowful because of him.
Read the passage from the Manas
गुर बिबेक सागर जगु जाना। जिन्हहि बिस्व कर बदर समाना।। मो कहँ तिलक साज सज सोऊ। भएँ बिधि बिमुख बिमुख सबु कोऊ।। परिहरि रामु सीय जग माहीं। कोउ न कहिहि मोर मत नाहीं।। सो मैं सुनब सहब सुखु मानी। अंतहुँ कीच तहाँ जहँ पानी।। डरु न मोहि जग कहिहि कि पोचू। परलोकहु कर नाहिन सोचू।। एकइ उर बस दुसह दवारी। मोहि लगि भे सिय रामु दुखारी।। जीवन लाहु लखन भल पावा। सबु तजि राम चरन मनु लावा।। मोर जनम रघुबर बन लागी। झूठ काह पछिताउँ अभागी।।
The guru is known throughout the world as an ocean of discernment, one for whom the entire creation is no bigger than a banyan leaf. Even he was arranging the coronation for me. Yet when fate turned hostile, all turned hostile too. In a world where Rama and Sita have been forsaken, no one will dare say it was against my wish. I will hear such words and bear them gladly, for where there is water, mud will always be found. I have no fear that the world will call me wicked, nor any worry about the life hereafter. Only one unbearable fire burns in my heart: that because of me, Sita and Rama have been plunged into sorrow. Lakshmana truly reaped the reward of human life. He abandoned everything and fixed his mind on Rama's feet. My birth served only to send Raghubara into the forest. Why do I, wretched one, indulge in hollow regret?