Bharata's Resolve Awakens the Poisoned City
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 184
Doha 184 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata's words seem steeped in the nectar of love for Ram. Citizens scorched by separation hear them like a living mantra whose seed awakens those near death.
Mothers, ministers, teachers, women, and men become overwhelmed with affection. They praise Bharata as love for Ram embodied and insist that the Lord is dear to him as his own breath.
Anyone who foolishly whispers that Kaikeyi's cruelty was shared by Bharata condemns himself to long darkness. A serpent's jewel does not preserve the serpent's poison; it destroys venom and burns away suffering. Likewise, birth from Kaikeyi cannot stain the jewel like devotion shining in her son.
Bharata speaks of going to Ram, and Ayodhya wakes as though a seeded mantra has entered a city dying from poison.
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भरत बचन सब कहँ प्रिय लागे। राम सनेह सुधाँ जनु पागे।। लोग बियोग बिषम बिष दागे। मंत्र सबीज सुनत जनु जागे।। मातु सचिव गुर पुर नर नारी। सकल सनेहँ बिकल भए भारी।। भरतहि कहहि सराहि सराही। राम प्रेम मूरति तनु आही।। तात भरत अस काहे न कहहू। प्रान समान राम प्रिय अहहू।। जो पावँरु अपनी जड़ताई। तुम्हहि सुगाइ मातु कुटिलाई।। सो सठु कोटिक पुरुष समेता। बसिहि कलप सत नरक निकेता।। अहि अघ अवगुन नहि मनि गहई। हरइ गरल दुख दारिद दहई।।
Bharat's words were dear to all who heard them, as though steeped in the nectar of love for Rama. The people, scorched by the terrible poison of separation, seemed to awaken upon hearing this sacred mantra with its living seed. Mothers, ministers, teachers, and all the men and women of the city were overcome with deep affection. They praised Bharat again and again, calling him the very embodiment of love for Rama. "Dear Bharat, why should we not speak so? Rama is as dear to you as your own life-breath." "The wretch who, out of his own foolishness, whispered to you of your mother's cruelty." "That villain, together with millions of his kind, shall dwell in the abode of hell for a hundred ages." "A serpent's jewel does not hold on to sin or fault; it destroys poison, burns away suffering and poverty."