Bharata Guards Ram's City before Leaving It
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 186
Doha 186 · Movement 1 of 2
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Vehicles are readied in every house, and hearts race toward morning. Bharata pauses to consider city, stables, elephants, palace, and treasury. Every treasure belongs to Raghupati.
To leave it unattended would be the crown of sins, whatever anyone might say against the delay. A true servant protects the master's interest even when longing pulls strongly elsewhere.
Bharata summons pure servants who would not abandon duty even in dream. He explains the inner circumstances, assigns each person according to ability, and stations guards over every trust. Only after Ram's city has been secured does he go toward Kausalya, proving that pilgrimage cannot be built upon neglected stewardship.
Before seeking Ram in the forest, Bharata locks no treasure for himself but safeguards every coin, horse, gate, and chamber as the Lord's.
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घर घर साजहिं बाहन नाना। हरषु हृदयँ परभात पयाना।। भरत जाइ घर कीन्ह बिचारू। नगरु बाजि गज भवन भँडारू।। संपति सब रघुपति कै आही। जौ बिनु जतन चलौं तजि ताही।। तौ परिनाम न मोरि भलाई। पाप सिरोमनि साइँ दोहाई।। करइ स्वामि हित सेवकु सोई। दूषन कोटि देइ किन कोई।। अस बिचारि सुचि सेवक बोले। जे सपनेहुँ निज धरम न डोले।। कहि सबु मरमु धरमु भल भाषा। जो जेहि लायक सो तेहिं राखा।। करि सबु जतनु राखि रखवारे। राम मातु पहिं भरतु सिधारे।।
In every house they readied all manner of vehicles and conveyances, hearts brimming with joy at the prospect of the morning departure. Bharat went home and reflected carefully. He considered the city, the horses, the elephants, the palace, and the treasury. "All this wealth belongs to the Lord of the Raghus. If I leave it unattended and simply walk away, then the outcome will not be good for me. I swear by my Lord, it would be the very crown of sins." That servant alone truly serves his master's interest; let anyone heap a million reproaches, what does it matter? Thinking thus, he called the pure-hearted servants, those who would never waver from their duty even in a dream. He explained all the inner details and spoke well of dharma. Each person was appointed according to his capability. Having made every arrangement and stationed the guards, Bharat set out to see Rama's mother.