The Procession Dismounts When Bharata Walks
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 188
Doha 188 · Movement 1 of 2
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All travel under the power of Ram's darshan, like elephant herds moving toward water. Bharata and Shatrughna choose to walk, remembering Sita and Ram living in the forest without royal conveyance.
Seeing their love, citizens dismount from horses, elephants, and chariots and continue on foot. Kausalya brings her palanquin close and speaks gently: her sons must ride, or the beloved family, already thinned by sorrow, will exhaust itself trying to imitate them.
Bharata places her words upon his head, bows at her feet, and mounts with Shatrughna. The first night is spent by Tamasa, the second beside Gomati. Obedience moderates austerity so the whole community can sustain the pilgrimage.
When Bharata's bare feet empty every saddle, Kausalya makes compassion restore the riders for the long road to Ram.
Read the passage from the Manas
राम दरस बस सब नर नारी। जनु करि करिनि चले तकि बारी।। बन सिय रामु समुझि मन माहीं। सानुज भरत पयादेहिं जाहीं।। देखि सनेहु लोग अनुरागे। उतरि चले हय गय रथ त्यागे।। जाइ समीप राखि निज डोली। राम मातु मृदु बानी बोली।। तात चढ़हु रथ बलि महतारी। होइहि प्रिय परिवारु दुखारी।। तुम्हरें चलत चलिहि सबु लोगू। सकल सोक कृस नहिं मग जोगू।। सिर धरि बचन चरन सिरु नाई। रथ चढ़ि चलत भए दोउ भाई।। तमसा प्रथम दिवस करि बासू। दूसर गोमति तीर निवासू।।
Like the chakravaka bird and its mate, the men and women of the city turned restlessly through the night, their hearts heavy, longing for the dawn. All remained awake through the darkness, and when morning finally came, Bharat summoned his wise ministers. He said, 'Gather everything needed for the tilak ceremony. The sages will crown Rama as king right there in the forest.' Hearing this, the ministers bowed with reverence and swiftly prepared horses, chariots, and elephants. Arundhati and the sacred fire were placed aboard the chariot, and the chief sage Vasishtha departed first. Companies of learned Brahmins mounted various vehicles and set forth, all of them living treasures of tapasya and spiritual radiance. The people of the city adorned themselves and readied their carriages, then began the pilgrimage toward Chitrakoot. Beautiful palanquins, beyond all description, were made ready, and one by one the queens climbed in and departed.