Bharata Asks Ganga Only for Natural Love
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 197
Doha 197 · Movement 1 of 2
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Shringaverapura comes into Bharata's sight, and love weakens every limb. Guha walks beside him like humility and affection given a human form. Beyond them the entire company beholds Ganga, purifier of the worlds, widening beneath the sky.
At Ram Ghat Bharata bows. His mind becomes so absorbed that meeting the place feels like meeting Ram himself. Townspeople salute the spirit-filled water, enter it joyfully, and rise with folded hands, asking for unwavering love at Ramachandra's feet.
Bharata addresses the river whose very dust grants every happiness to her servants. Amid the scale of kingdom, army, queens, and pilgrimage, he asks for only one boon. Let love for Sita and Ram's feet arise naturally, without strain or calculation. The sacred current receives a prayer stripped of every royal ambition.
At the ghat touched by Ram, Bharata asks Ganga for no kingdom, only effortless love for the feet of Sita and Ram.
Read the passage from the Manas
सृंगबेरपुर भरत दीख जब। भे सनेहँ सब अंग सिथिल तब।। सोहत दिएँ निषादहि लागू। जनु तनु धरें बिनय अनुरागू।। एहि बिधि भरत सेनु सबु संगा। दीखि जाइ जग पावनि गंगा।। रामघाट कहँ कीन्ह प्रनामू। भा मनु मगनु मिले जनु रामू।। करहिं प्रनाम नगर नर नारी। मुदित ब्रह्ममय बारि निहारी।। करि मज्जनु मागहिं कर जोरी। रामचंद्र पद प्रीति न थोरी।। भरत कहेउ सुरसरि तव रेनू। सकल सुखद सेवक सुरधेनू।। जोरि पानि बर मागउँ एहू। सीय राम पद सहज सनेहू।।
When Bharat beheld Shringaverapura, every limb of his body grew weak with love. The Nishada chief looked so beautiful in his devotion, as though humility and love had taken a living form. In this way Bharat, together with his whole company, went forward and saw the Ganga, purifier of all the worlds. He bowed at Rama Ghat, and his heart became so absorbed that it felt as if he had met Rama himself. The men and women of the town made their reverent salutations, gazing joyfully at those sacred, spirit-filled waters. After bathing, they prayed with folded hands. Their love for the feet of Ramachandra knew no limit. Bharat spoke: "O Ganga, divine river, your very dust is the wish-fulfilling cow of heaven for all who serve you." With palms joined he asked for one boon alone: natural, effortless love for the feet of Sita and Rama.