Triveni Tells Bharata He Is Dearest to Ram
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 205
Doha 205 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata places his love beyond reputation. Even if Ram should think him deceitful, even if the world calls him betrayer of guru and master, he asks the confluence to make his devotion to Sita and Ram grow day after day.
His resolve is the chataka's longing carried beyond response. A cloud may forget rain, may answer the thirsty bird with thunderbolt and stone, and the bird's cry may weaken, yet faithful love only becomes purer under the fire of trial, as gold becomes purer in flame.
From the midst of Triveni a gentle, auspicious voice answers. Bharata is virtuous in every way, and his attachment to Ram's feet is unfathomable. He must stop wounding himself with guilt. Across all beings, the sacred waters declare, no one is dearer to Ram than Bharata.
The mingling rivers answer Bharata's lifelong vow with one healing truth: no one is dearer to Ram than you.
Read the passage from the Manas
जानहुँ रामु कुटिल करि मोही। लोग कहउ गुर साहिब द्रोही।। सीता राम चरन रति मोरें। अनुदिन बढ़उ अनुग्रह तोरें।। जलदु जनम भरि सुरति बिसारउ। जाचत जलु पबि पाहन डारउ।। चातकु रटनि घटें घटि जाई। बढ़े प्रेमु सब भाँति भलाई।। कनकहिं बान चढ़इ जिमि दाहें। तिमि प्रियतम पद नेम निबाहें।। भरत बचन सुनि माझ त्रिबेनी। भइ मृदु बानि सुमंगल देनी।। तात भरत तुम्ह सब बिधि साधू। राम चरन अनुराग अगाधू।। बाद गलानि करहु मन माहीं। तुम्ह सम रामहि कोउ प्रिय नाहीं।।
Even if Rama considers me deceitful, even if people call me a traitor to my guru and lord, my devotion to the feet of Sita and Rama grows day by day, by your grace. Let a rain cloud forget its nature for a whole lifetime, begging for water and hurling stones instead. Let the chataka bird's plaintive call grow faint. Still, let love increase and all goodness flourish. As gold rises in purity when tested by fire, so my resolve deepens as I hold to my beloved Lord's feet. Hearing Bharat's words, the sacred Triveni grew gentle and spoke a voice of soft blessing: 'Dear Bharat, you are virtuous in every way, and your love for Rama's feet is beyond measure. Do not torment your heart with guilt. No one in all the worlds is dearer to Rama than you.'