Even the Accepted Crown Would Not Have Stained Bharata
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 207
Doha 207 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharadvaja places Bharata's case before the judgment of world, Veda, and wisdom. All agree that a kingdom belongs rightly to the son upon whom a father bestows it. Dasharatha, faithful to truth, called Bharata and gave him sovereignty with duty and honor.
Ram's forest departure pierced the whole world, but it arose through destiny working within an unknowing queen who later repented. Anyone who assigns even a little guilt to Bharata is himself ignorant and base.
The sage goes farther. Had Bharata accepted rule, no fault would have touched him, and Ram would have heard of it with contentment. Bharata's purity does not depend upon proving that every other path was sinful. His present renunciation shines freely because even legitimate power could not have corrupted Ram's love for him.
Bharadvaja makes Bharata's innocence complete: even a rightful crown could not have severed the love in which Ram knows him.
Read the passage from the Manas
यहउ कहत भल कहिहि न कोऊ। लोकु बेद बुध संमत दोऊ।। तात तुम्हार बिमल जसु गाई। पाइहि लोकउ बेदु बड़ाई।। लोक बेद संमत सबु कहई। जेहि पितु देइ राजु सो लहई।। राउ सत्यब्रत तुम्हहि बोलाई। देत राजु सुखु धरमु बड़ाई।। राम गवनु बन अनरथ मूला। जो सुनि सकल बिस्व भइ सूला।। सो भावी बस रानि अयानी। करि कुचालि अंतहुँ पछितानी।। तहँउँ तुम्हार अलप अपराधू। कहै सो अधम अयान असाधू।। करतेहु राजु त तुम्हहि न दोषू। रामहि होत सुनत संतोषू।।
Even in saying this, no one of good sense will speak against you. Both the world and the Vedas, together with the wise, stand in agreement. Dear one, by singing your spotless glory, both the world and the scriptures will gain in greatness. All declare what the world and the Vedas confirm together: the kingdom rightly belongs to whomever the father bestows it upon. The king, ever faithful to his vow of truth, summoned you and offered you the kingdom along with happiness, dharma, and honour. Rama's departure for the forest is the root of all sorrow. Hearing of it, the whole world was pierced with grief. That was destiny's doing. The queen, in her ignorance, carried out her ill-conceived plan, and in the end she repented. Even so, whoever calls you guilty of the slightest fault is low, ignorant, and unworthy. Had you accepted the kingdom, no fault would rest on you. Rama himself would feel only contentment hearing of it.