Bharata Is Ram's Love Walking in a Body
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 208
Doha 208 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharadvaja names devotion as Bharata's treasure, life, and breath. Such fortune is fitting in Dasharatha's son and Ram's beloved brother, yet its depth remains wondrous even among the blessed.
Within Raghubir's heart, the sage says, no vessel of love equals Bharata. Sita, Ram, and Lakshmana spent the forest night praising him. While bathing at Prayag, Bharadvaja learned this hidden truth: the three become absorbed in the current of Bharata's love.
Ram's tenderness toward him is inseparable from life and joy. This praise does not exaggerate Raghubir, who sustains the whole family of those who take refuge. Then the sage gives the final image. Bharata is not merely one who loves Ram. He is Ram's own love clothed in a human body and walking through the world.
Before the hermitage assembly, Bharadvaja beholds Bharata as the invisible love of Ram made visible in flesh.
Read the passage from the Manas
सो तुम्हार धनु जीवनु प्राना। भूरिभाग को तुम्हहि समाना।। यह तम्हार आचरजु न ताता। दसरथ सुअन राम प्रिय भ्राता।। सुनहु भरत रघुबर मन माहीं। पेम पात्रु तुम्ह सम कोउ नाहीं।। लखन राम सीतहि अति प्रीती। निसि सब तुम्हहि सराहत बीती।। जाना मरमु नहात प्रयागा। मगन होहिं तुम्हरें अनुरागा।। तुम्ह पर अस सनेहु रघुबर कें। सुख जीवन जग जस जड़ नर कें।। यह न अधिक रघुबीर बड़ाई। प्रनत कुटुंब पाल रघुराई।। तुम्ह तौ भरत मोर मत एहू। धरें देह जनु राम सनेहू।।
That love is your treasure, your life, your very breath. Who in all this world can compare with your great fortune? This is no surprise coming from you, dear one. You are the son of Dasharatha, the beloved brother of Rama. Listen, Bharata: in the heart of Raghubara, there is no vessel of love equal to you. Lakshmana, Rama, and Sita hold you in deepest affection. They spent the entire night singing your praises. I learned this sacred secret while bathing at Prayaga. They become absorbed, lost in the current of your love. Such is the tenderness Raghubara holds for you, as natural as happiness is to life, as fame is to those whom the world watches. This is no exaggeration of Raghuvira's greatness. The Lord of the Raghus shelters and sustains all who belong to him in devotion. You, Bharata, are in my understanding none other than Rama's love itself, walking the earth in a living body.