Every Village Blooms like a Wish-Tree in the Desert
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 223
Doha 223 · Movement 1 of 2
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The women speak of Bharata's brotherly devotion and conduct, saying that merely hearing or repeating them removes sorrow and fault. Whatever praise is offered still feels too small for Ram's own brother.
Those who see Bharata and Shatrughna count themselves blessed. Some lament that Kaikeyi was unworthy of such a son, while others absolve her and see Providence arranging this darshan for humble people beyond learning and ritual distinction.
They wonder how ordinary villages and modest homes have received the fruit of such merit. Joy and astonishment spread from settlement to settlement. The road through common country becomes miraculous, as though a wish-fulfilling tree had suddenly rooted itself in the center of every desert.
Where Bharata passes, an ordinary village opens like a wish-fulfilling tree growing impossibly from desert ground.
Read the passage from the Manas
भायप भगति भरत आचरनू। कहत सुनत दुख दूषन हरनू।। जो कछु कहब थोर सखि सोई। राम बंधु अस काहे न होई।। हम सब सानुज भरतहि देखें। भइन्ह धन्य जुबती जन लेखें।। सुनि गुन देखि दसा पछिताहीं। कैकइ जननि जोगु सुतु नाहीं।। कोउ कह दूषनु रानिहि नाहिन। बिधि सबु कीन्ह हमहि जो दाहिन।। कहँ हम लोक बेद बिधि हीनी। लघु तिय कुल करतूति मलीनी।। बसहिं कुदेस कुगाँव कुबामा। कहँ यह दरसु पुन्य परिनामा।। अस अनंदु अचिरिजु प्रति ग्रामा। जनु मरुभूमि कलपतरु जामा।।
Bharat's brotherly devotion and conduct are so pure that merely speaking or hearing of them removes all sorrow and sin. Whatever little one may say about him, dear sakhi, is still too small. Why should Rama's own brother not possess such qualities? We have all seen Bharat with his younger brothers, and the women consider themselves blessed beyond measure. Hearing of his virtues and seeing his condition, people feel remorse, saying Kaikeyi is not worthy of such a son. Some say there is no fault in the queen; Providence has arranged everything for our benefit. Where are we, women devoid of worldly knowledge and scriptural wisdom, of small families and humble deeds? We dwell in ordinary lands, ordinary villages, ordinary homes. How did we come to receive this blessed darshan as the fruit of our punya? Such ananda and wonder fills every village, as if a Kalpataru has sprouted in the midst of a desert.