Every Witness of Ram Becomes Dear to Bharata
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 224
Doha 224 · Movement 1 of 2
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The company continues singing Ram's glory and remembering Raghunath. At sacred waters, hermitages, and temples they stop, bathe, bow, and ask inwardly for love at the lotus feet of Sita and Ram.
Kirat, Kol, forest dweller, student, ascetic, and renunciant meet them along the route. Bharata bows respectfully to each and asks the same urgent question: in which forest do Lakshmana, Ram, and Vaidehi now dwell?
Every fragment of news becomes precious. Those who have seen the three and can say they are well receive Bharata's affection as though they were Ram and Lakshmana themselves. With gentle speech he gathers the story of exile from many lives, honoring each witness because the beloved has passed through their sight.
Anyone who can say I saw them and they are well becomes as dear to Bharata as the brothers he seeks.
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निज गुन सहित राम गुन गाथा। सुनत जाहिं सुमिरत रघुनाथा।। तीरथ मुनि आश्रम सुरधामा। निरखि निमज्जहिं करहिं प्रनामा।। मनहीं मन मागहिं बरु एहू। सीय राम पद पदुम सनेहू।। मिलहिं किरात कोल बनबासी। बैखानस बटु जती उदासी।। करि प्रनामु पूँछहिं जेहिं तेही। केहि बन लखनु रामु बैदेही।। ते प्रभु समाचार सब कहहीं। भरतहि देखि जनम फलु लहहीं।। जे जन कहहिं कुसल हम देखे। ते प्रिय राम लखन सम लेखे।। एहि बिधि बूझत सबहि सुबानी। सुनत राम बनबास कहानी।।
They travel onward singing the glories of Rama along with their own noble qualities, remembering Raghunath with every step. At sacred tirthas, at the ashrams of munis, and at temples of the devas, they halt, bathe, and offer humble pranaam. In the silence of their hearts they ask for one boon alone: love for the lotus feet of Sita and Rama. They meet Kirats, Kols, forest dwellers, Vaikhanasas, brahmacharis, ascetics, and renunciants along the way. Bowing respectfully, they ask each person they encounter: in which forest do Lakshman, Rama, and Vaidehi now dwell? Those people share every detail they know of the Lord, and seeing Bharat, they feel they have received the fruit of their birth. Whoever says, 'We have seen them, and they are well,' Bharat holds as dear as Rama and Lakshman themselves. In this manner, speaking with sweet courtesy to everyone, he listens to the unfolding story of Rama's vanvas.