Ram Weighs His Father's Command against Bharata's Arrival
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 227
Doha 227 · Movement 1 of 2
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Joy is quickly joined by renewed concern. Why has Bharata come with the royal society? A second report adds the weight of a great fourfold army moving through the forest.
Ram stands between his father's command and tender concern for his brother. He knows Bharata's noble nature, and wise saints have always praised him, yet the visible army keeps the heart from settling into a single explanation.
Lakshmana sees the burden within his Lord. He asks permission to speak without being asked, acknowledging that a servant must not become forward. The moment, however, calls for timely counsel. Before offering his judgment, he bows to Ram as the all-knowing crown of masters and locates every word within obedience.
As an army approaches, Ram holds paternal duty and brotherly love together while Lakshmana asks leave to voice the fear forming beside him.
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बहुरि सोचबस भे सियरवनू। कारन कवन भरत आगवनू।। एक आइ अस कहा बहोरी। सेन संग चतुरंग न थोरी।। सो सुनि रामहि भा अति सोचू। इत पितु बच इत बंधु सकोचू।। भरत सुभाउ समुझि मन माहीं। प्रभु चित हित थिति पावत नाही।। समाधान तब भा यह जाने। भरतु कहे महुँ साधु सयाने।। लखन लखेउ प्रभु हृदयँ खभारू। कहत समय सम नीति बिचारू।। बिनु पूँछ कछु कहउँ गोसाईं। सेवकु समयँ न ढीठ ढिठाई।। तुम्ह सर्बग्य सिरोमनि स्वामी। आपनि समुझि कहउँ अनुगामी।।
Once more Sita and Rama fell into anxious thought: what could be the reason for Bharata's coming? Someone arrived and reported further: Bharata had come with a great fourfold army, no small force. Hearing this, Rama grew deeply troubled. On one side lay his father's command; on the other, tender concern for his brother. Reflecting on Bharata's noble nature within his heart, the Lord still could not find peace. Then consolation came through this thought: wise and saintly people had always spoken well of Bharata. Lakshmana perceived the weight pressing upon his Lord's heart and spoke timely words of counsel. 'Without being asked, I venture to speak, O Gosain. A servant should not be forward, yet the moment calls for it. You are all-knowing, the crown among masters. I speak only as your follower, knowing my place.'