Ram's Bow and Quiver Scatter as He Runs to Bharata
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 240
Doha 240 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata, Shatrughna, and Guha become so absorbed that joy, grief, pleasure, and pain vanish from counting. Crying for protection, Bharata falls upon the earth straight as a staff.
Lakshmana recognizes the love-filled voice. Brotherly sweetness pulls him forward while duty keeps him beside Ram. Unable either to rush into embrace or remain composed, he steadies himself upon service like a performer held taut upon a high pole.
Bharata presses his forehead down and offers pranam to Raghunath. At the sound, Ram springs up, overcome by love. Cloth falls in one direction, quiver in another, bow and arrows elsewhere. Royal poise and forest vigilance scatter upon the ground because the brother at his feet matters more than anything the Lord was holding.
At Bharata's voice, Ram rises so swiftly that bow, arrow, cloth, and quiver fall away before the embrace begins.
Read the passage from the Manas
सानुज सखा समेत मगन मन। बिसरे हरष सोक सुख दुख गन।। पाहि नाथ कहि पाहि गोसाई। भूतल परे लकुट की नाई।। बचन सपेम लखन पहिचाने। करत प्रनामु भरत जियँ जाने।। बंधु सनेह सरस एहि ओरा। उत साहिब सेवा बस जोरा।। मिलि न जाइ नहिं गुदरत बनई। सुकबि लखन मन की गति भनई।। रहे राखि सेवा पर भारू। चढ़ी चंग जनु खैंच खेलारू।। कहत सप्रेम नाइ महि माथा। भरत प्रनाम करत रघुनाथा।। उठे रामु सुनि पेम अधीरा। कहुँ पट कहुँ निषंग धनु तीरा।।
With his younger brother and companions beside him, Bharat's mind was utterly absorbed. Every count of joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, fell away. Crying out, 'Protect me, O Nath! Save me, O Gosain!' he fell flat upon the earth like a wooden staff. Lakshmana recognised those love-filled words and knew at once in his heart that Bharat was bowing in obeisance. On this side pulled the sweetness of brotherly love; on that side held the binding force of duty to his master. He could neither rush forward to embrace his brother nor keep his composure. Only a gifted poet could describe the state of Lakshmana's mind. He steadied himself by placing all his weight on the scale of seva, like a performer perched high on a pole, pulled taut by the rope of the swinging game. Speaking words of tender love and pressing his forehead to the ground, Bharat offered pranaam to Raghunatha. Hearing this, Rama sprang to his feet, overwhelmed by prema. His cloth slipped here, his quiver and bow and arrows scattered there.