Sita Raises Bharata and Blesses Him in Silence
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 242
Doha 242 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Lakshmana embraces Shatrughna and Guha, then both visiting brothers bow before the sages and receive their desired blessings. Bharata and Shatrughna turn toward Sita with love surging beyond restraint.
They place the pollen-dust of her lotus feet upon their heads and bow again and again. Sita raises Bharata, touches his head with her lotus hand, seats him, and gives blessing from within the heart.
Love has carried her beyond bodily awareness. Seeing the meeting gracious in every direction, fear leaves her. Still no one asks a question and no one can speak. Every heart is full while ordinary composure stands empty. Only Guha gathers enough courage to join his palms and report the multitude waiting nearby.
Sita's hand rests upon Bharata's head, and in the silence before any question her inward blessing makes the meeting complete.
Read the passage from the Manas
भेंटेउ लखन ललकि लघु भाई। बहुरि निषादु लीन्ह उर लाई।। पुनि मुनिगन दुहुँ भाइन्ह बंदे। अभिमत आसिष पाइ अनंदे।। सानुज भरत उमगि अनुरागा। धरि सिर सिय पद पदुम परागा।। पुनि पुनि करत प्रनाम उठाए। सिर कर कमल परसि बैठाए।। सीयँ असीस दीन्हि मन माहीं। मगन सनेहँ देह सुधि नाहीं।। सब बिधि सानुकूल लखि सीता। भे निसोच उर अपडर बीता।। कोउ किछु कहइ न कोउ किछु पूँछा। प्रेम भरा मन निज गति छूँछा।। तेहि अवसर केवटु धीरजु धरि। जोरि पानि बिनवत प्रनामु करि।।
Lakshmana joyfully embraced his younger brother, and then the Nishaada chief drew him to his heart. Both brothers bowed before the assembly of sages and received their longed-for blessings with delight. Bharata, together with Shatrughna, surged with love and placed the pollen-dust of Sita's lotus feet upon his head. Again and again he bowed. Sita raised him, touched his head with her lotus hand, and seated him. Sita gave her blessings silently, from within her heart. She was so absorbed in love that all awareness of the body had dissolved. Seeing everyone gracious in every way, Sita's heart grew free of worry and every trace of fear departed. No one spoke a word, no one asked a question. Every heart was brimming with love, and ordinary composure had slipped away. At that moment the boatman steadied his courage, joined his palms, bowed low, and humbly spoke.