Bharata Remembers the Brother Who Let Him Win
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 260
Doha 260 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata hears the sage's invitation and sees Rama's heart inclined toward him. The full weight of the assembly seems to descend upon his head. Thought circles within him, but speech will not come. He rises with his whole body thrilled, while tears swell in eyes shaped like dark lotuses.
At last he says that the sage has already fulfilled his plea. What more could remain to be spoken? He knows his Lord's nature too well to doubt him. Rama keeps no anger even toward an offender, and toward Bharata his mercy and affection have always been immeasurable.
The vast decision before kingdoms suddenly opens into the intimate light of childhood. Bharata remembers never leaving Rama's company, never having his heart broken by him, never seeing him become angry even in play. When Bharata lost their games, Rama would quietly let him win. That remembered kindness now stands behind the Lord's promise to grant whatever he asks.
At the edge of a kingdom's fate, Bharata sees again the gentle elder brother who turned even childhood defeat into joy.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनि मुनि बचन राम रुख पाई। गुरु साहिब अनुकूल अघाई।। लखि अपने सिर सबु छरु भारू। कहि न सकहिं कछु करहिं बिचारू।। पुलकि सरीर सभाँ भए ठाढें। नीरज नयन नेह जल बाढ़ें।। कहब मोर मुनिनाथ निबाहा। एहि तें अधिक कहौं मैं काहा। मैं जानउँ निज नाथ सुभाऊ। अपराधिहु पर कोह न काऊ।। मो पर कृपा सनेह बिसेषी। खेलत खुनिस न कबहूँ देखी।। सिसुपन तेम परिहरेउँ न संगू। कबहुँ न कीन्ह मोर मन भंगू।। मैं प्रभु कृपा रीति जियँ जोही। हारेहुँ खेल जितावहिं मोही।।
Hearing the muni's words and discerning Shri Rama's heart, the guru was overjoyed to find his beloved lord favorably inclined. Seeing the full weight of responsibility now resting upon his own head, he could speak nothing at all and sat absorbed in quiet reflection. With bodies thrilling in sacred joy, all rose to their feet in the sabha, their lotus eyes brimming over with tears of prema. "O Muninath, my word has been honored and upheld. What more can I possibly say beyond this? I know my Lord's tender nature well. He harbors no anger, not even toward those who have wronged him. He has shown me such special kripa and affection. Never once, even at play, have I seen him lose his temper. Since childhood I have never left his company. Not once has he ever broken my heart. I know my Prabhu's gracious way deep within my soul. Even when I lose at our games, he lets me win."