Bharata Offers the Coronation Back to Rama
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 268
Doha 268 · Movement 1 of 2
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Seeing the love of guru and Lord from every side, Bharata's agitation disappears. No doubt remains. He asks the compassionate Rama to act only in the way that serves his devotee, without allowing even the slightest disturbance to enter the Lord's heart.
A servant who embarrasses his master by seeking private advantage has understood neither service nor love. The true master even takes up labor for the servant's welfare, abandoning pleasure and desire. For Bharata, therefore, everyone's interest can be fulfilled only through Rama's command. That obedience is worldly good, highest good, the fruit of merit, and the adornment of liberation together.
Then Bharata brings forward the visible sign of Ayodhya's hope. The entire coronation assembly and its sacred preparations have been carried into the forest. He asks Rama to make them fruitful, if the proposal is fitting and pleasing to his heart. Royal abundance waits amid bark garments and leaves, offered back to the one for whom it was prepared.
At the forest hermitage, Bharata lays the waiting coronation before Rama and asks that its purpose at last be fulfilled.
Read the passage from the Manas
लखि सब बिधि गुर स्वामि सनेहू। मिटेउ छोभु नहिं मन संदेहू।। अब करुनाकर कीजिअ सोई। जन हित प्रभु चित छोभु न होई।। जो सेवकु साहिबहि सँकोची। निज हित चहइ तासु मति पोची।। सेवक हित साहिब सेवकाई। करै सकल सुख लोभ बिहाई।। स्वारथु नाथ फिरें सबही का। किएँ रजाइ कोटि बिधि नीका।। यह स्वारथ परमारथ सारु। सकल सुकृत फल सुगति सिंगारु।। देव एक बिनती सुनि मोरी। उचित होइ तस करब बहोरी।। तिलक समाजु साजि सबु आना। करिअ सुफल प्रभु जौं मनु माना।।
Seeing in every way the love of the Guru and Lord, his agitation vanished and no doubt remained in his mind. Now, O compassionate one, do that which benefits Your devotee, and let no disturbance touch Your heart, O Lord. The servant who holds back before his master and seeks his own gain has poor understanding indeed. For the servant's welfare, the master takes up service, abandoning every pleasure and desire. O Lord, everyone's true interest is fulfilled when Your will is carried out; it is good in a million ways. This self-interest is the essence of the highest good, the fruit of all merit, the very ornament of liberation. O Lord, hear this one prayer of mine. If it is fitting, then let it be granted. Prepare every arrangement for the coronation ceremony and bring it to fruition, O Lord, if Your heart consents.