Kausalya Measures Bharata against the Ocean
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 283
Doha 283 · Movement 1 of 2
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Kausalya invokes Ishvara's grace and Sunaina's blessing, then swears by Rama as she opens her true feeling. Her sons and daughters-in-law are pure as the sacred river, yet the thought nearest her heart is Bharata's character.
She names his humility, virtue, greatness, brotherly love, devotion, reliability, and goodness. Even Sarasvati could not speak them fully. To empty the ocean with a small shell would be easier than exhausting Bharata's qualities. Dasharatha had told her again and again that Bharata was the lamp of the lineage.
Gold is known upon the touchstone and a jewel beneath the appraiser's eye. A person is known when trial strips away comfort and disguise. Bharata has entered that fire and revealed himself. Kausalya fears that grief has made her speech unwise, but the other queens hear words pure as the Ganga and dissolve into love.
In the darkest trial of the royal house, Kausalya sees Bharata shine like tested gold and calls even Sarasvati unequal to his praise.
Read the passage from the Manas
ईस प्रसाद असीस तुम्हारी। सुत सुतबधू देवसरि बारी।। राम सपथ मैं कीन्ह न काऊ। सो करि कहउँ सखी सति भाऊ।। भरत सील गुन बिनय बड़ाई। भायप भगति भरोस भलाई।। कहत सारदहु कर मति हीचे। सागर सीप कि जाहिं उलीचे।। जानउँ सदा भरत कुलदीपा। बार बार मोहि कहेउ महीपा।। कसें कनकु मनि पारिखि पाएँ। पुरुष परिखिअहिं समयँ सुभाएँ। अनुचित आजु कहब अस मोरा। सोक सनेहँ सयानप थोरा।। सुनि सुरसरि सम पावनि बानी। भईं सनेह बिकल सब रानी।।
By Ishvara's grace and your blessings, my sons and daughters-in-law are pure as the waters of the Devnadi Ganga. I take Rama's oath: I have done nothing wrong. I speak this with a true heart, dear sakhi. Bharata's sheela, his virtues, his humility, his greatness, his brotherly love, his bhakti, his trustworthiness, his goodness: all are beyond measure. Even Sharada's intellect falls short in describing them. Can the ocean be emptied with a seashell? I have always known Bharata to be the lamp of our kula. The king told me so again and again. Gold is tested on the touchstone, gems by the jeweller's eye. A man's true nature is known only in times of trial. It is improper for me to speak this way today. Grief and love have left me with little wisdom. Hearing these words, pure as the stream of the Ganga, all the queens became lost in waves of tender emotion.