Bharata Calls Himself a Child before Janaka's Wisdom
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 293
Doha 293 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata's body thrills and tears fill his eyes. He gathers immense patience before Janaka, whom he reveres as Lord and father, a well-wisher beyond even ordinary parental care. Around them sit Vishvamitra and the sages, ministers, and the king who is an ocean of knowledge.
Bharata asks to be treated as a child and servant who follows command. In such an assembly, what can his dejected silence or foolish speech contribute? A small mouth is about to utter great matters, and he asks forgiveness for the extremity into which fate has brought him.
Scripture and ancient teaching proclaim that the dharma of service is difficult. It opposes private interest, while love, blinded by its own intensity, cannot always counsel itself. Bharata therefore seeks instruction rather than authority, asking wisdom to guard devotion from becoming disobedience.
Given the power to decide, Bharata returns it to Janaka and asks that wisdom teach love how to remain true service.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनि तन पुलकि नयन भरि बारी। बोले भरतु धीर धरि भारी।। प्रभु प्रिय पूज्य पिता सम आपू। कुलगुरु सम हित माय न बापू।। कौसिकादि मुनि सचिव समाजू। ग्यान अंबुनिधि आपुनु आजू।। सिसु सेवक आयसु अनुगामी। जानि मोहि सिख देइअ स्वामी।। एहिं समाज थल बूझब राउर। मौन मलिन मैं बोलब बाउर।। छोटे बदन कहउँ बड़ि बाता। छमब तात लखि बाम बिधाता।। आगम निगम प्रसिद्ध पुराना। सेवाधरमु कठिन जगु जाना।। स्वामि धरम स्वारथहि बिरोधू। बैरु अंध प्रेमहि न प्रबोधू।।
Hearing this, Bharata's body thrilled with pulak and his eyes brimmed with tears. Summoning great composure, he spoke. You are my beloved Prabhu, worthy of all reverence, like a father to me. No well-wisher compares to you, neither mother nor father. The assembly of munis led by Kaushika, and all the ministers, are gathered here. You yourself are an ocean of gyaan today. Know me as a child, a sevak who follows your command. Please grant me your guidance, O Swami. In this great assembly, it is proper for me to ask you. Yet I sit dejected and silent, speaking like a fool. From a small mouth I utter great things. Forgive me, Taat, for fate has been unkind. The Aagam, Nigam, and ancient Purana all declare it: the dharma of seva is hard, as the world well knows. The dharma of a Swami stands opposed to self-interest. This enmity is blind, and prem alone cannot counsel it.