Bharata's Discernment Raises the Assembly from Grief
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 297
Doha 297 · Movement 1 of 2
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The assembly looks toward Bharata with shrinking expectation. Rama's brother gathers immense courage and contains the rising flood of affection as the sage Agastya once restrained the swelling ocean.
Grief has dimmed golden eyes and covered the clear virtues by which the world is illumined. Then Bharata's discernment rises like Varaha, effortlessly lifting the earth of the assembly from drowning waters. Love does not disappear. It receives a ground on which it can stand.
Bharata bows to all and joins his hands before Rama, Janaka, the guru, and the saints. He asks forgiveness because gentle lips must speak words that may sound hard. Remembering Sarasvati, he lets speech rise from the lake of his mind like a graceful swan clothed in purity, dharma, and wise policy.
Where grief has submerged the council, Bharata's discernment rises like Varaha and lifts love back onto the ground of dharma.
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सभा सकुच बस भरत निहारी। रामबंधु धरि धीरजु भारी।। कुसमउ देखि सनेहु सँभारा। बढ़त बिंधि जिमि घटज निवारा।। सोक कनकलोचन मति छोनी। हरी बिमल गुन गन जगजोनी।। भरत बिबेक बराहँ बिसाला। अनायास उधरी तेहि काला।। करि प्रनामु सब कहँ कर जोरे। रामु राउ गुर साधु निहोरे।। छमब आजु अति अनुचित मोरा। कहउँ बदन मृदु बचन कठोरा।। हियँ सुमिरी सारदा सुहाई। मानस तें मुख पंकज आई।। बिमल बिबेक धरम नय साली। भरत भारती मंजु मराली।।
The assembly gazed upon Bharat with a timid, shrinking silence. But the brother of Rama (Raambandhu) gathered immense patience and courage within himself. Seeing the troubled hour, he drew upon the deep well of his love. As the rising moon scatters the gathering darkness, so he began to dispel the sorrow around him. Grief had clouded his golden eyes (kanak-lochan) and dimmed the brightness of his mind. It had veiled the pure virtues of the one who illumines all creation (jagjoni). Yet Bharat's discernment (vivek) was like the great Boar, Varaha, who effortlessly lifted the earth from the depths. In that very hour, his wisdom rescued the assembly. With folded hands he bowed before everyone, humbly beseeching Rama, the king, the guru, and all the gathered saints. He said: 'Forgive what I am about to do, for it is most improper. From this gentle mouth of mine, I must now speak words that may sound harsh.' In his heart he remembered the beautiful Sharada (Saraswati), and she rose from the lake of his mind (manas) to blossom upon his lotus-like lips. Filled with pure discernment, righteousness (dharm), and wisdom (nay), Bharat's speech (Bharati) became like a graceful swan (marali) gliding across the waters of Saraswati.