Bharata Confesses the Boldness Rama Transformed into Service
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 298
Doha 298 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata names Rama as Lord, father, mother, friend, guru, master, highest well-wisher, and knower of hearts. He is the gentle sovereign, treasure of grace, protector of the surrendered, cherisher of virtue, and remover of fault and sin.
There is no master like Rama, Bharata swears, and no servant like himself. Overcome by delusion, he pushed past the command of Lord and father and brought the entire society into the forest. Good and bad, high and low, nectar and poison may all be found in the world, but no one has been seen or heard who deliberately overrides Rama's will.
That unprecedented boldness is precisely what Bharata has done. Yet Rama received it as affection and service. The confession removes every ornament of self-praise: even the purity admired by the assembly belongs to the Lord who interpreted his transgression through grace.
Bharata claims only the fault of crossing Rama's command and gives Rama all the glory for receiving that fault as love.
Read the passage from the Manas
प्रभु पितु मातु सुह्रद गुर स्वामी। पूज्य परम हित अतंरजामी।। सरल सुसाहिबु सील निधानू। प्रनतपाल सर्बग्य सुजानू।। समरथ सरनागत हितकारी। गुनगाहकु अवगुन अघ हारी।। स्वामि गोसाँइहि सरिस गोसाई। मोहि समान मैं साइँ दोहाई।। प्रभु पितु बचन मोह बस पेली। आयउँ इहाँ समाजु सकेली।। जग भल पोच ऊँच अरु नीचू। अमिअ अमरपद माहुरु मीचू।। राम रजाइ मेट मन माहीं। देखा सुना कतहुँ कोउ नाहीं।। सो मैं सब बिधि कीन्हि ढिठाई। प्रभु मानी सनेह सेवकाई।।
He is Lord (Prabhu), father, mother, dear friend (suhrd), guru, and master. He is supremely worthy of worship, the truest well-wisher, the Knower of all hearts (Antarjami). He is a simple and noble sovereign (Susahibu), a treasury of grace (sheel-nidhaan), protector of the humble (pranat-paal), all-knowing and wise. He is mighty yet ever kind to those who seek His shelter (sharnagat). He cherishes virtues and washes away faults and sins. There is no master (Gosain) like my Master. I swear by my Lord: there is no servant like me, either. Overcome by delusion (moh), I set aside the command of my lord and father (Prabhu-pitu) and came here, gathering this entire assembly. In this world there is good and bad, high and low. There is nectar (amrit) and the immortal state; there is poison (mahur) and death (meechhu). But one who overrides Rama's will in his heart, such a one has never been seen or heard of anywhere. That is exactly the boldness (dhithaaee) I have shown in every way. Yet my gracious Lord accepted even this as love and faithful service (sevakaaee).