Bharata Asks Forgiveness for Love's Boldness
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 300
Doha 300 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata looks back upon the road that brought him to Chitrakoot. Grief, love, and the innocence of a child made him set royal command aside. Yet Rama turned his compassionate gaze toward him and accepted every part of the approach as good.
Bharata saw the feet from which all auspiciousness rises and discovered again that his master is gracious by nature. He received the fortune of the great assembly, but he also sees the magnitude of his own transgression. Rama's affection made that very error a doorway for immeasurable favor.
Before Lord and society, Bharata confesses that he abandoned restraint and spoke proper and improper words as anguish moved him. Whatever honor remains was preserved by Rama's gentleness, not Bharata's skill. He asks the treasury of mercy to forgive the boldness of a servant whose sorrow overflowed every boundary.
Standing inside the honor Rama preserved for him, Bharata names the anguish and boldness that grace alone made bearable.
Read the passage from the Manas
सोक सनेहँ कि बाल सुभाएँ। आयउँ लाइ रजायसु बाएँ।। तबहुँ कृपाल हेरि निज ओरा। सबहि भाँति भल मानेउ मोरा।। देखेउँ पाय सुमंगल मूला। जानेउँ स्वामि सहज अनुकूला।। बड़ें समाज बिलोकेउँ भागू। बड़ीं चूक साहिब अनुरागू।। कृपा अनुग्रह अंगु अघाई। कीन्हि कृपानिधि सब अधिकाई।। राखा मोर दुलार गोसाईं। अपनें सील सुभायँ भलाईं।। नाथ निपट मैं कीन्हि ढिठाई। स्वामि समाज सकोच बिहाई।। अबिनय बिनय जथारुचि बानी। छमिहि देउ अति आरति जानी।।
Whether driven by grief, by love, or by a child's innocent nature, I came here casting aside all royal protocol. Yet even so, O compassionate Lord, You turned Your gaze toward me and accepted me kindly in every way. I beheld Your sacred feet, the very root of all auspiciousness, and knew my Master to be gracious by nature. Blessed was I to witness this great assembly; yet great too was my fault, born of love for my Lord. The treasury of mercy filled my entire being with grace and favor, bestowing upon me every authority. My Lord preserved my honor through His own gentle nature and innate goodness. O Master, I have been utterly bold, abandoning all restraint before this noble assembly. Words both improper and proper I have spoken as my heart moved me. Forgive me, Lord, knowing the depth of my anguish.