Bharata's Devotion Holds the Awakened Assembly Still
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 303
Doha 303 · Movement 1 of 2
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Rama sees the people suffering beneath Indra's deception and feels the full weight of his own affection for them. Around king, guru, brahmins, and ministers, Bharata's devotion works like a sacred charm, gathering every clear mind toward one center.
They gaze at Rama as if painted upon a scroll. When they speak, words emerge haltingly, like lessons remembered under awe. Bharata's love, reverence, humility, and greatness bring joy when heard, yet resist every attempt at description. Even a trace of his devotion immerses sages and Janaka in love.
Tulsidas confesses his smallness before such magnitude. The poet's heart rejoices, but affection overwhelms the skill needed to tell what it sees. His understanding moves like a child's speech, proving that Bharata's glory is not obscured by weak language. It is revealed as larger than the poet who serves it.
Bharata's devotion steadies the wise and defeats the poet, holding the assembly still where language can only speak like a child.
Read the passage from the Manas
कृपासिंधु लखि लोग दुखारे। निज सनेहँ सुरपति छल भारे।। सभा राउ गुर महिसुर मंत्री। भरत भगति सब कै मति जंत्री।। रामहि चितवत चित्र लिखे से। सकुचत बोलत बचन सिखे से।। भरत प्रीति नति बिनय बड़ाई। सुनत सुखद बरनत कठिनाई।। जासु बिलोकि भगति लवलेसू। प्रेम मगन मुनिगन मिथिलेसू।। महिमा तासु कहै किमि तुलसी। भगति सुभायँ सुमति हियँ हुलसी।। आपु छोटि महिमा बड़ि जानी। कबिकुल कानि मानि सकुचानी।। कहि न सकति गुन रुचि अधिकाई। मति गति बाल बचन की नाई।।
The Ocean of Compassion (Kripaasindhu), Shri Rama, saw the people's distress and was deeply moved by His own tender affection, while Indra's heavy deceptions weighed upon all. In the assembly of the king, the guru, the brahmins, and the ministers, Bharata's devotion enchanted every mind like a sacred charm (jantree). All gazed at Shri Rama as though He were a painted portrait, and spoke haltingly, as if reciting words learned by rote. Bharata's love, his prostrations, his reverence, and his nobility are a delight to hear, yet impossible to describe. Even a trace of whose devotion causes the sages and the Lord of Mithila (Mithilesoo), King Janaka, to become absorbed in divine love. How can Tulsidas describe such glory? My heart rejoices naturally in devotion and pure wisdom (sumati). Knowing myself to be small and his greatness vast, I feel abashed before the tradition of poets. I cannot express his virtues, for my fondness overwhelms me; my understanding falters like the speech of a small child.