The Forgotten Well Becomes Bharata's Gift to the World
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 310
Doha 310 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata receives Atri's instruction and sends the vessels forward. With Shatrughna, the sage, disciples, and saints, he reaches the unfathomable well where the sacred waters will be placed.
Atri explains that the site is ancient and eternally accomplished, though time covered it until no one remembered. Servants recognized the fertile ground and made the well accessible for pure water. Providence has brought a forgotten sanctity and a servant's obedience together for the welfare of the world.
People will call it Bharatakupa. Difficult spiritual good becomes approachable through the meeting of holy waters, sacred ground, and loving discipline. Those who bathe with love and reverence will be purified in action, mind, and speech. Bharata sought no memorial, yet service gives his name to a place of cleansing.
Time hid the ancient depth, but Bharata's obedience opens it again as a well where deed, mind, and speech may become clear.
Read the passage from the Manas
भरत अत्रि अनुसासन पाई। जल भाजन सब दिए चलाई।। सानुज आपु अत्रि मुनि साधू। सहित गए जहँ कूप अगाधू।। पावन पाथ पुन्यथल राखा। प्रमुदित प्रेम अत्रि अस भाषा।। तात अनादि सिद्ध थल एहू। लोपेउ काल बिदित नहिं केहू।। तब सेवकन्ह सरस थलु देखा। किन्ह सुजल हित कूप बिसेषा।। बिधि बस भयउ बिस्व उपकारू। सुगम अगम अति धरम बिचारू।। भरतकूप अब कहिहहिं लोगा। अति पावन तीरथ जल जोगा।। प्रेम सनेम निमज्जत प्रानी। होइहहिं बिमल करम मन बानी।।
Bharat received the sage Atri's instruction and sent forth all the water vessels to be filled. Atri himself, together with his disciples, and Bharat with his younger brother, went to where the deep, unfathomable well lay. He consecrated that ground as a sacred place of pilgrimage, and Atri spoke with a heart brimming with joyful love. "Dear child, this is an ancient, eternally established holy site, hidden by the passage of time, unknown to anyone." Then the servants, seeing this excellent and fertile spot, dug a special well to draw pure water. By the will of Providence this became a blessing for the whole world, making the most difficult spiritual practices easy and accessible. People will call it Bharatkoop, Bharat's Well, a most sacred pilgrimage, rich with holy water. Those who bathe here with love and reverence will become pure in deed, mind, and speech.