Bharata Reads Chitrakoot as a Scripture of Living Places
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 312
Doha 312 · Movement 1 of 2
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Bharata moves through the forest with a discipline and love that humble the sages. Every water, stretch of earth, bird, deer, tree, blade of grass, mountain, grove, and woodland appears beautiful, wondrous, and charged with purity.
He does not pass through as a collector of sights. At each place he asks its origin, name, virtue, and sacred power. The sage answers with delight. Bharata bathes, bows, gazes, or sits in remembrance of Sita, Rama, and Lakshmana according to the nature of the site.
Forest deities bless his affection and service. After two and a half watches of wandering, he returns to behold Rama's lotus feet. Exploration does not carry him away from the center. Every sacred place becomes another path back to the one presence that makes the forest holy.
Bharata reads lake, stone, tree, and mountain as sacred verses, then returns from every page to Rama's feet.
Read the passage from the Manas
एहि बिधि भरतु फिरत बन माहीं। नेमु प्रेमु लखि मुनि सकुचाहीं।। पुन्य जलाश्रय भूमि बिभागा। खग मृग तरु तृन गिरि बन बागा।। चारु बिचित्र पबित्र बिसेषी। बूझत भरतु दिब्य सब देखी।। सुनि मन मुदित कहत रिषिराऊ। हेतु नाम गुन पुन्य प्रभाऊ।। कतहुँ निमज्जन कतहुँ प्रनामा। कतहुँ बिलोकत मन अभिरामा।। कतहुँ बैठि मुनि आयसु पाई। सुमिरत सीय सहित दोउ भाई।। देखि सुभाउ सनेहु सुसेवा। देहिं असीस मुदित बनदेवा।। फिरहिं गएँ दिनु पहर अढ़ाई। प्रभु पद कमल बिलोकहिं आई।।
In this way Bharat wandered through the forest, and the sages felt humbled seeing his discipline and love. He beheld sacred water bodies, stretches of land, birds, deer, trees, grass, mountains, forests, and groves. Seeing all these beautiful, wondrous, and singularly pure sights, Bharat inquired about their divine nature. The sage-king, delighted in his heart, would explain the origin, name, virtue, and sanctifying power of each place. Sometimes Bharat would take a holy bath, sometimes offer prostrations, sometimes gaze with a heart full of delight. Sometimes, sitting with the sage's leave, he would remember Sita and the two brothers together. Seeing his noble nature, his affection, and his devoted service, the forest deities joyfully bestowed their blessings. After wandering for about two and a half hours each day, they would return to behold the lotus feet of the Lord.