Bharata Asks the Knower of Hearts to Remove His Stubbornness
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 314
Doha 314 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Bharata speaks of citizens, relatives, and subjects bound together by pure and tender affection. Without Rama, worldly greatness is empty, and even the highest spiritual state cannot soothe the burning left by his absence.
Yet the wise master knows every person's longing and manner of life. The protector of the surrendered will care for both forest and city. Trusting this completely, Bharata can look upon the future without being destroyed by anxiety.
He confesses that his anguish and Rama's tenderness joined together to make him bold, attached, and stubborn. Now he asks the Lord to remove that fault, set hesitation aside, and teach his follower plainly. The assembly praises the swanlike discernment that can separate devotion's pure milk from the water of possessive insistence.
Bharata trusts Rama's care for both worlds and asks that love be strained clear of the stubbornness sorrow mixed into it.
Read the passage from the Manas
पुरजन परिजन प्रजा गोसाई। सब सुचि सरस सनेहँ सगाई।। राउर बदि भल भव दुख दाहू। प्रभु बिनु बादि परम पद लाहू।। स्वामि सुजानु जानि सब ही की। रुचि लालसा रहनि जन जी की।। प्रनतपालु पालिहि सब काहू। देउ दुहू दिसि ओर निबाहू।। अस मोहि सब बिधि भूरि भरोसो। किएँ बिचारु न सोचु खरो सो।। आरति मोर नाथ कर छोहू। दुहुँ मिलि कीन्ह ढीठु हठि मोहू।। यह बड़ दोषु दूरि करि स्वामी। तजि सकोच सिखइअ अनुगामी।। भरत बिनय सुनि सबहिं प्रसंसी। खीर नीर बिबरन गति हंसी।।
O Gosaaee, the citizens, kinfolk, and subjects are all pure of heart, bound together by the sweetness of love. Without you, Lord, all worldly greatness is hollow, and even the gain of the highest realm (param pad) brings no solace against the burning of sorrow. The wise Master (Svaami Sujaanu) knows every devotee's longing, desire, and the way their life is lived. The Protector of the surrendered (Pranatpaalu) will surely shelter all; may God bring fulfillment from every direction. With such abundant trust in every way, I felt no worry and no sharp grief when I reflected on all this. My anguish and the Lord's tender grace, these two together have made me bold and stubborn in my attachment. O Master, remove this great fault of mine; setting aside all hesitation, please instruct this follower. Hearing Bharat's humble words, all praised him, for he possessed the discernment of the swan (hansa) that separates milk from water.