राम
Contemplative Interlude

Do Not Fear the Crown Jewel among Ram's Devotees

Ayodhya Kanda, Doha 219

Doha 219 · Movement 2 of 2

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Brihaspati describes Ram's devotees by the direction of their hearts. They remain devoted to the welfare of others and feel another being's sorrow as their own.

Compassion makes such a devotee incapable of the selfish harm Indra imagines. Power may fear power, but it has no language for a heart whose first movement is service.

Bharata stands as the crown jewel among these servants. The king of heaven therefore has nothing to fear from his approach to Chitrakoot. Bharata's love may overturn calculations, but it will not injure the world. The guru asks Indra to distinguish the danger of losing control from the danger of meeting goodness, for the two are not the same.

Bharata may unsettle heaven's plans, but the crown jewel of compassion cannot become the enemy Indra fears.

Read the passage from the Manas

राम भगत परहित निरत पर दुख दुखी दयाल। भगत सिरोमनि भरत तें जनि डरपहु सुरपाल।।219।।

Rama's devotees live for the welfare of others, compassionate and grieved by others' sorrows. Bharat is the crown jewel among such devotees. Fear him not, O guardian of the gods!