The Sage Opens the Way to Rama's Heart
Ayodhya Kanda, Doha 259
Doha 259 · Movement 2 of 2
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Vasishtha turns toward Bharata. The assembly has spoken around his love, praised it, weighed it, and wondered before it. Now the sage asks love itself to speak.
Set aside every hesitation, dear child. The command is tender because Vasishtha knows that Bharata's silence is not emptiness. It is a river held behind the gates of reverence, afraid that even its pure waters might trouble Rama.
The one before him is not a distant king guarding his judgment. He is the beloved brother and the ocean of compassion. Vasishtha brings Bharata to that shore and asks him to release the deepest matter of his heart into waters vast enough to receive it.
Before the ocean of Rama's compassion, the guru asks Bharata to let the hidden river of his heart flow freely.
Read the passage from the Manas
तब मुनि बोले भरत सन सब सँकोचु तजि तात। कृपासिंधु प्रिय बंधु सन कहहु हृदय कै बात।।259।।
Then the sage spoke tenderly to Bharat: 'Set aside all hesitation, dear child. Speak the deepest matter of your heart to your beloved brother, who is an ocean of compassion.'