Bharata Carries Sita's Foot-Dust into the Road Home
Ayodhya Kanda, Doha 318
Doha 318 · Movement 2 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Before leaving, Bharata meets Lakshmana and bows. The brothers who will serve Rama in forest and kingdom take their separate stations without becoming inwardly divided.
Bharata receives dust from Sita's sacred feet and raises it above himself. The queen of the forest enters the journey as blessing, humility, and remembrance carried beyond every royal concern.
He departs while auspicious blessings surround him. Their sound does not erase sorrow, but consecrates the road. Rama's command, sandals, Lakshmana's meeting, and Sita's foot-dust accompany Bharata, giving the return to Ayodhya the character of a sacred procession rather than retreat.
Bharata leaves Chitrakoot crowned not by gold, but by Rama's command, his sandals, and the dust of Sita's feet.
Read the passage from the Manas
लखनहि भेंटि प्रनामु करि सिर धरि सिय पद धूरि। चले सप्रेम असीस सुनि सकल सुमंगल मूरि।।318।।
Meeting Lakhan with a reverent bow, placing the sacred dust of Siya's feet upon his head, Bharat departed, hearing blessings with love, blessings that are the very root of all auspiciousness (sakal sumangal moori).