Bharadvaja Cannot Speak for Love
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 104
Doha 104 · Movement 1 of 2
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At Prayag, Bharadvaja receives the end of Shiva's beautiful story with tears filling his eyes and every hair lifted by devotion. Longing for more Katha grows so strong that speech leaves him.
Yajnavalkya rejoices at the sight. Blessed is the listener whose love for Gaurisha is as dear as life. One who has no affection for Shiva's lotus feet cannot please Ram even in dream, while guileless love for Vishwanath is a sure mark of Ram's devotee.
Who has upheld a vow to Raghupati like Shiva? He renounced conjugal nearness without Sati committing an ordinary fault, only to preserve the purity of devotion. The sage who tells the story recognizes in the sage who hears it the same current of love.
Bharadvaja's tears answer the Katha when his voice can no longer do so.
Read the passage from the Manas
संभु चरित सुनि सरस सुहावा। भरद्वाज मुनि अति सुख पावा।। बहु लालसा कथा पर बाढ़ी। नयनन्हि नीरु रोमावलि ठाढ़ी।। प्रेम बिबस मुख आव न बानी। दसा देखि हरषे मुनि ग्यानी।। अहो धन्य तव जन्मु मुनीसा। तुम्हहि प्रान सम प्रिय गौरीसा।। सिव पद कमल जिन्हहि रति नाहीं। रामहि ते सपनेहुँ न सोहाहीं।। बिनु छल बिस्वनाथ पद नेहू। राम भगत कर लच्छन एहू।। सिव सम को रघुपति ब्रतधारी। बिनु अघ तजी सती असि नारी।। पनु करि रघुपति भगति देखाई। को सिव सम रामहि प्रिय भाई।।
Hearing Shambhu's sweet and beautiful story, the sage Bharadvaja was filled with great joy. His longing for the tale grew ever deeper. Tears welled in his eyes, and the hair on his body stood on end.