Bharata Offers His Arrow to Carry Hanuman and the Mountain to Rama
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 60
Doha 61क · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Bharata asks for the welfare of Rama, treasure of happiness, together with Lakshmana and Mother Janaki. Hanuman recounts the battle and the wounded prince. Regret pierces Bharata. Why was I born, he cries, if I could not serve my Lord in even one task?
He masters the grief because the hour permits no delay. Dawn will ruin the healing mission before Hanuman's flight is finished. Climb upon my arrow with the mountain, Bharata says, and I will send you instantly to the abode of compassion.
For one moment pride rises in Hanuman: how could an arrow carry his weight together with the mountain? Then he remembers Rama's power and bows at Bharata's feet with joined hands. No vehicle offered through Rama's servant can be measured only by its visible size. The arrow that felled him now stands ready to bear the whole burden of his mission.
Hanuman weighs a mountain against an arrow until remembrance of Rama makes the smaller form immeasurable.
Read the passage from the Manas
तात कुसल कहु सुखनिधान की। सहित अनुज अरु मातु जानकी।। कपि सब चरित समास बखाने। भए दुखी मन महुँ पछिताने।। अहह दैव मैं कत जग जायउँ। प्रभु के एकहु काज न आयउँ।। जानि कुअवसरु मन धरि धीरा। पुनि कपि सन बोले बलबीरा।। तात गहरु होइहि तोहि जाता। काजु नसाइहि होत प्रभाता।। चढ़ु मम सायक सैल समेता। पठवौं तोहि जहँ कृपानिकेता।। सुनि कपि मन उपजा अभिमाना। मोरें भार चलिहि किमि बाना।। राम प्रभाव बिचारि बहोरी। बंदि चरन कह कपि कर जोरी।।
Dear one, tell me of the welfare of that treasure of happiness, along with his younger brother and mother Janaki. The monkey narrated all the events in brief; Bharata grew sorrowful and full of regret in his heart. Alas, O fate! Why was I born in this world? I could not serve my Lord in even a single task. Knowing this was not the moment, the mighty hero steadied his mind and spoke again to the monkey. Dear one, it will be late by the time you travel there; the task will be ruined once dawn breaks. Climb upon my arrow together with the mountain, and I shall send you to where the abode of mercy dwells. Hearing this, pride arose in the monkey's mind: how can an arrow carry my weight? Then, reflecting again on Rama's power, the monkey bowed at his feet and spoke with folded hands.