Every Moment Becomes an Age While Rama Remembers Bharata Waiting
Lanka Kanda, Doha 117
Doha 117 · Movement 2 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Rama tells Vibhishana that Lanka's treasury and palace are truly his own, accepting the love within the offer. But the condition of Bharata makes every moment pass like an age.
His brother wears an ascetic's dress, has grown thin, and repeats Rama's name without ceasing. I must see him quickly, Rama says. Make the arrangements, friend, I entreat you. If the promised period ends and he is not found alive, the sentence breaks beneath the fear it contains. Remembering Bharata's love, Rama's body thrills again and again.
Then he blesses Vibhishana to rule for an age while keeping Rama in his heart. At the end the king will reach Rama's own abode, where the saints go. One brother is established upon Lanka's throne; another waits barefoot for Ayodhya's rightful king. Rama gives the first eternal refuge while hurrying toward the second with tender urgency.
To the Lord beyond time, one moment becomes an age when Bharata is waiting at the far end of a promise.
Read the passage from the Manas
तोर कोस गृह मोर सब सत्य बचन सुनु भ्रात। भरत दसा सुमिरत मोहि निमिष कल्प सम जात।।116(क)।। तापस बेष गात कृस जपत निरंतर मोहि। देखौं बेगि सो जतनु करु सखा निहोरउँ तोहि।।116(ख)।। बीतें अवधि जाउँ जौं जिअत न पावउँ बीर। सुमिरत अनुज प्रीति प्रभु पुनि पुनि पुलक सरीर।।116(ग)।। करेहु कल्प भरि राजु तुम्ह मोहि सुमिरेहु मन माहिं। पुनि मम धाम पाइहहु जहाँ संत सब जाहिं।।116(घ)।।
"Your treasury and palace are all Mine; hear this truth, dear brother. Remembering Bharata's condition, each moment passes like an age for Me. In ascetic's garb, his body grown thin, he chants My name continuously. I must see him soon. Make arrangements quickly, friend, I entreat you. If the time limit passes and I don't find that hero alive..." Remembering His brother's love, the Lord's body thrilled again and again with emotion. "Rule for an entire age, keeping Me in your heart. Then you shall reach My supreme abode where all saints go."