Bharata Stands Between Self Blame and Unshakable Trust in Rama
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 1
Doha 2 · Movement 1 of 2
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One day remains, and Bharata's mind opens into immeasurable sorrow. Why has the Lord not come? Perhaps Rama knows him to be crooked and has forgotten him. Blessed Lakshmana was taken into exile because his love belongs wholly to Rama's lotus feet.
Bharata turns every absence into evidence against himself. If Rama judges his deeds, he says, no deliverance could come in a hundred crore ages. Yet the next breath remembers the nature of the Lord: he never counts a servant's faults, he befriends the lowly, and his heart is supremely gentle.
Trust survives inside the self accusation. Rama will come, Bharata insists, and the omens are auspicious. But if the appointed time passes and life remains in him, no one in the world will be more fallen. The final day holds mature devotion in its painful double movement, unable to excuse itself and unable to doubt the mercy of Rama.
Bharata doubts everything in himself except the gentleness of the Lord whose delay is breaking his heart.
Read the passage from the Manas
रहेउ एक दिन अवधि अधारा। समुझत मन दुख भयउ अपारा।। कारन कवन नाथ नहिं आयउ। जानि कुटिल किधौं मोहि बिसरायउ।। अहह धन्य लछिमन बड़भागी। राम पदारबिंदु अनुरागी।। कपटी कुटिल मोहि प्रभु चीन्हा। ताते नाथ संग नहिं लीन्हा।। जौं करनी समुझै प्रभु मोरी। नहिं निस्तार कलप सत कोरी।। जन अवगुन प्रभु मान न काऊ। दीन बंधु अति मृदुल सुभाऊ।। मोरि जियँ भरोस दृढ़ सोई। मिलिहहिं राम सगुन सुभ होई।। बीतें अवधि रहहि जौं प्राना। अधम कवन जग मोहि समाना।।
One day remained of the promised time, and the thought filled my mind with boundless sorrow. What could be the reason that my Lord has not come? Perhaps, knowing me to be crooked, He has simply forgotten me. Ah, blessed and most fortunate is Lakshmana, who is devoted to Rama's lotus feet! My Lord recognized me as deceitful and crooked; that is why He did not take me along. If the Lord truly reckons my deeds, there is no deliverance for me even in a hundred crore ages. Yet the Lord never counts the faults of His servants. He is the friend of the lowly, and His nature is supremely gentle. This firm faith abides in my heart: I shall meet Rama, and auspicious signs are appearing. But if the appointed day passes and my life still lingers, who in all the world would be more wretched than I?