राम
Leela Scene

Love and Beauty Take Bodies and Meet in Rama and Bharata

Uttara Kanda, Chhand 2

Doha 5ख · Movement 2 of 3

Keep this contemplation

Preserve, print, or share

Tears stream from Rama's lotus eyes and a beautiful line of goosebumps rises across his body. The master of the three worlds presses Bharata to his heart with immeasurable love.

No comparison can hold the beauty of their meeting. It is as though Love and sacred Beauty themselves have assumed bodies and found one another in a single embrace.

The treasury of compassion asks about Bharata's welfare, but words do not come quickly. Shiva tells Uma that only one who has received such joy can know it, for mind and speech remain outside. At last Bharata answers: all is well now, Lord of Kosala. Knowing the anguish of your servant, you have given your sight. I was drowning in the rain flood of separation, and the treasury of mercy has taken my hand.

Hanuman brought the boat, but Rama himself reaches into the flood and draws Bharata against his heart.

Read the passage from the Manas

राजीव लोचन स्त्रवत जल तन ललित पुलकावलि बनी। अति प्रेम हृदयँ लगाइ अनुजहि मिले प्रभु त्रिभुअन धनी।। प्रभु मिलत अनुजहि सोह मो पहिं जाति नहिं उपमा कही। जनु प्रेम अरु सिंगार तनु धरि मिले बर सुषमा लही।।1।। बूझत कृपानिधि कुसल भरतहि बचन बेगि न आवई। सुनु सिवा सो सुख बचन मन ते भिन्न जान जो पावई।। अब कुसल कौसलनाथ आरत जानि जन दरसन दियो। बूड़त बिरह बारीस कृपानिधान मोहि कर गहि लियो।।2।।

Tears streamed from His lotus eyes, and a lovely wave of goosebumps adorned His body. With boundless love the Lord, Master of all three worlds, pressed His younger brother Bharat to His heart. The beauty of the Lord meeting His brother surpasses all comparison I can offer. It was as if Love and Grace themselves had taken bodily form and embraced each other in perfect splendour. The Treasury of Compassion asked Bharat about his welfare, but words would not come to Bharat's lips. Listen, O Parvati: the joy of that moment is something only a heart that has tasted it can know; speech and mind fall short. 'All is well now, O Lord of Kosala. Knowing Your servant's anguish, You have granted Your darshana. I was drowning in the flood of separation, and You, O Treasury of Mercy, caught me by the hand and lifted me out.'