July 24 - Sargas 113 and 114 of Ayodhya Kanda.
Bharata meets sage Bharadwaja and reports how Sri Rama sent him back with Padukas to rule Ayodhya during Rama's fourteen year exile. Sri Rama was firm in following his father's order.
Bharadwaja blesses Bharata.
Bharata is deeply dejected as he enters Ayodhya and finds it totally bereft of any splendour and cheer.
***
Bharata's return journey is described by Valmiki in a matter-of-fact way. He and his army crossed the Yamuna, Ganga, and returned to Ayodhya. On the way, he stopped at the ashrama of sage Bharadwaja. He reported his meeting with Sri Rama and what transpired:
पितुः प्रतिज्ञां तामेव पालायिष्यामि तत्त्वतः ।
चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि या प्रतिज्ञा पितुर्मम ॥
एवमुक्तो महाप्राज्ञो वसिष्ठः प्रत्युवाच ह ।
वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकुशलं राघवं वचनं महत् ॥
एते प्रतेच्छ संहृष्टः पादुके हेमभूषिते ।
अयोध्यायां महाप्राज्ञ योगक्षेमकरो भव ॥
"Respected sage, we all, including our preceptor and elders, tried to prevail on Sri Rama to return to Ayodhya. But he did not relent. He said,
"I shall adhere to the letter and spirit of the promise I have made to my father. I shall spend fourteen years in the forest as that was my commitment."
"Upon Sri Rama's speaking thus, the most enlightened sage Vasishtha replied, adept in right speech, to Sri Rama, who is himself a master of the spoken word, with these significant words - "Dear Sri Rama, then you please wear and bless these gold-encrusted sandals. These sandals shall be enthroned in Ayodhya and thereby you shall ensure the safety and welfare of Ayodhya."
(Pssst. Have you thought of this? Sage Vasishtha and Bharata have thus ensured that Sri Rama has not really relinquished office. He has gone to the forest, but he has accepted the responsibility for ruling Ayodhya through Bharata! Victory!)
Bharata recounted how he will proceed to take care of Ayodhya in the intervening period as Sri Rama's representative under the aegis of the golden sandals.
***
Sage Bharadwaja is most pleased with the way the brothers have agreed to discharge their duties. He is immensely impressed with Bharata's sense of righteousness and humility. He pays him a high compliment:
नैतच्चित्रं नरव्याघ्रे शीलवृत्तविदां वरे ।
यदार्यं त्वयि तिष्ठेत्तु निम्नोत्सृष्टमिवोदकम् ॥
"Dear Bharata, a tiger among men, you are supreme among men of righteous character! King Dasharatha was indeed blessed to have a son like you in whom all great qualities have converged like all the waters will naturally flow and collect in a suitable low lying place. This does not surprise me one bit!"
After taking sage Bharadwaja's blessings, Bharata and the entire army proceed uneventfully to Ayodhya.
***
All the accumulated sorrow and dejection that has gone into Bharata's subconscious mind finds expression in the way Valmiki describes a sheen-less and cheer-less Ayodhya in Bharata's eyes.
He remarks repeatedly to his charioteer what a blighted place Ayodhya has become. It is singularly bereft of all sparkle, joie de vivre, and the hustle and bustle of a famed capital of the earth's foremost kingdom ruled by Ikshwakus.
I am so depressed reading all the descriptions that I want to save you from the same low mood. I shall quote only one verse:
तदा तदन्तःपुरमुज्झितप्रभं
सुरैरिवोत्कृष्टमभास्करं दिनम् ।
निरीक्ष्य सर्वत्र विविक्तमात्मवान्
मुमोच बाष्पं भरतः सुदुःखितः ॥
"Then Bharata, despite all his self-possessed temperament, wept copiously on entering the inner palace which was shorn of all splendour. It looked as if it had been deserted by the gods, and appeared as gloomy as a day with no sunshine. Seeing every place deserted and depressing, Bharata could not control himself."
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
