July 3 - Sargas 71 and 72 of Ayodhya Kanda.
We begin to read about Bharata for the first time in Ramayana.
Imagine someone who has become the heir to a powerful kingdom, thanks to his mother's successful ploy. How he would react to this opportunity depends on the circumstances, his personality, and his values. In the idyllic world of Ramayana, just as Sri Rama was the embodiment of Dharma, Bharata valued what is really important in life. He worshipped the ideal of being true to one's elders and serving the people selflessly. Here we begin to read his first reactions to the calamitous goings-on in Ayodhya.
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Valmiki describes the route taken by Bharata and his large entourage through various regions and towns, crossing mountains and rivers at convenient and safe points. They are unable to travel as fast as the messengers from Ayodhya who had expertly sped on horses.
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स गङ्गां प्राग्वटे तीर्त्वा समायात् कुटिकोष्टिकाम् ।
सबलस्तां स तीर्त्वाथ समगाद् धर्मवर्धनम् ॥
स तांस्तु प्रियकान् प्राप्य शीघ्रानास्थाय वाजिनः ।
अनुज्ञाप्याथ भरतो वाहिनीं त्वरितो ययौ ॥
अयोध्यां मनुना राज्ञा निर्मितां स ददर्श ह ।
तां पुरीं परुषव्याघ्रः सप्तरात्रोषितः पथी ॥
Bharata crossed the holy Ganga at Pragvata and came to the river Kutikoshtika. He crossed that river too with his large entourage and passed the village of Dharmavardhana. After passing some more villages and resting for the night in a delightful grove, he decided that their passage was rather slow because of the large detachment that accompanied him. He, therefore, changed his horses to swifter ones and directed the army to proceed at their pace but that he would travel ahead as swiftly as possible. Bharata's chariot then advanced rapidly to reach Ayodhya.
At last, after travelling as fast as he could over seven days and nights, completely exhausted, Bharata, the tiger among men, arrived and sighted Ayodhya, that glorious city built by Manu.
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Bharata was greeted by uniformly depressing sights all around. The city had neither its usual hustle and bustle, nor were its citizens going about their affairs cheerfully. The gardens were without joyous couples and visitors. There were neither holy Vedic chants nor worship at temples. Everything looked dismal and mournful.
बभूव पश्यन् मनसोऽप्रियाणि
यान्मान्यदा नास्य पुरे बभूवुः ।
अवाक्शिरा दीनमना न हृष्टः
पितुर्महात्मा प्रविवेश वेश्म ॥
Beholding so many gloomy sights that were unprecedented in Ayodhya, Bharata was silent and depressed as he entered his father's palace.
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Not finding his father there, he goes to Kaikeyi's chambers, where the king is most likely to be. But more distressing sights of unkempt surroundings greet his eyes as his mother receives him with much ardour.
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Among the navarasas, the nine moods described by Bharatamuni in Natyashastra, the one representing kindness, pathos, sympathy, affection, softness, nobility, is Karuna rasa. Valmiki has depicted the character of Bharata to exemplify Karuna rasa. His experiences and life choices all overflow with Karuna.
Imagine his increasing consternation, anguish, and horror, as his mother Kaikeyi begins to unravel the sequence of events that has come to pass in Ayodhya. They are more horrific in their reality than the fantastic nightmare he had back in Rajagriha.
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या गतिः सर्वभूतानां तां गतिं ते पिता गतः ।
राजा महात्मा तेजस्वी यायजूकः सतां गतिः ॥
"Dear Bharata, your father, who was high-souled and devoted to performing yajnas for universal welfare, has passed on, meeting the same destiny that beckons all living beings. He has attained the state that is coveted by all righteous men."
WHAT! Bharata gets a huge shock. He is incoherent in his distress, recalling how loving Dasharatha was as a father, and what a calamity it is for everyone in Ayodhya. What was his illness? How did he die? What were his last words? Sri Rama and Lakshmana are indeed so fortunate that they were by his side, and could perform his last rites....
रामेति राजा विलपन् हा सीते लक्ष्मणेति च ।
स महात्मा परं लोकं गतो मतिमतां वरः ॥
"Dear son, the high-souled and greatly wise king breathed his last crying out words, "Oh Rama, Oh Sita, Oh Lakshmana! "
"In fact, your father was bound by the laws of Time (= Death) just like an elephant is bound by chains. The last words he said, very wistfully, were "indeed blessed are those who will behold Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana when they return to Ayodhya!""
WHAT!? Where was Sri Rama then? Why was he not at father's side??? Where had the three gone away?
स हि राजसुतः पुत्र चीरवासा महावनम् ।
दण्डकान् सह वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणानुचरो गतः ॥
"My son, prince Rama, along with Sita, followed by Lakshmana, went away to the great Dandaka forest, clad in tree-barks and leaves."
WHAT!!!!!???? For what adharmic act was Rama punished thus? Did he embezzle the property of a Brahmin? Did he kill a sinless man, rich or poor? Did he covet another's wife? Did he kill a foetus?
"No, No, No, Bharata, no such act of transgression happened. Rama was sent away to the forest as per my bidding by the king!
मया तु पुत्र श्रुत्यैव रामस्येहाभिषेचनम् ।
याचितऽस्ते पिता राज्यं रामास्य च विवासनम् ॥
तमपश्यन् प्रियं पुत्रं महीपालो महायशाः ।
पुत्रशोकपरिद्यूनः पञ्चत्वमुपपेदिवान् ॥
"Dear son, as soon as I heard of the king's imminent plan to install Rama as the Yuvaraja, I put my foot down. I demanded that you be made the king and Rama be sent to the forest at once.
"Poor king, unable to set his eyes any more on Rama, was plunged in sorrow and breathed his last."
तत् पुत्र शीघ्रं विधिना विधिज्ञैः
वसिष्ठमुख्यैः सहितो द्विजेन्द्रैः ।
संकाल्य राजानमदीनसत्त्वम्
आत्मानमुर्व्यामभिषेचयस्व ॥
"Now then, dear son Bharata, all that remains for you is to crown yourself as the king of this earth without any delay whatever, duly installed with all proper ceremonies by the knowledgeable priests and sages led by sage Vasishtha, giving up any trace of sorrow in your heart."
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
