Loyal Bharata Vows Rama's Return
Ayodhyakanda - Sarga 79
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Ayodhyakanda - Sarga 79
Bharata, heir to Ayodhya's throne, refuses the crown and vows to bring back exiled Rama. His noble decision moves the kingdom, setting the stage for an epic journey of duty and brotherhood.
At dawn on the fourteenth day, those empowered to proclaim the king assembled and addressed Bharata:
"Dasharatha (the king and Bharata's father), our most revered master and preceptor, has ascended to heaven. He exiled his eldest son Rama and the mighty Lakshmana. O illustrious Bharata, you must now become our king. This kingdom without a leader has not yet faced any problems."
The officials continued:
"O Bharata of the Raghu race, your subjects and guilds have gathered all necessary materials for your consecration (ceremonial anointment as king). They await you. Accept this stable ancestral kingdom. Become our king and protect us, O best among men."
Bharata, firm in his vows, walked around the consecration articles and replied:
"In our family, kingship has always belonged to the eldest. It is not right for wise people like you to speak to me this way. Our eldest brother, Rama, shall become king. I will live in the forest for fourteen years."
Bharata continued to address the assembly:
"Let a great and powerful army of four divisions (infantry, cavalry, chariots, and elephants) be prepared. I will bring back my eldest brother Rama from the forest. I shall go to the forest for Rama, taking all these collected items for consecration with me."
Bharata made a solemn promise:
"After crowning Rama, the best of men, there itself, I will definitely bring him back. He will walk ahead of me, like the sacred fire carried from the place of sacrifice. I shall never fulfill the wishes of Kaikeyi (Bharata's mother). I shall dwell in the inaccessible forest, and Rama shall become king."
Bharata gave instructions for the journey:
"Let the artisans construct a road. Let uneven ground be leveled. Guards who can assess inaccessible terrains should follow along the way."
As Bharata spoke in favor of Rama, all the people responded with these excellent words:
"May Lakshmi (the goddess of prosperity) abide in you for expressing your desire to bestow the kingdom upon the king's eldest son."
The reaction of the assembly was emotional:
Having heard such graceful words spoken by the prince, tears arose from the eyes of the noble people and fell drop by drop.
The ministers and council members, along with their attendants, were delighted to hear these words. Relieved of their distress, they said:
"O best among men, on your orders, devoted people and groups of artisans have been instructed to prepare the way."
This concludes the Seventy Ninth chapter (sarga) of Ayodhyakanda, the second book of the Ramayana, the great epic composed by the sage Valmiki.