Lakshmana's Loyalty Inspires Bharata's Vow
Ayodhyakanda - Sarga 88
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Ayodhyakanda - Sarga 88
Bharata discovers Rama's humble forest dwelling, laments his brother's fate, and vows to join him in exile. A poignant exploration of duty, love, and sacrifice in the Ramayana.
Bharata, accompanied by his ministers, listened attentively to all that Guha had said. Upon reaching the foot of the ingudi tree (a type of Indian beech tree), he gazed at Rama's bed and addressed his mothers:
"Here, on this very ground, the magnanimous Rama rested for the night. This is his crushed bed."
Bharata spoke:
"Rama, born of the noble and sagacious Dasharatha, does not deserve to sleep on this bare earth. How can the best among men, accustomed to the finest comforts, now rest on the ground?"
Bharata then described Rama's former life in Ayodhya:
Dwelling in magnificent seven-storied mansions
Floors paved with gold and silver
Excellent carpets adorning every room
Flowers and fragrant perfumes filling the air
Palaces echoing with the cries of parrots
Walls plated with gold, rivaling Mount Meru in splendor
Bharata recalled how Rama used to wake:
To sounds of songs and musical instruments
Tinkling of ornaments and beats of drums
Bards, genealogists, and panegyrists saluting him
Ballads and praises befitting his virtues
Bharata exclaimed:
"This seems unbelievable and unreal to me. My mind is bewildered, as if this were a dream."
"Surely no divine power is mightier than Time, for Dasharatha's son Rama had to sleep on this very ground."
"Sita, daughter of the king of Videha, beloved daughter-in-law of Dasharatha, who delights all who see her, also rested on this ground."
Bharata observed:
The couch where his brother tossed and turned
Grass crushed by Rama's limbs on the hard earth
Gold dust from Sita's jewelry visible on the bed
Silken threads from Sita's garment caught nearby
"I think Sita finds her husband's bed comfortable, for this delicate, chaste lady doesn't seem to know suffering even in these circumstances."
"Alas, how cruel I am! Because of me, Rama and his spouse recline on such a bed."
Rama's qualities:
Born in a family of emperors
Revered by the entire world
Beloved by all
Complexion like a blue lotus
Red-eyed and pleasing to look at
Deserving of happiness, not suffering
"Truly fortunate is the great Lakshmana, a man of auspicious virtues, who accompanies his brother Rama in these adverse times."
"Sita has surely accomplished her purpose by following her husband to the forest. We are all in doubt, bereft of that magnanimous Rama."
"With Dasharatha ascended to heaven and Rama taking shelter in the forest, this earth appears to me like a ship without a helmsman."
"Even while residing in the forest, none desire this earth protected by the might of Rama's arms."
The current state of the capital:
Without guards on the ramparts
Horses and elephants not under control
City gates kept wide open
Army unhappy and demoralized
"Even enemies will not think of seizing the city; they will shun it like food mixed with poison."
"From today, I too shall:
Sleep on the ground or grass
Wear matted hair and bark robes
Eat only fruits and roots
I shall dwell in the forest for the rest of Rama's term of exile. His vow shall not prove untrue."
Bharata's plan:
Satrughna would live with him in the forest
Rama would rule Ayodhya with Lakshmana
Brahmins would crown Rama in Ayodhya
"If Rama doesn't grant my wish despite my seeking his grace in many ways, I shall live with him in the forest as long as it takes. He will not be able to ignore me."
This concludes the Eighty Eighth chapter (sarga) of Ayodhyakanda, the second book of the Ramayana, the great epic composed by the sage Valmiki.