Bharatha’s Return
Bharatha’s Return
With Rama’s departure to the forest, Dasaratha’s heart broke. He was bedridden and repeatedly cried, “Rama, Sita, Lakshmana.” His condition became worse and one night, he died with Rama’s Name on his lips. It was like the purifying taste of the holy waters of Ganga.
The entire Kingdom was grief-stricken. Added to Rama’s exile, their beloved emperor’s passing away cast a gloom on the citizens. The preceptor, Vasishtha, counselled calm and he immediately sent for Bharata and Satrughna, who were with their maternal grandfather at Kekaya.
They returned instantly. Bharatha found the situation unusual everywhere in the city. Nobody spoke to him. He entered his mother’s palace straightaway. Kaikayee made arrangements to receive him with all the grandeur and pomp. Bharata’s first question was, “Where is Father, who always received me with love? Where are Rama and Lakshmana? Why am I not seeing them?” Kaikayee parried the questions and called Manthara to explain everything to the Prince.
Manthara, with great enthusiasm, came forward and told Bharata, “Dear child, we have arranged everything for you. The way is clear. You will be straightaway crowned as emperor of Ayodhya. God is great. Our plans have gone well. So, get ready for the Coronation. Unfortunately, your father died rather suddenly.”
Bharata could not follow all this properly. But, he was shocked to hear about his father’s death. He cried out, “Why was I not called beforehand to be at Father’s side, when he was suffering? I can’t understand why I should be crowned, when my elder Brother, Rama, is there fully qualified to be an emperor. You are all driving me mad. Mother, tell me everything quickly.”
Kaikayee laid her affectionate hand on her son’s shoulder and told him, with a beaming face, how Manthara had planned everything to Bharata’s advantage and how his father was placed in a situation, from which he could not come out as he was bound to his word of honour.
Bharata slowly understood the situation. He became red with anger. He pushed his mother away violently. He shouted, “What a woman you are! Do you have a stone-heart? Don’t you realise that your action has killed Father? How can you ever think of harming Rama? Did He not treat you like His own mother? Do you know how much pain you have caused to such a virtuous lady as Sita? Did you think that I would aspire for this kingdom, which is made worthless by the absence of Rama and Sita?
“Did you really imagine that your son Bharata will, for a moment, think of separation from Rama? If you really thought so, you are not my mother. Don’t show your face to me. Don’t you see you have ruined the Ikshvaku family? I have no other place except at the feet of Rama. I am leaving for the forest at once to fetch Rama back.”
So saying, he turned to run away from them. While Bharata was fuming with rage, Satrughna caught hold of Manthara, pulled her hair, and started beating her. Bharata’s anger was cooled down by that and he prevented his younger brother from doing further harm to the hunchback woman, who had created this havoc.
The brothers then went to Kaushalya, who was totally broken, and fell at her feet. Bharata implored her not to misunderstand them, as he was not aware of any of these plans. She told him affectionately that she knew his loving nature. She said, “Nobody need be blamed for this. You always have my love.”
Vasishtha sent for Bharata to attend an assembly of orders and spoke to him about the necessity restoring normalcy. For that, he said, Bharata should rule the empire and give it back to Rama when He returns.
Bharata listened to all the counsel. He spoke firmly “My reverence to all of you. I am grateful for the friendly words spoken by you. But, forgive me. I can’t live here as a King, while Rama roams in the forest like an ascetic. I have only one wish. I will go, fall at Rama’s feet, and beg Him to come back and take the Kingdom. I request you all to follow me to the forest to bring Rama back.”
Everybody was struck with the devotion, sincerity, and sense of sacrifice of Bharata. They were also overjoyed at the prospect of having Rama back at Ayodhya. Bharata requested the ministers to make all arrangements for going to the forest to meet Rama and perform Rama’s Coronation in the forest, if needed.
Questions:
- What was Bharata’s reaction, when he returned to Ayodhya?
- What did Bharata do when all requested him to rule the empire?