This continues on from my previous post entitled ‘The Rāmāyana’.
King Dasaratha died of grief soon after Rāma was sent into exile, leaving the Kingdom of Ayodhya without a king, and a ‘state without a ruler is really no better than rivers without water’. Understanding that without a king, Ayodhya may quickly fall to ruin, Bharata, who was staying with his grandfather during these events, was sent for, so he could be crowned king.
Bharata, who thought of Rāma as ‘my brother, my father and my mother,’ arrived in Ayodhya, surprised by the lack of life in the city he loved so much. He saw Ayodhya bereft of joy, with even the ‘trees shedding tears in the form of leaves’. Unaware of what had unfolded, and seeking an explanation for the state of Ayodhya he went in search of his father.
Unable to find him, he instead found his mother Kaikeyi, who ‘infatuated by greed of sovereignty’ related to Bharata those terrible events as if they were agreeable to hear.
Upon hearing the news, the Rāmāyana reads that ‘Nature, which is ever kind, allowed him a respite of a few moments by letting him faint’. He was heartbroken. He was furious. His father and his brothers were his world and in a moment Bharata had been told that his world had disappeared. Refusing to recognise Kaikeyi as his mother, he told her the only reason he did not want to kill her was that Rāma would not forgive him. He refused the throne which he knew was meant only for his brother, and he promised that he would set out to find Rama, and make him return to Ayodhya.
Bharata had decided that he would go to Rāma and tell him that he would spend fourteen years in the forest in his place, allowing Rāma to go back and rule Ayodhya, whilst also upholding his father’s vow. Failing this, Bharata told himself he would stay with Rāma and spend his time in exile with him.
First he went to consult Sage Bharadwāja, who knew the whereabouts of his brother. Bharata took with him Vashista, his mothers, his brother and his entire army, all with the hope of convincing Rāma to come back and rule Ayodhya. Bharata found Bharadwāja, and was told where he could find his two brothers and Sita. But, before setting off, Bharadwāja sensed the anger that Bharata felt to his own mother, for causing these events to happen. The Sage, who knew all, spoke to Bharata:
‘Kaikeyi. O Bharata, should not be regarded by you as guilty; for this banishment of Śrī Rāma will result in happiness to all.’
Bharata thanked the Sage for his wisdom and his hospitality, and went to Chitrakoot, to find his brother Rāma.
Upon seeing Rāma, Bharata collapsed at his feet. Rāma, however, felt no anger towards his brother, and immediately inquired about the welfare of his father, Bharata, and his other family in Ayodhya. Hearing that of his father’s death, Rāma fell to the ground in despair. The retinue performed the funeral rights for the deceased king, before continuing their discussion.
Bharata implored Rāma to return to rule Ayodhya. He even said that if Rāma refused to come back, that he would join him in his exile, not wishing to rule in his brother’s place. Next, Vasishta, Rāma’s teacher, told him it was his duty to rule Ayodhya. Still, Rāma refused to act contrary to the wishes of his father.
Rāma knew that he had to stay, his only wish being to obey his father. Bharata continued trying to convince him to return, but explaining to Bharata the power of fate, which cannot be altered, Rāma’s determination to remain in the forest was unfaltering.
Bharata was moved by his brother’s words. However, he knew that he himself could not rule the kingdom. So he told Rāma that he would stay in the forest in his place, and Rāma could return to the kingdom. Moved, but unwilling to compromise, Rāma knew he could not leave.
Finally, resigned to fate, Bharata placed two sandals inlaid with gold to his brother’s feet. He asked Rāma to place his feet on them, so they could be taken to the kingdom, and rule in Rāma’s name. Bharata would oversee the ruling of the kingdom, but with Ayodhya filled with too much pain fo him to remain there, he spent fourteen years in Nandigrama, just outside of Ayodhya, where he endured all of his suffering, living like Rāma until he returned. In this way Bharata ruled the Kingdom for his brother, and dharma was upheld due to the actions of the noble Bharata, who was devoted to Rāma.
Nandigram was the place I was going to visit next.
Good narration.