Shloka 2.88.19
रामशय्यादर्शनम् — Bharata Beholds Rama’s Forest Bed
सार्वभौमकुले जात स्सर्वलोकस्य सम्मतः।सर्वलोकप्रियस्त्यक्त्वा राज्यं सुखमनुत्तम्।।2.88.18।।कथमिन्दीवरश्यामो रक्ताक्षः प्रियदर्शनः।सुखभागी न दुःखार्ह श्शयितो भुवि राघवः।।2.88.19।।
tac chrutvā nipuṇaṃ sarvaṃ bharataḥ saha mantribhiḥ |
iṅgudīmūlam āgamya rāmaśayyām avekṣya tām ||
abravīj jananīḥ sarvā iha tena mahātmanā |
śarvarī śayitā bhūmāv idam asya vimarditam ||
Having heard everything carefully, Bharata—together with his ministers—came to the foot of the iṅgudī tree and, gazing upon Rāma’s bed, said to all the mothers: “Here that great-souled one lay upon the earth through the night; this is the place where his bedding has been pressed down.”
How could such Rama sleep on the ground? He was born in the house of emperors, worthy of reverence by the entire world and beloved of all the worlds, with the complexion of a blue lotus, with red eyes, and pleasing looks, one who deserves to be happy and not to suffer by renouncing the kingdom and excellent comforts.
Dharma requires truthful acknowledgment of suffering caused by political events; Bharata publicly recognizes Rāma’s austere conduct, preparing the ground for restitution and right action.
After hearing Guha’s account, Bharata arrives at the iṅgudī tree and shows the queens the place where Rāma slept on the ground.
Bharata’s sincerity and dutiful transparency—he seeks Rāma and documents the reality of his exile without minimizing it.