Prakarana 30

Verse 592 (चौपाई)

राम भरत गुन गनत सप्रीती। निसि दंपतिहि पलक सम बीती।। राज समाज प्रात जुग जागे। न्हाइ न्हाइ सुर पूजन लागे।। गे नहाइ गुर पहीं रघुराई। बंदि चरन बोले रुख पाई।। नाथ भरतु पुरजन महतारी। सोक बिकल बनबास दुखारी।। सहित समाज राउ मिथिलेसू। बहुत दिवस भए सहत कलेसू।। उचित होइ सोइ कीजिअ नाथा। हित सबही कर रौरें हाथा।। अस कहि अति सकुचे रघुराऊ। मुनि पुलके लखि सीलु सुभाऊ।। तुम्ह बिनु राम सकल सुख साजा। नरक सरिस दुहु राज समाजा।।

Rama and Bharata recounted each other's virtues with affection; the night passed for the two like the blinking of an eye. The royal assembly awoke at the break of dawn; having bathed, they began the worship of the gods. The Lord of the Raghus went and bathed, then approached the guru; he bowed at his feet and spoke with due humility. "Lord, Bharata, the citizens, and the mothers are stricken with grief, tormented by the sorrow of exile to the forest. The king of Mithila and his assembly have endured great distress for many days. Whatever is fitting, O lord, that should be done; the welfare of all lies in your hands." Having spoken thus, the Lord of the Raghus was greatly abashed; the sage was moved to tears, seeing his noble nature. "Without you, Rama, all pleasures are but instruments of sorrow; both the king and his assembly are like a hell.

Verse 593 (दोहा/सोरठा)

प्रान प्रान के जीव के जिव सुख के सुख राम। तुम्ह तजि तात सोहात गृह जिन्हहि तिन्हहिं बिधि बाम।।290।।

You are the life of my life, the soul of my soul, the joy of my joy, O Rama; leaving you, father, the home seems empty, and fate has turned against me.

Verse 594 (चौपाई)

सो सुखु करमु धरमु जरि जाऊ। जहँ न राम पद पंकज भाऊ।। जोगु कुजोगु ग्यानु अग्यानू। जहँ नहिं राम पेम परधानू।। तुम्ह बिनु दुखी सुखी तुम्ह तेहीं। तुम्ह जानहु जिय जो जेहि केहीं।। राउर आयसु सिर सबही कें। बिदित कृपालहि गति सब नीकें।। आपु आश्रमहि धारिअ पाऊ। भयउ सनेह सिथिल मुनिराऊ।। करि प्रनाम तब रामु सिधाए। रिषि धरि धीर जनक पहिं आए।। राम बचन गुरु नृपहि सुनाए। सील सनेह सुभायँ सुहाए।। महाराज अब कीजिअ सोई। सब कर धरम सहित हित होई।।

That happiness, that action, that righteousness is burnt to ashes where there is no love for Rama's lotus feet. Yoga becomes false yoga, knowledge becomes ignorance, where the love of Rama is not supreme. Without you I am sorrowful; with you I am happy; you know, O soul, what is in whose heart. Your command is upon the head of all; it is well known that the Gracious One is the refuge of all. Remain here in the ashram, the sage said, his love making him faint. Rama bowed and took his leave; the sage, composing himself, went to King Janaka. He repeated Rama's words to the guru and the king, pleasing them with his virtue, love, and gentle nature. "O great king, now do that which is right and beneficial for all, in accordance with dharma."

Verse 595 (दोहा/सोरठा)

राम सपथ सुनि मुनि जनकु सकुचे सभा समेत। सकल बिलोकत भरत मुखु बनइ न उतरु देत।।296।।

Hearing Rama's oath, the sage Janaka felt shame, and the whole assembly with him. All looked at Bharata's face, but he could not give any answer.

Verse 596 (चौपाई)

सभा सकुच बस भरत निहारी। रामबंधु धरि धीरजु भारी।। कुसमउ देखि सनेहु सँभारा। बढ़त बिंधि जिमि घटज निवारा।। सोक कनकलोचन मति छोनी। हरी बिमल गुन गन जगजोनी।। भरत बिबेक बराहँ बिसाला। अनायास उधरी तेहि काला।। करि प्रनामु सब कहँ कर जोरे। रामु राउ गुर साधु निहोरे।। छमब आजु अति अनुचित मोरा। कहउँ बदन मृदु बचन कठोरा।। हियँ सुमिरी सारदा सुहाई। मानस तें मुख पंकज आई।। बिमल बिबेक धरम नय साली। भरत भारती मंजु मराली।।

Seeing the assembly ashamed, Bharata, Rama's brother, summoned great fortitude. Perceiving the ill omen, he gathered his love, even as a cloud, pierced by the sun's rays, disperses. Sorrow clouded the eyes of the golden-eyed one; the Lord of the world, Hari, whose virtues are spotless, took away her understanding. Bharata's wisdom was vast and profound; in that hour he delivered her without effort. Joining his palms, he made obeisance to all; he entreated Rama, his lord, his guru, and the good. "Forgive me today, for my conduct has been most improper; though my words are harsh, my heart is gentle." So he spoke. Remembering Saraswati in his heart, she, the beautiful one, came from his mind to his lotus-face. Spotless wisdom, righteousness, and policy were Bharata's; and Bharati, lovely as a swan, was his tongue.

Verse 597 (दोहा/सोरठा)

निरखि बिबेक बिलोचनन्हि सिथिल सनेहँ समाजु। करि प्रनामु बोले भरतु सुमिरि सीय रघुराजु।।297।।

Gazing with the eyes of wisdom at the assembly, whose love had grown faint, and making obeisance, Bharata spoke, remembering Sita and the Lord of the Raghus.

Verse 598 (चौपाई)

प्रभु पितु मातु सुह्रद गुर स्वामी। पूज्य परम हित अतंरजामी।। सरल सुसाहिबु सील निधानू। प्रनतपाल सर्बग्य सुजानू।। समरथ सरनागत हितकारी। गुनगाहकु अवगुन अघ हारी।। स्वामि गोसाँइहि सरिस गोसाई। मोहि समान मैं साइँ दोहाई।। प्रभु पितु बचन मोह बस पेली। आयउँ इहाँ समाजु सकेली।। जग भल पोच ऊँच अरु नीचू। अमिअ अमरपद माहुरु मीचू।। राम रजाइ मेट मन माहीं। देखा सुना कतहुँ कोउ नाहीं।। सो मैं सब बिधि कीन्हि ढिठाई। प्रभु मानी सनेह सेवकाई।।

"My lord, father, mother, friend, guru, and master; worthy of worship, the supreme benefactor, the inner guide. Simple, gracious, the treasure of virtue, the protector of the humble, all-knowing and wise. Mighty, the benefactor of those who seek refuge, the seeker of virtues, the destroyer of sins and faults. The master, the Lord, is equal to the Lord of the universe; I swear by the Lord, there is none like me. My lord and father's words, under the sway of delusion, brought me here; the assembly was gathered. Good and bad, high and low in the world; nectar, the state of immortality, poison, and death. I erased from my mind the will of Rama; I saw and heard nothing anywhere. Therefore I acted in every way with boldness; the Lord considered it the love of a servant."

Verse 599 (दोहा/सोरठा)

कृपाँ भलाई आपनी नाथ कीन्ह भल मोर। दूषन भे भूषन सरिस सुजसु चारु चहु ओर।।298।।

Your grace and goodness, O Lord, have done me good. My faults have become ornaments; my fair fame is lovely on every side.

Verse 600 (चौपाई)

राउरि रीति सुबानि बड़ाई। जगत बिदित निगमागम गाई।। कूर कुटिल खल कुमति कलंकी। नीच निसील निरीस निसंकी।। तेउ सुनि सरन सामुहें आए। सकृत प्रनामु किहें अपनाए।। देखि दोष कबहुँ न उर आने। सुनि गुन साधु समाज बखाने।। को साहिब सेवकहि नेवाजी। आपु समाज साज सब साजी।। निज करतूति न समुझिअ सपनें। सेवक सकुच सोचु उर अपनें।। सो गोसाइँ नहि दूसर कोपी। भुजा उठाइ कहउँ पन रोपी।। पसु नाचत सुक पाठ प्रबीना। गुन गति नट पाठक आधीना।।

Your noble ways and gracious speech are praised throughout the world, sung in the Vedas and the Agamas. The cruel, the crooked, the wicked, the ill-minded and the disgraced; the low, the base, the contemptible and the shameless have all come together to seek your shelter, and you have accepted their obeisance at once. Seeing their faults, you never take them to heart; hearing their virtues, you proclaim them in the assembly of the good. Who is such a master as honors his servant? You yourself have arranged all the adornments of the assembly. Your own conduct cannot be grasped even in a dream; the servant feels shame and anxiety in his heart. Such is the Lord, there is no other so wrathful; I raise my arm and declare my vow. The beast dances, the parrot recites skillfully; the qualities and ways of the actor and the reciter are subject to him.

Verse 601 (दोहा/सोरठा)

यों सुधारि सनमानि जन किए साधु सिरमोर। को कृपाल बिनु पालिहै बिरिदावलि बरजोर।।299।।

Thus correcting and honoring his servant, he made him the foremost among the good. Who, without compassion, would uphold the burden of his ancient glory?

Verse 602 (चौपाई)

सोक सनेहँ कि बाल सुभाएँ। आयउँ लाइ रजायसु बाएँ।। तबहुँ कृपाल हेरि निज ओरा। सबहि भाँति भल मानेउ मोरा।। देखेउँ पाय सुमंगल मूला। जानेउँ स्वामि सहज अनुकूला।। बड़ें समाज बिलोकेउँ भागू। बड़ीं चूक साहिब अनुरागू।। कृपा अनुग्रह अंगु अघाई। कीन्हि कृपानिधि सब अधिकाई।। राखा मोर दुलार गोसाईं। अपनें सील सुभायँ भलाईं।। नाथ निपट मैं कीन्हि ढिठाई। स्वामि समाज सकोच बिहाई।। अबिनय बिनय जथारुचि बानी। छमिहि देउ अति आरति जानी।।

Overcome by sorrow and affection, and by my childish nature, I have come, placing my trust in my master. Yet the compassionate Lord looked toward me and considered all my ways as good. I beheld his feet, the root of all auspiciousness; I knew my master to be naturally gracious. In a great assembly I witnessed my good fortune; yet I committed a great fault, O master, in my attachment. His body was filled with grace and mercy; the ocean of compassion showed me all honor. My Lord kept me in his favor, by his own nature, his good character and his kindness. O Lord, I have acted most shamelessly; I have transgressed the dignity of my master and the assembly. My humility has been without humility, my words according to my own fancy; forgive me, O God, knowing my great distress.

Verse 603 (दोहा/सोरठा)

सुह्रद सुजान सुसाहिबहि बहुत कहब बड़ि खोरि। आयसु देइअ देव अब सबइ सुधारी मोरि।।300।।

I shall speak much of the good master, wise and kind, though I am utterly unworthy. O Lord, grant me leave now to set all things right.

Verse 604 (चौपाई)

प्रभु पद पदुम पराग दोहाई। सत्य सुकृत सुख सीवँ सुहाई।। सो करि कहउँ हिए अपने की। रुचि जागत सोवत सपने की।। सहज सनेहँ स्वामि सेवकाई। स्वारथ छल फल चारि बिहाई।। अग्या सम न सुसाहिब सेवा। सो प्रसादु जन पावै देवा।। अस कहि प्रेम बिबस भए भारी। पुलक सरीर बिलोचन बारी।। प्रभु पद कमल गहे अकुलाई। समउ सनेहु न सो कहि जाई।। कृपासिंधु सनमानि सुबानी। बैठाए समीप गहि पानी।। भरत बिनय सुनि देखि सुभाऊ। सिथिल सनेहँ सभा रघुराऊ।।

I call to witness the pollen of the Lord's lotus feet, truth, merit, joy and the Vedas. Thus I speak what is in my heart, the desire that wakes in sleep and in dreams. The natural love between master and servant sets aside self-interest, deceit and hope of reward. There is no service like that to a good master; that is the grace the servant receives from God. Speaking thus, he was overcome with great love; his body thrilled and his eyes filled with tears. He grasped the Lord's lotus feet without restraint; such was his love that it cannot be told. The ocean of mercy, honoring him with gracious words, made him sit near and took his hand. Hearing Bharata's prayer and seeing his nature, the Lord of the Raghus was moved with love in the assembly.

Verse 605 (चौपाई)

सहित समाज तुम्हार हमारा। घर बन गुर प्रसाद रखवारा।। मातु पिता गुर स्वामि निदेसू। सकल धरम धरनीधर सेसू।। सो तुम्ह करहु करावहु मोहू। तात तरनिकुल पालक होहू।। साधक एक सकल सिधि देनी। कीरति सुगति भूतिमय बेनी।। सो बिचारि सहि संकटु भारी। करहु प्रजा परिवारु सुखारी।। बाँटी बिपति सबहिं मोहि भाई। तुम्हहि अवधि भरि बड़ि कठिनाई।। जानि तुम्हहि मृदु कहउँ कठोरा। कुसमयँ तात न अनुचित मोरा।। होहिं कुठायँ सुबंधु सुहाए। ओड़िअहिं हाथ असनिहु के घाए।।

With all our kin, your family and mine, we shall keep guard over the house, the forest, and the Guru’s grace, as a sacred trust. Mother, father, Guru, and master have instructed me; all righteousness rests upon the Lord who bears the earth. That you should do, and cause me to do; O father, be the protector of the solar race. You are the one true adept who grants all perfections; your fame is a garland of glory, felicity, and prosperity. Therefore, having considered, endure this grievous crisis; bring happiness to the people and the household. I have shared the calamity with all my kin; but for you, even to this day, there has been great hardship. Knowing you to be tender-hearted, I speak harsh words; in such a time of distress, my father, my words are not improper. Good kinsmen may turn harsh; they may turn their hands against their own kin.

Verse 606 (दोहा/सोरठा)

सेवक कर पद नयन से मुख सो साहिबु होइ। तुलसी प्रीति कि रीति सुनि सुकबि सराहहिं सोइ।।306।।

The servant’s hands are at the master’s feet, his eyes upon his face; thus he becomes a true servant. Tulsidas says, hearing of such love, the good poets praise that devotion.

Verse 607 (चौपाई)

सभा सकल सुनि रघुबर बानी। प्रेम पयोधि अमिअ जनु सानी।। सिथिल समाज सनेह समाधी। देखि दसा चुप सारद साधी।। भरतहि भयउ परम संतोषू। सनमुख स्वामि बिमुख दुख दोषू।। मुख प्रसन्न मन मिटा बिषादू। भा जनु गूँगेहि गिरा प्रसादू।। कीन्ह सप्रेम प्रनामु बहोरी। बोले पानि पंकरुह जोरी।। नाथ भयउ सुखु साथ गए को। लहेउँ लाहु जग जनमु भए को।। अब कृपाल जस आयसु होई। करौं सीस धरि सादर सोई।। सो अवलंब देव मोहि देई। अवधि पारु पावौं जेहि सेई।।

When the whole assembly heard the words of the Lord of the Raghus, it was as if an ocean of love had become nectar. The gathering was dissolved in a trance of affection; seeing their condition, Sharada remained silent. Bharata felt supreme contentment; facing his master, he was freed from the fault of sorrow. His face was bright, his heart free from grief; it was as if the grace of speech had descended upon a mute. He made obeisance with love; then, joining his palms, he spoke. “O Lord, my happiness has departed with you; what profit have I gained from being born in this world? Now, O merciful one, let your command be given; I shall bear it upon my head with reverence. Grant me that support, O Lord, by which I may cross over this ocean of existence.”

Verse 608 (दोहा/सोरठा)

देव देव अभिषेक हित गुर अनुसासनु पाइ। आनेउँ सब तीरथ सलिलु तेहि कहँ काह रजाइ।।307।।

O God of gods, to perform your coronation, I have obtained the Guru’s command. I have brought water from all the sacred places; what is your pleasure regarding this?”

Verse 609 (चौपाई)

एकु मनोरथु बड़ मन माहीं। सभयँ सकोच जात कहि नाहीं।। कहहु तात प्रभु आयसु पाई। बोले बानि सनेह सुहाई।। चित्रकूट सुचि थल तीरथ बन। खग मृग सर सरि निर्झर गिरिगन।। प्रभु पद अंकित अवनि बिसेषी। आयसु होइ त आवौं देखी।। अवसि अत्रि आयसु सिर धरहू। तात बिगतभय कानन चरहू।। मुनि प्रसाद बनु मंगल दाता। पावन परम सुहावन भ्राता।। रिषिनायकु जहँ आयसु देहीं। राखेहु तीरथ जलु थल तेहीं।। सुनि प्रभु बचन भरत सुख पावा। मुनि पद कमल मुदित सिरु नावा।।

“There is one desire deep in my heart, which I have not spoken of in the assembly out of modesty. Tell me, father, having obtained the Lord’s command.” He spoke with words sweet with affection. “Chitrakoot is a pure land, a forest pilgrimage, with birds, deer, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and mountains. The earth there is specially marked by the Lord’s feet; if I have your permission, I shall go and see it. There dwells the sage Atri; place his command upon your head; O father, roam the forest without fear. By the sage’s grace, the forest is a bestower of blessings; it is purifying and most beautiful, O brother. Where the Lord of the Sages grants permission, there keep the sacred waters and the land.” Hearing the Lord’s words, Bharata found happiness; he bowed his head with joy at the sage’s lotus feet.

Verse 610 (दोहा/सोरठा)

भरत राम संबादु सुनि सकल सुमंगल मूल। सुर स्वारथी सराहि कुल बरषत सुरतरु फूल।।308।।

Hearing the conversation between Bharata and Rama, which is the root of all blessings, the gods praised them both; and from the celestial trees there rained down flowers.

Verse 611 (चौपाई)

धन्य भरत जय राम गोसाईं। कहत देव हरषत बरिआई। मुनि मिथिलेस सभाँ सब काहू। भरत बचन सुनि भयउ उछाहू।। भरत राम गुन ग्राम सनेहू। पुलकि प्रसंसत राउ बिदेहू।। सेवक स्वामि सुभाउ सुहावन। नेमु पेमु अति पावन पावन।। मति अनुसार सराहन लागे। सचिव सभासद सब अनुरागे।। सुनि सुनि राम भरत संबादू। दुहु समाज हियँ हरषु बिषादू।। राम मातु दुखु सुखु सम जानी। कहि गुन राम प्रबोधीं रानी।। एक कहहिं रघुबीर बड़ाई। एक सराहत भरत भलाई।।

The gods cried, "Blessed is Bharata! Victory to the Lord Rama!" and rejoiced exceedingly. In the assembly of the sages and the King of Mithila, all who heard Bharata's words were filled with rapture. Bharata and Rama were bound by a deep affection; the King of Videha praised them, his body thrilling with emotion. The disposition of servant and master was most pleasing; their duty and their love were supremely pure. According to their understanding, the ministers and the assembly began to praise them, all filled with love. Hearing again and again the conversation between Rama and Bharata, both gatherings felt in their hearts a mingled joy and sorrow. Rama's mother regarded her grief and her joy as one and the same; the Queen spoke of Rama's virtues and instructed her. Some extolled the greatness of the Lord of the Raghus; others praised the goodness of Bharata.