2.88. bharata pines painfully for rAma

Hari Om.

Let us begin the sixty first sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.

The stay of rAma along with sItA and lakshmaNa at SRngabErapura was recalled in detail by guha to bharata. The prince wanted to know every detail about rAma from guha. He wanted to know what he ate, where he stayed, where he slept and every little detail and as guha narrated all that bharata’s burden of guilt only enhanced. He felt that he was responsible for what rAma is going through. The fact that rAma, the ikshvAku scion deserved nothing but comfort and luxury only heightened bharata’s misery. He inquired about the place where rAma spent the night sleeping from guha. Onwards…

Upon inquiring about the place where rAma took rest that night and learning about the ingudi tree from guha, bharata saw that place along with his ministers and mothers. He said to his mothers –

“The exalted one born to daSaratha in the great clan of the ikshvAkus, rAma doesn’t deserve to sleep on the floor. How can he who is used to sleep on comfortable couches with luxurious bedspreads sleep on the bare ground? The annihilator of enemies, rAma is used to stay in exquisite multi-storied mansions having fine elevations, it’s walls well decorated with gold and silver, the floors covered by lush carpets, fragrance permeating everywhere, coos of various birds reverberating in his dwelling place. He is woken up in the mornings with due ceremony by bards and eulogists to the tunes of great music and sounding of auspicious drums along with the jingling bells of the anklets of attendants. He is extolled in to awakening by panegyrists. Alas, it is unbelievable that such a thing has happened to rAma in this world! It appears unreal and like a dream to me. Alas, if this could happen to the son of daSaratha, rAma and and his dear wife sItA, the daughter of the king of vidEha, it only means time is more powerful than even gods!

Alas, my brother slept on this hard floor on the bed of grass and this is where he must turned and tossed during his sleep, the hay here appears pressed by his limbs! Alas, here is the golden dust and silk threads, perhaps from the fine jewelry and silk clothes of sItA who must have slept here. Although used to comforts, being a chaste lady ever devoted to her husband, sItA may not have felt it hard to sleep on this floor. Ha, fie on me, what cruelty on my part that has reduced rAma and sItA to sleep on the floor like orphans!

Born in the hallowed ikshvAku lineage whose sovereignty extends all over the world, whose form gives joy to everyone, one who is acceptable to all, one who deserves the best luxuries, one who doesn’t deserve any grief, how can such a rAma sleep on the floor!

Indeed lakshmaNa is blessed to be following the elder brother in this time of difficulty. The life of vaidEhi is indeed fulfilling by virtue of her following her husband. And here we are, unsure if rAma will accept our prayers!!

धन्यः खलु महाभागो लक्ष्मण श्शुभलक्षणः।

भ्रातरं विषमे काले यो राममनुवर्तते।।2.88.20।।

सिद्धार्था खलु वैदेही पतिं याऽनुगता वनम्।

वयं संशयिता स्सर्वे हीनास्तेन महात्मना।।2.88.21।।

The kingdom appears like a rudderless boat without its helmsman that is drifting aimlessly in the sea. Although he lives in the forests now, the kingdom is still protected only by his might. The kingdom of ayOdhyA is vulnerable now, with a demoralized army low in spirit, soldiers, elephants and horses are rustic and not battle-ready, the gates are unprotected due to lack of vigil, although so easy to capture, even the enemy will shun such an ayOdhyA like no one likes to touch poisoned food!

From today, I shall sleep on the floor as well, subsist only on fruits and roots and I shall wear matted locks and barks.

अद्यप्रभृति भूमौ तु शयिष्येऽहं तृणेषु वा।

फलमूलाशनो नित्यं जटाचीराणि धारयन्।।2.88.26।।

In place of rAma, I shall stay in the forest for the remainder of this term of exile so that his vow doesn’t turn into a lie. The valiant Satrughna shall follow me while lakshmaNa will follow rAma and help him in ruling over ayOdhyA. The priests and the citizens shall crown rAma as the king of ayOdhyA, and may gods make this thought of mine to come true.

I shall beseech variously with a bowed head for rAma to come to ayOdhyA until he yields to my prayers. And if he doesn’t yield and ignore my prayers, I shall live with him in the forest for as long as it takes.