Srimad Valmiki Ramayana AYODHYA KANDAM Sarga 72 Bharata’s interrogation: Not finding his father in his apartments, within the palace, Bharata known to consistently adhere to the righteous path, then proceeded to his mother’s bower, which now seemed hideous; as a mark of reverence he grasped her feet. Kaikeyi fondly drew Bharata close to her and endearingly inquired of the welfare of her father and her brother Yudhajit. Bharata answered all the enquiries of his mother in the words like these “My grandfather is well and my uncle is free from all trouble, I was gifted sumptuously, these items of gift are on the way being carried in another car, I was urged by my father’s envoy to reach home at good speed I have come here in absolute haste, I am not fatigued by the travel that lasted seven days, but the steeds that carried me are indeed exhausted. I find all is murky here, I beseech you to tell me where is my father, the monarch, this dazzling couch of yours is now untenanted by the king, by chance is the king in queen Kausalya’s dwelling?” so enquired Bharata. Crazy Queen Kaikeyi swayed by lust presented the most unwelcome, terrible and unpleasant news as the glad tiding in words like these; “Your devout and famed father, of lofty thoughts has met the same fate as is the destined end of all the created beings.” The sad words pierced the untainted, righteous and pious Bharata, distressed he fell prostrate on the ground on hearing his father’s fate and let go loud wails in sincere grief. Bharata still in un-consoled grief told his mother; “I am ruined, this couch bereft of the king; shows no signs of radiance;” he wailed. His mother vainly tried to calm his misery, she said words like these, “Get up O king, good men like you do not wail like this; my son your father has lived a full life you should not mourn for such a soul.” Bitter Bharata spoke again, “When I left my grandfathers palace I hoped in vain my father would crown Sri Rama to the throne, I miss the face of my dear father, tell me what sickness took my father away, I miss the gentle touch of my father’s soft hands, pray quickly tell the news to Sri Rama, I am here, he is now my hope and my refuge pray mother tell me what was my father’s last advice /words I crave to hear those words. Fortunate are Sri Rama and others by whom my father was cremated.” Kaikeyi then spoke the mournful truth, the monarch’s last words “Blessed are the people who shall view Sri Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita return to Ayodhya unharmed and unscathed; saying so the monarch went to the other world,” on hearing this Bharata plunged into greater despair and questioned his mother “Where is the ever virtuous, noble and Kausalya’s pride, Sri Rama, where is the fair Sita, where is the brave Lakshmana?” Pressed for an answer queen Kaikeyi gave her son the mournful news which she felt would please her son, “Sri Rama clad in hermit robes has been banished to the Dandaka forests and Sita and Lakshmana share Sri Rama’s exile.” Bharata’s soul was stirred with dread on hearing this and he began “Why was Sri Rama sent to the Dandaka forest, what was his guilt, why was he sent to the Dandaka’s wild, what was the crime?” Thus questioned Kaikeyi began to tell her deeds and crafty plans prompted by her feminine frivolous nature, “When I heard the king was to crown Sri Rama the prince regent on the throne of Ayodhya, I asked for the sovereignty of Ayodhya in your favor and banishment of Sri Rama and the king consented. With Sri Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana in exile, your father was sorely troubled and in grief over the separation from his son the highly illustrious emperor met his end. My dutiful son now cast your grief away, be fortified with manly courage arise and take the reigns of the kingdom, carefully planned and wrought by me for you. My darling son the fear and grief are not forever, with Vasistha’s aid and guidance; perform the obsequies and then have the mandate to install yourself as the lord of this kingdom,” thus concluded Kaikeyi.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 02:16:51 +0000
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