Bharatha's Impeccant Heart

Bharatha had woken up, having inauspicious dreams

Memories of Dasaratha in his mind, gushed in streams

For reasons unknown he was uneasy and moody

Not talking to anyone properly he was broody

Shatrughna seeing Bharatha like that, became worried

News about their dullness, to their Uncle, hurried

Kaikeyi’s blood brother, Yudhajith, was their uncle

His father Asvapathi, King of Kekaya was old with wrinkle

Asvapathi and Yudhajith came to Bharatha’s presence

About Bharatha’s mood out, they wanted the essence

Bharatha told about his dreams that were inauspicious

About Dasaratha’s and Rama’s wellness he was suspicious

“I saw my father with oil in hands that were cupped

Without leaving a drop, he then completely sipped

Wearing torn clothes, he continuously laughed

As if caught by disease, now and then he coughed

He traveled south in a chariot driven by donkeys

Watching this and playing were a few monkeys

I saw stars and the moon falling from the sky

I saw mothers Kausalya and Sumitra helplessly cry

It is bad to see such dreams at dawn

Since I woke up my peace is gone

My father’s chest to my face, I want to tug

My beloved Lord Shri Rama, I want to hug

It has been quite a while, since I came here

With my parents and my brothers, I want to be near

My heart is wrecked by unknown fear

I regret I am not an all knowing seer”

Bharatha’s face was writ with a worry line

His grand father was worried, he would not dine

He brought before Bharatha royal courtesans

In making someone laugh they were expert artisans

For Bharatha, his wife Mandavi was no more a charm

His brother Shatrughna’s hug failed to make him warm

When all attempts to lighten Bharatha became fail

Messengers from Ayodhya came, carrying mail

The letter written by Sage Vashishta was superficial

It said Bharatha must return at once, for reasons official

Bharatha became eager and anxious to reach home soon

The prospect of seeing Rama made his face glow like the moon

Without heart, Asvapathi and Yudhajith, said their farewell

Without patience, Bharatha and Shatrughna, started their travel

Accompanying them were their grand father’s troupes

On horses, elephants and chariots they came in groups

They carried gifts from their king of enormous quantity

Gold ornaments, gems and silks, all, of supreme quality

They started at dawn from Rajagriha, Kekaya’s capital city

They traveled fast and safe with a mind that was witty

Through cities, villages and forests they quickly traveled

Across mountains, rivers and deserts their path unraveled

Where water and shade was available, they took rest

They knew, for the horses and elephants, it would be best

After traveling for seven days and seven nights

They could at last see, Ayodhya’s palace heights

But Bharatha was not happy with the sight

Caught by fright, his face became white

He could not see the flag that usually flutters

Shops along the streets were closed with shutters

He noticed, in the temples mantras were not uttered

People, at his sight, turned away their faces and muttered

People who always adored him, did not smile

The city which always buzzed had lost its style

Bharatha, after those dreams, was already troubled

On seeing the state of the city, his fear was doubled

Bharatha looked for his father all around the palace

Then he went and saw Kaikeyi whose face was callous

Seeing her face, anything untoward, he did not suspect

He fell at his mother’s feet and showed his respect

“Where has dad gone, my dear mum?

He will be glad to know, I have come

Hale and healthy, is he well?

I’m eager to know, please do tell!”

On her face there was no remorse

For choosing to walk the evil course

Thinking, her achievement will make him glad

She spoke with pride, to her innocent lad

“To what has happened there are two sides

From one person to other, luck always slides

The Kingdom to you, has been rendered

As your father’s luck, like his life, abruptly ended”

It took some time for Bharatha to grasp

Once he understood, he started to gasp

He fell on the floor, like a tree that is axed

Yet Kaikeyi stood like a giant, fully relaxed

Shatrughna too was completely baffled

Yet, the falling Bharatha, he tried to scaffold

On Bharatha’s cheeks, he gently patted

Cool water from his hands, he gently spatted

Bharatha awoke and asked his mother what she said

Unmoved Kaikeyi repeated that the king was dead

Catching his head Bharatha sat on the floor

His wailing was heard long beyond the palace door

Shatrughna on one side inconsolably cried

On the other, to console Bharatha, he tried

Sitting on the floor he cried like an orphan

Sorrows and shocks had not visited him often

The brothers cried for long hugging each other

They then became calm remembering their brother

The thought of Rama soothed their heart

Lord Rama to them, was the only resort

Kaikeyi watched them cry, as if it was childish

To the glory of the family she was a blemish

Bharatha turned to her for solace, not yet realising her nature

Like a pearl born in a stinking shell, he was an impeccant creature

“Mother! For Rama’s presence in the palace, I see no sign

Is my Lord and God, the ruler of my heart, doing fine?

As father is dead, he must now be leading the country

But in every direction I look, I do not see his entry!”

Bharatha looked at Kaikeyi, very eager!

Kaikeyi spoke as if, Rama’s importance was meager

“Oh! Rama! He lives in the forest donning deer skin

Sita and Lakshman too have followed suit, akin!”

Bharatha’s head was now reeling

Sheer pain was his only feeling

On hearing this news, he was totally confused

With a lot of questions, his mind was infused

‘A prince to live in the forest would mean

That, in evil and anarchic ways he had been

Why will noble Rama, the keeper of justice

Be punished as if he did an act of malice?’

Now he could connect the two apparent dots

Question after question buzzed in his thoughts

‘Father must have died on seeing Brother go!

Why did Brother to the forest, have to go?’

‘How did The Gem, who deserves all goodness

To be exiled from the kingdom, deem fitness?’

Bharatha knew Rama would not have flawed

This made Bharatha’s heart even more gnawed

“Mother! So many questions, your vague statements arouse

Please tell me clearly, why did Brother have to leave the house?

Our mighty king‘s life has been eaten by the fatal mouse

Yet you seem indifferent, being father’s favourite spouse”

All that had happened, Kaikeyi decided to reveal

She wanted to put it in a way that would appeal

To Bharatha’s heart and give him a desire

To decorate himself with the regal attire

“To make you King I acted clever and fast

I exiled Rama, and the king breathed his last

Your father! And Brother! Leave them aside!

About crowning yourself, you must decide

I have won the kingdom with an idea of my make

Now the Kingdom of Kosala, is yours to take

I have taken care that no one will dare to talk

While towards the throne, you royally walk! ”

Saying thus Kaikeyi smiled with pride

That was the last time, that way, she smiled

Bharatha became furious and her pride was crushed

On to her fallen face, the shameful blood rushed

“What the hell are you talking, you ugly bitch?

To me you have become a lifetime itch!

How did you expect I will support this treason?

For me to live, you have wiped off all reason!

My beloved father, you have wickedly killed

Why does your heart beat without becoming stilled?

Who in the world told you, that I would steal?

My Lord’s throne, before which, I will always kneel?

I am unable to control my fuming anger

I will crush you to death, if I stay any longer

I am afraid My Lord Rama will dislike such act

That is the only reason you are still in tact”

Saying thus Bharatha walked out of her room

All of Kaikeyi’s dreams were fallen to doom

Shatrughna silently followed though boiling with rage

Without Bharatha’s consent he would not turn a page

Bharatha rushed to Kausalya and fell at her feet

Kausalya towards him tried but failed to be sweet

“For you to rule, the Kingdom has been won

You can now happily sit, in the place of my son

If only you told him, you wanted the kingdom to rule

My son would have gifted it happily and remained cool

Yet your mother acted with a mind that was bent

To the forest for fourteen years, he was unjustly sent”

“Mother! Mother! Mother! Don’t doubt me please

If you do so my life would immediately cease

Do not think of me, any different from Ram

Without Him, I am a tree fallen by storm

Anymore, do not think of me as Kaikeyi’s son

Relationship between her and me is long undone

In exiling My Lord, if I had a hand

In the deadliest of hells, may I land!”

Saying this before Kausalya, Bharatha pleadingly knelt

Seeing this, Kausalya’s motherly heart started to melt

Kausalya blessed him passing her hand through his hair

She asked him to do, what he thought was fair

“Forgive me son! For talking thus

I have lost my mind in this fuss

All wellness upon you, I heartily bless

Do what is right, as per your guess

Bereft of my husband, bereft of my son

To live on this earth, I have reasons none

You sitting on the throne, I won’t hate to see

But with my beloved Rama, I long to be

My son and me, if you can unite

I will be grateful, for giving me respite”

Saying these words Kausalya became quiet

Even those words, to Bharatha, were a bitter diet

“Mother! I will certainly take you to that immaculate sapphire

But to sit and rule, in my Lord’s place, I have no desire

Anyone thinking of me as a usurper is unbearable shame

I will do what it takes to wipe off this dirt from my name”

Saying thus Bharatha took leave from Kausalya and went

To Sage Vashishta’s ashram seeking guidance and consent

Vashishta advised Bharatha to ritually cremate

Dasaratha’s preserved body before it is late

Dasaratha’s body was kept, soaked in oil

In a large golden vessel to prevent spoil

Dasaratha’s body was bathed and royally dressed

Then on an ornate palanquin, it was made to rest

The dead king was taken royally to the cremation ground

Trumpets, conches and drums made his greatness resound

A white umbrella and canopy, above the king’s body towered

From both sides of the path, fragrant flowers were showered

The procession was followed by people creating a rattle

Talking about the king’s, mercy in giving and valour in battle

To the royal family, condolences were said

Tears of love and sorrow were silently shed

The king’s body was kept on a sandalwood pyre

Bharatha to it, sadly set fire

On the banks of Sarayu, the king was burnt

Lessons of impermanence were once again learnt

The tall and hefty Dasaratha was now a handful of ash

Which was offered to and dissolved by Sarayu’s splash

In offering water and sesame, Bharatha did Rama’s role

To quench the thirst and hunger of the departed soul

Carrying only the King’s memories as remnants

His family and friends returned to their residence

Bharatha and Shatrughna started to mourn

And remained so, until ten days were gone

Sage Vashishta approached Bharatha, eleventh day morning

Informed him that it was high time he ended the mourning

He said, ministers and citizens were anxiously assembled

Fearing, without a king, the kingdom will become dissembled

“Bharatha! The kingdom needs a king and the country a ruler

Without Dasaratha and Rama, you must now act as leader

If no one from the Royal House, takes over control

Evil in every field will start to soon enroll

Without a judge to do justice

Prosperous will become, injustice

People will loose faith in sticking to Dharma

They will no more do their prescribed Karma

Do not keep your lips anymore tight

Overcome your grief and do what is right

On you is fixed, everyone’s expectant sight

Lead us all, as a man of might!

Rama has moved, to make you way

To honour and make true, His father’s say

Things needed for your coronation, are all ready

Make a decision and act with intellect that is heady”

After listening to this silently, Bharatha nodded

He knew the country by a king, must be guarded

After some thought he made up his mind

Vashishta walked to the court and he went behind

Bharatha fell prostrate before his father’s throne

Tears welled up on seeing the empty throne

He circumambulated the items used by the king

Then he stood with firmness amidst the people ring

“Venerable Gurudev! Honourable ministers and fellow men!

The house of the Ikshvaku’s has been wrecked by a hen

To get me the throne, without my consent, my mother has vied

So our Lord Rama has left us and our king has died

Now the kingdom is like a woman without husband

And we, its citizens, like children who are orphaned

I have no desire or strength to be a king

An eagle’s job cannot be done by a sparrow’s wing

Noble Rama, the mighty Dasaratha’s favourite son

To rule us like a God, He is the only one

It has been the desire of our king at start

In this very place, before all, he had revealed his heart

And all of you, dear fellow men, have jumped with joy

Celebrated, blessed and supported Rama as your own Boy

The wish of all must not be crushed for one woman’s whim

We must make Rama our King and start serving him

For, that God among men, with mighty arms

Knows all nuances of Dharma and ethical norms

When that mighty man protects us, being our head

Enemies will not dare to attack, fearing blood shed

He has ultimate faith in the strength of truth

For every creature’s welfare, He thinks with ruth

See the way He happily gave up his right

And sacrificed all comfort without fight

Now! That prince who deserves all wellness

Live like a mendicant in the wilderness

All because He wanted me, his beloved brother

To happily adorn, the royal feather”

Bharatha, when he said this became overwhelmed

His flow of speech for a moment got stemmed

Then he composed himself and continued to talk

Clearing that, his mother’s greedy wish, he would balk

“My Brother Rama to me is like a God

I consider Him as my guide and guard

I will jump into fire if He commands!

I will give up my life, if He demands!

My Lord Rama has the largest heart

Welfare of all always fills his thought

He would even forgive the greatest offender

He always protects the ones who humbly surrender

He is a mother to them giving what is best

He is a servant in doing for them what is best

He is always a man of His words

He would allow them to be free like birds

To solve ego issues, He would try to bend

For people who err He gives time to amend

Even for His enemy’s welfare, He would sincerely wish

He would happily remain hungry, if he has to offer His dish

By character that is spotless he is gold

His greatness for eons will be told

I am only fortunate to be the brother of such a great man

To spend every second of life for him, I will do all I can

Sitting at His feet and seeing his face

I love to forget myself singing his grace

I wish to keep His feet on my thigh

And look at it forgetting hours go by

To make Him laugh, I like to joke

And get from Him an appreciative stroke

Reading texts, I want to sit by His side

And discuss on topics He would decide

I would like to see him sleep and then go to bed

And be back at dawn, to see him wake, near his bed

I like to sit by His side and eat my food

And hear from Him, all that is good

Leading such a life has always been my dream

In my heart flows, for him, a devotional stream

I am unable to accept this kingdom he readily gave

I would surrender it to his feet, and be His slave”

Hearing this effulgence of love towards a Brother

Everyman in the court, towards Bharatha, became a mother

They blessed Bharatha with tears and all their heart

To go to the jungle and bring Rama, they were eager to start

Bharatha ordered his army to prepare for the journey which was long

He invited every one in the city who wished to come, to join along

His plan was to crown Rama in the jungle and bring Him back

He wanted Rama, only as a King, to return in the track

Rama’s fave elephant Shatrunjayan, which was strong

For Rama to travel back on it, was to be taken along

It was bathed and decorated with ornaments of gold

It trumpeted shedding off its grief, till then untold

With Sage Vashishta heading it, the procession started

Even new born babies, for Rama, promptly departed

Men and women, both young and old

Journeyed as if to get a treasure of gold

They danced with joy to music that was heard for far

Bharatha, like Rama, had become their super star

All the way, they sang the glories of Bharatha and Ram

All the way they shouted, “Jai Shri Ram! Jai Jai Shri Ram!!”