Your Sandals, My Crown!

Lord Rama lifted up His beloved brother and hugged him tight

Caressed his head, cheeks and back and made him feel light

Lord Rama wiped of Bharatha’s tears with his loving hand

And kissed him on the forehead taking a fatherly stand

Bharatha composed himself and smiled but with tears

And then he hugged Lord Rama after so many years

He wiped his tears and smiled at Lord Rama for a moment

Then looked down pensively and talked about the exile event

“Is this how, I should see you brother?

Is this why you worshipped my mother?

For day after day falling at her feet

She has repaid well, with this courteous treat!”

Rama was not surprised as He knew Bharatha well

About a person, after spending minutes, Rama could tell

This was His brother who was with Him right from His birth

He knew, His brother’s loyalty to him was firm like the earth

“In what Mother Kaikeyi did, there is nothing wrong

She had earned her boons and she used them strong

I don’t think, she would consider a kingdom to be main

Somebody with some ideas must have washed her brain

Anyway what has happened, for some reason, has happened

By such unexpected changes, we must not be weakened

Let us take courage and do what is right as our father’s sons

It is a must, for in our bodies, The Great Ikshvaku’s blood runs”

To question Lord Rama’s points, Bharatha did hate

But he could not accept the damage wreaked by fate

Especially he could not tolerate His mother’s act

There fore he asked some questions. With humility in fact!

“Brother! Is it not wrong to create dissension amongst brothers?

Is it fair, granting one person’s wish, while a nation’s wish withers?

Instead of going by ‘us’ and ‘ours’, is it fair to go by ‘me’ and ‘mine’?

Is projecting a person who loves to be a slave as a usurper, fine?

Has it not been our family’s standard procedure for ages

That the first born gets crowned with the blessing of the sages?

When You sit on the throne, near You, won’t I get an equal chair?

Instead of thinking about all this, are my mother’s greedy acts fair?

Exiling some one is a punishment only criminals meet

Such harsh punishment on you, how could anyone mete?

In things that have been done and happened, I see no sense

Injustice to you and infamy to me is unforgivable offense!”

Lord Rama looked at his brother with a smile amused

Bharatha was looking at the ground totally bemused

Lord Rama knew well that His brother was completely right

He also knew there are situations one must avoid fight

Shatrughna stood all the while nearby with tears that brim

Lord Rama called Shatrughna by name and fondly hugged him

Lord Rama on Bharatha’s cheeks gently patted

And talked, wanting Bharatha’s moodiness duly abated

“Bharatha! With Sita and Lakshman, won’t you talk?

From what had happened to what should happen won’t you walk?

I hope you both have not fought with our dad

While I left him, he was already bitter and sad”

When Lord Rama said this His eyes were filled

With the sorrow of separation, His heart was drilled

Bharatha knew it was time to break the news

He knew in this he cannot adopt any ruse

“After you left the country, our lonely father

Liked not, to continue with life any further

The wound Kaikeyi caused was very deep

He left his body peacefully while in sleep”

To Lord Rama this was unbearable shock

His mental equipoise was no more a rock

He lost consciousness and fell straight like a cut off tree

He was held before hitting the ground, by His brothers, three

Lakshman splashed water to make Lord Rama awake

Lord Rama became conscious with an unbearable ache

He cried out loud as if to throw away his grief

He felt He was orphaned like a fallen leaf

Lord Rama cried out loud sitting on the ground

The people waiting heard the wailing sound

They realised Bharatha and Rama have met

In the direction of the sound, they hastily set

Lord Rama’s sorrow was inconsolable and endless

To anyone nearby consoling Him, He was mindless

Mother Sita and the three brothers were also crying bitter

Yet, they tried to soothe Lord Rama to make Him feel better

Lord Rama composed Himself and relaxed after long

Though devastated, for other’s sake, He tried to look strong

Yet, He could not control Himself from lamenting loud

By the death of His father, He was completely cowed

“Won’t I ever see my Father’s, loving face again?

Without him to bless, what is there for me to gain?

Won’t he ever call me by my name anymore?

Won’t he ever tell me to do a little chore?

Whenever he sees me his face would blossom

He would hug me like a mother, to his bosom

He would search my limbs by caressing them for wounds if any

As I used to practice warfare, the chances of wounds were many

In listening to my words, he used to take delight

On hearing my viewpoints, his face would alight

He used to sit by my side to see if I eat well

Only on me, his eyes would always dwell

Why did he love me like his life, this useless Son?

Towards an impotent tree, he made water run!

Walking away from him, I had to cause him pain

All the hope he had on me, has now gone in vain

Wicked fate cunningly pushed me to a point

I had to act in a way that I had to disappoint

The one who gave me all his love and blessing

But it gave me no time to do the needed redressing”

While Lord Rama was dolefully lamenting thus

People around gathered and there was a buzz

On seeing Lord Rama cry helplessly they too wept

Feelings of responsibility into Lord Rama’s heart crept

Lord Rama composed Himself and wiped His tears

But He could not wipe off His sorrow that sears

Lord Rama decided to make offerings to His father’s soul

As a son, Lord Rama always with perfection played His role

He went down to the Mandakini River and performed the rite

Bereft of ornaments and in sorrow, He was, to His people, a pitiable sight

He came back to the ashram and sat amidst His country men and kin

On seeing Rama’s love for His father, people were cleansed off their sin

Lord Rama hiding His sorrow smiled at all

At His mothers’ feet including Kaikeyi’s He did fall

Words of consolation and love were exchanged amongst all

Lord Rama was talking with a composure that anymore did not fall

Mother Sita hugged her sisters and her in-laws

She too fell at Kaikeyi’s feet, forgoing her flaws

Kaikeyi was now in shame and total regret

She wished she could go back and reset

She approached Rama with hesitation and shame

And gently uttered, the most sanctifying name

“Rama! Forgive me please! This wicked fool

My eyes were blinded and I fell into the sinful pool

All on a sudden I hated you for no fault

I have wrecked a family after eating its sugar and salt

I have lost my husband who had renounced me

And my beloved son will no more speak to me “

She said thus, with folded palms and tear shedding eyes

In her face, Lord Rama, saw no guise

He caught her hand and hugged her with affection

At Lord Rama’s feet, even for the worst, there is no rejection

Behind her stood Manthara with a face that was torn

All her arrogance and deceit to the dust bin were gone

There were wounds almost on all visible parts

A question of who could have done that, filled Lord Rama’s thoughts

In a moment He turned back to see Shatrughna’s face

Shatrughna put down his face that showed no regret's trace

“Brother! I am very sorry. Forgive me if I was wrong

But the punishment she got, for her crime, is not too long

She is the one, who brain washed Mother Kaikeyi to greed

She is the one, who wrecked our family for material need

The maids and servants of Mother Kaikeyi informed me thus

Unable to control my fury I went on to treat her thus

I accept that on her face I repeatedly punched

And kicked her on her back that is already hunched

I caught her by the hair and on the ground I dragged

Knowing, she not just broke our family but also bragged

If not for brother Bharatha I would have killed

Bharatha said you wouldn’t like it and I became stilled”

Saying thus Shatrughna fell at Lord Rama’s feet

Promising, violence against women, he would never repeat

Lord Rama told Shatrughna to let go of the past

And give Manthara a place in their palace that was vast

Lord Rama also told Bharatha to treat Kaikeyi like before

In Bharatha’s heart, a place for Kaikeyi, Lord Rama did restore

Kausalya was heart broken on seeing Lord Rama’s humble state

For keeping her in comfort and her Son in discomfort, she cursed fate

Looking at the hut and mud utensils used by her Son

Except for shedding tears, she could do none

On seeing Lakshman’s state, Sumithra too felt very sad

But it was self-appeased by the pride she got on seeing her lad

She only told Lakshman to eat well and be strong

So that in serving Lord Rama nothing would go wrong

While Lord Rama, Mother Sita and Lakshman had conversed with all

There were stars on the sky along with the moon, as night did fall

On seeing everyone settle, Bharatha decided to open talk

About making his beloved Brother, the mighty Monarch

“Brother! I have a request to make and you must relent

Please do not refuse to grant my wish and make me repent

Please do accept the Kingdom from me and relieve me from burden

For I am unable to bear on my shoulders, the weight it has laden

Your life in this jungle is totally unfair and serves no purpose

You must be in Ayodhya and ruling, guided by Manu’s corpus

So we, the citizens of Ayodhya including our Guru, Vashishta sage

Came here to crown You and take You back paying regal homage”

Saying this, Bharatha onto Lord Rama’s face eagerly looked

Lord Rama’s mind to His own decision was firmly hooked

“You on the throne and me in the jungle, is what father owes

I have chosen to fulfill one half of the promise, without remorse

You on the other side, in keeping his word, have a role to play

As a good son, you have no choice but to do it without a say

Go back with our people, crown yourself and be a righteous king

Protect them like the hen that protects its chicks under its wing”

Bharatha felt as if he was irrevocably chained

For quite long, without a word, silently he remained

He hated himself for not being able to do his brother’s bidding

From his virtue of obedience, he realised he was skidding

But how could he bask in comfort and luxury?

While his Lord would remain in extreme penury

On the seat that belongs to his brother, how would he sit?

Above all, how would he endure the separation, the slightest bit?

“Brother! You are right! Our father’s word, we must protect

To his honour, as a man of word, there must be no defect

It is also unfair for a younger to rule while an elder is fit

Deliberating on all these, I have an idea, please consider it

One son of our father must do, for fourteen years, the exile term

And another must become king and make the kingdom firm

As Your slave, on Your behalf let me do the exile

And You please rule the Kingdom, checking all revile

If we do thus, Brother! Infamy on both father and me will be abated

The genuinity of all three of us will no more be debated”

Bharatha hoped, to this plan, Lord Rama would accede

Firm in His path, Lord Rama would let nothing impede

“Bharatha! Regarding which son to be crowned, our father was not given a choice

Rama’s exile and Bharatha’s crowning was clearly demanded by Mother Kaikeyi’s voice

So, there is no way I am coming back before fourteen years pass

You, trying to change this, will only result in time loss”

Like a fish that is caught in the net

Was poor Bharatha’s helpless mindset

On one side, he would be separated from his loving brother

On the other side, as a usurper, his guilt would make him wither

And before him stands his Brother, firm like a hill

Fixing His mind on completing the term, with immovable will

After much thought, Bharatha knew he had only one way left

To the holy feet of Lord Rama, that never snubs anyone, he tightly cleft

“If a younger brother, exiling his elder brother, sits on the throne

All the glory, earned by our forefathers, to the dust will be gone

Can you imagine in the line of the Sun

An usurper seizing the throne, with justice none

Brother! In not returning home, firm as a hill, you are

In not accepting the Kingdom, I am as firm as you are

I am sure you know, the justice on my side too

Considering all these, please tell me, what to do

I cling on to your feet in total surrender

A solution to this, please do render

Unlike to your nature, if you snub me

In fast until death, I will have to be

I cling on to these feet that can liberate a sinner

These feet that can make even the weak, a winner

I cling on to these feet that bestows supreme knowledge

These feet that deserves a red carpet and regal homage

I cling on to these feet that has walked on the ground

For keeping a promise of a father, ripe and round

I cling on to these feet that can remove all burden and pain

These feet that let no one’s prayers go in vain”

Seeing and hearing His Brother’s sincere prayer

Lord Rama no longer wished to be a silent player

The problem that existed, He decided to resolve

His brother from infamy, He decided to absolve

Lord Rama touched the back of Bharatha’s head

Lifted Bharatha by his shoulders, and lovingly said

“Bharatha! Dear brother! Give up this sorrow that you deserve not

Nobility and virtue in your actions are fraught

I had no wish or desire to become a King and rule

Yet the first time I accepted it, to be our father’s tool

And now again I accept to become the King and reign

Because I want your greatness on earth to always remain

May your name, in the pages of history, ever be etched

May your story ever be sung and let men deeply be touched

May it be, that Bharatha gifted a Kingdom out of love

And that, poor Rama accepted it with a bow”

Bharatha was both embarrassed and happy beyond a limit

At last, he had got, seemingly the almost impossible permit

He folded his palms and looked up to the sky

And then at Lord Rama’s feet, for long did he lie

Lord Rama started to talk immediately before giving hopes

To Bharatha’s short lived joy they were restraining ropes

“Bharatha! But before that, I must keep up our father’s word

For fourteen years let me live, making friends with the jungle herd

You on the other side go back now, to the city

And rule the country protecting it from other’s pity”

Bharatha looked up at his brother with painful eyes

But he knew his brother’s decision was just and wise

Bharatha for long remained silent in thought

He knew as a prince he had to play his part

He was clear, even for a day, not to relish regal privilege

To him, being a king even for a day was like causing sacrilege

Bharatha then came up with an obligation

He had by then decided to rule the nation

But that was only on Lord Rama’s behalf

He had decided to be an administrative staff

“Brother! My dear Lord and my favourite God!

I am happy, to come back, your heart has thawed

Till you come back I will certainly administer

The country with justice, only as your minister

I came here with hope to take you back

But for that to happen, time is still black

At least let your sandals come with me

And at the foot of the throne, let them be

Till You come back and start Your golden rule

Your sandals on your behalf will continue to rule

I will be the chief minister managing all affairs

And will submit all my reports to your sandal pairs

Let those sandals that are privileged to adorn your feet

Be my crown making my head as their privileged seat

Let the world know that Bharatha to Rama is always a slave

And that for Bharatha, before His brother’s love, nothing else is fave”

Saying thus, before Lord Rama, Bharatha kneeled as if for alms

Lord Rama placed, with tears, his sandals on Bharatha’s open palms

Bharatha smiled like a child at the motherly face of Ram

The crowd around shouted, “Jai Shri Ram! Jai Jai Shri Ram!!”