Not having seen his father in his father's quarters,[164] Bharata went
to his mother's apartment for seeing her. On seeing her son before her
after his sojourn from home, Kaikeyi delighted, rose up from her golden
seat. On entering his own quarter which he found deprived of grace, the
virtuous Bharata took hold of his mother's auspicious feet. Then
smelling the crown of his head and embracing him and taking that
illustrious one on her lap, Kaikeyi addressed him, saying, "How many
days hence did you leave the residence of the revered one? Hast thou
felt any fatigue on the way incident to the car proceeding swiftly? And
is the revered one well, and thy maternal uncle, Yudhajit? And, my son,
hast thou passed thy time pleasantly during thy sojourn? It behoves thee
to tell me all this." Thus asked, that son of the king, Bharata,
furnished with eyes resembling lotuses told his mother that all was
well. "Seven nights hence I took leave of that revered one's residence.
My mother's sire is well, as also my maternal uncle, Yudhajit. My
vehicles had got tired in consequence of bearing the wealth and jewels
which that subduer of foes, the king, had bestowed on me. And it is for
this reason that I have come in advance of them. Urged by the royal
emissaries, I have come here so swiftly. But it behoves my mother to
tell me what I wish to ask. This sleeping bedstead of yours adorned with
gold is empty. I do not see the race of Ikshwaku in their usual good
spirits. The king generally remains in this apartment of my mother. But
coming here with the desire of seeing him, I do not today find him at
this place. I would take the feet of my father. Do you tell me who ask
you. Is he in the apartment of my eldest mother, Kaucalya?" Blinded by
the lust of dominion, and looking upon that as desirable (unto Bharata)
which was exceedingly disagreeable (to him), Kaikeyi replied unto him,
who did not know what had transpired, "That high-souled and energetic
one ever engaged in sacrifice--the refuge of the good--thy father, the
king, has come by the state which pertains to all creatures." Hearing
these words, Bharata of pure ways sprung from a righteous race, smit
with the vehemence of sorrow on account of his father, suddenly fell
down to the earth. And exclaiming in the anguish of spirit and in the
excess of grief, the words, "Ah me! I am undone!" that mighty-armed one
endowed with prowess, fell down, tossing about his arms. Then,
overwhelmed with sorrow and distressed at the death of his father, that
highly energetic one, with his senses distracted, indulged in
lamentations, "This bed of my father used to look like the speckless
welkin at night crowned with the moon, after the clouds have gone off.
But to-day, deprived of that intelligent one, it ceases to shine, like
the firmament without the moon or the sea devoid of its waters."
Exclaiming with tears trickling down, that foremost of victorious ones,
extremely afflicted at heart, wept, muffling his graceful countenance.
Seeing that one resembling a celestial fallen to the earth, striken with
sorrow, like unto a bough of the Sala that had been severed in the wood
by an axe, his mother raising up his distressed son like a mad elephant
or the sun or the moon, addressed him, "Arise, arise. Why dost thou lie
down, O illustrious son of the king? Persons like thee having their
senses under perfect control, and approved by men of culture, do not
grieve. O thou endowed with understanding, like the halo of the Sun in
the solar disc, thy sense, entitled to dispensing gifts and celebrating
sacrifices, ever follows morals, the Sruti, and asceticism."
Having wept for a long while with his body rolling on the earth,
Bharata. afflicted with manifold grief, answered his mother, saying,
"The king will install Rama and celebrate a sacrifice' concluding this
for certain, I had joyfully gone from hence. But it has fallen out
otherwise. That I do not behold my father ever engaged in the dear
welfare (of his subjects) cleaves my heart, mother. Of what ailment hath
the king breathed his last during my absence? Blessed are Rama and
others who have personally performed my sire's last rites. Surely the
renowned monarch doth not know that I have come. (If he had done so),
pressing down my head, my father would at once have smelt it. Where is
now the soft hand of that energetic one which used to rub my person when
it was covered with dust? Do you now without delay convey the news of my
arrival unto the vigorous Rama, who is at once my father, brother and
friend, and whose beloved servant I am. The eldest brother of one that
is noble and cognisant of morality, becomes his father. I shall take
hold of his feet: he is now my refuge. And, noble lady, what did that
virtuous one cognizant of virtue, that pre-eminently pious one, firm in
his vow, and having truth for prowess--even my father, say? I wish to
hear news concerning us relative to the last moments of the monarch."
Thus asked, Kaikeyi related all as it had happened, saying, "Bewailing
'Ah Rama!' 'Ah Sita!' 'Ah Lakshmana!' that magnanimous one, the foremost
of those that have attained to excellent state (after death), has gone
to the next world coming under the law of time. Thy father like a mighty
elephant fast bound with a cord, said unto me these words during his
last moments,--'Blessed are they that shall see Rama and the
mighty-armed Lakshmana returned along with Sita.'" Hearing this, Bharata
apprehending a second misfortune was deeply moved; and with a sad
countenance, he again asked his mother, "Where hath gone that righteous*
souled one, the enhancer of Kaucalya's joy, along with Lakshmana and
Sita?" Thus questioned, his mother at the same time duly said in words.
which although highly unwelcome, she took as agreeable to Bharata, "O
son, that son of the king wearing bark has repaired to the forest of
Dandaka, along with Vaidehi and followed by Lakshmana." Hearing this,
Bharata apprehending some moral lapse on the part of his brother from
the dignity of his race, asked in agitation, "Has Rama deprived any
Brahmana of his wealth? Or has he wronged any innocent person, whether
rich or poor? Has the fancy of the prince gone after the wife of
another? For what reason hath brother Rama been banished?" Thereat his
volatile mother, influenced by her feminine nature, related faithfully
unto him her own doings, Thus asked by the magnanimous Bharata, Kaikeyi
vainly turning herself on her wisdom, joyfully said, "Rama has deprived
no Brahmana of his property, nor hath any innocent person rich or
otherwise been wronged by him,-- nor doth he ever with his eyes look at
the wife of another. O son, as soon as I heard of Rama's (coming)
installation, I asked for the kingdom to be conferred on thee, and Rama
to be banished. Thereupon, he, staying by his promise, did accordingly:
Rama hath been banished along with Sumitra's son and Sita.' Not seeing
his beloved son, the illustrious lord of earth, stricken by grief on his
account, has breathed his last. Do thou now, O thou cognizant of duty,
take charge of the kingdom. I have done all this in thy interests. Do
not give way to sorrow. O son, assume patience. This city is subject to
thee, as well as this peaceful kingdom. Having with the help of the
principal Brahmanas headed by Vasishtha, duly performed the funeral
obsequies of the king, do thou, without suffering thy energy to depart,
install thyself in the kingdom."
[164] The text is evidently corrupt. From the sequel it appears that
Bharata had _not_ seen the king at that time. The commentator,
however, passes over the point in silence, which is to be
accounted for by the slovenliness of the way of thought
characterizing the Sanskrit commentators in general. An English
commentator would have considered the matter as of very great
importance, but his Hindu brother takes it quietly, and passes on
with indifference.--T.