II Shree Guruvey Namah II
Jai Shri Ram,
II Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram II
II Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram II
II Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram II
देह दिनहुँ दिन दूबरि होई। घटइ तेजु बलु मुखछबि सोई।।
नित नव राम प्रेम पनु पीना। बढ़त धरम दलु मनु न मलीना।।
जिमि जलु निघटत सरद प्रकासे। बिलसत बेतस बनज बिकासे।।
सम दम संजम नियम उपासा। नखत भरत हिय बिमल अकासा।।
ध्रुव बिस्वास अवधि राका सी। स्वामि सुरति सुरबीथि बिकासी।।
राम पेम बिधु अचल अदोषा। सहित समाज सोह नित चोखा।।
भरत रहनि समुझनि करतूती। भगति बिरति गुन बिमल बिभूती।।
बरनत सकल सुकचि सकुचाहीं। सेस गनेस गिरा गमु नाहीं।।
दो0-नित पूजत प्रभु पाँवरी प्रीति न हृदयँ समाति।।
मागि मागि आयसु करत राज काज बहु भाँति।।325।।
Bharat’s body got thinned down every passing day due to his having Sattvic food (fresh and minimally cooked vegetarian food), this reduced the fat in the body but his strength was maintained as well his face remained glowing as ever before. His resolve to love Shri Ram more and more grew stronger by every passing day, he also leaned towards doing more and more for Dharma but it did not carry any adverse impact on his mind (where one engages in Dharmic activity without an inner conviction but only for display or under pressure, it makes that person somewhat upset and unhappy within but that wasn’t the case with Bharat, his was a natural urge). His progress was like when after the rainy season and with the approach of autumn, the water in lakes and ponds gets reduced, growth of the bamboos and other vegetation in forests is seen to be more robust not diminished.
His mental discipline, suppression of unhealthy feelings, physical control, regularity in practices, and routine of fasting never diminished rather they shined like Nakshatras (a combination of Gruhas or stars) in the clear sky of heart i.e no idea of diluting these practices ever took shape in his mind.
His faith (that Shri Ram would return one day) was as unwavering as the star that is known as Dhruv (pole-star) which is seen at the same place in the sky every night, that night being the period of exile of Shri Ram; the stream of Bharat’s thoughts of devotion towards Shri Ram was like the white milky way in the sky. His love for Shri Ram was like a full-moon that never waned and had no spots and which shined beautifully every day along with the stars as companions.
The way of living adopted by Bharat, his deep understanding of what was right or wrong and his actions most suited to the time, his Bhakti, his dispassion and non-interest in mundane pleasures, his virtuosity and untainted aura was such that even the best of the poets would have a hitch in describing with confidence; even the Sheshnaag, Lord Ganesh or Goddess Sarswati (all known to be gods of wisdom and intellect) could not claim to have a full understanding of what Bharat had set out to do.
Bharat used to engage in devotional service of the sandals of the Lord with love oozing out of his heart and also used to seek approval of ‘sandals’ (i.e he used to compare what he was going to do with what Shri Ram always stood for, getting a reminder of the same through sandals of Shri Ram, the sandals knew very well the course Shri Ram took) before performing any act of governance.
We have now covered up to Doha 325 of Ayodhya Kand.
पुलक गात हियँ सिय रघुबीरू। जीह नामु जप लोचन नीरू।।
लखन राम सिय कानन बसहीं। भरतु भवन बसि तप तनु कसहीं।।
दोउ दिसि समुझि कहत सबु लोगू। सब बिधि भरत सराहन जोगू।।
सुनि ब्रत नेम साधु सकुचाहीं। देखि दसा मुनिराज लजाहीं।।
परम पुनीत भरत आचरनू। मधुर मंजु मुद मंगल करनू।।
हरन कठिन कलि कलुष कलेसू। महामोह निसि दलन दिनेसू।।
पाप पुंज कुंजर मृगराजू। समन सकल संताप समाजू।
जन रंजन भंजन भव भारू। राम सनेह सुधाकर सारू।।
Bharat used to be mostly bodily thrilled while having thought of Shri Ram and Sita in his mind and while muttering name of Lord Shri Ram with his tongue he used to have tears flowing from eyes. All through the period Shri Ram, Sita and Lakshman were going to stay in the wild, Bharat had resolved to observe penance and refuse to have comforts of body (it would not have been improper for Bharat to enjoy what he could have ordinarily in the palace but he knew that this could push him in an state of stupor and distract him from craving for the Lord with same intensity, all devotees, who wish for union with the Lord, too should be careful in this regard).
All those who could appreciate the responsibility of Bharat both ways i.e as an administrator and as a seeker, declared that Bharat is to be praised in every way. The Sadhus used to feel belittled by the regime of vows and practices of Bharat (for they found themselves somewhat lacking in this respect) and the great Munis also used to feel ashamed too comparing their condition and state of their minds with Bharat’s, in pursuit of the Lord. They considered the conduct of Bharat as being most pious which was not only sweet, sober, pleasure-giving, and benefic. It was enough to steal the unbeatable callousness and resulting affliction born out of it; it was like the sun to end the night of delusion. It could work to disintegrate the collection of big sins like a lion disperses the parade of elephants. It could be an instrument of entirely ending all kinds of suffering in society. The nectar dripping out of the moon of affection towards Shri Ram always amuses and thrills the people and in a way that takes away the burden of living life, Bharat had that kind of love for Shri Ram.
छं0-सिय राम प्रेम पियूष पूरन होत जनमु न भरत को।
मुनि मन अगम जम नियम सम दम बिषम ब्रत आचरत को।।
दुख दाह दारिद दंभ दूषन सुजस मिस अपहरत को।
कलिकाल तुलसी से सठन्हि हठि राम सनमुख करत को।।
सो0-भरत चरित करि नेमु तुलसी जो सादर सुनहिं।
सीय राम पद पेमु अवसि होइ भव रस बिरति।।326।।
मासपारायण, इक्कीसवाँ विश्राम
इति श्रीमद्रामचरितमानसे सकलकलिकलुषविध्वंसने
द्वितीयः सोपानः समाप्तः।
(अयोध्याकाण्ड समाप्त)
If Bharat, who contained to the maximum the nectar of love and devotion for Shri Ram and Sita, had not been born, who would have followed the Yamas* and Niyamas** along with equanimity, restraint and would have observed the stern regime of practice according to difficult vows, some aspects of which even the Munis fail to understand therefore miss to practice wholly.
Who would have saved from the heat of woes emanating from poverty and pretentiousness if not Bharat by the spread of his glorious fame (by which all could know how Bharat got over it and follow)?
Tulsi says, “most of all, who would have made dumb people like me follow the path leading to Shri Ram (as Bharat practically demonstrated for even fools to know what was the right path and right objective in life).”
Tulsi lastly declared that whoever will regularly and reverentially listen to a story about the character and practices of Bharat would surely develop love and deep affection for Shri Ram’s feet and be disinterested in cheap mundane pleasures which drive one to do wrongs.
We have now covered up to Doha 326 of Ayodhya Kand and this brings us to 21st rest for a month-long recitation. This is also the end of Ayodhya Kand (the second descent) in the holy book of Shri Ramcharit Manas which can end the malice borne out of the Kali-Yuga.
Bhavani Shankar Ki Jai!
Shri Jankivallabho Vijayatey!
Sant Samaj Ko Pranam!
Goswami Tulsidas Ki Jai!
HariOm,
Krishna Khandelwal
*Yamas i.e ahimsa or nonviolence, Satya or truthfulness, Asteya or nonstealing, brahmacharya or self-control/celibacy and Kshama or patience and also Dhriti or steadfastness, Daya or compassion, Arjava or honesty, Mithahara or moderate eating and aparigraha or absence of greed.
**Niyamas i.e Shaucha or purity of body, mind, and speech, Santosha or contentment, Tapas or austerity, Svadhyaya or self-study or self-effort which leads to knowledge about God, Ishvarpranidhana or surrender to God and also Hri or being modest and showing shame for misdeeds, Dana or giving without seeking reward, Astikya or faith in Guru and God, Mati or cognition/developing a spiritual will and intellect under the guidance of Guru, Vrata or fulfillment of sacred vows, Japa or daily chanting of mantras.
🙏🏻
kavi na houn nahi bachan praveenu 