Doha - 202
Having finished the morning duties Bharata adored his mothers' feet and bowed his head to the preceptor. and sending a party of the Nisada ahead started the whole host.
Chaupala
He made the Nisada chief the van and then started the palanquins carrying the queen-mothers, and summoning his younger brother (Satrughna) told him off as their-escort. The Guru proceeded next along with the other Brahmanas. He himself then made obeisance to the celestial river, invoked Sita Rama and Laksmana and set forth on foot; while riding horses ment for the king were led by the bridle along with him Again and again his faithful servants said, "Be pleased, sire, to mount your horse." "Sri Rama has gone on foot; while chariots, elephants and horses are intended for me! What behoves me is that I should walk on my head; for the duty of a servant is harder than any other duty." Seeing his behaviour and hearing his polite speech all his servants melted out of a feeling of self-desparagement.
Doha - 203
Bharata entered the limits of Prayaga (the area surrounding the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna near Allahabad) in the afternoon; overflowing with love he cried "Rama,Sita!" "Rama, even as he went.
Chaupala
The blisters on the soles of his feet glistened like dew-drops on a lotus bud. The whole company was grieved to hear that Bharata had the day's march on foot. After ascertaining that all had finished their ablutions, he repaired to the confluence particoloured waters with due ceremony and honoured the Brahmanas bestowing gifts on them. As he watched the coming of the dark and white waves Bharata felt a thrill of joy over his body and he joined his palms in prayer: " You are the bestower of all desired objects, O king of sacred places; your glory is known to the Vedas and Ksatriya I beg alms of you. But what vile act is there that anafflicted soul would not stoop to ? Realizing this in this in their heart of hearts the wise and generous donors accomplish in this world the prayer of the suppliant.
Doha - 204
"I have no liking for wealth nor for religious merit nor for sensuous enjoyment nor again do I seek the state of perfect and perpetual calm Birth after birth let me have devotion to Sri Rama's feet: this is only boon I ask and nought else."
Chaupala
"Let Sri Rama take me for a wicked fellow, and let the people call me an enemy of my preceptor and master. All the same by your grace may my devotion to the feet of Sita and Sri Rama grow day by day. The cloud may neglect the Cataka bird all its life and on its asking water may discharge thunderbolt and hail. But the bird will fall in the estimation of others if it ceases to call out to the cloud. It will gain in everyway only by intensifying its love for the latter. Just as gold gets brighter by being put into the fire, even so the lover shines by sticking to his vow of devotion to the feet of his most beloved lord." In response to Bharata's prayer there came a sweet and benedictory and your love for Sri Rama's feet is unbounded. In vain do you harbour depressing thoughts in your mind; there is no one so dear to Rama as you are.
Doha - 205
A thrill ran through Bharata's body and his soul rejoiced to hear the agreeable words of the (deity presiding over) Triveni. Exclaiming "Bharata is praiseworthy, all praise to him!" the gods joyfully rained flowers.
Chaupala
The inhabitants of Prayaga (the king of sacred places), including anchorites, religious students, householders and recluses, were transported with joy. Meeting in batches of five to ten they said to one another, "Bharata's affection and amiability are batches of five to ten they said to one another, "Bharata's affection and amiability are artless and genuine. "Hearing of Sri Rama's charming virtues he came to the great sage Bharadvaja. The sages saw him falling prostrate before him and looked upon him as his own good-luck personified. Running up and lifting him the sage clasped him to his bosom and gratified him by bestowing his blessing on him. Offered a seat by the sage he sat down with his head bent low, as if he would run away and hide his face in a a den of bashfulness. He felt perturbed at the thought that the sage might ask him any question. Seeing his amiability and confusion of mind the sage said to him, " Listen, Bharata! I have already heard everything; but we have no control over the doings of Fate.
Doha - 206
"Be not distressed at heart by the thought of what your mother has done. It is no fault of Kaikeyi, dear child; it was the goddess of speech who deluded her mind."
Chaupala
"Nobody would approve of it even if I said so; for the wise recognize worldly opinion as well as the ujdgment of the Vedas. By singing your unsullied glory, however, the world and the Vedas both will be exalted. The world as well as the Vedas admit it and everyone says that of king's sons he alone gets the throne on whom his father bestows it. The king, who was above all true to his vow, would have called you and bestowed the kingdom on you; and this would have brought him joy, religious merit and glory. But the root of all touble was Rama's exile to the forest and the whole universe was pained to hear of it. It was, however, as fate would have it; much as the foolish queen(Kaikeyi)did wrong,she now repents for it. But he who lays the least blame for it on you is vile, ignorant and wicked. Even if you who lays the least blame for it on you is vile, ignorant and wicked. Even if you accepted the sovergnty no blame would attach to you and even Rama would have been gratified to hear of it."
Doha - 207
"but what you have done now is excellent; your standpoint is quite justified. For devotion to Rama's feet is the root of all choice blessings in the world."
Chaupala
"And that is your wealth and life, nay, your vital breath. Who is, then, so highly blessed you? This is, however not to be wondered at in your case, who are a son of King Dasaratha and a beloved brother of Rama. I tell you, Bharata, there is no one held so dear in his heart by the chief of Raghu's line as you. Laksmana Rama and Sita most fondly praised you the whole night. I came to know the secret only when they were bathing at Prayaga; they would feel overwhelmed with love for you. The Chief of Raghu's line cherishes the same love for you as a fool does for a life of ease in this world. This is, however, no great tribute to the Hero of Raghu's race, who cherishes the whole family of the suppliant. As for yourself Bharat, my opinion is that you are the very incarnation of love for Rama."
Doha - 208
"What, to your mind, constitutes as slur on you is a lesson to us all. The present occasion has proved very propitious for preparting elixir in the form of devotin of Rama."
Chaupala
"Your glory, dear child, is a new type spotless moon as it were; while Rama's devotees are like so many water-lilies (that open in moonlight) and Cakora birds (that are equally fond of the moon).It shall always remain above the horizon and shall never set; nay, it shall never wane and shall ever wax in the heavens of this world. The Cakravaka, bird in the shape of the three worlds shall cherish great love for it, while the sun in the shape of the Lord's glory shall never rob it of its splendour. It shall ever delight everyone by day as well as by night and the demon Rahu in the form of Kaikeyi's doings shall never eclipse it. It is full of nectar in the form of ideal love for Rama and is untarnished by any stain resulting from a wrong done to the Guru Let Rama's devotees now enjoy nectar to their heart's content since you have made it so easy of access even on earth. Of your forbears King Bhagiratha brought down the celestial river, the very thought of which is a fountain of all choice blessings. As for Dasaratha's virtues they are more than one can describe. What more shall I say about him? He had no equal in the world."
Doha - 209
"Won by his affection and meekness Sri Rama Himself appeared on earth-Rama whom even Siva has never seen with His mental eyes to His heart's fill."
Chaupala
"You have created the peerless moon of your glory, which bears on it the figure of a deer in the shape of love for Rama. You feel distressed at heart, dear son, for no purpose. you fear poverty even though you have found the philosopher's stone. Listen Bharata--I tell no falsehood, I am an ascetic dwelling in the forest and having no concern with the world-I obtained the happy and excellent reward of all spiritual practices when I saw Laksmana, Rama and Sita. The reward of that reward itself is your sight, on which not only I but the whole of Prayaga deserves to be congratulated. Bharata, you deserve all praise since by your glory you have conquered the whole world." As he concluded his speech the sage was overwhelmed with love. Those who were assmbled there rejoiced to hear the sage's words, while the gods acclaimed Bharata and rained flowers on him. Even as Bharata heard the shouts of applause in the heavens as well as in Prayaga he was overwhelmed with emotion.
Doha - 210
Experiencing thrill of joy all over his body, with his heart full of Sita and Rama and his lotus eyes wet with tears he made obeisance to the conclave of sages and thus spoke in a voice choked with emotion:
Chaupala
"Here is an assembly of sages and we stand at a place which is know as the king of sacred places. Great harm will come to a man if he states even a fact on oath at such a place. And if one tells a lie there will be no greater sin and depravity. I speak out the truth knowing as I do that you are all-wise, while the Lord of Raghus has access to the immost recesses of one's heart. I am not at all sorry for what my mother has done nor am I troubled at heart over the thought that the world will look upon me as mean. I fear not lest I should spoil my future life nor do I grieve over my father's death, whose meritorious deeds and fair renown shine forth throughtout the universe, who had sons like Laksmana and Sri Rama, and who quitted his frail body as a result of his separation from Sri Rama. Thus there is hardly any occasion for lamentation on his account. What pains me is that dressing themslves as hermits Sri Rama, Laksmana and Sita roam from forest to forest without shoes on their feet."