Tuesday 8 March 2016

Bharata hears of the death of the king

Bharata suddenly got up. He was in his uncle's house. It was the middle of the night and he had had a bad dream.
When it was early morning, Bharata came out of his room and sat outside. People came to him asking him what had happened.
He said he had a dream where the Sun and Moon were both falling from the sky. An old man came and said Rama, Lakshmana and Sita had gone to the forests. Dashratha was lying dead in a tub full of oil.

Having seen this, Bharata was very disturbed. The people around said it was just a bad dream and he should ignore it.They also asked him to worship the Gods and distribute alms among brahamans and the poor.
Bharata had a bath and sat for his worship. He then distributed all his wealth among the needy.
His mind was still not calm. He went to the court and sat next to his grandfather.

When Bharata went there, a messenger arrived saying Bharata was needed in Ayodhya. Bharata then thought that his father wanted to see him. Which meant that the dreams were just false indications. Bharata then asked how all were, to which the messenger said all was well, it was just that Bharata was needed urgently in Ayodhya.

Bharata and Shatrughna both got ready. When they arrived in Ayodhya they saw the people all sad. When they saw Bharata they tried to avoid him. Wondering what was the matter, Bharata went to the rooms of his father but did not see him. Dashratha had died in Kaushalya's quarter and thus his body was there.
Bharata then went to look for his mother. Kaikeyi was sitting on a grand throne thinking of the day when Bharata would be king. When Bharata came and bent down before her, she got up and kissed his forehead. She wanted to know how people were in her household. Bharata said all was well.He then said I have answered your question, now answer me. Why are people avoiding me?

What people had been hesitating to tell Bharata, Kaikeyi told him. As a banana tree falls when cut in one stroke, thus Bharata fell on the floor. Kaikeyi said no where was it written that the parents had to live for ever. Bharata then asked where Rama and Lakshmana were? He also wanted to know why she was not grieving for her husband?

Kaikeyi kept telling Bharata about how she had sent Rama to the forest and that Lakshmana and Sita had gone along also.

As one feels when deeply wounded, Bharata started howling. He said to Kaikeyi , You talk as if nothing has happened. How can a younger one takeover the kingdom with the elder one being alive? Is this what your parents had taught you? You are a female rakshasha who was there to destroy everything. It was because of some sins committed that I was born as your son. I feel like like cutting off your head as Parashurama had cut off his mother's head.

Seeing Bharata speak thus, Kaikeyi fled. She said all that had happened was because she cared for him.

Having heard from his mother, Shatrughna came to Kaikeyi's room and both brothers started crying again. Then they went in search of Manthara.

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