Four Brothers and A Kingdom: A Brother Pleads for Forgiveness.
Is sibling love real?
Please read Parts 1 and 2 first!
Prince Bharata went to Rama’s mother and prostrated himself at her feet in obeisance. He rose, commiserated with her on his father’s passing, and repeatedly begged pardon for his mother’s actions. Allaying any concerns she may have about his intentions, he committed to her that he would bring Rama and Princess Sita back to be crowned as King and Queen.
Queen Kaushalya blessed him and assured him of her support no matter what, and given his insistence on the right course of action, began to entertain some hope of seeing her beloved son again.
Similarly, he apologized next to Queen Sumitra and promised her as well that he would bring her son back.
Bharata immediately gathered the Court’s elders, including the Royal Priest and other well-wishers, and proceeded immediately to determine the path his brothers had taken.
He discovered that they were camped nearby, and had not yet receded from the horizon.
Was this Rama delaying the distance covered from the kingdom, anticipating his brother’s need to meet him on his return?
Meanwhile, right on the heels of Bharata’s meeting with the two Queens, Queen Kai rushed to their chambers weeping, seeking their forgiveness.
The power to forgive always rests with the one wronged, provided the transgressor is sincerely remorseful and seeks forgiveness.
Queen Kaushalya was the mother of the most righteous man on Earth. It was but inevitable that such a mother would know what it is to forgive wholeheartedly.
Queen Sumitra followed her elder Queen’s example. She was well-versed in the responsibilities of mothers of sons, who adhered to Dharma, performing their duties regardless of cost, as her son had done in following his brother into exile.
So, more due to the goodness of Queens Kaushalya and Sumitra, than her own, Queen Kaikeyi found herself forgiven, and embraced, once again as the younger Queen. But her mind was uneasy. Until Prince Rama forgave her, she felt she could not be at peace.
So, the three mothers anxiously awaited news from Bharata.
Bharata had discovered that Rama was staying with his brother and wife near a place by the forest known as the ‘hill of many wonders.’
Accompanied by his half-brother Shatrughna, and many in the King’s Court, he rushed to meet Rama.
Even as the two brothers watched the retinue approach, Bharata had advanced and prostrated at Rama’s feet to beg forgiveness.
Seeing this contrite action, Rama smiled at Lakshmana, who was still angry with Bharata, as though to say, ‘See, how you have misunderstood Bharata.’
He grasped Bharata's arms, lifted him to a standing position, and then embraced him, clearly delighted to see him.
Lakshmana. thawed at this display of brotherly love, realizing that perhaps Bharata was not at fault for his mother’s actions.
The four brothers reunited in joy.
Hearing the news of their father’s death though, Rama and Lakshmana were disconsolate. The Royal Priest comforted them and advised them to take heart.
Bharata then shared with them of what had transpired and how his mother regretted her actions, undertaken under the wicked influence of her maid.
At this, Rama was silent.
When questioned by the others, he reflected on the past, realizing that as a child, he had unwittingly hurt the maid. In the garden, while playing with a ball, he had laughed at her and pushed her away with their playstick, simply wanting to finish the game. Perhaps, this incident was the reason why she held a grudge against him.
What a revenge indeed! Capricious are the ways of the wicked, and yet as time shall show, though avenged in her mind against a little boy’s mischief, she lost her peace of mind. Losing it, she waited years in a dark room, hiding from the world, until Prince Rama rescued her at the end of his exile, and forgave her the sin.
Bharata now was even more convinced that Rama must return to take his rightful place on the throne. He made this wish known.
At this, Rama sat up startled. “What,” he said, “You wish me to dishonor our father, and disobey his final wish? The King honored his promise to our mother, and I am duty-bound to see that his wish and his word are fulfilled. Would I be the rightful heir to the righteous Kings of our dynasty if I dishonored their memories, and chose comfort over duty?
“Know this, brother, my word is my bond. Never shall I break it, even when faced with death. My life shall have no meaning if I, at the slightest inconvenience, chose to dishonor my promise to our father and mother.”
“It is my blessing that you have chosen to love me so, and it is your love for me that misleads you in advocating this unrighteous path. Surely, when you think on this calmly, you shall see that I am right, and I have no choice but to complete my exile.”
Bharata wept to hear this strong rebuke, though offered softly by his brother. Because, in it, he heard the resolve, and faced the inevitable fact, that Rama would not be deterred from his exile.
Bharata could not bear the thought of this separation from Rama. He pleaded again and again for Rama. to reconsider, to think of his mother, Queen Kaushalya, his other mothers, and the people of the Kingdom. He called on the elders of the Court to persuade Rama to give up this stubborn intent when his mother, Queen Kaikeyi herself had recalled her ask of the King.
No pressure, no elder, and no wise man could move Rama an inch from his determination to fulfill his promise to his father.
Instead, hearing Rama'.’s reasoning, and knowing it to be that of an honorable man, the elders advised B. to honor his wishes and return to rule the kingdom.
At this, Bharata recoiled.
He then pleaded with this brother, “You are righteousness indeed, and if I have requested you to reconsider, it is indeed due to my selfish love and the fear of being parted from you. Just as you do our father’s bidding, I shall do your bidding. But on one condition. I shall rule in your name only. I shall never accede to the throne. Instead, please part with your sandals, so I may place them on the throne in place of you, and administer the duties as your representative until you return. It shall be my penance for the role I have played inadvertently in your being exiled.
But, brother, know this also to be true. If you delay returning, even for a single day, beyond the 14 years of exile, I shall give up my life, as it would mean that I have failed in my penance.”
Lakshmana’s eyes filled with tears.
Bharata approached him and begged his forgiveness and said, “You are so blessed that you shall have the good fortune of seeing our brother and our sister every day, and the opportunity to serve them. It is my misfortune that I am being denied this, but dear brother, think of me when you perform your daily service for as you serve them, so shall I through you.”
So saying, Bharata took tearful leave of his brothers.
He finally approached his sister-in-law, but with his eyes downcast, watching only for her feet as was the honorable custom.
He bent down and paid obeisance to her, and begged her forgiveness as well.
She reassured him of her blessings.
After this lengthy reconciliation, the four brothers then parted ways to never see or speak to each other again for fourteen years.
Between this and their next meeting, lay an ocean of adventure, misfortune, redemption, rewards, the meeting of friends, and making of enemies, and war between good and evil.
In the meantime, Bharata returned to the Kingdom with his brother’s sandals and placed them on the throne. He ruled the Kingdom, taking care to never sit on the throne himself while he administered the affairs in Rama’s name and awaited Rama’s return.
For today, it is sufficient to learn that between the two brothers, Bharata. and Lakshmana, Bharata’s love for Rama was greater.
For Bharata loved his brother single-mindedly, from a distance, while performing his duties in life. He did not have the benefit of Rama’s company, unlike Lakshmana, to keep him steady in his devotion, nor to see Rama and be reinforced in that love. Neither did he know if Rama was aware of his devotion in absentia (he was!), unlike his ability to see Lakshmana’s devotion every day.
When the monkey-God, Hanuman. saved Lakshmana’s life in battle, Rama praised him by suggesting that Hanuman was just like his brother Bharata Praise that was heartwarming for Hanuman, but also reminded the others that Bharata was always present in Rama’s heart and memory, though far away in distance.
Rama was righteousness personified on Earth because he is in essence, Rama, an incarnation of the Preserver-God, and one of the most widely worshipped forms of God in India.
The story of Rama reveals in each of its threads, the path of righteous conduct for humans.
In Hindu mythology, Rama is considered to be Purushottama - the best of men!
[In Sanskrit, Purusha = man; Uttama = the best]
If you enjoyed this retelling, please like, share, and leave a comment! Muchas Gracias!
Notes:
Rama’s wife is Princess Sita, and his brothers are Lakshmana (L), Bharata (B), and Shatrughna (S). His father is King Dasharatha (King Dasha), his mother is Queen Kaushalya (Kaus), and his step-mothers are Queens Sumitra (Sumi), and Kaikeyi (Kai).
The infamous maid is Manthara and she is a reminder to refrain from taking advice from all and sundry, ignorant of their intentions, suspending your good judgment about righteous actions.
You would never name a child Kaikeyi.
I have updated Part 1 with some old and relevant painting print images, take a relook!
Note: You can also read my condensed five-minute synopsis of the 1700-page, 24,000-verse epic, Ramayana, below.
Ramayana!
Ahhhh...Thanks-again!