||Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

Chapter – 34– Ayodhya Kandam

Bharatha's close association with Nishadharaja Guha

The people of Ayodhya became happy watching the meeting of Bharatha and Guha, they engaged in pleasant conversation for some time.  Bharatha enquired about his clan and the welfare of the people in the forest, Nishadharaja forgot himself listening to the compassionate words of Bharatha, he admired Bharatha and looked at him without blinking eyes. He fell at the feet of Bharatha and stood with folded hands, “Oh! Prabho, we are fortunate to worship your lotus feet which is the source of our auspiciousness, Oh! Prabho, me, and our clan attained the highest of the piousness today. I have understood the huge differences in us, and the splendor of Rama, people who do not take pleasure in the worship at the lotus feet of Rama, cannot achieve any fortune in their lives.  I have born in the lowly caste of people who are wicked, fearful, ignorant, cruel in nature, discarded by the society and Veda, the moment I have cultivated devotion at the feet of Rama, my life has changed I have become an ornament to my clan.” Bharatha and Shathrughna embraced Guha.  Guha introduced himself to the queens, they considered him as equal to Lakshman and blessed him affectionately, the people of Ayodhya felt extremely happy watching the compassionate Nishadharaja, they felt him as equal to Lakshmana, and spoke: “Guha remained in the embrace of Ramabhadhra, therefore he is highly fortunate, and attained the fruitfulness in his life.” Nishadharaja became extremely happy and took the people of Ayodhya to his village.

The attendants of Guha busily engaged working on building tents, some of them were constructed in the village, some are under the shades of trees, near ponds, streams, pleasure gardens, inside the forest and mangroves, so that huge number of people from Ayodhya can accommodate comfortably. Bharatha was in a state of bliss watching the beauty of Shrungabheripura, he leaned on Guha, and they both looked like the love and humility together. They visited the sacred Ganga and prostrated on the footsteps of Ganga where Rama took bath, his heart was filled with happiness as if he has seen Rama personally. The male and females of the village prostrated, before the Devanadhi. They all took bath in the Jagathpavani and prayed for the sincere devotion at the lotus feet of Rama. Bharatha prayed “Oh! Jagathpavani, Jagadamba,  Paramba, Bhagavathi, Oh! Mother, your sands provides happiness to all; you are divine Kamadhenu for your devotees, Oh! Devi, I shall sincerely pray before you with folded hands, kindly give me sincere devotion at the lotus feet of Rama and Devi Sita.”

All the villagers took a dip in Ganga, once the queens finished the holy dip, removed the curtains at the instruction of Sage Vashishta. The people of Ayodhya resided in different places in the Shrungabheripura where the tents constructed, and Bharatha enquired about their welfare from time to time. They conducted the worship of deities, and Bharatha and Shathrughna went to meet Devi Kausalya, he spoke to them affectionately, massaged three mother’s feet, Shathrughna stayed with the mothers. Bharatha called for Guha and they walked all over the places holding hands,  with tears overflowing he asked Guha to show the place where Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana slept on that night in Shrungabheripura, in this way he could get relieved from the grief. Nishadharaja became uneasy watching him in tears, immediately he led Bharatha to the place where Rama took rest under the huge Ashoka tree, Bharatha prostrated before the tree with folded hands.

Bharatha saw a mattress made of Dharbha, he reverentially circumambulated that bed and adorned the dust from the feet of Rama on his eyes. His eyes were welled up in tears; with extreme grief, Bharatha began to speak “Oh! Sakha, the small creatures around the trees are grieving over the separation from Rama and Sita, the same as the people of Ayodhya. I have no words to describe the splendor of the father of Devi Janaki who is the King of Bhoga and Yoga. Her father-in-law is an eminent King of Surya clan; even the Devendra gets jealous of him. Her husband is the supreme Lord Raghunatha, who is the source of all the auspicious and eminence, why my heart is not ripping apart watching the mattress of Devi Sita who is chaste, devoted wife of Ramachandra? My heart is harder than the Vajra. My younger brother Lakshman who is charming, tender, amiable and courageous, there is no brother like him in this Universe and will not be there in the future, he is beloved of the people of Ayodhya, and dearest darling to Ramachandra and Devi Sita, they protect him like their eyeballs. He is dear as life to Rama, he has never been in the scorching heat, does not know how much struggles he is going through in the forest. Oh! Sakha, my heart is harder than the crores of Vajrayudha. Rama is the ocean of beauty, virtues, and bliss. His pleasing personality is most attractive and it is the source of bliss to the people of Ayodhya, preceptors, parents, families, and relatives. His amiable nature, lovely personality, compassionate, and impartial nature impress everyone even the enemies too.  It is impossible to describe the splendor and virtues of Rama to the crores of Sharadha and hundred crores of Adhishesha. Raghuvamsharathna is Anandaswaroopa/supreme bliss, he is the storehouse of auspiciousness and welfare, and he slept on this grass mattress, Alas! Destiny is too powerful.”