||Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

 

Chapter – 38– Ayodhya Kandam

 

 Bharatha's arrival in Chitrakoot

The saints and ascetics in the woods felt jealous of the devotion of Bharatha to Rama,  all the way Bharatha  was calling out the names of Rama and Devi Sita, thus his love for Rama overflown all over the forest, even the Vajra and rocks were melted watching his love for Rama, the love of the people of Ayodhya to Rama was indescribable. They have arrived on the shores of Yamuna, they halted on the shores the Yamuna that day, Bharatha shed tears while watching her sacred waters reminded the dark cloud complexion of Rama. Once again, Bharatha and the people of Ayodhya sunk deep in the pain of separation from Rama; soon they have regained courage with the great words of wisdom. They have spent on the shores of Yamuna that night, and everyone settled in comfortable tents, a large number of ferries were kept ready on the shores of Yamuna, it was early in the morning, they all left in ferries and crossed the river Yamuna.

 

Bharatha and Shathrughna performed morning rites, prostrated before the Yamuna, and worshiped her. Thus, they continued their journey with Nishadharaja.  The preceptors took a seat in comfortable vehicles and the family of King Dasaratha on another vehicle and there were several vehicles followed them. Bharatha and Shathrughna joined in the procession ensuring the safety of all, they were attired in normal clothes and ornaments, was followed by sons of ministers, close companions, and attendants.  They contemplated upon Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana and continued to travel through the dense forest, on their way; they prostrated the places where Rama took shelter.

 

 

The villagers rushed to meet the princess of Ayodhya, in the wood leaving all their household chores and attained Janmasaphalya.  One of the ladies spoke “Oh! Sakhi, these two handsome youths have the appearance of Rama and Lakshmana, do not know who they are? Their appearance, complexion, age, attractive bodily features, virtues, etc. resembles Rama and Lakshmana, but their costumes are different, and Devi Sita is not with them. They have a huge army of men before them, Oh! Sakhi, their faces look so gloomy, they are grieving over something. I think they are not Rama and Lakshmana.” The other lady praised the assumptions of the lady who described the features of Bharatha and Shathrughna, another woman described the story of the impediments caused to the coronation ceremony of Rama. One of the ladies praised the simplicity, compassion, kindness, and virtues of Bharatha and his devotion to Rama and Lakshman and said “Oh! Sakhi, Bharatha is taking a journey to the forest by foot, and consuming fruits and fiber roots, he has abandoned the Kingdom his father has offered to him. Bharatha came to the forest to take back Raghuvara to the Kingdom of Ayodhya, it is impossible to find a virtuous brother like Bharatha, whoever listens or read the virtues, devotion, disciplines, and love for his brothers, would remove all the afflictions and sins. Oh! Sakhi, I have no words to describe their splendor and virtues, he is the younger brother of Rama, therefore it is no surprise in it, we are fortunate to witness the brothers. It is hard to believe that the virtuous Bharatha was born to wicked Kaikeyi.” Another woman spoke “Oh! Sakhi, Rani Kaikeyi is not the one to blame; God has done everything in favor of us. The Supreme Lord has showered an abundance of fortune on females like us who lives in the forest, ignorant, discarded by Veda and Dharmashasthra, born in the lowly clan, wicked, impure by birth and Karma, living in the impure places, but today we have gained an abundance of piousness watching Bharatha and Shathrughna.” In this way, the villagers in the forest attained immense pleasure watching Bharatha and Shathrughna, it was like the people of Simhaldhvipa attained the sacred river Prayagraj.

 

Bharatha contemplating upon Rama, visited several sacred shrines, had holy dip in the Theerthas, visited the hermitages of Rishis and Sages, and prayed for intense devotion at the lotus feet of Rama and Sita. They proceeded through the woods, on their way they have met Kiratha, Kolas, Vanaprastha, Bhramachari, Sanyasi, ascetics, Sages and Rishis, and enquired about the dwelling place of Rama. The sages who met Bharatha came to know about the news and attained their piousness in their lives.  All of them were treated Bharatha and Shathrughna affectionately and informed the well-being of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana in the forest. They took a halt in the middle of the forest, and on the next day early morning, they set out for the journey, prayed to that supreme Lord and every one of them were zealously waiting to meet Rama. They could witness various auspicious omens, their eyes and hands quivered as an auspicious omen, the people were enthusiastic and waiting to get rid of their grief of separation from Rama. All of them were in a state of ecstasy, Guha showed the Kamadhagiri Parvatha which is the jewel among the mountains; it was close to the river Payasvini where Rama and Sita along with Lakshman lived in a hermitage. Everyone prostrated before Kamadhagiri Parvatha, they cheered “Jai Janaki Jeevan Rama”. The supreme state of Bharatha cannot be described even for Adishesha, that day they have covered four miles, due to the abundance of love for Rama, Sita, and Lakshman. They halted in a place close to the river Payasvini, and spend that night. On the next day early morning, they have started journey through the woods.