Bharat's Love and Sacrifice

In Kekaya, Bharat had a bad dream around this time and felt deeply uneasy. When the messengers arrived, he left at once with Shatrughna. Ayodhya was silent when they reached it: no festival, no life. Bharat's heart sank. He went straight to his mother Kaikeyi's palace.

Kaikeyi said happily, ‘Son, your father has gone to heaven. But don't worry. I have won the kingdom for you and sent Ram to the forest for fourteen years.’ Bharat froze. His father's death and his brother's exile, both because of his own mother!

Bharat rebuked his mother harshly: ‘You have ruined our family. I will never accept this kingdom.’ Shatrughna seized Manthara, but Bharat said it was wrong to hurt a woman, and had her let go. Then Bharat went to Mother Kaushalya, fell at her feet and wept. Kaushalya held him close.

Bharat performed his father's last rites. Then Guru Vasishtha and the ministers said, ‘A kingdom cannot run without a king. Take the throne.’ Before the whole court Bharat replied, ‘This kingdom belongs to Ram. I will go to the forest and bring him back. And if he will not return, I will stay with him in the forest.’

The people cheered Bharat's name. The three mothers, Guru Vasishtha, the ministers and the army all set out with Bharat towards Chitrakoot. At the Ganga, Guha saw the huge army and feared that Bharat meant to attack Ram. But seeing the tears in Bharat's eyes, his doubt vanished, and Guha embraced him with love.