Bharata’s Dialogue with Kaushalya and Dasharatha’s Funeral Rites
Bharata falls at Queen Kaushalya’s feet and reveals the innocence and anguish of his heart in a deeply moving exchange. Thereafter, King Dasharatha’s funeral rites are performed under the guidance of the elders.
Ayodhya Kand · Episode 27 / 49
Episode Text
मलिन बसन बिबरन बिकल कृस सरीर दुख भार। कनक कलप बर बेलि बन मानहुँ हनी तुसार॥ १६३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
malina basana bibarana bikalā kṛsa sarīra dukha bhāra। kanaka kalapa bara beli bana mānahuṃ hanī tusāra॥ 163 ॥
Meaning:
Kaushalya is in soiled clothes, her complexion has changed, and she is distraught; her body has withered under the burden of sorrow. She appears like a beautiful golden wish-creeper scorched by frost in the forest.
भरतहि देखि मातु उठि धाई। मुरुछित अवनि परी झइँ आई॥ देखत भरतु बिकल भए भारी। परे चरन तन दसा बिसारी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bharatahi dekhi mātu uṭhi dhāī। muruchita avani parī jhaiṃ āī॥ dekhata bharatu bikala bhae bhārī। pare carana tana dasā bisārī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
As soon as Kaushalya saw Bharata, she rose and ran toward him. But overcome by dizziness, she fainted and fell to the ground. Seeing this, Bharata became deeply distressed and, forgetting himself, fell at her feet.
मातु तात कहँ देहि देखाई। कहँ सिय रामु लखनु दोउ भाई॥ कैकइ कत जनमी जग माझा। जौं जनमि त भइ काहे न बाँझा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mātu tāta kahaṃ dehi dekhāī। kahaṃ siya rāmu lakhanu dou bhāī॥ kai kai kata janamī jaga mājhā। jauṃ janami ta bhai kāhe na bāñjhā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Mother! Where is Father? Show him to me. Where are Sita, Rama, and the two brothers Lakshmana? Show them to me. Why was Kaikeyi born into this world? And if she was born, why did she not remain barren?
कुल कलंकु जेहिं जनमेउ मोही। अपजस भाजन प्रियजन द्रोही॥ को तिभुवन मोहि सरिस अभागी। गति असि तोरि मातु जेहि लागी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kula kalaṃku jehiṃ janameu mohī। apajasa bhājana priyajana drohī॥ ko tibhuvana mohi sarisa abhāgī। gati asi tori mātu jehi lāgī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
She who bore a son like me, a disgrace to the family, a vessel of infamy, and an enemy of those dear to him. Who in the three worlds is as unfortunate as I? Because of me, O Mother, you have come to this plight.
पितु सुरपुर बन रघुबर केतू। मैं केवल सब अनरथ हेतू॥ धिग मोहि भयउँ बेनु बन आगी। दुसह दाह दुख दूषन भागी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pitu surapura bana raghubara ketū। maiṃ kevala saba anaratha hetū॥ dhiga mohi bhayauṃ benu bana āgī। dusaha dāha dukha dūṣana bhāgī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Father is in heaven and Lord Rama is in the forest. I alone, like a banner raised in shame, am the cause of all these calamities. Woe to me! I have become a fire in the bamboo grove, and I have brought upon myself unbearable burning, sorrow, and disgrace.
मातु भरत के बचन मृदु सुनि पुनि उठी सँभारि। लिए उठाइ लगाइ उर लोचन मोचति बारि॥ १६४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mātu bharata ke bacana mṛdu suni puni uṭhī saṃbhāri। lie uṭhāi lagāi ura locana mocati bāri॥ 164 ॥
Meaning:
On hearing Bharata's gentle words, Mother Kaushalya gathered herself and rose again. She lifted Bharata up, pressed him to her bosom, and began shedding tears from her eyes.
सरल सुभाय मायँ हियँ लाए। अति हित मनहुँ राम फिरि आए॥ भेंटेउ बहुरि लखन लघु भाई। सोकु सनेहु न हृदयँ समाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sarala subhāya māyaṃ hiyaṃ lāe। ati hita manahuṃ rāma phiri āe॥ bheṭeu bahuri lakhana laghu bhāī। soku sanehu na hṛdayaṃ samāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
With her simple-hearted nature, the mother took Bharata into her bosom, as though Rama Himself had returned. Then she embraced the younger brother Lakshmana again. Grief and affection could not be contained in her heart.
देखि सुभाउ कहत सबु कोई। राम मातु अस काहे न होई॥ माताँ भरतु गोद बैठारे। आँसु पोंछि मृदु बचन उचारे॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhi subhāu kahata sabu koī। rāma mātu asa kāhe na hoī॥ mātāṃ bharatu goda baiṭhāre। āṃsu poṃchi mṛdu bacana ucāre॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing her nature, everyone said, 'Why would Rama's mother not be like this?' The mother seated Bharata in her lap, wiped away his tears, and spoke gentle words.
अजहुँ बच्छ बलि धीरज धरहू। कुसमउ समुझि सोक परिहरहू॥ जनि मानहु हियँ हानि गलानी। काल करम गति अघटित जानी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ajahuṃ baccha bali dhīraja dharahu। kusamau samujhi soka pariharahu॥ jani mānahu hiyaṃ hāni galānī। kāla karama gati aghaṭita jānī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
I still bless you, dear child; have patience. Understanding this bad time, cast off your sorrow. Do not take loss or humiliation to heart; know the course of time and karma to be unfathomable.
काहुहि दोसु देहु जनि ताता। भा मोहि सब बिधि बाम बिधाता॥ जो एतेहुँ दुख मोहि जिआवा। अजहुँ को जानइ का तेहि भावा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kāhuhu dosu dehu jani tātā। bhā mohi saba bidhi bāma bidhātā॥ jo etehuṃ dukha mohi jiāvā। ajahuṃ ko jānai kā tehi bhāvā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Do not blame anyone, dear one. In every way Fate has turned against me. Though it keeps me alive through such sorrow, who can know even now what pleases It?
पितु आयस भूषन बसन तात तजे रघुबीर। बिसमउ हरषु न हृदयँ कछु पहिरे बलकल चीर॥ १६५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pitu āyasa bhūṣana basana tāta taje raghubīra। bisamau haraṣu na hṛdayaṃ kachu pahire balakala cīra॥ 165 ॥
Meaning:
Dear one, by the Father's command Lord Raghubir gave up ornaments and garments and put on bark clothing. In His heart there was neither sorrow nor joy.
मुख प्रसन्न मन रंग न रोषू। सब कर सब बिधि करि परितोषू॥ चले बिपिन सुनि सिय सँग लागी। रहइ न राम चरन अनुरागी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mukha prasanna mana raṃga na roṣū। saba kara saba bidhi kari paritoṣū॥ cale bipina suni siya saṃga lāgī। rahai na rāma carana anurāgī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
His face was cheerful, and his mind had neither attachment nor anger. Satisfying everyone in every way, He went to the forest. Hearing this, Sita too attached herself to Him. She could not bear to remain apart from devotion to Rama's feet.
सुनतहिं लखनु चले उठि साथा। रहहिं न जतन किए रघुनाथा॥ तब रघुपति सबही सिरु नाई। चले संग सिय अरु लघु भाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunatahiṃ lakhanu cale uṭhi sāthā। rahahiṃ na jatana kie raghunāthā॥ taba raghupati sabahī siru nāī। cale saṃga siya aru laghu bhāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
As soon as he heard, Lakshmana also rose and went along. Lord Raghunatha made every effort to stop him, but he would not stay. Then Raghupati bowed to everyone and departed with Sita and the younger brother.
रामु लखनु सिय बनहि सिधाए। गइउँ न संग न प्रान पठाए॥ यहु सबु भा इन्ह आँखिन्ह आगें। तउ न तजा तनु जीव अभागें॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāmu lakhanu siya banahi sidhāe। gaiuṃ na saṃga na prāna paṭhāe॥ yahu sabu bhā inha āṃkhinha āgeṃ। tau na tajā tanu jīva abhāgeṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita went to the forest. I neither went with them, nor did I send my own life along with them. All this happened right before these very eyes, yet the unfortunate soul still did not leave the body.
मोहि न लाज निज नेहु निहारी। राम सरिस सुत मैं महतारी॥ जिऐ मरै भल भूपति जाना। मोर हृदय सत कुलिस समाना॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mohi na lāja nija nehu nihārī। rāma sarisa suta maiṃ mahatārī॥ jiē marai bhala bhūpati jānā। mora hṛdaya sata kulisa samānā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Looking only at my own affection, I have no shame. I am the mother of a son like Rama! The king understood well the art of living and dying. My heart is as hard as hundreds of thunderbolts.
कौसल्या के बचन सुनि भरत सहित रनिवासु। ब्याकुल बिलपत राजगृह मानहुँ सोक नेवासु॥ १६६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kausalyā ke bacana suni bharata sahita ranivāsu। byākula bilapata rājagṛha mānahuṃ soka nevāsu॥ 166 ॥
Meaning:
On hearing Kaushalya's words, the entire royal household, together with Bharata, became distraught and began lamenting. The palace itself seemed to become a dwelling of sorrow.
बिलपहिं बिकल भरत दोउ भाई। कौसल्याँ लिए हृदयँ लगाई॥ भाँति अनेक भरतु समुझाए। कहि बिबेकमय बचन सुनाए॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bilapahiṃ bikala bharata dou bhāī। kausalyā̃ lie hṛdayã lagāī॥ bhā̃ti aneka bharatu samujhāe। kahi bibekamaya bacana sunāe॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Bharat and Shatrughna, the two brothers, became overcome and began to lament. Then Kausalya embraced them to her heart. She comforted Bharat in many ways and spoke wise words to him.
भरतहुँ मातु सकल समुझाईं। कहि पुरान श्रुति कथा सुहाईं॥ छल बिहीन सुचि सरल सुबानी। बोले भरत जोरि जुग पानी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bharatahuṃ mātu sakala samujhāīṃ। kahi purāna śruti kathā suhāīṃ॥ chala bihīna suci sarala subānī। bole bharata jori juga pānī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Bharat too consoled all the mothers, relating lovely stories from the Purāṇas and the Vedas. With deceitless, pure, simple, and gentle speech, Bharat spoke with folded hands.
जे अघ मातु पिता सुत मारें। गाइ गोठ महिसुर पुर जारें॥ जे अघ तिय बालक बध कीन्हें। मीत महीपति माहुर दीन्हें॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
je agha mātu pitā suta māreṃ। gāi goṭha mahiśura pura jāreṃ॥ je agha tiya bālaka badha kīnheṃ। mīta mahīpati māhura dīnheṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The sins that arise from killing one’s mother, father, or son, and from burning cowsheds and the city of the brahmins; the sins that arise from killing women and children, and from giving poison to a friend or a king—
जे पातक उपपातक अहहीं। करम बचन मन भव कबि कहहीं॥ ते पातक मोहि होहुँ बिधाता। जौं यहु होइ मोर मत माता॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
je pātaka upapātaka ahahīṃ। karama bacana mana bhava kabi kahahīṃ॥ te pātaka mohi hohuṃ bidhātā। jauṃ yahu hoi mora mata mātā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
All the sins and minor sins that arise through deed, word, and mind, as the poets speak of; O Creator, if this be my will, then, O Mother, may all those sins fall upon me.
जे परिहरि हरि हर चरन भजहिं भूतगन घोर। तेहि कइ गति मोहि देउ बिधि जौं जननी मत मोर॥ १६७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
je parihari hari hara carana bhajahiṃ bhūtagana ghora। tehi kai gati mohi deu bidhi jauṃ jananī mata mora॥ 167 ॥
Meaning:
Those who forsake the feet of Hari and Hara and worship fierce ghosts and goblins—if that is my view, O Mother, may the Creator grant me their fate.
बेचहिं बेदु धरमु दुहि लेहीं। पिसुन पराय पाप कहि देहीं॥ कपटी कुटिल कलहप्रिय क्रोधी। बेद बिदूषक बिस्व बिरोधी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bechahiṃ bedu dharamu duhi lehīṃ। pisuna parāya pāpa kahi dehīṃ॥ kapaṭī kuṭila kalahapriya krodhī। beda bidūṣaka bisva birodhī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Those who sell the Vedas, milk out religion for their own gain, are slanderers, and speak of others’ sins; those who are deceitful, crooked, quarrelsome, and angry, and those who mock the Vedas and oppose the world;
लोभी लंपट लोलुपचारा। जे ताकहिं परधनु परदारा॥ पावौं मैं तिन्ह कै गति घोरा। जौं जननी यहु संमत मोरा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lobhī laṃpaṭa lolupacārā। je tākahīṃ paradhanu paradārā॥ pāvauṃ maiṃ tinha kai gati ghorā। jauṃ jananī yahu saṃmata morā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Those who are greedy, lustful, and given to base desires; those who covet another’s wealth and another’s wife—O Mother, if this is my approval, then may I suffer their dreadful fate.
जे नहिं साधुसंग अनुरागे। परमारथ पथ बिमुख अभागे॥ जे न भजहिं हरि नर तनु पाई। जिन्हहि न हरि हर सुजसु सोहाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
je nahiṃ sādhusaṃga anurāge। paramāratha patha bimukha abhāge॥ je na bhajahiṃ hari nara tanu pāī। jinhaahi na hari hara sujasu sohāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Those who do not love the company of the saints; those unfortunate ones who turn away from the path of the highest good; those who, having received a human body, do not worship Hari; those to whom the fame of Hari and Hara does not give delight;
तजि श्रुतिपंथु बाम पथ चलहीं। बंचक बिरचि बेष जगु छलहीं॥ तिन्ह कै गति मोहि संकर देऊ। जननी जौं यहु जानौं भेऊ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taji śrutipanthu bāma patha calahīṃ। bañcaka biraci beṣa jagu chalahīṃ॥ tinha kai gati mohi saṃkara deu। jananī jauṃ yahu jānaūṃ bheū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Those who abandon the path of the Vedas and follow the left-hand, contrary path; those who are cheats and, donning disguises, deceive the world—O Mother, if I even know of this distinction, may Shiva grant me their fate.
मातु भरत के बचन सुनि साँचे सरल सुभायँ। कहति राम प्रिय तात तुम्ह सदा बचन मन कायँ॥ १६८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mātu bharata ke bacana suni sā̃ce sarala subhāyã। kahati rāma priya tāta tumha sadā bacana mana kāyã॥ 168 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing Bharat’s words, which were natural, true, and simple, Mother Kaushalya said: O dear child, you are ever dear to Shri Ramchandra in word, mind, and body.
राम प्रानहु तें प्रान तुम्हारे। तुम्ह रघुपतिहि प्रानहु तें प्यारे॥ बिधु बिष चवै स्रवै हिमु आगी। होइ बारिचर बारि बिरागी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma prānahu teṃ prāna tumhāre। tumha raghupatihi prānahu teṃ pyāre॥ bidhu biṣa cavai sravai himu āgī। hoi bārichara bāri birāgī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Rama is dearer to you than life itself, and you are dearer to Shri Raghunath than life itself. The moon may begin to drip poison and frost may rain down fire; the creatures of the water may become detached from water,
भएँ ग्यानु बरु मिटै न मोहू। तुम्ह रामहि प्रतिकूल न होहू॥ मत तुम्हार यहु जो जग कहहीं। सो सपनेहुँ सुख सुगति न लहहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhaeṃ gyānu baru miṭai na mohū। tumha rāmahi pratikūla na hohū॥ mata tumhāra yahu jo jagu kahahīṃ। so sapanehuṃ sukha sugati na lahahīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Even if knowledge arises and delusion does not depart, you can never be opposed to Shri Ramchandra. If anyone in the world says that this is your view, they shall not attain happiness or a blessed destiny even in dreams.
अस कहि मातु भरतु हियँ लाए। थन पय स्रवहिं नयन जल छाए॥ करत बिलाप बहुत एहि भाँती। बैठेहिं बीति गई सब राती॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa kahi mātu bharatu hiyã lāe। thana paya sravahiṃ nayana jala chāe॥ karata bilāpa bahuta ehi bhā̃tī। baiṭhehiṃ bīti gaī saba rātī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Saying this, Mother Kaushalya embraced Bharat to her heart. Milk began to flow from her breasts, and her eyes were filled with tears. In this way, lamenting greatly, the entire night passed while they remained seated.
बामदेउ बसिष्ठ तब आए। सचिव महाजन सकल बोलाए॥ मुनि बहु भाँति भरत उपदेसे। कहि परमारथ बचन सुदेसे॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bāmadeu basiṣṭha taba āe। saciva mahājana sakala bolāe॥ muni bahu bhā̃ti bharata upadese। kahi paramāratha bacana sudese॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Then Vamadeva and Vashishtha came. They called all the ministers and leading men. The sage, in many ways, instructed Bharat, speaking beautiful and fitting words on the highest truth.
तात हृदयँ धीरजु धरहु करहु जो अवसर आजु। उठे भरत गुर बचन सुनि करन कहेउ सबु साजु॥ १६९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāta hṛdayã dhirāju dharahu karahu jo avasara āju। ūṭhe bharata gura bacana suni karana kaheu sabu sāju॥ 169 ॥
Meaning:
[Vashishtha said:] O child, keep patience in your heart and do today the task whose time has come. Hearing the guru’s words, Bharat rose and said that all arrangements should be made.
नृप तनु बेद बिदित अन्हवावा। परम बिचित्र बिमानु बनावा॥ गहि पद भरत मातु सब राखी। रहीं रानि दरसन अभिलाषी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nṛpa tanu beda bidita anhavāvā। parama bicitra bimānu banāvā॥ gahi pada bharata mātu saba rākhī। rahīṃ rāni darasana abhilāṣī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
According to the rite described in the Vedas, the king’s body was bathed, and a wondrous bier was prepared. Bharat held the feet of all the mothers, meaning he pleaded with them and stopped them from becoming sati. Those queens too remained, longing for the sight of Shri Ram.
चंदन अगर भार बहु आए। अमित अनेक सुगंध सुहाए॥ सरजु तीर रचि चिता बनाई। जनु सुरपुर सोपान सुहाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
candana agara bhāra bahu āe। amita aneka sugaṃdha suhāe॥ saraju tīra raci citā banāī। janu surapura sopāna suhāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Many loads of sandalwood and agarwood, along with countless other pleasant fragrances, were brought. A beautiful pyre was arranged on the bank of the Sarju, looking as though it were a lovely stairway to heaven.
एहि बिधि दाह क्रिया सब कीन्ही। बिधिवत न्हाइ तिलांजुलि दीन्ही॥ सोधि सुमृति सब बेद पुराना। कीन्ह भरत दसगात बिधाना॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi bidhi dāha kriyā saba kīnhī। bidhivata nhāi tilāṃjuli dīnhī॥ sodhi sumṛti saba beda purānā। kīnha bharata dasagāta bidhānā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
In this way, all the funeral rites were performed, and everyone bathed in accordance with the rules and offered sesame-water oblations. Then, determining the verdict of the Vedas, Smritis, and Puranas, Bharat performed the ten-day ancestral rites.
जहँ जस मुनिबर आयसु दीन्हा। तहँ तस सहस भाँति सबु कीन्हा॥ भए बिसुद्ध दिए सब दाना। धेनु बाजि गज बाहन नाना॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jahaṃ jasa munibara āyasu dīnhā। tahaṃ tasa sahasa bhā̃ti sabu kīnhā॥ bhae bisuddha die saba dānā। dhenu bāji gaja vāhana nānā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Wherever the great sage gave instructions, there Bharat carried them out in a thousand ways. After becoming purified, he gave all the gifts in proper form: cows, horses, elephants, and many kinds of conveyances,
सिंघासन भूषन बसन अन्न धरनि धन धाम। दिए भरत लहि भूमिसुर भे परिपूरन काम॥ १७० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
siṃghāsana bhūṣana basana anna dharani dhana dhāma। die bharata lahi bhūmisura bhe paripūrana kāma॥ 170 ॥
Meaning:
Bharat gave away thrones, ornaments, garments, food, land, wealth, and houses. The brahmins, receiving the gifts, became fully satisfied—that is, all their desires were fulfilled.