Bharata's Question through Hanuman and Rama's Teaching
Through Hanuman, Bharata places his humble questions before Rama. In reply, Rama teaches the essence of dharma, devotion, and the spiritual purpose of life.
Uttar Kand · Episode 8 / 21
Episode Text
सनकादिक बिधि लोक सिधाए। भ्रातन्ह राम चरन सिर नाए॥ पूछत प्रभुहि सकल सकुचाहीं। चितवहिं सब मारुतसुत पाहीं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sanakādika bidhi loka sidhāe। bhrātanha rāma carana sira nāe॥ pūchata prabhui sakala sakucāhīṃ। citavahiṃ saba mārutasuta pāhīṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Then the sages headed by Sanaka went to Brahmaloka. The brothers bowed their heads at Shri Rama’s feet. All of them were shy to ask the Lord directly, so they kept looking toward Hanuman.
सुनी चहहिं प्रभु मुख कै बानी। जो सुनि होइ सकल भ्रम हानी॥ अंतरजामी प्रभु सभ जाना। बूझत कहहु काह हनुमाना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunī cahahiṃ prabhu mukha kai bānī। jo suni hoi sakala bhrama hānī॥ antarajāmī prabhu sabha jānā। būjhata kahahu kāha hanumānā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
They wished to hear the words from the Lord’s own lips, words that destroy all delusion upon hearing. The all-knowing Lord understood everything and asked, “Tell me, Hanuman—what is it?”
जोरि पानि कह तब हनुमंता। सुनहु दीनदयाल भगवंता॥ नाथ भरत कछु पूँछन चहहीं। प्रस्न करत मन सकुचत अहहीं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jori pāni kaha taba hanumaṃtā। sunahu dīnadayāla bhagavaṃtā॥ nātha bharata kachu pūṃchana cahahīṃ। prasna karata mana sakucata ahahīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Then Hanuman, with folded hands, said, “Listen, O compassionate Lord! O Master, Bharata wishes to ask something, but he feels shy while asking the question.”
तुम्ह जानहु कपि मोर सुभाऊ। भरतहि मोहि कछु अंतर काऊ॥ सुनि प्रभु बचन भरत गहे चरना। सुनहु नाथ प्रनतारति हरना॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tumha jānahu kapi mora subhāū। bharatahi mohi kachu antara kāū॥ suni prabhu bacana bharata gahe caranā। sunahu nātha pranatārati haranā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
[The Lord said:] “O Hanuman, you know my nature well. Is there really any difference between Bharata and me?” Hearing the Lord’s words, Bharata seized His feet and said, “O Master, remover of the suffering of those who take refuge in You, listen.”
नाथ न मोहि संदेह कछु सपनेहुँ सोक न मोह। केवल कृपा तुम्हारिहि कृपानंद संदोह॥ ३६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nātha na mohi saṃdeha kachu sapanehuṃ soka na moha। kevala kṛpā tumhārihi kṛpānanda sandoha॥ 36 ॥
Meaning:
O Master, I have no doubt at all, nor even in my dreams any sorrow or delusion. O reservoir of grace and bliss, this is solely the fruit of Your mercy.
करउँ कृपानिधि एक ढिठाई। मैं सेवक तुम्ह जन सुखदाई॥ संतन्ह कै महिमा रघुराई। बहु बिधि बेद पुरानन्ह गाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
karauṃ kṛpānidhi eka ḍhiṭhāī। maiṃ sevaka tumha jana sukhadāī॥ santanha kai mahimā raghurāī। bahu bidhi beda purānanha gāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Nonetheless, O treasure of compassion, I make one bold request of You. I am Your servant, and You are the giver of joy to Your servants. [Please forgive my boldness and answer my question, granting me joy.] O Raghunath, the Vedas and Puranas sing in many ways of the glory of the saints.
श्रीमुख तुम्ह पुनि कीन्हि बड़ाई। तिन्ह पर प्रभुहि प्रीति अधिकाई॥ सुना चहउँ प्रभु तिन्ह कर लच्छन। कृपासिंधु गुन ग्यान बिचच्छन॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
śrīmukha tumha puni kīnhi baṛāī। tinha para prabhuhi prīti adhikāī॥ sunā cahauṃ prabhu tinha kara lacchana। kṛpāsiṃdhu guna gyāna bicacchana॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
You have also praised them with Your own holy lips, and the Lord’s affection for them is very great. O Lord, I wish to hear their signs. O ocean of grace, You are expert in virtues and knowledge.
संत असंत भेद बिलगाई। प्रनतपाल मोहि कहहु बुझाई॥ संतन्ह के लच्छन सुनु भ्राता। अगनित श्रुति पुरान बिख्याता॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saṃta asaṃta bheda bilagāī। pranatapāla mohi kahahu bujhāī॥ saṃtanha ke lacchana sunu bhrātā। aganita śruti purāna bikhyātā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
O protector of the surrendered, please explain to me the difference between saints and the wicked. [Shri Rama said—] O brother, the marks of saints are innumerable and are celebrated in the Vedas and Puranas.
संत असंतन्हि कै असि करनी। जिमि कुठार चंदन आचरनी॥ काटइ परसु मलय सुनु भाई। निज गुन देइ सुगंध बसाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saṃta asaṃtanhi kai asi karanī। jimi kuṭhāra candana ācaranī॥ kāṭai parasu malaya sunu bhāī। nija guna dei sugandha basāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The conduct of saints and the wicked is like that of an axe and sandalwood. Listen, brother: the axe cuts the sandalwood [because that is its nature and function]; but sandalwood, by its own nature, gives its fragrance and perfumes even the axe.
ताते सुर सीसन्ह चढ़त जग बल्लभ श्रीखंड। अनल दाहि पीटत घनहिं परसु बदन यह दंड॥ ३७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāte sura sīsanha caṛhata jaga ballabha śrīkhaṇḍa। anala dāhi pīṭata ghanahiṃ parasu badana yaha daṇḍa॥ 37 ॥
Meaning:
Because of this quality, sandalwood is placed on the heads of the gods and becomes dear to the world, while the axe-blade receives this punishment: it is burned in fire and then beaten with a hammer.
बिषय अलंपट सील गुनाकर। पर दुख दुख सुख सुख देखे पर॥ सम अभूतरिपु बिमद बिरागी। लोभामरष हरष भय त्यागी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
biṣaya alaṃpaṭa sīla gunākara। para dukha dukha sukha sukha dekhe para॥ sama abhūtaripu bimada birāgī। lobhāmaraṣa haraṣa bhaya tyāgī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Saints are not attached to sense pleasures; they are a storehouse of character and virtue. They feel sorrow when they see others in sorrow, and joy when they see others in joy. They remain even-minded, are free from pride and dispassion, and have renounced greed, anger, joy, and fear.
कोमलचित दीनन्ह पर दाया। मन बच क्रम मम भगति अमाया॥ सबहि मानप्रद आपु अमानी। भरत प्रान सम मम ते प्रानी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
komalacita dīnanha para dāyā। mana baca krama mama bhagati amāyā॥ sabahi mānaprada āpu amānī। bharata prāna sama mama te prānī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Their hearts are tender. They show compassion to the poor and practice My devotion, without deceit, through mind, speech, and deed. They honor all, yet themselves remain without seeking honor. O Bharata, such beings are as dear to Me as My very life-breath.
बिगत काम मम नाम परायन। सांति बिरति बिनती मुदितायन॥ सीतलता सरलता मयत्री। द्विज पद प्रीति धर्म जनयत्री॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bigata kāma mama nāma parāyana। sāṃti birati binatī muditāyana॥ sītalatā saralatā mayatrī। dvija pada prīti dharma janayatrī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
They are without desire and are devoted to My name. They are abodes of peace, renunciation, humility, and joy. They possess coolness, simplicity, friendship toward all, and love for the feet of the twice-born; this gives rise to righteousness.
ए सब लच्छन बसहिं जासु उर। जानेहु तात संत संतत फुर॥ सम दम नियम नीति नहिं डोलहिं। परुष बचन कबहूँ नहिं बोलहिं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
e saba lacchana basahiṃ jāsu ura। jānehu tāta santa santata phura॥ sama dama niyama nīti nahiṃ ḍolahiṃ। paruṣa bacana kabahūṃ nahiṃ bolahiṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
If all these signs dwell in a person’s heart, know him always to be a true saint. Those who never deviate from self-control, restraint, discipline, and right conduct, and who never speak harsh words.
निंदा अस्तुति उभय सम ममता मम पद कंज। ते सज्जन मम प्रानप्रिय गुन मंदिर सुखपुंज॥ ३८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
niṃdā astuti ubhaya sama mamatā mama pada kaṃja। te sajjana mama prānapriya guna maṃdira sukhapuṃja॥ 38 ॥
Meaning:
Those who regard slander and praise as the same, and who cherish loving devotion for My lotus feet, are saints, dear to Me as life itself—treasures of virtue and heaps of bliss.
सुनहु असंतन्ह केर सुभाऊ। भूलेहुँ संगति करिअ न काऊ॥ तिन्ह कर संग सदा दुखदाई। जिमि कपिलहि घालइ हरहाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunahu asaṃtanhaṃ kera subhāū। bhūlehuṃ saṃgati karia na kāū॥ tinha kara saṃga sadā dukhadāī। jimi kapilahi ghālai harahāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Now hear the nature of the wicked; never keep company with them, even by mistake. Their association always brings sorrow, as a Harahi cow destroys a Kapila cow by contact.
खलन्ह हृदयँ अति ताप बिसेषी। जरहिं सदा पर संपति देखी॥ जहँ कहुँ निंदा सुनहिं पराई। हरषहिं मनहुँ परी निधि पाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
khalanha hṛdayaṃ ati tāpa biśeṣī। jarahiṃ sadā para saṃpati dekhī॥ jahaṃ kahuṃ niṃdā sunahiṃ parāī। haraṣahiṃ manahuṃ parī nidhi pāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
In the hearts of the wicked there is a special burning of anguish. They always burn when they see others prosper. Wherever they hear someone else being censured, they rejoice as if they had found a treasure lying on the road.
काम क्रोध मद लोभ परायन। निर्दय कपटी कुटिल मलायन॥ बयरु अकारन सब काहू सों। जो कर हित अनहित ताहू सों॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kāma krodha mada lobha parāyana। nirdaya kapaṭī kuṭila malāyana॥ bayaru akāraṇa saba kāhū soṃ। jo kara hita anahita tāhū soṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
They are devoted to lust, anger, pride, and greed; merciless, deceitful, crooked, and full of sin. They bear enmity with everyone without cause, and they do harm even to those who do them good.
झूठइ लेना झूठइ देना। झूठइ भोजन झूठ चबेना॥ बोलहिं मधुर बचन जिमि मोरा। खाइ महा अहि हृदय कठोरा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jhūṭhai lenā jhūṭhai denā। jhūṭhai bhojana jhūṭa chabenā॥ bolahiṃ madhura bacana jimi morā। khāi mahā ahi hṛdaya kaṭhorā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Their giving and taking are false; their food and snacks are false. They speak sweet words like a peacock, yet their hearts are as hard as those of great venomous snakes. Outwardly they speak sweetly, but inwardly they are very cruel.
पर द्रोही पर दार रत पर धन पर अपबाद। ते नर पाँवर पापमय देह धरें मनुजाद॥ ३९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
para drohī para dāra rata para dhana para apabāda। te nara pāṃvara pāpamaya deha dhareṃ manujāda॥ 39 ॥
Meaning:
They bear hostility toward others, are attached to another’s wife, another’s wealth, and slander of others. Such wretched, sinful men are demons who wear human bodies.
लोभइ ओढ़न लोभइ डासन। सिस्नोदर पर जमपुर त्रास न॥ काहू की जौं सुनहिं बड़ाई। स्वास लेहिं जनु जूड़ी आई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lobhai oṛhana lobhai ḍāsana। sisnodara para jamapura trāsa na॥ kāhū kī jauṃ sunahiṃ baṛāī। svāsa lehiṃ janu jūṛī āī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Greed is their blanket and greed their bed; they are absorbed in eating and sex and have no fear of Yama’s realm. If they hear anyone praised, they sigh as if a fever had seized them.
जब काहू कै देखहिं बिपती। सुखी भए मानहुँ जग नृपती॥ स्वारथ रत परिवार बिरोधी। लंपट काम लोभ अति क्रोधी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaba kāhū kai dekhahiṃ bipatī। sukhī bhae mānahuṃ jaga nṛpatī॥ svāratha rata parivāra birodhī। laṃpaṭa kāma lobha ati krodhī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
And when they see someone in misfortune, they become as happy as though they were rulers of the whole world. They are self-interested, hostile to their own families, lustful, greedy, and exceedingly wrathful.
मातु पिता गुर बिप्र न मानहिं। आपु गए अरु घालहिं आनहिं॥ करहिं मोह बस द्रोह परावा। संत संग हरि कथा न भावा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mātu pitā guru bipra na mānahiṃ। āpu gae aru ghālahiṃ ānahiṃ॥ karahiṃ moha basa droha parāvā। saṃta saṃga hari kathā na bhāvā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
They do not honor mother, father, guru, or Brahmin. They themselves are ruined, and they ruin others as well. Deluded by attachment, they commit hostility. Neither the company of saints nor the story of the Lord pleases them.
अवगुन सिंधु मंदमति कामी। बेद बिदूषक परधन स्वामी॥ बिप्र द्रोह पर द्रोह बिसेषा। दंभ कपट जियँ धरें सुबेषा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
avaguna sindhu mandamati kāmī। beda bidūṣaka pardhana svāmī॥ bipra droha para droha biśeṣā। daṃbha kapaṭa jiyaṃ dhareṃ subeṣā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
They are oceans of faults, dull-witted, lustful, blasphemers of the Veda, and masters who seize others’ wealth by force. They do injury to others, and especially to Brahmins. Pride and deceit fill their hearts, while outwardly they wear fine dress.
ऐसे अधम मनुज खल कृतजुग त्रेताँ नाहिं। द्वापर कछुक बृंद बहु होइहहिं कलिजुग माहिं॥ ४० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aise adhama manuja khala kṛtajuga tretāṃ nāhiṃ। dvāpara kachuka bṛnda bahu hoihahiṃ kalijuga māhiṃ॥ 40 ॥
Meaning:
Such low and wicked men are not found in the Satya Yuga or the Treta Yuga. There are a few in the Dvapara Yuga, and in the Kali Yuga they will appear in heaps upon heaps.
पर हित सरिस धर्म नहिं भाई। पर पीड़ा सम नहिं अधमाई॥ निर्नय सकल पुरान बेद कर। कहेउँ तात जानहिं कोबिद नर॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
para hita sarisa dharma nahiṃ bhāī। para pīṛā sama nahiṃ adhamāī॥ nirnaya sakala purāna beda kara। kāheuṃ tāta jānahiṃ kobida nara॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O brother, there is no dharma like doing good to others, and no baseness like causing suffering to others. O dear one, this is the settled conclusion of all the Puranas and the Vedas, and learned men know it.
नर सरीर धरि जे पर पीरा। करहिं ते सहहिं महा भव भीरा॥ करहिं मोह बस नर अघ नाना। स्वारथ रत परलोक नसाना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nara sarīra dhari je para pīrā। karahiṃ te sahahiṃ mahā bhava bhīrā॥ karahiṃ moha basa nara agha nānā। svāratha rata paraloka nasānā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Those who, having taken human birth, inflict pain on others must endure great ordeals of birth and death. Through delusion, human beings commit many sins in selfishness; thus their next world is ruined.
कालरूप तिन्ह कहँ मैं भ्राता। सुभ अरु असुभ कर्म फल दाता॥ अस बिचारि जे परम सयाने। भजहिं मोहि संसृत दुख जाने॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kālarūpa tinha kahuṃ maiṃ bhrātā। subha aru asubha karma phala dātā॥ asa bichāri je parama sayāne। bhajahiṃ mohi saṃsṛta dukha jāne॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
O brother, I am for them in the form of Time, the giver of the fruits of both good and bad actions. Reflecting thus, those who are supremely wise worship Me alone, knowing the world-process to be full of sorrow.
त्यागहिं कर्म सुभासुभ दायक। भजहिं मोहि सुर नर मुनि नायक॥ संत असंतन्ह के गुन भाषे। ते न परहिं भव जिन्ह लखि राखे॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tyāgahiṃ karma subhāsubha dāyaka। bhajahiṃ mohi sura nara muni nāyaka॥ saṃta asaṃtanhaṃ ke guna bhāṣe। te na parahiṃ bhava jinha lakhi rākhe॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Therefore they renounce actions that yield good or bad results and worship Me, the Lord of gods, men, and sages. Thus I have described the qualities of saints and the wicked. Those who understand these qualities do not fall into the cycle of birth and death.
सुनहु तात माया कृत गुन अरु दोष अनेक। गुन यह उभय न देखिअहिं देखिअ सो अबिबेक॥ ४१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunahu tāta māyā kṛta guna aru doṣa aneka। guna yaha ubhaya na dekhiyahiṃ dekhiya so abibeka॥ 41 ॥
Meaning:
Listen, dear one: through Maya there arise many qualities and faults. The virtue is to see neither of them; to see them is ignorance.
श्रीमुख बचन सुनत सब भाई। हरषे प्रेम न हृदयँ समाई॥ करहिं बिनय अति बारहिं बारा। हनूमान हियँ हरष अपारा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
śrīmukha bacana sunata saba bhāī। haraṣe prema na hṛdayaṃ samāī॥ karahiṃ binaya ati bārahiṃ bārā। hanūmāna hiyaṃ haraṣa apārā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing these words from the Lord's holy mouth, all the brothers were filled with joy. Their hearts could not contain their love. They repeatedly made earnest supplications. Especially in Hanuman's heart there was boundless delight.
पुनि रघुपति निज मंदिर गए। एहि बिधि चरित करत नित नए॥ बार बार नारद मुनि आवहिं। चरित पुनीत राम के गावहिं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
puni raghupati nija maṃdira gae। ehi bidhi carita karata nita nae॥ bāra bāra nārada muni āvahiṃ। carita punīta rāma ke gāvahiṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Then Raghupati returned to His own abode. In this way He performs ever-new divine deeds. Narada Muni comes again and again and sings the sacred deeds of Rama.
नित नव चरित देखि मुनि जाहीं। ब्रह्मलोक सब कथा कहाहीं॥ सुनि बिरंचि अतिसय सुख मानहिं। पुनि पुनि तात करहु गुन गानहिं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nita nava carita dekhi muni jāhīṃ। brahmaloka saba kathā kahāhīṃ॥ suni biraṃci atisaya sukha mānahiṃ। puni puni tāta karahu guna gānahiṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The sages, after seeing ever-new divine deeds here, go and recount the whole story in Brahmaloka. Hearing it, Brahma feels immense joy and says, 'O dear one, sing the praises of Rama again and again.'
सनकादिक नारदहि सराहहिं। जद्यपि ब्रह्म निरत मुनि आहहिं॥ सुनि गुन गान समाधि बिसारी। सादर सुनहिं परम अधिकारी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sanakādika nāradahi sarāhahiṃ। jadyapi brahma nirata muni āhahiṃ॥ suni guna gāna samādhi bisārī। sādara sunahiṃ parama adhikārī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The sages Sanaka and others praise Narada. Though they are absorbed in Brahman, when they hear the singing of Rama's glory, they too forget their samadhi and listen with reverence. They are supremely qualified to hear the Lord's story.
जीवनमुक्त ब्रह्मपर चरित सुनहिं तजि ध्यान। जे हरि कथाँ न करहिं रति तिन्ह के हिय पाषान॥ ४२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jīvanmukta brahmapara carita sunahiṃ taji dhyāna। je hari kathāṃ na karahiṃ rati tina ke hiya pāṣāna॥ 42 ॥
Meaning:
Even the liberated and Brahman-absorbed ones abandon meditation to listen to these divine deeds. Those who do not take delight in the stories of Hari have hearts that are truly like stone.