Bharata was rushed back to Ayodhya from Kekaya who went to his maternal uncle’s place while everything unfortunate unfolded in Ayodhya. Since Kosala was without a king after the demise of Dasaratha, and Rama in exile, the ministers ordered to bring Bharatha in haste to the kingdom and take over its reins. The younger sibling of Rama arrived without knowing the double shocking news while confronting the atmosphere in capital city and royal place. The next few chapters will inform about him receiving the blows and subsequent response from the prince to the turn of events. Bharata becoming the king has happened more quicker than Kaikeyi thought; just as sudden as Rama went into exile and thus both her wishes became reality amid a sea of chaos in the kingdom. Let us look at how Bharata accepted the throne amid the commotion as the story unfolds in Ayodhya and Aranya.
In chapter 72, Bharata does not find his father in the royal palace and goes to meet his mother. He asks his mother about the whereabouts of his father. Kaikeyi informs Bharata about the death of Dasaratha. When Bharata enquired about Rama, Kaikeyi also discloses Rama's exile to the forest along with Sita and Lakshmana. She also narrates about the two boons she asked the king Dasaratha as well as how the king accepted her boons and sent Rama to exile. She further advises Bharata to meet the chief of Brahmans like Vasista and others to get himself crowned for the kingdom.
To Bharata, homecoming proved to be joyless. Oppressed by an inexplicable feeling of doom, he went in search of the king. Not finding him in the palace, he went to see his mother, who was delighted to see him. She embraced her son whom she had not seen for so long and kissed him tenderly on his brow. She asked of the welfare of his grandfather and uncle. "All are well", said Bharata, "And my grandfather sends his greetings to you and my father. The gifts that he has given me will soon arrive. Hurried by the messengers from Ayodhya, I have reached earlier. Tell me mother, why is my father not on this golden couch and why is everything so desolate? I do long to see him and pay him my obeisance."
Deluded by the love for her son and her greed for a kingdom, Kaikeyi, in her ignorance, revealed the unpleasant truth deeming it to be delightful, "The king a great soul has attained that state which all beings should one day attain!" The suddenness of the announcement, and its cold precise delivery sent waves of shock through Bharata. Reeling at the blow, which was almost physical he fell to the floor like one struck. Kaikeyi went to him who was sobbing inconsolably and stroking him tenderly said, "Rise my son. This show of sorrow in public does not befit you, a royal prince. "Choking with grief Bharata demanded, "Assuming that I was being summoned either for the coronation of Rama or to witness one of the King's yagna's I traveled to Ayodhya only to find my father no longer alive. What disease claimed his life mother? Blessed is Rama and blessed are those who performed his funeral rites. Where is the hand that guided me, wiped my tears and would have now dusted my clothes and stroked me lovingly? Where is Rama? Is not an elder brother like a father? I long to touch his feet in obeisance and I surrender to him who is the most virtuous, truthful and above all the most worshipful. He is my father and my solace."
Bharata wanted to know if the king had any message for him and what his last words were. Kaikeyi said, "Crying out for Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, his last words were that all those who would one day behold them return to Ayodhya, were indeed fortunate." When Bharata asked of Rama it was Kaikeyi's moment of triumph for which she had been waiting with unabated eagerness. Sure that Rama's exile would be Bharata's joy she announced, "Rama clad in bark robes has gone to live in the Dandakaranya along with Sita and Lakshmana." This information only puzzled Bharata who wondered what transgression of Rama, could have warranted his exile? "Did Rama steal from a Brahmin? Did he torment the innocent of Ayodhya or did he covet the wife of another man? Why did the king banish Rama like a criminal who had slain a Vedic Brahmin?" asked Bharata.
Believing herself to be most intelligent, Kaikeyi proudly laid bare the intricacies of her diabolic plan. "My son, Rama has committed no crime. The moment I heard of his coronation, I demanded that the king grant me the crown of Kosala and the banishment of Rama. Bound by his commitment to me earlier, Dasaratha agreed and exiled Rama. Sita and Lakshmana followed him. Do not grieve anymore Bharata; I have achieved all this for you." Basking in the glory of her achievement she exulted "Get ready to rule Kosala, its golden throne awaits you.
In chapter 73, Bharata reproached Kaikeyi in many ways. Pricking with his unpleasant remarks, Bharata tells her that he will bring back Rama from the forest, install him on the throne of Ayodhya and become his attendant.
Bharata tried to shut out Kaikeyi's dreadful words, as they echoed and re-echoed in his mind. Grieving for a dead father and an exiled brother he said, "Deprived of a father and a brother, full of paternal love for me, of what use is this kingdom? You have rendered Dasaratha lifeless and Rama an ascetic, to wander in the wilderness of Dandakaranya. Like salt being sprinkled on a raw wound, you are causing me sorrow upon sorrow. For the destruction of the Ikshvaku dynasty you have come here, like the night of death and deluge. Just as fire destroys all that it embraces, so has Dasaratha perished in your embrace, his marriage to you has brought him death. Why mother? Why did you kill my father and banish Rama? What made you clothe Rama in bark garments? Did it not horrify you to see him so, the noblest son of Dasaratha who looked upon you with such love and respect? Kausalya, who cared for you like a sister, did she deserve this, what have you achieved? Unaware of my love for Rama, wanting to bestow the crown me you have brought upon yourself, a great calamity. Now, relying on whose strength do I rule this country? If only Rama had not looked upon you as his own mother, I would have abandoned you without any qualms. What made you deviate from the path of justice and fall to this state, which will surely be condemned by all our ancestors?"
"Tradition and Kshatriya dharma decree, that the first-born son of a king alone will inherit the throne. More so is this norm honored, in the tradition bound Ikshvaku dynasty. How can you, born of a race which values the same conventions, deviate from them? How did these lowly deplorable thoughts so full of blame occur to you? From this moment I will prevent you from using me as pawn to further your cause. To your bane will I bring Rama back to Ayodhya and be his slave" said Bharata. Though his grief was boundless, it did not hold him back from letting loose a barrage of accusations against the pitiable queen. Roaring like an infuriated lion he vented his abusive wrath on Kaikeyi, to her woe.
In chapter 74, Bharata censures Kaikeyi saying that because of her, Dasaratha is dead, and Rama is sent to exile. He abuses his mother of her greed for the kingdom and the misfortune thus brought to Kausalya, Sumitra and other mothers because of his father's death and brother's exile to the forest. He compares the grief of the Kausalya with the grief of Kamadhenu the mythical cow who was aggrieved of a pair of bullocks (her sons) being harassed by a plough-man. Bharata then promises that he will bring Rama back to Ayodhya and make him king.
As thoughts of Kaikeyi's injustices came to his mind repeatedly Bharata's anger flared. Even after denouncing her so brutally, he was not satiated but continued reviling her. "May you be cast out of the country Kaikeyi! The harm that you caused Dasaratha sent him to his death. Dharma has abandoned you, wicked woman! Do not sorrow for a consort whom you have killed or better still consider me also dead and grieve forever. May you languish in hell, and may you not enter the heaven that Dasaratha is in! Your outrage of driving away Rama, beloved of the people, has brought me disgrace. Your deplorable deeds have not bestowed upon me a crown, but anguish.
"Your infamy will also be mine for I too will be held responsible for the blame of Rama's banishment and Dasaratha's death. Do not speak to me! How much must be the grief of Kausalya and Sumitra for having to share this palace with you? For depriving Kausalya, of both husband and son, to which loka will you now go? One day Kamadhenu, the noble cow worshipped by the three worlds, looked down on the earth. There she chanced to see two oxen wearied by the mid-day sun faint, as they ploughed, and she wept. If Kamadhenu can weep for two, out of the many thousands of her breeds how can Kausalya live without her only son? I cannot bear your sins, as the people of Ayodhya look askance at me while they shed tears of distress. Why do you not cast yourself into a fire, or enter the Dandakaranya, or hang yourself with a noose around your neck? You have no other salvation. I will be rid of my sins after Rama sets foot in Ayodhya. "Pained and angered like an elephant goaded, his sighs were like the hisses of an angry serpent. Red eyed with anger, clothes in disarray and ornaments awry, Bharata fell to the ground, drained and dejected.
In chapter 75, Bharata asserts that he does not know how the exile of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana has occurred. Bharata and Satrughna go to Kausalya's place. Kausalya speaks harsh words to Bharata, saying that Kaikeyi, his mother procured for him the kingdom as desired by him. Bharata politely explains, on a number of oaths, his own innocence over the matter. Kausalya comes to know Bharata's heart, fondly takes him to her lap and weeps distressfully.
Bharata was physically weary and emotionally battered. Slowly his dazed mind struggled back to near normalcy and he sat up. He saw Kaikeyi. His eyes still brimming with tears he beheld the face of his mother. A face that bore witness to her anguish, born out of her disappointment at the destruction of her dreams, shattered by the wrath of Bharata.
To let Sumantra and the ministers know of what had transpired, Bharata once again started berating his mother. "Never have I coveted the Kingdom of Ayodhya or talked of it to my mother. I was miles away from Ayodhya and unaware of both my coronation and of Rama's banishment. I do not wish to profit by my mother's efforts, which should have been stemmed at their very inception." Meanwhile hearing of Bharata's arrival Kausalya readied herself to see that 'wicked Kaikeyi's son'. Agitated, unmindful of her soiled clothes and dishevelled hair she readied to go to Bharata. Just then Bharata himself appeared at her doorstep accompanied by Satrughna.
Seeing Kausalya, who was a picture of utter grief and desolation the two princes embraced her, with loving concern. She pounced upon Bharata saying, "Did you not crave the crown of Ayodhya my son? By banishing Rama, Kaikeyi's ruthless hand has taken hold of that which you had so wanted. What does Kaikeyi desire by driving away my son to the jungles clothed in bark garments? Let Kaikeyi send me to Rama or taking Dasaratha's body and the sacrificial fire which he worshipped I shall go to Dandakaranya." It was perhaps Kausalya's way of saying that Rama could then perform the funeral rites of the king who had once, in his anger forbidden Bharata to perform.
As Kausalya mercilessly piled blame upon undeserving blame upon Bharata, the prince waiting to prove his innocence fell at her feet saying, "Worshipful mother, unaware of my love for Rama, you accuse me of transgressions that I am not guilty of. May all the spiritual knowledge of him, by whose consent Rama now lives in exile, perish. May the sons, slaves and servants ostracize all those guilty of Rama being banished. May they, given to women, wine, gambling, passion and anger, lose their wealth and suffer. I was neither aware nor had control over what had eventuated here during my absence, so how can this blame befall me? Rama, mighty prince of Ayodhya, virtuous beyond measure, whose only religion is truth, is exiled and the accusing finger points at me. There is not a fragment of truth in those charges against me. I am not and never will be party to my mother's deeds against dharma. If I am, then may all the sins visit me and render me a beggar"
Bharata's impassioned pleas of his innocence and denials of the deceit that he was accused of calmed Kausalya. Regretting her outburst she said, "My son, distracted by a grief beyond endurance, I accused you. Your duty to your honor, which makes you want to follow your brother, is commendable. Blessed are you!" Kausalya tenderly embraced Bharata, but the prince would not be consoled as he deeply sorrowed for a father who was dead and a brother who was exiled. One was away by death and the other by dharma.
In chapter 76, Vasistha advises Bharata to stop lamenting and to perform the last rites of the king. Bharata then places the body of Dasaratha on a couch, taking it out from the vessel where it had been immersed in oil and proceed to the funeral rites. The appointed priests, attendants, people of the city and the weeping royal women followed the funeral pile of the king to the banks of Sarayu River where the body was cremated.
Vasishta said to Bharata who was still in a state of shock, "Enough of grieving Bharata, let us think of the funeral rites of the king." Dasaratha's body was taken out of the casket of preserving oils, to lay in state on a couch studded with every possible gem. Beholding Dasaratha as he lay like one in a deep slumber, Bharata wept for him whose love he had lost forever and whose embrace would no longer gather him into its protective warmth. He wept for an Ayodhya, that was orphaned and the earth feeling widowed also wept for her lord.
Citizens of Ayodhya lined its thoroughfares to catch a glimpse of their beloved monarch who was about to set out on his last journey upon the earth. They showered flowers made of gold and silver on the body. Priests, Brahmins, the queens along with Bharata and Satrughna circumambulated the pyre. Bharata then touched it with the sacrificial fire and lit it.
This concludes chapters 72, 73, 74, 75 and 76 of Ayodhya Kanda where we had seen Bharata coming to terms with dual shocks, deriding his own mother, Kaikeyi for everything happened in his absence. These particular chapters also shed light on the character of Bharata, who is very much unlike her wicked mother. His mother herself didn’t expect the kind of response from Bharata after her offer of the throne of the kingdom. He is a staunch follower of Rama, an embodiment of truth and dharma and completely disowned the devious plans. He also planned to give back the kingdom to Rama in no time. This can be seen in subsequent chapters where his love for his brother and father overrides everything else.
