We had seen the story turning towards Bharata in Ayodhya in the last few chapters. In the absence of Dasaratha, Rama and to realize the wish of Kaikeyi, Bharata is the choice to be installed as King of Kosala. But he sternly opposes the proposal presented by ministers, everyone else and wishes to hand it over to Rama. Meanwhile, Bharata performs the last rites of Dasaratha under the aegis of Vasista. This is a time where the kingdom of Ayodhya revolves around Bharata and his directions. His acts are mostly based on impulses of a young prince, reacting to the loss of dear father, brother and gloom in entire kingdom. It will take time to overcome the loss and restore the kingdom from the present-day chaos and gloom. How the kingdom copes with a sudden dual loss is embodied by Bharata and the next many chapters reveal his response to it. Bharata becomes a central character in Ayodhya now and in the rest of the Kanda.
In chapter 77, on the twelfth day of the death of Dasaratha, Bharata gives various presents to Brahmans. On the thirteenth day when Bharata and Shatrughna go to the cremation ground to collect the bones, both are overwhelmed with grief and fall on the ground. Vasista, the family priest and Sumantra raise them up and pacifying, urge both of them to complete the remaining rites to be performed on the thirteenth day.
In Ayodhya life passed slowly, nothing was normal anymore. Twelve days after the cremation, the 'Shraddha' ceremony took place, when the Brahmins were bestowed with gifts of gold, silver, gems, wealth, food and fine clothes along with hundreds of cows and goats. Mansions and servants too were part of the charity. On the morning of the thirteenth day Bharata collecting his father's ashes lamented, "Father, I have lost the brother to whom I was entrusted to the jungles and you to death. Who will be my refuge now? Beholding a mighty monarch reduced to a fistful of ashes and a handful of bones, Bharata sobbed hopelessly, abandoning all restraint.
Satrughna battling with his own sorrow and overwhelmed with Bharata's grief wailed. "Father when you, the very essence of dharma, departed why did not the earth shatter? I will never enter an Ayodhya, which is not graced by Rama." Consoling the prince, Vasishta gently reminded him of his duties yet to be fulfilled. He said that every man born on this earth was subject to the dualities of nature such as hunger and thirst, grief and delusion, old age and death, common to all and from which there was no known escape. The wise do not grieve for that which is inevitable and cannot be escaped. Life is an eternal war between these dualities and death is the ultimate event of every life. Birth and death are natural and unavoidable, so one should not sorrow for them." Comforted and quietened, the princes and the ministers prepared to bring to a close of what was left of the funeral rites.
In chapter 78, Shatrughna asks Bharata why even Lakshmana could not prevent Dasaratha from sending Rama to the forest. Meanwhile, when Manthara arrives at the scene, Shatrughna seizes her with his powerful hand, threatens to punish her and abuses Kaikeyi too. When Kaikeyi pleads for mercy with her son, Bharata intervenes and Shatrughna releases Manthara.
Like a dance of death, the flames had leapt, hissed and spewed sparks, as the mortal remains of Dasaratha were reduced to ashes. Back in the palace, Bharata sat dolefully, wondering how he might meet Rama. Satrughna, who was in no mood, was annoyed at the injustice of Rama's exile. "How can Rama, the refuge of all be cast away into the jungles by a mere woman? Was there not a strong and valiant son of Dasaratha called Lakshmana? What ever happened to him? Why did he not restrain the king, even at the expense of binding him with ropes, to protect Rama from the indignity and injustice of exile? A king, deluded by his passion for a woman and victim of her wiles has driven away Rama."
Just then, Manthara the infamous hunchback came in. Her arrival was like adding fuel to the fire of his anger. She was decked from the crown of her crooked head to the tips of her crooked toes, in a vulgar display of her ill-gotten wealth. Smeared with red sandal paste, draped in the finest of silks, wearing row upon row of gold and pearl chains, with strange glittering objects stuck all over, she looked like a monkey bound with ropes. Manthara, whom the world had condemned for its woes, sauntered into her foe. The ludicrous woman was pounced upon with great glee, by the guards as she shrieked, more in shock than in pain. They took her to Bharata saying, "Here is the cause, of Rama's exile and Dasaratha's death. Punish this bane of Kosala as you wish". Satrughna roared to all those assembled, that he would make Manthara regret her follies.
In a fury frightening to behold, Bharata strode forth purposefully caught hold of Manthara and looked at her. Impaled by his fierce looks, which brooked no mercy, the hapless woman quailed with terror and shrieked again, as her friends fled the place to seek refuge in Kausalya. Red eyed and hissing like an angry serpent, Satrughna struck Manthara's ugly form. As he dragged her, all her ornaments broke and lay scattered while the pearls, the chains and the other baubles supposed to enhance her beauty lent their brilliance to the royal abode. The palace echoed with the howls of the mortally afraid woman who feared for her very life.
Satrughna dealt harshly with Manthara, in defiance of Kaikeyi. Even as the maid shuddered with fright, witnessing his unleashed fury, Kaikeyi came but quickly hid behind Bharata. Putting aside his own anger and sorrow, Bharata tried to quell his raging brother. "Though a sinner, the slaying of a woman is not permitted, if it were, my first victim would have been this wicked Kaikeyi. Fear of Rama also holds me back, for he who is the very personification of dharma, will never pardon us for defiling our hands by killing this wretched hunchback". Manthara is saved by the dharma that the Ikshvakus lived by. She, whose counsel had benefited neither the counselor nor the counseled, fell battered and devastated, at the feet of her savior Kaikeyi, who led her away.
In chapter 79, the king-makers request Bharata to take over Ayodhya kingdom. Bharata refuses to do so and promises to bring back Rama to Ayodhya and make him only as the king. Bharata further orders the construction of a pathway to reach the forest.
At dawn, on the fourteenth day, all those concerned with the proclamation of Bharata as king assembled at the palace. They told their prince that, since Dasaratha was no more, and Rama along with Lakshmana was away, he was now their sovereign. "Though without a king, by the grace of god this country has not yet fallen prey to anarchy. The ministers, priests and the citizens of Ayodhya look forward to your coronation. Do accept the throne of Kosala." Bharata, ever conscious of his duties and his Dharma, circumambulated all that had been procured for his coronation and said, "Aware of the traditions of the Ikshvaku dynasty, does it befit you to crown me? Rama will be king, and I will live in Dandakaranya, serving his fourteen-year term of exile. Let the four divisions of the army comprising of chariots, horses, elephants and infantry march forth, carrying with them all that has been gathered here for the coronation. Reaching Rama, I will crown him, who is the rightful heir to this throne. I shall worshipfully bring him to Ayodhya, like the holy fire borne to the sacrifice. Never will I lend myself to Kaikeyi's scheming mind, who is mother to me only in name." Those who had earlier misread Bharata's intentions now lauded and blessed him for his magnanimity. Bharata also told the ministers to make all paths to Dandaka and back fordable and smooth, for Rama's homecoming. Commending his noble thoughts, people left the palace with tears of joy in their eyes.
In chapter 80, the engineers construct a comfortable highway from Ayodhya to the River Ganga, by clearing off shrubs and stones on the way and excellent wells were dug. Beautiful tents were also built on the path.
As commanded by Bharata hordes of people moved towards Dandakaranya to meet Rama. Men skilled in clearing jungles led that mass of humanity, which resembled a heaving, blustering sea at full moon. Ahead of them went those adepts at filling ditches, bridging rivers and digging wells. Cooks, basket weavers, boat makers, sculptors and innumerable skilled and unskilled laborers, along with their masters, marched on. Everyone was involved in his or her allotted duties. Every work was done with devotion and joy by all in their longing to reach Rama, for it was a labor of love.
Some chopped trees and some transplanted them. Some raised the ground while others leveled it. Paths and roads created were hardened with lime and mortar. Resorts for the weary travelers sprung overnight, which were surrounded by natural and man-made lakes and pools. Lush trees bearing fruit and flowers were host to myriad birds. The camping grounds of the royals and those temporary mansions for Bharata and the other dignitaries were gorgeous like carefully crafted jewels. Abodes were surrounded and adorned with gold and silver with pennants of many colors fluttered gaily over them.
The pathway dotted with temples added sanctity to an ambiance, so glorious that they were fit for the gods to tread upon. Magnificent roads appeared like magic. On them traveled the endless sea of humanity. Soon they arrived on the banks of one of the most beautiful rivers on the face of the earth. Its crystalline waters bubbling, gushing and spraying mist coursed through hills, valleys and dales. Breath taking from the top of its foam crested waves to its cool depths, Ganga pulsating with life and beauty, hastened in turbulent joy to be one with the vast boundless oceans.
In chapter 81, when Bharata hear the sound of couches and drums early in the morning, he gets more depressed. He orders for stopping of those sounds and starts lamenting. Then, Vasishta the family-priest enters the assembly-hall and sends messengers, asking them to call Bharata urging him to be present in the court.
The sun set on the first day of Bharata's mammoth effort, to lead Rama back to Ayodhya. The small hours of dawn the next day saw the arrival of bards and minstrels, who sang praise of Bharata, for whom they only brought distress because his thoughts were full of Rama and of his unjustified exile. Commanding their silence declaring that he was not the king Bharata complained to Satrughna, "Do you see how Kaikeyi has deluded the people? A kingdom rooted in righteousness is in peril. It drifts like a rudderless ship, in an ocean, where the directions remain an enigma and Rama our beacon light has been sent away".
Listening to the lamentations of Bharata the women in the palace too grieved with him. Meanwhile Vasishta walked into the splendor of the golden hall inlaid with precious gems, whose brilliance had not given way to the gloom that prevailed in the palace but sparkled as brightly as ever. Seating himself he asked for all the generals, ministers, Brahmins and the kshatriyas to assemble.
In chapter 82, Vasishta requests Bharata to get himself anointed as a king. Bharata refuses to rob the throne from Rama, who is really eligible for it as the eldest son of the family. He resolves to bring back Rama from the forest and orders Sumantra to arrange for vehicles and men for the journey. Thereupon, warriors, merchants, Shudras and Bhrahmanas harnessed their chariots and got ready for the journey to the forest along with Bharata.
Vasishta addressing the elite assembly looked at Bharata and said, "My son, placing this earth in your care, your father has departed from it. Rama, who rivals Dasaratha in truth and dharma, has removed himself to the forest to redeem that father's promises. Liberating the country of all enemies, your father and brother have given you custody of this land, of which you are now the lord. May you soon be its crowned king." Bharata brooded over Vasishta's advice, which was so opposed to the code of honor that he knew. Disagreeing with Vasishta he said, "Rama has not only acquired profound knowledge of the Vedas but is an ardent follower of every dharma mentioned in every Veda. How can a son of Dasaratha steeped and bound by the scriptures, steal a kingdom from his brother? Tell me now what is righteous?
"First born, peerless, and an equal of king Nahusha and Dilipa, Rama alone is fit to be king. What the wise would not contemplate upon and that, which is opposed to the heavens, is this sin. It will defame the noble race of the Ikshvakus and I will be the blame of that infamy. I condemn my mother's transgressions and offer my homage to Rama, who dwells in that fort like forest. In the presence of all those assembled here, I vow to bring Rama back to Ayodhya, failing which I shall stay there, like Lakshmana". Ayodhya rejoiced at Bharata's nobility and his unswerving devotion to Rama.
When Bharata asked Sumantra to order the march of the armies, there arose a great clamor in the city of Ayodhya. In every home, women urged and hastened their husbands, and themselves, in preparing for the journey. A near exodus of Ayodhya started as people poured out of homes and mansions, mounted on every possible mode of transport. Brahmins, kshatriyas, vaisyas and sudras waited with bated breath, as did their horses, elephants, camels and donkeys to start on their journey. As soon as Bharata's magnificent chariot moved so did the massive columns surge forward in great splendor.
This concludes chapters 77, 78, 79, 80, 81 and 82 of Ayodhya Kanda where we had seen the kingdom looking upon the much-needed Bharata to preside over its throne after performing final rites of Dasaratha. Bharata refused position quite sometimes, these offers for the coronation by ministers and Vasista as well. He ordered to construct a pathway to forest, bring back Rama and make him king at any cost. Even if Rama is away, his ideals give him directions in making decisions as heir apparent. His order to leave Manthara when pounced upon by Satrughna is an example of his reminiscence of dharma and fear for Rama. Based on these virtues which he deemed to be right, he directs the citizens of kingdom to make a collective move for bringing back Rama.
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