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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

The two brothers who declined to possess the kingdom

 

CHENNAI, JUNE 25. ``Poison may trickle from the moon; hail may

turn into fire, aquatic birds may forsake water (on which they

live); attachment may not leave the heart inspite of learning but

you will never be against your eldest brother'' are the words of

a mother, who was deprived of her son's presence, addressed to

her step-son. ``Whosoever even suggests that you had any say in

this misfortune (of my son having been exiled) will find no

peace, even in dreams'' she adds, complimenting him and declaring

that the younger one was innocent. The episode relates to Rama's

exile and His brother, Bharata's laments presented by Tulsidas in

his Ramcharitmanas, the Hindi version of the Ramayana.

 

While invariably disputes arise during attempts to gain or grab

property in the religious history there was a strange incident of

two brothers declining to possess a kingdom which legitimately

belonged to them. The elder of the two, who was to be crowned and

handed over its administration, was denied the privilege as fate

played a cruel role. But his younger brother on whom it was

thrust refused stoutly to take it over arguing that it was the

former's property. Ramayana, translated into Hindi by Saint

Tulsidas (with some changes) points out that Bharata, the noble

brother, who condemned the perversity of his mother as being

responsible for Rama's exile and who had demanded that he

(Bharata) be installed in Rama's place gave valid explanation for

refusing (on his part) to handle the reigns of administration

while Rama alone was eligible to rule. Elucidating Bharata's

candid statements, Sri Musafir Anand in a lecture said the

innocent prince said ``should he be found even remotely connected

with his mother's heinous scheme, among other sins, the act of

setting fire to a cowpen and a village occupied by scholars and

that of poisoning friends (all enumerated by seers) should visit

on him''.

 

Told about the sequences which had happened in his absence,

Bharata decided to go to the forest and bring Rama back which was

acclaimed by citizens. But Lakshmana had doubts about the

intentions of his visit, at which Rama paid a glorious tribute to

Bharata and disproved that he was arriving to give them trouble.

``Had Bharata not been born, who on this earth would have

championed the cause of virtue in its entirety? Darkness may

swallow the mid-day sun, earth may abandon its natural

forbearance, Mount Maru may be blown away by a puff of wind,

discharged from the mouth of a mosquito but he would never be

intoxicated by kingly power.''

 

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