It uplifts the heart, and gives one a glimpse of the heights to which human
nature can rise when cleansed by love and devotion. Whether Raama and Bharata were
incarnations of the Deity or merely supreme creations of a nation's imagination this
episode is among the masterpieces of the world's literature.
Jnaana and bhakti will automatically grow
by a contemplation of the personality of Bharata. In order to recreate the scene and the
person in his own mind the reader must bring into play his reverent imagination. We bring
with us into this world as our inborn gift some wisdom and reverence. This gift is always
in us and though sometimes obscured by prejudice or passion it keeps alive the divine in
man which prevents him from reeling back into the beast.
Bharata and his retinue went on towards
Bharadawaaja aashrama. When they reached the Prayaaga wood, they saw at a distance a
beautiful grove with a cottage in its midst. Learning that this was Bharadwaaja's
aashrama, Bharata left his retinue behind and, accompanied only by Vasishtha and a few
other elders, walked towards it with due humility. |
