Bharata and Satrughna Return to Ayodhya

Bharata and Satrughna Return to Ayodhya

The king’s death was a severe blow to the citizens of Ayodhya, already marked by the pain of separation from Rama. The king, despite what happened, was much loved by the people. That same day, the ministers met to discuss the difficult situation.

“King Dasaratha died this morning. Rama and Laksmana have already gone into the woods and must now be too far away. Bharata and Satrughna are in Kekaya. A kingdom, and even a city, which is left without a government for even a single day risks destruction. Therefore, we must find an immediate solution to the problem, even if it is temporary.”

The most logical thing seemed to be to urgently recall Bharata and Satrughna to Ayodhya. So messengers were sent.

That day Bharata woke up depressed. He had had numerous nightmares and did not feel comfortable at all. More than one premonition had warned him of some impending tragedy. He called his closest friends and confided in them:

“This has been a terrible night full of nightmares and evil warning signs. Yet, it seems that everything is fine. I hope that everything is going well in Ayodhya too, that my dear father Dasaratha and my beloved brother Rama are well and that nothing unpleasant has happened.”

Just as he was saying these words, a messenger arrived and immediately asked for him. Bharata received it at once, alarmed by this unexpected arrival.

“Noble Bharata,” said the envoy, “I have a message for you from the sages of Ayodhya. They beg you to return to the capital immediately, without wasting time.”

The unsuspecting Bharata was alarmed by so much concern. It was true then, those premonitions were not the result of suggestion; something had happened. 

“Why all this rush?” he asked anxiously. “What happened? Now I’m sure something serious is going on. Tell me, don’t make me worry.”

The messenger was ordered to say nothing, but Bharata insisted.

“Did something happen to my father? Or maybe something to Rama? Don’t you see how distressed I am? Tell me what happened.”

But the messenger solved the problem very diplomatically and only begged him to leave immediately. After a few hours, Bharata and Satrughna left Kekaya with great urgency.

When the two brothers entered the city, they found it mysteriously deserted and sad. They looked around, and a deep sense of sadness seized them. Bharata looked at Satrughna. He too was distressed.

“Do you see this?” Bharata pointed. “The streets are almost empty, and the few people around are sad and do not even greet us. Everyone seems to want to avoid our presence.”

“Yes, I see,” Satrughna replied. “There is no doubt: something serious has happened. Let’s do it soon. I want to know, I can no longer bear the weight of this mystery.”

First of all, Bharata looked for his mother Kaikeyi and not finding her in his apartments went to the meeting room of the palace. He found her there. As soon as she saw him, she got up, taken by a great joy and embraced him effusively. But Bharata was too worried. He pushed her gently away.

“Mother, what’s going on? Why is the atmosphere here so gloomy and sad? Why did no one greet me when I entered the city? And, where is my father? Where are my brothers Rama and Laksmana? I’m anxious and I want to know what’s going on right away.”

With no sign of remorse but a glint of triumph in her eyes, Kaikeyi replied.

“My son, your father left his mortal remains and ascended to the heavenly planets. Your brother Rama, on the other hand, is in exile in the forest with Laksmana and Sita.”

He couldn’t believe those words. «My father is dead? Rama, Laksmana, and Sita are in the forest? Why?», he thought.  As soon as he recovered from his dismay he wept bitterly.

“My father is dead and Rama is in the forest with Sita and Laksmana! But how did this happen? Until recently, he wasn’t sick and everything was fine. And, what is Rama doing in the forest? Tell me everything.”

Kaikeyi told the whole story, beginning with the day Rama should have been crowned. She recounted Manthara’s advise and her requests to Dasaratha. Then, she narrated Rama’s departure and the king’s death.

“Now, beloved son,” she concluded, “you are the king and you can enjoy the kingdom without any enemy. Your brother will not be able to undermine the throne for fourteen years and the army is loyal to you. Rejoice, then.”

As she spoke, Kaikeyi noticed that his son was not happy at all. Bharata listened without saying anything, but with each word she said, his tension grew and he seemed on the point of exploding. A growing and uncontrollable anger seized the young prince. Satrughna, behind him, was furious. Then, Bharata’s anger exploded and he confronted her with the following words:

“Kaikeyi, evil woman, you don’t know me at all. I do not aspire to this throne, and I am not interested in the kingdom or anything else in this world. For all these things, which I consider illusory and unworthy, you killed my father and made Rama suffer, whom I adore as a Deity.”

Kaikeyi trembled at Bharata’s violent rage. Satrughna also looked less and less calmed behind him. Bharata’s voice was hard and sharp.

“I should kill you for what you did, but you are a helpless woman and you are my mother. For this I leave you your life, a life that you will spend in the most atrocious remorse. I will never accept this kingdom. Know that after having celebrated my father’s funeral I will go to look for Rama in the forest, I will bring him back, and I will give him the throne that is rightfully his. And to keep the promise that Dasaratha made you, I will go to the forest in his place.”

 

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