by Purusottama Nitai Das

After slaying Ravana,  Lord Rama was all set to become the king of Ayodhya. And this is what everyone in Ayodhya desired including his brother Bharata, who was reluctantly ruling the kingdom on Rama’s behalf.

But still Rama wanted to know what is in the heart of Bharata. So, he asks his trusted devotee, Hanuman, to go and check if Bharata is happy to hand over kingdom or has he got attached to his position. Lord Rama said that if Bharata would like to remain as the king of Ayodhya, he would happily allow him to do so because he always wants to see his devotees happy. 

Hanuman immediately rushed to Nandigrama to know the heart of Bharata. But what he saw there brings great joy to his heart. Although the ruler of Ayodhya, Bharata lived a very austere life in Nandigrama. He was not wearing a royal dress but was clad in tree barks. Instead of staying in the royal palace, he stayed in a wooden hut. He rejected feasting on delicacies but lived eating barley mixed with cow urine, as a result of which his body was emaciated. And above all he was constantly chanting the names of Lord Rama. Not just he but even his ministers and priests were dressed like Bharata and lived an austere life. Bharata waited for fourteen years desperately waiting for Rama to come and rule the entire world. There was not even a tinge of desire in his heart to become the king. Seeing Bharata’s unflinching devotion towards Rama, Hanuman’s eyes were filled with tears of joy.  He immediately fell flat on the ground, paying his respect to the great devotee of Rama and informed him about the arrival of Lord Rama.

Bharata’s joy knew no bounds; it was as if Bharata got a new life. Overwhelmed with emotion he fainted. And when he got up, he embraced Hanuman, asking him again and again if Rama was really going to come. Hanuman assured him that Rama along with Sita and Laksmana were indeed going to arrive soon. The news soon spread all over the kingdom, and Bharata made arrangements to welcome Lord Rama. Bharata along with his brother Satrughna, guru Vasistha, mother Kausalya, Kaikeyi, Sumitra and thousands of people, desperately waited for Lord Rama to arrive in Nandigrama. 

Finally, the moment came. They see Lord Rama, Mother Sita, Laksmana, Sugriva and thousands of monkeys on a celestial chariot as big as a city approached towards Ayodhya.  The celestial chariot was Puñpaka. As soon as Pushpaka touched earth, Bharata ran towards Rama like a little child and embraced him. The eyes of both brothers met and they were filled with tears. The two brothers held each other for a long period of time. Bharata’s heart was filled with great joy, as all his desires got fulfilled.  Everyone present experienced great bliss upon seeing Lord Rama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Even today, the day when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya is celebrated as Diwali or festival of lights because when Rama arrived everyone’s heart were lit with joy. As Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya to fulfil the desire of Bharata, similarly, Lord Rama is always willing to come and be with us. But for that, like Bharata, our heart should be free from all the desire to enjoy independent of Lord Rama. Our heart should only long for Lord Rama. If it so happens then Rama will permanently reside with us in our heart bringing us great joy. Are we ready for it?

Purusottama Nitai Das is a member of congregation at ISKCON Newtown, Kolkata. He writes at https://discoverursupersoul.com/)