Bharat in the Ramayana: Shri Ram's Devoted Brother
Bharat is the son of King Dashrath and Kaikeyi, and the brother of Shri Ram, Lakshman and Shatrughna. In Goswami Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas, his devotion becomes clear when Kaikeyi secures the throne for him and exile for Shri Ram. Bharat rejects any part in her scheme, seeks Shri Ram at Chitrakoot, and installs the Lord's wooden sandals on Ayodhya's throne.
Bharat has no desire for the throne
An advantage gained through wrongdoing is no cause for rejoicing. Bharat's response makes this teaching clear. Even before Bharat returns, King Dashrath declares that he would never covet sovereignty, in Ayodhya Kand, Doha 36.
When Bharat learns of Shri Ram's exile, his distress is so great that he forgets his father's death. He sees himself as the apparent cause of the calamity and falls silent, in Ayodhya Kand, Doha 160. His grief does not mean that he helped arrange it. Before Kaushalya, he solemnly denies any agreement with the plot, in Ayodhya Kand, Doha 167.
Bharat teaches us to examine how a benefit has come to us. The prospect of power cannot make another person's suffering acceptable.
Bharat seeks Shri Ram at Chitrakoot
Love moves Bharat towards Shri Ram. His proposal to go to the forest brings hope to those grieving in Ayodhya, in Ayodhya Kand, Doha 184. Before leaving, Bharat places the city in the care of faithful servants. He and Shatrughna send the others ahead and depart remembering Shri Ram and Mata Sita, in Ayodhya Kand, Doha 187. Devotion attends to responsibility even in sorrow.
Could the offer of a kingdom change his heart? Shri Ram's assurance answers this doubt. In Ayodhya Kand, Doha 231, He declares that even the highest sovereign power could not make Bharat proud.
At their meeting at Chitrakoot, Shri Ram lifts Bharat and embraces him, in Ayodhya Kand, Doha 240. Bharat's love is met by the Lord's compassion.
Why Bharat places Shri Ram's sandals on the throne
Service gives Bharat his rightful work. In Ayodhya Kand, Doha 314, Shri Ram hears his brother's humble, sincere words and answers according to the circumstances. Bharat's devotion includes listening to the Lord as well as speaking his own longing.
After receiving his preceptor's advice and blessing, Bharat chooses an auspicious time and installs Shri Ram's wooden sandals on Ayodhya's throne, in Ayodhya Kand, Doha 323. These are the paduka, the Lord's sandals. Their place on the throne expresses whose authority Bharat honours.
For example, a person entrusted with another's home must care for it faithfully. Having the keys does not make the home theirs. Similarly, Bharat's conduct teaches us to fulfil an entrusted duty without treating it as a personal possession.
Verses
सुनि सिख पाइ असीस बड़ि गनक बोलि दिनु साधि। सिंघासन प्रभु पादुका बैठारे निरुपाधि॥३२३॥
Hearing this advice and receiving the great blessing (from his preceptor), Bharata called astrologers and, fixing an auspicious day and time, happily installed on the throne of Ayodhyā the wooden sandals of the Lord. (323)
Ayodhya Kand, Doha 323भरतहि होइ न राजमदु बिधि हरि हर पद पाइ। कबहुँ कि काँजी सीकरनि छीरसिंधु बिनसाइ॥२३१॥
“Bharata would never be intoxicated with sovereign power even if he attained to the position of Brahmā, Viṣṇu or Śiva. What! Can a few drops of Kāñjī* ever split the ocean of milk?” (231) * A sour and savoury drink prepared by dissolving powdered rye seeds into water and preserving it for a few days.
Ayodhya Kand, Doha 231बरबस लिए उठाइ उर लाए कृपानिधान। भरत राम की मिलनि लखि बिसरे सबहि अपान॥२४०॥
The all-compassionate Lord perforce lifted Bharata and clasped him to His bosom. Everyone who witnessed the meeting of Bharata and Śrī Rāma lost all self-consciousness. (240)
Ayodhya Kand, Doha 240बिलपहिं बिकल भरत दोउ भाई। कौसल्याँ लिए हृदयँ लगाई॥ भाँति अनेक भरतु समुझाए। कहि बिबेकमय बचन सुनाए॥१॥
Much agitated, the two brothers, Bharata and Śatrughna, loudly lamented and Kausalyā clasped them to her bosom. She comforted Bharata in many ways and tendered words of wisdom to him. (1)
Ayodhya Kand, Doha 167
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Was Bharat involved in sending Shri Ram into exile?
Bharat denies any agreement with the plot before Kaushalya in Ayodhya Kand, Doha 167. His reaction to the news also reveals his heart. In Ayodhya Kand, Doha 160, hearing of Shri Ram's exile leaves him silent and overwhelmed. He grieves because the calamity appears to have happened for his sake.
Why did Bharat put Shri Ram's sandals on the throne?
Bharat places Shri Ram's wooden sandals on Ayodhya's throne to honour the Lord's authority. Ayodhya Kand, Doha 323 describes the installation after Bharat receives his preceptor's advice and blessing. The act expresses his devotion through service. He accepts responsibility while keeping Shri Ram's place before him.
What can we learn from Bharat's devotion?
Bharat teaches us to keep love free from the desire to possess. Shri Ram affirms that sovereign power cannot make him proud in Ayodhya Kand, Doha 231. His installation of the Lord's sandals in Ayodhya Kand, Doha 323 gives that teaching a practical form: honour the one we serve and carry out our responsibilities faithfully.