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Sarg 98-Bharat Spots Raam's Aashram

Bharat said to his brother Shatrughn - "You go around and search for Raam in this forest. Take some people with you. Raajaa Guh will also look for Him with his brothers and people. I go with Braahman, Guru, Purohit and ministers. I will go on foot. I will not be at peace until I see Raam. Lakshman is fortunate who sees Raam everyday. And Vashishth's hands will not touch the holy water until Raam will accept the throne. Raajaa Janak's daughter is fortunate who lives with the Swaamee of the universe in the forest also. This Chitrakoot is a very holy and beautiful place where Raam lives." 

Saying thus Bharat went in search of Raam. Bharat saw some smoke going up, he climbed up a Shaal tree and saw an Aashram from where that smoke was coming out, He got very happy to see that Aashram and thinking that Raam must be there he was very anxious to reach there.

Sarg 99-Bharat Arrives in the Aashram 

Bharat took Shatrughn and proceeded towards the Aashram. Bharat sent a message to Vashishth Jee that he should bring mothers along with him. Sumantra also ran after Bharat because he was also anxious to see Raam. Bharat came to the same hut which Tapaswee built themselves. At its door, Bharat saw some chopped wood and dry flowers. He saw some clothes also hung on tree branches as identification of Raam's hut, and the heap of cow dung too which might have been used for heating purpose.

Bharat thought that this was the place because this is what Bharadwaaj Muni said to him. These cloth pieces must be hung by Lakshman. Mandaakinee River is also nearby. Today I will see Raam in guise of a Tapaswee. When they came near Chitrakoot, Bharat said to his people - "Raam is sitting on an Aasan on ground and I am still alive. My life is very unfortunate. Because of me He is tolerating so much trouble, that is why people abuse me. At the same time he saw a hut covered with Shaal leaves. He saw two gold bows also kept in it and the horrid arrows also. He also saw two shining swords kept at one side, saw a huge Vedee with live fire and saw his brother Raam wearing Jataa and Tapaswee attire.

Sarg 100-Raam Asks About His Kingdom

Raam saw His brother Bharat lying on the ground, recognized him and lifted him up. Bharat looked to Him very weak. Raam hugged him and put him in His laps and asked - "Bharat, tell me soon where is father and how did you come here in this forest while he is still alive because he would not have permitted you to come here. Today I am seeing you after long time and you are coming from a long distance.

Hey Bharat, Why did you come here in this horrid forest? Raajaa Dasharath is alive or dead? Bharat, you are still a child that is why 'is your kingdom not destroyed'? Or public has not agitated? Are you serving father with all your heart? Is Raajaa Dasharath all right? Do you worship Guru Vashishth? Our mothers are all right? Are you respecting them all accordingly?

Did you appoint anybody to do Havan? Are you respecting our archery teacher Sudhanvaa? Have you elected any able ministers for yourself, because ministers are able to protect Raajaa at time to time? Do you do your daily chores in the morning and sleep in the night properly? Does Raajaa know about your ideas? Do you employ one Pandit (Gyaanee) instead of thousand fools. because one Pandit is far more useful instead of thousand fools. Hey Bharat, If any Raajaa wants to get his work done through 10,000 fools, he cannot get it done, while an intelligent Braahmn can get it done very soon.

Hey Bharat , Have you employed  high people for high class work, middle type of people for middle work, and low type of people for low class work? Are people not dissatisfied with your punishment system and don't they insult you for that?

Did you appoint any intelligent army chief? Because it is very necessary to have an intelligent army chief. He can do a lot for Raajaa. Are your soldiers brave? Have you tested them? Do you pay their salary on time? Because if you provide your army with good food and salary on time then they are happy with their master. And if they don't get salary on time they might harm you.

Bharat, Have you appointed any intelligent Braahman as your It, so that he does the same whatever is good to you? Do you collect information about your kingdom through your emissaries? Means do you know about 18 Teerth of your kingdom? Hey Bharat, I tell you the names of those 18 Teerth whose names are described in politics, so you listen to them - Minister, Purohit, Crown Prince, Army Chief, Gatekeper, Caretaker of queens palaces, Jailor, Treasurer, Announcer (who announces royal orders), Lawyer, Judge, Knower of behaviors and who can decide what behavior is good and accepted and what behavior is bad and prohibited, who receives salary in army, Chief of Alms, Theekaahaar, Mukhiyaa (head of a village), Raashtraantpaal (who takes care of borders, who punishes to wicked, water, mountains, forest, who takes care of fort - these are 18 Teerth.

Hey Bharat, Is it not that you exiled anybody considering him a traitor? Do you not support atheists because they consider themselves Gyaanee, although they are not. There are many faults in them. Bharat, do you protect Ayodhyaa which is full of wealth, grains, Braahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and high class people?

Is your kingdom happy in which there are thousands of temples, cows places and ponds; in which meetings are held for the improvement of the city at places to places? That kingdom grows lots of farm produce where farmers do not depend on rains and where violence is prohibited.

Is that Koshal kingdom happy whose foundation was laid by our ancestors? Are those Vaishya happy whose  living is farming and who consider protecting cows their prime Dharm? Do you protect your public because that is Raajaa's prime duty? Are you favorable to your wife and do not tell her all secrets of kingdom?

Do you protect the forests where elephants are born? Are those she-elephants happy and comfortable from where the elephants are caught? You don't get fed up with horses and elephants? Do you show yourself to public in your royal attire daily? Are your forests, water, treasury full? Is your expense not more than your income?

You don't punish any good Saadhu (ascetic) without first asking Shaastra knowers? Human beings steal, but you don't free the several time thieves? You always follow Dharm and divide your time adequately? Did you leave 14 royal faults or not? Do you consult your ministers about your work? Is your kingdom functioning according to Ved?

Hey Bharat, Whatever I have said, are you firm on your intention on them, because only that way leads to progress and respect and is favorable to Dharm, Arth, and Kaam. Do you follow your ancestors' traditions because that is the way of truth and good."

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