In the previous episode, we witnessed a very important aspect of the Bharata-Guha conversation wherein both Bharata and Guha express their deep love and devotion towards Rama during their talk with each other! Now all of them are set to get on to the boat that was arranged by Guha to cross the river Ganges. Everybody started to board the boat with Bharata leading the way along with Sage Vasishtaachaarya.
While everybody were boarding the boat one by one, Guha’s eyes fell upon the people who were boarding the boat by the side of Bharata – especially the three mothers, Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumithra. Guha asks Bharata, who are they and why have they accompanied him. Now Bharata has to introduce the three mothers to Guha. Here is how he did it.
Bharata starts with introducing mother Kaushalya first. Kamba Naadar in his Ramayanam in Tamil explains this introduction beautifully in the following “paasuram”. I’m splitting the paasuram into three different parts for easy understanding. In the first part, Kamba Naadar explains the introduction of Kaushalya:
“Kokkal veihi muthatthaan mudhal devi!
Moondru ulagam eendraanai mun eendraanai petrathaal – Perum petrai
Yaam pirandadhaal izhandha periyaal!”
Here, the phrase “Mudhal Devi” means, “First Mother”, which is directly referred to Kaushalya. Bharata thus describes Kaushalya as the supreme mother and the first wife of King Dasharata (“Kokkal veihi muthatthaan mudhal devi”). Her unique significance is that she had the opportunity of bearing the Lord of the three worlds (Surface, Sky and Water) in her womb for twelve months! (“Moondru ulagam eendraanai mun eendraanai petrathaal”) In simpler words, Kaushalya is the most significant of all the three mothers because she protected Rama, (who himself is the protector of this entire world) in her womb for twelve months! Bharata doesn’t stop here. He continues to describe that, Kaushalya, although being this significant has lost all of that because of the birth of an unfortunate and a sinful person called Bharata! (“Perum petrai Yaam pirandadhaal izhandha periyaal”)!! Thus, Bharata introduces Kaushalya to Guha.
Now comes the next mother, Kaikeyi. Bharata, for obvious reasons, avoided even looking at her face and talking about her! Guha couldn’t understand why Bharata is not talking about Kaikeyi, as he straight went near Sumithra. Now Bharata starts introducing Sumithra to Guha. He says,
“Yaavarkkum thozhudhalamaam raaman pinbu pirandhaalum ulan ennai piriyaadhaan thannai payandha periyaal!!”
Here, Bharata says that “For Rama who is worshipped by everyone in this world, there is someone called a brother! This mother is the one who was blessed with that Lakshmana, who is the true brother of Rama! Oh Guha! I’ve failed in my duty as a brother to Rama! I feel ashamed of it! If I would have been a brother, I should have accompanied Rama for his exile, however I failed to do it! Hence, I’ve lost that status of being a brother to Rama! Thus, Lakshmana fulfilled the duty of going with Rama and being of service to him! Hence, it was this mother by name Sumithra, who is the mother of Lakshmana, the ‘true brother’ of Rama!”
Thus, after the introduction of Sumithra, Bharata slowly and unwillingly walks up to Kaikeyi, who is his own mother! He introduces Kaikeyi and says,
“Than paartha paavi kudalile nedungaalam kidandherkum innindraai – Yennai eendraal!”
Now Bharata says, “Oh Guha! This is the woman in whose womb I was unfortunate to reside for ten months, before I was born! By far, what I know is that both of us are sinners! But I don’t know if I’m a sinner because I’m born to her or she is a sinner because I was born to her! Ultimately, whatever maybe the fact, I’m a dumb and useless person! It is only because of myself and my mother, Kaikeyi, Rama left to the forest on exile!”
While Bharata was weeping profusely and uncontrollably, Guha hugs Bharata and says, “Oh Bharata! Please do not scold Mother Kaikeyi like this!” Bharata was surprised on hearing this statement from Guha! He wondered on what basis Guha was making this statement! What was the thought process behind Guha consoling Bharata this way? Let’s wait till the next episode to find out!
The Indian Dharma 