Hanuman Chalisa chaupai - 12

                     Hanuman Chalisa  chaupai  - 12


      Raghupati  kinhi  bahut  badai ,

    Tum  mama  priya  bharat hi  sama bhai .


Shri Rama praised you highly and said , " You are as dear to me as my brother Bharata ."

Bharata was the beloved brother of Rama . The description of the meeting of Rama and Bharata in the forest after the death of Dasharatha brings tears to one's eyes. Rama ran towards Bharata with open arms. Bharata also rushed forward to embrace his brother. Bharata fell at the feet of Rama . But he was not immediately able to locate the feet , for his eyes were full of tears. Bharata said, " Dear brother, I should have died the very moment I heard that I was to be crowned and you had to spend fourteen years in the forest . But I did not . The reason is I am kaikeyi's son. The effect is more devastating than the cause." What a fine description of Bharata's condition !

Bharata when failed to bring Rama , he remained as an agent of Rama whose presence would be symbolized by the pair of sandals which he persuaded Rama to give him. He moved the capital to Nandigrama outside the skirts of Ayodhya and did not enter Ayodhya for fourteen years . He undertook a vow to live like Rama giving up all comforts. Not only that , Bharata dug a six-feet deep trench and slept in it because his brother was sleeping in the forest on the ground only , and he (Bharata) in every way lower than Rama , should be at lower levels only.

Bharata also promised to Rama that if Rama did not return to Ayodhya at the expiry of fourteen years    he ( Bharata) would enter the fire . Such was his devotion to Rama . Naturally Rama also considered him as his darling . Rama lauded Bharata thus ,
" Had Bharata not been born into the world , who on this earth would have championed the cause of virtue in its entirety ". Bharata was indeed the epitome of dharma( righteousness ).

Ever since his advent in the Kishkindha kanda when he met Rama and Lakshmana as a messenger from Sugriva upto nearly the end of the book , Hanuman has been addressed and mentioned in the highly eulogistic terms , with affection and reverence. Rama pleased  with Hanuman's selfless service and devotion to him , expressed his sense of gratitude thus,
" Hanuman , you have done me numerous services, all of the order of the highest and unparalleled eminence . For any one of them , all my life is an inadequate return. If my life is pledged in return for one of your numerous services , I shall be indebted to you in a manner that I can never be able to repay ..
Rama acknowledged that Hanuman was as dear to him as Bharata.

Both Hanuman and Bharata were the greatest devotees of Rama.

Hanuman served his Lord unstintingly and his only goal in life was to remain a devotee of Rama so
that he could continue to serve Him always. Hanuman is depicted in Ramayana as an abode of wisdom and knowledge .  He was the perfect envoy of a diplomatic calibre of Rama and the perfect karma yogi whose tireless service was the manifestation of his devotion.
As devotees, both Hanuman and Bharata are worthy of emulation. Yet both of them held responsible positions in society and government. One does not find them sitting in meditation or prayer all the time . Both had absolute faith in the Godhood of Shri Rama and considered their respective duties as the work of the Lord. Both served with humility and devotion.
As an ambassador on behalf of Rama in Lanka, Hanuman's diplomacy in conducting negotiations with
conviction and dignity was marvellous and sets a role model for others to follow.

Unlike Dasharatha who died upon separation from his son Rama, Bharata had to remain alive to accomplish his duty towards Rama. Bharata ruled over Ayodhya for fourteen years from outside the city rejecting palatial comforts, ensuring that he usurped nothing that he considered rightfully belonged to Rama. Bharata handed over the kingdom, increased ten-fold in wealth , power and name and fame to Rama after fourteen years living dedicated to his ideal of Rajadharma and fraternal devotion.

This in fact, is the significance of Rama identifying Hanuman with Bharata or putting the two on the same level of excellence and realationship.