Vaalavyajanamaadaya Nyasheedath Sachivaasane”
Udhdhava asked Lord Krishna “ What is meant by courage?”
Krishna replied “ Courage means control of the tongue and the mind. AAnjaneya
swamy is a really courageous person. He saw many women in the inner apartment
of Ravana. But his mind was clear and free from lust. He saw many dishes also. Yet he resisted from putting it into
his mouth. He conquered both the tongue and its taste, the mind and its
thoughts. Likewise was Bharatha. He conqured even the best of the luxuries at
the ashram of Bharadwaja by sheer Rama Bhakthi.
Bharatha started to the forest along with the citizens of
Ayodhya to see Rama. He met Bharadwaja who offered service to all the devotees
of Rama. By his penance he created Heaven on earth for them. Sages could do
anything if they wished. The citizens of
Ayodhya, though devoted to Rama fell asleep at the banks of Tamasa when they
went after Rama. They could not conquer sleep. At the Bharadwajaashrama they
fell a prey to luxurious lifestyle. But Bharatha was a perseverant devotee. He
won all the temptations at the ashram. The sage had arranged for a magnificient
palace for his stay. There aws a gem studded simhasana for him. The apsaras
were ready to dance before him. Bharatha did not even glance at them.. He felt
and meditated as if rama was seated in the simhasana, showered flowers , took a
fan ( chaamara) in hand and all through the night fanned Rama supposedly. The
sage was astonished at his devotion. For a true devotee steeped in devotion
nothing can tempt him into worldly desires. Bharatha is enough proof.
