Introduction
Bharata is the son of King Dasharatha and Queen Kaikeyi, and the younger brother of Rama. He is best known as the brother who refused a kingdom. Although his mother obtained the throne for him, he rejected it, went into the forest to bring Rama back, and then ruled Ayodhya for fourteen years as Rama's representative.
This article primarily follows the Valmiki Ramayana. Where a well-known detail comes from a later retelling or tradition, the article identifies it.
Family
- Father: Dasharatha
- Mother: Kaikeyi
- Wife: Mandavi
- Siblings: Rama, Lakshmana, Shatrughna, Shanta (by tradition)
- Sons: Taksha, Pushkala
Away from Ayodhya
When Rama was sent into exile, Bharata was away at the court of his maternal grandfather in Kekaya, with his brother Shatrughna. He knew nothing of what had happened. Messengers called him back, and he returned to a city in mourning: his father was dead and his brother exiled, both because of his own mother's demand.
Rejecting the throne
Bharata was shocked and angry. He rebuked Kaikeyi harshly and refused to accept the crown. He performed his father's funeral rites and then set out for the forest with the royal family, the ministers and a large part of the city, to bring Rama home.
When Shatrughna saw Manthara, the maid who had encouraged Kaikeyi, he dragged her by the hair. Bharata stopped him, saying that Rama would not approve of harming a woman.
Meeting Rama at Chitrakuta
On the way, Bharata stopped at the hermitage of Bharadwaja. Guha, the Nishada king, at first feared he was bringing an army to attack Rama, but Bharata's grief convinced him otherwise. At Chitrakuta the two brothers met, and Bharata begged Rama to return and rule.
Rama refused, because he had promised to complete the fourteen years. Bharata then asked for Rama's sandals (padukas), placed them on the throne of Ayodhya, and ruled in their name.
Ruling from Nandigrama
For fourteen years Bharata lived outside the city at Nandigrama, in the simple dress of an ascetic with matted hair, eating little. He treated the sandals as the true king and reported to them on the affairs of the state. He had also vowed that if Rama did not return on the last day of the fourteenth year, he would enter the fire.
When Hanuman brought news that Rama was coming, Bharata welcomed him with joy. He returned the sandals and the kingdom to Rama.
Later life
According to the Uttara Kanda, Bharata later led an expedition to the Gandharva country in the north on Rama's order. He established his sons Taksha and Pushkala there, at cities that became known as Takshashila and Pushkalavati. When Rama chose to leave the world, Bharata and Shatrughna went with him.
Character
Bharata is traditionally portrayed as the selfless brother. In the text he chooses loyalty to Rama over the power that was offered to him. He is said to have been born under the star Pushya, and in some traditions is regarded as a portion of Vishnu's discus, the Sudarshana Chakra. This identification is a theological interpretation rather than a statement in Valmiki.