Bharata and the Sandals

King Dasharatha of Ayodhya had four sons: Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Rama, the eldest, was loved by everyone in the kingdom, and the old king decided that Rama should be crowned as the next king.

The whole city prepared for a celebration.

But Queen Kaikeyi, Bharata's mother, had once been promised two wishes by the king, long ago, when she had saved his life in battle. Now she asked for them. First, that her son Bharata should be king. Second, that Rama should go away to live in the forest for fourteen years.

The king was heartbroken. But he had given his word, and he could not break it.

So Rama, calm and without a word of complaint, put on simple clothes and left for the forest. His wife Sita and his brother Lakshmana went with him. Soon afterwards, King Dasharatha died of grief.

Bharata comes home

All this time, Bharata had been far away, visiting his grandfather's kingdom. Messengers were sent to bring him home quickly.

When he arrived, the city was silent. There was no music, no laughter. His father was dead. His eldest brother was gone. And his mother told him proudly, "The kingdom is yours."

Bharata was horrified.

"What have you done?" he cried. "Rama is my brother, and the rightful king. I will never take his throne. I'll go to the forest and bring him back."

Into the forest

So Bharata set out. With him came the queens, the ministers, the priests and a great crowd of the people of Ayodhya, all hoping to bring Rama home.

They travelled for many days until they reached Chitrakoot, a beautiful hill in the forest where Rama, Sita and Lakshmana had built a simple hut.

When Bharata saw his brother dressed like a forest hermit, he ran to him and fell at his feet, weeping.

"Brother, come home," he said. "The kingdom is yours. I'm not fit to rule it. Let me be your servant."

Rama's answer

Rama raised his brother up and held him.

"Bharata," he said gently, "our father gave his word. If I return now, I would be breaking it for him. I will stay in the forest for fourteen years, as I promised. You must rule Ayodhya until then."

Bharata pleaded and pleaded. But Rama would not change his mind. A promise was a promise.

At last, Bharata understood that his brother would never break his word.

"Then give me your sandals," he said.

Rama took off his wooden sandals, called paduka, and gave them to his brother.

The sandals on the throne

Bharata carried the sandals on his head, all the way home, the way you might carry something holy.

But he did not live in the palace. He did not wear a crown. He went to the little village of Nandigram, just outside the city, and lived there like a hermit, in simple clothes, just as Rama was living in the forest.

He placed Rama's sandals on the royal throne.

For fourteen years, Bharata ruled the kingdom in Rama's name. Every decision he made, he first offered to the sandals, as if he were asking his brother. He said he was only looking after the kingdom until its true king came home.

And when the fourteen years were over, and Rama returned at last, Bharata was waiting for him. He knelt, put the sandals back on Rama's feet, and gave him back the kingdom, safe and well looked after.

About this story

This story comes from the Ayodhya Kanda, the second book of the Ramayana, the great epic traditionally credited to the sage Valmiki. Bharata's love for his brother is one of the most moving parts of the Ramayana. This version is a shortened, simplified retelling.