BHARATA SUSPECTED

Kamban, the Tamil poet of Raamaayana, follows Vaalmeeki closely not only here but in many other places where Tulasi differs. Although Kamban carefully follows Vaalmeeki, he adds many beautiful passages out of his own imagination. With a touch here and a touch there, Kamban manages skilfully to disentangle many knots. The changes he makes are very few, while Tulasi deals freely with the story, taking such liberties as he likes with the story as a great 'bhakta' may who has made his god his own by self-forgetting surrender.

Following Vaalmeeki, Kamban reports the conversation between Bharadwaaja and Bharata and very beautifully expresses Bharata's indignation.

We may not, reading it all today, appreciate Bharadwaaja's doubts about innocent Bharata. Such suspicion was perfectly natural to Guha, but not so in a wise rishi. Vaalmeeki makes the rishi justify himself saying: "Don't I know you, young prince? I put you these questions only the more clearly to reveal your innocence.

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