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CHAPTER FOUR
to be distinguished by you. So let Bharata be crowned with extreme joy."
While the king, astonished and pleased at hearing Rāma's speech, instructed the ministers, Bharata said, "Master, in the beginning I asked to take the vow with you. You can not do otherwise, father, at some one's advice."
The king said: "Do not make my promise false, son. The boon was given by me to your mother and has been deposited for a long time. It has been asked today by Kaikeyi in the form of giving you the realm, blameless one. You can not violate my command and that of your mother.”
Rāma said to Bharata, "Even if you have no pride, nevertheless take the kingdom to preserve your father's word." His eyes filled with tears, Bharata fell at Rāma's feet and said in words choked by sobs, his hands folded submissively: "To give the kingdom is a suitable thing for the magnanimous father and elder brother, but to take it is not suitable for me. Am I not my father's son and my elder brother's younger brother? I am indeed foolish, if I show pride thus.'
Retreat to the forest (441-531) Rāma said to the king, "While I am here, Bharata will not take the kingdom. Therefore, I shall go and live in the forest." Rāma bowed with devotion to the king who agreed to this and went away with his bow and quiver, while Bharata wept aloud. When Daśaratha saw his son going to live in the forest, again and again he fell into a deep swoon, weak from affection. Then Rāma bowed to Queen Aparājitā and said:
“Mother, Bharata is just as much your son as I. Father has given him the kingdom to keep his promise. While I am here, he will not take it. So I must go into the forest. So you must look on Bharata with an especially
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