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JAIN RAMAYAN
"Dear Bharath! If you desire to become a Shraman, and if you are determined to pursue the path of Charitradharma, you must surely carry out your determination but before doing so, you must comply with an entreaty of ours. Ah ! You should not try to fool us. Will you grant one wish of ours ?” Vishalya said looking seriously towards Bharath. But Bharath did not take much time to look through the words of his sisters-in-law. He could realise that they were adopting some clever plan. So, he stood silent without giving any reply. He did not even look towards them; he merely stood with a bowed head.
"Bharath! You may take recourse to silence but we will not allow you to move a step from here until you agree to grant our wish. Even if the sun rises in the west. We will not allo move an inch. Our wish is that you must play water-sports with us once. That is all, we wish. Won't you give us that joy?” Vishalya said holding Bharath's hand and shaking him violently. Suddenly, there appeared smiles on Bharath's face. His sistersin-law deemed this his consent and felt elated by their tremendous victory.
Bharath decided to take part in water-sports with his sistersin-law and leaped into a lake of pellucid waters. His sisters-inlaw had impelled him to play water-sports with them. Shri Ram and Lakshman felt relieved. They gave up their worry. They thought : "After sometime, Bharath will surely forget his desire to become a Shraman.” But Bharath had carried out the administration of the country and had lived in a palace surrounded by royal splendour for several years untouched by them. He had remained totally detached. Power, prosperity and splendour had not fascinated him. Would such a man develop attachment for samsar merely by participating in water-sports ? Vishalya and the other queens were greatly delighted and played water-sports with Bharath. They also employed some clever devices to inspire in his heart sensual feelings and to remove from his mind, his desire to become a Sadhu.
The water-sports were over. Bharath came out of the lake and stood on the bank.
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