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3 Kaikeyi repents and
Bharata coronated
38
Rāma, Sitā and Lakşmaņa. They rushed to Rāma and appealed him to return. Their intelligent arguments, eloquent appeals, and tearful pleas, failed to change the resolve of Rama, yet they did not lose their hope and continued to follow him. They still believed that
King Dasaratha surmoned Bharata and said, they might succeed in changing his decision and
"dispatched my trusted ministers and vassals to
bring Rama back, but he did not relent. I have left convince him to return to Ayodhyā.
no stone unturned and am sure that Rama would
not return to Ayodhya under any circumstances. Soon, they came near a forest, which was
Hence, Oh Bharata ! my worthy son, ascend the so dense that the sun-rays hardly penetrated in it. It
throne and shoulder the yoke of responsibility, so was full of outsized trees that struck terror in the that I can take the vows of ascetic life." But Bharata hearts of the bravest. No one had ever seen such
was undettered. He said, "I will not ascend the
throne, come what may. I will go to the forest and scary trees before. A river named Gambhira was
convince my brother Rama to return and take his flowing in the forest. On reaching the banks of the
rightful position. I am sure, I will succeed in bringing river, Rāma, with folded hands, appealed everyone him back alongwith me." While Bharata was speakto return. He said, "We are about to undertake a
ing thus, Kaikeyi appeared and spoke, "My worthy
Lord, you have handed over the regalia to Bharata journey full of perils and hardships. Pray return to
as promised and thus fulfilled your words." You have Ayodhyā and inform our parents that we are safe cleared my debts, but Bharata values service to and sound. Convey our obeisance to them. You have Rāma more than the regalia. He will never ascend respected and obeyed every word of my father all
the throne. Myself and the other mothers cannot
endure the pangs of separation of Rama. Woe to these days, now respect and obey Bharata, in the
me! overcome by greed, ruined the lives of my same way."
sons and daughter in law! My master, we have four
worthy sons and yet none is willing to be the heir to "We are unfit to serve Rāma. Woe to us !"
the throne! The life of a woman is meaningless withlamented the vassals and the ministers, but Rama out a husband, and that of the subjects is meaningwas unruffled. The trio soon crossed the deep river
less without a king. My lord, permit me to leave at
once along with Bharata, so that I can plead Rama Gambhira and disappeared in the shade of the thick
to return to Ayodhya." trees. The ministers and vassals returned and narrated everything that transpired in the forest to King
Dasaratha granted her the permission. Kaikeyi
immediately left with Bharata. After six days of inDasaratha.
cessant journey, Kaikeyi saw Rāma, sitting below a tree with Sitā and Laksmana. She alited from her chariot and rushed towards Rama, muttering, "Son... my beloved son....." She gently lifted Rama who had bowed down at her feet and kissed his forehead. She wept loudly when she gathered Laksmana and Sita in her arms. Bharata was sobbing uncontrolably. He swooned while prostrating before Rama. Rama gently lifted him and placed him on the bed of dried leaves. When Bharata regained consciousness, he began to weep again and said, "Like a celestial being forsaking a non-devotee, you have forsaken me. Do you really believe that I nurture a desire to be a king in my bosom? I have become a subject of mockery and hatred because of my mother. Either allow me to accompany you as you have allowed Lakşmana, so that I can escape further humiliation,
or return to Ayodhyā with me and ascend the throne. Jain Education International For Personal & Private Use Only
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