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JAIN RAMAYAN
everyone. Then for a few moments, he kept his eyes closed. A few moments later, he opened his eyes and looked around.
"Ram !”
"Yes, Revered Father” “Now, I desire to pursue the path of spiritual elevation."
Dasarath looked towards Ram seriously. A mysterious seriousness appeared on Shri Ram's face. His eyes were turned towards the ground. On hearing his father's voice, he shed tears. He sat mute in his seat. A little later, touching Ram's head with his hand, Dasarath said:
“Ram ! This is a tradition that has been in existence in our family from the time of Lord Rishabhdev. This is the age-old tradition of the Ikshvaku dynasty. Actually, like my ancestors, I should have done this much earlier but knowingly or unknowingly, I have delayed.”
Shri Ram was still silent. On account of his attachment for his father, he was not at all willing to agree to his pursuing the path of renunciation, and at the same time, his spiritual enlighten
ent was such that he could not place any impediments on his father's way. Then King Dasarath looked towards Lakshman. Lakshman was a man of extraordinary abilities and a firm mind. Till then, no one had seen tears in his eyes, but now even his adamantine heart had grown soft. When he saw tears in the eyes of Shri Ram, his eyes also grew tearful. Bharath sat near Lakshman in grief. His face was covered with agitation and deep worry. Shatrughna sat with a blank mind behind his father like a wooden image. He was deeply agitated over the impending event.
Dasarath turned towards Aparajitha-Kausalya and said : “Dear Queen ! Do you have anything to say ?”
“My Lord ! Infatuation and deception place many impediments on the path of moksha. Strange are the ways of infatuation...but my Lord! We do not want to place any impediments
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