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JAIN RAMAYAN
he also decided to go away to a forest. Why? Out of devotion for his father.
Thinking thus, Shri Ram said turning towards Dasarath :
"As long as I am in Ayodhya, Bharath will not listen to us. Therefore, kindly permit me to go to a forest so that your promise may be fulfilled; and so that the present problem may be easily solved.”
Then, Shri Ram saluted the feet of King Dasarath and went out of the Chamber. On hearing about Shri Ram's decision.. Bharath began to weep like a child. The chamber reverberated with his cries; and the atmosphere became gloomy pressed. Dasarath swooned; and fell down like a severed tree. The tears flowed from his eyes. In his semiconscious state, he could utter only one word;
"Ram! Ram ! Oh Ram !”
At once, Shri Ram went to the chamber of his mother, Aparajita-Kausalya; and obtained her blessings.
“Mother ! Just as I am dear, to you, Bharath also is dear to you. In order to fulfil my father's promise, the kingdom has been bestowed upon Bharath; but Bharath is not at all willing to accept the kingship: and it is certain that as long as I am in Ayodhya, Bharath will not accept the throne. Under these circumstances, my father's word cannot be kept up. So, as a way out of this confounding tangle, I have thought of going away to a forest. That will solve the problem easily."
Every word uttered by Shri Ram pierced the heart of Kausalya like a thorn; and it began to palpitate.
"Dear mother! You must face the situation with patience and courage. Bharath and I are not different in your eyes. We are like your two eyes. We are virtually two parts of your heart. Therefore, you must treat Bharath with affection and love. You must see Ram in Bharath. You must not experience grief like an ordinary woman on account of the separation from me."
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