Book Title: Jain Ramayana Part 2
Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

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Page 372
________________ 360 JAIN RAMAYAN “No, my dear father, my coronation cannot take place. I cannot ascend the throne of Ayodhya. I too will become a sadhu and follow you. My becoming the king of the country is completely out of the question. My mother has placed an unwise step and has stained the resplendent fame of our royal family. I am totally innocent. Oh! she is not my mother. She merely gave birth to me. She is my mother. If it were any other person I do not know what I might have done to her." “Dear Bharath, these words are unbecoming of a hero like you." “When Shri Ram, Sita and Lakshman keep wandering through the wild forests would I ascend the throne of Ayodhya and live a life of splendour and prosperity ? Dear father, I can never do this. Would this increase the fame of our royal family ? I wish Kaikayi had thought of all this before asking for such a boon.” “Bharath, what you say is not true. Kaikayi does not hate Shri Ram but she has acted thus only on account of her abounding affection for you." "Is not my noble brother Shri Ramachandra also her son ? Am I her only son ? Is it proper on her part to love one son in such a way as to do injustice to another ? Can't you realize this truth ? On account of her decision the entire royal family of. Ayodhya is steeped in grief. The people of Ayodhya are steeped in mute anguish. All are deeply agitated and agonised. All are in great gloom and distress.” “But dear son, why do you forget this truth that your mother asked me to bestow only the kingship upon you. She never knew that this would necessitate Shri Ram's departure to the forest. Moreover, the truth is that it was on account of your rejection of the throne Shri Ram had to go to the forest. You know very well that the departure of Shri Ram, Sita and Lakshman to the forest has caused great anguish to Kaikayi. She is experiencing boundless distress. It is impossible to control her. Her eyes have grown red with weeping. Her face has become crumpled and disconsolate and her body has become withered like a fallen leaf.” trol her Herplaatsen Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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