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Bharath's Coronation
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ter. I will feel blessed if I can be your guard. My brother Shatrughna will deem himself blessed if he can hold an umbrella over your head”, Bharath said repeating his entreaty.
But Shri Ram remained firm. He was silent. Every word uttered by him reverberated in his heart like the melodies of a Veena but his words did not change his decision. A little later Kaikayi said endorsing Bharath's entreaty.
"Dear son ! Do not reject your brother's entreaty. I know very well that you love Bharath greatly and that you have great affection for me. Please accept my suggestion and retur Ayodhya, Your father is not at all responsible for the events that occurred in Ayodhya. Bharath also is not to blame. For all this I am to blame." Kaikayi continued in a voice shaken with grief, “Ram, it is natural for a woman to commit a blunder of this kind. I too have all the weaknesses of a woman except that I am a high--born woman. It is no exaggeration to say that I am the very embodiment of all weaknesses. What else can I say?" and she began to weep. She covered her face with her hands. She paused a little. She heaved a deep sigh and looking towards Shri Ram with tearful eyes, she continued,
“Dear son! There cannot be in this world another wretched woman like me. I have caused grief to my lord by my thoughtless action. I have placed an impediment on his path when he wanted to pursue the path of Samyam. I have wounded the tender feelings of Bharath. I have done a great injustice to you and Lakshman. What more can I say? Your brother Shatrughna's grief is heart-rending and..." She looked towards Sita who was standing silently and said, “And I have committed the sin of making Sita the very image of all virtues, the embodiment of sublime tenderness wander through the forest. On account of me Queen Kausalya, Sumitra and Suprabha a plunged in grief. Our courtiers and people are steeped in anguish. Seeing all this I have been experiencing indescribable anguish. My heart breaks to think of what I have done. Oh ! I hate myself.”
Holding Shri Ram's hand she said again, "Dear Ram! my son! kindly forgive me..." and she began to weep aloud.
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