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372
JAÌN RAMAYAN
Kaikayi's grief petrified everyone. All the others who had come with her were shedding tears. Yet Shri Ram remained unshaken. Lakshman was silent and Shri Ram was calm.
"Dear lord ! Kindly return to Ayodhya and bestow your compassion upon us” Bharath said emphasizing every utterrance of his.
But Shri Ram did not budge an inch. He remained as firm and stolid as the Himalayas. His face was tender but firm. Kaikayi's entreaties and Bharath's humble appeals did not have any effect upon him. A little later Shri Ram said with his voice ringing like the thunder :
“Dear mother! I am the son of King Dasarath, the light of Ikshvaku dynasty. How can I break my vow ? My father has offerred the kingdom to Bharath and in the presence of all I gave my consent to it. When that is the situation how can there be any change in it? If I change it I will have acted against truthfulness and stained the splendid name of the Ikshvaku dynasty. Mother! I know very well that you are innocent. You did not order me to go to a forest; nor did Bharath compel me to go to a forest but I voluntarily decided to leave Ayodhya and go away to a forest. This is my decision..... This is my determination, When you asked for the boon from my father your only desire was that Bharath should accept the kingship and remain a householder instead of becoming a sadhu. My desire also is
Id remain a householder and accept kingship. I do not at all make light of your astounding affection for me and Bharath's extraordinary devotion for me. That is not at all my purpose but duty is more important than these things. Therefore, if a man has to sacrifice his tender feelings for the sake of duty he has to restrain them or eradicate the must be ready even to sacrifice one's life to keep up one's vow. When that is so, how can I break my vow ? Moreover my father who gave the boon; and I who gave my consent to it are both alive.”
Then, looking towards Bharath, he said in a serene manner:
"Bharath ! Now, there is no other way than this, Give up your childishness and realize the seriousness of the situation.
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