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374
JAIN RAMAYAN
Bidding farewell to them
Shri Ram proceeded southwards.
Shri Ram went to the forest so that his father's promise might be fulfilled.
Bharath accepted kingship unwillingly because he had to obey his brother's commands.
Shri Ram did not at all examine the merits and demerits of the boon that his father had bestowed upon Kaikayi. He did not also try to prove the justness or the injustice of the boon demanded by Kaikayi but he merely thought of this point, “My father's promise to Kaikayi must be fulfilled.” He discarded his right to the throne so that his father's promise might be fulfilled and then went away to the forest.
In order to see that his father's promise was fulfilled Shri Ram sacrificed his royal splendour, prosperity, happiness, power and all his golden dreams. He suffered many hardships for this reason. This is a magnificent ideal of filial devotion. Shri Ram acted according to this ideal.
Sita followed Shri Ram into the forests impelled by her devotion for him as a wife. Sita who possessed a tender body and mind experienced countless hardships and agonies. Yet she did not regret them. She wandered through the forests with her husband like his shadow. She did not remain in Ayodhya with Kausalya. She did not also go to Mithila but she always remained with her husband. She was a partner in his sorrows and joys. She did not at any time offer any suggestion to Shri Ram. “What is the point in our going to the forest ? Bharath may attain Kingship but why should we go to a forest ? If not in Avodhva we can stay in some other city ? Can anyone give such a promise ? Yet what had to happen has happened. Father might have given his promise and Kaikayi might have received the boon but when Bharath himself is unwilling to accept kingship why should we go to a forest ?” She did not say such things to Shri Ram at any time. She was always silent; and obediently followed the path chosen by her husband.
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