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Bharath's Detachment
205
A little later, Bharath opened his eyes. He kept looking towards the sky with fixed eyes. After having recovered his mental peace a little, he turned towards the Chief Minister and said.
"Dear Chief Minister! Please sit down."
The Chief Minister did not say anything. He sat silent and Bharath said in a serious voice.
"Now, I do not want to remain in the samsar. I do not like the bondages of wealth, power and royal splendour. I always hear my father's voice calling me. Dear Chief Minister! I am surely going to follow the path chosen by my father. I will follow my father's foot-steps and attain spiritual elevation."
The Chief Minister's eyes grew moist. He became griefstricken. His face was clouded with sorrow. The Chief Minister loved Bharath not merely as the king of Ayodhya; but as the dear son of King Dasarath and as the very embodiment of lofty virtues. He was fully familiar with Bharath's spirit of detachment though Bharath was a king, inwardly he was a Yogi. Though he lived in a magnificent palace and though he lived in the midst of imperial splendour he remained totally detached. The Chief Minister had known. Bharath from his childhood; and had closely observed his thoughts, feelings and propensities. After Shri Ram's departure to the forests, he had not heard at any time Bharath speak of his desire to renounce the samsar; nor had Bharath given expression to his spirit of renunciation. But on that day, Bharath was giving a clear and emphatic expression to his spirit of renunciation. So, the Chief Minister shuddered with fear on hearing Bharath's words,
"Dear king! Will you kindly grant an entreaty of mine ? Please do not speak of this point at any time, in Shri Ram's presence. Don't you know the nature of your brother, Shri Ram? If he hears this from you, his heart will break with grief. The jubilations will turn into lamentations; and a commotion will arise throughout Ayodhya.”
Bharath was silent. He had nothing to say at that time. But when the heart and mind of man become united, he can
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