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JAIN RAMAYAN
sighs and sobs filled the atmosphere. Bharath and said in a voice choked with emotion.
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"Dear Bharath! Now, I do not want to place any impediments on your path. I give my heartiest consent to your desire of pursuing the path of Samyamdharma I do not want to compel you to remain in the confounding bondages of worldly attachments and transient pleasures. I am unable to see your sorrow. Now, discard all worries and make the necessary preparations to proceed on the path chosen by you. Moreover, I entreat the great and enlightened Acharyadev to remain at Ayodhya until the ceremony of your initiation into the Sadhudharma is completed."
Shri Ram embraced
After having rendered due honour and service to the great muni, Shri Ram returned home with the members of the royal family. Then he met Mother Aparajita and informed her of Bharath's determination to pursue the Charitradharma. On hearing this, Queen Aparajita felt thunder-struck. She sat petrified like a stone-image. With great difficulty, she restrained her overpowering emotions of grief and anguish and said in a shivering voice:
"Dear child Bharath! How can I give my consent to your becoming a Sadhu? But at the same time, I do not also like to place any impediments on the path of moksha you have chosen to pursue. May you live long! My heartiest aspiration is that your pursuit of the Charitradharma must be unimpeded and unaffected!"
And Queen Aparajita's grief flowed out in the form of ceaseless streams of tears. Shri Ram sobbed and sighed like a child. Just then Kaikayi, Sumitra and Suprabha came there. They came to know that Bharath was taking to the life of a Shraman.
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