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230
JAIN RAMAYAN
sible for Shri Ram's departure to the forest and naturally the citizens of Ayodhya have been grieved and there was nothing wrong in their blaming me."
Thus, a deep kind of metaphysical and philosophical churning went on in Kaikayi's mind for a long time. It was nearly 2 O'clock in the night. But she had not felt like sleeping. She was only feeling restless and emotionally disturbed. Bharath also calmly listened to the words uttered by his mother who was broken-hearted. Yet, he was in a mood of joy and elation because his mother also was determined to adopt the path of Sadhudharma. It is natural that a son who was totally detached should be delighted at the prospect of his mother's adoption, of the path of Sadhudharma.
"Dear mother! Your decision to become a Sadhvi fills me with real delight. Your decision is absolutely proper and appropriate. I feel that mighty waves of esteem and love for you are rising in my heart. Moreover, when the members of the royal family and the citizens of Ayodhya come to know of your decision, they too will be astonished and delighted and will surely congratulate you on the magnificent decision you have taken. They will also feel supremely blessed to hear this happy news."
Bharath slowly rose to his feet. He bowed to his mother's feet and proceeded slowly to his palace.
Countless kings, subordinate kings and friends of the royal throne of Ayodhya arrived at Ayodhya to be present at the ceremony of Bharath's initiation into the Sadhudharma. The plains around the city of Ayodhya were teeming with countless elephants, horses and guests. Their colourful chariots stood in long lines. Celebrations and rituals were being carried out in all the Jin temple in the city of Ayodhya in accordance with the scriptural prescriptions. Bharath woke up before dawn and the very first thing that he did was to give generous gifts of money, food and clothes to the poor and the destitute. The roads, the streets, the alleys and lanes in Ayodhya were decorated with eye-catching festoons of fragrant flowers and green,
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