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Towards the path of Samyam
235
"What is it ?" Kausalya asked with evident eagerness. Shri Ram looked towards Sumitra.
"I heard that all the kings who are our allies and friends and all the subordinate kings have called upon Bharath. We do not know what kind of discussions took place between Bharath and those kings but it seems that those kings numbering one thousand have decided to follow Bharath on the path of Charitradharma !”
"What are you saying Sumitra! Can this be true? How did you come to know of it ?" Queen Aparajita suddenly stood up and held Sumitra's hands in amazement.
“Lakshman himself told me about it.” “Then, it must be true! But where is Lakshman ?”
"He is sitting in his chamber with his eyes closed. He seems to be greatly depressed and gloomy. He said, "I wonder what has happened to these people! They are all bent upon becoming Sadhus. I wonder why they have taken this decision.” How could I answer his questions? I said that everyone does what is deemed best by him."
"That is right. Those who do not find serenity and felicity in this samsar will naturally desire to renounce it. All of us think that this worldly life is felicitous. But the amazing thing is that not only Bharath but one thousand other kings have decided to adopt Sadhudharma."
"All this is the result of Bharath's cordiality and friendliness. Probably he has captivated them by his gentleness and amity. He has been ruling over the country with ability, nobility and amity. That is why all the subordinate kings have decided to adopt the Charitradharma with him. Moreover, there may be at the background their relationships of earlier janmas," said Shri Ram.
The news of the event of the initiation into the Sadhudharma of Bharath, Kaikayi and one thousand kings was proclaimed not only in Ayodhya but all over Bharath. Large
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