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476
JAIN RAMAYAN
here even for a moment; and I cannot bear with what has been happening. And since I am old and decrepit. I cannot even adopt the Sadhudharma like you. Well ! Do what you deem proper. I will go away, far away to some lonely place in the countryside; and will spend the remainder of my life there meditating on the Paramatma. The Chief Minister could not say anything more. He began to shed tears. For a little while, there was silence. The atmosphere grew heavy. The heart of everyone grew heavy.
"Noble man! If you yourself give way to grief thus, what can I do? How can I console the others? You are a man of great wisdom. I can realize your agitation and anguish but you are not unaware of the tradition of the royal family of Ayodhya. Every King of the Ikshwaku dynasty renounced the worldly life to carry out endeavours to attain Moksha. The aim of the Kings of the Ikshawaku dynasty has been only to renounce the worldly life at the right time and thus to carry out the highest duty of the human state of existence for the attainment of Moksha. I am merely following their foot-steps. A separation after a union is a principle of nature. No one is an exception to this rule. Therefore, I have to take a firm decision to carry out endeavours to attain Moksha. I have spent a long time as a house-holder. Ah! I have been wandering through the samsar for countless janmas. How long shall I continue to wander thus ? Now I want to put an end to this samsar and to break off all bondages and Anangdev who is renowned for his virtues and valour will rule over Ayodhya. I am confident that people will not have any problem under his rule. Therefore please arrange his coronation as soon as possible. Only you can carry out this task”.
In accordance with the commands of Shri Ram, the Chief Minister made arrangements for the coronation. At the same time, he also kept pondering over the endless sports of the Samsar. Shri Ram who had been plunged in grief for six months on account of the death of Lakshman was now speaking of renunciation. Shri Ram who made fun of Hanuman for adopting the Sadhudharma was now determined to adopt that path.
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