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BIRTH, MARRIAGE, AND EXILE OF RĀMA AND LAKŞMAŅA 215
Commanded by the delighted King Dasaratha, she went with Bharata and ministers to Rāma, making haste. In six days Kaikeyi and Bharata reached the forest and saw Jānaki, Rāma, and Lakşmaņa at the foot of a tree. Kaikeyi descended from the chariot and, saying, “Son! Son!” kissed the bowing Rāmabhadra on the head. Embracing with her arms Vaidehi and Laksmana who were bowing to her lotus-feet, she lamented in a very loud voice. Bharata, weeping, bowed to Rāma and fell into a faint from the penetration of the poison of sorrow. Restored by Rāmabhadra, Bharata, well-bred, said:
"Why did you come here, abandoning me like a stranger ? Whatever censure there was for me, through my mother's fault, to the effect 'Bharata seeks the kingdom,' remove that by taking me with you. Or better, return to Ayodhyā and support the sovereignty. In this way, the arrow of improper conduct will leave me, brother. Saumitri, the friend of the world, will be your minister; I here your doorkeeper; and Satrughna your umbrellabearer."
When Bharata said this, Kaikeyi said: “Do as your brother says, son. You are always dear to your mothers. In this matter there is no fault of your father. There is no fault of Bharata. Kaikeyi's alone is the fault easy to acquire from the nature of women. Whatever faults women may have separately, all of them except unchastity have taken place in me, a store-house of faults. Pardon this act which I committed which caused grief to the husband, sons, and the mothers, since you are a son."
• The elder brother of Laksmaņa said to her who had spoken thus with tears: "How can I, the son of my father, break my promise ? Our father gave him the kingdom with my approval. While the two of us live, how can our speech be false? Therefore, let Bharata be king at the command of both. I am not to be crossed by him, as my father is not to be crossed by me, mother."
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