28. *‘ 'Dost thou speedily and without thinking of anything else, carry water for them; otherwise, if my father gets angry, he will reduce thee to ashes.
29. “ ‘Having given them water and prostrating thyself before them do thou tell them everything. Remove the arrow trom my body, 1 shall give up life from pain,* 30. u Thus addressed oy the Muni, I took the shaft out of his body and having taken the pitcher full of water went to the place where the husband and wife were.
31. “ Very old, blind and sore with hunger and thirst, they were saying in the night, * Our son has not yet come with water, what is the cause?
32. " * We, who are old and deserve to be pitied and are troubled with hunger and thirst, have no other refuge bub him. Why does our son, who is devoted to us, keep us waiting?* 33. “ Thus troubled with anxiety, those two people heard the sound of my footsteps. Then the father said, ‘0 son! why didst thou delay? Give us water to drink.
34 — 35. “ ‘ Do thou, O son, also drink it/ As they were crying thus, struck with fear I gradually approached them and falling at their feet said in humble tones, ' I am not your son but Dasratha, the king of AyodhyA.
36. “ 1 I am a sinful being. Devoted to shooting I wandered at night and having stood at some distance from a river heard a sound in water.
37. “ ‘ Having heard that sound I shot an arrow in the direction thereof. Then having heard the cry: — “ I am killed 99 terrified I approached the place, 38. u * Seeing a young Muni with a crown of clotted hair lying on the ground, I became terrified and taking hold of his feet said—'* Save me, save me.*' 39. 11 * Do not fear, there is no fear of Brahmanicide to thee. Having given water to ray parents do thou prostrate thyself before them and beg for thy life/ 40. '* * Thus directed by the Muni, here have I his slayer come; do you who are merciful protect me, I seek your protection/ 41. ‘‘Hearing this in great sorrow they wept and grieved over their son and falling on the ground said to me, ' Do thou carry us to the plaoe where our son is, do not delay/ 42. “ Then I carried the aged husband and wife to the plaoe where their son was. There having touched him with their hands, they wepb profusely, 43. '* 'Oh 1 alas! Oh, son! Oh son! thus crying they said, ' give us water, why dost thou not give us water?* 44. " Then they told me ‘ speedily prepare a funeral pyre for us, O king/ I immediately prepared the pyre and placed in it all three and applied the fire and reduced to ashes they went to heaven.
45. “ There the old father told me, 'bhoushalt be like this. Thou ahalb meet thy death in this manner grieving over thy son thus I say/ 46. " Thab time ab which the curse of the Muni, which cannot b« warded off and shall bear fruit, has now come for me.** So saying king Dasrabh’i, greatly agitated with sorrow, wept.
47. " O R&raa! O son! O Sit&! O Lakshraana! mine of all good qualities, through separation from thee I am meeting my death caused by Kaikeyi.** 48 — 49. So saying Dasratha gave up his life-breaths and went to heaven. Kausalyd, Suraitrd and other ladies of the royal household cried and wept, beating their breasts. In the morning Vashishtha surrounded by all the ministers went to the palace.
50. Having placed the body of Dasratha in a vessel full of oil, he said to messengers to go speedily on horse back to the city of Yudh&jita.
51. " There the lord Bharata of good fortune together with Satrughanft is residing, tell him to come ab once by my order.
7 52. " Let him see Iho king and Kaikeyi in Ayodhyd.” Thus ordered the messengers speedily went to the maternal uncle of Bharata.
63 — 54. Having prostrated themselves before Yudhdjita they said to Bharata and his brother, “O king, Vashishtha has ordered thus “let Bharata and his brother speedily and without thinking ot anything else come to Ayodhyd,” 65. Thus ordered and directed by his preceptor agitated with fear Bharata, together with his brother and the messengers, speedily came to AyodhyA 56. Some misfortune has overtaken either the king or Raghava. Thus troubled with anxiety, he went to the town. It was bereft of good fortune and devoid of crowds of people.
57—58. Sesing the place without auspicious gatherings he became troubled with anxiety. Then having entered the royal palace which was shorn of kingly splendour, he eaw Kaikeyi sitting alone on a seat. Reverentially he prostrated himself at tho feet of his mother.
59. Seeing Bharata arrived Kaikeyi, agitated with love, rose up and having lifted him up forthwith placed him on her lap.
60. Having smelt him on the forehead, she enquired of the welfare of her family, “ Are ray father, mother and brother of auspicious fortune well?
61 — 62. l( It is well that I see thee, 0 son, healthy ” — thus addressed by his mother, Bharata with senses agitated and mind troubled with grief ■aid to his mother '*0 mother, where is my father? Thou art here alone, 63. “ Without thee my father used never to remain alone. Now he is not seen here, say where lie is.
64. “ Not seeing my father to day, I am troubled with fear and pain.'* Then Kaikeyi said to her son, “ Why shouldst thou trouble thyself O sinless one?
65. “ That goal which is reached by the pious and the performers of Ashwamedha and other sacrifices, that thy father has attained this day, 0 thou dutiful son/* 66. On hearing this, sunk in sorrow Bharata fell on the ground saying, tl Alas! father > where art thou gone, leaving me sunk in this ocean of sin?
67—68. '* Without making me over to king R&ma where art thou gone?” As he was thus weeping and lying on the ground with hair dis- havelled, Kaikeyi lifted him up and having wiped off his eyes said, “Com- fort thyself, may good betide thee, I have arranged for everything.** 69. To her Bharata sard, “ What did my father say when he was dying?” The Queen Kaikeyi fearlessly replied: 70. “ O Rama! O R&ma i 0 Sifcd! O Lakshmana •** thus crying for a long time thy father went to heaven leaving off the body.
71. To her Bharata said, *' W r hy is it, O mother, that R&ma, Laksh- xnana or SitA was not near him at the time? Where have they gone?** 72. Kaikeyi said, “ Thy father had made perparations for installing R&ma as beir-apparenfc. Then for having the kingdom given to thee I threw obstacles in his way.
73 — 74. M The king who was desirous of giving boons had given me two boons in former days. By one of those I asked him to give the kingdom to thee and by the other residence in the forest with the vows of a Muni for Rdraa.
75. “ Devoted to truth the king having given the kingdom to thee sent Rama away to the forest.
76. '* Slt& also following the duties of a wife accompanied R&ma, Showing his fraternal affection Lakshmana also followed him.
77. " After they had all gone to the forest the Itejil thinking of them alone and crying — ‘ R&raa! R&ma!’ died. ” 78. Thus addressed by his mother, like a tree struck by lightning Bharata fell on the ground senseless. Seeing him in this condition,. Kaikeyi greatly agitated again said,.” Son, why dost thou grieve?
70. ” Having got this mighty kingdom what occasion is there for sorrow?” As she was saying this Bharata eyed his mother as if gping to> scorch her.
80—81. “Thou art not worthy of being spoken to. O vile, sinful woman, killer of thy husband. 10 wretched woman,! having been born of thy womb, I have become sinful to-day. I shall enter the fire or take poison or shall kill myself with a sword and go to the regions of the dead. Thou, 0 wretched woman, destroyer of thy husband, shalt go to hell. ” 82. Having thus reproached Kaikeyi, Bharata went to the house of KausalyA On seeing him she also wept profusely, 83-84. Falling at her feet Bharata also wept. Having embraced him the good and auspicious mother of R&ma, who bad become lean and extremely dejected in appearance Baid with tears in her eyes, “Oson, .\fter thou hast gone away all this came to pass. What thy mother has said thou hast heard, ” 85. '* My son R&machandva, together with his wife and Lakshmana, clad in rags and with hair bouud into knots, has gone to the forest leav- ing me sunk in this ocean of sorrow.
86. “ 0 R&raa, O ray lord of the Raghu race, even though thou hast incarnuted iu me as the supreme self, yet sorrow- does notleave me, surely fate is here supreme — this is ray belief ” 87. Thus seeing her crying and greatly distressed, Bharata taking hold of Kausaly&’s feet said, “ Mother! listen to what I say.
88—89. u Whatever was done by Kaikeyi at the time of the installa- tion of R&ma or whatever else took place, if I knew of it and instigated her, let the sin of a hundred Brahmanicides attach to me.
90. “ If 1 knew of it, let the sin of killing Vashishtha together with Arundhati with a sword attach to me.” Having taken this oath Bharata wept, 91—92. Kansalyd having embraced him said, “ Son, I know it, do not grieve. ” During this interval, heariug of the arrival of Bharata Vashishtha together with the other ministers went to the king’s palace. There seeing Bharata weeping he said respectfully: 93 94. “ The old king Dasratha, who was wise and of unfailing courage having enjoyed all the felicities of mortals and performed Ashwa- medha and other sacrifices with large gifts and got Hari as his son in the person of Rdraa, has goue to heaven and shares the seat of the king of the gods.
95. “Unworthy to be grieved at and deserving to attain emancipa- tion, thou art uselessly grieving over for him. The Atmd is eternal, unchangeable, pure and free from birth and death.
96. “ The body is non-intelligent, liable to death, impure and destruc- tible. Thus thinking there is no occasion at all for sorrow.
97. “If a father or a son has come under the sway of death, then it is the foolish who grieve for either by beating the body.
98. ‘‘ In this world which is devoid of substance separation from a desired object is for the wise a source of non-atbachmeut and the giver of peace and happiness.
99. 11 When every one who is born in this world attains to death, then death is unavoidable for all embodied creatures.
100. “Appearance and disappearance of embodied creatures are due to their past Karma, knowing this, why should even he who is not wise grieve over departed relations.
101. '* Millions of Brahmanas have disappeared, many a cycle of creation has gone, oceans have dried up, whab reliance can be placed on a momentary existence?
102 *• Like a drop of water attaching to a leaf shaken by the wind, unstable is the period of man’s life, even there is thus always a body for the Abm&, before time it leaves him, what reliance canst thou place upon it.
103. *' The Jiva has attained to this body by actions done in past lives, with actions done in this body he attains to another body.
104 “ As one leaves an old house and goes to live in a new one, even so the Jiva leaves an old body and goes to live in a new one.
106. “ When the Jiva thus goes on for ever and ever what occasion is there for sorrow. The Atm& never dies nor is born nor is subject to increase.
106 — 107. “ Free from the six conditions,* unlimited, truth, and in- telligence itself, the very embodiment of bliss, the witness of the Buddhi (Intellect; and the rest, free from dissolution, one without a second, the Supreme Atmd is ever homogenous — knowing it, to be thus with firm faith, do thou leave off sorrow and do thy duty, 108. “ Having taken the body of thy father out oftheoil vessel with the aid of the ministers, do thou, O protector of the family, perform along with us what is ordained in the Shdatras/* 109. Thus aroused by his preceptor Bharata gave up all sorrow, the product of nescience and did all that was ordained.
110. Having acted according to the directions of the preceptor and following the dictates of scriptures, he duly committed the body of his sire after having duly purified it, to the sacred fire.
111. On the eleventh day according to the rules of the scriptures, he fed hundreds of thousands of Brahmanas who were well versed in the Veda.
112. In the name of his father he gave much wealth, thousands of cows, villages, jewels and clothes to Brahmanas.
113. Then he lived thinking of R&ma alone surrounded by Vashishtha* his brother and his ministers.
114. “ R&ma has gone to the forest together with the daughter of Janaka and Lakshmana. The very sight of my mother who is a monster is scorching my heart. This day with a firm heart to the forest I shall go, throwing away the kingdom, and there constantly gratify my eyes with looking at the smiling faces of Rdma and Slta.”
CHAPTER VIII.
{Bharata ' b resolve.)
1. Sri Mahddeva said: — The Lord Vashishlha then surrounded by the Munis and the ministers entered the royal assembly which was like an assembly of the gods.
2. Seated on a seat, like the four-faced creator (Brahmaj he caused Bharata to be brought and seated there together with his brother,.
*Note. — The six condition! of the body are (1) exiitenoo, (2) birth, (3) growth, (4) ohange, (5) decay, and (6) death.
3. Unto him the scorcher of foe9, Vashishtha said the following suited to time and occasion, “ My child, by tby father’s command we shall to-day instal thee as king.
4. “ O, Bull amongst men, for thy sake Kaikeyi asked for the king- dom and Dasratha, truthful to bis promise, has given it to thee.
6. u Let thy installation be performed to-day by the Munis accord- ing to the mantras'* Hearing this Bharata said, “ What have I to do with the kingdom, O Muni?
6. “ Rdma is our Lord and king. We are verily his servants. To- morrow morning we shall go to bring Rdma back forthwith.
7. “I, you and the mothers, but not the monstress Kaikeyi shall go. I shall just now kill Kaikeyi who is only a mother to me in name.
8 — 9. “ But that chief among the K»gbus shall not tolerate me the killer of a woman. Therefore, to-morrow I shall go on foot to the Dandaka forest with Satrughana. You may come or not as you please.
10. “ Just as Rdma went to the forest clad in barks, so I shall go. There eating fruits and roots together with Satrughana, sleeping on the ground and wearing matted hair I shall stay till Rdma’s return/' 11. Having thus resolved Bharaia became silent. ° Very good, very good/' said all who were present. They all became pleased and praised him.
12. Then in the morning the whole of the army together with horses and elephants at the command of Sumantra followed Bharata as he was going to Bdma.
13. ‘ 4 Kausalyd and the other royal ladies, Vashishtha and other Brah- manas also followed, covering the ground backwards and forwards and on all sides.
14. Having arrived at the city of Sringdvera on the banks of the Ganges, the mighty army rested by the command of SatrughaDa.
15. Hearing of the arrival of Bharata Guha suspecting his intentions said: 16 — 17. " Ls he coming with such large army with the intention of doing evil to Rdma? Without knowing what is in his heart? Let me go ami know his rniud. If it is pure, he will cross the Ganges. If nob, do you my kinsmen pull the boat and stand keeping watch on all sides and be on the alert."
18 — 21. Having thus directed bis men Guha went to meet Blmrata taking with him numerous presents of diverse description and accom- panied with bis kinsmen who were armed with diverse weapons. Having placed all the presents before Bharata and seeing him of a dark hue sitting with his brother and ministers wearing garmeuts like those of the Munis and a crown of matted hair, thinking of Rdma alone and uttering “ Rama, Rdma" he bent himself to the ground and said, “ I am Guha/' 22. Speedily lifting him up and embracing him with due honour Bharata asked Guha about his welfare and quietly said to him as a friend.
23. “ My brother, thou earnest in contact with Rdma and sat with him here. Thou wast embraced by him of pure soul with tears in his eyes.
24. “ Blessed arc thou, fortunate art thou, that thou wast spoken to by the lotus-eyed Rdma, SUd and Lakshmana.
25. " Where didst thou see Rdma, there tike me, 0 thou of truthful resolve, where Rdma slept with Sifcd show that place io me.
26 — 27. “ Thou art very dear to Rdma, devoted to him art thou, fortunate art thou," thus thinking and thinking of Rdma, with tears in his eyes, Bharata went in the company of Guha to the place where Rdma had rested for the night and saw the bed of Kudha grass on which he 5 had slept.
28. It bore marks of having come in contact with the ornaments of Siui and was impressed with the impression of her head jewel. With his heart burning with grief Bharata moaned as follows: — 29 —30. “ O, how did that delicate lady SitA, the daughter of Janaka; who used to sleep in a palace on a bed of gems covered with soft covers lets, slept with P.dma on a bed of KusUd grass. Here S4& slept with Rama suffering pain for my fault.
31. " Fie on me 1 that 1 having been born of the sinful Kaikeyi, have become sinful. This trouble has been caused to R&ma, the supreme seLf r on my account.
32. “0 blessed is the incarnation of Lakshmana of great soul who with a cheerful heart always follows llama even in a forest.
33. “Should I become the slave of slave of those who are the servants of Udraa, then blessed shall be my life on earth, in this there is no doubl.
34. <f O brother! if thou knowest tell me all whereR&ma resides.- There I shall go to bring him back forth with.”
35 — 36 Guha knowing his pure heart said to him with affection, “ 0 Lord! blessed art thou that thou hast such devotion to the lotus-eyed R&tna as well as to SltA and Lakshmana.
37. u Near the hills of Chitrakuba, not far from the Mandakini, in the Ashrama of the Munis the Lord R&ma resides happily with his brothei and wife amidst the wealth of flowers and fruits.
33 — 39. “ There we shall go forthwith. Thou shouldsfc cross the Gauges " Having said so lie immediately went and brought five hundred boats for the crossing of the great river Ganges by the army.
40. Guha himself rowed the royal boat having put there Bharata, Satrughana and the mother of R&ma. Vashishtha and the other royal ladies together with Kaikeyi were pub into another boat.
41. Having crossed the Ganges Bharata went speedily towards the Ashrama of Bh&radwAja, Having put his large army at some distance from the Ashrama, Bharata together with his brother went inside.
42. Seeing the Muni sitting in that Ashrama like a blazing fire^ Bharata reverently prostrated himself before him.
43. Knowing him to be the son of Basratha, that Chief of the Munis affectionately received him with honour and enquired of his welfare. Seeing him with matted locks and clad in barks he said: — 44. “ It is time for thee to rule a kingdom, why are these barks, etc., on thy person? Why hast thou come to the forest, the abode of the Munis? *' 45. Hearing this speech of Bh&radw&ja, Bharata, with tears in his eyes, said — “Thou, 0 Lord, residest in the heart of every creature, there- fore thou knowest all.
46 — 47. “ Yet as thou bast asked this of me, this is thy grace. Of what was done by Kaikeyi in order to deprive R&ma of the kingdom ac well as of his banishment in the forest I know nothiug. These thy two feet, 0 great Muni, are my witness/’ 48. Having said so and with a mind full of distress Bharata touched the two feet of the Muni and said — “ O Lord, thou shouldstknow whether I am pure or impure.
49. " When R&ma is the king, what have I, O Master, to do with the kingdom? I am, O great Muni, always the servant of Rdma Chandra, 50 — 51. "Therefore, O great Muni, having approached the Feet of llitma and prostrated myself and having brought together things neces- ary for his installation. I shall install him with the aid of Vashishtba and the. people. I shall then carry him, the Lord of K&raa, to Ayodhyd and nerve him like a humble slave. ” 52. Hearing these words of Bharata the Muni embraced him, smelt him on the forehead and praised him in amazement.
53. " My child, I had known all this that was to be with the eye of knowledge. Do not grieve, thou art devoted to the auspicious llama, oven more than Lahshmana.
54. " I wish to entertain thee together with thy army, 0 thou sinless one. To day having, together with the army, partaken of my fare thou ehalt go to-morrow to R&ma. •* * 55. “ Just as you order, y> said Bharata, Bhdradwdja then having touched water sat silently in his sacrificial chamber.
56. 1 hat Muni who was the giver of desires thought of the Kamdhenu (cow which yielded all desired objects). That cow, the giver of desires, yielded for every body every heavenly object which he desired.* 57. All that was wished for by Bharata aud his army rained in such profusion that they were all satiated.
58. Having first worshipped Vashishtha according to the rules laid down in the ShAsfcras, that King of the Yogis then entertained Bharata and his army.
59. Having lived in that Ashrama which was like unto heaven for one day, Bharata together with his brother saluted the riehi next morn- ing and having obtained his permission went to Rama.
60 — 61. Having arrived at Chitrakuta, and placed his army at a distance, Bharata desirous of seeing Rdma went together with Satrughana, Su mantra and Go ha.
62. Having searched the assemblage of all the Munis he came back without finding the residence of R&ma. Then he asked of the assemblage of Rishis, " Where does that chief of the Raghus together with bita and Lakshmana live? *’ 63. They said, " Behind the hill on the banks of the Ganges in a lonely spot, is the hermitage of Rdma beautifully surrounded with trees.
64. Mangoes, jack trees, plantains, Champakas, Kovidars and Pun- nags of large dimensions laden with fruit are there/* 65. Thus shown the way by the Munis Bharata together with his ministers, joyfully went to the hermitage of the chief of the Raghus.
66. From a distance lie saw the house of Rdma which.was resplend- ent, full of auspicious signs surrounded by Munis. In that blessed house hung on a tree were seen the barks and skins of Rdma.
* In tho Valmiki Ramayana, the entertainment of liharata and his army by Bhsrad- waja forms tho subject of highly poetical description. As soon aa the Muni thought of entertaining tho army cool and fragrant breezes ble//, light showers fell from the heavens and flowers rained from the sky, Gandharvas and Ap9arns began to dance and sing. On all sides of the camp stately houses furnished with every comfort and surrounded with trees and plants appeared. Horses and elephants, stables and palaces full of every royal luxury • prung up on every side.' A kingly throne surrounded with slaves aud carriers of chamar and chattra appeared. Bharata reverently circumambulated it and sat near the place reserved for ministers. Then in front of Bharata flowed a stream of milk and several thousands of women carrying presents^of description appeared. They were followed by Ns rada and other celestial Rishis witfi their Vinasand other instruments. Each one ate, drank and enjoyed himself to his hearts’ content so much so that they said, *• We shall not go either to Ayodhya or to Rama to the Dandaka forest. Let Bharata and Rama bfi happy. Wfeshall remain where we are.”
CHAPTER IX.
(Rama's refusal.)
1 — 2. Then having cheerfully reached the hermitage sanctified by the feet of Sitd and Rdma and beautiful to behold, Bharata saw on all sides the auspicious marks of Rdma’a feet with signs of the thunderbolt, the goad, the lotusflower and the flag. Seeing those auspicious marks, Bharata and his brother bowed before them.
3. “ Oh i How blessed I am that I see these grounds bearing the marks of Rdma’s lotus feet, whose dust is always sought after by Brahma and the other gods in the Vedas. ” 4. Thus immersed in the wonderful ocean of Rdma’s love, with his miud directed towards him alone, his breast bathed in tears of joy, he gradually approached the abode of Huri.
5. There he saw the Lord of the Raghus with eyes black like the blade of the durba grass, a crown of matted hair on the head, new barks on his person, and a cheerful face shining like the rising sun.
6. He was looking at the auspicious daughter of Janaka. His lotus feet were worshipped by the son of Suraitrd. Then Bharata ran up towards the chief of the RAghus and speedily embraced his feet with joy.
7. Rdma, of long arms, speedily diew him towards himself and bathed him with tears of joy and placing him on his lap embraced him again and again.
8. Then all the mothers of Rama speedily came up, longing to see him like thirsty cows running after water.
9. Rdma seeing bis mother speedily got up and bowed at her feet. She also greatly distressed embraced him with tears.
10 — 11. The scion of the Raghu race then bowed to his other mothers. Then seeing Vashishtha, that Bull amongst the Munis, he prostrated himself before him and said again and again, " Blessed am I to-day by seeing you.” Having seated all according to their positions he said the same to them.
12 — 13 He then enquired. “ Is my father well? What message did he send me in distress?” Then Vashishtha said, “ O scion of the Raghu race! thy father with his heart burning from separation from thee and thinking of thee died saying — Rdma! Rdma! Sitd! Lakshmana I” 14. Hearing the speech of his Guru which was greatly piercing to the ear, Rdma said, “Oil am gone!” and weeping fell on the ground together with Lakshmana.
15 Then all the mothers and all others present wept. Rdma said, “ O father! O ocean of mercy! Where hast thou gone leaving me.
16. ** Friendless am I, O thou of mighty arms! Who shall fondle mo hereafter?” Slid and Lakshmana also wept muck.
17 — 18. Vashishtha pacified their sorrow with consoling speeches. Then they went to the Manddkini and having freed themselves from ail trouble, bathed there and all gave oblations of water to the king, who was desirous of receiving them.
19. Rdma together with Lakshmana then made pindds (l^alls) of the fruit of the ingodi tree and pinyak, mixed with honey and said, “ O father, that which we eat, that according to the Srutis we offer thee. This is thy food/* 20. Then with eyes full of tears of sorrow they again bathed and returned home; they all wept much and having bathed went to the Ashrama.
51 — 22. All of them observed a fast that day. The nexb morning having bathed in the clear waters of the Mandakinias Rdma was sitting Bharata said to him, “ O R&ma ] Rdma of great fortune, do thou instal thyself, 23. " Do thou protect the ancestral kingdom which is thine. Thou art like a father unto me. It is the duty of the Khshatriyas to protect the people.
24. “ Having celebrated diverse sacrifices and begotten sons for the continuation of the race and placed thy son on the throne, thou shalt go to the forest.
25 "This is nob the time for thee to live in the forest. Be thou gracious unto me. Whatever evil has been done by my mother thou shouldst nob think of it. Do thou protect us."
26. So saying Bharata placed his head with devotion at the feet of his brother R&ma and prostrated himself on the ground before him.
27. The scion of the Raghu race then speedily lifted him up with affection, placed him upon his lap and slowly, with tears in his eyes, said— 28 — 29. " My child, listen to what I say. What thou hast said is right, but my father said to me * come back to the city after having lived in the Dandaka forest for fourteen years. I have given this kingdom now to Bharata.* 30. " Therefore the father has clearly given the kingdom to theo and me he has given the kingdom of the Dandaka forest.
31 — 32 (i We should, therefore, heedfully carry out our father’s command. He who having disobeyed his father’s command goes his own way, is verily dead though living and after death goes to hell. Do thou, therefore, protect the kingdom. We shall protect the Dandaka forest.”
33. Bharata however said to Rdma, " If overpowered with love and of a foolish disposition, conquered by a woman and berefb of intellect, the father says anything, it should not be taken as truth, just as a wise man will not take a fool’s words to bo true.”
34. R&raa said, " Neither conquered by a woman nor under the influence of love did the father say anything, nor was he a fool; what he had formerly promised he carried it oub for fear of acting untruthfully.
35. “ To the great the fear of untruth is greater than even that of hell. I shall observe my father's promise made to Kaikeyi.
36. " Being of the Raglni race, how can I act untruthfully?” Hearing this from Rama, Bharata said — 37. "I shall likewise live in the foresb clad in barks and rags. For fourteen years do you protect the kingdom as suits you.”
38. R&raa said, “ The father gave the kingdom to thee and bhe foresb to me. If I act otherwise then I shall be acting untruthfully as I said before.”
39. Bharata said, " I shall also live into the forest and serve theo like Lakshmana, otherwise I shall relinquish all food till I give up the body.”
40. Having made this resolve and spread the Kusha grass in the sun and firmly bent upon carrying out his wish, Bharata sat facing the easb.
41. Seeing this attitude of Bharata, R&ma greatly astonished cast a significant glauce at his Guru.
42. Then as he was alone Vashishtha, that chief of the sages, said to Bharata, ** My child listen to these secret words of mine which are well thought oub, 8 43. ° R4ma, who is N&r&yanca himself, has, at the request of Brahma in days of yore, incarnated himself as the son of Dasrabha for ihe pur- pose of killing R&vnna.
44. “ Siui, the daughter of Janaka, is the incarnation of Yoga MtiyA, Lakshmana, who always follows Hama, is the incur nation of iSeaa.
46 — 46. “ They shall go to kill RAvajia, there is no doubt in this.
T'he giving of boons to Kaikeyi, the harsh speeches and the rest were all ordained by the gods; ether wue how could one say so? Therefore, do thou, Oh my son, not insist upon the return of RAtna.
47. “ Do thou return to Ayodhyd, with thy army and thy brother. Rdma will soon eome back after having killed Havana together with all his family.”
48. Having beard this speech of his Guru, Bharata, struck with amazement, went to Rama with eyes full of wonder and said — 49. “ O great kiug give me the two worshipped nalidals of thy feeb for ruling the kingdom. I shall serve them till thy return.”
50. So saying Bharata placed two heavenly sandals at the feet of R»ima who affectionately gave tham to Bharuta.
61. Taking the two heavenly sandals of Rdma which were studded with gems, Bharata circumambulated him and agaiu *nd again bowed to him.
52—53. In accents faltering with devotion Bharata said to him, “ If on the first day after the expiry of fourteen years, thou, 0 Rdma 1 dost not return, I shall enter the tire/’ “ Very well,” said lt&raa, and sent Bharata away.
54 The wise Bharata together with his army, the sage Vashishthi* his brother Satrughana and his molhers prepared to leave the place, 55 — 56, As KAma was alone, Kaikeyi said to him with folded hands and tears in her eyes, “ I, of sinful intellect, under the influence of delu- sion, deprived thee, O Rdma, of thy kingdom, do thou forgive my wicked- ness. The good are always of a forgiving nature.
57. “ Thou art Vishnu himself, the uiiTnanifest, the eternal Supreme seif. Through thy MAyA thou deludest the world by taking a human form. Incited by thee, man does good or^evil acts.
58 — 59. “ All this world is subject to thee It is never free, what can it do? Just as marionettes dance at the wish of the showman who is behind the scene, so does this MAyA, which assumes various forms, dance as thou wishest.
60. “ Prompted by th-'e who wast actuated by the desire of doing the work of the gods, 1 did a sinful act from a sinful heart. To-day I have come to know thee who is beyond the ken of the gods themselves.
61 — 62. 44 O thou master of the world, O Eternal Lord, do thou protect me. Salutations t> thee. Do tlnru cut a.-under the knot of affection for sons, wealth and the rest by the bright sword of knowledge of thy own self. I take refuge in thee ” 63—64. Hearing this speech of Kaikeyi, RAma said with a smile, “ 0 auspicious lady, what thou sayest is true. There i 9 no untruth in it. The goddess of speech prompted bv me alone came out of thy mouth for the purpose of doing the work of the gods. 'I here is no fault of thine in it. Do thou go back worshipping me day und night in thy heart.
65 — 66. “ \\ ithout uffection f.»r anything any where, thou slialt. by devotion unto me, be emancipated before h>ng. To my eyes all beings are equal wherever they be. Friends and foes are the same to me who am the maker of them all. I cherish those who love me.
67. “ Deluded by my Mdyd men take me to be a human being subject to pleasure and pain, not knowing my real uature. It is by good fortune that a knowledge of my real self, which destroys all sin, has arisen in thee.
68 — 69. “ Remembering me do thou live iii thy palace, thus thou shalt not be affected by Karma." Thus addressed Kaikeyi, haviug with love and amazement circumambulated Rdma and prostrated herself a hundred times,, cheerfully went home.
70. Bharata also with his ministers, mothers and preceptor speedily returned to Ayodhyd, thinking of Rama.
71. Having established all the subjects of the kingdom according to rule in the tow.ns and provinces of Ayodhya, the wise jBharata himself went to Nandgrdma.
72. There having installed the sandals of Rdma on the throne, he devoutly worshipped them as if they were Rama himself with flowers, rice and other kingly presents day by day in a regular manner.
73—74. Living on fruits and roots, with his senses under control, wearing matted locks and barks, sleeping oh the ground like a Brahma- chari, together with Satrughana, Bhjirata of the llaghu race did all tho required work of the kingdom after having duly dedicated it U) those two sandals of Rdma.
7-5. Counting the days and anxious for the return of Rdma, there he remained with his mind directed towards him like a veritable Muni.
76. Rdma also lived for some time on the Chitrakuta hill surrounded by the Munis in the company of Sitd and Lakshmona.
77. People of the town having come to know of Rdma living in Chitrakuta together with Sitd and Lakshmano, always came there desirous of seeing him.
78. Seeing that concourse of people Rdma left that hill in order to proceed to tho Uaudaka forest thinking of fhe work in hand.
79. Together with Sitd and Lakshmaaa he went to the holy Ashrama of Atfcri which was every wheie full of peace and free from the concourse of people, 80. Having gone there he prostrated himself before the Muni who was illuminating the whole of that forest, of ascetics with his splendour aud said, “X am Rdma, I bow unto thee.
81. "By my fathers command I have come to the Pandaka forest for the ostensible purpose of living in the forest. Blessed am I in having a sight of thee."
82. Hearing the speech of Rdma and knowing him to be the Lord Hari, the Muni duly worshipped him with devotion.
83 - 84. Having done the rites of hospitality with the roots and fruits of tho forest, the Muni well pleased, said to that best of Raghus who was seated before him with Slid and Lakshmaria, “My wife who is very old and who is well-known as Anusuyd, who is tho knower and lover of dkarma, has been practising asceticism for a long time.
85— 80. “She is sitting inside, let Sitd, 0 Destroyer of foes, see her." 11 Very well." Rdma, of eyes like the lotus, then said to Janaki, " Do thou go to the lady and having made thy reverence to her, do thou, O auspici- ous one, speedily come back." “ Very well," said Sitd, and did as she was told by Rdma.
87— 8S. Seeing Sitd prostrated before herself with a cheerful heart Anusuyd embraced her and saying with affection, “My child Sitd" and actuated with devotion gave her a pair of celestial earrings made by Yishwakarma kitnself, as well as a pair of pure siiks.
€9. That lady of auspicious appearance also gave Sitd a heavenly ungenb saying, *' By this ungent, 0 thou of face like the lotus, beauty shall never leave relinquish thee.
90. "O Jdnaki, observing thy conjugal duty, do thou always follow Rdma. Let Raghava safely return home together with thee.”
91. Having according to rites feasted Rama together with Sltd and Lakshraa^ia, with folded hands she said to him.
92. *‘0 Rdma having thy self created the worlds and for the protec- tion thereof established gods, men, the lower creatures and the rest, thou takest various forms, yet art unaffected by the attributes of the body. Even Mdyd, which deludes all, fears thee.”
Thus ends the Ayodbyd Kdndaof the Adhydtma Rdmdyana consisting of 9 chapters and 700 verses.
Om Tat Sat * THE ARANYA EC AND CHAPTER I.
( The death of Virddha.)