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The learned Jabali, one of the priests
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who
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had
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accompanied
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Bharata,
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here
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interposed a lesson on worldly wisdom for
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the benefit of Rama. "You talk again and
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again
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of
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your
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father's
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command.
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Dasaratha was a physical body which has
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now rejoined the five elements. You talk
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as
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though
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there
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is
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some
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continuing
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relationship between that person who is
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now no more and yourself. This is sheer
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illusion. Why do you like the foolish
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prating of dharma and seek to give up the
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good fortune to which you were born?
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Like a woman mourning with dishevelled
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hair, the city of Ayodhya is plaintively
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longing and waiting for your return. Go
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back. Accept the crown. Enjoy life's
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pleasures. Listen to Bharata. Do not fail in
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your proper duties."
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This lecture angered Rama. He said
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with much sharpness: "Sir, you seem to
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set little value on truth and r
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ectitude. Your
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materialist
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talk
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fills
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me
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with
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such
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abhorrence
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that
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I
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wonder
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that
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an
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unbeliever like you should have been
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tolerated in the court."
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Jabali hastened to explain that, far from
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being an infidel, he had all his life been a
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teacher of the Shastras and that he had
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only spoken as he had done out of an
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earnest wish to persuade Rama to return.
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Vasishtha also intervened on his behalf
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and that unlucky interlude came to an end.
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Vasishtha then put the case for Rama's
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return this way:
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"On the whole, my opinion is that you
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should return to Ayodhya and accept the
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throne. Of course, your father's command
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also has to be considered, and reconciled
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to this step. You have obeyed that
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command at once and unhesitatingly, but
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now a new situation has arisen. Bharata in
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his
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helplessness,
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fearing
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infamy,
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has
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sought shelter at your feet. How can you
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spurn him? We all know that you love
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him as your life. You never refuse those
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who approach you for help. How then can
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you deny it to Bharata now? Is it not your
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life-principle to help those who seek
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refuge at your feet?"
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But
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Rama
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showed
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no
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signs
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of
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relenting.
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Then,
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Bharata
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turned
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to
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Sumantra and said, "My brother has no
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pity for me. Please spread a bed of darbha
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grass here for me. I shall take the pledge
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of fasting unto death."
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Sumantra
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hesitated
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and
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looked
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