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another. Inevitable sorrows do not become
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joys by postponement."
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"Well then, send for the commanders,"
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said the King to Sumantra, "and order
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them to get ready the chariots, elephants,
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horses and foot soldiers, to go with Rama
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to the forest. And along with the army
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send all the necessary stores for Rama to
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live with the Rishis of the forest. Let there
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be nothing wanting in men, money or
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things."
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Poor Dasaratha imagined that he could
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make Rama's exile to the forest something
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like a royal tour affording a pleasant
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change from routine and enlivened by
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exchange of gracious hospitalities with the
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sylvan population.
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As he spoke Kaikeyi's face paled with
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anger. She glowered at the King, and in a
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voice tremulous with scornful wrath she
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said:
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"A good and generous monarch surely!
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You will give Bharata this kingdom after
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squeezing out of it all the good it holds, as
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one might offer in mockery an empty
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drinking vessel to a man dying of thirst!
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What pleasure or glory will my son have
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in ruling a deserted state?"
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Dasaratha groaned in helpless chagrin
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and marveled at a cruelty that could stab a
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man already crushed under an intolerable
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burden. Angry words rose from the
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mouths of those around, for even the
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courtiers found this open heartlessness
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more than they could suffer in silence.
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Rama put an end to all recriminations by
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saying he would not agree to take
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paraphernalia incongruous with what was
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intended in forest life.
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"Honored Lord," he said, "what use
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have I, who am departing to the forest to
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live on what sylvan nature yields, for an
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army or the glittering equipage of a royal
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pageant?
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After
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gladly
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renouncing
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the
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throne, what use have I for its restrains?
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Would it not be covetous folly, after
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having parted with the elephant, to burden
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oneself with the ponderous chain? Father,
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I have cheerfully relinquished my claim to
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the kingdom in favor of Bharata and his
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mother, and with it all the incidents of
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royalty. For my fourteen years of forest
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life I require nothing but bark garments
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such
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as
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Rishis
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wear
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and
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simple
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necessaries of forest life such as spades
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and baskets."
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Hardly had Rama spoken these words
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when the unabashed Kaikeyi hastened to
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produce the forest dress! She had kept it
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ready and gave it herself without a blush
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to Rama. Then and there Rama dressed
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himself in bark. And in these garments be
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shone
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like
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a
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Rishi.
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Lakshmana
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too
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changed into bark dress, while Dasaratha
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watched all this in helpless anguish.
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Then Kaikeyi brought a bark dress for
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Sita too. She received it and stood
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bewildered, for she had never worn such
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garments before and did not know how to
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change into them.
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Approaching Rama, who stood there
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resplendent with divine effulgence, Sita
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said shyly: "Pray tell me, how does one
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put this thing on?" As Rama took up the
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bark dress and, wrapping it over Sita's
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silk, made a knot over her shoulder, the
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ladies-in-waiting
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wailed
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aloud
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and
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Dasaratha fell into a swoon.
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When he regained consciousness, he
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loudly reviled Kaikeyi, but she only
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smiled scornfully. She surely was not
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responsible for Sita going to the forest.
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