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"My dear son, my grief is doubled by
seeing the pain raging in your innocent
heart. W
hat shall we do child? We are the
playthings of fate. May the reward of
goodness come to you in this world and
the next!"
Kausalya had not believed Bharata
privy to the plot, but she feared that he
would condone it and yield to the
temptation of its results. Now she was
convinced
that
Bharata's
heart
was
completely free from stain. Though her
own son had gone to the forest, she was
pleased that such another son had come to
her in his place.
Here, Kamban beautifully sings how
Kausalya shed tears of joy over Bharata
and embraced him imagining that Rama
himself had returned from the forest.
Kausalya said amidst her sobs: "Many
were your ancestors who attained fame.
You have surpassed them all in glory by
renouncing the kingship that has come to
you. You are indeed king among kings."
The Kausalya and Bharata portrayed
by Kamban embody a culture. May these
heroic figures and that culture live forever
in the land of Bharata!
The obsequies of the dead King were
duly
performed.
Vasishtha
and
other
learned men and elders offered grave
shastric
consolation
to
Bharata
and
Satrughna. Fourteen days after the King's
demise, the ministers called the Assembly
and addressed Bharata thus:
"The King has gone to the world
above. Rama and Lakshmana are in the
forest. The land is now without a king. It
is right that you should assume the rule at
our request. The preparations for the
coronation are all complete. The citizens
and
ministers
are
awaiting
your
acceptance. This is your kingdom lawfully
descended from your ancestors, It is for
you to be anointed and rule righteously
over us."
Bharata went with folded hands round
the materials gathered for the coronation
and said in grave tones to the assembled
elders:
"I do not consider it proper that you
should ask me thus to accept the kingdom.
According to the custom of our house, the
throne belongs to the eldest son. With all
respect to you, I have decided to go to the
forest and bring Rama back to Ayodhya
with Lakshmana and see that Rama is
crowned. Please get ready the men and
materials for this purpose. Prepare the
road for the journey. Let laborers be
mobilised for it. It is my final and
irrevocable decision not to accept the
crown."
Listening to the prince's words, the
whole assembly was beside itself with joy.
They applauded Bharata's suggestion. The
army and a big retinue were got ready to
accompany the prince to the forest.
Quickly an army of workers with their
tools went forward to prepare the road.
Men who knew the forest, pioneers
who could dig wells and canals, builders
of
rafts
and
boats,
carpenters
and
engineers,
worked
enthusiastically,
because they were engaged in getting