Hereafter holding the equanimity of mind with patience self-possessed
Rama spoke thus unto the son of Sumitra, his dear brother, and friend,
who was greatly sorry, had lost his patience and was pressed down with
this misfortune of Rama, and had his eyes inflated with anger like unto
an infuriated elephant;--"Subduing this anger and sorrow, taking
recourse to patience only, brooking the insult and resorting to joy, do
thou set aside all those things that have been collected here for my
installation and make preparations speedily for my repairing to the
forest. Oh son of Sumitra, do thou take that amount of trouble for
preventing now the collection of materials for installation, as didst
thou take beforehand for collecting them. Do thou act therefore in such
a way as will remove the apprehension from the mind of our mother
(Kaikeyi), who is troubled at heart so greatly on hearing of my
installation. O son of Sumitra, I cannot neglect for a moment the
trouble which hass arisen in her mind on account of this fear. I do not
remember to have done on any occasion wilfully or unwilfully any thing
that is displeasing onto my father or mothers. My father is of truthful
words and vows and he has been greatly terrified by the fear of the next
world; may his fear disappear now. If this work of installation be not
stopped, my father shall be greatly pained at heart thinking that his
vows shall not be fulfilled and his sorrow will also ache me. And it is
for this reason, Oh Lakshmana, that I purpose speedily to retire from
this city to the forest, renouncing the preparations for my
installation. On my wandering away unto the forest to-day, the daughter
of Kekaya shall have her ends attained and shall install Bharata on the
throne without any disturbance whatsoever. Myself going to the forest,
wearing bark, tiger-skin and matted hair, Kaikeyi shall attain the
happiness of her mind. That great One, who has inspired Kaikeyi with
this mode of mind and has kept it firm, I cannot offend. I shall repair
hence without any delay. Do thou regard, Oh Lakshmana, Destiny as the
only cause of this transfer of the kingdom, although attained, and of my
banishment. Had not Destiny been instrumental in bringing about this
determination in Kaikeyi, she would not have been so much persevering in
the infliction of misery upon me. Knowest thou, Oh gentle Lakshmana,
that I have never made any distinction in my mind between my mothers,
nor did Kaikeyi make any such thing before between me and her son;
consequently it is Destiny only that has made her press for the
prevention of my installation and for my exile with harsh and cruel
words, or else why should she, a daughter of a king and possessed of an
excellent temper and high accomplishments, speak painful words unto me
in the presence of her husband like unto an ordinary woman. That which
is above comprehension is Destiny and it is beyond the power of
creatures to avert its consequences; and evidently it is through this
Destiny that have sprung up this distemper of Kaikeyi and my loss of
kingdom. What man dares withstand Oh son of Sumitra, this (terrible)
Destiny hidden from our view until known by the consequences of action.
Destiny is the prime source of those inconceivable causes which occur
with reference to happiness misery, fear, and anger, profit and loss,
birth and deliverance. Seers of great austerity being influenced by this
Destiny, succumb to the attack of anger and desire, renouncing all their
hard disciplines. The hinderance in this world to the completion of
works taken in hand, and the origination of an unthought of event in its
stead, is nothing but the action of this Destiny. The mind brought under
discipline by this true rationale, there remains no cause of sorrow
regarding my installation being put a stop to. Do thou therefore assuage
thy grief and follow me and intercept speedily the collection of
materials for my installation. The bathing ceremony, necessary before
taking the vows of asceticism, shall be performed, O Lakshmana, with all
these jars full of water brought for my installation. Or what necessity
have I with all these articles of installation; water drawn from the
well by myself shall do for entering into the vow of exile. Do not
grieve, Oh Lakshmana, for the loss of this kingdom. Of kingdom and exile
into the forest, exile is fraught with glorious results. Knowest thou
now the mighty power of Destiny and do not blame therefore my younger
mother and my father laboring under the influence of Destiny.