Then on the morning of the fourteenth day, the ministers of the king
assembled addressed Bharata in the following words, "Having exiled his
eldest son and the exceedingly strong Lakshmana, Dacaratha who was the
superior of our superiors hath gone to heaven. Do thou, therefore, O
illustrious prince, become our king. Having been permitted by the king,
thou wilt commit no fault (by doing so), as this kingdom is without a
master. O Raghava, having procured all these necessaries for the
installation, the counsellors and others as well as the citizens wait, O
king's son. Do thou, O Bharata, take charge of this secure kingdom
bequeathed by thy father and grandfather. Do thou, O foremost of men,
have thyself sprinkled, and rule over us." Thereupon, having gone round
all the things procured for the sprinkling Bharata firm in his vows
addressed those persons, saying, "In our line it is ever fit for the
first-born alone to perform the task of government. It doth not behove
ye who are wise to say so unto me. Certainly Rama our eldest brother
shall become the king; and I will abide in the forest for five and nine
years. Do ye array the grand and mighty army consisting of fourfold
forces. I will bring back from the forest my eldest brother Raghava. And
taking all these necessaries for the investiture in front, I will go in
the direction of the forest for Rama. And sprinkling that chief of men
on the spot, I will placing him in our front, bring Rama back, like unto
fire brought in from the sacrifice. I will never fulfil the desire of
this lady proud of her son. I will inhabit the impracticable woods, and
Rama shall become the monarch. Let workmen lay out level roads in uneven
tracts; and let those men that are adepts in threading places difficult
to pass through, follow us." When the prince had spoken thus in behalf
of Rama, all those persons answered him in these excellent words, "For
saying this, may Lakshmi seated on the lotus remain at thy side;
inasmuch as thou wishest to confer the earth on the eldest son of the
monarch!" Hearing that graceful speech of the king's son, tear-drops,
begot of delight began to trickle from their eyes and adorned those
noble countenances. And their grief removed, with cheerful hearts, the
counsellors, courtiers, and others hearing that speech (of the prince),
said, "O best of men, according to thy order, artizans as well as people
cherishing a high regard for thee have been directed to lay out a road."