Pacifying Sumitra's son, Lakshmana, transported with rage and eager for
encounter, Rama addressed him, saying, "When the mighty Bharata
possessed of high spirits has himself come here, what is the use of the
bow or the sword or the shield? Having promised to maintain my father's
truth, what, O Lakshmana, shall I, having slain Bharata in battle, do
with the kingdom with a stain attached unto it? That thing which falls
to my lot on the destruction of friends and adherents I never accept,
even like food mixed with poison. I swear unto thee, I wish for the
(possession of) righteousness, interest, desire and the earth, in your
interests alone, O Lakshmana. O Lakshmana, I swear by my weapon that it
is for the maintenance and happiness of my brothers that I wish for the
kingdom. O mild one, this Earth herself is not difficult of being
attained by me; but, O Lakshmana, I do not through unrighteousness wish
to possess myself of Sakra's state.--May fire reduce to ashes any
happiness of mine that, O bestower of honor, happens to be dissevered
from Bharata, or thyself, or Satrughna. I think Bharata attached unto
his brothers had come to Ayodhya; and then, allowing the morality
regulating the race, that one dearer unto me than life, hearing of me
banished, bearing matted locks- and bark, together with Janaki, O hero,
and thyself, thou foremost of men, has, with his heart surcharged with
reflection, and his senses overwhelmed by grief, come hither for seeing
us. He cannot have come on any other account, And having got wroth with
Kaikeyi, and given her rough speech, that auspicious one, having
gratified my sire, has come hither to make the kingdom over unto me. And
the season being fit, meet it is that Bharata should see us. He does not
even in thought act against us. Hath ere this Bharata done thee any bad
turn? Or did he tell thee any thing so harming that today thou standest
in fear of him? Certainly thou ought not to say cruel or unpleasant
words in relation to Bharata,--if wrong be done unto Bharata, I shall
consider myself as wronged. Do sons, in times of peril, ever slay their
father, or brothers their brother like unto their life, O son of
Sumitra? If thou speakest thus for the sake of the monarchy, on seeing
Bharata, I will say unto him, 'Make over the kingdom unto this one.'
Earnestly exhorted by me, saying, 'Do thou place the kingdom in his
hands',--he will say, 'Very well."
Thus addressed by his brother of a virtuous disposition, Lakshmana ever
engaged in Rama's good, from shame seemed to enter into his body. And
hearing those words, Lakshmana affected by shame, answered, "I conceive
our father Dacaratha himself hath come to see you." And finding
Lakshmana overcome with shame, Raghava replied, "I think that
mighty-armed one has come hither to see us; or I take it for certain
that, considering that we are fit for ease only, and taking our
banishment to heart, he will take us home. Or it may be that graceful
descendant of Raghu, my father, will go away, taking from the forest
Videha's daughter wrought up in the lap of luxury. There are seen these
graceful and well-bred steeds, courageous, swift, and furnished with the
speed of the wind--the best of horses. And this huge elephant belonging
to our aged sire, named Satrunjaya, proceedeth in the van of the army.
But, thou exalted one, I do not see the splendid white umbrella of our
father known among men. Therefore, doubts arise in my mind. Do thou
descend from the top of the tree, O Lakshmana. Do my bidding." Thus did
the righteous Rama accost Sumitra's son. Descending from the top of the
_sala_ tree, that conqueror in battles, Lakshmana, stood by Rama with
joined hands. Commanded by Bharata, "Let not (Rama's asylum) be trampled
by the forces," the army took up its quarters at a distance from the
hill. And the Ikshwaku host filled with elephants and steeds covering
half a yojana, encamped at the side of the mountain. And keeping
morality in their fore-boot, and renouncing pride, the disciplined
forces schooled by Bharata in view of pleasing that descendant of Raghu
(Rama) stayed in Chitrakuta.