Knowing Bharata as devoted to his superior Rama along with his brother
Lakshmana, asked him, "What for is this (visit of thine unto the woods)?
I wish to hear as clearly related by thee the reason why clad in black
deerskin and wearing matted locks, thou, leaving thy kingdom, hast come
to these regions. It behoveth thee to tell me all this." Thus accosted
by the high-souled Kakutstha, Kaikeyi's son, suppressing his grief by a
strong effort, with joined hands said, "O noble one, forsaking us all,
our father possessed of mighty arms, having performed this terrible
task, in consequence of being urged by a woman, my mother Kaikeyi, hath
gone to heaven afflicted with grief on account of his son, O repressor
of foes. And she hath committed a signal sin capable of destroying her
fame. And without obtaining the kingdom which she had coveted as the
fruit of her action, a widow tried with grief, my mother will fall into
a terrible hell. Now it behoves thee to extend thy favor unto me who
have become thy slave. Do thou this very day get thyself installed in
the kingdom, like unto Indra himself. All these subjects and our widowed
mothers have come unto thee. It behoves thee to show thy favor unto
them. Thou art the first-born; and meet it is that thou shouldst get
thyself installed, O bestower of honor. Therefore do thou receive the
kingdom righteously and fulfil the desire of thy friends. And like the
autumnal Night on having the unclouded moon, let the entire Earth cease
to be a widow on having thee, her lord. With bent head I beseech thee
along with these counsellors. It behoves thee to show thy favor unto thy
brother, disciple, and slave. Therefore, O chief of men, thou ought not
to pass by this honored band of ancestral ministers, who have always
been serving this race." Having said this, with tears flooding his eyes,
the mighty-armed son of Kaikeyi, Bharata, again took Rama's feet on his
head. Thereupon Rama embracing his brother Bharata resembling a mad
elephant, and sighing again and again, said, "Of a high race, possessed
of strength, endowed with energy, and vowed unto sterling worth of
character, how can one like me commit sin for the sake of dominion?
Fault find I none ever so small in thee, thou destroyer of foes. Nor
doth it become thee from puerility to tax thy mother, O exceedingly wise
one, O thou that art sinless, superiors may act as they list in relation
to those wives and sons of theirs that are after their heart. And this
also thou shouldst learn that wives, sons and disciples should always be
obedient as has been held by the emancipated ones. O mild one, the
monarch is competent to make me stay in the woods clad in black
deer-skin, as to establish me in the monarchy. And, O thou conversant
with morality, O foremost of those observing righteousness, in respect
of virtuous conduct, a mother should be as much regarded (by a son) as a
father is. How can I, O descendant of Raghu, having been told by my
righteous father and mother--'Go to the woods'--act otherwise? Thou
ought to receive the kingdom, Ayodhya, honored of men; and I ought to
dwell in Dandaka dressed in bark. Having made this division of duties in
the presence of all, and also enjoined this, the mighty monarch,
Dacaratha, hath ascended heaven. That superior of all, even the virtuous
king, is thy evidence. It behoves thee to enjoy that which hath been
assigned unto thee by thy sire. And, O mild one, taking refuge in the
forest of Dandaka for fourteen years, I will act the part that hath been
set apart for me by my magnanimous father. What hath been assigned to me
by that one respected by all men, my high-souled father resembling the
lord of celestials himself, is my prime good; the masterdom of all the
worlds I would decline (should it be opposed to the will of my sire)."