As those foremost of persons surrounded by their friends indulged in
lamentations, the night passed away in grief. On the night being
succeeded by an auspicious morning, those brothers surrounded by their
friends, having performed _Homa_ and _Japa_ on the Mandakini, returned
unto Rama. And sitting silent, no one said anything. Then Bharata
addressed Rama in the midst of those friends, saying, "My mother was
(first) pacified (by grant of the kingdom.) The kingdom is (now) mine. I
grant the same unto thee. Do thou enjoy the kingdom rid of its thorns.
Like unto a dyke forced by a torrent during the rains, this mighty
monarchy is difficult of being protected save by thee. As a mule is
incapable of imitating the course of a horse, or as birds, that of
Tarkshya, I, O Lord of earth, lack the strength to imitate thee. O Rama,
ever happy is the life of him that others depend upon for subsistence:
unhappy is the life of the person that depends upon others for support.
As a tree planted by a person, and by him made to increase, (until at
last), sending out branches, a mighty tree, it is incapable of being got
up by a dwarf; and then, if, flowering, it show no fruits, it cannot
contribute to the satisfaction of htm for whom it hath been planted. O
mighty- armed one, this comparison is meant for thee. This[189] it
behoves thee to apprehend, inasmuch as thou art our excellent lord, and
thou dost not teach us who depend upon thee for support. Let the
principal orders, O monarch, behold thee, represser of foes--established
in the kingdom, like the powerful sun himself. O Kakustha, let mad
elephants roar, with the view of following thee; and let the women of
the inner apartments with concentrated minds utter jubilation." On
hearing the words of Bharata, who was beseeching Rama, many of the
citizens expressed their approbation by exclaiming, "Excellent well!"
Seeing the illustrious Bharata aggrieved and engaged in lamentation, the
calm and considerate Rama consoled him, saying, "No creature is endowed
wth the power of exercising any control over the course of events,--man
has no independent status (in nature). The Destoyer draws him both here
and hereafter. Those that increase, are destined to deteriorate; those
that go upward, ultimately fall, those that come together, separate in
the end; and life at length meets with death. As a ripe fruit hath no
other fear than fall, so man who is born, hath no other fear than death.
Even as a stout-pillared edifice, getting dilapidated, waxes weak, so
men coming under the sway of decrepitude and death, get enfeebled. A
night that hath gone by, doth not return, as the full Jamuna, when she
hath entered the ocean, doth not come back. In this world, days and
nights pass away with creatures, and speedily impair their lives, even
as in summer the rays (of the sun) (dry up) the waters. Do thou
therefore deplore thyself. Why dost thou lament any thing else? Every
one's life is decreasing, whether he sits or moves. Death goeth with
one, sitteth down with one, and, after having gone a long way, returneth
with one. The person is filled with folds in the skin, the hair hath
grown hoary, the individual is enfeebled because of age,-- by doing
what, can he prevent this? People rejoice on the rising of the sun; they
feel delighted at the approach of night,--but they do not understand
that their lives have (meanwhile) been shortened. People are exhilarated
at the commencement of a new season in novel fashion; creatures get
their lives shortened at the change of seasons. As on the mighty ocean,
one piece of wood comes in contact with another; so, a person, having
been in association with another, is seperated from him in time. In this
way, wives and sons and kindred and wealth, having been in association,
go away; their separation is certain. There exists not one in this world
that can change one's nature as received. A person lamenting a dead
individual, hath no power to prevent his own death. As, while one is
proceeding on a road, another stationed by the way, says, 'I too will go
in thy wake', even so, the way that hath been followed by our
predecessors, (must be followed as well by us.) Why should people mourn
(for deceased relatives), when they are themselves subject to the fate
that knoweth no turning? (Perceiving the destruction of) life declining,
like unto a current that never turneth back, one should engage his soul
in happiness; for all men are said to be born for the same. My child,
our righteous sire, who, after having performed excellent and entire
sacrifices, accompanied with _dakshinas_, hath repaired to heaven,
honored of the good, should not be mourned.[190] Having renounced his
human frame wasted and worn out with age, our father hath attained
celestial state, which exists in the regions of Brahma. Such an one
should never be mourned by any wise person like thee or myself,
accomplished in learning and more than ordinarily intelligent. Such
manifold grief and mourning and lamentation should be renounced by
intelligent and firm persons in all conditions in life. Do thou cast off
this grief: let not sorrow overpower thee. Going thither, stay in that
city. And, O best of speakers, this was also enjoined by our sire of
controlled senses. I also must do my noble father's will as to whatever
that one of pious acts has laid upon me. O subduer of foes, it is not
proper for me to pass by his orders. So thay are also worthy of being
honored by thee. He is our friend and father. O descendant of Raghu,
that mandate of our righteous father, acceptable unto me, will I obey by
abiding in the woods. O foremost of men, (good in) the next world is
capable of being attained by an honest and pious person crowned with
sterling virtues, ever following his superiors. O best of men, thinking
that our father Dacaratha has attained excellent state, do thou,
resorting to all noble qualities, seek thy welfare in the next world."
Having said these significant words unto his younger brother, with the
view of making him obey the injunctions of their father, that lord, the
magnanimous Rama, paused.
[189] _The import of the image_.-- T.
[190] The N. W. P. text has seven additional lines here, wanting in the
other texts:--"That lord of the earth, our father Dacaratha, hath
gone to heaven. On account of having adequately maintained his
servants and governed his subjects, and virtuously given away
wealth, our sire hath gone to heaven. And by virtue of supremely
excellent and desirable acts, and sacrifices accompanied with
_dakshinas_, that master of this world, our father Dacaratha, hath
ascended heaven. And having celebrated many sacrifices and enjoyed
luxuries, that lord of the earth, having attained a goodly age,
hath gone to heaven."-- T.