Bharata The Just

　　The sad news of his father's death was brought to Bharata and he was sorrowing to Ayodhya. With a heavy heart he performed the funeral rites. When he was told of his brother's exile he at once resolved to go and find him. He did not wish to take the throne that rightly belonged to Rama， and he was greatly troubled by all that had happened while he was away.

　　Taking his brother Satrughana with him， Bharata set off hastily in the direction that Rama had gone， and behind them went the three queens with the priest Vasishta and the royal guards. Pressing on eagerly through the forest， Bharata and Satrughana soon left the other behind and came at last within sight of the peak of Chitrakuta. “There is a smoke from hermits' dwellings”， said Bharata. “We shall find Rama there. Though he is born a king he has sought a forest refuge. He was given up a throne and a mighty kingdom for a hermit's humble home. All honor to righteous Rama and to his wife so good and true！ Kosala's empire belongs to them， theirs is the crown and the wealth and the glory！”

　　At last they found Rama's cottage amid the trees. There they saw Rama and Sita sitting by an altar with the faithful Lakshamana near at hand. As Bharata and Satrushana ran forward and knelt at their brother's feet， Rama welcomed them with loving greeting. “But why have you come all this way into the jungle？” he asked. “Did our father bid you come？ Is all well at home？”

　　Bharata wept as he answered his brother. “Our father is dead and his earthly task has been done. His heart was broken when he lost his eldest son. You must return to take your rightful place and rule the land. Kaikeyi now regrets her deed and you alone can set it right. Come back to Ayodhya and let me serve you as the rightful king！”

　　Rama was weeping sorrowfully for his dead father as he raised Bharata from his knees. “But I cannot break my word to my father，” he said， “and though he is dead I serve him still. I shall dwell in the forests as I was told to do. Let there be no blame on you or your mother. You must return to rule the kingdom， Bharata， and obey our father's will.”

　　Sadly the saint Vaisishta came to the cottage， bringing Queen Kaushalaya， who wept to see her son in such lowly surroundings far from his royal home. “How can we leave you here in the jungle， pale and worn by fasting and penance？” cried Kaushalaya. “It pains me a lot to see you in such misfortune. The palace is dark and sad without you！” Sita and Rama comforted her saying that their duty was to stay in the forest.

　　Then Jabali， a learned Brahman who had come with the queen， spoke sternly as he tried to shake Rama's faith. “Why are you misled by worldly human ties？ We pass through the world alone and our time is soon gone. Our family are but travellers we meet on the way， and kinship is but an idle dream！ Why leave an empire at a father's word？ Your father has gone where all mortals go. He will never return to this world. A dead man's word is dead like himself！”

　　Rama answered with steady faith. “The gods judge our secret hearts. If I should take a sinful path they would know that I was false. I cannot break my word to my father.”

　　“What errors humans make！” said Jabali. “They sacrifice themselves to gods and fathers who are deaf to their prayers. It is the priests who make rules and rites to mislead to the hearts of people！ There is Hereafter， Rama， and the hopes and prayers of humans are in vain. Follow the path of sense and wisdom and return to the kingdom that your noble brother offers！”

　　“Your purpose may be kind， but your argument is false，” said Rama， unshaken. “Truth upholds the earth and the nations， and it lives for evermore. Religious rites and prayers have no purpose but to serve Truth which rules the wide earth and sky. I have given my word to my word to my father that I will stay in the forests. Here will I stay and worship the gods of the earth and air， with a steady faith in the Eternal.”

　　No tears or argument could shake Rama's fixed purpose. Bharata tried again to make him change his mind， but Rama made his firm and final answer. “The moon will lose her light and the snow be gone from Himalaya's height before I break my word！ You are fit to rule， Bharata. You will be strong and true， and our father's ministers will help you with their wise counsel. You must not fail to do your duty. My own duty is clear and my good wishes go with you.”

　　Bharata then asked for some token of Rama's love. “Then give me the sandals from off your feet， so that they may stand on the throne！ They will bind my heart to duty. They will bind my heart to duty. They will be a sign to the faithful people that you are their truthful king. I will keep the kingdom for you， and， if at the end of fourteen years， you do not return， I shall perish on the funeral pile.”

　　Rama took off his sandals and gave them to his younger brother. Bharata took them， and then he said， “You will not live alone as a hermit！ I， too， will live on the fruits of the woods， even though I live in the palace， and I will wear a hermit's dress. The years of penance and weary waiting shall not be yours alone！ While I have your sandals we are not apart， wherever your path may lead.”

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