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154
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
Hearing the words of Rama, Bharatà
replied thus :
 
शाश्वतोऽयं सदा धर्मः स्थितोऽस्मासु नरर्षभ ।
ज्येष्ठ पुत्रे स्थिते राजन् न कनीयान् नृपो भवेत् ॥
 
"O foremost of men, this eternal rule
of conduct has always been maintained in
our family - 0 king, when the eldest
son is alive, no younger brother may
become king.
 
स समृद्धां मया सार्धमयोध्यां गच्छ राघव
अभिषेचय चात्मानं कुलस्यास्य भवाय नः ॥
 
O Raghava, go along with me to
prosperous Ayodhya and instal yourself for
the prosperity of our family.
 
केकयस्थे च मयि तु त्वयि चारण्यमाश्रिते ।
दुःखशोकाभिभूतस्तु राजा त्रिदिवमभ्यगात् ॥
Whilst I was away at my (uncle)
Kekaya's residence and you had betaken
yourself to the forest, the king overwhelmed
by distress and sorrow departed to heaven..
 
उत्तिष्ट पुरुषव्याघ्र क्रियतामुदकं पितुः ।
चायं च शत्रुघ्नः पूर्वमेव कृतोदकौ ॥