Ayodhya Kaanda
91 - Bharata's arrival at Prayaga and dialogue between Bharata and the sage Bharadvaja
Chaupais
Description
"Nobody would approve of it even if I said so; for the wise recognize worldly opinion as well as the judgment of the Vedas. By singing your unsullied glory, however, the world and the Vedas both will be exalted. The world as well as the Vedas admit it and everyone says that of king's sons he alone gets the throne on whom his father bestows it. The king, who was above all true to his vow, would have called you and bestowed the kingdom on you; and this would have brought him joy, religious merit and glory. But the root of all trouble was Rama's exile to the forest and the whole universe was pained to hear of it. It was, however, as fate would have it; much as the foolish queen (Kaikeyi) did wrong, she now repents for it. But he who lays the least blame for it on you is vile, ignorant and wicked. Even if you accepted the sovereignty no blame would attach to you and even Rama would have been gratified to hear of it.