{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry157.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry157.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry157.htm","text":"Now when the sun's returning ray\n Had ushered in the fourteenth day,\n The gathered peers of state addressed\n To Bharat's ear their new request:\n 'Our lord to heaven has parted hence,\n Long served with deepest reverence;\n R\u00e1ma, the eldest, far from home,\n And Lakshman, in the forest roam.\n O Prince, of mighty fame, be thou\n Our guardian and our monarch now,\n Lest secret plot or foeman's hate\n Assail our unprotected state\n With longing eyes, O Lord of men,\n To thee look friend and citizen,\n And ready is each sacred thing\n To consecrate our chosen king.\n Come, Bharat, and accept thine own\n Ancient hereditary throne.\n Thee let the priests this day install\n As monarch to preserve us all.'\n \u00a0 Around the sacred gear he bent\n His circling footsteps reverent,\n And, firm to vows he would not break,\n Thus to the gathered people spake:\n 'The eldest son is ever king:\n So rules the house from which we spring:\n Nor should ye, Lords, like men unwise,\n With words like these to wrong advise.\n R\u00e1ma is eldest born, and he\n The ruler of the land shall be.\n Now to the woods will I repair,\n Five years and nine to lodge me there.\n Assemble straight a mighty force,\n Cars, elephants, and foot and horse,\n For I will follow on his track\n And bring my eldest brother back.\n Whate'er the rites of throning need\n Placed on a car the way shall lead:\n The sacred vessels I will take\n To the wild wood for R\u00e1ma's sake,\n I o'er the lion prince's head\n The sanctifying balm will shed,\n And bring him, as the fire they bring\n Forth from the shrine, with triumphing.\n Nor will I let my mother's greed\n In this her cherished aim succeed:\n In pathless wilds will I remain,\n And R\u00e1ma here as king shall reign.\n To make the rough ways smooth and clear\n Send workman out and pioneer:\n Let skilful men attend beside\n Our way through pathless spots to guide.'\n As thus the royal Bharat spake,\n Ordaining all for R\u00e1ma's sake,\n The audience gave with one accord\n Auspicious answer to their lord:\n 'Be royal Fortune aye benign\n To thee for this good speech of thine,\n Who wishest still thine elder's hand\n To rule with kingly sway the land.'\n \u00a0 Their glorious speech, their favouring cries\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Made his proud bosom swell:\n \u00a0 And from the prince's noble eyes\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The tears of rapture fell. \u00a01","title":"Book II: Canto LXXIX.: Bharat's Commands.","type":"page"}