THE GREATER GRIEF SCOURS OFF THE SMALLER
When Dasaratha, the Emperor died, there was no one at hand to perform the obsequies and so, they sent word to the two younger sons, Bharata and Satrughna, who had left for their kinsman's capital! They were not informed of the death, and when they came and saw the body, they were too shocked at the inert silence of their dear father, that they ran to Kausalya, the queen, and their stepmother. She burst into tears when the two boys ran into her apartments. They were shocked at this and inquired why. It was then that she broke the sad news of the death of their father. Bharata was plunged in grief at this tragedy; he wept aloud beating his breast. It was inconsolable agony. The amidst the distress he said, "Mother, how unfortunate I am. I had no chance to nurse him in his illness. During his last days. Alas, dear brother, you too lost the precious chance of service", he said, patting Satrughna on the head. After some moments, he continued, "Mother, how fortunate are Rama and Lakshmana. They were with him. The nursed him and ran on little errands for him. They were with him when he breathed his last. Since we were far away, did father leave any command for us? What was his last wish regarding us? Did he remember us, ask that we should be sent for?" Kausalya said, "Son, he had only one word on his lips, one form before his eye; that word was Rama, that form was Rammer". Bharatha looked surprised. He asked, "How is it that he uttered the name and craved for the form of Rama, who was by his bedside, and did not yearn for me who was far away? O, how unlucky I am? I have but he affection of my dear father." Kausalya replied, "Well, if Rama had been by his bedside or near hi, he would not have passed away? Bharatha ejaculated, "Mother, where had Rama gone? Why was he away? Where is he now? Did he go a-hunting to the forest? Was he on a pleasure trip on the Sari?" The mother said, "No, no, He was gone into the forest for fourteen years". Bharatha could hear it no longer. "Alas, what an outrageous tragedy, this? What crime, what sin did Rama commit to deserve this exile? Why had he to go?" "Your mother wished that he should go, and so he went!" said thee queen.
When Bharatha heard this, the grief that he sustained on hearing of the death of his father paled, and he grieve the grief that arose at his mother sending Rama into exile for fourteen years supervened overwhelming all else. The greater grief scours off the smaller.