The King bade Sumantra let the Prince in.
Raama came and bowed to the King from a
distance. As soon as he saw Raama, the King suddenly rose and rushed with out stretched
arms to embrace him, but dropped in a swoon before reaching his son.
Raama and Lakshmana tenderly lifted him up
and put him on the couch. "My Lord," said Raama, "we have come to- seek
your leave to go to I the forest. Vaidehi and Lakshmana too are going with me in spite of
all I could do to make them desist. Pray give us your benedictions and leave to
depart."
Dasaratha then said: "Raama, I am
bound by the boons that I have given to Kaikeyi. But you are not so bound. Why do you not
brush me aside and seize the kingdom by force?" |
