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Story of Rama in Jain Literature
her husband and son who desire to take to asceticism. She wishes to keep back her son, and hence requests the king to grant her boon. She wants him to bestow the kingdom on Bharata Dasaratha agrees. He sends for Rama and Laksmana and puts before them his dilemma: "Kaikeyi has asked the kingdom for Bharata. Bharata intends to retire from samsara. In his absence Kaikeyi would die. I would be known in history as a liar if I don't grant her boon." Rama requests him to keep his promise. Dasaratha and Rama persuade Bharata to accept the throne. Rama, Sa and Laksmana take their leave of all and start from the palace to lead a forest life. People follow them and refuse to go back home. At night Rama and party stay in a Jain temple. Mothers of Rama go there and meet them. They meet Dasaratha, who is bent on becoming a monk. (Dasaratha's resolution to accept asceticism.)
CANTO XXXII :
At midnight when all people are asleep Rama and party leave the temple and go out of the city. They come to a fort and a river Bhima. Taking their leave of the warriors that follow them, Rama and party cross the river. Seeing them on the other side of the river the warriors return. On their way back they meet monks in a Jain temple. Some of them become monks and the rest accepting the duties of layman return to Saketa and report to Bharata that Rama and party have gone to a forest. At this Bharata grieves. Dasaratha, on account of separation from his sons, places Bharata on the throne and himself becomes a monk. Although an ascetic he still bears love for his son. Once, however, he realizes his mistake and purifies his mind. As a result of their sons' going away to another country and the dikṣa of their lord, Aparajita and Sumitra are extremely grieved. Kaikeyi and Bharata go to bring back Rama, who politely refuses their request and there in the forest he places. Bharata on the throne. Rama and party start towards the South, Bharata returns and rules the kingdom. He meets a Jain monk Dyuti in a temple and in his presence takes a vow to renounce the world as soon as Rami returns home and he governs as a pious Jain layman without giving himself up to pleasures. (Dasaratha's taking to asceticism, Rama's departure, and Bharata's rule.)
CANTO XXXIII :
Rama and party reached a settlement of ascetics. After a night's stay there they resumed their journey to reach Citrakuta. Thence they go to the country of the Avanti where suddenly they see a desolate tract of land. Rama asks Laksmana to find out some place of rest for Sica who is fatigued. Lakṣmaṇa proceeds accordingly and sees a large deserted city and a man in it. Laks nana gets the man to Rama. Rāma asks him as to why the country is deserted and desolate. The man tells Rāma all about it. Simhodara. Emperor of Ujjain attacked Vajrakarna, his vassal, king of 40 It should be noted that Kaikeyi in putting forth her demand is actuated by a n b'e motive. Motherly love proves too strong and she chocses to retain her son with her than her husband. Again, it deserves to be noted that she makes no demand for Rama's banishment into forest.
