The Music of Hindostan c7.163

c7.163

Dasrat, king of Ayodhyā, had two sons, Rāma and Bharata, by two wives. Bharata’s mother had a promise from Dasrat that he would give her anything she liked. She demanded nothing till Dasrat was on the point of abdicating, when she asked that Bharata should succeed, and Rāma go into retirement in the jungle with his father for fourteen years. Bharata was away at the time; the claim was honoured, and Rāma retired. Bharata on his return refused to accept the situation, and tried to induce Rāma to return; but he