It's night time, Janki was in the tent of Kaikeyi performing her duty of massaging the feet of mother. As she gently massaged Kaikeyi's feet, the queen of late Dashrath drowned even more in guilt.

Kaikeyi got up and held the hand of Janki sobbing as she held them to her forehead.

"Sita, Bharat said that only Ram has the right to punish me. Dear, please ask him to forgive and give me death sentence. I cannot tolerate this shame and guilt anymore." Kaikeyi said.

"Why do you think so Mata ? Raghunath always praises you. He never accused you." Janki consoled.

"This is the biggest sorrow, Sita. Ram never got angry on me, he never hated me. Today too, he had the same love and respect for me that he had in childhood." Kaikeyi started crying.

"Mata, why are you thinking yourself to be the culprit ? Raghunath has said that you are not to be blamed for this. You were just chosen as a medium by fate. What needs to happen will happen, if not bu you then through someone else." Janki tried to explain.

Kaikeyi looked at her and cried hugging her as Janki caressed the back of her mother-in-law. The widowed queen was unable to bear the burden of guilt that she gave Vanvas to Ram and he gave her love, even then.

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"Several attempts were made to bring the three great personalities back to Ayodhya. The love and affection of Bharat clashed with the duties and Dharma of Shri Ram. And to take a side which was correct would be a tumultuous task. Even Maharishi Vasisth was torn in a dilemma between the debate of these two brothers." Krishna said.

"Then how was a decision taken ?" Sehdev asked.

"Through Maharaj Janak, who had come here to see his daughter. He was a king and saint at the same time. This made him the right person to help them come to a decision." Krishna said.

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"Shri Ram, the gods are worshiping you by seeing your perseverance towards your duties. Dharma is the biggest power, through which this universe is stable. According to scriptures there is nothing greater in the three worlds than Dharma, all of us are tied by the same. But love is such a divine feeling that is boundless by any Dharma. Pure love is above all Dharma. When the same love culminates itself to be eternal devotion then even Paramatma breaks the rules of fate and is forced to agree to his devotee. And this is why Bharat's side is heavy at the moment." Janak said.

Listening to that Bharat smiled widely and Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra took a sigh of relief.

"But there is a limitation to love." Janak said causing everyone to frown.

"What limitation Maharaj ?" Bharat asked.

"The real power of love is lies in its selflessness. And when love is selfless it doesn't need anything. It just wishes to give something to the loved one. A person wishes to sacrifice everything for the loved one's happiness. Therefore Shri Bharat, it is now you who should decide what can you give to Shri Ram." Janak said.

"Life is the most precious thing anyone has. I can sacrifice my life for Ram Bhaiya." Bharat said.

"Sacrificing life is easy. What is difficult is living and surviving for the loved one. If you are the ardent devotee of Shri Ram and then sit in front of his feet and ask where his happiness lies. And do whatever he tells by thinking it as the devotion of love." Janak said.

At that Bharat stood up and joined his hands in front of Janak.

"Maharaj, you have made me selfless. Till now, I was only thinking about my duties and reputation and mistook it as love. But still you made me the winner by giving me the knowledge of devotion. I'll always be indebted to you." Bharat said.

He then went towards Shri Ram and knelt down in front of his lotus feet.

"Bhaiya, order me." Bharat said. Shri Ram smiled as he made Bharat stand up.

"The winners don't sit on the ground, Bharat. My brother, today Ram has lost in front of your love. The kingdom that you are here to give me, I accept it. But to keep Pitashree's words I have a request that for 14 years you will take care of Ayodhya on my behalf." Shri Ram said.

"Probably the 14 years will be my repentance. But do remember Bhaiya, after 14 years if you delay even for a day then you will find your Bharat's burning pyre." Bharat said.

"No Bharat ! Brother I promise you that I won't make delay of even a day !" Shri Ram said.

"Bhaiya, if I ask for something will you give it to me ?" Bharat asked.

"If you ask for my life then I will give it to you. What is it that you want ?" Shri Ram asked.

"Bhaiya, give me your charan-paduka. Your Kingdom will be with me as your souvenir. I will place your charan-paduka on the throne as the royal sign. And I will rule after taking its blessings." Bharat said.

Seeing his devotion and love, everyone was so overwhelmed. Shri Ram smiled as he stepped down from his charan-paduka.

Bharat took those charan-paduka and sets it on his head. With footwear on his head, and tears in eyes, the Ram-bhakt headed back to Ayodhya with souvenir of Shri Ram.

Janki joined his hands in front of Janak and mother Sunaina. They both embraced their daughter, extremely happy and overwhelmed by the example she was setting for the rest of women.

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A/N

*Plays strings of Gandiv* Shish pe khadaau, akhiyan mei paani.... Ram Bhakt le chala re Ram ki nishani,
Ram Bhakt le chala re Ram ki nishani....

Now this marks the end of Ayodhya Kand segment. This part of Ramayan shows the personalities and ideals of humans at their best like Bharat, Laxman, Urmila, Sumitra and others as well humans at their worst like Kaikeyi and Manthara.

It also shows that one has to suffer their Karmafal, just by apologizing or doing penance cannot wipe the karmfal away, one has to endure it.

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏