Passage 11

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In plain words

All power too must dwell in this name alone. Even this body must keep moving by the mighty power of this name alone. So take me as a mere instrument,” he said. The moment Rāma said this, Kausalyā spoke. “Mother! My son keeps talking like an innocent. There is no knowledge he does not know, no work he does not do; everything is in him alone.”

The mother who had said this: because of Kaikeyī's hopes, Rāma had to go to the forest. When he had to go to the forest, he came to Kausalyā. When did he come? He went to Sītā, took off the robes he was to wear for the coronation, put on bark cloth, and came to his mother. His mother was waiting for him full of joy. Then he told his mother. “Mother! I have come to tell you a joyful piece of news,” he said. “I am not king of Ayodhyā. I am king of the forest. This very minute I am getting ready as king of the forest.” She understood nothing at all. Why is he speaking like this? At once Lakṣmaṇa came. As a shadow follows a person, Lakṣmaṇa follows Rāma like a shadow. In the same way Śatrughna follows Bharata like a shadow. This Śatrughna and Lakṣmaṇa are children of one mother. One became Rāma's disciple; one became Bharata's disciple. These two were both so full of humility and obedience; they had purity of mind. They were pure in mind. That Lakṣmaṇa came and was greatly enraged. “Brother! This calm has its place, but not in a matter like this. The whole world looks to you. For the sake of one person you are stepping back so far. I will not agree. You stay right here. In a single minute I will kill that Kaikeyī and Daśaratha and carry out the coronation,” he said. When he said this, Rāma tells Lakṣmaṇa: “Lakṣmaṇa! Rage is not good. Be calm, be calm. This calm itself is our protection. This calm itself is our alms. Śānti itself is our nature. Calm itself is our crown. So we must wear the crown called calm,” he said.