Part 21: Bharata’s continued grief

When he had praised and done homage to each one of the Arhats in this way, the Lord of Bharata went from the shrine Siṃhaniṣadyā. His head turned, looking at the shrine like a dear friend, Bharata descended Aṣṭāpada with his retinue. His mind fixed on former events, the Lord of Ayodhyā went to Ayodhyā very slowly as if the edge of his garment had been caught. The King arrived at the city, oppressed by grief, filling the sky with streams of dust raised by the soldiers like streams of sorrow. The King entered Vinītā, observed by the citizens in tears, assuredly grieved at his grief, like brothers. Recalling, recalling the Master, he entered his dwelling, raining tear-drops like a cloud with a residue of rain. Whether sitting, walking, sleeping, waking, outdoors, inside, day or night, he thought only of the Lord, like a miser who has been robbed of his money. As before, he honored men who came from the foot of Aṣṭāpada even for another reason, if they glorified the Lord first.