Page 135 - EJO0055

Here, Bharat respected his elder brother so much that once
his elder brother ordered him, he couldn’t disobey his order
under any situation. With tears in his eyes and absolute silence
he accepted the coronation.

Now here a very natural question that will arise is

Did Bharat lose his sthitapragyata in accepting the
kingdom ?
Q. It was Bharat’s resolution to not accept the kingship in
presence of his elder brother who was more eligible for
the post. Now when he did not live upto his decision,
didn’t he lose his sthitapragyata ?

A. No. The reason behind this was that,’The resolution to not
become the king in presence of his elder brother was an
ordinary thought but more important was the resolution to
never disobey elder brother’s orders.’ Occasionaly, you
may have to let go an ordinary decision to keep a more
important decision in place. This will not affect your
sthitapragyata.

For eg. A loyal son had resolved to not have meals without
his father. But someday because of some important work, the
father told his son to have his meal and not wait for him. At
that point of time, the son should think that,” I have meals
with father daily and hence dutifully follow my resolution.
But today father has told me to have my meal and not wait
for him. Instead of following my resolution, it is better to
obey and follow father’s wish.” Here if the son obeys his
father and has his meal without his father, he does not lose
his sthitapragyata.

Similarly, on following Rama’s orders and accepting the throne
Bharat does not lose his sthitapragyata. Another question that
arises here is,
24. Sthitapragyata (Steadiness of Mind) 125