Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 110: Vasiṣṭha Requests Rāma to Accept the Throne
Text 2.110.1
क्रुद्धमाज्ञाय रामं तं वसिष्ठः प्रत्युवाच ह।
जाबालिरपि जानीते लोकस्यास्य गतागतिम्॥
kruddham ājñāya rāmaṁ taṁ vasiṣṭhaḥ pratyuvāca ha
jābālir api jānīte lokasyāsya gatāgatim
kruddham = to be angry; ājñāya = understanding; rāmam tam = Rāma; vasiṣṭhaḥ = Vasiṣṭha; pratyuvāca ha = replied; jābāliḥ = Jābāli; api = also; jānīte = knows about; lokasya asya = of people; gata-āgatim = the departure and arrival.
Understanding Rāma to be angry, Vasiṣṭha replied, “Jābāli also knows about the departure and arrival of people.1
1 That is, Jābāli also knows about the departure and arrival of the souls in material existence. In other words, Jābāli knows about the reality of reincarnation in material existence.
[In this chapter] Vasiṣṭha reveals the truth about Jābāli’s statements and removed [Rāma’s] anger towards him. He then establishes his opinion that only the eldest son can take over the kingdom. He does this to bring [Rāma] back.
Jābāli does not disbelieve in the existence of the soul.