Srimad Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa | Ayodhya Kāṇḍa ~ Sarga 14 of 119

That wicked woman spoke these words to Dasaratha, tormented as he was by the anguish for his son and who was unconscious, tossing about on the floor. .

“What is this? After hearing the promise given to me, you are lying on the floor dejected as though you had committed a great sin. You ought to keep yourself within bounds of ethics”. .

“People who know what is right, indeed speak of truthfulness as highest virtue. I too have taken refuge in truth and made you aware of your duty.” .

“Oh, king! Having made a promise to a hawk and offering his body to the bird , king Saibya, the ruler of world obtained the greatest destiny”. .

“In that manner, Alarka the glorious man plucking his own eyes, indeed gave remorselessly, to a brahmana skilled in the Veda, When asked for them.” .

“Following ruthfulness, ocean the lord of rivers even at the time of flow-tide, does not transgress even to a small extent its boundary because of its compliance to truth.” .

“Truth is one word and is Brahma. On truth is righteousness established. Truth indeed is the knowledge imperishable. By truth alone, the supreme being is obtained”. .

“O the best among men! firmly adhere to truth, if your mind is fixed on piety. Since you are a bestower of boons, let my aforesaid prayer be granted. .

“In the matter, yearning righteousness and to concede to my request, send Rama the son to exile. I am telling to you three times”. .

“Oh, the venerable man! If you do not implement our agreement, it means you have abandoned me. Hence I will give up my life here in front of you”. .

Thus compelled by Kaikeyi, who had no uneasiness in her mind, king Dasaratha could not untie the cord of plighted word that fettered him , any more than Bali could unloose the noose placed (round his body) by Indra(through his younger brother Vamana in order to deprive him of his sovereignty of the three worlds). .

Like a bullock throbbing between yoke and the wheel , Dasaratha got agitated in heart and became pale in his face. .

King Dasaratha, with bedimmed eyes, was unable, as it were, to see. But with difficulty, he controlled himself by recourse to firmness and spoke to Kaikeyi as follows. .

“Oh, wicked woman! I abandon your hand, which was clasped by me in presence of nuptial fire, when it was consecrated by sacred recitations as also your son begotten by me along with yourself”. .

“Oh, Queen! the night has gone by, with the return pf rising sun. Elderly people will certainly quicken me for installation of Rama with the sacred materials procured for the purpose”. .

“Having seen people with that joy before, I cannot see them with there happiness ended, without any merriment and having their faces turned downward in grief”. .

While that great souled king was speaking to her as aforesaid, the holy night endowed with, moon and stars began to become clear into a dawn. .

Kaikeyi of vicious conduct and of skilful talk, filled with anger again spoke these harsh words to the king. .

” Oh, king ! You are uttering words, which cannot be swallowed easily like in a painful throat disease. You ought to summon your son Rama here without any delay.” .

“You will be the one who discharges duty, by installing my son to this kingdom, by making Rama to wander in woods and rid me of enemies.” .

Impelled again and again by Kaikeyi, like an excellent horse being severely thrashed with a whip, that king spoke these words to Kaikeyi. .

“I am bound by the ties of morality. I lost my judgement. I wish to see the pious Rama, my beloved elder son.” .

Sage Vashishta, being well pleased of seeing that gynaecium, got past those people there and , entered it. .

Meanwhile, Vashishta saw Sumantra by name, who was charioteer-cum-minister of Dasaratha and who had a pleasing appearance coming out of the royal gate. .

Hasten the emperor, so that Rama will get the throne when the day gets started at the auspicious moment of pushya constellation uniting with the moon”.

Hearing these words Vashishta the great souled, Sumantra entered the gynaecium along with Dasaratha, the tiger among kings. .

The doormen , who were wishing to do kindness to king, could not obstruct Sumantra, who came before hand who was senior and who was highly esteemed by the king. .

Standing besides the king and ignorant of that situation, Sumantra started praising the king with very pleasing words. .

Sumantra, standing with joined palms in the gynaecium of the king, eulogised the king according to the appropriate moment as follows. .

“How the splendid ocean gladdens at the time of sunrise, so do you by nature filled with delight, gladden us with your delighted mind.” .

“At the very hour of sunrise, Matali (Indra’s charioteer)praised Indra and the latter conquered all the demons. In the same manner, I am awakening you.” .

“As Vedas along with the knowledge of the limbs of the body guide Lord Brahma (the creator) who is self born, so am I awakening you now.”

Brahma derives his knowledge of objects to be evolved at the beginning of creation from the Vedas. .

“Even as the sun along with the moon awaken the beautiful earth which sustains the beings so, am I awakening you.” .

“Having dressed suitably for the auspicious ceremony and shining brightly with you personality, raise up. Oh, Majesty, like the sun from mount Meru.” .

“Oh, Dasaratha born in Kakutsa dynasty! May the Gods -Sun and the Moon Shiva and Kubera, Varuna, Agni and Indra bestow you victory!” .

“Oh, the best of the kings ! The holy night has gone by. Know what has been done and do what has to be done. All the requirements for Rama’s coronation is kept ready” . .

“The venerable Vashishta himself stands waiting at the gate along with brahmanas, being saluted saluted with joined palms by citizens, village folk and merchants.” .

“Oh king! Give orders quickly for Rama’s coronation ceremony. A kingdom without a king is like cattle without a herdsman, army without a commander, night without the moon and cows without a bull.” .

King Dasaratha hearing his words which were soothing and meaningful, was surrounded with grief once more. .

That king who was pious and glorious, having lost joy about his son, looked up with sorrowful red eyes and spoke those to Sumantra. “You are chopping off my vitals further more, with your words!.” .

Sumantra, after seeing the depressed king and hearing mournful words, joined palms with salutation and slipped away to a distance from that place. .

Dasaratha could not say any thing himself because of depression. Then, Kaikeyi who is experienced in fore-thoughts, spoke thus to Sumantra. .

“Oh Sumantra! The king, being smitten by emotional joy in relation to Rama, who tired of awakening the whole night and got subjected to sleep” .

“Oh, Sumantra! Hence, quickly go and bring the glorious prince Rama. Blessedness to you! Do not have any hesitation in this matter. ” .

“He was thinking of that auspicious occasion in heart and rejoiced. With pleasure, he set out, by the orders of the king.” .

Instigated by her, Sumantra thought that the righteous Rama would come there certainly for coronation. .

Sumantra thus thinking and dwelling in a great joy, set out with a desire to see the long armed Rama .

Sumantra coming out of gynaceumwhich looked like a splendid pool in the sea, saw the gate being congested with throngs of people. .

Afterwards, proceeding further on, he saw near the gate some kings stationed there and very rich citizens having arrived there. .