We had seen the sinister plot by Manthara and Kaikeyi, not just against the coronation of Sri Rama but also to send him into exile for fourteen years. As the festivities begin for the Rama’s accession to throne all over the country, Dasaratha is mostly ecstatic and relieved that everything good, auspicious has been happening to him and Ayodhya. His long, successful service as the king, birth of four immaculate sons, their growing up and marrying at the right time, his eldest son coming of age with most virtuous qualities and decked up for coronation – things cannot unfold better for Dasaratha. Let us see how this is going to take a bad turn with the malicious plot by his very own wife – Kaikeyi.
In chapter 10, Kaikeyi enters the house of wrath. Dasaratha
tries to pacify her anger. Let us see how it is described. Kaikeyi, after entering
the house of wrath, lay like one struck by a poisoned arrow. Though she seethed
with anger and hatred it did not stop her from scheming all the while as to how
she could realize her diabolic goal. Her entire being was distorted with malice
and her sighs came out like the hiss of a serpent. In spite of it all she
looked like a Kinnera descended from the heavens as she lay there amid her
strewn jewels, which glittered like stars in the night sky.
Meanwhile, Dasaratha was given permission by his counsel of
ministers for the coronation of Rama at dawn the next day. When he went in
search of Kaikeyi to share with her these tidings of joy, he was told that the
queen had withdrawn to her chamber of anger. The thought that his beloved wife
was upset seared his heart. He found his beautiful consort lying on the floor
as helpless as a torn creeper. She seemed to him as beautiful as an Apsara
thrown to earth, as delusive as Maya and as desolate as a swan in captivity.
Beholding her, overcome with sorrow, he asked his lotus- eyed queen, "Who
has hurt you, who has humiliated you? Speak Kaikeyi and the errant shall be
punished. I value nothing above your happiness, not even my life. My kingdom,
which extends beyond the horizon and which abounds in wealth and prosperity is
yours to command. You need but speak and I will dispel your gloom just as the
morning sun dissolves the mists of dawn." Kaikeyi's heart soared with joy.
It was her moment of triumph. Instead of disclosing the cause of her distress,
she decided to continue with the pretense to augment his agony.
In chapter 11, Kaikeyi asks King Dasaratha to fulfill the
boons given to her in earlier times. Dasaratha enslaved by his passion for
Kaikeyi, firmly caught in the clutches of his overwhelming love for her, was
treated to a harsh reply, "Nothing is wrong, but I do have a wish. Promise
me that you will grant it and I shall reveal it to you". The magnanimous
king with a gentle smile said, "There is no woman in this world dearer to
me than you and no man dearer than my Rama, the noblest among them. In the name
of that son who is my very life, who is the reason why I live and without whom
I cannot exist, I give you my word of honor, to fulfill your wishes. Prodded by
a mind turned evil, recognizing her moment of triumph, Kaikeyi readied to reveal
her fearful plan by uttering words so cruel, that they rang like a death knell
to the noble soul Dasaratha.
"My Lord" said Kaikeyi, "Once again have you
sworn to fulfill my wishes! May the gods led by Indra, the Sun, the Moon and
the planets, including all the celestials and other living beings, bear witness
to this. You had granted me two boons at the time of the deva danava conflict. I
now claim them. If for any reason you deem not to honor them, I shall not live,
for I would rather perish than face the humiliation".
Dasaratha entrapped by Kaikeyi's words, bound by the
dictates of dharma, fell into the trap as a deer unto the hunter's snare, to
his destruction. He heard Kaikeyi say "Let the coronation be that of my
son Bharata and let Rama be banished to the Dandaka forest for fourteen years
clad in bark robes, to lead the life of an ascetic. Grant me these boons, be
true to your word and uphold your traditions, your honor and that of your
race". Kaikeyi's words, precise and decisive spelt doom, for they would
prove to be the beginning of the end of a great king.
In chapter 12, Dasaratha is shocked by the strange wishes of
Kaikeyi and tries to convince Kaikeyi of her wishes as being harmful. Kaikeyi
would not heed to the emperor's words.
The brutality of Kaikeyi's demands stunned Dasaratha.
Overcome by grief, unable to bear the onslaught of her merciless tirade, the
noble king for a moment lost all consciousness of the world around him. Regaining
his senses back slowly and painfully he wondered, "Am I dreaming? Is this
a kind of madness of my mind or do memories of my past experiences from another
life come to haunt me?" Beholding Kaikeyi, he was petrified like a deer
rendered helpless at the sight of a tiger. His burning eyes spitting fire bore
into her very soul as he cried out in great anguish, "Unaware of your
nature and to my peril did I bring you into this palace. I believed you to be a
princess, full of grace and nobility but you have shown yourself as a snake,
sharp fanged and venomous. What harm has Rama caused you that you wish to
punish him so?"
I can give up Kausalya, Sumitra, my kingdom and even my
life. But I can never give up my Rama, my god- like son, so dear and so full of
love and reverence towards me. Rid yourself of your wicked thoughts Kaikeyi. None
will offer you more respect and honor than Rama, who is the very
personification of the noblest of qualities. I beseech you to let Rama the most
virtuous among men, loved by the world, be installed king. I prostrate to you
in obeisance Kaikeyi. Have pity on me. Do not send me to my death!" Kaikeyi
did not relent, nor did Dasaratha's impassioned pleas full of anguish touch
her. They made not the minutest dent in her armor of stubborn resolve.
Scornfully brushing aside the king's words as the inane babble of the insane,
she lashed out at Dasaratha. She contended that by going back on his promise he
was bringing disgrace to the great dynasty of the Ikshvakus. She cited examples
of the many ancestors of that illustrious race, who had sacrificed much to
redeem their given word. "Just or unjust, good or evil, you cannot commit
a breach of promise. Nothing but the banishment of Rama and the coronation of
Bharata will pacify me. If these do not come to pass, I will end my life in
your very presence", threatened Kaikeyi. Dasaratha was drained of all
happiness and felt paralyzed at her menacing vow. Looking disbelievingly at her,
who was so precious to him only moments ago, perceiving her utter disdain for
him, the hapless king, pathetically tried to reason with his queen once again.
"Rama loved by all and pure of mind is devoid of all evil. He wins the
hearts of the most humble and the deprived with charity. With service does he
win over the hearts of his gurus and his enemies flee at the very sight of his
bow. Rama has never uttered anything but the sweetest and most loving of words.
How can I subject him to hardship at a time when he is to be installed as the
adored lord of the world, who should be living in the palace? How can he
survive on the bitter and acrid foods of the forest?"
Dasaratha said that he would be condemned for depriving Rama
of his heritage and ridiculed as one who had committed a folly to satisfy the
whims of a capricious woman. He said, "I will be cursed for the
unpardonable act and will be taken to the land of the dead. The renowned
Ikshvaku dynasty will be brought to ruin to disintegrate in disgrace under your
rule.I can never honor your malicious
desires that spurn relationship. Do you seek its destruction? The world may go
on without the Sun, the crops without rain, but I cannot endure life without
Rama. Can I bear the looks of Sumitra's silent askance of Lakshmana's fate, if
Rama himself can be betrayed thus? How can I face Kausalya? How can I tell her
that divine Rama's coronation will not take place, but his exile will? When
that comes to pass, my body will be rendered lifeless. Sita coming to know of
it may also perish, deprived of her consort.
Dasaratha's pleas fell on deaf ears. The queen who until
now, was his joy, his love and his world, in whose presence all else had paled
into insignificance, was now inflicting so much pain on him. Lingering memories
of his obsession for her haunted him, who was still a captive of her wily
charms. His eyes refused to believe the contempt in her eyes. His ears refused
to hear her vicious dialouge. His senses refused to accept the choking emotions
of his mind. His body with no faculty present to govern it fell to the ground
in a heap, like an uprooted tree, succumbing to the fury of the storm. Moaning
piteously, Dasaratha made one last attempt at trying to persuade Kaikeyi to
change her mind. "Cause me no more sorrow Kaikeyi. I am ready to touch
your feet, have mercy on me", with that Dasaratha's swaying body fell
before the queen, who showed her ultimate disdain for that great emperor by
moving away beyond reach lest he touch her.
In chapter 13, Sage Valmiki describes the bitter agony of
Dasaratha on hearing the adamant Kaikeyi's words.
The king was on the floor helpless and weeping. Neither of
the acts was becoming of a great monarch, but Kaikeyi who was yet to achieve
her purpose neither feared nor cared for the opinion of the world. She asked
Dasaratha, "Great king! You have always taken pride in upholding the truth
and honoring your promises. Why do you now deny me mine?" Shaking with
fury at the shameless banter of his queen, Dasaratha said, " Evil woman, you
are my enemy and will bring me death, what should I tell the devatas in heaven
when they ask me of the wrong I had done to Rama? Should I say that I did so to
please your whims? And now, what shall I tell Rama? That the coronation will
not take place, but his banishment will, rendering false the promise I had
earlier made to him? How can I part from that son of mine for whom I had pined
so intensely and for many long years and how can Rama who is dear to all
survive the inhospitable jungles?
Dasaratha's agony was endless. Feeling faint and spent, he
did not notice the Sun dip into the western horizon, plunging the world in
darkness. The stars came out to bejewel the night sky and the moon cast around
its brilliance, but Dasaratha found no solace in the celestial display. He
cried out to the night, not to yield to the dawn, as he could not bear to
behold the face of Kaikeyi, who had brought him such untold misery. Despite his
torment and his denials of ever wanting to see her again, Dasaratha who was
still a prisoner of her charms could neither deny her nor abandon Rama.
Physically worn out, mentally subjected to unending torment, Dasaratha spent a
restless night. With dawn came the sound of eulogies sung by the bards. They
faded into insignificance in the face of the unfortunate events that had come
to pass. Dasaratha to whom the eulogies meant nothing but a jarring noise,
commanded their silence.
The chapter 14 starts with Kaikeyi's entreaties to the king
followed by Dasaratha disowning her as wife. The night passes and Sumantra
comes to wake up the King. Ordered by Kaikeyi to bring Sri Rama to the king, he
departs to fetch Rama to their place.
Kaikeyi looked with utter contempt at Dasaratha, who
grieving for his son had fallen senseless to the ground. Indifferent to his
suffering she lashed out mercilessly, "Not only have you dishonored my
boons, but you have also committed a breach of promise". She reminded
Dasaratha of his ancestor Sibi who had sacrificed his body to save the dove
from a hawk. Of Alarka, another Ikshvaku who had torn out his eyes to keep his
promise to a Brahmin scholar and of the great Sagara who true to his vow never
flowed over any territory beyond his bound.
"Truth is Brahman, truth is the foundation of dharma
and since you are the essence of truth, honor that truth. For the third time I
repeat that you banish Rama and crown Bharata. You may break your promise, but
I shall keep mine and will end my life in your presence." Goaded
ruthlessly, grieving and groping like one blinded, Dasaratha struggled back to
his feet with great effort saying, "Caught in the snare of the cross fires
of duty and dharma, I know not what to do. My mind does not function, and I
desire to see Rama. Kaikeyi, wretched woman, I rue the day I took your hand in
holy matrimony and this day, I disown you and the son I begot by you".
Meanwhile, Vasishta having completed preparations for the
coronation entered the city. He asked Sumantra to inform the king of the
arrival of merchants, elders, scholars and great monarchs of many lands to
witness the coronation of Rama. Sumantra conveyed this to the king and bowed in
obeisance saying, "Sire, receive all those that await you in reverence to
commence the installation ceremony at your command." With these words,
Dasaratha's anguish reached greater heights. As he lifted his head painfully
his face was haggard, his eyes were red with weeping and in them was an
unfathomable pathos. "You rend my heart Sumantra," said the king, who
at that moment should have been full of joy and radiant as the Sun. As Sumantra
was bowing away from the king, the cunning queen Kaikeyi pounced on her chance
and asked him to fetch Rama, saying that the king was weary, having spent a
restless night. Sumantra was hesitant, as he had received no such orders from
the king, who coming out of his stupor said "Bring my dear son Rama. I
desire to see him."
The unknowing Sumantra, thinking that all was well, went on
his way happily and in all haste. He passed through the gates of the palace
thronging with people loaded with gifts, eagerly waiting for the momentous
occasion.
This concludes chapters 10, 11,12,13 and 14 of Ayodhya kanda
where we had seen the ill-motivated queen Kaikeyi, playing an evil role, enters
the house of wrath and torments Dasaratha endlessly with her wishes. Caught in
a troubled position, the king can neither keep his word nor break it. All the
helplessness of the dear father of Rama was in display as the queen doesn’t
budge an inch. Let us look at how this slowly develops to engulf everyone and
the response from Rama to the dangerous turn of events in the dark in the
subsequent posts.
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