The last post details the demise of the Dasaratha which is also around the halfway point of the second book. With that one important character and one big episode within the life of Rama comes to an end. In addition, he is the king of Kosala, a scion of the Suryavamsha dynasty and the entire environment is set by him in the capital Ayodhya for Rama’s ascension till adulthood. Thus, he is the central figure in Ayodhya Kanda and with the exile of Rama into deep forests, the story moves away from the capital in successive books. Rama is yet to go into that place, which will happen by the end of this kanda. We can now look at the chapters which detail the era after Dasaratha in the kingdom. His imprint on the people close-by isn’t very easily erased.
In chapter 66, Kausalya reproaches Kaikeyi for her wrong deeds, while weeping profusely for her husband's death. The chamberlains reverently remove Kausalya from the place of the king's body, which they later keep in a trough filled with oil. The ministers and other functionaries return to their abodes, when the night fell in darkness.
Kausalya plunged in sorrow felt a great emptiness like the sea with its waters thrown out. Cradling Dasaratha's head in her lap, looking at Kaikeyi she said, "With Rama banished and Dasaratha dead, the kingdom is now yours to enjoy. Which woman, having lost her husband, who is her god, will want to live, except you who have abandoned your dharma? Just as poisoned food is not aware of the poison in it, a greedy person is not aware of the evil effects of his greed. Your treachery has rendered Rama homeless and Dasaratha lifeless. Impelled by you, unable to dishonor his plighted word, Dasarahta had to send away Rama. Rama does not know that I am now a widow and without sanctuary. As a devoted wife, I will enter the blaze of the funeral pyre."
Kausalya's laments were heart rending as those in charge of the royal funeral tried to extricate the king's body from her embrace. In the aftermath of the tragic events that had come to pass, in Ayodhya its sorrowing population questioned themselves, "Death has deprived us of Dasaratha and fate has deprived us of Rama. How can we survive the evil Kaikeyi, who has even killed her consort?" The king mourning for a son lay dead. Grieving for that king, his consorts lay stricken on the palace floor and the sun as if averse to witnessing such tragedy dipped into the western horizon letting the darkness of night invade the earth.
The chapter 67 mentions that night in Ayodhya which passed over with agony. At sunrise the Brahmins who enthrone a person as a king, assembled and requested Vasista, the family priest of Ikshvakus to select a youth to be crowned as a king of Ayodhya. They enunciated the various evil consequences of allowing the country without a king and leaving it in anarchy.
The sun finally set on an unforgettable day of untold miseries. At dawn the next day, sages of great renown, Markandeya, Moudgalya, Vamadeva, Kasyapa, Katyayana, Goutama and Jabali assembled to counsel Vasishta. They said that since Dasaratha was no more and Rama was in exile, it was imperative that one among the Ikshvakus should be proclaimed king. "Many are the maladies of a land without a ruler. In a kingdom without protection of a king, thieves and dacoits flourish. Merchants cannot conduct their business as lawlessness and fear will grip people. Where there is no wealth, the country cannot maintain an army and without soldiers anarchy will prevail. Without the presence of a king, even the god of rain will not bless that country with his cool showers and no grain will grow. The Brahmins will no longer be loaded with gifts and their chants will fall silent. The wealth of the wealthy will cause them sleepless night, as there will be no safety.
"No flowers or sweets will be offered in temples and no alms will be given. With no fear of a king to reckon with, the wicked will become more. Without the royal sword to curb their villainy, they will violate every rule fearlessly. A king who is the essence of truth and righteousness is family to those who have no family and is father and mother to those who have none. Yama judges and Kubera dispenses wealth, Indra rules, Varuna instills discipline, but a king surpasses them all, as he performs all these duties himself." The final verdict of the sages was to redeem Ayodhya from the darkness of not having a ruler by crowning an Ikshvaku as king of Kosala.
In chapter 68, with the concurrence of Markandeya and other sages, Vasistha instructs messengers to call Bharata and Satrughna back from their maternal uncle's house. The messengers leave immediately for the capital of Kekaya, riding their fast horses, cross Ganga River at Hastinapura, then Saranda River and reach Abhikala village. Then, they cross the holy river of Ikshumati and proceed through Bahlika kingdom in Sudama mountain range to Vishnupada and finally reach the city of Girivraja.
Vasishta sent for the messengers Siddhartha, Vijaya, Jambavanta, Ashoka and Nandana to bring Bharata and Satrughna from Kekaya. They were not to reveal the exile of Rama or the passing away of Dasaratha but tell Bharata that his immediate presence in Ayodhya was essential. "Take gifts of fine clothes and ornaments to the king of Kekaya and his son," he added.
Mounted on swiftfooted horses, the messengers set out on their mission travelling north of the Pralamba mountains passing Apartala along the shores of the river Malini. Coming to Hastinapura, they crossed Ganga and from there westward bound, arrived at Panchala, by way of Kurujanga after which they had to cross one more river, the Sarabanda. Many miles later they reached the mountain of Bodhibhavan and the river Ikshumati, venerated by the Ikshvaku dynasty. They passed many regions dotted with lakes, streams, step wells and limpid pools, where tigers, lions, elephants and deer roamed. Reaching the lovely city of Girivraja, though wearied, the messengers from Ayodhya galloped on with the speed of the winds. They travelled by night and by day, to reach Rajagriha by nightfall.
In chapter 69, Bharata experiences a bad dream on that very night in which the messengers entered the city of Girivraja. His friends in the palace arranged entertainment like recitation of stories, playing of musical instruments, stage plays and jokes to make him cheerful. Even then, his depression was not gone. Bharata explains in detail his unpleasant dream in its different forms to his friends.
The night that the messengers arrived from Ayodhya, Bharata had a terrible dream. As he came awake at dawn, troubled memories of that dream flooded back into his mind and a great melancholy that defied reason engulfed him. Friends of the prince tried to cheer him up, but Bharata seemed oblivious of all their efforts and their concern made him confess. "In my dream last night, I saw my father whose body was soiled and hair disheveled, as he fell from the peak of a mountain, into a pit of dung! It seemed like he was wallowing in it and drinking oil with his cupped palms. I also beheld the moon cast itself on to the earth and the oceans dry up. The universe was plunged in darkness and the elephant that carried Dasaratha had only one tusk. An eerie feeling, that a blazing fire had just been extinguished came over me. Again, I saw the king, my father, ride a chariot drawn by donkeys, robed in black, daubed with red sandal paste. Women whose skin was black and yellow derided him. To my horror I witnessed a demon clad in red, laughing loudly, beating and dragging him away".
"My night was full of inauspicious dreams. Surely Dasaratha, Rama or I will soon die. He, who is seen riding a chariot drawn by donkeys, will soon reach his funeral pyre to go up in smoke. Memories of that frightful dream make me uneasy. I suffer from the dread of the unknown, a dread that is painful and which I cannot shake off. My throat dries, my voice trembles and the feelings of premonition are unbearable. I seem to loathe myself, but I do not know the reason why!"
In chapter 70, the messengers entered the city of Rajagriha and met the king Kekeya and prince Yudhajit. They request Bharata to start for Ayodhya urgently. Bharata seeks permission from king Kekeya his maternal uncle. King Kekeya gives permission to Bharata to leave for Ayodhya and bestows him various gifts. Bharata and Satrughna along with men, elephants and horses start his journey for Ayodhya.
As Bharata was desolately recollecting his dream, the messengers from Ayodhya arrived. Presenting themselves to Bharata, they conveyed Vasishta's message. "Vasishta offers you his salutations and those of the ministers. He wishes your immediate return to Ayodhya, as an urgent matter requires your attention." Bharata enquired of the welfare of Dastaratha, Rama and Lakshmana. "How fares noble mother Kausalya?" Bharata wanted to know, "and what of Sumitra, an equally virtuous mother and that irascible, forceful and selfish lady, my mother, in awe of her own intelligence and virtue, which sets her apart".
The messengers assured Bharata that all was well and that they should think of journeying back to Ayodhya. The king of Kekaya tenderly kissed Bharata on his brow, blessed him and bade him an affectionate farewell. He also bestowed on his grandson a part of all that he possessed. He gave well-bred elephants, thoroughbred dogs, raised with care in the palace which were as ferocious as tigers. Gold nuggets, woolens, fine clothes, antelope skins along with sixteen thousand horses were added to Bharata's entourage, as also the elephants Airavata and Indrasra, which were presented by Yudhajit. Distinguished counselors were to accompany Bharata, as a mark of respect and honor. Nothing of this pomp or the generous display of his grandfather's love for him cheered Bharata nor impressed him, as he was impatient to be on his way. The inexplicable gloom that had settled on him refused to be dispelled.
In chapter 71, spending seven nights in his journey, crossing various streams and rivers and passing through many woods and territories, Bharata reaches the city of Ayodhya, from there he finds the city of Ayodhya in a forlorn mood and discusses this situation with the charioteer. With an apprehensive and gloomy mind, he enters his father's house.
Leaving Rajagriha, Bharata, traveled eastward. Crossing the river Bharata's entourage came to the river Hladini. After the river Satadru and the stream at Ailadhana they crossed the river Salyakarsana. Riding beyond mount Mahasaila, going through Chaitraratha forests, cities and villages, at the confluence of the rivers Ganga and Saraswathi, they entered the Bharunda forest. Except for stops when man or animal wearied, or they needed to replenish supplies, the royal retinue tarried nowhere. They passed through picturesque country where lush forest and majestic mountains lent their charm to the landscape. Magnificent rivers flowed with their waters shimmering as they snaked their way through mountains, plains and valleys, enhancing the beauty of their surroundings.
Bharata`s grave face with a faraway look in his eyes, did not seem to notice much, for a premonition of some great ill haunted him to distraction. Close to Ayodhya, at Ujjihanagar, Bharata ordered the fastest horses to be harnessed to his chariot and sped towards Ayodhya, like the god of the winds, passing through space. Even the horses seemed to feel the restless urgency of their master. After traveling for seven days and seven nights they reached the outer bounds of Kosala and at dawn of the eighth day, Bharata beheld the golden turrets of Ayodhya, magnificent capital of the Ikshvakus built by lord Manu.
Bharata's heart leapt with joy for a moment, at the sight of his beloved city. He said that Ayodhya, with the green of its gardens, groves, white sands, with the wealth of its knowledge and riches, was the most beautiful city rivaling Indra's Amaravati. Entering it, he was puzzled at the unusual quiet of the city and he asked his charioteer, "Charioteer, tell me why a city renowned for its wealth, learning and beauty, where Vedic priests abound, where yagnas and yagas are always performed should look so joyless. Why do I not hear the clamor of people, the wheels of their chariots or the bustle of people on the streets?The gardens are so quiet, they seem to weep, deprived of their youthful visitors. Homes look deserted and yards are unclean. The trees in the drooping gardens seem to shed tears and not leaves. I hear neither beast nor bird. The air is no longer filled with the fragrance of incense and sandal. Why do the drums not boom and why is there no music? The stillness frightens me charioteer. Is it possible that all is not well with my kinsfolk? I see many inauspicious omens and I hear the cry of foxes that bode ill."
When Bharata entered Ayodhya through its west gate Vajayantha, an eerie silence seemed to physically embrace him in a suffocating grip. His heart throbbed, legs grew weak, and his body trembled, and he stopped dead on his track. Still mounted on his wearied horse he said, "Charioteer, tell me why, without quoting the cause, you brought me here in such haste? In the days of yore when kings died many were the signs of their having passed away. I now behold those signs. The streets are empty; houses joyless and even the temples of God have lost their radiance.” Feeling the almost palpable gloom that had engulfed Ayodhya, the troubled prince, with head bowed and heart full of anguish entered the palace of his father.
This concludes chapters 66, 67, 68, 69, 70 and 71 of Ayodhya Kanda where we had seen the dejected Kausalya weeping over the king’s death and the priests looking for heir apparent to install on the royal throne. Bharatha, the son of Kaikeyi is the main choice whom they sought after as per the wish of Kaikeyi and sent messengers to bring him back. The book also details the importance of a king to a kingdom and how everything falls apart when a place lacks one. As Bharatha returns to Ayodhya, let us look in subsequent posts, how he is going to come to terms with harsh reality and preside over the throne of the kingdom in Rama’s days of exile.
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