11. TWO PROMISES REVIVED (Part - 2)

When Rama presented himself, Dasaratha seated him

and said, "You may be surprised at being called again. I am

seized with anxiety that you should be crowned without any

delay. I have premonitions which are frightening. I dream of

comets, hear foul screeches from nowhere. I am told that my

stars are not in a happy conjunction now. I dreamt that my

star of nativity had crashed and was on fire. For one's

proper birth, one owes a debt to the benediction of immortal

sages, to one's ancestors, and to the gods; these three

debts have to be discharged fully within the allotted span of

one's life. I have no doubt that I have paid my debts fully by

now. I have enjoyed my life, I have ruled as King with

unquestioned authority and earned the love and confidence

of my subjects. There is nothing left for me to do. I have

grown old, my physical body is ready for dissolution… ."

He had said these things before and was now repeating

himself. Rama understood that there must be some deep

agitation within him. But out of respect and graciousness, heagitation within him. But out of respect and graciousness, he

listened to it all again as if for the first time. "My stars, Mars

and Jupiter, are aspecting the same house, so say my

astrologers, which means death or near death or some

catastrophe. And so I want to impress on you the urgency of

the matter. Tomorrow's star will be Pushya, and the

ceremony must be gone through, without doubts or

impediments. Do not think for a moment that anything is

postponable. Nothing should be put off, for we cannot say

how fickle the human mind is, and what changes will occur

therein… . And so what is important is that we should go

through the ceremonies without hesitation. I want you to be

very careful tonight, until the ceremony is over. Do not come

out without your bodyguard, and observe all the austerities

and vows to the last letter. Sita and yourself should have

ritual baths and avoid your bed and sleep lightly on a mat of

dharbha grass… . The ceremonies will begin at dawn. Be

ready, and see that your robes are ready. You must fast

tonight. Caution Sita not to delay. In a ceremonial, the wife's

presence and timely participation are of the utmost importance… ."

Rama listened, promising to carry out every word of his

instructions faithfully. Finally Dasaratha explained, "It is best

to complete all this while Bharatha is away at his

grandfather's place. It is good that he is away. I know his

devotion to you, but the human mind, you know, can be

fickle… . He may question why he should not have been the

king … after all. But if he learns of it as an accomplished fact, I do not doubt that he will be extremely happy."

His father's deviousness was rather startling, but if he noticed it, Rama did not show it.

This worry at the back of Dasaratha's mind about

Bharatha's claim turned out to be a valid one. Though

Bharatha was away, his cause and claim were espoused by

his mother Kaikeyi so energetically that it brought on

disaster and changed the whole course of events in Rama's

life. It came about thus. Kooni, a freak and hunchback (and

nicknamed thus on account of her deformity), was the

favourite of the King's favourite wife, Kaikeyi. On this

particular day she climbed to the top terrace of Kaikeyi's

mansion to view the city, and noticed the festoons and lights,

and asked herself, "What are they celebrating today?"

When she went down, inquired, and found out the cause of

the celebrations, she became excited, bit her lips, and

muttered, "I will stop it." She hurried to Kaikeyi's chamber

and shouted at her mistress, who was resting, "Is this the

time to sleep? Wake up before you are ruined." Kaikeyi

opened her eyes and cried, "You! Where have you been?

What is troubling you?"

"Your impending fate," replied Kooni.

Kaikeyi was curious, but still without rising she said,

"Kooni, something seems to be the matter with your health.

Won't you call the physician and see that he sets you right?"

She laughed and said, "Now calm down, sit near me, and sing me a song."

Kooni said sharply, "Do you know that beauty and youth

are your only source of strength? And you owe your position

as the queen of a world conqueror to your beauty?"

"Do I?" asked Kaikeyi, still in a playful mood.

"But both beauty and youth are like a wild stream, which,

while rushing down the mountainside, crushing flowers and

leaves, holds you in a spell. But how long does it last? Very

soon it passes, and in its place you have only the sandy

bed… . It's only a question of time. When you are old and the

cheeks sag, you will be a nobody, pushed aside with the

back of your lover's hand. You will be at other people's mercy."

"Bring that mirror, let me see why you speak thus. Have I

grown old today?" And she laughed.

"Not old, but smug, and running into danger. Doom hangs

over your head."

Now Kaikeyi felt disturbed. "If you cannot talk plainly, go

away; and come later. You are somehow bent upon irritating

me today."

"Don't waste your youth and beauty, which hold your

husband in a spell. Before that's lost, get your husband to

help you and save yourself. Get up and act before it's too

late." Kaikeyi now sat up anxiously. Satisfied with the effect

of her remarks, Kooni declared, "The King has cheated you.Tomorrow he is crowning Rama as the King of Ayodhya and retiring."

Kaikeyi got up, exclaiming, "Wonderful! Wonderful! Here

is your reward for the good news you bear." She took off her

necklace and threw it on Kooni's lap. Kooni received it and

laid it aside. Now Kaikeyi said, "For the excellence of your

news you deserve more. Tell me what you wish and you shall

have it." This really provoked Kooni to cry out, "I said Rama

is becoming the king of Ayodhya, and you behave as if I had

said your son Bharatha …"