14. TWO PROMISES REVIVED (Part - 5)

The night spent itself in dead silence. Kaikeyi stayed

where she was on the floor; the King lay on the couch. No

one interrupted them. It was customary not to disturb when

the King was with one of his wives. Even servants kept

themselves out. For all that, it was inevitable that the King

should be sought out sooner or later. There were many

matters on which he had to be consulted. His chief minister

was at his wit's end. "Where is the King? Where is the

King?" was the constant question.

The assembly hall was growing crowded with distinguished guests and the public who thronged in to watch the coronation. Rama, clad in simple silk robes after several

ritual baths and purification ceremonies ordained by the

chief priest, was also ready, waiting for the ceremonial

dress. A little before the dawn, the holy fire was lit in which

offerings were to be placed to please the gods in heaven.

The priestly groups were already chanting the sacred

mantras in unison. Music from many sources filled the air.

The babble of the crowd was continuous. But in the inner ring

where the chief minister and other immediate executives

were assembled, there was concern. "The King should have

arrived by now. He must initiate the rites; he has to receive

the rulers who will soon be arriving… ." The chief minister,

Sumanthra, got up to find out the reason for the delay. Things

had to go according to a time-table in every detail so as to

synchronize with the auspicious movement of the stars. And

any single item delayed would throw the entire ceremony out

of gear. Sumanthra left the assembly hall and went in search

of the King. He hesitated for a moment at the door of the

kopa gruha, but parted the curtains, opened the door, and

entered. The sight before him, naturally, startled him. "Is His

Majesty unwell?" asked the minister. "Asks him yourself,"

replied Kaikeyi.

"Are you also unwell? Has some food disagreed with you

both?" asked the minister anxiously. The queen gave him no

answer. The minister softly approached the couch and

whispered, "They are waiting for you. Are you ready to come to the assembly?" The King stirred lightly and said, "Tell

them all to go back. It's all over. I have been trapped by a

demon." Kaikeyi now interposed to explain: "The King has

strained himself and has become incoherent. Go and send

Rama."

Rama arrived, expecting his stepmother to bless him

before the ceremonies. At the sight of him Dasaratha cried

out: "Rama!" and lapsed into speechlessness. His

appearance and behavior made Rama anxious. "Have I

done something to upset him? Any lapse in my duties or

performance?"

Kaikeyi said, "I'll speak on his behalf; he finds it difficult to

say it. Your coronation will not take place today." And then

she specified in unambiguous terms what she expected of

him. She told all about the original vow and the

circumstances that led to it. "It is your duty to help your father

fulfill his promise. Otherwise he will be damning himself in

this and other worlds. You owe him a duty as his son."

Rama took in the shock, absorbed it within himself, and

said, "I will carry out his wishes without question. Mother, be

assured that I will not shirk. I have no interest in kingship, and

no attachments to such offices, and no aversion to a forest

existence."

"Fourteen years," she reminded him.

"Yes, fourteen years. My only regret is that I have not been

told this by my father himself. I would have felt honored if he told this by my father himself. I would have felt honored if he

had commanded me directly."

"Never mind, you can still please him by your action. Now

leave at once, and he will feel happy that you have acted

without embarrassing him."

"I want you to assure him that I am not in the least pained

by this order. I will take your word as his." He saw his father's

plight and moved closer.

Kaikeyi said, "I will attend to him. Don't waste your time.

You must leave without delay. That's his wish."

"Yes, yes, I'll do so. I will send a messenger to fetch

Bharatha without any delay."

"No, no," said Kaikeyi. "Do not concern yourself with

Bharatha. I'll arrange everything. You make haste to depart

first." She knew Bharatha's devotion to Rama and, uncertain

as to how he would react, preferred to have Rama well out of

the way before Bharatha should arrive. "I'll take leave of my

mother, Kausalya, and leave at once," said Rama. He threw

another look at his speechless father and left.

When Rama emerged from Dasaratha's palace, a crowd

was waiting to follow him to the assembly hall. Looking at his

face, they found no difference on it, but instead of ascending

the chariot waiting for him, he set out on foot in the direction

of his mother's palace. They followed him.

Rama went up to his mother, Kausalya. She was weak

with her fasts and austerities undertaken for the welfare of her son. She had been expecting him to arrive in full regalia

but noted the ordinary silks which he wore and asked, "Why

are you not dressed yet for the coronation?"

"My father has decided to crown Bharatha as the King,"

Rama said simply.

"Oh, no! But why?"

Rama said, "For my own good, my father has another

command; it is for my progress and spiritual welfare."

"What is it? What can it be?"

"Only that for twice seven years, he wants me to go away

and dwell in the forests, in the company of saints, and derive

all the benefit therefrom."

Kausalya broke down and sobbed. She wrung her hands,

she felt faint in the depth of her bowels, sighed, started out to

say things but swallowed back her words. She said bitterly,

"What a grand command from a father to a son!" She asked,

"When do you have to go? What offense have you

committed?"

Rama lifted his mother with his hands and said, "My

father's name is renowned for the steadfastness of his

words. Would you rather that he spoke false? … I am thrice

blessed, to make my brother the King, to carry out my

father's command, and to live in the forests. Do not let your

heart grieve."

"I cannot say, 'Disobey your father,' only let me go with you. I cannot live without you."