Then that sinful woman, seeing the descendant of Ikshwaku distressed on
account of his son, and deprived of conciousness, and lying inert on the
ground, spoke unto him, saying,--"Having promised to grant me the boon,
how distressed dost thou lie on the ground, as if thou didst commit some
sin? It behoveth thee to keep untainted thy dignity by performing what
thou hast promised. Truth, say persons cognizant of it, is the prime
virtue. And it is in the interests of virtue, that I have been exhorting
thee. Having promised his own person unto the hawk, that lord of earth,
Saivya, having granted the same unto the bird, went the excellent way.
In the same manner, Alarka, being asked, plucked out his eyes readily
and bestowed them on a certain Brahmana versed in the Vedas. And the
lord of rivers, having promised, even on occasions of Parvas, does not
pass over his bounds for the sake of truth. The one syllable (_Onkar_)
signifying Brahma. is the truth itself, In truth is established
righteousness. Truth is the undecaying Vedas, and through truth people
attain the foremost state. If thy mind is established in virtue, do thou
then follow truth. Since, O excellent one, thou hast promised the boon,
let that boon bear fruit. Do thou, incited by me with the view of
maintaining virtue, banish Rama. Thrice, do I tell thee. If thou dost
not fulfil this noble vow, O worshipful Lord, thou hast made unto me,
forsaken by thee will I even in thy very presence renounce my life."
Thus fearlessly urged by Kaikeyi, the king could not take off from
himself the noose (of promise), even as Bali could not take off the
noose that had been fixed upon him (by _Upendra_) at the instance of
Indra. Thereupon, the king looked blank, and his heart became agitated,
like unto a beast of burden moving tortuously when placed within the
yoke and wheels. Then calming himself with a great effort, the king, as
if not seeing Kaikeyi, with his haggard eyes, addressed her, saying,--"I
do here, wicked wretch, renounce that hand of thine which I had held
with _mantras_ before the sacrificial fire, and I do also renounce along
with thee own-begotten[116] thy son Bharata. O exalted one, the night
has departed; and as soon as the Sun rises, the superiors will surely
urge me for installing Rama with the provisions that have been procured
for the purpose. But if, O thou of auspicious ways, hinderest the
installation of Rama, Rama will perform my funeral obsequies, when I am
dead,--and not thou accompanied by thy son shalt perform the same. That
countenance of Rama which I have once seen expanded in delight, I shall
never be able to behold bereft of joy and cheerfulness, and down, with
melancholy clouding it."
As the high-souled ruler of earth was speaking thus unto her, the night
engarlanded with the moon and stars was succeeded by the morning. Then
Kaikeyi of vile ways versed in speech, rendered senseless by wrath,
again addressed the monarch in harsh language, saying,--"What words, O
king, dost thou say, comparable unto poison or painful indispositions.
It behoveth thee to summon hither thy son, the energetic Rama. Having
established my son in the kingdom, and rendered Rama a ranger of the
woods and made myself rid of rivals, I shall attain my end." Thus urged
by Kaikeyi, the king like unto an excellent steed stung by a sharp goad,
again spoke unto her,--"I have been bound fast by the ties of
virtue,--therefore have I lost my senses. I now only wish to behold my
beloved eldest son-- the righteous Rama."
Then when the night had gone by and day broke and the Sun arose, and
when the sacred astral hour had arrived, Vasishtha endowed with many
virtues, surrounded by his disciples and furnished with the provisions,
entered that foremost of cities, whose streets had been swept and
watered and which had been decorated with streamers, and which was
filled with people rejoicing, and whose stalls overflowed with articles,
and which resounded with the noise of festivity, and which was populous
with folks eager for the installation of Raghava, and which was every
where scented with sandal and _dhupa_ and _aguru_. Having entered the
city, like unto the metropolis of Purandara himself, he saw the graceful
inner apartment decked with innumerable standards, and which was
thronged with citizens and the inhabitants of the provinces, and graced
with Brahmanas cognizant of sacrifices, and crowded with highly
worshipful assistants at sacrifice, entered the inner apartment and
passed by that press. Vasishtha exceedingly delighted, surrounded by
great saints, saw at the gate of the charioteer of that great one,--who
at the same time was his counseller of gracious looks. Therefore the
highly energetic Vasishtha said unto the skilful son of the
charioteer,--"Do thou speedily acquaint the mighty monarch that I have
come. Here are golden vessels filled with water from the Ganga and the
ocean; and for the installation, an excellent _udumvara_ seat, and all
kinds of seeds, and scents and various gems, and honey, and curds and
clarified butter and fried paddy, and milk, and sacrificial grass,
flowers and milk, and eight good-looking maids, and an excellent mad
elephant, a car yoked with four horses, and a sword, and an elegant bow,
and a carriage containing men, and an umbrella like unto the moon, and
two white chowries, and a golden vase, and a pale-colored bull tethered
with a golden chain and bearing a hump adorned with ornaments, and a
mighty lion--the best of his race--furnished with four teeth, and a
throne, and a tiger-skin, and sacrificial fuel, and fire, and all kinds
of musical instruments, and courtezans decked out with ornaments, and
preceptors and Brahmanas, and cows, and various kinds of pure animals
and birds--have been brought. The foremost citizens and inhabitants of
the provinces and the merchants with their retinue,--all these and
others, with hearts filled with joy, and mouth speaking pleasant words,
stay with the sovereigns to witness the installation of Rama. Do thou
urge expedition upon the mighty monarch, so that this day under the
influence of the Pushya star Rama may obtain the kingdom."
Hearing these words of his, the charioteer's son possessed of mighty
strength, eulogizing that powerful monarch, entered his quarters. And
advanced in years, he had before this been granted free access
everywhere,--so that the warders, loved of the king and seeking his
good, could not prevent his entrance. Not knowing the plight that had
befallen the king, Sumantra presenting himself before him, endeavoured
to gladden the latter with pleasing speech. And having entered the
apartment of the king, the charioteer Sumantra with clasped hands,
pleasing the monarch as he proceeded, said,--"Do thou please us
delightedly and with a glad heart, even as the strong ocean pleases
people at the rising of the sun. The charioteer Matuli used to hymn
India at this season, and (encouraged by that eulogy) he conquered the
Danavas. Even so do I hymn thee. And even as the Vedas with the Angas
and other lore indoctrinate the self-create lord Brahma, so do I
enlighten thee. As the tan in company with the moon enlightens the fair
earth containing creatures, so do I to-day enlighten thee. Arise, O
foremost of monarchs, clad in excellent attire and decked with
ornaments, like unto the sun issuing from the (mount) Meru. All the
articles necessary for the installation of Rama are ready. And the
citizens and the inhabitants of the provinces and the merchants stay
with clasped hands. And the worshipful Vasishtha stays with the
Brahmanas. Do thou, O king, immediately order the installation of Rama.
Like unto catties without their keeper, like unto an army without its
commander, like unto a night without the moon, like unto kines without
their bull, is a kingdom without a king."
Hearing these words of Sumantra, bland and appropriate, the lord of
earth was afresh overwhelmed with grief. Then the graceful and virtuous
king, waxing disconsolate, on account of his son, and with his eyes
reddened with the effect of grief, seeing the charioteer, said,--"This
eulogy of thine pains me the more."
Hearing those sorrowful words and finding the lord of earth aggrieved
thus, Sumantra with clasped hands went off a little. Seeing, the king
utterly incapable of speaking any thing personally owing to his heavy
sorrow, Kaikeyi, the best counsellor in matters like these, addressed
Sumantra with the following words :--"Sumantra, being elated with joy on
account of Rama's installation, the king has kept up the whole night,
and being tired therefore, is overpowered with sleep. Go ye therefore
speedily, O charioteer, and bring Rama here, the praiseworthy son of
king. This will do you good-- do not hesitate in this. "How can I go,"
replied Sumantra, "without the permission of the king?"
Hearing these words of the counsellor, the king spoke to him "Sumantra,
bring the beautiful Rama here--I want to see him." Thinking that some
good would accrue to Rama, he was pleased at heart and away he went
speedily delighted at the royal mandate. Being asked again by Kaikeyi to
hurry on at the time of departure Sumantra thought within himself--
"Evident it is that the Queen has become impatient to sea Rama's
installation and hence is the hurry--and the king will now take rest."
Thinking this the energetic charioteer with great delight, intent on
seeing Rama, issued out of the city like a lake near the ocean. Having
come out of the presence of the king suddenly, he saw the warders,
various citizens and great personages sitting at the gate.
[116] This is a new coinage rendered necessary for the exegencies of
translation. If 'first-born' is justifiable, 'own-begotten,' is
also such.-- T.