Rama saw his father, seated on a beautiful sofa with Kaikeyi, looking
sorry and poorly and with his countenance dried up. And humbly bowing
down at the feet of his father first, he saluted Kaikeyi with due
solemnity. Uttering the word "Rama" only, the poor king with his eyes
full of tears could not eye him nor could he speak to him. Seeing this
unforeseen and terrible appearance of the king, like unto a serpent
trampled under foot, Rama was exceedingly terrified. He was dejected and
pulled down much with sorrow and penitence. He was sighing hot and hard
and his heart was greatly pained. His heart was troubled like the wavy
ocean agitating though incapable of agitation,and clouded like the Sun
possessed by Rahu, and (that of) an ascetic speaking falsehood. Thinking
of this unthought of sorrow of the king he became agitated like unto the
ocean during the course of the full-moon. And clever Rama, intent on bis
father's welfare, thought within himself:--"Why does not the king
display joy on my arrival to-day? Angry though, he used to express joy
whenever he saw me; then why does his sorrow prevail even seeing me
to-day?" Being pressed with sorrow, Rama of pale countenance, like one
miserable, saluting Kaikeyi, spoke unto her the following words. "Is it
not that I committed some offence through ignorance that I see my father
angry? Do thou propitiate him therefore. Why is his mind so aggrieved
who was so kind to me, and why does he look poorly and of pale
countenance who used to welcome me always with kind words? Is he subject
to any physical or mental disturbance? Oh! happiness uninterrupted is
very dear. Has any evil befallen the good-looking Bharata or high souled
Satrughana? Is it not all well with my mothers? Dissatisfying the king,
disregarding his words and offending him, I do not want to breathe for a
single moment. How can a man disregard him who is god himself seen and
felt, and who is looked upon as a cause from whom he has sprung. Oh
mother, hast thou spoken any harsh word to my father either through
anger or through haughtiness for which his mind is thus pulled down? Oh
worshipful one, tell me all this, who am exceedingly anxious to get at
the real truth. Why has this unforeseen sorrow overtaken the heart of
the lord of men?"
Being thus addressed by the high-souled Raghava, that exceedingly
shameless Kaikeyi spoke unto him the following impudent words, fraught
with her self-interest. "Oh Rama, the monarch is not angry nor has any
danger befallen him. He has got something in his mind which he cannot
speak out through thy fear. Thou art his most beloved son and word does
not proceed from his mouth to speak thee things unpleasant. But it
behoveth thee to carry out what the monarch has promised unto me.
Formerly regarding me very highly he conferred on me two boons and he
now repents for that like a common person. Promising 'I give thee' the
lord of earth granted me these boons; in vain he wishes to set up a dyke
when all the water has passed away. Oh Rama, it is known to thee that
truth is the root of all religion and may he not renounce that for thee,
being angry with me. If do thou carry out all that the king will speak
to thee, good or evil, then I shall relate unto thee every thing. If
what I, with the king's permission, speak to thee, does not go useless,
I shall speak unto the all; thee king will not speak any thing."
Hearing these words uttered by Kaikeyi, Rama, pained at heart, spoke
unto her in the presence of the king in the following way:--"Oh! shame
to me. May it not please thee, Oh worshipful lady, to speak such words
to me. I can at the king's words jump into the fire. Being ordered by
him, who is my father and who is my king especially, I can drink
virulent poison and drown into the ocean. Speak thou, Oh worshipful
lady, what is the desire of thy king, and know that I shall carry it
out--Rama does not contradict what he has once spoken." Then that wicked
Kaikeyi spoke these highly cruel words unto Rama, simple and truthful.
"Formerly in a great war between the gods and Asuras, thy father, being
wounded with shafts was tended by me for which he conferred upon me two
boons. Of these two boons I have asked of the king the installation of
Bharata, and the departure of Raghava into the Dandaka forest even this
very day. Oh thou, best among men, if do thou wish to keep thy father's
vows as well as thine, hear what I say. Thy father is bound unto me by
promise, obeying therefore thy father's mandate, do thou repair unto the
forest for nine years and five. Bharata shall be installed, Oh Raghava,
by all those articles which have been brought by the monarch for thy
installation. Forsaking this installation, do thou repair unto Dandaka
forest for seven and seven years and wear bark and matted hair. And here
in this Kocala let Bharata govern the world, adorned with many pearls
and diamonds, with elephants, horses and chariots. The king, filled with
pity and having his face marked with the affliction of sorrow, cannot
cast a glance upon thee. Oh thou descendant of Raghu, do thou carry out
these words of the Lord of men and save him by redeeming these great
vows of his." Hearing these cruel words of her, Rama was not grieved;
but the generous king afflicted with the thought of the approaching
separation with his son, was greatly pained.