Then that descendant of Ikshwaku afflicted because of his promise,
sighing and his heart filled with the vapour begot of sorrow, again
addressed Sumantra, saying,--"O charioteer, do you speedily marshall the
army consisting of the four kinds of forces for following Raghava. And
let sweet- speeched courtezans and opulent traders grace the extensive
army of the prince. And, giving them immense wealth, do you also send
with him those that depend on Rama, as well as those with whom he
delights to wrestle. And let the foremost weapons, and the citizens, and
cars, and fowlers well acquainted with the forest go in the wake of
Kakutstha. Killing deer and elephants, and drinking wild honey, and
beholding various rivers, they will ultimately forget this kingdom. And
let our granary and treasury follow Rama who is to reside in the forest.
Performing sacrifices at holy spots, and dispensing the prescribed
_Dakshinas_, let Rama happily reside in the forest in the company of
saints. The mighty- armed Bharata will govern Ayodhya. Therefore, do you
furnish the auspicious Rama with every object of enjoyment." When that
descendant of Kakutstha said this, Kaikeyi was inspired with
apprehension: her countenance became blank, and her utterance was
choked. Losing her complexion and agitated with fear, with her
countenance fallen, Kaikeyi faced the king and said,--"O righteous one,
like unto a liquor whose lees alone have been left, Bharata will not
receive the kingdom tasteless and denuded of all substance." While the
shameless Kaikeyi was speaking thus sternly, king Dacaratha said unto
that one of expansive eyes,--"O worker of mischief, why having laid the
load upon me, do you torment me? O ignoble one, why did you not ask for
this, when you did first solicit the boon?" Hearing these wrathful words
of the king, that beauteous one, Kaikeyi, waxing doubly wroth, addressed
the monarch, saying,--"Even in this line of yours, Sagara deprived his
eldest son Asamanja by name of the enjoyment of the kingdom. In this way
this one deserves to go to the forest." Thus addressed, king Dacaratha
said,--"O fie!" and all present were afflicted with shame; but Kaikeyi
feigned not to understand all this. Then a notable, aged, pure-spirited
personage held in high esteem by the monarch, named Siddhartha,
addressed Kaikeyi, saying,--"Asamanja by way of sport catching people on
the way, used to throw them into the waters of the Sarayu, and that
wicked-minded wretch made merry over the same. Seeing him do so, the
citizens in a body, waxing wroth spoke unto the monarch,--'O enhancer of
the kingdom's prosperity, do you either banish Asamanja or us.' To them
he replied,--'Whence is this fear of yours?' Thus asked by the monarch,
the subjects said,--'Through his impudence this one of perverted sense
by way of diversion throwing our sons into the Sarayu, finds extreme
delight.' Hearing these words of his subjects, that lord of men, with
the intention of doing good to them, forsook that mischievous son of
his. Then swiftly causing a car to be yoked, he said unto his men,--This
one is to be banished for life in proper garb along with his wife.'
Thereupon that worker of iniquity went to the forest and went about
seeing mountain fastnesses. Thus did the virtuous king Sagara renounce
his son. But what offence has Rama committed that he is to be banished?
We do not find any fault whatever in Raghava. Rare is his fault even
like the spot on the Moon. Or it may be, O exalted lady, that you
perceive some fault in Raghava,--Do you, if so, unfold it; and then let
Rama be banished. But the renunciation of the honest ever constant in a
righteous course, in consequence of its being opposed to virtue,
destroys the splendour of Sakra himself. Therefore, O noble one, cease
to persevere in this, for what good would the marring of Rama's good
fortune bring you? And, O you of a fair countenace, you will by such a
course escape odium." Hearing Siddhartha' s words, the king, his voice
waxing exceedingly feeble, addressed Kaikeyi in words surcharged with
emotion,--"O Personation of sin, thou relishest not this speech. Thou
knowest not either thy own good or mine. This wicked endeavour of thine,
O thou that strivest after harm, which thou puttest forth adopting a
narrow path, is surely divorced from the course of the good. Forsaking
my kingdom, forsaking happiness and treasures, I will to-day follow
Rama. Do thou with Bharata for the king forever enjoy dominion according
to thy heart's desire,"