Ayodhya Kaanda
64 - Dialogue between king Dasaratha and Kaikeyi; Dasaratha's lamentation; Sumantra goes to the palace and, returning from it, sends Sri Rama to His father
Chaupais
Description
Stricken with grief the king repeated the word 'Rama' again and again and felt miserable like a bird that has been shorn of its wings. He prayed in his heart, "May the day never dawn nor may anyone go and tell Rama. Rise not, O sun-god, the progenitor of Raghu's race; for you will be pained at heart to see the plight of Ayodhya." The king's affection and the relentlessness of Kaikeyi both were the highest of their kind in God's creation. While the king was yet wailing, the day broke and the music of lute, flute and conch was heard at his door. Bards extolled him and minstrels sang his praises; they, however, pierced the king like shafts as he heard them. These and other tokens of rejoicing pleased him not even as ornaments repel a widow who has decided to accompany her deceased husband to the other world. None could have a wink of sleep that night since everyone was eagerly longing for a sight of Sri Rama.