Ayodhya Kaanda
83 - Dialogue between king Dasaratha and Sumantra, Dasaratha's passing away
Chaupais
Description
It was King Dasaratha who reaped the reward both of his life and death. His untarnished fame spread through a number of universes; as long as he lived he gazed on Sri Rama's moonlike countenance and brought glory to his death by making the separation from Sri Rama his excuse for it. Stricken with grief all the queens wept and praised his comeliness of form, amiable manners, bodily might and majesty. They lamented in a variety of ways throwing themselves upon the ground again and again. Men-servants and maid-servants alike wailed in anguish and there was weeping in every house throughout the city. "Today has set the sun of the solar race the perfection of righteousness, the repository of beauty and virtues." Everyone abused Kaikeyi, who had robbed the world of its very eyes. In this way they wailed till the close of night, when all the great and enlightened hermits arrived.