Ayodhya Kaanda
100 - Dialogue between Sri Rama, Bharata and others
Chaupais
Description
On hearing of the demise of King Dasaratha (the lord of Ayodhya) the people of Janakapura were all mad with grief. No one who saw King Videha at that time took his name (Videha) to have any truth behind it. When the king heard of Queen Kaikeyi's wickedness, he was as nonplussed as a serpent without its gem. Prince Bharata crowned king and the Chief of Raghus, Sri Rama, exiled into the woods! The news caused deep agony to the heart of Mithila's lord! The king called together a council of wise men and minister and said, "Tell me after careful deliberation what ought to be done now." But realizing the conditions at Ayodhya and the difficulty in either case nobody gave any definite opinion whether he should go or stay at home. The king now collected himself and after calm reflection despatched four clever spies to Ayodhya with the following instructions: 'Ascertain whether Bharata means well or ill and come back at once without being recognized.'