2.15. The unsuspecting messenger

Hari Om.

Let us begin the fifteenth sarga of the ayOdhyakAnDam with offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.

In the city of ayOdhyA much anticipated morning had dawned. The excited populace were up early, decked up their homes, squares, key public places. Festoons and decorations were everywhere. Fairs were on. Well dressed citizens moved hither and thither. Festive spirit was evident. The unsuspecting populace were blissfully unaware of what was cooking at the royal palace between the scheming mistress and the righteous king! kaikEyi had trapped king daSaratha with his own righteousness and playing her demanding role so deftly had made daSaratha realize that it was inevitable to grant her twin wishes rAma’s exile and bharata’s crowning. He fretted, pleaded, yelled, fainted, again beseeched, but all in vain. She was firm in her resolve. He was helpless, having been trapped in his own good conduct. Morning dawned and minister sumantra sensing the absence of king, used his proximity to the king to enter the inner chambers and wake up the king. The queen tells him that the king didn’t have a wink of sleep all night and asks him to fetch prince rAma at once. sumantra sets out to do so. Onwards…

It was a night long vigil making all the preparations and in excitement for the several priests, brAhmins, army chiefs, merchants and a lot of others and they waited patiently in the pavillion that was to witness the crowning of rAma as the pushya star moves on the ascendant to the conjunction of the zodiac sign of cancer. All the paraphernalia necessary for the crowning has been neatly arranged – water from several rivers, ponds, seas in golden pots, well decorated throne, well spread tiger skin, flowers like lotuses, puffed rice, milk, curds, honey, ghee, hand fan made of the fine hair of yak’s tail, golden jewels, gems, staff of shining gold studded with gems reflecting light and a glorious white parasol (umbrella) to be held above the heir apparent. Well dressed damsels took positions as did eight splendid maidens, musicians with instruments and a pack of eulogists. A majestic bull and an elephant were also in position. As the people gathered there waited on to witness the glorious crowning of rAma, they praised the ikshvAku kings and their illustrious lineage and also the tasteful arrangements and decorations all around.

However they were getting rather impatient to not find the king there even after the sun has risen and began to talk about it. Minister sumantra saw that and said that they were all dear to the king and that he shall go back and find out the welfare of the king. Saying so, sumantra, knowledgeable about the history and traditions, returned to the inaccessible inner chambers which he was privileged to enter at will, to enquire with the king and inform him of the expectant populace.

He approached the couch on which the depressed king daSaratha was present and began to sing the glory of the illustrious clan of ikshvAkus standing there.

तुष्टावास्य तदा वंशं प्रविश्य स विशांपतेः।।2.15.20।।

शयनीयं नरेन्द्रस्य तदाऽऽसाद्य व्यतिष्ठत।

The screen separated him from the king lying on the couch. From the other side of the screen he began to gracefully pronounce auspicious blessings on the king and the heir apparent, rAma. He said – “O great king, may the Sun, moon, Siva, kubEra, agni, indra and varuNa grant you victory. The night has passed and the auspicious dawn has broken. Rise and attend to your sacred duties. The priests, preceptors and chiefs are all here and desirous of your presence”.

As the articulate sumantra was so waking the king up and reminding him of the duty, the already awake king spoke from the other side – “sumantra, I am awake. I could not sleep last night. You have already been instructed by her (kaikEyi) to bring rAma here at once. Why are you disregarding the instruction”?

sumantra, at once bowed to the king and left to fetch rAma contemplating that happy happenings were to follow! Passing through the streets of ayOdhyA sumantra overheard the citizens talking about the crowning of rAma in eager anticipation. He crossed them all and reached the magnificent abode of rAma majestic as mount kailasa and imposing as the edifice of indra.

The abode of rAma sported empaneled heavy doors and a hundred balconies. Golden idols were mounted on high points while the arches were studded with pearls, gems, jewels and garlands. Decorated with idols carved out of sandalwood, it emitted sweet fragrance. With a number of peacocks and other birds chirping away happily, the magnificent abode of rAma verily looked like the edifice of indra filled with hundreds of attendants. It was an imposing edifice and everything inside was so tastefully laid out that it captured the minds of onlookers. Scores of villagers arrived there with presents to offer to rAma and catch a glimpse of him.

The minister and loyal charioteer of king daSaratha sumantra approached that wonderful edifice of rAma thrilling people all around. He entered the abode and beheld the captivating beauty of the edifice that rAma so richly deserved. Being the loyal minister and well wisher he had direct entry into the inner chambers and so he crossed the various compartments and met many of the well wishers of rAma on the way and entered the inner chambers. He beheld many citizens waiting there with folded palms and presents to have one glimpse of rAma. They all spoke happily about the great future with rAma as their ruler and his well being. Other eminent adminitrators had already arrived there and were attentively sitting on horsebacks. He saw the mighty and majestic elephant Satrunjaya on which rAma was to mount and proceed to the crowning ceremony.

Passing through the bristling surroundings and making his way to rAma, sumantra entered the inner chambers of rAma as effortlessly as the crocodile enters the gem-filled ocean.