Dasharatha Dies, Kingdom in Turmoil
Ayodhyakanda - Sarga 65
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Ayodhyakanda - Sarga 65
Discover the tragic moment of King Dasharatha's death, as Queens Kausalya and Sumitra awaken to grief. Witness the palace of Kosala descend into chaos and mourning.
As the night passed and dawn broke on the following day, the royal palace came alive with its usual morning rituals. Unaware of King Dasharatha's passing, various groups arrived early in the morning to pay their respects:
Highly skilled bards and genealogists
Singers well-versed in musical arts
Panegyrists (professional praise-givers)
These individuals reached the palace one after another, each prepared to eulogize the king's glory. They began reciting their praises audibly, their voices carrying through the royal chambers.
Their songs of praise and benedictions, uttered in high pitch, echoed throughout the entire palace. While the bards sang, others rhythmically clapped their hands, reciting tales of Dasharatha's wonderful deeds.
The commotion stirred the palace birds from their slumber:
Those perched on branches
Those housed in cages
Their chirping added to the growing chorus of sounds filling the royal residence.
The palace resonated with a symphony of:
Sacred chants
Notes from the veena (a stringed instrument)
Metrical hymns
Benedictory verses
As was customary, a group gathered to serve the king:
Men observing purificatory practices
Women and eunuchs skilled in royal service
Bath attendants arrived with golden vessels containing water mixed with yellow sandal paste, prepared according to tradition and brought at the appropriate time.
Young maidens brought various items for the king's bath:
Auspicious unguents
Articles to please the senses
Accessories necessary for the bathing ritual
All the items brought for King Dasharatha's bath were of excellent quality, adhering to tradition, and considered auspicious. Everything was presentable and prepared as per custom, exuding an air of excellence and auspiciousness.
As the sun began to rise, a sense of unease spread through the palace. The attendants, who had enthusiastically prepared for the king's morning rituals, grew increasingly anxious:
They waited until sunrise, filled with anticipation
An atmosphere of suspense and worry pervaded
They began to suspect that something was amiss
The normally punctual monarch's absence left them wondering and concerned about what might have happened.
The women responsible for attending to the king's bedchamber decided to investigate. These attendants, who had unrestricted access to the royal sleeping quarters, approached cautiously to wake the king. Despite their gentle efforts, including touching the king's bed, they received no response from Dasharatha.
These women, well-versed in the sleeping habits of the royal household, began to tremble as a terrible suspicion took hold. They stood still, like reeds bending against a strong current, as the gravity of the situation dawned on them.
Upon closer inspection, their worst fears were confirmed. King Dasharatha, the beloved ruler of Kosala (an ancient Indian kingdom), had passed away in his sleep. The realization sent shockwaves through the inner chambers of the palace.
Beside the king lay his two queens, Kausalya and Sumitra. Both were still deep in slumber, overwhelmed by grief over the exile of their sons. In their sorrow-induced sleep, they appeared almost lifeless themselves:
Kausalya lay motionless, her appearance marked by:
A dull and pallid complexion
A body sunken and limbs contracted from sorrow
A lustreless appearance, like a star enveloped in darkness
Sumitra, lying next to her, showed similar signs of distress:
Bereft of her usual glow
Face tear-stained and drooping with sorrow
The women of the inner apartment, upon seeing this heart-wrenching scene, realized that their beloved king had indeed breathed his last. The shock of this discovery was too much to bear, and they began to wail loudly in their distress.
Their cries of anguish echoed through the palace halls:
Their lamentations were like those of female elephants in a forest, crying out for their fallen leader. The women held up their arms in grief, their wails filling the air.
The sound of their grief was so powerful that it finally roused Kausalya and Sumitra from their deep, sorrow-induced sleep. The two queens, startled awake by the commotion, were about to face the harsh reality of their new, tragic circumstances.
The heart-wrenching cries of the palace women, known for their proficiency in learning and royal duties, finally roused Kausalya and Sumitra from their deep slumber.
The two queens, their senses suddenly alert, found themselves thrust into a nightmarish reality:
They awoke abruptly to the sound of wailing
They saw King Dasharatha's motionless form and reached out to touch him
Confirming their worst fears, they cried out in anguish, "Oh, my lord!"
Overwhelmed by grief, both queens collapsed to the ground
Kausalya, daughter of the lord of Kosala (and thus a princess in her own right), was particularly affected:
She writhed on the ground, covered in dust Her radiance dimmed, like a star fallen from the sky
The scene in the palace was one of utter despair:
All the women gazed at Kausalya, fallen and lifeless as a slain elephant
Kaikeyi (King Dasharatha's youngest wife) and the other queens joined in the lamentation
They wept bitterly, overwhelmed by sorrow
Many lost consciousness and fell to the ground
Their combined wails grew increasingly loud, reverberating throughout the palace
As the news spread, the entire kingdom plunged into chaos.
The king's demise transformed the once-joyous palace into a scene of utter turmoil:
The royal residence now presented a picture of complete disarray:
Anxious people thronged the halls, bewildered and frightened
Tumultuous cries of agony echoed from every corner
The royal family struggled under the weight of unbearable grief
All happiness vanished instantly, replaced by misery and sorrow
As the reality of King Dasharatha's passing sank in, his wives gathered for a final, heartrending farewell:
They surrounded their illustrious husband's body
Bitter weeping and intense sorrow overcame them
They raised their arms in despair, their laments filling the air
In their grief, they cried out like orphans, feeling utterly bereft
Their mournful cries echoed through the palace, a testament to their loss
This concludes the Sixty fifth chapter (sarga) of Ayodhyakanda, the second book of the Ramayana, the great epic composed by the sage Valmiki.