Ayodhya Mourns Its Fallen King
Ayodhyakanda - Sarga 66
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Ayodhyakanda - Sarga 66
Witness the profound grief in Ayodhya as King Dasharatha passes. Kausalya's lament, the city's sorrow, and the absence of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana unfold in this poignant Ramayana chapter.
Kausalya, her eyes brimming with tears and her body weakened by sorrow, gazed upon the lifeless form of King Dasharatha. The once-mighty ruler now lay:
Extinguished, like a fire without flame
Empty, like an ocean drained of water
Dim, like the sun robbed of its radiance
Cradling the king's head in her lap, Kausalya turned to Kaikeyi and spoke.
With bitterness in her voice, Kausalya addressed Kaikeyi:
"O cruel and wicked Kaikeyi, may your desires be fulfilled. Enjoy your uncontested rule of the kingdom, for you have cast aside the king to achieve your single-minded goal."
Kausalya continued, her grief palpable:
"Rama has abandoned me, and my lord has departed for heaven. I am like a traveler lost on a treacherous path, without companions. How can I wish to live?"
She then posed a rhetorical question:
"What woman, other than the unprincipled Kaikeyi, would choose to live after abandoning her husband, who is like a god to her?"
Kausalya's words then turned to the destructive nature of greed and its far-reaching consequences.
She reflected:
"A greedy person, like one eating the poisonous kimpaka fruit, doesn't realize the harm until it's too late. Kaikeyi, influenced by the hunchback (Manthara), has destroyed the Raghu dynasty (the royal lineage of King Dasharatha)."
Kausalya then empathized with King Janaka's impending sorrow:
"When Janaka hears that Rama and Sita have been exiled by the king's unworthy command, he will suffer as deeply as I do now."
Kausalya's thoughts turned to her son and daughter-in-law:
"My virtuous Rama, with eyes like lotus petals, has left this place. He doesn't know that I am now a widow without protection."
She worried about Sita's well-being in the forest:
"Sita, daughter of the Videha king, unaccustomed to hardship, will face great sorrow in the wilderness."
Kausalya imagined Sita's fear in the forest:
"When Sita hears the terrifying night cries of wild animals and birds, she will surely be frightened and seek refuge with Rama."
Kausalya continued to express her concerns about King Janaka:
"Old and without other children, Janaka will be consumed by sorrow. Constantly thinking of Sita, he will surely give up his life."
Then, overwhelmed by her own anguish, Kausalya declared her intention:
"As for me, a devoted wife, I shall embrace death today. I will clasp this body and enter the fire, following our ancient tradition."
The scene in the palace was one of heart-wrenching sorrow:
Maidservants embraced the wailing Kausalya
They gently led her away, deeply distressed
Ministers reverently placed the king's body in an oil tub
This was done to preserve it until the princes' return
They performed preliminary rites, awaiting Rama and his brothers
The women of the palace, upon seeing the king's lifeless body, cried out in anguish:
"Alas, our beloved king is dead!"
Meanwhile, the entire city of Ayodhya (the capital of King Dasharatha's kingdom) plunged into mourning:
Women raised their arms to the heavens, weeping piteously
Faces streamed with endless tears
Cries of despair echoed through the streets
The bereaved citizens lamented:
"Great king, why have you abandoned us? We are already bereft of Rama, who always spoke kindly and faithfully kept his promises."
They continued, their voices choked with emotion:
"Rama, our constant protector and master, has gone to the forest, leaving behind his royal wealth and us, his devoted subjects."
The women's grief turned to anger towards Kaikeyi:
"How can we endure this misfortune without our king and Rama, all while suffering Kaikeyi's abuse?"
They questioned Kaikeyi's ruthlessness:
"If Kaikeyi could abandon the king, Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita, who is safe from her cruelty?"
The grief of King Dasharatha's wives was profound:
Overwhelmed by tears and deep sorrow
They lay unconscious on the floor
Their anguish was beyond measure
The city of Ayodhya, once vibrant, now appeared lifeless:
"Like a moonless night, like a woman forsaken by her husband, this city without its great king has lost its former splendor."
The transformation of Ayodhya was stark:
People wept in the streets
Housewives cried out in anguish
Courtyards and squares stood deserted
The city's earlier brilliance had vanished
As grief engulfed the city:
The king's soul departed for the heavens
His wives lay prostrate on the ground
The sun seemed to halt its journey
Night suddenly fell
The king's well-wishers made a decision:
"We cannot ignite the funeral pyre in the absence of the princes."
They placed the king's body in an oil trough to preserve it until his sons could return.
Ayodhya, bereft of its illustrious ruler, was transformed:
"The city appeared like the sky without the sun, or the night without stars, having lost its brightness."
The citizens, overcome with sorrow:
Gathered in groups, both men and women
Denounced Bharata's mother (Kaikeyi)
Became extremely distressed
Found no peace of mind
This concludes the Sixty sixth chapter (sarga) of Ayodhyakanda, the second book of the Ramayana, the great epic composed by the sage Valmiki.