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devotional routine. They forgot that they
were in exile and spent the time happily,
like Indra in Heaven surrounded by the
gods.
The happy life in Chitrakuta is a
wonderful background to set off the later
sufferings and sorrows of the three.
21. A MOTHER'S GRIEF
Sumantra and Guha stood watching the
three figures as long as they could. When
they disappeared from sight, they were
plunged in sorrow and went back to
Guha's town. After a while Sumantra
returned to Ayodhya.
As the charioteer approached the city,
he found it desolate and devoid of the
usual cheerful bustle of urban life. As
soon as he crossed the fortress-gate and
entered
the
city,
his
chariot
was
surrounded by a crowd eagerly asking:
"Where did you leave Rama? How was he
when you left him?"
"Dear
people
of
Ayodhya,"
said
Sumantra, "Rama and Lakshmana have
crossed the Ganga. Ordering me to return
home, they entered the forest on foot."
A great cry of grief rose from the
multitude and many cursed themselves
and attributed the catastrophe to their own
sins. On both sides of the streets, women
stood as the chariot passed and cried:
"Look at the car which departed with the
princes and Sita and has come back
empty."
Sumantra drove forward covering his
face with the end of his upper garment,
ashamed of himself. He stopped the
chariot in front of Dasaratha's palace and
alighted.
There in front of the palace a great
crowd had gathered. Women were saying,
"How is Sumantra going to meet Kausalya
and tell her that he left her son in the
forest? How will she survive the report?"
With increasing sorrow and confusion,
Sumantra entered the Queen's apartment.
There he saw the King more dead than
alive. In low tones, he spoke of Rama's
message to the King who heard it in heart-
broken silence.
Then Kausalya, unable to control her
wrath, addressed the King: "Here stands
your minister who has returned from the
forest after leaving my child to fulfil your
command. Why are you silent? It was
easy and pleasant to give boons to
Kaikeyi. Why are you ashamed of it now?
Did you not know that this would be the
result of what you did? You have honored
your word. You may be happy over that.
But who can share my sorrow with me? I
have to bear it all. My grief cannot be
reduced by your pain. No convention
binds you to feel or appear to be grieved
for what you have deliberately done. Why
are you silent? You need not refrain from
giving expression to sorrow for fear of
offending Kaikeyi, for she is not here.
Surely you should inquire of Sumantra
about Rama. Have you no humanity? Why
do you try to suppress even natural
feelings?"
Her grief and love for Rama blinded
her to the state of her husband's body and
mind.
Instead
of
lightening,
she
aggravated his suffering.
Dasaratha
opened
his
eyes
and
Sumantra reported duly Rama's message
in his own words.
Sumantra tried his best to console
Kausalya. But she went on repeating:
"Take me and leave me where Rama is.