Dasharatha Finds Kaikeyi upon the Bare Ground
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 25
Doha 25 · Movement 1 of 3
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The words chamber of anger stop Dasharatha at the threshold. The king before whose arm even Indra finds shelter cannot move one foot forward when told that his beloved wife is furious.
He enters and sees Kaikeyi lying upon bare ground in coarse cloth, every ornament cast aside. A warrior able to endure spear, thunderbolt, and sword withers beneath the flower arrows of desire.
Terrible grief seizes him, but tenderness governs his speech. He draws near and asks the beloved of his life what has caused her anger. The king reads the staged desolation as genuine pain and brings all his strength into service of the wound prepared to break him.
Before the queen on the bare floor, Dasharatha's invincible arm becomes helpless tenderness.
Read the passage from the Manas
कोपभवन सुनि सकुचेउ राउ। भय बस अगहुड़ परइ न पाऊ।। सुरपति बसइ बाहँबल जाके। नरपति सकल रहहिं रुख ताकें।। सो सुनि तिय रिस गयउ सुखाई। देखहु काम प्रताप बड़ाई।। सूल कुलिस असि अँगवनिहारे। ते रतिनाथ सुमन सर मारे।। सभय नरेसु प्रिया पहिं गयऊ। देखि दसा दुखु दारुन भयऊ।। भूमि सयन पटु मोट पुराना। दिए डारि तन भूषण नाना।। कुमतिहि कसि कुबेषता फाबी। अन अहिवातु सूच जनु भाबी।। जाइ निकट नृपु कह मृदु बानी। प्रानप्रिया केहि हेतु रिसानी।।
Hearing "the chamber of anger," the king grew anxious. Overcome by dread, he could not set one foot forward. He at whose mighty arm Indra himself resides, before whose glance all kings stand watchful of his mood. That same king, hearing of his wife's fury, withered away. Behold the immense power and glory of desire! Those who can bear the blows of spears, thunderbolts, and swords upon their bodies fall helpless when the god of love strikes with his flower-arrows. The fearful king went to his beloved. Seeing her condition, a terrible grief seized his heart. She lay upon the bare ground on a coarse, worn-out cloth, having flung aside every ornament from her body. How well this wretched appearance suited the wicked-minded one! As though a woman still blessed with her husband alive were mourning widowhood before its time. Drawing near, the king spoke in a tender voice: "Beloved of my life, for what cause are you so angry?"