Sumantra Finds the King like an Uprooted Lotus
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 38
Doha 38 · Movement 1 of 2
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Dasharatha always rises in the last watch, so the waiting court sends Sumantra to wake him and receive the day's commands. The minister enters the inner palace and immediately trembles.
Calamity seems to have devoured every corner. No one answers his questions. At Kaikeyi's chamber he offers the customary cry of victory and long life, then sees the king pale and fallen upon the floor like a lotus torn from its root.
All joy drains from Sumantra. Fear silences even inquiry, and Kaikeyi speaks first with words emptied of auspiciousness. The formal greeting still hangs in the air above a sovereign who can neither receive it nor rise.
Sumantra's cry of long life falls over Dasharatha like a blessing spoken beside an uprooted lotus.
Read the passage from the Manas
पछिले पहर भूपु नित जागा। आजु हमहि बड़ अचरजु लागा।। जाहु सुमंत्र जगावहु जाई। कीजिअ काजु रजायसु पाई।। गए सुमंत्रु तब राउर माही। देखि भयावन जात डेराहीं।। धाइ खाइ जनु जाइ न हेरा। मानहुँ बिपति बिषाद बसेरा।। पूछें कोउ न ऊतरु देई। गए जेंहिं भवन भूप कैकैई।। कहि जयजीव बैठ सिरु नाई। दैखि भूप गति गयउ सुखाई।। सोच बिकल बिबरन महि परेऊ। मानहुँ कमल मूलु परिहरेऊ।। सचिउ सभीत सकइ नहिं पूँछी। बोली असुभ भरी सुभ छूछी।।
The king would always wake in the last watch of night; today, we are greatly astonished. Go, Sumantra, go and wake him. Let the royal duties proceed once his command is received. Sumantra then went into the inner palace. Seeing the dreadful atmosphere, he trembled with fear. It was as though calamity had devoured every corner and could not be faced. It seemed as if misfortune and grief had taken up their dwelling there. No one he asked would give any answer. He went to the chamber where the king was with Kaikeyi. Saying 'Jaya! Jeeva!' (Victory and long life!), he sat with bowed head. Seeing the king's condition, all his joy drained away. Overcome with worry, pale and fallen upon the ground, Dasharatha lay like a lotus torn from its root. The minister was too frightened to ask anything. Then Kaikeyi spoke, her words brimming with ill omen, empty of all goodness.