When Rama presented himself, Dasaratha seated him
and said, "You may be surprised at being called again. I am
seized with anxiety that you should be crowned without any
delay. I have premonitions which are frightening. I dream of
comets, hear foul screeches from nowhere. I am told that my
stars are not in a happy conjunction now. I dreamt that my
star of nativity had crashed and was on fire. For one's
proper birth, one owes a debt to the benediction of immortal
sages, to one's ancestors, and to the gods; these three
debts have to be discharged fully within the allotted span of
one's life. I have no doubt that I have paid my debts fully by
now. I have enjoyed my life, I have ruled as King with
unquestioned authority and earned the love and confidence
of my subjects. There is nothing left for me to do. I have
grown old, my physical body is ready for dissolution… ."
He had said these things before and was now repeating
himself. Rama understood that there must be some deep
agitation within him. But out of respect and graciousness, heagitation within him. But out of respect and graciousness, he
listened to it all again as if for the first time. "My stars, Mars
and Jupiter, are aspecting the same house, so say my
astrologers, which means death or near death or some
catastrophe. And so I want to impress on you the urgency of
the matter. Tomorrow's star will be Pushya, and the
ceremony must be gone through, without doubts or
impediments. Do not think for a moment that anything is
postponable. Nothing should be put off, for we cannot say
how fickle the human mind is, and what changes will occur
therein… . And so what is important is that we should go
through the ceremonies without hesitation. I want you to be
very careful tonight, until the ceremony is over. Do not come
out without your bodyguard, and observe all the austerities
and vows to the last letter. Sita and yourself should have
ritual baths and avoid your bed and sleep lightly on a mat of
dharbha grass… . The ceremonies will begin at dawn. Be
ready, and see that your robes are ready. You must fast
tonight. Caution Sita not to delay. In a ceremonial, the wife's
presence and timely participation are of the utmost importance… ."
Rama listened, promising to carry out every word of his
instructions faithfully. Finally Dasaratha explained, "It is best
to complete all this while Bharatha is away at his
grandfather's place. It is good that he is away. I know his
devotion to you, but the human mind, you know, can be
fickle… . He may question why he should not have been the
king … after all. But if he learns of it as an accomplished fact, I do not doubt that he will be extremely happy."
His father's deviousness was rather startling, but if he noticed it, Rama did not show it.
This worry at the back of Dasaratha's mind about
Bharatha's claim turned out to be a valid one. Though
Bharatha was away, his cause and claim were espoused by
his mother Kaikeyi so energetically that it brought on
disaster and changed the whole course of events in Rama's
life. It came about thus. Kooni, a freak and hunchback (and
nicknamed thus on account of her deformity), was the
favourite of the King's favourite wife, Kaikeyi. On this
particular day she climbed to the top terrace of Kaikeyi's
mansion to view the city, and noticed the festoons and lights,
and asked herself, "What are they celebrating today?"
When she went down, inquired, and found out the cause of
the celebrations, she became excited, bit her lips, and
muttered, "I will stop it." She hurried to Kaikeyi's chamber
and shouted at her mistress, who was resting, "Is this the
time to sleep? Wake up before you are ruined." Kaikeyi
opened her eyes and cried, "You! Where have you been?
What is troubling you?"
"Your impending fate," replied Kooni.
Kaikeyi was curious, but still without rising she said,
"Kooni, something seems to be the matter with your health.
Won't you call the physician and see that he sets you right?"
She laughed and said, "Now calm down, sit near me, and sing me a song."
Kooni said sharply, "Do you know that beauty and youth
are your only source of strength? And you owe your position
as the queen of a world conqueror to your beauty?"
"Do I?" asked Kaikeyi, still in a playful mood.
"But both beauty and youth are like a wild stream, which,
while rushing down the mountainside, crushing flowers and
leaves, holds you in a spell. But how long does it last? Very
soon it passes, and in its place you have only the sandy
bed… . It's only a question of time. When you are old and the
cheeks sag, you will be a nobody, pushed aside with the
back of your lover's hand. You will be at other people's mercy."
"Bring that mirror, let me see why you speak thus. Have I
grown old today?" And she laughed.
"Not old, but smug, and running into danger. Doom hangs
over your head."
Now Kaikeyi felt disturbed. "If you cannot talk plainly, go
away; and come later. You are somehow bent upon irritating
me today."
"Don't waste your youth and beauty, which hold your
husband in a spell. Before that's lost, get your husband to
help you and save yourself. Get up and act before it's too
late." Kaikeyi now sat up anxiously. Satisfied with the effect
of her remarks, Kooni declared, "The King has cheated you.Tomorrow he is crowning Rama as the King of Ayodhya and retiring."
Kaikeyi got up, exclaiming, "Wonderful! Wonderful! Here
is your reward for the good news you bear." She took off her
necklace and threw it on Kooni's lap. Kooni received it and
laid it aside. Now Kaikeyi said, "For the excellence of your
news you deserve more. Tell me what you wish and you shall
have it." This really provoked Kooni to cry out, "I said Rama
is becoming the king of Ayodhya, and you behave as if I had
said your son Bharatha …"