King Dasarath's Longing (2)

Seeing the anxious king, his three queens sat him down and tried gently to console him. His senior wife and queen, Kaushalya, tenderly massaged his feet while Sumitra and Kaikeyi fanned him with snow white chamara whisks. The king sat absent-mindedly. Through the corner of his eyes, he peeked at the ethereal carvings of the gods lining his walls. What had he not done to please those deities? Once he had even gone to battle with the hellish demons on their behalf. Surely they would help him. Dasarath silently prayed to them.

While the king rested, contemplating his thoughts and prayers, a messenger came to tell him that his chief priest, Vasishtha was now present in the assembly hall. Dasarath had been waiting for this news. He rose up, and with the gait of a powerful lion went along the side palace passageways, his large sword swinging at his side and his gold ornaments jangling as he strode.

Near the hall, he was joined by his chief ministers. All of them were heroes who had been tried in battle, and all were learned and wise. The state ran smoothly under their expert administration. There were no citizens left unemployed, and no criminals left unchecked. The ministers were devoted to Dasarath's service, and as they strode alongside him, they considered the problem facing the king.

Flanked by his bodyguards and ministers, Dasarath entered his great hall. It vied in splendour with the assembly hall of Indra, the king of gods. Massive marble pillars rose up to a roof which seemed to reach the sky. Balconies of alabaster and coral, worked with gold filigree, were gradually tiered all around the hall. Large silk tapestries depicting the pastimes of the gods hung from the walls, which were lined with encrusted stones. The air was filled with the smell of jasmine incense. In the centre of the hall sat numerous priests who continuously chanted prayers, invoking the presence of the gods. The great megha drum resounded deeply as Dasarath ascended to his throne. Everyone greeted him and sat on their seats respectively.

The citizens knew of the king's worry; they loved him like a father and shared his anxiety. Dasarath looked around the hall, smiling affectionately at everyone. Although the king was preoccupied with his worry, no one could detect in him any negligence or laxity in his duties. Seeing him smiling at them, the people felt reassured that Dasarath would find a solution to his problem. They sat awaiting his speech.