Chapter 3 continued......
On the fourth day, Dasaratha started back for
Ayodhya, with his queen and courtiers as well as Minister Sumanthra with his
bride and entourage; they entered the City amidst the acclamation of the
people. His subjects exulted at the marriages of both King and Minister; they
danced in the streets and shouted "Jay" "Jay" till their
throats got hoarse. They lined the streets to see their Queen; they sprinkled
rose-water on the roads by which they came and welcomed them waving flames of
camphor.
Dasaratha resumed his royal duties and ruled the
realm with love and care. Often, he went with his consort, on excursions into
the forests, and spent his days happily. But, as time sped through days, months
and even years, the shadow of distress darkened the face of the King. For, the
pang of being childless saddened him.
The King consulted priests, pundits and ministers
and when he knew that their desire confirmed the earnest prayer of Kausalya, he
married another wife, Sumithra. Sumithra lived up to her name, for she was
indeed full of companionable virtues. Kausalya and Sumithra were bound to each
other by ties of affection, far stronger than those between a mother and child.
Each yearned to give joy to the other; each had deep fortitude, detachment and
sympathy.
But, in spite of the lapse of many years, no signs of the King
securing a successor to the throne were evident. Moved by despair, the King
married a third wife, at the instance of the two queens. She was Kaika, the
exquisitely charming daughter of the King or Kekaya in Kashmir.
The King of Kekaya, however, laid down certain
conditions, before agreeing to give his daughter away in marriage! He
insisted that the son born of Kaika should have the right of accession to the
throne; if the King of Ayodhya could not agree to this, he declared, he would
not consent. Garga. the Court Priest, brought back the message to Ayodhya.
Kausalya and Sumithra recognized the ardour of the King to wed the princess of
Kekaya, whose beauty was being extolled highly by all; they felt that the duty
of a true wife is to obey the least wish of the husband and do her best to help
the realization of that wish; they also knew full well that the Imperial Line
of Ayodhya can never be polluted by a son who would transgress Dharma.
The words of the queens fanned his native ardour to
an even brighter flame; therefore, the King sent Garga back with many presents
agreeing to the terms and informing the King that he was following fast for the
wedding ceremony. The ceremony itself was celebrated with lavish magnificence.
Dasaratha returned to his capital, shining like the
moon amidst the stars, when he passed through the streets in procession,
accompanied by the three queens. The King treated each of them with equal
consideration; they too, evinced equal love and respect towards each other and
the King. They adored him and were afraid to displease him. They endeavored
their best to carry out his wishes and not to hinder his desire, for they
revered him as their God, in the tradition of the true wife. They lived with
such intimate mutual love that it appeared as if all three had but one breath,
though they moved about as three bodies!
Continued.......
Love.
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