66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

“Oh!” groaned the King. “How, how … When?” He could
not complete the sentence. Sumanthra tried to say, “Rama
wanted to escape the crowd… .”
The thought of Rama and Sita on the rough forest track
beyond bamboo clusters was too unbearable for Dasaratha.
He fell into a swoon and never recovered from the shock.
(“He died even as Sumanthra was speaking,” says the poet.)
The King’s death left the country without a ruler for the time
being. Vasishtha convened an urgent council of the ministers
and officials of the court and decided, “The first thing to do is
to preserve the King’s body until Bharatha can come back
and perform the funeral.” They kept the body embalmed in a
cauldron of oil.
Two messengers were dispatched with a sealed packet
for Bharatha, advising him to return to the capital urgently.
The messengers were to keep their horses continously at a
gallop, and were not to explain anything or convey any
information. They were trusted men, experienced in the task
of carrying royal dispatches, and could be depended upon
not to exceed their orders. Within eight days, they drew up at
the portals of Aswapathi’s palace at Kekaya and declared,
“We carry an important message for Bharatha.”
Bharatha was overjoyed, and ordered, “Bring them up with
the least delay.” He received them in his chamber and asked
at once, “Is my father happy and in good health?” The