66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

exceeded the four months’ limit? Do you think he is asleep?
With our help, he has acquired a mighty kingdom to rule, but
he has forgotten us. One who has snapped all ties of
friendship, swerved from truth, and acted false, deserves to
be taught a lesson, and if he is killed in the process, we
could not be blamed; but first of all will you go and find out
why he has defaulted, what has happened to him, and if he
deserves to be punished? You will tell him that destroying
evil is like destroying a poisonous insect and we will not be
violating any code of conduct thereby. You will explain with
due clarity and impress it on the mind of one who does not
seem to have known proper conduct either at five years of
age or at fifty. Tell him that if he wishes to flourish as a ruler
of this Kiskinda in the midst of his kinsmen and people, he
must first come up immediately with all the help he can
muster to search for Sita. If he does not, we will not hesitate
to destroy every monkey in this world, so that that tribe will
become unknown to future generations. In case he has found
someone stronger than Rama or Lakshmana as his
supporters, remind him that we could meet any challenge
from anywhere.” After relieving his mood and temper with
these words, Rama probably felt that he had gone too far
and might provoke Lakshmana to act violently. So he told
him now, “Speak gently. Do not show your anger but let your
explanations be firm and clear. If he does not accept the
moral you indicate, do not lose your patience but give a
careful hearing to whatever he may have to say and bring me