RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN--AYODHYAKANDA--CHAPTER 3 (PART 2)

RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN—AYODHYAKANDA—CHAPTER 3 (PART 2)

                                                                              KINGLY PRECEPTS

Kings of realms, north and south, east and west, chiefs of the non-Aryan races, dwellers of the dark forests ranged themselves around the aged monarch. The mighty emperor glanced down the royal road. And he saw his boy Rama coming up on his chariot. His eyes would never have enough of the lovely vision. Rama was supremely handsome. In this respect, he was like the king of the Gandharvas. Rama was the very ideal of valour. He had long and sinewy arms. His was an exquisitely modeled frame. It masked the immensity of strength. He had a lordly gait even as a maddened elephant. His face was sweet to look at. It charmed the hearts of the beholders. It was like the full moon. And the people felt that they could gaze their lives away. His beauty and other noble attributes enslaved the members of his sex! His father, Dasaratha gazed on the dream of lovliness. Meanwhile, the prince’s chariot stopped at the royal gates. And Sumantra offered him a hand as he got down. He followed him with folded palms in all reverence. Rama went to where his royal father awaited him. Rama ascended the steps leading to the lofty hall. That reminded one of the Kailasa peak. He approached the monarch with joined hands in reverence. And he offered his due salutation. Dasaratha drew his god-like son towards himself. He embraced him. He made Rama seated on a gemmed throan by his side. The heart of the aged king knew no bounds to its joy.

Dasaratha, the happiest father, turned to his boy with a smile. He said, “Rama, my darling son! Your rare excellences constitute you the brightest ornament of our race. You are bron to me of a lady in every way worthy of myself. My subjects are supremely pleased with your noble qualities.  And I intend to make you the ruler of this kingdom tomorrow. The moon will be in auspicious conjunction with the asterism Pushya. You are richly endowed by nature. You have countless perfections of body, mind and heart. You ever reverence the good and the great. Yet, a fond father would seek to give you further counsel. I would want you to be more humble and more modest. Put away from the seven kinds of royal faults. They spring of desire and hate. Govern your ministers and officials directly. And govern others through them. Never fail to give audience every day to your spies and residents. Increase your stores of coin, gold and silver, gems, grain, warlike weapons until your people come to repose confidence in you implicitly. ‘Blessed are we above compare in that we have such a king over us,’ they must tell. So keep your senses and mind under perfect control and act as I would have you.”

Thus spoke Dasaratha with the authority of age and experience. He advised even as Kasyapa advises the Ruler of the Heavens.