THE events narrated in this Book occupy scarcely two days. The description of Rama’s princely virtues and the rejoicings at his proposed coronation, with which the Book begins, contrast with much dramatic force and effect with the dark intrigues which follow, and which end in his cruel banishment for fourteen years.

THE COUNCIL CONVENED
Thus the young and brave Satrughna,
Bharat ever true and bold,
Went to warlike western regions where
Kaikeyas lived of old,
Where the ancient Aswa-pati ruled his
kingdom broad and fair,
Hailed the sons of Dasa-ratha with a
grandsire’s loving care.
Tended with a fond affection, guarded with
a gentle sway,
Stillthe princes of their father dreamt and
thought by night and day,
And their father in Ayodhya, great of heart
and stout of hand,
Thought of Bharat and Satrughna living in
Kaikeya’s land.
For his great and gallant princes were to
him his life and light,
Were a part of Dasa-ratha like his hands
and arms of might,
But of all his righteous children righteous
Rama won his heart,
As SWAYABIBHU of all creatures, was his
dearest, holiest part,
For his Rama strong and stately was his
eldest and his best,
Void of every baser passion and with every
virtue blest!
Soft in speech, sedate and peaceful, seeking
still the holy path,
Calm in conscious worth and valour, taunt
nor cavil waked his wrath,
In the field of war excelling, boldest
warrior midst the bold,
In the palace chambers musing on the tales
by elders told,
Faithful to the wise and learned, truthful
in his deed and word,
Rama dearly loved his people and his
people loved their lord!
To the Brahmans pure and holy Rama due
obeisance made,
To the poor and to the helpless deeper love
and honour paid,
Spirit of his race and nation was to highsouled
Rama given,
Thoughtsthat widen human glory, deeds
that ope the gates of heaven
Not intent on idle cavil Rama spake with
purpose high,
And the God of speech might envy when
he spake or made reply,
In the learning of the Vedas highest meed
and glory won,
In the skill of arms the father scarcely
matched the gallant son!
Taught by sages and by elders in the
manners of his race,
Rama, grew in social virtues and each soft
endearing grace,
Taught by inborn pride and wisdom
patient purpose to conceal,
Deep determined was his effort, dauntless
was his silent will!
Peerless in his skill and valour steed and
elephant to tame,
Dauntless leader of his forces, matchless
in his warlike fame,
Higher thought and nobler duty did the
righteous Rama move,
By his toil and by his virtues still he
sought his people’s love
Dasa-ratha marked his Rama with each
kingly virtue blest,
And from lifelong royal duties now he
sought repose and rest:
“Shall I see my son anointed, seated on
Kosala’s throne,
In the evening of my lifetime ere my days
on earth be done,
Shall I place my ancient empire in the
youthful Rama’s care,
Seek for me a higher duty and prepare for
life more fair?”
Pondering thus within his bosom counsel
from his courtiers sought,
And to crown his Rama, Regent, was his
purpose and his thought,
For strange signs and diverse tokens now
appeared on earth and sky,
And his failing strength and vigour spoke
his end approaching nigh,
And he witnessed Rama’s virtues filling all
the world with love,
As the full-moon’s radiant lustre fills the
earth from skies above!
Dear to him appeared his purpose, Rama to
his people dear,
Private wish and public duty made his
path serene and clear,
Dasa-ratha called his Council, summoned
chiefs from town and plain.
Welcomed too from distant regions
monarchs and the kings of men,
Mansions meet for prince andchieftain to
his guests the monarch gave,
Gracious as the Lord of Creatures held the
gathering rich and brave!
Nathless to Kosala’s Council nor Videha’s
monarch came,
Nor the warlike chief Kaikeya, Aswa-pati
king of fame,
To those kings and near relations, ancient
Dasa-ratha meant,
Message of the proud anointment with his
greetings would be sent.
Brightly dawned the day of gathering; in
the lofty Council Hall
Stately chiefs and ancient burghers came
and mustered one and all,
And each prince and peer was seated on
his cushion rich and high,
And on monarch Dasa-ratha eager turned
his anxious eye,
Girt by crownéd kings and chieftains,
burghers from the town and plain,
Dasa-ratha shone like INDRA girt by
heaven’s immortal train!

THE PEOPLE CONSULTED
With the voice of pealing thunder Dasaratha
spake to all,
To the princes and the burghers gathered
in Ayodhya’s hall:
“Known to all, the race of Raghu rules this
empire broad and fair,
And hath ever loved and cherished
subjects with a father’s care,
Tn my fathers’ footsteps treading I have
sought the ancient path,
Nursed my people as my children, free
from passion, pride and wrath,
Underneath this white umbrella, seated on
this royal throne,
I have toiled to win their welfare and my
task is almost done!
Years have passed of fruitful labour, years
of work by fortune blest,
And the evening of my lifetime needs, my
friends, the evening’s rest,
Years have passed in watchful effort, Law
and Duty to uphold,
Effort needing strength and prowess-and
my feeble limbs are old!
Peers and burghers, let your monarch, now
his lifelong labour done,
For the weal of lovinor subjects on his
empire seat his son,
INDRA-like in peerless valour, rishi-like in
holy lore,
Rama follows Dasa-ratha, but in virtues
stands before!
Throned in Pushya’s constellation shines
the moon with fuller light
Throned to rule his father’s empire Rama
wins a loftier might,
He will be your gracious monarch favoured
well by FORTUNE’S QUEEN,
By his virtue and his valour lord of earth
he might have been!
Speak your thoughts and from this bosom
lift a load of toil and care,
On the proud throne of my fathers let me
place a peerless heir,
Speak your thought, my chiefs and people,
if this purpose please you well,
Or if wiser, better counsel in your wisdom
ye can tell,
Speak your thoughts without compulsion,
though this plan to me be dear,
If some middle course were wiser, if some
other way were clear!
Gathered chieftains hailed the mandate
with applauses long and loud,
As the peafowls hail the thunder of the
dark and laden cloud,
And the gathered subjects echoed loud and
long the welcome sound,
Till the voices of the people shook the sky
and solid ground!
Brahmans versed in laws of duty,
chieftains in their warlike pride,
Countless men from town and hamlet
heard the mandate far and wide,