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Tuen as the mighty king was lying down in this unbeseeming and improper guisz, like Yay&ti dropped from the celestial regions when his religious merit had been exhausted, that lady, personating the ruin of the race, not fearing public odium, who had discerned danger from Rama unto Bharata, not having attained her wish, again addressed the monarch, concerning the boon he had promised unto her,—Thou describest thyself, O mighty monarch, as speaking the truth and firm in vow. Why then dost thou hesitate to confer this boon on me ?” Thus address ed by Kaikeyi king Dagaratha, remaining stupified for a while thus answered her in wrath,—“O ignoble one! O enemy of mine ! On my being dead, and that chief of men, Rama, reparing to the woods, do thou, thine wish attained, become happy. When in heaven, questioning me as to Rama’s welfare, the celestials, learning of his banishment to the woods, will tax me on this score, how shall I alse bear that reproach of theirs? IfI shall truthfully say I have sent Rama to the woods for compassing Kaikeyi’s pleasure, that will count for a falsehood. Sonless first, I have obtained the exceedingly energetic and mighty Rama by great pain,—how can I then renounce him ? How shall I banish Rama having eyes resem bling lotus’ petals, who is heroic, and accomplished and of subdued anger, and forgiving. How shall I dismiss unto Dan daka the charming Rama of dark blue hue like that of a blue lotus, possessed of mighty arms, and having great strength ?

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How shall 1 behold the intelligent Rama in evil plight, who has never known suffering, and has always enjoyed felicity ? If without inflicting injury upon Rama, I meet with death, I shall then attain happiness. O cruel Kaikeyi, O thou of evil purpose, why dost thou do this wrong unto my beloved Rama having truth for prowess ? If 1 banish Rama, an unparalleled obloquy will surely darken ( my fair fame ). As king Dagaratha was bewailing thus with aheart wrought up with grief, the suu set and night came on. But although crested with the lunar disc, the night failed to bring comfort unto the king, distressed, and indulging iu grief. Then the old king Dagaratha, wlth his eyes fixed at the sky, sighing hot, lamented in this strain—“O night studded with stars, I beseech thee, let not the morning appear. Do thou, O gentle one, do me this kindness. I do thus clasp my hands (by way of supplication). Or do thou speedily repair for I do not wish to see the hated and relentless Kaikeyi, who has brought this calamity upon me’. Having spoken thus, the king conversant with the duties of Sovereigns again endeavoured to propitiate Kaikeyi, saying,—"‘O noble dame, do thou show favour unto me, who am of honest ways, who am distressed, who have made myself thine, who have finished his life, and who, in especial, am thy king. That I have spoken to thee thus was because, O thou of shapely hips, I had been deprived of my senses (through grief). O girl, do thou show thy favour unto me,—be thou generous,—be thou propitious. Let my Rama obtain the kingdom in fact conferred by thee. Thereupon, O thou having the outer corner of thy eyes of dark blue hue, thou wilt attain high fame (among men). O thou of well-developed hips, do thou do this act of benefit unto me and Rama and the people and the superiors, and Bharata”. Having heard the exceedingly piteous words of her husband, the king of pure sentiment, who was distressed, with his eye rendered coppery and flowing with tears, that

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wicked minded and | merciless woman spoke not. Thereat seeing that his favourite dissatisfied wife persisted in urging the banishment of his son, the king struck with grief, again fell down to the earth, senseless. As the wise king afflicted with sorrow was sighing hot and hard, the niglit passed away. Then as the eulogists attempted to sing his praises for awakening him, he prohibited them to do so.