After a long interval, be recovered his senses and, with eyes turned to his
tormentor and inflamed with helpless anger, cried out: "O wicked ogress! Destroyer of
my dynasty! What harm has Raama done to you? Has he not looked upon you as his own mother?
I thought you were a woman. I now see you are a venomous serpent brought from far away and
cherished in my bosom only to sting me to death!"
Kaikeyi was unmoved and spoke not a word.
The King went on: "On what pretext can
I banish Raama, whom all the people love and praise? I may lose Kausalya and survive. I
may lose the pure-minded Sumitra and survive. But if I lose Raama, I cannot live
thereafter. Without water, without sunlight, I may live for a while, but never without
Raama. Expel from your mind this sinful thought. |
