Ramayana Chapter 27 Meeting with Ministers

Ramayana

Chapter 27

Meeting with Ministers

King Dashratha entered the assembly- hall where the rulers of the other small neighboring kingdoms were also present beside the ministers of Dashratha. The haste behind all these actions did not go unnoticed by them. Speculations were rife over the political signals behind the marked absence of King Janaka of Mithila and the King of the Kaikeya region of the Northwest frontier, both of whom were the significant allies and mighty supporters of Ayodhya. The urgency behind the need to call the meeting was explained by King Dashratha himself, but there was no allusion to either of these two vitally important family-allies. The risk of confrontation and a possible outcome of a bloody feud over the share in the power vested in the throne of Ayodhya could not be ruled out.  Many saw a shrewd deliberation behind this significant exclusion which could not be easily glossed over. The diplomatic circles outside of Ayodhya were divided in opinion over the relative merit and the demerit of this gesture. There was no agreement whether this should be viewed as a gesture of political sagacity or as a cause for alarm. The ministers close to Dashratha however, thought it wise on the part of Dashratha to keep both the kings out of the arena of politics at this crucial point in the historically significant stage of the future that was evolving for Ayodhya. Almost everyone present in the assembly was nevertheless, a well-wisher of Dashratha because the stability and peace in that entire vastly spread-out region of the north and the south was closely tied up with the stability and peace in Ayodhya; and moreover, Ayodhya was the guardian of the sovereignty of their kingdoms. They had seen in the past that the kings of Kaikeya and Videha had not posed a threat to the sovereignty of Ayodhya and respected the independent existence of one another.

Everyone listened in anxiety and trepidation to the words uttered in utmost gravity by the wizened king as he addressed them with courtesy, soliciting their accord and co-operation in the action he was contemplating in the best interest of all of them.

“I have looked after my subjects with solicitude and love that a father bestows upon his children. I have been inspired and guided by my illustrious ancestors of the great Ishwaku dynasty. They knew that this earth has to be preserved and nurtured so that she may be the perfect dwelling –place, another heaven, for all those who are born and live here; that she may be the sphere of love and harmony to all. Protection, not destruction, preservation, not greed, has been the motto of my ancestors and that is the philosophy they bequeathed on me. We have learnt the use of power to defend our peaceful terrain from attack and prevent attacks on the neighboring kingdoms.  I have spent my life in carrying out the command of my ancestors. It was most holy for me. I pay my debt of respect and gratitude to them because the memory of their noble deeds and courage in the face of adversity did not let me swerve from the path of justice and valour. Our valour and grandeur were always harnessed to the goals that were just and good. The state of Ayodhya has been brought to perfection by their unfaltering wisdom and alertness.  I have tried to preserve their wise traditions of nurture and care in all my efforts. But I can no longer hold the reins of this noble mission. You can see that I have not the energy to run this responsibility any more. My beloved eldest son Rama, the heir apparent to this kingdom, has returned victorious from his mission of surveying and offering protection to the sages and the peaceful dwellers of the forests. He and his younger brother Laxman have had the opportunity of studying the art of fighting and weaponry under the guidance of sage Vishvamitra. Both these sons of mine have endeared themselves to all by their exemplary conduct and noble heart. My purpose in calling this assembly should be more than obvious to all of you by now. I want to trust this kingdom to my son Rama.  All of us know that Rama is more of a philosopher than a ruler. But philosophers are best rulers because they prefer not to rule while they are ruling. Philosophers should rule because justice demands that they rule. It is in the interest of all of us that we be ruled by a philosopher rather than by a politician or an epicure. I am speaking out my most intimate thoughts to you because I hold your interest uppermost in my heart. If you feel that my proposal is in the right direction, please endorse it without reservation. Then I shall forthwith proceed with the ceremony of the coronation of Rama and bestow good fortunes and the gift of well-being on all. I shall seek your co-operation and welcome all suggestions in this worthy endeavour. However, if you have a better proposal than this which will better serve the interests of all, I am more than willing to give it a thought.  Because when thoughts arise in the common sphere of the neutral space of several minds working in harmony, they always have a wider perspective on the predicament than the view of a single mind like mine.”

The King had yet to complete what he had to say when the whole congregation stood up like one man and their cheers and sounds of jubilation went up to touch the sky. The sagacious counselors, the wise ones with deep knowledge of statecraft and war, those with the knowledge of economy and the finance—all the gems of wisdom in Dashratha’s council of ministers, dispersed in small homogeneous groups to discuss and consult one another on the matter. Whatever be their area of expertise, they all knew Dashratha’s mind like the palm of their hand.