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.
