Week 4 Storytelling: Dasharatha's Death

Dasharatha stared blankly into space. He had been like this since his decision, or technically, Kaikeyi’s decision to exile Rama. He had second-guessed his decision to listen to Kaikeyi’s request so many times that his mind had basically gone crazy, stricken with grief and worry. His cheeks had sunk in and he had lost an unusual amount of weight, making him look old and frail. He didn’t speak to anyone, didn't eat or drink anything, nor did he sleep. His body and mind had gone into some sort of shock, and news of his fragile state had spread like wildfire across the kingdom. The people questioned his ability to carry out the king’s duties and the worse Dasaratha got, the more they longed for Rama to come back. Rama was deeply shaken up by Rama's departure. Vivid memories from the past were flooding his mind, distracting him from his duties and making him all the more sick and distraught.

Kausalya, who was the eldest of his wives and mother of Rama, was becoming increasingly worried about Dasharatha. Even she had not taken the news of Rama’s exile as badly as Dasharatha did because she knew he was bound to his promise to fulfill the two requests of Kaikeyi. Rama was more than capable of surviving on his own, and she believed that with all her heart. Yes, she longed for Rama’s return but what could she do? The decision had been made and it was too late to go back.

Kaikeyi, on the other hand, was so happy that her request had been fulfilled and that her own son, Bharatha, would become king in Rama’s stead, that she didn’t even realize that Dasharatha was suffering. She was busy daydreaming about all the great things Bharatha would do and fantasizing about which other prominent women he would marry and other things that were less relevant than Dasharatha’s current state. Her vision of being the mother of the future king had driven her crazy, so that she was filled with greed and selfishness. She didn’t even know if she loved her husband anymore. By the time it dawned on her that something was terribly wrong, it was too late…

Dasharatha had passed away during the night, lying in his bed with his eyes open. Kausalya had found him in the morning when she had awoken and had been weeping all morning. It was a sad sight to witness. She could still see the sorrow in his eyes, mourning over his son whom he had foolishly exiled.

The kingdom mourned greatly over their lost King. The funeral procession was a grand event, with people lining the streets to pay their respects one last time before the King was to be cremated. Kaikeyi wept, finally realizing what she had done. She had driven her husband past his limits and had ultimately taken his life.

Rama heard of his father’s death in the forest through the language of the animals. People who Rama didn’t even know came and found him and paid their respects to him for the King. Rama's mind was ablaze, his thoughts springing up like wildfire, memories dancing across his mind of his father. It was then that Rama realized what he would be coming back to in fourteen years…he was the ruler and the Kingdom was his.

Rama's exile, the cause of Dasharatha's death; Wikipedia

Author's Note: In this section of the Ramayana, Dasaratha has just exiled his own son, Rama, per Keikeyi’s request for fourteen years. He was supposed to be Dasaratha’s successor. At this point, Dasaratha is falling ill due to sorrow and regret of fulfilling Kaikeyi’s request. One morning, Kausalya (Dasaratha’s first wife and mother of Rama) finds him dead in his bed.

My story basically follows the original with a few embellishments. I elaborated on Dasaratha’s thoughts and feelings and I also conveyed thoughts and feelings of Kausalya and Kaikeyi. I wanted people to have a better idea of the impact Rama’s exile had on Dasaratha and the Kingdom and how this part of the story is so vital to the advancement of the Ramayana.

I chose Dasharatha's death to write my story about because I feel like it's a big moment in the Ramayana. I wanted to convey the feelings of some of his wives and also his Kingdom while also somewhat describing what Dasharatha was going through himself after his decision to exile Rama.

I chose my image because it was so simple. One decision changed Dasaratha’s life forever and ultimately caused his own death. Maybe he should’ve been selfish and told Kaikeyi to request another wish.

Bibliography: Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way.