Warriors Of Dandaka: Kaand 1 "Night Has A Thousand Eyes" Chapter Ten

Pushpak Karnick

24 June 2007, 02:14

Kausalya paused for moment before entering the public hall. Already, she could feel the waves of curious murmuring and anxious breaths crashing on the tall walls of the great hall. The hall had filled up well before the day’s proceedings were about to begin. There were rumors that people had come from all the parts of the land, some even from the far west, from Kekeya itself, to witness the trial. She knew that the Kekeyan ambassador had arrived, he had paid her a visit in the early hours of the morning, interrupting her puja, she recalled with annoyance. But then, the Kekeyan’s were a rowdy lot. Growing up in the harsh landscape did have its downfalls.

Her feet had stopped a few paces from the entrance to the hall. All through the sleepless hours of the night, after she had returned from Kaikeyi’s palace, she had thought about the proceedings that lay ahead. She knew that the fate of Ayodhya hinged on her decision. She would decide for the entire state, for all of its populace, the fate of its Second, or soon to be ex-, Queen Kaikeyi.

She stepped into the hall as the herald brought the assembly to order. Every eye followed her as she walked to the Sunwood throne, bent forward in a respectful namaskar, and then turned around and bowed to the court, before taking her place on a wooden seat to the right of the throne.

Mahamantri Sumantra then stepped forward and addressed the court. “We now start the proceedings of the day”, he opened a scroll and read aloud. “Today, on the Krishnapaksha Amavasya of Bhadrapada, in the third year from the day of Aja-putra Dasaratha’s passing into the Brahman, the court convenes to hear the trial of Kaikeyi,” his voice faltered for an instant, “the Kekeya Princess, and” he was struggling with the last part, “Second Queen of Late Maharaj Aja-putra Dasaratha. The defendant may now be produced before the court.”

An anxious silence followed his words, broken only by the footsteps of guards now approaching the court. Kaikeyi entered the court, escorted by two guards on either side. Her head hung low, her gaze never lifting beyond her next step. Her entrance was greeted by jeers and boos, the former from the Kosalans, and the latter by the strong Kekayan contingent who had arrived to watch the trial – for they believed that their princess was innocent and framed. An agitated member of the audience broke though the crowds and threw a shoe at Kaikeyi. He was quickly nabbed by the palace guards and taken away from the hall. A commotion broke out, and the guards moved to place themselves between the Kekeyan and others, to prevent further unruly incidents.

It was a while before the court was brought to order once again, and an uneasy silence loomed over the entire multitude, as the trial began.

The representative of the court stood up and bowed to the council and Kausalya. “Your Majesty, we have gathered here to deliberate and pronounce judgment on the defendant, who has been introduced to the court by our Mahamantri.” He bowed in the direction of Sumantra.

Oh no, the minister thought, this could take a long time! He recognized the representative. He was an old-school practitioner of Law, often known for his draconian demands of punishment for the accused.

“The court charges the accused of treason against the state of Kosala, instrumenting the demise of our late Maharaja Dasaratha, and conspiring to break the royal family — first by sending Princes Rama and Lakshman to exile, and then driving Bharat and Shatrughan out of Ayodhya.”

“How does the defendant plead?”

All eyes were on Kaikeyi as they waited for her reply. But she stood motionless, like a granite statue of a beautiful maiden, chained at hands, her hair falling freely over her face, her gaze never wavering from the spot two feet in front of her feet.
The representative repeated the question, twice, and failing to get any response, declared that the accused would plead guilty. The crowd drew a collective breath, and Kausalya felt her own heart skip a beat. Kaikeyi was as immobile as ever.

“With the permission of the council, I would now like to present the evidence against the defendant.”

Sumantra nodded in the direction of the prosecutor, and the first witness was called forward to testify.

Witnesses from Kaikeyi’s palace were called out first. Kausalya saw how the prosecutor was shrewdly building up his case, in the order of increasingly important testimonies. The last witness was the maid that had impersonated Kaikeyi, under the influence of Manthara’s sorcery. By the end of this session, the entire council was at the edge of their seats, listening intently to every word being spoken.

As the representative went through the events of that fateful morning, Kausalya clearly heard more than a few muffled sobs from the audience. She steeled her heart and let his words escape around her. She had no intention of reliving that morning again. When he had reached the part where Dasaratha had issued the divorce, his voiced found an edge, as if they were his own spiteful feelings towards Kaikeyi.

“And hence, respected members of the council, I appeal to you that the accused be dealt with as harshly as possible. To serve as an example for those who would dare to succumb to the dark side again, and thereby threaten the security of Aryavarta. I ask for the penalty of death – to be crushed under the feet of a mad elephant!” The prosecutor finished with a flourish and returned to his seat.

Kausalya was taken aback by the concluding statement from the prosecutor. She looked around and saw that even minister Jabali seemed to be astonished by the concluding remarks. The crowd was buzzing in anticipation of what they would hear next, and the entire Kekeyan contingent was on their feet, shouting derogatory slogans against Kosala and the royal family itself.

Mahamantri Sumantra rose from his seat and walked slowly towards the edge of the podium. He seemed to have aged ten years in the past days. This was not a task he wanted to perform, but it was his Dharma as the presiding official to perform his duties, unpleasant though they may be. He unrolled the official scroll and began to read, his voice betraying his stoic features.

“The court now gives the defendant, Kaikeyi, a chance to defend the accusations of the state. By the laws of our land, we will give the defendant a fair listening.” He sat down and looked towards Kausalya for a moment.

Kaikeyi seemed not to have heard him at all. She stood as she had for the past half a day.

“Will the defendant say nothing in her defense?” Sumantra’s voice had a ring of desparation when he spoke now.

Sumantra repeated his question, but Kaikeyi did not even look up, much less reply back to him. He shook his head and began to read the next part of the official scroll.

“In accordance with the laws laid down by Aja-putra Maharaj Dasaratha, we now come to the final part of the day’s proceedings. The representative of the council has spoken and laid evidence before all. The defendant has neither challenged the evidence, nor spoken for herself. The court takes her silence as tacit agreement with the council’s decision what-so-ever-it-may-be. However, if someone present in this hall who has not yet spoken wants to speak on this matter, be it to support or object to the trial, now is the chance to make your voice heard. Speak up, citizens of Ayodhya. By the law laid down by our late Maharaj, the council is bound to hear anyone who wishes to make their thoughts known.

Is here anyone here who objects to the statements made by the council’s representative? Is there anyone who wishes to speak for the defendant? Is there anyone?”

The silence that greeted his statement was deafening. Even the contingent from Kekeya was silent this moment. Kaikeyi had not yet raised her head to face either the council or the throne.

“So be it,” he said aloud, and turned towards Kausalya, his head nodding slightly to signify the conclusion of the proceedings. This was the moment, she thought, the moment of truth, the purpose of her life for the past three years, without Dasa, without her children, and sometimes, even without herself. She stood up from her seat. The crowd moved to the edge of their seats, a heavy silence enveloping the hall as every heart missed a beat to hear her speak next.

Kausalya stepped forward, the regal scepter in right hand, raised it above her head for everyone to see, and then turned around.
The hall watched with bated breath as she moved towards Guru Vashishtha. She bent to touch his feet, asking for his blessings.

“Guruji aashish dey. Aagey marga kathin hain.” Bless me Guruji, for the road ahead is difficult.

Vashishtha smiled and put his hand lovingly on her head. She heard him encourage her in her thoughts. She looked up to see a strange light in his eyes, as if he already knew the decision that she was about to make.

“Vijayi bhava Kausalya.” May you be victorious Kausalya!!
With the blessings of her Guru on her side, she seemed to have gained a new level of confidence as she rose up to perform the difficult task that lay ahead.

She walked towards the throne and placed the scepter in Mahamantri Sumantra’s hands. She then removed her shawl and jewels and any other royal insignia that she wore and kept them near Rama’s sandals on the Sunwood throne. Striding down the steps in front of a stunned audience, she took her place beside Kaikeyi, who was still oblivious to all happening around her.
Kausalya placed a hand on her shoulders, and in a voice that would have shattered the resolve of her staunchest foes, looked up to the council and said – “I object!!”

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