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The Marvellous Incident At Kauthukamangal
193
After the discussion, it was decided that King Janak should return to Mithila. King Shubhmati sent a large number of soldiers on horses and elephants to escort him. Dasarath and Janak embraced each other and shed tears. Shubhmati was also sad.
King Janak's chariot set off at a great speed. "Oh King ! You must always remember Kautukmangal and its people" King Shubhmati said in a voice shaken with emotion.
"O king! I can never forget the city of Kautukmangal. Kindly visit Mithila when you find time".
“I will surely visit Mithila as soon as I find an opportunity”. “Victory to Jinendra !” “Victory to Jinendra !"
And then the chariot began speeding away. In a few moments, the chariot went out of sight.
Leaving Ayodhya in disguise..... Meeting king Janak at Mithila.... Janak also accompanying him in disguise..... wandering through wild forests....arriving at Kautukmangal unexpectedly.. Kaikayi's Swayamvar.. Attending the Swayamvar.. being garlanded and chosen by Kaikayi unexpectedly... the indignation and hostility of Harivahan and others .... a violent conflict; a terrible war... routing the enemy-kings in the war and king Janak's departure to Mithila.
These events flashed before the mental eyes of Dasarath like pictures. Though he lay in bed, he could not get a wink of sleep. He was greatly agitated. He was mentally traversing the past and the future. Sometimes, he was happy; sometimes he was unhappy...sometimes he felt hopeful and sometimes he felt desperate....sometimes he experienced joy at the recollection of happy events. Sometimes he visualised terrible calamities in the future in a vague manner. He lay thus experiencing conflicting emotions. It did not take much time for Kaikayi to notice that her Lord Dasarath was experiencing some deep conflict and deep commotion.
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