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CHAPTER SIX
now, villain, after destroying by some trick, like a dog, our masters who were engaged in the protection of Aştāpada ? Prepare for battle, sword against sword, bow against bow, spear against spear, and club against club, O villain. How far will you go after running away ?
Now these sons of our master have abandoned us here and have gone away. Oh! Oh! The master also will abandon us quickly if we go there now. When our master hears that we are alive, even if we do not go there but stay here, he will be ashamed, or rather, will punish
us.”
Return to Ayodhyā (33–46) After uttering many such lamentations, they joined each other again and, after regaining their natural firmness, took counsel together. “Just as a rule in grammar subsequently laid down takes precedence over rules given earlier,887 so fate is stronger than all. No one is stronger than it. The desire to retaliate against it which is not subject to retaliation is useless, like a desire to strike the sky or to seize the sun. So, enough of these lamentations. Now we shall deliver everything belonging to the lord, horses, elephants, etc., like trustees surrendering money. Thereafter let the master arrange whatever is suitable and agreeable in regard to us. Why should we worry?"
After these reflections, they all set out to Ayodhyā with sad faces, taking with them everything, the women of the household, etc. Slowly, slowly, bereft of energy, they came to the vicinity of Ayodhyā, their faces and eyes dejected, as if they had just risen from sleep. They stopped there, as crushed as if they were being led to the.executionrock,388 sat down on the ground and said to each other:
“We were assigned by the King who honored us with his sons because we were formerly devoted, wise,
387 34. See I, p. 342 and note 384.
388 40. A very usual method of execution in India formerly was to hurl the condemned from a precipice.
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