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Sarg 65 - People Find Dashrath Dead

As the morning broke, people arrived at the palace to pray and to greet Dashrath individually, separately and blessed him in several ways. People waited for Raajaa, but they couldn't see him even after a long wait. Then women who were near Raajaa's bedroom came to wake him up and tried to wake him up but he didn't wake up. The women couldn't feel his pulse, so they were frightened.

Kaushalyaa and Sumitraa were lying unconscious. Seeing the condition of these women got scared and started crying. Hearing their cry Kaushalyaa and Sumitraa gained their consciousness but seeing Raajaa got unconscious again. After that all queens of Raajaa cried. The whole palace was filled with people.

Sarg 66 - Kaushalyaa Vilaap 

Kaushalyaa put Raajaa's head in her lap and said to Kaikeyee - "O wicked Kaikeyee, Now you enjoy the kingdom, Raajaa has died. Now your all wishes are fulfilled, now you live happily. My Raam has gone to forest and husband is died, I cannot live any more in such condition. Raajaa sent Raam to forest to keep Kaikeyee's words. Raajaa Janak will also be sad hearing this. Seetaa is not worthy for forest life. When She will hear wild animals' sounds, She will cling to Raam. Raajaa Janak is also old. He also loves Seetaa more than his life, lest he also dies with this news. I will end my life today with Raajaa."

Ministers moved Kaushalyaa from there and kept Raajaa's body in a pot of oil. Guru Vashishth performed some other ceremonies. In the absence of sons, it was not considered proper to perform last rites. At that time all women were crying. The whole city was sad.

Sarg 67 - In the Absence of Raajaa 

Ayodhyaa people passed that night crying. All ministers etc gathered in the court next morning, because after the death of a Raajaa it was necessary to do Raaj Tilak. To solve this problem, Maarkandeya, Mudgal, Vaamdev, Kashyap, Kaatyaayan, Gautam and Jaavaali Rishi expressed their views, but couldn't reach on a solution. Then Guru Vashishth said - "Raajaa has died in separation of his son, and this night also seemed like 100 years long. So Mahaaraaj is dead, Raam is in forest, Lakshman is in Raam's service; and Bharat and Shatrughn are at their Naanaa's place. Somebody should be appointed as king today only, because throne should not remain empty.

Where there is no king, there is no rainfall, no seed sowing, sons don't obey their fathers and women don't obey their husbands. This is very frightful situation. There are many other things which cannot happen in a kingless country.  Panchaayat (local governments) cannot make judgment, people cannot plant gardens, Braahman cannot do Yagya, dances cannot be performed, meetings for development cannot be held , Kathaa cannot be told and heard, maidens cannot wear jewelry, rich people are not protected and people cannot sleep with their doors open. 

Lusty men cannot go to forest with women, archery cannot be practiced, wrestlers cannot be challenged, and Vaishya cannot trade freely because many hurdles can disturb them. Raajaa is Dharm, Raajaa is Karm, Raajaa is parents, and Raajaa is the protector of people." Hearing this all courtiers then asked Vashishth Jee to appoint a Raajaa.

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