KAIKEYI SUCCUMBS

At this stage, as she thought of the tremendousness of her in tended request, Kaikeyi's heart misgave her and she feared that on hearing it her horror-stricken husband would exclaim-God forbid! No oath or promise is strong enough to justify so heinous a sin! and recoil from her with abhorrence.

She stood erect and with folded hands, turning in the four directions, invoked in a solemn voice the heavenly powers to witness and confirm the oath: "Oh, Ye Gods! You have heard and witnessed the promise given to me by my husband. Sun, Moon and Planets, you are my holy witnesses. Ye, Five Elements! You have heard the promise. He who ' has never broken his word, my husband, has sworn to do my wish. Bear witness to this."

Dasaratha was looking at her with hungry, joyous eyes. She knew her man and she began boldly: "Do you remember, King, how, when long ago in the field of battle you were about to lose your life, I drove your chariot in the dark night, took you out of the battle-field, removed the arrows from your body and comforted and revived you? When you came out of your faint, you said something, did you not?

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