|
She
duly sealed the order with the royal red-wax and managed to stamp it
with the impression of Asoka's teeth, while he was asleep.
The
order was received in due time. It threw the ministers into dilemma.
They read treachery between the lines. Kunala was a paragon of
virtue, prophet of reason,
pink of courtesy and prince of personal purity. He was the son of
Asoka, the monk - marshal - monarch. It was a question of - "To
obey or not to obey". The problem worried them most. For, they
were impartial, yet loyal at the same time. So they decided to
detain Kunala in custody, till ratification of the imperial order
and clarification of their doubt from the capital. They were about
to write to the centre when Kunala intervened. He was not for any
compromise. "Father is God on earth. And God is justice
personified. No need to doubt the genuineness of the order if it
duly bears the impression of the king's teeth". He argued.
"Delay is detrimental. Immediate execution of the royal order
is legal and loyal", he affirmed. Moreover, he urged the
ministers to carry out the order.
|
