“Having first ordained one thing the Creator has now ordained quite the reverse of it; having shown us one spectacle he would now show us quite another.” Some people said, “The king has not done well; he has not been discreet in granting the wicked woman her request, whereby he has wilfully courted all this tragedy. By allowing himself to be ruled by a woman he has lost his wisdom and goodness as it were.” Others who were saner did not blame the king, recognizing as they did his high standard of morality. They repeated at length to one another the narratives of Ýibi, Dadh¶ci and HariÜcandra*. Some suggested Bharata’s connivance, while still others passively heard what their companions said. Others stopped their ears with their hands and bit their tongue as they exclaimed, “This is untrue. All your merits will be destroyed as you utter these words: Ýr¶ RŒma is dear to Bharata as his own life.” (1—4)