His lips got parched and his whole frame burned; he looked like a helpless snake bereft of the gem on its hood. The Lord beheld by the side of His father angry Kaikey¶, who stood there like Death personified counting the last minutes of his life. Ýr¶ RŒma was compassionate and soft by nature; He witnessed sorrow for the first time in His life, He had never heard of it before. Yet, recovering Himself as the occasion demanded, addressed His step-mother in the following sweet words, “Tell me, dear mother, the cause of my father’s distress, so that an attempt may be made to remove it.” “Listen, RŒma; the sole cause is this: the king is very fond of you. He had promised me two boons of my choice and I asked whatever I liked. The king, however, was stricken with grief to hear my requests; for he cannot shake off the hesitation on your score.” (1—4)