Part 7: Plan to kill Daśaratha and Janaka

Now, while Daśakandhara was enjoying half of Bharata, present in his council, he asked an expert astrologer: “Even the immortals are immortal in name only, not in fact. Death is certainly inevitable for everyone in the ocean of worldly existence. Will my death come from natural course of time or from an enemy? Tell me that fearlessly. For the wise speak clearly.” He replied, “Your death will result from a future son of Daśaratha because of a future daughter of Janaka.”

Bibhīṣaṇa said: “Even if his speech is always true, I shall quickly make that speech of his untrue. I shall kill Janaka and Daśaratha, who have become the seed of the worthless son and daughter. May we be successful. For if their very birth is prevented by the destruction of the seed, then the astrologer’s words will be false, surely.” Rāvaṇa agreed and Bibhīṣaṇa went to his own house. Nārada, who had been present and heard that, went to Daśaratha. Daśaratha got up to greet the divine sage while he was far off, bowed to him, and seated him with honor, like a guru. Asked, “Where have you come from?” Nārada said: “I have gone to Puṇḍarīkiṇī in East Videha to see the departure-festival of Śrī Sīmandharanātha celebrated by gods and demons. After seeing it I went to Meru. After paying homage to the Lords of the Tīrtha there, I went to Laṅkā. After I had bowed to Śānti in Śānti’s temple, I went to Rāvaṇa’s house. There I heard an astrologer predict the slaying of Rāvaṇa by a son of yours because of a daughter of Janaka. When Bibhīṣaṇa heard that, he vowed to kill you and Janaka and he will come here soon, long-armed. After learning all that, I came here in haste from Laṅkā to tell you from friendship because you are a co-religionist.”

Ṇārada was dismissed quickly by the king with reverence after hearing that; and he told the same thing to King Janaka. The king told the ministers and handed over the kingdom to them and went away like a yogi wishing to deceive death. The ministers put an image of Daśaratha, which had been anointed, in the palace to delude the enemies in the dark. Janaka and his ministers did likewise; and Daśaratha and Janaka wandered over the earth, unobserved. Bibhīṣaṇa came in dense darkness in haste and cut off the head of the anointed statue of Daśaratha with a sword. A tumult arose in all the city and a loud sound of lamentations in the harem. The vassals and the bodyguards armed themselves and ran to the attack; the ministers with secret plans held the funeral ceremonies. Knowing that Daśaratha was dead, Bibhīṣaṇa went to Laṅkā; but he did not kill the lord of Mithilā, alone, destitute.