The Queen's Demand Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AA BB CC DD EF GG FF HI JJ BB KK JJ LL LL LL MM NN LL LL LL KK LL OO PP DD QQ LL JJ P LL LL RS LL RR LL MM LL TT PP UU VV PRama shall be crowned at sunrise so did royal bards proclaim | A |
Every rite arranged and ordered Dasa ratha homeward came | A |
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To the fairest of his consorts dearest to his ancient heart | B |
Came the king with eager gladness joyful message to impart | B |
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Radiant as the Lord of Midnight ere the eclipse casts its gloom | C |
Carne the old and ardent monarch heedless of his darksome doom | C |
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Through the shady palace garden where the peacock wandered free | D |
Lute and lyre poured forth their music parrot flew from tree to tree | D |
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Through the corridor of creepers painted rooms by artists done | E |
And the halls where scented Champak and the flaming Asok shone | F |
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Through the portico of splendour graced by silver tusk and gold | G |
Radiant with his thought of gladness walked the monarch proud and bold | G |
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Through the lines of scented blossoms which by limpid waters shone | F |
And the rooms with seats of silver ivory bench and golden throne | F |
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Through the chamber of confection where each viand wooed the taste | H |
Every object in profusion as in regions of the blest | I |
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Through Kaikeyi's inner closet lighted with a softened sheen | J |
Walked the king with eager longing but Kaikeyi was not seen | J |
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Thoughts of love and gentle dalliance woke within his ancient heart | B |
And the magic of her beauty and the glamour of her art | B |
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With a soft desire the monarch vainly searched the vanished fair | K |
Found her not in royal chamber found her not in gay parterre | K |
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Filled with love and longing languor loitered not the radiant queen | J |
In her soft voluptuous chamber in the garden grove or green | J |
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And he asked the faithful warder of Kaikeyi loved and lost | L |
She who served him with devotion and his wishes never crost | L |
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Spake the warder in his terror that the queen with rage distraught | L |
Weeping silent tears of anguish had the mourner's chamber sought | L |
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Thither flew the stricken monarch on the bare and unswept ground | L |
Trembling with tumultuous passion was the Queen Kaikeyi found | L |
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On the cold uncovered pavement sorrowing lay the weeping wife | M |
Young wife of an ancient husband dearer than his heart and life | M |
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Like a bright and blossoming creeper rudely severed from the earth | N |
Like a fallen fair Apsara beauteous nymph of heavenly birth | N |
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Like a female forest ranger bleeding from the hunter's dart | L |
Whom her mate the forest monarch soothes with soft endearing art | L |
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Lay the queen in tears of anguish And with sweet and gentle word | L |
To the lotus ey d lady softly spake her loving lord | L |
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Wherefore thus my Queen and Empress sorrow laden is thy heart | L |
Who with daring slight or insult seeks to cause thy bosom smart | L |
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If some unknown ailment pains thee evil spirit of the air | K |
Skilled physicians wait upon thee priests with incantations fair | K |
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If from human foe some insult wipe thy tears and doom his fate | L |
Rich reward or royal vengeance shall upon thy mandate wait | L |
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Wilt thou doom to death the guiltless free whom direst sins debase | O |
Wilt thou lift the poor and lowly or the proud and great disgrace | O |
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Speak and I and all my courtiers Queen Kaikeyi's hest obey | P |
For thy might is boundless Empress limitless thy regal sway | P |
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Rolls my chariot wheel revolving from the sea to farthest sea | D |
And the wide earth is my empire monarchs list my proud decree | D |
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Nations of the eastern regions and of Sindhu's western wave | Q |
Brave Saurashtras and the races who the ocean's dangers brave | Q |
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Vangas Angas and Magadhas warlike Matsyas of the west | L |
Kasis and the southern races brave Kosalas first and best | L |
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Nations of my world wide empire rich in corn and sheep and kine | J |
All shall serve my Queen Kaikeyi and their treasures all are thine | J |
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Speak command thy king a obedience and thy wrath will melt away | P |
Like the melting snow of winter 'neath the sun's reviving ray ' | - |
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Blinded was the ancient husband as he lifted up her head | L |
Heedless oath and word he plighted that her wish should be obeyed | L |
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Scheming for a fatal purpose inly then Kaikeyi smiled | L |
And by sacred oath and promise bound the monarch love beguiled | L |
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'Thou hast given Dasa ratha troth and word and royal oath | R |
Three and thirty Gods be witness watchers of the righteous truth | S |
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Sun and Moon and Stars be witness Sky and Day and sable Night | L |
Rolling Worlds and this our wide Earth and each dark and unseen wight | L |
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Witness Rangers of the forest Household Gods that guard us both | R |
Mortal beings and Immortal witness ye the monarch's oath | R |
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Ever faithful to his promise ever truthful in his word | L |
Dasa ratha grants my prayer Spirits and the Gods have heard | L |
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Call to mind O righteous monarch days when in a bygone strife | M |
Warring with thy foes immortal thou hadst almost lost thy life | M |
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With a woman's loving tendance poor Kaikeyi cured thy wound | L |
Till from death and danger rescued thou wert by a promise bound | L |
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Two rewards my husband offered what my loving heart might seek | T |
Long delayed their wished fulfilment now let poor Kaikeyi speak | T |
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And if royal deeds redeem not what thy royal lips did say | P |
Victim to thy broken promise Queen Kaikeyi dies to day | P |
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By these rites ordained for Rama such the news my menials bring | U |
Let my Bharat and not Rama be anointed Regent King | U |
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Wearing skins and matted tresses in the cave or hermit's cell | V |
Fourteen years in Dandak's forests let the elder Rama dwell | V |
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These are Queen Kaikeyi's wishes these are boons for which I pray | P |
I would see my son anointed Rama banished on this day ' | - |
Valmiki
(1)
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