When the sage finally disclosed his purpose of visit to the king’, the latter was stunned and dumbfounded beyond measure. He was virtually in a stupor, not being able to utter a word of answer, either yes or no. He was literally torn between two extreme emotions and was dangling on the horns of a great and unprecedented dilemma—because on the one hand there was the intense pull of the bond of love that he had for his sons (Ram and Laxman), and on the other hand there was the demand of righteous duty and the need to adhere to the principles of a true upholder of Dharma that was expected from such a great king as he who was renowned the world over precisely for this virtue’.