Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below it. Certain words / phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

The kingdom of vijaynagar had not been enjoying good relations with its neighbouring state, Mahanagar, for a very long time. Jealous opponents of Rama, the king’s favourite minister, found the perfect opportunity to damage his reputation. So they went about poisoning the king’s mind against him. One day, when the king was in his chamber pondering over the affairs of the state, one of his courtiers came in and said, ‘’Your Majesty, have you heard the latest?’’ The king was surprised and exclaimed, ‘’No, I have not! What’s going on?’’ In his gravest voice, the courtier answered, ‘’Your Majesty, I will tell you only after you promise not to harm me.’’ ‘’Don’t be silly,’’ laughed the king, ‘’Say whatever you want to; you need not be afraid of me. ‘’Your Majesty, Rama is on the payroll of the king of Mahanagar. He has been spying on us for them.’’ ‘’What are you talking about ?’’ asked the king angrily.’’ This has been going on for a long time. But you would not believe a word against Rama. He has cast such a spell on you that you refuse to even think that he might betray you.’’ ‘’Rama is faithful to the kingdom. He cannot do this. You have been misinformed, ‘’ the king replied with confidence. But the courtier convinced the king to regard the statement with some gravity and do not dismiss it outright. ‘’Your majesty, I am fully confident about the truth of my information. Do you think I would have spoken to you without verifying the information?’’ said the courtier. The king promised to get the matter investigated and said that if Rama was found guilty, he would be punished. The king sent for Rama the following day and without wasting time on preliminaries, he asked him whether he was in league with Mahanagar. The question shocked Rama so much that he could not say anything. ‘’Your silence says that you accept the charge!’’ Deeply hurt that the king could doubt his loyalty, Rama refused to answer such a preposterous charge. This angered the king even more. He ordered Rama to leave his kingdom.
Rama did not say a single word in his defence and went away with his head bowed. When his enemies heard that Rama had been expelled from the kingdom their joy knew no bounds. Meanwhile, Rama went to Mahanagar and met the king there. He pleased the king with his wit. The king asked Rama who he was and when he revealed his name, the king welcomed him warmly. He had heard much about Rama’s sagacity. But the king was surprised to see Rama in his court. ‘’Your king consider me his enemy. So what are you doing here?’’ Rama replied, ‘’ Your Majesty, you are a learned man. You have great strength. You are a good administrator and wish your people well. Our king also possess all these virtues. He regards you as a friend and he has sent me to resolve the existing misunderstanding between us. ‘’The king was surprised, ‘’Your king considers me a friend? But our spies warned us that your king was thinking of attacking us,’’ said the king. Rama said, ‘’Our spies have fed our king the same pack of lies. That is why he has sent me to you. Has war ever benefitted anybody?’’ The king was impressed by this statement. He said, ‘’I do not want war, either. But how can I believe that your king really wants peace?’’ Rama suggested that the king send a messenger with gifts and a message of peace to Vijaynagar. And if the king accepts the gifts, it would mean that he, too, wants to be friends. But if he returns the gifts, then obviously, he wants war. The king had one doubt. ‘’Won’t it be an insult to me if I send the message first?’’ Rama had a ready answer. ‘’I have come with the message of peace and so it is us who have made the first move. ‘’The king liked the sound of that and sent his special messenger to Vijaynagar the next day. Meanwhile, the king of Vijaynagar had come to know that Rama was innocent and that the courtiers had conspired against him. As soon as the messenger from Mahanagar reached him with the gifts, he was delighted. He was full of praise for Rama’s wisdom and sent his own minister with gifts to Mahanagar, with a request that the king send Rama back. When Rama returned to Vijaynagar, the King warmly welcomed him. He also promised to punish the clique of courtiers who had poisoned his mind against his favourite minister.