RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN—AYODHYAKANDA—CHAPTER 9
THE FALL OF KAIKEYI
Fire flashed from Kaikeyi’s eyes. She thought of her self reduced to the bond-maid of Kausalya. She exclaimed, “This moment I will drive Rama away from the haunts of men. And I will place the crown on the head of Bharata. Manthara! I know that your brain is keen and subtle. My son must win the throne. Rama should be eternally shut out from the succession to the throne. This is my object. I want to accomplish the object. And I count upon you to find me a way.”
Manthara said, “Here I have a plan ready to set Bharata on the throne. A great war took place of yore between the gods and the asuras. The gods had the worst of it. And they had prayed your husband to assist them. The king marched south with his friends. You accompanied him to the Dandaka forests. There Sambara, the asura, ruled from his city Vaijayanta. He was a master of illusion. He was invincible. He often fought with Indra. Dasaratha fought with him long and fiercely. And he was wounded. He lay in a deep swoon and helpless in his chariot. You drove him to another part of the field and sought to bring him back to life. But the asuras pursued him even there. They further wounded him. You took him to another place of safety. You thus rescued him from the jaws of death twice. Dasaratha was deeply grateful to you. “Saviour of my life,” he exclaimed, “I grant you two boons. Ask what you will have.” You accepted it with joy and replied, “I reserve your gifts for due season.” And he gave his consent. It was you who told me of the boons. I have treasured it in the depths of my memory.”
Manthara further counseled, “Make your husband to stop the preparation for the coronation of Rama. Put him in mind of the two boons. Use them to seat Bharata on the throne of the Kosala. And exile Rama to the woods for twice seven years.”
“I am not finished yet,” said Manthara. “You daughter of Asvapati! Take yourself to the chamber of wrath. Wrap your shapely limbs in coarse robes. Lie there in dust and dirt. The moment Dasaratha steps in sob as if your heart would break. Don’t raise your eyes to his face. Don’t speak to him. And our hopes are sure to be crowned with success. I know that you stand nearest to his heart. For you he will jump into the blazing fire. He will lay at your feet gold, gems, pearls and costly trifles. Never look at them. Recall to him the two boons given on the battlefield. He is not a man to go back upon his word. Make him cry that he will give you the two boons. Make him swear that he will not break his word. And then ask him to exile Rama to the forests for fourteen years and crown Bharata as ruler of Ayodhya. The people are fickle. They would soon forget their idol of the time, Rama. By the time Rama returns from the forests Bharata would have won the hearts of his subjects. Now is the time to accomplish our purpose or never.”
“Manthara!” exclaimed Kaikeyi. “Hunchbacks are naturally keen-witted. But you are far away and the first among them. Millions call me their queen. But you are the only one who watches over my interests. You live for my happiness. Dasartha’s black heart was a sealed book to me. I have set my eyes on countless hunchbacks. But you are a rare jewel. You are lovely beyond compare. Countless hunchbacks shall wait upon you in turn. Go tell my father that Rama will be banished from the kingdom. And my Bharata will rule the kingdom.”
Manthara had not a particle of doubt now that her pupil was dead set on her nefarious purpose.
No comments:
Post a Comment