Manthara was a companion and maid to Queen Kaikeyi. She was a woman with an evil and petty mind, jealous of the prosperity of others. When she heard that Rama was to be the Crown Prince, she went to give Kaikeyi the news. Kaikeyi was delighted to hear it and gifted Manthara a necklace. Manthara flung it away. “You are foolish, Kaikeyi!” Manthara said, “You cannot see the cleverness of Kaushalya. She will become more important than you if her son is the Crown Prince. And you will be nothing more than a maid to her!” At first, Kaikeyi was very angry with Manthara. But gradually, she began to weaken as Manthara went on and on. “Your son will be an ordinary citizen of Ayodhya. In what way is he less qualified than Rama? Why has this decision been taken when Bharata has been sent away to Kekaya?” said the wily Manthara.
Jealous Manthara
