When Kaikeyi’s maid, Manthara, heard about Rama’s coronation, she was filled with anger. She went to Kaikeyi and told that the decision was unjust as Bharata was more deserving to become Ayodhya’s king. Kaikeyi said that she was happy because she loved Rama dearly. Manthara retorted that when Rama would become the king, Kaikeyi and her son would become paupers. She tried to poison Kaikeyi’s ears against Rama. Kaikeyi was greatly carried away by Manthara’s words. She became enraged too but could not think of a way to stop Rama’s coronation. Manthara now reminded Kaikeyi of her two boons that Dashrath had granted her. Kaikeyi soon got dressed in old tattered clothes and removed all her ornaments. She angrily went to a dark isolated chamber in her palace. Hearing about this, Dashrath immediately went to meet Kaikeyi and ask the reason of her anger. Kaikeyi told that she wanted to reclaim her two boons. She asked Dashrath to crown Bharata as the new king and send Rama into exile for fourteen years. Dashrath became worried. He tried to convince Kaikeyi but she was firm. Due to this, Dashrath went in a deep state of shock.
MANTHARA AND KAIKEYI’S ANGER
