Once there was a fierce battle between the gods and the demons in the forest of Dandaka. Indra sought king Dashrath’s help to fight the demons. Dashrath went to the forest accompanied by his queen Kaikeyi. King Dashrath was fighting against the great demon Shambara. But suddenly, Dashrath fell down to the ground and lost consciousness. Kaikeyi quickly put her husband back on the chariot and drove the chariot away from the battlefield. Thus, she managed to save the life of her husband. The king was very pleased and grateful to Kaikeyi. After this incident, Kaikeyi became the dearest for the king Dashrath amongst all his queens. He happily granted her two boons. She could ask for anything in her two boons. Dashrath promised to fulfil her desire. As Kaikeyi was the dearest queen of Dashrath, he did not show any carelessness in taking good care of her and fulfilling all her desires. Due to this, Kaikeyi had forgotten about her two boons as she never felt the need to ask for anything. Many years after the incident, Manthara, a wicked maid of Kaikeyi, reminded her about the two boons.
THE TWO BOONS
