Kayikeyi falls in Manthara’s Trap
When Queen Kayikeyi fully being aware of Rama’s sterling qualities ( Celestials – Devas abetted in converting Kaykeyi’s good heart as Ravana has to be killed by Rama which is the very purpose of Maha Vishnu taking Avathar as Rama) accepted Manthara’s reasons. Her face was Red at the mere thought of being Slave Servant maid to 1st Queen Kaushalya once Sri Rama becomes the King. Queen Kaiykyei was breathing Fire and proclaimed “ At this very moment I will send Rama to forest and make my son Bharatha the King. I know You are a sharp woman,Bharatha should inherit the Kingdom just now, Rama should never get it. Please connive an appropriate strategy ” said Queen Kaiykeyi to Manthara.
Immediately Manthara decided to stop coronation ceremony of Sri Rama. Manthara was happy as Kayikeyi has now agreed to do go by her suggestions and spoke to Queen Kayikeyi “ I will tell you a ploy by which your son Bharatha will get the Kingdom. Of all persons You are asking me suggestions, Despite remembering you are hiding and want to hear from me which is in your interest. if that be the case please Listen to what i say; then Carefully analayse ,think deeply and act”.
Then Kaykeyi hurriedly got up and sat on the bed and in sitting posture asked “Mantharey! Bharatha should get the kingdom somehow. Rama should never ever get it. Tell me any Upayam( route/approach /Suggestion/tactic /stragtegy/Path).
Then Manthara said “Once long back there was Deva Asura (Celestials & Demons)War took place, then Devas(Celestials) who were losing sought King Dasaratha for help..Then King Dasratha took Saints of the King’s Throne along with you and went southwards in Dandakaaranaya (Current AP-Odisha-Chattisgarh) where there was a Demon King Sambhara who had Fish in his flag and was ruling Vaijyanthapura as his capital. That Demon was a great Mayaavi (Mystic and Magician/ Hypnotic/exponent in deception with ability to vanish into thin air and appear in sky far away or near by ) . Devas were unable to win over him. He used to wage war with Indra often, and used to slain all those who got hurt during night time(which during those times were against ethic of war).
King Dasratha waged a fierce battle. Those Demons and hurt Dasratha very badly with his Archery and Missiles and Dasratha fainted. Then you (Queen Kaykeyi) took the injured King away from battlefield and gave him treatment and made King Dasratha regain Conciousness. Asuras (Demons) came there also and were hurling Missiles, again you Queen Kaykeyi deftly handled the Chariot and weaned the King Dasaratha away and saved him. Since you saved King’s Life twice Dasratha was immensely pleased and said “ Hey Beautiful maiden I hereby grant you 2 Boons , since you saved my Life twice, Please Ask”. You accepted those Boons “ Dear I will seek these Boons at the appropriate time and ask for the same.” He also accepted the same. You Yourself told me this or else How will I know? Due to the extreme Love I have for you I have always remembered this without forgetting it.
“ You tell your husband to stop the Coronation of Sri Rama. You remind him of his 2 Boons , Tell him Sri Rama should go to Forest for 14 years. Why 14 years is because during those 14 Years Bharatha can win over his subjects affection with his astute Governanace”.
“ How to implement the Upayam( route/approach /Suggestion/tactic /stragtegy/ Path) I have told you now .Listen! You feign as though you are angry with King Dasratha and enter your Kopa Room (Room allocated to express Displeaure/Upset of the Queen to King . This way it maintains Decorum of the Palace as well) right now and lie down on the floor wearing dirty clothes. When you see King; you cry/ bemoan loudly in deep sorrow and do not even look /glance at him,do not talk to him, do not get up from floor, if you do this our task/purpose will have immediate effect to conclude.
“Since he has more affection towards you than others, right?, this I know for certain,he will for your sake even fall in Fire; he will not dare to make you angry. If you get angry he can’t even look at your eyes. To earn your attention, he may say he is ready to even give his own Life. He cannot transgress your command/word. Hey Lady ! realise the Power of your Beauty ,which God has showered on you .If he offers you Gold, Pearls and more Rare unobtainable costly Gems do not develope desire for them. You remind him of the 2 Boons he granted you during Deva Asura Yudahm(War between Celestials and Demons). He is known for keeping up his word. Hence our thoughts/ruse will happen. This is certain. If he lifts you and says I hereby grant you the 2 boons ; immediately ask him to do Prathignya(Promise/Vow/Keep one’s word even at he cost of his own Life) on fulfilling the 2 Boons then ask him “ Rama should be sent to Forest for 14 Years, and Crown Bharatha as the king of this earth”and say so firmly.
If Rama is not there in the Country for 14 Years then Bharatha will yearn Fame and and Development and will be able to take control of the Defence forces and Wealth of the treasury., then Bharatha can live happily as long as he wants with Sukham(Comfort, Luxury, Joy, Fun,Cheer, Love, Affection and fulfill his Desires). Some how get the Boon to banish Rama to Forest without fail; if you do that, then your son Bharatha will have all Good things happening to him. Once Rama goes to forest, slowly the affection the citizens have for Rama will dwindle and evaporate. Then no one will support him on his return. Your Bhratha will rule the world as Emperor after defeating all enemies. Since Bharatha is Intelleigent and sagacious he would have lured one and all and would be in an unshakeable position. Time has come when We can fulfill our ambition. Without any inhibition or fear you entice King Dasratha. Stop the preparations for coronation of Sri Rama” thus Manthara counselled Kaiykeyi.
Kaylei thus believed it is good for her that which would actually bring in disaster. She became ecstatic with joy and was like a Female horse which is uncontollable and spoke with vigour “ Mantharey! It is said hunchback have very sharp intellect, but amongst all the hunhbacks in the world none have the sharpeness like you. What a surprise! It has not occurred to me so far. You are the only one well wisher for me. You are always concerned about my well being. I did not realize the habitual opinion I did not realize till now. There are many Hunchback ladies in the world who always see things in a wrong way and angle. Will Lotus flower which when bent due to wind will it lose it’s beauty? So a naturally beautiful woman like you who due to nature have become hunchback will your beauty diminish? Your Busts are competing with Soulders and look tall. Beneath that your tummy is as though shy does not even reveal itself and is hiding. Your face is like the Moon without any scar/blemish. The half twine string having bells strung around your waist are tolling very pleasantly. Your ankles are well formed.Your Feet are long. Your long thighs are decorated with white Silken cloth. When you walk before me , you look like the Female Swan Demon King Sambahra’s inneumerous Maya (ie Decption-Ability to make a person vanish in thin air- Mysticism –Hypnotism etc ) and also those unknown to him,Diplomacy of highest order,innovatinve ,unimaginable, crooked wicked thoughts, foresight to know of likely happening it I is all encompassed in the sharp tip of your Breast. Mantharey! Here I am giving my golden Necklace as garland for you, take it. When Rama goes to forest, my son Bharatha becomes King, my aspirations get fulfilled and I am contended and happy I will give you a Befitting Blouse for your Chest made out of pure melted Gold. With purest Sandalwood paste mixed with pure Gold and make an ointment and apply on your body. I will put on your Forehead a Pendant embedded with lot of Gems. You will move around with exquisitely carved dresses like an Angel. With Facial expression of Unmatched Beauty making even the Moon shy you will make those jealous of swallow their pride and fall at my feet. Like you serve me many hunchback Ladies will serve you adorned with jewllery and Dresses nicely.
Manthara who was thus praised by the Queen Kaikyei lying on the spotlessly white Bed was addressed as follows “hey!Do you perform the Surya Namashkar after your Eyes are spoilt? Can you construct the Dam after banks of the Lake have broken? get up do what is needed. Go the Khopa Room. Await the arrival of King Dasratha” urged Manthara to Queen Kaikeyi.
Thus Queen Kaiykeyi who was instigated by Manthara went to Khopa room , was overcome by the pride that there was none more beautiful than herself, removed many Necklaces,Ornaments and threw it around. Like the Godlen Statue with wide eyed eyes bound by the evil counseling of Manthara was lying in the floor uttered “ Mantharey ! Rama should be banished into the forest, Bharatha should get Kingdom,otherwise Kaikeyi will lose her Life in Khopa Room tell so to the King. I do not need any gold or ornaments. If Coronation is performed on Rama that very minute my Life will ebb.” Thus spake Queen Kaikeyi. Manthara enthused her with words which were against Rama and those which were in consonance in Bharatha ‘s interest and asked Queen Kaykeyi to remain steadfast in her Demands and told her “ If Rama gets Kingdom then you and Bharatha will be in distress so Kayikeyi somehow ensure Bharatha gets the Kingdom”.
Queen Kayikeyi who was pierced by the word arrows of Manthara often “ Dasratha dared to do what was not acceptable to me eh?”.And got angry with Dasratha for making arrangements for Cornonation of Sri Rama and said “ Mantharey! Rama will live in the Forest for many years. My son Bharatha will enjoy all types of Sukham(Comfort, Luxury, Joy, Fun,Cheer, Love, Affection and fulfilled her Desires)., I will go to Yama (God of Death) from the Khopa room directly, tell my father Kaikeyi King, What is the use of Food, beverages, scents, fragrance items ,clothing, Bedsheets if Rama does not go to forest? what is the use of my being alive?. Having removed the ornaments she was lying on the floor Like the Kinnery bird.She was covered by the Dark illusion of ever increasing pentup Anger face coverd and all jewleery strewn all alround with deep Anguish and Sorrow looked like the stars coverd by dark clouds in the sky. (Slokas 66)
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