Reward for Manthara
After completing the funeral rites of King Bahratha wanted to start to the place where Rama was. Seeing this Shatrugna“ Brother ! All animals when they are in grief approach Rama; do we have to say that he is our refuge. Rama who is capable of erasing the pain of all Living beings even though he is extreemly strong was sent to forest by a hunchback woman, coming to think of it more the surprise element is amazing. In this matter what Rama did was not the best is my thinking. Rama might have consented because the world would have accused him of usurping the Kingdom over ruling his Father’s words. After all Lakshmana is a great Warrior and great Valorous person; Why should he be scared? When he knew what Dasaratha has done is injustice , he shoud have chided him and stopped Rama from going to Forest. More than this is more surprising. When it was known that King was enticed to Kaiykyei, why Rama not admonished and punished? “ he said to Bharatha..
Then the great Sinner Manthara shouted “ Bharatha has come, hereafter his coronation will take place. Then we can have all the comforts and we can lord over ! ” with this desire she had adorned hersef with Gorgeous Dressess and Jewllery and came to Queen Chambers She had pasted herslef with the best of sandalwood paste , with garlands of Pearls, Gems was dazzling all over,which were given by Kaikyei and equal to other Queens. And she looked like the old Monkey tied with ropes.
The security gaurds there caught her and took her to Shatrugna saying “She is the Sinner who sent Rama to forest and also killed our King.This bad woman should be suitably punished by you” they prayed.
Shatrugna told “This sinner who gave grief to King and his sons is going to reap the result now “ saying thus dragged her , who was in the midst of the ladies in the chambers and he pushed the hunchback Manthara down. She unmindful of the same cried out aloud. The Ladies there”Shatrugna never gets angry. If he himself gets angry, who can stand infront of him? Shatrugna who had mastered over his senses ,even he has been provoked by this sinner deserved any punishment.There is non other than Kaushalya to protect us, let us go and surrender to her. She is Mercy personified, speaks endearingly, understand Dharma, Famed person” afraid they ran towards Kaushalya. Meanwhile Sahtrugna with eyes red due to anger , pushed the hunchback on to the groundand dragged her here and there. Due to her crying the chambers trembled.The ornaments got cut and spilled all over,looked like the stars in summer and the Chamber dazzled.
Hearing Manthara’s hysterical cry, Kayikeyei came there. Seeing her Shatrugna’s got further angered. With harsh words he abused her. Seeing this Kayikeyei got scared and was worried what he might do in his anger and ran to Bharatha and pleaded to him to protect the hunchback. Then Bharatha said “Child Sahatrugna !in all animals the Lady is weak; whatever crime they do they cannot be killed as it is a Sin. So leave this Dhusht ( wicked, villainous,treacherous,rascal, nasty, scalawag,Devil, evil, savage HEINOUSNESS, vileness, inequity). This greatest evil Kayikeyei,wouldn’t I have killed her?, even though she is my mother; Rama would have scorned me saying ‘this man killed his own mother’so I left her. If Rama knows we have killed this Manthara, he will not even speak to us.
Hearing this Sahtrugna controlled his anger pushed Manthara. In that momentum she fell unconscious at Kaikeyei’s feet.with her hands and Legs broken, breathing heavily she cried hoarsely. Kayikyei to the extent possible tried to pacify her. (Slokas 26) .
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