Manthara persists in her instigation. She spoke to Kaikeyi with anger and sorrow, anger for not listening to her words which were for her own good and sorrow, because disaster would befall her.
“Lucky is Kausalya whose son will be consecrated as crown prince tomorrow by the leading purohits”. These words of Manthara have one and only aim, namely, to rouse the jealousy of Kaikeyi towards Kausalya, who attains fortune when her son is crowned.
She continues ‘Just as your son Bharata’s future gets destroyed by Rama, your future will also get destroyed by Kausalya who will become the queen-mother. She will treat you as a maidservant. You will have no option but to serve her obediently. Finally, along with us, you too will be reduced to the status of her maidservant and you will stand with folded hands before her. Your son, too, will be reduced to Rama’s attendant’.
Kaikeyi speaks of Rama’s virtues 2.8.13-19
Kaikeyi, however, goes on harping on the numerous virtues of Rama and maintains that his consecration as crown prince is most welcome to her, to her son and to the subjects.
Manthara provokes Kaikeyi 2.8.20-39
Rama will be crowned king and after him, his son. Bharata has no place at all in the existing scheme. All the sons of a king cannot be rulers. The truth is, it is proximity that produces partiality. In the absence of Bharata, the king shows his favour to Rama who is always with him.
Finally, let Bharata be sent directly to the forest from Rajagriha, his maternal uncle’s palace. Let him not meet his death here, at the hands of Rama. Think of the danger to you also. It is improbable that your co-wife, Kausalya, who has been insulted throughout by you, out of your pride born of being the most favourite to the king, will not take revenge on you, now that she is the queen-mother, a supreme status in a royal house. To be brief, you and your son Bharata will suffer inexplicable ignominy in the palace. You should save your son as well as yourself. Therefore, devise some plan by which you can secure for Bharata sovereignty, and to send Rama to the woods on exilement.’
Manthara’s instigation 2.8.1-12
Manthara persists in her instigation. She spoke to Kaikeyi with anger and sorrow, anger for not listening to her words which were for her own good and sorrow, because disaster would befall her.
“Lucky is Kausalya whose son will be consecrated as crown prince tomorrow by the leading purohits”. These words of Manthara have one and only aim, namely, to rouse the jealousy of Kaikeyi towards Kausalya, who attains fortune when her son is crowned.
She continues ‘Just as your son Bharata’s future gets destroyed by Rama, your future will also get destroyed by Kausalya who will become the queen-mother. She will treat you as a maidservant. You will have no option but to serve her obediently. Finally, along with us, you too will be reduced to the status of her maidservant and you will stand with folded hands before her. Your son, too, will be reduced to Rama’s attendant’.
Kaikeyi speaks of Rama’s virtues 2.8.13-19
Kaikeyi, however, goes on harping on the numerous virtues of Rama and maintains that his consecration as crown prince is most welcome to her, to her son and to the subjects.
Manthara provokes Kaikeyi 2.8.20-39
Rama will be crowned king and after him, his son. Bharata has no place at all in the existing scheme. All the sons of a king cannot be rulers. The truth is, it is proximity that produces partiality. In the absence of Bharata, the king shows his favour to Rama who is always with him.
Finally, let Bharata be sent directly to the forest from Rajagriha, his maternal uncle’s palace. Let him not meet his death here, at the hands of Rama. Think of the danger to you also. It is improbable that your co-wife, Kausalya, who has been insulted throughout by you, out of your pride born of being the most favourite to the king, will not take revenge on you, now that she is the queen-mother, a supreme status in a royal house. To be brief, you and your son Bharata will suffer inexplicable ignominy in the palace. You should save your son as well as yourself. Therefore, devise some plan by which you can secure for Bharata sovereignty, and to send Rama to the woods on exilement.’