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promise. During all the intervening years,
no word had been spoken on this subject.
Hence the King thought there could be no
difficulty in installing Rama as Yuvaraja
in accordance with the custom of the
dynasty and public expectation. And there
was no cloud in Kaikeyi's mind. This is
clear
from
Kaikeyi's
behavior.
And
Bharata was too noble to raise this
question.
And, yet, as Dasaratha told Rama, even
the purest of minds is mutable. When fate
conspires with bad counsel, any one of us
might be corrupted. And this happened to
Kaikeyi. The gods in Heaven had received
an assurance, and the sages had performed
tapas or the destruction of Ravana. What
we call destiny, therefore, ordained that
Kaikeyi's pure heart should be changed by
Manthara's evil counsel. So says Kamban
in the Tamil Ramayana in his own
inimitable style.
Fearing that delay might bring some
unpredictable obstacles, Dasaratha had
ordered the coronation to be done without
waiting for Bharata's return to the capital.
This same fear and hurry were used by
Manthara to persuade Kaikeyi to take the
wrong path. "Think, my Queen. Why this
haste? Why does your husband rush
through the ceremony when your son is
absent? Is it not to cheat him of his right?
Is not the motive plain? The King
pretends to be enamored of you. But this
is only his hypocritical shrewdness."
Thus tempted, Kaikeyi thought over
Manthara's advice. Kaikeyi was weak like
any other woman. She had good feeling
and good culture, besides a keen intellect.
But she had little knowledge of the world.
She was also terribly obstinate. Easily
deceived, she did not have the power to
foresee the full consequences of her
action. Thus began the charter of grief in
the Ramayana.
13. KAIKEYI SUCCUMBS
Kaikeyi, who had looked upon Rama
as her own son, was enmeshed in
Manthara's
arguments
and
became
helpless.
"Indeed, I am afraid," she said. "Tell
me what we should do. Am I to be a
servant to Kausalya? Never, Bharata must
be crowned. You are quite right. And
Rama must be sent to forest. But how
shall we get all this done? Tell me. You
are clever and know the way."
And
she
clung
to
Manthara.
In
Kaikeyi's eyes at that time Manthara's
crooked frame appeared handsome. This
is not a joke; it is a subtle psychological
phenomenon,
"This is indeed strange, Kaikeyi," said
Manthara. "Is it for me to tell you how
this could be brought about? Have you
really
forgotten?
Or,
are
you
only
pretending? But if you want me to say it, I
shall do so. Listen."
And then she paused. Kaikeyi, all
impatient,
cried:
"Tell
me,
tell
me.
Somehow Bharata must be crowned and
Rama's coronation must be stopped."
"Very well," said Manthara, "I shall tell
you. Do not be impatient. You remember
how your husband Dasaratha, long ago,
fought against Sambara in the South? And