Ramayana. The Scheming of Kaikeyi.
All this time Bharata's mother, Kaikeyi, had not heard a word of Raja Dasharatha's intention. Kaikeyi was young and passionate and very beautiful; by nature she was generous, but not so kind or wise that she might not be swayed by the crooked promptings of her own desires or another's instigation. She had a faithful old hump-backed nurse of an evil disposition; Manthara was her name. Now Manthara, hearing the rejoicings and learning that Rama was to be installed as heir-apparent, hurried to inform her mistress of this misfortune to Bharata, as Rama's honour seemed to her narrow view.
"O senseless one," she said, "why art thou idle and content when such misfortune is thine?" Kaikeyi asked her what evil had befallen. Manthara answered with words of anger: "O my lady, a terrible destruction awaits thy bliss, so that I am sunk in fear immeasurable and afflicted with heaviness and grief; burning like a fire, I have sought thee hurriedly. Thou art verily a Queen of Earth; but though thy Lord speaks blandly, he is crafty and crooked-hearted within, and wills thee harm. It is Kaushalya's welfare that he seeks, not thine, whatever sweet words he may have for thee. Bharata is sent away, and Rama is to be set upon the throne! Indeed, my girl, thou hast nursed for thy husband a poisonous snake! Now quickly act, and find a way to save thyself and Bharata and me." But Manthara's words made Kaikeyi glad: she rejoiced that Rama should be heir, and giving a jewel to the humpbacked maid, she said: "What boon can I give thee for this news? I am glad indeed to hear this tale. Rama and Bharata are very dear to me, and I find no difference between them. It is well that Rama should be set upon the throne. Have thanks for thy good news."
Then the humpbacked servant was the more angry, and cast away the jewel. "Indeed," she said, "thou art mad to rejoice at thy calamity. What woman of good sense is gladdened by deadly news of a co-wife's son's preferment? Thou shalt be as it were Kaushalya's slave, and Bharata but Rama's servant."
But still Kaikeyi was not moved to envy. "Why grieve at Rama's fortune?" she said. "He is well fitted to be king; and if the kingdom be his, it will be also Bharata's, for Rama ever regards his brothers as himself." Then Manthara, sighing very bitterly, answered Kaikeyi: "Little dost thou understand, thinking that to be good which is thy evil fortune. Thou wouldst grant me a reward because of the preferment of thy co-wife! Know surely that Rama, when he is well established, will banish Bharata to a distant land or to another world. Bharata is his natural enemy, for what other rival has he, since Lakshmana desires only Rama's weal, and Satrughna is attached to Bharata? Thou shouldst save Bharata from Rama, who shall overcome him as a lion an elephant: thy co-wife, Rama's mother, too, will seek to revenge on thee that slight thou didst once put on her. Sorry will be thy lot when Rama rules the earth. Thou shouldst, while there is time, plan to set thy son upon the throne and banish Rama."
Thus Kaikeyi's pride and jealousy were roused, and she grew red with anger and breathed deep and hard, and answered Manthara:
"This very day Rama must be banished and Bharata installed as heir. Hast thou any plan to accomplish this my will?"
Then Manthara reminded her of an ancient pledge: how long ago in a great battle with the rakshasas Dasharatha had been wounded and almost slain; how Kaikeyi had found him unconscious on the field of battle, and borne him to a place of safety and there healed him; how Dasharatha had granted her two boons, and she reserved those boons to ask them from him when and as she would. "Now," said Manthara, "ask thy husband for these boons: to establish Bharata as heir upon the throne, and banish Rama to the forests for fourteen years. During those years Bharata shall be so well established and make himself so dear to the people that he need not fear Rama. Therefore do thou enter the Anger-chamber, casting off thy jewels, and, putting on a soiled garment, vouchsafe no word or look to Dasharatha. Thou art his dearest wife, to whom he can refuse nothing, nor can he endure to see thee grieved. He will offer thee gold and jewels, but do thou refuse every offer but the banishment of Rama and the establishment of Bharata."
Thus was Kaileyi led to choose that as good which was in truth most evil; stirred up by the humpbacked servant's words, the fair Kaikeyi started up like a mare devoted to her foal and rushed along an evil path. She thanked and praised the humpbacked Manthara, and promised her many rich rewards when Bharata should be set upon the throne. Then she tore off her jewels and beautiful garments, and flung herself down upon the floor of the Anger-chamber; she clasped her breasts and cried: "Know that either Rama shall be banished and my son installed, or I shall die: if Rama goes not to the forest, I will n ot desire bed or garland, sandal-paste or ointment, meat or drink, or life itself." So, like a starry sky hidden by heavy clouds, that royal lady sulked and gloomed; like a bird-woman struck down by poisoned shafts, in her distress like a serpent;s daughter in her wrath.
Then, while it was still long before the dawn, Dasharatha bethought him to inform Kaikeyi of the coming ceremony. Not finding her in her painted bower nor in his own rooms, he learnt that she had gone to the Anger-chamber. There he followed, and beheld his youngest wife lying upon the ground like an uprooted vine or an ensnared doe. Then that hero, like a forest elephant, tnederly touched the lotus-eyed queen and asked what ailed her. "If thou art sick there are physicians; or if thou wouldst have any who deserves a punishment rewarded, or those who should be rewarded punished, name thy wish: I can deny thee nothing. Thou knowest that I can refuse no request of thine; ask then for whatsoever thou desirest and be comforted."
Thus consoled, she answered: "None has injured me; but I have a desire which, if thou wilt grant, I will tell thee of." Then Dasharatha swore by Rama himself that he would accomplish whatever she desired.
Then Kaikeyi revealed her dreadful wish, calling the Heaven and Earth and Day and Night and household gods and every living thing to witness that he had promised to fulfil her will. She reminded him of that old war with the asuras when she had saved his life and he had granted her two boons. Thus the king was snared by Kaikeyi, like a deer entering a trap. "Now those boons," she said, "which thou art pledged to grant me here and now, are these: let Rama, clad in deer-skin, lead a hermit's life in Dandaka forest for fourteen years, and Bharata be established as heir-apparent. Do thou now prove thy royal word, according to thy race and character and birth. Truth, so the hermits tell us, is of supreme benefit to men when they reach the next world."
All this time Bharata's mother, Kaikeyi, had not heard a word of Raja Dasharatha's intention. Kaikeyi was young and passionate and very beautiful; by nature she was generous, but not so kind or wise that she might not be swayed by the crooked promptings of her own desires or another's instigation. She had a faithful old hump-backed nurse of an evil disposition; Manthara was her name. Now Manthara, hearing the rejoicings and learning that Rama was to be installed as heir-apparent, hurried to inform her mistress of this misfortune to Bharata, as Rama's honour seemed to her narrow view.
"O senseless one," she said, "why art thou idle and content when such misfortune is thine?" Kaikeyi asked her what evil had befallen. Manthara answered with words of anger: "O my lady, a terrible destruction awaits thy bliss, so that I am sunk in fear immeasurable and afflicted with heaviness and grief; burning like a fire, I have sought thee hurriedly. Thou art verily a Queen of Earth; but though thy Lord speaks blandly, he is crafty and crooked-hearted within, and wills thee harm. It is Kaushalya's welfare that he seeks, not thine, whatever sweet words he may have for thee. Bharata is sent away, and Rama is to be set upon the throne! Indeed, my girl, thou hast nursed for thy husband a poisonous snake! Now quickly act, and find a way to save thyself and Bharata and me." But Manthara's words made Kaikeyi glad: she rejoiced that Rama should be heir, and giving a jewel to the humpbacked maid, she said: "What boon can I give thee for this news? I am glad indeed to hear this tale. Rama and Bharata are very dear to me, and I find no difference between them. It is well that Rama should be set upon the throne. Have thanks for thy good news."
Then the humpbacked servant was the more angry, and cast away the jewel. "Indeed," she said, "thou art mad to rejoice at thy calamity. What woman of good sense is gladdened by deadly news of a co-wife's son's preferment? Thou shalt be as it were Kaushalya's slave, and Bharata but Rama's servant."
But still Kaikeyi was not moved to envy. "Why grieve at Rama's fortune?" she said. "He is well fitted to be king; and if the kingdom be his, it will be also Bharata's, for Rama ever regards his brothers as himself." Then Manthara, sighing very bitterly, answered Kaikeyi: "Little dost thou understand, thinking that to be good which is thy evil fortune. Thou wouldst grant me a reward because of the preferment of thy co-wife! Know surely that Rama, when he is well established, will banish Bharata to a distant land or to another world. Bharata is his natural enemy, for what other rival has he, since Lakshmana desires only Rama's weal, and Satrughna is attached to Bharata? Thou shouldst save Bharata from Rama, who shall overcome him as a lion an elephant: thy co-wife, Rama's mother, too, will seek to revenge on thee that slight thou didst once put on her. Sorry will be thy lot when Rama rules the earth. Thou shouldst, while there is time, plan to set thy son upon the throne and banish Rama."
Thus Kaikeyi's pride and jealousy were roused, and she grew red with anger and breathed deep and hard, and answered Manthara:
"This very day Rama must be banished and Bharata installed as heir. Hast thou any plan to accomplish this my will?"
Then Manthara reminded her of an ancient pledge: how long ago in a great battle with the rakshasas Dasharatha had been wounded and almost slain; how Kaikeyi had found him unconscious on the field of battle, and borne him to a place of safety and there healed him; how Dasharatha had granted her two boons, and she reserved those boons to ask them from him when and as she would. "Now," said Manthara, "ask thy husband for these boons: to establish Bharata as heir upon the throne, and banish Rama to the forests for fourteen years. During those years Bharata shall be so well established and make himself so dear to the people that he need not fear Rama. Therefore do thou enter the Anger-chamber, casting off thy jewels, and, putting on a soiled garment, vouchsafe no word or look to Dasharatha. Thou art his dearest wife, to whom he can refuse nothing, nor can he endure to see thee grieved. He will offer thee gold and jewels, but do thou refuse every offer but the banishment of Rama and the establishment of Bharata."
Thus was Kaileyi led to choose that as good which was in truth most evil; stirred up by the humpbacked servant's words, the fair Kaikeyi started up like a mare devoted to her foal and rushed along an evil path. She thanked and praised the humpbacked Manthara, and promised her many rich rewards when Bharata should be set upon the throne. Then she tore off her jewels and beautiful garments, and flung herself down upon the floor of the Anger-chamber; she clasped her breasts and cried: "Know that either Rama shall be banished and my son installed, or I shall die: if Rama goes not to the forest, I will n ot desire bed or garland, sandal-paste or ointment, meat or drink, or life itself." So, like a starry sky hidden by heavy clouds, that royal lady sulked and gloomed; like a bird-woman struck down by poisoned shafts, in her distress like a serpent;s daughter in her wrath.
Then, while it was still long before the dawn, Dasharatha bethought him to inform Kaikeyi of the coming ceremony. Not finding her in her painted bower nor in his own rooms, he learnt that she had gone to the Anger-chamber. There he followed, and beheld his youngest wife lying upon the ground like an uprooted vine or an ensnared doe. Then that hero, like a forest elephant, tnederly touched the lotus-eyed queen and asked what ailed her. "If thou art sick there are physicians; or if thou wouldst have any who deserves a punishment rewarded, or those who should be rewarded punished, name thy wish: I can deny thee nothing. Thou knowest that I can refuse no request of thine; ask then for whatsoever thou desirest and be comforted."
Thus consoled, she answered: "None has injured me; but I have a desire which, if thou wilt grant, I will tell thee of." Then Dasharatha swore by Rama himself that he would accomplish whatever she desired.
Then Kaikeyi revealed her dreadful wish, calling the Heaven and Earth and Day and Night and household gods and every living thing to witness that he had promised to fulfil her will. She reminded him of that old war with the asuras when she had saved his life and he had granted her two boons. Thus the king was snared by Kaikeyi, like a deer entering a trap. "Now those boons," she said, "which thou art pledged to grant me here and now, are these: let Rama, clad in deer-skin, lead a hermit's life in Dandaka forest for fourteen years, and Bharata be established as heir-apparent. Do thou now prove thy royal word, according to thy race and character and birth. Truth, so the hermits tell us, is of supreme benefit to men when they reach the next world."
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All this time Bharata's mother, Kaikeyi, had not heard a word of Raja Dasharatha's intention. Kaikeyi was young and passionate and very beautiful; by nature she was generous, but not so kind or wise that she might not be swayed by the crooked promptings of her own desires or another's instigation. She had a faithful old hump-backed nurse of an evil disposition; Manthara was her name. Now Manthara, hearing the rejoicings and learning that Rama was to be installed as heir-apparent, hurried to inform her mistress of this misfortune to Bharata, as Rama's honour seemed to her narrow view.
"O senseless one," she said, "why art thou idle and content when such misfortune is thine?" Kaikeyi asked her what evil had befallen. Manthara answered with words of anger: "O my lady, a terrible destruction awaits thy bliss, so that I am sunk in fear immeasurable and afflicted with heaviness and grief; burning like a fire, I have sought thee hurriedly. Thou art verily a Queen of Earth; but though thy Lord speaks blandly, he is crafty and crooked-hearted within, and wills thee harm. It is Kaushalya's welfare that he seeks, not thine, whatever sweet words he may have for thee. Bharata is sent away, and Rama is to be set upon the throne! Indeed, my girl, thou hast nursed for thy husband a poisonous snake! Now quickly act, and find a way to save thyself and Bharata and me." But Manthara's words made Kaikeyi glad: she rejoiced that Rama should be heir, and giving a jewel to the humpbacked maid, she said: "What boon can I give thee for this news? I am glad indeed to hear this tale. Rama and Bharata are very dear to me, and I find no difference between them. It is well that Rama should be set upon the throne. Have thanks for thy good news."
Then the humpbacked servant was the more angry, and cast away the jewel. "Indeed," she said, "thou art mad to rejoice at thy calamity. What woman of good sense is gladdened by deadly news of a co-wife's son's preferment? Thou shalt be as it were Kaushalya's slave, and Bharata but Rama's servant."
But still Kaikeyi was not moved to envy. "Why grieve at Rama's fortune?" she said. "He is well fitted to be king; and if the kingdom be his, it will be also Bharata's, for Rama ever regards his brothers as himself." Then Manthara, sighing very bitterly, answered Kaikeyi: "Little dost thou understand, thinking that to be good which is thy evil fortune. Thou wouldst grant me a reward because of the preferment of thy co-wife! Know surely that Rama, when he is well established, will banish Bharata to a distant land or to another world. Bharata is his natural enemy, for what other rival has he, since Lakshmana desires only Rama's weal, and Satrughna is attached to Bharata? Thou shouldst save Bharata from Rama, who shall overcome him as a lion an elephant: thy co-wife, Rama's mother, too, will seek to revenge on thee that slight thou didst once put on her. Sorry will be thy lot when Rama rules the earth. Thou shouldst, while there is time, plan to set thy son upon the throne and banish Rama."
Thus Kaikeyi's pride and jealousy were roused, and she grew red with anger and breathed deep and hard, and answered Manthara:
"This very day Rama must be banished and Bharata installed as heir. Hast thou any plan to accomplish this my will?"
Then Manthara reminded her of an ancient pledge: how long ago in a great battle with the rakshasas Dasharatha had been wounded and almost slain; how Kaikeyi had found him unconscious on the field of battle, and borne him to a place of safety and there healed him; how Dasharatha had granted her two boons, and she reserved those boons to ask them from him when and as she would. "Now," said Manthara, "ask thy husband for these boons: to establish Bharata as heir upon the throne, and banish Rama to the forests for fourteen years. During those years Bharata shall be so well established and make himself so dear to the people that he need not fear Rama. Therefore do thou enter the Anger-chamber, casting off thy jewels, and, putting on a soiled garment, vouchsafe no word or look to Dasharatha. Thou art his dearest wife, to whom he can refuse nothing, nor can he endure to see thee grieved. He will offer thee gold and jewels, but do thou refuse every offer but the banishment of Rama and the establishment of Bharata."
Thus was Kaileyi led to choose that as good which was in truth most evil; stirred up by the humpbacked servant's words, the fair Kaikeyi started up like a mare devoted to her foal and rushed along an evil path. She thanked and praised the humpbacked Manthara, and promised her many rich rewards when Bharata should be set upon the throne. Then she tore off her jewels and beautiful garments, and flung herself down upon the floor of the Anger-chamber; she clasped her breasts and cried: "Know that either Rama shall be banished and my son installed, or I shall die: if Rama goes not to the forest, I will n ot desire bed or garland, sandal-paste or ointment, meat or drink, or life itself." So, like a starry sky hidden by heavy clouds, that royal lady sulked and gloomed; like a bird-woman struck down by poisoned shafts, in her distress like a serpent;s daughter in her wrath.
Then, while it was still long before the dawn, Dasharatha bethought him to inform Kaikeyi of the coming ceremony. Not finding her in her painted bower nor in his own rooms, he learnt that she had gone to the Anger-chamber. There he followed, and beheld his youngest wife lying upon the ground like an uprooted vine or an ensnared doe. Then that hero, like a forest elephant, tnederly touched the lotus-eyed queen and asked what ailed her. "If thou art sick there are physicians; or if thou wouldst have any who deserves a punishment rewarded, or those who should be rewarded punished, name thy wish: I can deny thee nothing. Thou knowest that I can refuse no request of thine; ask then for whatsoever thou desirest and be comforted."
Thus consoled, she answered: "None has injured me; but I have a desire which, if thou wilt grant, I will tell thee of." Then Dasharatha swore by Rama himself that he would accomplish whatever she desired.
Then Kaikeyi revealed her dreadful wish, calling the Heaven and Earth and Day and Night and household gods and every living thing to witness that he had promised to fulfil her will. She reminded him of that old war with the asuras when she had saved his life and he had granted her two boons. Thus the king was snared by Kaikeyi, like a deer entering a trap. "Now those boons," she said, "which thou art pledged to grant me here and now, are these: let Rama, clad in deer-skin, lead a hermit's life in Dandaka forest for fourteen years, and Bharata be established as heir-apparent. Do thou now prove thy royal word, according to thy race and character and birth. Truth, so the hermits tell us, is of supreme benefit to men when they reach the next world."
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