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Sarg 7-Mantharaa Tells the News to Kaikeyee

The day Raam was going to be appointed as Crown prince, Kaikeyee's maidservant Mantharaa who was living with her since her birth was on the roof of her white palace. She found the whole city decorated, crowded and illuminated and rejoicing . She asked Raam's nurse who was wearing yellow clothes, to clear her doubts as what was the occasion for this decoration and why Raam's mother was distributing money in her palace even though she was badly in need of money?

But the maid was so happy that she told everything to her that Raajaa Dasharath was going to Coronate Raam as Crown Prince. Hearing about Raam's Abhishek, Mantharaa got jealous and came to Kaikeyee where she was trying to have some sleep. She said to her - "O fool, Will you be sleeping all the time? You are in trouble. Why don't you know anything yourself? You think that you are the loveliest queen of Raajaa, but I say that Raajaa doesn't love you at all."

Hearing these words of Mantharaa Kaikeyee said to her - "Why are you so sad? What has happened which is not good for me? You look very worried." Mantharaa said - "Raajaa Dasharath is going to coronate Raam as the Crown prince tomorrow. I am very sad hearing this. I am very angry too that is why I have come to you. Having born in a royal family and being an emperor's wife why can't you undrerstand the cruelty in king's actions? Your husband talks about righteousness but behaves cruelly. Because of your clean thinking you have not been able to know that he is cheating on you.

Your husband loves you, talks to you sweetly, but gives kingdom's treasure to Kaushalyaa. He has sent Bharat to his Naanaa's house to remove obstacle. He is like a poisonous snake in your arms. Now he will install Raam as the Crown Prince without any hurdle tomorrow. There is still time, so think about yourself, Bharat and me."

Kaikeyee said happily - "I see both Raam and Bharat equally. Both are very dear to me. You have given me this happy news, so take this jewel as reward. Since you have told me this news first you may ask anything else also, because I am very happy to hear this news."

Sarg 8-Mantharaa's Mischief

Hearing this Mantharaa threw her jewelry on floor in anger and said - "I am sad more, because of your foolishness, because you are becoming happy in your bad times. Who will be happy to hear the news of the  coronation of co-wife's son (step-son) as Crown Prince? Because this is like death for us. Raam has a fear of Bharat because of equal rights. Raam is a learned man and a political statesman.  Kaushalyaa is very fortunate that her son will get kingdom. You will be like her maidservant as I am yours; and your Bharat will be an employee of Raam. Raam's wives will be happy and your daughters-in-law will be unhappy.

Hearing all this Kaikeyee again praised Raam - "Raam is religious, truthful, well-behaved and Raajaa's eldest son, therefore He is the right person to get kingdom. Raam will take care of His mothers like His father. Why are you so much sad on being Him king? I love Raam more than Bharat, because He serves me more than His mother Kaushalyaa. So if Raam is crowned as king, it is the same as Bharat is crowned as king, because Raam considers all His brothers as parts of His body."

Now Mantharaa got furious and said - "You are so ignorant that you can't think of your own good and bad. When Raam will be king then His son will also be king, Thus Bharat's name will be removed from the list of kings. O Kaikeyee, Bharat can never enjoy after Raam has become the king. You are feeling bad about my saying and rewarding me for the happiness of your co-wife but I am speaking truth. After getting kingdom Raam will send Bharat either to some other country or kill him. 

You have done bad to send Bharat to his Naanaa's house in childhood. When people live nearer to something they develop love even with inanimate things. If he had been here, Raajaa must have thought something about him. Raam protects Lakshman and Lakshman supports Raam. Therefore Raam will not kill Lakshman while He may kill Bharat. Previously you misteated Kaushalyaa thinking yourself fortunate, so will not Kaushalyaa  take revenge from you now? What I think best is that Raam should go to forest and Bharat should sit on the throne."

Sarg 9-Kaikeyee Goes to Kop Bhavan

Kaikeyee understood a little from Mantharaa's talks, so she decided that she would send Raam to forest, and appoint Bharat as king. She said to Mantharaa - "Mantharaa, Now you think about the ways by which we can fulfill our mission, so that Bharat gets throne and Raam goes to forest." Mantharaa said - "Kaikeyee, Don't you remember, or you are pretending? what you told me a few days ago, that in Dev-Asur Sangraam Raajaa took you to help Indra in Vaijayant city in which Timidhwaj Raakshas lived in the southern part of Dandak Van. That Raakshas, popularly known as Shambar defeated all Devtaa. There Raajaa fought with Asur and he got fainted while fighting, and at that time you took him away from the war field and saved his life; and King pleased with your quick decision gave you two Var.

And you said to Raajaa - "At  present I can't think of any but I will ask later." And Raajaa agreed for that. Now you have to stop the arrangements of Raam's coronation by force. You may ask those two Var now. In one Var you ask for Bharat's coronation as king and in second Var you ask for Raam's exile for 14 years. Now you go, wear some old soiled torn clothes, no jewelry, neither you speak to him, nor you talk to him, lie on the floor without any spread. When Raajaa comes keep weeping without looking at him and without talking to him face to face.

Raajaa cannot see you in this condition, because you are very dear to him so he can do anything for you. If Raajaa tries to give you gem or precious stones, don't accept them, and keep your words - your two Var - exile to Raam and throne to Bharat. When Bharat will start ruling then public will have confidence in him too and will forget Raam. When Raam will return from forest Bharat would have set his feet in the kingdom."

Kaikeyee said - "You are telling me very good things, Mantharaa. I have never realized you this intelligent before now. There are many hunchbacked people in the world but they are very crooked but you are lovely as a lotus flower bent by breeze. If Bharat will get throne and Raam will go to forest then I will adorn this hunchback with gold garland." Mantharaa said - "Now you go to Kop Bhavan."

Kaikeyee again said - "If Raam is not gong to forest I don't need any soft mattress, my Shringaar (make-up) , good food or any thing." Saying thus Kaikeyee went to Kop Bhavan. She threw her all valuable jewelry on floor and lay down on the floor in dirty, torn old clothes.

Raam's Wives
Here it does not mean that Raam already had several wives, but because it was customary for a Raajaa to marry several women, Mantharaa is referring His future wives.

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