jaisriramramo.

RAMAYANA The king was perplexed. He went round and looked in vain for her in all her favourite haunts thinking that she was playing a sweet game of hide and seek. He did not find her.  The sort of thing had never happened before! He asked a maidservant where the Queen  was.  Folding her hands in reverence, the girl said: "Lord, the Queen in angry.  She is in the inner chamber." The surprised King entered the room. And he saw a sight which amazed and distressed him, for there she lay on the bare floor, with draggled robes  and dishevelled hair, like one in mortal pain. She seemed too full of anguish even  to look at him as he entered.  The poor guileless King, all unconscious of having given any cause for offence, behaved with the doting fondness of an old husband and seating himself by her on the floor  stroked her hair and strove to console her with loving words and caresses: "What has come over you?  Are you ill? Do you ...

RAMAYANA T he sinful thought had found lodgment in her mind , and her whole nature was transformed. The fear that she would lead a slave's life, and that even Bharata's life was in peril had got hold of her. For the first time in her life she cast aside the sense of shame and sin and hardened her heart. Having heavy sighs, perspiring, and with eyes closed , Kaikeyi, beautiful like a Naga goddess , unbraided her hair and lay on the floor with dishevelled tresses and sprawling like a bird shot down by a hunter. The flowers and shining jewels, which ones adorned her person , lay scattered in the dark room like stars in the midnight sky. Having dismissed the Assembly and given orders for the due celebration of the coronation ceremony,Dasaradha relieved of care and wishing to relax, sought the apartments of his  favourate consort. He had decided on the coronation of Raama after receiving the approval of all  those who had a right to be consulted and he felt happy and free, ...

RAMAYANA "Unless Raama is sent to the forest, your wish will not be fulfilled. Raama must be sent away. Only then the position you get for  Bharata will be real and lasting. Remember this. Mind you do not be weaken." Listening to this exhortation, Kaikeyi's face shone with hope . "What a brain you have, Manthara," exclaimed Kaikeyi," You have been the saving of me." And she jumped about in joy like a filly.  Manthara repeated again and again that Raama must be sent to the forest.  "Do not delay. What needs to be done, do at once. It is no good strengthening the tank-bund after the waters have  flown out. Remember what I have told you. Everything depends on your firmness. Victory  is your's if you do not yield. "  Kaikeyi assured Manthara of her firmness and forthwith entered the sulking room, removed her jewels and scattered them on the floor, changed her clothes and stretched herself on the floor. Then assuming a broken v...

RAMAYANA And what did he tell you then? He told you in gratitude: 'Ask me for two boons. I shall give you anything you want.T hen you answered : I shall  ask for my  boons later. I want nothing now.'  Then he promised. did he not, " You will have your two gifts whenever you want them." You told me all this long ago yourself. You may have forgotten it, but I have not . The time has arrived to get him to redeem his promise.  Demand that he should crown Bharata instead of Raama. This will be the first of two gifts he promised . For the second gift. ask that Raama be sent to the forest for fourteen years.  'Do not be frightened. Do not fear to ask. Do not think that it is sinful to demand this. Do what I tell you. It is only if Raama is sent into the forest that his hold on the people will relax and disappear in course of time and your son's position will be secure.  "Go now and lie down in the sulking room Throw away your fin...

RAMAYANA KAIKEYI who had looked upon Raama as her own son, was enmeshed in Manthara's arguments and become 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 Raama must 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 something Bharata must be crowned and Raama coronation must be stopped." "Very Well, ...

RAMAYANA After the great sacrifice,was performed, all three wives bore children. The son of the queen Eminent, Raama, was the eldest among four sons. He was also great in virtue, fully equal to the burden of Kingship, acceptable to ministers,citizens, and vassal princes. How could Dasaratha violate the royal custom  and ignoring Raama's anoint Bharata? Moreover,  neither Bharata nor Kaikeyi had ever thought of or wished for  the fulfillment  of this old and forgotten 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 Raama as yuvaraaja  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 behaviour.    And Bharata was too good and noble to raise a question. And, yet, as Dasaratha told Raama, even the purest of minds is mutable. When fate conspi...

RAMAYANA Ones Raama is crowned ,"she continued, "he will not leave Bharata alone. There will be  danger to Bharata's life. If you want Bharata to live, advise  him to remain away, an exile from home, for if he returns he will be coming to his death. It would be safest for him to leave even his uncle's house,and hide his head in obscurity  in some more distant land. "And Kausalya is no friend of yours. She bears you a grudge because you are the King's favourite and have often slighted her. .  And now she is sure to wreak vengeance on you  You know the wrath of a rival wife  is a raging fire where it finds  its chance. You may take it that,  if, Raama is king, Bharata is as good as dead. Therefore, think hard. Be firm. Decide something and stick to it. Somehow Bharata must be crowned.  Raama must be banished from the Kingdom";  Fear now entered the heart of the queen,  Manthara won. Kaikeyi's face was flushed: her breath b...

RAMAYANA Does not one kill a cobra out of fear? Hereafter there is no security for Bharata's life.  Tomorrow morning Kausalya will be a happy woman and you will bend before her as a well-dressed slave. You will stand before her, hands clasped in obedience.  From tomorrow your son  too will be a subject and a slave. In these apartments there will be no more honour or joy. And she stopped , unable  for grief to continue Kaikeyi heard all this and wondered ,"Why should Manthara have  such fears? Does she not know Raama? Is he not dharma embodied in human form." She said:"Manthara , have you not known and rejoiced in Raama's truthfulness, right conduct and  humility? He is the elder Prince and he gets the kingdom. Bharata will get it one day after him. what is wrong with this? Why dear friend, do you feel such grief? After Raama, Bharata will reign for a hundred years.  Do not cry. You know how affectionate Raama is to me. Indeed he ca...