Week 6 Story: Manthara's Manipulation

As I gazed out over the beautiful city of Ayodhya, my sari billowing gently from the cool breeze, I heard a shuffling noise behind me. I tore my eyes away from the twinkling lights that adorned the landscape to find Manthara standing next to me with a disapproving look on her face.

“Oh you foolish Queen,” she said, “how dare you be peaceful and happy in this dreadful situation? Are you not terrified by the prospect of your imminent slavery? Once Rama becomes King, you will be nothing more than a servant for his mother and wife.”

I listened, shocked at the words coming from her mouth. But this could not be true, absolutely not! Rama has always treated me with respect and reverence. I say as much to Manthara: “That would never happen Manthara. Rama has shown no indication of concealed resentment towards me.”

She replied: “You must be a bigger fool than I thought if you believe that to be the case! Having nursed Bharata from a young age, I know how poorly Rama treats his brothers. I have seen the pain that Bharata endures from the feelings of inferiority that Rama inflicts upon him, day after day. If Rama is to become king, there is no doubt in my mind that his first action would be to exile Bharata and leave him for dead in the forest.”

As she spoke these words, I began to realize the love that my son harbored for me to shelter me from his troubles. So many years have gone by without a single complaint escaping his mouth. Oh my poor son! How he must have suffered in silence all these years. As a mother, I must find a way to make sure he is happy and content in life. For him, I will do this. I spoke with newfound resolve: "I will go to any length to make sure my son is happy. What must be done?"

Author's Note: 

Kaikeyi is often a misunderstood character in the Ramayana. She is portrayed to be one-dimensional and cruel for exiling Rama but I believe that her actions were motivated by pure love for her son. I wanted to explore this character-defining scene from Kaikeyi's point of view in order to show her inner thoughts. Kaikeyi is one of the three wives of King Dasaratha of Ayodhya. She is the mother of Bharata whose half-brother Rama is about to be coronated as King. Kaikeyi has accepted this but Manthara, Bharata's old nurse, despises Rama and convinces Kaikeyi that he intends to kill Bharata once he ascends the throne. Kaikeyi is manipulated by Manthara to ask King Dasaratha to make good on two boons he granted her long ago. She asks that Rama be exiled to the forest for 14 years and that her son Bharata be crowned King instead.

Picture: Kaikeyi being manipulated by Manthara; source: Wikipedia.
Bibliography. Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913).