helplessness of Dasaratha

Dasaratha was lamenting that he had been taken for a ride. He had hugged death in the form of Kaikeyi.HEhad sold his son to buy wife.Rama was a plain heartd person. If Dasaratha told him to go woods, he would happily go without even questionig him.He would not refuse.Dasaratha would lose his life if Rama went to woods.If Bharatha accepted this proposal, he would not have right to perform last rites when he dies.

How can Rama eat those uncooke dvegetables and food.How could he eat bitter raw food?How can he wear rough cotton clothes,lie on the bare ground?One should not believe women.He started threatening her that if because of her Rama was in trouble, entire world would blame her.Even if she destroys herself, he would not hear her words.

The very next moment he started pleding her and cajolling her saying that she was avery goodlady ands not to corner him to do the awful act.Actually he fell on her feet. hedown as she took away her feet aside.Hestarted pleading with her that he would give her the kingdom but she in turn has to gift it to Rama. It would be good to one and all.

dasarathas plight

Kaikeyi threatened to take her life if her wish was not fulfilled. She did not even like take the name of Kousalya. She mentioned her as Ramas mother. Dasaratha was helpless. H efainted and got up after some time.H easked her as to who poisoned her mind.AS Bharatha was arighteous person he would not accept throne.If he did like that other kings would surely blame him.Because of her Dasaratha had done injustice to Kousalya in the past.Inspite of it, Kousalya always wished him well.She served him like a servant,she used to make him happy like a friend,as a wife, as a sister, and as a mother she would behave according to the situation.As he was afraid of Kaikeyis wrath, he could not do any justice to Kousalya in the past.Now if he sent Rama to the forest, what answer he could give to Kousalya.

Dasaratha was pleading with her like this. Kaikeyi herself told that o go back on ones words is wrong.Then he told in the RAJASABHA that he is enthroning Rama the nextday. IF he did not abide by his words what would the people think of him?They would think that he was wavering type.Sumithra would would be afraid that if the king could send even Rama to the woods, what would be the plight of her son?People would losw confidence in him.Seetha would not withstand this cruelty towards Rama.If thes e things happen, it is sure that he would die.He cursed her to become a widow and rule the country along with Bharatha.

Kaikeyi adamant

Dasaratha was pleading with her tobe lenient towards Rama. Practically he fell on her feet and started begging her.He started reminding her Of Ramas character. Rasma used to serve her more than Bharatha.Even she praised him many atime in the past.Dasaratha would be helpless without Rama.He was saying that he was old and on the verge of dying. Let he be kind enough not to pressurise him to override his own words.

Kaikeyi did not deter in her pursuit.She became wild and started abusing Dasaratha.Till then he had been known as righteous person. If he now went back on his words entire world would look down on him.He could not hold his head high.In the past Saibyudu had given his own flesh to the eagle to keep his word.Alarka had given his own eyes and reached heaven.Samudrudu(ocean) never crosses the shore as he had given his word to that effect.To go back on ones words is wrong.Dasaratha might be thinking to back on his words and make Rama the king and live with KOUSALYA happily. But Kaikeyi would see to it that it never materialises.She would not care whether her demands are right or wrong.,good or bad. he had to grant her demands.

Kaikeyi reveals her wishes

Kaikeyi tells dasaratha that his promise was heard by all the gods and he can not go back on his words. She reminds him that in the past ,during the war between suras asuras she saved his life. Then he gave her two boons. She had not yet used them. Now she wanted make use dof those boons. If Dasaratha failed to fulfil her wishes she would kill herself.First , Dasaratha hes to conduct the enthronement of Bharatha with the provisions brought to enthrone Rama. Secondly ,immediately Rama should be sent to the forests for fourteen years and he has to lead alife of a sage during that time. In this way there wont be ANY obstacles for Bharatha in ruling the country.Dasaratha fainted on hearing these words.After sometime, he woke up but could not asssess whether what he had heard was real or hallucination.He was afraid to look at Kaikeyi.

He started abusing her with anger.She was abad omen to their family.Dasaratha and Rama never did any harm to her.Rama looks after Kaikeyi very well.On what pretext should Dasaratha send Rama to the forest?Not knowing that she was a venomous cobra Dasaratha had brought her home.Even birds and animals are loving Rama.aNd she wants to send him to forest.He would not leave him and he would lose his life if cannot see Rama.

Dasarathas plight

Dasaratha was practically begging her. He wanted to know the reason behind her anger.He wanted to know why she was lying on the floor when he was alive. WAS her haelth not good?If it was so he would call the best doctors to look after her ailment.If she had any unfulfilled wish she had to tell him.If she wants to make any one he would do so . if she wanted to harm anyone he would harm them.TO please her he would assassinate the righteous one and leave the criminal.He would make a beggar rich and richman a beggar.He was all hers. H ewas to leave his life if it pleases her.He lost his reasoning in his lust for his youthful wife and he was definitely a old husband.

KNowing his desperateness tp please her. Kaikeyi was telling him so. Nothing had happened to her. No one has ill behaved with her. She ha da wish and if he promises to fulfill it only she would tell him.

Dasaratha replied her that among women heloved Kaikeyi the most and among men he loved Rama the most. He pledged on Rama that he would not go back on his words and fullfill her wish . he pledged thrice.

Kaikeyi polluted

Kaikeyi started praising Mandhara. Mandhara was not straight. Her backbone was distorted. Kaikeyi was praising her intelligence.If Mandhara was not there King might have done injustice her.After Bharatha got enthroned and Rama leaves for the forests ,Kaikeyi promised to present her gold ornaments especially to her distorted back.Saying so Kaikeyi went into Alaka gruham and removed all her ornaments and threw them all ove.She removed her flower garlandsand threw them over the floor.She wore worn out black clothes and unpalited her hair and lay down. THis type of her attire embodes her losing her husband.

Dasaratha left his court and started to go to Kaikeyis palace to reveal his desire to make Rama the king . He was sure that she would feel happy about his decision.He went there and she could not beseenanywhere. Servantmaid told that she was in alakagruham. H went there and started to touch her.

Kaikeyi tempted

Kaikeyi became angry.HER face was reddened.How could she stand before Kousalya meekly after behaving arrogantly so long?She requested Mandhara to show her the way out.Then MANDHARA STARTED TELLING HER About the past.THe time relates to the past when there was a fight between Kambarasura and Indra.Dasaratha was fighting with ASuras and became unconscious. Then Kaikeyi took him aside away from the war field and saved his life.Then Dasaratha was happy for her timely action and gave her two boons. At that time Kaikeyi did not ask him anything but told that she would use them when she felt like in the future.Kaikeyi only told about this incident to Mandhara in the past. Mandhara is now advising Kaikeyi to use those boons now.One was to make Bharatha the king and the second was to send Rama togo the woods for fourteen years. If people dont see Rama for fourteen years they would easily forget him.THey would easily follow Bharatha.In the meantime kingdom would be confidently Bahrathas.

She was telling Kaikeyi to go to kopamandiram wearing wornout clothes and start crying . not to lift her head even if the king came.Dasaratha loves her so much that he would be ready to fall in embers or lose his life.HE would try to make her see sense inhis wish and try to pacify her. bUt she should divulge from her task. First she has to take word that he would not waver from jis words of accepting her wishes. Then only she had to disclose her wishes.

MAndhara poisons Kaikeyi

Kaikeyi was at first very happy to hear the news.She gifted Mandhara on telling her the good news.She would fulfil any other wish of Mandhara.But Mandhara thows the ornament given by Kaikeyi and scolds her like this.This was the time to weep and feel sorry. because no one would feel happy if sapthnis son was happy.If Rama became king, Kaikeyi would become Kousalyas servant.Bharatha plight would also be the same.There was no other go than to serve Rama in future.

Kaikeyi was explaining Mandhara thus.There was no meaning in mANDHARAS WORDS. rAMA WASa good person.He was the eldest son and most appropriate person to become the king.Rama would serve Kaikeyi more than Kousalya.It would be better if Rama became the king. If at all, Bharatha wanted to become a king, Rama would rule for hundred years and then give the kingdom to Bharatha.

Mandhara explains to Kaikeyi that after Rama his sons would automatically get enthroned.All the kings sons would not become kings. It will pass on to the eldest only.Rama would thow Bharatha out of the coulntry or assassinate him.So she tells Kaikeyi to send him to forest direct from his maternal house.In the past kaikeyi had full control over Dasarathas affections. So she insulted Kousalya quite often. So it would be Kousalyas turn to insult Kaikeyi as she was kings mother.So she pleads with Kaikeyi to crossover this danger by planning immediately.

jealosy of Mandhara

Mandhara was servantmaid of Kaikeyi. She went upstairs looked over the city.She could not understand the reason for such activity. So she enquired another servant the reason for such hungama.Kousalya who has mean mentality was donating and giving gifts to the citizens. This explains Mandharas biassed opinion of Kousalya.Another maid told her that the very next day Rama was being made the king.Mandhara could not hold her jealosy and ran to Kaikeyi. Kaikeyi as sleeping at that time.She awakens Kaikeyi that calamity was falling over her. Rama was being made the king.She was poising the mind of Kaikeyi thus.According to her Kaikeyi was innocent. Dasaratha was explointing her and while talking sweetly to her he was doing favors to Kousalya. Intentionally he sent away Bharatha and was making Rama the king in his absence.If Rama becomes The kING Kaikeyi and her people do not have any future.

Sri Rama goes to Kousalyas palace

After hearing Dasarathas words Rama went to his palace.From there he went to his mothers palace.Sumithra and Lakshmana were there. Seetha also came there on their bidding.Kousalya was praying Narayana. THen Rama disclosed this information to her.Kousalya was very happy. Rama told Lakshmana that they would rule the country together. Later Rama left to his palace along with Seetha.

As per Dasarathas instructions Vasishta came to Rams abode.Vasishta made Rama and Seetha to observe fast for that night.Ramas palace was colorful with Ramas friends gathered and talking about next days function.Entire city was active and being decorated for the festival.SEETha and Rama prayed Narayana and slept on grass that night. THey woke up early in the morning and decorated their building.