The virtues of noble intentions, affection, respect for familial bonds, and royal propriety began to lose their essence under the sly influence of Mandhara’s instigation, which subtly took root in Queen Kaikeyi’s mind. Pressed by the urgency of the moment, Kaikeyi declared to Mandhara, “I shall send Rama into exile without delay, for destiny now stands poised for swift action to vanquish Ravana and his demonic hosts.” Thus, a course set by Kaikeyi’s entanglement in Mandhara’s cunning design began to unfold, unbeknownst to any soul in Ayodhya or the palace of King Dasaratha of the imminent storm that would soon strike.
Mandhara spoke with cunning, “My queen, let me show you the path to secure Bharata’s ascension to the throne and banish Rama from Ayodhya.” Her mind steeped in malice, Mandhara devised an unparalleled scheme of cruelty. “O queen,” she continued, “has your wisdom finally awakened? Do you question my counsel or have you forgotten your power, or perhaps, are you choosing to overlook the plain path before you? If you seek my advice, I offer it for your gain. Listen and ponder.”
Spurred from her indecision, Kaikeyi demanded a solution to crown Bharata and send Rama away from the grand ceremony. Mandhara, with a voice brimming with guile, reminded, “O queen, remember the days of old when you accompanied King Dasaratha to aid Indra in his battle against the demons? The king led the Rajarshis southward into Dandakarnya where the formidable demon Timidhwaja, son of the mighty Sambara and ruler of Vaijanthapura, wielding dark sorcery, fought to conquer divine hosts and clashed with Indra himself. Amidst that fearsome battle, King Dasaratha displayed unparalleled valour and mastery, though wounded and driven near defeat. You, Kaikeyi, seized the reins of his chariot when the driver was slain, guiding him from the fray with unmatched skill. And when pursued by the demon horde, you took up bow and arrow, and with heroic resolve, vanquished them, preserving the king’s life and securing Indra’s victory.”
Kaikeyi, with grace, had once reserved the boon that King Dasaratha, filled with gratitude, had promised her. “Whenever you desire, ask, and it shall be granted,” he had said, his noble heart yielding without hesitation. Kaikeyi’s loyalty and Mandhara’s devious whispers now converged in fateful unity.
Mandhara urged, “Now is the hour, O queen. Command the king to honor his word and halt Rama’s coronation. Demand your promised boons: that Bharata be crowned king and that Rama be exiled for fourteen years. Let it be known that in such perilous forests, his return is uncertain, and even should he return, the hearts of Ayodhya’s people will be ensnared by Bharata’s rule, forgetting Rama’s very name. You must appear consumed by rage and grief; adorn garments befitting one in sorrow and enter the chamber of indignation, casting yourself upon the bare floor. When the king comes to soothe you, avert your eyes, speak not, and weep with fervour.”
Mandhara’s final warning was clear: “King Dasaratha’s love for you is unwavering, so deep that he would surrender his life to see you content. He fears your sorrow, and to quell it, no sacrifice is too great. Yet, resist his offerings of gold or gems; reject them until he grants your long-held boons. Remind him of the debt from that fateful war and demand your due. Let him lift you and entreat your wish, then state firmly: Bharata’s coronation is my first boon; Rama’s exile, my second. Only thus can your son’s reign be secured, ensuring the dynasty’s strength.”
Kaikeyi, whose heart had been true but now darkened by Mandhara’s venomous plots, succumbed fully. Fate’s grand tapestry, with all its splendour and tragedy, had begun to weave the unravelling of Dasaratha’s house and its noble destiny.