When Kekai's
hunchbacked maidservant Manthra came to know of the honor that was soon going
to be bestowed on Rama, she burnt with anger.
Manthra went
to Kekai and gave her the news of Rama's coronation.
On hearing
this news, Kekai was so happy that she took out her necklace and gave it to
Manthra. But Manthra angrily threw the costly necklace away.
The cunning
Manthra angrily spoke, "O silly Queen, why are you seeing that a great
calamity is to befall on you? Do you think Rama will take care of you and
Bharata when he becomes the king? Be assured that Rama's coronation means your
and Bharata's ruin."
Kekai replied,
"My virtuous Rama would never hurt us."
Seeking to
create enmity between Rama and Kekai, Manthra said, "If your husband makes
Rama the king, then after Rama his son would become the king, Bharata's very
name would be removed from the royal clan. Look at the cunningness of king
Dashratha. He is anointing Rama as the king when Bharata is away. You think
your husband loves you the most, but in reality he loves Kaushalya the most, as
it is to her that he extends his favors. By crowning Rama as the king, your
husband is cheating you."
Manthra
further said, "Now you shall see how your Sister Kaushalya will treat you.
She and Rama will look down upon you and Bharata, and Rama will deprive shrewd
and cunning politician. When he becomes the king, he would throw you and
Bharata out of his kingdom.
Manthra's
poisoned words slowly gained control over Kekai's mind. Thinking Manthra to be
her well-wisher, Kekai asked her what she should do to stop Rama's coronation.
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