Though overcome with sorrow, King Daśaratha confided in Queen Kaikeyī, restraining his grief for her sake. He questioned her, “Why are you joyful when you should be mourning, having encountered such great misfortune?” He lamented her lack of understanding, wondering what wise woman would celebrate the rise of a rival wife’s son, as if death itself had come. His distress was not only for Bharata, but also for Rāma, regarding the sharing of the kingdom; fear arises from one who is afraid, and he had considered this carefully. He explained that mighty-armed Lakṣmaṇa was wholly devoted to Rāma, just as Śatrughna was to Bharata, paralleling Lakṣmaṇa’s loyalty to the scion of Kakutstha. Although, by the order of proximity, the succession should have come to Bharata, the royal succession had been assigned to those two who were younger. Daśaratha observed that Kausalyā was indeed fortunate, for her son would be consecrated the next day to the great office of crown prince, under the Pushya constellation, by the foremost of Brāhmaṇas. He foresaw that when the earth was won, filled with joy and confidence and enemies subdued, Kaikeyī would attend upon Kausalyā with joined palms, like a servant. Together with the others, she would become Kausalyā’s attendant, and her own son would become a servant to Rāma. Surely, Rāma’s chief wives would be delighted, while Kaikeyī’s daughters-in-law would not rejoice at Bharata’s decline. Observing Mantharā’s words, which were filled with supreme satisfaction, Queen Kaikeyī praised only Rāma’s virtues. She described Rāma, the eldest son of the king, as one who knows righteousness, is virtuous, self-controlled, grateful, truthful, and pure; therefore, he deserves the succession. She assured Mantharā that Rāma would protect his brothers and servants like a father, so she wondered why the hunchback was troubled upon hearing of Rāma’s consecration. She further stated that after a hundred years, Bharata too, the best of men, would obtain the kingdom of his father and grandfather from Rāma. Kaikeyī questioned Mantharā’s agitation, asking why she burned within and grieved at this good fortune, when prosperity and happiness had come. She noted that just as Bharata was honored, so too was Rāghava even more; besides Kausalyā, Rāma served her greatly. If the kingdom was Rāma’s, it was also Bharata’s, for Rāghava regarded his brothers as himself. Upon hearing Kaikeyī’s words, Mantharā grew deeply distressed. She sighed long and hot, and spoke to Kaikeyī with urgency. Mantharā accused Kaikeyī of foolishness, saying she did not see misfortune nor understand herself, sinking in a sea of sorrow and calamity. She warned that Rāghava would become king, and his son after him; Bharata, however, would be cast aside from the royal line. Mantharā explained that not all the king’s sons remain in the kingdom; if all were installed, there would be great disorder. Therefore, kings always entrust the affairs of the kingdom to the eldest, even if the others are virtuous. She painted a grim future for Bharata, saying he would become utterly broken, as if orphaned, deprived of comforts and the royal lineage. Mantharā reminded Kaikeyī that she had come for her sake, but Kaikeyī did not recognize her efforts; she deserved a reward for increasing Kaikeyī’s advantage over her co-wife. She warned that when Rāma obtained the unchallenged kingdom, he would send Bharata to a distant land, or even to another world. Mantharā recalled that while Bharata was a child, Kaikeyī had not kept him near his maternal uncle; closeness breeds affection, even among the immovable. Because of Bharata, Shatrughna had become just like him, just as Lakṣmaṇa follows Rāma, so does Shatrughna follow Bharata. She likened the situation to a tree meant to be cut down by forest dwellers, which is stripped of its branches by arrows out of great fear due to its nearness. Rāma would surely protect Lakṣmaṇa, and Rāghava would protect him as well; their brotherhood was renowned, like that of the Aśvins. Therefore, Rāma would not commit any wrong against Lakṣmaṇa, but he might indeed commit wrong against Bharata—of this, Mantharā had no doubt. She advised that Rāghava should go to the forest from the royal palace; this would please her and be greatly beneficial for Kaikeyī. In this way, the welfare of Kaikeyī’s family would be secured, if Bharata obtained the ancestral kingdom in accordance with righteousness. Mantharā warned that Bharata, accustomed to comfort, was a natural enemy of Rāma; how would he, deprived of prosperity, live under the control of one who had everything? Just as a leader of elephants is chased in the forest by a lion, so must Kaikeyī protect Bharata, who was being overshadowed by Rāma. Mantharā reminded Kaikeyī that once, due to pride in her good fortune, she had rejected Rāma’s mother, her co-wife; how would Kausalyā not harbor enmity toward her? When Rāma gained the earth, adorned with abundant treasures and mountains, Kaikeyī would suffer misfortune and defeat, together with the sorrowful Bharata. Mantharā concluded that when Rāma gained the earth, Bharata would surely be lost; therefore, Kaikeyī should consider the kingdom for her own son, and the reason for the other’s exile. Thus ends the eighth chapter. Let the ninth chapter be heard. Thus addressed, Kaikeyī’s face blazed with anger. She exhaled a long, hot breath and spoke to Mantharā, “Today, I will quickly send Rāma from here to the forest, and I will swiftly anoint Bharata for the princely succession. Now consider how I might accomplish this, so that Bharata obtains the kingdom and Rāma does not, by any means.