When fortune had smiled upon the royal household and joy was at hand, Kaikeyī turned to Mantharā in bewilderment. “Why, Mantharā,” she asked, “do you burn with grief when such good fortune has come to us? See how Bharata is honored, and Rāghava—Rāma—is honored even more. Beyond Kausalyā, Rāma serves me with great devotion. If the kingdom belongs to Rāma, it belongs to Bharata as well, for Rāghava cherishes his brothers as his own self.” Hearing these words, Mantharā became deeply troubled. She let out a long, hot sigh and addressed Kaikeyī with distress: “Because of your foolishness, you fail to see the misfortune before you. You do not understand yourself, even as you sink into a sea of sorrow and calamity. Rāghava will become king, and after him, his son will inherit the throne. But your Bharata, O Kaikeyī, will be cast aside from the royal line. “Not all the king’s sons remain in the kingdom, O beautiful one. If every prince were installed, there would be chaos. That is why kings entrust the kingdom to the eldest, even if the others are virtuous. Your son will become utterly broken, like an orphan, deprived of comforts and the royal heritage. “I have come here for your sake, but you do not recognize my loyalty. You ought to reward me, for I am striving to secure your advantage over your co-wife. Know this: when Rāma gains the unchallenged kingdom, he will send Bharata away to a distant land—or perhaps even to another world. “While Bharata was just a child, you did not keep him close to his maternal uncle. Closeness breeds affection, even among the immovable. Because of Bharata, Shatrughna follows him just as Lakṣmaṇa follows Rāma. It is said that a tree marked for felling by forest dwellers is stripped of its branches by arrows out of fear, simply because of its proximity. “Rāma will surely protect Lakṣmaṇa, for their brotherhood is renowned in the world, like the divine Aśvins. Rāma will never commit any wrong against Lakṣmaṇa, but he might indeed do so against Bharata—of this, there is no doubt. Therefore, let Rāghava be sent to the forest from the palace. This pleases me, and it will be of great benefit to you. “In this way, your family’s welfare will be secured, if Bharata obtains the ancestral kingdom in accordance with righteousness. That boy, accustomed to comfort, is naturally Rāma’s rival. How will he, deprived of prosperity, live under the rule of one who has everything? Just as a leader of elephants is chased in the forest by a lion, so must you protect Bharata, who is overshadowed by Rāma. “Once, proud of your good fortune, you rejected Rāma’s mother, your co-wife. How could she not harbor enmity toward you now? When Rāma claims the earth, adorned with treasures and mountains, you, gentle lady, will suffer defeat and sorrow, together with Bharata. When Rāma gains the earth, Bharata will be lost. Therefore, consider the kingdom for your own son, and the cause for Rāma’s exile.” At this point, the next chapter begins. Thus addressed, Kaikeyī’s face blazed with anger. She exhaled a long, hot breath and replied to Mantharā, “Today I will quickly send Rāma to the forest, and I will swiftly anoint Bharata as prince. Now, consider how I might accomplish this, so that Bharata gains the kingdom and Rāma does not, by any means.” Hearing this, Mantharā, ever scheming, intent on harming Rāma, spoke to Kaikeyī: “Listen carefully, Kaikeyī, and I will tell you how your son Bharata alone may inherit the kingdom. Why do you not recall, or if you do, why do you conceal it, when you wish to hear from me what concerns your own interest? If you wish to hear what I have to say, then listen well and act accordingly.” Hearing these words, Kaikeyī rose a little from her well-spread bed and spoke, eager to hear more. Then Mantharā, intent on her dark counsel, continued: “Long ago, in the great war between the gods and the demons, your husband Daśaratha, accompanied by the royal sages, took you with him to aid the lord of the gods. You traveled south, toward Daṇḍaka, to the city called Vaijayantam, where the banner bore the image of a shark. “There, a mighty demon named Śambara, master of a hundred magical illusions, fought Indra in battle and could not be defeated by the hosts of gods. In that fierce conflict, the demons, having driven away the men, would slay the wounded and the sleeping at night with great force. “In that dreadful battle, King Daśaratha fought valiantly, but his mighty arms were shattered by weapons. O queen, you carried your unconscious husband from the battlefield, protecting him even as he lay wounded. Pleased by your devotion, he granted you two boons, saying, ‘Whenever you wish, you may claim them.’” So Mantharā reminded Kaikeyī of the powerful promise Daśaratha had once made, planting the seed for the fateful request that would change the destiny of Ayodhyā.