Mantharā, cunning and sharp-tongued, spoke urgently to Queen Kaikeyī, her words laced with warning and persuasion. “Rāghava—that is, Rāma—will be crowned king, and after him, his son will inherit the throne. But Bharata, O Kaikeyī, your own beloved child, will be cast aside from the royal succession. Not all the king’s sons remain in the kingdom, O beautiful one; if every prince were installed as ruler, chaos would surely follow. That is why, O faultless lady, kings always entrust the affairs of the realm to the eldest son, even when the younger brothers are equally virtuous. “Your son, deprived of the comforts and honors of royalty, will be left utterly broken, as if orphaned, O affectionate one. I have come here for your sake, yet you do not recognize my loyalty. Surely, I am owed a reward for striving to secure your advantage over your co-wife. “Once Rāma obtains the unchallenged kingdom, he will send Bharata away—perhaps to a distant land, or even to another world. Remember, when Bharata was a child, you did not keep him close to his maternal uncle, though closeness, even among the unmovable, breeds affection. Because of Bharata, Shatrughna too has become like him, just as Lakṣmaṇa loyally follows Rāma, so does Shatrughna follow Bharata. “It is said that a certain tree, marked for felling by forest dwellers, is stripped of its branches by arrows, all because of its nearness—such is the danger of proximity. Rāma will always protect Lakṣmaṇa, and their brotherhood is famed throughout the world, like the inseparable Aśvins. Therefore, Rāma will never wrong Lakṣmaṇa; but against Bharata, there is no such certainty—he might indeed harm him. “So let Rāghava go to the forest from the royal palace. This is what pleases me, and it will greatly benefit you as well. In this way, the welfare of your family will be secured: Bharata will obtain the ancestral kingdom, in accordance with righteousness. That boy, Bharata, so long accustomed to comfort, is a natural enemy to Rāma; how will he, deprived of prosperity, live under the rule of one who has everything? “Just as a mighty elephant is chased through the forest by a lion, so must you protect Bharata, who is overshadowed by Rāma. Once, in your pride at your good fortune, you rejected Rāma’s mother—how then will she not harbor enmity toward you? When Rāma gains the earth, adorned with treasures and mountains, you, gentle lady, will suffer defeat and misfortune, together with the sorrowful Bharata. When Rāma is king, Bharata will be lost; therefore, consider the kingdom for your own son, and the reason for Rāma’s exile.” Thus, the ninth chapter begins. Hearing these words, Kaikeyī’s face blazed with anger. She exhaled a long, hot breath and replied to Mantharā, “Today, I will quickly send Rāma away to the forest, and I will swiftly have Bharata anointed as prince. Now, consider how I might accomplish this, so that Bharata gains the kingdom and Rāma does not, by any means.” Thus addressed, Mantharā—who harbored ill will toward Rāma—spoke again, intent on harming him. “Now, Kaikeyī, listen carefully to my words, so your son Bharata alone will inherit the throne. Why do you not remember, or if you do, why do you conceal it, when you wish to hear from me what concerns your own interests? If you are ready to listen, O playful one, then hear what I say and act accordingly.” Hearing Mantharā’s words, Kaikeyī rose a little from her well-spread bed and spoke as follows. Mantharā, intent on mischief, continued: “Long ago, in the great war between gods and demons, your husband Daśaratha, accompanied by royal sages, took you with him to assist the lord of the gods. You traveled south, toward Daṇḍaka, to the city of Vaijayantam, where the banner of the shark was raised. There, a mighty demon named Śambara, master of a hundred magical illusions, fought Indra fiercely, undefeated by the gods. “In that terrible battle, the demons, having driven away the men, killed the wounded and sleeping at night with brutal force. There, King Daśaratha fought valiantly, but his mighty arms were shattered by weapons. O queen, you carried your unconscious husband from the battlefield, and even as you yourself were wounded, you protected him. “Pleased with you, he granted you two boons, O beautiful one, and said, ‘Whenever you wish, you may claim them.’ At that time, you replied, ‘I will accept them when I desire,’ and your noble husband agreed. I knew nothing of this, O queen, until you told me before. “Out of affection for you, I have kept this story in my mind. Now is the time: prevent the preparations for Rāma’s consecration and turn them back. Ask your husband for these two boons: the anointing of Bharata, and the exile of Rāma for fourteen years. For fourteen years, while Rāma dwells in the forest, your son, steadfast in the people’s affection, will become firmly established. “Today, enter the chamber of anger as if enraged with the king, and remain hidden there on the ground, wearing soiled garments. In this way, your wishes will be fulfilled.” Thus, Mantharā instructed Kaikeyī, setting in motion the fateful events that would change the destiny of Ayodhyā and its royal family.