Shatrughna and Manthara

Manthara hearing that Bharata had come, came decked in all her finery. Seeing her come, a guard came running and told Shatrughna that this was the woman who had caused all misery.
Shatrughna could not control himself. He decided that he would put an end to her.
Catching Manthara by her hair, she started dragging her on the floor. Bruised all over, Manthara started shouting, calling out to Kaikeyi for help.
Manthara had garlands decorating her hunchback. With all this dragging, the garland tore to pieces. Shatrughna said you are the cause of the death of my father and my brother going to forests.

Kaikeyi saw this. Thinking that Shatrughna will attack her next, after he had finished with Manthara, Kaikeyi fled from there. Seeing her run Shatrughna said to her : You are a very unfortunate wife. You were the most beloved of our father and what every you said, our father did. Killing you will send me to hell. You danced at the words of a maid and did not use your own reasoning.

Shatrughna hit Manthara hard and she started bleeding. With a kick, he broke an ankle of hers. Profusely bleeding, Manthara fainted. Bharata fearing that Shatrughna would get the sin of killing a woman, intervened.
He asked Shatrughna to stop. He said if Rama hears this, he would he hurt and would definitely forsake them. That was the reason why he had left his own mother alive.
Shatrughna then dragged the bleeding Manthara and kept her in Kaikeyi's room.

Kaikeyi and Manthara

She asked Kaikeyi why she was relaxing when her whole world was collapsing. Rama was to made king and Bharata was being ignored. Ask the king to banish Rama. If Bharata is made king, you will have all, now you will get nothing.

Kaikeyi said Rama was just and truthful. Why should she just send Rama away when there was no reason for that? Rama always respected her.The law said the eldest son would rule, and Dashratha was following that principle. Rama would treat Bharata like a king.

Kaikeyi felt very happy that Rama would be king. She wanted to gift something to Manthara for bringing the news to her. She took off an ornament from her body and gave it to Manthara.

Manthara flung the ornament away and with her eyes red with rage, she started speaking.

I have been trying to tell you something that is good for you, and instead of listening to me, you are telling the opposite of that. Kaushalya, cunningly has ensured that her son gets the crown. That would imply that Kaikeyi would become Kaushalya's maid. Why else was this being planned when Bharata was not there, but was visiting your brother. I do not blame the king, he has been brainwashed by Kaushalya.

Rama and Lakshmana will rule and Bharata will get nothing. Bharata, hearing this, will not come back as you have taken away his right, as the son of the king's favorite queen. Think of a way to send Rama into the forest and make Bharata the king.


Hearing the words of Manthara, Kaikeyi was swayed. The words seemed to make sense to her.

She said you wish me well. I never realized that Rama was cunning. With Bharata away, Rama would be crowned king. Dashratha lived and breathes Rama. If Rama goes away, the king will die. Think of a way in which Rama is not banished, but is not given the kingdom. Maybe the kingdom should be divided among the four brothers, and each takes a part and rules it.

Manthara said if you want a way to achieve your way, I can give you an idea. Years ago, the king had promised to give you anything you wanted. You have two of those promises pending. Use those and ask the king to fulfill those wishes of yours. You do not have time, anytime soon, Rama would be crowned king.
Change your dress, and wear rags. Throw off your ornaments, and lie on the ground.When the king asks for the reason, do not say anything, just keep crying. Tell the king later and remind him of the two promises. Tell him to first swear that he will fulfill those. With the first ask Bharata to be crowned king, and with the second ask for Rama to be sent to the forest for fourteen years.


When Kaikeyi was small, she had, in ignorance, taunted a sage. The sage had cursed her saying the whole world would curse her.

Kaikeyi hugged Manthara and said she would have a bath only once the king promised her that Bharata would be king.

Hearing this Mantha was elated.

Manthara hears the news

Ayodhya was lit like Amaravati, Indra's capital. Colorful flags were flying everywhere.
While everything seemed perfect, it was not so.

Ages ago there was an apsara called Dundubhi who had been born as Manthara. She was hunchbacked. She was cunning, vile and ugly. She was forever scheming. She had been sent from the heavens to find a way to send Rama to the forests. She had come along with Kaikeyi, at part of her dowry and she stayed since then, in Ayodhya.

Manthara came to see what was happening, why the people were celebrating. She heard from the people that Rama had been made the crown prince and the formal crowing was to happen next when Dashratha would hand over the kingdom to Rama.

Hearing this, Manthara went straight to Kaikeyi. Kaikeyi was resting, when Manthara entered her chamber.