The Tale of Manthara

In the grand kingdom of Ayodhya, ruled by the noble King Dasharatha, there was peace and prosperity. Dasharatha had three queens: Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi. The king’s eldest son, Lord Rama, was beloved by all for his righteousness, valor, and devotion to dharma. When the time came for Dasharatha to name his successor, he announced that Rama would be crowned the next king of Ayodhya. The news was met with great joy throughout the kingdom.

Among those serving in the royal household was Manthara, an old maidservant of Queen Kaikeyi, Dasharatha’s youngest and favorite wife. Manthara was cunning and manipulative, often filled with jealousy and ill intent. She had always felt that Kaikeyi deserved more influence and power, and upon hearing of Rama’s imminent coronation, her twisted mind began to weave a plan.

Manthara feared that once Rama became king, Kaikeyi’s influence would diminish, and she would be overshadowed by Kausalya, Rama’s mother. Driven by jealousy and greed, Manthara approached Kaikeyi with a scheme to secure her own son, Bharata, as the next king instead of Rama. She poisoned Kaikeyi’s mind with deceitful words, playing on her insecurities and ambitions.

“Do you not see, my queen?” Manthara said, feigning concern. “If Rama becomes king, you will be forgotten, and Bharata will be nothing more than a servant in his brother’s court. You must act now to protect your future, and that of your son!”

At first, Kaikeyi was taken aback by Manthara’s words. She loved Rama as much as she loved Bharata and had no ill will towards him. But Manthara’s manipulations slowly took hold of her heart, sowing seeds of doubt and fear. She reminded Kaikeyi of the two boons that King Dasharatha had promised her long ago, after she had saved his life during a battle. Manthara urged Kaikeyi to use those boons to banish Rama to the forest for fourteen years and to demand that Bharata be crowned in his place.

Under Manthara’s influence, Kaikeyi’s heart turned cold. Succumbing to her maidservant’s malicious advice, she approached King Dasharatha and demanded her boons. The king, bound by his promise, was devastated but had no choice but to fulfill her requests. With a heavy heart, he ordered Rama into exile for fourteen years, while Bharata was named as the new ruler.

When Rama learned of his exile, he accepted it without question, out of love and respect for his father and dharma. Lakshmana and Sita, too, chose to accompany him into the forest. However, the consequences of Manthara’s scheme soon began to unfold.

As soon as Bharata returned to Ayodhya and learned of the exile of his beloved brother, he was furious and heartbroken. He refused to sit on the throne and chastised his mother for her selfish actions. The entire royal family was plunged into grief, especially Queen Kaikeyi, who soon realized the enormity of her mistake. Overcome with regret, Kaikeyi begged for forgiveness, but the damage was done. Her once peaceful and harmonious family had been torn apart.

Manthara, though successful in her manipulations, brought nothing but misery to the royal family. Her actions set in motion a series of events that led to great suffering, not only for Queen Kaikeyi but for the entire kingdom of Ayodhya.

The Moral of the Tale

The story of Manthara is a powerful reminder of the destructive power of manipulation and deceit. When selfish desires and jealousy drive one to manipulate others, the consequences are often devastating, not only for those being manipulated but for everyone involved. Manthara’s cunning plot may have temporarily succeeded in exiling Rama, but it ultimately led to the deep sorrow of Queen Kaikeyi, the suffering of King Dasharatha, and the anguish of the entire royal family.

The tale also shows that blindly following harmful advice, driven by fear or ambition, can lead to great regret. Queen Kaikeyi allowed herself to be influenced by Manthara’s manipulation, and as a result, she lost the love and respect of her family. In the end, she realized that no material gain or power was worth the pain caused by her actions.

The story teaches that true loyalty and wisdom come from understanding the consequences of one’s actions and standing firm in righteousness, even in the face of temptation. It warns against letting jealousy and greed cloud one’s judgment, for such emotions often lead to ruin.

Ultimately, the lesson is clear: those who sow discord and manipulate others will inevitably bring sorrow upon themselves and those around them. True happiness lies in fostering harmony, love, and integrity, rather than in chasing power through deceitful means.