 Instigated by the evil Manthara, Kaikeyi, the youngest and favourite queen of King Dasharatha, stops the coronation of Sri Rama. Holding Dasharatha to the two boons he had promised her on an earlier occasion, she demands that her son Bharatha should be given the kingdom, and that Rama should be banished to the forest for fourteen years. Broken hearted, Dasharatha refuses, but Rama accepts banishment to keep up His father's promise. Rama, Lakshmana and Sita leave for the forest.
The citizens of Ayodhya are preparing for the coronation of Rama as Crown Prince and there is great rejoicing as they decorate and beautify the city. The hunchback, Manthara, chief maid of Queen Kaikeyi, learns the reason for the celebrations, and, greatly disturbed, goes to convey the news to her mistress
Queen Kaikeyi rejoices to hear news of the coronation of Rama from Manthara and gifts her for bringing the glad tidings. Manthara is furious and slowly poisons the mind of Kaikeyi against Rama and His mother Kausalya. They decide that when Dasharatha comes to see her, Kaikeyi would demand the boons that Rama be banished to the forest for fourteen years and that Bharatha be crowned Yuvaraja. When Dasharatha arrives, Kaikeyi forces him to grant her the two boons, but he refuses. Kaikeyi then sends for Rama and tells Him about His father's promise. Rama vows to uphold the promise of His father and is delighted that His younger brother, whom He loves, should become Yuvaraja. He pays His obeisance to Kaikeyi and His father and prepares to go into the forest.
When Sri Rama comes to take leave of Sita, she insists on accompanying Him to the forest. She counters His objections, saying that she can overcome any difficulty in the forest and insists that her place is with Him, to share every happiness and trial. Her insistence wins and finally Rama agrees to take her with Him.
Rama and Lakshmana change into garments of tree bark. Bidding farewell to the King, Queen Kausalya and all the assembled citizens, They depart with Sita for the forest, leaving behind a sorrowing people. |
