Page:Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists.djvu/59

 should be set upon the throne. Have thanks for thy good news."

Then the humpbacked servant was the more angry, and cast away the jewel. "Indeed," she said, "thou art mad to rejoice at thy calamity. What woman of good sense is gladdened by deadly news of a co-wife's son's preferment? Thou shalt be as it were Kaushalyā's slave, and Bharata but Rāma's servant."

But still Kaikeyī was not moved to envy. "Why grieve at Rāma's fortune?" she said. "He is well fitted to be king; and if the kingdom be his, it will be also Bharata's, for Rāma ever regards his brothers as himself." Then Mantharā, sighing very bitterly, answered Kaikeyī: "Little dost thou understand, thinking that to be good which is thy evil fortune. Thou wouldst grant me a reward because of the preferment of thy co-wife! Know surely that Rāma, when he is well established, will banish Bharata to a distant land or to another world. Bharata is his natural enemy, for what other rival has he, since Lakshmana desires only Rāma's weal, and Satrughna is attached to Bharata? Thou shouldst save Bharata from Rāma, who shall overcome him as a lion an elephant: thy co-wife, Rāma's mother, too, will seek to revenge on thee that slight thou didst once put on her. Sorry will be thy lot when Rāma rules the earth. Thou shouldst, while there is time, plan to set thy son upon the throne and banish Rāma."

Thus Kaikeyī's pride and jealousy were roused, and she grew red with anger and breathed deep and hard, and answered Mantharā:

"This very day Rāma must be banished and Bharata installed as heir. Hast thou any plan to accomplish this my will?"