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Continued from yesterday’s instalment
 Dasaratha was in an elated state of mind when he came to the gynaeceum and promised Kaikeyi in the name of Rama to grant whatever she wants. ‘vaLLal iraaman un maindhan aaNai,’ he says. ‘I won’t be stingy about showering you with my gifts. I tell you this in the name of your son Rama, the large-hearted.’ ‘I would give whatever you want as readily and as willingly as does Rama.’
‘vaLLal,’ is the adjective that he uses to refer to Rama. Benefactor. Philanthropist who comes forward readily and happily to give; to shower the receiver with riches.
Dasaratha does not stop with that. ‘In the name of your son, Rama,’ he says. Poor thing. He was not ready for what was to come. When Kaikeyi reminded him of the two boons that are due to her, he is so ready and happy to grant them to her. After all, this was an occasion worth celebrating. He had decided to make Rama the Prince Regent. His proposal was received by the council of ministers and all others warmly. Though they were reluctant to give their consent for the king to relinquish the crown, the prospects of Rama occupying the throne delighted their hearts and that made them accept his proposal.
It was a time when Dasaratha was getting tired of his kingly duties. ‘It is time for me to retire,’ he announced and he could get the assent of the people, only because they saw Rama as the successor and were so happy about the prospects. Dasaratha felt light of heart when Rama accepted as a matter of duty what his father proposed. The occasion therefore called for celebration indeed. And Kaikeyi was the youngest of the three queens and his beloved - more beloved than any other queen for that matter.
But the inference that he had trouble at heart about the promise to the king of Kekaya becomes apparent when the fact that the matter of coronation of Rama, which has been discussed in public, decided, accepted and announced was not known to Kaikeyi - and of course Manthara - when all the others were aware of it and rejoicing. It is strange that Dasaratha did not inform Kaikeyi of this important decision. Not only that. Not a single soul around volunteered to keep them informed - despite the fact such informants are immediately rewarded for bringing the news. We have seen in a number of occasions that the informant is rewarded with a chain of gold etc. In the circumstances, the kind of information vacuum around Kaikeyi could not have been accidental.
 Srinivasa Sastriyar observes: “Apparently he remembered it, but then as the brothers grew up, Sri Rama outshone the others so decisively that he was the universal favourite. The other brothers were far, far behind him, so that
even Kaikeyi’s father apparently forgot it, or thought it prudent not to press it. When Dasaratha desired to make Sri Rama yuvaraja, he thought it was a favourable circumstance that Bharata was absent in his maternal uncle’s country with Satrughna.
He omitted to send invitations to Asvapati and Janaka, ostensibly on account of the great distance. The real reason was that he remembered the promise he had made to
Asvapati!”
With such turbulence at heart, it is interesting and curious indeed that Dasaratha was so ready to grant the boons that Kaikeyi sought. Perhaps he was under the impression that things have taken a concrete shape and it was not possible to change the course of events at this stage. Whatever it might be, he did not expect the kind of words that slipped from the mouth of Kaikeyi that day. Notice his assurance again. ‘I promise in the name of your son Rama.’
More follows...
Hari Krishnan
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