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Mind’s fickle nature

CHENNAI: The human mind is very fickle by nature and even men of character have been led astray by the influence of bad company. One who wants to uphold Dharma in life must consciously eschew those who are morally decadent as there is every possibility of succumbing to their influence in a moment of weakness. The Ramayana portrays through the character of Kaikeyi how there can be a total turnaround when someone is bent on vitiating the mind of a virtuous person.

In his discourse, Keeranur Sri Ramamurthi said when Manthara broke the news of Rama’s coronation to Kaikeyi she was overjoyed and immediately presented her maid a priceless jewel for bringing her such good tidings. The good lady loved Rama as she did Bharata and even gave her a boon for this was an occasion of great joy. But Manthara flung the jewel she had given her and had the temerity to chide her for her folly of rejoicing over what should have instead plunged her into grief. She then argued how after Rama was crowned the prince her son Bharata would have to wait on Him and that her position also would become servile. Manthara told Kaikeyi that so long she had been the most favoured queen of Dasaratha, and warned that Kausalya would take revenge on her for having been neglected all these years.

Even after listening to all these insinuations Kaikeyi replied that she held Rama in great esteem and that He deserved to be crowned. The maid by now exasperated exceeded all limits of propriety and without consideration that Kaikeyi was her mistress and a queen, she chided her for her stupidity. She also reminded her about the enmity between Janaka and her father, the king of Kekaya, and how the situation would be detrimental to her father if Rama ascended the throne. This shaft went home and Kaikeyi’s change of heart was total. Manthara was quick to press her case further by reminding her of the two boons that Dasaratha had given her when she had helped him during a war and said the time had come to redeem them. Her mind totally vitiated by Manthara’s machinations, Kaikeyi carried out the game plan of getting the kingdom for Bharata and banishing Rama to the forest.

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