Image title: Children’s Illustrated Ramayana: Figure 10

The news that Rama was to be crowned thrilled the whole of Ayodhya. Everyone was happy—all except an old hunchbacked woman named Manthara.

Manthara, who was an attendant on Kaikeyi, was not pleased. She wanted that Bharata, Dasaratha's son through Kaikeyi, should become Emperor. She poisoned the mind of Kaikeyi and made her press Dasaratha to redeem some old promises made to her.

Acting on evil counsel, Kaikeyi demanded that her son, Bharata, be crowned instead of Rama. She also insisted that Rama be exiled to the forest for fourteen long years.

Heartbroken, Dasaratha pleaded with Kaikeyi. He said he would agree to Bharata becoming Emperor if she would not press for Rama's exile. He could not bear the thought of separation from his beloved Rama. But Kaikeyi was adamant and would not yield.

Gallery information:

These illustrations are from the book called “Children's Illustrated Ramayana” which is an abridged retelling of the Ramayana authored by Vishnu B while the illustrations are by Vipin K. Das.

Note: You can read the full English translation of the Ramayana on this site.

Source: archive.org (external link; opens in new tab).