9.10. The character of Mandodarī

Mandodarī, the queen-wife of Rāvaṇa, is a devoted wife of her husband. Sensual though she is, she distinguishes herself from the others by her critical attitude towards her husband’s abduction of Sītā in which she is prompted by her concern for the welfare of her husband. Her persuasion of Rāvaṇa to hand over Sītā does not so much breathe the spirit of jealousy alone, though see feels offended by Rāvaṇa’s passion for Sītā to the neglect of herself, who is “far superior to Sītā in rank, beauty and kindness”.^[1] But it was the spirit of an anxious concern for Rāvaṇa as her husband. However, she is flesh and blood of Rāvaṇa, for though in her piteous lamentation at the death of her husband she deplores his sinful act of abducting Sītā, an embodiment of virtue and his relentless wrath, which did not allow him to listen to her well-wishing words, as the cause of his and the Rākṣasas’ destruction. She is convinced of the greatness of her husband. Mandodarī is thus a devoted and passionate wife of Rāvaṇa anxiously concerned for his welfare, yet flesh and blood of his mentality.^[2]