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The Ramayana Version of Sanghadāsa
105
Once Maya, a Vidyadhara, took with him his daughter called Mandodari and approached Ravana (with a view to offering Mandodari to him in marriage). She had been shown to persons, able to interpret or explain marks as on the body, who had declared that the first child of Mandodari would prove the cause of the annihilation of her family. As Mandodari was very beautiful, Rāvana did not refuse the offer of marriage with her. He married her with the thought that he would desert her first born child and thus save his race.
Now in Ayodhya there was a king called Dasaratha. He had three wives: Kausalya, Kalkeyi and Sumitra. Rāma was born of Kausalya, Lakṣmaṇa of Sumitra and Bharata and Satrughna were born of Kaikeyt. They, with godlike forms, grew up in their father's house.
Mandodari, the principal queen of Ravana gave birth to a daughter. She was put in a box full of jewels. Mandodari then asked a minister to take the box and desert the baby. He took that box to the park of Janaka, King of Mithila. As the ground of the park was being ploughed, he, covering the box with a magical veil. kept it in front of the plough. It was reported to the king that the girl had sprung from a furrow. The girl was handed over to queen Dharini. In course of time she grew up into a lovely maiden and her 'Svayamvara' was arranged by her father-Janaka. From amongst the many princes that had assembied for the Svayamvara, Sltá chose Rama as her husband. Other princes (of Ayodhya) too were given maidens in marriage and with all of them Dasaratha returned to Ayodhya.
Now, once Dasaratha, who was pleased with Kaikeyl for her skill in attending to her relations, had offered a boon to her. She, however, had reserved the right of asking for its fulfilment on a future occasion. Once again, in a fight with a frontier king, King Dasaratha was taken prisoner. Kaikeyl was informed of this and requested to withdraw from the battle-ground. She replied that if the enemy so desired, he could overtake them all while retreating and therefore she would herself resume the fight. So long as she was not defeated, it could not be said that they were routed. Then getting ready she mounted a chariot; with an umbrella held over her she began to fight. Giving the order to kill anyone who retreated, she started attacking her enemy. Then the warriors on her side began to fight heroically. Defeating the enemy she got Dasaratha released. He paid her handsome tributes saying that her exploit was like that of an excellent man, and asked her to choose a boon. She kept in reserve this second boon also.
7.
After many a year, Dasaratha, who had grown old, issued an order for Rama's coronation. Crooked Manthara reported the news to Kaikey! who rejoicing at it gave her a gift of love. Manthara, however, instigated Kaikeyi to demand by way of fulfilment of her two boons, Bharata's coronation and Rama's exile, lest she (Kaikey) would have to walt upon Kausalya and Råma and live at Rama's mercy. Kaikeyl then pressed Dasaratha
Tiraska (ska)rini-Vidya: A kind of magical veil (or spell) rendering the wearer invisible.
