Ramayana
Chapter 31
Kaikeyi and the
Future: A Fatal Dilemma
In the midst of the hectic events and the rapid enfoldment
of the future course of events Kaikeyi lived withdrawn into her world of
solitude. In a way, she needed it badly. All this while, the thought of that
strange commitment which Indra had elicited from her through the clever
negotiation of his secret agent, continued to trouble her mind days on end. She
was still not clear about the full implications of what was happening at
present. Indra had warned her in no uncertain terms that Rama’s mission
required him to leave the place of his birth and travel to distant lands and regions.
Dashratha’s love for Rama had made him blind to the rapid advance of hostile
neighbors. The greatest threat was from Ravana, the king of Lanka. Though he
had not ventured anywhere near Ayodhya, he had struck terror in the hearts of
the mighty Devas who often sought the help of the kings in their constant wars
with the Asura race. Ravana combined the best of every world. He was born to a
great sage. So he had the strength that comes with the ascetic determination.
He was an invincible fighter, an artist, a composer of music, an accomplished
dancer, a poet and above all, an ardent worshiper of Lord Shiva. His kingdom
was as yet confined to a small island of Lanka in the sea south to the
continent of the Aryan kingdoms, many of which were the vassals of Ayodhya.
Kaikeyi had a vague idea of the situation. Indra’s secret agent did not divulge
all the information to her about Ravana. Even Dashratha vaguely knew about the
real extent of the power wielded by Ravana. But from the down south regions
there were continuous reports of the attacks and devastation caused by Ravana’s
political allies and protégés. Life was certainly unsafe for the foresters and
the sages living in the forests, because Ravana made use of the barbaric
carnivorous race of the Rakshasas to terrorize and subjugate the kings on the
subcontinent. Though Kaikeyi was not
acquainted with the minute details of the battles being waged in the far-flung
regions, she was well-apprised of the purpose of Vishvamitra when he adopted
Rama and Laxman as his chosen warriors to be trained for the combat against the
new threat. The secret agent of Indra had given her a perspective that made her
aware of the gravity of the threat.
However, she was still reluctant to play the part which
Indra wanted her to play in this vastly intriguing scheme in which she was
being led blindfolded. It was a terrible time for her. No one knew the secret
responsibility that was entrusted to her. She was forbidden to share the truth
about it. She was simply told to achieve a goal without any guidance as to how
she was to go about it. She did not know how she was going to accomplish the
mission without causing the deadly schism in the family which she could foresee
all the more clearly as the festive spirit was reaching a crescendo in Ayodhya.
