---
title: "Kaikeyi in the Ramayana: Bharat's Mother and Her Boons"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/characters/kaikeyi"
lang: "en"
---

# Kaikeyi in the Ramayana: Bharat's Mother and Her Boons

Kaikeyi is a queen of King Dashrath and the mother of Bharat in the Ramcharitmanas. Influenced by her maid Manthara, she claims two promised boons: the throne for Bharat and fourteen years of exile for Shri Ram. Her demands bring sorrow to Ayodhya, yet Shri Ram continues to honour her as His mother and later comforts her.

## How Manthara turns Kaikeyi's mind

Kaikeyi's affection for Shri Ram makes her change of heart especially painful. In Ayodhya Kand, Doha 49, the elderly women of the royal family recall that she has always loved Him dearly, even more than Bharat. Her demand for His exile overturns the affection they have known.

The change begins with Manthara. In Ayodhya Kand, Doha 13, the maid learns of Shri Ram's forthcoming coronation and approaches Kaikeyi in distress. By Doha 20, her fearful warnings have shaken the queen. Kaikeyi begins to accept harmful counsel as friendly advice. Goswami Tulsidas shows how fear clouds discernment when we trust the person who feeds it.

## The two boons and Shri Ram's response

Kaikeyi claims the two boons King Dashrath has promised her: Bharat is to receive the throne, and Shri Ram is to spend fourteen years in exile. In Ayodhya Kand, Doha 40, Shri Ram finds His father overwhelmed with grief and asks Kaikeyi to explain its cause. She tells Him of the promises and her demands.

Shri Ram answers without bitterness. In Ayodhya Kand, Doha 41, He teaches the blessedness of devotion to one's parents. His respect does not depend on receiving what is pleasant. In Doha 79, Kaikeyi brings the clothing of a hermit, and He dresses for departure. Her insistence brings anguish to the king, while the Lord remains steady in His duty.

## Bharat's refusal and Shri Ram's compassion

Bharat refuses the throne his mother has sought for him. In Ayodhya Kand, Doha 181, he rejects the claim that her demands have brought him any gain. His love for Shri Ram makes the separation a source of grief, and he condemns his own part in the sorrow even though he has opposed her purpose.

Shri Ram meets Kaikeyi with compassion. At the reunion at Chitrakoot, in Ayodhya Kand, Doha 244, He approaches her before His other mothers, falls at her feet and soothes her distress. His conduct gives us a practice to follow: when another's actions cause pain, preserve humility and let compassion govern the response.

## Questions

### Why did Kaikeyi send Shri Ram into exile?

Manthara's warnings fill Kaikeyi with fear and turn her mind toward securing the throne for Bharat. Ayodhya Kand, Doha 20, describes her accepting this harmful counsel. She then claims King Dashrath's two promised boons, demanding Bharat's installation and Shri Ram's fourteen-year exile. In Doha 40, she explains the demands to Shri Ram.

### Did Kaikeyi always dislike Shri Ram?

Kaikeyi has deep affection for Shri Ram before Manthara influences her. In Ayodhya Kand, Doha 49, the elderly women remind her that she has repeatedly spoken of loving Him more than Bharat. They appeal to that familiar affection, but Doha 50 shows her refusing their good advice after accepting Manthara's counsel.

### How did Shri Ram treat Kaikeyi after she asked for His exile?

Shri Ram continues to honour Kaikeyi as His mother. In Ayodhya Kand, Doha 41, He answers her demands without rancour and speaks of devotion to one's parents. At Chitrakoot, in Doha 244, He meets her first among His mothers, bows at her feet and comforts her. Her actions do not extinguish His compassion.