Ramayana stories - kakeyi requests her two boons from Dasaratha

Ayodhya, a great kingdom ruled by the wonderful king Dasaratha. He had three princesses named kausalya, kaikeyi & sumitra. All the people in his kingdom lived happily under his rule. But the king Dasaratha was unhappy for not having children. One day a sage visited his kingdom and suggested him to undertake “putrakameshti yagna”. 

While carrying out the Yagna a magical form emerged from the holy fire and gave a sweetened keer to Dasaratha and said to offer it to his beloved wife’s. After drinking the keer the three princesses gave birth to beautiful children’s. Kausalya gave birth to Lord Rama, kaikeyi to Bharatha and sumitra to twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna. They grew up and became proficient in reading holybooks, hunting and archery.

The four brothers had great respect for elders and Guru’s and showed love and affection towards young ones. They learnt how to look after the people in the kingdom. Dasaratha decided to crown Rama as king of Ayodhya. The three princess loved Rama very much. Kaikeyi showed more affection to Rama than Bharatha. She treated Rama as her own son. The crowing ceremony was about to go. Manthra entered into the situation. Manthra maid of Kaikeyi influenced her very much.

Mantra says, oh! Madam, if Rama becomes the king then you has to totally depend on kausalya for everything.

By hearing these words kaikeyi felt restless. She asked mantra about what she has to do then. So mantra suggested a wicked plan to kaikeyi.

She says, Dasaratha have given you two boons when you helped him in the war. So ask him to grant it now.

Kaikeyi replies, yes I will go and ask him now.

Then immediately kaikeyi rushes near dasaratha and asks him to grant the two boons. Dasaratha kept his promise by granting the wishes of kikeyi of sending lord Rama his beloved son to forest for 14years and granted to crown Bharatha his third son as king of Ayodhya.

From this holy epic we have learnt to keep up our promises. We should never break the promises or words given to others. Here we have observed that Dasaratha in order to keep his promise he had sent his loving son to forest for a long period. Now-a-days people are forgetting their words and promises given to other. This is a great example for everyone to keep up promises given to others and respect towards elders. Here, we can observe one more point that by associating with bad people we can become evil. See kaikeyi how she became so evil towards Rama by listening to the words of Manthra.