Winning over Kaikey¶ and treating her as an offering accepted for sacrifice the humpback whetted the knife of trickery on the stone of her heart. The queen, however, like a sacrificial beast who nibbled the green turf, did not foresee the impending calamity. Agreeable to hear, yet painful in consequence, were the words she spoke; it seemed as if she was administering honey mixed with poison. Said the maid-servant, “Do you, or do you not, remember the incident you once told me, my lady? You have in reserve with the king a couple of boons that he once promised you. * Ask for them today and soothe demon king Ýambara on behalf of the gods. The king was mortally wounded and fell unconscious in his chariot, while his charioteer also fell. The valiant Queen Kaikey¶, who had accompanied her royal husband to the field of battle assumed the role of a charioteer and removed the king to a safe retreat. When the king regained his consciousness and came to know of the timely help rendered by the queen he was immensely pleased and offered her a couple of boons. The queen, however, kept them in reserve and did not ask for anything on that occasion. The AdhyŒtma-RŒmŒya˜a (forming part of the BrahmŒ˜˛a-PurŒ˜a), however, tells a different story. There we are told that while King DaÜaratha was once fighting with the demons on behalf of the gods the axle your heart. Bestow sovereignty on your son and an abode in the forest on RŒma and rob your co-wives of all their joy. When the king swears by RŒma, ask the boons only then, so that the former may not go back upon his word. The scheme will fail if this night is allowed to pass; cherish my words as dearer than life.” (1—4)