Summary

Chapter 26 opens as Kaikeyi rushes Lakshmana to a healer in Sripura. She learns from a trader named Hiran that monsters are sieging Jan asthana and attacking any that act close. Kailleye is horrified that the gods may be helping the asuras as Hirav says the monsters wish to conquer Ayodhya. Kaikeyi sends a letter to Dasharath as Lakshmana wakes up. He tells Kaikeyi that he was forced into silence around Rama and unaware of it. He feels like a different person now and feels that Rama influences the people around him to see him as perfect. He believes Vamadeva's teachings that women are weak and will destroy the Kingdom Lakshama says Rama will only be a good raja to the men.

From the future, Kaikeyi says that people point to this trip as the moment Lakshama realized she was wicked. However...