srivalmikiramayanam - Ayodhya Kanda (book 2) Sarga 8 to 13 )

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

( Translation and Commentary by Scholar,   Sreeman Brahmasree Desiraju Hanumantharao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasree K M K Murthy ji )

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 8

Introduction

Manthara with her wicked thoughts tries to convince Kaikeyi of the possible misfortune that could occur to Kaikeyi and her family if Sri Rama becomes the King. Although Kaikeyi's initial reaction is to praise Rama's qualities; her mind is slowly but surely poisoned by Manathara's sinful words

mantharaa tvabhyasuuyainaamutsR^ijyaabharaNaM cha tat|
uvaachedaM tato vaakyaM kopaduHkhasamanvitaa || 2-8-1

1. mantharaatu= but Manthara; abhyasuuya= became indignant; enaam= with her; utsR^ijya= cast down; tat= that; aabharanam= ornament; tataH= afterwards; kopaduHkhasamanvitaa= with anger and pain; uvaacha= spoke; idam= these words.

Manthara, becoming indignant with Kaikeyi, threw down the ornament given to her and with anger and distress spoke the following words:

harshhaM kimidamasthaane kR^itavatyasi baalishe |
shokasaagaramadhyasthamaatmaanaM naavabudhyase || 2-8-2

2. baalishe= O, foolish one! naavabudhyase= not knowing; aatmaanam= about you; shokasaagara madhyastam= who are in the midst of an ocean of trouble; kim idam= what is it; kR^itavatii asi=you are doing; harshham= (in making) delight; asthaane= of an ill suited matter.

"O, foolish one! Not knowing that you are in the midst of an ocean of trouble, what is it that you are so delighted about, in a matter to be grieved?"

manasaa prahasaami tvaaM devi duHkhaardhitaa satii |
yachchhochitavye hR^ishhTaasi praapyedaM vyasanaM mahat || 2-8-3

3. devi= O, queen! duH.khaarditaasatii= stricken with grief; prahasaami= I laugh; manasaa= mentally; tvaam= at you; yat= for; hrishhTaa asi= you are rejoicing; praapya= after getting; idam= this; mahat= great; vyasanam= calamity; shochitavye= which is to be grieved.

"Oh, queen! Though stricken with grief, I mentally laugh at you in that you are rejoicing at the time when a great calamity is befalling you."

shochaami durmatitvaM te kaa hi praajJNaa praharshhayet |
areH sapatniiputrasya vR^iddhiM mR^ityumivaagataam || 2-8-4

4. shochaami= I lament over; te= your; durmatitvam= ill-considered mind; kaa praaGyaa= which intelligent woman; praharshhayet= gets delighted; vR^iddhim= over prosperity; sapatniiputrasya= of stepson; areH= who is an enemy; mR^ityumiva= (just as rejoicing) over death; aagataam= which has befallen.

"I am lamenting over your foolish mind. Does any intelligent woman feel happy over the prosperity of a stepson who is considered an enemy? Does it not amount to praising a befalling death?"

bharataadeva raamasya raajyasaadhaaraNaadbhayam |
tadvichintya vishhaNNaasmi bhaya bhiitaaddhi jaayate || 2-8-5

5. raamasya= To Rama; bhayam= (there is) fear; bharataadeva= from Bharata; raajyasaadhaaraNaat= who has equal right to kingdom; vichintya= In thinking over; tat= that (matter); vishhaNNa asmi= I am sorrowful; bhayam= Fear; jaayate hi= begets from; bhiitaat= those who fear (us).

"Rama has a fear about Bharata because Bharata has equal rights over the kingdom. In thinking about this matter, I am getting anguished. Do we not get disasters from those who are afraid of us?"

lakshmaNo hi maheshhvaaso raamaM sarvaatmanaa gataH |
shatrughnashchaapi bharataM kaakutthsaM lakshmaNo yathaa || 2-8-6

6. lakshmaNaH= Lakshmana; maheshhvaasaH= having mighty bow; gataH= joined; raamam= Rama; sarvaatmanaa= with all his heart; shatrughnaH cha api= Satrughna also; bharatam= (is faithful) to Bharata; kaakutsam yathaa= as to Rama; lakshmaNaH= Lakshmana.

"Lakshmana, wielding a great bow, joined Rama with all his heart. Shatrughna is as faithful to Bharata as Lakshmana to Rama".

pratyaasannakrameNaapi bharatastaiva bhaamini |
raajyakramo viprakR^ishhTastayostaavatkaniiyasoH || 2-8-7

7. bhaamini= Kaikeyi!; pratyaasanna krameNaapi= In line with proximity of birth; raajyakramaH= the lineage of kingdom; bharatasyaiva= is to Bharata only; tayoH taavat= to the extent of other two(Lakshmana and Satrughna); kaniiyasoH= who are younger; viprakR^ishhTaH= it is far away.

"Oh Kaikeyi! In line with even the proximity of birth; the claim to the throne of Bharata alone can be pressed, that of Lakshmana and Satrughna who are younger is out of question."

vidushhaH kshatrachaaritre praajJNasya praaptakaariNaH |
bhayaatpravepe raamasya chintayantii tavaatmajam || 2-8-8

8. vidushhaH= (Rama is a )learned man; praaGyasya= efficient; kshhaatrachaaritre= in politics; praapta kaariNaH= he who acts appropriately and in time; bhayaat= fearing (such Rama); pravepe= I am shaken; chintayantii= to be thinking; aatmajam= of your son.

"Rama is a learned man and a political statesman. His actions are timely and appropriate. When thinking of your son's calamity to be resulted from Rama, I get shaken with fear".

subhagaa khalu kausalyaa yasyaaH putro.abhishhekshyate |
yauvaraajyena mahataa shvaH pushhyeNa dvijottamaiH || 2-8-9

9. kausalyaa= Kausalya; subhagaakhalu= is having good fortune; yasyaaH= that Kausalya's; putraH= son; svaH= tomorrow; pushyeNa= on the day of Pushyami star; abhishhekshhyate= is going to be anointed; mahataa yauvaraajyena= for great princely kingdom; dvijottamai= by the best of Brahmans.

"Kausalya is very fortunate. Brahmans are going to anoint her son for the great princely kingdom tomorrow on the day of Pushyami star".

praaptaaM sumahatiiM priitiM pratiitaaM taaM hatadvishham |
upasthaasyasi kausalyaaM daasiivattvaM kR^itaaJNjaliH || 2-8-10

10. kR^itaanjaliH= with folded arms; daasiivat= as a maid servant; tvam= you; upasthaasyasi= will serve; taam kausalyaam= that Kausalya; praaptaam= who gets; sumahatiim= very great; priitim= happiness; pratiitaam= famous; hatadvishham= annihilator of enemies.

"With folded arms, as a maid-servant, you have to serve that Kausalya who having reached great prosperity, in the height of joy, will dispose of her adversaries (in the person of Bharata and yourself)".

evam chettvaM sahaasmaabhistasyaaH preshhya bhavishhyasi |
putrashcha tava raamasya preshhyabhaavaM gamishhyati || 2-8-11

11. evam= thus; tvam bhavishhyasi yadi= if you become; preshhyaa= servant maid; tasyaaH= to her; asmaabhiH saha= along with us; tava= your; putrashcha= son also; gamishhyati= will get; preshhyabhaavam= servitude; raamasya= of Rama.

"Thus, if you become Kausalya's servant-maid along with us, your son Bharata will be Rama's attendant."

hR^ishhTaaH khalu bhavishhyanti raamasya paramaaH striyaH |
aprahR^ishhTaa bhavishhyanti snushhaaste bharatakshaye || 2-8-12

12. raamasya= Rama's; paramaastriyaH= great wives; bhavantikhalu= will become; hR^ishTaaH= delighted; te= your; snushhaaH= daughters-in-law; bhavishhyanti= will become; aprahR^isTaaH= unhappy; bharata kshhaye= of Bharata's weak position.

"Rama's wives will get delighted. Your daughters-in-law will be unhappy because of Bharata's waning position."

Comment: The words 'Rama's wives' here do not indicate that Rama had multiple wives. Manathara refers to a possible future where Rama being a King would marry other women. It was a norm then for a king to have more than one wife.

taaM dR^ishhTvaa paramapriitaaM bruvantiiM mantharaaM tataH |
raamasyaiva guNaan devii kaikeyi prashashaMsa ha || 2-8-13

13. tataH= afterwards; dR^ishhTvaa= seeing; taam= that; mantharaaam= manthara; bruvantiim= thus talking; param= much; apriitaam= distasteful word; kaikeyii= Kaikeyi; prashashamsaH= praised; raamasya guNena= Rama's virtues.

Hearing Manthara speak thus in many distasteful words, Kaikeyi began to extol Rama's virtues, saying: -

dharmajJNo gurubhirdaantaH kR^itajJNa satyavaakchuchi |
raamo raajJNH suto jyeshhTho yauvaraajyamato.arhati || 2-8-14

14. raamaH= Rama; dharmaGyaH= knows righteousness; daantaH= trained by; gurubhiH= elders; kR^itajJNyaH= one who has gratitude; satyavaak= speaker of truth; suchiH= clean in conduct; jyeshhTaH= elder; sutaH= son; raajJNaH= of king Dasaratha; ataH= hence; arhati= eligible; youvaraajyam= for princely kingdom.

"Rama knows all righteousness. Elders trained him. He has a proper gratitude. He speaks truth. He has a clean conduct. He is the eldest son of king Dasaratha and hence eligible for the kingdom."

bhraatR^uunbhR^ityaaMshcha diirghaayuH pitR^ivatpaalayishhyati |
saMtapyase kathaM kubje shrutvaa raamaabhishhechanam || 2-8-15

15. diirghaayuH= the long living Rama; paalayishhyati= will protect; bhraatroom= brothers; bhR^ityaamshcha= and servants; pitR^ivat= like father; kubje= O, the hunch-backed one! katham= how; santapyase= are you pained; shrutvaa= after hearing; raamaabhishhechanam= Rama's anointment.

"The long living Rama will protect his brothers and servants like a father. O, the hunch backed one! Why are you so pained on hearing about Rama's coronation?"

bharatashchaapi raamasya dhruvaM varshhashataatparam |
pitR^ipaitaamahaM raajyamavaaptaa purushharshhabhaH || 2-8-16

16. param= after; varshhashataat= one hundred years; purushharshhabhaH= the best among men; bharatashchaapi= Bharata also; avaaptaa= will get; raamasya= Rama's; raajyam= kingdom; pitR^ipaitaamaham= which belongs to (his) father and forefathers.

"After Rama's rule for one hundred years, Bharata the best among men will certainly replace Rama on his father's throne, which is that of his ancestors."

saa tvamabhyudaye praapte vartamaane cha manthare |
bhavishhyati cha kalyaaNe kimarthaM paritapyase || 2-8-17

17. manthare= O, Manthara! praapte= (When we) got; abhyudaye= an occasion for rejoicing; vartamaanecha= as at present ; kalyaaNe=and when a festive occasion; bhavishhyati =is to come off in future (too in the form of Bharata's installation, no matter even if it comes after a hundred years); kimartham= why; saa tvam= that you; paritapyase= feel agonized like this as though burning (with jealousy)?

"Oh, Manthara! When we got an occasion for rejoicing as at present and when a festive occasion is to come off in future (too in the form of Bharata's installation, no matter even if it comes after a hundred years), why do you feel agonized like this as though burning (with jealousy)?"

yathaa ne bharato maanyastathaa bhuuyo.api raaghaavaH |
kausalyaato.ariktaM cha so hi shushruushhate hi maam || 2-8-18

18. me= to me; bharataH= Bharata; yathaa= how; maanyaH= fit to be loved; tathaa= like that; raaghavaH= Rama also; bhuuyaH api= and even more; saH= he; anushushruushhate hi= doing service; atiriktam= more; maam= to me; kausalyaataH= than Kausalya.

"For me, Rama is as lovable as Bharata and even more. Is he not doing more service to me than to Kausalya?"

raajyaM yadi hi raamasya bharatasyaapi tattadaa |
manyate hi yathaatmaanaM tathaa bhraatR^uuMshcha raaghavaH || 2-8-19

19. raajyam= kingdom; yadi raamasya= if it is of Rama; tadaa= then; tat= that; bharatasyaapi hi= is of Bharata also; raaghavaH= Rama; manyate= thinks about; bhraatR^iiMshcha= his brothers; yathaa tathaa= on par with; aatmaanam= his own self.

"If Rama has kingdom then Bharata has it as well. Rama esteems his brothers just as his own self."

kaikeyiivachanaM shrutvaa mantharaa bhR^ishaduHkhitaa |
diirghamushhNaM niHshvasya kaikeyiimidamabraviit || 2-8-20

20. mantharaa= Manthara; shrutvaa= after hearing; kaikeyii vachanam= Kaikeyi's words; bhrisha duH.khitaa= felt very sad; niHshvasya= and sighing; diirgham= long; ushhNam cha= and hot; abraviit= spoke; idam= these words; Kaikeyiim= to Kaikeyi.

Manthara, after hearing Kaikeyi's words, felt very sad and after a long and hot sigh, spoke to her the following words:

anarthadarshinii maurkhyaannaatmaanamavabudhyase |
shokavyasanavistiirNe majjantii duHkhasaagare || 2-8-21

21. majjantii= (You are getting) immersed; duHkhasaagare= in an ocean of sorrow; shoka vyasana vistiirNe= filled with misery and danger; mourkhyaat= Due to stupidity; anarthadarshinii= (you are) not seeing the truth; na avabudhyase= not knowing; aatmaanam= yourself.

"On one side, you are getting immersed in an ocean of sorrow filled with misery and danger. But due to stupidity, you are not able to perceive the truth and you fail to assess your real position."

bhavitaa raaghavo raajaa raaghavasyaanu yaH sutaH |
raajavaMshaattu kaikeyi bharataH parihaasyate || 2-8-22

22. kaikeyi=O, Kaikeyi! raaghavaH= Rama; bhavitaa= will become; raajaa= king; raaghavasya anu= after Rama; yaH= whoever; sutaH= the son is (he becomes the king);bharataH tu= but Bharata; parihaasyate= will be removed; raajavaMshaat= from the royal clan.

"O,Kaikeyi! If Rama becomes the king, his son will become the king after him in succession. Thus, Bharata's name itself will be removed from the royal clan."

na hi raajJNaH sutaaH sarve raajye tishhThanti bhaamini |
sthaapyamaaneshhu sarveshhu sumahaananayo bhavet || 2-8-23

23. bhaamini= O, Kaikeyi! sarve= all; sutaaH= sons; raajJNyaH= of a king; natishhTantiH= will not be installed; raajye= for kingdom; sarveshhu sthaapyamaaneshhu= If all are installed; bhavet= there will be; sumahaan= a great; anayaH= lawlessness.

"O, Kaikeyi! All the sons of a king will not be crowned for a kingdom. If all are installed, there will be a great lawlessness."

tasmaajjyeshhThe hi kaikeyi raajyatantraaNi paarthivaaH |
sthaapayantyanavadyaaN^gi guNavatsvatareshhvapi || 2-8-24

24. kaikeyi= O, Kaikeyi! anavadyaaN^gi= who has deformless body-parts; tasmaat= that is why; paarthivaaH= kings; sthaapayanti= install; jyeshhTe= eldest son; itareshhvapi= eventhough others; guNavatsu= may be full of virtues; raajyatantraaNi= to kingly affairs.

"Therefore, kings, O, Kaikeyi of faultless limbs, install their eldest son, eventhough others may be full of virtues, as their successor to the throne."

asaavatyantanirbhagna stavaputro bhavishhyati |
anaathavatsukhebhyashcha raajavaMshaachcha vatsale || 2-8-25

25. vatsale= O, affectionate one! tava= your; asou= this; putraH= son; bhavishhayati= will become; atyanta nirbhagnaH= a complete loser; sukhebhyaH cha= from comforts; raajavamshaachcha= and even from royal clan; anaathavat= like an orphan.

"Oh, Kaikeyi the affectionate one! Your son will be completely distant from comforts and even from the royal clan; like an orphan."

saahaM tvadarthe saMpraaptaa tvaM tu maaM naavabudhyase |
sapatnivR^iddau yaa me tvaM pradeyaM daatumichchisi || 2-8-26

26. saa aham= That I; sampraapta= came; tvadarthe= for your sake; tvam tu= but you; naavabudhyase= are not understanding; maam= me; yaa= that; tvam= you; ichchhasi= wish; daatum= to give; me= me; pradeyam= a present; sapatni vriddhou= when there is prosperity for step-wife.

"I came here in your interests. But you have not understood me. You think it fit to give me a present when your step-wife is getting prospered."

dhruvaM tu bharataM raamaH praapya raajyamakaNTakam |
deshaantaraM vaasayitaa lokaantaramathaapi va || 2-8-27

27. raamaH= Rama; praapya= after getting; raajyam= kingdom; akaNTakam= without hindrance; nayitaa= will send; bharatam= Bharata; deshaantaram vaasayitaa vaa= either to some other country; athaapivaa= or otherwise; lokaantaram= to some other world; dhruvam= this is certain.

"Rama, ascending the throne without hindrance, will either send away Bharata to some other country or have him put to death. This is certain."

baala eva hi maatulyaM bharato naayitastvayaa |
sannikarshhaachcha sauhaardaM jaayate sthaavareshhvapi || 2-8-28

28. bharataH= Bharata; naayitaH hi= was sent; baalaH eva= in his childhood itself; maatulyam= to his maternal uncle's house; tvayaa= by you; sannikarshhaat= by being nearer; souhaardam= friedship; jaayate= is created; sthaavareshhvapi= even on inanimate things.

"You sent Bharata to his maternal uncle's house even in his childhood. By being nearer, love is born even on inanimate objects. By sending Bharata to a distant place, you made Dasaratha to have no affection towards him."

bharatasyaanuvashagaH shatrughno.api samaM gataH |
lakshmaNo hi yathaa raamaM tathaasau bharataM gataH || 2-8-29

29. shatrughno.api= Shatrughna also; anuvashagaH= was drawn; bharatsya= towards Bharata; gataH= and went; samam= along with him; yathaa= how; lakshmaNaH=Lakshmana; gataH= joined with; raamam= Rama; tathaa= like that; asou= this (Shatrughna); bharatam= with Bharata.

"Shatrughna was drawn towards Bharata and went along with him. Just as Lakshmana joined Rama, Shatrughna joined Bharata."

Comment: Sage Valmiki might be implying here that if Shatrughna were to be present then at Ayodhya, he would have tried for the prosperity of Bharata.

shruuyate hi drumaH kashchichchettavyo vanajiivibhiH |
sannikarshhaadishhiikaabhirmo chitaH paramaadbhayaat || 2-8-30

30. shruuyate hi= it is heard that; kashchit= certain; drumaH= tree; chhettavyaH= which is to be cut; vanajiivibhiH= by people living in forest; mochitaH= was relieved; paramaat bhayaat= of (this) great danger; ishhiikaabhiH sannikarshhaat= by proximity to Ishhiika grass.

"We hear that a tree marked down for felling by foresters, when covered by thorny Ishhiika grass, is saved from this great danger of cutting. So also, Dasaratha might have supported Bharata if he was staying near to him in Ayodhya."

goptaa hi raamaM saumitrirlakshmaNaM chaapi raaghavaH |
ashvinoriva saubhraatraM tayorlokeshhu vishrutam || 2-8-31

31. soumitriH= Lakshmana; goptaahi= will protect; raamam= Rama; raaghavaH= Rama; lakshmaNaM chaapi= (will protect) Lakshmana also; tayoH= their; soubhraatram eva= brotherly love; vishrutam= is famous; lokeshhu= in the world; asvinoH= as that of Aswinis.

"Lakshmana protects Rama. Rama protects Lakshmana. Their brotherly love is as famous as that of Aswini celestials."

tasmaanna lakshmaNe raamaH paapaM kiJNchitkarishhyati |
raamastu bharate paapaM kuryaaditi na saMshayaH || 2-8-32

32. tasmaat= Hence; raamaH= Rama; nakarishyati= will not do; kiJNchit= any little; paapam= sin; lakshmaNe= to Lakshmana; bharate tu= but to Bharata; raamaH= Rama; kuryaat= will do; paapam= a sinful act; iti= in this; nasamshayaH= there is no doubt.

"Hence, Rama will not do a sinful act of killing Lakshmana. However there is no doubt that he will do so in the case of Bharata."

tasmaadraajagR^ihaadeva vanaM gachchhatu te sutaH |
etaddhi rochate mahyaM bhR^ishM chaapi hitaM tava || 2-8-33

33. tasmaat= Hence; etat= this; rochate hi= is wished; mahyam= by me; te sutaH= (that) your son; gachhatu= goes; vanam= to forest; raajagR^ihaadeva= from royal palace (of his uncle) itself; bhR^isham= (This is) very much; hitam= beneficial; tavaapicha= to you also.

"Hence, I feel that it is better for your son to go to forest directly from his uncle's house. This is good for you too."

evaM te jJNaatipakshasya shreyashchaiva bhavishhyati |
yadi chedbharato dharmaatpitryaM raajyamavaapsyati || 2-8-34

34. bharataH avaapsyati yadi= If Bharata gets; raajyam= kingdom; pitryam= of his father; dharmaat= as per law; bhavishhyati= it will become; shreyaH= beneficial; te= to you; jNyaatipakshhasya chaiva= and to your side of relatives; evam chet= if it happens thus.

"If Bharata gets his father's kingdom as per law, it will be beneficial to you and your side of relatives."

sa te sukhochito baalo raamasya sahajo ripuH |
samR^iddhaarthasya nashhTaartho jiivishhyati kathaM vashe || 2-8-35

35. te= your; saH= that; baalaH= child; sukhochitaH= who is habituated to comforts; raamasya sahajaH ripuH= is Rama's natural enemy ; katham= how; nasTaarthaH= Bharatha; who failed to achieve purpose; jiivishhyati= will live; vashe= under control; samR^iddhaarthasya= of Rama whose flourishing object has been realized?

"Your youthful son, habituated to comforts, is a natural enemy to Rama. How can Bharata who failed to achieve his purpose live under control of Rama; whose flourishing object has been realised?"

abhidrutamivaaraNye siMhena gajayuuthapam |
prachchhaadyamaanaM raameNa bharataM traatumarhasi || 2-8-36

36. traatum arhasi= you ought to protect; bharatam= Bharata; prachchhaadyamaanam= who is being wrapped up; raameNa= by Rama; gajayuudhapam iva= as a leading elephant; abhidrutam= being chased; siMhena= by a lion; araNye= in forest.

"Rama is chasing and bringing down Bharata as a lion chases an elephant-king in forest. You ought to protect Bharata."

darpaanniraakR^itaa puurvaM tvayaa saubhaagyavattayaa |
raamamaataa sapatnii te kathaM vairaM na shaatayet || 2-8-37

37. puurvam= previously; niraakR^itaa= being disrepected; darpaat= with arrogance; tvayaa= by you; soubhaagyavathayaa= as you were fortunate; katham= how; raamamaataa= Rama's mother (Kausalya), te=your; sapatnii=rival wife; na shaatayet= will not revenge; vairam= for that animosity?

"Previously, you treated Kausalya with disrespect due to arrogance that you were fortunate. Will not such Kausalya, your rival wife, revenge for that animosity?"

yadaa hi raamaH pR^ithiviimavaapsyati |
prabhuutaratnaakarashailapattanaam |
tadaa gamishhyasyashubhaM paraabhavaM |
sahaiva diinaa bharatena bhaamini || 2-8-38

38. bhaamini= O, Kaikeyi! yadaa= when; raamaH= Rama; avaapsyati= gets; pR^ithiviim= this earth; prabhuuta ratnaakara shaila paattanaam= holding great ocean; mountains and towns; tadaa= then; bharatena sahaiva= along with Bharata; gamishhyasi= you will get; ashubham= bad; diinaa= pitiable; paraabhavam= ignominy.

"O, Kaikeyi! The day Rama becomes lord of this earth with its great oceans, mountains and towns; that day you and your Bharata will get a bad and pitiable position of ignominy."

yadaa hi raamaH pR^ithiviimavaapsyati |
dhruvaM praNashhTo bharato bhavishhyati |
ato hi saMchintaya raajyamaatmaje |
parsya chaivaadya vivaasakaaraNam || 2-8-39

39. yadaahi= when; raamaH= Rama; avaapsyasi= gets; pr^ithiviim= the earth; bharataH= Bharata; bhavishhyati= will become; dhruvam= certainly; praNashhTaH= ruined; ataH= hence; saMchintaya= think of; raajyam= kingdom; aatmaje= to your son; vivaasakaaraNam= and causing exile; parasya= to your enemy; Rama.

"When Rama gets power of the kingdom Bharata will certainly get ruined. Hence, think of a solution to get your son Bharata the kingdom and to send Rama, your enemy, to exile."

|| ityaarshhe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye ayodhyakaanDe ashhThamaH sargaH ||

Thus completes 8th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 9

Introduction

This chapter describes Manthara's success in turning Kaikeyi's mind away from good towards evil.

evamuktaa tu kaikeyii kopena jvalitaananaa |
diirghamushhTam viniHshvasya mantharaamidam abraviit || 9-2-1

1. uktaa= having been spoken, evam= thus, kaikeyii= Kaikeyi, jvalita aananaa= having a burning face, kopena= with anger, viniHshvasya= sighed, diirgham= lengthily, ushhNam= heatedly, abraviit= spoke, idam= these words, mantharaam= to Manthara.

After hearing those words, Kaikeyi with her face burning with anger, had a long and hot sigh and spoke to Manthara as follows:

adya raamamitaH kshipraM vanaM prasthaapayaamyaham |
yauvaraajye cha bharataM kshipramevaabhishhechaye || 9-2-2

2. adya= now, aham= I, prasthaapayaami raamam= shall make Rama to travel, kshhipram= quickly, vanam= to forest, itaH= from here, abhishhechayaami bharatam cha= I shall also get Bharata anointed, youvaraajye= for princely kingdom, kshhiprameva= even quickly.

"Now itself, I shall send Rama quickly to forest. I shall get Bharata anointed for princely kingdom immediately."

idaM tvidaaniiM saMpashya kenopaayena manthare |
bharataH praapnuyaadraajyaM na tu raamaH kathaMchana|| 9-2-3

3. manthara= O Manthara! kena upaayena= what is the means by which, bharataH= Bharata, praapuuyaat= will get, raajyam= kingdom, raamaH tu= but Rama, na= (will) not (get), kathamechana= by any method, sampasya= see, idam= this, idaaniim= now.

"O Manthara! What is the means by which Bharata will get the kingdom but Rama will not get it by any method. Think about it now."

evamuktaa tayaa devyaa mantharaa paapadarshinii |
raamaarthamupahiMsantii kaikeyiimidamabraviit || 9-2-4

4. uktaa= after being spoken, evam= thus, devyaa= by the queen Kaikeyi, mantharaa= Manthara, paapadarshinii= the sinful thinker, abraviit= spoke, idam= these words, kaikeyiim= to Kaikeyi, upahimsantii= destroying, ramaartham= Rama's benefit.

After hearing her words, the sinful thinking Manthara, spoke thus to Kaikeyi to destroy Rama's benefit of kingdom.

hantedaaniiM pravakshyaami kaikeyi shruuyataaM cha me |
yathaa te bharato raajyaM putraH praapsyati kevalam || 9-2-5

5. kaikeyi= O Kaikeyi! hanta= (I am) very glad! pravakshhyaami= I will tell, yathaa= how, te putraH= your son, bharataH= Bharata, kevalam= only, praapsyati= will get, raajyam= kingdom, me shruuyataamcha= let I be listened.

"O Kaikeyi! I am very glad. I shall tell you the means by which your son Bharata only will get the kingdom. Listen to it!"

kiM na smarasi kaikeyi smarantii vaa niguuhase |
yaduchyamaanamaatmaarthaM mattastvaM shrotumichchhasi || 9-2-6

6. kaikeyi= O Kaikeyi! tvam yat ichchhati= you are desiring, shrotam= to hear, mattaH= from me, uchyamaanam= the thing to be stated, aatmaanam= for your benefit, na smarasi kim= are you not remebering it, smarantii= though remembering, niguuhase vaa= (are you) hiding?

"Oh, Kaikeyi! You desire to hear from me the means for your benefit. Have you forgotten about it or are you hiding, even if you have remembered it?"

mayochyamaanaM yadi te shrotuM chchhndo vilaasini |
shruuyataamabhidhaasyaami shrutvaa chaitad vidhiiyataam || 9-2-7

7. vilaasini= o lady full of charms! chhandaH yadi= If it is desired, te= by you, shrotum= to hear, uchyamaanam= telling mayaa= by me, abhidhaasyaami= I shall tell you, shruuyataam= let it be heard, shrutvaa= after hearing, vidhiiyataam etad cha= let it be acted upon also.

"O the lady of charms, Kaikeyi! If you desire to hear this from my mouth, I shall tell you. Listen to me. Let it be acted upon after listening to me."

shrutvaivaM vachanaM tasyaa mantharaayaastu kaikayi |
kiMchidutthaaya shayanaatsvaastiirNaadidamabraviit || 9-2-8

8. shruttvaiva= after hearing, evam= these, vachanam= words, mantharaayaaH= of Manthara, kaikeyii= Kaikeyi, utthaaya= rose, kiJNchit= a little, svaastiirNaat shayanaat= from well laid bed, abraviit= and spoke, idam= these words.

After hearing Manthara's words, Kaikeyi slightly rose from the well-laid bed and spoke the following :

kathaya tvaM mamopaayaM kenopaayena manthare |
bharataH praapnuyaadrajyaM na tu raamaH kathaMchana || 9-2-9

9. manthare= o Manthara! tvam= you, kathaya= tell, mama= me, kena upaayena= by what means, bharataH= Bharata, praapnuyaat= will get, raajyam= kingdom, raamaH tu= but Rama, na= (will) not (get), kathamchana= by any count, upaayam= that trick.

"O Manthara! Tell me the trick by which Bharata will get the kingdom and Rama will not get it under any circumstances."

evamuktaa tayaa devyaa mantharaa paapadarshinii |
raamaarthamupahiMsantii kubjaa vachanamabraviit || 9-2-10

10. uktaa= after being spoken, evam= thus, tayaa devyaa= by that queen Kaikeyi, kubjaa= the hunch backed, mantharaa= Manthara, paapadarshinii= the sinful thinker, abraviit= spoke, vachanam= these words, upahimsantiim= to destroy, raamaartham= Rama's benefit.

After hearing Kaikeyi's words, the sinful thinking, hunch backed Manthara, spoke thus, with an intention to destroy Rama's benefit of kingdom.

tava daivaasure yuddhe saharaajarshhibhiH patiH |
agachchhattvaamupaadaaya devaraajasya saahyakR^it || 9-2-11
dishamaasthaaya vai devi dakshiNaaM daNDakaan prati |
vaijayantamiti kyaataM puraM yatra timidhvajaH || 9-2-12

11-12. devi= O queen! yuddhe= in a battle, devaasure= between celestials and demons tava patiH= your husband, upaadaaya= taking, tvaam= you, raajarshhibhiH saha= along with holy kings, agachchhat= went, saahyakR^iti= to help, devaraajasya= king Devendra, puram= to the city, khyaatam= famously, vaijayantamiti= called Vaijayanta, yatra= where, timidhvajaH= Timidhvaja (resided), aasthaaya= getting into, dakshhiNaam disham= southern direction, daNdakaan prati= towards forest of Dandaka.

"O Queen! Once upon a time, when there was a battle between celestials and demons, your husband Dasaratha went along with you and other holy kings to help Indra in battle, to a famous city called Vaijayata in which the demon Timidhvaja lived in a southern direction in the forest of Dandaka."

sa shambara iti khyaataH shatamaayo mahaasuraH |
dadau shakrasya saMgraamaM devasaN^ighairanirjitaH || 9-2-13

13. saH mahaasuraH= That great demon, khyaataH= famous, shambaraH= as shambara, shatamaayaH= who had several magic effects, anarjitaH= not being defeated, devasanghaiH= by celestrial groups, dadau= gave, sangraamam= battle, shakrasya= to Devendra.

"That great demon famously called shambara, who had several magic effects, defeated all the celestials and conferred battle upon Devendra."

tasmin mahati saMgraame purushhaan kshatavikshataan |
raatrau prasuptaan ghnanti sma tarasaasaadya raakshasaaH || 9-2-14

14. tasmin mahati sangraame= in that great battle, raakshhasaaH= demons, aasaadya= approached, tarasaa= by force, ghnantisma= and killed, purushaan= men, kshhatavikshhataan= who were beaten by arrows, prasuptaan= and those sleeping, raatrau= in the night.

"In that great battle, demons approached and forcefully killed men who were injured by arrows and also those who were sleeping at night."

Comment : It is not a virtuous practice according to scriptures, to kill injured people and defenceless people sleeping at night. Demons do not follow such scriptures.

tatraakaronmahaayuddhaM raajaa dasharatha stadaa |
asuraishcha mahaabaahuH shastraishcha shakaliikR^itaH || 9-2-15

15. tadaa= then, dasharathaH raajaa= king Dasaratha, akarot= created, mahaayuddham= great battle, tatra= there, mahaabaahuH= the long armed Dasaratha, shakaliiR^itaH cha= was made into pieces, shastraiaH= with weapons, asuraiH cha= by demons.

"Then, king Dasaratha fought a great battle there. With their weapons, demons made into pieces the long armed Dasaratha."

apavaahya tvayaa devi saMgraamaannashhTachetanaH |
tatrapi vikshataH shasraiH patiste rakshitastvayaa || 9-2-16

16. devi= O queen! nashhTa chetanaH= Dasaratha, who became unconscious, rakshhitaH= was saved, tvayaa= by you, apavaahya= by taking him away, sangraamaat= from battle field, tatraapi= there also, te patiH= your husband, vikshhataH= who was beaten, shastraiH= by weapons, rakshhitaH= was saved, tvayaa= by you.

"O Queen! You saved the life of your unconscious husband by taking him away from the battle field. There also, you again saved him, when beaten by demons with their weapons."

tushhTena tena dattau te dvau varau shubhadarshane |
satvayoktaH patirdevi yadechchheyaM tadaa varau || 9-2-17
gR^ihNiiyaamiti tattana tadhetyuktaM mahaatmanaa |

17. shubhadarshane= O Kaikeyi with auspicious appearance! tushhTena= after getting delighted, tena= by him, dattau= were given, te= to you, dvou= two, varau= boons, saH patiH= that husband, uktaH= was told, tvayaa= by you, gR^ihNiiyaam iti= that I shall take, varau= boons, yadaa tadaa= as and when, ichchheyam= desired by me, uktam= said, tena mahaatmanaa= by that great souled Dasaratha, tathaa iti= let it be, tat= that.

"O Kaikeyi with auspicious appearance! Getting delighted, he gave two boons to you. Then, you said, " I shall ask you whenever I require them". He then agreed to it."

anabhijJNaa hyahaM devi tvayaiva kathitaa puraa || 9-2-18
kathaishhaa tava tu snehaanmanasaa dhaaryate mayaa |
raamaabhishhekasaMbhaaraannigR^ihya vinivartaya || 9-2-19

18-19. devi= o queen! aham= I, anabhiNJyaahi= do not know anything about this matter, puraa= previously, eshhaa kathaa= this story, kathitaa= was told, tvayaiva= by you only, dhaaryate= being kept, mayaa= by me, manasaa= in mind, snehaat tu= due to friendship, vinivartaya= stop, raamaabhishheka sambhaaraan= arragnments of Rama's anointment, nigR^ihya= by force.

"O Queen! I do not know what had happened there. You yourself told this story previously to me. I am keeping this in my mind because of my friendship with you. Hence, you have to stop, by force, the arrangements being made for Rama's coronation."

tau varau yaacha bhartaaraM bharatasyaabhishhechanam |
pravraajanaM tu raamasya tvaM varshhaaNi chaturdasha || 9-2-20

20. tvam= you, yaacha= ask, bhartaaram= your husband, tau= those (two), varau= boons, bharatasya= Bharata's abhishhechanam= anointment (and), raamasya= Rama's, pravraajanam= sending to exile, chaturdasha varshhaaNi= for fourteen years.

"You ask your husband as two boons, anointing Bharata for princely kingdom and sending Rama to exile for fourteen years."

chaturdasha hi varshhaaNiraame pravraajite vanam |
prajaabhaavagatasnehaH sthiraH putro bhavishhyati || 9-2-21

21. pravraajite= if you send, raame= Rama, chaturdashavarshhaaNi= for fourseen years, vanam= to forest, putraH= your son, prajaabhaavagatasnehaH= will get intimate association in the people's hearts, sthiraH bhavishhyati= and will become stable.

If you send Rama to forest for fourteen years, your son Bharata will get intimate association in the hearts of the people and will get stabilised in kingdom.

krodhaagaaraM pravishyaadya kR^idddhevaashvapateH sute |
sheshhvaanantarhitaayaaM tvaM bhuumau malinavaasinii || 9-2-22

22. asvapetH sute= oh, Kaikeyi the daughter of Asvapati! adya= now, pravishya= enter, krodhaagaaram= the room of wrath, dR^iddheva= as if angry, sheshhva= and lie down, bhuumau= on floor, anantarhitaayaam= without any spread, malinavaasinii= and wearing soiled clothes.

Oh, kaikeyi! Now, enter the room of wrath as if angry with him and lie down on floor without any spread underneath and wearing soiled clothes.

maasmainaM pratyudiikshethaa maachaina mabhibhaashhathaaH |
rudantii chaapi taM dR^ishhTvaa jagatyaaM shokalaalasaa || 9-2-23

23. dR^ishhhTvaa= after seeing, tam= that Dasaratha, shokalaalasaa= be sorrowful, rudantii= and by weaping, maasma pratyudiikshhethaaH= do not look face to face, enam= at him, maachaiva abhibhaashhataaH= nor talk, face to face, enam= to him.

As soon as you see Dasaratha, be sorrowful and keep on weeping, without looking at him and without talking to him face to face.

dayitaa tvaM sadaa bharturatra me naasti saMshayaH |
tvatkR^ite sa mahaaraajo vishedapi hutaashanam || 9-2-24

24. tvam= you, sadaa= always, dayitaa= dear one, bhartuH= to husband, naasti= no, samsayaH= doubt, me= to me, atra= about this, saH mahaaraajaH= that king, vishedapi= will even enter, hutaashanam= fire, tvatkR^ite= for your sake.

You are always dear to your husband. I have no doubt about it. King Dasaratha will even jump into a fire for your sake.

na tvaaM krodhayituM shaktona kruddhaaM pratyudiikshitum|
tava priyaarthaM raajaa hi praaNaanapi parityajet || 9-2-25

25. raajaa= the king na shaktaH= is not capable, tvaam krodhayitum= of making you angry, na= not able, diikshhitum= to see, kruddhaam= you with anger, parityajet hi= he will give up, praaNaanapi= even life, tava priyaartham= for your love.

The king is not capable of making you angry. He is not even able to see you with anger. He will give up his life for your love.

na hyatikramituM shaktastava vaakyaM mahiipatiH |
mandasvabhaave buddhyasva saubhaagyabalamaatmanaH || 9-2-26

26. manda svabhaave= oh, foolish one! mahiipatiH= king, nashaktaH hi= will not transgress, tava= your, vaakyam= words, buddhyastva= you know, aatmanaH= your, saubhaagya balam= abundant strength.

Oh, foolish one! The king will not be able to transgress your word. You realise your abundant strength.

maNimuktaM suvarNaani ratnaani vividhaani cha |
dadyaaddhasharatho raajaa maa sma teshhu manaH kR^ithaaH || 9-2-27

27. dasharathaH raajaa= king Dasaratha, dadyaat= may give, maNi muktam= diamonds, pearls, suvarNaami= gold, vividhaani= various, ratnaanicha= precious stones, maakRithaaH= do not keep, manaH= mind, teshhu= in them.

King Dasaratha may offer you diamonds, pearls, gold and various other precious stones. Do not care for them.

yau tau daivaasure yuddhe varau dsharatho.adadaat |
tau smaaraya mahaabhaage so.artho maatvaamatikramet || 9-2-28

28. mahaabhaage= oh Kaikeyi, the great fortunate one! smaaraya - remind, dasarathaH= Dasaratha, daivaasurayuddhe= in battle between celestials, and demons, you - which, tau= those famous, varau= boons, adadaat= were given, tau= those boons, arthaH - benefit, maatikramet= not to cross. tvaa,= you.

Oh, Kaikeyi, the great fortunate! you remind Dasaratha of those boons given by him to you in that battle between celestials and demons. See that your benefit does not get thwarted.

yadaa tu te varaM dadyaatsvayamutthaapya raaghavaH |
vyavasthaapya mahaaraajaM tamimaM vR^iNuyaa varam || 9-2-29

29. yadaa= when, raaghavaH= Dasaratha, svayam= himself, utthaapya= will raise you from the floor, dadyaat= and give, te= you, varam= the boon, mahaarajam vyavasthaapya= after making the king steady, vriNuyaaH= ask, imam varam= this boon.

Dasaratha himself will raise you from the floor and offer you the boon. Thus , after making him steady, you ask for this boon.

raamaM pravraajayaaraNye nava varshhaaNi paJNcha cha |
bharataH kriyataaM raajaa pR^ithivyaaH paarthivarshhabha || 9-2-30

30. paarthivarshhabha= oh, king! pravraajaya= send to exile, raamam= Rama, aranye= in forest, nava panchacha varshhaaNi= for fourteen years, bharataH kriyataam= let Bharata be made, raajaa= as king, prithivyaaH= to this earth.

"Oh, king! send Rama to forest for fourteen years. Let Bharata be made as king of this earth".

chaturdasha hi varshhaaNi raame pravraajite vanm |
ruuDhashcha kR^itamuulashcha sheshhaM sthaasyati te sutaH || 9-2-31

31. raamaH= Rama, pravraajite= having been sent, vanam - to forest, chaturdashavarshhaaNi= for fourteen years, te sutaH= your son, ruudhaH cha= will stand firmly, kritamuulaH cha= having laid roots and , sthaasyati= will stay, sheshhaM= for remaining period.

Rama having been sent to forest for fourteen years, your son will stand firmly, having laid his roots and will stay in power for the remaining period.

raamapravraajanaM chaiva devi yaachasva taM varam |
evaM siddhyanti putrasya sarvaarthaastava bhaamini || 9-2-32

32. devi= oh, queen! yaachasva= ask, tam= him, raamapravraajanamChaiva= of sending Rama to forest also, varam= as a boom, evam= thus, tava= your, putrasya= son's, sarvaarthaaH= all benefits, siddhyanti= will be accomplished.

Oh, Kaikeyi! Ask Dasaratha of sending Rama to forest also as a boon. Thus, your son will accomplish all the desired benefits.

evaM pravraajitashchaiva raamo.araamo bhavishhyati |
bharatashcha hataamitrastava raajaa bhavishhyati || 9-2-33

33. evam= thus, pravraajitaH= by sending to exile, raamaH= Rama, bhavishhyati= will become, araamaH= not amiable to people, tava= your, bharatascha= Bharata, bhavishhyati= will become, raajaa= king, hataamitrascha= the enemies having been annihilated.

Thus , by sending Rama to exile, he will not become amiable to people. Your Bharata will become king, after the enemies having been annihilated.

yena kaalena raamashcha vanaatpratyaagamishhyati |
tena kaalena putraste kR^itamuulo bhavishhyati || 9-2-34
sugR^ihiitamanushhyashcha suhR^idbhiH saardhamaatmavaan |

34. yena kaalena= by which time, raamaH cha= Rama, pratyaagamishhyati= returns, vanaat= from forest, tena kaalena= by that time, te= your, aatmavaan= wise, putraH= son, sugR^ihiita manushhyaH= having drawn people to his fold, suhridbhiH= and friends also, bhavishhyati= will become, kR^itamuulaH= one by whom roots are established.

When Rama returns from forest, your wise son will accumulate friends and draw people to his fold, thus establishing roots himself.

praaptakaalaM nu manye.ahaM raajaanaM viitasaadhvasaa || 9-2-35
raamaabhishhekasaMkalpaannigR^ihya vinivartaya |

35. manye= I think, praptakaalam tu= that it is the appropriate time, te= to you, viita saadhvasaa= after bequeathing fear, nigrihya= and by insistence, raajaanam vimivartaya= make the king turn aside, raamaabhishheka sankalpaat= his desire to anoint Rama.

This is the appropriate time for you. Be fearless and by your insistence, make the king turn aside his effort to anoint Rama.

anarthamartharuupeNa graahitaa saa tatastayaa || 9-2-36
hR^ishhTaa pratiitaa kaikeyii mantharaamidamabraviit |

36. saa kaikeyii= that kaikeyi, grahitaa= having been taught, anartham= unworthy matter, artharuupeNa= in the form of a worthy matter, tayaa= by that Manthara, tataH= afterwards, hR^isTaa= having delighted, pratiitaa= and understood, abraviit= spoke, mantharaam= to Manthara, idam= these words.

Kaikeyi, being brain-washed an unworthy matter as the most worthy matter by Manthara, accepted her well and having delighted, spoke to her as follows:-

saa hi vaakyena kubjaayaaH kishoriivotpathaM gataa |
kaikeyii vismayaM praaptaa paraM paramadarshanaa || 9-2-37

37. saa kaikeyi= That Kaikeyi, paramadarshanaa= the good natured, param vismayam gataa= was very much surprised, vaakyena= by words of, kubjaayaaH= the hunch backed Manthara, kishoriiva= and like a small girl, gataa= got, utpatham= into a wrong path.

Though of right thinking in nature, Kaikeyi was very much surprised to hear Manthara's words and like a small girl, got into a wrong path.

kubje tvaaM naabhijaanaami shreshhThaaM shreShhThabhidhaayiniim |
pR^ithivyaamasi kubjaanaamuttamaa buddhinirNaye || 9-2-38

38. kubje= oh, Manthara the hunch backed! naabhijaanaami= I have not recognised, tvaam= you, shreshhTaam= as the best, shreshhTaabhidhayiniim= in telling good things, uttamaasi= you are the best, kubjaanaam= among the hunch backed, pR^ithivyaam= on earth, buddhinishchaye= in deciding intellectually.

Oh, Manthara! You are telling very good things. Till now, I have not recognised you as this good. You are the best among the hunch-backed on this earth in making intellectual decisions.

tvameva tu mamaartheshhu nityayuktaa hitaishhiNii || 9-2-39
naahaM samavabuddhyeyaM kubje raajJNashchikiirshhitam |

39. kubje= oh, Manthara, tvameva= you only, nityayuktaa= are always interested, mama= in my, artheshhu= well being, hitaishhiNii= and wishing my benefit, aham= I, nasamavabuddhyeyam= would not have been aware of, raaGyaH= kings's, chikiirshhitam= intending action.

Oh, Manthara! you always show interest in my well being and wish for my benefit. But for you, I would not have been aware of the king's intentions.

santi duHsaMsthitaaH kubjaa vakraaH paramadaaruNaaH || 9-2-40
tvaM padmamiva vaatena sannataa priyadarshanaa |

40. santi= there are kubjaaH= hunch backed persons,duH.samsthitaaH= those with bad body construction, vakraaH= crooked ones, paramadaaruNaaH= extremely dreadful, tvam= you, priyadarshanaaH= appear lovely, padmamiva= like lotus, samnataa= bent, vatena= by breeze.

There are so many hunch backed persons in the world. Their bodily construction is very bad. They are crooked and dreadful. But you appear lovely, as a lotus flower bent by breeze.

uraste.abhinivishhTaM vai yaavat skandhaatsamunnatam || 9-2-41
adhastaachchodaraM shaataM sunaabhamiva lajjitam |

41. te uraH= your chest, abhinivisTam= appears equally on both sides, samunnatam= and in lofty, yaavatskandaat= upto the shoulders, adhastaat= below it is, sunaabham= good movelled, udaramcha= stomach, shaatam= is lien, lajjitam iva= as though it is shy.

Your chest is appearing equally on both sides and is loftily extended unto the shoulder. Below it is the stomach with an excellent navel, which is lean as though it is shy of seeing the loftiness of chest.

paripuurNaM tu jaghanaM supiinau cha payodharau || 9-2-42
vimalendusamaM vaktramaho raajasi manthare |

42. manthare= oh, Manthara! paripurunam= with perfect, jaghanam= hips, supiinou= with well rounded, payodharou= chest, vaktram= face, vimalendu samam= equal to untainted moon, aho= her, raajasi= shining you are!

Oh, Manthara! with perfect hips and well rounded breasts and with your face like an untainted moon you are shining well.

jaghanaM tava nirghushhTaM rashanaadaamashobhitam || 9-2-43
jaN^aghe bh^ishamupanyaste paadau chaapyaayataavubhau |

43. tava= your, jaghanam= waist, rashanaa daama shobhitam= shining with golden belt, nirghusTam= is making sound, jaN^ghe= leg muscles, bhR^isham= very well, upanyaste= rounded up, ubhou= both, paadou cha= feet also, aayatou= are long.

Oh, Manthara! your waist decorated with golden belt is making sound. Your leg-muscles are well rounded and your feet are tall.

tvamaayataabhyaaM sakthibhyaaM manthare kshaumavaasinii || 9-2-44
agrato mama gachchhantii raajahaMseva bhaasase|

44. manthare= oh, Manthara! tvam= you, raajase= are splendid, raajahamsiiva= like a royal swan, gachchhantii= walking, agrataH= in front, mama= of me, aayataabhyaam= with long, sakthibhyaam= thighs, kshouma vaasinii= wearing silk saree.

Oh, Manthara! you are splendid like a royal swan walking before me, with long thighs are wearing a silk sari.

aasanyaaH shambare maayaaH sahasramasuraadhipe || 9-2-45
sarvaastvayi nivishhTaastaa bhuuyashchaanyaaH sahasrashaH |

45. yaaH= which, sahasram maayaaH= thousand magic effects aasan= lying, shambare= in shambara, asuraadhipe= the lord of demons, taaH sarvaaH= all those, bhuuyaH= and further, sahasrashaH= thousands of anyaashcha= others nivisTaaH= are lying, tvayi= in you.

In addition to all those thousand magic effects lying in shambara, the lord of demons, another further thousands of magic effects are lying in you.

tavedaM sthagu yaddiirghaM rathaghoNamivaayatam || 9-2-46
matayaH kshatravidyaashcha maayaashchaatra vasanti te |

46. yat= which, tava= your, idam= this, diirgham= long, sthagu= hunch, aayatam rathaghaNamiva= looking like long apex of a chariot, atra= in it, vasanti= are dewelling, te= your, matayaH= thoughts, kshhatravidyaaH cha= royal arts, mayaaH cha= and magic effects.

In your long hunch, which looks like an apex of a chariot, are dwelling your various thoughts, royal arts and magic effects.

atrate pratimokshyaami maalaaM kubje hiraNmayiim || 9-2-47
abhishhikte cha bharate raaghave cha vanaM gate |

47. kubje= oh, Manthara! raagahave= Rama, gate= goes to, vanam= forest, bharate cha= and Bharata, abhishikte= gets anointed, pratimokshyaami= adore, atra= this huch back, maalaam= with garland, hiraNmayiim= made of gold.

Oh Manthara! When Rama goes to forest and Bharata gets kingdom, I shall adore this hunch back with a golden garland.

jaatyena cha suvarNena suvishhTaptena manthare || 9-2-48
labdhaarthaa cha pratiitaa cha lepayishhyaami te sthagu |

48. manthara= oh, Manthara! labdaarthaacha= after getting the benefit, pratiitaacha= and having delighted lapayishhyaami= I shall anoint, te sthagu= your hunch back, suvisTaptena= with well refined, suvarNena= gold, jaatyena= of good class.

Oh, Manthara! After accomplishing the benefit desired by me, I shall, with delight, get your hunch back anointed with well refined gold of good quality.

mukhe cha tilakaM chitraM jaataruupamayaM shubham || 9-2-49
kaarayishhyaami te kubje shubhaanyabharaNaani cha|

49. kubje= oh, Manthara! kaarayishhyaami= I shall get made, shubhaani= beautiful,aabharaNaamicha= ornaments, te mukhe= and for your face, shubham= auspicious, tilakam= dots, chitram= of variety, jaataruupamayam= in pure gold.

Oh, Manthara! I shall get beautiful ornaments made and for your forehead auspicious dots of variety done of pure gold.

paridhaaya shubhe vastre devateva charishhyasi || 9-2-50
chaMdramaahvayamaanena mukhenaapratimaananaa|
gamishhyasi gatiM mukhyaaMgarvayantii dvishhajjane || 9-2-51

50-51. charishhyasi= you will be moving around, devateva= like an angel, paridhaaya= wearing, subhe= beautiful, vastre= clothes, gamishhyasi= you will get, mukhyaam= important, gatim= position, dvishhajjane= amidst adversaries, garvayantii= with pride, mukhena= with face, apratimaananaa= incomparably, aahvayamaanena= competing with, chandram= moon.

You will be moving around like an angel, wearing beautiful clothes. You will achieve an important position in the eyes of your adversaries with pride and with your face, incomparably competing with moon.

tavaapi kubjaayaaH sarvaabharaNabhuushhitaaH |
paadau paricharishhyanti yathaiva tvaM sadaa mama || 9-2-52

52. kubjaaH= the hunch backed women, sarvaabharanNa bhushhitaaH= adorned with all ornaments, sadaa= always, paricharashhyanti= will do service, tava paadou api= at your feet also, yathaiva= as how, kibjaayaaH= as hunch backed, tvam= you, mama= to me.

The hunch backed women, adorned with all ornaments, will always do service, at your feet, as how as hunch-backed women, adorned with all ornaments, will always do service at your feet, as how as hunch-backed you are doing it to me.

iti prashasyamaanaa saa kaikeyiimidamabraviit |
shayaanaaM shayane shubhre vedyaamagnishikhaamiva || 9-2-53

53. saa= that Manthara, iti= in this way, prashasyamaanaa= being praised, abraviit= spoke, idam= these words, kaikeyiim= to Kaikeyim shaanaam= who was lying, shubhre shayane= in a clean couch,agni sihaamiva= like a flame of five, vedyaam= in a sacrificial altar.

Manthara in this way being praised spoke these words to Kaikeyi, who was lying in a clean couch like a flame of fire upon the sacrificial altar.

gatodake setubando na kalyaaNi vidhiiyate |
uttishhTha kuru kalyaaNaM raajaanamasudarshaya|| 9-2-54

54. kalyaNi= Oh Kaikeyi, the auspicious one! gatodake= in a place where water has flown out, stubandhaH= coustructing a dam, navidhiiyate= is not made, uttisTa= rise, kuru= do, kalyaaNam= the auspicious act, anudarshaya= show your influence, raajaanam= to king.

Oh, Kaikeyi the auspicious one! When water has already flown out, there is no use constructing a dam. Now rise and do this purposeful action. Show your influence to the king.

tathaa protsaahitaa devii gataa mantharayaa saha |
krodhaagaaraM vishaalaakshii saubhaagyamadagarvitaa || 9-2-55
anekashatasaahasraM muktaahaaraM varaaN^ganaa |
avamuchya varaaraaNi shubhaanyaabharaNaani cha || 9-2-56
tato hemopamaa tatra kubjaavaakyavashaMgataa |
saMvishya bhuumau kaikeyii mantharaamidamabraviit || 9-2-57

55-57. kubjaavaakyavashamgataa= by surrendering to the words of the hunch backed Manthara, tathaa= thus, protsaahitaa= having been encouraged, kaikeyii= Kakeyi, vishalaakshhii= who was having wide eyes, soubhaagyamadagarvitaa= who was proud of intoxicating beauty, varaaN^ganaa= a gifted woman, devii= a queen, avamuchya= removed, muktaahaaram= pearl necklace, anekashatasaahasram= worth in lacs varaarhaNi= greatly valued, shubbaani= auspicious, aabharaNaani= ornaments, gatvaa= entered, krodhaagaaram= chamber of wrath, mantharayaapaha= along with Manthara, tataH= afterwards, savishya= lied, bhuumou= on the floor, tatra= there, hemopamaa= like gold, abraviit= spoke, mantharaam= to Manthara, idam= these words.

By surrendering to the words of Manthara and having been thus encouraged by her, Kaikeyi who was of wide eyes, who was proud of her intoxicating beauty, who was a gifted woman and a queen, removed pearl necklace worth in lacs and other great valuable auspicious ornaments from her body, entered the chamber of wrath along with Manthara, lied on the floor there like a golden wire and spoke to Manthara as follows:

iha vaa maaM mR^itaaM kubje NR^ipaayaavedayishhyasi |
vanaM tu raaghave praaptebharataH praapsyati kshitim|| 9-2-58

58. kubje= oh, Manthara! raaghave= Rama, praapte= having reached, vanamtu= forest, bharataH= Bharata, praapsyasi= shall get, kshhitim= the earth, vaa= or ese, aavedayishhyasi= inform, nR^ipaaya= king Dasaratha, maam= about me, mR^itaam maam= as dead person, iha= here.

"After Rama's going to the forest, Bharata shall get the kingdom. Or else, you inform the king that I died here itself".

na suvarNena me hyartho na ratnairna cha bhuushhaNaiH |
eshha me jiivitasyaanto raamo yadyabhishhichyate || 9-2-59

59. suvarNena= gold, na arthaH= is of no use, me= to me, na= nor, ratnaiH= diamonds, na= nor, bhuushhaNaiH cha= ornaments, ramaH abhishhichyate yadi= If Rama gets anointed for kingdom, eshhaH= that itself, antaH= is end, me jiivitasya= of my life.

Neither gold nor diamonds nor ornaments are of any use to me. on which day Rama gets anointed for the kingdom, the same day it will be the end of my life.

atho punastaaM mahishhiiM mahiikshito |
vachobhiratyartha mahaaparaakramaiH |
uvaacha kubjaa bharatasya maataraM |
hitaM vacho raamamupetya chaahitam || 9-2-60

60. atho= afterwards, kubjaa= Manthara, punaH= again, uvaacha= spoke, taam bharatasya maataram= to that mother of Bharata, mahishhiim= and wife, mahiikshhitaH= of king, vachobhiH= who was talking, atyarthamahaaparakramaiH= very seriously, vachaH= the words, hitam= whcih are beneficial to her, ahitam= but not beneficial, raamam upetya= in relation to Rama.

Afterwards, that Manthara again spoke to the seriously talking mother of Bharata that is Kaikeyi the following words which were beneficial to her and not beneficial in relation to Rama.

prapatsyate raajyamidaM hi raaghavo |
yadi dhruvaM tvaM sa sutaa cha tapsyase |
ato hi kalyaaNi yatasva tattathaa |
yathaa sutaste bharato.abhishhekshyate || 9-2-61

61. raaghavaH prapatsyate yadi= If Rama gets, idam= this, raajyam= kingdom, tvam= you, sasutaa= along with your son, tapsyase= get destroyed, dhruvam= it is certain, kalyaaNi= oh, the auspicious one! ataH= hence, yathaa= in what way, te sutaH= your son, bharataH= Bharata, abhishhekshhyate= will get anointed , yatasva= try, tathaa= in that way, tat= that action.

If Rama becomes king, you and your son will be destroyed. Oh, Kaikeyi of auspicious qualities! Hence you try for coronation of your son, Bharata

tathaatividdhaa mahishhi tu kubjayaa |
samaahataa vaagishhubhirmuhurmuhuH |
vidhaaya hastau hR^idaye.ativismitaa |
shshaMsa kubjaaM kupitaa punaH punaH || 9-2-62

62. samaahataa= having hit, tathaa= thus, vaagishhubhiH= by arrows of words, kubjayaa= by the hunch backed Manthara, muhurmuhuH= again and again, mahishhii= Kaikeyi, viddhaa= felt sad, kupitaa= angry, ativismitaa= was very much surprised, vidhaaya= keeping, hastou= hands, hR^idaye= on heart, shamshasa= praised, kubjaam= the hunch backed one, punaH punaH= again and again.

Having thus hit by arrows of words employed by Manthara again and again, Kaikeyi felt sad, was angry with the king, by keeping hands on her heart, was surprised with the cleverness of Manthara and praised her time and again.

yamasya vaa maaM vishhayaM gataamito |
nishaamya kubje prativedayishhyasi |
vanaM gate vaa suchiraaya raaghave |
samR^iddhakaamo bharato bhavishhyati || 9-2-63

63. kubje= oh, Manthara, prativedayishhyasivaa= either you have to inform, nishaamya= having seen, maam= me, gataam= going, yamasya vishayam= to the world of death, itaH= from here, bharataH bhavishhyativaa= or Bharata becomes, samR^iddha kaamaH= fulfiller of desire, raaghave gate= when Rama left for , vanam= forest.

Oh Manthara! Either you have to inform the king, of having seen me going to the world of death from here or when Rama left for the forest, Bharata becomes the fulfiller of his desire.

ahaM hi vai naastaraNaani na srajo |
na chandanaM naaJNjanapaanabhojanam |
na kiMchidichchhaami na cheha jiivitaM |
na chedito gachchhati raaghavo vanam || 9-2-64

64. raaghavaH na gachchhatichet= If Rama does not go to forest, itaH= from here, aham= I, na ichchhaami= do not desire for, kinchit= any, aastaraNaami= mattresses, na= nor, chandanam= sandal paste, na= nor, anjanam= eye-liner, na= nor, paana bhojanam= drink or food, na= nor, jiivitamcha= life even.

If Rama does not go to forest from here, I do not long for any mattresses or garlands or sandal paste or eye-liner or drink or food or even the life here.

athaitaduktvaa vachanaM sudaaruNaM |
ndhaaya sarvaabharaNaani bhaaminii |
asaMvR^itaamaastaraNena mediniiM |
tadaadhishishye patiteva kinnarii || 9-2-65

65. bhaminii= that Kaikeyi, uktvaa= uttering, etat vachanam= these words, sudaaruNam= which are cruel, atta= afterwards, nidhaaya= removing and keeping at one place, sarvaabharaNaani= all ornaments, tadaa= then, adhishishye= lied down, mediniim= on floor, asamvritaam= uncovered, aastaraNena= by mattress, patitua kinnarii iva= like a fallen angel called kinnara.

Kaikeyi, thus uttering cruel words, having removed all ornaments, lied on the floor without a mattress like a fallen angel.

udiirNasaMrambhatamovR^itaananaa |
tadaavamuktottamamuulyabhuushhaNaa |
narendrapatnii vimanaa babhuuva saa |
tamovR^itaa dyauriva magnataarakaa || 9-2-66

66. saa= Kaikeyi, narendra patnii= wife of the king, avanuktottamamuulya bhuushaNaa, having removed valued ornaments, udiirNasamrambhatamovR^itaananaa=having her face covered by the darkness of extreme anger, vimanaaH= with depressed mind, babhuuva= was, dyouriva= like sky, magnataarakaa= with missing stars, tamovR^itaa= surrounded by gloom.

Kaikeyi, having removed all adornments, having her face covered by the darkness of extreme anger and with her depressed mind, looked like a starless sky in a gloomy night.

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe navama sargaH

Thus completes 9th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 10

Introduction

In this chapter, Kaikeyi enters the house of wrath. Dasaratha tries to pacify her anger

vidarshitaa yadaa devii kubjayaa paapayaa bhR^isham |
tadaa shete sma saa bhuumau digdhaviddheva kinnarii || 2-10-1

1. yadaa = when, vidarshitaa = being wrongly preached, kubjayaa = by the hunch backed manthara, bhR^isham paapayaa = who was the most sinful person, tadaa = then, saa devii = that kaikeyi, shetesma = lied down, bhumau = on floor, kinnariiva= like a kinnara woman, digdhaviddhaa= beaten by poisoned arrow.

Having been thus wrongly preached by that sinful Manthara. Kaikeyi lied down on the floor as a Kinnara woman beaten by a poisoned arrow.

nishchitya manasaa kR^ityam saa samyagiti bhaaminii |
mantharaayai shnaH sarvamaachchakshe vichakshaNaa || 2-10-2

2. saa bhaaminii = that lady, vichakshhaNaa = skilful, nishchitya = after deciding, samyak = well, manasaa = in mind, iti = thus, kR^ityam = what ought to be done, aachachakshae = said, sarvam = all, mantharaayai = to Manthara, shanaiH = slowly.

The skilful Kaikeyi, after deciding in mind what ought to be done told it all slowly to Manthara.

saa diinaa nishchayaM kR^itvaa mantharaavaakyamohitaa |
naagakanyeva niHsvasya diirghamushhNaM cha bhaaminii || 2-10-3
muhuurtaM chintayaamaasa maargamaatmasukhaavaham |

3. mantharaavaakyamohitaa = stupefied by the words of Manthara, saa bhaaminii = that Kaikeyi, diina = became dejected, nishchayam kR^itvaa = made firm resolution, niHshvasya = sighed, diirgham = deeply, ushhNamcha = and warmly, naagakanyeva = like maiden-serpant, chintayaamaasa = thought, muhuurtam = for a moment, maargam = about the way, aatmasukhaavaham = which can lead to her happiness.

Being stupefied by the words of Manthara, that Kaikeyi became dejected, made firm resolve, with deep and warm sigh, like a maiden-serpent and thought for that moment about the ways which can lead to her happiness.

saa suhR^ichchaarthakaamaa cha taM nishamya sunishchayam || 2-10-4
babhuuva paramapriitaa siddhiM praapyeva mantharaa |

4.saa mantharaa = that Manthara, suhR^ichcha = who is desirous of getting benefit, nishamya = heard, tam sunishchayam = of that firm resolution, babhuuva = became, paramapriitaa = very much pleased, prapyeva = as if achieved, siddhim = success.

Manthara, who is Kaikeyi's companion and who is desirous of getting benefit, heard of Kaikeyi's firm resolve and became very much pleased as if she achieved success.

atha saa rushhitaa devii samyakkR^itvaa vinishchayam || 2-10-5
saMviveshaabalaa bhuumau niveshya bhR^ikuTiM mukhe |

5. atha = afterwards, saa abala = that lady, devii = the queen, rushhitaa = being angry, samyak = well, kR^itvaa = made, vinishchayam = determination, savivesha = lied down, bhuumau = on floor, niveshya = keeping, bhrukutim = eyebrows contracted, mukhe = in face.

Kaikeyi, being angry and well determined, lied down on the floor with eye brows, knitted in her face.

tatashchitraaNi maalyaani divyaanyaabharaNaani cha || 2-10-6
apaviddhaani kaikeyyaa taani bhuumiM prapedire |

6.tataH = thereafter, taani = those, chitraaNi = chaplets, divyaani = beautiful, aabharaNaani = ornaments, apaviddhaam = which were thrown away, kaikeyyaa = by Kaikeyi, prapedire = reached, bhuumim = the floor.

Thereafter, she threw away her colourful chaplets and beautiful ornaments on to the floor.

tayaa taanyapaviddhaani maalyaanyaabharaNaani cha || 2-10-7
ashobhayanta vasudhaaM nakshatraaNi yathaa nabhaH |

7. taani = those, maalyaani = chaplets, aabharaaNicha = and ornaments, apaviddhaani = which were thrown away, tayaa = by her, ashobhayanta vasudhaam = were making the earth shine, yathaa = as, nakshhatraaNi = stars, babhaH = in the sky.

Those chaplets and ornaments which were thrown away by her were making the earth shine, as stars to the sky.

krodhaagaare nipatitaa saa babhau malinaambaraa || 2-10-8
ekaveNiiM dR^iDhaM baddhvaa gatasattveva kinnarii |

8. baddhvaa = tying, ekaveNiim = single braid of, dR^iDham = tightly, malinaambaraa = wearing soiled clothes, saa = that Kaikeyi, nipatitaa = lying down, krodhaare = in chamber of wrath, babhau = shone(was), kinnarii eva = like kinnara woman.

Tying her single braid of hair tightly over her head and wearing soiled clothes, that Kaikeyi lying down in the chamber of wrath was looking like a Kinnara woman lying down dead.

aajJNaapya tu mahaaraajo raaghavasyaabhishhechanm || 2-10-9
upasthaasamanujJNaapya pravivesha niveshanm |

9. mahaaraajaH tu = but king Dasaratha, aajJNaapya = ordered for, raaghavasya = Rama's, abhishechanam = coronation, anujJNaapya = took permission, upasthaanam = from the nearest, pravivesha = entered, nivehsanam = the palace.

King Dasaratha ordered for various arrangements to be made for Rama's coronation, took permission to leave from the elders who were present there and entered his palace.

adya raamaabhishheko vai prasiddha iti jajJNivaan || 2-10-10
priyaarhaM priyamaakhyaatuM viveshaantaHpuraM vashii |

10. vashii = Dasaratha who kept all activities under his control, vivesha = entered into, antaH puram = inner chambers, aakhyaatum = to tell, priyam = the good news, priyaarham = to Kaikeyi who was a worthy woman to be told good news.

king Dasaratha, who kept all activates under his control entered into the inner chambers to tell the good news of Rama's coronation to Kaikeyi who was a worthy woman to be told the good news first (thinking that she has not yet heard the news).

sa kaikeyyaa gR^ihaM shreshhThaM pravivesha mahaayashaaH || 2-10-11
paaNDuraabhramivaakaashaM raahuyuktaM nishaakaraH |

11. saH = that Dasaratha, mahaayashaaH = with great glory, pravivesha = entered, shreshhTam = most excellent, kaikeyyaagR^iham = Kaikeyi's house, nishaakaraH aakaashamiva = as the moon into sky, paaNDuraabhram = with white clouds, raahuyuktam = containing Rahu, the demon.

That Dasaratha with vast glory entered Kaikeyi's chambers as moon enters the sky with white clouds.

shukabarhiNasaMyuktaM krauJNchahaMsarutaayutam || 2-10-12
vaaditraravasaMghushhTaM kubjaavaamanikaayutam |
lataagR^ihaishchitragR^ihaishchampakaashokashobhitaiH || 2-10-13
daantaraajata sauvarNavedikaabhissamaayutam |
nityapushhpaphalairvR^ikshairvaapiibhishchopashobhitam || 2-10-14
daantaraajatasauvarNaiH saMvR^itaM paramaasanaiH |
vividhyairannapaanaishchha bhakshyaishchavi vidhairapi || 2-10-15
upapannaM mahaarhaishcha bhuushhitaistridivopamam |
tatpravishya mahaaraajaH svamantaHpuramR^iddhimat || 2-10-16
na dadarsha priyaaM raajaa kaikeyiiM shayanottame |

12,13,14,15,16. mahaaraajaH = the great king, raajaa = Dasaratha, pravishya = entering, tat = that, svam =his, Riddhimat = magnificient, antaH puram = palace,shukabarahiNa samyuktam = containing parrots and peacocks, krauncha hamsa rutaayutam = filled with sounds of birds like curlews and swans, vaaditraravasanghushhtam = resonant with sounds of musical instruments, kubjaa vaamanikaayutam = consisting of short and hunch backed maid servants, champakaashoka shobhitai = with lovely champaka and ashoka trees, lataagR^ihaiH = with bowers surrounded by creapers, chitragR^ihaiH cha = with painted rooms, daantaraajata souvarNa, vedikaabhiH = with altars built with ivory, silver and gold,samaayutam = endowed with vsikshhaiH = trees, nitya pushhpa phalaiH =always yielding flowers and fruits, vaapiibhiH cha = and with wells, upashobhitam = adorned with paramaasanaiH = beautiful seats, daantaraajata sauvarNaiH = of ivory, silver and gold, upashobhitam = adorned with vividhaiH = various, aunapaanaiH cha = foods and drinks, vividhaiH = various, bhakshhaiH cha = snacks, upapannam = endowed with, bhuushhitaiH = beautifully adorned, mahaarhaiH = worthy women, tridivopamam = looking like heaven, nadadarsha = could not find, priyam = beloved, kaikeyiim = Kaikeyi, shayauottame = on the best couch.

King Dasaratha entered his magnificent palace but could not find his beloved kaikeyi on her best couch there. Peacocks and parrots were being reared in that palace, sounds of birds like curlews, and swans were heard around. The place was resonant with sounds of musical instruments. Short and hunch-backed maid-servants were moving here and there. There were bowers surrounded with creepers and lovely champaka and Ashoka trees. There were painted rooms. There were altars built with ivory, silver and gold. There were trees yielding flowers and fruits in all seasons and wells in the middle. There were beautiful seats constructed with ivory, silver and gold. Various types of food, drinks and snacks were made available. That palace was looking like heaven with beautifully adorned women.

sa kaamabalasaMyukto ratyarthaM manujaadhipaH || 2-10-17
apashyan dayitaaM bhaaryaaM paprachchha vishhasaada cha |

17. kaamabalasamyuktaH = being possessed of power of lust, saH = that , manujaadhipaH = king, ratyartham = with object of sexual pleasure, vishhasaada = was distress, apashyam = in not seeing, dayitaam = beloved, bhaaryaam = wife, paprachachha = and asked also.

Being possessed of power of lust, that king who came with object of sexual pleasure, was distressed in not finding his beloved wife and enquired the people there.

na hii tasya puraa devii taaM veLaamatyavartata || 2-10-18
na cha raajaa gR^ihaM shuunyaM pravivesha kadaachana |

18. puraa = in former times, devii = queen Kaikeyi, na atyavartatahi = did not transgress, tasya taam veLaam = such of his time, raajaa = the king, na pravivesha cha = did not enter also, shuunyam = empty, gR^iham = house, kadaachana = at any time.

In former times, Kaikeyi did not keep away herself at that kind of hour, nor the king enter her chambers at any time without her presence.

tato gR^ihagato raajaa kaikeyiiM paryapR^ichchhata || 2-10-19
yathaapuramavijJNaaya svaarthalipsumapaNDitaam |

19. tataH = thereafter, raajaa = the king, gR^ihagataH = who entered the house, paryapR^ichchata = enquired, yathaa puram = as before, avijJNaayakaikeyiim apaNDitaam = about without kuching foolish Kaikeyi, swaartha lipsum = who desired to get her selfish ends.

After entering the house, king Dasaratha enquired with the aid-servants there as before, without knowing about foolish Kaikeyi who desired to get her selfish ends.

pratiihaarii tvathovaacha saMtrastaa tu kR^taaJNjaliH || 2-10-20
deva devii bhR^ishaM kR^iddhaa krodhaagaaramabhidrutaa |

20. atta = then, santrastaa= fearful, pratiihaarii = female door keeper, kR^itaaJNjaliH = folding hands in supplication, uvaacha = said, deva = "Oh, king!, devii = the queen, abhidrutaa = ran, krodhaagaaram = to chamber of wrath, bR^isham kruddhaa = after becoming too much angry".

Then, a female door-keeper fearfully folding her hands in supplication, said: "Oh, king! The queen ran to her chamber of wrath with much anger".

pratiihaaryaa vachaH shrutvaa raajaa paramadurmanaaH || 2-10-21
vishhasaada punarbhuyo lulitavyaakulendhriyaH |

21. raaja = the king, paramadurmanaaH = having much disturbed mind, lulitavyaakulendriyaH = with wavering and agitated senses, punaH = again, vishhasaada = was dejected, bhuuyaH = more, shrutvaa = after hearing, pratiihaaryaaH = door keeper's, vachaH = words.

That Dasaratha having much disturbed mind already for the absence of Kaikeyi there, became more dejected after hearing the words of door-keeper.

tatrataaM patitaaM bhuumau shayaanaamatathochitaam || 2-10-22
pratapta iva duHkhena so.apashyajjagatiipatiH |

22. jagatiipatiH = Lord of the earth, saH = that Dasaratha, apashyat = saw, taam = her, patitaam = lying down, bhuumau = on floor, tatra = there, shayaanaam = sleeping, atathochitaam = in such and improper condition, praptaH eva = like burning, duHkhena = with grief.

King Dasaratha, after seeing Kaikeyi lying down on floor in the chamber of wrath, became tormented with grief.

sa vR^iddhastaruNiiM bhaaryaaM praaNebhyo.api gariiyasiim || 2-10-23
apaapaH paapasaN^kalpaaM dadarsha dharaNiitale |
lataamiva vinishhkR^ittaaM patitaaM deva taamiva || 2-10-24
kinnariimiva nirdhuutaaM chyutaamapsarasaM yathaa |
maayaamiva paribhrashhTaaM hariNiimiva saMyataam || 2-10-25

23,24,25. vR^iddhaH = the aged, apaapaH = sinless, saH = Dasaratha, dadarsha = saw, bhaaryaam = wife, taruNiim = a youthful woman, gariiyasiim = greater, praaNebhyao api = than life, paapasankalpaam = with a desire to do sin, lataamiva = like creeper, vinishhkR^ittaam = completely uprooted, devataamiva = like angel, patitaam = fallen, kinnariimiva = like Kinnara woman, nirdhuutaam = thrown down, apsarasam yathaa = like Apsarasa, chytaam = expelled, mayaamiva = like illusionism, paribhrashhTaam = dropped off, hariNiimiva = like female deer, samyataam = tied up.

That Dasaratha, who was sinless, a youthful woman dearer than his life, lying down on the floor with an intent to do sin. At that time, she was looking like a completely uprooted creeper, like a fallen angel, like a thrown down Kinnara woman, like an expelled divine dancer Apsarasa, like a dropped off illusionism and like a female deer tied up in a net.

kreNumiva digdhena viddhaaM mR^igayunaa vane |
mahaagaja invaaraNye snehaatparimamarsha taam || 2-10-26

26. mahaagajaH iva = like great elephant, araNye = in a forest, kareNumiva = a female elephant, viddhaam = wounded, dighena = by poisoned arrow, vane = in the grove, parimarsha =(he) touched, taam = her, snehaat = affectionately.

That Dasaratha touched Kaikeyi affectionately, as a great elephant in a forest touches a female elephant which is wounded by poisoned arrow.

parimR^ishya cha paaNibhyaamabhisaMtrastachetanaH |
kaamii kamalapatraakshiimuvaacha vanitaamidam || 2-10-27

27. kaamii = possessed with infatuation, abhisantrasta chetanaH = having fearful mind, parimR^ishya = touched, kamala patraakshhiim = lotus-eyed, vanitaam = woman, paaNibhyaam = with hands, uvaacha = spoke, idam = these words.

That Dasaratha, possessed with infatuation and having fearful mind, touched that lotus-eyed woman with his hands and spoke the following words.

na te.ahamabhijaanaami krodhamaatmani saMshritam |
devi kenaabhishaptaasi kena vaasi vimaanitaa || 2-10-28
yadidaM mamam duHkhaaya sheshe klyaaNi paaMsushhu |

28. devii = "Oh queen, kalyaaNi = of auspicious qualities! aham = I, na abhijaanaami = do not know, te = your, krodham = anger, samshR^itam = in habited, aatmani = in me, kena = by whom, abhishaptaa asi = you are cursed, kenavaa = or by whom, vimaanitaa asi = you are insulted, idam mama duHkhaayaa = this has become cause for my pain, yat seshhe = that you are resting, paamsushhu = on dirty floor."

"Oh queen, of auspicious qualities! I do not know that you are angry with me. Who has cursed or disrespected you? I am pained to see you resting in this way on a dirty floor."

bhuumau sheshhe kimarthaM tvaM mayi kalyaaNachetasi |
bhuutopahatachitteva mama chittapramaathinii || 2-10-29

29. mayi kalyaana chetasi = when I have a good sense of mind, kimartham = why, tvam = you, mama chiHa pramaathinii = hurt my mind, seshhe = by resting, bhuumau = on floor, bhuutopahata chitteva = like one who is possessed of a devil.

"when I am here to expend all good to you, why are you hurting my mind by lying down on the floor like the one who is possessed of a devil."

santi me kushalaa vaidyaastvabhitushhTaashcha sarvashaH |
sukhitaaM tvaaM karishhyanti vyaadhimaachakshva bhaamini || 2-10-30

30. bhaamini = Oh, Kaikeyi! me = my, vaidyaaH = physicians, santi = are there, kushalaaH = who are skilled, saravashaH abhishhTutaaH cha = and who are enlogised on all sides, karishhyanti = who can made, tvaam = you, sukshitaam = healthy, achakshhva = tell, vyaadhim = the sickness.

"There are so many royal physicians who are skilled and famous on all sides. They can make you healthy. Tell me your sickness".

kasya vaa te priyaM kaaryaM kena vaa vipriyaM kR^itam |
kaH priyaM labhataamadya ko vaa sumahadapriyam || 2-10-31

31. kasyavaa = to whom, priyam = favour, kaaryam = ought to be done, te = by you? kena vaa = by whom, vipriyam = offence, kR^itam = was done? katt = who, labhataam = has to get, priyam = favour, adya = now? kovaa = who, sumahat = great, apriyam = offence?'

"To whom do you want a favour to be done? who has offended you? Tell me to whom I have to extend a favour now and to whom I have to do a great offensive act."

maa rodiirmaa cha kaarshhistvaM devi saMparishoshhaNam || 2-10-32
avadhyo vadhyataaM ko vaa ko vaa vadhyo vimuchyataam |
daridraH ko bhavedaaDhyo dravyavaanvaapyakiJNchanaH || 2-10-33

32,33. devi = " oh, queen! tvam = you, maa rodiiH = do not weep, maa cha kaarshhiiH = nor make , samparishoshhaNam = body dry up, kovaa = who, avadhyaH = exempt from death, vadhyataam = is to be killed?, kovaa = who, vadhyaH = worthy of killing, vimuchyataam = is to be released? kovaa = who, daridraH = a poor person, bhavet = to become, aadhyaH = wealthy? dravyavaanvaapi = or a rich man, akiN^ichanaH = destitute.

"Oh, Kaikeyi! Do not weep and get your body dried up. If you tell, I shall kill a person who is exempt from death or shall release a person who is worthy to be killed. I shall make a poor man prosperous or a rich man, destitute".

ahaM chaiva madiiyaashcha sarve tava vashaanugaaH |
na te kimchidabhipraayaM vyaahantumahamutsahe || 2-10-34

34. ahamchaiva = I and, sarvexha = all, madiiyaaH = my people, tava vashaamgaaH = are submissive to you, aham = I, na utsahe = do not try, vyaahantum = to foil, kiN^chit = even a little of, te = your, abhipraayam = intention.

"I and all my people are submissive to you. I do not wish to foil even a little of your intention".

aatmano jiivitenaapi bruhi yanmanasechchhasi |
balamaatmani jaanantii na maaM shaN^kitumarhasi || 2-10-35
karishhyaami tava priitiM sukR^itenaapi te shape |

35. bruuhi = tell, yat = that which, ichhasi = you desire, manasaa = from mind, jiivitenaapi = even by life, na arhasi = you are not entitled, shaN^kitum = to suspect, maam = me, jaanantii = as you knew, balam = your strength, aatmani = over me, shape = I keep my oath, sikR^itenaapi = even by righteousness, te = to you, karishhye = I shall do, tava = your, riitim = liking.

"Tell me that which is desired by your mind to be achieved even at the cost of my life. You need not suspect me, as you very well know your authority over me. I keep my oath on my righteousness that I shall certainly do whatever is liked by you".

yaavadaavarta te chakraM taavatii me vasundharaa || 2-10-36
praachiinaaH sindhusauviiraaH sauraashhTraa dakshiNaapathaaH |
vaN^gaaN^gamagadhaa matsyaaH samR^iddhaaH kaashikosalaaH || 2-10-37

36,37. me vasundharaa = my earth, yaavat taavati = is as long as, chakram = chariout-wheel, aavartate = revolves, prachiinaaH = eastern countries, sindhu sauviiraaH = Sindhu, Sauviva countries, sauraashhtraaH = Saurastra, dakshhiNaapathaaH = sounthern countries, vaN^gaaN^ga magadhaaH = Vanga, Anga and Magadha countries, matsyaaH = the country of Matsya, kaashi kausalaaH = kasi and Kausala countries, samR^iddhaaH = are all affluent.

My jurisdiction over this earth stretches out as much to the extent as to the extent a chariot-wheel revolves. Eastern countries, Sindhu, Sauviira and Saurastra countries, as well as countries in the south, Vanga, Anga, Magadha and Matsya countries, Kasi and Kausala countries are all full of riches.

tatra jaataM bahudravyaM dhanadhaanya majaavikam |
tato vR^iNiishhva kaikeyi yadyattvaM manasechchhasi || 2-10-38

38. tatra = there, dhana dhaanyam = gold and grain, ajaavikam = sheep and goats, bahu = various, dravyam = goods, jaatam = are produced, kaikeyi = Oh, Kaikeyi, yadyat = which, tataH = fo those, ichhasi = do you want, VR^iNiishhva = to acquire, manasaa = from the mind.

In those countries, gold and grain, sheep and goats and all types of goods are produced. Oh, Kaikeyi! which of the goods do you want to acquire?

kimaayaasena te bhiiru uttishhTottishhTa shobhane |
tatvaM me bruuhi kaikeyi yataste bhayamaagatam || 2-10-39
tatte vyapanayishhyaami niiharamiva rshmivaan |

39. biiru = "oh, fearful one! kim = what use, aayaasena = by exertion, te = to you, shobhane = oh, beautiful woman! uttishhTha, uttishhTha = get up, get up! kaikeyi = Oh, Kaikeyi! bruuhi = tell, me = me, tat = that, yataH = from where, bhayam = fear, aagatam = came, te = to you, vyapena yisshhyaami = I shall remove, te = your, tat = that source of fear, niihaaramiva = as mist, rashmivaan = by sund.

"Oh, fearful one! why are you exerted like this? oh, beautiful lady? Get up get up! Oh, Kaikeyi1 Tell me the source of your fear. I shall remove that source as sun sets aside the mist."

tathoktaa saa samaasvastaa vaktukaamaa tadapriyam || 2-10-40
paripiiDayituM bhuuyo bhartaaramupachakrame |

40. samaashvastaa = consoled by, tathaa uktaa = thus spoken words, saa = she, vaktukaamaa = intending to, tat apriyam = that unkindly word, upachakrame = was begining, paripiidayitum = harass, bharataaram = husband, bhuuyaH = further.

Consoled by hearing the words of Dasaratha, Kaikeyi intending to tell unkindly words like Rama's exile was beginning to harass her husband further, by her words.

|| ityaarshhe srimadraamaayaNe addikaavye ayodhya kaaNde dashama sargaH ||

Thus completes tenth sarga of Ayodhya Kanda in Srimad Ramayana.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 11

Introduction

In this chapter Kaikeyi asks King Dasaratha to fulfill the boons given to her in earlier times

taM manmathasharairviddhaM kaamavegavashaanugam |
uvaacha pR^ithiviipaalaM kaikeyii daaruNaM vachaH || 2-11-1

1. kaikeyii=Kaikeyi, uvacha=spoke , daaruNam=harsh, vachaH=words, tam pR^ithiviipaalam=to that king, viddham=struck, manmadhasharaH= by cupid's arrows, kaamavega vashaanugan=yielded to hasty lust.

Kaikeyi spoke harsh words to that king, who was struck by cupid's arrows and yielded to hasty lust.

naasmi viprakR^itaa deva kena chinnaavamaanitaa |
abhipraayastu me kashchittamichchhaami tvayaa kR^itam || 2-11-2

2. deva=Oh, King!, naasmi= I am not, viprakR^itaa= insulted, kenachit= by anybody, na avamaanitaa= nor despired, tu= but, me= my, kashchit= certain, abhipraayaH= wish , ichchhaami= I desire, tam= it, kR^itam= to be accomplished, tvayaa = by you.

"Oh, King! no body has insulted me, nor despised me. But I have a certain, desire that needs to be fulfilled by you."

pratijJNaaM pratijaaniishhva yadi tvaM kartu michchhasi |
atha tadvyaaharishhyaami yadabhipraarthitaM mayaa || 2-11-3

3. tvam ichchhasiyadi= If you wish, kartum= to do, pratijJNaam pratijaaniishhva= you promise, atha= Thereafter, vyaaharishhyaami = I shall tell, at= that, yat=which, abhipraarthitam= desired.

"If you wish to fulfil my desire, you promise to fulfil it. After your promise I shall inform you that which is desired by me."

taamuvaacha mahaatejaaH kaikeyiimiishhadutsmaitaH |
kaamii hastena saMgR^ihya muurdhajeshhu shuchismitaam || 2-11-4

4. mahaatejaH= The most majestic, kaamii= lustful Dasaratha, utsmitaH= out smiled, iishaat= a little, samgR^ihya= seized, hastena= with hand, muuritaneshhu= into hair, taam kaikeyiim = that Kaikeyi, shuchismitaam= having white smile, uvaacha= and spoke

The most majestic and lustful Dasaratha smiled a little and caressingly kept his hand into her hair and spoke these words to Kaikeyi who was having white smile in her face.

avalipte na jaanaasi tvattaH priyataro mama |
manujo manujavyaaghraadraamaadanyo na vidyate || 2-11-5

5. avalipte= Oh, proud woman!, najaanaasi= don't you know, avidyate anyaH= there is no other, manujaH= man, priyataraH= more dearer, mama= to me, tvattaH= than you, raamaat= except Rama, manuja vyaagraat= the best among men.

"Oh, proud woman! Don't you know that there is nobody on this earth more dearer to me than you except Rama, the best among men."

tenaajayyena mukhyena raaghaveNa mahaatmanaa |
shape te jiivanaarheNa bruuhi yanmanasechchhasi || 2-11-6

6. tena raaghaveNa= By that Rama, ajayyena= who cannot be defeated, mukhyena= who is important person|, jeevanaarheNa= who is worthy of being lived upon, mahaatmanaa= who is highsouled, shape= I take oath, bruuhi=Tell, yat= what, ichhasi= is desired.

"Rama cannot be defeated by enemies. He is a very important person in our family. He is the supporter of life and a high souled man. I take oath by him. Tell me what is desired by you".

yaM muhuurtamapashyaMstu na jiiveyamahaM dhruvam |
tena raameNa kaikeyi shape te vachanakriyaam || 2-11-7

7. kaikeyi= Oh, Kaikeyi!, aham= I, na jiiveyam= cannot live, dhR^ivam= certainly, muhuurtam= a moment, apashyan= with out seeing, yam= Rama, tena raameNa= by that Rama, shape= I take oath, te vachana kriyaam= to fulfill your word.

"Oh, Kaikeyi ! I can't live even for a moment without seeing Rama. This is certain. By that Rama, I am taking my oath and promising to fulfill your word".

aatmanaa vaatmajaishchaanyairvR^iNe yaM manujarshhabham |
tena raameNa kaikeyi shape te vachanakriyaam || 2-11-8

8. kaikeyi= Oh, Kaikeyi ! vR^iNe= I desire, yam= which, manujarshhabham= best of men, anyaiH= by other, aatmajaishcha= sons, tena raameNa= by that Rama , manasa= by your mind

"I desire the well being of Rama, the best of men, even at the cost of my life or the lives of my other sons. I take oath by that Rama and tell you that I shall fulfil your word."

bhadre hR^idayamapyetadannumR^ishyoddharasva me |
etatsamiikshya kaikeyi bruuhi yatsaadhu manyase || 2-11-9

9. bhadre= Oh, auspicious woman! uddharasva= Raise, tat= this, me =my, hR^idayam= heart, anum R^ishya= by touching, kaikeyi= Oh,Kaikeyi! samiikshhya= observe, etat= this, bruuhi= tell, yat= which, manyase= you think, saadhu= as good.

"Oh, auspicious lady! My heart is sinking. You raise it by your touch. Oh, Kaikeyi! you observe all this and tell me that which you think as good."

balamaatmani jaanantii na maaM shaN^kitumarhasi |
karishhyaami tava priitiM sukR^itenaapi te shape || 2-11-10

10. na arhasi= you are not entitled, shaNk^itum= to doubt, maam= me, jaanantii= you know, balam= your strength, aatmaani= over me, shape= I take oath, te= to you, sukR^itenaapi= by auspiciousness also, karishhye=I shall do, tava= your, priitim=desire.

"You need not doubt me as you know your authority over me. I am taking oath on my auspiciousness. I shall do whatever is desired by you."

saa tadarthamanaa devii tamabhipraayamaagatam |
nirmaadhyasthyaachcha harshhaachcha babhaashhe durvachaM vachaH || 2-11-11

11. devi= Kaikeyi, tadarthamanaaH= keeping in mind her wish for coronation of Bharata and for Rama's exile, avedayanthi= informing, tam abhipraayam= that wish, aagatam= coming to her mind, babhaashhe= spoke, durvacham= unspeakable, vachaH= words, nirmaadhyasthuaat= with bias, harshhaatcha= and with delight.

That Kaikeyi, who has utmost desire for coronation of Bharata and for sending Rama to exile, revealing that wish from her mind, uttered unspeakable wordswith bias and delight.

tena vaakyena saMhR^ishhTaa tamabhipraayamaagatam |
vyaajahaara mahaaghoramabhyaagatamivaantakam || 2-11-12

12. sahR^ishhTaa= Kaikeyi having delighted, tena vaakyena= by those words, vyaajahaara= spoke, tam abhipraayam= that wish, aagatam= coming to her mind, mahaaghoram= which is very terrific, antakamiva= like death, abhyaagatam= coming suddenly.

Kaikeyi, having been delighted with Dasaratha's words, conveyed him of the very horrible wish in her mind as conveying the news of a suddenly befallen death.

yathaa krameNa shapasi varaM mama dadaasi cha |
tachchhR^iNvantu trayastriiMshaddevaaH saagnipurogamaaH || 2-11-13

13. saagnipurogamaH= with the god of Fire in the forefront, sriNvantu trayastrimshaddevaaH= thirty three celestials hear, tat= that, dadaasicha= offering of, varam= boon, mama= to me, thaa= as, krameNa= with series of, sapasi= your oaths.

"Let thirty three celestials with the god of Fire in the forefront hear your words giving boons to me, preceded by series of your oaths"

chandraadityau nabhashaiva grahaa raatryahanii dishaH |
jagachcha pR^ithivii cheyaM sagandharvaa saraakshasaa || 2-11-14
nishaacharaaNi bhuutaani gR^iheshhu gR^ihadevataaH |
yaani chaanyaani bhuutaani jaaniiyurbhaashhitaM tava || 2-11-15

14,15. jaaniiyuH tava bhaashitam= Let your words be known to, chandraadityau= moon and sun, nabhaH evacha = sky, grahaaH= planets, raatrayahaani= nights and days, dishaH= directions, jagachcha= universe , sagandharvaa= together with celestial musicians, saraakshhasaa= with demons, iyam= this, pRi^thivii= earth, bhuutaani= spirits, nishaacharaaNi= wandering in nights, gR^ihadevataaH= house gods, gR^iheshhu= in houses, yaani= which, anyaani= other, bhuutaani= spirits.

"Let your words be heard by sun, moon, sky, planets, day, night, the directions, universe, earth, celestial musicians, demons, spirits wandering in nights , house-gods and other spirits."

satysandho mahaatejaadharmajJNH susamaahitaH |
varaM mama dadaatyeshha tanme shR^iNvantu devataaaH || 2-11-16

16. eshhaH= This king Dasaratha, satyasandhaH= who has true promise, mahaatejaH= who has great valour, dharmagyaH= who knows righteousness, susamaahitaH= who has good equanimity , dadaati= is giving, varam= boon, mama= to me, sR^iNvantu devataaH= let celestials hear, tat= it, me= for my sake.

"King Dasaratha, who has true promise, who has great valour, who knows righteousness and who has good equanimity of mind, is giving boon to me. Let the celestials hear it for my sake."

iti devii maheshhvaasaM parigR^ihyabhishasya cha |
tataH paramuvaachedaM varadaM kaamamohitam || 2-11-17

17. devii= Kaikeyi, parigR^ihya= overpowered, maheshhvaasam= Dasaratha, who has great bow , abhishasyacha= promised too much and, tataHaparam= thereafter, uvachaa= spoke, idam= these words, shatruH= the enemy, aachya avayat= removed, tava jiivitam antaraa=almost everything except your life.

Kaikeyi made Dasaratha to hear these words, praised him too much and thereafter spoke these words to him who was ready to give boons as he was infatuated by lust.

smara raajn puraa vR^ittaM tasmin daivaasure raNe |
tatra chaachyaavayachchhatrustava jiivatamantaraa || 2-11-18

18. raajan= Oh,King! smara= remember, vR^itam= the occasion of, tasmin= that, daivaasure= between celestials and demons, puraa= in the past, tatra= in the battle,varan=boons, me= to my self.

"Oh, King! Remember what happened in the battle between celestials and demons in the olden times. There the enemy destroyed almost every thing except your life".

tatra chaapi mayaa deva yattvaM samabhirakshitaH |
jaagratyaa yatamaanaayaastato me praadadaa varau || 2-11-19

19. deva= Oh, King! tatracha= There, yat= by which reason, tvam= you, samabhirakshitaH= were saved, mayaa= by me, tataH= by that reason praadadaaH= you give, kaama mohitam= infatuated by lust, varadam= who was ready to confer boons.

"Oh, King! There, I saved you. Hence you gave boon to myself who was attentive in trying to save you."

tau tu dattau varau deva nikshepau mR^igayaamyaham |
tathaiva pR^ithiviipaala sakaashe satyasaMgara || 2-11-20

20. deva= Oh,King! PR^ithiviipaala= The protector of the Earth, satyasangara= the one who has true promise, aham= I, mR^igayaami= am hunting, tou varautu= for those boons, dattau= given, nikshhepau= kept for safe custody, tava sakaashe eva= at your vicinity only.

"Oh, King! The protection of the Earth, the one who has true promise! I am hunting for those boons, which were given by you and kept with you for safe custody."

tatpratishrutya dharmeNa na cheddaasyasi me varam |
adyaiva hi prahaasyaami jiivitaM tvadvimaanitaa || 2-11-21

21. tat= for that reason, pratishrutya= after promising, me= my, varam= boon, na daashyasi= if you do not give it, dharmeNa = as per right, tvadvimaanitaa= I being despised by you, prahaashyaami hi= shall abandon, jiivitam= life, adyaiva= now itself.

"You have to give that boon, as per right, to me as promised by you. If you despise me by not giving it, I should abandon my life now itself".

vaaN^maatreNa tadaa raajaa kaikeyyaa svavashe kR^itaH |
prachskanda vinaashaaya paashaM vR^iga ivaatmanaH || 2-11-22

22. tadaa= Then, raajaH= Dasaratha, kR^itaH= who was made, svavashe= into her submission, vaaN^maatreNa= in full measure of words, kaikeyyaa= by Kaikeyi, prachaskanda= fell into, paasham= trap, mR^igaHiva= as a deer, aatmanaH= for his self, vinaashaaya= destruction.

Dasaratha, after having thus yielded in full measure to kaikeyi's words, fell into her trap as a deer, for his self destruction.

tataH paramuvaachedaM varadaM kaamamohitam |
varau yau me tvayaa deva tadaa dattau mahiipate || 2-11-23
tau taavadahamdyaiva vakshyaami shR^iNu me vachaH |

23. tataHparam= There afterwards, uvaacha= spoke, idam= these words, varadam= to Dasaratha who is ready to give boons, kaama mohitam= and who was infatuated by lust, deva= Oh, King! mahiipate= the lord of the Earth! adyaivataavat= Now only, vakshhyaami= Iam asking, tau= those, varau= boons, yau= which were, datton= given, tvayaa= by you, me= to me, tadaa= then, shR^iNu= Listen to, me vachaH= my words.

There-afterwards, Kaikeyi spoke these words to Dasaratha who was ready to give boons and who was infatuated by lust: "Oh, King! the lord of Earth, now only I am asking for those boons which were given by you then. Listen to my words".

abhishhekasamaarambhao raaghavasyopakalpitaH || 2-11-24
anenaivaabhishhe keNa bharato me.abhishhichyataam |

24. upakalpitaH= Arrangements have been made, raaghavasya abhishheka samaarambhaH= to undertake Rama's coronation, me bharataH abhi- shhichyataam= Let my Bharata coronated, anena= in this, abhishhekeNaiva= anointment ceremony itself.

"All arrangements have been made to undertake Rama's coronation. Let my Bharata instead be coronated on this occasion itself".

yo dvitiiyo varo deva dattaH priitena me tvayaa || 2-11-25
tadaa daivaasure yuddhe tasya kaalo.aya maagataH |

25. tasya= for it, ayam= this, kaalaH= time, aagataH= has come, yaH= for which, dvitiiya varaH= second boon, dattaH= is given, me= to me, priitenaa= affectionately, tvayaa= by you, taada= then, daivaasurayuddhe= in the battle between celestials and demons.

"Now, the time has arrived for the second boon given by you affectionately then in the battle between celestials and demons."

nava paJNcha cha varshhaaNi daNDakaaraNyamaashritaH || 2-11-26
chiiraajinajaTaadhaarii raamo bhavatu taapasaH |

26. raamaH= Rama, aashritaH= has to take refuge, daNdakaaranyam= in the forest of Dandaka, nava paJNcha cha varshhaNi= for fourteen years, bhavatu taapasaH= let him become ascetic, chiiraajiina jataadhaarii= wearing rags, deer skin and matted hair.

"Rama has to take refuge in the forest of Dandaka for fourteen years and let him become an ascetic wearing rags, deer skin and matted hair".

bharato bhajataamadya yauvaraajyamakaNTakam || 2-11-27
eshha me paramaH kaamo dattameva varaM vR^iNe |
adyachaiva hi pashyeyaM prayaantaM raaghavaM vanm || 2-11-28

27,28. adya= Now, bharataH=Bharata bhajataam= should get, yauvaraajyam= rights of succession to kingdom, , akaNTakam= which is free of enemies., eshhaH=This is, me= my , paramaH = greatest, kaamaH = desire, vR^iNe= I am asking, dattam parameva= for boon given earlier, adyamaiva= Now itself, pashyeyam= let me see, raaghavam= Rama, prayaantam= going, vanam= to forest .

"Now itself, Bharata has to get rights of succession to kingdom, which is free of enemies. This is my greatest desire. Now I am asking for the boon given by you in earlier. "

sa raajaraajo bhava styasaMgaraH |
kulaM cha shiilaM cha hi raksha janma cha |
paratra vaase hi vadntyanuttamaM |
tapodhanaaH satyavacho hitaM nR^iNaam || 2-11-29

29. saH= you as that, raajaraajaH= king of kings, bhava= become, satya sangaraH= true to your promise, rakshhahi= protect, kulamcha= caste, shiilamcha= character, janmacha= and birth, tapodhanaaH= Ascetics, vadantihi= even told that, nR^ipaaNaam= for human beings, satyavachaH= speaking only truth, anuttamam hitam= is greatly benificial, vaase= while dwelling, paratra= in another world.

"Oh King of the Kings, Dasaratha ! Be true to your promise and protect your caste, character and birth. Are not the ascetics tell that for human beings to get happiness in another world, they have to speak only the truth."

|| iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye ayodhya kaaNDe 11th sargaH ||

Thus completes eleventh sarga of Ayodhya Kanda in Srimad Ramayana .

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 12

Introduction

Dasaratha is shocked by the strange wishes of Kaikeyi and tries to convince Kaikeyi of her wishes as being harmful. Kaikeyi would not heed to the emperor's words.

tataH shrutvaa mahaaraajaH kaikeyyaa daaruNam vachaH |
chintaamabhisamaapede muhuurtam pratataapa cha || 2-12-1

1. tataH shrutvaa= After hearing; daaruNam= cruel; vachaH= words; kaikeyyaaH= of Kaikeyi; mahaaraajaH= the great king; abhisamaapede= got; chintaam= disturbed; pratataapacha= suffered great agony; muhuurtatam= for a while.

After hearing the cruel words of Kaikeyi; King Dasaratha got disturbed and suffered great agony for a while.

kim nu me yadi vaa svapnashchittamohoo.api vaamama |
anubhuutopasargo vaa manaso vaapyupadravaH || 2-12-2

2. svapnamkinu= It is a dream; me= on my yadivaa= or; mama= my chittamoho apivaa= confusion of mind?; anubhuutopasargo vaa= or disease; manasaH= of mind.

"As it a day-dream or confusion of my mind? Or could it be an eclipse of my experience or a disease of the mind?"

iti samchintya tadraajaa naadhyagachchha ttadaa sukham |
pratilabhya chiraatsamjJNaam kaikeyiivaakyataaDitaH || 2-12-3
vyathito viklabashachaiva vyaaghriim dR^ishhTvaa yathaa mR^igaH |
asamvR^itaayaamaasiino jagatyaam diirghamuchchhvasan || 2-12-4
maNDle pannago ruddho mantrairiva mahaavishhaH |
ahodhigiti saamarshho vaachamuktvaa naraadhipaH || 2-12-5
mohamaapedivaanbhuuyaH shokopahatachetanaH |

3, 4, 5. samchintya= Thinking over; iti= thus; tat= about it; rajaa= the king; naadya gachchhat= could not get; sukham= comfort; naraadhipaH= That king; kiakeyiivaakya taaditaH= being banged by Kaikeyi's words; pratilabhya= got; samG^yaam= consciousness; vyathitaH= was disturbed; viklabaHcha eva= and disgusted ; mR^gaH yathaa= like deer; dR^ishhTvaa= seeing; vyaghriim= lioness; aasiinaH= sitting; jagatyaam= on floor; asamvR^itaayaam= uncovered; diirgham uchchvasan= sighing long = mahaavishhaH pannagaH iva = like the most poisonous serpant; ruddaH= fixed; maNdale= to a charmed spot; mantraiH = through magic spells; uktvaa= Attering; vaacham= words; saamarshhaH= with anger; iti= that; aho= "Oh!"; dhik= "what a pity!"; bhuuyaH= again; aapedivaan= got; moham= loss of consciousness; shokopahata chetasaH= due to his sensibility being beaten by anguish.

Thinking over thus, the king could not make out on the spur of the moment what it was. Then, regaining consciousness, he felt tormented by Kaikeyi's words. Distressed and disgusted as a deer at the sight of a lioness and seated on the bare floor, he gave forth a long sigh like a highly venomous serpent fixed to a charmed spot through magic spells. Uttering words "what a pity!" the angry king fell into a swoon once more, his mind infatuated with grief.

chireNa tu nR^ipaH samjJNaam pratilabhya suduHkhitaH || 2-12-6
kaikeyiimabraviitkruddhaH pradahanniva chakshushhaa |

6. pratilabhya = Having got; samG^yaam= consciousness; chireNa= after a long time; nR^ipaH= the king; suduHkhitaH= who was much distressed; kR^iddhaH= was angry; pradahavniva= like the one who burns away another; chakshhushhaa= with eyes; abraviit= spoke; kaikeyi= to Kaikeyi

Regaining consciousness after a long time and feeling much distressed and angry; the King spoke thus to Kaikeyi, as though consuming her with fire in his eyes

nR^ishamse dushhTachaaritre kulasyaasya vinaashini || 2-12-7
kim kR^itam tava raameNa paapaM paape mayaapi vaa |

7. nR^isshamse= Oh, the cruel one!; dushhTa chaaritre= one of wicked conduct!; vinaashini= one who exterminates; asya kulasya= this race!; pape= the sinful on!; kim kR^itam= what has been done; tava= to you; raameNa= by Rama; mayaapi= or by me?

"Oh cruel woman of wicked conduct inclined to exterminate this race! What wrong has been done to you by Rama or by me?"

yadaa te jananiitulyaam vR^ittim vahati raaghavaH || 2-12-8
tasyaiva tvamanarthaaya kim nimittamihodyataa |

8. yadaa= when; raaghavaH= Rama; vahati= is displaying; vR^ittim= behaviour; te= towards you; jananii tulyaam= as equal to mother; kimnimiHam= for what reason; tvam= you; udyataa= are bent upon; anardhaaya= to harm; tasyaiva= only him.

"When Rama is treating you in the same way as his mother, why are you bent upon harming only him?"

tvaM mamaatmavinaashaartham bhavanam svaM praveshitaa || 2-12-9
avijJNaanaannR^ipasutaa vyaaLii tiikshNavishhaa yathaa |

9. aviJN^aanaat= By not knowing; tvam= you; vyaaLiiva= as female serpant; tiiKshhNa vishhaa= with fiery poison; pravishitaa= you are admitted; nR^ipasutaa= as princess; mayaa= by me; svam bhavanam= in my house; aatmavinaashaartham= for my own destruction.

"By not knowing you as a female snake with fiery poison, you were admitted by me as princess in my house for my own self destruction.”

jiivaloko yadaa sarvo raamasyaaha guNastavam || 2-12-10
aparaadham kamuddishya tyakshyaamiishhTamaham sutam |

10. yadaa= when; sarvaH= all; jiiva lokaH= living beings; aaha= are casting; guNastavam= praise of virtues; raamasya= of Rama; uddishya= pointing; kam= to what ; aparaadham= offence; aham= I; tyakshhyaami= can leave; ishhTam sutam= beloved son?

"When all living beings extol the virtues of Rama, for what offence shall I forego my beloved son?"

kausalyaam vaa sumitraam vaa tyajeyamapi vaa shriyam || 2-12-11
jiivitam vaatmano raamam na tveva pitR^ivatsalam |

11. yadaa= when; sarvaH= entire; jiivaH lokaH= world of living beings; aaha= speaks; raamasya= Rama's; guNa stavam= eulogium of virtues; uddishya= pointing to; kam= which; aparaadham= offence; aham= I; tyakshhyaami= forsake; ishhTam sutam= beloved son?

"For what offence shall I forsake my beloved son; when the entire world of living beings extol the virtues of Rama?"

paraa bhavati me priitirdhR^ishhTvaa tanayamagrajam || 2-12-12
apashyatastu me raamam nashhTaa bhavati chetanaa |

12. drishhTvaa= on seeing; agrajam= the eldest ; tanayam= son;; paraa= supreme; priitiH= delight; bhavati= happens; me= to me; me= My; chetanaa= consciousness; nashhTaa bhavati= is lost; apashyatastu= if I do not see; raamam= Rama.

"Supreme delight comes to me on seeing my eldest son. My very consciousness is lost, if I fail to see Rama."

tishhThelloko vinaa suuryam sasyam vaa salilam vinaa || 2-12-13
na tu raamam vinaa dehe tishhThettu mama jiivitam |

13. lokaH= The world; tishhTet= can exist; suuryam vinaa= without sun; sasyam= crop; salilam vaa= without water; tu= But; jiivitam= life; na tishhTet= cannot exist; mama dehe= in my body; raamam vinaa= without Rama.

"The world can exist without the sun, a crop without water. But life cannot continue in my body, without Rama."

tadalam tyajyataameshha nishchayaH paapanishchaye || 2-12-14
api te charaNau muurdhnaa spR^ishaamyeshha prasiida me |

14. paapa nishchaye= Oh, woman with sinful resolve!; alam= Enough; tat= of it; eshhaH= This; nishchayaH= resolve; tyaajyataam= be given up; eshhaH= This I myself; spR^ishaamyapi= will even touch; te charaNou= your feet; muurdhnaa= with my head.; prasiida= Be gracious; me= to me.

"Oh, sinful woman! Enough of it. Let this resolution be given up. I even touch your feet with my head. Be gracious to me."

kimidam chintitam paape tvayaa paramadaaruNam || 2-12-15
atha jiijJNaasase maam tvam bharatasya priyaapriye |
astuyattattvayaaapuurvam vyaahR^itamraaghavamprati || 2-12-16
sa me jyeshhThaH sutaH shriimaan dharmajyeshhTha itiiva me |
tattvayaa priyavaadinyaa sevaartham kathitam bhavet || 2-12-17

15, 16, 17. paape= Oh, sinful woman!; kim= why; idam= this; parama daruNam= most cruel design; chintitam= has been thought of?; atha= If; tvam= you; jiG^yaasase= desire to know; maam= mine priyaapriye= about kindly and unkindly feeling; bharatasya= of Bharata; astu= let it be so; yat= = for which reason; tat= then; vyaahR^itam= was spoken; tvayaa= by you; puurvam= earlier; raaghavam prati= about Rama; itiiva= that; shriimaan= glorious; saH= Rama; me= my; jyeshhTha sutaH= eldest son; dharmajyeshhThaH= senior in practice of virtue; me= to me; tat= That; priya vaadinyaa= speaking pleasing words; kathitam bhavet= being told; tvayaa= by you; sevaartham= to exact service.

"Oh, sinful woman! Why this most design has been conceived by you? If you wish to ascertain my kindly or unkindly feeling towards Bharata, let it be so. But the observation made by you earlier that glorious Rama, who is senior in the practice of virtue is my eldest son as it were, must have been uttered in order to coax me or to get service from him."

tachchhrutvaa shokasamtaptaa samtaapayasi maam bhR^isham |
aavishhTaasi gR^iham shuunyam saa tvam paravasham gataa || 2-12-18

18. tat= That is why; saatvam= such of you; shokasantaptaa= afflicted with grief; shrutvaa= by hearing Rama’s proposed installation; santaapasi= you are tormenting; maam= me; bhR^isham= = too much; aavishhTaa asi= you are possessed by an evil spirit; shuunyam gR^iham= in a lonely house; paravashamgataa= subject to control of another.

"Afflicted with grief by hearing Rama's proposed installation; you are tormenting me too much. Possessed by an evil spirit in a lonely house; you are subject to control of another"

ikshvaakuuNaam kule devi sampraaptaH sumahaanayam |
anayo nayasampanne yatra te vikR^itaa matiH || 2-12-19

19. devii= Oh; queen!; ikshhvaakuu Naam kule= In this Ikshhvaaku race; naya sampanne= which is rich in good conduct; ayam= this; sumahaan= very great; anayaH= misfortune; sam praaptaH= has appeared; yatra= due to which; te= your; matiH= mind; vikR^itaa= has been perverted .

"Oh, queen! In this Ikshhvaaku race, which is rich in good conduct, this very great misfortune has appeared, due to which your mind has been perverted

na hi kimchidayuktam vaa vipriyam vaa puraa mama |
akarostvam vishaalaakshi tena na shraddadhaamyaham || 2-12-20

20. vishaalaakshhi= Oh, large eyed one!; puraa= Earlier; tvam= you; na akaroH= have not done; ayuktamvaa= repugnant thing; mama= to me; tena = for that reason; aham= I; na shraddhadhaami= do not believe.

"Oh, large eyed one! Earlier you have not done anything unreasonable or repugnant to me. That is why; I do not believe what has been done by you."

nanu te raaghavastulyo bharatena mahaatmanaa |
bahusho hi sma baale tvam kathayase mama || 2-12-21

21. te= To you; raaghavaH = Rama; tulyaH nanu= is indeed equal; bharatena= to Bharata; mahaatmanaa= the great souled; baale= Oh; young lady!; tvam= you; kathayasesmahi= were indeed telling; kathaaH= stories; mama= to me; bahushaH= = several times.

"Indeed, Rama is on par with the great souled Bharata to you, for many times you were telling me stories illustrating this, Oh, young lady!"

tasya dharmaatmano devi vanavaasam yashasvinaH |
katham rochayase bhiiru nava varshhaaNi paJNcha cha || 2-12-22

22. devi= Kaikeyi; bhiiru= the timid lady!; katham= How; rochayase= do you take delight in; vanavaasam= living in forest; nava paNcha varshhaaNi= for fourteen years; tasya= of that Rama; dharmaatmanaH= the righteous; yashasvinaH = and the illustrious man.

"Oh, timid lady! How do you take delight in banishment for fourteen years of that pious-minded and illustrious Rama?"

atyantasukumaarasya tasya dharme dhR^itaatmanaH |
katham rochayase vaasamaraNye bhR^ishadaaruNe || 2-12-23

23. katham= How; rochayase= do you take delight in; vaasam= sojourn; bhRisha daaruNe= in a most dreadful; araNye= forest; tasya= of Rama; atyanta sukumaarasya= with very delicate body; dhR^itaat manaH= having his self held; dharme= in piety?

"How do you take delight in the sojourn, in a most dreadful forest; of Rama with very delicate body and having his self held in piety?"

rochayasyabhiraamasya raamasya shubhalochane |
tavashushruushhamaaNasya kimmartham vipravaasanam || 2-12-24

24. subha lochane= Oh; fair-eyed lady!; kimartham= what for; rochayasi= do you take delight in; vipravaasanam= banishment; raamasya= of Rama; shushruushhamaNasya= who is obediently doing service; tava= to you; abhiraamasyawho is so pleasing.

"Oh, the fair-eyed one! Why do you take delight in banishment of Rama, who is so pleasing to look at and who is so obediently doing service to you?"

raamo hi bharataadbhuuyastava shushruushhte sadaa |
visheshham tvayi tasmaattu bharatasya na lakshaye || 2-12-25

25. raamaH= Rama; sadaa= always; shushruushhate= is doing service; tava= to you; bhuuyaH= more; bharataat= than Bharata; tasmaattu= for that reason also; tvayi= in your case; na lakshhaye= I do not see; visheshham= speciality; bharatasya= of Bharata.

"Rama always is doing service to you more than Bharata does. For that reason also, in your case, I do not see any speciality in Bharata."

shushruushhaam gauravam chaiva pramaaNam vachanakriyaam |
kaste bhuuyastaram kuryaadanyatra manujarshhabhaat || 2-12-26
bahuunaam striisahasraaNaam bahuunaam chopajiivinaam |

26. kaH= who else; manujarshhabhaat anyatra= other than Rama; the best of men; kuryaat= could do; bhuuyastaram= much more; shushruushhaam= service; te= to you; gouravam= with respect; pramaaNam chaiva= with correct notion and; vachanakriyaam= in obedience?

In fact, who else other than Rama the best of men could do much more service to you with respect, with correct notion and in obedience?"

parivaado.apavaado vaa raaghave nopapadyate || 2-12-27
saantvayan sarvabhuutaani raamaH shuddhena chetasaa |
gR^ihNaati manujavyaagraH priyairvishhayavaasinaH || 2-12-28

27, 28. nopapadyate= None can go towards; parivaadaH= censure; apavaadovaa= or calumny; raaghave= in respect of Rama; strii sahasraa Naam= among thousands of women; bahuunaamcha= who are many and; upajiivanaam= among dependents; bahuunaam= who are numerous; saantvayan= Addressing gently; sarva bhuutaani= all created beings; shuddhena= with clear; chetasaa= mind; raamaH= Rama; manuja vyaaghraH= a tiger among men; gR^ihNaati= captivates; vishhaya vaasinaH= the people of his kingdom; priyaiH= by kind actions.

"No censure or calumny against Rama can come from the mouth of many of thousands of women or from numerous dependents maintained by me. Addressing gently all created beings with clear mind, Rama a tiger among men, captivates the people of his kingdom by his kind actions."

satyena lokaan jayati diinaan daanena raaghavaH |
guruun shushruushhayaa viiro dhanushaa yudhi shaatravaan || 2-12-29

29. raaghavaH= Rama; viiraH= the valiant; jayati= conquers; lokaan= men; satyena= by virtue; jayati= conquers; diinam= the poor; daanena= by charity; jayati= conquers; guruun= elders; shushruushhsyaa= by srevice; jayati= conquers; shaatravaan= enemies; dhanushhaa= by bow; yudhi= in battle.

"Rama the valiant, conquers men by virtue, the poor through charity, the elders by service, the enemies in battle by his bow."

satyam daanam tapastyago vitrataa shauchamaarjavam |
vidyaa cha gurushushruushhaa dhruvaaNyetaani raaghave || 2-12-30

30. satyam= Truthfulness; daanam= charity; tapaH= austerity; tyaagaH= sacrifice; shoucham= purity; aarjavam= straight forwardness; vidyaacha= learning; guru shushruushhaa= service to elders; etaani= these; dhruvaaNi= are firm; raaghave= in Rama.

"Truthfulness, charity, austerity, sacrifice, purity, straight forwardness, learning, service to elders-these firmly established in Rama."

tasminnaarjavasampanne devi devopame katham |
paapamaashamsase raame maharshhisamatejasi || 2-12-31

31. devii= Oh; queen!; katham= How; aashamsase= do you wish; paapam= harm; tasmin raame = to that Rama; aarjava sampanne= who is endowed with honesty; devopame= who is equal to god ; maharshhi sama tejasi= with splendour as of a great sage.

"Oh, Queen! How do you wish harm to that Rama who is richly endowed with honesty, who is equal to god and who is having splendour as of a great sage?"

na smaraamyapriyam vaakyam lokasya priyavaadinaH |
sa katham tvatkR^ite raamam vakshyaami priyamapriyam || 2-12-32

32. na smaraami= I do not remember; apriyam= unkind; vaakyam= words; priyavaadinaH= by Rama who speaks kindly words; lokasya= to men; saH = Such am I; katham= how; vakshhyaami= can I speak; apriyam= unkindly word; tvatkR^ite for your sake; raamam= to Rama; priyam= my beloved.

"I do not remember an unkind word spoken by Rama, who always speaks kindly words to all. As such, how can I for your sake, break unpalatable news to Rama the beloved."

kshamaa yasmin damastyaagaH satyam dharmaH kR^itajJNataa |
apyahimsaa cha bhuutaanaam tamR^ite kaa gatirmama || 2-12-33

33. kaa gatiH= What recourse in there; mama= for me; tam Rite= other than Rama; yasmin= in whom ; kshhamaa= forgiveness; damaH= asceticism; tyaagaH= self-denial; satyam= truthfulness; dharmaH= piety; kR^itaG^yataa= gratitude; apicha= and; ahimsa= harmlessness; bhuutaanaam= towards living beings.

"What recourse is there for me other than Rama, in whom forgiveness, asceticism, self-denial, truthfulness, piety, gratitude and harmlessness towards living beings exist."

mama vR^iddhasya kaikeyi gataantasya tapasvinaH |
diinam laalapyamaanasya kaaruNyam kartumarhasi || 2-12-34

34. kaikeyi= Kaikeyi!; arhasi= you ought; kartum= to show; kaaruNyam= mercy; mama= to me; vR^iddhasya= old man; gatantasya= who reached the end; tapasvinaH = distressed; laalapyamaanasya= coaxing painfully; diinam= miserably.

"Oh, Kaikeyi! You ought to bestow mercy to me, and old and miserable man who reached his end and is coaxing painfully to you"

pR^ithivyaam saagaraantaayaam yatkiJNchaidadhigamyate |
tatsarvam tava daasyaami maa cha tvaam manyuraavishet || 2-12-35

35. yatkiNchit= whichever; adhigamyate= can be attained; pR^ittivyaam= on earth; saagaraantaayaam= which has the sea as an end; tat sarvam = all that; daasyaami= I shall give; tava= you; manyuH ma avishet= Let not anger take possession of; tvaam= you .

"Whatever can be attained on earth, which has the sea an end, all that I can give you. Let not anger take possession of you

aJNjalim kurmi kaikeyi paadau chaapi spR^ishaami te |
sharaNam bhava raamasya maa.adharmo maamiha spR^ishet || 2-12-36

36. kaikeyi= Oh; Kaikeyi!; aNjalikurmi= I am folding my hands in salutation; spR^ishaami chaapi= Iam even touching; te= your ; paadou= feet.; bhava= Become; sharaNam= protector; raamasya= of Rama; adharmaH maa spR^ishet= Let not unrighteousness lay held ; maam= on me; iha= in this matter.

"Oh, Kaikeyi! I fold my hands in salutation to you. I am even touching your feet. Be a protector of Rama. Let not unrighteousness lay hold on me in this matter."

iti duHkhaabhisantaptam vilapantamachetanam |
ghuurNamaanam mahaaraajam shokena samabhiplutam || 2-12-37
paaram shokaarNavasyaashu praarthayantam punaH punaH |
pratyuvaachaatha kaikeyii raudraa raudraataram vachaH || 2-12-38

37; 38. atha= thereafter; roudraa= fierce; kaikeyii= Kaikeyi; pratyuvaacha= again spoke; roudrataram= fiercer; vachaH= words; raajaanaam= to the king Dasaratha; duHkhaabhisuntapam= who was burning with sorrow; iti= as aforesaid; vilapantam= who was wailing; achetanam= who was unconscious ; ghuurNamaanam= who was agitated; samabhuplitam= who was filled; shokena= with grief praarthayantam= who was longing for; paaram= to opposite bank; aashu= quickly; punaH punaH= again and again; shokaarNavasya= from the oceon of the sorrow.

The fierce Kaikeyi again spoke these fiercer words to Dasaratha, who was burning with sorrow and was wailing as aforesaid, who had fallen unconscious and was tossing about as he was filled with grief, and was praying again and again for being speedily borne across the sea of grief.

yadi datvaa varau raajan punaH pratyanutapyase |
dhaarmikatvam katham viira pR^ithivyaam kathayishhyasi || 2-12-39

39. raajan= Oh;King!; datvaa= Having again; varon= boons; pratyaanutapyase= if you repent; punaH punaH= again and again; viira= Oh;valiant!; katham= How; kathayishhyasi= can you proclaim; dharmikatvam= piety; pR^ithivyaam= on this earth?

"Oh, Valiant king! Having again boons, if you repent again and again how can you proclaim piety on this earth?"

yadaa sametaa bahavastvayaa raajarshhayassaha |
kathayishhyanti dharmajJNa tatra kim prativakshyasi || 2-12-40

40. dharmaG^ya= Oh, knower of what is right!; yadaa= When; bahuvaH= many; raajarshhayaH= royal saints; sametaaH= assemble; kathayishhyanti= converse; tvayaa= with you; tatra= then; kim= what; prativakshhyasi= will you reply?

"Oh, knower of what is right! When many royal saints assemble and converse with you, what will be your reply?"

yasyaaH prasaade jiivaami yaa cha maamabhyapaalayat |
tasyaaH kR^itam mayaa mithyaa kaikeyyaa iti vakshyasi || 2-12-41

41. prasaade= In graciousness; yasyaaH= of which Kaikeyi; jiivaami= I am living; yaa= which Kaikeyi; abhyapaalayat= protected; maam= me; tasyaaH = kaikeyyaaH= In such Kaikeyi's case; mithyaakR^itam= wrong was done; mayaa= by me; vakshhyasi= can you tell; iti= thus?

"Can you say" a wrong was done to Kaikeyi, on whose grace I am living now and who protected me earlier?"

kilbishham narendhraaNaam karishhyasi naraadhipa |
yo dattvaa varamadyaiva punaranyaani bhaashhase || 2-12-42

42. naraadhipaa= Oh; King!; yaH= you who; adyaiva= indeed today ; datvaa= gave; varam= boon; punaH= further; bhaashhase= talking; anyaami= in another way; tvam= such of you; karishhyasi= create; kilbishham= blemish; narendraa Naam= to kings.

"Oh, King! You having granted boons indeed today, now talk in another way, creating blemish on other kings"

shaibyaH shyenakapotiiye svamaamsaM pakshite dadau |
alarkashchakshushhii datvaa jagaama gatimuttamaam || 2-12-43

43. shaibyaH= Shaibya; dadau= gave; svamamsam= his own flesh; pakshhiNe= to the bird; shyena kapotiiye= when there was a dispute between a hawk and a pigeon; alarka= King Alarka; jagaama= obtained; uttamaam gatim= highest destiny; datvaa= by giving away; chakshhushhii= eyes.

When there was a dispute between a hawk and a pigeon (who were no other than Indra the ruler of gods and the god of fire respectively), the ruler of Sibis* gave away his own flesh to the bird and king Alarka* by parting with his eyes, attained to the highest destiny.

** Ruler of Sibi* We are told in our scriptures how in order to put the large-heartedness of the king to a test, Indra (the ruler of gods) and Agni (the god of fire) once appeared in his court in the disguise of a hawk and a pigeon. Being chased by the hawk, the pigeon which sought the king’s protection, descended into his lap. The hawk which closely followed it, demanded it back from the king; contending that the bird had been allotted to it as its food by providence and the king had no right to rob it of its quarry. The king; however was not prepared to forsake the fugitive on any account and agreed to part with his own flesh in order to indemnify the hawk. The hawk however out weighed the king's flesh every time he chopped it from his body till at last he ascended the scale himself and thus offered himself in exchange for the pigeon. **Alarka*=The royal sage Alarka parted with his own eyes in order to implement a boon granted by him to a blind Brahmana who asked for the king's eyes in order to have his own eyesight restored.

saagaraH samayam kR^itvaana velaamativartate |
samayam maa.anR^itam kaarshhiiH purvavR^ittamanusmaran || 2-12-44

44. sagaraH= The ocean; kR^itvaa= by making; samayam= a promise; na ativartate= is not crossing; velaam= its coast; anusmaran= keeping in mind; puurva vR^ittam= the previous occurrences; maa kaarshhiiH= do not make; samayam= promise; anR^itam= as un truth.

"The ocean, having given a promise, never crosses its limits. Therefore, bearing in mind the previous occurrences do not violate the pledge given by you to me.”

sa tvam dharmam parityajya raamam raajye.abhishhichyacha |
saha kaulasyayaa nityam rantumichchhasi durmate || 2-12-45

45. durmate= Oh; the evil minded!; saH tvam= You; as such; parityajya= by giving up; dharmama= righteousness; abhishhichyacha= and by installing; raamam= Rama; raajye= in the kingdom; ichhchhasi= you want; rantum= to enjoy life; kausalyayaa saha= with Kausalya along; nityam= for ever.”

"Oh, the evil-minded! By giving up righteousness and by installing Rama in the kingdom, you want to enjoy life with Kausalya forever.”

bhavatvadharmo dharmo vaa satyam vaa yadi vaanR^itam |
yattvayaa samshrutam mahyam tasya naasti vyatikramaH || 2-12-46

46. bhavatu= Let it be; adharmaH= un righteous; dharmovaa= or righteous; atyam vaa= real or; yadivaa= otherwise; anR^itam= hoax; yat= what ever; pratishrutam= is promised; tvayam= by you; mahyam= for me; naasti= there is no; vyati KramaH= change; tasya= to eat."

"Let it be unrighteous or righteous, real or hoax. There should be no change in whatever is promised by you for me.”

aham hi vishhamadyaiva piitvaa bahu tavaagrataH |
pashyataste marishhyaami raamo yadyabhishhichyate || 2-12-47

47. raamaH abhishhichyate yadi= If Rama is coroneted; aham = I; marishhyaami hi= shall indeed die; te pashyapashyataH= before your eyes; piitvaa= by drinking; bahu= abundant; vishham= poison; adyaiva= now itself; agrataH= in front; tava= of you.

"If Rama is coroneted, I shall indeed die before your eyes by drinking abundant poison now itself in front of you."

ekaahamapi pashyeyam yadyaham raamamaataram |
aJNjalim pratigR^ihNantiim shreyo nanu mR^itirmama || 2-12-48

48. aham pashyeyam yadi= If I have to see; raama maataram= Kausalya; the mother of Rama; pratigr^ihNantiim= receiving; aN^jalim= salutation by joining palms; ekaahamapi= even for a day; mR^itiH= death; shreyaH nanu= is indeed better; mama= for me.

"If I have to see Kausalya, the mother of Rama receiving salutations even for day, death is indeed better for me."

bharatenaatmanaa chaaham shape te manujaadhipa |
yathaa naanyena tushhyeyamR^ite raamavivaasanaat || 2-12-49

49. manujaadhipa= O, King!; te= To you; shape= I swear an oath; bharatena= by Bharata; atmanaacha= and by myself; yathaa= that; na tushhyeyam= I will not be pleased with any thing; anyena= other than; raama vivaasanaat R^ite= with out sending Rama to exile.

"Oh, King! I swear to you an oath by Bharata and by myself that I will not be pleased with anything else other than sending Rama to exile."

etaavaduktvaa vachanam kaikeyii viraraama ha |
vilapantam cha raajaanam na prativyaajahaara saa || 2-12-50

50. kaikeyi= Kaikeyi; uktvaa= spoke; vachanam= words; etaavat= of such extent; viraraamaha= and stopped; saa= She; na prativyaajahaara= did not answer; raajaanam= to the king; vilapantam= who was wailing.

Kaikeyi spoke words of such extent and stopped. She did not further reply to the wailing.

shrutvaa tu raajaa kaikeyyaa vR^itam paramashobhanam |
raamasya cha vane vaasamaishvaryam bharatasya cha || 2-12-51
naabhyabhaashhata kaikeyyim muhuurtam vyaakulendriyaH |

51. shrutvaa= After hearing; raamasya= Rama's; vane vaasam= dwelling in forest; bharatasya= Bharata's; aishvaryamcha= sovereignty; vR^itam= asked; kaikeyyaa= by Kaikeyi; param= which are very much; ashobhanam= unwelcome; raajaatu= king Dasaratha nevertheless; vyaakulendriyaH= was perturbed; muhuurtam= for a moment; naabhyabhaashhata= did not speak; kaikeyiim= to Kaikeyi.

Hearing Kaikeyi's boons, asking for Rama's exile and Bharata's sovereignty which are very much unwelcome, king Dasaratha nevertheless was perturbed for a while and did not move his lips towards Kaikeyi.

praikshataanimishho deviim priyaamapriyavaadiniim || 2-12-52
taam hi vajrasamaam vaachamaakarNya hR^idayaa priyaam |
duHkhashokamayiim ghoraam raajaa na sukhito.abhavat || 2-12-53

52, 53. praikshhata= He kept gazing; animishhaH= without winking; daiviim= towards Kaikeyi; priyaam= the beloved; apriyavaadiniim= who was speaking disagreeable words; raajaa= The king; na abhuut= could not become; sukhitaH= comfortable; aakaraNya= on hearing; taam vaacham= that utterance; vajra samaanam= which was like thunderbolt; hR^idayaapriyaam= unkindly to heart; duHkha shokamayiim= full of pain and sorrow; ghoraam= terrible.

He kept gazing with unwinking eyes towards his beloved queen Kaikeyi, who spoke such disagreeable words. The king could not become comfortable on hearing that utterance, which was unkindly to his heart filling with pain and sorrow and was as terrible as a thunderbolt.

sa devyaa vyavasaayam cha ghoram cha shapatham kR^itam |
dhyaatvaa raameti nishshvasya chhinnastarurivaapatat || 2-12-54

54. dhyaatvaa= Thinking of; devyaaH= Kaikeyi's; vyavasaayamcha= resolve and; ghoram= terrible; sapathamcha= swearing; saH= he; ni shshasya= heaved a sigh; rama iti= uttering "Rama"; apatat= fell; taruriva= like a tree; chinnaH= which was cut off.

Reflecting over Kaikeyi's resolve and her terrible swearing, Dasaratha heaved a sigh, uttering "Rama" and fell like tree which was cut off.

nashhTachitto yathonmatto vipariito yathaaturaH |
hR^itatejaa yathaa sarpo babhuuva jagatiipatiH || 2-12-55

55. jagatiipatiH= King; the lord of the earth; babhuuva= become; unmattaH iva= like a mad man; nashhTa-chittaH= who lost his mind; aaturaH iva= like a patient; vipariitaH= getting upset; sarpaH iva= like a serpent; hR^ita tejaaH= bereft of fierceness.

Then the king become like mental a mad man who lost his equilibrium like an ailing man getting upset and like a serpent losing it's fierceness.

diinayaa tu giraa raajaa iti hovaacha kaikayim |
anarthamimamarthaabham kena tvamupadarshitaa || 2-12-56
bhuutopahatachitteva bruvantii maam na lajjase |

56. raajaa= The king; uvaacha ha= spoke; iti= thus; kaikeyiim= to Kaikeyi; diinayaa= in a distressed; giraa= tone; kena= By whom; tvam= you; upadarshhitaa= have been shown; anartham= this worthless thing; arthaabham= which appears to be worthwhile?; bhuutopa-hachiHena= Like a woman whose mind has been perverted by an evil spirit; na lajjase= you are not ashamed; bruvantii= to speak; maam= to me.

The king spoke to Kaikeyi in a distressed tone as follows "By whom have you been taught this worthless thing which appears to be worthwhile? Like a woman whose mind has been perverted by an evil spirit; you are not ashamed to speak to me.”

shiilavyasanametatte naabhijaanaamyaham puraa |
balaayaastattvidaaniim te lakshaye vipariitavat || 2-12-57

57. puraa= In the beginning; aham= I; naaabhi jaanaami= was not knowing well; etat= this; te= your; shiila vyasanam= wavery conduct; tu= but; idaaniim= now; lakshhaye= I am seeing; tat= that; te= in you; vipariitavat= It is perverted.

"In the beginning, I was not knowing your wavery conduct in this way. But now, I am seeing it in you. It is perverted."

kuto vaa te bhayam jaatam yaa tvamevamvidam varam |
raashhTre bharatamaasiinam vR^iNiishhe raaghavam vane || 2-12-58

58. kutaH vaa= from whome; bhayam= fear; jaatam= is arisen; te= to you?; vR^iNiishhe= Asking for; varam= boon; evam vidham= in this way; bharatam= for Bharata; aasiinam= to be sitting; raashhTram= in empire; raaghavam= Rama; vane= to be staying in forest.

"From whom has such fear cropped up in you, so as to seek Bharata to be seated on the throne and Rama to stay in the forest?"

viramaitena bhaavena tvametenaanR^itena vaa || 2-12-59
yadi bhartuH priyam kaaryam lokasya bharatasya cha |

59. kaaryam yudi= If you want to do; priyam= favour; bhartuH= to your husband; lokasya= to the world; bharatasyacha= and to Bharata; tvam= you; virama= give up; etena bhaavena= this intention; anr^itena= which is sinful; etena vaa= to send Rama to exile.

"If you want to do favour to your husband, to the world at large and to Bharata, you give up this sinful intention of sending Rama to exile.”

nR^ishamse paapasamkalpe kshudre dushhkR^itakaariNi || 2-12-60
kim nu duHkhamaLiikam vaa mayi raame cha pashyasi |

60. nR^ishamse= Oh; cruel one!; paapasankalpe= having sinful desires; kshhudre= Oh, wicked one; dushhkR^ita kaariNi= doing evil acts!; kim nu= which; duHkham= trouble some matter; aliikam vaa= or offence pashyasi= are you seeing; mayi= in me; raamecha= and in Rama?

"Oh, cruel! Petty minded woman of sinful resolve and wicked deed! Which grievance or offence are you finding in me or in Rama?"

na kathamchi dR^ite raamaadbharato raajyamaavaset || 2-12-61
raamaadapi hi tam manye dharmato balavattaram |

61. ramaa dR^ite= with out Rama; bharataH= Bharata; na aavaset= cannot take possession; raajayam= of kingdom; kathamchit= in any way; hi= for; manye= I think; tam= him; balavattaram= to be stronger; dharamataH= in virtue; raamaadapi= than Rama too.

"With out Rama, Bharata will not in any case take possession of the kingdom of Ayodhya as I think him to be stronger in virtue than even Rama."

katham drakshyaami raamasya vanam gachchheti bhaashhite || 2-12-62
mukhavarNam vivarNam tam yathaivendumupaplutam |

62. bhaashhite= Having spoken; iti= thus; "vanam gachchha"= "proceed to the forest"; katham= how; drakshhyaami= can I see; vivarNam= pale; mukham= face; raamasya= of Rama; indumiva= resembling in the moon; upaplutam= which is eclipsed.

"Having uttered the words 'proceed to the forest!’ How can I behold the pale face of Rama resembling an eclipsed moon?"

taam hi me sukR^itaam buddhim suhR^idbhiH saha nishchitaam || 2-12-63
katham drakshyaamyapaavR^ittaam parairiva hataam chamuum |
kim maam vakshyanti raajaano naanaadigbhyaH samaagataah || 2-12-64
baalo bataaya maikshvaakashchiram raajyamakaarayat |

63, 64. katham= How; drakshhyaami= can I see; taam vuddhim= that reasonable view; me= of mine; sukR^itaam= which was well-made; suhR^idbhiH saha= along with friends; nishchitaam= which was settled; apaavR^itaam= being retreated; chamuumiva= like an army; hataam= destroyed; paraiH =by enemies?; kim= what; raajaanaH= the kings; samaagataaH= who came; naanaa digbhyaH= from many directions; vakshhyanti=wee speak; maam= about me?; ayam ikshhvaakaH= This Dasaratha; baalaH= a fool; akaarayat= was ill-doing; raajyam= the kingdom; chiram= for a long time.

"How can I see that reasonable view of mine, which was well made in consultation with friends and decided, being foiled like an army destroyed by enemies? What the kings who came from many directions, will speak about me? 'Alas', this king Dasaratha, a fool was ruling this kingdom for such a long time!"

yadaa tu bahavo vR^iddhaa guNavanto bahushrutaah || 2-12-65
pariprakshyanti kaakutthsam vakshyaami kimmahaam tadaa |

65. yadaa= When; bahuvaH vR^iddhhaaH= many elders; guNavantaH= who are virtuous; vahushRutaaH= very knowledgeable; pariprakshhyanti= ask; maam= me; kaakuthsam= about Rama; tadaa= then; aham kim vakshhyaami= what can I tell?.

"When many virtuous and learned elders enquire me about Rama, what then shall I tell them?"

kaikeyyaa klishyamaanena raamaH pravraajito mayaa || 2-12-66
yadi satyam braviimyetattadasatyam bhavishhyati |

66. bramiimi yadi= If I tell; etat= this; satyam= truth; raamaH= Rama; pravraajitaH= was sent; vanam= to forest; mayaa= by me; klishyamaanena= hard-pressed; kaikeyyaa= by Kaikeyi; tat= that; bhavishhyati= will become; asatyam= untruth.

"Even if I tell the truth that Rama was sent to forest by me, hard-pressed as I was by Kaikeyi, nobody will believe it and think as untruth.”

kim maam vakshyati kausalyaa raaghave vanamaasthite || 2-12-67
kim chainaam prativakshyaami kR^itvaa chaapriyamiidR^isham |

67. raaghave= Rama; aasthite= having proceeded; vanam= to forest; kim= what; kausalyaa= Kausalya; vakshhyati= will say; maam= to me?; kR^itvaacha= Having done; iidR^isham= such; apriyam= unkind act; kim= what; prativakshhyaami= can I reply; enaam= to he?

"What will Kausalya say to me if Rama proceeds to forest? What can I, having done an unkind act, reply to her?"

yadaa yadaa hii kausalyaa daasiivachcha sakhiiva cha || 2-12-68
bhaaryaavadbhaginiivachcha maatR^ivachchopatishhThati |
satatam priyakaamaa me priyaputraa priyamvadaa || 2-12-69
na mayaa satkR^itaa devi satkaaraarhaa kR^ite tava |

68, 69. devi= Oh; Kaikeyi!; yadaahi= Whenever; kausalya= Kauslaya; me priyakaamaa= who was desirous of showing kindness to me; satatam= always; priya putraa= who having a pet son; priyam vadaa= who speaks kind words; catkaaraarhaa= who deserves to be kindly treated; upatishhThati= was waiting on me; daasiivachcha= like a maid servant; sakhiivachcha= like a friend; bhaaryavat= like a wife; bhaginiivachcha= like a sister; maatR^ivachcha= like a mother; tava kR^ite= For your sake; nasatkR^itaa= she was never treated kindly; mayaa= by me.

"Oh, Kaikeyi! Whatever Kausalya, who was always desirous of showing kindness to me, who was blessed with a pet son, who speaks kind words and who deserves to be kindly treated, was waiting on me like a maid-servant, like a friend, like a wife, like a sister and like a mother. But, for your sake, she was never treated kindly by me.”

idaaniim tattapati maam yanmayaa sukR^itam tvayi || 2-12-70
avathyavyaJNjanonopetam bhuktamannamivaaturam |

70. tvayi= For you; tat= that; sukr^itam yat= which is done good; mayaa= by me; tapati= is hurting; maam= me; aaturamiva= like a patient; bhuktam= who has eaten; annam= a meal; apathya vyanjanopetam= with forbidden sauces.

"That which was done good be me for you, is hurting me now even as a meal taken with forbidden sauces fills an ailing person with repentance."

viprakaaram cha raamasya samprayaaNam vanasya cha || 2-12-71
sumitraa prekshyavai bhiitaa katham me vishvasishhyati |

71. katham= How ; sumitraa= Sumitra; bhiitaa = who is afraid ; ; prekshhya= of Rama; viprakaaram= being treated with contempt; samprayaa Namcha= and of his departure; vanasya= to forest; vishvasishhyati= will put faith; me= in me?.

Being apprehensive of seeing Rama being treated with contempt and his exile to the forest, how will Sumitra put faith in me?"

kR^ipaNam bata vaidehii shroshhyati dvayamapriyam || 2-12-72
maam cha paJNchatvamaapannam raamam cha vanamaashritam |

72. vaidehii= Seetha; bata= alas; shroshhyati= will hear; kR^ipaNam= woefully; dvayam= two news; apriyam= which are unpleasant; maam= of me; paNchatvam aapannam= having be fallen to death; raamamcha and of Rama; vanam aashritam= seeking refuge in the forest.

"Seetha, alas, will hear woefully two unpleasant, of me having befallen to death and of Rama seeking refuge in the forest."

vaidehii bata me praaNaan shochantii kshapayishhyati || 2-12-73
hiinaa himavataH paarshvae kinnareNena kinnaraa |

73. bata= Alas!; kinnariiva= Like a kinnara; himavathaH paarshve= at the side of Himalayan hill; vaidehi= Seetha; shochantii= with grief ; kshhapayishhyati= will make me lose; me paaNaam= my life.

"Alas! Like a Kinnara girl bereft of her partner at the side of Himalayan hill, Seetha with her grief will make me lose my life."

na hi raamamaham dR^ishhTva pravasantam mahaavane || 2-12-74
chiram jiivitumaashamse rudatiim chaapi maithiliim |

74. dR^ishhTvaa= Seeing; raamam= Rama; pravasantam= dwelling; mahaavane= in great forest; maithiliimcha= and Seetha; rudatiim= lamenting; aham= I; na aashamse hi= can not indeed desire; jiivitum = to live.

"Seeing Rama dwelling in a great forest and Seetha lamenting, I cannot indeed desire to line."

saa nuunam vidhavaa raajyam saputraa kaarayishhyasi ||2-12-75
na hi pravaajite raame devi jiivitumutsahe |

75. devi= Oh; Kaikeyi!; saa= You as such; vidhavaa= a widow; saputraa= along with son; nunaam= certainly; raajyam kaarayishhyasi= can rule the kingdom; raame pravraajite= After Rama's exile; na utsahe hi= I do not indeed wish; jiivitum = to live.

"Oh, Kaikeyi! Deprived of your husband, you can as such rule the kingdom along with your son. It is indeed impossible for me to survive, after Rama's exile"

satiim tvaamahamatyantam vyavasyaamyasatiim satiim || 2-12-76
ruupiNiim vishhasamyuktaam piitveva madiraam narah |

76. vyavasyaami= I considered; satiim= you as good and virtuous wife; piitveva= as of drinking; madiraam= wine; vishhasamyuktaam= with poison; naraH= by man; tvaam= you; atyantam= the perpetually; asatiim satiim= bad wife; ruupiNiim= with beautiful form .

"I considered you, a good and virtuous wife as you are, proving to be perpetually bad wife, as one, having drunk wine with poison, though possessing an attractive appearance, concludes it to be obnoxious.”

anR^itairbahu maam saanvaiHsaa ntvayantii sma smabhaashhase || 2-12-77
giitashabdena samrudhya lubdho mR^igamivaavadhiiH |

77. anR^itaiH= with untruthful; saatvaiH= gentle words; bhaashhasesma= you used to speak; maam= to me; bahu= very; saantvayantii= consolingly; mR^igam iva= as to a deer; avadhiiH= being killed; lubdhaH= by a hunter; samrudhya= after enticing; giita sabdena= by melodious sounds.

"You used to speak to me very consolingly with untruthful gentle words like a deer being killed by a hunter after enticing it with melodious sounds."

anaarya iti maamaaryaaH putravikraayikam dhruvam || 2-12-78
dhikkarishhyanti rathyaasu suraapam braahmaNam yathaa |

78. aaraaH = venerable people; rathyaasu= in the streets; dhikkarishhyanti= will reproach; maam= me; putravikraayikam= who has sold away the son; anarya= iti= that Iam bad; braahmaNam yathaa= like a brahmana; suraapan= who drank wine; dhruvam= It is certain.

"Venerable people gathered in the streets will reproach me who has sold away my son, saying that I am as bad as a brahmana who drinks wine. It is certain."

aho duHkhamaho kR^ichchhram yatra vaachaH kshame tava || 2-12-79
duHkhamevamvidham praaptam puraakR^itamivaashubham |

79. aho duHkam= Oh; how distressing!; aho kR^ichchram= Oh; how painful!; yatra= In which cercumstances; kshhame= Iam forbearing; tava= your; vaachaH= words; ashubham iva= Like evil consequence; puraaKR^tam= of a previous life; praaptam= I got; evam vidham= this type of ; duHkham= trouble.

"Alas! How was distressing and how painful it is that I have to forbear your words! I got this type of trouble as an evil consequence earned in a previous life."

chiram khalu mayaa paape tvam paapenaabhirakshitaa || 2-12-80
ajJNaanaadupasampannaa rajjurudbamdhinii yathaa |

80. paape= Oh; sinful one!; tvam= you; abhirakshhitaa= have been maintained; chiram= so long; aG^yaanaat= because of ignorance; mayaa= by me; papena= who is sinful; upasampannaa= You have become; rajjuH yathaa= like a rope; udbandhinii= used for hanging up.

"Like a rope used for hanging up one's neck through ignorance; Oh sinful woman; you have been lovingly maintained by me, sinful as I am"

ramamaaNastvayaa saardham mR^ityum tvaa naabhilakshaye || 2-12-81
baalo rahasi hastena kR^ishhNasarpamivaaspR^isham |

81. ramamaaNaH= Enjoying life; tvayaa= saardham; with you; with you; naabhilakshhaye I could not recognise; tvaa= you; mR^ityum= as death; aaspR^isham= I touched you; kR^ishhna sarpamiva= like a cobra; hastena= with hand; baalaH= by a child; rahasi= in a deserted place.

"Enjoying life with you, I could not recognise you as death. I touched you, like cobra touched with hand by a child in a deserted place.”

mayaa hyapitR^ikaH putraHsa mahaatmaa duraatmanaa || 2-12-82
tam tu maam jiivaloko.ayam nuunamaakroSTumarhati |

82. saH= That Rama; mahatmaH= the great souled; apitR^ikaH= is father-less mayaa= by me; duraatmanaa= the evil minded; ayam= This; jivalokaH= world of living beings; arhahi= is fit; aakroshhTum= to curse; maam= me; tam= as such; nuunam= certainly.

"This world of living beings is certainly fit to curse me, such as I am; saying that Rama the great souled is deprived of fatherly protection by me, the evil-minded.”

baalisho bata kaamaatmaa raajaa dasharatho bhR^isham || 2-12-83
yaH striikR^ite priyam putram vanam prasthaapayishhyati |

83. bata= Alas!; yaH= which Dasaratha; vanam prasthaapayishhyati= sending to forest; putram= the son; strikR^te= for the sake of a woman; raajaa dasharathaH= that king Dasaratha; kaamaatmaa= whose mind is lustful; bhR^isham= a great; baalishaH= fool.

Alas! Extremely foolish is king Dasaratha; whose mind is lustful for a woman and sent his son to the forest.”

vrataishcha brahmacharyaishcha gurubhishchapakarshitaH || 2-12-84
bhogakaale mahatkR^ichchhram punareva prapatsyate |

84. upakarshitaH= Emaciated ; vrataiHcha= by voes; brahmacharyaishcha= by study of vedas; gurubhishcha= and by preceptors; (Rama); bhogakaale= during the period of enjoyment ; prapatsyate= got; punaH iva= again; mahat= a great; kR^ichchhram= hardship.

"Emaciated by vow's, by study of Vedas and by service to his preceptors, Rama will indeed during the period of enjoyment, again undergo a great hardship.”

naalam dvitiiyam vachanam putro maam prati bhaashhitum || 2-12-85
sa vanam pravrajetyukto baaDhamityeva vakshyati |

85. putraH= my son; naalam= is incapable; bhashhitum= of speaking ; dvitiiyam= second; vachanam= word; maam prati= to me; uktaH= Having been hold; iti= thus; vanam vraja= to go to forest; saH= he; vakshhyati= will say; baadham ityeva= "Be it so.”

"My son Rama is incapable of saying a second word to me to go to forest, he will say "Be it so."

yadi me raaghavaH kuryaadvanam gachcheti choditaH || 2-12-86
pratikuulam priyam me syaanna tu vatsaH karishhyati |

86. raaghavaH kuryaat yadi= If Rama does ; pratikuulam= contrary; me = to me; choditaH= when commanded; iti= thus; gachchha= to go; vanam= to forest; tat= it; syaat= will become; priyam= dear; me= to me; vastsaH tu= But; the darling; na karishhyati= will not do it.

"If Rama does contrary to my command to go to forest, it will be most welcome to me. But, Rama the darling would never do so."

shuddhibhaavo hi bhaavam me na tu jJNaasyati raaghavaH || 2-12-87
sa vanam pravraje tyuktobaaDha vityeva vakshyati |

87. raaghavaH= Rama; ; suddha bhaavaH= who is pure minded; na G^yaasyati hi= cannot indeed conjucture; me= my; bhaavam tu= way of thinking; uktaH= Having been told; iti= thus; pravraja= he will say ; baadham iti eva= "Be it so.”

"Rama, who is pure minded; cannot indeed conjecture my way of thinking. Having been told to go to the forest, he will say "Be it so.”

raaghave hi vanam praapte sarvalokasya dhikkR^itam || 2-12-88
mR^ityurakshamaNiiyam maam nayishhyati yamakshayam |

88. raaghave= Rama; vanam prapte= having reached forest; mR^ityuH = Death; nayishhyati= will lead; maam= me; dhikkR^itam= who is condemned; sarvalokasya= by all men; akshhamaNiiyam = to the abode of Yama; god of punishment.

"On Rama reaching the forest, Death will take me, who is condemned by all men and unpardonable, to the abode of Yama the god of punishment."

mR^ite mayi gate raame vanam manujapuN^gave || 2-12-89
ishhTe mama jane sheshhe kim paapam prativatsyase |

89. raame= Rama; manuja puNgava= the foremost among men; vanam gate= on leaving for forest; mayi-I; mR^ite= having been dead; kam= what; paapam= sinful act; pratipatsyate= can you think of; sheshhe= remaining; mama ishhTe jane= people beloved of me.

"Rama the foremost among men-having left for the forest and I having been dead, what sinful act can you think of the remaining people beloved of me."

kausalyaa maam cha raamam cha putrau cha yadi haasyati || 2-12-90
duHkhaanyasahatii devii maamevaanumarishhyati |

90. devi kausalya= The queen Kausalya; haasyati yadi= after losing; maamcha= me; raamamcha= Rama; putroucha= and sons Lakshana and shatrughna; asahatii= not bearing with; duHkhaani= the woes; maameva anumarishhyati= will follow me to the abode of Yama.

"The queen Kausalya, after losing me, Rama and sons Lakshmana and satrughna, will be enable to endure the woes and will follow me to the abode of Yama."

kausalyaam cha sumitraam cha maam cha putraistribhiH saha ||2-12-91
prakshivya narake saa tvam kaikeyi sukhitaa bhava |

91. kaikeyi= Oh; Kaikeyi!; prakshhipya= Having thrown; kausalyaamcha= Sumitra; tribhiH putraIH saha= along with three sons; maamcha= and myself; narake= into hell; tvam= you; saa= as such; sukhitaa bhava= be happy!"

"Having thrown Kausalya, Sumitra along with three sons and myself into tortures of hell, you be happy!."

mayaa raameNa cha tyaktam shaashvatam satkR^itam guNaiH || 2-12-92
ikshvaakukulamakshobhyamaakulam paalayishhyasi |

92. paalayishhyasi= You will be protect; aakulam= by bringing disorder; ikshhvaaku kulam= to Ikshvaku dynasty; shaashvatam= which was eternal; satkR^itam= which was adorned with; guNaiH= qualities; akshhobhyam= which could not be disturbed; tyaktam= being abandoned; mayaa= by me; raameNacha= and Rama.

"Being abandoned by me and Rama, the Ikshhvaaku dynasty which was eternal, which was adorned with qualities, which could not be disturbed, will now be protected by you by bringing disorder."

priyam chedbharatasyaitadraamapravraajanam bhavet || 2-12-93
maa sma me bharataH kaarshhiit pretakR^ityam gataayushhaH |

93. priyam bhavet chet= If it becomes agreeable ; bharatasya= to Bharata; etat= this; raama pravraajanam = sending of Rama to exile; maasma kaarshhiit= let not Bharata to do ; preta kR^ityam= funeral rite; me= to me; gataayushhaH= when life has departed.

"If it becomes agreeable to Bharata to send Rama to exile, let not Bharata do funeral rite to me, when life has departed.”

hantaanaarye mamaamitre sakaamaa bhava kaikayi || 2-12-94
mR^ite mayi gate raame vanam purushhapuN^gave |
sedaaniim vidhavaa raajyam saputraa kaarayishhyasi || 2-12-95

94, 95. hanta= Alas!; mama amitre= my adversary!; anarye= Oh; vulger lady!; kaikeyi= Kaikeyi; bhava= Become; sakaamaa= fulfiller of desires!; raame= when Rama; purushha puNgave= the best of men; vanam gate= goes to forest; mayi mR^ite= when Iam dead; saa= such of you; vidhavaa= a widow; saputraa= along with son; idaaniim= now; raajyam kaarayishhyasi= will rule over the Kingdom.

"Alas! My adversary! Oh, vulgar lady, Kaikeyi! Become satisfied with your desires! When I am dead consequent on Rama, the foremost of men, having proceeded to forest, you a widow along with your son will then rule over the kingdom."

tvam raajaputriivaadena nyavaso mama veshmani |
akiirtishchaatulaa loke dhruvaH paribhavashcha me || 2-12-96
sarvabhuuteshhu chaavajJNaa yathaa paapakR^itastathaa |

96. tvam= You; nyavasaH= were residing; mama veshmani= in my house; raajaputriivadena= with a designation of princess; me= To me; loke = in the world; atulaa= unequalled; akiirtiH= ill-fame; paribhavavashcha= and insult; dhR^ivaH= are certain; avaG^Yaa= disrespect; yathaa tathaa= as surely as; paapakR^ituH= to one who incurred sin.

"You are residing in my house with the designation of a princess. All fame, which is unequalled in this world and lasting insult as well as disrespect of men will fall to my share as to a perpetrator of sins.

katham rathairvibhurgatvaa gajaashvaishcha muhurmuhuH || 2-12-97
padbhyaam raamo mahaaraNye vatso me vichariSyati |

97. katham= How; me vatsaH= my beloved son ; raamaH= Rama; yaatvaa= who was going; vibhuH= as a Lord; muhurmuhuH= again and again; rathaiH= in chariots; gajaashvaishcha= in elephants and horses; vicharishhyati= will move; padbhyaam= on foot; mahaaraNye= in a great forest?

"How can my beloved son Rama, who was hitherto travelling as a Lord time again in chariots elephants and horses, will move on foot in a great forest?"

yasya tvaahaarasamaye suudaaH kuNDaladhaariNaH || 2-12-98
ahampurvaaH pachanti sma prashastam paanabhojanam |
sa kathannu kashhaayaaNi tiktaani kaTukaani cha || 2-12-99
bhakshayanvanyamaahaaram suto me vartayishhyati |

98, 99. yasya= In whose; ahaarasamaye= dining time; sundaaH= cooks; kuNdala dhaariNaH= wearing ear-rings; aham= purvaaH= saying " I being in front"; pachantisma= cooking; prashastam= excellent; paana bhajanam= food and drinks; saH= such; mesutaH= of my son; katham= how; vartayishhyatinu= will he servive; bhakshhayan= By eating; kashhaayaaNi= asrtringent; tiktaani= bitter; katukaani= and pungent; vanyam aahaaram= wild foods?

How will my sin; in whose dining time; cooks wearing ear-rings used to prepare excellent food and drinks trying to finish their work before others actually survive by eating astringent bitter and pungent wild foods?"

mahaarhavastrasamviito bhuutvaa chirasukhoshhitaH || 2-12-100
kaashaayaparidhaanastu katham bhuumau nivatsyati |

100. katham vaa= How; mahaarhavastra samviitaH= having worn costly robes; chira sukhochitaH= will Rama who is deserving of lasting comforts; nivatsyati= be in; kaashhayaparidhaanaH= brown-red clothing; bhuumau= on earth?

"How having worn costly robes, will Rama who is deserving of lasting comforts, be in brown-red clothing on this earth?"

kasyaitaddhaaruNam vaakyamevam vidhamachintitam || 2-12-101
raamasyaaraNyagavanam bharatasyaiva maataram |

101. kasya= whose ; daaruNam= terrific; achintitam= and thoughtless; vaakyam= words; evam vidham= of such a kind; etat= is this; raamasya araNyagamanam= of Rama going to forest; bharatasya abhishhechanam= and of Bharata's consecration as king.

"Whose terrific and thoughtless words are these of one demanding Rama's exile to forest and the other of Bharata's consecration as king?"

dhigastu yoshhito naama shaThaaH svaarthaparaassadaa || 2-12-102
na braviimi striyaH sarvaa bharatasyaiva maataram |

102. yoshhitaH naama= Woman indeed; shaThaaH are deceivers; sadaa= ever; svaarthaparaaH= occupeid with selfishness; dhik astu= Let them condemned!; na braaviimi= I am not mentioning; sarvaH striyaH= of all woman; bharatasya maataram eva= but of Bharata's mother only

"Women of course are deceivers, even occupied with selfishness. Let them be condemned! Here, I am not mentioning of all women but of Bharata's mother only."

anarthabhaave.a rthapare nR^ishamse |
mamaanutaapaaya nivishhTabhaave |
kimapriyam pashyasi mannimittam |
hitaanukaariNyathavaapi raame || 2-12-103

103. anartha bhaave= Oh; the evil natured! arthapare= the selfishone!; nR^ishamse= the cruel one!; nivishhTa bhaave= one having a settled opinion; mama anutaapaaya= for my grief; kim= what; apriyam= mischief; pashyasi= are you seeing mannimittam= because of me; athavaapi= or; naame= in Rama; hitaanukaariNi= the benefactor

"Oh, cruel woman of evil intent; given to pursuit of your selfish ends, you have a settled disposition to bring grief to me. What a mischief do you expect through me or through Rama, who is always doing benefit to you?"

parityajeyuH pitaro hi putraan |
bhaaryaaH vatiimshchaapi kR^itaanuraagaaH |
kR^itsnam hi sarvam kupitam jagatsyaa |
ddR^ishhTve raanan vtasabe bunagban || 2-12-104

104. dR^ishhTvaiva= Immediately on seeing ; raamam= Rama; nimagnam= immersed; vyasane= in adversity; pitaraH= fathers; parityajeyuH= leave off; putraan= sons; bhaaryaaH= wives; kR^itaanuraagaaH= who were be loved; patiimshchaapi= the husbands; sarvam= All; kR^itsnam= the entire; jagat= world; kupitam syaat= gets furious.

"On seeing Rama plunged in adversity fathers leave of their sons and wives too their husbands. Not, even the entire world gets exasperated."

aham punardevakumaararuupa |
malakR^itam tam sutamaavrajantam |
nandaami pashyannapi darshanena |
bhavaami dR^ishhTvaa cha punaryuveva || 2-12-105

105. aham punaH= I for one; randaami= rejoice; pashyan= by seeing; tam sutam= that son; devakumaara ruupam= in the form of adivine boy; alamkR^itam= and adorned with ornaments; aavrajantam= coming; darshanenaapi= in proximity to look at; dR^ishhTvaa= By seeing; punaH= again; bhavaamicha= I also become; yuveva= like youth.

"I, for one, rejoice by seeing that son Rama in the form of a divine boy, adorned with ornaments coming in proximity to me. By seeing him again and again, I get rejuvenated."

vinaapi suuryeNa bhavetpravR^itti |
ravarshhtaa vajradhareNa vaapi |
raamam tu gachchhantamitaH samiikshya |
jiivenna kashchittviti chetanaa me || 2-12-106

106. pravR^ittiH= Active life; bhavet= may be possible; suryeNa vinaapi= even without the sun or; vajradhareNa= the wielder of the thunderbolt(Indra); avarshhataa vaapi= also not pouring rain; tu= But; me chetanaa= my opinion; iti= is that; kashchit= not even me; jiivet= will survive; samiikshhya= by seeing; raamam= Rama; gachchhantam= departing; itaH= from here.

"Active life may not be possible even without sun or even Indra (the wielder of thunder bolt) not pouring rain. But, my opinion is that not even one will survive, by seeing Rama departing from here."

vinaashakaamaamahitaamamitraa |
maavaasayam mR^ityumivaatmanastvam |
chiram bataaN^kena dhR^itaasi sarpii |
mahaavishha tena hato.asmi mohaat || 2-12-107

107. aavaasayam= I lodged in my house; tvaam= you; vinaashkaamaam= who seek my destruction; mR^tyumiva= as death; aatmanaH= one's own; amitraam= enemy; bata= Alas!; tena= on account of; mohaat= ignorance; mahaavishhaa= a highly venomous; serpii= a female serpant; dhR^itaasi= has been held; aNkena= on my lap; chiram= so long; hataHasmi= I am undone!

"I lodged in my house, as one would one's own mortal enemy, you, who seek my destruction and are unfriendly. Alas, due to ignorance, a highly venomous female serpent has been held on my lap so long and therefore I am undone."

mayaa cha raameNa salakshmaNena |
prashaastu hiino bharatastvayaa saha |
puram cha raashhTram cha nihatya baandhavaan |
mamaahitaanaam cha bhavaabhiharshhiNii || 2-12-108

108. bharataH= Bharata; tvayaa saha= along withyou; hiinaH= without; mayaa= me; raameNa= Rama; salakshmaNena= along with Lakshmana; prashaastu= rule over; puramcha= the city and; raashhtramcha= the state; nihitya= after killing; baandhavaan= the relatives; bhava= Become; abhiharshhiNii= the one who beings delight; mama ahitaanaam= to my enemies.

"Bereft of me as also Rama and Lakshmana, let Bharata along with you, rule over the city and the state. After killing your relatives, bring delight to my enemies."

nR^ishamsavR^itte vyasanaprahaariNi |
prasahya vaakyam yadihaadya bhaashhase |
na naama te kena mukhaatpatantyadho |
vishiiryamaaNaa dashanaa ssahasradhaa || 2-12-109

109. nR^ishamsavR^itte= Oh; cruel natured!; vyasana prahaariNi= One who has struck a blow in adversity!; yat= which; vaakyam= words; bhaashhase= you utter; prasahya= violently; adya= now ; kena= why; dashanaa= the teeth; te mukhaat= from your mouth; na naama patanti= have not fallen; athaH= down; vishiiryamaaNaaH= breaking into; sahasradhaa= thousands of pieces.

"Oh, cruel natured! One who has struck a blow in adversity! When you violently utter such words now, why the teeth from your mouth have not fallen down, breaking into thousands of pieces?"

na kimchidaahaahitamapriyam vacho |
na vetti raamaH parushaaNi Bhaashhitum |
kathannu raame hyabhiraamavaadini |
braviishhi doshhaan guNanityasammate || 2-12-110

110. raamaH= Rama; na aaha= does not speak; vachaH= a word; kimchit= even a little; ahitam= which is malevolent or; priyam= unkindly or; na vetti= does not know how to; bhashhItum= say; parushhaaNi= harsh words. katham nu= How indeed; bravishhi= are you telling; doshhaan= faults; raame= of Rama; abhiraama vaadini= who talks beautifully; guNa nityasammate= who is ever respected for his virtues.

"Rama does not speak a word which is even a little malevolent or unkindly. He does not know how to utter harsh words. How indeed are you recounting the faults of Rama, who talks beautifully and who is always admired for his virtues"

prataamya vaa prajvala vaa praNashya vaa |
sahasrasho vaa sphuTitaa mahiim vraja |
na te karishhyami vachaH sudaaruNam |
mamaahitam kekayaraajapaamsani || 2-12-111

111. kekaraaja paamsani= Oh; a black -gaurd to keka dynasty!; prataamya vaa= you faint away; prajjvalavaa= or flare up; praNashyavaa= or perish!; vrajavaa= or enter; mahiim= the earth; sphutitaa= split up; sahasrashaH= into thousands of cracks; na karishhyaami= I will not act; vachaH= (on your word)word; sudaaruNam= which is very cruel; ahitam= which is inimical; mama= to me.

"Oh, Kaikeyi, the black guard of Keka dynasty! You may faint away or flare up or perish or enter the earth split up into thousands of cracks! I will not act on your word which is very cruel and inimical to me."

kshuropamaam nityamasatpriyamvadaam |
pradushhTabhaavaam svakulopaghaatiniim |
na jiivitum tvaam vishhahe.amanoramaam |
didhakshamaaNaam hR^idayam sabandhanam || 2-12-112

112. na vishhahe= I do not wish; jiivitum= the survival; tvaam= of you; khhuropamaam= who are like a razor; nityam= always; asatpriyam vadaam= speaking untruthful pleasing words; pradushhTa bhaavaam= evil-natured; svakulopaghaatiniim= the one who damages one's own race; amanoramaam= repellant to the mind; didhakshha maaNam= intending to burn; hR^idayam-my heart; sabandhanam= along with vitals.

"I do not wish the survival of you, who are destructive like a razor, always speaking falsely pleasing words, are of evil natured, disastrous to the family, intent upon burning my heart along with vitals and repellent to my mind."

na jiivitam me.asti punaH kutaH sukham |
vinaatmajenaatmavataH kuto ratiH |
mamaahitam devi na k kartumarhasi |
spR^ishaami paadaavapi te prasiida me || 2-12-113

113. naasti= There is no; jiivitam= life; me = to me; aatmajena vinaa= without my son; kutaH= How; sukham= happiness; punaH= more over?; aatmavataH= While I survive; kutaH= from whom ; ratiH= (there be) joy?; devii= Oh; queen!; na arhasi= you ought not; kartum= to do; ahitam= unfriendly act; mama= to me; spR^ishaamyapi= I also touch; te= your; paadon= feet; prasiida= Be gracious; me= to me.

"There is no life to me without my son. How can there be happiness moreover? From whom else can there be joy, while I survive? Oh, queen! You ought not to do an unfriendly act to me. I even touch your feet. Be gracious to me."

sa bhuumipalo vilapannanaathavat |
striiyaa gR^ihiito hR^idaye.atimaatrayaa |
papaata devyaashcharaNau prasaaritaa |
pubhaavasampraapya yathaaturastathaa || 2-12-114

114. bhuumipaalaH= King; gR^ihiitaH= who has been gripped; hR^idaye= in the heart; striyaa= by wife; atimaatrayaa= who transgressed all bounds of decorum; vilapan= wailing; anaathavat= like a forlorn child; asamprayaa= not reaching; davyaaH= Kaikeyi's; ubhon charaNou= both the feet; prasaaritou= which were spread along; papaata= sank down; yathaa tathaa= like; aaturaH= an ailing man.

That king, who has been gripped in the heart his by his wife, who transgressed all bounds of decorum, he wailing like a forlorn child and not reaching Kaikeyi's both the feet which were spread along, sank down like an ailing man.

ityaarShe shriimadraamaayaNe aadikaavye ayodhyaakaaNDe dvaadashah sargaH

Thus, this is the 12th chapter in Ayodhya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

Book II : Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

Chapter [Sarga] 13

Introduction

In this chapter, Sage Valmiki describes the bitter agony of Dasaratha on hearing to the adamant Kaikeyi's words.

atat arham mahaa raajam shayaanam atathaa ucitam |
yayaatim iva puNya ante deva lokaat paricyutam || 2-13-1
anartha ruupaa siddha arthaaabhiitaa bhaya darshinii |
punar aakaarayaam aasa tam eva varam anganaa || 2-13-2

1,2. aN^ganaa=that Kaikeyi, anartha ruupaa= who was a manifesting of worthlessness , siddhaarthaa= who accomplished her desire, abhiita= who was without fear, bhayadarshinii= who exhibited fear, aakaarayaamaasa= informed , tameva varam= those boons, punaH= again, mahaaraajan= to Dasaratha, atadarsham= who was unsuitable for it, atathochim = who was not habitated to such a situation, shayaanam= who was lying down on floor, yayaatimiva= as king Yayati, parichyutam= who dropped, devalokaat= from heaven, puNyaante= after exhausting his merit.

Dasaratha was not suitable for such an unfortunate condition nor was he habituated to such a situation. He was lying down on the floor, as king Yayati who fell down on earth fter exhausting his merit in the region of heaven. Kaikeyi who was a manifestation of worthlessness who accomplished her desire, who was fearlessly exhibiting her fearful form, asked for those boons again in a loud voice, to Dasaratha who was in such a bad mood situation.

tvam katthase mahaa raaja satya vaadii dRDha vrataH |
mama ca imam varam kasmaat vidhaarayitum icchasi || 2-13-3

3. mahaaragja= Oh, king!, tvam= you, katthase= boast satyavaadii= I speak truth, dR^iDhavrataH= I am persistent in promise, kasmat= why, ichhasi= do you desire, vidhaarayitum= to object, imam varam= this boon, mama= of mine.

"Oh, king! You always boast yourself, saying "I speak truth. I am persisted in my promise." Now, why are you objecting to my boon?"

evam uktaH tu kaikeyyaa raajaa dasha rathaH tadaa |
pratyuvaaca tataH kruddho muhuurtam vihvalann iva || 2-13-4

4. tadaa=then, evam= thus, uktaH= spoken, kaikeyyaa= by Kaikeyi, raajaa dasharathaa= King Dasaratha, krudhhaH= became angry, vihvalanniva= turned out delirious, muhuurtam= for a moment, tataH= and thereafter, pratyuvaacha= again spoke.

After thus spoken to by Kaikeyi, Dasaratha became angry, turned out delirious for a moment and again spoke as follows:

mRte mayi gate raame vanam manuja pumgave |
hanta anaarye mama amitre raamaH pravraajitaH vanam || 2-13-5

5. anaarye= Oh, the vulgar one! mama amitre= you, my enemy!, bhava= become, sukhinii= happy, sakaamaa= after your desire is fulfilled, manuja puN^gave raame vanamgate= when Rama the best among men leaves for forest, mayi mR^ite= and when I die, hanta= alas!

"Oh, the vulgar one! You, my enemy! You want to be happy after your desire is fulfilled when Rama the best among men leaves for the forest and when I die thereafter. Alas!"

svarge.api khalu raamasya kushalaM daivatairahm |
pratyaadeshaadabhihitaM dhaarayishhye kathaM bata || 2-13-6

6. katham khalu= How indeed aham= I, dhaarayishhye= get bit perceived, daivataiH= by celestials, svarge api= in heaven also, raamasya= about Rama's, kushalam= well-being, abhihitam= spoken, pratyaadeshaat= obscuringly, bata= alas!

"When celestials ask for me about Rama's well-being after I reach heaven, how can I indeed convince them that he is well obscuringly the actual fact?"

kaikeyyaaH priyakaamena raamaH pravraajito mayaa |
yadi satyam braviimy etat tat asatyam bhaviSyati || 2-13-7

7. braviimiyadi= If I tell , etat= this, satyam= truth, raamaH= Rama, pravaajitaH= was sent, vanam= to forest, mayaa= by me, priya kaamena= desirous of showing kindness, kaikeyyaa= to Kaikeyi, tat= that, bhavishhyati= will become, asatyam= untruth.

"If I tell without obscuring the fact that I sent Rama to exile desirous of showing kindness to Kaikeyi, nobody will believe me."

aputreNa mayaa putraH shrameNa mahataa mahaan |
raamo labdho mahaabaahuH sa kathaM tyajyate mayaa || 2-13-8

8. shrameNa = with much effort, mayaa= by me, aputreNa= the childless, mahaan= the great, mahaabaahuH = powerful man, raamaH= Rama, labhaH= was obtained, putraH= as son, katham= how, mayaa=by me, saH= such Rama, tyajyate= can be abandoned?

"With much effort I, the childless begot the great and powerful Rama as my son. How can I abandon such Rama?"

shuurshcha kR^itavidyashcha jitakrodhaH kshamaaparaH |
kathaM kamalapatraaksho mayaa raamo vivaasyate || 2-13-9

9. katham= how, raama= Rama, shuuraH= who is valiant, krita vidyashcha= who is knoledgeable, jitu krodhaH= whose anger has been defeated, kshhamaaparaH= who is solely devoted to patience, kamala patraakshhaH= who has eyes like lotus petals , vivasyate= be exiled, mayaa= by me?

"How can I send away Rama who is valiant and knowledgeable, who has subdued anger, who has forbearance and who has eyes like lotus-petals".

kathamindiivarashyaamaM diirghabaahuM mahaabalam |
abhiraamamahaM raamam preshhayishhyaami daNDakaan || 2-13-10

10. katham= How, aham= I, preshhayishhyaami= can send, raamam= Rama, indiivarashyaamam= who is dark blue in colour like a blue lotus, diirghabahuum= who is long-armed, mahaabalam= who is very strong, abhiraamam= who is graceful, daNDakaan= to Dandaka forest?

"How I can I send Rama, who is dark blue in colour like a blue lotus, who is long-armed , who is very strong and graceful, to Dandaka forest?"

sukhaanaamuchitasyaiva duHkhairanuchitasya cha |
duHkhaM naamaanupashyeyaM kathaM raamasya dhiimataH || 2-13-11

11. uchitasya= one who is accostomed to, sukhaanaam= comforts, anuchitaasya= who is not habituated to, duHkhaiH= difficulties, dhiimatataH= who is sensible, katham naama= How, anupashyeyam= can I see, raamasya= (such)Rama's , duHkham= trouble ?

"Rama is accustomed to comforts. He is not accustomed to difficulties. How can I imagine such sensible Rama in a troublesome situation?"

yadi duHkhamakR^itvaadya mama saMkramaNaM bhavet |
aduHkhaarhasya raamasya tataH sukhamavaapnu yaam || 2-13-12

12. avaapnuyaam= I shall attain , sukham= happiness, sankramaNam bhavet= if death occurs, mama= to me, adya= now, tataH= so that, aduHkhaarhasya raamasya= to Rama who is not entitled, to difficulties, duHkham= misery, akR^itvaa= is not created.

"I shall be happy if death occurs to me now so that. Rama's life which is not entitled to difficulties, is not made miserable."

nR^ishaMse paapasaMkalpe raamaM styaparaakramam |
kim vipriyeNa kaikeyi priyaM yojayase mama || 2-13-13
akiirtiratulaa loke dhruvaH paribhavashcha me |

13. nR^ishamse= Oh, cruel one! paapasankalpi= one with sinful thoughts! kaikeyii= Oh, Kaikeyi! kim= why, yojayase= are you instigating, vipriyeNa = offence, raamam= to Rama, priyam= who is beloved, mama= to me, satyaparaakramam= who is truly heroic ? atulaa= uneaqualled, akiirtiH= ill-fame, paraabhavashcha= and humiliation, dhR^ivaH= is certain, me= to me, loke= in the world.

"Oh, cruel one! One with sinful thoughts! Oh, kaikeyi! why are you planning to do harm to Rama who is beloved to me and who is truly heroic? I shall certainly get unequalled ill fame and humiliation in this world".

tathaa vilapataH tasya paribhramita cetasaH || 2-13-14
astam abhyagamat suuryo rajanii ca abhyavartata |

14. tasya= that Dasaratha, tathaa= thus, vilapataH= while lamenting , paribhramita chetasaH = with disturbed mind, rajani= night, abhijavartatacha= also came, astamagamat= after setting of, suuryaH= sun.

While Dasaratha was thus lamenting with his disturbed mind, there was approach of night with setting of the sun.

saa tri yaamaa tathaa aartasya candra maNDala maNDitaa || 2-13-15
raaj~no vilapamaanasya na vyabhaasata sharvarii |

15. raagYaH= to king dasaratha, tathaa= thus, vilaapamaanusya= lamenting, aartasya= painfully, saa sharvarii= that night , triyaamaa= at nine hours(three yamas) , navyabhaasata= was not shining, chandramaNdalamaNDitaa= eventhough it was adorned with circular moon.

To Dasaratha, who was thus lamenting painfully, the night seemed to be dark even though it was adorned with charming circular moon.

tathaiva uSNam vinihshvasya vRddho dasharatho nRpaH || 2-13-16
vilalaapa aartavad duhkham gagana aasakta locanaH |

16. vR^iddhaH=The aged, dasarathaH nR^ipaH= king Dasaratha, vilalaapa= was lamenting, duHkham= painfully, aartavaat= as afflicted with disease, vinishshvasya= sighed, ushhNam= hotly, gaganaasakta lochanaH = having his eyes fixed on sky.

The aged Dasaratha was lamenting painfully as though afflicted with a disease, with lot and hard breaths, having his eyes fixed on the sky.

na prabhaatam tvayaa icchaami mayaa ayam racitaH anjaliH || 2-13-17
athavaa gamyataam shiighram na aham icchaami nirghRNaam |

17. bhadra nishe= Oh, auspicious night, nakshhatra bhuushhaNe= decorated with stars! na ichchaami= I do not wish, prabhaatam= day-break tvayaa= by you, kR^iyataam= make, dayaa= mercy, me= to me, ayam= these, aN^jali= folded hands, rachitaH = are formed, mayaa= by me.

"Oh, auspicious night, decorated with stars! do not wish you to do break into a dawn. Have mercy on me. I pray with folded hands."

atha vaa gamyataaM shiighraM naahamichchhaami nirghR^iNaam || 2-13-18
nRshamsaam kaikeyiim draSTum yat kRte vyasanam mahat |

18. athavaa= Otherwise, gamyataam= to be gone, (go away) , shiighram= quickly., aham= I, nechchhaami= do not want, drasTum= to see, kaikeyiim= kaikeyi, nirghRi^Naam= who is shameless, nR^ishamsaam= cruel, yatkR^ite= for whose reason, mahat= great, vyasanam= calamity occured.

"Otherwise, Oh, Night! Leave away quickly. I do not went to see Kaikeyi, who is shameless, cruel and for whose reason this great calamity occurred"

evam uktvaa tataH raajaa kaikeyiim samyata anjaliH || 2-13-19
prasaadayaam aasa punaH kaikeyiim ca idam abraviit |

19. raajaa= king, uktvaa= spoke, evam= this, tataH= thereafter, prasa dayaamaasa= beseeched, kaikeyiim= to Kaikeyi, samyataaNjaliH= with folded hands, punaH= again, abraviit= spoke, idam cha= this word also, Kaikeyiim= to Kaikeyi

The king spoke like this and beseeched kaikeyi with folded hands. He again spoke this word to Kaikeyi.

saadhu vRttasya diinasya tvad gatasya gata aayuSaH | 2-13-20
prasaadaH kriyataam devi bhadre raaj~no visheSataH |

20. bhadre= Oh, auspicious , devi= queen!, saadhuvR^ittasya= I am well conducted man, diinasya= dejected person, tvadgatasya= one who sought refuse in you, gataa yushhaH= old man, visheshhataH= especially, raaGyaH= king, prasaadaH kriyataam= Let favour be done.

"Oh, auspicious queen! I am a well conducted man. I am dejected and seeking refuse in you. I am an old man and especially a king. Be kind to me."

shuunyena khalu sushroNi mayaa idam samudaahRtam || 2-13-21
kuru saadhu prasaadam me baale sahRdayaa hi asi |

21. sushroNi= Oh, the well hipped!, idam= All this, na khalusamudaatiR^itum= is not indeed addressed to , shuunye= vacuum!(the sky), baale= Oh, young woman!, kuru= do, prasaadam= favour, me= to me, saadhu= well, asihi= you are indeed, sahR^idayaa= good hearted!

"Oh, well-hipped one! I hope that whatever I told, has not merged in the sky. Oh! young woman, be kind to me . You are good-hearted."

prasiida devi raamo me tvaddhattaM raajyamavyayam || 2-13-22
labhataamasitaapaaN^ge yashaH paramavaapnuhi |

22. devi= Oh, queen!, asitaapaaN^ge= with dark outer corner of eyes, prasiida= Be kind, raamaH labhataam= Let Rama obtain, me raajyam= my kingdom, tvaddattam= given by you, avaapnuti= obtain, param= great, yashaH= fame.

"Oh, queen with dark outer corner of eyes be kind. You your self give my kingdom to Rama. Thus, you will obtain great fame."

mama raamasya lokasya guruuNaaM bharatasya cha || 2-13-23
priyametadgurushroNi kuru chaarumukhekshaNe |

23. gurushroNe= Oh, the broad hipped, charumukhekshhaNaa=with beautiful face and eyes, kuru= do, etat= this, priyam= which will be pleasing, mama= to me, raamasya= to Rama, lokasya= to the world, guruuNaam= to priests bharatasyacha= and to Bharata.

"Oh, broad hipped, with beautiful face and eyes! do this. It will be pleasing to me, to Rama, to the world, to priests and to Bharata."

vishuddha bhaavasya su duSTa bhaavaa |
diinasya taamraashrukalasya raajJNH |
shrutvaa vicitram karuNam vilaapam |
bhartur nRshamsaa na cakaara vaakyam || 2-13-24

24. sudushhta bhaava= that too bad-tempered, nR^ishamsaa= cruel woman, vishuddha bhaavasya= that cruel woman, shrutvaa = after hearing, vishuddha bhaavasya= the pure hearted, diinasya= the depressed, bhartuH= the husband, taamrekshhaNasyashru kalasya= with red eyes filled with tears, karuNam vilaapam= lamenting pitifully, vichitram= in a strange way , nachakaara= could not follow, vaakyam= the words, raaGyaH= of king.

Hearing the king, who was her pure-hearted husband and who was pitifully lamenting strangely with red eyes filled with tears, that bad tempered cruel woman did not follow his words.

tataH sa raajaa punar eva muurchitaH |
priyaam atuSTaam pratikuula bhaaSiNiim |
samiikSya putrasya vivaasanam prati |
kSitau visamj~no nipapaata duhkhitaH || 2-13-25

25. samiikshha= seeing, priyaam= wife, pratikuula bhashhiniim= who is talking unpleasantly, putrasya vivaasanam prati= about sending the son to forest, atushhtaam= and who is dissatisfied, saH raajaa= that king, duHkhitaH= was distressed, tataH= and therafter, muurchchhitaH= fainted, punareva= again, visamGyaH= losing consciousness, nipapaata= fell down, kshhitau= on floor.

Seeing his discontented wife talking unpleasantly about sending Rama to forest, that king was distressed, fainted again and fell down unconscious on the floor.

itiiva raajJNo vythitasya saa nishaa |
jagaama ghoraM svasato manasvinaH |
vibodhyamaanaH pratibodhanaM tadaa |
nivaarayaamaasa sa raajasattamaH || 2-13-26

26. itiiva= In this way, vyathitasya= the distressed, manasvinaH= self-respected, raajJNyaH= king, shvasataH= sighing, ghoram= terribly, sa a nishaa= that night, jagaama= exhausted., raajasattamaH= That excellent king, vibodhyamaavaH= having been awakened, tadaa= then, nivaarayaamaasa= prevented, vibodhanam= the awakening.

While the distressed and self-respected king was sighing terribly in the way, that night came to an end. In the dawn, bards and singers started to awaken him. But the excellent king prevented them to do.

|| ityaarshe sriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyakaande trayodashaH
sargaH ||

Thus completes thirteenth sarga of Ayodhya kanda in Srimad Ramayana, the first poem.

Sree Valmiki Ramayana

courtesy from

Sree Brahmasri Desiraju Hanumanta Rao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasri K M K Murthy ji

 I Humbly bow to the  lotus feet of both of them

for the collection