Chapter 7
Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya
ज्ञातिदासी यतो जाता कैकेय्या तु सहोषिता
प्रासादं चन्द्रसङ्काशमारुरोह यदृच्छया
jñātidāsī yato jātā kaikeyyā tu sahoṣitā
prāsādaṃ candrasaṅkāśamāruroha yadṛcchayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Manthara, a housemaid who was residing with Kaikeyi since her birth, accidentally ascended the balcony of Kaikeyi's white palace, which resembled the full moon.
सिक्तराजपथां कृत्स्नां प्रकीर्णकुसुमोत्कराम्
अयोध्यां मन्थरा तस्मात्प्रासादादन्ववैक्षत
siktarājapathāṃ kṛtsnāṃ prakīrṇakusumotkarām
ayodhyāṃ mantharā tasmātprāsādādanvavaikṣata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Manthara, from that balcony, saw the entire city of Ayodhya, with all its principal roads being sprinkled with water and strewn with heaps of flowers.
पताकाभिर्वरार्हाभिर्ध्वजैश्च समलङ्कृताम्
वृतां चंदपथैश्चापि शिरःस्नातजनैर्वृताम्
patākābhirvarārhābhirdhvajaiśca samalaṅkṛtām
vṛtāṃ caṃdapathaiścāpi śiraḥsnātajanairvṛtām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Manthara further saw from that balcony the city decorated with the best of flags and banners. The roads were cleared for uninterrupted traffic. All the people took head-bath. Brahmans with flowers and sweets in their hands were chanting Mantras. The gateways of temples were white washed. There were sounds of all musical instruments. The city was filled with rejoicing people and resounding chant of Vedas. The elephants and horses were also merry. The bulls were making roaring noise. The highly delighted citizens hoisted rows of flags on their housetops.
प्रहर्षोत्फुल्लनयनां पाण्डुरक्षौमवासिनीम्
अविदूरे स्थितां दृष्ट्वा धात्रीं पप्रच्छ मन्थरा
praharṣotphullanayanāṃ pāṇḍurakṣaumavāsinīm
avidūre sthitāṃ dṛṣṭvā dhātrīṃ papraccha mantharā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Manthara asked a house maid with bright pleasing eyes and wearing white silk clothes standing nearby, as follows: -
उत्तमेनाभिसंयुक्ता हर्षेणार्थपरा सती
राममाता धनं किं नु जनेभ्यः संप्रयच्छति
२७८
uttamenābhisaṃyuktā harṣeṇārthaparā satī
rāmamātā dhanaṃ kiṃ nu janebhyaḥ saṃprayacchati
2-7-8
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Why is Kausalya giving away money to people so delightfully today in charity, eventhough she is badly lured of money?"
अतिमात्रप्रहर्षो।अयं किं जनस्य च शंस मे
कारयिष्यति किं वापि संप्रहृष्टो महीपतिः
atimātrapraharṣo|ayaṃ kiṃ janasya ca śaṃsa me
kārayiṣyati kiṃ vāpi saṃprahṛṣṭo mahīpatiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Why are people so happy today? Is the king duly pleased with something, doing any great act? Tell me."
विदीर्यमाणा हर्षेण धात्री तु परया मुदा
आचचक्षे।अथ कुब्जायै भूयसीं राघवश्रियम्
vidīryamāṇā harṣeṇa dhātrī tu parayā mudā
ācacakṣe|atha kubjāyai bhūyasīṃ rāghavaśriyam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That housemaid, bursting with joy, told Manthara in a great gladdening tone about the great honor to be conferred upon Rama.
श्वः पुष्येण जितक्रोधं यौवराज्येन राघवम्
राजा दशरथो राममभिषेचयितानघम्
śvaḥ puṣyeṇa jitakrodhaṃ yauvarājyena rāghavam
rājā daśaratho rāmamabhiṣecayitānagham
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Tomorrow on the day of Pushyami star, king Dasaratha is going to anoint the fault-less Rama for the princely kingdom."
धात्र्यास्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा कुब्जा क्षिप्रममर्षिता
कैलासशिखराकारात्प्रासादादवरोहत
dhātryāstu vacanaṃ śrutvā kubjā kṣipramamarṣitā
kailāsaśikharākārātprāsādādavarohata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
After hearing the words of that maid, Manthara quickly with wrath walked down from the roof of the palace, which was in the shape of mount Kailasa.
सा दह्यमाना कोपेन मनथरा पापदर्शिनी
शयनामेत्य कैकेयीमिदं वचन मब्रवीत्
sā dahyamānā kopena manatharā pāpadarśinī
śayanāmetya kaikeyīmidaṃ vacana mabravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Manthara of sinful thought; burning with anger, approached Kaikeyi who was lying on a bed and spoke these words:
उत्तिष्ठ मूढे किं शेषे भयं त्वामभिवर्तते
उपप्लुतमघौघेन किमात्मानं न बुध्यसे
uttiṣṭha mūḍhe kiṃ śeṣe bhayaṃ tvāmabhivartate
upaplutamaghaughena kimātmānaṃ na budhyase
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, fool! Get up. Why are you sleeping? A dreadful situation is befalling you. A flood of troubles submerges you. Why are you not knowing this yourself?"
अनिष्टे सुभगाकारे सौभग्येन विकत्थसे
चलं हि तव सौभाग्यं नद्याः स्रोत इवोष्णगे
aniṣṭe subhagākāre saubhagyena vikatthase
calaṃ hi tava saubhāgyaṃ nadyāḥ srota ivoṣṇage
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Kaikeyi ! You appear to be a beloved wife for your husband, but in reality he does not like you. You boast of your fortune. Like the flow of a stream in summer; your fortune is unsteady".
एवमुक्ता तु कैकेयी रुष्टया परुषं वचः
कुब्जया पापदर्शिन्या विषादमगमत्परम्
evamuktā tu kaikeyī ruṣṭayā paruṣaṃ vacaḥ
kubjayā pāpadarśinyā viṣādamagamatparam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Kaikeyi was very much worried after hearing hard words spoken with anger by Manthara of sinful thoughts.
कैकेयि त्वब्रवीत्कुभां कच्चित्क्षेमं न मनथरे
विषण्णवदनां हि त्वां लक्षये भृ शदुःखिताम्
kaikeyi tvabravītkubhāṃ kaccitkṣemaṃ na manathare
viṣaṇṇavadanāṃ hi tvāṃ lakṣaye bhṛ śaduḥkhitām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Kaikeyi asked the hunch-backed Manthara as follows; "O, Manthara! Are you not safe? You appear to be very sorrowful with your worried face".
मन्थरा तु वचः श्रुत्वा कैकेय्या मधुराक्षरम्
उवाच क्रोधसंयुक्ता वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदा
mantharā tu vacaḥ śrutvā kaikeyyā madhurākṣaram
uvāca krodhasaṃyuktā vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
After hearing Kaikeyi's sweet words, Manthara who was an expert in talking, spoke with anger.
सा विषण्णतरा भूत्वा कुब्जा तस्या हितैषिणी
विषदयन्ती प्रोवाच भेदयन्ती च राघवम्
sā viṣaṇṇatarā bhūtvā kubjā tasyā hitaiṣiṇī
viṣadayantī provāca bhedayantī ca rāghavam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That Manthara, who was full of cunning, feigning to be seeking Kaikeyi's welfare, appeared more worried, and making Kaikeyi sorrowful, spoke the following, to create hostility between Rama and Kaikeyi.
अक्षय्यं सुमहद्देवि प्रवृत्तं द्वद्विनाशनम्
रामं दशरथो राजा यौवराज्ये।अभिषेक्ष्यति
akṣayyaṃ sumahaddevi pravṛttaṃ dvadvināśanam
rāmaṃ daśaratho rājā yauvarājye|abhiṣekṣyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, queen! An unending great ruin has encircled you. King Dasaratha is going to anoint Rama for the princely kingdom".
सास्म्यगाधे भये मग्ना दुःखशोकसमन्विता
दह्यमाना।अ नलेनेव त्वद्धितार्थमिहागता
sāsmyagādhe bhaye magnā duḥkhaśokasamanvitā
dahyamānā|a naleneva tvaddhitārthamihāgatā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I am immersed in a bottomless pit of fear. I am in distress and my mind is burning as if by fire. I hastened here to seek you out."
तव दुःखेन कैकेयि मम दुःखं महद्भवेत्
त्वद्वृद्धौ मम वृद्धिश्च भवेदत्र न संशयः
tava duḥkhena kaikeyi mama duḥkhaṃ mahadbhavet
tvadvṛddhau mama vṛddhiśca bhavedatra na saṃśayaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Kaikeyi! If Rama becomes king, his son will become king after him. Thus, Bharata's name itself will be removed from the royal clan."
नराधिपकुले जाता महिषी त्वं महीपतेः
उग्रत्वं राजधर्माणां कथं देवि न बुध्यसे
narādhipakule jātā mahiṣī tvaṃ mahīpateḥ
ugratvaṃ rājadharmāṇāṃ kathaṃ devi na budhyase
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Kaikeyi! Having born in a royal family and being an emperor's wife, how is it that you are not knowing about the cruelty in kingly duties?"
धर्मवादी शठो भर्ता श्लक्ष्णवादी च दारुणः
शुद्धभावे न जानीषे तेनैवमतिसन्धिता
dharmavādī śaṭho bhartā ślakṣṇavādī ca dāruṇaḥ
śuddhabhāve na jānīṣe tenaivamatisandhitā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Your husband talks about righteousness, but does harm secretly. He says sweet words but behaves cruelly. Because of your clean thinking; you are not able to know that he is cheating you thus."
उपस्थितं पयुञ्जानस्त्वयि सान्त्वमनर्थकम्
अर्थेनैवाद्य ते भर्ता कौसल्यां योजयिष्यति
upasthitaṃ payuñjānastvayi sāntvamanarthakam
arthenaivādya te bhartā kausalyāṃ yojayiṣyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Your husband approaches you and talks good words, which are useless. But he passes on benefit today to Kausalya only."
अपवाह्य स दुष्टात्मा भरतं तव बन्धुषु
काल्यं स्थापयिता रामं राज्ये निहतकण्टके
apavāhya sa duṣṭātmā bharataṃ tava bandhuṣu
kālyaṃ sthāpayitā rāmaṃ rājye nihatakaṇṭake
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The evil minded Dasaratha sent Bharata to the house of his relatives and at dawn, is going to install Rama on the throne without hindrance."
शत्रुः पतिप्रवादेन मात्रेव हितकाम्यया
आशीविष इवाङ्केन बाले परिधृतस्त्वया
śatruḥ patipravādena mātreva hitakāmyayā
āśīviṣa ivāṅkena bāle paridhṛtastvayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, childish one! Like a mother, you wish for his well being. But he is an enemy, and is called husband for a namesake. He is like a poisonous serpent in your bosom."
यथा हि कुर्यात्सर्पो वा शत्रुर्वा प्रत्युपेक्षितः
राज्ञा दशरथेनाद्य सपुत्रा त्वं तथा कृता
yathā hi kuryātsarpo vā śatrurvā pratyupekṣitaḥ
rājñā daśarathenādya saputrā tvaṃ tathā kṛtā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"King Dasaratha has acted towards you and your son today in the same way as an enemy or a serpent would behave if ignored."
पापेनानृतसान्त्वेन बाले नित्यं सुखोचिते
रामं स्थापयता राज्ये सानुबन्धा हता ह्यसि
pāpenānṛtasāntvena bāle nityaṃ sukhocite
rāmaṃ sthāpayatā rājye sānubandhā hatā hyasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, stupid one! With his untruthful sweet words to you, who are ever deserving of ease, the evil minded king is installing Rama on the throne and is thus ruining you along with your son."
सा प्राप्तकालं कैकेयि क्षिप्रं कुरु हितं तव
त्रायस्व पुत्रमात्मानं मां च विस्मयदर्शने
sā prāptakālaṃ kaikeyi kṣipraṃ kuru hitaṃ tava
trāyasva putramātmānaṃ māṃ ca vismayadarśane
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"O, Kaikeyi, of amazing beauty! You have to take timely action immediately, so as to save yourself, your son and me too."
मन्थराया वचः श्रुत्वा शयनात्स शुभानना
उत्तस्थौ हर्षसंपूर्णा चन्द्रलेखेव शारदी
mantharāyā vacaḥ śrutvā śayanātsa śubhānanā
uttasthau harṣasaṃpūrṇā candralekheva śāradī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing Manthara's words, that Kaikeyi of charming countenance who was lying in bed, rose from her coach full of delight like unto the crescent moon in autumn.
अतीव सा तु संहृष्टाअ कैकेयी विस्मयान्विता
एकमाभरणं तस्यै कुब्जायै प्रददौ शुभम्
atīva sā tu saṃhṛṣṭāa kaikeyī vismayānvitā
ekamābharaṇaṃ tasyai kubjāyai pradadau śubham
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That Kaikeyi in the midst of her astonishment and joy gave a graceful jewel to the hunch-backed Manthara.
दत्त्वा त्वाभरणं तस्यै कुब्जायै प्रमदोत्तमा
कैकेयी मन्थरां हृष्टा पुनरेवाब्रवीदिदम्
dattvā tvābharaṇaṃ tasyai kubjāyai pramadottamā
kaikeyī mantharāṃ hṛṣṭā punarevābravīdidam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Kaikeyi, the best among women, gave a jewel to Manthara and spoke to her as follows:
इदं तु मन्थरे मह्यमाख्यासि परमं प्रियम्
एतन्मे प्रियमाख्यातुः किं वा भूयः करोमि ते
idaṃ tu manthare mahyamākhyāsi paramaṃ priyam
etanme priyamākhyātuḥ kiṃ vā bhūyaḥ karomi te
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Manthara! You informed much gladdening news to me. What else can I do for you, who informed such a good news?"
रामे वा भरते वाहं विशेषं नोपलक्षये
तस्मात्तुष्टास्मि यद्राजा रामं राज्ये।अभिषेक्ष्यति
rāme vā bharate vāhaṃ viśeṣaṃ nopalakṣaye
tasmāttuṣṭāsmi yadrājā rāmaṃ rājye|abhiṣekṣyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"I do not see any difference between Rama and Bharata. That is why, I am happy that Rama is being anointed for crown by the king."