Chapter 78

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

अत्र यात्राम् समीहन्तम् शत्रुघ्नः लक्ष्मण अनुजः
भरतम् शोक सम्तप्तम् इदम् वचनम् अब्रवीत्

atra yātrām samīhantam śatrughnaḥ lakṣmaṇa anujaḥ
bharatam śoka samtaptam idam vacanam abravīt

SYNONYMS

atha: thereafter | śatrughnaḥ: Shatrughna | lakśmaṇanujaḥ: the youger brother of Lakshmana | abravīt: spoke | idam: these | vacanam: words | bharatam: to Bharata | śoka samtaptam: who was tormented with giref | samīhantam: and desired | yātram: to undertake an expedition (to Rama) |

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, Shatrughna the younger brother of Lakshmana spoke the following words to Bharata, who was tormented with grief and who desired to undertake an expedition to Rama.

VERSE 2

गतिर् यः सर्व भूतानाम् दुह्खे किम् पुनर् आत्मनः
स रामः सत्त्व सम्पन्नः स्त्रिया प्रव्राजितः वनम्

gatir yaḥ sarva bhūtānām duhkhe kim punar ātmanaḥ
sa rāmaḥ sattva sampannaḥ striyā pravrājitaḥ vanam

SYNONYMS

kim punaḥ: how much more to tell | ātmanaḥ: about our grief | saḥ: when that | rāmaḥ: Rama | sattvasampannaḥ: the even-minded | yaḥ: who | gatiḥ: is a refuge | sarvabhūtānām: for all beings | striyā: by a woman | pravrājitaḥ: he was sent away | vanam: to the forest. |

TRANSLATION

"When that even-minded Rama is a refuge for all beings, how much more to tell about our seeking solace to him in our grief? He has been abandoned to the forest by a woman."

VERSE 3

बलवान् वीर्य सम्पन्नो लक्ष्मणो नाम यो अपि असौ
किम् न मोचयते रामम् कृत्वा अपि पितृ निग्रहम्

balavān vīrya sampanno lakṣmaṇo nāma yo api asau
kim na mocayate rāmam kṛtvā api pitṛ nigraham

SYNONYMS

yaḥ: which | lakṣmanāma: so-called Lakshmana | balavān: the strong-man | vīrya sampannaḥ: possessed of power | kim: why | asau api: he even | na mocayatesma: could not rescue | rāma: rama (from distress) kR^itvaa = by making pitR^inigraham = our father to restrain from doing it? |

TRANSLATION

"Why the so-called Lakshmana, the strong and powerful man, even could not rescue Rama from distress by making our father to restrain from doing it?"

VERSE 4

पूर्वम् एव तु निग्राह्यः समवेक्ष्य नय अनयौ
उत्पथम् यः समारूढो नार्या राजा वशम् गतः

pūrvam eva tu nigrāhyaḥ samavekṣya naya anayau
utpatham yaḥ samārūḍho nāryā rājā vaśam gataḥ

SYNONYMS

samavekṣya: by perceving | nayānayou: prudence and imprudence | utpatham: in that wrong course | samārūḍhaḥ: adopted raajaa = by the king | yaḥ: who | gataḥ: has fallen | vaśam: to the control | nāryāḥ: of a woman | nigrāhya: restrained (Dasaratha) puurvameva = even before itself. |

TRANSLATION

"By perceiving the prudence and imprudence in that wrong course adopted by the king, who has fallen into the clutches of a woman, Lakshmana should have restrained Dasaratha even at the beginning itself."

VERSE 5

इति सम्भाषमाणे तु शत्रुघ्ने लक्ष्मण अनुजे
प्राग् द्वारे अभूत् तदा कुब्जा सर्व आभरण भूषिता

iti sambhāṣamāṇe tu śatrughne lakṣmaṇa anuje
prāg dvāre abhūt tadā kubjā sarva ābharaṇa bhūṣitā

SYNONYMS

rakṣmaṇānuge: the younger brother of Lakshmana | sambhāṣamāṇe: was talking | iti: thus | tadā: then | kubjā: Manthara the hump-backed | sarvābharaṇa bhūśitā: adorned with all types of ornaments | abhūt: appeared | prāgdvāre: at the eastern gate. |

TRANSLATION

While Shatrughna the younger brother of Lakshmana was talking thus, the hump-backed Manthara duly adorned with all types of ornaments, appeared at the eastern gate.

VERSE 6

लिप्ता चन्दन सारेण राज वस्त्राणि बिभ्रती
विविधम् विविधैस्तैस्तैर्भूषणैश्च विभूषिता

liptā candana sāreṇa rāja vastrāṇi bibhratī
vividham vividhaistaistairbhūṣaṇaiśca vibhūṣitā

SYNONYMS

liptā: anointed | candana sāreṇa: with a scent of sandal-word | bibhratī: wearing | rājavastrāṇi: royal clothes | vibhūṣitā: she was adorned | taistaiḥ: by several | vividhaiḥ: kinds | bhūṣaṇaiśca: of ornaments | vividham: in various ways. |

TRANSLATION

Anointed with a scent of sandal-wood and wearing royal clothes, she was bedecked with several kinds of ornaments of every description in various ways.

VERSE 7

मेखला दामभिः चित्रै रज्जु बद्धा इव वानरी
बभासे बहुभिर्बद्धा रज्जुबद्देव वानरी

mekhalā dāmabhiḥ citrai rajju baddhā iva vānarī
babhāse bahubhirbaddhā rajjubaddeva vānarī

SYNONYMS

baddhā: Studded with | citraiḥ: bright coloured | mekhalādāmabhiḥ: girdle-bands | bahubhiḥ: and many | anyaiḥ: other | śubha bhūṣaṇaiśca: excellent ornaments | babhāse: appeared | vānarīva: like a female monkey | rajjubaddhā: tied with ropes! |

TRANSLATION

Studded with bright-coloured girdle-bands and many other excellent ornaments, Manthara appeared like a female-monkey tied with ropes!

VERSE 8

ताम् समीक्ष्य तदा द्वाह्स्थो भृशम् पापस्य कारिणीम्
गृहीत्वा अकरुणम् कुब्जाम् शत्रुघ्नाय न्यवेदयत्

tām samīkṣya tadā dvāhstho bhṛśam pāpasya kāriṇīm
gṛhītvā akaruṇam kubjām śatrughnāya nyavedayat

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | samīkṣya: beholding | tām kubjām: that hump-backed Manthara | subhṛśam: the very much | pāpakāriṇīm: sinful | akaruṇām: and insenstive one | dvāḥsthāḥ: the door-keepers | gṛhītvā: caught her | nyavedayan: and delivered her | śatrughnāya: to Shatrughna |

TRANSLATION

Beholding that hump-backed Manthara, the very much sinful and insensitive woman, the door-keepers caught her and delivered her to Shatrughna (with the following words:)

VERSE 9

यस्याः कृते वने रामः न्यस्त देहः च वः पिता
सा इयम् पापा नृशंसा च तस्याः कुरु यथा मति

yasyāḥ kṛte vane rāmaḥ nyasta dehaḥ ca vaḥ pitā
sā iyam pāpā nṛśaṃsā ca tasyāḥ kuru yathā mati

SYNONYMS

iyam: here | : is that | pāpā: sinful | nṛśamsā: and cruel woman | yasyāḥ kṛte: by whose act | rāmaḥ: Rama | vane: is in the forest | vaḥ pitāḥ: and your father | nyasta dehaśca: has laid donw his body | kuru: take action | yathāmati: as fit you please | tasyāḥ: with her. |

TRANSLATION

"Here is that sinful and cruel woman, by whose act Rama is in the forest and your father has laid down his body. Do with her, as you consider fitting."

VERSE 10

शत्रुघ्नः च तत् आज्ञाय वचनम् भृश दुह्खितः
अन्तः पुर चरान् सर्वान् इति उवाच धृत व्रतः

śatrughnaḥ ca tat ājñāya vacanam bhṛśa duhkhitaḥ
antaḥ pura carān sarvān iti uvāca dhṛta vrataḥ

SYNONYMS

ājñāya: hearing | tat: those | vacanam: words | śatrughnaḥ: Shatrughna | bhṛśa duḥkhitaḥ: who was very much in gief | dhṛta vrtaḥ: and firmly resolute | uvāca: spoke | iti: thus | sarvān: to all those | antaḥpuracarān: who move in that gynaecium. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing those words, Shatrughna who was very much in grief and was firmly resolute, spoke to all those inmates of that gynaecium, as follows:

VERSE 11

तीव्रम् उत्पादितम् दुह्खम् भ्रातृऋणाम् मे तथा पितुः
यया सा इयम् नृशंसस्य कर्मणः फलम् अश्नुताम्

tīvram utpāditam duhkham bhrātṛṛṇām me tathā pituḥ
yayā sā iyam nṛśaṃsasya karmaṇaḥ phalam aśnutām

SYNONYMS

sā iyam: let this woman | yayā: who | utpāditam: has created | tīvaram: a serious | duḥkham: misfortune | bhrātṛiṇām: to my brothers | me: amd my | pituḥ: father | aśnutām: receive | phalam: the fruit | nṛśamsasya: of her cruel | karmaṇaḥ: act. |

TRANSLATION

"Let this woman, who created serious misfortune to my brothers and my father, receive the fruit of her cruel act."

VERSE 12

एवम् उक्ता च तेन आशु सखी जन समावृता
गृहीता बलवत् कुब्जा सा तत् गृहम् अनादयत्

evam uktā ca tena āśu sakhī jana samāvṛtā
gṛhītā balavat kubjā sā tat gṛham anādayat

SYNONYMS

uktvā: speaking | evam: thsu | sakhījana samvṛtā: in the mist of her companions | sā kubjā: that hunch-backed woman | gṛhītā: was seized | balavat: powerfully | āśu: soon | tena: by him | tat gṛham: made that mansion | anādayat: resound (with her shrieks). |

TRANSLATION

Speaking thus in the midst of her companions, he seized that hunch-backed woman with his powerful hand soon and she in turn made that mansion resound with her shrieks.

VERSE 13

ततः सुभृश सम्तप्तः तस्याः सर्वः सखी जनः
क्रुद्धम् आज्ञाय शत्रुघ्नम् व्यपलायत सर्वशः

tataḥ subhṛśa samtaptaḥ tasyāḥ sarvaḥ sakhī janaḥ
kruddham ājñāya śatrughnam vyapalāyata sarvaśaḥ

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | sarvaḥ: all | tasyāḥ: her | sakhījanaḥ: companions | ājñāya: understood | śatrughnam: Shatrughna | kruddham: to have been angry | subhṛśa samtaptaḥ: and greatly agonised | vipalāyata: (they) ran away | sarvaśaḥ: in all directions. |

TRANSLATION

Then, her companion, having conceived Shatrughna's anger and extremely agonised as they were, ran away helter-shelter in all directions.

VERSE 14

अमन्त्रयत कृत्स्नः च तस्याः सर्व सखी जनः
यथा अयम् समुपक्रान्तः निह्शेषम् नः करिष्यति

amantrayata kṛtsnaḥ ca tasyāḥ sarva sakhī janaḥ
yathā ayam samupakrāntaḥ nihśeṣam naḥ kariṣyati

SYNONYMS

sarvaḥ: all | āsyāḥ: her | sakhījanaḥ: companions | amantrayata: surnised (as follows) | yathā: the way how | ayam: he | samupakrāntaḥ: is coming up | kariṣyati: he will make | naḥ: us | niḥśeṣam: finised. |

TRANSLATION

All the company of women there surmised as follows : "The way how he is coming up, he will surely slay us all"

VERSE 15

सानुक्रोशाम् वदान्याम् च धर्मज्ञाम् च यशस्विनीम्
कौसल्याम् शरणम् यामः सा हि नो अस्तु ध्रुवा गतिः

sānukrośām vadānyām ca dharmajñām ca yaśasvinīm
kausalyām śaraṇam yāmaḥ sā hi no astu dhruvā gatiḥ

SYNONYMS

śaraṇam yāma: we shall take refuge | kausalyām: with Kausalya | sānukrośām: the compassionate | vadānyām ca: and the magnanimous | dharmajñām: the virtuous | yaśasvinīm: and the illustrious woman | astu: let | : her | dhruvā: be the sure | gatiḥ: asylum | naḥ: for us. |

TRANSLATION

"We shall take reguge with the compassionate, magnanimous, virtuous and illustrious Kausalya. Let her be the sure asylum for us."

VERSE 16

स च रोषेण ताम्र अक्षः शत्रुघ्नः शत्रु तापनः
विचकर्ष तदा कुब्जाम् क्रोशन्तीम् पृथिवी तले

sa ca roṣeṇa tāmra akṣaḥ śatrughnaḥ śatru tāpanaḥ
vicakarṣa tadā kubjām krośantīm pṛthivī tale

SYNONYMS

saḥ: shatrughnaH = the Shatrughna | śatrutāpanaḥ: the tormentor of enemies | tāmrākṣaḥ: red eyes | tadā: then | vicakarṣa: violently dragged | krośantīm: the crying | kubjām: hum-back | dharaṇītale: along the floor. |

TRANSLATION

That Shatrughna, the tormentor of enemies, with his raging red eyes then violently dragged the crying hump-back along the floor.

VERSE 17

तस्या हि आकृष्यमाणाया मन्थरायाः ततः ततः
चित्रम् बहु विधम् भाण्डम् पृथिव्याम् तत् व्यशीर्यत

tasyā hi ākṛṣyamāṇāyā mantharāyāḥ tataḥ tataḥ
citram bahu vidham bhāṇḍam pṛthivyām tat vyaśīryata

SYNONYMS

tasyāḥ: that | mantharāyāḥ: Manthara | ākṛṣyamāṇāyāḥ: was violently dragged | bahuvidham: the various kinds | tat: of those | citram: colourful | bhāṅḍam: ornaments | vyaśīryata: were scattered | tatastataḥ: here and there | pṛthivyām: on the floor. |

TRANSLATION

While that Manthara was violently dragged, here various colourful ornaments were scattered asunder here and there on the floor.

VERSE 18

तेन भाण्डेन सम्कीर्णम् श्रीमद् राज निवेशनम्
अशोभत तदा भूयः शारदम् गगनम् यथा

tena bhāṇḍena samkīrṇam śrīmad rāja niveśanam
aśobhata tadā bhūyaḥ śāradam gaganam yathā

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | śrīmat: the splendid | rājaniveśanam: royal mansion | vistīrṇam: scattered | tena: by those | bhaṅḍena: ornaments | aśobhata: appeared | bhūyaḥ: very much | gaganam yathā: as a sky | śāradam: in antumn (studded with innumerable stars). |

TRANSLATION

Thus, that splendid royal mansion scattered by those ornaments, appeared very much like an autumnal sky studded with innumerable stars.

VERSE 19

स बली बलवत् क्रोधात् गृहीत्वा पुरुष ऋषभः
कैकेयीम् अभिनिर्भर्त्स्य बभाषे परुषम् वचः

sa balī balavat krodhāt gṛhītvā puruṣa ṛṣabhaḥ
kaikeyīm abhinirbhartsya babhāṣe paruṣam vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

balī: the strong | saḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ: and that eminent man | gṛhītvā: seizing | balavat: violently | krodhāt: with rage | abhinirbhartsya: and spoke | paruṣam: harsha | vacaḥ: words. |

TRANSLATION

Shatrughna, the strong and the eminent man, thus violently seizing her with rage, sharply rebuked Kaikeyi and spoke harsh words to her.

VERSE 20

तैः वाक्यैः परुषैः दुह्खैः कैकेयी भृश दुह्हिता
शत्रुघ्न भय सम्त्रस्ता पुत्रम् शरणम् आगता

taiḥ vākyaiḥ paruṣaiḥ duhkhaiḥ kaikeyī bhṛśa duhhitā
śatrughna bhaya samtrastā putram śaraṇam āgatā

SYNONYMS

bhṛśa duḥkhitāḥ: agoinsed very much | taiḥ: by those | paruṣaiḥ: harsha | duḥkhaiḥ: and painful | vākyaiḥ: words | kaikeyī: Kaikeyi | strughna bhaya samtaptā: afflicted by the fear for Shatrughna | āgatā: come to | śaraṇam: the refuge | putam: of her son. |

TRANSLATION

Agonised very much by those harsh and painful words, Kiakeyi overwhelmed as she was with the fear of Shatrughna, took refuge with Bharata.

VERSE 21

ताम् प्रेक्ष्य भरतः क्रुद्धम् शत्रुघ्नम् इदम् अब्रवीत्
अवध्याः सर्व भूतानाम् प्रमदाः क्षम्यताम् इति

tām prekṣya bharataḥ kruddham śatrughnam idam abravīt
avadhyāḥ sarva bhūtānām pramadāḥ kṣamyatām iti

SYNONYMS

bharataḥ: Bharata | abravīt: idam = these words | pekṣya: after seeing | tam: that | śatrughnam: Shatrughna | kruddhan: who was enraged | iti: thus | sarvabhūtānām: among all beings | pramadāḥ: women | avadhyāḥ: are not to be killed | kṣamyatām: (She is) to be pardoned. |

TRANSLATION

Seeing that enraged Shatrughna, Bharata said: "Among all beings women are not to be killed. Hence she is to be pardoned."

VERSE 22

हन्याम् अहम् इमाम् पापाम् कैकेयीम् दुष्ट चारिणीम्
यदि माम् धार्मिको रामः न असूयेन् मातृ घातकम्

hanyām aham imām pāpām kaikeyīm duṣṭa cāriṇīm
yadi mām dhārmiko rāmaḥ na asūyen mātṛ ghātakam

SYNONYMS

dhārmikaḥ: (If) the pious | rāmaḥ: Rama | na asūyedyadi: were not to express displeasure | mām: with me | mātṛghātukam: for killing the mother | aham: I | hanyām: would have killed | imam kaikeyīm: this Kaikeyi | duṣṭacāriṇīm: the evil-doing | pāpām: sinful woman. |

TRANSLATION

"If the pious Rama were not to express his displeasure with me for killing the mother, I would have killed this Kaikeyi, the ill-mannered and sinful woman."

VERSE 23

इमाम् अपि हताम् कुब्जाम् यदि जानाति राघवः
त्वाम् च माम् चैव धर्म आत्मा न अभिभाषिष्यते ध्रुवम्

imām api hatām kubjām yadi jānāti rāghavaḥ
tvām ca mām caiva dharma ātmā na abhibhāṣiṣyate dhruvam

SYNONYMS

yadi: If | rāghavaḥ: Rama | dharmātmā: the virtuous man | jānāti: gets to know | imām: this | kubjām api: hunch-backed woman | hatām: has been killed | dhruvam: it is sure | nābhibhāṣiṣyate: (that he will) not speak | tvām ca: to you | māmcaiva: or even to me. |

TRANSLATION

"If the virtuous Rama hears that the hunch-backed woman has been killed, it is sure that he will cease to talk to you or even to me."

VERSE 24

भरतस्य वचः श्रुत्वा शत्रुघ्नः लक्ष्मण अनुजः
न्यवर्तत ततः रोषात् ताम् मुमोच च मन्थराम्

bharatasya vacaḥ śrutvā śatrughnaḥ lakṣmaṇa anujaḥ
nyavartata tataḥ roṣāt tām mumoca ca mantharām

SYNONYMS

śrutvā: hearing | vacaḥ: the words | bharatasya: of Bharata | śatrughnaḥ: Shatrughna | lakṣmaṇānujaḥ: the younger brother of Lakshman | tataḥ: then | nyavartaḥ: renouncing | rośāt: his guilty design | mumcaca: released | tām: that | mantharām: Manthara. |

TRANSLATION

Hearing the words of Bharata, Shatrughna the younger brother of Lakshmana renouncing his guilty design forthwith released that Manthara.

VERSE 25

सा पाद मूले कैकेय्या मन्थरा निपपात ह
निह्श्वसन्ती सुदुह्ख आर्ता कृपणम् विललाप च

sā pāda mūle kaikeyyā mantharā nipapāta ha
nihśvasantī suduhkha ārtā kṛpaṇam vilalāpa ca

SYNONYMS

sā mantharā: that Manthara | nipapātaha: fell | pādamūle: at the feet | kaikeyāḥ: of Kaikeyi | suduḥkhārtā: being very much afflicted with grief | niḥsvasantī: and with a sigh | vilalāpaca: weeping kR^ipaNam = piteously. |

TRANSLATION

Manthara fell at the feet of Kaikeyi, breathless, weeping piteously.

VERSE 26

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टसप्ततितमः सर्गः

ityārṣe śrīmadrāmāyaṇe ādikāvye ayodhyākāṇḍe aṣṭasaptatitamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

samīkṣya: seeing | kubjām: the hunch-backed woman | śatrughna vikṣapa vimunḍha samjṇām: who was distraught on account of Shatrughna's vioulence | ārtarūpām: and wearing a disturbed appearance | vīkṣamāṇām: looked | krouncamiva: likea a krauncha bird | vilagnām: that has been caught in a noose | bharatasya: Bharata's | mātā: mother | śanaiḥ: slowly | samāśvāsayat: consoled (her). |

TRANSLATION

Seeing the hunch-backed woman, who was distraught on account of shatrughna's violence, wearing a disturbed appearance and looking like a crane that has been caught in a noose, Bharata's mother slowly consoled her.