Chapter 8

Ayodhya Kanda - Book Of Ayodhya

VERSE 1

मन्थरा त्वभ्यसूयैनामुत्सृज्याभरणं च तत्
उवाचेदं ततो वाक्यं कोपदुःखसमन्विता

mantharā tvabhyasūyaināmutsṛjyābharaṇaṃ ca tat
uvācedaṃ tato vākyaṃ kopaduḥkhasamanvitā

SYNONYMS

mantharātu: but Manthara | abhyasūya: became indignant | enām: with her | utsṛjya: cast down | tat: that | ābharanam: ornament | tataḥ: afterwards | kopaduḥkhasamanvitā: with anger and pain | uvāca: spoke | idam: these words. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 2

हर्षं किमिदमस्थाने कृतवत्यसि बालिशे
शोकसागरमध्यस्थमात्मानं नावबुध्यसे

harṣaṃ kimidamasthāne kṛtavatyasi bāliśe
śokasāgaramadhyasthamātmānaṃ nāvabudhyase

SYNONYMS

bāliśe: O | fūliś one! nāvabudhyase: not knowing | ātmānam: about you | śokasāgara madhyastam: who are in the midst of an ocean of trouble | kim idam: what is it | kṛtavatī asi: you are doing | harṣam: (in making) delight | asthāne: of an ill suited matter. |

TRANSLATION

"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?"

VERSE 3

मनसा प्रहसामि त्वां देवि दुःखार्धिता सती
यच्छोचितव्ये हृष्टासि प्राप्येदं व्यसनं महत्

manasā prahasāmi tvāṃ devi duḥkhārdhitā satī
yacchocitavye hṛṣṭāsi prāpyedaṃ vyasanaṃ mahat

SYNONYMS

devi: O | quīn! duḥ|khārditāsatī: stricken with grief | prahasāmi: I laugh | manasā: mentally | tvām: at you | yat: for | hriṣṭā asi: you are rejoicing | prāpya: after getting | idam: this | mahat: great | vyasanam: calamity | śocitavye: which is to be grieved. |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 4

शोचामि दुर्मतित्वं ते का हि प्राज्ञा प्रहर्षयेत्
अरेः सपत्नीपुत्रस्य वृद्धिं मृत्युमिवागताम्

śocāmi durmatitvaṃ te kā hi prājñā praharṣayet
areḥ sapatnīputrasya vṛddhiṃ mṛtyumivāgatām

SYNONYMS

śocāmi: I lament over | te: your | durmatitvam: ill-considered mind | kā prāġyā: which intelligent woman | praharṣayet: gets delighted | vṛddhim: over prosperity | sapatnīputrasya: of stepson | areḥ: who is an enemy | mṛtyumiva: (just as rejoicing) over death | āgatām: which has befallen. |

TRANSLATION

"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?"

VERSE 5

भरतादेव रामस्य राज्यसाधारणाद्भयम्
तद्विचिन्त्य विषण्णास्मि भय भीताद्धि जायते

bharatādeva rāmasya rājyasādhāraṇādbhayam
tadvicintya viṣaṇṇāsmi bhaya bhītāddhi jāyate

SYNONYMS

rāmasya: To Rama | bhayam: Fear | bharatādeva: from Bharata | rājyasādhāraṇāt: who has equal right to kingdom | vicintya: In thinking over | tat: that (matter) | viṣaṇṇa asmi: I am sorrowful | jāyate hi: begets from | bhītāt: those who fear (us). |

TRANSLATION

"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?"

VERSE 6

लक्ष्मणो हि महेष्वासो रामं सर्वात्मना गतः
शत्रुघ्नश्चापि भरतं काकुत्थ्सं लक्ष्मणो यथा

lakṣmaṇo hi maheṣvāso rāmaṃ sarvātmanā gataḥ
śatrughnaścāpi bharataṃ kākutthsaṃ lakṣmaṇo yathā

SYNONYMS

lakśmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana. | maheṣvāsaḥ: having mighty bow | gataḥ: joined | rāmam: Rama | sarvātmanā: with all his heart | śatrughnaḥ ca api: Satrughna also | bharatam: (is faithful) to Bharata | kākutsam yathā: as to Rama |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 7

प्रत्यासन्नक्रमेणापि भरतस्तैव भामिनि
राज्यक्रमो विप्रकृष्टस्तयोस्तावत्कनीयसोः

pratyāsannakrameṇāpi bharatastaiva bhāmini
rājyakramo viprakṛṣṭastayostāvatkanīyasoḥ

SYNONYMS

bhāmini: Kaikeyi! | pratyāsanna krameṇāpi: In line with proximity of birth | rājyakramaḥ: the lineage of kingdom | bharatasyaiva: is to Bharata only | tayoḥ tāvat: to the extent of other two(Lakshmana and Satrughna) | kanīyasoḥ: who are younger | viprakṛṣṭaḥ: it is far away. |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 8

विदुषः क्षत्रचारित्रे प्राज्ञस्य प्राप्तकारिणः
भयात्प्रवेपे रामस्य चिन्तयन्ती तवात्मजम्

viduṣaḥ kṣatracāritre prājñasya prāptakāriṇaḥ
bhayātpravepe rāmasya cintayantī tavātmajam

SYNONYMS

viduṣaḥ: (Rama is a )learned man | prāġyasya: efficient | kṣātracāritre: in politics | prāpta kāriṇaḥ: he who acts appropriately and in time | bhayāt: fearing (such Rama) | pravepe: I am shaken | cintayantī: to be thinking | ātmajam: of your son. |

TRANSLATION

"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".

VERSE 9

सुभगा खलु कौसल्या यस्याः पुत्रो।अभिषेक्ष्यते
यौवराज्येन महता श्वः पुष्येण द्विजोत्तमैः

subhagā khalu kausalyā yasyāḥ putro|abhiṣekṣyate
yauvarājyena mahatā śvaḥ puṣyeṇa dvijottamaiḥ

SYNONYMS

kausalyā: Kausalya | subhagākhalu: is having good fortune | yasyāḥ: that Kausalya's | putraḥ: son | svaḥ: tomorrow | puśyeṇa: on the day of Pushyami star | abhiṣekṣyate: is going to be anointed | mahatā yauvarājyena: for great princely kingdom | dvijottamai: by the best of Brahmans. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 10

प्राप्तां सुमहतीं प्रीतिं प्रतीतां तां हतद्विषम्
उपस्थास्यसि कौसल्यां दासीवत्त्वं कृताञ्जलिः

prāptāṃ sumahatīṃ prītiṃ pratītāṃ tāṃ hatadviṣam
upasthāsyasi kausalyāṃ dāsīvattvaṃ kṛtāñjaliḥ

SYNONYMS

kṛtānjaliḥ: with folded arms | dāsīvat: as a maid servant | tvam: you | upasthāsyasi: will serve | tām kausalyām: that Kausalya | prāptām: who gets | sumahatīm: very great | prītim: happiness | pratītām: famous | hatadviṣam: annihilator of enemies. |

TRANSLATION

"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)".

VERSE 11

एवम् चेत्त्वं सहास्माभिस्तस्याः प्रेष्य भविष्यसि
पुत्रश्च तव रामस्य प्रेष्यभावं गमिष्यति

evam cettvaṃ sahāsmābhistasyāḥ preṣya bhaviṣyasi
putraśca tava rāmasya preṣyabhāvaṃ gamiṣyati

SYNONYMS

evam: thus | tvam bhaviṣyasi yadi: if you become | preṣyā: servant maid | tasyāḥ: to her | asmābhiḥ saha: along with us | tava: your | putraśca: son also | gamiṣyati: will get | preṣyabhāvam: servitude | rāmasya: of Rama. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 12

हृष्टाः खलु भविष्यन्ति रामस्य परमाः स्त्रियः
अप्रहृष्टा भविष्यन्ति स्नुषास्ते भरतक्षये

hṛṣṭāḥ khalu bhaviṣyanti rāmasya paramāḥ striyaḥ
aprahṛṣṭā bhaviṣyanti snuṣāste bharatakṣaye

SYNONYMS

rāmasya: Rama's | paramāstriyaḥ: great wives | bhavantikhalu: will become | hṛśṭāḥ: delighted | te: your | snuṣāḥ: daughters-in-law | bhaviṣyanti: will become | aprahṛsṭāḥ: unhappy | bharata kṣaye: of Bharata's weak position. |

TRANSLATION

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

PURPORT

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.
VERSE 13

तां दृष्ट्वा परमप्रीतां ब्रुवन्तीं मन्थरां ततः
रामस्यैव गुणान् देवी कैकेयि प्रशशंस ह

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā paramaprītāṃ bruvantīṃ mantharāṃ tataḥ
rāmasyaiva guṇān devī kaikeyi praśaśaṃsa ha

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: afterwards | dṛṣṭvā: seeing | tām: that | mantharāam: manthara | bruvantīm: thus talking | param: much | aprītām: distasteful word | kaikeyī: Kaikeyi | praśaśamsaḥ: praised | rāmasya guṇena: Rama's virtues. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 14

धर्मज्ञो गुरुभिर्दान्तः कृतज्ञ सत्यवाक्चुचि
रामो राज्ञ्ः सुतो ज्येष्ठो यौवराज्यमतो।अर्हति

dharmajño gurubhirdāntaḥ kṛtajña satyavākcuci
rāmo rājñḥ suto jyeṣṭho yauvarājyamato|arhati

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: Rama | dharmaġyaḥ: knows righteousness | dāntaḥ: trained by | gurubhiḥ: elders | kṛtajñyaḥ: one who has gratitude | satyavāk: speaker of truth | suciḥ: clean in conduct | jyeṣṭaḥ: elder | sutaḥ: son | rājñaḥ: of king Dasaratha | ataḥ: hence | arhati: eligible | youvarājyam: for princely kingdom. |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 15

भ्रात्र्^ऊन्भृत्यांश्च दीर्घायुः पितृवत्पालयिष्यति
संतप्यसे कथं कुब्जे श्रुत्वा रामाभिषेचनम्

bhrātr^ūnbhṛtyāṃśca dīrghāyuḥ pitṛvatpālayiṣyati
saṃtapyase kathaṃ kubje śrutvā rāmābhiṣecanam

SYNONYMS

dīrghāyuḥ: the long living Rama | pālayiṣyati: will protect | bhrātrūm: brothers | bhṛtyāmśca: and servants | pitṛvat: like father | kubje: O | the hunc-backed one! katham: how | santapyase: are you pained | śrutvā: after hearing | rāmābhiṣecanam: Rama's anointment. |

TRANSLATION

"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?"

VERSE 16

भरतश्चापि रामस्य ध्रुवं वर्षशतात्परम्
पितृपैतामहं राज्यमवाप्ता पुरुषर्षभः

bharataścāpi rāmasya dhruvaṃ varṣaśatātparam
pitṛpaitāmahaṃ rājyamavāptā puruṣarṣabhaḥ

SYNONYMS

param: after | varṣaśatāt: one hundred years | puruṣarṣabhaḥ: the best among men | bharataścāpi: Bharata also | avāptā: will get | rāmasya: Rama's | rājyam: kingdom | pitṛpaitāmaham: which belongs to (his) father and forefathers. |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 17

सा त्वमभ्युदये प्राप्ते वर्तमाने च मन्थरे
भविष्यति च कल्याणे किमर्थं परितप्यसे

sā tvamabhyudaye prāpte vartamāne ca manthare
bhaviṣyati ca kalyāṇe kimarthaṃ paritapyase

SYNONYMS

manthare: O | ṃanthara! prāpte: (When we) got | abhyudaye: an occasion for rejoicing | vartamāneca: as at present | kalyāṇe: and when a festive occasion | bhaviṣyati: is to come off in future (too in the form of Bharata's installation | kimartham: why | sā tvam: that you | paritapyase: feel agonized like this as though burning (with jealousy)? |

TRANSLATION

"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)?"

VERSE 18

यथा ने भरतो मान्यस्तथा भूयो।अपि राघावः
कौसल्यातो।अरिक्तं च सो हि शुश्रूषते हि माम्

yathā ne bharato mānyastathā bhūyo|api rāghāvaḥ
kausalyāto|ariktaṃ ca so hi śuśrūṣate hi mām

SYNONYMS

me: to me | bharataḥ: Bharata | yathā: how | mānyaḥ: fit to be loved | tathā: like that | rāghavaḥ: Rama also | bhūyaḥ api: and even more | saḥ: he | anuśuśrūṣate hi: doing service | atiriktam: more | mām: to me | kausalyātaḥ: than Kausalya. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 19

राज्यं यदि हि रामस्य भरतस्यापि तत्तदा
मन्यते हि यथात्मानं तथा भ्रात्र्^ऊंश्च राघवः

rājyaṃ yadi hi rāmasya bharatasyāpi tattadā
manyate hi yathātmānaṃ tathā bhrātr^ūṃśca rāghavaḥ

SYNONYMS

rājyam: kingdom | yadi rāmasya: if it is of Rama | tadā: then | tat: that | bharatasyāpi hi: is of Bharata also | rāghavaḥ: Rama | manyate: thinks about | bhrātṛiṃśca: his brothers | yathā tathā: on par with | ātmānam: his own self. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 20

कैकेयीवचनं श्रुत्वा मन्थरा भृशदुःखिता
दीर्घमुष्णं निःश्वस्य कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत्

kaikeyīvacanaṃ śrutvā mantharā bhṛśaduḥkhitā
dīrghamuṣṇaṃ niḥśvasya kaikeyīmidamabravīt

SYNONYMS

mantharā: Manthara | śrutvā: after hearing | kaikeyī vacanam: Kaikeyi's words | bhriśa duḥ|khitā: felt very sad | niḥśvasya: and sighing | dīrgham: long | uṣṇam ca: and hot | abravīt: spoke | idam: these words | k͟haikeyīm: to Kaikeyi. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 21

अनर्थदर्शिनी मौर्ख्यान्नात्मानमवबुध्यसे
शोकव्यसनविस्तीर्णे मज्जन्ती दुःखसागरे

anarthadarśinī maurkhyānnātmānamavabudhyase
śokavyasanavistīrṇe majjantī duḥkhasāgare

SYNONYMS

majjantī: (You are getting) immersed | duḥkhasāgare: in an ocean of sorrow | śoka vyasana vistīrṇe: filled with misery and danger | mourkhyāt: Due to stupidity | anarthadarśinī: (you are) not seeing the truth | na avabudhyase: not knowing | ātmānam: yourself. |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 22

भविता राघवो राजा राघवस्यानु यः सुतः
राजवंशात्तु कैकेयि भरतः परिहास्यते

bhavitā rāghavo rājā rāghavasyānu yaḥ sutaḥ
rājavaṃśāttu kaikeyi bharataḥ parihāsyate

SYNONYMS

kaikeyi: O | k͟haikeyi! rāghavaḥ: Rama | bhavitā: will become | rājā: king | rāghavasya anu: after Rama | yaḥ: whoever | sutaḥ: the son is (he becomes the king) | bharataḥ tu: but Bharata | parihāsyate: will be removed | rājavaṃśāt: from the royal clan. |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 23

न हि राज्ञः सुताः सर्वे राज्ये तिष्ठन्ति भामिनि
स्थाप्यमानेषु सर्वेषु सुमहाननयो भवेत्

na hi rājñaḥ sutāḥ sarve rājye tiṣṭhanti bhāmini
sthāpyamāneṣu sarveṣu sumahānanayo bhavet

SYNONYMS

bhāmini: O | k͟haikeyi! sarve: all | sutāḥ: sons | rājñyaḥ: of a king | natiṣṭantiḥ: will not be installed | rājye: for kingdom | sarveṣu sthāpyamāneṣu: If all are installed | bhavet: there will be | sumahān: a great | anayaḥ: lawlessness. |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 24

तस्माज्ज्येष्ठे हि कैकेयि राज्यतन्त्राणि पार्थिवाः
स्थापयन्त्यनवद्याङ्गि गुणवत्स्वतरेष्वपि

tasmājjyeṣṭhe hi kaikeyi rājyatantrāṇi pārthivāḥ
sthāpayantyanavadyāṅgi guṇavatsvatareṣvapi

SYNONYMS

kaikeyi: O | k͟haikeyi! anavadyāṅgi: who has deformless body-parts | tasmāt: that is why | pārthivāḥ: kings | sthāpayanti: install | jyeṣṭe: eldest son | itareṣvapi: eventhough others | guṇavatsu: may be full of virtues | rājyatantrāṇi: to kingly affairs. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 25

असावत्यन्तनिर्भग्न स्तवपुत्रो भविष्यति
अनाथवत्सुखेभ्यश्च राजवंशाच्च वत्सले

asāvatyantanirbhagna stavaputro bhaviṣyati
anāthavatsukhebhyaśca rājavaṃśācca vatsale

SYNONYMS

vatsale: O | affectionate one! tava: your | asou: this | putraḥ: son | bhaviṣayati: will become | atyanta nirbhagnaḥ: a complete loser | sukhebhyaḥ ca: from comforts | rājavamśācca: and even from royal clan | anāthavat: like an orphan. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 26

साहं त्वदर्थे संप्राप्ता त्वं तु मां नावबुध्यसे
सपत्निवृद्दौ या मे त्वं प्रदेयं दातुमिच्चिसि

sāhaṃ tvadarthe saṃprāptā tvaṃ tu māṃ nāvabudhyase
sapatnivṛddau yā me tvaṃ pradeyaṃ dātumiccisi

SYNONYMS

sā aham: That I | samprāpta: came | tvadarthe: for your sake | tvam tu: but you | nāvabudhyase: are not understanding | mām: me | : that | tvam: you | icchasi: wish | dātum: to give | me: me | pradeyam: a present | sapatni vriddhou: when there is prosperity for step-wife. |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 27

ध्रुवं तु भरतं रामः प्राप्य राज्यमकण्टकम्
देशान्तरं वासयिता लोकान्तरमथापि व

dhruvaṃ tu bharataṃ rāmaḥ prāpya rājyamakaṇṭakam
deśāntaraṃ vāsayitā lokāntaramathāpi va

SYNONYMS

rāmaḥ: Rama | prāpya: after getting | rājyam: kingdom | akaṇṭakam: without hindrance | nayitā: will send | bharatam: Bharata | deśāntaram vāsayitā vā: either to some other country | athāpivā: or otherwise | lokāntaram: to some other world | dhruvam: this is certain. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 28

बाल एव हि मातुल्यं भरतो नायितस्त्वया
सन्निकर्षाच्च सौहार्दं जायते स्थावरेष्वपि

bāla eva hi mātulyaṃ bharato nāyitastvayā
sannikarṣācca sauhārdaṃ jāyate sthāvareṣvapi

SYNONYMS

bharataḥ: Bharata | nāyitaḥ hi: was sent | bālaḥ eva: in his childhood itself | mātulyam: to his maternal uncle's house | tvayā: by you | sannikarṣāt: by being nearer | souhārdam: friedship | jāyate: is created | sthāvareṣvapi: even on inanimate things. |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 29

भरतस्यानुवशगः शत्रुघ्नो।अपि समं गतः
लक्ष्मणो हि यथा रामं तथासौ भरतं गतः

bharatasyānuvaśagaḥ śatrughno|api samaṃ gataḥ
lakṣmaṇo hi yathā rāmaṃ tathāsau bharataṃ gataḥ

SYNONYMS

śatrughno'pi: Shatrughna also | anuvaśagaḥ: was drawn | bharatsya: towards Bharata | gataḥ: joined with | samam: along with him | yathā: how | lakśmaṇaḥ: Lakshmana | rāmam: Rama | tathā: like that | asou: this (Shatrughna) | bharatam: with Bharata. |

TRANSLATION

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

PURPORT

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.
VERSE 30

श्रूयते हि द्रुमः कश्चिच्चेत्तव्यो वनजीविभिः
सन्निकर्षादिषीकाभिर्मो चितः परमाद्भयात्

śrūyate hi drumaḥ kaściccettavyo vanajīvibhiḥ
sannikarṣādiṣīkābhirmo citaḥ paramādbhayāt

SYNONYMS

śrūyate hi: it is heard that | kaścit: certain | drumaḥ: tree | chettavyaḥ: which is to be cut | vanajīvibhiḥ: by people living in forest | mocitaḥ: was relieved | paramāt bhayāt: of (this) great danger | iṣīkābhiḥ sannikarṣāt: by proximity to Ishhiika grass. |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 31

गोप्ता हि रामं सौमित्रिर्लक्ष्मणं चापि राघवः
अश्विनोरिव सौभ्रात्रं तयोर्लोकेषु विश्रुतम्

goptā hi rāmaṃ saumitrirlakṣmaṇaṃ cāpi rāghavaḥ
aśvinoriva saubhrātraṃ tayorlokeṣu viśrutam

SYNONYMS

soumitriḥ: Lakshmana | goptāhi: will protect | rāmam: Rama | rāghavaḥ: Rama | lakśmaṇaṃ cāpi: (will protect) Lakshmana also | tayoḥ: their | soubhrātram eva: brotherly love | viśrutam: is famous | lokeṣu: in the world | asvinoḥ: as that of Aswinis. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 32

तस्मान्न लक्ष्मणे रामः पापं किञ्चित्करिष्यति
रामस्तु भरते पापं कुर्यादिति न संशयः

tasmānna lakṣmaṇe rāmaḥ pāpaṃ kiñcitkariṣyati
rāmastu bharate pāpaṃ kuryāditi na saṃśayaḥ

SYNONYMS

tasmāt: Hence | rāmaḥ: Rama | nakariśyati: will not do | kiñcit: any little | pāpam: a sinful act | lakśmaṇe: to Lakshmana | bharate tu: but to Bharata | kuryāt: will do | iti: in this | nasamśayaḥ: there is no doubt. |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 33

तस्माद्राजगृहादेव वनं गच्छतु ते सुतः
एतद्धि रोचते मह्यं भृश्ं चापि हितं तव

tasmādrājagṛhādeva vanaṃ gacchatu te sutaḥ
etaddhi rocate mahyaṃ bhṛśṃ cāpi hitaṃ tava

SYNONYMS

tasmāt: Hence | etat: this | rocate hi: is wished | mahyam: by me | te sutaḥ: (that) your son | gachatu: goes | vanam: to forest | rājagṛhādeva: from royal palace (of his uncle) itself | bhṛśam: (This is) very much | hitam: beneficial | tavāpica: to you also. |

TRANSLATION

"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."

VERSE 34

एवं ते ज्ञातिपक्षस्य श्रेयश्चैव भविष्यति
यदि चेद्भरतो धर्मात्पित्र्यं राज्यमवाप्स्यति

evaṃ te jñātipakṣasya śreyaścaiva bhaviṣyati
yadi cedbharato dharmātpitryaṃ rājyamavāpsyati

SYNONYMS

bharataḥ avāpsyati yadi: If Bharata gets | rājyam: kingdom | pitryam: of his father | dharmāt: as per law | bhaviṣyati: it will become | śreyaḥ: beneficial | te: to you | jṇyātipakṣasya caiva: and to your side of relatives | evam cet: if it happens thus. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 35

स ते सुखोचितो बालो रामस्य सहजो रिपुः
समृद्धार्थस्य नष्टार्थो जीविष्यति कथं वशे

sa te sukhocito bālo rāmasya sahajo ripuḥ
samṛddhārthasya naṣṭārtho jīviṣyati kathaṃ vaśe

SYNONYMS

te: your | saḥ: that | bālaḥ: child | sukhocitaḥ: who is habituated to comforts | rāmasya sahajaḥ ripuḥ: is Rama's natural enemy | katham: how | nasṭārthaḥ: Bharatha | jīviṣyati: will live | vaśe: under control | samṛddhārthasya: of Rama whose flourishing object has been realized? |

TRANSLATION

"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?"

VERSE 36

अभिद्रुतमिवारण्ये सिंहेन गजयूथपम्
प्रच्छाद्यमानं रामेण भरतं त्रातुमर्हसि

abhidrutamivāraṇye siṃhena gajayūthapam
pracchādyamānaṃ rāmeṇa bharataṃ trātumarhasi

SYNONYMS

trātum arhasi: you ought to protect | bharatam: Bharata | pracchādyamānam: who is being wrapped up | rāmeṇa: by Rama | gajayūdhapam iva: as a leading elephant | abhidrutam: being chased | siṃhena: by a lion | araṇye: in forest. |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 37

दर्पान्निराकृता पूर्वं त्वया सौभाग्यवत्तया
राममाता सपत्नी ते कथं वैरं न शातयेत्

darpānnirākṛtā pūrvaṃ tvayā saubhāgyavattayā
rāmamātā sapatnī te kathaṃ vairaṃ na śātayet

SYNONYMS

pūrvam: previously | nirākṛtā: being disrepected | darpāt: with arrogance | tvayā: by you | soubhāgyavathayā: as you were fortunate | katham: how | rāmamātā: Rama's mother (Kausalya) | te: your | sapatnī: rival wife | na śātayet: will not revenge | vairam: for that animosity? |

TRANSLATION

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

VERSE 38

यदा हि रामः पृथिवीमवाप्स्यति
प्रभूतरत्नाकरशैलपत्तनाम्
तदा गमिष्यस्यशुभं पराभवं
सहैव दीना भरतेन भामिनि

yadā hi rāmaḥ pṛthivīmavāpsyati
prabhūtaratnākaraśailapattanām
tadā gamiṣyasyaśubhaṃ parābhavaṃ
sahaiva dīnā bharatena bhāmini

SYNONYMS

bhāmini: O | k͟haikeyi! yadā: when | rāmaḥ: Rama | avāpsyati: gets | pṛthivīm: this earth | prabhūta ratnākara śaila pāttanām: holding great ocean | tadā: then | bharatena sahaiva: along with Bharata | gamiṣyasi: you will get | aśubham: bad | dīnā: pitiable | parābhavam: ignominy. |

TRANSLATION

"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."