Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 11

तं मन्मथशरैर्विद्धमं कामवेगवशानुगम्। उवाच पृथिवीपालं कैकेयी दारुणं वचः।।2.11.1।।

taṃ manmathaśarairviddhamaṃ kāmavegavaśānugam| uvāca pṛthivīpālaṃ kaikeyī dāruṇaṃ vacaḥ

To the ruler of the earth (the king), struck by the darts of Kamadeva and overtaken by passion Kaikeyi spoke (these) dreadful words.

नास्मि विप्रकृतादेव केनचिन्नावमानिता। अभिप्रायस्तु मे कश्चित्तमिच्छामि त्वया कृतम्।।2.11.2।।

nāsmi viprakṛtādeva kenacinnāvamānitā| abhiprāyastu me kaścittamicchāmi tvayā kṛtam

O king I have neither been offended nor disregarded by any one, but I have a purpose which you should fulfil.

प्रतिज्ञां प्रतिजानीष्व यदि त्वं कर्तुमिच्छसि। अथ तद्व्याहरिष्यामि यदभिप्रार्थितं मया।।2.11.3।।

pratijñāṃ pratijānīṣva yadi tvaṃ kartumicchasi| atha tadvyāhariṣyāmi yadabhiprārthitaṃ mayā

If you are inclined to accomplish my desire, then promise me that you will fulfil them. Thereafter I shall reveal it to you.

तामुवाच महातेजाः कैकेयीमीषदुत्स्मितः। कामी हस्तेन संगृह्य मूर्धजेषु शुचिस्मिताम्।।2.11.4।।

tāmuvāca mahātejāḥ kaikeyīmīṣadutsmitaḥ| kāmī hastena saṃgṛhya mūrdhajeṣu śucismitām

The mighty king steeped in passion gently held Kaikeyi's hair in his hands and with a clear, bright smile said:

आवलिप्ते न जानासि त्वत्तः प्रियतरो मम। मनुजो मनुजव्याघ्राद्रामादन्यो न विद्यते।।2.11.5।।

āvalipte na jānāsi tvattaḥ priyataro mama| manujo manujavyāghrādrāmādanyo na vidyate

O proud lady, don't you know there exists for me no woman dearer than you and no man other than Rama who is the best among men.

तेनाजय्येन मुख्येन राघवेण महात्मना। शपे ते जीवनार्हेण ब्रूहि यन्मनसेच्छासि।।2.11.6।।

tenājayyena mukhyena rāghaveṇa mahātmanā| śape te jīvanārheṇa brūhi yanmanasecchāsi

I swear in the name of the scion of the Raghu dynasty, the invincible, broadminded Rama, the best among men worthy of long life. Tell me what you have in mind.

यं मुहूर्तमपश्यंस्तु न जीवेयमहं ध्रुवम्। तेन रामेण कैकेयि शपे ते वचनक्रियाम्।।2.11.7।।

yaṃ muhūrtamapaśyaṃstu na jīveyamahaṃ dhruvam| tena rāmeṇa kaikeyi śape te vacanakriyām

O Kaikeyi, in the name of Rama without seeing whom I, for sure, cannot live a momment, I swear I will fulfil your desire.

आत्मना वात्मजैश्चान्यैर्वृणेयं मनुजर्षभम्। तेन रामेण कैकेयि शपे ते वचनक्रियाम्।।2.11.8।।

ātmanā vātmajaiścānyairvṛṇeyaṃ manujarṣabham| tena rāmeṇa kaikeyi śape te vacanakriyām

O Kaikeyi I wish the best among men Rama well.Even at the expense of my life or the lives of the rest of my sons I swear in his name I shall fulfil your wish.

भद्रे हृदयमप्येतदनुमृशोद्धरस्व मे। एतत्समीक्ष्य कैकेयि ब्रूहि यत्साधु मन्यसे।।2.11.9।।

bhadre hṛdayamapyetadanumṛśoddharasva me| etatsamīkṣya kaikeyi brūhi yatsādhu manyase

O gentle lady my heart is sinking. Touch my heart and deliver me from distress. O Kaikeyi considering all this, tell me what you think is good.

बलमात्मनि जानन्ती न मां शङ्कितुमर्हसि। करिष्यामि तव प्रीतिं सुकृतेनापि ते शपे।।2.11.10।।

balamātmani jānantī na māṃ śaṅkitumarhasi| kariṣyāmi tava prītiṃ sukṛtenāpi te śape

You know fully the authority you wield over me. Therefore, it does not behove you to doubt me. I swear on my acquired merits that I shall do whatever pleases you.

सा तदर्थमना देवी तमभिप्रायमागतम्। निर्माध्यस्थ्याच्च हर्षाच्च बभाषे दुर्वचं वचः।।2.11.11।।

sā tadarthamanā devī tamabhiprāyamāgatam| nirmādhyasthyācca harṣācca babhāṣe durvacaṃ vacaḥ

Bent upon her interests, the queen cheered and expressed in unutterable words her premeditated wish which had no alternative.

तेन वाक्येन संहृष्टा तमभिप्रायमागतम्। व्याजहार महाघोरमभ्यागतमिवान्तकम्।।2.11.12।।

tena vākyena saṃhṛṣṭā tamabhiprāyamāgatam| vyājahāra mahāghoramabhyāgatamivāntakam

Delighted by the words (of the king), Kaikeyi disclosed him her highly dreadful wish which entered her mind like a sudden visitation of death:

यथा क्रमे शपसि वरं मम ददासि च। तच्छृण्वन्तु त्रयस्त्रिंशद्देवास्साग्निपुरोगमाः।।2.11.13।।

yathā krame śapasi varaṃ mama dadāsi ca| tacchṛṇvantu trayastriṃśaddevāssāgnipurogamāḥ

You are repeatedly swearing to grant me boons. Let the thirtythree crore gods headed by the firegod, listen.

चन्द्रादित्यौ नभश्चैव ग्रहा रात्र्यहनी दिशः। जगच्च पृथिवी चेयं सगन्धर्वा सराक्षसा।।2.11.14।। निशाचराणि भूतानि गृहेषु गृहदेवता। यानि चान्यानि भूतानि जानीयुर्भाषितं तव।।2.11.15।।

candrādityau nabhaścaiva grahā rātryahanī diśaḥ| jagacca pṛthivī ceyaṃ sagandharvā sarākṣasā niśācarāṇi bhūtāni gṛheṣu gṛhadevatā| yāni cānyāni bhūtāni jānīyurbhāṣitaṃ tava

Let the Moon and the Sun, the sky, the planets, night and day, the (ten) quarters the world, gandharvas, rakshasas, this earth, the nocturnal spirits all beings, family deities of every house and all other beings listen to your words of promise.

चन्द्रादित्यौ नभश्चैव ग्रहा रात्र्यहनी दिशः। जगच्च पृथिवी चेयं सगन्धर्वा सराक्षसा।।2.11.14।। निशाचराणि भूतानि गृहेषु गृहदेवता। यानि चान्यानि भूतानि जानीयुर्भाषितं तव।।2.11.15।।

candrādityau nabhaścaiva grahā rātryahanī diśaḥ| jagacca pṛthivī ceyaṃ sagandharvā sarākṣasā niśācarāṇi bhūtāni gṛheṣu gṛhadevatā| yāni cānyāni bhūtāni jānīyurbhāṣitaṃ tava

Let the Moon and the Sun, the sky, the planets, night and day, the (ten) quarters the world, gandharvas, rakshasas, this earth, the nocturnal spirits all beings, family deities of every house and all other beings listen to your words of promise.

सत्यसन्धो महातेजाः धर्मज्ञः सुसमाहितः। वरं मम ददात्येष तन्मे श्रृण्वन्तु दैवताः।।2.11.16।।

satyasandho mahātejāḥ dharmajñaḥ susamāhitaḥ| varaṃ mama dadātyeṣa tanme śrṛṇvantu daivatāḥ

King Dasaratha who is true to his vows, heroic and knows the ways of righteousness is granting me boons with a wellcomposed mind. Let all the gods stand witness to this (declared Kaikeyi).

इति देवी महेष्वासं परिगृह्याभिशस्य च। ततः परमुवाचेदं वरदं काममोहितम्।।2.11.17।।

iti devī maheṣvāsaṃ parigṛhyābhiśasya ca| tataḥ paramuvācedaṃ varadaṃ kāmamohitam

Clasping the great archer, the infatuated king, conferer of boons and flattering him (to the top of her bent), the queen said:

स्मर राजन् पुरावृत्तं तस्मिन् दैवासुरे रणे। तत्र चाच्यावयच्छत्रुस्तव जीवितमन्तरा।।2.11.18।।

smara rājan purāvṛttaṃ tasmin daivāsure raṇe| tatra cācyāvayacchatrustava jīvitamantarā

O king, recall the event that happened long ago in the war between gods and asuras where the enemy destroyed all your forces except your life.

तत्र चापि मया देव यत्त्वं समभिरक्षितः। जाग्रत्या यतमानायास्ततो मे प्राददा वरौ।।2.11.19।।

tatra cāpi mayā deva yattvaṃ samabhirakṣitaḥ| jāgratyā yatamānāyāstato me prādadā varau

O king, I rescued you there. Since I was alert to protect you, you granted me two boons.

तौ तु दत्तौ वरौ देव निक्षेपौ मृगयाम्यहम्। तथैव पृथिवीपाल सकाशे सत्यसङ्गर।।2.11.20।।

tau tu dattau varau deva nikṣepau mṛgayāmyaham| tathaiva pṛthivīpāla sakāśe satyasaṅgara

O protector of the earth, O king, honest in keeping promises, I (now) seek those two boons which were reserved as deposits.

तत् प्रतिश्रुत्य धर्मेण न चेद्दास्यसि मे वरम्। अद्यैव हि प्रहास्यामि जीवितं त्वद्विमानिता।।2.11.21।।

tat pratiśrutya dharmeṇa na ceddāsyasi me varam| adyaiva hi prahāsyāmi jīvitaṃ tvadvimānitā

The boons you have vowed to give shall rightfully be given to me. If not, disgraced by you I shall give up my life right away.

वाङ्मात्रेण तदा राजा कैकेय्या स्ववशे कृतः। प्रचस्कन्द विनाशाय पाशं मृग इवात्मनः।।2.11.22।।

vāṅmātreṇa tadā rājā kaikeyyā svavaśe kṛtaḥ| pracaskanda vināśāya pāśaṃ mṛga ivātmanaḥ

The king now came under the control of Kaikeyi by his own words like a deer that jumps into the trap for its own destruction.

ततः परमुवाचेदं वरदं काममोहितम्। वरौ यौ मे त्वया देव तदा दत्तौ महीपते।।2.11.23।। तौ तावदहमद्यैव वक्ष्यामि शृणु मे वचः।

tataḥ paramuvācedaṃ varadaṃ kāmamohitam| varau yau me tvayā deva tadā dattau mahīpate tau tāvadahamadyaiva vakṣyāmi śṛṇu me vacaḥ|

Thereafter, she said to the infatuated king who had promised to confer her boons, O lord of the earth, O king, right now I shall speak to you about the two boons granted by you. Listen to my words.

अभिषेकसमारम्भो राघवस्योपकल्पितः।।2.11.24।। अनेनैवाभिषेकेण भरतो मेऽभिषिच्यताम्।

abhiṣekasamārambho rāghavasyopakalpitaḥ anenaivābhiṣekeṇa bharato me'bhiṣicyatām|

Preparations for Rama's consecration have been made. With these very materials for installation, my son Bharata should be consecrated.

यो द्वितीयो वरो देव दत्तः प्रीतेन मे त्वया।।2.11.25।। तदा दैवासुरे युद्धे तस्य कालोऽयमागत।

yo dvitīyo varo deva dattaḥ prītena me tvayā tadā daivāsure yuddhe tasya kālo'yamāgata|

Then in the war between gods and asuras, O lord, pleased with me you have promised a second boon and the time has come to grant it.

नव प़ञ्च च वर्षाणि दण्डकारण्यमाश्रितः।।2.11.26।। चीराजिनजटाधारी रामो भवतु तापसः।

nava pa़ñca ca varṣāṇi daṇḍakāraṇyamāśritaḥ cīrājinajaṭādhārī rāmo bhavatu tāpasaḥ|

Consigned to the Dandaka forest for fourteen years, clad in bark and deer skin and wearing matted hair, Rama shall live like an ascetic.

भरतो भजतामद्य यौवराज्यमकण्टकम्।।2.11.27।। एष मे परमः कामो दत्तमेव वरं वृणे। अद्य चैव हि पश्येयं प्रयान्तं राघवं वनम्।।2.11.28।।

bharato bhajatāmadya yauvarājyamakaṇṭakam eṣa me paramaḥ kāmo dattameva varaṃ vṛṇe| adya caiva hi paśyeyaṃ prayāntaṃ rāghavaṃ vanam

Let Bharata be princeregent without any rivals. This is my great desire. I am asking for an already granted boon. Let me see Rama's departure to the forest today itself.

भरतो भजतामद्य यौवराज्यमकण्टकम्।।2.11.27।। एष मे परमः कामो दत्तमेव वरं वृणे। अद्य चैव हि पश्येयं प्रयान्तं राघवं वनम्।।2.11.28।।

bharato bhajatāmadya yauvarājyamakaṇṭakam eṣa me paramaḥ kāmo dattameva varaṃ vṛṇe| adya caiva hi paśyeyaṃ prayāntaṃ rāghavaṃ vanam

Let Bharata be princeregent without any rivals. This is my great desire. I am asking for an already granted boon. Let me see Rama's departure to the forest today itself.

स राजराजः भव सत्यसङ्गरः कुलं च शीलं च हि रक्ष जन्म च। परत्रवासे हि वदन्त्यनुत्तमं तपोधनास्सत्यवचो हितं नृणाम्।।2.11.29।।

sa rājarājaḥ bhava satyasaṅgaraḥ kulaṃ ca śīlaṃ ca hi rakṣa janma ca| paratravāse hi vadantyanuttamaṃ tapodhanāssatyavaco hitaṃ nṛṇām

O king of kings, by being true to your vow, protect your race, character and lineage. Those sages whose ascetism is their wealth maintain that there is no merit superior to truthfulness which can confer man a place in the other world. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे एकादशस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the eleventh sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.