Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 35

ततो निर्धूय सहसा शिरो निश्श्वस्य चासकृत्। पाणौ पाणिं विनिष्पिष्य दन्तान् कटकटाप्य च ।।2.35.1।। लोचने कोपसंरक्ते वर्णं पूर्वोचितं जहत्। कोपाभिभूतस्सहसा सन्तापमशुभं गतः।।2.35.2।। मनः समीक्षमाणश्च सूतो दशरथस्य सः। कम्पयन्निव कैकेय्या हृदयं वाक्छरैश्शितैः ।।2.35.3।। वाक्यवज्रैरनुपमैर्निर्भिन्दन्निव चाशुभैः। कैकेय्या स्सर्वमर्माणि सुमन्त्रः प्रत्यभाषत।।2.35.4।।

tato nirdhūya sahasā śiro niśśvasya cāsakṛt| pāṇau pāṇiṃ viniṣpiṣya dantān kaṭakaṭāpya ca locane kopasaṃrakte varṇaṃ pūrvocitaṃ jahat| kopābhibhūtassahasā santāpamaśubhaṃ gataḥ manaḥ samīkṣamāṇaśca sūto daśarathasya saḥ| kampayanniva kaikeyyā hṛdayaṃ vākcharaiśśitaiḥ vākyavajrairanupamairnirbhindanniva cāśubhaiḥ| kaikeyyā ssarvamarmāṇi sumantraḥ pratyabhāṣata

Overcome with anger, charioteer Sumantra started shaking his head and sighing off and on, crushing his palms and grinding his teeth. His eyes turned red due to anger. Overcome with a sudden, ominous grief, the complexion of his face turned red. Sumantra understood the mind of Dasaratha. With sharp arrows of words as if piercing the heart of Kaikeyi, he denounced her in exceptionally harsh words which, like thunderbolt, cut her to the quick:

ततो निर्धूय सहसा शिरो निश्श्वस्य चासकृत्। पाणौ पाणिं विनिष्पिष्य दन्तान् कटकटाप्य च ।।2.35.1।। लोचने कोपसंरक्ते वर्णं पूर्वोचितं जहत्। कोपाभिभूतस्सहसा सन्तापमशुभं गतः।।2.35.2।। मनः समीक्षमाणश्च सूतो दशरथस्य सः। कम्पयन्निव कैकेय्या हृदयं वाक्छरैश्शितैः ।।2.35.3।। वाक्यवज्रैरनुपमैर्निर्भिन्दन्निव चाशुभैः। कैकेय्या स्सर्वमर्माणि सुमन्त्रः प्रत्यभाषत।।2.35.4।।

tato nirdhūya sahasā śiro niśśvasya cāsakṛt| pāṇau pāṇiṃ viniṣpiṣya dantān kaṭakaṭāpya ca locane kopasaṃrakte varṇaṃ pūrvocitaṃ jahat| kopābhibhūtassahasā santāpamaśubhaṃ gataḥ manaḥ samīkṣamāṇaśca sūto daśarathasya saḥ| kampayanniva kaikeyyā hṛdayaṃ vākcharaiśśitaiḥ vākyavajrairanupamairnirbhindanniva cāśubhaiḥ| kaikeyyā ssarvamarmāṇi sumantraḥ pratyabhāṣata

Overcome with anger, charioteer Sumantra started shaking his head and sighing off and on, crushing his palms and grinding his teeth. His eyes turned red due to anger. Overcome with a sudden, ominous grief, the complexion of his face turned red. Sumantra understood the mind of Dasaratha. With sharp arrows of words as if piercing the heart of Kaikeyi, he denounced her in exceptionally harsh words which, like thunderbolt, cut her to the quick:

ततो निर्धूय सहसा शिरो निश्श्वस्य चासकृत्। पाणौ पाणिं विनिष्पिष्य दन्तान् कटकटाप्य च ।।2.35.1।। लोचने कोपसंरक्ते वर्णं पूर्वोचितं जहत्। कोपाभिभूतस्सहसा सन्तापमशुभं गतः।।2.35.2।। मनः समीक्षमाणश्च सूतो दशरथस्य सः। कम्पयन्निव कैकेय्या हृदयं वाक्छरैश्शितैः ।।2.35.3।। वाक्यवज्रैरनुपमैर्निर्भिन्दन्निव चाशुभैः। कैकेय्या स्सर्वमर्माणि सुमन्त्रः प्रत्यभाषत।।2.35.4।।

tato nirdhūya sahasā śiro niśśvasya cāsakṛt| pāṇau pāṇiṃ viniṣpiṣya dantān kaṭakaṭāpya ca locane kopasaṃrakte varṇaṃ pūrvocitaṃ jahat| kopābhibhūtassahasā santāpamaśubhaṃ gataḥ manaḥ samīkṣamāṇaśca sūto daśarathasya saḥ| kampayanniva kaikeyyā hṛdayaṃ vākcharaiśśitaiḥ vākyavajrairanupamairnirbhindanniva cāśubhaiḥ| kaikeyyā ssarvamarmāṇi sumantraḥ pratyabhāṣata

Overcome with anger, charioteer Sumantra started shaking his head and sighing off and on, crushing his palms and grinding his teeth. His eyes turned red due to anger. Overcome with a sudden, ominous grief, the complexion of his face turned red. Sumantra understood the mind of Dasaratha. With sharp arrows of words as if piercing the heart of Kaikeyi, he denounced her in exceptionally harsh words which, like thunderbolt, cut her to the quick:

ततो निर्धूय सहसा शिरो निश्श्वस्य चासकृत्। पाणौ पाणिं विनिष्पिष्य दन्तान् कटकटाप्य च ।।2.35.1।। लोचने कोपसंरक्ते वर्णं पूर्वोचितं जहत्। कोपाभिभूतस्सहसा सन्तापमशुभं गतः।।2.35.2।। मनः समीक्षमाणश्च सूतो दशरथस्य सः। कम्पयन्निव कैकेय्या हृदयं वाक्छरैश्शितैः ।।2.35.3।। वाक्यवज्रैरनुपमैर्निर्भिन्दन्निव चाशुभैः। कैकेय्या स्सर्वमर्माणि सुमन्त्रः प्रत्यभाषत।।2.35.4।।

tato nirdhūya sahasā śiro niśśvasya cāsakṛt| pāṇau pāṇiṃ viniṣpiṣya dantān kaṭakaṭāpya ca locane kopasaṃrakte varṇaṃ pūrvocitaṃ jahat| kopābhibhūtassahasā santāpamaśubhaṃ gataḥ manaḥ samīkṣamāṇaśca sūto daśarathasya saḥ| kampayanniva kaikeyyā hṛdayaṃ vākcharaiśśitaiḥ vākyavajrairanupamairnirbhindanniva cāśubhaiḥ| kaikeyyā ssarvamarmāṇi sumantraḥ pratyabhāṣata

Overcome with anger, charioteer Sumantra started shaking his head and sighing off and on, crushing his palms and grinding his teeth. His eyes turned red due to anger. Overcome with a sudden, ominous grief, the complexion of his face turned red. Sumantra understood the mind of Dasaratha. With sharp arrows of words as if piercing the heart of Kaikeyi, he denounced her in exceptionally harsh words which, like thunderbolt, cut her to the quick:

यस्यास्तव पतिस्त्यक्तो राजा दशरथः स्वयम्। भर्ता सर्वस्य जगतः स्थावरस्य चरस्य च।।2.35.5।। न ह्यकार्यतमं किञ्चित्तव देवीह विद्यते।

yasyāstava patistyakto rājā daśarathaḥ svayam| bhartā sarvasya jagataḥ sthāvarasya carasya ca na hyakāryatamaṃ kiñcittava devīha vidyate|

O Kaikeyi you have forsaken king Dasaratha, your husband and the lord of this entire world consisting of the movable and the immovable immovable and movable world. There is nothing in this world which you are notcapable of doing.

पतिघ्नीं त्वामहं मन्ये कुलघ्नीमपि चान्ततः।।2.35.6।। यन्महेन्द्रमिवाजय्यं दुष्प्रकम्प्यमिवाचलम्। महोदधिमिवाक्षोभ्यं सन्तापयसि कर्मभिः।।2.35.7।।

patighnīṃ tvāmahaṃ manye kulaghnīmapi cāntataḥ yanmahendramivājayyaṃ duṣprakampyamivācalam| mahodadhimivākṣobhyaṃ santāpayasi karmabhiḥ

King Dasaratha is invincible like Indra, unshakeable like a mountain and unperturbable like the ocean. By causing grief to him through your action I feel you are killing your husband (inch by inch). I think you are ultimately destroying your own race.

पतिघ्नीं त्वामहं मन्ये कुलघ्नीमपि चान्ततः।।2.35.6।। यन्महेन्द्रमिवाजय्यं दुष्प्रकम्प्यमिवाचलम्। महोदधिमिवाक्षोभ्यं सन्तापयसि कर्मभिः।।2.35.7।।

patighnīṃ tvāmahaṃ manye kulaghnīmapi cāntataḥ yanmahendramivājayyaṃ duṣprakampyamivācalam| mahodadhimivākṣobhyaṃ santāpayasi karmabhiḥ

King Dasaratha is invincible like Indra, unshakeable like a mountain and unperturbable like the ocean. By causing grief to him through your action I feel you are killing your husband (inch by inch). I think you are ultimately destroying your own race.

मावमंस्था दशरथं भर्तारं वरदं पतिम्। भर्तुरिच्छा हि नारीणां पुत्रकोट्या विशिष्यते।।2.35.8।।

māvamaṃsthā daśarathaṃ bhartāraṃ varadaṃ patim| bharturicchā hi nārīṇāṃ putrakoṭyā viśiṣyate

Do not have contempt for Dasaratha who is your husband, nourisher and bestower of boons. For a wife, the desire of her husband is considered worthier than ten million sons.

यथावयो हि राज्यानि प्राप्नुवन्ति नृपक्षये। इक्ष्वाकुकुलनाथेऽस्मिं स्तल्लोपयितुमिच्छसि।।2.35.9।।

yathāvayo hi rājyāni prāpnuvanti nṛpakṣaye| ikṣvākukulanāthe'smiṃ stallopayitumicchasi

After the death of the king, the princes will obtain the kingdom according to seniority. Why do you want to break this tradition in the case of Rama, the lord of the Ikshvaku dynasty?

राजा भवतु ते पुत्रो भरतश्शास्तु मेदिनीम्। वयं तत्र गमिष्यामो रामो यत्र गमिष्यति।।2.35.10।।

rājā bhavatu te putro bharataśśāstu medinīm| vayaṃ tatra gamiṣyāmo rāmo yatra gamiṣyati

Let your son Bharata be king and rule the earth. All of us will go whereever Rama goes.

न हि ते विषये कश्चिद् र्ब्राह्मणो वस्तुमर्हति। तादृशं त्वममर्यादमद्य कर्म चिकीर्षसि।।2.35.11।।

na hi te viṣaye kaścid rbrāhmaṇo vastumarhati| tādṛśaṃ tvamamaryādamadya karma cikīrṣasi

Now by your act, you intend to transgress the bounds of tradition(code of conduct). No brahmin shall ever dwell in your country.

नूनं सर्वे गमिष्यामो मार्गं रामनिषेवितम्। त्यक्ताया बान्धवैः सर्वैर्ब्राह्मणैः साधुभिः सदा।।2.35.12।। का प्रीती राज्यलाभेन तव देवि भविष्यति। तादृशं त्वममर्यादं कर्म कर्तुं चिकीर्षसि।।2.35.13।।

nūnaṃ sarve gamiṣyāmo mārgaṃ rāmaniṣevitam| tyaktāyā bāndhavaiḥ sarvairbrāhmaṇaiḥ sādhubhiḥ sadā kā prītī rājyalābhena tava devi bhaviṣyati| tādṛśaṃ tvamamaryādaṃ karma kartuṃ cikīrṣasi

All of us certainly will follow the path pursued by Rama. Abandoned by relatives, brahmins and virtuous men for all times, what pleasure will you derive by your lust for this kingdom? O Kaikeyi, why do you intend to trangress the limits of honour?

नूनं सर्वे गमिष्यामो मार्गं रामनिषेवितम्। त्यक्ताया बान्धवैः सर्वैर्ब्राह्मणैः साधुभिः सदा।।2.35.12।। का प्रीती राज्यलाभेन तव देवि भविष्यति। तादृशं त्वममर्यादं कर्म कर्तुं चिकीर्षसि।।2.35.13।।

nūnaṃ sarve gamiṣyāmo mārgaṃ rāmaniṣevitam| tyaktāyā bāndhavaiḥ sarvairbrāhmaṇaiḥ sādhubhiḥ sadā kā prītī rājyalābhena tava devi bhaviṣyati| tādṛśaṃ tvamamaryādaṃ karma kartuṃ cikīrṣasi

All of us certainly will follow the path pursued by Rama. Abandoned by relatives, brahmins and virtuous men for all times, what pleasure will you derive by your lust for this kingdom? O Kaikeyi, why do you intend to trangress the limits of honour?

आश्चर्यमिव पश्यामि यस्यास्ते वृत्तमीदृशम्। आचरन्त्या न विवृता सद्यो भवति मेदिनी।।2.35.14।।

āścaryamiva paśyāmi yasyāste vṛttamīdṛśam| ācarantyā na vivṛtā sadyo bhavati medinī

It is a wonder that the earth does not split right away when you are perpetrating such an (abominable) act.

महाब्रह्मर्षिसृष्टाः वा ज्वलन्तो भीमदर्शनाः। धिग्वाग्दण्डा न हिंसन्ति रामप्रव्राजने स्थिताम्।।2.35.15।।

mahābrahmarṣisṛṣṭāḥ vā jvalanto bhīmadarśanāḥ| dhigvāgdaṇḍā na hiṃsanti rāmapravrājane sthitām

It is a wonder that while bent upon banishing Rama, you are not destroyed by frightening fire created by great brahmarsis, crying, 'Shame, shame'

आम्रं छित्वा कुठारेण निम्बं परिचरेत्तु यः। यश्चैनं पयसा सिञ्चेन्नैवास्य मधुरो भवेत्।।2.35.16।।

āmraṃ chitvā kuṭhāreṇa nimbaṃ paricarettu yaḥ| yaścainaṃ payasā siñcennaivāsya madhuro bhavet

By axing a mango tree and growing a nimba in its place and sprinkling it with milk one does not get sweet fruit.

अभिजात्यं हि ते मन्ये यथा मातुस्तथैव च। न हि निम्बात्स्रवेत् क्षैद्रं लोके निगदितं वचः।।2.35.17।।

abhijātyaṃ hi te manye yathā mātustathaiva ca| na hi nimbātsravet kṣaidraṃ loke nigaditaṃ vacaḥ

Your nature corresponds to your mother's, so I think. 'Honey will not flow from a nimba tree' is a wellknown saying in this world.

तव मातुरसद्ग्राहं विद्मः पूर्वं यथाश्रुतम्। पितुस्ते वरदः कश्चिद्ददौ वरमनुत्तमम्।।2.35.18।। सर्वभूतरुतं तस्मात्संजज्ञे वसुधाधिपः। तेन तिर्यग्गतानां च भूतानां विदितं वचः।।2.35.19।।

tava māturasadgrāhaṃ vidmaḥ pūrvaṃ yathāśrutam| pituste varadaḥ kaściddadau varamanuttamam sarvabhūtarutaṃ tasmātsaṃjajñe vasudhādhipaḥ| tena tiryaggatānāṃ ca bhūtānāṃ viditaṃ vacaḥ

We have heard in the past about the evil (stubborn) nature of your mother. Once a bestower of boons conferred an extraordinary boon on your father by virtue of which he could tell the sounds of all living beings. He also understood the language of all crookedly moving creatures.

तव मातुरसद्ग्राहं विद्मः पूर्वं यथाश्रुतम्। पितुस्ते वरदः कश्चिद्ददौ वरमनुत्तमम्।।2.35.18।। सर्वभूतरुतं तस्मात्संजज्ञे वसुधाधिपः। तेन तिर्यग्गतानां च भूतानां विदितं वचः।।2.35.19।।

tava māturasadgrāhaṃ vidmaḥ pūrvaṃ yathāśrutam| pituste varadaḥ kaściddadau varamanuttamam sarvabhūtarutaṃ tasmātsaṃjajñe vasudhādhipaḥ| tena tiryaggatānāṃ ca bhūtānāṃ viditaṃ vacaḥ

We have heard in the past about the evil (stubborn) nature of your mother. Once a bestower of boons conferred an extraordinary boon on your father by virtue of which he could tell the sounds of all living beings. He also understood the language of all crookedly moving creatures.

ततो जृम्भस्य शयने विरुताद्भूरिवर्चसः। पितुस्ते विदितो भाव स्स तत्र बहुधाऽहसत्।।2.35.20।।

tato jṛmbhasya śayane virutādbhūrivarcasaḥ| pituste vidito bhāva ssa tatra bahudhā'hasat

Then one day near his bed your highly brilliant father laughed repeatedly over what an ant or a bird said, for he knew the meaning from its sound.

नृपश्चोवाच तां देवीं देवि शंसामि ते यदि। ततो मे मरणं सद्यो भविष्यति न संशयः।।2.35.22।।

nṛpaścovāca tāṃ devīṃ devi śaṃsāmi te yadi| tato me maraṇaṃ sadyo bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ

'O queen if I disclose it, then I will undoubtedly die that very movement' replied the king to his wife.

माता ते पितरं देवि ततः केकयमब्रवीत्। शंस मे जीव वा मा वा न मामपहसिष्यसि।।2.35.23।।

mātā te pitaraṃ devi tataḥ kekayamabravīt| śaṃsa me jīva vā mā vā na māmapahasiṣyasi

Then your mother said to your father, 'Whether you live or die, tell me the cause. You are laughing at me'.

प्रियया च तथोक्त स्सन् केकयः पृथिवीपतिः। तस्मै तं वरदायार्थं कथयामास तत्त्वतः।।2.35.24।।

priyayā ca tathokta ssan kekayaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ| tasmai taṃ varadāyārthaṃ kathayāmāsa tattvataḥ

Hearing the words of his beloved, king of Kekaya related the entire matter, as it happened, concerning the conferor of boons.

ततः स्स वरदः साधुराजानं प्रत्यभाषत। म्रियतां ध्वंसतां वेयं मा कृथास्त्वं महीपते।।2.35.25।।

tataḥ ssa varadaḥ sādhurājānaṃ pratyabhāṣata| mriyatāṃ dhvaṃsatāṃ veyaṃ mā kṛthāstvaṃ mahīpate

That holy man who had granted the boon (to the king) had said, 'Let her die or destroy herself, but do not disclose (the cause of your laughter).

स तच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य प्रसन्नमनसो नृपः। मातरं ते निरस्याशु विजहार कुबेरवत्।।2.35.26।।

sa tacchrutvā vacastasya prasannamanaso nṛpaḥ| mātaraṃ te nirasyāśu vijahāra kuberavat

Happy to hear these words, your father sent away your mother and moved about like Kubera.

तथा त्वमपि राजानं दुर्जनाचरिते पथि। असद्ग्राहमिमं मोहात्कुरुषे पापदर्शिनि।।2.35.27।।

tathā tvamapi rājānaṃ durjanācarite pathi| asadgrāhamimaṃ mohātkuruṣe pāpadarśini

O evilminded one you, too, are following the path of wickedness, forcing the king infatuated (with you) to act unrighteously.

सत्यश्चाद्य प्रवादोऽयं लौकिकः प्रतिभाति मा। पितृन् समनुजायन्ते नरा मातरमङ्गनाः।।2.35.28।।

satyaścādya pravādo'yaṃ laukikaḥ pratibhāti mā| pitṛn samanujāyante narā mātaramaṅganāḥ

The generally accepted saying in this world that 'sons resemble the father and, daughters the mother' appears true to me today.

नैवं भव गृहाणेदं यदाह वसुधाधिपः। भर्तुरिच्छामुपास्वेह जनस्यास्य गतिर्भव।।2.35.29।।

naivaṃ bhava gṛhāṇedaṃ yadāha vasudhādhipaḥ| bharturicchāmupāsveha janasyāsya gatirbhava

Do not be like your mother. Accept what the king says. Abide by his wishes. Be his saviour.

मा त्वं प्रोत्साहिता पापैर्देवराजसमप्रभम्। भर्तारं लोकभर्तारमसद्धर्ममुपादधाः।।2.35.30।।

mā tvaṃ protsāhitā pāpairdevarājasamaprabham| bhartāraṃ lokabhartāramasaddharmamupādadhāḥ

Instigated by the wicked, do not attribute unrighteousness to your husband who is equal to Indra in brilliance and is the sustainer of this world.

न हि मिथ्या प्रतिज्ञातं करिष्यति तवानघः। श्रीमान्दशरथो राजा देवि राजीवलोचनः।।2.35.31।।

na hi mithyā pratijñātaṃ kariṣyati tavānaghaḥ| śrīmāndaśaratho rājā devi rājīvalocanaḥ

The lotuseyed, sinless and prosperous king Dasaratha, O Devi will not render false the promise given you (he will fulfil it in another form).

ज्येष्ठो वदान्यः कर्मण्यः स्वधर्मपरिरक्षिता। रक्षिता जीवलोकस्य बली रामोऽभिषिच्यताम्।।2.35.32।।

jyeṣṭho vadānyaḥ karmaṇyaḥ svadharmaparirakṣitā| rakṣitā jīvalokasya balī rāmo'bhiṣicyatām

Let his eldest son Rama, valiant, generous, skilful, dutiful and protector of this world, be consecrated.

परिवादो हि ते देवि महाल्लोके चरिष्यति। यदि रामो वनं याति विहाय पितरं नृपम्।।2.35.33।।

parivādo hi te devi mahālloke cariṣyati| yadi rāmo vanaṃ yāti vihāya pitaraṃ nṛpam

O Devi, if Rama goes to the forest leaving his father, the king, you will be squarely blamed by the people of the world.

स राज्यं राघवः पातु भव त्वं विगतज्वरा। न हि ते राघवादन्यः क्षमः पुरवरे वसेत्।।2.35.34।।

sa rājyaṃ rāghavaḥ pātu bhava tvaṃ vigatajvarā| na hi te rāghavādanyaḥ kṣamaḥ puravare vaset

Therefore, let Rama potect this kingdom. Be relieved of mental afflictions. There is no other person in this excellent city more competent than Rama to rule this kingdom.

रामे हि यौवराज्यस्थे राजा दशरथो वनम्। प्रवेक्ष्यति महेष्वासः पूर्ववृत्तमनुस्मरन्।।2.35.35।।

rāme hi yauvarājyasthe rājā daśaratho vanam| pravekṣyati maheṣvāsaḥ pūrvavṛttamanusmaran

If Rama is installed as heirapparent, king Dasaratha, the great archer will retire to the forest for carrying out austerities following ancient customs.