Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7

ज्ञातिदासी यतो जाता कैकेय्यास्तु सहोषिता। प्रासादं चन्द्रसङ्काशमारुरोह यदृच्छया।।2.7.1।।

jñātidāsī yato jātā kaikeyyāstu sahoṣitā| prāsādaṃ candrasaṅkāśamāruroha yadṛcchayā

The family maid (Manthara) of Kaikeyi who had been living with her since her (Kaikeyi's) birth casually ascended the palace gleaming white like the Moon.

सिक्तराजपथां कृत्स्नां प्रकीर्णकुसुमोत्कराम्। अयोध्यां मन्थरा तस्मात्प्रासादादन्ववैक्षत।।2.7.2।।

siktarājapathāṃ kṛtsnāṃ prakīrṇakusumotkarām| ayodhyāṃ mantharā tasmātprāsādādanvavaikṣata

Manthara beheld from that palace the whole of Ayodhya with its highways sprinkled with water and strewn with a lot of flowers.

पताकाभिर्वरार्हाभिर्ध्वजैश्च समलङ्कृताम्। वृतां छन्दपथैश्चापि शिरस्स्नातजनैर्वृताम्।।2.7.3।। माल्यमोदकहस्तैश्च द्विजेन्द्रैरभिनादिताम्। शुक्लदेवगृहद्वारां सर्ववादित्रनिस्वनाम्।।2.7.4।। सम्प्रहृष्टजनाकीर्णां ब्रह्मघोषाभिनादिताम्। प्रहृष्टवरहस्त्यश्वां सम्प्रणर्दितगोवृषाम्।।2.7.5।। प्रहृष्टमुदितैः पौरैरुच्छ्रितध्वजमालिनीम्। अयोध्यां मन्थरा दृष्ट्वा परं विस्मयमागता।।2.7.6।।

patākābhirvarārhābhirdhvajaiśca samalaṅkṛtām| vṛtāṃ chandapathaiścāpi śirassnātajanairvṛtām mālyamodakahastaiśca dvijendrairabhināditām| śukladevagṛhadvārāṃ sarvavāditranisvanām samprahṛṣṭajanākīrṇāṃ brahmaghoṣābhināditām| prahṛṣṭavarahastyaśvāṃ sampraṇarditagovṛṣām prahṛṣṭamuditaiḥ paurairucchritadhvajamālinīm| ayodhyāṃ mantharā dṛṣṭvā paraṃ vismayamāgatā

The city of Ayodhya was decorated with costly banners and pennants. The labyrinthine roads were crowded with people who had (finished) their headbath and were wandering at will. The temples with their doors painted white were reverberating with the chanting from the Vedas by the best of brahmins holding garlands and sweetmeats in their hands and with sounds of all kinds of musical instruments. The city was filled with spirited horses and elephants. The bulls were bellowing and the cows were lowing. The citizens with great joy raised the penants encircling the city of Ayodhya. All this left Manthara astonished.

पताकाभिर्वरार्हाभिर्ध्वजैश्च समलङ्कृताम्। वृतां छन्दपथैश्चापि शिरस्स्नातजनैर्वृताम्।।2.7.3।। माल्यमोदकहस्तैश्च द्विजेन्द्रैरभिनादिताम्। शुक्लदेवगृहद्वारां सर्ववादित्रनिस्वनाम्।।2.7.4।। सम्प्रहृष्टजनाकीर्णां ब्रह्मघोषाभिनादिताम्। प्रहृष्टवरहस्त्यश्वां सम्प्रणर्दितगोवृषाम्।।2.7.5।। प्रहृष्टमुदितैः पौरैरुच्छ्रितध्वजमालिनीम्। अयोध्यां मन्थरा दृष्ट्वा परं विस्मयमागता।।2.7.6।।

patākābhirvarārhābhirdhvajaiśca samalaṅkṛtām| vṛtāṃ chandapathaiścāpi śirassnātajanairvṛtām mālyamodakahastaiśca dvijendrairabhināditām| śukladevagṛhadvārāṃ sarvavāditranisvanām samprahṛṣṭajanākīrṇāṃ brahmaghoṣābhināditām| prahṛṣṭavarahastyaśvāṃ sampraṇarditagovṛṣām prahṛṣṭamuditaiḥ paurairucchritadhvajamālinīm| ayodhyāṃ mantharā dṛṣṭvā paraṃ vismayamāgatā

The city of Ayodhya was decorated with costly banners and pennants. The labyrinthine roads were crowded with people who had (finished) their headbath and were wandering at will. The temples with their doors painted white were reverberating with the chanting from the Vedas by the best of brahmins holding garlands and sweetmeats in their hands and with sounds of all kinds of musical instruments. The city was filled with spirited horses and elephants. The bulls were bellowing and the cows were lowing. The citizens with great joy raised the penants encircling the city of Ayodhya. All this left Manthara astonished.

पताकाभिर्वरार्हाभिर्ध्वजैश्च समलङ्कृताम्। वृतां छन्दपथैश्चापि शिरस्स्नातजनैर्वृताम्।।2.7.3।। माल्यमोदकहस्तैश्च द्विजेन्द्रैरभिनादिताम्। शुक्लदेवगृहद्वारां सर्ववादित्रनिस्वनाम्।।2.7.4।। सम्प्रहृष्टजनाकीर्णां ब्रह्मघोषाभिनादिताम्। प्रहृष्टवरहस्त्यश्वां सम्प्रणर्दितगोवृषाम्।।2.7.5।। प्रहृष्टमुदितैः पौरैरुच्छ्रितध्वजमालिनीम्। अयोध्यां मन्थरा दृष्ट्वा परं विस्मयमागता।।2.7.6।।

patākābhirvarārhābhirdhvajaiśca samalaṅkṛtām| vṛtāṃ chandapathaiścāpi śirassnātajanairvṛtām mālyamodakahastaiśca dvijendrairabhināditām| śukladevagṛhadvārāṃ sarvavāditranisvanām samprahṛṣṭajanākīrṇāṃ brahmaghoṣābhināditām| prahṛṣṭavarahastyaśvāṃ sampraṇarditagovṛṣām prahṛṣṭamuditaiḥ paurairucchritadhvajamālinīm| ayodhyāṃ mantharā dṛṣṭvā paraṃ vismayamāgatā

The city of Ayodhya was decorated with costly banners and pennants. The labyrinthine roads were crowded with people who had (finished) their headbath and were wandering at will. The temples with their doors painted white were reverberating with the chanting from the Vedas by the best of brahmins holding garlands and sweetmeats in their hands and with sounds of all kinds of musical instruments. The city was filled with spirited horses and elephants. The bulls were bellowing and the cows were lowing. The citizens with great joy raised the penants encircling the city of Ayodhya. All this left Manthara astonished.

पताकाभिर्वरार्हाभिर्ध्वजैश्च समलङ्कृताम्। वृतां छन्दपथैश्चापि शिरस्स्नातजनैर्वृताम्।।2.7.3।। माल्यमोदकहस्तैश्च द्विजेन्द्रैरभिनादिताम्। शुक्लदेवगृहद्वारां सर्ववादित्रनिस्वनाम्।।2.7.4।। सम्प्रहृष्टजनाकीर्णां ब्रह्मघोषाभिनादिताम्। प्रहृष्टवरहस्त्यश्वां सम्प्रणर्दितगोवृषाम्।।2.7.5।। प्रहृष्टमुदितैः पौरैरुच्छ्रितध्वजमालिनीम्। अयोध्यां मन्थरा दृष्ट्वा परं विस्मयमागता।।2.7.6।।

patākābhirvarārhābhirdhvajaiśca samalaṅkṛtām| vṛtāṃ chandapathaiścāpi śirassnātajanairvṛtām mālyamodakahastaiśca dvijendrairabhināditām| śukladevagṛhadvārāṃ sarvavāditranisvanām samprahṛṣṭajanākīrṇāṃ brahmaghoṣābhināditām| prahṛṣṭavarahastyaśvāṃ sampraṇarditagovṛṣām prahṛṣṭamuditaiḥ paurairucchritadhvajamālinīm| ayodhyāṃ mantharā dṛṣṭvā paraṃ vismayamāgatā

The city of Ayodhya was decorated with costly banners and pennants. The labyrinthine roads were crowded with people who had (finished) their headbath and were wandering at will. The temples with their doors painted white were reverberating with the chanting from the Vedas by the best of brahmins holding garlands and sweetmeats in their hands and with sounds of all kinds of musical instruments. The city was filled with spirited horses and elephants. The bulls were bellowing and the cows were lowing. The citizens with great joy raised the penants encircling the city of Ayodhya. All this left Manthara astonished.

प्रहर्षोत्फुल्लनयनां पाण्डुरक्षौमवासिनीम्। अविदूरे स्थितां दृष्ट्वा धात्रीं पप्रच्छ मन्थरा।।2.7.7।।

praharṣotphullanayanāṃ pāṇḍurakṣaumavāsinīm| avidūre sthitāṃ dṛṣṭvā dhātrīṃ papraccha mantharā

Seeing a royal maid clad in white silk garment and standing not very far with her eyes expanded in delight Manthara enquired:

उत्तमेनाभिसंयुक्ता हर्षेणार्थपरा सती। राममाता धनं किन्नु जनेभ्यस्सम्प्रयच्छति।।2.7.8।।

uttamenābhisaṃyuktā harṣeṇārthaparā satī| rāmamātā dhanaṃ kinnu janebhyassamprayacchati

Why is Rama's mother, forever interested in the accumulation of money gifting away her wealth to men with great joy?

अतिमात्रप्रहर्षोऽयं किं जनस्य च शंस मे। कारयिष्यति किं वापि सम्प्रहृष्टो महीपतिः।।2.7.9।।

atimātrapraharṣo'yaṃ kiṃ janasya ca śaṃsa me| kārayiṣyati kiṃ vāpi samprahṛṣṭo mahīpatiḥ

Why do the people look exceedingly happy? Tell me, what the king with great delight is proposing to do?

विदीर्यमाणा हर्षेण धात्री तु परया मुदा। आचचक्षेऽथ कुब्जायै भूयसीं राघव श्रियम्।।2.7.10।।

vidīryamāṇā harṣeṇa dhātrī tu parayā mudā| ācacakṣe'tha kubjāyai bhūyasīṃ rāghava śriyam

Bursting with great joy, the royal maid related to the hunchback the great fortune awaiting the son of the Raghus (Rama).

श्वः पुष्येण जितक्रोधं यौवराज्येन राघवम्। राजा दशरथो राममभिषेचयिताऽनघम्।।2.7.11।।

śvaḥ puṣyeṇa jitakrodhaṃ yauvarājyena rāghavam| rājā daśaratho rāmamabhiṣecayitā'nagham

Tomorrow under the spell of the Pushya star, king Dasaratha will consecrate blameless Rama born in the race of Raghu as heirapparent (the maid said).

धात्र्यास्तु वचनं शृत्वा कुब्जा क्षिप्रममर्षिता। कैलासशिखराकारा त्प्रासादादवरोहत।।2.7.12।।

dhātryāstu vacanaṃ śṛtvā kubjā kṣipramamarṣitā| kailāsaśikharākārā tprāsādādavarohata

Having heard these words of the royal maid, the hunchback became furious and speedily descended from that palace resembling the peak of mount Kailasa.

सा दह्यमाना कोपेन मन्थरा पापदर्शिनी। शयानामेत्य कैकेयीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.7.13।।

sā dahyamānā kopena mantharā pāpadarśinī| śayānāmetya kaikeyīmidaṃ vacanamabravīt

The malevolent Manthara on fire with fury reached Kaikeyi lying upon her couch and said:

उत्तिष्ठ मूढे किं शेषे भयं त्वामभिवर्तते। उपप्लुतामौघेन किमात्मानं न बुध्यसे।।2.7.14।।

uttiṣṭha mūḍhe kiṃ śeṣe bhayaṃ tvāmabhivartate| upaplutāmaughena kimātmānaṃ na budhyase

O senseless one, why are you lying down? Get up A great fear is gripping you. Why don't you realise that you are floating in a sea of perils.

अनिष्टे सुभगाकारे सौभाग्येन विकत्थसे। चलं हि तव सौभाग्यं नद्यास्स्रोत इवोष्णगे।।2.7.15।।

aniṣṭe subhagākāre saubhāgyena vikatthase| calaṃ hi tava saubhāgyaṃ nadyāssrota ivoṣṇage

Though you appear to be your husband's darling, in reality he dislikes you. The good fortune you boast of indeed is unstable like the stream of a river in summer.

एवमुक्ता तु कैकेयी रुष्टया परुषं वचः। कुब्जया पापदर्शिन्या विषादमगमत्परम्।।2.7.16।।

evamuktā tu kaikeyī ruṣṭayā paruṣaṃ vacaḥ| kubjayā pāpadarśinyā viṣādamagamatparam

At these harsh words of the furious, evileyed hunchback Kaikeyi fell into great despondency.

कैकेयी त्वब्रवीत्कुब्जां कच्चित्क्षेमं नु मन्थरे। विषण्णवदनां हि त्वां लक्षये भृशदुःखिताम्।।2.7.17।।

kaikeyī tvabravītkubjāṃ kaccitkṣemaṃ nu manthare| viṣaṇṇavadanāṃ hi tvāṃ lakṣaye bhṛśaduḥkhitām

Kaikeyi said to the hunchback, O Manthara isn't all well with you? I can mark it from your dejected face how greatly distressed you feel, indeed.

मन्थरा तु वच श्श्रुत्वा कैकेय्या मधुराक्षरम्। उवाच क्रोधसंयुक्ता वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदा।।2.7.18।।

mantharā tu vaca śśrutvā kaikeyyā madhurākṣaram| uvāca krodhasaṃyuktā vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradā

Hearing the words of Kaikeyi uttered in a gentle voice, wrathful Manthara skilled in speech, said:

सा विषण्णतरा भूत्वा कुब्जा तस्या हितैषिणी। विषादयन्ती प्रोवाच भेदयन्ती च राघवम्।।2.7.19।।

sā viṣaṇṇatarā bhūtvā kubjā tasyā hitaiṣiṇī| viṣādayantī provāca bhedayantī ca rāghavam

That hunchback feeling still more depressed in her (Kaikeyi's) interest and intending to cause in her despondency and distance Rama from her spoke out:

अक्षय्यं सुमहद्देवि प्रवृत्तं त्वद्विनाशनम्। रामं दशरथो राजा यौवराज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति।।2.7.20।।

akṣayyaṃ sumahaddevi pravṛttaṃ tvadvināśanam| rāmaṃ daśaratho rājā yauvarājye'bhiṣekṣyati

O queen, your end is approaching, and it has no end and it is overwhelming. King Dasaratha is crowning Rama as heirapparent.

साऽस्म्यगाधे भये मग्ना दुःखशोकसमन्विता। दह्यमानाऽनलेनेव त्वद्धितार्थमिहागता।।2.7.21।।

sā'smyagādhe bhaye magnā duḥkhaśokasamanvitā| dahyamānā'naleneva tvaddhitārthamihāgatā

Plunged in unfathomable fear and stricken with grief and tears I am here seeking your wellbeing and yet consumed as though by fire.

तव दुःखेन कैकेयि मम दुःखं महद्भवेत्। त्वद्वृद्धौ मम वृद्धिश्च भवेदत्र न संशयः।।2.7.22।।

tava duḥkhena kaikeyi mama duḥkhaṃ mahadbhavet| tvadvṛddhau mama vṛddhiśca bhavedatra na saṃśayaḥ

O Kaikeyi, your sorrow will augment my sorrow. Your prosperity would mean my prosperity. There is no doubt about this.

नराधिपकुले जाता महिषी त्वं महीपतेः। उग्रत्वं राजधर्माणां कथं देवि न बुध्यसे।।2.7.23।।

narādhipakule jātā mahiṣī tvaṃ mahīpateḥ| ugratvaṃ rājadharmāṇāṃ kathaṃ devi na budhyase

O queen, born in the royal family and being a king's consort why don't you realise the ruthless ways of statecraft?

धर्मावादी शठो भर्ता श्लक्ष्णवादी च दारुणः। शुद्धभावे न जानीषे तेनैव मतिसन्धिता।।2.7.24।।

dharmāvādī śaṭho bhartā ślakṣṇavādī ca dāruṇaḥ| śuddhabhāve na jānīṣe tenaiva matisandhitā

Your husband speaks morals publicly but in private he is deceitful. He speaks gently but acts cruelly. Because of your innocent nature you are beguiled by him. You do not understand this.

उपस्थितः प्रयुञ्जानस्त्वयि सान्त्वमनर्थकम्। अर्थेनैवाद्य ते भर्ता कौसल्यां योजयिष्यति।।2.7.25।।

upasthitaḥ prayuñjānastvayi sāntvamanarthakam| arthenaivādya te bhartā kausalyāṃ yojayiṣyati

When your husband approaches you he swears in meaningless, appeasing words. But today he is going to bestow benefit on Kausalya only.

उपवाह्य स दुष्टात्मा भरतं तव बन्धुषु। काल्ये स्थापयिता रामं राज्ये निहतकण्टके।।2.7.26।।

upavāhya sa duṣṭātmā bharataṃ tava bandhuṣu| kālye sthāpayitā rāmaṃ rājye nihatakaṇṭake

That evilminded one, having sent Bharata away to your relations house, is going to install Rama unhindered in the kingdom at dawn tomorrow.

शत्रुः पतिप्रवादेन मात्रेव हितकाम्यया। आशीविष इवाङ्केन बाले परिधृतस्त्वया।।2.7.27।।

śatruḥ patipravādena mātreva hitakāmyayā| āśīviṣa ivāṅkena bāle paridhṛtastvayā

O innocent lady with the intention of doing good like a mother to your husband who is your enemy, you are holding on your lap a venomous serpent.

यथा हि कुर्यात्सर्पो वा शत्रुर्वा प्रत्युपेक्षितः। राज्ञा दशरथेनाद्य सपुत्रा त्वं तथा कृता।।2.7.28।।

yathā hi kuryātsarpo vā śatrurvā pratyupekṣitaḥ| rājñā daśarathenādya saputrā tvaṃ tathā kṛtā

King Dasaratha has done to you and to your son the same thing as a snake or an enemy would do when ignored.

पापेनानृतसान्त्वेन बाले नित्यसुखोचिते। रामं स्थापयता राज्ये सानुबन्धा हता ह्यसि।।2.7.29।।

pāpenānṛtasāntvena bāle nityasukhocite| rāmaṃ sthāpayatā rājye sānubandhā hatā hyasi

O senseless lady, you are always accustomed to comfort. With deceitful words of appeasement that vicious one (King Dasaratha) is going to install Rama in the kingdom. You along with your son have been surely ruined.

सा प्राप्तकालं कैकेयि क्षिप्रं कुरु हितं तव। त्रायस्व पुत्रमात्मानं मां च विस्मयदर्शने।।2.7.30।।

sā prāptakālaṃ kaikeyi kṣipraṃ kuru hitaṃ tava| trāyasva putramātmānaṃ māṃ ca vismayadarśane

O enchantingeyed Kaikeyi, that appropriate time has come. Act quickly for your own wellbeing. Save yourself, your son and me too.

मन्थाराया वचश्श्रुत्वा शयाना सा शुभानना। उत्तस्थौ हर्षसम्पूर्णा चन्द्रलेखेव शारदी।।2.7.31।।

manthārāyā vacaśśrutvā śayānā sā śubhānanā| uttasthau harṣasampūrṇā candralekheva śāradī

Hearing the words of Manthara, Kaikeyi of charming countenance lying in her couch rose, full of joy, like the autumnal streak of the Moon's crescent.

अतीव सा तु संहृष्टा कैकेयी विस्मयान्विता। एकमाभरणं तस्यै कुब्जायै प्रददौ शुभम्।।2.7.32।।

atīva sā tu saṃhṛṣṭā kaikeyī vismayānvitā| ekamābharaṇaṃ tasyai kubjāyai pradadau śubham

Filled with immense joy and wonder (at the news), Kaikeyi gifted a beauthful ornament to that hunchback.

दत्वा त्वाभरणं तस्यै कुब्जायै प्रमदोत्तमा। कैकेयी मन्थरां दृष्ट्वा पुनरेवाब्रवीदिदम्।।2.7.33।।

datvā tvābharaṇaṃ tasyai kubjāyai pramadottamā| kaikeyī mantharāṃ dṛṣṭvā punarevābravīdidam

Kaikeyi, the best among the beauties, having given the ornament to Manthara, the hunchback, looked at her and said these words again:

इदं तु मन्थरे मह्यमाख्यासि परमं प्रियम्। एतन्मे प्रियमाख्यातुः किं वा भूयः करोमि ते।।2.7.34।।

idaṃ tu manthare mahyamākhyāsi paramaṃ priyam| etanme priyamākhyātuḥ kiṃ vā bhūyaḥ karomi te

O Manthara, the news you have brought me is exceedingly pleasant. What more can I do for you? Here is the gift for one who brings good tidings.

रामे वा भरते वाऽहं विशेषं नोपलक्षये। तस्मात्तुष्टाऽस्मि यद्राजा रामं राज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति।।2.7.35।।

rāme vā bharate vā'haṃ viśeṣaṃ nopalakṣaye| tasmāttuṣṭā'smi yadrājā rāmaṃ rājye'bhiṣekṣyati

I do not see any distinction between Rama and Bharata as such. I am contented with Rama's consecration in the kingdom.

न मे परं किञ्चिदितस्त्वया पुनः प्रियं प्रियार्हे सुवचं वचःपरम्। तथा ह्यवोचस्त्वमतः प्रियोत्तरं वरं परं ते प्रददामि तं वृणु।।2.7.36।।

na me paraṃ kiñciditastvayā punaḥ priyaṃ priyārhe suvacaṃ vacaḥparam| tathā hyavocastvamataḥ priyottaraṃ varaṃ paraṃ te pradadāmi taṃ vṛṇu

O woman worthy of affection for me there is nothing greater and dearer than this news. I will grant you another reward better than this. Just ask for it. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the seventh sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.