Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 78

अथ यात्रां समीहन्तं शत्रुघ्नो लक्ष्मणानुजः। भरतं शोकसन्तप्तमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.78.1।।

atha yātrāṃ samīhantaṃ śatrughno lakṣmaṇānujaḥ| bharataṃ śokasantaptamidaṃ vacanamabravīt

As the griefstricken Bharata was intending to proceed to Rama, Lakshmana's younger brother Satrughna said to him:

गतिर्य स्सर्वभूतानां दुःखे किं पुनरात्मनः। स राम स्सत्त्वसम्पन्नः स्त्रिया प्रव्राजितो वनम्।।2.78.2।।

gatirya ssarvabhūtānāṃ duḥkhe kiṃ punarātmanaḥ| sa rāma ssattvasampannaḥ striyā pravrājito vanam

Couldn't the mighty Rama who is the ultimate refuge of all beings protect himself in his own distress? That Rama has been exiled to the forest by a woman.

बलवान्वीर्यसम्पन्नो लक्ष्मणो नाम योऽप्यसौ। किं न मोचयते रामं कृत्वा स्म पितृनिग्रहम्।।2.78.3।।

balavānvīryasampanno lakṣmaṇo nāma yo'pyasau| kiṃ na mocayate rāmaṃ kṛtvā sma pitṛnigraham

And why did not Lakshmana who is strong and powerful release Rama from exile by restraining our father?

पूर्वमेव तु निग्राह्य स्समवेक्ष्य नयानयौ। उत्पथं यस्समारूढो राजा नार्या वशं गतः।।2.78.4।।

pūrvameva tu nigrāhya ssamavekṣya nayānayau| utpathaṃ yassamārūḍho rājā nāryā vaśaṃ gataḥ

In the first place, the king could have restrained himself by reflecting on whether the course of action adopted by him under the influence of a woman was just or unjust.

इति सम्भाषमाणे तु शत्रुघ्ने लक्ष्मणानुजे। प्राग्द्वारेऽभूत्तदा कुब्जा सर्वाभरणभूषिता।।2.78.5।।

iti sambhāṣamāṇe tu śatrughne lakṣmaṇānuje| prāgdvāre'bhūttadā kubjā sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā

While Satrughna, brother of Lakshmana was conversing thus, the hunchback Manthara decorated with all kinds of ornaments arrived at the entrance.

लिप्ता चन्दनसारेण राजवस्त्राणि बिभ्रती। विविधं विविधै स्तैस्तैर्भूषणैश्च विभूषिता।।2.78.6।।

liptā candanasāreṇa rājavastrāṇi bibhratī| vividhaṃ vividhai staistairbhūṣaṇaiśca vibhūṣitā

She had besmeared herself with the essence of sandal, had put on royal garments and adorned herself in many ways with every kind of ornament.

मेखलादामभिश्चित्रैरन्यैश्च शुभभूषणैः। बभासे बहुभिर्बद्धा रज्जुबद्धेव वानरी।।2.78.7।।

mekhalādāmabhiścitrairanyaiśca śubhabhūṣaṇaiḥ| babhāse bahubhirbaddhā rajjubaddheva vānarī

Tied with colourful girdle strings and wearing many other auspicious ornaments, she looked like a female monkey tied with a rope.

तां समीक्ष्य तदा द्वास्स्थास्सुभृशं पापकारिणीम्। गृहीत्वाऽकरुणां कुब्जां शत्रुघ्नाय न्यवेदयन्।।2.78.8।।

tāṃ samīkṣya tadā dvāssthāssubhṛśaṃ pāpakāriṇīm| gṛhītvā'karuṇāṃ kubjāṃ śatrughnāya nyavedayan

Seeing the hunchback, doer of many sinful deeds, the gatekeepers caught hold of her and informed Satrughna.

यस्याः कृते वने रामो न्यस्तदेहश्च वः पिता। सेयं पापा नृशंसा च तस्याः कुरु यथामति।।2.78.9।।

yasyāḥ kṛte vane rāmo nyastadehaśca vaḥ pitā| seyaṃ pāpā nṛśaṃsā ca tasyāḥ kuru yathāmati

Here is that sinful, cruel woman on whose account Rama is in the forest and your father has forsaken his body. Do with her as it pleases you.

शत्रुघ्नश्च तदाज्ञाय वचनं भृशदुःखितः। अन्तःपुरचरान्सर्वानित्युवाच धृत व्रतः।।2.78.10।।

śatrughnaśca tadājñāya vacanaṃ bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ| antaḥpuracarānsarvānityuvāca dhṛta vrataḥ

Intensely grieved to hear those words, Satrughna who was steadfast in his vows said to the inmates of the inner apartment:

तीव्रमुत्पादितं दुःखं भ्रात्रूणां मे तथा पितुः। यया सेयं नृशंसस्य कर्मणः फलमश्नुताम्।।2.78.11।।

tīvramutpāditaṃ duḥkhaṃ bhrātrūṇāṃ me tathā pituḥ| yayā seyaṃ nṛśaṃsasya karmaṇaḥ phalamaśnutām

Let this woman, who caused deep sorrow to our brothers and father, reap the fruit of her malicious actions.

एवमुक्त्वा तु तेनाशु सखीजनसमावृता। गृहीता बलवत्कुब्जा सा तद्गृहमनादयत्।।2.78.12।।

evamuktvā tu tenāśu sakhījanasamāvṛtā| gṛhītā balavatkubjā sā tadgṛhamanādayat

Saying thus, he forcibly caught hold of the hunchback amidst her companions when she filled the house with her cries.

तत स्सुभृशसन्तप्तस्तस्या स्सर्व स्सखीजनः। क्रुद्धमाज्ञाय शत्रुघ्नं विपलायत सर्वशः।।2.78.13।।

tata ssubhṛśasantaptastasyā ssarva ssakhījanaḥ| kruddhamājñāya śatrughnaṃ vipalāyata sarvaśaḥ

Perceiving the enraged Satrughna all her companions shook in terror and fled in different directions.

आमन्त्रयत कृत्स्न श्च तस्या स्सर्व स्सखीजनः। यथाऽयं समुपक्रान्तो निश्शेषां नः करिष्यति।।2.78.14।।

āmantrayata kṛtsna śca tasyā ssarva ssakhījanaḥ| yathā'yaṃ samupakrānto niśśeṣāṃ naḥ kariṣyati

All her companions conversed among themselves. The way he began, it looks he will finish all of us.

सानुक्रोशां वदान्यां च धर्मज्ञां च यशस्विनीम्। कौसल्यां शरणं याम सा हि नोऽस्तु ध्रुवा गतिः।।2.78.15।।

sānukrośāṃ vadānyāṃ ca dharmajñāṃ ca yaśasvinīm| kausalyāṃ śaraṇaṃ yāma sā hi no'stu dhruvā gatiḥ

Let us seek refuge under the illustrious Kausalya, who is compassionate, generous, and knower of righteousness. She is our sure saviour.

स च रोषेण ताम्राक्ष श्शत्रुघ्न श्शत्रुतापनः। विचकर्ष तदा कुब्जां क्रोशन्तीं धरणीतले।।2.78.16।।

sa ca roṣeṇa tāmrākṣa śśatrughna śśatrutāpanaḥ| vicakarṣa tadā kubjāṃ krośantīṃ dharaṇītale

With bloodshot eyes Satrughna, the scorcher of enemies, dragged the shrieking hunchback down the ground in fury.

तस्या ह्याकृष्यमाणाया मन्थराया स्ततस्ततः। चित्रं बहुविधं भाण्डं पृथिव्यां तद्व्यशीर्यत।।2.78.17।।

tasyā hyākṛṣyamāṇāyā mantharāyā statastataḥ| citraṃ bahuvidhaṃ bhāṇḍaṃ pṛthivyāṃ tadvyaśīryata

While Manthara was being dragged by Satrughna, the collection of ornaments of many colours and of various kinds worn by her were broken and scattered here and there all over the ground.

तेन भाण्डेन संस्तीर्णं श्रीमद्राजनिवेशनम्। अशोभत तदा भूयः शारदं गगनं यथा।।2.78.18।।

tena bhāṇḍena saṃstīrṇaṃ śrīmadrājaniveśanam| aśobhata tadā bhūyaḥ śāradaṃ gaganaṃ yathā

The resplendent royal palace, strewn all over with several ornaments on the ground shone like the autumnal sky (studded with innumerable stars).

स बली बलवत्क्रोधाद्गृहीत्वा पुरुषर्षभः। कैकेयीमभिनिर्भर्त्स्य बभाषे परुषं वचः।।2.78.19।।

sa balī balavatkrodhādgṛhītvā puruṣarṣabhaḥ| kaikeyīmabhinirbhartsya babhāṣe paruṣaṃ vacaḥ

The mighty and the best of men Satrughna seized with fury, forcibly caught hold of that hunchback and censured Kaikeyi with harsh words.

तैर्वाक्यैः परुषैर्दुःखैः कैकेयी भृशदुःखिता। शत्रुघ्नभयसन्त्रस्ता पुत्रं शरणमागता।।2.78.20।।

tairvākyaiḥ paruṣairduḥkhaiḥ kaikeyī bhṛśaduḥkhitā| śatrughnabhayasantrastā putraṃ śaraṇamāgatā

Kaikeyi, deeply distressed at those harsh and grievous words was afraid of Satrughna and sought the protection of her son Bharata.

तं प्रेक्ष्य भरतः क्रुद्धं शत्रुघ्नमिदमब्रवीत्। अवध्या स्सर्वभूतानां प्रमदाः क्षम्यतामिति।।2.78.21।।

taṃ prekṣya bharataḥ kruddhaṃ śatrughnamidamabravīt| avadhyā ssarvabhūtānāṃ pramadāḥ kṣamyatāmiti

Bharata, addressing the enraged Satrughna said Of all beings a lady is not to be killed. Pardon her.

हन्यामहमिमां पापां कैकेयीं दुष्टचारिणीम्। यदि मां धार्मिको रामो नासूयेन्मातृघातकम्।।2.78.22।।

hanyāmahamimāṃ pāpāṃ kaikeyīṃ duṣṭacāriṇīm| yadi māṃ dhārmiko rāmo nāsūyenmātṛghātakam

If righteous Rama were not to accuse me of slaying a mother, I would have killed the sinful Kaikeyi of wicked deeds myself.

इमामपि हतां कुब्जां यदि जानाति राघवः। त्वां च मां च हि धर्मात्मा नाभिभाषिष्यते ध्रुवम्।।2.78.23।।

imāmapi hatāṃ kubjāṃ yadi jānāti rāghavaḥ| tvāṃ ca māṃ ca hi dharmātmā nābhibhāṣiṣyate dhruvam

If righteous Rama comes to know that this hunchback has been slain by us, he will certainly never talk to you or me.

भरतस्य वचश्श्रुत्वा शत्रुघ्नो लक्ष्मणानुजः। न्यवर्तत ततो रोषात्तां मुमोच च मन्थराम्।।2.78.24।।

bharatasya vacaśśrutvā śatrughno lakṣmaṇānujaḥ| nyavartata tato roṣāttāṃ mumoca ca mantharām

Hearing the words of Bharata, Satrughna, the younger brother of Lakshmana restrained his fury and also released Manthara.

सा पादमूले कैकेय्या मन्थरा निपपात ह। निश्श्वसन्ती सुदुःखार्ता कृपणं विललाप च।।2.78.25।।

sā pādamūle kaikeyyā mantharā nipapāta ha| niśśvasantī suduḥkhārtā kṛpaṇaṃ vilalāpa ca

Manthara, tormented with grief, fell at the feet of Kaikeyi and began heaving deep sighs.

शत्रुघ्नविक्षेपविमूढसंज्ञां समीक्ष्य कुब्जां भरतस्य माता। शनैस्समाश्वासयदार्तरूपां क्रौञ्चीं विलग्नामिव वीक्षमाणाम्।।2.78.26।।

śatrughnavikṣepavimūḍhasaṃjñāṃ samīkṣya kubjāṃ bharatasya mātā| śanaissamāśvāsayadārtarūpāṃ krauñcīṃ vilagnāmiva vīkṣamāṇām

. Seeing the hunchback thrown down by Satrughna and lying senseless and anguished like a female krauncha bird caught in a net looking in different directions, Kaikeyi gently soothed her. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टसप्ततितमस्सर्गः।। Thus ends the seventyeighth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.