English Commentaries


Kaikeyi refered as madhyama 3.2.20

It was said earlier that Kaikeyi is the youngest queen. How it is that now she is called the middle queen? Kaikeyi was younger than Kausalya and Sumitra. But she was older than other wives of Dasaratha. So she can be referred to in both ways, either as madhyama or the youngest.


3.2.18


Yad abhipretam etc are to be understood as Rama’s speech caused by Sita’s fear.

Kalantakayamopame 3.3 .16

Kalantakayamopame means Rama was like Kala, Antaka and Yama to Viradha. Kala, Antaka and Yama are three gods who have the authority of death. The power of Kala is in severing life, that of Antaka is in taking away life and Yama’s power is in deciding the punya (merit acquired through good deeds) and apunya the demerits acquired through bad deeds.