Sloka & Translation

[King Dasaratha enters the palace of Kaikeyi who is in the chamber of wrath--tries to pacify her in different ways.]

विदर्शिता यदा देवी कुब्जया पापया भृशम्।

तदा शेते स्म सा भूमौ दिग्धविद्धेव किन्नरी।।2.10.1।।


सा देवी that queen (Kaikeyi), भृशम् exceedingly, पापया sinful one, कुब्जया by hunchback (Manthara), यदा when, विदर्शिता perversely advised, तदा then, दिग्धविद्धेव as if struck by a poisonous arrow, किन्नरीव like a 'kinnari', भूमौ on the floor, शेते स्म lay down.

Perversely advised by the extremely sinful hunchback the queen (Kaikeyi) lay down on the ground like a kinnari struck as though by a poisonous arrow.
निश्चित्य मनसा कृत्यं सा सम्यगिति भामिनी।

मन्थरायै शनैस्सर्वमाचचक्षे विचक्षणा।।2.10.2।।


विचक्षणा intelligent, सा भामिनी that beautiful lady, इति thus, सम्यक् correctly, मनसा in her mind, कृत्यम् the strategy, निश्चित्य having decided, सर्वम् everything, शनै: slowly, मन्थरायै to Manthara, आचचक्षे told.

The intelligent, beautiful lady (Kaikeyi), having correctly decided the strategy in her mind, slowly unfolded everything to Manthara.
सा दीना निश्चयं कृत्वा मन्थरावाक्यमोहिता।

नागकन्येव निश्वस्य दीर्घमुष्णं च भामिनी।।2.10.3।।

मुहूर्तं चिन्तयामास मार्गमात्मसुखावहम्।


सा भामिनी that beautiful lady (Kaikeyi), मन्थरावाक्यमोहिता impressed by Manthara's words,
दीना wretch, निश्चयं कृत्वा having decided, नागकन्येव like a female serpent, दीर्घम् deeply, उष्णं च also hot, निश्वस्य having sighed, मुहूर्तम् for a while, आत्मसुखावहम् bringing happiness to herself, मार्गम् means, चिन्तयामास thought of.

That beautiful wretch (Kaikeyi) impressed by the words of Manthara heaved deep, hot sighs like a female serpent and thought for a while about the means of bringing happiness to herself.
सा सुहृच्चार्थकामा च तं निशम्य सुनिश्चयम्।।2.10.4।।

बभूव परमप्रीता सिध्दिं प्राप्येव मन्थरा।


सुहृच्च also a friend, अर्थकामा च desiring to fulfil the resolve, सा मन्थरा that Manthara, तम् that, सुनिश्चयम् firm determination, निशम्य having heard, सिद्धिम् acomplishment of the objective, प्राप्येव as if, परमप्रीता highly pleased, बभूव became.

Manthara, Kaikeyi's friend, too, driven by a strong desire to fulfil her resolve was highly pleased and on hearing the firm determination of Kaikeyi, felt as if the accomplishment of the objective was at hand.
अथ सा रुषिता देवी सम्यक्कृत्वा विनिश्चयम्।।2.10.5।।

संविवेशाबला भूमौ निवेश्य भृकुटीं मुखे।


अथ then, देवी queen, सा अबला that woman,रुषिता soiled, सम्यक् completely, विनिश्चयम् firm decision, कृत्वा having taken, मुखे on the face, भृकुटीम् frown, निवेश्य having placed, भूमौ on the floor, संविवेश lay down.

Then Kaikeyi finally took a firm decision. With a soiled body and a frowning face she lay down on the floor.
ततश्चित्राणि माल्यानि दिव्यान्याभरणानि च।।2.10.6।।

अपविद्धानि कैकेय्या तानि भूमिं प्रपेदिरे।


तत: after that, तानि those, चित्राणि of different colours, माल्यानि garlands, दिव्यानि divine (costly), आभरणानि च also the ornaments, कैकेय्या by Kaikeyi, अपविद्धानि thrown off, भूमिम् to the ground, प्रपेदिरे resorted.

Thereafter Kaikeyi flung away her multicoloured garlands along with her costly ornaments on to the ground.
तया तान्यपविद्धानि माल्यान्याभरणानि च।।2.10.7।।

अशोभयन्त वसुधां नक्षत्राणि यथा नभः।


तया by her, अपविद्धानि thrown away, तानि माल्यानि all those garlands, आभरणानि च and the ornaments also, नक्षत्राणि stars, नभ: the sky, यथा like, वसुधाम् the ground, अशोभयन्त adorned.

All the garlands and ornaments she scattered adorned the floor like the stars (illumining) the sky.
क्रोधागारे निपतिता सा बभौ मलिनाम्बरा।।2.10.8।।

एकवेणीं दृढं बद्वा गतसत्त्वेव किन्नरी।


एकवेणीम् into a single braid, दृढम् tightly, बद्वा having fastened, क्रोधागारे in the chamber of wrath, निपतिता had fallen down, मलिनाम्बरा wearing soiled clothes, सा she, गतसत्त्वा in a lifeless state, किन्नरी इव like kinnari, बभौ shone.

Tightly fastening her hair into a single braid and wearing soiled clothes, she lay down in the chamber of wrath in a lifeless state like a kinnari.
आज्ञाप्य च महाराजो राघवस्याभिषेचनम्।।2.10.9।।

उपस्थानमनुज्ञाप्य प्रविवेश निवेशनम्।


महाराज: तु as regards the king, राघवस्य Rama's, अभिषेचनम् installation ceremony, आज्ञाप्य having issued orders, उपस्थानम् very close associates, अनुज्ञाप्य having taken leave,
निवेशनम् the palace, प्रविवेश entered.

The king issued orders for Rama's installation ceremony, and taking leave of his close associates entered the palace. .
अद्य रामाभिषेको वै प्रसिद्ध इति जज्ञिवान्।।2.10.10।।

प्रियार्हां प्रियमाख्यातुं विवेशान्तःपुरं वशी।


वशी one who has subdued the senses, अद्य today, रामाभिषेक: Rama's installation, प्रसिद्ध: इति is known to everybody, जज्ञिवान् having come to know, प्रियार्हाम् to me who deserves to hear such pleasant news (to Kaikeyi), प्रियम् pleasant news, आख्यातुम् to communicate, अन्त: पुरम् the inner apartment, विवेश entered.

Aware of the fact that Rama's installation ceremony was known to everybody by then he who had subdued his senses entered the inner apartment to convey it to one worthy of such pleasant news.
स कैकेय्या गृहं श्रेष्ठं प्रविवेश महायशाः।।2.10.11।।

पाण्डुराभ्रमिवाकाशं राहुयुक्तं निशाकरः।


महायशा: renowned, स: he, निशाकर: moon, पाण्डुराभ्रम् with pale clouds, राहुयुक्तम् accompanied by Rahu, आकाशमिव like the sky, श्रेष्ठम् excellent, कैकेय्या: गृहम् Kaikeyi's abode, प्रविवेश entered.

The illustrious king entered the excellent abode of Kaikeyi like the Moon entering the mouth of Rahu in a sky overcast with pale clouds.
शुकबर्हिणसङ्घुष्टं क्रौञ्चहंसरुतायुतम्।।2.10.12।।

वादित्ररवसङ्घुष्टं कुब्जा वामनिकायुतम्।

लतागृहैश्चित्रगृहैश्चम्पकाशोकशोभितैः।।2.10.13।।

दान्तराजतसौवर्णवेदिकाभि स्समायुतम्।

नित्यपुष्पफलैर्वृक्षैर्वापीभिश्चोपशोभितम्।।2.10.14।।

दान्तरजतसौवर्णैस्संवृतं परमासनैः।

विविधैरन्नपानैश्च भक्ष्यैश्च विविधैरपि।।2.10.15।।

उपपन्नं महार्हैश्च भूषितैस्त्रिदिवोपमम्।

तत्प्रविश्य महाराजस्स्वमन्तः पुरमृद्धिमत्।।2.10.16।।

न ददर्श प्रियां राजा कैकेयीं शयनोत्तमे।


शुकबर्हिणसङ्घुष्टम् filled with parrots and peacocks, क्रौञ्चहंसरुतायुतम् full of cries of kraunchas and swans, वादित्ररवसङ्घुष्टम् echoing with the sounds of musical instruments, कुब्जा वामनिकायुतम् with hunchbacks and dwarfs (attendants moving here and there), चम्पकाशोकशोभितै: shining with champaka and ashoka trees, लतागृहै: by bowers surrounded with creepers, चित्रगृहै: च with picturegalleries, दान्तराजतसौवर्णवेदिकाभि: diases decorated with ivory, gold and silver, समायुतम् filled with, नित्यपुष्पफलै: bearing flowers and fruits in all seasons, वृक्षै: (adorned) with trees, वापीभि: च with large pools, उपशोभितम् adorned, परमासनै: with excellent seats, विविधै: various kinds of, अन्नपानै: च with food and drinks, भक्ष्यै: च eatables also, उपपन्नम् endowed with, भूषितै: decorations, महार्है: expensive, त्रिदिवोपमम् resembling heaven, पुरम़ृद्धिमत् prosperous abode, तत् that, स्वम् his own, अन्त: पुरम् inner apartment, प्रविश्य having entered, महाराज: great king, राजा king (Dasaratha), शयनोत्तमे on the best bed, प्रियाम् beloved, कैकेयीम् Kaikeyi, न ददर्श did not see.

The maharaja entered the inner apartment of Kaikeyi's prosperous abode filled with parrots and peacocks, reverberating with cries of kraunchas and swans and sounds of musical instruments attended with hunchbacks and dwarfs decorated with champak and ashoka trees, bowers surrounded with creepers, picturegalleries, altars and sofas embellished with ivory, gold and silver. It was shining with pools and trees bearing flowers and fruits in all seasons. Various kinds of food, drinks and eatables were kept ready. With excellent decorations that abode of Kaikeyi resembled heaven. (But) the king did not see his beloved Kaikeyi in her best bed.
कामबलसंयुक्तो रत्यर्थं मनुजाधिपः।।2.10.17।।

अपश्यन्दयितां भार्यां पप्रच्छ विषसाद च।


कामबलसंयुक्त: charged with passion, स: मनुजाधिप: the king, रत्यर्थम् seeking carnal pleasure, दयिताम् beloved, भार्याम् wife, अपश्यन् not seeing, विषसाद dejected, पप्रच्छ च also enquired.

Charged with passion and seeking carnal pleasure, the king became dejected when he did not see his beloved wife. He enquired about her.
न हि तस्य पुरा देवी तां वेलामत्यवर्तत।।2.10.18।।

न च राजा गृहं शून्यं प्रविवेश कदाचन।


पुरा previously, देवी queen (Kaikeyi), तस्य his, तां वेलाम् time, न अत्यवर्तत हि did not transgress, राजा king, कदाचन never, शून्यम् empty, गृहम् apartment, न प्रविवेश च did not enter.

Never before had queen Kaikeyi missed his time of arrival. Nor had the king ever entered her empty apartment.
ततो गृहगतो राजा कैकेयीं पर्यपृच्छत।।2.10.19।।

यथा पूर्वमविज्ञाय स्वार्थलिप्सुमपण्डिताम्।


तत: then, गृहगत: having reached the apartment, राजा king, अपण्डिताम् foolish lady, कैकेयीम् about Kaikeyi, स्वार्थलिप्सुम् seeking selfish interest, अविज्ञाय without realising, यथापूर्वम् as usual, पर्यपृच्छत enquired.

Having entered her apartment, the king, unaware of that foolish Kaikeyi's selfish design enquired her whereabouts as usual.
प्रतीहारी त्वथोवाच सन्त्रस्ता सुकृताञ्जलिः।।2.10.20।।

देव देवी भृशं कृद्धा क्रोधागारमभिदृता।


अथ thereafter, सन्त्रस्ता frightened, प्रतीहरी doorkeeper, कृताञ्जलि: with folded palms, उवाच said, देव O monarch देवी queen, भृशम् कृद्वा mighty angry, क्रोधागारम् towards the chamber of wrath, अभिदृता swiftly went.

Thereafter, the frightened doorkeeper with folded palms said O monarch the
queen in a hot mood has rushed into the chamber of wrath.
प्रतीहार्या वचश्शृत्वा राजा परमदुर्मनाः।।2.10.21।।

विषसाद पुनर्भूयो लुलितव्याकुलेन्द्रियः।।


परमदुर्मना: deeply melancholic, राजा king, प्रतीहार्या door keeper's, वच: words, शृत्वा having heard, लुलितव्याकुलेन्द्रिय: with his senses agitated and unstable, पुन: again, भूय: still more, विषसाद grieved.

Hearing the words of the doorkeeper, the melancholic king grieved all the more with his senses agitated and unstable.
तत्र तां पतितां भूमौ शयानामतथोचिताम्।।2.10.22।।

प्रतप्त इव दुःखेन सोऽपश्यज्जगतीपतिः।


जगतीपति: lord of the earth, स: he, तत्र there (in that chamber of wrath), पतिताम् fallen down, भूमौ on the floor, शयानाम् lying down, अतथोचिताम् unbecoming manner, ताम् her, अपश्यत् saw, दु:खेन with grief, प्रतप्त: इव as if consumed.

The lord of the earth (Dasaratha) saw her (Kaikeyi) lying down on the floor of the chamber of wrath in an unbecoming manner and felt as if consumed by grief.
स वृद्धस्तरुणीं भार्यां प्राणेभ्योपि गरीयसीम्।।2.10.23।।

अपापः पापसङ्कल्पां ददर्श धरणीतले।

लतामिव विनिष्कृत्तां पतितां देवतामिव।।2.10.24।।

किन्नरीमिव निर्धूतां च्युतामप्सरसं यथा।

मायामिव परिभ्रष्टां हरिणीमिव संयताम्।।2.10.25।।


वृद्ध: aged, अपाप: guileless, स: he, तरुणीम् youthful lady, प्राणेभ्योऽपि more than his life, गरीयसीम् dearer, पापसङ्कल्पाम् a lady of sinful intentions, विनिष्कृत्ताम् severed, लतामिव like a creeper, पतिताम् fallen down, देवतामिव like a goddess, निर्धूताम् thrown down on earth, किन्नरीमिव like a 'kinnari', च्युताम् slipped (from heaven), अप्सरसं यथा like apsarasas, परिभ्रष्टाम् fallen down, मायामिव like illusion, संयताम् tied down, हरिणीमिव like a female deer, भार्याम् to wife, ददर्श saw.

The guileless, old king beheld his youthful wife who was dearer to him than his own life, filled with deceitful intentions. She looked like a severed creeper, like a goddess fallen down, like a 'Kinnari' thrown down on earth, like an 'apsarasa' slipped from heaven, like an illusion torn, like a female deer tied down.
करेणुमिव दिग्धेन विद्धां मृगयुना वने।

महागज इवारण्ये स्नेहात्परिममर्श ताम्।।2.10.26।।


वने in the forest, दिग्धेन by a poisoned arrow, विद्धाम् struck down, करेणुमिव like a sheelephant, ताम् her, अरण्ये in the forest, महागज: इव like a mighty elephant, स्नेहात् lovingly, परिममर्श caressed.

Like a mighty sheelephant caressing her cow wounded with a poisoned arrow in the forest, he caressed her lovingly.
परिमृश्य च पाणिभ्यामभिसन्त्रस्तचेतनः।

कामी कमलपत्राक्षीमुवाच वनितामिदम्।।2.10.27।।


कामी passionate, अभिसन्त्रस्तचेतन: mind extremely terrified, कमलपत्राक्षीम् to one with eyes resembling lotuspetals, वनिताम् that woman, पाणिभ्याम् with both hands, परिमृश्य after
caressing, इदम् this word, उवाच said.

With a mind extremely terrified yet passionate, he caressed his lotuseyed wife with his hands, and said:
न तेऽहमभिजानामि क्रोधमात्मनि संश्रितम्।

देवि केनाभिशप्ताऽसि केन वाऽसि विमानिता।।2.10.28।।

यदिदं मम दुःखाय शेषे कल्याणि पांसुषु।


देवि O queen आत्मनि in me, संश्रितम् taken refuge in (you), ते your, क्रोधम् about anger, अहम् I, न अभिजानामि am not able to know, केन by whom, अभिशप्ता असि are you cursed, केन वा or by whom, विमानिता असि are you disrespected, कल्याणि O auspicious one, पांसुषु in the dust, यत् शेषे since you lie, इदम् this, मम my, दु:खाय is the source of my sorrow.

O auspicious queen, I do not know whether your anger is directed at me. I do not know the cause of your anger. By whom have you been offended or disrespected? Why are you lying in the dust? This is causing me great sorrow.
भूमौ शेषे किमर्थं त्वं मयि कल्याणचेतसि।।2.10.29।।

भूतोपहतचित्तेव मम चित्तप्रमाथिनी।


मयि in me, कल्याणचेतसि in a mind favourably disposed, त्वम् you, भूतोपहतचित्तेव like one possessed by evil spirits, मम my, चित्तप्रमाथिनी afflicting my mind, किमर्थम् why, भूमौ on the floor, शेषे are you lying down?

While I am here favourably disposed towards you, why are you lying down on the floor like one possessed by an evil spirit? Why are you afflicting my mind?
सन्ति मे कुशला वैद्यास्त्वभितुष्टाश्च सर्वशः।।2.10.30।।

सुखितां त्वां करिष्यन्ति व्याधिमाचक्ष्व भामिनी।


भामिनि O lovely one कुशला: experts, सर्वश: in every way, अभितुष्टा: च completely satisfied too, मे my, वैद्या: सन्ति physicians are available, त्वाम् you, सुखिताम् करिष्यन्ति will restore your health, व्याधिम् ailment, आचक्ष्व you may tell.

O lovely one there are, to my best satisfaction, expert physicians in all branches (of medical science). They will restore your health. Tell me your ailment.
कस्य वा ते प्रियं कार्यं केन वा विप्रियं कृतम्।।2.10.31।।

कः प्रियं लभतामद्य को वा सुमहदप्रियम्।


कस्य वा to whom, प्रियम् favour, ते by you, कार्यम् is to be done, केन वा by whom, विप्रियम् displeasure, कृतम् was done, क: who, अद्य now, प्रियम् favour, लभताम् let him obtain, को वा who, सुमहत् exceedingly great, अप्रियम् displeasure (shall obtain).

On whom do you wish to bestow favour? Who has caused you displeasure? To whom should I grant favour now? To whom should I cause great displeasure?
मा रोदीर्मा च कार्षीस्त्वं देवि संपरिशोषणम्।।2.10.32।।

अवध्यो वध्यतां को वा को वा वध्यो विमुच्यताम्।

दरिद्रः को भवत्वाढ्यो द्रव्यवान्वाऽप्यकिञ्चनः।।2.10.33।।


देवि O queen मा रोदी: do not weep, त्वम् you, संपरिशोषणम् emaciation of body, मा च कार्षी: do not cause, अवध्य: who should not be slain, को वा or who, वध्यताम् shall be slain, वध्य: worthy of being slain, को वा or who, विमुच्यताम् shall be released, दरिद्र: is poor, को वा or who, आढ्य: should be made rich, भवतु shall become, द्रव्यवान्वापि whosoever is wealthy, अकिञ्चन: shall be rendered poor.

O queen shed no tears. Drain not your health. Ask me, and I shall slay one who should not be slain or release one who should be slain. I shall make a poor man rich and a wealthy man poor. (Tell me who are such people).
अहं चैव मदीयाश्च सर्वे तव वशानुगाः।

न ते किञ्चिदभिप्रायं व्याहन्तुमहमुत्सहे।।2.10.34।।


अहं चैव I am also, मदीया: my relatives, सर्वे च all people, तव your, वशानुगा: under control, ते your, अभिप्रायम् opinion, किञ्चित् a little, व्याहन्तुम् to spoil, अहम् I, न उत्सहे will not make efforts.

My kins and I are under your control. I will make no effort to go even a little against
your wishes.
आत्मनो जीवितेनापि ब्रूहि यन्मनसेच्छसि।

बलमात्मनि जानन्ती न मां शङ्कितुमर्हसि।।2.10.35।।

करिष्यामि तव प्रीतिं सुकृतेनापि ते शपे।


अत्मन: my own, जीवितेनापि with life even, यत् whatever, मनसा with mind, इच्छसि wish, ब्रूहि tell, आत्मनि in your own self, बलम् strength, जानन्ती you know yourself, माम् me, शङ्कितुम् to doubt, न अर्हसि it does not behove you, सुकृतेनापि on my acquired merits, ते to you, शपे I swear, तव your, प्रीतिम् pleasure, करिष्यामि I will do.

If you want to do anything even if it means sacrificing my life, I shall do it. Since you know my strength, it does not behove you to doubt me. I swear on my merits. I will do whatever pleases you.
यावदावर्तते चक्रं तावती मे वसुन्धरा।।2.10.36।।

प्राचीनास्सिन्धुसौवीरा स्सौराष्ट्रा दक्षिणापथाः।

वङ्गाङ्गमगधाः मत्स्याः समृद्धा काशिकोसलाः।।2.10.37।।


चक्रम् wheel of the chariot, यावत् till (such places), आवर्तते rotates, मे वसुन्धरा my land, तावती (is extended) up to that, प्राचीना: eastern regions, सिन्धुसौवीरा: SindhuSauvira areas, सौराष्ट्रा: Saurashtra, दक्षिणापथा: southern regions, वङ्गाङ्गमगधा: Banga, Anga, Magadha states, मत्स्या: Mathsya kingdom, काशिकोसला: Kasi and Kosala, समृद्धा: prosperous places.

My authority on the land is extended till such places the wheel of any chariot rotates such as the regions in the east, SindhuSauvira areas, Saurashtra, Southern regions, Banga, Anga, Magadha states, Matsya kingdom and KasiKosala countries which are prosperous places.
तत्र जातं बहु द्रव्यं धनधान्यमजाविकम्।

ततो वृणीष्व कैकेयि यद्यत्त्वं मनसेच्छसि।।2.10.38।।


तत्र there, धनधान्यम् wealth and food grains, अजाविकम् sheep and goats, बहु many, द्रव्यम् things, जातम् is produced, कैकेयि Kaikeyi, तत: from those, यद्यत् whichever, त्वम् you, मनसा in mind, इच्छसि wish, वणीष्व ask.

There wealth and foodgrains, sheep and goats and many things are produced. O Kaikeyi, ask whichever of these you wish.
किमायासेन ते भीरु उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ शोभने।

तत्त्वं मे ब्रूहि कैकेयि यतस्ते भयमागतम्।।2.10.39।।

तत्ते व्यपनयिष्यामि नीहारमिव रश्मिवान्।


भीरु O lady, ते to you, आयासेन with exertion, किम् what is the use? शोभने O charming one, उत्तिष्ठ उत्तिष्ठ arise, arise, कैकेयि O Kaikeyi ते to you, यत: from whom, भयम् fear, आगतम् has come, तत् that, त्वम् you, मे me, ब्रूहि tell, ते your, तत् the cause for that fear, रश्मिवान् Sun, नीहारमिव like morning mist, व्यपनयिष्यामि I will dispel.

O lady why do you exert yourself? Arise, arise. O charming Kaikeyi, tell me the cause of your fear. I will dispel it just as the Sun dispels morning mists.
तथोक्ता सा समाश्वस्ता वक्तुकामा तदप्रियम्।।2.10.40।।

परिपीडयितुं भूयो भर्तारमुपचक्रमे।


तथा thus, उक्ता spoken to, सा she, समाश्वस्ता breathing a sigh of relief, तत् that, अप्रियम् unpleasant thing, वक्तुकामा intending to tell, भर्तारम् to her husband, भूयः still more, परिपीडयितुम् for tormenting, उपचक्रमे started.

Thus spoken to, she (Kaikeyi) breathed a sigh of relief. Intending to tell him the unpleasant thing (which was in her mind), she began tormenting her husband all the more.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे दशमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the tenth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.