Sloka & Translation

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

vidarśitā yadā dēvī kubjayā pāpayā bhṛśam.

tadā śētē sma sā bhūmau digdhaviddhēva kinnarī৷৷2.10.1৷৷


sā dēvī that queen (Kaikeyi), bhṛśam exceedingly, pāpayā sinful one, kubjayā by hunchback (Manthara), yadā when, vidarśitā perversely advised, tadā then, digdhaviddhēva as if struck by a poisonous arrow, kinnarīva like a 'kinnari', bhūmau on the floor, śētē sma 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.
niścitya manasā kṛtyaṅ sā samyagiti bhāminī.

mantharāyai śanaissarvamācacakṣē vicakṣaṇā৷৷2.10.2৷৷


vicakṣaṇā intelligent, sā bhāminī that beautiful lady, iti thus, samyak correctly, manasā in her mind, kṛtyam the strategy, niścitya having decided, sarvam everything, śanai: slowly, mantharāyai to Manthara, ācacakṣē told.

The intelligent, beautiful lady (Kaikeyi), having correctly decided the strategy in her mind, slowly unfolded everything to Manthara.
sā dīnā niścayaṅ kṛtvā mantharāvākyamōhitā.

nāgakanyēva niśvasya dīrghamuṣṇaṅ ca bhāminī৷৷2.10.3৷৷

muhūrtaṅ cintayāmāsa mārgamātmasukhāvaham.


sā bhāminī that beautiful lady (Kaikeyi), mantharāvākyamōhitā impressed by Manthara's words,
dīnā wretch, niścayaṅ kṛtvā having decided, nāgakanyēva like a female serpent, dīrgham deeply, uṣṇaṅ ca also hot, niśvasya having sighed, muhūrtam for a while, ātmasukhāvaham bringing happiness to herself, mārgam means, cintayāmāsa 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.
sā suhṛccārthakāmā ca taṅ niśamya suniścayam৷৷2.10.4৷৷

babhūva paramaprītā sidhdiṅ prāpyēva mantharā.


suhṛcca also a friend, arthakāmā ca desiring to fulfil the resolve, sā mantharā that Manthara, tam that, suniścayam firm determination, niśamya having heard, siddhim acomplishment of the objective, prāpyēva as if, paramaprītā highly pleased, babhūva 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.
atha sā ruṣitā dēvī samyakkṛtvā viniścayam৷৷2.10.5৷৷

saṅvivēśābalā bhūmau nivēśya bhṛkuṭīṅ mukhē.


atha then, dēvī queen, sā abalā that woman,ruṣitā soiled, samyak completely, viniścayam firm decision, kṛtvā having taken, mukhē on the face, bhṛkuṭīm frown, nivēśya having placed, bhūmau on the floor, saṅvivēśa lay down.

Then Kaikeyi finally took a firm decision. With a soiled body and a frowning face she lay down on the floor.
tataścitrāṇi mālyāni divyānyābharaṇāni ca৷৷2.10.6৷৷

apaviddhāni kaikēyyā tāni bhūmiṅ prapēdirē.


tata: after that, tāni those, citrāṇi of different colours, mālyāni garlands, divyāni divine (costly), ābharaṇāni ca also the ornaments, kaikēyyā by Kaikeyi, apaviddhāni thrown off, bhūmim to the ground, prapēdirē resorted.

Thereafter Kaikeyi flung away her multi-coloured garlands along with her costly ornaments on to the ground.
tayā tānyapaviddhāni mālyānyābharaṇāni ca৷৷2.10.7৷৷

aśōbhayanta vasudhāṅ nakṣatrāṇi yathā nabhaḥ.


tayā by her, apaviddhāni thrown away, tāni mālyāni all those garlands, ābharaṇāni ca and the ornaments also, nakṣatrāṇi stars, nabha: the sky, yathā like, vasudhām the ground, aśōbhayanta adorned.

All the garlands and ornaments she scattered adorned the floor like the stars (illumining) the sky.
krōdhāgārē nipatitā sā babhau malināmbarā৷৷2.10.8৷৷

ēkavēṇīṅ dṛḍhaṅ badvā gatasattvēva kinnarī.


ēkavēṇīm into a single braid, dṛḍham tightly, badvā having fastened, krōdhāgārē in the chamber of wrath, nipatitā had fallen down, malināmbarā wearing soiled clothes, sā she, gatasattvā in a lifeless state, kinnarī iva like kinnari, babhau 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.
ājñāpya ca mahārājō rāghavasyābhiṣēcanam৷৷2.10.9৷৷

upasthānamanujñāpya pravivēśa nivēśanam.


mahārāja: tu as regards the king, rāghavasya Rama's, abhiṣēcanam installation ceremony, ājñāpya having issued orders, upasthānam very close associates, anujñāpya having taken leave,
nivēśanam the palace, pravivēśa entered.

The king issued orders for Rama's installation ceremony, and taking leave of his close associates entered the palace. .
adya rāmābhiṣēkō vai prasiddha iti jajñivān৷৷2.10.10৷৷

priyārhāṅ priyamākhyātuṅ vivēśāntaḥpuraṅ vaśī.


vaśī one who has subdued the senses, adya today, rāmābhiṣēka: Rama's installation, prasiddha: iti is known to everybody, jajñivān having come to know, priyārhām to me who deserves to hear such pleasant news (to Kaikeyi), priyam pleasant news, ākhyātum to communicate, anta: puram the inner apartment, vivēśa 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.
sa kaikēyyā gṛhaṅ śrēṣṭhaṅ pravivēśa mahāyaśāḥ৷৷2.10.11৷৷

pāṇḍurābhramivākāśaṅ rāhuyuktaṅ niśākaraḥ.


mahāyaśā: renowned, sa: he, niśākara: moon, pāṇḍurābhram with pale clouds, rāhuyuktam accompanied by Rahu, ākāśamiva like the sky, śrēṣṭham excellent, kaikēyyā: gṛham Kaikeyi's abode, pravivēśa 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.
śukabarhiṇasaṅghuṣṭaṅ krauñcahaṅsarutāyutam৷৷2.10.12৷৷

vāditraravasaṅghuṣṭaṅ kubjā vāmanikāyutam.

latāgṛhaiścitragṛhaiścampakāśōkaśōbhitaiḥ৷৷2.10.13৷৷

dāntarājatasauvarṇavēdikābhi ssamāyutam.

nityapuṣpaphalairvṛkṣairvāpībhiścōpaśōbhitam৷৷2.10.14৷৷

dāntarajatasauvarṇaissaṅvṛtaṅ paramāsanaiḥ.

vividhairannapānaiśca bhakṣyaiśca vividhairapi৷৷2.10.15৷৷

upapannaṅ mahārhaiśca bhūṣitaistridivōpamam.

tatpraviśya mahārājassvamantaḥ puramṛddhimat৷৷2.10.16৷৷

na dadarśa priyāṅ rājā kaikēyīṅ śayanōttamē.


śukabarhiṇasaṅghuṣṭam filled with parrots and peacocks, krauñcahaṅsarutāyutam full of cries of kraunchas and swans, vāditraravasaṅghuṣṭam echoing with the sounds of musical instruments, kubjā vāmanikāyutam with hunchbacks and dwarfs (attendants moving here and there), campakāśōkaśōbhitai: shining with champaka and ashoka trees, latāgṛhai: by bowers surrounded with creepers, citragṛhai: ca with picture-galleries, dāntarājatasauvarṇavēdikābhi: diases decorated with ivory, gold and silver, samāyutam filled with, nityapuṣpaphalai: bearing flowers and fruits in all seasons, vṛkṣai: (adorned) with trees, vāpībhi: ca with large pools, upaśōbhitam adorned, paramāsanai: with excellent seats, vividhai: various kinds of, annapānai: ca with food and drinks, bhakṣyai: ca eatables also, upapannam endowed with, bhūṣitai: decorations, mahārhai: expensive, tridivōpamam resembling heaven, puramaṛddhimat prosperous abode, tat that, svam his own, anta: puram inner apartment, praviśya having entered, mahārāja: great king, rājā king (Dasaratha), śayanōttamē on the best bed, priyām beloved, kaikēyīm Kaikeyi, na dadarśa 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, picture-galleries, 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.
kāmabalasaṅyuktō ratyarthaṅ manujādhipaḥ৷৷2.10.17৷৷

apaśyandayitāṅ bhāryāṅ papraccha viṣasāda ca.


kāmabalasaṅyukta: charged with passion, sa: manujādhipa: the king, ratyartham seeking carnal pleasure, dayitām beloved, bhāryām wife, apaśyan not seeing, viṣasāda dejected, papraccha ca 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.
na hi tasya purā dēvī tāṅ vēlāmatyavartata৷৷2.10.18৷৷

na ca rājā gṛhaṅ śūnyaṅ pravivēśa kadācana.


purā previously, dēvī queen (Kaikeyi), tasya his, tāṅ vēlām time, na atyavartata hi did not transgress, rājā king, kadācana never, śūnyam empty, gṛham apartment, na pravivēśa ca did not enter.

Never before had queen Kaikeyi missed his time of arrival. Nor had the king ever entered her empty apartment.
tatō gṛhagatō rājā kaikēyīṅ paryapṛcchata৷৷2.10.19৷৷

yathā pūrvamavijñāya svārthalipsumapaṇḍitām.


tata: then, gṛhagata: having reached the apartment, rājā king, apaṇḍitām foolish lady, kaikēyīm about Kaikeyi, svārthalipsum seeking selfish interest, avijñāya without realising, yathāpūrvam as usual, paryapṛcchata enquired.

Having entered her apartment, the king, unaware of that foolish Kaikeyi's selfish design enquired her whereabouts as usual.
pratīhārī tvathōvāca santrastā sukṛtāñjaliḥ৷৷2.10.20৷৷

dēva dēvī bhṛśaṅ kṛddhā krōdhāgāramabhidṛtā.


atha thereafter, santrastā frightened, pratīharī door-keeper, kṛtāñjali: with folded palms, uvāca said, dēva O monarch! dēvī queen, bhṛśam kṛdvā mighty angry, krōdhāgāram towards the chamber of wrath, abhidṛtā swiftly went.

Thereafter, the frightened door-keeper with folded palms said O monarch! the
queen in a hot mood has rushed into the chamber of wrath.
pratīhāryā vacaśśṛtvā rājā paramadurmanāḥ৷৷2.10.21৷৷

viṣasāda punarbhūyō lulitavyākulēndriyaḥ৷৷


paramadurmanā: deeply melancholic, rājā king, pratīhāryā door keeper's, vaca: words, śṛtvā having heard, lulitavyākulēndriya: with his senses agitated and unstable, puna: again, bhūya: still more, viṣasāda grieved.

Hearing the words of the door-keeper, the melancholic king grieved all the more with his senses agitated and unstable.
tatra tāṅ patitāṅ bhūmau śayānāmatathōcitām৷৷2.10.22৷৷

pratapta iva duḥkhēna sō.paśyajjagatīpatiḥ.


jagatīpati: lord of the earth, sa: he, tatra there (in that chamber of wrath), patitām fallen down, bhūmau on the floor, śayānām lying down, atathōcitām unbecoming manner, tām her, apaśyat saw, du:khēna with grief, pratapta: iva 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.
sa vṛddhastaruṇīṅ bhāryāṅ prāṇēbhyōpi garīyasīm৷৷2.10.23৷৷

apāpaḥ pāpasaṅkalpāṅ dadarśa dharaṇītalē.

latāmiva viniṣkṛttāṅ patitāṅ dēvatāmiva৷৷2.10.24৷৷

kinnarīmiva nirdhūtāṅ cyutāmapsarasaṅ yathā.

māyāmiva paribhraṣṭāṅ hariṇīmiva saṅyatām৷৷2.10.25৷৷


vṛddha: aged, apāpa: guileless, sa: he, taruṇīm youthful lady, prāṇēbhyō.pi more than his life, garīyasīm dearer, pāpasaṅkalpām a lady of sinful intentions, viniṣkṛttām severed, latāmiva like a creeper, patitām fallen down, dēvatāmiva like a goddess, nirdhūtām thrown down on earth, kinnarīmiva like a 'kinnari', cyutām slipped (from heaven), apsarasaṅ yathā like apsarasas, paribhraṣṭām fallen down, māyāmiva like illusion, saṅyatām tied down, hariṇīmiva like a female deer, bhāryām to wife, dadarśa 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.
karēṇumiva digdhēna viddhāṅ mṛgayunā vanē.

mahāgaja ivāraṇyē snēhātparimamarśa tām৷৷2.10.26৷৷


vanē in the forest, digdhēna by a poisoned arrow, viddhām struck down, karēṇumiva like a she-elephant, tām her, araṇyē in the forest, mahāgaja: iva like a mighty elephant, snēhāt lovingly, parimamarśa caressed.

Like a mighty she-elephant caressing her cow wounded with a poisoned arrow in the forest, he caressed her lovingly.
parimṛśya ca pāṇibhyāmabhisantrastacētanaḥ.

kāmī kamalapatrākṣīmuvāca vanitāmidam৷৷2.10.27৷৷


kāmī passionate, abhisantrastacētana: mind extremely terrified, kamalapatrākṣīm to one with eyes resembling lotus-petals, vanitām that woman, pāṇibhyām with both hands, parimṛśya after
caressing, idam this word, uvāca said.

With a mind extremely terrified yet passionate, he caressed his lotus-eyed wife with his hands, and said:
na tē.hamabhijānāmi krōdhamātmani saṅśritam.

dēvi! kēnābhiśaptā.si kēna vā.si vimānitā৷৷2.10.28৷৷

yadidaṅ mama duḥkhāya śēṣē kalyāṇi! pāṅsuṣu.


dēvi O queen! ātmani in me, saṅśritam taken refuge in (you), tē your, krōdham about anger, aham I, na abhijānāmi am not able to know, kēna by whom, abhiśaptā asi are you cursed, kēna vā or by whom, vimānitā asi are you disrespected, kalyāṇi O auspicious one, pāṅsuṣu in the dust, yat śēṣē since you lie, idam this, mama my, du:khāya 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.
bhūmau śēṣē kimarthaṅ tvaṅ mayi kalyāṇacētasi৷৷2.10.29৷৷

bhūtōpahatacittēva mama cittapramāthinī.


mayi in me, kalyāṇacētasi in a mind favourably disposed, tvam you, bhūtōpahatacittēva like one possessed by evil spirits, mama my, cittapramāthinī afflicting my mind, kimartham why, bhūmau on the floor, śēṣē 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?
santi mē kuśalā vaidyāstvabhituṣṭāśca sarvaśaḥ৷৷2.10.30৷৷

sukhitāṅ tvāṅ kariṣyanti vyādhimācakṣva bhāminī.


bhāmini O lovely one! kuśalā: experts, sarvaśa: in every way, abhituṣṭā: ca completely satisfied too, mē my, vaidyā: santi physicians are available, tvām you, sukhitām kariṣyanti will restore your health, vyādhim ailment, ācakṣva 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.
kasya vā tē priyaṅ kāryaṅ kēna vā vipriyaṅ kṛtam৷৷2.10.31৷৷

kaḥ priyaṅ labhatāmadya kō vā sumahadapriyam.


kasya vā to whom, priyam favour, tē by you, kāryam is to be done, kēna vā by whom, vipriyam displeasure, kṛtam was done, ka: who, adya now, priyam favour, labhatām let him obtain, kō vā who, sumahat exceedingly great, apriyam 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?
mā rōdīrmā ca kārṣīstvaṅ dēvi! saṅpariśōṣaṇam৷৷2.10.32৷৷

avadhyō vadhyatāṅ kō vā kō vā vadhyō vimucyatām.

daridraḥ kō bhavatvāḍhyō dravyavānvā.pyakiñcanaḥ৷৷2.10.33৷৷


dēvi! O queen! mā rōdī: do not weep, tvam you, saṅpariśōṣaṇam emaciation of body, mā ca kārṣī: do not cause, avadhya: who should not be slain, kō vā or who, vadhyatām shall be slain, vadhya: worthy of being slain, kō vā or who, vimucyatām shall be released, daridra: is poor, kō vā or who, āḍhya: should be made rich, bhavatu shall become, dravyavānvāpi whosoever is wealthy, akiñcana: 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).
ahaṅ caiva madīyāśca sarvē tava vaśānugāḥ.

na tē kiñcidabhiprāyaṅ vyāhantumahamutsahē৷৷2.10.34৷৷


ahaṅ caiva I am also, madīyā: my relatives, sarvē ca all people, tava your, vaśānugā: under control, tē your, abhiprāyam opinion, kiñcit a little, vyāhantum to spoil, aham I, na utsahē 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.
ātmanō jīvitēnāpi brūhi yanmanasēcchasi.

balamātmani jānantī na māṅ śaṅkitumarhasi৷৷2.10.35৷৷

kariṣyāmi tava prītiṅ sukṛtēnāpi tē śapē.


atmana: my own, jīvitēnāpi with life even, yat whatever, manasā with mind, icchasi wish, brūhi tell, ātmani in your own self, balam strength, jānantī you know yourself, mām me, śaṅkitum to doubt, na arhasi it does not behove you, sukṛtēnāpi on my acquired merits, tē to you, śapē I swear, tava your, prītim pleasure, kariṣyāmi 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.
yāvadāvartatē cakraṅ tāvatī mē vasundharā৷৷2.10.36৷৷

prācīnāssindhusauvīrā ssaurāṣṭrā dakṣiṇāpathāḥ.

vaṅgāṅgamagadhāḥ matsyāḥ samṛddhā kāśikōsalāḥ৷৷2.10.37৷৷


cakram wheel of the chariot, yāvat till (such places), āvartatē rotates, mē vasundharā my land, tāvatī (is extended) up to that, prācīnā: eastern regions, sindhusauvīrā: Sindhu-Sauvira areas, saurāṣṭrā: Saurashtra, dakṣiṇāpathā: southern regions, vaṅgāṅgamagadhā: Banga, Anga, Magadha states, matsyā: Mathsya kingdom, kāśikōsalā: Kasi and Kosala, samṛddhā: 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, Sindhu-Sauvira areas, Saurashtra, Southern regions, Banga, Anga, Magadha states, Matsya kingdom and Kasi-Kosala countries which are prosperous places.
tatra jātaṅ bahu dravyaṅ dhanadhānyamajāvikam.

tatō vṛṇīṣva! kaikēyi yadyattvaṅ manasēcchasi৷৷2.10.38৷৷


tatra there, dhanadhānyam wealth and food grains, ajāvikam sheep and goats, bahu many, dravyam things, jātam is produced, kaikēyi Kaikeyi, tata: from those, yadyat whichever, tvam you, manasā in mind, icchasi wish, vaṇīṣva ask.

There wealth and foodgrains, sheep and goats and many things are produced. O Kaikeyi, ask whichever of these you wish.
kimāyāsēna tē bhīru! uttiṣṭhōttiṣṭha śōbhanē.

tattvaṅ mē brūhi kaikēyi! yatastē bhayamāgatam৷৷2.10.39৷৷

tattē vyapanayiṣyāmi nīhāramiva raśmivān.


bhīru! O lady, tē to you, āyāsēna with exertion, kim what is the use? śōbhanē O charming one, uttiṣṭha uttiṣṭha arise, arise, kaikēyi O Kaikeyi! tē to you, yata: from whom, bhayam fear, āgatam has come, tat that, tvam you, mē me, brūhi tell, tē your, tat the cause for that fear, raśmivān Sun, nīhāramiva like morning mist, vyapanayiṣyāmi 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.
tathōktā sā samāśvastā vaktukāmā tadapriyam৷৷2.10.40৷৷

paripīḍayituṅ bhūyō bhartāramupacakramē.


tathā thus, uktā spoken to, sā she, samāśvastā breathing a sigh of relief, tat that, apriyam unpleasant thing, vaktukāmā intending to tell, bhartāram to her husband, bhūyaḥ still more, paripīḍayitum for tormenting, upacakramē 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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē daśamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the tenth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.