Sloka & Translation

[Kaikeyi reminds king Dasaratha about the boons--seeks consecration of Bharata as princeregent and exile of Rama to the forest.]

तं मन्मथशरैर्विद्धमं कामवेगवशानुगम्।

उवाच पृथिवीपालं कैकेयी दारुणं वचः।।2.11.1।।


कैकेयी Kaikeyi, मन्मथशरैः with the darts of Kamadeva, विद्धम् struck, कामवेगवशानुगम् overtaken by passion, तं पृथिवीपालम् to the ruler of earth (Dasaratha), दारुणम् dreadful, वचः words, उवाच said.

To the ruler of the earth (the king), struck by the darts of Kamadeva and overtaken by passion Kaikeyi spoke (these) dreadful words.
नास्मि विप्रकृतादेव केनचिन्नावमानिता।

अभिप्रायस्तु मे कश्चित्तमिच्छामि त्वया कृतम्।।2.11.2।।


देव O king, केनचित् by any one, विप्रकृता offended, नास्मि I am not, न अवमानिता nor disregarded, तु but, मे my, कश्चित् certain, अभिप्रायः purpose, तम् that one, त्वया by you, कृतं इच्छामि you should fulfil.

O king I have neither been offended nor disregarded by any one, but I have a purpose which you should fulfil.
प्रतिज्ञां प्रतिजानीष्व यदि त्वं कर्तुमिच्छसि।

अथ तद्व्याहरिष्यामि यदभिप्रार्थितं मया।।2.11.3।।


त्वम् you, कर्तुम् to accomplish, इच्छसि यदि if you are inclined, प्रतिज्ञां प्रतिजानीष्व promise to fulfil, अथ thereafter, मया by me, यत् whatever, अभिप्रार्थितम् sought for, तत् that one, व्याहरिष्यामि I will tell you.

If you are inclined to accomplish my desire, then promise me that you will fulfil them. Thereafter I shall reveal it to you.
तामुवाच महातेजाः कैकेयीमीषदुत्स्मितः।

कामी हस्तेन संगृह्य मूर्धजेषु शुचिस्मिताम्।।2.11.4।।


महातेजाः mighty, कामी steeped in passion, ईषत् a little, उत्स्मितः with a visible smile, शुचिस्मिताम् with a pure (bright) smile, तां कैकेयीम् to that Kaikeyi, मूर्धजेषु her hair, हस्तेन with hand, संगृह्य holding (gently), उवाच said.

The mighty king steeped in passion gently held Kaikeyi's hair in his hands and with a clear, bright smile said:
आवलिप्ते न जानासि त्वत्तः प्रियतरो मम।

मनुजो मनुजव्याघ्राद्रामादन्यो न विद्यते।।2.11.5।।


आवलिप्ते woman swollen with pride, न जानासि do you not know?, मम to me, त्वत्तः more than you, प्रियतरः dearer, मनुजव्याघ्रात् other than the tiger (best) among men, रामात् than Rama, अन्यः other, मनुजः man, न विद्यते does not exist.

O proud lady, don't you know there exists for me no woman dearer than you and no man other than Rama who is the best among men.
तेनाजय्येन मुख्येन राघवेण महात्मना।

शपे ते जीवनार्हेण ब्रूहि यन्मनसेच्छासि।।2.11.6।।


अजय्येन invincible one, मुख्येन chief (among men), जीवनार्हेण by one worthy to live, महात्मना broadminded, तेन राघवेण by that scion among the Raghus (Rama), शपे swear, मनसा in mind, यत् which, इच्छसि (you) wish, ब्रूहि tell.

I swear in the name of the scion of the Raghu dynasty, the invincible, broadminded
Rama, the best among men worthy of long life. Tell me what you have in mind.
यं मुहूर्तमपश्यंस्तु न जीवेयमहं ध्रुवम्।

तेन रामेण कैकेयि शपे ते वचनक्रियाम्।।2.11.7।।


कैकेयि Kaikeyi, यम् whom, अपश्यन् without seeing, अहम् I, मुहूर्तम् even for a moment, ध्रुवम् this is certain, न जीवेयम् cannot live, तेन रामेण by such Rama, ते your, वचनक्रियाम् in accordance with your wish, शपे I swear.

O Kaikeyi, in the name of Rama without seeing whom I, for sure, cannot live a momment, I swear I will fulfil your desire.
आत्मना वात्मजैश्चान्यैर्वृणेयं मनुजर्षभम्।

तेन रामेण कैकेयि शपे ते वचनक्रियाम्।।2.11.8।।


कैकेयि Kaikeyi, आत्मना वा by myself, अन्यैः by others, आत्मजैश्च my sons, यम् whom, मनुजर्षभम् best among men, वृणे I choose, तेन रामेण by that Rama, ते your, वचनक्रियाम् to fulfil your wish, शपे swear.

O Kaikeyi I wish the best among men Rama well.Even at the expense of my life or the lives of the rest of my sons I swear in his name I shall fulfil your wish.
भद्रे हृदयमप्येतदनुमृशोद्धरस्व मे।

एतत्समीक्ष्य कैकेयि ब्रूहि यत्साधु मन्यसे।।2.11.9।।


भद्रे O gentle lady मे my, एतत् this, हृदयम् heart, अनुमृश्य having touched, उद्धरस्व save,
कैकेयि O Kaikeyi, एतत् this, समीक्ष्य after considering, यत् which, साधु as good, मन्यसे you may consider, ब्रूहि you may tell.

O gentle lady my heart is sinking. Touch my heart and deliver me from distress. O Kaikeyi considering all this, tell me what you think is good.
बलमात्मनि जानन्ती न मां शङ्कितुमर्हसि।

करिष्यामि तव प्रीतिं सुकृतेनापि ते शपे।।2.11.10।।


आत्मनि in yourself, बलम् power, जानन्ती you know fully, माम् me, शङ्कितुम् to doubt, न अर्हसि it does not behove you, सुकृतेनापि on my merits, ते to you, शपे I swear, तव your, प्रीतिम् pleasure, करिष्ये I shall do.

You know fully the authority you wield over me. Therefore, it does not behove you to doubt me. I swear on my acquired merits that I shall do whatever pleases you.
सा तदर्थमना देवी तमभिप्रायमागतम्।

निर्माध्यस्थ्याच्च हर्षाच्च बभाषे दुर्वचं वचः।।2.11.11।।


तदर्थमनाः bent upon her interests, देवी queeni, आगतम् her mind has set upon, तम् अभिप्रायम् her wish, निर्माध्यस्थ्यात् with no alternate path, हर्षात् च rejoiced, दुर्वचम् unutterable, वचः words, बभाषे uttered.

Bent upon her interests, the queen cheered and expressed in unutterable words her premeditated wish which had no alternative.
तेन वाक्येन संहृष्टा तमभिप्रायमागतम्।

व्याजहार महाघोरमभ्यागतमिवान्तकम्।।2.11.12।।


तेन वाक्येन by those words, संहृष्टा delighted, अभ्यागतम् suddenly struck, अन्तकमिव like death, महाघोरम् highly dreadful, आगतम् that has come to her mind, तम् अभिप्रायम् her wish, व्याजहार spoke.

Delighted by the words (of the king), Kaikeyi disclosed him her highly dreadful wish which entered her mind like a sudden visitation of death:
यथा क्रमे शपसि वरं मम ददासि च।

तच्छृण्वन्तु त्रयस्त्रिंशद्देवास्साग्निपुरोगमाः।।2.11.13।।


साग्निपुरोगमाः with firegod in the forefront, त्रयस्त्रिंशद्देवाः thirtythree (crore) gods, क्रमेण successively, यथा like, शपसि your are swearing, मम my, वरम् boon, ददासि च are giving, तत् that, शृण्वन्तु listen.

You are repeatedly swearing to grant me boons. Let the thirtythree crore gods headed by the firegod, listen.
चन्द्रादित्यौ नभश्चैव ग्रहा रात्र्यहनी दिशः।

जगच्च पृथिवी चेयं सगन्धर्वा सराक्षसा।।2.11.14।।

निशाचराणि भूतानि गृहेषु गृहदेवता।

यानि चान्यानि भूतानि जानीयुर्भाषितं तव।।2.11.15।।


चन्द्रादित्यौ Moon and Sun, नभः च एव and the sky also, ग्रहाः the planets, रात्र्यहनी night and day, दिशः the (ten) quarters, जगच्च the world, सगन्धर्वा with all gandharvas, सराक्षसा with all rakshasas, इयम् this, पृथिवी earth, निशाचराणि nightrangers, भूतानि all beings, गृहेषु in the houses, गृहदेवताः family deities, अन्यानि all other, यानि whosoever, भूतानि beings, तव your, भाषितम् words of promise, जानीयुः let them know.

Let the Moon and the Sun, the sky, the planets, night and day, the (ten) quarters the world, gandharvas, rakshasas, this earth, the nocturnal spirits all beings, family deities of every house and all other beings listen to your words of promise.
सत्यसन्धो महातेजाः धर्मज्ञः सुसमाहितः।

वरं मम ददात्येष तन्मे श्रृण्वन्तु दैवताः।।2.11.16।।


सत्यसन्ध: true to his vows, महातेजाः heroic, धर्मज्ञः knows the ways of righteousness, सुसमाहितः wellcomposed, एषः this (Dasaratha), मम my, वरम् boon, ददाति is giving, दैवताः gods, तत् that one, मे for my sake, शृण्वन्तु hear.

King Dasaratha who is true to his vows, heroic and knows the ways of righteousness is granting me boons with a wellcomposed mind. Let all the gods stand witness to this (declared Kaikeyi).
इति देवी महेष्वासं परिगृह्याभिशस्य च।

ततः परमुवाचेदं वरदं काममोहितम्।।2.11.17।।


देवी queen, महेष्वासम् great archer, परिगृह्य having seized, अभिशस्य च having flattered, ततः परम् च afterwards, वरदम् conferer of boons, काममोहितम् infatuated, इदम् this word, उवाच said.

Clasping the great archer, the infatuated king, conferer of boons and flattering him (to the top of her bent), the queen said:
स्मर राजन् पुरावृत्तं तस्मिन् दैवासुरे रणे।

तत्र चाच्यावयच्छत्रुस्तव जीवितमन्तरा।।2.11.18।।


राजन् O king, पुरा long ago, तस्मिन् that, दैवासुरे between gods and asuras, रणे in the war, वृत्तम् event, स्मर recollect, तत्र there, शत्रु: च enemy too, तव your, जीवितम् अन्तरा except your life, अच्यावयत् pulled down.

O king, recall the event that happened long ago in the war between gods and asuras where the enemy destroyed all your forces except your life.
तत्र चापि मया देव यत्त्वं समभिरक्षितः।

जाग्रत्या यतमानायास्ततो मे प्राददा वरौ।।2.11.19।।


देव O king तत्र च there too, यत् since, त्वम् you, मया by me, समभिरक्षितः were rescued, ततः for that reason, जाग्रत्याः fully alert, यतमानायाः making efforts to protect you, मे to me, वरौ two boons, प्राददाः you conferred.

O king, I rescued you there. Since I was alert to protect you, you granted me two
boons.
तौ तु दत्तौ वरौ देव निक्षेपौ मृगयाम्यहम्।

तथैव पृथिवीपाल सकाशे सत्यसङ्गर।।2.11.20।।


पृथिवीपाल O protector of the earth, सत्यसङ्गर one who is honest in keeping promises, देव O king तव your, सकाशे एव with, निक्षेपौ preserved as deposit (to be given in course of time), तौ those, दत्तौ given, वरौ तु boons, अहम् I, मृगयामि seeking.

O protector of the earth, O king, honest in keeping promises, I (now) seek those two boons which were reserved as deposits.
तत् प्रतिश्रुत्य धर्मेण न चेद्दास्यसि मे वरम्।

अद्यैव हि प्रहास्यामि जीवितं त्वद्विमानिता।।2.11.21।।


तत् that, प्रतिश्रुत्य having vowed, मे my, वरम् boon, धर्मेण rightfully, न दास्यसि चेत् if you do not grant, त्वद्विमानिता disgraced by you, अद्यैव right away, जीवितम् life, प्रहास्यामि हि shall give up.

The boons you have vowed to give shall rightfully be given to me. If not, disgraced by you I shall give up my life right away.
वाङ्मात्रेण तदा राजा कैकेय्या स्ववशे कृतः।

प्रचस्कन्द विनाशाय पाशं मृग इवात्मनः।।2.11.22।।


तदा then, कैकेय्या by Kaikeyi, वाङ्मात्रेण with words only, स्ववशे under the control, कृतः
caught, राजा च king also, मृगः इव like a deer, आत्मनः for his own, विनाशाय for destruction, पाशम् trap, प्रचस्कन्द jumped into.

The king now came under the control of Kaikeyi by his own words like a deer that jumps into the trap for its own destruction.
ततः परमुवाचेदं वरदं काममोहितम्।

वरौ यौ मे त्वया देव तदा दत्तौ महीपते।।2.11.23।।

तौ तावदहमद्यैव वक्ष्यामि शृणु मे वचः।


ततः परम् thereafter, काममोहितम् overcome by passion, वरदम् conferer of boons, इदम् this word, उवाच said, महीपते O lord of earth, देव my lord, तदा then, मे to me, त्वया by yourself, यौ वरौ those two boons, दत्तौ were given, तौ about them, अद्यैव तावत् right now, वक्ष्यामि I shall speak out , मे वचः my words, शृणु listen.

Thereafter, she said to the infatuated king who had promised to confer her boons, O lord of the earth, O king, right now I shall speak to you about the two boons granted by you. Listen to my words.
अभिषेकसमारम्भो राघवस्योपकल्पितः।।2.11.24।।

अनेनैवाभिषेकेण भरतो मेऽभिषिच्यताम्।


राघवस्य Rama's, अभिषेकसमारम्भः preparations for consecration, उपकल्पितः have been made, अनेन अभिषेकेणैव with these materials for installation, मे my, भरतः Bharata, अभिषिच्यताम् shall be crowned.

Preparations for Rama's consecration have been made. With these very materials for installation, my son Bharata should be consecrated.
यो द्वितीयो वरो देव दत्तः प्रीतेन मे त्वया।।2.11.25।।

तदा दैवासुरे युद्धे तस्य कालोऽयमागत।


तदा then, दैवासुरे युद्धे in the war between gods and asuras, प्रीतेन pleased, त्वया by you, देव Lord मे to me, यः which, द्वितीय: second, वरः boon, दत्तः was given, तस्य for that, अयम् this, कालः time, आगतः has come.

Then in the war between gods and asuras, O lord, pleased with me you have
promised a second boon and the time has come to grant it.
नव प़ञ्च च वर्षाणि दण्डकारण्यमाश्रितः।।2.11.26।।

चीराजिनजटाधारी रामो भवतु तापसः।


रामः Rama, नव पञ्च च वर्षाणि for fourteen (nine and five) years, दण्डकारण्यम् Dandaka forest, आश्रितः resorted to, चीराजिनजटाधारी clad in tattered (bark) and deer skin and wearing matted locks, तापसः like an ascetic, भवतु shall remain (in the forest.)

Consigned to the Dandaka forest for fourteen years, clad in bark and deer skin and wearing matted hair, Rama shall live like an ascetic.
भरतो भजतामद्य यौवराज्यमकण्टकम्।।2.11.27।।

एष मे परमः कामो दत्तमेव वरं वृणे।

अद्य चैव हि पश्येयं प्रयान्तं राघवं वनम्।।2.11.28।।


अद्य now, भरतः Bharata, अकण्टकम् without any thorns(rivals), यौवराज्यम् as princeregent, भजताम् let him enjoy, एषः this, मे my, परमः great, कामः desire, दत्तं वरमेव already granted boon, वृणे I am asking for, अद्य चैव now itself, वनम् to the forest, प्रयान्तं departing to the forest, राघवम् to the scion of the Raghus (Rama), पश्येयम् I shall see.

Let Bharata be princeregent without any rivals. This is my great desire. I am asking for an already granted boon. Let me see Rama's departure to the forest today itself.
स राजराजः भव सत्यसङ्गरः

कुलं च शीलं च हि रक्ष जन्म च।

परत्रवासे हि वदन्त्यनुत्तमं

तपोधनास्सत्यवचो हितं नृणाम्।।2.11.29।।


राजराजः king of kings, सः you are such, सत्यसङ्गरः भव be true to your vows, कुलं च your race , शीलं च character, जन्म च birth, रक्ष हि protect, नृणाम् for men, परत्र in the other world, वासे for existence, सत्यवचः merits of truth, अनुत्तमम् no superior, हितम् welfare, तपोधनाः those having ascetism as wealth, sages, वदन्ति हि are saying.

O king of kings, by being true to your vow, protect your race, character and lineage. Those sages whose ascetism is their wealth maintain that there is no merit superior to truthfulness which can confer man a place in the other world.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे एकादशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the eleventh sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.