Sloka & Translation

[Sumantra pleads with Kaikeyi to change her mind--Kaikeyi refuses.]

tatō nirdhūya sahasā śirō niśśvasya cāsakṛt.

pāṇau pāṇiṅ viniṣpiṣya dantān kaṭakaṭāpya ca ৷৷2.35.1৷৷

lōcanē kōpasaṅraktē varṇaṅ pūrvōcitaṅ jahat.

kōpābhibhūtassahasā santāpamaśubhaṅ gataḥ৷৷2.35.2৷৷

manaḥ samīkṣamāṇaśca sūtō daśarathasya saḥ.

kampayanniva kaikēyyā hṛdayaṅ vākcharaiśśitaiḥ ৷৷2.35.3৷৷

vākyavajrairanupamairnirbhindanniva cāśubhaiḥ.

kaikēyyā ssarvamarmāṇi sumantraḥ pratyabhāṣata৷৷2.35.4৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, sūtaḥ charioteer, sumantraḥ Sumantra, sahasā suddenly, śiraḥ head, nirdhūya shaking, asakṛt frequently, niḥśvasya sighing, pāṇau in the palm, pāṇim the other palm, viniṣpiṣya crushing, dantān teeth, kaṭakaṭāpyaca grinding, kōpasaṅraktē both turned red due to anger, lōcanē both eyes, pūrvōcitam previous (natural), varṇam complexion, jahat while abandoning, kōpābhibhūtaḥ overcome with anger, sahasā suddenly, aśubham inauspicious, santāpam grief, gataḥ turned, daśarathasya Dasaratha's, manaḥ mind, samīkṣamāṇaśca while observing, śitaiḥ with sharp, vākcharaiḥ arrows of words, kaikēyyāḥ Kaikeyi's, hṛdayam heart, kampayanniva as if piercing, anupamaiḥ incomparable, aśubhaiḥ inauspicious, vākyavajraiḥ with thunder-like words, kaikēyyāḥ Kaikeyi's, sarvamarmāṇi vital parts, bhindanniva as if piercing, pratyabhāṣata replied.

Overcome with anger, charioteer Sumantra started shaking his head and sighing off and on, crushing his palms and grinding his teeth. His eyes turned red due to anger. Overcome with a sudden, ominous grief, the complexion of his face turned red. Sumantra understood the mind of Dasaratha. With sharp arrows of words as if piercing the heart of Kaikeyi, he denounced her in exceptionally harsh words which, like thunderbolt, cut her to the quick:
tatō nirdhūya sahasā śirō niśśvasya cāsakṛt.

pāṇau pāṇiṅ viniṣpiṣya dantān kaṭakaṭāpya ca ৷৷2.35.1৷৷

lōcanē kōpasaṅraktē varṇaṅ pūrvōcitaṅ jahat.

kōpābhibhūtassahasā santāpamaśubhaṅ gataḥ৷৷2.35.2৷৷

manaḥ samīkṣamāṇaśca sūtō daśarathasya saḥ.

kampayanniva kaikēyyā hṛdayaṅ vākcharaiśśitaiḥ ৷৷2.35.3৷৷

vākyavajrairanupamairnirbhindanniva cāśubhaiḥ.

kaikēyyā ssarvamarmāṇi sumantraḥ pratyabhāṣata৷৷2.35.4৷৷


tataḥ thereafter, sūtaḥ charioteer, sumantraḥ Sumantra, sahasā suddenly, śiraḥ head, nirdhūya shaking, asakṛt frequently, niḥśvasya sighing, pāṇau in the palm, pāṇim the other palm, viniṣpiṣya crushing, dantān teeth, kaṭakaṭāpyaca grinding, kōpasaṅraktē both turned red due to anger, lōcanē both eyes, pūrvōcitam previous (natural), varṇam complexion, jahat while abandoning, kōpābhibhūtaḥ overcome with anger, sahasā suddenly, aśubham inauspicious, santāpam grief, gataḥ turned, daśarathasya Dasaratha's, manaḥ mind, samīkṣamāṇaśca while observing, śitaiḥ with sharp, vākcharaiḥ arrows of words, kaikēyyāḥ Kaikeyi's, hṛdayam heart, kampayanniva as if piercing, anupamaiḥ incomparable, aśubhaiḥ inauspicious, vākyavajraiḥ with thunder-like words, kaikēyyāḥ Kaikeyi's, sarvamarmāṇi vital parts, bhindanniva as if piercing, pratyabhāṣata replied.

Overcome with anger, charioteer Sumantra started shaking his head and sighing off and on, crushing his palms and grinding his teeth. His eyes turned red due to anger. Overcome with a sudden, ominous grief, the complexion of his face turned red. Sumantra understood the mind of Dasaratha. With sharp arrows of words as if piercing the heart of Kaikeyi, he denounced her in exceptionally harsh words which, like thunderbolt, cut her to the quick:
yasyāstava patistyaktō rājā daśarathaḥ svayam.

bhartā sarvasya jagataḥ sthāvarasya carasya ca৷৷2.35.5৷৷

na hyakāryatamaṅ kiñcittava dēvīha vidyatē.


dēvi O Kaikeyi !, yasyāḥ tava your, patiḥ husband, sthāvarasya immovable, carasya ca and movable, sarvasya jagataḥ for the entire world, bhartā is the lord, rājā daśarathaḥ king Dasaratha, svayam yourself, tyaktaḥ forsaken, tava your, iha here, akāryatamam incapable of being done, kiñcit nothing, na hi vidyatē is not there.

O Kaikeyi ! you have forsaken king Dasaratha, your husband and the lord of this entire world consisting of the movable and the immovable immovable and movable world. There is nothing in this world which you are notcapable of doing.
patighnīṅ tvāmahaṅ manyē kulaghnīmapi cāntataḥ৷৷2.35.6৷৷

yanmahēndramivājayyaṅ duṣprakampyamivācalam.

mahōdadhimivākṣōbhyaṅ santāpayasi karmabhiḥ৷৷2.35.7৷৷


tvām you, aham I, patighnīm killer of the husband, antataḥ ultimately, kulaghnīmapi ca exterminater of the race, manyē think, yat for which, mahēndramiva like Indra, ajayyam invincible, acalamiva like a mountain, duṣprakampyam unshakeable, mahōdadhimiva like ocean, akṣōbhyam unperturbed, karmabhiḥ with evil acts, santāpayasi causing grief.

King Dasaratha is invincible like Indra, unshakeable like a mountain and unperturbable like the ocean. By causing grief to him through your action I feel you are killing your husband (inch by inch). I think you are ultimately destroying your own race.
māvamaṅsthā daśarathaṅ bhartāraṅ varadaṅ patim.

bharturicchā hi nārīṇāṅ putrakōṭyā viśiṣyatē৷৷2.35.8৷৷


bhartāram nourisher, varadam bestower of boons, patim your husband, daśaratham Dasaratha, māvamaṅsthāḥ do not insult, nārīṇām for women, bhartuḥ husband, icchā desire, putrakōṭyāḥ of ten million sons, viśiṣyatē is of greater value.

Do not have contempt for Dasaratha who is your husband, nourisher and bestower of boons. For a wife, the desire of her husband is considered worthier than ten
million sons.
yathāvayō hi rājyāni prāpnuvanti nṛpakṣayē.

ikṣvākukulanāthē.smiṅ stallōpayitumicchasi৷৷2.35.9৷৷


nṛpakṣayē after the death of the king, yathāvayaḥ according to the age, rājyāni kingdoms, prāpnuvanti hi obtain, asmin in this, ikṣvākukulanāthē lord of Ikshvaku dynasty (Rama), tat that one, lōpayitum to break, icchasi wish.

After the death of the king, the princes will obtain the kingdom according to seniority. Why do you want to break this tradition in the case of Rama, the lord of the Ikshvaku dynasty?
rājā bhavatu tē putrō bharataśśāstu mēdinīm.

vayaṅ tatra gamiṣyāmō rāmō yatra gamiṣyati৷৷2.35.10৷৷


tē putraḥ your son, bharataḥ Bharata, rājā bhavatu let him be king, mēdinīm the earth, śāstu let him rule, rāmaḥ Rama, yatra whereever, gamiṣyati will go, vayam all of us, tatra there, gamiṣyāmaḥ we will go.

Let your son Bharata be king and rule the earth. All of us will go whereever Rama goes.
na hi tē viṣayē kaścid rbrāhmaṇō vastumarhati.

tādṛśaṅ tvamamaryādamadya karma cikīrṣasi৷৷2.35.11৷৷


tē viṣayē in your country, kaścit brāhmaṇaḥ no brahmin, vastuma to dwell, na arhati hi is not worthy of, tvam you, adya now, tādṛśam such, amaryādam trangressing the bounds of the code of conduct, karma act, cikīrṣasi intending.

Now by your act, you intend to transgress the bounds of tradition(code of conduct). No brahmin shall ever dwell in your country.
nūnaṅ sarvē gamiṣyāmō mārgaṅ rāmaniṣēvitam.

tyaktāyā bāndhavaiḥ sarvairbrāhmaṇaiḥ sādhubhiḥ sadā৷৷2.35.12৷৷

kā prītī rājyalābhēna tava dēvi bhaviṣyati.

tādṛśaṅ tvamamaryādaṅ karma kartuṅ cikīrṣasi৷৷2.35.13৷৷


nūnam certainly, sarvē all, rāmaniṣēvitam pursued by Rama, mārgam in the same path, gamiṣyāmaḥ shall go, dēvi O Devi (Kaikeyi), yā you, bāndhavaiḥ with relations, sarvaiḥ all, brāhmaṇaiḥ with brahmins, sādhubhiḥ with virtuous men, sadā always, tyaktā abandoned, tava your, rājyalābhēna by the lust for kingdom, kā what, prītiḥ pleasure, bhaviṣyati will be, tvam you, amaryādam trangressing the limits of honour, tādṛśam such, karma act, kartum to do, cikīrṣasi wish?

All of us certainly will follow the path pursued by Rama. Abandoned by relatives, brahmins and virtuous men for all times, what pleasure will you derive by your lust for this kingdom? O Kaikeyi, why do you intend to trangress the limits of honour?
āścaryamiva paśyāmi yasyāstē vṛttamīdṛśam.

ācarantyā na vivṛtā sadyō bhavati mēdinī৷৷2.35.14৷৷


yasyāḥ such as yours, īdṛśaṅ such, vṛttaṅ act, ācarantyāḥ while undertaking, mēdinī the earth, sadyaḥ right away, vivṛtā na bhavati does not split, āścaryamiva it is like a wonder, paśyāmi I see.

It is a wonder that the earth does not split right away when you are perpetrating such an (abominable) act.
mahābrahmarṣisṛṣṭāḥ vā jvalantō bhīmadarśanāḥ.

dhigvāgdaṇḍā na hiṅsanti rāmapravrājanē sthitām৷৷2.35.15৷৷


rāmapravrājanē in banishing Rama, sthitām bent upon, mahābrahmarṣisṛṣṭāḥ created by great brahmarshis, jvalantaḥ burning, bhīmadarśanāḥ fearful to look at, dhik vāgdaṇḍāḥ reproachful
words of shame, na hiṅsanti are not destroying.

It is a wonder that while bent upon banishing Rama, you are not destroyed by frightening fire created by great brahmarsis, crying, 'Shame, shame!'
āRmraṅ chitvā kuṭhārēṇa nimbaṅ paricarēttu yaḥ.

yaścainaṅ payasā siñcēnnaivāsya madhurō bhavēt৷৷2.35.16৷৷


yaḥ whoever, āmram mango tree, kuṭhārēṇa with an axe, chitvā having severed, nimbam a nimba tree, paricarēttu will grow, yaśca whoever, ēnam to this, payasā with milk, siñcēt sprinkles, asya for him, madhuraḥ sweet,naiva bhavēt does not become.

By axing a mango tree and growing a nimba in its place and sprinkling it with milk one does not get sweet fruit.
abhijātyaṅ hi tē manyē yathā mātustathaiva ca.

na hi nimbātsravēt kṣaidraṅ lōkē nigaditaṅ vacaḥ৷৷2.35.17৷৷


tē your, ābhijātyam nobility of birth, mātuḥ your mother's, yathā as that of, tathaiva ca like that, manyē thinking, nimbāt from nimba tree, kṣaudram honey, na sravēt hi does not flow, lōkē in this world, vacaḥ saying, nigaditam is said.

Your nature corresponds to your mother's, so I think. 'Honey will not flow from a nimba tree' is a well-known saying in this world.
tava māturasadgrāhaṅ vidmaḥ pūrvaṅ yathāśrutam.

pitustē varadaḥ kaściddadau varamanuttamam৷৷2.35.18৷৷

sarvabhūtarutaṅ tasmātsaṅjajñē vasudhādhipaḥ.

tēna tiryaggatānāṅ ca bhūtānāṅ viditaṅ vacaḥ৷৷2.35.19৷৷


pūrvam in the past, yathāśrutam as heard, tava mātuḥ your mother's, asadgrāham evil (stubborn) attitude, vidmaḥ we are aware, kaścit one, varadaḥ bestower of boons, tē pituḥ to your father, anuttamam extraordinary, varam boon, dadau gave, tasmāt by that, vasudhādhipaḥ the king, sarvabhūtarutam the sounds of all beings, sañjajñē understood, tēna by him, tiryaggatānām obliquely moving, bhūtānām all living beings, vacaḥ words, viditam knew.

We have heard in the past about the evil (stubborn) nature of your mother. Once a bestower of boons conferred an extraordinary boon on your father by virtue of which he could tell the sounds of all living beings. He also understood the language of all crookedly moving creatures.
tatō jṛmbhasya śayanē virutādbhūrivarcasaḥ.

pitustē viditō bhāva ssa tatra bahudhā.hasat৷৷2.35.20৷৷


tataḥ then, śayanē near his bed, jṛmbhasya of 'Jrumbha' (an ant or a bird of theis name), virutāt from its sound, bhāvaḥ its meaning, bhūrivarcasaḥ highly brilliant, tē pituḥ to your father, viditaḥ was known, tatra on that, saḥ he, bahudhā repeatedly, ahasat laughed.

Then one day near his bed your highly brilliant father laughed repeatedly over what an ant or a bird said, for he knew the meaning from its sound.
tatra tē jananī kruddhā mṛtyupāśamabhīpsatī.

hāsaṅ tē nṛpatē! saumya jijñāsāmīti cābravīt৷৷2.35.21৷৷


tē jananī your mother, mṛtyupāśam noose of death, abhīpsatī seeking, tatra at that (laughter), kruddhā getting angry, saumya O handsome one, nṛpatē king!, tē your, hāsam about laughter, jijñāsāmiti intend to know, abravīt said.

This incensed your mother who seeking the noose of death, asked him, 'O handsome king, I intend to know the cause of your laughter'.
nṛpaścōvāca tāṅ dēvīṅ dēvi! śaṅsāmi tē yadi.

tatō mē maraṇaṅ sadyō bhaviṣyati na saṅśayaḥ৷৷2.35.22৷৷


nṛpaśca that king, tāṅ dēvīm to his wife, uvāca said, dēvi O queen, tē to you, śaṅsāmi yadi if I disclose, tataḥ then, sadyaḥ immediately, mē to me, maraṇam death, bhaviṣyati will happen, saṅśayaḥ doubt, na not.

'O queen! if I disclose it, then I will undoubtedly die that very movement' replied the king to his wife.
mātā tē pitaraṅ dēvi! tataḥ kēkayamabravīt.

śaṅsa mē jīva vā mā vā na māmapahasiṣyasi৷৷2.35.23৷৷


dēvi O Devi (Kaikeyi)! tataḥ thereafter, tē mātā your mother, pitaram to your father, kēkayam to king of Kekaya, abravīt said, jīva vā whether you live, mā vā or die, mē to me, śaṅsa tell, mām me, na apahasiṣyasi do not ridicule.

Then your mother said to your father, 'Whether you live or die, tell me the cause. You are laughing at me'.
priyayā ca tathōkta ssan kēkayaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ.

tasmai taṅ varadāyārthaṅ kathayāmāsa tattvataḥ৷৷2.35.24৷৷


priyayā by the beloved, tathā thus, uktaḥ san having been spoken to, kēkayaḥ Kekaya, pṛthivīpatiḥ lord of the earth, tasmai that, varadāya conferor of boon, tam arthaṅ all this matter, tattvataḥ as it happened, kathayāmāsa related.

Hearing the words of his beloved, king of Kekaya related the entire matter, as it
happened, concerning the conferor of boons.
tataḥ ssa varadaḥ sādhurājānaṅ pratyabhāṣata.

mriyatāṅ dhvaṅsatāṅ vēyaṅ mā kṛthāstvaṅ mahīpatē!৷৷2.35.25৷৷


tataḥ then, varadaḥ the conferor of boons, saḥ sādhuḥ that holy man, rājānam to the king, pratyabhāṣata answered, mahīpatē O King, iyam she, mriyatām let her die, dhvaṅsatāṅ vā or be destroyed, tvam you, mā kṛthāḥ do not disclose (don't tell).

That holy man who had granted the boon (to the king) had said, 'Let her die or destroy herself, but do not disclose (the cause of your laughter).
sa tacchrutvā vacastasya prasannamanasō nṛpaḥ.

mātaraṅ tē nirasyāśu vijahāra kubēravat৷৷2.35.26৷৷


saḥ nṛpaḥ that king, prasannamanasaḥ cheerfully, tasya his, tat vacaḥ these words, śrutvā having listened, āśu at once, tē your, mātaram mother, nirasya dismissing, kubēravat like Kubera, vijahāra moved freely.

Happy to hear these words, your father sent away your mother and moved about like Kubera.
tathā tvamapi rājānaṅ durjanācaritē pathi.

asadgrāhamimaṅ mōhātkuruṣē pāpadarśini৷৷2.35.27৷৷


pāpadarśini O evil-minded one! tvamapi you also, tathā like that, rājānam to the king, durjanācaritē under the influence of the wicked, pathi on the path, imam this, asadgrāham unfair persistance, kuruṣē do, mōhāt due to infatuation.

O evil-minded one you, too, are following the path of wickedness, forcing the king infatuated (with you) to act unrighteously.
satyaścādya pravādō.yaṅ laukikaḥ pratibhāti mā.

pitṛn samanujāyantē narā mātaramaṅganāḥ৷৷2.35.28৷৷


narāḥ men, pitṛn fathers, aṅganāḥ women, mātaram mother, samanujāyantē are born similar to them, ayam this, laukikaḥ generally accepted, pravādaḥ saying, satyaḥ truth, adya now, mā
about (to) me, pratibhāti appears.

The generally accepted saying in this world that 'sons resemble the father and, daughters the mother' appears true to me today.
naivaṅ bhava gṛhāṇēdaṅ yadāha vasudhādhipaḥ.

bharturicchāmupāsvēha janasyāsya gatirbhava৷৷2.35.29৷৷


ēvam in that way, na bhava do not become, vasudhādhipaḥ lord of the world, king, yat which one, āha tells, idam that one, gṛhāṇa accept, bhartuḥ husband's, icchām wishes, upāsva abide by, iha here, asya janasya for these people, gatiḥ bhava be refuge.

Do not be like your mother. Accept what the king says. Abide by his wishes. Be his saviour.
mā tvaṅ prōtsāhitā pāpairdēvarājasamaprabham.

bhartāraṅ lōkabhartāramasaddharmamupādadhāḥ৷৷2.35.30৷৷


tvam you, pāpaiḥ by wicked, prōtsāhitā encouraged by, dēvarājasamaprabham like Indra in brilliance, lōkabhartāram protector of the world, bhartāram your husband, asaddharmam unrighteousness, mā upādadhāḥ do not attribute.

Instigated by the wicked, do not attribute unrighteousness to your husband who is equal to Indra in brilliance and is the sustainer of this world.
na hi mithyā pratijñātaṅ kariṣyati tavānaghaḥ.

śrīmāndaśarathō rājā dēvi! rājīvalōcanaḥ৷৷2.35.31৷৷


dēvi! O Devi! anaghaḥ sinless, śrīmān prosperous, rājīvalōcanaḥ lotus-eyed, rājā king, daśarathaḥ Dasaratha, tava to you, pratijñātam which is promised, mithyā untruth, na kariṣyati hi will not make.

The lotus-eyed, sinless and prosperous king Dasaratha, O Devi! will not render false the promise given you (he will fulfil it in another form).
jyēṣṭhō vadānyaḥ karmaṇyaḥ svadharmaparirakṣitā.

rakṣitā jīvalōkasya balī rāmō.bhiṣicyatām৷৷2.35.32৷৷


jyēṣṭhaḥ the eldest, vadānyaḥ generous, karmaṇyaḥ skilful, svadharmaparirakṣitā dutiful, jīvalōkasya all beings of the world, rakṣitā protector, balī valiant, rāmaḥ Rama, abhiṣicyatām be installed.

Let his eldest son Rama, valiant, generous, skilful, dutiful and protector of this world, be consecrated.
parivādō hi tē dēvi! mahāllōkē cariṣyati.

yadi rāmō vanaṅ yāti vihāya pitaraṅ nṛpam৷৷2.35.33৷৷


dēvi! O Devi! rāmaḥ Rama, nṛpam king, pitaram his father, vihāya leaving, vanam to the forest, yāti yadi if he goes, lōkē in this world, tē your, mahān great, parivādē blame, cariṣyati hi will spread.

O Devi, if Rama goes to the forest leaving his father, the king, you will be squarely blamed by the people of the world.
sa rājyaṅ rāghavaḥ pātu bhava tvaṅ vigatajvarā.

na hi tē rāghavādanyaḥ kṣamaḥ puravarē vasēt৷৷2.35.34৷৷


saḥ rāghavaḥ that Rama, rājyam kingdom, pātu protect, tvam you, vigatajvarā relieved of mental afflictions, bhava become, rāghavāt more than Rama, anyaḥ other person, kṣamaḥ competent, tē your, puravarē in this excellent city, na vasēt hi not reside.

Therefore, let Rama potect this kingdom. Be relieved of mental afflictions. There is no other person in this excellent city more competent than Rama to rule this kingdom.
rāmē hi yauvarājyasthē rājā daśarathō vanam.

pravēkṣyati mahēṣvāsaḥ pūrvavṛttamanusmaran৷৷2.35.35৷৷


rāmē Rama, yauvarājyasthē on being installed as heir-apparent, mahēṣvāsaḥ great archer, rājā king, daśarathaḥ Dasaratha, pūrvavṛttam the ancient custom, anusmaran recollecting, vanam to the forest, pravēkṣyati enter.

If Rama is installed as heir-apparent, king Dasaratha, the great archer will retire to the forest for carrying out austerities following ancient customs.
iti sāntvaiśca tīkṣṇaiśca kaikēyīṅ rājasaṅsadi.

sumantraḥ kṣōbhayāmāsa bhūya ēva kṛtājjaliḥ৷৷2.35.36৷৷


iti in this way, sumantraḥ Sumantra, sāntvaiśca with gentle words, tīkṣṇaiśca with sharp words also, rājasaṅsadi in the presence of the king, kaikēyīm Kaikeyi, kṣōbhayāmāsa made her feel sorry, bhūya ēva again, kṛtājñaliḥ stood with folded palms.

Sumantra tried with words both gentle and sharp to make Kaikeyi regret. And then stood with folded palms in the presence of the king.
naiva sā kṣubhyatē dēvī na ca sma paridūyatē.

na cāsyā mukhavarṇasya vikriyā lakṣyatē tadā৷৷2.35.37৷৷


sā dēvī that Kaikeyi, naiva kṣubhyatē unperturbed, na ca paridūyatē sma did not feel sorry, tadā then,
mukhavarṇasya colour of her face (and expression), vikriyā ca change, na lakṣyatē could not be seen.

(Despite the exhortations by Sumantra) Kaikeyi remained unperturbed. She did not feel sorry. There was no change in the expression of her face.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē paṅcatriṅśassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the thirtyfifth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.