Sloka & Translation

[While Bharata looks at Manthara furiously, Satrughna drags her and throws her down -- Kaikeyi pleads for mercy and pacifies Manthara.]

अथ यात्रां समीहन्तं शत्रुघ्नो लक्ष्मणानुजः।

भरतं शोकसन्तप्तमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.78.1।।

अथ now, यात्राम् journey (to Rama), समीहन्तम् wishing, शोकसन्तप्तम् griefstriken, भरतम्
Bharata, लक्ष्मणानुजः Lakshmana's younger brother, शत्रुघ्नः Satrughna, इदम् these, वचनम् words, अब्रवीत् said.

As the griefstricken Bharata was intending to proceed to Rama, Lakshmana's younger brother Satrughna said to him:

गतिर्य स्सर्वभूतानां दुःखे किं पुनरात्मनः।

स राम स्सत्त्वसम्पन्नः स्त्रिया प्रव्राजितो वनम्।।2.78.2।।

यः who, सर्वभूतानाम् for all beings, गतिः ultimate refuge, आत्मनः in his own, दुःखे distress, किं पुनः why again say, सः he, सत्त्वसम्पन्नः endowed with strength, रामः Rama, स्त्रिया by a woman, वनम् to forest, प्रव्राजितः has been exiled.

Couldn't the mighty Rama who is the ultimate refuge of all beings protect himself in his own distress? That Rama has been exiled to the forest by a woman.

बलवान्वीर्यसम्पन्नो लक्ष्मणो नाम योऽप्यसौ।

किं न मोचयते रामं कृत्वा स्म पितृनिग्रहम्।।2.78.3।।

बलवान् strong, वीर्यसम्पन्नः endowed with prowess, लक्ष्मणो नाम Lakshmana by name, यः whoever, असौ अपि even himself, पितृनिग्रहम् restraint of father, कृत्वा having made, रामम् Rama, किम् why, न मोचयते स्म did not release?.

And why did not Lakshmana who is strong and powerful release Rama from exile by restraining our father?

पूर्वमेव तु निग्राह्य स्समवेक्ष्य नयानयौ।

उत्पथं यस्समारूढो राजा नार्या वशं गतः।।2.78.4।।

यः who, नार्याः woman's, वशम् the influence, गतः having come under, उत्पथम् upward course, समारूढः had climbed, राजा king, नयानयौ what was just or unjust, समवेक्ष्य having considered, पूर्वमेव in the first place, निग्राह्यः could have restrained.

In the first place, the king could have restrained himself by reflecting on whether the course of action adopted by him under the influence of a woman was just or unjust.

इति सम्भाषमाणे तु शत्रुघ्ने लक्ष्मणानुजे।

प्राग्द्वारेऽभूत्तदा कुब्जा सर्वाभरणभूषिता।।2.78.5।।

लक्ष्मणानुजे while the brother of Lakshmana, शत्रुघ्ने Satrughna, इति thus, सम्भाषमाणे was conversing, तदा then, कुब्जा hunchback Manthara, सर्वाभरणभूषिता wearing every kind of ornament, प्राग्द्वारे अभूत् arrived at the entrance.

While Satrughna, brother of Lakshmana was conversing thus, the hunchback Manthara decorated with all kinds of ornaments arrived at the entrance.

लिप्ता चन्दनसारेण राजवस्त्राणि बिभ्रती।

विविधं विविधै स्तैस्तैर्भूषणैश्च विभूषिता।।2.78.6।।

चन्दनसारेण with essence of sandal, लिप्ता besmeared, राजवस्त्राणि royal garments, बिभ्रती wearing, विविधैः by various kinds of, तैस्तैः those particular, भूषणैश्च ornaments, विविधम् in many ways, विभूषिता was adorned.

She had besmeared herself with the essence of sandal, had put on royal garments and
adorned herself in many ways with every kind of ornament.

मेखलादामभिश्चित्रैरन्यैश्च शुभभूषणैः।

बभासे बहुभिर्बद्धा रज्जुबद्धेव वानरी।।2.78.7।।

चित्रैः of different colours, मेखलादामभिः with girdle strings, अन्यैः by other, बहुभिः many, शुभभूषणैश्च with auspicious ornaments, बद्धा tied around, रज्जुबद्धा tied with cords, वानरीव like a female monkey, बभासे shone.

Tied with colourful girdle strings and wearing many other auspicious ornaments, she
looked like a female monkey tied with a rope.

तां समीक्ष्य तदा द्वास्स्थास्सुभृशं पापकारिणीम्।

गृहीत्वाऽकरुणां कुब्जां शत्रुघ्नाय न्यवेदयन्।।2.78.8।।

तदा then, द्वास्स्थाः the gatekeepers, सुभृशम् many, पापकारिणीम् doer of sinful deeds, अकरुणाम् without compassion, तां कुब्जाम् that hunchback, समीक्ष्य seeing, गृहीत्वा seizng, शत्रुघ्नाय to Satrughna, न्यवेदयन् informed.

Seeing the hunchback, doer of many sinful deeds, the gatekeepers caught hold of her and informed Satrughna.

यस्याः कृते वने रामो न्यस्तदेहश्च वः पिता।

सेयं पापा नृशंसा च तस्याः कुरु यथामति।।2.78.9।।

यस्याः कृते on whose acount, रामः Rama, वने in the forest, वः पिता your father, न्यस्तदेहश्च forsook his body, सा that, पापा sinful woman, नृशंसा च cruel also, इयम् this (Manthara), तस्याः to her, यथामति as you please, कुरु do.

Here is that sinful, cruel woman on whose account Rama is in the forest and your father has forsaken his body. Do with her as it pleases you.

शत्रुघ्नश्च तदाज्ञाय वचनं भृशदुःखितः।

अन्तःपुरचरान्सर्वानित्युवाच धृत व्रतः।।2.78.10।।

भृशदुःखितः deeply grieved, धृत व्रत: stern and steadfast in his vows, शत्रुघ्नश्च Satrughna also, तत् those, वचनम् words, आज्ञाय having known (heard), सर्वान् all, अन्तःपुरचरान् those moving in the inner apartment, इति thus, उवाच said.

Intensely grieved to hear those words, Satrughna who was steadfast in his vows said to the inmates of the inner apartment:

तीव्रमुत्पादितं दुःखं भ्रात्रूणां मे तथा पितुः।

यया सेयं नृशंसस्य कर्मणः फलमश्नुताम्।।2.78.11।।

यया by whom, भ्रात्रूणाम् of our brothers, मे my, पितुः of father, तीव्रम् intense, दुःखम् sorrow, उत्पादितम् has been caused, सा इयम् that she, नृशंसस्य of a malicious, कर्मणः actions, फलम् fruits, अश्नुताम् let her reap.

Let this woman, who caused deep sorrow to our brothers and father, reap the fruit of her malicious actions.

एवमुक्त्वा तु तेनाशु सखीजनसमावृता।

गृहीता बलवत्कुब्जा सा तद्गृहमनादयत्।।2.78.12।।

एवम् in this way, उक्त्वा having said, आशु quickly, तेन by him, बलवत् forcibly, गृहीता caught hold of, सखीजन समावृता surrounded by her companions, सा कुब्जा that hunchback, तत् गृहम् that house, अनादयत् reverberated with her cries.

Saying thus, he forcibly caught hold of the hunchback amidst her companions when she filled the house with her cries.

तत स्सुभृशसन्तप्तस्तस्या स्सर्व स्सखीजनः।

क्रुद्धमाज्ञाय शत्रुघ्नं विपलायत सर्वशः।।2.78.13।।

ततः then, तस्याः her, सर्वः all, सखीजनः comapnions, शत्रुघ्नम् of Satrughna, क्रुद्धम् as enraged one, आज्ञाय having known, सुभृश सन्तप्तः extremely pained, सर्वशः in all directions, विपलायत ran fled.

Perceiving the enraged Satrughna all her companions shook in terror and fled in different directions.

आमन्त्रयत कृत्स्न श्च तस्या स्सर्व स्सखीजनः।

यथाऽयं समुपक्रान्तो निश्शेषां नः करिष्यति।।2.78.14।।

तस्याः her, सर्वः all, सखीजनः companions, अयम् this man, यथा in this way, समुपक्रान्तः began, नः us, निःशेषाम् leaving none, करिष्यति will do, आमन्त्रयत conversed with each other.

All her companions conversed among themselves. The way he began, it looks he will finish all of us.

सानुक्रोशां वदान्यां च धर्मज्ञां च यशस्विनीम्।

कौसल्यां शरणं याम सा हि नोऽस्तु ध्रुवा गतिः।।2.78.15।।

सानुक्रोशाम् compassionate, वदान्यां च generous, धर्मज्ञाम् knower of righteousness, यशस्विनीम् illustrious, कौशल्याम् Kausalya, शरणं याम we seek refuge, सा that, नः for us, ध्रुवा surely, गतिः अस्तु is only saviour.

Let us seek refuge under the illustrious Kausalya, who is compassionate, generous, and knower of righteousness. She is our sure saviour.

स च रोषेण ताम्राक्ष श्शत्रुघ्न श्शत्रुतापनः।

विचकर्ष तदा कुब्जां क्रोशन्तीं धरणीतले।।2.78.16।।

रोषेण in fury, ताम्राक्षः a man with blodshot eyes, शत्रुतापनः scorcher of enemies, सः शत्रुघ्नः that Satrughna, तदा then, क्रोशन्तीम् shrieking, कुब्जाम् hunchback, धरणीतले on the ground, विचकर्ष dragged.

With bloodshot eyes Satrughna, the scorcher of enemies, dragged the shrieking hunchback down the ground in fury.

तस्या ह्याकृष्यमाणाया मन्थराया स्ततस्ततः।

चित्रं बहुविधं भाण्डं पृथिव्यां तद्व्यशीर्यत।।2.78.17।।

तस्याः that, मन्थरायाः Manthara, आकृष्यमाणायाः while being dragged, चित्रम् of various colours, बहुविधम् of many kinds, तत् that, भाण्डम् collection of ornaments, ततस्ततः here and there, व्यशीर्यत were scattered.

While Manthara was being dragged by Satrughna, the collection of ornaments of many colours and of various kinds worn by her were broken and scattered here and there all over the ground.

तेन भाण्डेन संस्तीर्णं श्रीमद्राजनिवेशनम्।

अशोभत तदा भूयः शारदं गगनं यथा।।2.78.18।।

तेन by that, भाण्डेन with the collection of ornaments, संस्तीर्णम् strewn on the ground, श्रीमद्राजनिवेशनम् the resplendent royal palace, तदा then, शारदम् autumnal, गगनं यथा like the sky, भूयः greatly, अशोभत shone.

The resplendent royal palace, strewn all over with several ornaments on the ground shone like the autumnal sky (studded with innumerable stars).

स बली बलवत्क्रोधाद्गृहीत्वा पुरुषर्षभः।

कैकेयीमभिनिर्भर्त्स्य बभाषे परुषं वचः।।2.78.19।।

बली mighty, सः पुरुषर्षभः that best of men, क्रोधात् out of fury, बलवत् forcibly, गृहीत्वा
seizing, कैकेयीम् Kaikeyi, अभिनिर्भर्त्स्य threatening, परुषम् harsh, वचः words, बभाषे spoke.

The mighty and the best of men Satrughna seized with fury, forcibly caught hold of that hunchback and censured Kaikeyi with harsh words.

तैर्वाक्यैः परुषैर्दुःखैः कैकेयी भृशदुःखिता।

शत्रुघ्नभयसन्त्रस्ता पुत्रं शरणमागता।।2.78.20।।

कैकेयी Kaikeyi, परुषैः by harsh, दुःखैः by grievous, तैः वाक्यैः with those words, भृशदुःखिता extremely distressed, शत्रुघ्नभयसंत्रस्ता afraid of calamity from Satrughna, पुत्रम् son
Bharata, शरणम् for protection, आगता reached.

Kaikeyi, deeply distressed at those harsh and grievous words was afraid of Satrughna and sought the protection of her son Bharata.

तं प्रेक्ष्य भरतः क्रुद्धं शत्रुघ्नमिदमब्रवीत्।

अवध्या स्सर्वभूतानां प्रमदाः क्षम्यतामिति।।2.78.21।।

भरतः Bharata, क्रुद्धम् enraged one, तम् शत्रुघ्नम् addressing that Satrugna, इदम् these words, अब्रवीत् said, प्रमदाः women, सर्वभूतानाम् in all beings, अवध्याः should not to be killed, क्षम्यताम् may be pardoned.

Bharata, addressing the enraged Satrughna said Of all beings a lady is not to be killed. Pardon her.

हन्यामहमिमां पापां कैकेयीं दुष्टचारिणीम्।

यदि मां धार्मिको रामो नासूयेन्मातृघातकम्।।2.78.22।।

धार्मिकः righteous, रामः Rama, मातृघातकम् slayer of mother, माम् me, न असूयेद्यदि if he were not to accuse me, दुष्टचारिणीम् a woman of wicked deeds, पापाम् sinful, इमां कैकेयीम् this Kaikeyi, अहम् I, हन्याम् would have killed.

If righteous Rama were not to accuse me of slaying a mother, I would have killed the sinful Kaikeyi of wicked deeds myself.

इमामपि हतां कुब्जां यदि जानाति राघवः।

त्वां च मां च हि धर्मात्मा नाभिभाषिष्यते ध्रुवम्।।2.78.23।।

धर्मात्मा righteous, राघवः Rama, इमाम् this, कुब्जाम् अपि hunchback also, हताम् as slain, जानाति यदि if he comes to know, ध्रुवम् surely, त्वां च you, मां च हि me also, नाभिभाषिष्यते will never talk (to us).

If righteous Rama comes to know that this hunchback has been slain by us, he will certainly never talk to you or me.

भरतस्य वचश्श्रुत्वा शत्रुघ्नो लक्ष्मणानुजः।

न्यवर्तत ततो रोषात्तां मुमोच च मन्थराम्।।2.78.24।।

लक्ष्मणानुजः Lakshmana's younger brother, शत्रुघ्नः Satrughna, भरतस्य Bharata's, वचः words, श्रुत्वा after hearing, ततः then, रोषात् from fury, न्यवर्तत restrained, ताम् that, मन्थराम् Manthara, मुमोच च also released.

Hearing the words of Bharata, Satrughna, the younger brother of Lakshmana restrained his fury and also released Manthara.

सा पादमूले कैकेय्या मन्थरा निपपात ह।

निश्श्वसन्ती सुदुःखार्ता कृपणं विललाप च।।2.78.25।।

सा मन्थरा that Manthara, कैकेय्याः Kaikeyi's, पादमूले at her feet, निपपात ह fell down, सुदुःखार्ता tormented with grief, निःश्वसन्ती heaving deep sighs, कृपणम् wretchedly, विललाप च lamented.

Manthara, tormented with grief, fell at the feet of Kaikeyi and began heaving deep sighs.

शत्रुघ्नविक्षेपविमूढसंज्ञां समीक्ष्य कुब्जां भरतस्य माता।

शनैस्समाश्वासयदार्तरूपां क्रौञ्चीं विलग्नामिव वीक्षमाणाम्।।2.78.26।।

भरतस्य Bharata's, माता mother, शत्रुघ्नविक्षेपविमूढसंज्ञाम् thrown down by Satrughna and lay sensesless, आर्तरूपाम् anguished, विलग्नाम् caught in a net, क्रौञ्चीमिव like a female krauncha bird, वीक्षमाणाम् looking in different directions, कुब्जाम् hunchback, समीक्ष्य having seen, शनैः gently, समाश्वासयत् consoled.

.
Seeing the hunchback thrown down by Satrughna and lying senseless and anguished
like a female krauncha bird caught in a net looking in different directions, Kaikeyi gently soothed her.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे अष्टसप्ततितमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the seventyeighth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.