Sloka & Translation

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

atha yātrāṅ samīhantaṅ śatrughnō lakṣmaṇānujaḥ.

bharataṅ śōkasantaptamidaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷2.78.1৷৷

atha now, yātrām journey (to Rama), samīhantam wishing, śōkasantaptam grief-striken, bharatam
Bharata, lakṣmaṇānujaḥ Lakshmana's younger brother, śatrughnaḥ Satrughna, idam these, vacanam words, abravīt said.

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

gatirya ssarvabhūtānāṅ duḥkhē kiṅ punarātmanaḥ.

sa rāma ssattvasampannaḥ striyā pravrājitō vanam৷৷2.78.2৷৷

yaḥ who, sarvabhūtānām for all beings, gatiḥ ultimate refuge, ātmanaḥ in his own, duḥkhē distress, kiṅ punaḥ why again say, saḥ he, sattvasampannaḥ endowed with strength, rāmaḥ Rama, striyā by a woman, vanam to forest, pravrājitaḥ 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.

balavānvīryasampannō lakṣmaṇō nāma yō.pyasau.

kiṅ na mōcayatē rāmaṅ kṛtvā sma pitṛnigraham৷৷2.78.3৷৷

balavān strong, vīryasampannaḥ endowed with prowess, lakṣmaṇō nāma Lakshmana by name, yaḥ whoever, asau api even himself, pitṛnigraham restraint of father, kṛtvā having made, rāmam Rama, kim why, na mōcayatē sma did not release?.

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

pūrvamēva tu nigrāhya ssamavēkṣya nayānayau.

utpathaṅ yassamārūḍhō rājā nāryā vaśaṅ gataḥ৷৷2.78.4৷৷

yaḥ who, nāryāḥ woman's, vaśam the influence, gataḥ having come under, utpatham upward course, samārūḍhaḥ had climbed, rājā king, nayānayau what was just or unjust, samavēkṣya having considered, pūrvamēva in the first place, nigrāhyaḥ 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.

iti sambhāṣamāṇē tu śatrughnē lakṣmaṇānujē.

prāgdvārē.bhūttadā kubjā sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā৷৷2.78.5৷৷

lakṣmaṇānujē while the brother of Lakshmana, śatrughnē Satrughna, iti thus, sambhāṣamāṇē was conversing, tadā then, kubjā hunchback Manthara, sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā wearing every kind of ornament, prāgdvārē abhūt 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.

liptā candanasārēṇa rājavastrāṇi bibhratī.

vividhaṅ vividhai staistairbhūṣaṇaiśca vibhūṣitā৷৷2.78.6৷৷

candanasārēṇa with essence of sandal, liptā besmeared, rājavastrāṇi royal garments, bibhratī wearing, vividhaiḥ by various kinds of, taistaiḥ those particular, bhūṣaṇaiśca ornaments, vividham in many ways, vibhūṣitā 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.

mēkhalādāmabhiścitrairanyaiśca śubhabhūṣaṇaiḥ.

babhāsē bahubhirbaddhā rajjubaddhēva vānarī৷৷2.78.7৷৷

citraiḥ of different colours, mēkhalādāmabhiḥ with girdle strings, anyaiḥ by other, bahubhiḥ many, śubhabhūṣaṇaiśca with auspicious ornaments, baddhā tied around, rajjubaddhā tied with cords, vānarīva like a female monkey, babhāsē shone.

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

tāṅ samīkṣya tadā dvāssthāssubhṛśaṅ pāpakāriṇīm.

gṛhītvā.karuṇāṅ kubjāṅ śatrughnāya nyavēdayan৷৷2.78.8৷৷

tadā then, dvāssthāḥ the gatekeepers, subhṛśam many, pāpakāriṇīm doer of sinful deeds, akaruṇām without compassion, tāṅ kubjām that hunchback, samīkṣya seeing, gṛhītvā seizng, śatrughnāya to Satrughna, nyavēdayan informed.

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

yasyāḥ kṛtē vanē rāmō nyastadēhaśca vaḥ pitā.

sēyaṅ pāpā nṛśaṅsā ca tasyāḥ kuru yathāmati৷৷2.78.9৷৷

yasyāḥ kṛtē on whose acount, rāmaḥ Rama, vanē in the forest, vaḥ pitā your father, nyastadēhaśca forsook his body, sā that, pāpā sinful woman, nṛśaṅsā ca cruel also, iyam this (Manthara), tasyāḥ to her, yathāmati as you please, kuru 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.

śatrughnaśca tadājñāya vacanaṅ bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ.

antaḥpuracarānsarvānityuvāca dhṛta vrataḥ৷৷2.78.10৷৷

bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ deeply grieved, dhṛta vrata: stern and steadfast in his vows, śatrughnaśca Satrughna also, tat those, vacanam words, ājñāya having known (heard), sarvān all, antaḥpuracarān those moving in the inner apartment, iti thus, uvāca said.

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

tīvramutpāditaṅ duḥkhaṅ bhrātrūṇāṅ mē tathā pituḥ.

yayā sēyaṅ nṛśaṅsasya karmaṇaḥ phalamaśnutām৷৷2.78.11৷৷

yayā by whom, bhrātrūṇām of our brothers, mē my, pituḥ of father, tīvram intense, duḥkham sorrow, utpāditam has been caused, sā iyam that she, nṛśaṅsasya of a malicious, karmaṇaḥ actions, phalam fruits, aśnutām let her reap.

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

ēvamuktvā tu tēnāśu sakhījanasamāvṛtā.

gṛhītā balavatkubjā sā tadgṛhamanādayat৷৷2.78.12৷৷

ēvam in this way, uktvā having said, āśu quickly, tēna by him, balavat forcibly, gṛhītā caught hold of, sakhījana samāvṛtā surrounded by her companions, sā kubjā that hunchback, tat gṛham that house, anādayat reverberated with her cries.

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

tata ssubhṛśasantaptastasyā ssarva ssakhījanaḥ.

kruddhamājñāya śatrughnaṅ vipalāyata sarvaśaḥ৷৷2.78.13৷৷

tataḥ then, tasyāḥ her, sarvaḥ all, sakhījanaḥ comapnions, śatrughnam of Satrughna, kruddham as enraged one, ājñāya having known, subhṛśa santaptaḥ extremely pained, sarvaśaḥ in all directions, vipalāyata ran fled.

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

āmantrayata kṛtsna śca tasyā ssarva ssakhījanaḥ.

yathā.yaṅ samupakrāntō niśśēṣāṅ naḥ kariṣyati৷৷2.78.14৷৷

tasyāḥ her, sarvaḥ all, sakhījanaḥ companions, ayam this man, yathā in this way, samupakrāntaḥ began, naḥ us, niḥśēṣām leaving none, kariṣyati will do, āmantrayata conversed with each other.

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

sānukrōśāṅ vadānyāṅ ca dharmajñāṅ ca yaśasvinīm.

kausalyāṅ śaraṇaṅ yāma sā hi nō.stu dhruvā gatiḥ৷৷2.78.15৷৷

sānukrōśām compassionate, vadānyāṅ ca generous, dharmajñām knower of righteousness, yaśasvinīm illustrious, kauśalyām Kausalya, śaraṇaṅ yāma we seek refuge, sā that, naḥ for us, dhruvā surely, gatiḥ astu is only saviour.

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

sa ca rōṣēṇa tāmrākṣa śśatrughna śśatrutāpanaḥ.

vicakarṣa tadā kubjāṅ krōśantīṅ dharaṇītalē৷৷2.78.16৷৷

rōṣēṇa in fury, tāmrākṣaḥ a man with blodshot eyes, śatrutāpanaḥ scorcher of enemies, saḥ śatrughnaḥ that Satrughna, tadā then, krōśantīm shrieking, kubjām hunchback, dharaṇītalē on the ground, vicakarṣa dragged.

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

tasyā hyākṛṣyamāṇāyā mantharāyā statastataḥ.

citraṅ bahuvidhaṅ bhāṇḍaṅ pṛthivyāṅ tadvyaśīryata৷৷2.78.17৷৷

tasyāḥ that, mantharāyāḥ Manthara, ākṛṣyamāṇāyāḥ while being dragged, citram of various colours, bahuvidham of many kinds, tat that, bhāṇḍam collection of ornaments, tatastataḥ here and there, vyaśīryata 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.

tēna bhāṇḍēna saṅstīrṇaṅ śrīmadrājanivēśanam.

aśōbhata tadā bhūyaḥ śāradaṅ gaganaṅ yathā৷৷2.78.18৷৷

tēna by that, bhāṇḍēna with the collection of ornaments, saṅstīrṇam strewn on the ground, śrīmadrājanivēśanam the resplendent royal palace, tadā then, śāradam autumnal, gaganaṅ yathā like the sky, bhūyaḥ greatly, aśōbhata shone.

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

sa balī balavatkrōdhādgṛhītvā puruṣarṣabhaḥ.

kaikēyīmabhinirbhartsya babhāṣē paruṣaṅ vacaḥ৷৷2.78.19৷৷

balī mighty, saḥ puruṣarṣabhaḥ that best of men, krōdhāt out of fury, balavat forcibly, gṛhītvā
seizing, kaikēyīm Kaikeyi, abhinirbhartsya threatening, paruṣam harsh, vacaḥ words, babhāṣē spoke.

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

tairvākyaiḥ paruṣairduḥkhaiḥ kaikēyī bhṛśaduḥkhitā.

śatrughnabhayasantrastā putraṅ śaraṇamāgatā৷৷2.78.20৷৷

kaikēyī Kaikeyi, paruṣaiḥ by harsh, duḥkhaiḥ by grievous, taiḥ vākyaiḥ with those words, bhṛśaduḥkhitā extremely distressed, śatrughnabhayasaṅtrastā afraid of calamity from Satrughna, putram son
Bharata, śaraṇam for protection, āgatā reached.

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

taṅ prēkṣya bharataḥ kruddhaṅ śatrughnamidamabravīt.

avadhyā ssarvabhūtānāṅ pramadāḥ kṣamyatāmiti৷৷2.78.21৷৷

bharataḥ Bharata, kruddham enraged one, tam śatrughnam addressing that Satrugna, idam these words, abravīt said, pramadāḥ women, sarvabhūtānām in all beings, avadhyāḥ should not to be killed, kṣamyatām may be pardoned.

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

hanyāmahamimāṅ pāpāṅ kaikēyīṅ duṣṭacāriṇīm.

yadi māṅ dhārmikō rāmō nāsūyēnmātṛghātakam৷৷2.78.22৷৷

dhārmikaḥ righteous, rāmaḥ Rama, mātṛghātakam slayer of mother, mām me, na asūyēdyadi if he were not to accuse me, duṣṭacāriṇīm a woman of wicked deeds, pāpām sinful, imāṅ kaikēyīm this Kaikeyi, aham I, hanyām 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.

imāmapi hatāṅ kubjāṅ yadi jānāti rāghavaḥ.

tvāṅ ca māṅ ca hi dharmātmā nābhibhāṣiṣyatē dhruvam৷৷2.78.23৷৷

dharmātmā righteous, rāghavaḥ Rama, imām this, kubjām api hunchback also, hatām as slain, jānāti yadi if he comes to know, dhruvam surely, tvāṅ ca you, māṅ ca hi me also, nābhibhāṣiṣyatē 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.

bharatasya vacaśśrutvā śatrughnō lakṣmaṇānujaḥ.

nyavartata tatō rōṣāttāṅ mumōca ca mantharām৷৷2.78.24৷৷

lakṣmaṇānujaḥ Lakshmana's younger brother, śatrughnaḥ Satrughna, bharatasya Bharata's, vacaḥ words, śrutvā after hearing, tataḥ then, rōṣāt from fury, nyavartata restrained, tām that, mantharām Manthara, mumōca ca also released.

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

sā pādamūlē kaikēyyā mantharā nipapāta ha.

niśśvasantī suduḥkhārtā kṛpaṇaṅ vilalāpa ca৷৷2.78.25৷৷

sā mantharā that Manthara, kaikēyyāḥ Kaikeyi's, pādamūlē at her feet, nipapāta ha fell down, suduḥkhārtā tormented with grief, niḥśvasantī heaving deep sighs, kṛpaṇam wretchedly, vilalāpa ca lamented.

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

śatrughnavikṣēpavimūḍhasaṅjñāṅ samīkṣya kubjāṅ bharatasya mātā.

śanaissamāśvāsayadārtarūpāṅ krauñcīṅ vilagnāmiva vīkṣamāṇām৷৷2.78.26৷৷

bharatasya Bharata's, mātā mother, śatrughnavikṣēpavimūḍhasaṅjñām thrown down by Satrughna and lay sensesless, ārtarūpām anguished, vilagnām caught in a net, krauñcīmiva like a female krauncha bird, vīkṣamāṇām looking in different directions, kubjām hunchback, samīkṣya having seen, śanaiḥ gently, samāśvāsayat 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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē aṣṭasaptatitamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the seventyeighth sarga in Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.