Sloka & Translation

[Manthara incites Kaikeyi --Kaikeyi narrates the virtues of Rama--Manthara insinuates that installation of Rama would harm Bharata--hence Rama should be banished and Bharata coronated.]

mantharā tvabhyasūyaināmutsṛjyābharaṇaṅ ca tat.

uvācēdaṅ tatō vākyaṅ kōpaduḥkhasamanvitā৷৷2.8.1৷৷


mantharā tu as for Manthara, ēnām about her, abhyasūya having been disgusted, kōpadu:kha samanvitā filled with rage and sorrow, tat that, ābharaṇam ornament, utsṛjya having discarded, tata: after that, idam vākyaṅ this word, uvāca said.

Annoyed with Kaikeyi and filled with rage and sorrow, Manthara discarded the ornament (gifted to her) and said these words:
harṣaṅ kimidamasthānē kṛtavatyasi bāliśē!.

śōkasāgaramadhyasthamātmānaṅ nāvabudhyasē৷৷2.8.2৷৷


bāliśē O foolish one, asthānē misplaced, harṣam happiness, kṛtavatī asi you are displaying, idam this one, kim why, śōkasāgaramadhyastham in the midst of the ocean of sorrow, ātmānam about yourself, nāvabudhyasē do not know.

O foolish woman! why do you display this misplaced happiness, little realising that you are in the midst of an ocean of sorrow?
manasā prahasāmi tvāṅ dēvi! duḥkhārditā satī.

yacchōcitavyē hṛṣṭā.si prāpyēdaṅ vyasanaṅ mahat৷৷2.8.3৷৷


dēvi! O queen, mahat great, idam this, vyasanam misfortune, prāpya having obtained, śōcitavyē (at a time) one should feel sad, yat since, hṛṣṭā asi you are rejoicing, du:khārditā satī
although afflicted with grief, tvām about you, manasā in my mind, prahasāmi I am laughing.

O queen! at a time when this great misfortune has befallen you, you are rejoicing
instead of feeling miserable. I am indeed laughing at you at heart.
śōcāmi durmatitvaṅ tē kā hi prājñā praharṣayēt.

arēssapatnīputrasya vṛddhiṅ mṛtyōrivāgatām৷৷2.8.4৷৷


tē you, durmatitvam false notion, śōcāmi I feel pity, prājñā any wise woman, kā who, arē: enemy's, sapatnī putrasya of co-wife's son, vṛddhim prosperity, āgatām having arrived, mṛtyōriva like death, praharṣayēt would rejoice.

I pity your false notion. Will any wise woman rejoice at the prosperity of the son of a co-wife who is like an enemy? This is like (courting) death.
bharatādēva rāmasya rājyasādhāraṇādbhayam.

tadvicintya viṣaṇṇā.smi bhayaṅ bhītā.ddhi jāyatē৷৷2.8.5৷৷


rāmasya for Rama, rājyasādhāraṇāt having equal claim to rule the kingdom, bharatādēva from Bharata only, bhayam fear, tat that matter, vicintya having thought over, viṣaṇṇā asmi I am dejected, bhītāt from the person who fears, bhayam fear, jāyatē hi will be born.

Since Bharata and Rama have equal claim to the kingdom, Bharata is a source of fear for Rama. Having thought over this matter, I am dejected. Danger springs from one who is in fear.
lakṣmaṇō hi mahēṣvāsō rāmaṅ sarvātmanā gataḥ.

śatrughnaścāpi bharataṅ kākutsthaṅ lakṣmaṇō yathā৷৷2.8.6৷৷


mahēṣvāsa: one holding a great bow, lakṣmaṇa: Lakshmana, sarvātmanā with all his heart, rāmam of Rama, gata: has taken refuge, śatrughna: ca api and Satrughna also, lakṣmaṇa: Lakshmana, kākutsthaṅ yathā like (Rama) a descendant of Kakutstha dynasty, bharatam (has reached)
Bharata.

Lakshmana who wields a great bow has taken refuge with all his heart in Rama a
descendant of Kakutstha dynasty. So does Satrughna in Bharata.
pratyāsannakramēṇāpi bharatasyaiva bhāmini!.

rājyakramō viprakṛṣṭastayōstāvatkanīyasōḥ৷৷2.8.7৷৷


bhāmini O beautiful woman, pratyāsannakramēṇāpi in order of birth also, rājyakrama: succession to the kingdom, bharatasyaiva is for Bharata only, kanīyasō: younger ones, tayō: tāvat for both of them, viprakṛṣṭa: is remote.

O beautiful lady! in order of birth, too, Bharata's right to the throne is just next (to Rama's). While being younger, the chances of the other two (Lakshmana and Satrughna) are remote.
viduṣaḥ kṣatracāritrē prājñasya prāptakāriṇaḥ.

bhayātpravēpē rāmasya cintayantī tavātmajam৷৷2.8.8৷৷


viduṣa: of the learned, kṣatracāritrē in the duties of a kshatriya, prājñasya of the competent, prāptakāriṇa: one who does what is right at appropriate time, bhayāt out of fear, tava ātmajam about your son, cintayantī while reflecting, pravēpē I am trembling.

Rama is learned in the duties of a kshatriya. He is wise enough to do what he should at the appropriate time. While reflecting the fate of your son, I am trembling with fear.
subhagā khalu kauśalyā yasyāḥ putrō.bhiṣēkṣyatē.

yauvarājyēna mahatā śvaḥ puṣyēṇa dvijōttamaiḥ৷৷2.8.9৷৷


yasyā: whose (Kausalya's), putra: son, śva: tomorrow, puṣyēṇa under Pushya star, dvijōttamai: by eminent brahmins, mahatā great, yauvarājyēna as heir-apparent, abhiṣēkṣyatē is going to be
coronated, kauśalyā such Kausalya, subhagā khalu is fortunate indeed.

Kausalya whose son is going to be coronated as heir-apparent by eminent
brahmins under Pushya star tomorrow is fortunate, indeed.
prāptāṅ sumahatīṅ prītiṅ pratītāṅ tāṅ hatadviṣam.

upasthāsyasi kausalyāṅ dāsīva ttvaṅ kṛtāñjaliḥ৷৷2.8.10৷৷


sumahatīm very great, prītim delight, prāptām having obtained, pratītām renowned, hatadviṣam with her enemies destroyed, tāṅ kauśalyām that Kausalya, tvam you, dāsīvat like an attendant, kṛtāñjali: with folded palms, upasthāsyasi will serve.

With folded palms like an attendant, you will have to serve that renowned Kausalya who is greatlly delighted by getting rid of her enemies.
ēvaṅ cēttvaṅ sahāsmābhistasyāḥ prēṣyā bhaviṣyasi.

putraśca tava rāmasya prēṣyabhāvaṅ gamiṣyati৷৷2.8.11৷৷


ēvam in this way, tvam you, asmābhi: saha along with us, tasyā: for her, prēṣyā an attendant, bhaviṣyasi if you become, tava your, putraśca son also, rāmasya to Rama, prēṣyabhāvam slavishness, gamiṣyati will attain.

If you thus become her attendant along with us, your son will also develop slavishness towards Rama.
hṛṣṭāḥ khalu bhaviṣyanti rāmasya paramāsstriyaḥ.

aprahṛṣṭā bhaviṣyanti snuṣāstē bharatakṣayē৷৷2.8.12৷৷


rāmasya Rama's, paramā: striya: all the women, hṛṣṭā: delighted, bhaviṣyanti khalu will become indeed, bharatakṣayē with the decline of Bharata, tē your, snuṣā: daughters-in-law, aprahṛṣṭā: deprived of happiness, bhaviṣyanti will become.

All the women of Rama's (palace) will be delighted indeed. With the decline of Bharata, your daughters-in-law will be deprived of all happiness.
tāṅ dṛṣṭvā paramaprītāṅ bruvantīṅ mantharāṅ tataḥ.

rāmasyaiva guṇāndēvī kaikēyī praśaśaṅsa ha৷৷2.8.13৷৷


tata: after that, param highly, aprītām unhappy woman, bruvantīm speaking thus, tām that, mantharām to Manthara, dṛṣṭvā having seen, dēvī kaikēyī queen Kaikeyi, rāmasya guṇānēva the virtues of Rama, praśaśaṅsa ha praised.

Having seen that morose Manthara speaking thus, Kaikeyi commended the virtues of Rama.
dharmajñō gurubhirdāntaḥ kṛtajñassatyavākchuciḥ.

rāmō rājña ssutō jyēṣṭhō yauvarājyamatō.rhati৷৷2.8.14৷৷


rāma: Rama, dharmajñaḥ knower of righteousness, gurubhi: by elders, dānta: self-restrained, kṛtajña: grateful, satyavāk truthful, śuci: undefiled, rājña: king's, jyēṣṭha: eldest, suta: son, ata: therefore, yauvarājyam as heir-apparent, arhati is fit for.

Rama knows righteouness. He has been taught self-restraint by elders. He is grateful and truthful. He is undefiled. He is the eldest son of the king. Therefore, he deserves to be the heir-apparent (of the kingdom).
bhrātṛnbhṛtyāṅśca dīrghāyuḥ pitṛvatpālayiṣyati.

santapsyasē kathaṅ kubjē! śrutvā rāmābhiṣēcanam৷৷2.8.15৷৷


dīrghāyu: blessed with a long life, bhrātṛn his brothers, bhṛtyāṅśca and the servants, pitṛvat like a father, pālayiṣyati will rule, kubjē O hunchback, rāmābhiṣēcanam Rama's coronation, śrutvā having heard, katham why, santapyasē are grieving?

Blessed with a long life, Rama will protect his brothers and the servants like a
father. O hunchback, hearing Rama's coronation why are you aggrieved?
bharataścāpi rāmasya dhruvaṅ varṣaśatātparam.

pitṛpaitāmahaṅ rājyamavāptā puruṣarṣabhaḥ৷৷2.8.16৷৷


varṣaśatāt hundred years, param beyond, puruṣarṣabha: best of men, bharataścāpi Bharata also, rāmasya Rama's, pitṛpaitāmaham pertaining to fathers and grandfathers, rājyam kingdom, avāptā will inherit.

After a hundred years of Rama's rule, Bharata, the best of men, will get the kingdom of his ancestors.
sā tvamabhyudayē prāptē vartamānē ca mantharē!.

bhaviṣyati ca kalyāṇē kimarthaṅ paritapyasē৷৷2.8.17৷৷


mantharē O Manthara, sā tvam you, abhyudayē prosperity, prāptē affained, vartamānē ca at present, kalyāṇē well-being, bhaviṣyati will have in future, kimartham why, paritapyasē are you grieving.

Manthara, we have enjoyed prosperity in the past, we are enjoying it now and we will enjoy it in future. Then why are you aggrieved?
yathā mē bharatō mānyastathā bhūyō.pi rāghavaḥ.

kauśalyātō.tiriktaṅ ca sō.nuśuśrūṣatē hi mām৷৷2.8.18৷৷


mē to me, bharata: Bharata, yathā as, mānya: worthy of consideration, rāghava: son of the Raghus (Rama), tathā is so, bhūya: api more so, sa: he, mām me, kauśalyāta: more than Kausalya, atiriktam more, anuśuśrūṣatē hi is serving me.

For me, if Bharata is worthy of consideration Rama is worthier. He serves me even more (scrupulously) than he does Kausalya.
rājyaṅ yadi hi rāmasya bharatasyāpi tattadā.

manyatē hi yathātmānaṅ tathā bhrātṛṅśca rāghavaḥ৷৷2.8.19৷৷


rāmasya Rama's, rājyaṅ yadi if it is his kingdom, tat that one, tadā then, bharatasyāpi Bharata's also, rāghava: Rama, ātmānam own self, yathā as, bhrātṛṅśca his brothers also, tathā in that way, manyatē considers.

If the kingdom is Rama's, it is also Bharata's, since Rama regards his brothers as his own self
kaikēyīvacanaṅ śrutvā mantharā bhṛśaduḥkhitā.

dīrghamuṣṇaṅ ca viniśvasya kaikēyīmidamabravīt৷৷2.8.20৷৷


mantharā Manthara, kaikēyīvacanam Kaikeyi's words, śrutvā having heard, bhṛśa du:khitā very much unhappy, dīrgham deeply, uṣṇaṅ ca and hot, viniśvasya after heaving, kaikēyīm addressing Kaikeyi, idam this word, abravīt said.

Having heard Kaikeyi's words Manthara was extremely unhappy. Heaving deep, hot sighs she said to Kaikeyi.
anarthadarśinī maurkhyānnātmānamavabudhyasē.

śōkavyasanavistīrṇē majjantī duḥkhasāgarē৷৷2.8.21৷৷


śōkavyasanavistīrṇē widened with tears and troubles, du:khasāgarē in the ocean of sorrow, majjantī while you are sinking, maurkhyāt out of stupidity, anarthadarśinī do not see (your own) well-being, ātmānam (your) own self, nāvabudhyasē you do not perceive.

You are sinking in the sea of sorrow widened with tears and troubles. But you are stupid enough not to perceive your own well-being.
bhavitā rāghavō rājā rāghavasyānu yassutaḥ.

rājavaṅśāttu kaikēyi bharataḥparihāsyatē৷৷2.8.22৷৷


rāghava: the scion of the Raghus (Rama), rājā as king, bhavitā will become, rāghavasya anu
suceeding Rama, ya: who, suta: (his) son( will become king), kaikēyi O Kaikeyi, bharata: tu on the contrary Bharata, rājavaṅśāt from royal dynasty, parihāsyatē will be debarred.

Rama, the scion of the Raghus, will become king. After Rama, his son will suceed him. O Kaikeyi, as for Bharata, he will be debarred from royal succession (altogether).
na hi rājñassutā ssarvē rājyē tiṣṭhanti bhāmini!.

sthāpyamānēṣu sarvēṣu sumahānanayō bhavēt৷৷2.8.23৷৷


bhāmini O lovely lady, rājña: king's, sutā: sons, sarvē all, rājyē in the kingdom, na tiṣṭhanti hi will not succeed, sarvēṣu of all, sthāpyamānēṣu are installed as kings, sumahān very great, anaya: mismanagement, bhavēt will happen.

O lovely lady, not all the sons of the king will inherit the kingdom. If all of them are installed as kings, there will be great disorder.
tasmājjyēṣṭhē hi kaikēyi rājyatantrāṇi pārthivāḥ.

sthāpayantyanavadyāṅgi guṇavatsvitarēṣvapi৷৷2.8.24৷৷


anavadyāṅgi O one of beautiful limbs, kaikēyi Kaikeyi, tasmāt for that reason, pārthivā: kings, jyēṣṭhē (either) in the eldest son, guṇavatsu possessing virtues, itarēṣvapi or in other sons, rājyatantrāṇi governance of a kingdom, sthāpayanti beston.

O Kaikeyi of beautiful limbs, for that reason kings bestow the governance of the kingdom either on the eldest or on other virtuous sons.
asāvatyantanirbhagnastava putrō bhaviṣyati.

anāthavatsukhēbhyaśca rājavaṅśācca vatsalē৷৷2.8.25৷৷


vatsalē O dear( Kaikeyi), tava your, asau this, putra: son, anāthavat like an orphan, sukhēbhya: ca from comforts, rājavaṅśācca from royal succession, atyantanirbhagna: very much
broken-hearted, bhaviṣyati will become.

O (Kaikeyi) dear! cut off from royal succession as well as from its comforts, your son will become totally forlorn and broken-hearted.
sā.haṅ tvadarthē samprāptā tvaṅ tu māṅ nāvabuddhyasē.

sapatni vṛddhau yā mē tvaṅ pradēyaṅ dātumicchasi৷৷2.8.26৷৷


sā aham such as me, tvadarthē in your interest, samprāptā have come, tvaṅ tu nevertheless, you, mām me, nāvabudhyasē do not understand, yā whom, tvam you, sapatnivṛddhau on the occasion of prosperity of your co-wife, mē to me, pradēyaṅ dātum to confer gift, icchasi wish.

I am here to serve your interest. Nevertheless you do not understand me and you wish to confer gifts on me on the occasion of the prosperity of your co-wife.
dhruvaṅ tu bharataṅ rāmaḥ prāpya rājyamakaṇṭakam.

dēśāntaraṅ vā nayitā lōkāntaramathā.pi vā৷৷2.8.27৷৷


rāma: Rama, akaṇṭakam free from thorns (enemies), rājyam kingdom, prāpya having obtained, bharatam Bharata, dēśāntaraṅ vā out of the country, athāpi vā or else, lōkāntaram to the other world, nayitā he will send, dhruvam this is certain.

Rama, having secured the thornless kingdom, will banish Bharata from the country or else send him to the other world. This is certain.
bāla ēva hi mātulyaṅ bharatō nāyitastvayā.

sannikarṣācca sauhārdaṅ jāyatē sthāvarēṣvapi৷৷2.8.28৷৷


tvayā by you, bharata: Bharata, bāla: ēva even as a child, mātulyam maternal uncle's house,
nāyita: hi has been sent off, sannikarṣāt from proximity, sthāvarēṣvapi even among the immobile (inanimate) objects, sauhārdam friendliness, jāyatē is created.

Bharata has been sent by you right from his childhood to his maternal uncle's house. Proximity creates friendship even amongst the inanimate objects.
bharatasyāpyanuvaśaśśatrughnō.pi samaṅ gataḥ.

lakṣmaṇō hi yathā rāmaṅ tathā.sau bharataṅ gataḥ৷৷2.8.29৷৷


bharatasya of Bharata, anuvaśa: obedient, śatrughnō.pi Satrughna also, samam along with him, gata: has gone, lakṣmaṇa: Lakshmana, rāmam to Rama, yathā as, asau this Satrughna, tathā in that way, bharatam to Bharata.

Satrughna who is obedient to Bharata has followed him. Like Lakshmana who has taken refuge in Rama, he has also resorted to Bharata.
śrūyatē hi drumaḥ kaścicchēttavyō vanajīvibhiḥ.

sannikarṣādiṣīkābhirmōcitaḥ paramādbhayāt৷৷2.8.30৷৷


vanajīvibhi: by those living on the forest, chēttavya: intended for felling, kaścit one such, druma: tree, iṣīkābhi: grass known as Ishika (thorny bushes), sannikarṣāt due to being in the close vicinity, paramāt from great, bhayāt from fear, mōcita: set free, śrūyatē hi it is heard.

It is said that a tree intended to be cut down by those living on the forest is let off due to entanglement of a kind of grass known as Ishika (thorny bushes) growing in its vicinity. (If Bharata had been at Ayodhya now, Dasaratha himself would have helped him.
gōptā hi rāmaṅ saumitrirlakṣmaṇaṅ cāpi rāghavaḥ.

aśvinōriva saubhrātraṅ tayōrlōkēṣu viśrutam৷৷2.8.31৷৷


saumitri: Lakshmana, rāmam Rama, gōptā hi surely going to protect, rāghava: son of he
Raghus (Rama), lakṣmaṇaṅ cāpi to Lakshmana also, aśvinō: like of twin 'Ashwins', saubhrātraṅ iva like brotherhood, tayō: their, lōkēṣu in the worlds, viśrṛtam is renowned.

Just as Lakshmana protects Rama, Rama protects Lakshmana. Their brotherhood is renowned in the world like that of the Ashwins.
tasmānna lakṣmaṇē rāmaḥ pāpaṅ kiñcitkariṣyati.

rāmastu bharatē pāpaṅ kuryāditi na saṅśayaḥ৷৷2.8.32৷৷


tasmāt therefore, rāma: Rama, lakṣmaṇē to Lakshmana, pāpam harm, kiñcit even little, na kariṣyati will not do, bharatē tu as to but in respect of Bharata, rāma: Rama, pāpam harm, kuryāt will do, iti in this, na saṅśaya: there is no doubt.

Rama will do no harm to Lakshmana. As for Bharata, Rama will doubtless do him harm.
tasmādrājagṛhādēva vanaṅ gacchatu tē sutaḥ.

ētaddhi rōcatē mahyaṅ bhṛśaṅ cāpi hitaṅ tava৷৷2.8.33৷৷


tasmāt therefore, tē suta: your son, rājagṛhādēva from Rajagriha (the place of Bharata's maternal uncle) straightaway, vanam to the forest, gacchatu let go, ētat that only, mahyam for me, rōcatē hi alone is pleasing, tavāpi ca for you also, bhṛśam highly, hitam beneficial.

Therefore let your son go to the forest straight from his uncle's palace only. That alone will please me. For you also this is highly beneficial.
ēvaṅ tē jñātipakṣasya śrēyaścaiva bhaviṣyati.

yadi cēdbharatō dharmātpitryaṅ rājyamavāpsyasi৷৷2.8.34৷৷


bharata: Bharata, dharmāt righteously, pitryam relating to his father,rājyam kingdom, avāpsyasi yadi if he secures, ēvaṅ cēt if it happens that way, tē to you, jñātipakṣasya caiva and also to your relations, śrēya: welfare, bhaviṣyati will happen.

If Bharata secures the ancestral kingdom righteously, it will bring welfare to you and to your relations also.
sa tē sukhōcitō bālō rāmasya sahajō ripuḥ.

samṛddhārthasya naṣṭārthō jīviṣyati kathaṅ vaśē৷৷2.8.35৷৷


tē your, sukhōcita: accustomed to comforts, sa: bāla: that young Bharata, rāmasya of Rama, sahaja:ripu: is born enemy, naṣṭārtha: deprived of all wealth, samṛddhārthasya of prosperous (Rama), vaśē under the control, katham how, jīviṣyati will live.

Your son, that young Bharata, is accustomed to comforts. He is a born enemy of Rama. How will he, deprived of all wealth, live under the control of Rama?
abhidrutamivāraṇyē siṅhēna gajayūthapam.

pracchādyamānaṅ rāmēṇa bharataṅ trātumarhasi৷৷2.8.36৷৷


araṇyē in the forest, siṅhēna by a lion, abhidrutam being attacked, gajayūthapamiva like the leader of the elephant herd, rāmēṇa by Rama, pracchādyamānam being overpowered, bharatam Bharata, trātum to save, arhasi it behoves you.

Like the leader of an elephant-herd attacked by a lion in the forest, Bharata is going to be oppressed by Rama. You should save him.
darpānnirākṛtā pūrvaṅ tvayā saubhāgyavattayā.

rāmamātā sapatnī tē kathaṅ vairaṅ na śātayēt৷৷2.8.37৷৷


tvayā by you, saubhāgyavattayā being fortunate (being favourite wife of your husband), darpāt from pride, pūrvam earlier, nirākṛtā was slighted, tē your, sapatnī co-wife (Kausalya), rāmamātā Rama's mother, vairam grudge, katham how, na śātayēt will not retaliate.

Being fortunate (being the favourite wife of your husband) you slighted your co-wife
earlier with pride. How will she, Rama's mother (Kausalya) remain without retaliating?
yadā hi rāmaḥ pṛthivīmavāpsyati

prabhūtaratnākaraśailapattanām.

tadā gamiṣyasyaśubhaṅ parābhavaṅ

sahaiva dīnā bharatēna bhāmini!৷৷2.8.38৷৷


bhāmini O lovely lady, rāma: Rama, yadā when, prabhūtaratnākaraśailapattanām with its oceans, mountains and towns, pṛthivīm to this earth, avāpsyati secures, tadā then, bharatēna sahaiva along with Bharata, dīnā become miserable, aśubham disgrace, gamiṣyasi will attain.

O lovely lady! when Rama becomes the lord of this earth with its oceans, mountains and cities, then along with Bharata you will become miserable and fall into disgrace.
yadā hi rāmaḥ pṛthivīmavāpsyati

dhruvaṅ praṇaṣṭō bharatō bhaviṣyati.

atō hi sañcintaya rājyamātmajē

parasya caivādya vivāsakāraṇam৷৷2.8.39৷৷


rāma: Rama, yadā hi when, pṛthivīm this earth, avāpsyati obtains, bharata: Bharata, dhrṛvam certainly, praṇaṣṭa: ruined, bhaviṣyati will become, ata: for that reason, ātmajē your son, rājyam kingdom, adyaiva right now, parasya enemy Rama's, vivāsakāraṇam means of banishment, sañcintaya think over.

When Rama obtains this earth, Bharata will be certainly ruined. Therefore, right now think of the kingdom for your son and the means of banishment for your enemy, Rama.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē aṣṭamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the eighth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.