Content

[King Dasaratha enters the palace of Kaikeyi who is in the chamber of wrath--tries to pacify her in different ways.]

vidarśitā yadā dēvī kubjayā pāpayā bhṛśam.

tadā śētē sma sā bhūmau digdhaviddhēva kinnarī৷৷2.10.1৷৷

Translation

sā dēvī that queen (Kaikeyi), bhṛśam exceedingly, pāpayā sinful one, kubjayā by hunchback (Manthara), yadā when, vidarśitā perversely advised, tadā then, digdhaviddhēva as if struck by a poisonous arrow, kinnarīva like a 'kinnari', bhūmau on the floor, śētē sma lay down.

Perversely advised by the extremely sinful hunchback the queen (Kaikeyi) lay down on the ground like a kinnari struck as though by a poisonous arrow.
English Translation of Amruta Kataka


Kaikeyi cheerless 2.10.1-8

Kinnaras are a class of semi-divine beings generally addicted to physical enjoyment.


Dasaratha wishes to inform Kaikeyi 2.10.9-11

The king, the self-controlled one (with regard to women other than his women) made his way to the harem of Kaikeyi.


Description of the inner part of the harem of Kaikeyi 2.10.12-19

The snowy whiteness and the enchanting beauty of Kaikeyi’s harem are described by two similes: white cloud and Rahu-released Moon. It was crowded with parrots and peacocks, cranes and swans, arbours and picture-galleries, ashoka and champak trees.
Kataka comments: the trees bore flowers and fruits during all seasons because Dasaratha was king by divine decree and he was a friend to the celestials or, the trees (like Parijata brought from heaven by Lord Krishna) were probably brought from heaven.


Dasaratha gets alarmed 2.10.26-29

The king found Kaikeyi, his loveliest spouse, fallen on the bare floor, a creeper violently cut asunder or a celestial nymph thrust from heaven, a kinnara, a doe caught in a snare, a she-elephant lying pierced with the poisonous shaft of a hunter.
The king did not know what she would say or do, and so said, I do not believe that your anger is directed towards me.