Sloka & Translation

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

ततो निर्धूय सहसा शिरो निश्श्वस्य चासकृत्।

पाणौ पाणिं विनिष्पिष्य दन्तान् कटकटाप्य च ।।2.35.1।।

लोचने कोपसंरक्ते वर्णं पूर्वोचितं जहत्।

कोपाभिभूतस्सहसा सन्तापमशुभं गतः।।2.35.2।।

मनः समीक्षमाणश्च सूतो दशरथस्य सः।

कम्पयन्निव कैकेय्या हृदयं वाक्छरैश्शितैः ।।2.35.3।।

वाक्यवज्रैरनुपमैर्निर्भिन्दन्निव चाशुभैः।

कैकेय्या स्सर्वमर्माणि सुमन्त्रः प्रत्यभाषत।।2.35.4।।

ततः thereafter, सूतः charioteer, सुमन्त्रः Sumantra, सहसा suddenly, शिरः head, निर्धूय shaking, असकृत् frequently, निःश्वस्य sighing, पाणौ in the palm, पाणिम् the other palm, विनिष्पिष्य crushing, दन्तान् teeth, कटकटाप्यच grinding, कोपसंरक्ते both turned red due to anger, लोचने both eyes, पूर्वोचितम् previous (natural), वर्णम् complexion, जहत् while abandoning, कोपाभिभूतः overcome with anger, सहसा suddenly, अशुभम् inauspicious, सन्तापम् grief, गतः turned, दशरथस्य Dasaratha's, मनः mind, समीक्षमाणश्च while observing, शितैः with sharp, वाक्छरैः arrows of words, कैकेय्याः Kaikeyi's, हृदयम् heart, कम्पयन्निव as if piercing, अनुपमैः incomparable, अशुभैः inauspicious, वाक्यवज्रैः with thunderlike words, कैकेय्याः Kaikeyi's, सर्वमर्माणि vital parts, भिन्दन्निव as if piercing, प्रत्यभाषत 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:

ततो निर्धूय सहसा शिरो निश्श्वस्य चासकृत्।

पाणौ पाणिं विनिष्पिष्य दन्तान् कटकटाप्य च ।।2.35.1।।

लोचने कोपसंरक्ते वर्णं पूर्वोचितं जहत्।

कोपाभिभूतस्सहसा सन्तापमशुभं गतः।।2.35.2।।

मनः समीक्षमाणश्च सूतो दशरथस्य सः।

कम्पयन्निव कैकेय्या हृदयं वाक्छरैश्शितैः ।।2.35.3।।

वाक्यवज्रैरनुपमैर्निर्भिन्दन्निव चाशुभैः।

कैकेय्या स्सर्वमर्माणि सुमन्त्रः प्रत्यभाषत।।2.35.4।।

यस्यास्तव पतिस्त्यक्तो राजा दशरथः स्वयम्।

भर्ता सर्वस्य जगतः स्थावरस्य चरस्य च।।2.35.5।।

न ह्यकार्यतमं किञ्चित्तव देवीह विद्यते।

देवि O Kaikeyi , यस्याः तव your, पतिः husband, स्थावरस्य immovable, चरस्य च and movable, सर्वस्य जगतः for the entire world, भर्ता is the lord, राजा दशरथः king Dasaratha, स्वयम् yourself, त्यक्तः forsaken, तव your, इह here, अकार्यतमम् incapable of being done, किञ्चित् nothing, न हि विद्यते 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.

पतिघ्नीं त्वामहं मन्ये कुलघ्नीमपि चान्ततः।।2.35.6।।

यन्महेन्द्रमिवाजय्यं दुष्प्रकम्प्यमिवाचलम्।

महोदधिमिवाक्षोभ्यं सन्तापयसि कर्मभिः।।2.35.7।।

त्वाम् you, अहम् I, पतिघ्नीम् killer of the husband, अन्ततः ultimately, कुलघ्नीमपि च exterminater of the race, मन्ये think, यत् for which, महेन्द्रमिव like Indra, अजय्यम् invincible, अचलमिव like a mountain, दुष्प्रकम्प्यम् unshakeable, महोदधिमिव like ocean, अक्षोभ्यम् unperturbed, कर्मभिः with evil acts, सन्तापयसि 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.

मावमंस्था दशरथं भर्तारं वरदं पतिम्।

भर्तुरिच्छा हि नारीणां पुत्रकोट्या विशिष्यते।।2.35.8।।

भर्तारम् nourisher, वरदम् bestower of boons, पतिम् your husband, दशरथम् Dasaratha, मावमंस्थाः do not insult, नारीणाम् for women, भर्तुः husband, इच्छा desire, पुत्रकोट्याः of ten million sons, विशिष्यते 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.

यथावयो हि राज्यानि प्राप्नुवन्ति नृपक्षये।

इक्ष्वाकुकुलनाथेऽस्मिं स्तल्लोपयितुमिच्छसि।।2.35.9।।

नृपक्षये after the death of the king, यथावयः according to the age, राज्यानि kingdoms, प्राप्नुवन्ति हि obtain, अस्मिन् in this, इक्ष्वाकुकुलनाथे lord of Ikshvaku dynasty (Rama), तत् that one, लोपयितुम् to break, इच्छसि 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?

राजा भवतु ते पुत्रो भरतश्शास्तु मेदिनीम्।

वयं तत्र गमिष्यामो रामो यत्र गमिष्यति।।2.35.10।।

ते पुत्रः your son, भरतः Bharata, राजा भवतु let him be king, मेदिनीम् the earth, शास्तु let him rule, रामः Rama, यत्र whereever, गमिष्यति will go, वयम् all of us, तत्र there, गमिष्यामः we will go.

Let your son Bharata be king and rule the earth. All of us will go whereever Rama goes.

न हि ते विषये कश्चिद् र्ब्राह्मणो वस्तुमर्हति।

तादृशं त्वममर्यादमद्य कर्म चिकीर्षसि।।2.35.11।।

ते विषये in your country, कश्चित् ब्राह्मणः no brahmin, वस्तुम to dwell, न अर्हति हि is not worthy of, त्वम् you, अद्य now, तादृशम् such, अमर्यादम् trangressing the bounds of the code of conduct, कर्म act, चिकीर्षसि intending.

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

नूनं सर्वे गमिष्यामो मार्गं रामनिषेवितम्।

त्यक्ताया बान्धवैः सर्वैर्ब्राह्मणैः साधुभिः सदा।।2.35.12।।

का प्रीती राज्यलाभेन तव देवि भविष्यति।

तादृशं त्वममर्यादं कर्म कर्तुं चिकीर्षसि।।2.35.13।।

नूनम् certainly, सर्वे all, रामनिषेवितम् pursued by Rama, मार्गम् in the same path, गमिष्यामः shall go, देवि O Devi (Kaikeyi), या you, बान्धवैः with relations, सर्वैः all, ब्राह्मणैः with brahmins, साधुभिः with virtuous men, सदा always, त्यक्ता abandoned, तव your, राज्यलाभेन by the lust for kingdom, का what, प्रीतिः pleasure, भविष्यति will be, त्वम् you, अमर्यादम् trangressing the limits of honour, तादृशम् such, कर्म act, कर्तुम् to do, चिकीर्षसि 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?

आश्चर्यमिव पश्यामि यस्यास्ते वृत्तमीदृशम्।

आचरन्त्या न विवृता सद्यो भवति मेदिनी।।2.35.14।।

यस्याः such as yours, ईदृशं such, वृत्तं act, आचरन्त्याः while undertaking, मेदिनी the earth, सद्यः right away, विवृता न भवति does not split, आश्चर्यमिव it is like a wonder, पश्यामि I see.

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

महाब्रह्मर्षिसृष्टाः वा ज्वलन्तो भीमदर्शनाः।

धिग्वाग्दण्डा न हिंसन्ति रामप्रव्राजने स्थिताम्।।2.35.15।।

रामप्रव्राजने in banishing Rama, स्थिताम् bent upon, महाब्रह्मर्षिसृष्टाः created by great brahmarshis, ज्वलन्तः burning, भीमदर्शनाः fearful to look at, धिक् वाग्दण्डाः reproachful
words of shame, न हिंसन्ति 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'

आम्रं छित्वा कुठारेण निम्बं परिचरेत्तु यः।

यश्चैनं पयसा सिञ्चेन्नैवास्य मधुरो भवेत्।।2.35.16।।

यः whoever, आम्रम् mango tree, कुठारेण with an axe, छित्वा having severed, निम्बम् a nimba tree, परिचरेत्तु will grow, यश्च whoever, एनम् to this, पयसा with milk, सिञ्चेत् sprinkles, अस्य for him, मधुरः sweet,नैव भवेत् 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.

अभिजात्यं हि ते मन्ये यथा मातुस्तथैव च।

न हि निम्बात्स्रवेत् क्षैद्रं लोके निगदितं वचः।।2.35.17।।

ते your, आभिजात्यम् nobility of birth, मातुः your mother's, यथा as that of, तथैव च like that, मन्ये thinking, निम्बात् from nimba tree, क्षौद्रम् honey, न स्रवेत् हि does not flow, लोके in this world, वचः saying, निगदितम् is said.

Your nature corresponds to your mother's, so I think. 'Honey will not flow from a nimba tree' is a wellknown saying in this world.

तव मातुरसद्ग्राहं विद्मः पूर्वं यथाश्रुतम्।

पितुस्ते वरदः कश्चिद्ददौ वरमनुत्तमम्।।2.35.18।।

सर्वभूतरुतं तस्मात्संजज्ञे वसुधाधिपः।

तेन तिर्यग्गतानां च भूतानां विदितं वचः।।2.35.19।।

पूर्वम् in the past, यथाश्रुतम् as heard, तव मातुः your mother's, असद्ग्राहम् evil (stubborn) attitude, विद्मः we are aware, कश्चित् one, वरदः bestower of boons, ते पितुः to your father, अनुत्तमम् extraordinary, वरम् boon, ददौ gave, तस्मात् by that, वसुधाधिपः the king, सर्वभूतरुतम् the sounds of all beings, सञ्जज्ञे understood, तेन by him, तिर्यग्गतानाम् obliquely moving, भूतानाम् all living beings, वचः words, विदितम् 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.

ततो जृम्भस्य शयने विरुताद्भूरिवर्चसः।

पितुस्ते विदितो भाव स्स तत्र बहुधाऽहसत्।।2.35.20।।

ततः then, शयने near his bed, जृम्भस्य of 'Jrumbha' (an ant or a bird of theis name), विरुतात् from its sound, भावः its meaning, भूरिवर्चसः highly brilliant, ते पितुः to your father, विदितः was known, तत्र on that, सः he, बहुधा repeatedly, अहसत् 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.

तत्र ते जननी क्रुद्धा मृत्युपाशमभीप्सती।

हासं ते नृपते सौम्य जिज्ञासामीति चाब्रवीत्।।2.35.21।।

ते जननी your mother, मृत्युपाशम् noose of death, अभीप्सती seeking, तत्र at that (laughter), क्रुद्धा getting angry, सौम्य O handsome one, नृपते king, ते your, हासम् about laughter, जिज्ञासामिति intend to know, अब्रवीत् 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'.

नृपश्चोवाच तां देवीं देवि शंसामि ते यदि।

ततो मे मरणं सद्यो भविष्यति न संशयः।।2.35.22।।

नृपश्च that king, तां देवीम् to his wife, उवाच said, देवि O queen, ते to you, शंसामि यदि if I disclose, ततः then, सद्यः immediately, मे to me, मरणम् death, भविष्यति will happen, संशयः doubt, न not.

'O queen if I disclose it, then I will undoubtedly die that very movement' replied the king to his wife.

माता ते पितरं देवि ततः केकयमब्रवीत्।

शंस मे जीव वा मा वा न मामपहसिष्यसि।।2.35.23।।

देवि O Devi (Kaikeyi) ततः thereafter, ते माता your mother, पितरम् to your father, केकयम् to king of Kekaya, अब्रवीत् said, जीव वा whether you live, मा वा or die, मे to me, शंस tell, माम् me, न अपहसिष्यसि do not ridicule.

Then your mother said to your father, 'Whether you live or die, tell me the cause. You are laughing at me'.

प्रियया च तथोक्त स्सन् केकयः पृथिवीपतिः।

तस्मै तं वरदायार्थं कथयामास तत्त्वतः।।2.35.24।।

प्रियया by the beloved, तथा thus, उक्तः सन् having been spoken to, केकयः Kekaya, पृथिवीपतिः lord of the earth, तस्मै that, वरदाय conferor of boon, तम् अर्थं all this matter, तत्त्वतः as it happened, कथयामास related.

Hearing the words of his beloved, king of Kekaya related the entire matter, as it
happened, concerning the conferor of boons.

ततः स्स वरदः साधुराजानं प्रत्यभाषत।

म्रियतां ध्वंसतां वेयं मा कृथास्त्वं महीपते।।2.35.25।।

ततः then, वरदः the conferor of boons, सः साधुः that holy man, राजानम् to the king, प्रत्यभाषत answered, महीपते O King, इयम् she, म्रियताम् let her die, ध्वंसतां वा or be destroyed, त्वम् you, मा कृथाः 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).

स तच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य प्रसन्नमनसो नृपः।

मातरं ते निरस्याशु विजहार कुबेरवत्।।2.35.26।।

सः नृपः that king, प्रसन्नमनसः cheerfully, तस्य his, तत् वचः these words, श्रुत्वा having listened, आशु at once, ते your, मातरम् mother, निरस्य dismissing, कुबेरवत् like Kubera, विजहार moved freely.

Happy to hear these words, your father sent away your mother and moved about like Kubera.

तथा त्वमपि राजानं दुर्जनाचरिते पथि।

असद्ग्राहमिमं मोहात्कुरुषे पापदर्शिनि।।2.35.27।।

पापदर्शिनि O evilminded one त्वमपि you also, तथा like that, राजानम् to the king, दुर्जनाचरिते under the influence of the wicked, पथि on the path, इमम् this, असद्ग्राहम् unfair persistance, कुरुषे do, मोहात् due to infatuation.

O evilminded one you, too, are following the path of wickedness, forcing the king infatuated (with you) to act unrighteously.

सत्यश्चाद्य प्रवादोऽयं लौकिकः प्रतिभाति मा।

पितृन् समनुजायन्ते नरा मातरमङ्गनाः।।2.35.28।।

नराः men, पितृन् fathers, अङ्गनाः women, मातरम् mother, समनुजायन्ते are born similar to them, अयम् this, लौकिकः generally accepted, प्रवादः saying, सत्यः truth, अद्य now, मा
about (to) me, प्रतिभाति appears.

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

नैवं भव गृहाणेदं यदाह वसुधाधिपः।

भर्तुरिच्छामुपास्वेह जनस्यास्य गतिर्भव।।2.35.29।।

एवम् in that way, न भव do not become, वसुधाधिपः lord of the world, king, यत् which one, आह tells, इदम् that one, गृहाण accept, भर्तुः husband's, इच्छाम् wishes, उपास्व abide by, इह here, अस्य जनस्य for these people, गतिः भव be refuge.

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

मा त्वं प्रोत्साहिता पापैर्देवराजसमप्रभम्।

भर्तारं लोकभर्तारमसद्धर्ममुपादधाः।।2.35.30।।

त्वम् you, पापैः by wicked, प्रोत्साहिता encouraged by, देवराजसमप्रभम् like Indra in brilliance, लोकभर्तारम् protector of the world, भर्तारम् your husband, असद्धर्मम् unrighteousness, मा उपादधाः 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.

न हि मिथ्या प्रतिज्ञातं करिष्यति तवानघः।

श्रीमान्दशरथो राजा देवि राजीवलोचनः।।2.35.31।।

देवि O Devi अनघः sinless, श्रीमान् prosperous, राजीवलोचनः lotuseyed, राजा king, दशरथः Dasaratha, तव to you, प्रतिज्ञातम् which is promised, मिथ्या untruth, न करिष्यति हि will not make.

The lotuseyed, sinless and prosperous king Dasaratha, O Devi will not render false the promise given you (he will fulfil it in another form).

ज्येष्ठो वदान्यः कर्मण्यः स्वधर्मपरिरक्षिता।

रक्षिता जीवलोकस्य बली रामोऽभिषिच्यताम्।।2.35.32।।

ज्येष्ठः the eldest, वदान्यः generous, कर्मण्यः skilful, स्वधर्मपरिरक्षिता dutiful, जीवलोकस्य all beings of the world, रक्षिता protector, बली valiant, रामः Rama, अभिषिच्यताम् be installed.

Let his eldest son Rama, valiant, generous, skilful, dutiful and protector of this world, be consecrated.

परिवादो हि ते देवि महाल्लोके चरिष्यति।

यदि रामो वनं याति विहाय पितरं नृपम्।।2.35.33।।

देवि O Devi रामः Rama, नृपम् king, पितरम् his father, विहाय leaving, वनम् to the forest, याति यदि if he goes, लोके in this world, ते your, महान् great, परिवादे blame, चरिष्यति हि 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.

स राज्यं राघवः पातु भव त्वं विगतज्वरा।

न हि ते राघवादन्यः क्षमः पुरवरे वसेत्।।2.35.34।।

सः राघवः that Rama, राज्यम् kingdom, पातु protect, त्वम् you, विगतज्वरा relieved of mental afflictions, भव become, राघवात् more than Rama, अन्यः other person, क्षमः competent, ते your, पुरवरे in this excellent city, न वसेत् हि 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.

रामे हि यौवराज्यस्थे राजा दशरथो वनम्।

प्रवेक्ष्यति महेष्वासः पूर्ववृत्तमनुस्मरन्।।2.35.35।।

रामे Rama, यौवराज्यस्थे on being installed as heirapparent, महेष्वासः great archer, राजा king, दशरथः Dasaratha, पूर्ववृत्तम् the ancient custom, अनुस्मरन् recollecting, वनम् to the forest, प्रवेक्ष्यति enter.

If Rama is installed as heirapparent, king Dasaratha, the great archer will retire to the forest for carrying out austerities following ancient customs.

इति सान्त्वैश्च तीक्ष्णैश्च कैकेयीं राजसंसदि।

सुमन्त्रः क्षोभयामास भूय एव कृताज्जलिः।।2.35.36।।

इति in this way, सुमन्त्रः Sumantra, सान्त्वैश्च with gentle words, तीक्ष्णैश्च with sharp words also, राजसंसदि in the presence of the king, कैकेयीम् Kaikeyi, क्षोभयामास made her feel sorry, भूय एव again, कृताज्ञलिः 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.

नैव सा क्षुभ्यते देवी न च स्म परिदूयते।

न चास्या मुखवर्णस्य विक्रिया लक्ष्यते तदा।।2.35.37।।

सा देवी that Kaikeyi, नैव क्षुभ्यते unperturbed, न च परिदूयते स्म did not feel sorry, तदा then,
मुखवर्णस्य colour of her face (and expression), विक्रिया च change, न लक्ष्यते 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.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे पंचत्रिंशस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the thirtyfifth sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.