Sloka & Translation

[Manthara informs Kaikeyi about the installation of Rama--happy over the news Kaikeyi gifts away her ornaments.]

ज्ञातिदासी यतो जाता कैकेय्यास्तु सहोषिता।

प्रासादं चन्द्रसङ्काशमारुरोह यदृच्छया।।2.7.1।।


यत: जाता from the time of her birth, कैकेय्या सह along with Kaikeyi, ऊषिता living, ज्ञातिदासी family servant, यदृच्छया casually, चन्द्रसङ्काशम् resembling the Moon, प्रासादम् palace, आरुरोह ascended.

The family maid (Manthara) of Kaikeyi who had been living with her since her (Kaikeyi's) birth casually ascended the palace gleaming white like the Moon.
सिक्तराजपथां कृत्स्नां प्रकीर्णकुसुमोत्कराम्।

अयोध्यां मन्थरा तस्मात्प्रासादादन्ववैक्षत।।2.7.2।।


मन्थरा Manthara, सिक्तराजपथाम् highway sprinkled with water, प्रकीर्णकुसुमोत्कराम् strewn with a lot of flowers, कृत्स्नाम् whole, अयोध्याम् Ayodhya, तस्मात् from that, प्रासादात् palace, अन्ववैक्षत beheld.

Manthara beheld from that palace the whole of Ayodhya with its highways sprinkled with water and strewn with a lot of flowers.
पताकाभिर्वरार्हाभिर्ध्वजैश्च समलङ्कृताम्।

वृतां छन्दपथैश्चापि शिरस्स्नातजनैर्वृताम्।।2.7.3।।

माल्यमोदकहस्तैश्च द्विजेन्द्रैरभिनादिताम्।

शुक्लदेवगृहद्वारां सर्ववादित्रनिस्वनाम्।।2.7.4।।

सम्प्रहृष्टजनाकीर्णां ब्रह्मघोषाभिनादिताम्।

प्रहृष्टवरहस्त्यश्वां सम्प्रणर्दितगोवृषाम्।।2.7.5।।

प्रहृष्टमुदितैः पौरैरुच्छ्रितध्वजमालिनीम्।

अयोध्यां मन्थरा दृष्ट्वा परं विस्मयमागता।।2.7.6।।


मन्थरा Manthara, तस्मात् प्रासादात् from that palace, वरार्हाभि: by costly, पताकाभि: with banners, ध्वजैश्च with flags, समलङ्कृताम् welldecorated, छन्दपथै: च अपि labyrinthine thoroughfares also, वृताम् enveloped by, शिरस्स्नातजनै: with men who had, वृताम् surrounded by, माल्यमोदकहस्तै: holding garlands and sweetmeats in their hands, द्विजेन्द्रै: with the best of brahmins, अभिनादिताम् reverberating, शुक्ल देवगृहद्वाराम् with temples with white doors, सर्ववादित्रनिस्वनाम् with sounds from every kind of musical instrument, सम्प्रहृष्टजनाकीर्णाम् filled with joyful crowds, ब्रह्मघोषाभिनादिताम् echoed with the chanting of the Vedas, प्रहृष्टवरहस्त्यश्वाम् with the best boisterous horses and elephants, सम्प्रणर्दितगोवृषाम् with the lowing and bellowing of cows and bulls, प्रहृष्टमुदितै: with great joy, पौरै: by the citizens, उच्छ्रितध्वजमालिनीम् encircled by elevated pennants, अयोध्याम् to Ayodhya, विस्मयमागता was astonished.

The city of Ayodhya was decorated with costly banners and pennants. The labyrinthine roads were crowded with people who had (finished) their headbath and were wandering at will. The temples with their doors painted white were reverberating with the chanting from the Vedas by the best of brahmins holding garlands and sweetmeats in their hands and with sounds of all kinds of musical instruments. The city was filled with spirited horses and elephants. The bulls were
bellowing and the cows were lowing. The citizens with great joy raised the penants encircling the city of Ayodhya. All this left Manthara astonished.
प्रहर्षोत्फुल्लनयनां पाण्डुरक्षौमवासिनीम्।

अविदूरे स्थितां दृष्ट्वा धात्रीं पप्रच्छ मन्थरा।।2.7.7।।


मन्थरा Manthara, प्रहर्षोत्फुल्लनयनाम् whose eyes were expanded with delight, पाण्डुरक्षौमवासिनीम् clad in white silk garment, अविदूरे not very far, स्थिताम् standing, धात्रीम् to
a royal maid, दृष्ट्वा having seen, पप्रच्छ enquired.

Seeing a royal maid clad in white silk garment and standing not very far with her eyes expanded in delight Manthara enquired:
उत्तमेनाभिसंयुक्ता हर्षेणार्थपरा सती।

राममाता धनं किन्नु जनेभ्यस्सम्प्रयच्छति।।2.7.8।।


राममाता Rama's mother, अर्थपरासती one interested in wealth, उत्तमेन great, हर्षेण with joy, अभिसंयुक्ता possessed of, जनेभ्य: for men, धनम् wealth, किं नु सम्प्रयच्छति why is she gifting away?

Why is Rama's mother, forever interested in the accumulation of money gifting away her wealth to men with great joy?
अतिमात्रप्रहर्षोऽयं किं जनस्य च शंस मे।

कारयिष्यति किं वापि सम्प्रहृष्टो महीपतिः।।2.7.9।।


जनस्य for men, अयम् this, अतिमात्रप्रहर्ष: exceedingly happy, किम् why?, मे to me, शंस tell, सम्प्रहृष्ट: delighted, महीपति: king, किं वापि what is he, कारयिष्यति वा proposing to do ?

Why do the people look exceedingly happy? Tell me, what the king with great delight is proposing to do?
विदीर्यमाणा हर्षेण धात्री तु परया मुदा।

आचचक्षेऽथ कुब्जायै भूयसीं राघव श्रियम्।।2.7.10।।


धात्री तु the royal maid, हर्षेण with delight, विदीर्यमाणा bursting, अथ threafter, कुब्जायै for that hunchback, भूयसीम् greater, राघवश्रियम् about the fortune of Rama, परया great, मुदा with delight, आचचक्षे related.

Bursting with great joy, the royal maid related to the hunchback the great fortune
awaiting the son of the Raghus (Rama).
श्वः पुष्येण जितक्रोधं यौवराज्येन राघवम्।

राजा दशरथो राममभिषेचयिताऽनघम्।।2.7.11।।


दशरथ: राजा king Dasaratha, श्व: tomorrow, पुष्येण under the star Pushya, राघवम् born in the race of Raghu, अनघम् blameless रामम् to Rama, यौवराज्येन as heirapparent, अभिषेचयिता will consecrate.

Tomorrow under the spell of the Pushya star, king Dasaratha will consecrate blameless Rama born in the race of Raghu as heirapparent (the maid said).
धात्र्यास्तु वचनं शृत्वा कुब्जा क्षिप्रममर्षिता।

कैलासशिखराकारा त्प्रासादादवरोहत।।2.7.12।।


कुब्जा that hunchback, धात्र्या: वचनम् the words of royal maid, शृत्वा having heard, अमर्षिता was furious, कैलासशिखराकारात् resembling the peak of mount Kailasa, प्रासादात् from the palace, क्षिप्रम् speedily, अवरोहत descended.

Having heard these words of the royal maid, the hunchback became furious and speedily descended from that palace resembling the peak of mount Kailasa.
सा दह्यमाना कोपेन मन्थरा पापदर्शिनी।

शयानामेत्य कैकेयीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.7.13।।


पापदर्शिनी malevolent, सा मन्थरा that Manthara, कोपेन with fury, दह्यमाना burning, शयानाम् as she lay upon her couch, कैकेयीम् Kaikeyi, एत्य having reached, इदम् this, वचनम् words, अब्रवीत् said.

The malevolent Manthara on fire with fury reached Kaikeyi lying upon her couch and said:
उत्तिष्ठ मूढे किं शेषे भयं त्वामभिवर्तते।

उपप्लुतामौघेन किमात्मानं न बुध्यसे।।2.7.14।।


मूढे O senseless one, उत्तिष्ठ get up, किम् why, शेषे are sleeping, भयम् fear, त्वाम् you, अभिवर्तते is approaching you, अमौघेन in a sea of perils, उपप्लुताम् floating, आत्मानम् about yourself, न बुध्यसे why do not you realise?

O senseless one, why are you lying down? Get up A great fear is gripping you. Why don't you realise that you are floating in a sea of perils.
अनिष्टे सुभगाकारे सौभाग्येन विकत्थसे।

चलं हि तव सौभाग्यं नद्यास्स्रोत इवोष्णगे।।2.7.15।।


सुभगाकारे you appear to be your husband's darling, अनिष्टे O one disliked (by the husband), सौभाग्येन with your good fortune, विकत्थसे you are boasting, उष्णगे in summer season, नद्या: river's, स्रोत: इव like a flow, तव your, सौभाग्यम् good fortune, चलं हि is unstable indeed.

Though you appear to be your husband's darling, in reality he dislikes you. The good fortune you boast of indeed is unstable like the stream of a river in summer.
एवमुक्ता तु कैकेयी रुष्टया परुषं वचः।

कुब्जया पापदर्शिन्या विषादमगमत्परम्।।2.7.16।।


रुष्टया in a rage, पापदर्शिन्या evileyed, कुब्जया by the hunchback (Manthara), एवम् in this way, परुषं वच: harsh words, उक्ता having spoken, कैकेयी Kaikeyi, परम् great, विषादम् despondency, अगमत् obtained.

At these harsh words of the furious, evileyed hunchback Kaikeyi fell into great despondency.
कैकेयी त्वब्रवीत्कुब्जां कच्चित्क्षेमं नु मन्थरे।

विषण्णवदनां हि त्वां लक्षये भृशदुःखिताम्।।2.7.17।।


कैकेयी तु as for Kaikeyi, कुब्जाम् to the hunchback, अब्रवीत् spoke, मन्थरे O Manthara, क्षेमम् कच्चित् all is well I hope?, त्वाम् you, विषण्णवदनाम् a dejected face, भृशदु:खिताम् to deeply sorrowful, लक्षये हि I observe indeed.

Kaikeyi said to the hunchback, O Manthara isn't all well with you? I can mark it from your dejected face how greatly distressed you feel, indeed.
मन्थरा तु वच श्श्रुत्वा कैकेय्या मधुराक्षरम्।

उवाच क्रोधसंयुक्ता वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदा।।2.7.18।।


वाक्यविशारदा skilled in speech, मन्थरा तु Manthara, मधुराक्षरम् in sweet accent, कैकेय्या: वच: the words of Kaikeyi, श्रुत्वा having heard, क्रोधसंयुक्ता filled with anger, वाक्यम् words, उवाच said.

Hearing the words of Kaikeyi uttered in a gentle voice, wrathful Manthara skilled in speech, said:
सा विषण्णतरा भूत्वा कुब्जा तस्या हितैषिणी।

विषादयन्ती प्रोवाच भेदयन्ती च राघवम्।।2.7.19।।


सा कुब्जा that hunchback, विषण्णतरा भूत्वा being still more depressed, तस्या: her, हितैषिणी desiring the welfare, विषादयन्ती causing despondency, राघवम् of Rama, भेदयन्ती च also separating, प्रोवाच said.

That hunchback feeling still more depressed in her (Kaikeyi's) interest and intending to cause in her despondency and distance Rama from her spoke out:
अक्षय्यं सुमहद्देवि प्रवृत्तं त्वद्विनाशनम्।

रामं दशरथो राजा यौवराज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति।।2.7.20।।


देवि O queen, अक्षय्यम् unending, सुमहत् immense, त्वद्विनाशनम् your ruin, प्रवृत्तम् is in the offing, राजा दशरथ: king Dasaratha, रामम् of Rama, यौवराज्ये as heirapparent, अभिषेक्ष्यति is crowning.

O queen, your end is approaching, and it has no end and it is overwhelming. King Dasaratha is crowning Rama as heirapparent.
साऽस्म्यगाधे भये मग्ना दुःखशोकसमन्विता।

दह्यमानाऽनलेनेव त्वद्धितार्थमिहागता।।2.7.21।।


सा such I am, अगाधे in unfathomable, भये in fear, मग्ना plunged, दु:खशोकसमन्विता stricken with grief and tears, अनलेन by fire, दह्यमानेव as if being burnt, त्वद्धितार्थम् for your welfare, इह here, आगता have come.

Plunged in unfathomable fear and stricken with grief and tears I am here seeking your wellbeing and yet consumed as though by fire.
तव दुःखेन कैकेयि मम दुःखं महद्भवेत्।

त्वद्वृद्धौ मम वृद्धिश्च भवेदत्र न संशयः।।2.7.22।।


कैकेयि O Kaikeyi, तव दु:खेन with your grief, मम my, महत् great, दु:खम् भवेत् distress will occur, त्वद्वृद्धौ in your prosperity, मम my, वृद्धिश्च prosperity, भवेत् would become, अत्र in
this aspect, न संशय: there is no doubt.

O Kaikeyi, your sorrow will augment my sorrow. Your prosperity would mean my prosperity. There is no doubt about this.
नराधिपकुले जाता महिषी त्वं महीपतेः।

उग्रत्वं राजधर्माणां कथं देवि न बुध्यसे।।2.7.23।।


देवि O queen, नराधिपकुले in the royal family, जाता you are born, महीपते: महिषी the king's consort, त्वम् you, राजधर्माणाम् of the statecraft, उग्रत्वम् cruelty, कथम् how, न बुध्यसे do not realise.

O queen, born in the royal family and being a king's consort why don't you realise the ruthless ways of statecraft?
धर्मावादी शठो भर्ता श्लक्ष्णवादी च दारुणः।

शुद्धभावे न जानीषे तेनैव मतिसन्धिता।।2.7.24।।


भर्ता your husband, धर्मावादी one who speaks of morals, शठ: one who is deceitful, श्लक्ष्णवादी one who speaks gently, दारुण: च cruel also, शुद्धभावे of innocent nature, तेन by such person, एवम् thus, अतिसन्धिता beguiled, न जानीषे you do not understand.

Your husband speaks morals publicly but in private he is deceitful. He speaks gently but acts cruelly. Because of your innocent nature you are beguiled by him. You do not understand this.
उपस्थितः प्रयुञ्जानस्त्वयि सान्त्वमनर्थकम्।

अर्थेनैवाद्य ते भर्ता कौसल्यां योजयिष्यति।।2.7.25।।


उपस्थित: have approached, अनर्थकम् meaningless, सान्त्वम् appeasing words, त्वयि in you, प्रयुञ्जान: while confers, ते भर्ता your husband, अद्य today, कौसल्यामेव only for Kausalya, अर्थेन with advantage, योजयिष्यति will bestow.

When your husband approaches you he swears in meaningless, appeasing words. But today he is going to bestow benefit on Kausalya only.
उपवाह्य स दुष्टात्मा भरतं तव बन्धुषु।

काल्ये स्थापयिता रामं राज्ये निहतकण्टके।।2.7.26।।


दुष्टात्मा evilminded one, स: he, भरतम् Bharata, तव बन्धुषु to your relations, अपवाह्य having
sent, काल्ये at dawn tomorrow, रामम् Rama, निहतकण्टके rid of the thorns, राज्ये in the kingdom, स्थापयिता will be established.

That evilminded one, having sent Bharata away to your relations house, is going to install Rama unhindered in the kingdom at dawn tomorrow.
शत्रुः पतिप्रवादेन मात्रेव हितकाम्यया।

आशीविष इवाङ्केन बाले परिधृतस्त्वया।।2.7.27।।


बाले O child मात्रेव like a mother, त्वया by you, हितकाम्यया desirous of wellbeing, आशीविष: venomous serpent, अङ्केनेव in your lap, शत्रु: enemy, पतिप्रवादेन with the belief that he is the husband, परिधृत: preserved.

O innocent lady with the intention of doing good like a mother to your husband who is your enemy, you are holding on your lap a venomous serpent.
यथा हि कुर्यात्सर्पो वा शत्रुर्वा प्रत्युपेक्षितः।

राज्ञा दशरथेनाद्य सपुत्रा त्वं तथा कृता।।2.7.28।।


सपुत्रा along with your son, त्वम् you, राज्ञा by the kng, दशरथेन by Dasaratha, प्रत्युपेक्षित: ignored, सर्पो वा snake or, शत्रुर्वा or enemy, यथा just like, कुर्यात् would do, तथा in the same way, कृता has been done.

King Dasaratha has done to you and to your son the same thing as a snake or an
enemy would do when ignored.
पापेनानृतसान्त्वेन बाले नित्यसुखोचिते।

रामं स्थापयता राज्ये सानुबन्धा हता ह्यसि।।2.7.29।।


नित्यसुखोचिते always accustomed to comfort, बाले O child अनृतसान्त्वेन with deceitful words of appeasement, रामम् to Rama, राज्ये in the kingdom, स्थापयता installing, पापेन by that vicious one, सानुबन्धा along with your son, हता असिहि surely have been ruined.

O senseless lady, you are always accustomed to comfort. With deceitful words of appeasement that vicious one (King Dasaratha) is going to install Rama in the kingdom. You along with your son have been surely ruined.
सा प्राप्तकालं कैकेयि क्षिप्रं कुरु हितं तव।

त्रायस्व पुत्रमात्मानं मां च विस्मयदर्शने।।2.7.30।।


कैकेयि O Kaikeyi, सा such you are, तव your, हितम् wellbeing, प्राप्तकालम् appropriate time has come, क्षिप्रम् quickly, कुरु act, विस्मयदर्शने O fool पुत्रम् your son, आत्मानम् yourself, मां च also me, त्रायस्व save.

O enchantingeyed Kaikeyi, that appropriate time has come. Act quickly for your own wellbeing. Save yourself, your son and me too.
मन्थाराया वचश्श्रुत्वा शयाना सा शुभानना।

उत्तस्थौ हर्षसम्पूर्णा चन्द्रलेखेव शारदी।।2.7.31।।


शयाना lying in her couch, सा that Kaikeyi, शुभानना with a charming countenance, मन्थराया: Manthara's, वच: words, श्रुत्वा having heard, हर्षसंपूर्णा full of joy, शारदी autumnal, चन्द्रलेखेव Moon's crescent, उत्तस्थौ rose.

Hearing the words of Manthara, Kaikeyi of charming countenance lying in her couch rose, full of joy, like the autumnal streak of the Moon's crescent.
अतीव सा तु संहृष्टा कैकेयी विस्मयान्विता।

एकमाभरणं तस्यै कुब्जायै प्रददौ शुभम्।।2.7.32।।


सा कैकेयी that Kaikeyi, अतीव exceedingly, संहृष्टा pleased, विस्मयान्विता filled with astonishment, तस्यै कुब्जायै for that hunckback, एकम् one, शुभम् beautiful, आभरणम् ornament, ददौ gave.

Filled with immense joy and wonder (at the news), Kaikeyi gifted a beauthful ornament to that hunchback.
दत्वा त्वाभरणं तस्यै कुब्जायै प्रमदोत्तमा।

कैकेयी मन्थरां दृष्ट्वा पुनरेवाब्रवीदिदम्।।2.7.33।।


प्रमदोत्तमा the best among beautiful women, कैकेयी Kaikeyi, तस्यै कुब्जायै to that hunchback, आभरणम् ornament, दत्वा looking at, मन्थराम् Manthara, दृष्ट्वा having seen, पुन: एव again, इदम् these (words), अब्रवीत् spoke.

Kaikeyi, the best among the beauties, having given the ornament to Manthara, the hunchback, looked at her and said these words again:
इदं तु मन्थरे मह्यमाख्यासि परमं प्रियम्।

एतन्मे प्रियमाख्यातुः किं वा भूयः करोमि ते।।2.7.34।।


मन्थरे O Manthara, मह्यम् for me, परमम् exceedingly, प्रियम् pleasant, इदम् this (news), आख्यासि telling, मे to me, प्रियम् pleasant (news), आख्यातु: one who communicates, एतत् this one is the gift, ते for you, भूय: still more, किं वा anything, करोमि shall I do?

O Manthara, the news you have brought me is exceedingly pleasant. What more can I do for you? Here is the gift for one who brings good tidings.
रामे वा भरते वाऽहं विशेषं नोपलक्षये।

तस्मात्तुष्टाऽस्मि यद्राजा रामं राज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति।।2.7.35।।


अहम् I, रामे वा either in Rama, भरते वा or in Bharata, विशेषम् distinction, नोपलक्षये do not see, तस्मात् as such, राजा king, रामम् to Rama, राज्ये in the kingdom, यत् अभिषेक्ष्यति if installs, तुष्टा अस्मि am contented

I do not see any distinction between Rama and Bharata as such. I am contented with Rama's consecration in the kingdom.
न मे परं किञ्चिदितस्त्वया पुनः

प्रियं प्रियार्हे सुवचं वचःपरम्।

तथा ह्यवोचस्त्वमतः प्रियोत्तरं

वरं परं ते प्रददामि तं वृणु।।2.7.36।।


प्रियार्हे O woman worthy of affection, मे to me, इत: than this, परम् great, न किञ्चित् nothing, न not, त्वयापि by you, परम् exceedingly, प्रियम् dear, वच: words, सुवचम् cannot be expressed easily, न not, त्वम् you, तथा thus, प्रियोत्तरम् best among the dear ones, अवोच: हि have told, अत: now, परम् best, वरम् reward, ते to you, प्रददामि shall bestow, तम् that one, वृणु ask for.

O woman worthy of affection for me there is nothing greater and dearer than this news. I will grant you another reward better than this. Just ask for it.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये अयोध्याकाण्डे सप्तमस्सर्गः।।
Thus ends the seventh sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.