Sloka & Translation

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

jñātidāsī yatō jātā kaikēyyāstu sahōṣitā.

prāsādaṅ candrasaṅkāśamārurōha yadṛcchayā৷৷2.7.1৷৷


yata: jātā from the time of her birth, kaikēyyā saha along with Kaikeyi, ūṣitā living, jñātidāsī family servant, yadṛcchayā casually, candrasaṅkāśam resembling the Moon, prāsādam palace, ārurōha 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.
siktarājapathāṅ kṛtsnāṅ prakīrṇakusumōtkarām.

ayōdhyāṅ mantharā tasmātprāsādādanvavaikṣata৷৷2.7.2৷৷


mantharā Manthara, siktarājapathām highway sprinkled with water, prakīrṇakusumōtkarām strewn with a lot of flowers, kṛtsnām whole, ayōdhyām Ayodhya, tasmāt from that, prāsādāt palace, anvavaikṣata beheld.

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

vṛtāṅ chandapathaiścāpi śirassnātajanairvṛtām৷৷2.7.3৷৷

mālyamōdakahastaiśca dvijēndrairabhināditām.

śukladēvagṛhadvārāṅ sarvavāditranisvanām৷৷2.7.4৷৷

samprahṛṣṭajanākīrṇāṅ brahmaghōṣābhināditām.

prahṛṣṭavarahastyaśvāṅ sampraṇarditagōvṛṣām৷৷2.7.5৷৷

prahṛṣṭamuditaiḥ paurairucchritadhvajamālinīm.

ayōdhyāṅ mantharā dṛṣṭvā paraṅ vismayamāgatā৷৷2.7.6৷৷


mantharā Manthara, tasmāt prāsādāt from that palace, varārhābhi: by costly, patākābhi: with banners, dhvajaiśca with flags, samalaṅkṛtām well-decorated, chandapathai: ca api labyrinthine thoroughfares also, vṛtām enveloped by, śirassnātajanai: with men who had, vṛtām surrounded by, mālyamōdakahastai: holding garlands and sweetmeats in their hands, dvijēndrai: with the best of brahmins, abhināditām reverberating, śukla dēvagṛhadvārām with temples with white doors, sarvavāditranisvanām with sounds from every kind of musical instrument, samprahṛṣṭajanākīrṇām filled with joyful crowds, brahmaghōṣābhināditām echoed with the chanting of the Vedas, prahṛṣṭavarahastyaśvām with the best boisterous horses and elephants, sampraṇarditagōvṛṣām with the lowing and bellowing of cows and bulls, prahṛṣṭamuditai: with great joy, paurai: by the citizens, ucchritadhvajamālinīm encircled by elevated pennants, ayōdhyām to Ayodhya, vismayamāgatā was astonished.

The city of Ayodhya was decorated with costly banners and pennants. The labyrinthine roads were crowded with people who had (finished) their head-bath 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.
praharṣōtphullanayanāṅ pāṇḍurakṣaumavāsinīm.

avidūrē sthitāṅ dṛṣṭvā dhātrīṅ papraccha mantharā৷৷2.7.7৷৷


mantharā Manthara, praharṣōtphullanayanām whose eyes were expanded with delight, pāṇḍurakṣaumavāsinīm clad in white silk garment, avidūrē not very far, sthitām standing, dhātrīm to
a royal maid, dṛṣṭvā having seen, papraccha enquired.

Seeing a royal maid clad in white silk garment and standing not very far with her eyes expanded in delight Manthara enquired:
uttamēnābhisaṅyuktā harṣēṇārthaparā satī.

rāmamātā dhanaṅ kinnu janēbhyassamprayacchati৷৷2.7.8৷৷


rāmamātā Rama's mother, arthaparāsatī one interested in wealth, uttamēna great, harṣēṇa with joy, abhisaṅyuktā possessed of, janēbhya: for men, dhanam wealth, kiṅ nu samprayacchati 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?
atimātrapraharṣō.yaṅ kiṅ janasya ca śaṅsa mē.

kārayiṣyati kiṅ vāpi samprahṛṣṭō mahīpatiḥ৷৷2.7.9৷৷


janasya for men, ayam this, atimātrapraharṣa: exceedingly happy, kim why?, mē to me, śaṅsa tell, samprahṛṣṭa: delighted, mahīpati: king, kiṅ vāpi what is he, kārayiṣyati vā proposing to do ?

Why do the people look exceedingly happy? Tell me, what the king with great delight is proposing to do?
vidīryamāṇā harṣēṇa dhātrī tu parayā mudā.

ācacakṣē.tha kubjāyai bhūyasīṅ rāghava śriyam৷৷2.7.10৷৷


dhātrī tu the royal maid, harṣēṇa with delight, vidīryamāṇā bursting, atha threafter, kubjāyai for that hunchback, bhūyasīm greater, rāghavaśriyam about the fortune of Rama, parayā great, mudā with delight, ācacakṣē related.

Bursting with great joy, the royal maid related to the hunchback the great fortune
awaiting the son of the Raghus (Rama).
śvaḥ puṣyēṇa jitakrōdhaṅ yauvarājyēna rāghavam.

rājā daśarathō rāmamabhiṣēcayitā.nagham৷৷2.7.11৷৷


daśaratha: rājā king Dasaratha, śva: tomorrow, puṣyēṇa under the star Pushya, rāghavam born in the race of Raghu, anagham blameless rāmam to Rama, yauvarājyēna as heir-apparent, abhiṣēcayitā will consecrate.

Tomorrow under the spell of the Pushya star, king Dasaratha will consecrate blameless Rama born in the race of Raghu as heir-apparent (the maid said).
dhātryāstu vacanaṅ śṛtvā kubjā kṣipramamarṣitā.

kailāsaśikharākārā tprāsādādavarōhata৷৷2.7.12৷৷


kubjā that hunchback, dhātryā: vacanam the words of royal maid, śṛtvā having heard, amarṣitā was furious, kailāsaśikharākārāt resembling the peak of mount Kailasa, prāsādāt from the palace, kṣipram speedily, avarōhata 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.
sā dahyamānā kōpēna mantharā pāpadarśinī.

śayānāmētya kaikēyīmidaṅ vacanamabravīt৷৷2.7.13৷৷


pāpadarśinī malevolent, sā mantharā that Manthara, kōpēna with fury, dahyamānā burning, śayānām as she lay upon her couch, kaikēyīm Kaikeyi, ētya having reached, idam this, vacanam words, abravīt said.

The malevolent Manthara on fire with fury reached Kaikeyi lying upon her couch and said:
uttiṣṭha mūḍhē kiṅ śēṣē bhayaṅ tvāmabhivartatē.

upaplutāmaughēna kimātmānaṅ na budhyasē৷৷2.7.14৷৷


mūḍhē O senseless one, uttiṣṭha get up, kim why, śēṣē are sleeping, bhayam fear, tvām you, abhivartatē is approaching you, amaughēna in a sea of perils, upaplutām floating, ātmānam about yourself, na budhyasē 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.
aniṣṭē subhagākārē saubhāgyēna vikatthasē.

calaṅ hi tava saubhāgyaṅ nadyāssrōta ivōṣṇagē৷৷2.7.15৷৷


subhagākārē you appear to be your husband's darling, aniṣṭē O one disliked (by the husband), saubhāgyēna with your good fortune, vikatthasē you are boasting, uṣṇagē in summer season, nadyā: river's, srōta: iva like a flow, tava your, saubhāgyam good fortune, calaṅ hi 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.
ēvamuktā tu kaikēyī ruṣṭayā paruṣaṅ vacaḥ.

kubjayā pāpadarśinyā viṣādamagamatparam৷৷2.7.16৷৷


ruṣṭayā in a rage, pāpadarśinyā evil-eyed, kubjayā by the hunchback (Manthara), ēvam in this way, paruṣaṅ vaca: harsh words, uktā having spoken, kaikēyī Kaikeyi, param great, viṣādam despondency, agamat obtained.

At these harsh words of the furious, evil-eyed hunchback Kaikeyi fell into great despondency.
kaikēyī tvabravītkubjāṅ kaccitkṣēmaṅ nu mantharē.

viṣaṇṇavadanāṅ hi tvāṅ lakṣayē bhṛśaduḥkhitām৷৷2.7.17৷৷


kaikēyī tu as for Kaikeyi, kubjām to the hunchback, abravīt spoke, mantharē O Manthara!, kṣēmam kaccit all is well I hope?, tvām you, viṣaṇṇavadanām a dejected face, bhṛśadu:khitām to deeply sorrowful, lakṣayē hi 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!.
mantharā tu vaca śśrutvā kaikēyyā madhurākṣaram.

uvāca krōdhasaṅyuktā vākyaṅ vākyaviśāradā৷৷2.7.18৷৷


vākyaviśāradā skilled in speech, mantharā tu Manthara, madhurākṣaram in sweet accent, kaikēyyā: vaca: the words of Kaikeyi, śrutvā having heard, krōdhasaṅyuktā filled with anger, vākyam words, uvāca said.

Hearing the words of Kaikeyi uttered in a gentle voice, wrathful Manthara skilled in speech, said:
sā viṣaṇṇatarā bhūtvā kubjā tasyā hitaiṣiṇī.

viṣādayantī prōvāca bhēdayantī ca rāghavam৷৷2.7.19৷৷


sā kubjā that hunchback, viṣaṇṇatarā bhūtvā being still more depressed, tasyā: her, hitaiṣiṇī desiring the welfare, viṣādayantī causing despondency, rāghavam of Rama, bhēdayantī ca also separating, prōvāca 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:
akṣayyaṅ sumahaddēvi pravṛttaṅ tvadvināśanam.

rāmaṅ daśarathō rājā yauvarājyē.bhiṣēkṣyati৷৷2.7.20৷৷


dēvi O queen, akṣayyam unending, sumahat immense, tvadvināśanam your ruin, pravṛttam is in the offing, rājā daśaratha: king Dasaratha, rāmam of Rama, yauvarājyē as heir-apparent, abhiṣēkṣyati is crowning.

O queen!, your end is approaching, and it has no end and it is overwhelming. King Dasaratha is crowning Rama as heir-apparent.
sā.smyagādhē bhayē magnā duḥkhaśōkasamanvitā.

dahyamānā.nalēnēva tvaddhitārthamihāgatā৷৷2.7.21৷৷


sā such I am, agādhē in unfathomable, bhayē in fear, magnā plunged, du:khaśōkasamanvitā stricken with grief and tears, analēna by fire, dahyamānēva as if being burnt, tvaddhitārtham for your welfare, iha here, āgatā have come.

Plunged in unfathomable fear and stricken with grief and tears I am here seeking your well-being and yet consumed as though by fire.
tava duḥkhēna kaikēyi mama duḥkhaṅ mahadbhavēt.

tvadvṛddhau mama vṛddhiśca bhavēdatra na saṅśayaḥ৷৷2.7.22৷৷


kaikēyi O Kaikeyi, tava du:khēna with your grief, mama my, mahat great, du:kham bhavēt distress will occur, tvadvṛddhau in your prosperity, mama my, vṛddhiśca prosperity, bhavēt would become, atra in
this aspect, na saṅśaya: there is no doubt.

O Kaikeyi, your sorrow will augment my sorrow. Your prosperity would mean my prosperity. There is no doubt about this.
narādhipakulē jātā mahiṣī tvaṅ mahīpatēḥ!.

ugratvaṅ rājadharmāṇāṅ kathaṅ dēvi na budhyasē৷৷2.7.23৷৷


dēvi O queen, narādhipakulē in the royal family, jātā you are born, mahīpatē: mahiṣī the king's consort, tvam you, rājadharmāṇām of the statecraft, ugratvam cruelty, katham how, na budhyasē 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?
dharmāvādī śaṭhō bhartā ślakṣṇavādī ca dāruṇaḥ.

śuddhabhāvē na jānīṣē tēnaiva matisandhitā৷৷2.7.24৷৷


bhartā your husband, dharmāvādī one who speaks of morals, śaṭha: one who is deceitful, ślakṣṇavādī one who speaks gently, dāruṇa: ca cruel also, śuddhabhāvē of innocent nature, tēna by such person, ēvam thus, atisandhitā beguiled, na jānīṣē 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.
upasthitaḥ prayuñjānastvayi sāntvamanarthakam.

arthēnaivādya tē bhartā kausalyāṅ yōjayiṣyati৷৷2.7.25৷৷


upasthita: have approached, anarthakam meaningless, sāntvam appeasing words, tvayi in you, prayuñjāna: while confers, tē bhartā your husband, adya today, kausalyāmēva only for Kausalya, arthēna with advantage, yōjayiṣyati will bestow.

When your husband approaches you he swears in meaningless, appeasing words. But today he is going to bestow benefit on Kausalya only.
upavāhya sa duṣṭātmā bharataṅ tava bandhuṣu.

kālyē sthāpayitā rāmaṅ rājyē nihatakaṇṭakē৷৷2.7.26৷৷


duṣṭātmā evil-minded one, sa: he, bharatam Bharata, tava bandhuṣu to your relations, apavāhya having
sent, kālyē at dawn tomorrow, rāmam Rama, nihatakaṇṭakē rid of the thorns, rājyē in the kingdom, sthāpayitā will be established.

That evil-minded one, having sent Bharata away to your relations house, is going to install Rama unhindered in the kingdom at dawn tomorrow.
śatruḥ patipravādēna mātrēva hitakāmyayā.

āśīviṣa ivāṅkēna bālē paridhṛtastvayā৷৷2.7.27৷৷


bālē O child! mātrēva like a mother, tvayā by you, hitakāmyayā desirous of well-being, āśīviṣa: venomous serpent, aṅkēnēva in your lap, śatru: enemy, patipravādēna with the belief that he is the husband, paridhṛta: 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.
yathā hi kuryātsarpō vā śatrurvā pratyupēkṣitaḥ.

rājñā daśarathēnādya saputrā tvaṅ tathā kṛtā৷৷2.7.28৷৷


saputrā along with your son, tvam you, rājñā by the kng, daśarathēna by Dasaratha, pratyupēkṣita: ignored, sarpō vā snake or, śatrurvā or enemy, yathā just like, kuryāt would do, tathā in the same way, kṛtā 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.
pāpēnānṛtasāntvēna bālē! nityasukhōcitē.

rāmaṅ sthāpayatā rājyē sānubandhā hatā hyasi৷৷2.7.29৷৷


nityasukhōcitē always accustomed to comfort, bālē O child! anṛtasāntvēna with deceitful words of appeasement, rāmam to Rama, rājyē in the kingdom, sthāpayatā installing, pāpēna by that vicious one, sānubandhā along with your son, hatā asihi 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.
sā prāptakālaṅ kaikēyi kṣipraṅ kuru hitaṅ tava.

trāyasva putramātmānaṅ māṅ ca vismayadarśanē৷৷2.7.30৷৷


kaikēyi O Kaikeyi, sā such you are, tava your, hitam well-being, prāptakālam appropriate time has come, kṣipram quickly, kuru act, vismayadarśanē O fool! putram your son, ātmānam yourself, māṅ ca also me, trāyasva save.

O enchanting-eyed Kaikeyi, that appropriate time has come. Act quickly for your own well-being. Save yourself, your son and me too.
manthārāyā vacaśśrutvā śayānā sā śubhānanā.

uttasthau harṣasampūrṇā candralēkhēva śāradī৷৷2.7.31৷৷


śayānā lying in her couch, sā that Kaikeyi, śubhānanā with a charming countenance, mantharāyā: Manthara's, vaca: words, śrutvā having heard, harṣasaṅpūrṇā full of joy, śāradī autumnal, candralēkhēva Moon's crescent, uttasthau 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.
atīva sā tu saṅhṛṣṭā kaikēyī vismayānvitā.

ēkamābharaṇaṅ tasyai kubjāyai pradadau śubham৷৷2.7.32৷৷


sā kaikēyī that Kaikeyi, atīva exceedingly, saṅhṛṣṭā pleased, vismayānvitā filled with astonishment, tasyai kubjāyai for that hunckback, ēkam one, śubham beautiful, ābharaṇam ornament, dadau gave.

Filled with immense joy and wonder (at the news), Kaikeyi gifted a beauthful ornament to that hunchback.
datvā tvābharaṇaṅ tasyai kubjāyai pramadōttamā.

kaikēyī mantharāṅ dṛṣṭvā punarēvābravīdidam৷৷2.7.33৷৷


pramadōttamā the best among beautiful women, kaikēyī Kaikeyi, tasyai kubjāyai to that hunchback, ābharaṇam ornament, datvā looking at, mantharām Manthara, dṛṣṭvā having seen, puna: ēva again, idam these (words), abravīt spoke.

Kaikeyi, the best among the beauties, having given the ornament to Manthara, the hunchback, looked at her and said these words again:
idaṅ tu mantharē mahyamākhyāsi paramaṅ priyam.

ētanmē priyamākhyātuḥ kiṅ vā bhūyaḥ karōmi tē৷৷2.7.34৷৷


mantharē O Manthara!, mahyam for me, paramam exceedingly, priyam pleasant, idam this (news), ākhyāsi telling, mē to me, priyam pleasant (news), ākhyātu: one who communicates, ētat this one is the gift, tē for you, bhūya: still more, kiṅ vā anything, karōmi 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.
rāmē vā bharatē vā.haṅ viśēṣaṅ nōpalakṣayē.

tasmāttuṣṭā.smi yadrājā rāmaṅ rājyē.bhiṣēkṣyati৷৷2.7.35৷৷


aham I, rāmē vā either in Rama, bharatē vā or in Bharata, viśēṣam distinction, nōpalakṣayē do not see, tasmāt as such, rājā king, rāmam to Rama, rājyē in the kingdom, yat abhiṣēkṣyati if installs, tuṣṭā asmi am contented

I do not see any distinction between Rama and Bharata as such. I am contented with Rama's consecration in the kingdom.
na mē paraṅ kiñciditastvayā punaḥ

priyaṅ priyārhē! suvacaṅ vacaḥparam.

tathā hyavōcastvamataḥ priyōttaraṅ

varaṅ paraṅ tē pradadāmi taṅ vṛṇu৷৷2.7.36৷৷


priyārhē O woman worthy of affection, mē to me, ita: than this, param great, na kiñcit nothing, na not, tvayāpi by you, param exceedingly, priyam dear, vaca: words, suvacam cannot be expressed easily, na not, tvam you, tathā thus, priyōttaram best among the dear ones, avōca: hi have told, ata: now, param best, varam reward, tē to you, pradadāmi shall bestow, tam that one, vṛṇu 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.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē ayōdhyākāṇḍē saptamassargaḥ৷৷
Thus ends the seventh sarga of Ayodhyakanda of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.