अद्य कैकेयि दौर्भाग्यं राज्ञा ते ख्यापितं महत्। आशीविषस्त्वां संक्रुद्धश्छन्नो दशति दुर्भगे
Today, Kaikeyi, your great misfortune has been revealed by the king; like a hidden, enraged serpent, it bites you, unfortunate one.
सुभगा खलु कौसल्या यस्याः पुत्रोऽभिषेक्ष्यते। कुतो हि तव सौभाग्यं यस्याः पुत्रो न राज्यभाक्
Truly, Kausalya is fortunate, whose son will be anointed; but where is your good fortune, whose son will not inherit the kingdom?
सा तद्वचनमाज्ञाय सर्वाभरणभूषिता। वेदी विलग्नमध्येन बिभ्रती रूपमुत्तमम्
Hearing those words, adorned with all ornaments, she, bearing a splendid form with her waist bound at the altar's center, understood.
वविक्ते पतिमासाद्य हसन्तीव शुचिस्मिता। राजानं तर्जयन्तीव मधुरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
In a secluded place, approaching her husband, smiling with pure radiance, she spoke sweet words to the king, as if reproaching him.
सत्यप्रतिज्ञ यन्मे त्वं काममेकं विसृष्टवान्। उपाकुरुष्व तद्राजंस्तस्मान्मुञ्चस्व संकटात्। `तदद्य कुरु सत्यं मे वरं वरद भूपते
You, who are true to your word, once granted me a single wish; fulfill that, O king, and release yourself from distress. Today, grant me my boon, O bestower of boons, O lord of the earth.
वरं ददानि ते हन्त तद्गृहाण यदिच्छसि। अवध्यो वध्यतां कोद्य वध्यः कोऽद्य विमुच्यतां
I grant you a boon, indeed; take whatever you desire. Let the unkillable be killed, let the condemned be freed today.
धनं ददानि कस्याद् ह्रियतां कस्यरवापुनः। ब्राह्मणस्वादिहान्यत्रयत्किंचिद्वित्तमस्ति मे
I will give wealth; whose shall be taken, whose shall be restored? Except for the Brahmanas, whatever riches I possess are yours.
पृथिव्यां राजराजोस्मि चातुर्वर्ण्यस् रिता। यस्तेऽभिलपितः कामो ब्रूहि कल्याणि माचिरं
Among kings on earth, I am the ruler of the four castes. Whatever desire you have spoken, tell me, blessed one, without delay.
सातद्वचनमाज्ञाय परिगृह्य नराधिपम्। आत्मनो बलमाज्ञाय तत एनमुवाच ह
Hearing those words, and embracing the king, knowing her own power, she then spoke to him.
आभिषेचनिकं यत्ते रामार्थमुपकल्पितम्। भरतस्तदवाप्नोतु वनं गच्छतु राघवः
Let the consecration prepared for Rama be given to Bharata; let Raghava go to the forest.
नव पञ्च च वर्षाणि दण्डकारण्यमाश्रितः। चीराजिनजटाधारी रामो भवतु तापसः
For nine and five years, let Rama dwell in the Dandaka forest, wearing bark, skins, and matted hair, becoming an ascetic.
स तं राजा वरं श्रुत्वा विप्रियं दारुणोदयम्। दुःखार्तो भरतश्रेष्ठ न किंचिद्व्याजहार ह
The king, hearing that boon—harsh and grievous, causing sorrow—spoke nothing, afflicted for the sake of the noble Bharata.
ततस्तथोक्तं पितरं रामो विज्ञाय वीर्यवान्। वनं प्रतस्थे धर्मात्मा राजा सत्यो भवत्विति
Then, understanding his father's command, Rama, mighty and righteous, set out for the forest, saying, 'Let the king be true.'
तमन्वगच्छल्लक्ष्मीवान्धनुष्माँल्लक्ष्मणस्तदा। सीता च भार्या भद्रं ते वैदेही जनकात्मजा
Lakshmana, endowed with fortune and bearing a bow, then followed him; and Sita, his wife, the blessed Vaidehi, daughter of Janaka.
ततो वनं गतेरामे राजा दशरथस्तदा। समयुज्यत देहस्य कालपर्यायधर्मणा
Then, when Rama had departed for the forest, King Dasharatha was overcome by the law of the body's end, through the course of time.
रामं तु गतमाज्ञाय राजानं च तथागतम्। अनार्या भरतं देवी कैकेयी वाक्यमब्रवीत्
When Rama had gone and the king likewise departed, the unworthy Kaikeyi spoke to Bharata, her son, these words.
गतोदशरथः स्वर्गं वनस्थौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। गृहाण राज्यंविपुलं क्षेमं निहतकण्टकम्
With Daśaratha having gone to heaven, and Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa dwelling in the forest, take up the vast and secure kingdom, now freed from obstacles.
तामुवाच स धर्मात्मा नृशंसं बत ते कृतम्। पतिं हत्वाकुलं चेदमुत्साद्य धनलुब्धया
To her, that righteous one spoke: 'Alas, what a cruel thing you have done—having killed your husband, you have brought ruin to this family, driven by greed for wealth.'
अयशः पातयित्वा मे मूर्ध्नि त्वं कुलपांसने। सकामा भव मे मातरित्युक्त्वा प्ररुरोद ह
'Having cast disgrace upon my head, O defiler of the lineage, be satisfied now, O mother,' he said, and then began to weep.
स चारित्रं विशोध्याथ सर्वप्रकृतिसन्निधौ। अन्वयाद्धातरं रामं विनिवर्तनलालसः
Then, having cleared his character in the presence of all the people, longing to bring Rāma back, he followed after his elder brother.
कौसल्यां च सुमित्रां च कैकेयीं च सुदुःखितः। अग्रे प्रस्थाप्य यानैः स शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ
Deeply distressed, he sent ahead Kausalyā, Sumitrā, and Kaikeyī in vehicles, and went together with Śatrughna.
वसिष्ठवामदेवाभ्यां विप्रैश्चान्यैः सहस्रशः। पौरजानपदैः सार्धं रामानयनकाङ्क्षया
Accompanied by Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva, and thousands of other brahmins, along with citizens and countryfolk, all desiring to bring Rāma back,
ददर्श चित्रकूटस्थं स रामं सहलक्ष्मणम्। तापसानामलंकारं धारयन्तं धनुर्धरम्
He saw Rāma, together with Lakṣmaṇa, dwelling at Citrakūṭa, bearing the marks of ascetics and carrying a bow.
उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वाप्रणिपत्य रघूत्तमम्। शशंस मरणं राज्ञः सोऽनाथांश्चापि कोसलान्
With joined palms, having bowed to the best of the Raghu line, he spoke, announcing the king’s death and that the Kośalas were now without a protector.
नाथ त्वं प्रतिपद्यस्व स्वराज्यमिति चोक्तवान्
He also said, 'You, Lord, must accept your rightful kingdom.'
स तस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा रामः परमदुःखितः। चकार देवकल्पस्य पितुः स्नात्वोदकक्रियाम्
Hearing his words, Rāma, greatly distressed, performed the water-rite for his godlike father after bathing.
अब्रवीत्स तदारामो भ्रातरं भ्रातृवत्सलम्। पादुके मे भविष्येते राज्यगोप्त्र्यौ परंतप। एवमस्त्विति तं प्राह भरतः प्रणतस्तदा
Then Rāma spoke to his brother, who was devoted to him: 'Let the sandals be the guardians of the kingdom for me, O subduer of foes.' Bharata, bowing, replied, 'So be it.'
विसर्जितः स रामेण पितुर्वचनकारिणा। नन्दिग्रामेऽकरोद्राज्यं पुरस्कृत्यास्य पादुके
Dismissed by Rāma, who was obedient to his father’s command, Bharata ruled at Nandigrāma, installing Rāma’s sandals at the forefront.
रामस्तु पुनराशङ्क्य पौरजानपदागमम्। प्रविवेश महारण्यं शरभङ्गाश्रमं प्रति
But Rāma, suspecting the arrival of townsfolk and country people, entered the great forest, heading towards the hermitage of Śarabhaṅga.
सत्कृत्य शरभङ्गं स दण्डकारण्यमाश्रितः। नदीं गोदावरीं रम्यामाश्रित्य न्यवसत्तदा
Having honored Śarabhaṅga, he took up residence in the Daṇḍaka forest, settling by the beautiful river Godāvarī.