अद्य राममितः क्षिप्रं वनं प्रस्थापयाम्यहम्। यौवराज्येन भरतं क्षिप्रमद्याभिषेचये
Today, I will quickly send Rāma from here to the forest, and I will swiftly anoint Bharata for the princely succession.
इदं त्विदानीं सम्पश्य केनोपायेन साधये। भरतः प्राप्नुयाद् राज्यं न तु रामः कथंचन
Now consider how I might accomplish this, so that Bharata obtains the kingdom and Rāma does not, by any means.
एवमुक्ता तु सा देव्या मन्थरा पापदर्शिनी। रामार्थमुपहिंसन्ती कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by the queen, Mantharā, who sees evil, seeking to harm Rāma, spoke these words to Kaikeyī.
हन्तेदानीं प्रपश्य त्वं कैकेयि श्रूयतां वचः। यथा ते भरतो राज्यं पुत्रः प्राप्स्यति केवलम्
Now, Kaikeyī, observe carefully and listen to my words, so that your son Bharata alone will obtain the kingdom.
किं न स्मरसि कैकेयि स्मरन्ती वा निगूहसे। यदुच्यमानमात्मार्थं मत्तस्त्वं श्रोतुमिच्छसि
Why do you not remember, Kaikeyī, or if you do, why do you conceal it, when you wish to hear from me something that concerns your own interest?
मयोच्यमानं यदि ते श्रोतुं छन्दो विलासिनि। श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि श्रुत्वा चैतद् विधीयताम्
If you wish to hear what I am about to say, O playful one, then listen; I will tell you, and having heard, you should act accordingly.
श्रुत्वैवं वचनं तस्या मन्थरायास्तु कैकयी। किंचिदुत्थाय शयनात् स्वास्तीर्णादिदमब्रवीत्
Hearing these words from Mantharā, Kaikeyī rose a little from her bed, which was well-spread, and spoke as follows.
एवमुक्ता तदा देव्या मन्थरा पापदर्शिनी। रामार्थमुपहिंसन्ती कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by the queen, Mantharā, who sees evil, seeking to harm Rāma, spoke these words to Kaikeyī.
पुरा देवासुरे युद्धे सह राजर्षिभिः पतिः। अगच्छत् त्वामुपादाय देवराजस्य साह्यकृत्
Long ago, in the war between the gods and demons, your husband, along with the royal sages, took you with him to assist the lord of the gods.
दिशमास्थाय कैकेयि दक्षिणां दण्डकान् प्रति। वैजयन्तमिति ख्यातं पुरं यत्र तिमिध्वजः
Kaikeyī, taking the southern direction toward Daṇḍaka, to the city called Vaijayantam, where the banner of the shark was raised.
स शम्बर इति ख्यातः शतमायो महासुरः। ददौ शक्रस्य संग्रामं देवसङ्घैरनिर्जितः
There was a great demon known as Śambara, master of a hundred magical illusions, who fought Indra in battle, undefeated by the hosts of gods.
तस्मिन् महति संग्रामे पुरुषान् क्षतविक्षतान्। रात्रौ प्रसुप्तान् घ्नन्ति स्म तरसापास्य राक्षसाः
In that great battle, the demons, having driven away the men, would kill the wounded and sleeping at night with force.
तत्राकरोन्महायुद्धं राजा दशरथस्तदा। असुरैश्च महाबाहुः शस्त्रैश्च शकलीकृतः
There, King Daśaratha then fought a great battle with the demons, his mighty arms shattered by weapons.
अपवाह्य त्वया देवि संग्रामान्नष्टचेतनः। तत्रापि विक्षतः शस्त्रैः पतिस्ते रक्षितस्त्वया
O queen, you carried your unconscious husband from the battlefield, and even there, though wounded by weapons, your husband was protected by you.
तुष्टेन तेन दत्तौ ते द्वौ वरौ शुभदर्शने। स त्वयोक्तः पतिर्देवि यदेच्छेयं तदा वरम्
Pleased, he granted you two boons, O beautiful one; and your husband said, 'Whenever you wish, you may claim them.'
गृह्णीयां तु तदा भर्तस्तथेत्युक्तं महात्मना। अनभिज्ञा ह्यहं देवि त्वयैव कथितं पुरा
At that time, you replied, 'I will accept them when I desire,' and your great-souled husband agreed; I was unaware of this, O queen, until you told me before.
कथैषा तव तु स्नेहान्मनसा धार्यते मया। रामाभिषेकसम्भारान्निगृह्य विनिवर्तय
Out of affection for you, I have kept this story in my mind; now, prevent the preparations for Rāma's consecration and turn them back.
तौ च याचस्व भर्तारं भरतस्याभिषेचनम्। प्रव्राजनं च रामस्य वर्षाणि च चतुर्दश
Ask your husband for these two boons: the anointing of Bharata and the exile of Rāma for fourteen years.
चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि रामे प्रव्राजिते वनम्। प्रजाभावगतस्नेहः स्थिरः पुत्रो भविष्यति
Indeed, for fourteen years while Rāma dwells in the forest, your son, steadfast in the people's affection, will become firmly established.
क्रोधागारं प्रविश्याद्य क्रुद्धेवाश्वपतेः सुते। शेष्वानन्तर्हितायां त्वं भूमौ मलिनवासिनी
Today, enter the chamber of anger, as if enraged with the lord of horses' son, and remain hidden there on the ground, wearing soiled garments.
मा स्मैनं प्रत्युदीक्षेथा मा चैनमभिभाषथाः। रुदन्ती पार्थिवं दृष्ट्वा जगत्यां शोकलालसा
Do not look upon him, nor speak to him; when the king, longing for you and filled with sorrow, comes to you, remain weeping but do not address him.
दयिता त्वं सदा भर्तुरत्र मे नास्ति संशयः। त्वत्कृते च महाराजो विशेदपि हुताशनम्
You are always dear to your husband—of this I have no doubt; for your sake, the great king would even enter the fire.
न त्वां क्रोधयितुं शक्तो न क्रुद्धां प्रत्युदीक्षितुम्। तव प्रियार्थं राजा तु प्राणानपि परित्यजेत्
He is not able to become angry with you, nor to look upon you when you are angry; for your sake, the king would even give up his life.
न ह्यतिक्रमितुं शक्तस्तव वाक्यं महीपतिः। मन्दस्वभावे बुध्यस्व सौभाग्यबलमात्मनः
The king cannot transgress your word; understand, with your simple nature, the power of your own good fortune.
मणिमुक्तासुवर्णानि रत्नानि विविधानि च। दद्याद् दशरथो राजा मा स्म तेषु मनः कृथाः
King Daśaratha would give you pearls, gems, gold, and various jewels; do not set your heart on these.
यौ तौ देवासुरे युद्धे वरौ दशरथो ददौ। तौ स्मारय महाभागे सोऽर्थो न त्वा क्रमेदति
Those two boons which Daśaratha granted you in the battle between gods and demons—remind him of them, O noble lady; that promise must not be broken.
यदा तु ते वरं दद्यात् स्वयमुत्थाप्य राघवः। व्यवस्थाप्य महाराजं त्वमिमं वृणुया वरम्
When Rāghava himself raises you up and the great king is present, then choose this boon.
रामप्रव्रजनं दूरं नव वर्षाणि पञ्च च। भरतः क्रियतां राजा पृथिव्यां पार्थिवर्षभ
Let Rāma's exile be for fourteen years—nine and five—and let Bharata be made king on earth, O bull among kings.
चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि रामे प्रव्राजिते वनम्। रूढश्च कृतमूलश्च शेषं स्थास्यति ते सुतः
Indeed, for fourteen years while Rāma dwells in the forest, your son will grow strong, take root, and remain established.
रामप्रव्राजनं चैव देवि याचस्व तं वरम्। एवं सेत्स्यन्ति पुत्रस्य सर्वार्थास्तव कामिनि
O queen, ask for this boon—the exile of Rāma; thus, all your son's desires will be fulfilled, O desirous one.