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.
एवं प्रव्राजितश्चैव रामोऽरामो भविष्यति। भरतश्च गतामित्रस्तव राजा भविष्यति
Thus, with Rāma exiled, he will no longer be Rāma, and Bharata, free from enemies, will become king for you.
येन कालेन रामश्च वनात् प्रत्यागमिष्यति। अन्तर्बहिश्च पुत्रस्ते कृतमूलो भविष्यति
By the time Rāma returns from the forest, your son will be firmly rooted both within and without.
संगृहीतमनुष्यश्च सुहृद्भिः साकमात्मवान्। प्राप्तकालं नु मन्येऽहं राजानं वीतसाध्वसा
Gathered with friends, self-possessed, and surrounded by loyal men, your son will be secure, and I believe the king will be without fear when the time comes.
रामाभिषेकसंकल्पान्निगृह्य विनिवर्तय। अनर्थमर्थरूपेण ग्राहिता सा ततस्तया
Restrain and turn back the king from his resolve to anoint Rāma; you have been led by her to accept misfortune in the guise of fortune.
हृष्टा प्रतीता कैकेयी मन्थरामिदमब्रवीत्। सा हि वाक्येन कुब्जायाः किशोरीवोत्पथं गता
Delighted and convinced, Kaikeyī spoke these words to Mantharā; for, by the hunchback's words, she had been led astray like a young girl.
कैकेयी विस्मयं प्राप्य परं परमदर्शना। प्रज्ञां ते नावजानामि श्रेष्ठे श्रेष्ठाभिधायिनि
Kaikeyī, astonished and of surpassing beauty, said: 'I do not disregard your wisdom, you who speak what is best among the best.'
पृथिव्यामसि कुब्जानामुत्तमा बुद्धिनिश्चये। त्वमेव तु ममार्थेषु नित्ययुक्ता हितैषिणी
Among all hunchbacks on earth, you are supreme in discernment; and you alone are ever devoted and well-wishing towards my interests.
नाहं समवबुद्ध्येयं कुब्जे राज्ञश्चिकीर्षितम्। सन्ति दुःसंस्थिताः कुब्जाः वक्राः परमपापिकाः
I could not have understood what the king intended, O hunchback, for there are hunchbacks who are ill-disposed, crooked, and exceedingly wicked.
त्वं पद्ममिव वातेन संनता प्रियदर्शना। उरस्तेऽभिनिविष्टं वै यावत् स्कन्धात् समुन्नतम्
You are lovely to behold, bent like a lotus by the wind; your chest rises from your shoulders, firmly set within your breast.
अधस्ताच्चोदरं शान्तं सुनाभमिव लज्जितम्। प्रतिपूर्णं च जघनं सुपीनौ च पयोधरौ
Below, your calm belly is modest like a well-formed navel; your hips are full, and your breasts are beautifully rounded.