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.
विमलेन्दुसमं वक्त्रमहो राजसि मन्थरे। जघनं तव निर्मृष्टं रशनादामभूषितम्
Your face is pure as the spotless moon—indeed, you shine, Manthara; your polished hips are adorned with a jeweled girdle.
जङ्घे भृशमुपन्यस्ते पादौ च व्यायतावुभौ। त्वमायताभ्यां सक्थिभ्यां मन्थरे क्षौमवासिनी
Your thighs are well-set, and both feet are long and extended; you, Manthara, clad in fine linen, have graceful thighs.
अग्रतो मम गच्छन्ती राजसेऽतीव शोभने। आसन् याः शम्बरे मायाः सहस्रम् असुराधिपे
When you walk before me, O exceedingly lovely one, you shine; the thousand magical arts that were with Shambara, lord of asuras—
हृदये ते निविष्टास् ता भूयश् चान्याः सहस्रशः। तदेव स्थगु(=पृष्ठ-वक्रभागः) यद् दीर्घं रथ-घोणम् इवायतम्
Those arts have entered your heart, and thousands more besides; that very back, long and curved like a chariot’s yoke, is yours.
मतयः क्षत्र-विद्याश् च मायाश्चात्र वसन्ति ते। अत्र तेऽहं प्रमोक्ष्यामि मालां कुब्जे हिरण्मयीम्
Wisdom, knowledge of statecraft, and magical arts all dwell in you; here, O hunchback, I will bestow upon you a golden garland.
अभिषिक्ते च भरते राघवे च वनं गते। जात्येन च सुवर्णेन सुनिष्टप्तेन सुन्दरि
When Bharata is anointed and Rāghava has gone to the forest, O beautiful one, I will anoint you with pure, well-refined gold.
लब्धार्था च प्रतीता च लेपयिष्यामि ते स्थगु। मुखे च तिलकं चित्रं जातरूपमयं शुभम्
When you have achieved your desire and are delighted, I will smear your back with gold; and on your face, a beautiful, jeweled tilaka.
कारयिष्यामि ते कुब्जे शुभान्याभरणानि च। परिधाय शुभे वस्त्रे देवतेव चरिष्यसि
I will have splendid ornaments made for you, O hunchback; dressed in fine garments, you will move about like a goddess.
चन्द्रमाह्वयमानेन मुखेनाप्रतिमानना। गमिष्यसि गतिं मुख्यां गर्वयन्ती द्विषज्जने
With a face shining like the moon and incomparable beauty, you will walk with a noble gait, making your rivals envious.
तवापि कुब्जाः कुब्जायाः सर्वाभरणभूषिताः। पादौ परिचरिष्यन्ति यथैव त्वं सदा मम
Other hunchbacks, adorned with all ornaments, will serve at your feet, just as you always serve at mine.