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.
इति प्रशस्यमाना सा कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत्। शयानां शयने शुभ्रे वेद्यामग्निशिखामिव
Thus praised, Kaikeyi spoke these words to her, as she lay on a pure couch, like a flame upon the altar.
गतोदके सेतुबन्धो न कल्याणि विधीयते। उत्तिष्ठ कुरु कल्याणं राजानमनुदर्शय
When the water is gone, a bridge is useless, O blessed one; arise, do what is auspicious, and seek out the king.
तथा प्रोत्साहिता देवी गत्वा मन्थरया सह। क्रोधागारं विशालाक्षी सौभाग्यमदगर्विता
Thus encouraged, the queen, her eyes wide and unspoiled by pride in her good fortune, went with Manthara to the chamber of anger.
अनेकशतसाहस्रं मुक्ताहारं वराङ्गना। अवमुच्य वरार्हाणि शुभान्याभरणानि च
That noble lady, worthy of the finest, took off her many hundreds of thousands of pearl necklaces and her splendid ornaments.
तदा हेमोपमा तत्र कुब्जावाक्यवशंगता। संविश्य भूमौ कैकेयी मन्थरामिदमब्रवीत्
Then, golden-hued and under the sway of the hunchback's words, Kaikeyi sat down on the ground there and spoke these words to Manthara.
इह वा मां मृतां कुब्जे नृपायावेदयिष्यसि। वनं तु राघवे प्राप्ते भरतः प्राप्स्यते क्षितिम्
Here, O hunchback, you may report to the king that I am dead; but when Rāghava goes to the forest, Bharata will obtain the kingdom.
सुवर्णेन न मे ह्यर्थो न रत्नैर्न च भोजनैः। एष मे जीवितस्यान्तो रामो यद्यभिषिच्यते
I have no desire for gold, nor for jewels, nor for food and drink; this is the end of my life if Rāma is anointed.
ततः पुनस्तां महिषीं महीक्षितो वचोभिरत्यर्थमहापराक्रमैः। उवाच कुब्जा भरतस्य मातरं हितं वचो राममुपेत्य चाहितम्
Then the hunchback, with exceedingly bold words, again addressed the queen, the king's wife, speaking to Bharata's mother both helpful and harmful advice concerning Rāma.
प्रपत्स्यते राज्यमिदं हि राघवो यदि ध्रुवं त्वं ससुता च तप्स्यसे। ततो हि कल्याणि यतस्व तत् तथा यथा सुतस्ते भरतोऽभिषेक्ष्यते
If Rāghava surely attains this kingdom, then you and your son will suffer; therefore, O noble lady, strive so that your son Bharata will be anointed.
तथातिविद्धा महिषीति कुब्जया समाहता वागिषुभिर्मुहुर्मुहुः। विधाय हस्तौ हृदयेऽतिविस्मिता शशंस कुब्जां कुपिता पुनः पुनः
Thus, deeply wounded by the hunchback and struck again and again by her sharp words, the queen, placing her hands on her heart in great astonishment, angrily reproached the hunchback again and again.