परिमृज्य च पाणिभ्यामभिसंत्रस्तचेतनः। कामी कमलपत्राक्षीमुवाच वनितामिदम्
Wiping his face with his hands, his mind deeply troubled, the passionate king spoke these words to the lotus-eyed lady.
न तेऽहमभिजानामि क्रोधमात्मनि संश्रितम्। देवि केनाभियुक्तासि केन वासि विमानिता
I do not know of any anger residing in you, O lady; by whom have you been accused, or by whom have you been insulted?
यदिदं मम दुःखाय शेषे कल्याणि पांसुषु। भूमौ शेषे किमर्थं त्वं मयि कल्याणचेतसि
O blessed one, why do you lie on the ground, covered in dust, causing me such sorrow, when my mind is devoted to your welfare?
भूतोपहतचित्तेव मम चित्तप्रमाथिनि। सन्ति मे कुशला वैद्यास्त्वभितुष्टाश्च सर्वशः
It is as if your mind is afflicted by some being, disturbing my own heart; I have skilled physicians, all well-pleased and capable.
सुखितां त्वां करिष्यन्ति व्याधिमाचक्ष्व भामिनि। कस्य वापि प्रियं कार्यं केन वा विप्रियं कृतम्
They will restore you to happiness—tell me, beautiful one, what illness afflicts you? Or is there some dear wish to be fulfilled, or has someone done you harm?
कः प्रियं लभतामद्य को वा सुमहदप्रियम्। मा रौत्सीर्मा च कार्षीस्त्वं देवि सम्परिशोषणम्
Who today has gained great joy, or who has suffered great harm? Do not grieve, do not torment yourself, O lady.
अवध्यो वध्यतां को वा वध्यः को वा विमुच्यताम्। दरिद्रः को भवेदाढ्यो द्रव्यवान् वाप्यकिंचनः
Who that is not to be slain should be slain, or who that is to be slain should be released? Who that is poor should become wealthy, or who that is rich should become destitute?
अहं च हि मदीयाश्च सर्वे तव वशानुगाः। न ते कंचिदभिप्रायं व्याहन्तुमहमुत्सहे
Both I and all that is mine are under your command; I am not able to refuse any wish of yours.
आत्मनो जीवितेनापि ब्रूहि यन्मनसि स्थितम्। बलमात्मनि जानन्ती न मां शङ्कितुमर्हसि
Speak what is in your heart, even at the cost of my own life; knowing my strength, you should not doubt me.
करिष्यामि तव प्रीतिं सुकृतेनापि ते शपे। यावदावर्तते चक्रं तावती मे वसुंधरा
I will fulfill your desire, I swear to you by my merit; as long as the wheel of time turns, so long is this earth mine.
द्राविडाः सिन्धुसौवीराः सौराष्ट्रा दक्षिणापथाः। वङ्गाङ्गमगधा मत्स्याः समृद्धाः काशिकोसलाः
The Dravidas, Sindhus, Sauvīras, Saurāṣṭras, peoples of the southern lands, Vaṅgas, Aṅgas, Magadhas, Matsyas, the prosperous Kāśis and Kosalas—
तत्र जातं बहु द्रव्यं धनधान्यमजाविकम्। ततो वृणीष्व कैकेयि यद् यत् त्वं मनसेच्छसि
There is abundant wealth, grain, and cattle born in those lands; therefore, Kaikeyi, choose from them whatever your mind desires.
किमायासेन ते भीरु उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ शोभने। तत्त्वं मे ब्रूहि कैकेयि यतस्ते भयमागतम्। तत् ते व्यपनयिष्यामि नीहारमिव रश्मिवान्
Why do you trouble yourself, fearful one? Rise, rise, O beautiful one! Tell me truly, Kaikeyi, what has brought you fear; I will dispel it for you, as the sun disperses the mist.
तथोक्ता सा समाश्वस्ता वक्तुकामा तदप्रियम्। परिपीडयितुं भूयो भर्तारमुपचक्रमे
Thus addressed, she, comforted and wishing to speak that harsh request, began again to press her husband.
thumb|एकादशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे अयोध्याकाण्डे एकादशः सर्गः ॥२-
Listen to the eleventh chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Ayodhyā section.
तं मन्मथशरैर्विद्धं कामवेगवशानुगम्। उवाच पृथिवीपालं कैकेयी दारुणं वचः
Kaikeyi spoke harsh words to the king, who was pierced by the arrows of love and overcome by the force of desire.
नास्मि विप्रकृता देव केनचिन्नावमानिता। अभिप्रायस्तु मे कश्चित् तमिच्छामि त्वया कृतम्
O lord, I have not been wronged or insulted by anyone; but there is a certain wish in my heart, and I desire that you fulfill it.
प्रतिज्ञां प्रतिजानीष्व यदि त्वं कर्तुमिच्छसि। अथ ते व्याहरिष्यामि यथाभिप्रार्थितं मया
Swear to your promise, if you wish to grant it; then I will tell you what I truly desire.
तामुवाच महाराजः कैकेयीमीषदुत्स्मयः। कामी हस्तेन संगृह्य मूर्धजेषु भुवि स्थिताम्
The king, with a slight smile, spoke to Kaikeyi, his beloved, taking her by the hair as she sat on the ground.
अवलिप्ते न जानासि त्वत्तः प्रियतरो मम। मनुजो मनुजव्याघ्राद् रामादन्यो न विद्यते
O proud one, you do not realize that there is no one dearer to me than Rama, that tiger among men.
तेनाजय्येन मुख्येन राघवेण महात्मना। शपे ते जीवनार्हेण ब्रूहि यन्मनसेप्सितम्
By that unconquered, foremost, high-souled Raghava—by Rama, who is worthy of life—I swear to you, speak whatever is in your heart.
यं मुहूर्तमपश्यंस्तु न जीवे तमहं ध्रुवम्। तेन रामेण कैकेयि शपे ते वचनक्रियाम्
I surely could not live even for a moment without seeing Rama; by him, O Kaikeyi, I swear to fulfill your word.
आत्मना चात्मजैश्चान्यैर्वृणे यं मनुजर्षभम्। तेन रामेण कैकेयि शपे ते वचनक्रियाम्
By that Rama, whom I choose above myself, my sons, and all others, O Kaikeyi, I swear to fulfill your request.
भद्रे हृदयमप्येतदनुमृश्योद्धरस्व मे। एतत् समीक्ष्य कैकेयि ब्रूहि यत् साधु मन्यसे
Good lady, consider this in your heart and grant me relief; reflect well, Kaikeyi, and tell me what you think is right.
बलमात्मनि पश्यन्ती न विशङ्कितुमर्हसि। करिष्यामि तव प्रीतिं सुकृतेनापि ते शपे
Seeing your own strength, you should not hesitate; I will fulfill your wish, I swear to you by my own merit.
तेन वाक्येन संहृष्टा तमभिप्रायमात्मनः। व्याजहार महाघोरमभ्यागतमिवान्तकम्
Delighted by these words, she revealed her dreadful intent, like Death itself arriving.
यथा क्रमेण शपसे वरं मम ददासि च। तच्छृण्वन्तु त्रयस्त्रिंशद् देवाः सेन्द्रपुरोगमाः
Since you swear and grant me a boon in due order, let the thirty-three gods, with Indra at their head, hear this.
चन्द्रादित्यौ नभश्चैव ग्रहा रात्र्यहनी दिशः। जगच्च पृथिवी चेयं सगन्धर्वाः सराक्षसाः
Let the moon and sun, the sky, the planets, night and day, the directions, the world, this earth, the Gandharvas, and all the Rakshasas bear witness.
निशाचराणि भूतानि गृहेषु गृहदेवताः। यानि चान्यानि भूतानि जानीयुर्भाषितं तव
Let the night-wandering beings, spirits, household gods in the homes, and all other beings know what you have spoken.
सत्यसंधो महातेजा धर्मज्ञः सत्यवाक्शुचिः। वरं मम ददात्येष सर्वे शृण्वन्तु दैवताः
This one, steadfast in truth, of great splendor, knower of righteousness, truthful in speech and pure, grants me a boon—let all the gods hear.