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.
इति देवी महेष्वासं परिगृह्याभिशस्य च। ततः परमुवाचेदं वरदं काममोहितम्
Thus the queen, having embraced and praised the mighty-armed one, then spoke further to the boon-giver, overcome by desire.
स्मर राजन् पुरा वृत्तं तस्मिन् देवासुरे रणे। तत्र त्वां च्यावयच्छत्रुस्तव जीवितमन्तरा
Remember, O king, what happened before in that battle between gods and demons, when an enemy endangered your life.
तत्र चापि मया देव यत् त्वं समभिरक्षितः। जाग्रत्या यतमानायास्ततो मे प्रददौ वरौ
There, O lord, I protected you, keeping watch and striving; for that, you granted me two boons.
तौ दत्तौ च वरौ देव निक्षेपौ मृगयाम्यहम्। तवैव पृथिवीपाल सकाशे रघुनन्दन
Those two boons, O lord, which you gave, I now seek to claim from you, O protector of the earth, O descendant of Raghu.
तत् प्रतिश्रुत्य धर्मेण न चेद् दास्यसि मे वरम्। अद्यैव हि प्रहास्यामि जीवितं त्वद्विमानिता
If you do not grant me the boon you promised in righteousness, today, dishonored by you, I will give up my life.
वाङ्मात्रेण तदा राजा कैकेय्या स्ववशे कृतः। प्रचस्कन्द विनाशाय पाशं मृग इवात्मनः
Then, by mere words, the king was brought under Kaikeyi's control; like a deer caught in a snare, he moved toward his own destruction.
ततः परमुवाचेदं वरदं काममोहितम्। वरौ देयौ त्वया देव तदा दत्तौ महीपते
Then she further spoke these words to the king, who was overcome by desire and infatuation: 'O lord, you had granted me two boons, and at that time you promised to give them, O king.'
तौ तावदहमद्यैव वक्ष्यामि शृणु मे वचः। अभिषेकसमारम्भो राघवस्योपकल्पितः
Now I will declare those two boons to you today; listen to my words: the preparations for Rāghava’s consecration have been made.
अनेनैवाभिषेकेण भरतो मेऽभिषिच्यताम्। यो द्वितीयो वरो देव दत्तः प्रीतेन मे त्वया
With that very consecration, let Bharata be anointed for me; this is the second boon, O lord, which you joyfully granted me.
तदा देवासुरे युद्धे तस्य कालोऽयमागतः। नव पञ्च च वर्षाणि दण्डकारण्यमाश्रितः
At that time, in the battle between gods and demons, you promised; now that time has come: let Rāma dwell in the Daṇḍaka forest for nine and five years.