कैकेयीमब्रवीत् क्रुद्धो निर्दहन्निव तेजसा। नृशंसे दुष्टचारित्रे कुलस्यास्य विनाशिनि
Enraged, burning with his own energy, he spoke to Kaikeyī: 'Cruel one, of wicked conduct, destroyer of this family!'
किं कृतं तव रामेण पापे पापं मयापि वा। सदा ते जननीतुल्यां वृत्तिं वहति राघवः
'What wrong has Rāma done to you, or what sin have I committed, O wicked one? Rāghava has always behaved towards you as towards his own mother.'
तस्यैवं त्वमनर्थाय किंनिमित्तमिहोद्यता। त्वं मयाऽऽत्मविनाशाय भवनं स्वं निवेशिता
'For what reason, then, are you intent on this harm? You have been placed in this house by me, yet you seek my own destruction.'
अविज्ञानान्नृपसुता व्याला तीक्ष्णविषा यथा। जीवलोको यदा सर्वो रामस्याह गुणस्तवम्
'Unaware, O princess, you are like a serpent with sharp poison; for when the whole world sings the praises of Rāma’s virtues—'
अपराधं कमुद्दिश्य त्यक्ष्यामीष्टमहं सुतम्। कौसल्यां च सुमित्रां च त्यजेयमपि वा श्रियम्
For what offense should I abandon my beloved son? I could even forsake Kausalya and Sumitra, or give up my own wealth.
अपश्यतस्तु मे रामं नष्टं भवति चेतनम्। तिष्ठेल्लोको विना सूर्यं सस्यं वा सलिलं विना
If I do not see Rama, my consciousness will be lost; can the world remain without the sun, or crops without water?
न तु रामं विना देहे तिष्ठेत्तु मम जीवितम्। तदलं त्यज्यतामेष निश्चयः पापनिश्चये
But without Rama, my life cannot remain in this body; therefore, let this sinful resolve be abandoned at once.
अपि ते चरणौ मूर्ध्ना स्पृशाम्येष प्रसीद मे। किमर्थं चिन्तितं पापे त्वया परमदारुणम्
I am ready to touch your feet with my head—be gracious to me. Why have you conceived such a most dreadful thought, O sinful one?
अथ जिज्ञाससे मां त्वं भरतस्य प्रियाप्रिये। अस्तु यत्तत्त्वया पूर्वं व्याहृतं राघवं प्रति
If you wish to test my affection or aversion for Bharata, let it be as you previously declared regarding Raghava.
स मे ज्येष्ठसुतः श्रीमान् धर्मज्येष्ठ इतीव मे। तत् त्वया प्रियवादिन्या सेवार्थं कथितं भवेत्
He is my eldest son, illustrious and foremost in righteousness; what you, who speak kindly, said was only for the sake of service.
तच्छ्रुत्वा शोकसंतप्ता संतापयसि मां भृशम्। आविष्टासि गृहे शून्ये सा त्वं परवशं गता
Hearing that, tormented by grief, you cause me great pain; you have become possessed in this empty house, now fallen under another's control.
इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले देवि सम्प्राप्तः सुमहानयम्। अनयो नयसम्पन्ने यत्र ते विकृता मतिः
O queen, a great calamity has come upon the house of the Ikshvakus, where your mind, once guided by virtue, has turned astray.
नहि किंचिदयुक्तं वा विप्रियं वा पुरा मम। अकरोस्त्वं विशालाक्षि तेन न श्रद्दधामि ते
Never before, O large-eyed one, did you do anything improper or displeasing to me; therefore, I cannot believe this of you.
ननु ते राघवस्तुल्यो भरतेन महात्मना। बहुशो हि स्म बाले त्वं कथाः कथयसे मम
Surely, Raghava is equal to Bharata, the great-souled one, in your eyes; for as a child, you often told me so.
तस्य धर्मात्मनो देवि वने वासं यशस्विनः। कथं रोचयसे भीरु नव वर्षाणि पञ्च च
How, O timid one, do you desire the exile to the forest for that righteous and renowned one for fourteen years?
अत्यन्तसुकुमारस्य तस्य धर्मे कृतात्मनः। कथं रोचयसे वासमरण्ये भृशदारुणे
How do you wish for the dwelling in the harsh forest for him, who is extremely delicate and whose mind is set on righteousness?
रोचयस्यभिरामस्य रामस्य शुभलोचने। तव शुश्रूषमाणस्य किमर्थं विप्रवासनम्
O auspicious-eyed one, why do you desire the banishment of Rama, who is charming and devoted to serving you?
रामो हि भरताद् भूयस्तव शुश्रूषते सदा। विशेषं त्वयि तस्मात् तु भरतस्य न लक्षये
Indeed, Rama always serves you more than Bharata does; I do not see any special regard from Bharata towards you in this.
शुश्रूषां गौरवं चैव प्रमाणं वचनक्रियाम्। कस्तु भूयस्तरं कुर्यादन्यत्र पुरुषर्षभात्
Who else, apart from that best of men, would show greater service, respect, and obedience in word and deed?
बहूनां स्त्रीसहस्राणां बहूनां चोपजीविनाम्। परिवादोऽपवादो वा राघवे नोपपद्यते
Among the many thousands of women and dependents, no reproach or slander is ever found against Raghava.
सान्त्वयन् सर्वभूतानि रामः शुद्धेन चेतसा। गृह्णाति मनुजव्याघ्रः प्रियैर्विषयवासिनः
Rama, the tiger among men, with a pure heart, wins over all beings with gentle words and wins the affection of the people.
सत्येन लोकाञ् जयति द्विजान् दानेन राघवः। गुरूञ् छुश्रूषया वीरो धनुषा युधि शात्रवान्
Raghava conquers the worlds by truth, the twice-born by charity, his elders by service, and his enemies in battle by the bow.
सत्यं दानं तपस्त्यागो मित्रता शौचमार्जवम्। विद्या च गुरुशुश्रूषा ध्रुवाण्येतानि राघवे
Truthfulness, generosity, austerity, renunciation, friendship, purity, straightforwardness, learning, and service to elders—these are steadfast in Rāghava.
तस्मिन्नार्जवसम्पन्ने देवि देवोपमे कथम्। पापमाशंससे रामे महर्षिसमतेजसि
In him, endowed with uprightness, O lady, equal to the gods, how can you wish for evil against Rāma, whose brilliance is like that of great sages?
न स्मराम्यप्रियं वाक्यं लोकस्य प्रियवादिनः। स कथं त्वत्कृते रामं वक्ष्यामि प्रियमप्रियम्
I do not recall ever speaking a harsh word to anyone, being one who speaks kindly to all; so how can I now, for your sake, speak to Rāma a word that is pleasing to you but painful to him?
क्षमा यस्मिंस्तपस्त्यागः सत्यं धर्मः कृतज्ञता। अप्यहिंसा च भूतानां तमृते कागतिर्मम
In whom there is patience, austerity, renunciation, truth, righteousness, gratitude, and even nonviolence toward all beings—apart from him, where could I possibly turn?
मम वृद्धस्य कैकेयि गतान्तस्य तपस्विनः। दीनं लालप्यमानस्य कारुण्यं कर्तुमर्हसि
You ought to show compassion to me, Kaikeyī, who am old, spent, devoted to austerity, wretched, and lamenting in my distress.
पृथिव्यां सागरान्तायां यत् किंचिदधिगम्यते। तत् सर्वं तव दास्यामि मा च त्वं मन्युमाविश
Whatever can be obtained on earth, up to the ocean's edge, I will give it all to you; but do not let anger take hold of you.
अञ्जलिं कुर्मि कैकेयि पादौ चापि स्पृशामि ते। शरणं भव रामस्य माधर्मो मामिह स्पृशेत्
I fold my hands to you, Kaikeyī, and even touch your feet; be the refuge of Rāma—let unrighteousness not touch me here.
इति दुःखाभिसंतप्तं विलपन्तमचेतनम्। घूर्णमानं महाराजं शोकेन समभिप्लुतम्
Thus, overwhelmed by sorrow, lamenting, unconscious, reeling, the great king was completely overcome by grief.