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.
पारं शोकार्णवस्याशु प्रार्थयन्तं पुनः पुनः। प्रत्युवाचाथ कैकेयी रौद्रा रौद्रतरं वचः
As he kept pleading again and again for deliverance from the ocean of grief, then Kaikeyī replied to him with words even harsher than before.
यदि दत्त्वा वरौ राजन् पुनः प्रत्यनुतप्यसे। धार्मिकत्वं कथं वीर पृथिव्यां कथयिष्यसि
If, having granted me the two boons, O king, you now regret it, how will you speak of your righteousness on earth, O hero?
यदा समेता बहवस्त्वया राजर्षयः सह। कथयिष्यन्ति धर्मज्ञ तत्र किं प्रतिवक्ष्यसि
When many royal sages assemble with you, O knower of dharma, and speak of righteousness, what will you say in reply?
यस्याः प्रसादे जीवामि या च मामभ्यपालयत्। तस्याः कृता मया मिथ्या कैकेय्या इति वक्ष्यसि
Will you say, 'I live by her favor, and she protected me, yet I deceived her—Kaikeyī'?
किल्बिषं त्वं नरेन्द्राणां करिष्यसि नराधिप। यो दत्त्वा वरमद्यैव पुनरन्यानि भाषसे
You will bring disgrace upon the kings, O lord of men, if, after granting a boon, you now speak otherwise.
शैब्यः श्येनकपोतीये स्वमांसं पक्षिणे ददौ। अलर्कश्चक्षुषी दत्त्वा जगाम गतिमुत्तमाम्
Shaibya gave his own flesh to a bird in the tale of the hawk and the dove; Alarka, giving up his eyes, attained the highest state.
सागरः समयं कृत्वा न वेलामतिवर्तते। समयं मानृतं कार्षीः पूर्ववृत्तमनुस्मरन्
The ocean, having made a vow, does not cross its boundary; do not break your promise, remembering what was done before.
स त्वं धर्मं परित्यज्य रामं राज्येऽभिषिच्य च। सह कौसल्यया नित्यं रन्तुमिच्छसि दुर्मते
So you, abandoning righteousness and installing Rāma as king, wish always to enjoy yourself with Kausalyā, O wicked-minded one.
भवत्वधर्मो धर्मो वा सत्यं वा यदि वानृतम्। यत्त्वया संश्रुतं मह्यं तस्य नास्ति व्यतिक्रमः
Let it be unrighteousness or righteousness, truth or falsehood—whatever you have promised to me, there can be no violation of it.
अहं हि विषमद्यैव पीत्वा बहु तवाग्रतः। पश्यतस्ते मरिष्यामि रामो यद्यभिषिच्यते
For I will drink poison right now, here before you, and die before your eyes if Rāma is anointed king.