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.
एकाहमपि पश्येयं यद्यहं राममातरम्। अञ्जलिं प्रतिगृह्णन्तीं श्रेयो ननु मृतिर्मम
If I could see Rama's mother for even a single day, accepting my salutation, surely death would be better for me.
भरतेनात्मना चाहं शपे ते मनुजाधिप। यथा नान्येन तुष्येयमृते रामविवासनात्
By Bharata and by myself, O king of men, I swear to you: I would not be pleased by anything except Rama's exile.
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं कैकेयी विरराम ह। विलपन्तं च राजानं न प्रतिव्याजहार सा
Having spoken thus, Kaikeyi fell silent; she did not reply to the king, who was lamenting.
श्रुत्वा तु राजा कैकेय्या वाक्यं परमशोभनम्। रामस्य च वने वासमैश्वर्यं भरतस्य च
Hearing Kaikeyi's words, so striking, about Rama dwelling in the forest and Bharata's sovereignty,
नाभ्यभाषत कैकेयीं मुहूर्तं व्याकुलेन्द्रियः। प्रैक्षतानिमिषो देवीं प्रियामप्रियवादिनीम्
The king, his senses disturbed, did not speak to Kaikeyi for a moment; he gazed at the queen, unmoving, though she spoke unpleasantly.
तां हि वज्रसमां वाचमाकर्ण्य हृदयाप्रियाम्। दुःखशोकमयीं श्रुत्वा राजा न सुखितोऽभवत्
Hearing those words, like thunder, so painful to his heart, filled with grief and sorrow, the king was not happy.
स देव्या व्यवसायं च घोरं च शपथं कृतम्। ध्यात्वा रामेति निःश्वस्य च्छिन्नस्तरुरिवापतत्
Reflecting on the queen's resolve and her dreadful oath, sighing 'Rama,' he fell like a tree cut down.
नष्टचित्तो यथोन्मत्तो विपरीतो यथातुरः। हृततेजा यथा सर्पो बभूव जगतीपतिः
His mind lost, like one mad, confused, like one ill, his vigor gone, like a serpent deprived of its strength, the lord of the earth became.
दीनयाऽऽतुरया वाचा इति होवाच कैकयीम्। अनर्थमिममर्थाभं केन त्वमुपदेशिता
With a voice weak and distressed, he spoke to Kaikeyi: 'Who has advised you this ruinous act, which appears as benefit?'
भूतोपहतचित्तेव ब्रुवन्ती मां न लज्जसे। शीलव्यसनमेतत् ते नाभिजानाम्यहं पुरा
You speak to me without shame, as if your mind is possessed by spirits; I never knew this vice in your character before.