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.
बालायास्तत् त्विदानीं ते लक्षये विपरीतवत्। कुतो वा ते भयं जातं या त्वमेवंविधं वरम्
But now, I see in you, as in a child, this reversal; from where has this fear arisen, that you have chosen such a boon?
राष्ट्रे भरतमासीनं वृणीषे राघवं वने। विरमैतेन भावेन त्वमेतेनानृतेन च
You wish for Bharata to sit on the throne and for Rāghava to dwell in the forest; cease from this attitude and from this falsehood.
यदि भर्तुः प्रियं कार्यं लोकस्य भरतस्य च। नृशंसे पापसंकल्पे क्षुद्रे दुष्कृतकारिणि
If you wish to do what is pleasing to your husband, to the people, and to Bharata, O cruel one, evil-minded, petty, and doer of wicked deeds,
किं नु दुःखमलीकं वा मयि रामे च पश्यसि। न कथंचिदृते रामाद् भरतो राज्यमावसेत्
What suffering or falsehood do you see in me or in Rama? In no way, except for Rama, would Bharata occupy the kingdom.
रामादपि हि तं मन्ये धर्मतो बलवत्तरम्। कथं द्रक्ष्यामि रामस्य वनं गच्छेति भाषिते
Indeed, I consider him even stronger than Rama in righteousness; how will I see Rama, when he is told to go to the forest?
मुखवर्णं विवर्णं तु यथैवेन्दुमुपप्लुतम्। तां तु मे सुकृतां बुद्धिं सुहृद्भिः सह निश्चिताम्
His face will become pale, just as the moon is eclipsed; and my good resolve, decided together with friends,
कथं द्रक्ष्याम्यपावृत्तां परैरिव हतां चमूम्। किं मां वक्ष्यन्ति राजानो नानादिग्भ्यः समागताः
How will I see the army, turned away, as if defeated by others? What will the kings, gathered from various directions, say to me?
बालो बतायमैक्ष्वाकश्चिरं राज्यमकारयत्। यदा हि बहवो वृद्धा गुणवन्तो बहुश्रुताः
Alas, this young Ikshvaku has ruled the kingdom for so long, though many elders, virtuous and learned, were present.
परिप्रक्ष्यन्ति काकुत्स्थं वक्ष्यामीह कथं तदा। कैकेय्या क्लिश्यमानेन पुत्रः प्रव्राजितो मया
They will question Kakutstha, and then what shall I say here? That my son was exiled by me, under Kaikeyi’s compulsion?
यदि सत्यं ब्रवीम्येतत् तदसत्यं भविष्यति। किं मां वक्ष्यति कौसल्या राघवे वनमास्थिते
If I speak this truth, it will be taken as falsehood. What will Kausalya say to me when Rāghava has gone to the forest?
किं चैनां प्रतिवक्ष्यामि कृत्वा विप्रियमीदृशम्। यदा यदा च कौसल्या दासीव च सखीव च
And what shall I reply to her, after having done such a grievous wrong? For Kausalya has always served me as a maid, as a friend—
भार्यावद् भगिनीवच्च मातृवच्चोपतिष्ठति। सततं प्रियकामा मे प्रियपुत्रा प्रियंवदा
As a wife, as a sister, and as a mother, she has always attended to me—ever seeking my good, loving her son, gentle in speech.
न मया सत्कृता देवी सत्कारार्हा कृते तव। इदानीं तत्तपति मां यन्मया सुकृतं त्वयि
I did not honor the queen, though she deserved honor, for your sake; now, it pains me, all the good I did for you.
अपथ्यव्यञ्जनोपेतं भुक्तमन्नमिवातुरम्। विप्रकारं च रामस्य सम्प्रयाणं वनस्य च
Like food mixed with poison eaten by a sick man, so is the wrong done to Rāma and his departure to the forest.
सुमित्रा प्रेक्ष्य वै भीता कथं मे विश्वसिष्यति। कृपणं बत वैदेही श्रोष्यति द्वयमप्रियम्
How will Sumitrā, seeing this, trust me, being afraid? And poor Vaidehī will hear two grievous things.
मां च पञ्चत्वमापन्नं रामं च वनमाश्रितम्। वैदेही बत मे प्राणान् शोचन्ती क्षपयिष्यति
She will hear of my death and of Rāma dwelling in the forest; alas, Vaidehī will grieve for me and waste away her life.
हीना हिमवतः पार्श्वे किंनरेणेव किंनरी। नहि राममहं दृष्ट्वा प्रवसन्तं महावने
Like a kinnari left by her mate on the slopes of the Himalaya, I cannot bear to see Rāma exiled in the great forest.
चिरं जीवितुमाशंसे रुदन्तीं चापि मैथिलीम्। सा नूनं विधवा राज्यं सपुत्रा कारयिष्यसि
I do not hope to live long, nor to see Maithilī weeping; surely, you will rule the kingdom as a widow, with your son.
सतीं त्वामहमत्यन्तं व्यवस्याम्यसतीं सतीम्। रूपिणीं विषसंयुक्तां पीत्वेव मदिरां नरः
I now consider you, though appearing virtuous, to be utterly unchaste—a beautiful form laced with poison, like a man who has drunk wine.
अनृतैर्बत मां सान्त्वैः सान्त्वयन्ती स्म भाषसे। गीतशब्देन संरुध्य लुब्धो मृगमिवावधीः
Truly, you spoke to me with false words of comfort, soothing me, but like a hunter luring a deer with song, you have destroyed me.