Ayodhya Kanda · Sarga 10 of 119 · 40 verses
The King Finds Kaikeyi on the Floor
Kaikeyi lies on the floor like a kinnari struck by a poisoned arrow, her resolve made, her garlands and jewels scattered around her like stars in the sky, her hair in a single tight braid. Dasharatha, having ordered the consecration, enters her splendid apartments, full of parrots and peacocks, music, arbours, champak and ashoka trees, ivory, silver and gold, to tell his beloved the good news, as the moon enters a cloudy sky that Rahu waits in. She is not on her bed. He has never found her absent at this hour. A frightened doorkeeper tells him the queen has gone in great anger to the chamber of anger.
He finds her lying on the ground, unfit for her, like a creeper cut down, a goddess fallen, a doe caught in a trap, a cow-elephant struck by a poisoned arrow. The old king strokes his young wife, dearer to him than life, and pleads: “Who has insulted you? Are you ill? I have skilled physicians. Whom shall I favour, whom punish? Shall I kill someone who should not die, or free someone who should? Shall I make a poor man rich or a rich man poor? I and all mine are yours; I will not thwart any wish of yours, even at the cost of my life. As far as the wheel of my rule turns, the earth is mine: Dravidas, Sindhu-Sauviras, Saurashtras, the south, Vanga, Anga, Magadha, Matsya, Kashi and Kosala. Choose whatever you want. Tell me what you fear and I will dispel it as the sun dispels mist.” Comforted, and wishing to say the unwelcome thing, she prepares to torment her husband further.
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विदर्शिता यदा देवी कुब्जया पापया भृशम् । तदा शेते स्म सा भूमौ दिग्धविद्धेव किंनरी ॥ १ ॥
When the queen had been so thoroughly shown the way by the wicked hunchback, she lay on the ground like a kinnari pierced by a poisoned arrow.
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निश्चित्य मनसा कृत्यं सा सम्यगिति भामिनी । मन्थरायै शनैः सर्वमाचचक्षे विचक्षणा ॥ २ ॥
Having decided in her mind that what was to be done was right, the clever, passionate woman slowly told Manthara everything.
सा दीना निश्चयं कृत्वा मन्थरावाक्यमोहिता । नागकन्येव निःश्वस्य दीर्घमुष्णं च भामिनी ॥ ३ ॥
मुहूर्तं चिन्तयामास मार्गमात्मसुखावहम् । सा सुहृच्चार्थकामा च तं निशम्य विनिश्चयम् ॥ ४ ॥
Wretched, having made her resolve, bewildered by Manthara’s words, the passionate woman sighed long and hot like a naga maiden, and thought for a moment about the path that would bring her happiness. Her friend, who desired the aim, hearing that resolve,
बभूव परमप्रीता सिद्धिं प्राप्येव मन्थरा । अथ सा रुषिता देवी सम्यक् कृत्वा विनिश्चयम् ॥ ५ ॥
संविवेशाबला भूमौ निवेश्य भ्रुकुटिं मुखे । ततश्चित्राणि माल्यानि दिव्यान्याभरणानि च ॥ ६ ॥
Manthara, was greatly pleased, as if she had gained success. Then the angry queen, having firmly made up her mind, lay down, the frail woman, on the ground, knitting her brows. Then the bright garlands and divine ornaments
अपविद्धानि कैकेय्या तानि भूमिं प्रपेदिरे । तया तान्य् अपविद्धानि माल्यान्य् आभरणानि च ॥ ७ ॥
अशोभयन्त वसुधां नक्षत्राणि यथा नभः । क्रोधागारे च पतिता सा बभौ मलिनाम्बरा ॥ ८ ॥
cast away by Kaikeyi fell to the ground; those garlands and ornaments thrown off by her adorned the earth as the stars adorn the sky. Fallen in the chamber of anger, she shone in her soiled garment,
एकवेणीं दृढां बद्ध्वा गतसत्त्वेव किंनरी । आज्ञाप्य तु महाराजो राघवस्याभिषेचनम् ॥ ९ ॥
उपस्थानमनुज्ञाप्य प्रविवेश निवेशनम् । अद्य रामाभिषेको वै प्रसिद्ध इति जज्ञिवान् ॥ १० ॥
her hair tied in a single tight braid, like a kinnari bereft of strength. Having ordered Raghava’s consecration and dismissed the assembly, the great king entered the palace, knowing that Rama’s consecration today was settled.
प्रियार्हां प्रियमाख्यातुं विवेशान्तःपुरं वशी । स कैकेय्या गृहं श्रेष्ठं प्रविवेश महायशाः ॥ ११ ॥
पाण्डुराभ्रम् इवाकाशं राहुयुक्तं निशाकरः । शुक-बर्हिसमायुक्तं क्रौञ्चहंसरुतायुतम् ॥ १२ ॥
The self-controlled one entered the inner apartments to tell his beloved the happy news. The greatly renowned one entered Kaikeyi’s splendid apartments, as the moon enters a sky white with clouds in which Rahu waits: apartments filled with parrots and peacocks, ringing with the cries of cranes and swans,
वादित्ररवसङ्घुष्टं कुब्जावामनिकायुतम् । लतागृहैश्चित्रगृहैश्चम्पकाशोकशोभितैः ॥ १३ ॥
दान्तराजतसौवर्णवेदिकाभिः समायुतम् । नित्यपुष्पफलैर्वृक्षैर्वापीभिरुपशोभितम् ॥ १४ ॥
resounding with music, full of hunchbacked and dwarf servants, adorned with arbours and painted rooms, with champak and ashoka trees, set with ivory, silver and gold platforms, beautified with trees always in flower and fruit and with pools,
दान्तराजतसौवर्णैः संवृतं परमासनैः । विविधैरन्नपानैश्च भक्ष्यैश्च विविधैरपि ॥ १५ ॥
उपपन्नं महार्हैश्च भूषणैस्त्रिदिवोपमम् । स प्रविश्य महाराजः स्वमन्तःपुरमृद्धिमत् ॥ १६ ॥
furnished with fine seats of ivory, silver and gold, provided with food and drink of many kinds and with delicacies of many kinds, with costly ornaments, like heaven. The great king, entering his own rich inner apartments,
न ददर्श स्त्रियं राजा कैकेयीं शयनोत्तमे । स कामबलसंयुक्तो रत्यर्थी मनुजाधिपः ॥ १७ ॥
अपश्यन् दयितां भार्यां पप्रच्छ विषसाद च । नहि तस्य पुरा देवी तां वेलामत्यवर्तत ॥ १८ ॥
did not see his wife Kaikeyi on her fine bed. Filled with the force of desire, longing for love, the lord of men, not seeing his beloved wife, asked and grew dejected. Never before had the queen failed to be there at that hour,
न च राजा गृहं शून्यं प्रविवेश कदाचन । ततो गृहगतो राजा कैकेयीं पर्यपृच्छत ॥ १९ ॥
यथापुरम् अविज्ञाय स्वार्थलिप्सुम् अपण्डिताम् । प्रतिहारी त्वथोवाच संत्रस्ता तु कृताञ्जलिः ॥ २० ॥
and never had the king entered an empty house. So, inside the house, the king asked for Kaikeyi, not knowing, as before, that the foolish woman was bent on her own gain. Then the doorkeeper, frightened, with joined palms, said:
देव देवी भृशं क्रुद्धा क्रोधागारमभिद्रुता । प्रतीहार्या वचः श्रुत्वा राजा परमदुर्मनाः ॥ २१ ॥
विषसाद पुनर्भूयो लुलितव्याकुलेन्द्रियः । तत्र तां पतितां भूमौ शयानामतथोचिताम् ॥ २२ ॥
“Lord, the queen, very angry, has rushed to the chamber of anger.” Hearing the doorkeeper’s words, the king, greatly distressed, sank again, his senses shaken and confused. There he saw her fallen on the ground, lying in a way unfit for her;
प्रतप्त इव दुःखेन सोऽपश्यज्जगतीपतिः । स वृद्धस्तरुणीं भार्यां प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसीम् ॥ २३ ॥
अपापः पापसंकल्पां ददर्श धरणीतले । लतामिव विनिष्कृत्तां पतितां देवतामिव ॥ २४ ॥
burning as if with sorrow, the lord of the world, old, saw his young wife, dearer than his own life, the sinless man saw the woman of sinful purpose on the ground, like a creeper cut down, like a goddess fallen,
किन्नरीमिव निर्धूतां च्युताम् अप्सरसं यथा । मायाम् इव परिभ्रष्टां हरिणीम् इव संयताम् ॥ २५ ॥
करेणुम् इव दिग्धेन विद्धां मृगयुना वने । महागज इवारण्ये स्नेहात् परमदुःखिताम् ॥ २६ ॥
like a kinnari shaken down, like an apsaras fallen, like a lost illusion, like a doe caught in a snare, like a cow-elephant pierced by a hunter’s poisoned arrow in the forest. As a great elephant in the forest, in deep grief from love,
परिमृज्य च पाणिभ्यामभिसंत्रस्तचेतनः । कामी कमलपत्राक्षीमुवाच वनितामिदम् ॥ २७ ॥
stroking her with both hands, his mind seized with fear, the lover spoke these words to the lotus-eyed woman:
न तेऽहमभिजानामि क्रोधमात्मनि संश्रितम् । देवि केनाभियुक्तासि केन वासि विमानिता ॥ २८ ॥
“I do not know of any anger in me against you. Queen, by whom have you been attacked? By whom have you been insulted?
यदिदं मम दुःखाय शेषे कल्याणि पांसुषु । भूमौ शेषे किमर्थं त्वं मयि कल्याणचेतसि ॥ २९ ॥
“Why do you lie in the dust, auspicious one, to my sorrow? Why do you lie on the ground, when my thoughts toward you are only good?
भूतोपहतचित्तेव मम चित्तप्रमाथिनि । सन्ति मे कुशला वैद्यास्त्वभितुष्टाश्च सर्वशः ॥ ३० ॥
सुखितां त्वां करिष्यन्ति व्याधिमाचक्ष्व भामिनि । कस्य वापि प्रियं कार्यं केन वा विप्रियं कृतम् ॥ ३१ ॥
“You who churn my heart, you are as if your mind were struck by a spirit. I have skilled physicians, well rewarded in every way; they will make you well. Tell me the illness, passionate one. Whom must I please, or who has displeased you?
कः प्रियं लभतामद्य को वा सुमहदप्रियम् । मा रौत्सीर्मा च कार्षीस्त्वं देवि सम्परिशोषणम् ॥ ३२ ॥
“Who shall gain a favour today, or who a very great displeasure? Do not weep, queen, and do not waste yourself.
अवध्यो वध्यतां को वा वध्यः को वा विमुच्यताम् । दरिद्रः को भवेदाढ्यो द्रव्यवान् वाप्यकिंचनः ॥ ३३ ॥
“Who that should not be killed shall be killed, or who that should be killed shall be freed? What poor man shall become rich, or what rich man destitute?
अहं च हि मदीयाश्च सर्वे तव वशानुगाः । न ते कंचिदभिप्रायं व्याहन्तुमहमुत्सहे ॥ ३४ ॥
“I and all my people are subject to your will. I cannot bring myself to thwart any wish of yours.
आत्मनो जीवितेनापि ब्रूहि यन्मनसि स्थितम् । बलमात्मनि जानन्ती न मां शङ्कितुमर्हसि ॥ ३५ ॥
“Even at the cost of my own life, tell me what is in your mind. Knowing your power over me, you should not be in doubt of me.
करिष्यामि तव प्रीतिं सुकृतेनापि ते शपे । यावदावर्तते चक्रं तावती मे वसुंधरा ॥ ३६ ॥
“I will do what pleases you; I swear it by my good deeds. As far as the wheel of my rule turns, so far is the earth mine:
द्राविडाः सिन्धुसौवीराः सौराष्ट्रा दक्षिणापथाः । वङ्गाङ्गमगधा मत्स्याः समृद्धाः काशिकोसलाः ॥ ३७ ॥
“the Dravidas, the Sindhu-Sauviras, the Saurashtras, the southern lands, the Vangas, Angas and Magadhas, the Matsyas, and the prosperous Kashis and Kosalas.
तत्र जातं बहु द्रव्यं धनधान्यमजाविकम् । ततो वृणीष्व कैकेयि यद् यत् त्वं मनसेच्छसि ॥ ३८ ॥
“Much wealth is produced there, riches, grain, goats and sheep. From that, Kaikeyi, choose whatever you desire in your heart.
किमायासेन ते भीरु उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ शोभने । तत्त्वं मे ब्रूहि कैकेयि यतस्ते भयमागतम् । तत् ते व्यपनयिष्यामि नीहारमिव रश्मिवान् ॥ ३९ ॥
“Why this distress, timid one? Get up, get up, lovely one. Tell me truly, Kaikeyi, from what has fear come to you. I will drive it away as the sun drives away the mist.”
तथोक्ता सा समाश्वस्ता वक्तुकामा तदप्रियम् । परिपीडयितुं भूयो भर्तारमुपचक्रमे ॥ ४० ॥
So addressed, she was comforted; wishing to say that unwelcome thing, she set about tormenting her husband still more.