The King in the Chamber of Wrath

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.10.1)

विदर्शिता यदा देवी कुब्जया पापया भृशम् । तदा शेते स्म सा भूमौ दिग्धविद्धेव किंनरी ॥ 10.1 ॥

vidarśitā yadā devī kubjayā pāpayā bhṛśam | tadā śete sma sā bhūmau digdhaviddheva kiṃnarī

When the queen had been thoroughly instructed by that wicked hunchback, she lay upon the ground like a kinnari struck by a poisoned arrow.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.10.2)

निश्चित्य मनसा कृत्यं सा सम्यगिति भामिनी । मन्थरायै शनैः सर्वमाचचक्षे विचक्षणा ॥ 10.2 ॥

niścitya manasā kṛtyaṃ sā samyagiti bhāminī | mantharāyai śanaiḥ sarvamācacakṣe vicakṣaṇā

That clever lady, having resolved in her mind exactly what was to be done, slowly told the whole of it to Manthara.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.10.3)

सा दीना निश्चयं कृत्वा मन्थरावाक्यमोहिता । नागकन्येव निःश्वस्य दीर्घमुष्णं च भामिनी ॥ 10.3 ॥

sā dīnā niścayaṃ kṛtvā mantharāvākyamohitā | nāgakanyeva niḥśvasya dīrghamuṣṇaṃ ca bhāminī

That unhappy lady, bewitched by Manthara's words, having made her resolve, sighed long and hot like a serpent-maiden,

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.10.4)

मुहूर्तं चिन्तयामास मार्गमात्मसुखावहम् । सा सुहृच्चार्थकामा च तं निशम्य विनिश्चयम् ॥ 10.4 ॥

muhūrtaṃ cintayāmāsa mārgamātmasukhāvaham | sā suhṛccārthakāmā ca taṃ niśamya viniścayam

and for a moment pondered the course that would bring about her own happiness. And Manthara, her well-wisher, eager for her own gain, on hearing that firm resolve,

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.10.5)

बभूव परमप्रीता सिद्धिं प्राप्येव मन्थरा । अथ सा रुषिता देवी सम्यक् कृत्वा विनिश्चयम् ॥ 10.5 ॥

babhūva paramaprītā siddhiṃ prāpyeva mantharā | atha sā ruṣitā devī samyak kṛtvā viniścayam

— became exceedingly delighted, as though she had already achieved her end. Then that offended queen, having made her firm resolve,

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.10.6)

संविवेशाबला भूमौ निवेश्य भ्रुकुटिं मुखे । ततश्चित्राणि माल्यानि दिव्यान्याभरणानि च ॥ 10.6 ॥

saṃviveśābalā bhūmau niveśya bhrukuṭiṃ mukhe | tataścitrāṇi mālyāni divyānyābharaṇāni ca

lay down, that frail woman, upon the ground, her brow knit into a frown; and then her many-hued garlands and her radiant ornaments,

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.10.7)

अपविद्धानि कैकेय्या तानि भूमिं प्रपेदिरे । तया तान्य् अपविद्धानि माल्यान्य् आभरणानि च ॥ 10.7 ॥

apaviddhāni kaikeyyā tāni bhūmiṃ prapedire | tayā tāny apaviddhāni mālyāny ābharaṇāni ca

flung off by Kaikeyi, fell scattered upon the floor; and those garlands and ornaments, thus cast aside by her,

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.10.8)

अशोभयन्त वसुधां नक्षत्राणि यथा नभः । क्रोधागारे च पतिता सा बभौ मलिनाम्बरा ॥ 10.8 ॥

aśobhayanta vasudhāṃ nakṣatrāṇi yathā nabhaḥ | krodhāgāre ca patitā sā babhau malināmbarā

adorned the ground as stars adorn the sky. And there in the chamber of wrath, fallen, clad in soiled garments, she shone strangely bright.

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.10.9)

एकवेणीं दृढां बद्ध्वा गतसत्त्वेव किंनरी । आज्ञाप्य तु महाराजो राघवस्याभिषेचनम् ॥ 10.9 ॥

ekaveṇīṃ dṛḍhāṃ baddhvā gatasattveva kiṃnarī | ājñāpya tu mahārājo rāghavasyābhiṣecanam

With her hair bound into a single tight braid, she lay like a lifeless kinnari. Meanwhile the great king, having given the order for Raghava's anointment,

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.10.10)

उपस्थानमनुज्ञाप्य प्रविवेश निवेशनम् । अद्य रामाभिषेको वै प्रसिद्ध इति जज्ञिवान् ॥ 10.10 ॥

upasthānamanujñāpya praviveśa niveśanam | adya rāmābhiṣeko vai prasiddha iti jajñivān

took leave of the assembly and entered his private chambers, knowing that Rama's anointment was now publicly proclaimed for that very day.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.10.11)

प्रियार्हां प्रियमाख्यातुं विवेशान्तःपुरं वशी । स कैकेय्या गृहं श्रेष्ठं प्रविवेश महायशाः ॥ 10.11 ॥

priyārhāṃ priyamākhyātuṃ viveśāntaḥpuraṃ vaśī | sa kaikeyyā gṛhaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ praviveśa mahāyaśāḥ

Self-controlled, he entered the inner apartments to tell the happy news to her who deserved to hear it; that man of great renown entered Kaikeyi's splendid chambers,

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.10.12)

पाण्डुराभ्रम् इवाकाशं राहुयुक्तं निशाकरः । शुक-बर्हिसमायुक्तं क्रौञ्चहंसरुतायुतम् ॥ 10.12 ॥

pāṇḍurābhram ivākāśaṃ rāhuyuktaṃ niśākaraḥ | śuka-barhisamāyuktaṃ krauñcahaṃsarutāyutam

— as the moon enters a sky pale with clouds and seized by Rahu — that chamber alive with parrots and peacocks, filled with the cries of curlews and swans,

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.10.13)

वादित्ररवसङ्घुष्टं कुब्जावामनिकायुतम् । लतागृहैश्चित्रगृहैश्चम्पकाशोकशोभितैः ॥ 10.13 ॥

vāditraravasaṅghuṣṭaṃ kubjāvāmanikāyutam | latāgṛhaiścitragṛhaiścampakāśokaśobhitaiḥ

resounding with musical instruments, attended by hunchbacked and dwarf maidservants, adorned with bowers of creepers and painted chambers set among champak and ashoka trees,

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.10.14)

दान्तराजतसौवर्णवेदिकाभिः समायुतम् । नित्यपुष्पफलैर्वृक्षैर्वापीभिरुपशोभितम् ॥ 10.14 ॥

dāntarājatasauvarṇavedikābhiḥ samāyutam | nityapuṣpaphalairvṛkṣairvāpībhirupaśobhitam

furnished with altars of ivory, silver and gold, and beautified with trees ever laden with flower and fruit, and with lotus-pools,

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.10.15)

दान्तराजतसौवर्णैः संवृतं परमासनैः । विविधैरन्नपानैश्च भक्ष्यैश्च विविधैरपि ॥ 10.15 ॥

dāntarājatasauvarṇaiḥ saṃvṛtaṃ paramāsanaiḥ | vividhairannapānaiśca bhakṣyaiśca vividhairapi

filled with the finest seats of ivory, silver and gold, and with foods and drinks of every kind, and every kind of delicacy,

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.10.16)

उपपन्नं महार्हैश्च भूषणैस्त्रिदिवोपमम् । स प्रविश्य महाराजः स्वमन्तःपुरमृद्धिमत् ॥ 10.16 ॥

upapannaṃ mahārhaiśca bhūṣaṇaistridivopamam | sa praviśya mahārājaḥ svamantaḥpuramṛddhimat

adorned with costly ornaments, resembling heaven itself. And the great king, having entered his own opulent inner apartments,

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.10.17)

न ददर्श स्त्रियं राजा कैकेयीं शयनोत्तमे । स कामबलसंयुक्तो रत्यर्थी मनुजाधिपः ॥ 10.17 ॥

na dadarśa striyaṃ rājā kaikeyīṃ śayanottame | sa kāmabalasaṃyukto ratyarthī manujādhipaḥ

did not find the lady Kaikeyi upon her excellent couch — that lord of men, driven by the power of desire, seeking her love,

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.10.18)

अपश्यन् दयितां भार्यां पप्रच्छ विषसाद च । नहि तस्य पुरा देवी तां वेलामत्यवर्तत ॥ 10.18 ॥

apaśyan dayitāṃ bhāryāṃ papraccha viṣasāda ca | nahi tasya purā devī tāṃ velāmatyavartata

not seeing his beloved wife, asked after her and was distressed — for never before had the queen failed to be present at that hour,

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.10.19)

न च राजा गृहं शून्यं प्रविवेश कदाचन । ततो गृहगतो राजा कैकेयीं पर्यपृच्छत ॥ 10.19 ॥

na ca rājā gṛhaṃ śūnyaṃ praviveśa kadācana | tato gṛhagato rājā kaikeyīṃ paryapṛcchata

nor had the king ever before entered her chambers to find them empty. Then the king, having entered her rooms, inquired after Kaikeyi,

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.10.20)

यथापुरम् अविज्ञाय स्वार्थलिप्सुम् अपण्डिताम् । प्रतिहारी त्वथोवाच संत्रस्ता तु कृताञ्जलिः ॥ 10.20 ॥

yathāpuram avijñāya svārthalipsum apaṇḍitām | pratihārī tvathovāca saṃtrastā tu kṛtāñjaliḥ

as he was accustomed to before, not knowing of that foolish woman's selfish scheming. Then a fearful doorkeeper, hands folded in supplication, said:

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.10.21)

देव देवी भृशं क्रुद्धा क्रोधागारमभिद्रुता । प्रतीहार्या वचः श्रुत्वा राजा परमदुर्मनाः ॥ 10.21 ॥

deva devī bhṛśaṃ kruddhā krodhāgāramabhidrutā | pratīhāryā vacaḥ śrutvā rājā paramadurmanāḥ

"My lord, the queen, greatly angered, has rushed into the chamber of wrath." Hearing the doorkeeper's words, the king, his mind now deeply troubled,

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.10.22)

विषसाद पुनर्भूयो लुलितव्याकुलेन्द्रियः । तत्र तां पतितां भूमौ शयानामतथोचिताम् ॥ 10.22 ॥

viṣasāda punarbhūyo lulitavyākulendriyaḥ | tatra tāṃ patitāṃ bhūmau śayānāmatathocitām

sank once more into despair, his senses shaken and disturbed; and there he saw her, fallen upon the ground, lying in a manner so unbefitting her,

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.10.23)

प्रतप्त इव दुःखेन सोऽपश्यज्जगतीपतिः । स वृद्धस्तरुणीं भार्यां प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसीम् ॥ 10.23 ॥

pratapta iva duḥkhena so'paśyajjagatīpatiḥ | sa vṛddhastaruṇīṃ bhāryāṃ prāṇebhyo'pi garīyasīm

— that lord of the earth, as though scorched with grief. That aged king beheld his youthful wife, dearer to him than his very life,

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.10.24)

अपापः पापसंकल्पां ददर्श धरणीतले । लतामिव विनिष्कृत्तां पतितां देवतामिव ॥ 10.24 ॥

apāpaḥ pāpasaṃkalpāṃ dadarśa dharaṇītale | latāmiva viniṣkṛttāṃ patitāṃ devatāmiva

— he, innocent, beholding her lying on the bare earth, harbouring a sinful resolve — like a creeper cut down, like a fallen goddess,

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.10.25)

किन्नरीमिव निर्धूतां च्युताम् अप्सरसं यथा । मायाम् इव परिभ्रष्टां हरिणीम् इव संयताम् ॥ 10.25 ॥

kinnarīmiva nirdhūtāṃ cyutām apsarasaṃ yathā | māyām iva paribhraṣṭāṃ hariṇīm iva saṃyatām

like a kinnari cast down, like an apsara fallen from heaven, like a spell that has failed, like a doe caught in a snare.

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.10.26)

करेणुम् इव दिग्धेन विद्धां मृगयुना वने । महागज इवारण्ये स्नेहात् परमदुःखिताम् ॥ 10.26 ॥

kareṇum iva digdhena viddhāṃ mṛgayunā vane | mahāgaja ivāraṇye snehāt paramaduḥkhitām

As a great elephant in the forest tenderly touches a she-elephant wounded by a poisoned dart from a hunter, deeply grieved out of love,

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.10.27)

परिमृज्य च पाणिभ्यामभिसंत्रस्तचेतनः । कामी कमलपत्राक्षीमुवाच वनितामिदम् ॥ 10.27 ॥

parimṛjya ca pāṇibhyāmabhisaṃtrastacetanaḥ | kāmī kamalapatrākṣīmuvāca vanitāmidam

so did he stroke her with his hands, his heart full of alarm; and that man, still moved by desire, said this to the lotus-eyed woman:

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.10.28)

न तेऽहमभिजानामि क्रोधमात्मनि संश्रितम् । देवि केनाभियुक्तासि केन वासि विमानिता ॥ 10.28 ॥

na te'hamabhijānāmi krodhamātmani saṃśritam | devi kenābhiyuktāsi kena vāsi vimānitā

"I do not understand this anger of yours toward me. Tell me, my Queen, who has wronged you, or who has insulted you?

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.10.29)

यदिदं मम दुःखाय शेषे कल्याणि पांसुषु । भूमौ शेषे किमर्थं त्वं मयि कल्याणचेतसि ॥ 10.29 ॥

yadidaṃ mama duḥkhāya śeṣe kalyāṇi pāṃsuṣu | bhūmau śeṣe kimarthaṃ tvaṃ mayi kalyāṇacetasi

For this — that you lie here in the dust to my great pain — why do you lie upon the ground when I hold nothing but goodwill toward you?

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.10.30)

भूतोपहतचित्तेव मम चित्तप्रमाथिनि । सन्ति मे कुशला वैद्यास्त्वभितुष्टाश्च सर्वशः ॥ 10.30 ॥

bhūtopahatacitteva mama cittapramāthini | santi me kuśalā vaidyāstvabhituṣṭāśca sarvaśaḥ

You who trouble my very heart, lying here as though possessed by some evil spirit — I have skilled physicians, honoured everywhere,

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.10.31)

सुखितां त्वां करिष्यन्ति व्याधिमाचक्ष्व भामिनि । कस्य वापि प्रियं कार्यं केन वा विप्रियं कृतम् ॥ 10.31 ॥

sukhitāṃ tvāṃ kariṣyanti vyādhimācakṣva bhāmini | kasya vāpi priyaṃ kāryaṃ kena vā vipriyaṃ kṛtam

who will restore you to health — only tell me your ailment, dear lady. For whom must some kindness be done, or who has done you some wrong?

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.10.32)

कः प्रियं लभतामद्य को वा सुमहदप्रियम् । मा रौत्सीर्मा च कार्षीस्त्वं देवि सम्परिशोषणम् ॥ 10.32 ॥

kaḥ priyaṃ labhatāmadya ko vā sumahadapriyam | mā rautsīrmā ca kārṣīstvaṃ devi sampariśoṣaṇam

Who shall receive favour today, and who a great punishment? Do not weep, my Queen, and do not waste your body away in this grief.

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.10.33)

अवध्यो वध्यतां को वा वध्यः को वा विमुच्यताम् । दरिद्रः को भवेदाढ्यो द्रव्यवान् वाप्यकिंचनः ॥ 10.33 ॥

avadhyo vadhyatāṃ ko vā vadhyaḥ ko vā vimucyatām | daridraḥ ko bhavedāḍhyo dravyavān vāpyakiṃcanaḥ

Shall one who deserves no death be put to death, or one condemned be set free? Shall some poor man become rich, or some rich man be reduced to nothing?

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.10.34)

अहं च हि मदीयाश्च सर्वे तव वशानुगाः । न ते कंचिदभिप्रायं व्याहन्तुमहमुत्सहे ॥ 10.34 ॥

ahaṃ ca hi madīyāśca sarve tava vaśānugāḥ | na te kaṃcidabhiprāyaṃ vyāhantumahamutsahe

For I myself, and all that is mine, are wholly subject to your will; I would never dare to oppose the least of your desires.

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.10.35)

आत्मनो जीवितेनापि ब्रूहि यन्मनसि स्थितम् । बलमात्मनि जानन्ती न मां शङ्कितुमर्हसि ॥ 10.35 ॥

ātmano jīvitenāpi brūhi yanmanasi sthitam | balamātmani jānantī na māṃ śaṅkitumarhasi

Speak, even should it cost my very life, whatever is fixed in your heart. Knowing well the power you hold over me, you have no cause to doubt me."

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.10.36)

करिष्यामि तव प्रीतिं सुकृतेनापि ते शपे । यावदावर्तते चक्रं तावती मे वसुंधरा ॥ 10.36 ॥

kariṣyāmi tava prītiṃ sukṛtenāpi te śape | yāvadāvartate cakraṃ tāvatī me vasuṃdharā

"I shall bring you joy — this I swear to you upon my righteous deeds. As far as my chariot-wheel has rolled, so far does my earth extend —

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.10.37)

द्राविडाः सिन्धुसौवीराः सौराष्ट्रा दक्षिणापथाः । वङ्गाङ्गमगधा मत्स्याः समृद्धाः काशिकोसलाः ॥ 10.37 ॥

drāviḍāḥ sindhusauvīrāḥ saurāṣṭrā dakṣiṇāpathāḥ | vaṅgāṅgamagadhā matsyāḥ samṛddhāḥ kāśikosalāḥ

— the Dravidas, Sindhu-Sauviras, Saurashtras, the lands of the southern road, Vanga, Anga, Magadha, Matsya, and the prosperous realms of Kashi and Kosala.

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.10.38)

तत्र जातं बहु द्रव्यं धनधान्यमजाविकम् । ततो वृणीष्व कैकेयि यद् यत् त्वं मनसेच्छसि ॥ 10.38 ॥

tatra jātaṃ bahu dravyaṃ dhanadhānyamajāvikam | tato vṛṇīṣva kaikeyi yad yat tvaṃ manasecchasi

In them are produced great riches, wealth, grain, sheep and cattle — from among all this, Kaikeyi, choose whatever your heart desires."

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.10.39)

किमायासेन ते भीरु उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ शोभने । तत्त्वं मे ब्रूहि कैकेयि यतस्ते भयमागतम् । तत् ते व्यपनयिष्यामि नीहारमिव रश्मिवान् ॥ 10.39 ॥

kimāyāsena te bhīru uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha śobhane | tattvaṃ me brūhi kaikeyi yataste bhayamāgatam | tat te vyapanayiṣyāmi nīhāramiva raśmivān

"Why torment yourself so, timid one? Rise, rise, O lovely one! Tell me, Kaikeyi, the source from which your fear has come — I shall dispel it, as the sun dispels the morning mist."

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.10.40)

तथोक्ता सा समाश्वस्ता वक्तुकामा तदप्रियम् । परिपीडयितुं भूयो भर्तारमुपचक्रमे ॥ 10.40 ॥

tathoktā sā samāśvastā vaktukāmā tadapriyam | paripīḍayituṃ bhūyo bhartāramupacakrame

Thus addressed and reassured, she, intending now to speak that unwelcome thing, began once more to torment her husband further.