Kaikeyi's Demand

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.18.1)

स ददर्शासने रामो विषण्णं पितरं शुभे । कैकेय्या सहितं दीनं मुखेन परिशुष्यता ॥ 18.1 ॥

sa dadarśāsane rāmo viṣaṇṇaṃ pitaraṃ śubhe | kaikeyyā sahitaṃ dīnaṃ mukhena pariśuṣyatā

He saw his father seated on a splendid seat, together with Kaikeyi, wretched, his face parched with grief.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.18.2)

स पितुश्चरणौ पूर्वमभिवाद्य विनीतवत् । ततो ववन्दे चरणौ कैकेय्याः सुसमाहितः ॥ 18.2 ॥

sa pituścaraṇau pūrvamabhivādya vinītavat | tato vavande caraṇau kaikeyyāḥ susamāhitaḥ

Rama, humble and self-composed, first saluted his father's feet reverently, then bowed to Kaikeyi's feet.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.18.3)

रामेत्युक्त्वा तु वचनं बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणः । शशाक नृपतिर्दीनो नेक्षितुं नाभिभाषितुम् ॥ 18.3 ॥

rāmetyuktvā tu vacanaṃ bāṣpaparyākulekṣaṇaḥ | śaśāka nṛpatirdīno nekṣituṃ nābhibhāṣitum

Having uttered only "Rama!", his eyes clouded with tears, the wretched king could bear neither to look at him nor to speak.

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.18.4)

तदपूर्वं नरपतेर्दृष्ट्वा रूपं भयावहम् । रामोऽपि भयमापन्नः पदा स्पृष्ट्वेव पन्नगम् ॥ 18.4 ॥

tadapūrvaṃ narapaterdṛṣṭvā rūpaṃ bhayāvaham | rāmo'pi bhayamāpannaḥ padā spṛṣṭveva pannagam

Seeing that unprecedented, fear-inspiring appearance of the king, Rama too was struck with fear, as though he had trodden upon a serpent.

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.18.5)

इन्द्रियैरप्रहृष्टैस्तं शोकसंतापकर्शितम् । निःश्वसन्तं महाराजं व्यथिताकुलचेतसम् ॥ 18.5 ॥

indriyairaprahṛṣṭaistaṃ śokasaṃtāpakarśitam | niḥśvasantaṃ mahārājaṃ vyathitākulacetasam

Watching that great king -- his senses joyless, wasted by grief and anguish, sighing, his mind troubled and confused,

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.18.6)

ऊर्मिमालिनमक्षोभ्यं क्षुभ्यन्तमिव सागरम् । उपप्लुतमिवादित्यमुक्तानृतमृषिं यथा ॥ 18.6 ॥

ūrmimālinamakṣobhyaṃ kṣubhyantamiva sāgaram | upaplutamivādityamuktānṛtamṛṣiṃ yathā

like the unshakeable ocean now agitated, its garland of waves astir; like the sun eclipsed; like a sage who has once spoken untruth --

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.18.7)

अचिन्त्यकल्पं नृपतेस्तं शोकमुपधारयन् । बभूव संरब्धतरः समुद्र इव पर्वणि ॥ 18.7 ॥

acintyakalpaṃ nṛpatestaṃ śokamupadhārayan | babhūva saṃrabdhataraḥ samudra iva parvaṇi

-- pondering that unthinkable sorrow of the king, Rama himself grew ever more agitated, like the ocean on the day of the full moon.

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.18.8)

चिन्तयामास चतुरो रामः पितृहिते रतः । किंस्विदद्यैव नृपतिर्न मां प्रत्यभिनन्दति ॥ 18.8 ॥

cintayāmāsa caturo rāmaḥ pitṛhite rataḥ | kiṃsvidadyaiva nṛpatirna māṃ pratyabhinandati

The wise Rama, devoted to his father's welfare, thought: "Why does the king not greet me with delight today, as he always does?"

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.18.9)

अन्यदा मां पिता दृष्ट्वा कुपितोऽपि प्रसीदति । तस्य मामद्य सम्प्रेक्ष्य किमायासः प्रवर्तते ॥ 18.9 ॥

anyadā māṃ pitā dṛṣṭvā kupito'pi prasīdati | tasya māmadya samprekṣya kimāyāsaḥ pravartate

"At other times my father, even if angered, becomes gracious the moment he sees me; why then does such weariness come over him at the sight of me today?"

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.18.10)

स दीन इव शोकार्तो विषण्णवदनद्युतिः । कैकेयीमभिवाद्यैव रामो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 18.10 ॥

sa dīna iva śokārto viṣaṇṇavadanadyutiḥ | kaikeyīmabhivādyaiva rāmo vacanamabravīt

Rama, himself wretched, stricken with grief, the brightness gone from his downcast face, having saluted Kaikeyi, spoke these words:

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.18.11)

कच्चिन्मया नापराद्धमज्ञानाद् येन मे पिता । कुपितस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व त्वमेवैनं प्रसादय ॥ 18.11 ॥

kaccinmayā nāparāddhamajñānād yena me pitā | kupitastanmamācakṣva tvamevainaṃ prasādaya

"I hope I have not, through ignorance, done any wrong for which my father is angry with me; tell me of it, and you yourself pacify him."

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.18.12)

अप्रसन्नमनाः किं नु सदा मां प्रति वत्सलः । विषण्णवदनो दीनः नहि मां प्रति भाषते ॥ 18.12 ॥

aprasannamanāḥ kiṃ nu sadā māṃ prati vatsalaḥ | viṣaṇṇavadano dīnaḥ nahi māṃ prati bhāṣate

"Why has his mind, ever so affectionate toward me, become displeased? His face pale and wretched, he does not even speak to me."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.18.13)

शारीरो मानसो वापि कच्चिदेनं न बाधते । संतापो वाभितापो वा दुर्लभं हि सदा सुखम् ॥ 18.13 ॥

śārīro mānaso vāpi kaccidenaṃ na bādhate | saṃtāpo vābhitāpo vā durlabhaṃ hi sadā sukham

"I hope no bodily affliction, nor any distress of mind, troubles him; happiness indeed is ever hard to attain."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.18.14)

कच्चिन्न किंचिद् भरते कुमारे प्रियदर्शने । शत्रुघ्ने वा महासत्त्वे मातॄणां वा ममाशुभम् ॥ 18.14 ॥

kaccinna kiṃcid bharate kumāre priyadarśane | śatrughne vā mahāsattve mātṝṇāṃ vā mamāśubham

"I hope no misfortune has befallen Bharata, delightful to behold, or mighty Shatrughna, or my mothers."

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.18.15)

अतोषयन् महाराजमकुर्वन् वा पितुर्वचः । मुहूर्तमपि नेच्छेयं जीवितुं कुपिते नृपे ॥ 18.15 ॥

atoṣayan mahārājamakurvan vā piturvacaḥ | muhūrtamapi neccheyaṃ jīvituṃ kupite nṛpe

"Without satisfying the great king, without carrying out my father's word, I would not wish to live even a moment, should the king be angry."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.18.16)

यतोमूलं नरः पश्येत् प्रादुर्भावमिहात्मनः । कथं तस्मिन् न वर्तेत प्रत्यक्षे सति दैवते ॥ 18.16 ॥

yatomūlaṃ naraḥ paśyet prādurbhāvamihātmanaḥ | kathaṃ tasmin na varteta pratyakṣe sati daivate

"For whatever root a man perceives his own being to have sprung from in this world, how can he fail to revere that visible god standing before him?"

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.18.17)

कच्चित्ते परुषं किंचिदभिमानात् पिता मम । उक्तो भवत्या रोषेण येनास्य लुलितं मनः ॥ 18.17 ॥

kaccitte paruṣaṃ kiṃcidabhimānāt pitā mama | ukto bhavatyā roṣeṇa yenāsya lulitaṃ manaḥ

"I hope my father has not been spoken to harshly, out of your pride or anger, in a way that has disturbed his mind."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.18.18)

एतदाचक्ष्व मे देवि तत्त्वेन परिपृच्छतः । किंनिमित्तमपूर्वोऽयं विकारो मनुजाधिपे ॥ 18.18 ॥

etadācakṣva me devi tattvena paripṛcchataḥ | kiṃnimittamapūrvo'yaṃ vikāro manujādhipe

"Tell me this truly, O queen, since I ask it of you -- for what reason has this unprecedented change come over the king?"

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.18.19)

एवमुक्ता तु कैकेयी राघवेण महात्मना । उवाचेदं सुनिर्लज्जा धृष्टमात्महितं वचः ॥ 18.19 ॥

evamuktā tu kaikeyī rāghaveṇa mahātmanā | uvācedaṃ sunirlajjā dhṛṣṭamātmahitaṃ vacaḥ

Thus addressed by the great-souled Raghava, Kaikeyi, utterly shameless, spoke boldly these words meant for her own advantage.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.18.20)

न राजा कुपितो राम व्यसनं नास्य किंचन । किंचिन्मनोगतं त्वस्य त्वद्भयान्नानुभाषते ॥ 18.20 ॥

na rājā kupito rāma vyasanaṃ nāsya kiṃcana | kiṃcinmanogataṃ tvasya tvadbhayānnānubhāṣate

"The king is not angry, Rama, nor is there any distress in him; but there is something on his mind which, from fear of you, he does not speak."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.18.21)

प्रियं त्वामप्रियं वक्तुं वाणी नास्य प्रवर्तते । तदवश्यं त्वया कार्यं यदनेनाश्रुतं मम ॥ 18.21 ॥

priyaṃ tvāmapriyaṃ vaktuṃ vāṇī nāsya pravartate | tadavaśyaṃ tvayā kāryaṃ yadanenāśrutaṃ mama

"His voice fails him to speak an unwelcome word to you, so dear to him; yet that which he promised me must certainly be carried out by you."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.18.22)

एष मह्यं वरं दत्त्वा पुरा मामभिपूज्य च । स पश्चात् तप्यते राजा यथान्यः प्राकृतस्तथा ॥ 18.22 ॥

eṣa mahyaṃ varaṃ dattvā purā māmabhipūjya ca | sa paścāt tapyate rājā yathānyaḥ prākṛtastathā

"Long ago, having granted me a boon and honoured me, this king now repents afterward, as any common man would."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.18.23)

अतिसृज्य ददानीति वरं मम विशाम्पतिः । स निरर्थं गतजले सेतुं बन्धितुमिच्छति ॥ 18.23 ॥

atisṛjya dadānīti varaṃ mama viśāmpatiḥ | sa nirarthaṃ gatajale setuṃ bandhitumicchati

"Having freely offered 'I shall give,' the lord of men now wishes, uselessly, to build a dam where the water has already receded."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.18.24)

धर्ममूलमिदं राम विदितं च सतामपि । तत् सत्यं न त्यजेद् राजा कुपितस्त्वत्कृते यथा ॥ 18.24 ॥

dharmamūlamidaṃ rāma viditaṃ ca satāmapi | tat satyaṃ na tyajed rājā kupitastvatkṛte yathā

"It is known even to the wise, Rama, that truth is the root of righteousness; let not the king, offended, abandon that truth for your sake."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.18.25)

यदि तद् वक्ष्यते राजा शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम् । करिष्यसि ततः सर्वमाख्यास्यामि पुनस्त्वहम् ॥ 18.25 ॥

yadi tad vakṣyate rājā śubhaṃ vā yadi vāśubham | kariṣyasi tataḥ sarvamākhyāsyāmi punastvaham

"If the king is about to declare that truth, whether it seem auspicious or inauspicious to you, I shall then reveal it all to you -- if you will act upon it."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.18.26)

यदि त्वभिहितं राज्ञा त्वयि तन्न विपत्स्यते । ततोऽहमभिधास्यामि न ह्येष त्वयि वक्ष्यति ॥ 18.26 ॥

yadi tvabhihitaṃ rājñā tvayi tanna vipatsyate | tato'hamabhidhāsyāmi na hyeṣa tvayi vakṣyati

"If what is spoken by the king shall not go ill for you, I shall tell it then; for he himself will not speak it to you."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.18.27)

एतत् तु वचनं श्रुत्वा कैकेय्या समुदाहृतम् । उवाच व्यथितो रामस्तां देवीं नृपसंनिधौ ॥ 18.27 ॥

etat tu vacanaṃ śrutvā kaikeyyā samudāhṛtam | uvāca vyathito rāmastāṃ devīṃ nṛpasaṃnidhau

Hearing these words uttered by Kaikeyi, Rama, pained, spoke thus to that queen in the presence of the king:

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.18.28)

अहो धिङ् नार्हसे देवि वक्तुं मामीदृशं वचः । अहं हि वचनाद् राज्ञः पतेयमपि पावके ॥ 18.28 ॥

aho dhiṅ nārhase devi vaktuṃ māmīdṛśaṃ vacaḥ | ahaṃ hi vacanād rājñaḥ pateyamapi pāvake

"Fie, alas! You are not fit, O queen, to speak such words to me; for at a mere word from the king I would leap even into fire."

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.18.29)

भक्षयेयं विषं तीक्ष्णं पतेयमपि चार्णवे । नियुक्तो गुरुणा पित्रा नृपेण च हितेन च ॥ 18.29 ॥

bhakṣayeyaṃ viṣaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ pateyamapi cārṇave | niyukto guruṇā pitrā nṛpeṇa ca hitena ca

"I would eat sharp poison, or plunge into the sea, if commanded by my father, the king, who is venerable and wishes my welfare."

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.18.30)

तद् ब्रूहि वचनं देवि राज्ञो यदभिकांक्षितम् । करिष्ये प्रतिजाने च रामो द्विर्नाभिभाषते ॥ 18.30 ॥

tad brūhi vacanaṃ devi rājño yadabhikāṃkṣitam | kariṣye pratijāne ca rāmo dvirnābhibhāṣate

"Tell me then, O queen, the king's wish; I promise to do it -- Rama does not speak a thing twice."

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.18.31)

तमार्जवसमायुक्तमनार्या सत्यवादिनम् । उवाच रामं कैकेयी वचनं भृशदारुणम् ॥ 18.31 ॥

tamārjavasamāyuktamanāryā satyavādinam | uvāca rāmaṃ kaikeyī vacanaṃ bhṛśadāruṇam

To that Rama, upright and devoted to truth, the ignoble Kaikeyi spoke this exceedingly cruel word:

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.18.32)

पुरा देवासुरे युद्धे पित्रा ते मम राघव । रक्षितेन वरौ दत्तौ सशल्येन महारणे ॥ 18.32 ॥

purā devāsure yuddhe pitrā te mama rāghava | rakṣitena varau dattau saśalyena mahāraṇe

"Long ago, Raghava, in the great war between gods and demons, when your father was struck by a dart, I, having saved him, was granted two boons."

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.18.33)

तत्र मे याचितो राजा भरतस्याभिषेचनम् । गमनं दण्डकारण्ये तव चाद्यैव राघव ॥ 18.33 ॥

tatra me yācito rājā bharatasyābhiṣecanam | gamanaṃ daṇḍakāraṇye tava cādyaiva rāghava

"In accordance with them, I have now asked the king for the coronation of Bharata, and for your going, this very day, to the Dandaka forest."

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.18.34)

यदि सत्यप्रतिज्ञं त्वं पितरं कर्तुमिच्छसि । आत्मानं च नरश्रेष्ठ मम वाक्यमिदं शृणु ॥ 18.34 ॥

yadi satyapratijñaṃ tvaṃ pitaraṃ kartumicchasi | ātmānaṃ ca naraśreṣṭha mama vākyamidaṃ śṛṇu

"If you wish to make your father true to his promise, and yourself as well, O best of men, hear these words of mine."

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.18.35)

संनिदेशे पितुस्तिष्ठ यथानेन प्रतिश्रुतम् । त्वयारण्यं प्रवेष्टव्यं नव वर्षाणि पञ्च च ॥ 18.35 ॥

saṃnideśe pitustiṣṭha yathānena pratiśrutam | tvayāraṇyaṃ praveṣṭavyaṃ nava varṣāṇi pañca ca

"Abide by your father's command as he has promised it: you must dwell in the forest for nine years and five."

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.18.36)

भरतश्चाभिषिच्येत यदेतदभिषेचनम् । त्वदर्थे विहितं राज्ञा तेन सर्वेण राघव ॥ 18.36 ॥

bharataścābhiṣicyeta yadetadabhiṣecanam | tvadarthe vihitaṃ rājñā tena sarveṇa rāghava

"Let Bharata be consecrated with all that has been arranged, Raghava, by the king for that coronation meant for you."

Shloka 37 (ayodhya.18.37)

सप्त सप्त च वर्षाणि दण्डकारण्यमाश्रितः । अभिषेकमिदं त्यक्त्वा जटाचीरधरो भव ॥ 18.37 ॥

sapta sapta ca varṣāṇi daṇḍakāraṇyamāśritaḥ | abhiṣekamidaṃ tyaktvā jaṭācīradharo bhava

"Having given up this coronation, dwell for twice seven years taking refuge in the Dandaka forest, wearing matted locks and bark-garments."

Shloka 38 (ayodhya.18.38)

भरतः कोसलपतेः प्रशास्तु वसुधामिमाम् । नानारत्नसमाकीर्णां सवाजिरथसंकुलाम् ॥ 18.38 ॥

bharataḥ kosalapateḥ praśāstu vasudhāmimām | nānāratnasamākīrṇāṃ savājirathasaṃkulām

"Let Bharata rule this earth from the city of the Kosalas, filled with every kind of jewel and thronged with horses and chariots."

Shloka 39 (ayodhya.18.39)

एतेन त्वां नरेन्द्रोऽयं कारुण्येन समाप्लुतः । शोकैः संक्लिष्टवदनो न शक्नोति निरीक्षितुम् ॥ 18.39 ॥

etena tvāṃ narendro'yaṃ kāruṇyena samāplutaḥ | śokaiḥ saṃkliṣṭavadano na śaknoti nirīkṣitum

"It is for this reason that this king, overwhelmed with compassion for you, his face marred by grief, is unable to look upon you."

Shloka 40 (ayodhya.18.40)

एतत् कुरु नरेन्द्रस्य वचनं रघुनन्दन । सत्येन महता राम तारयस्व नरेश्वरम् ॥ 18.40 ॥

etat kuru narendrasya vacanaṃ raghunandana | satyena mahatā rāma tārayasva nareśvaram

"Do this, O delight of the Raghus, as the king desires; by this great act of truth, O Rama, deliver the lord of men."

Shloka 41 (ayodhya.18.41)

इतीव तस्यां परुषं वदन्त्यां न चैव रामः प्रविवेश शोकम् । प्रविव्यथे चापि महानुभावो राजा च पुत्रव्यसनाभितप्तः ॥ 18.41 ॥

itīva tasyāṃ paruṣaṃ vadantyāṃ na caiva rāmaḥ praviveśa śokam | pravivyathe cāpi mahānubhāvo rājā ca putravyasanābhitaptaḥ

While she was speaking such harsh words, Rama did not fall into sorrow at all; yet the noble king himself was smitten, tormented by the calamity befalling his son.