Manthara's Malice

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.7.1)

ज्ञातिदासी यतो जाता कैकेय्या तु सहोषिता । प्रासादं चन्द्रसंकाशमारुरोह यदृच्छया ॥ 7.1 ॥

jñātidāsī yato jātā kaikeyyā tu sahoṣitā | prāsādaṃ candrasaṃkāśamāruroha yadṛcchayā

Manthara, the household maid who had lived with Kaikeyi from birth, happened by chance to climb onto the terrace of the palace, gleaming white as the moon.

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.7.2)

सिक्तराजपथां कृत्स्नां प्रकीर्णकमलोत्पलाम् । अयोध्यां मन्थरा तस्मात् प्रासादादन्ववैक्षत ॥ 7.2 ॥

siktarājapathāṃ kṛtsnāṃ prakīrṇakamalotpalām | ayodhyāṃ mantharā tasmāt prāsādādanvavaikṣata

From that terrace Manthara looked out over the whole of Ayodhya — its royal roads freshly watered, strewn with scattered lotuses and blue water-lilies.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.7.3)

पताकाभिर्वरार्हाभिर्ध्वजैश्च समलंकृताम् । सिक्तां चन्दनतोयैश्च शिरःस्नातजनैर्युताम् ॥ 7.3 ॥

patākābhirvarārhābhirdhvajaiśca samalaṃkṛtām | siktāṃ candanatoyaiśca śiraḥsnātajanairyutām

decked with splendid banners and flags, sprinkled with sandal-scented water, and filled with people who had bathed and washed their hair,

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.7.4)

माल्यमोदकहस्तैश्च द्विजेन्द्रैरभिनादिताम् । शुक्लदेवगृहद्वारां सर्ववादित्रनादिताम् ॥ 7.4 ॥

mālyamodakahastaiśca dvijendrairabhināditām | śukladevagṛhadvārāṃ sarvavāditranāditām

echoing with the voices of foremost Brahmins carrying garlands and sweets in hand, its temple gateways gleaming white, and resounding with every kind of musical instrument,

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.7.5)

सम्प्रहृष्टजनाकीर्णां ब्रह्मघोषनिनादिताम् । प्रहृष्टवरहस्त्यश्वां सम्प्रणर्दितगोवृषाम् ॥ 7.5 ॥

samprahṛṣṭajanākīrṇāṃ brahmaghoṣanināditām | prahṛṣṭavarahastyaśvāṃ sampraṇarditagovṛṣām

thronged with joyful people and reverberating with the chanting of the Vedas, its splendid elephants and horses exultant, and its bulls and cows bellowing gladly —

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.7.6)

हृष्टप्रमुदितैः पौरैरुच्छ्रितध्वजमालिनीम् । अयोध्यां मन्थरा दृष्ट्वा परं विस्मयमागता ॥ 7.6 ॥

hṛṣṭapramuditaiḥ paurairucchritadhvajamālinīm | ayodhyāṃ mantharā dṛṣṭvā paraṃ vismayamāgatā

seeing Ayodhya thus, garlanded with banners raised high by its overjoyed citizens, Manthara was struck with the greatest astonishment.

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.7.7)

सा हर्षोत्फुल्लनयनां पाण्डुरक्षौमवासिनीम् । अविदूरे स्थितां दृष्ट्वा धात्रीं पप्रच्छ मन्थरा ॥ 7.7 ॥

sā harṣotphullanayanāṃ pāṇḍurakṣaumavāsinīm | avidūre sthitāṃ dṛṣṭvā dhātrīṃ papraccha mantharā

Seeing, close by, a nurse whose eyes were wide with joy and who was dressed in pale silk, Manthara questioned her —

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.7.8)

उत्तमेनाभिसंयुक्ता हर्षेणार्थपरा सती । राममाता धनं किं नु जनेभ्यः सम्प्रयच्छति ॥ 7.8 ॥

uttamenābhisaṃyuktā harṣeṇārthaparā satī | rāmamātā dhanaṃ kiṃ nu janebhyaḥ samprayacchati

"Why does Rama's mother, though she has always prized wealth, joyfully give away so much money to the people today?

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.7.9)

अतिमात्रं प्रहर्षः किं जनस्यास्य च शंस मे । कारयिष्यति किं वापि सम्प्रहृष्टो महीपतिः ॥ 7.9 ॥

atimātraṃ praharṣaḥ kiṃ janasyāsya ca śaṃsa me | kārayiṣyati kiṃ vāpi samprahṛṣṭo mahīpatiḥ

Why is there such extraordinary rejoicing among the people — tell me. And what is the delighted king about to do?"

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.7.10)

विदीर्यमाणा हर्षेण धात्री तु परया मुदा । आचचक्षेऽथ कुब्जायै भूयसीं राघवे श्रियम् ॥ 7.10 ॥

vidīryamāṇā harṣeṇa dhātrī tu parayā mudā | ācacakṣe'tha kubjāyai bhūyasīṃ rāghave śriyam

The nurse, nearly bursting with joy, then told the hunchback, with the greatest gladness, of the great fortune about to come to Raghava.

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.7.11)

श्वः पुष्येण जितक्रोधं यौवराज्येन चानघम् । राजा दशरथो राममभिषेक्ता हि राघवम् ॥ 7.11 ॥

śvaḥ puṣyeṇa jitakrodhaṃ yauvarājyena cānagham | rājā daśaratho rāmamabhiṣektā hi rāghavam

"Tomorrow, under the star Pushya, King Dasharatha is to anoint Raghava — Rama, who has conquered anger, faultless — as crown prince."

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.7.12)

धात्र्यास्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा कुब्जा क्षिप्रममर्षितः । कैलासशिखराकारात् प्रासादादवरोहत ॥ 7.12 ॥

dhātryāstu vacanaṃ śrutvā kubjā kṣipramamarṣitaḥ | kailāsaśikharākārāt prāsādādavarohata

Hearing the nurse's words, the hunchback, instantly consumed with anger, came down from the terrace shaped like the peak of Kailasa.

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.7.13)

सा दह्यमाना क्रोधेन मन्थरा पापदर्शिनी । शयानामेव कैकेयीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 7.13 ॥

sā dahyamānā krodhena mantharā pāpadarśinī | śayānāmeva kaikeyīmidaṃ vacanamabravīt

Manthara, evil-minded, burning with rage, went straight to Kaikeyi, who was lying down, and spoke these words to her:

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.7.14)

उत्तिष्ठ मूढे किं शेषे भयं त्वामभिवर्तते । उपप्लुतमघौघेन नात्मानमवबुध्यसे ॥ 7.14 ॥

uttiṣṭha mūḍhe kiṃ śeṣe bhayaṃ tvāmabhivartate | upaplutamaghaughena nātmānamavabudhyase

"Get up, fool! Why do you lie here? Danger is closing in upon you. You are being swept away in a flood of calamity, and you do not even know it!"

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.7.15)

अनिष्टे सुभगाकारे सौभाग्येन विकत्थसे । चलं हि तव सौभाग्यं नद्याः स्रोत इवोष्णगे ॥ 7.15 ॥

aniṣṭe subhagākāre saubhāgyena vikatthase | calaṃ hi tava saubhāgyaṃ nadyāḥ srota ivoṣṇage

"You seem fortunate, yet you are unwanted — and still you boast of your good fortune! Your fortune is as fleeting as a river's current in the heat of summer."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.7.16)

एवमुक्ता तु कैकेयी रुष्टया परुषं वचः । कुब्जया पापदर्शिन्या विषादमगमत् परम् ॥ 7.16 ॥

evamuktā tu kaikeyī ruṣṭayā paruṣaṃ vacaḥ | kubjayā pāpadarśinyā viṣādamagamat param

Addressed in this way with harsh words by the angry, evil-minded hunchback, Kaikeyi fell into the deepest despair.

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.7.17)

कैकेयी त्वब्रवीत् कुब्जां कच्चित् क्षेमं न मन्थरे । विषण्णवदनां हि त्वां लक्षये भृशदुःखिताम् ॥ 7.17 ॥

kaikeyī tvabravīt kubjāṃ kaccit kṣemaṃ na manthare | viṣaṇṇavadanāṃ hi tvāṃ lakṣaye bhṛśaduḥkhitām

Kaikeyi said to the hunchback, "Manthara, is all well with you? I see you with a downcast face, deeply distressed."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.7.18)

मन्थरा तु वचः श्रुत्वा कैकेय्या मधुराक्षरम् । उवाच क्रोधसंयुक्ता वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदा ॥ 7.18 ॥

mantharā tu vacaḥ śrutvā kaikeyyā madhurākṣaram | uvāca krodhasaṃyuktā vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradā

Hearing Kaikeyi's sweet-worded speech, Manthara, skilled in speech, replied — full of anger:

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.7.19)

सा विषण्णतरा भूत्वा कुब्जा तस्यां हितैषिणी । विषादयन्ती प्रोवाच भेदयन्ती च राघवम् ॥ 7.19 ॥

sā viṣaṇṇatarā bhūtvā kubjā tasyāṃ hitaiṣiṇī | viṣādayantī provāca bhedayantī ca rāghavam

Growing still more despondent, and feigning concern for Kaikeyi's welfare, the hunchback spoke on — deepening her sorrow, and sowing discord against Raghava.

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.7.20)

अक्षयं सुमहद् देवि प्रवृत्तं त्वद्विनाशनम् । रामं दशरथो राजा यौवराज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति ॥ 7.20 ॥

akṣayaṃ sumahad devi pravṛttaṃ tvadvināśanam | rāmaṃ daśaratho rājā yauvarājye'bhiṣekṣyati

"O Queen, an endless and enormous ruin has come upon you: King Dasharatha is about to anoint Rama as crown prince."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.7.21)

सास्म्यगाधे भये मग्ना दुःखशोकसमन्विता । दह्यमानानलेनेव त्वद्धितार्थमिहागता ॥ 7.21 ॥

sāsmyagādhe bhaye magnā duḥkhaśokasamanvitā | dahyamānānaleneva tvaddhitārthamihāgatā

"I myself am sunk in a bottomless fear, filled with grief and sorrow, as though consumed by fire — and it is for your good that I have come here."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.7.22)

तव दुःखेन कैकेयि मम दुःखं महद् भवेत् । त्वद्वृद्धौ मम वृद्धिश्च भवेदिह न संशयः ॥ 7.22 ॥

tava duḥkhena kaikeyi mama duḥkhaṃ mahad bhavet | tvadvṛddhau mama vṛddhiśca bhavediha na saṃśayaḥ

"Kaikeyi, your sorrow becomes a great sorrow for me; and in your rising fortune lies my own rising fortune too — of this there is no doubt."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.7.23)

नराधिपकुले जाता महिषी त्वं महीपतेः । उग्रत्वं राजधर्माणां कथं देवि न बुध्यसे ॥ 7.23 ॥

narādhipakule jātā mahiṣī tvaṃ mahīpateḥ | ugratvaṃ rājadharmāṇāṃ kathaṃ devi na budhyase

"Born in a royal house, and now the crowned queen of a king yourself — how is it, O Queen, that you do not understand the ruthlessness that governs the ways of kings?"

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.7.24)

धर्मवादी शठो भर्ता श्लक्ष्णवादी च दारुणः । शुद्धभावेन जानीषे तेनैवमतिसंधिता ॥ 7.24 ॥

dharmavādī śaṭho bhartā ślakṣṇavādī ca dāruṇaḥ | śuddhabhāvena jānīṣe tenaivamatisaṃdhitā

"Your husband speaks of righteousness but is deceitful; he speaks gently but is cruel at heart. Because your own nature is pure, you have been deceived by him in just this way."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.7.25)

उपस्थितः प्रयुञ्जानस्त्वयि सान्त्वमनर्थकम् । अर्थेनैवाद्य ते भर्ता कौसल्यां योजयिष्यति ॥ 7.25 ॥

upasthitaḥ prayuñjānastvayi sāntvamanarthakam | arthenaivādya te bhartā kausalyāṃ yojayiṣyati

"He comes to you and spends on you only empty, meaningless flattery, while today, in substance, your husband is joining himself in benefit to Kausalya alone."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.7.26)

अपवाह्य तु दुष्टात्मा भरतं तव बन्धुषु । काल्ये स्थापयिता रामं राज्ये निहतकण्टके ॥ 7.26 ॥

apavāhya tu duṣṭātmā bharataṃ tava bandhuṣu | kālye sthāpayitā rāmaṃ rājye nihatakaṇṭake

"That wicked-minded man has sent Bharata away to your kinsfolk, and at dawn tomorrow he means to install Rama on a throne cleared of every obstacle."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.7.27)

शत्रुः पतिप्रवादेन मात्रेव हितकाम्यया । आशीविष इवाङ्गेन बाले परिधृतस्त्वया ॥ 7.27 ॥

śatruḥ patipravādena mātreva hitakāmyayā | āśīviṣa ivāṅgena bāle paridhṛtastvayā

"O child, in the guise of a husband, an enemy has been cherished by you, out of well-wishing, as a mother would — as though you had held a venomous serpent close against your own body."

Shloka 28 (ayodhya.7.28)

यथा हि कुर्याच्छत्रुर्वा सर्पो वा प्रत्युपेक्षितः । राज्ञा दशरथेनाद्य सपुत्रा त्वं तथा कृता ॥ 7.28 ॥

yathā hi kuryācchatrurvā sarpo vā pratyupekṣitaḥ | rājñā daśarathenādya saputrā tvaṃ tathā kṛtā

"Just as an enemy or a serpent, if neglected, will surely strike — so has King Dasharatha today dealt with you and your son."

Shloka 29 (ayodhya.7.29)

पापेनानृतसान्त्वेन बाले नित्यं सुखोचिता । रामं स्थापयता राज्ये सानुबन्धा हता ह्यसि ॥ 7.29 ॥

pāpenānṛtasāntvena bāle nityaṃ sukhocitā | rāmaṃ sthāpayatā rājye sānubandhā hatā hyasi

"O child, you who have always deserved happiness — that sinful man, with his false endearments, in setting up Rama in the kingdom, has struck you down, you and your kin together."

Shloka 30 (ayodhya.7.30)

सा प्राप्तकालं कैकेयि क्षिप्रं कुरु हितं तव । त्रायस्व पुत्रमात्मानं मां च विस्मयदर्शने ॥ 7.30 ॥

sā prāptakālaṃ kaikeyi kṣipraṃ kuru hitaṃ tava | trāyasva putramātmānaṃ māṃ ca vismayadarśane

"So, Kaikeyi, do at once what this hour demands and is good for you. Save your son, save yourself, and save me too, O woman of wondrous beauty."

Shloka 31 (ayodhya.7.31)

मन्थराया वचः श्रुत्वा शयनात् सा शुभानना । उत्तस्थौ हर्षसम्पूर्णा चन्द्रलेखेव शारदी ॥ 7.31 ॥

mantharāyā vacaḥ śrutvā śayanāt sā śubhānanā | uttasthau harṣasampūrṇā candralekheva śāradī

Hearing Manthara's words, that fair-faced queen rose up from her couch, filled with joy, like the crescent moon of autumn rising in the sky.

Shloka 32 (ayodhya.7.32)

अतीव सा तु संतुष्टा कैकेयी विस्मयान्विता । दिव्यमाभरणं तस्यै कुब्जायै प्रददौ शुभम् ॥ 7.32 ॥

atīva sā tu saṃtuṣṭā kaikeyī vismayānvitā | divyamābharaṇaṃ tasyai kubjāyai pradadau śubham

Kaikeyi, greatly pleased and filled with wonder at the news, gave the hunchback a beautiful, priceless ornament.

Shloka 33 (ayodhya.7.33)

दत्त्वा त्वाभरणं तस्यै कुब्जायै प्रमदोत्तमा । कैकेयी मन्थरां हृष्टा पुनरेवाब्रवीदिदम् ॥ 7.33 ॥

dattvā tvābharaṇaṃ tasyai kubjāyai pramadottamā | kaikeyī mantharāṃ hṛṣṭā punarevābravīdidam

Having given that ornament to the hunchback, Kaikeyi, that finest of women, delighted, spoke once more to Manthara:

Shloka 34 (ayodhya.7.34)

इदं तु मन्थरे मह्यमाख्यातं परमं प्रियम् । एतन्मे प्रियमाख्यातं किं वा भूयः करोमि ते ॥ 7.34 ॥

idaṃ tu manthare mahyamākhyātaṃ paramaṃ priyam | etanme priyamākhyātaṃ kiṃ vā bhūyaḥ karomi te

"Manthara, this news you have brought me is the most welcome of all. Since you have told me such joyful news, what more can I do for you?"

Shloka 35 (ayodhya.7.35)

रामे वा भरते वाहं विशेषं नोपलक्षये । तस्मात् तुष्टास्मि यद् राजा रामं राज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति ॥ 7.35 ॥

rāme vā bharate vāhaṃ viśeṣaṃ nopalakṣaye | tasmāt tuṣṭāsmi yad rājā rāmaṃ rājye'bhiṣekṣyati

"I see no difference at all between Rama and Bharata; that is why I am glad that the king is going to anoint Rama in the kingdom."

Shloka 36 (ayodhya.7.36)

न मे परं किंचिदितो वरं पुनः प्रियं प्रियार्हे सुवचं वचोऽमृतम् । तथा ह्यवोचस्त्वमतः प्रियोत्तरं वरं परं ते प्रददामि तं वृणु ॥ 7.36 ॥

na me paraṃ kiṃcidito varaṃ punaḥ priyaṃ priyārhe suvacaṃ vaco'mṛtam | tathā hyavocastvamataḥ priyottaraṃ varaṃ paraṃ te pradadāmi taṃ vṛṇu

"O Manthara, deserving of my affection, I have nothing dearer to me than this — your sweet, nectar-like news. Since you have brought me such surpassingly welcome tidings, I grant you yet another boon: ask for it."