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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 10: Kaikeyī claims the two boons
Summary. Bound by his promise, Daśaratha hears her demands for Bharata’s abhiṣeka and Rāma’s exile, then collapses and pleads
Sequence
- Daśaratha comes to share the happy news with Kaikeyī and finds her lying on the floor (2.10.1–4)
- he asks whether someone has insulted her or whether she is ill, offering treatment, gifts, punishment of an enemy, or anything else she wants (2.10.5–12)
- she says she has a wish, but will name it only after he promises to fulfill it (2.10.13–15)
- Daśaratha assures her of his love and swears to satisfy her (2.10.16–19)
- Kaikeyī calls the devatās and the world to witness his promise (2.10.20–24)
- she claims her two old boons: Bharata must receive the ceremony prepared for Rāma, and Rāma must leave that very day for fourteen years in Daṇḍaka, wearing bark and matted hair (2.10.25–29)
- Daśaratha collapses, then revives and asks what Rāma has done to deserve this (2.10.30–35)
- he says he could surrender his Kingdom or his life but cannot live without Rāma → he begs Kaikeyī to change her mind and falls toward her feet. (2.10.36–41)
Verses 2.10.1–41
2.10.1
ājñāpya tu mahārājo rāghavasyābhiṣecanam
priyārhāṃ priyam ākhyātuṃ viveśāntaḥpuraṃ vaśī
Having ordered the consecration of Rāghava, the great king, self-controlled, entered the inner apartments to tell the good news to her who deserved it.
Words: ājñāpya — having ordered; tu — and; mahārājo — the great king; rāghavasyābhiṣecanam — the consecration of Rāghava; priyārhāṃ — to her who deserved good news; priyam — the good news; ākhyātuṃ — to announce; viveśāntaḥpuraṃ — entered the inner apartments; vaśī — self-controlled
2.10.2
tāṃ tatra patitāṃ bhūmau śayānām atathocitām
pratapta iva duḥkhena so 'paśyaj jagatīpatiḥ
There the lord of the earth saw her fallen on the ground, lying in a way unbefitting her, and he was as if scorched with grief.
Words: tāṃ — her; tatra — there; patitāṃ — fallen; bhūmau — on the ground; śayānām — lying; atathocitām — unaccustomed to such a state; pratapta iva — as if scorched; duḥkhena — with grief; so — he; 'paśyaj — saw; jagatīpatiḥ — the lord of the earth
2.10.3
sa vṛddhas taruṇīṃ bhāryāṃ prāṇebhyo 'pi garīyasīm
apāpaḥ pāpasaṃkalpāṃ dadarśa dharaṇītale
That aged, sinless king beheld on the ground his young wife, dearer to him than his own life, yet harbouring sinful intent.
Words: sa — that; vṛddhas — aged; taruṇīṃ — young; bhāryāṃ — wife; prāṇebhyo — than (his) life-breaths; 'pi — even; garīyasīm — dearer, weightier; apāpaḥ — sinless; pāpasaṃkalpāṃ — of sinful resolve; dadarśa — beheld; dharaṇītale — on the surface of the earth
2.10.4
kareṇum iva digdhena viddhāṃ mṛgayuṇā vane
mahāgaja ivāraṇye snehāt parimamarśa tām
As a great elephant in the forest lovingly caresses a she-elephant pierced by a hunter's poisoned dart, so with affection he stroked her.
Words: kareṇum — a she-elephant; iva — like; digdhena — by a poisoned (dart); viddhāṃ — pierced; mṛgayuṇā — by a hunter; vane — in the forest; mahāgaja — a great elephant; ivāraṇye — as in the forest; snehāt — out of affection; parimamarśa — stroked; tām — her
2.10.5
parimṛśya ca pāṇibhyām abhisaṃtrastacetanaḥ
kāmī kamalapatrākṣīm uvāca vanitām idam
Having stroked her with both hands, his mind stricken with alarm, the enamoured king spoke this to the lotus-petal-eyed woman:
Words: parimṛśya — having stroked; ca — and; pāṇibhyām — with both hands; abhisaṃtrastacetanaḥ — his mind terrified; kāmī — the enamoured one; kamalapatrākṣīm — the lotus-petal-eyed woman; uvāca — said; vanitām — to the woman; idam — this
2.10.6
na te 'ham abhijānāmi krodham ātmani saṃśritam
devi kenābhiyuktāsi kena vāsi vimānitā
I cannot fathom this anger of yours lodged in your heart. O queen, by whom have you been assailed, or by whom slighted?
Words: na — not; te — your; 'ham — I; abhijānāmi — understand; krodham — anger; ātmani — in (your) self; saṃśritam — lodged, harboured; devi — O queen; kenābhiyuktāsi — by whom have you been assailed; kena — by whom; vāsi — or are you; vimānitā — slighted, dishonoured
2.10.7
yad idaṃ mama duḥkhāya śeṣe kalyāṇi pāṃsuṣu
bhūmau śeṣe kimarthaṃ tvaṃ mayi kalyāṇa cetasi
bhūtopahatacitteva mama cittapramāthinī
O lovely one, that you lie here in the dust to my sorrow — why do you lie on the ground when my heart is kindly toward you, as though your mind were possessed by a spirit, you who churn my heart?
Words: yad — that; idaṃ — this; mama — my; duḥkhāya — for sorrow; śeṣe — you lie; kalyāṇi — O lovely one; pāṃsuṣu — in the dust; bhūmau — on the ground; śeṣe — you lie; kimarthaṃ — why; tvaṃ — you; mayi — toward me; kalyāṇa — of kindly (heart); cetasi — in mind (loc. abs.: while my heart is kind); bhūtopahatacitteva — as if your mind were stricken by a spirit; mama — my; cittapramāthinī — churning (my) heart
2.10.8
santi me kuśalā vaidyā abhituṣṭāś ca sarvaśaḥ
sukhitāṃ tvāṃ kariṣyanti vyādhim ācakṣva bhāmini
I have skilled physicians, well-rewarded in every way; they will make you well. Tell me your ailment, O passionate one.
Words: santi — there are; me — my; kuśalā — skilled; vaidyā — physicians; abhituṣṭāś — well-satisfied; ca — and; sarvaśaḥ — in every way; sukhitāṃ — well, happy; tvāṃ — you; kariṣyanti — they will make; vyādhim — ailment; ācakṣva — tell; bhāmini — O passionate lady
2.10.9
kasya vā te priyaṃ kāryaṃ kena vā vipriyaṃ kṛtam
kaḥ priyaṃ labhatām adya ko vā sumahad apriyam
Whose kindness must be done for you, or by whom has an unkindness been done? Who shall receive good today, and who a very great ill?
Words: kasya — whose; vā — or; te — for you; priyaṃ — kindness, pleasing thing; kāryaṃ — to be done; kena — by whom; vā — or; vipriyaṃ — an unkindness; kṛtam — done; kaḥ — who; priyaṃ — good, benefit; labhatām — let him obtain; adya — today; ko — who; vā — or; sumahad — a very great; apriyam — ill
2.10.10
avadhyo vadhyatāṃ ko vā vadhyaḥ ko vā vimucyatām
daridraḥ ko bhavatv āḍhyo dravyavān vāpy akiṃcanaḥ
Who, though not to be slain, should be slain, or who, deserving death, should be freed? Who, though poor, should be made rich, or who, though wealthy, be made penniless?
Words: avadhyo — the not-to-be-slain; vadhyatāṃ — let him be slain; ko — who; vā — or; vadhyaḥ — the one deserving death; ko — who; vā — or; vimucyatām — let him be set free; daridraḥ — the poor man; ko — who; bhavatv — let become; āḍhyo — rich; dravyavān — the wealthy; vāpy — or even; akiṃcanaḥ — penniless
2.10.11
ahaṃ caiva madīyāś ca sarve tava vaśānugāḥ
na te kaṃ cid abhiprāyaṃ vyāhantum aham utsahe
I myself and all who are mine are obedient to your will; I would not dare to thwart any intention of yours.
Words: ahaṃ — I; caiva — and; madīyāś — those who are mine; ca — and; sarve — all; tava — your; vaśānugāḥ — obedient to (your) will; na — not; te — your; kaṃ cid — any; abhiprāyaṃ — intention; vyāhantum — to thwart; aham — I; utsahe — dare, am able
2.10.12
ātmano jīvitenāpi brūhi yan manasecchasi
yāvad āvartate cakraṃ tāvatī me vasuṃdharā
Speak what you wish in your heart, even at the cost of my own life; as far as the (sun's) wheel turns, so far extends my earth.
Words: ātmano — of (my) own; jīvitenāpi — even by (my) life; brūhi — speak; yan — what; manasecchasi — you desire in (your) mind; yāvad — as far as; āvartate — turns; cakraṃ — the wheel; tāvatī — so far-extending; me — my; vasuṃdharā — earth
2.10.13
tathoktā sā samāśvastā vaktukāmā tad apriyam
paripīḍayituṃ bhūyo bhartāram upacakrame
Thus addressed and reassured, wishing to speak that unwelcome thing, she set about tormenting her husband still further.
Words: tathoktā — thus addressed; sā — she; samāśvastā — reassured; vaktukāmā — wishing to speak; tad — that; apriyam — unwelcome thing; paripīḍayituṃ — to torment; bhūyo — further, again; bhartāram — husband; upacakrame — began
2.10.14
nāsmi viprakṛtā deva kena cin na vimānitā
abhiprāyas tu me kaś cit tam icchāmi tvayā kṛtam
I have not been wronged, O king, nor slighted by anyone; but I have a certain wish, and I desire it to be fulfilled by you.
Words: nāsmi — I am not; viprakṛtā — wronged, offended; deva — O king; kena cin — by anyone; na — not; vimānitā — slighted; abhiprāyas — a wish; tu — but; me — my; kaś cit — a certain; tam — it; icchāmi — I desire; tvayā — by you; kṛtam — done, fulfilled
2.10.15
pratijñāṃ pratijānīṣva yadi tvaṃ kartum icchasi
atha tad vyāhariṣyāmi yad abhiprārthitaṃ mayā
Make me a promise, if you wish to do it; then I shall declare what I have desired.
Words: pratijñāṃ — a promise; pratijānīṣva — pledge, promise; yadi — if; tvaṃ — you; kartum — to do; icchasi — you wish; atha — then; tad — that; vyāhariṣyāmi — I shall declare; yad — what; abhiprārthitaṃ — desired, sought; mayā — by me
2.10.16
evam uktas tayā rājā priyayā strīvaśaṃ gataḥ
tām uvāca mahātejāḥ kaikeyīm īṣadutsmitaḥ
Thus addressed by his beloved, the mighty king, fallen under the woman's sway, spoke to Kaikeyī, smiling slightly:
Words: evam — thus; uktas — addressed; tayā — by her; rājā — the king; priyayā — by (his) beloved; strīvaśaṃ — under the woman's power; gataḥ — gone, fallen; tām — her; uvāca — said; mahātejāḥ — of great splendour; kaikeyīm — to Kaikeyī; īṣadutsmitaḥ — slightly smiling
2.10.17
avalipte na jānāsi tvattaḥ priyataro mama
manujo manujavyāghrād rāmād anyo na vidyate
O proud one, do you not know? No man dearer to me than you exists — none other than Rāma, that tiger among men.
Words: avalipte — O proud, arrogant one; na — not; jānāsi — you know; tvattaḥ — than you; priyataro — dearer; mama — to me; manujo — a man; manujavyāghrād — than the tiger among men; rāmād — than Rāma; anyo — other; na — not; vidyate — exists
2.10.18
bhadre hṛdayam apy etad anumṛśśyoddharasva me
etat samīkṣya kaikeyi brūhi yat sādhu manyase
Good lady, search this very heart of mine and draw forth (your wish); considering it, Kaikeyī, tell me what you think is good.
Words: bhadre — good lady; hṛdayam — heart; apy — even; etad — this; anumṛśśyoddharasva — having examined, draw (it) forth; me — of mine; etat — this; samīkṣya — having considered; kaikeyi — O Kaikeyī; brūhi — speak; yat — what; sādhu — good; manyase — you think
2.10.19
balam ātmani paśyantī na māṃ śaṅkitum arhasi
kariṣyāmi tava prītiṃ sukṛtenāpi te śape
Seeing the power you hold over me, you ought not to doubt me; I will do your pleasure — I swear it to you even by my good deeds.
Words: balam — power, strength; ātmani — over yourself; paśyantī — seeing; na — not; māṃ — me; śaṅkitum — to doubt; arhasi — you ought; kariṣyāmi — I will do; tava — your; prītiṃ — pleasure, satisfaction; sukṛtenāpi — even by (my) good deeds; te — to you; śape — I swear
2.10.20
tena vākyena saṃhṛṣṭā tam abhiprāyam ātmanaḥ
vyājahāra mahāghoram abhyāgatam ivāntakam
Delighted by that speech, she gave voice to her own most terrible intention, like Death itself come near.
Words: tena — by that; vākyena — speech; saṃhṛṣṭā — delighted; tam — that; abhiprāyam — intention; ātmanaḥ — her own; vyājahāra — uttered; mahāghoram — most terrible; abhyāgatam — come near, arrived; ivāntakam — like Death
2.10.21
yathākrameṇa śapasi varaṃ mama dadāsi ca
tac chṛṇvantu trayastriṃśad devāḥ sendrapurogamāḥ
As you swear in due order and grant me a boon, let the thirty-three gods, with Indra at their head, hear it.
Words: yathākrameṇa — in due order; śapasi — you swear; varaṃ — a boon; mama — to me; dadāsi — you grant; ca — and; tac — that; chṛṇvantu — let (them) hear; trayastriṃśad — the thirty-three; devāḥ — gods; sendrapurogamāḥ — with Indra at their head
2.10.22
candrādityau nabhaś caiva grahā rātryahanī diśaḥ
jagac ca pṛthivī caiva sagandharvā sarākṣasā
The Moon and Sun, the sky, the planets, night and day, the quarters, the world and the earth, with its gandharvas and rākṣasas,
Words: candrādityau — the moon and sun; nabhaś — the sky; caiva — and; grahā — the planets; rātryahanī — night and day; diśaḥ — the quarters; jagac — the world; ca — and; pṛthivī — the earth; caiva — and; sagandharvā — with the gandharvas; sarākṣasā — with the rākṣasas
2.10.23
niśācarāṇi bhūtāni gṛheṣu gṛhadevatāḥ
yāni cānyāni bhūtāni jānīyur bhāṣitaṃ tava
the beings that roam by night, the household deities in the homes, and whatever other beings there are — let them know what you have said.
Words: niśācarāṇi — night-roaming; bhūtāni — beings; gṛheṣu — in the houses; gṛhadevatāḥ — the household deities; yāni — which; cānyāni — and other; bhūtāni — beings; jānīyur — let (them) know; bhāṣitaṃ — what is spoken; tava — by you
2.10.24
satyasaṃdho mahātejā dharmajñaḥ susamāhitaḥ
varaṃ mama dadāty eṣa tan me śṛṇvantu devatāḥ
True to his word, of great splendour, knower of dharma, fully composed — this king grants me a boon: let the deities hear that.
Words: satyasaṃdho — true to his word; mahātejā — of great splendour; dharmajñaḥ — knower of dharma; susamāhitaḥ — fully composed; varaṃ — a boon; mama — to me; dadāty — grants; eṣa — this one; tan — that; me — my (words); śṛṇvantu — let (them) hear; devatāḥ — the deities
2.10.25
iti devī maheṣvāsaṃ parigṛhyābhiśasya ca
tataḥ param uvācedaṃ varadaṃ kāmamohitam
Thus having bound and adjured the great archer, the queen then spoke this further to the boon-granting king, who was deluded by desire:
Words: iti — thus; devī — the queen; maheṣvāsaṃ — the great archer; parigṛhyābhiśasya — having taken hold of and adjured; ca — and; tataḥ — then; param — further; uvācedaṃ — spoke this; varadaṃ — the boon-giver; kāmamohitam — deluded by desire
2.10.26
varau yau me tvayā deva tadā dattau mahīpate
tau tāvad aham adyaiva vakṣyāmi śṛṇu me vacaḥ
The two boons that you granted me then, O king, O lord of the earth — those very two I shall now name this very day; hear my words.
Words: varau — the two boons; yau — which; me — to me; tvayā — by you; deva — O king; tadā — then; dattau — granted; mahīpate — O lord of the earth; tau — those two; tāvad — indeed; aham — I; adyaiva — this very day; vakṣyāmi — I shall speak; śṛṇu — hear; me — my; vacaḥ — words
2.10.27
abhiṣeka samārambho rāghavasyopakalpitaḥ
anenaivābhiṣekeṇa bharato me 'bhiṣicyatām
The preparation begun for Rāghava's consecration — with this very consecration let my Bharata be consecrated instead.
Words: abhiṣeka samārambho — the undertaking of the consecration; rāghavasyopakalpitaḥ — prepared for Rāghava; anenaivābhiṣekeṇa — with this very consecration; bharato — Bharata; me — my; 'bhiṣicyatām — let (him) be consecrated
2.10.28
nava pañca ca varṣāṇi daṇḍakāraṇyam āśritaḥ
cīrājinajaṭādhārī rāmo bhavatu tāpasaḥ
For fourteen years let Rāma dwell in the Daṇḍaka forest and become an ascetic, wearing bark garments, deerskin, and matted locks.
Words: nava — nine; pañca — five; ca — and; varṣāṇi — years; daṇḍakāraṇyam — the Daṇḍaka forest; āśritaḥ — dwelling in, resorting to; cīrājinajaṭādhārī — wearing bark, deerskin, and matted hair; rāmo — Rāma; bhavatu — let become; tāpasaḥ — an ascetic
2.10.29
bharato bhajatām adya yauvarājyam akaṇṭakam
adya caiva hi paśyeyaṃ prayāntaṃ rāghavaṃ vane
Let Bharata today enjoy the unopposed heir-apparency, and this very day let me see Rāghava setting out for the forest.
Words: bharato — Bharata; bhajatām — let (him) enjoy; adya — today; yauvarājyam — the heir-apparency; akaṇṭakam — thornless, unopposed; adya — today; caiva — and; hi — indeed; paśyeyaṃ — may I see; prayāntaṃ — setting out; rāghavaṃ — Rāghava; vane — for the forest
2.10.30
tataḥ śrutvā mahārāja kaikeyyā dāruṇaṃ vacaḥ
vyathito vilavaś caiva vyāghrīṃ dṛṣṭvā yathā mṛgaḥ
Then, O great king, hearing Kaikeyī's cruel words, he was shaken and distraught, like a deer that has seen a tigress.
Words: tataḥ — then; śrutvā — having heard; mahārāja — O great king; kaikeyyā — Kaikeyī's; dāruṇaṃ — cruel; vacaḥ — words; vyathito — shaken, agitated; vilavaś — wailing, distraught; caiva — and; vyāghrīṃ — a tigress; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; yathā — as; mṛgaḥ — a deer
2.10.31
asaṃvṛtāyām āsīno jagatyāṃ dīrgham ucchvasan
aho dhig iti sāmarṣo vācam uktvā narādhipaḥ
moham āpedivān bhūyaḥ śokopahatacetanaḥ
Seated on the bare ground, sighing deeply, the king cried out in indignation, 'Alas! Shame!' and, his mind stricken with grief, once more fell into a swoon.
Words: asaṃvṛtāyām — on the uncovered (ground); āsīno — seated; jagatyāṃ — on the ground; dīrgham — long, deeply; ucchvasan — sighing; aho — alas; dhig — shame; iti — thus; sāmarṣo — with indignation; vācam — speech, words; uktvā — having uttered; narādhipaḥ — the king; moham — a swoon, delusion; āpedivān — fell into; bhūyaḥ — again; śokopahatacetanaḥ — his mind stricken by grief
2.10.32
cireṇa tu nṛpaḥ saṃjñāṃ pratilabhya suduḥkhitaḥ
kaikeyīm abravīt kruddhaḥ pradahann iva cakṣuṣā
After a long while the king, regaining consciousness, deeply grieved and enraged, spoke to Kaikeyī as if burning her with his gaze:
Words: cireṇa — after a long time; tu — but; nṛpaḥ — the king; saṃjñāṃ — consciousness; pratilabhya — having regained; suduḥkhitaḥ — deeply grieved; kaikeyīm — to Kaikeyī; abravīt — said; kruddhaḥ — enraged; pradahann — burning; iva — as if; cakṣuṣā — with (his) eye
2.10.33
nṛśaṃse duṣṭacāritre kulasyāsya vināśini
kiṃ kṛtaṃ tava rāmeṇa pāpe pāpaṃ mayāpi vā
O cruel one of wicked conduct, destroyer of this family! What wrong has Rāma done you, O sinful woman, or what wrong have I done?
Words: nṛśaṃse — O cruel one; duṣṭacāritre — of wicked conduct; kulasyāsya — of this family; vināśini — O destroyer; kiṃ — what; kṛtaṃ — done; tava — to you; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; pāpe — O sinful woman; pāpaṃ — sin, wrong; mayāpi — or by me; vā — or
2.10.34
sadā te jananī tulyāṃ vṛttiṃ vahati rāghavaḥ
tasyaiva tvam anarthāya kiṃnimittam ihodyatā
Rāghava has always treated you with conduct equal to that toward his own mother; for what reason are you now bent upon his ruin?
Words: sadā — always; te — toward you; jananī — (with a) mother('s); tulyāṃ — equal; vṛttiṃ — conduct, treatment; vahati — bears, maintains; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; tasyaiva — of him alone; tvam — you; anarthāya — for the ruin; kiṃnimittam — for what reason; ihodyatā — here bent upon (it)
2.10.35
tvaṃ mayātmavināśāya bhavanaṃ svaṃ praveśitā
avijñānān nṛpasutā vyālī tīkṣṇaviṣā yathā
To my own destruction did I bring you, a king's daughter, into my house, unknowingly, as one might a fierce, sharp-venomed serpent.
Words: tvaṃ — you; mayātmavināśāya — by me, for (my) self-destruction; bhavanaṃ — house; svaṃ — own; praveśitā — brought in, made to enter; avijñānān — out of ignorance; nṛpasutā — a king's daughter; vyālī — a she-serpent; tīkṣṇaviṣā — sharp-venomed; yathā — like
2.10.36
jīvaloko yadā sarvo rāmasyeha guṇastavam
aparādhaṃ kam uddiśya tyakṣyāmīṣṭam ahaṃ sutam
When the whole world of the living here sings the praise of Rāma's virtues, for what offence shall I abandon my beloved son?
Words: jīvaloko — the world of the living; yadā — when; sarvo — all, whole; rāmasyeha — Rāma's, here; guṇastavam — (sings) the praise of virtues; aparādhaṃ — offence; kam — what; uddiśya — pointing to, with reference to; tyakṣyāmīṣṭam — shall I abandon the beloved; ahaṃ — I; sutam — son
2.10.37
kausalyāṃ vā sumitrāṃ vā tyajeyam api vā śriyam
jīvitaṃ vātmano rāmaṃ na tv eva pitṛvatsalam
I could give up Kausalyā, or Sumitrā, or even sovereignty, or my own life — but never Rāma, who is devoted to his father.
Words: kausalyāṃ — Kausalyā; vā — or; sumitrāṃ — Sumitrā; vā — or; tyajeyam — I could give up; api — even; vā — or; śriyam — sovereignty, fortune; jīvitaṃ — life; vātmano — or (my) own; rāmaṃ — Rāma; na — not; tv — but; eva — indeed; pitṛvatsalam — devoted to his father
2.10.38
parā bhavati me prītir dṛṣṭvā tanayam agrajam
apaśyatas tu me rāmaṃ naṣṭā bhavati cetanā
The highest joy comes to me when I behold my first-born son; but when I do not see Rāma, my very consciousness fails.
Words: parā — highest, supreme; bhavati — becomes, arises; me — to me; prītir — joy; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; tanayam — son; agrajam — first-born; apaśyatas — of (me) not seeing; tu — but; me — my; rāmaṃ — Rāma; naṣṭā — lost; bhavati — becomes; cetanā — consciousness
2.10.39
tiṣṭhel loko vinā sūryaṃ sasyaṃ vā salilaṃ vinā
na tu rāmaṃ vinā dehe tiṣṭhet tu mama jīvitam
The world might endure without the sun, or the crops without water, but without Rāma my life would not remain in my body.
Words: tiṣṭhel — might endure; loko — the world; vinā — without; sūryaṃ — the sun; sasyaṃ — the crops; vā — or; salilaṃ — water; vinā — without; na — not; tu — but; rāmaṃ — Rāma; vinā — without; dehe — in the body; tiṣṭhet — would remain; tu — indeed; mama — my; jīvitam — life
2.10.40
tad alaṃ tyajyatām eṣa niścayaḥ pāpaniścaye
api te caraṇau mūrdhnā spṛśāmy eṣa prasīda me
So enough! Let this resolve be abandoned, O you of sinful resolve. See, I even touch your feet with my head — be gracious to me!
Words: tad — therefore; alaṃ — enough; tyajyatām — let (it) be abandoned; eṣa — this; niścayaḥ — resolve; pāpaniścaye — O you of sinful resolve; api — even; te — your; caraṇau — the two feet; mūrdhnā — with (my) head; spṛśāmy — I touch; eṣa — here I (do); prasīda — be gracious; me — to me
2.10.41
sa bhūmipālo vilapann anāthavat striyā gṛhīto dṛhaye 'timātratā
papāta devyāś caraṇau prasāritāv ubhāv asaṃspṛśya yathāturas tathā
That protector of the earth, wailing helplessly, seized past all measure in his heart by the woman, fell down — yet without quite touching the queen's two outstretched feet, like a sick man.
Words: sa — that; bhūmipālo — protector of the earth; vilapann — lamenting; anāthavat — like one helpless; striyā — by the woman; gṛhīto — seized; dṛhaye — in (his) heart; 'timātratā — past all measure; papāta — fell; devyāś — of the queen; caraṇau — the two feet; prasāritāv — outstretched; ubhāv — both; asaṃspṛśya — without (quite) touching; yathāturas — like a sick man; tathā — so, thus
← 2.9 Mantharā’s plan for the boons · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.11 Daśaratha’s pleas fail to move Kaikeyī →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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