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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 7: Mantharā’s alarm, Kaikeyī’s joy

Summary. Mantharā warns of danger to Bharata, Kaikeyī rewards her and declares equal affection for both princes

Sequence

  1. The account now returns to the preparations before the planned ceremony: from the palace roof, Mantharā notices the city's decorations and crowds (2.7.1–3)
  2. she asks a nurse why everyone is celebrating and why Kausalyā is distributing gifts → the nurse explains that Rāma will be installed as heir the next day (2.7.4–7)
  3. furious, Mantharā goes to Kaikeyī and tells her to get up: a disaster is approaching while she lies unaware (2.7.8–12)
  4. Kaikeyī asks what is wrong (2.7.13–15)
  5. Mantharā presents Rāma's succession as a threat to Kaikeyī and Bharata, claiming that Daśaratha has used Bharata's absence to give Kausalyā's family the advantage (2.7.16–26)
  6. Kaikeyī instead rewards her with an ornament: she is glad to hear the news and says she makes no distinction between Rāma and Bharata. (2.7.27–31)

Verses 2.7.1–31

2.7.1

jñātidāsī yato jātā kaikeyyās tu sahoṣitā
prāsādaṃ candrasaṃkāśam āruroha yadṛcchayā

The family bondmaid who, ever since her birth, had lived together with Kaikeyī, climbed by chance onto the palace, bright as the moon.

Words: jñātidāsī — a family bondmaid; yato — from whom, since when; jātā — born; kaikeyyās — of Kaikeyī; tu — and; sahoṣitā — who had dwelt together (with her); prāsādaṃ — the palace; candrasaṃkāśam — bright as the moon; āruroha — climbed, ascended; yadṛcchayā — by chance

2.7.2

siktarājapathāṃ kṛtsnāṃ prakīrṇakamalotpalām
ayodhyāṃ mantharā tasmāt prāsādād anvavaikṣata

From that palace Mantharā gazed down on all Ayodhyā, its royal roads sprinkled with water and strewn with lotuses and water-lilies.

Words: siktarājapathāṃ — with royal roads sprinkled (with water); kṛtsnāṃ — whole, all; prakīrṇakamalotpalām — strewn with lotuses and water-lilies; ayodhyāṃ — Ayodhyā; mantharā — Mantharā; tasmāt — from that; prāsādād — from the palace; anvavaikṣata — gazed down on, surveyed

2.7.3

patākābhir varārhābhir dhvajaiś ca samalaṃkṛtām
siktāṃ candanatoyaiś ca śiraḥsnātajanair vṛtām

(She saw it) adorned with most precious pennants and banners, sprinkled with sandal-water, and thronged with people who had bathed their heads.

Words: patākābhir — with pennants; varārhābhir — most precious; dhvajaiś — with banners; ca — and; samalaṃkṛtām — well-adorned; siktāṃ — sprinkled; candanatoyaiś — with sandal-water; ca — and; śiraḥsnātajanair — with people who had bathed their heads; vṛtām — thronged, filled

2.7.4

avidūre sthitāṃ dṛṣṭvā dhātrīṃ papraccha mantharā
uttamenābhisaṃyuktā harṣeṇārthaparā satī

Seeing a nurse standing not far off, Mantharā, filled with the highest joy and being intent on the matter, asked her:

Words: avidūre — not far off; sthitāṃ — standing; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; dhātrīṃ — a nurse; papraccha — asked; mantharā — Mantharā; uttamenābhisaṃyuktā — filled with the highest (joy); harṣeṇārthaparā — with joy, intent on the matter; satī — being

2.7.5

rāmamātā dhanaṃ kiṃ nu janebhyaḥ saṃprayacchati
atimātraṃ praharṣo 'yaṃ kiṃ janasya ca śaṃsa me
kārayiṣyati kiṃ vāpi saṃprahṛṣṭo mahīpatiḥ

“Why on earth is Rāma's mother giving away wealth to the people? Tell me, what is this excessive joy of the people? And what does the greatly delighted king mean to have done?”

Words: rāmamātā — Rāma's mother; dhanaṃ — wealth; kiṃ — why, what; nu — pray, indeed; janebhyaḥ — to the people; saṃprayacchati — gives away; atimātraṃ — excessive; praharṣo — joy; 'yaṃ — this; kiṃ — what; janasya — of the people; ca — and; śaṃsa — tell; me — to me; kārayiṣyati — will have done; kiṃ — what; vāpi — or even; saṃprahṛṣṭo — greatly delighted; mahīpatiḥ — the king (lord of earth)

2.7.6

vidīryamāṇā harṣeṇa dhātrī paramayā mudā
ācacakṣe 'tha kubjāyai bhūyasīṃ rāghave śriyam

The nurse, bursting with joy, then with the greatest delight told the hunchback of the abundant good fortune coming to Rāghava:

Words: vidīryamāṇā — bursting, overflowing; harṣeṇa — with joy; dhātrī — the nurse; paramayā — with the greatest; mudā — with delight; ācacakṣe — told, announced; 'tha — then; kubjāyai — to the hunchback; bhūyasīṃ — abundant, great; rāghave — for Rāghava; śriyam — fortune, prosperity

2.7.7

śvaḥ puṣyeṇa jitakrodhaṃ yauvarājyena rāghavam
rājā daśaratho rāmam abhiṣecayitānagham

“Tomorrow, under (the asterism) Puṣya, King Daśaratha will consecrate as heir-apparent Rāghava — the conqueror of anger, the sinless Rāma.”

Words: śvaḥ — tomorrow; puṣyeṇa — under (the asterism) Puṣya; jitakrodhaṃ — who has conquered anger; yauvarājyena — with the office of heir-apparent; rāghavam — Rāghava; rājā — king; daśaratho — Daśaratha; rāmam — Rāma; abhiṣecayitānagham — will consecrate the sinless one

2.7.8

dhātryās tu vacanaṃ śrutvā kubjā kṣipram amarṣitā
kailāsa śikharākārāt prāsādād avarohata

Hearing the nurse's words, the hunchback, quickly filled with indignation, came down from the palace shaped like the peak of Kailāsa.

Words: dhātryās — of the nurse; tu — but; vacanaṃ — the words; śrutvā — having heard; kubjā — the hunchback; kṣipram — quickly; amarṣitā — filled with indignation; kailāsa — of Kailāsa; śikharākārāt — shaped like a peak; prāsādād — from the palace; avarohata — descended

2.7.9

sā dahyamānā kopena mantharā pāpadarśinī
śayānām etya kaikeyīm idaṃ vacanam abravīt

That Mantharā, of malicious mind, burning with anger, came to Kaikeyī who was lying down and spoke these words:

Words: sā — she; dahyamānā — burning; kopena — with anger; mantharā — Mantharā; pāpadarśinī — of malicious mind, evil-seeing; śayānām — lying down; etya — having come to; kaikeyīm — Kaikeyī; idaṃ — this; vacanam — speech, word; abravīt — spoke

2.7.10

uttiṣṭha mūḍhe kiṃ śeṣe bhayaṃ tvām abhivartate
upaplutamahaughena kim ātmānaṃ na budhyase

“Get up, you fool! Why do you lie there? Danger is coming upon you. Why do you not realize that you are overwhelmed by a great flood?

Words: uttiṣṭha — get up; mūḍhe — O fool; kiṃ — why; śeṣe — you lie, sleep; bhayaṃ — danger, fear; tvām — you; abhivartate — comes upon, approaches; upaplutamahaughena — by an overwhelming great flood; kim — why; ātmānaṃ — yourself; na — not; budhyase — you realize

2.7.11

aniṣṭe subhagākāre saubhāgyena vikatthase
calaṃ hi tava saubhāgyaṃ nadyaḥ srota ivoṣṇage

“O ill-fated one with the look of a favoured woman, you boast of your good fortune; but your good fortune is fleeting, like the current of a river in the hot season.

Words: aniṣṭe — O ill-fated one; subhagākāre — O you with the look of a fortunate woman; saubhāgyena — of your good fortune; vikatthase — you boast; calaṃ — fleeting, unsteady; hi — for; tava — your; saubhāgyaṃ — good fortune; nadyaḥ — of a river; srota — the current; ivoṣṇage — as in the hot season

2.7.12

evam uktā tu kaikeyī ruṣṭayā paruṣaṃ vacaḥ
kubjayā pāpadarśinyā viṣādam agamat param

Thus addressed harshly by the angry hunchback of malicious mind, Kaikeyī fell into deep dejection.

Words: evam — thus; uktā — addressed; tu — but; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; ruṣṭayā — by the angry (one); paruṣaṃ — harsh; vacaḥ — words; kubjayā — by the hunchback; pāpadarśinyā — of malicious mind; viṣādam — dejection; agamat — went to, fell into; param — deep, great

2.7.13

kaikeyī tv abravīt kubjāṃ kaccit kṣemaṃ na manthare
viṣaṇṇavadanāṃ hi tvāṃ lakṣaye bhṛśaduḥkhitām

But Kaikeyī said to the hunchback: “Is all not well, Mantharā? For I see you with dejected face and greatly distressed.”

Words: kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; tv — but; abravīt — said; kubjāṃ — to the hunchback; kaccit — (is it that…?); kṣemaṃ — well, safe; na — not; manthare — O Mantharā; viṣaṇṇavadanāṃ — with dejected face; hi — for; tvāṃ — you; lakṣaye — I observe, see; bhṛśaduḥkhitām — greatly distressed

2.7.14

mantharā tu vacaḥ śrutvā kaikeyyā madhurākṣaram
uvāca krodhasaṃyuktā vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradā

Mantharā, hearing Kaikeyī's sweet-worded speech, being skilled in speech and filled with anger, spoke these words:

Words: mantharā — Mantharā; tu — and; vacaḥ — the words; śrutvā — having heard; kaikeyyā — of Kaikeyī; madhurākṣaram — sweet-syllabled, sweet-worded; uvāca — said; krodhasaṃyuktā — filled with anger; vākyaṃ — words, speech; vākyaviśāradā — skilled in speech

2.7.15

sā viṣaṇṇatarā bhūtvā kubjā tasyā hitaiṣiṇī
viṣādayantī provāca bhedayantī ca rāghavam

That hunchback, becoming still more dejected and (claiming to be) her well-wisher, spoke, casting her down and setting her against Rāghava:

Words: sā — she; viṣaṇṇatarā — still more dejected; bhūtvā — having become; kubjā — the hunchback; tasyā — her; hitaiṣiṇī — wishing (her) well; viṣādayantī — casting down, depressing; provāca — spoke; bhedayantī — dividing, setting against; ca — and; rāghavam — Rāghava

2.7.16

akṣemaṃ sumahad devi pravṛttaṃ tvadvināśanam
rāmaṃ daśaratho rājā yauvarājye 'bhiṣekṣyati

“A very great calamity has arisen, O queen, one that spells your ruin: King Daśaratha will consecrate Rāma as heir-apparent.

Words: akṣemaṃ — calamity, misfortune; sumahad — very great; devi — O queen; pravṛttaṃ — has arisen, set in; tvadvināśanam — your destruction; rāmaṃ — Rāma; daśaratho — Daśaratha; rājā — king; yauvarājye — as heir-apparent; 'bhiṣekṣyati — will consecrate

2.7.17

sāsmy agādhe bhaye magnā duḥkhaśokasamanvitā
dahyamānānaleneva tvaddhitārtham ihāgatā

“I am sunk in bottomless fear, filled with sorrow and grief, as if burning in fire; I have come here for your welfare.

Words: sāsmy — I am she; agādhe — in bottomless; bhaye — in fear; magnā — sunk; duḥkhaśokasamanvitā — filled with sorrow and grief; dahyamānānaleneva — as if by a burning fire; tvaddhitārtham — for the sake of your welfare; ihāgatā — come here

2.7.18

tava duḥkhena kaikeyi mama duḥkhaṃ mahad bhavet
tvadvṛddhau mama vṛddhiś ca bhaved atra na saṃśayaḥ

“By your sorrow, Kaikeyī, great sorrow would come to me; and in your prosperity would lie my prosperity — of this there is no doubt.

Words: tava — your; duḥkhena — by sorrow; kaikeyi — O Kaikeyī; mama — my; duḥkhaṃ — sorrow; mahad — great; bhavet — would be; tvadvṛddhau — in your prosperity; mama — my; vṛddhiś — prosperity; ca — and; bhaved — would be; atra — here, in this; na — no; saṃśayaḥ — doubt

2.7.19

narādhipakule jātā mahiṣī tvaṃ mahīpateḥ
ugratvaṃ rājadharmāṇāṃ kathaṃ devi na budhyase

“Born in a royal family, you are the chief queen of the lord of the earth; how, O queen, do you not grasp the sternness of the duties of kings?

Words: narādhipakule — in a royal family; jātā — born; mahiṣī — chief queen; tvaṃ — you; mahīpateḥ — of the lord of the earth; ugratvaṃ — sternness, fierceness; rājadharmāṇāṃ — of the duties of kings; kathaṃ — how; devi — O queen; na — not; budhyase — you understand

2.7.20

dharmavādī śaṭho bhartā ślakṣṇavādī ca dāruṇaḥ
śuddhabhāve na jānīṣe tenaivam atisaṃdhitā

“Your husband, who talks of dharma, is a cheat; who speaks smoothly, is cruel. Being of pure heart, you do not perceive it, and so have been deceived by him.

Words: dharmavādī — one who talks of dharma; śaṭho — a cheat, deceitful; bhartā — husband; ślakṣṇavādī — one who speaks smoothly; ca — and; dāruṇaḥ — cruel, harsh; śuddhabhāve — being of pure heart; na — not; jānīṣe — you know, perceive; tenaivam — thus by him; atisaṃdhitā — deceived, overreached

2.7.21

upasthitaṃ payuñjānas tvayi sāntvam anarthakam
arthenaivādya te bhartā kausalyāṃ yojayiṣyati

“Employing toward you, while present before you, empty conciliation, your husband this very day will unite Kausalyā with the real advantage.

Words: upasthitaṃ — present, at hand; payuñjānas — employing; tvayi — toward you; sāntvam — conciliation, soothing words; anarthakam — useless, empty; arthenaivādya — today with the real benefit; te — your; bhartā — husband; kausalyāṃ — Kausalyā; yojayiṣyati — will unite, connect

2.7.22

apavāhya sa duṣṭātmā bharataṃ tava bandhuṣu
kālyaṃ sthāpayitā rāmaṃ rājye nihatakaṇṭake

“That evil-souled one, having sent Bharata away among your kinsfolk, will tomorrow morning establish Rāma in the kingdom, its thorns removed.

Words: apavāhya — having sent away; sa — he; duṣṭātmā — the evil-souled; bharataṃ — Bharata; tava — your; bandhuṣu — among the kinsfolk; kālyaṃ — at daybreak, tomorrow morning; sthāpayitā — will establish; rāmaṃ — Rāma; rājye — in the kingdom; nihatakaṇṭake — with its thorns (enemies) removed

2.7.23

śatruḥ patipravādena mātreva hitakāmyayā
āśīviṣa ivāṅkena bāle paridhṛtas tvayā

“An enemy under the guise of a husband, O child, has been cherished by you in your lap, out of desire for his good, as by a mother — like a venomous snake.

Words: śatruḥ — an enemy; patipravādena — under the guise of a husband; mātreva — as by a mother; hitakāmyayā — out of desire for (his) good; āśīviṣa — a venomous snake; ivāṅkena — as if in the lap; bāle — O child; paridhṛtas — held, cherished; tvayā — by you

2.7.24

yathā hi kuryāt sarpo vā śatrur vā pratyupekṣitaḥ
rājñā daśarathenādya saputrā tvaṃ tathā kṛtā

“For just as a snake or an enemy, if disregarded, would do harm, so today King Daśaratha has dealt with you, together with your son.

Words: yathā — just as; hi — for; kuryāt — would do (harm); sarpo — a snake; vā — or; śatrur — an enemy; vā — or; pratyupekṣitaḥ — disregarded, neglected; rājñā — by the king; daśarathenādya — by Daśaratha today; saputrā — together with your son; tvaṃ — you; tathā — so; kṛtā — made, dealt with

2.7.25

pāpenānṛtasantvena bāle nityaṃ sukhocite
rāmaṃ sthāpayatā rājye sānubandhā hatā hy asi

“O child ever accustomed to comfort, by that wicked one with his false conciliation, in setting Rāma in the kingdom, you along with your kin have indeed been ruined.

Words: pāpenānṛtasantvena — by the wicked one with false conciliation; bāle — O child; nityaṃ — ever, always; sukhocite — accustomed to comfort; rāmaṃ — Rāma; sthāpayatā — by (him) establishing; rājye — in the kingdom; sānubandhā — together with your kin; hatā — destroyed, ruined; hy — indeed; asi — you are

2.7.26

sā prāptakālaṃ kaikeyi kṣipraṃ kuru hitaṃ tava
trāyasva putram ātmānaṃ māṃ ca vismayadarśane

“So, Kaikeyī, quickly do what is timely and good for you; save your son, yourself, and me, O you of wondering looks.”

Words: sā — that (one), you; prāptakālaṃ — what suits the occasion; kaikeyi — O Kaikeyī; kṣipraṃ — quickly; kuru — do; hitaṃ — what is beneficial; tava — for you; trāyasva — save; putram — your son; ātmānaṃ — yourself; māṃ — me; ca — and; vismayadarśane — O you of wondering aspect

2.7.27

mantharāyā vacaḥ śrutvā śayanāt sa śubhānanā
evam ābharaṇaṃ tasyai kubjāyai pradadau śubham

Hearing Mantharā's words, that fair-faced woman, rising from her couch, thus gave the hunchback a fine ornament.

Words: mantharāyā — of Mantharā; vacaḥ — the words; śrutvā — having heard; śayanāt — from the couch; sa — she; śubhānanā — fair-faced; evam — thus; ābharaṇaṃ — an ornament; tasyai — to her; kubjāyai — to the hunchback; pradadau — gave; śubham — fine, auspicious

2.7.28

dattvā tv ābharaṇaṃ tasyai kubjāyai pramadottamā
kaikeyī mantharāṃ hṛṣṭā punar evābravīd idam

Having given the ornament to the hunchback, Kaikeyī, that best of women, delighted, again said this to Mantharā:

Words: dattvā — having given; tv — and; ābharaṇaṃ — the ornament; tasyai — to her; kubjāyai — to the hunchback; pramadottamā — the best of women; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; mantharāṃ — to Mantharā; hṛṣṭā — delighted; punar — again; evābravīd — indeed said; idam — this

2.7.29

idaṃ tu manthare mahyam ākhyāsi paramaṃ priyam
etan me priyam ākhyātuḥ kiṃ vā bhūyaḥ karomi te

“Mantharā, you tell me this most delightful news; what more can I do for you, who have told me this that is so dear to me?

Words: idaṃ — this; tu — and; manthare — O Mantharā; mahyam — to me; ākhyāsi — you tell; paramaṃ — most, supreme; priyam — dear, delightful; etan — this; me — to me; priyam — dear; ākhyātuḥ — to (you) the teller; kiṃ — what; vā — or; bhūyaḥ — more, further; karomi — I do, can do; te — for you

2.7.30

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

“I see no difference between Rāma and Bharata; therefore I am pleased that the king will consecrate Rāma in the kingdom.

Words: rāme — in (regard to) Rāma; vā — or; bharate — in (regard to) Bharata; vāhaṃ — or I; viśeṣaṃ — difference; nopalakṣaye — I do not perceive; tasmāt — therefore; tuṣṭāsmi — I am pleased; yad — that; rājā — the king; rāmaṃ — Rāma; rājye — in the kingdom; 'bhiṣekṣyati — will consecrate

2.7.31

na me paraṃ kiṃ cid itas tvayā punaḥ priyaṃ priyārhe suvacaṃ vaco varam
tathā hy avocas tvam ataḥ priyottaraṃ varaṃ paraṃ te pradadāmi taṃ vṛṇu

“There is nothing more dear to me than this boon-like, well-spoken word now uttered by you, O you who deserve kindness; since you have spoken thus, therefore, in return for something even more pleasing, I grant you a supreme boon — choose it!”

Words: na — not; me — to me; paraṃ — higher, more; kiṃ cid — anything; itas — than this; tvayā — by you; punaḥ — again, now; priyaṃ — dear; priyārhe — O you who deserve kindness; suvacaṃ — well-spoken; vaco — word, speech; varam — excellent, boon-like; tathā — so, thus; hy — for; avocas — you have spoken; tvam — you; ataḥ — therefore, hence; priyottaraṃ — in return for something more pleasing; varaṃ — a boon; paraṃ — supreme; te — to you; pradadāmi — I grant; taṃ — it; vṛṇu — choose

← 2.6 Worship before the abhiṣeka · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.8 Mantharā turns Kaikeyī’s mind →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. 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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