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Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa, sarga 72: Bharata stops Mantharā’s punishment

Summary. Śatrughna drags her across the floor, Bharata orders her release to avoid Rāma’s condemnation

Sequence

  1. Śatrughna angrily asks why Lakṣmaṇa did not prevent the exile, even by restraining their father (2.72.1–4)
  2. a doorkeeper seizes Mantharā as she appears in the palace and brings her before him (2.72.5–8)
  3. Śatrughna grabs her, saying she should suffer for the harm she caused → her companions flee in fear (2.72.9–14)
  4. he drags her across the floor, scattering her ornaments (2.72.15–17)
  5. he also rebukes Kaikeyī, who runs to Bharata for protection (2.72.18–20)
  6. Bharata tells him to release Mantharā, saying that Rāma would condemn the killing and refuse to speak to either brother → Śatrughna lets her go, and she takes refuge with Kaikeyī. (2.72.21–25)

Verses 2.72.1–25

2.72.1

atra yātrāṃ samīhantaṃ śatrughno lakṣmaṇānujaḥ
bharataṃ śokasaṃtaptam idaṃ vacanam abravīt

At this point Śatrughna, the younger brother of Lakṣmaṇa, spoke these words to Bharata, tormented by grief and preparing to set out:

Words: atra — at this point, here; yātrāṃ — the setting out, journey; samīhantaṃ — intending, preparing; śatrughno — Śatrughna; lakṣmaṇānujaḥ — the younger brother of Lakṣmaṇa; bharataṃ — to Bharata; śokasaṃtaptam — tormented by grief; idaṃ — this; vacanam — word, speech; abravīt — spoke

2.72.2

gatir yaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ duḥkhe kiṃ punar ātmanaḥ
sa rāmaḥ sattva saṃpannaḥ striyā pravrājito vanam

He who is the refuge of all beings in distress — how much more of his own kin — that Rāma, endowed with goodness, has been banished to the forest by a woman.

Words: gatir — the recourse, refuge; yaḥ — who; sarvabhūtānāṃ — of all beings; duḥkhe — in distress; kiṃ punar — how much more; ātmanaḥ — of his own (people); sa rāmaḥ — that Rāma; sattva saṃpannaḥ — endowed with goodness/courage; striyā — by a woman; pravrājito — banished; vanam — to the forest

2.72.3

balavān vīrya saṃpanno lakṣmaṇo nāma yo 'py asau
kiṃ na mocayate rāmaṃ kṛtvāpi pitṛnigraham

And that mighty one named Lakṣmaṇa, endowed with valour — why does he not set Rāma free, even by restraining their father?

Words: balavān — mighty; vīrya saṃpanno — endowed with valour; lakṣmaṇo nāma — named Lakṣmaṇa; yo 'py asau — that very one who; kiṃ na — why not; mocayate — does he set free; rāmaṃ — Rāma; kṛtvāpi — even by doing; pitṛnigraham — the restraint of the father

2.72.4

pūrvam eva tu nigrāhyaḥ samavekṣya nayānayau
utpathaṃ yaḥ samārūḍho nāryā rājā vaśaṃ gataḥ

Rather, considering right policy and wrong, the king ought to have been restrained beforehand — he who took the wrong path and fell under a woman's power.

Words: pūrvam eva tu — rather, beforehand; nigrāhyaḥ — ought to have been restrained; samavekṣya — having considered; nayānayau — right policy and wrong; utpathaṃ — the wrong path; yaḥ — who; samārūḍho — mounted, took to; nāryā — of a woman; rājā — the king; vaśaṃ — to the power; gataḥ — gone

2.72.5

iti saṃbhāṣamāṇe tu śatrughne lakṣmaṇānuje
prāgdvāre 'bhūt tadā kubjā sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā

As Śatrughna, Lakṣmaṇa's younger brother, was speaking thus, the hunchbacked woman then appeared at the eastern gate, adorned with all her ornaments,

Words: iti — thus; saṃbhāṣamāṇe — while speaking; tu — and; śatrughne — Śatrughna (loc.); lakṣmaṇānuje — the younger brother of Lakṣmaṇa; prāgdvāre — at the eastern gate; 'bhūt — was, appeared; tadā — then; kubjā — the hunchbacked woman; sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā — adorned with all ornaments

2.72.6

liptā candanasāreṇa rājavastrāṇi bibhratī
mekhalā dāmabhiś citrai rajjubaddheva vānarī

smeared with the finest sandal-paste, wearing royal garments, girdles and diverse cords — like a she-monkey bound with a rope.

Words: liptā — smeared; candanasāreṇa — with the finest sandal-paste; rājavastrāṇi — royal garments; bibhratī — wearing, bearing; mekhalā — girdles, waist-bands; dāmabhiś — with cords, strings; citrai — variegated; rajjubaddheva — like one bound with a rope; vānarī — a she-monkey

2.72.7

tāṃ samīkṣya tadā dvāḥstho bhṛśaṃ pāpasya kāriṇīm
gṛhītvākaruṇaṃ kubjāṃ śatrughnāya nyavedayat

Seeing her then — the doer of such great evil — the doorkeeper mercilessly seized the hunchback and reported her to Śatrughna:

Words: tāṃ — her; samīkṣya — having seen; tadā — then; dvāḥstho — the doorkeeper; bhṛśaṃ — greatly; pāpasya — of evil; kāriṇīm — the doer (fem.); gṛhītvākaruṇaṃ — having seized mercilessly; kubjāṃ — the hunchback; śatrughnāya — to Śatrughna; nyavedayat — reported, made known

2.72.8

yasyāḥ kṛte vane rāmo nyastadehaś ca vaḥ pitā
seyaṃ pāpā nṛśaṃsā ca tasyāḥ kuru yathāmati

She for whose sake Rāma is in the forest and your father laid down his body — this is that woman, wicked and cruel; do with her as you see fit.

Words: yasyāḥ kṛte — for whose sake; vane — in the forest; rāmo — Rāma; nyastadehaś ca — and laid down his body; vaḥ — your; pitā — father; seyaṃ — this very one; pāpā — wicked; nṛśaṃsā ca — and cruel; tasyāḥ — to her; kuru — do; yathāmati — as you see fit

2.72.9

śatrughnaś ca tad ājñāya vacanaṃ bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ
antaḥpuracarān sarvān ity uvāca dhṛtavrataḥ

And Śatrughna, understanding that speech, deeply grieved and firm in his vow, said this to all the attendants of the inner apartments:

Words: śatrughnaś ca — and Śatrughna; tad — that; ājñāya — having understood; vacanaṃ — speech; bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ — deeply grieved; antaḥpuracarān — the attendants of the inner apartments; sarvān — all; ity — thus; uvāca — said; dhṛtavrataḥ — firm in his vow

2.72.10

tīvram utpāditaṃ duḥkhaṃ bhrātṝṇāṃ me tathā pituḥ
yayā seyaṃ nṛśaṃsasya karmaṇaḥ phalam aśnutām

The fierce grief that this woman has caused to my brothers and to my father — let her now reap the fruit of that cruel deed.

Words: tīvram — fierce; utpāditaṃ — produced, caused; duḥkhaṃ — grief; bhrātṝṇāṃ — for the brothers; me — my; tathā — and likewise; pituḥ — for the father; yayā — by whom (fem.); seyaṃ — this very one; nṛśaṃsasya — of the cruel; karmaṇaḥ — deed; phalam — the fruit; aśnutām — let her reap, enjoy

2.72.11

evam uktā ca tenāśu sakhī janasamāvṛtā
gṛhītā balavat kubjā sā tadgṛham anādayat

Thus addressed by him, the hunchback, surrounded by her circle of companions, was forcibly seized, and she made that house resound with her cries.

Words: evam uktā ca — and thus addressed; tenāśu — by him at once; sakhī janasamāvṛtā — surrounded by her circle of companions; gṛhītā — seized; balavat — forcibly; kubjā — the hunchback; sā — she; tadgṛham — that house; anādayat — made resound

2.72.12

tataḥ subhṛśa saṃtaptas tasyāḥ sarvaḥ sakhījanaḥ
kruddham ājñāya śatrughnaṃ vyapalāyata sarvaśaḥ

Then all her circle of companions, greatly distressed, knowing Śatrughna to be enraged, fled away in every direction.

Words: tataḥ — then; subhṛśa saṃtaptas — greatly distressed; tasyāḥ — her; sarvaḥ — all; sakhījanaḥ — circle of companions; kruddham — enraged; ājñāya — having known; śatrughnaṃ — Śatrughna; vyapalāyata — fled away; sarvaśaḥ — in every direction

2.72.13

amantrayata kṛtsnaś ca tasyāḥ sarvasakhījanaḥ
yathāyaṃ samupakrānto niḥśeṣaṃ naḥ kariṣyati

And her whole circle of companions took counsel: 'The way he has set about this, he will make an utter end of us.'

Words: amantrayata — took counsel, deliberated; kṛtsnaś ca — and the whole; tasyāḥ — her; sarvasakhījanaḥ — entire circle of companions; yathāyaṃ — in the way this one; samupakrānto — has set about, begun; niḥśeṣaṃ — without remainder, utterly; naḥ — us; kariṣyati — will make

2.72.14

sānukrośāṃ vadānyāṃ ca dharmajñāṃ ca yaśasvinīm
kausalyāṃ śaraṇaṃ yāmaḥ sā hi no 'stu dhruvā gatiḥ

Let us go for refuge to Kausalyā — compassionate, generous, knowing dharma, and illustrious; may she be our sure recourse.

Words: sānukrośāṃ — compassionate; vadānyāṃ ca — and generous; dharmajñāṃ ca — and knowing dharma; yaśasvinīm — illustrious; kausalyāṃ — Kausalyā; śaraṇaṃ — for refuge; yāmaḥ — let us go; sā hi — for she; no — our; 'stu — may (she) be; dhruvā — sure, certain; gatiḥ — recourse

2.72.15

sa ca roṣeṇa tāmrākṣaḥ śatrughnaḥ śatrutāpanaḥ
vicakarṣa tadā kubjāṃ krośantīṃ pṛthivītale

And Śatrughna, tormentor of foes, his eyes red with rage, then dragged the screaming hunchback along the ground.

Words: sa ca — and he; roṣeṇa — with rage; tāmrākṣaḥ — copper-red-eyed; śatrughnaḥ — Śatrughna; śatrutāpanaḥ — tormentor of foes; vicakarṣa — dragged; tadā — then; kubjāṃ — the hunchback; krośantīṃ — screaming; pṛthivītale — on the ground

2.72.16

tasyā hy ākṛṣyamāṇāyā mantharāyās tatas tataḥ
citraṃ bahuvidhaṃ bhāṇḍaṃ pṛthivyāṃ tad vyaśīryata

As Mantharā was dragged this way and that, her manifold, gaily-decorated trappings scattered upon the ground.

Words: tasyā hy — of her indeed; ākṛṣyamāṇāyā — as she was being dragged; mantharāyās — of Mantharā; tatas tataḥ — this way and that; citraṃ — variegated, gaily-decorated; bahuvidhaṃ — of many kinds; bhāṇḍaṃ — the trappings, ornaments; pṛthivyāṃ — on the ground; tad — that; vyaśīryata — was scattered

2.72.17

tena bhāṇḍena saṃkīrṇaṃ śrīmadrājaniveśanam
aśobhata tadā bhūyaḥ śāradaṃ gaganaṃ yathā

Strewn with those ornaments, the splendid royal palace then shone all the more, like the autumn sky studded with stars.

Words: tena bhāṇḍena — with those ornaments; saṃkīrṇaṃ — strewn, covered; śrīmadrājaniveśanam — the splendid royal palace; aśobhata — shone; tadā — then; bhūyaḥ — all the more; śāradaṃ — autumnal; gaganaṃ — the sky; yathā — like

2.72.18

sa balī balavat krodhād gṛhītvā puruṣarṣabhaḥ
kaikeyīm abhinirbhartsya babhāṣe paruṣaṃ vacaḥ

That mighty bull among men, having seized her fiercely in his wrath, sternly rebuked Kaikeyī and spoke harsh words.

Words: sa balī — that strong one; balavat — forcibly, mightily; krodhād — out of wrath; gṛhītvā — having seized; puruṣarṣabhaḥ — the bull among men; kaikeyīm — Kaikeyī; abhinirbhartsya — having harshly rebuked; babhāṣe — spoke; paruṣaṃ — harsh; vacaḥ — words

2.72.19

tair vākyaiḥ paruṣair duḥkhaiḥ kaikeyī bhṛśaduḥkhitā
śatrughna bhayasaṃtrastā putraṃ śaraṇam āgatā

By those harsh, grievous words Kaikeyī, deeply distressed and terrified with fear of Śatrughna, came to her son Bharata for refuge.

Words: tair vākyaiḥ — by those words; paruṣair — harsh; duḥkhaiḥ — grievous; kaikeyī — Kaikeyī; bhṛśaduḥkhitā — deeply distressed; śatrughna bhayasaṃtrastā — terrified with fear of Śatrughna; putraṃ — her son; śaraṇam — for refuge; āgatā — came

2.72.20

tāṃ prekṣya bharataḥ kruddhaṃ śatrughnam idam abravīt
avadhyāḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ pramadāḥ kṣamyatām iti

Looking at her, Bharata said this to the enraged Śatrughna: 'Women are not to be slain by any beings; let her be pardoned.'

Words: tāṃ — her; prekṣya — having looked at; bharataḥ — Bharata; kruddhaṃ — the enraged; śatrughnam — Śatrughna; idam — this; abravīt — said; avadhyāḥ — not to be slain; sarvabhūtānāṃ — by any beings; pramadāḥ — women; kṣamyatām — let (her) be pardoned; iti — thus

2.72.21

hanyām aham imāṃ pāpāṃ kaikeyīṃ duṣṭacāriṇīm
yadi māṃ dhārmiko rāmo nāsūyen mātṛghātakam

I would kill this wicked, evil-doing Kaikeyī, were it not that the righteous Rāma would reproach me as a matricide.

Words: hanyām — I would kill; aham — I; imāṃ — this; pāpāṃ — wicked; kaikeyīṃ — Kaikeyī; duṣṭacāriṇīm — evil-doing; yadi — if; māṃ — me; dhārmiko — the righteous; rāmo — Rāma; nāsūyen — would not reproach; mātṛghātakam — as a matricide

2.72.22

imām api hatāṃ kubjāṃ yadi jānāti rāghavaḥ
tvāṃ ca māṃ caiva dharmātmā nābhibhāṣiṣyate dhruvam

If Rāghava should learn that even this hunchback had been slain, the righteous one would surely never speak again to you or to me.

Words: imām api — even this; hatāṃ — slain; kubjāṃ — hunchback; yadi — if; jānāti — learns, knows; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava (Rāma); tvāṃ ca — you; māṃ caiva — and me too; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled one; nābhibhāṣiṣyate — will not speak to; dhruvam — surely

2.72.23

bharatasya vacaḥ śrutvā śatrughno lakṣmaṇānujaḥ
nyavartata tato roṣāt tāṃ mumoca ca mantharām

Hearing Bharata's words, Śatrughna, Lakṣmaṇa's younger brother, then desisted from his anger and released Mantharā.

Words: bharatasya — of Bharata; vacaḥ — the words; śrutvā — having heard; śatrughno — Śatrughna; lakṣmaṇānujaḥ — the younger brother of Lakṣmaṇa; nyavartata — desisted, turned back; tato — then; roṣāt — from anger; tāṃ — her; mumoca ca — and released; mantharām — Mantharā

2.72.24

sā pādamūle kaikeyyā mantharā nipapāta ha
niḥśvasantī suduḥkhārtā kṛpaṇaṃ vilalāpa ca

Mantharā fell down at Kaikeyī's feet, sighing, sorely afflicted, and wailed piteously.

Words: sā — she; pādamūle — at the feet; kaikeyyā — of Kaikeyī; mantharā — Mantharā; nipapāta — fell down; ha — indeed; niḥśvasantī — sighing; suduḥkhārtā — sorely afflicted; kṛpaṇaṃ — piteously; vilalāpa ca — and wailed

2.72.25

śatrughnavikṣepavimūḍhasaṃjñāṃ samīkṣya kubjāṃ bharatasya mātā
śanaiḥ samāśvāsayad ārtarūpāṃ krauñcīṃ vilagnām iva vīkṣamāṇām

Bharata's mother, looking upon the hunchback — her senses dazed by Śatrughna's rough handling, piteous in appearance, staring about like a female krauñca caught in a snare — gently consoled her.

Words: śatrughnavikṣepavimūḍhasaṃjñāṃ — her senses dazed by Śatrughna's shaking; samīkṣya — having looked upon; kubjāṃ — the hunchback; bharatasya — of Bharata; mātā — the mother; śanaiḥ — gently, slowly; samāśvāsayad — consoled; ārtarūpāṃ — piteous in appearance; krauñcīṃ — a female krauñca-bird; vilagnām — caught, entangled; iva — like; vīkṣamāṇām — staring about

← 2.71 Daśaratha’s remaining rites · Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa · 2.73 Bharata’s plan to restore Rāma →

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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