# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 10 — Kaikeyī claims the two boons *Bound by his promise, Daśaratha hears her demands for Bharata’s abhiṣeka and Rāma’s exile, then collapses and pleads* Portion: Mantharā and Kaikeyī’s two boons · Verses: 41 · Ref format: 2.10. ## Sequence - Daśaratha comes to share the happy news with Kaikeyī and finds her lying on the floor (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 (10.5–12) - she says she has a wish, but will name it only after he promises to fulfill it (10.13–15) - Daśaratha assures her of his love and swears to satisfy her (10.16–19) - Kaikeyī calls the devatās and the world to witness his promise (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 (10.25–29) - Daśaratha collapses, then revives and asks what Rāma has done to deserve this (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 (10.36–41). ## Verses **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. **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. **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. **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. **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: **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? **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? **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. **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? **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? **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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: **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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, **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. **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. **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: **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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: **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? **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? **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. **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? **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. **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. **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. **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! **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.