# Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa 7 — Mantharā’s alarm, Kaikeyī’s joy *Mantharā warns of danger to Bharata, Kaikeyī rewards her and declares equal affection for both princes* Portion: Mantharā and Kaikeyī’s two boons · Verses: 31 · Ref format: 2.7. ## Sequence - The account now returns to the preparations before the planned ceremony: from the palace roof, Mantharā notices the city's decorations and crowds (7.1–3) - 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 (7.4–7) - furious, Mantharā goes to Kaikeyī and tells her to get up: a disaster is approaching while she lies unaware (7.8–12) - Kaikeyī asks what is wrong (7.13–15) - 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 (7.16–26) - Kaikeyī instead rewards her with an ornament: she is glad to hear the news and says she makes no distinction between Rāma and Bharata (7.27–31). ## Verses **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. **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. **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. **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: **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?” **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: **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.” **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. **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: **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? **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. **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. **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.” **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: **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: **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. **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. **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. **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? **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.” **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. **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: **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? **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. **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!”