Doha 17
सादर पुनि पुनि पूँछति ओही। सबरी गान मृगी जनु मोही॥ तसि मति फिरी अहइ जसि भाबी। रहसी चेरि घात जनु फाबी॥१॥
तुम्ह पूँछहु मैं कहत डेराऊँ। धरेहु मोर घरफोरी नाऊँ॥ सजि प्रतीति बहुबिधि गढ़ि छोली। अवध साढ़साती तब बोली॥२॥
प्रिय सिय रामु कहा तुम्ह रानी। रामहि तुम्ह प्रिय सो फुरि बानी॥ रहा प्रथम अब ते दिन बीते। समउ फिरें रिपु होहिं पिरीते॥३॥
भानु कमल कुल पोषनिहारा। बिनु जल जारि करइ सोइ छारा॥ जरि तुम्हारि चह सवति उखारी। रूँधहु करि उपाउ बर बारी॥४॥
Meaning
Again and again the queen politely questioned Mantharā, hyptonized as she was by the latter’s guileful words like a doe fascinated by the music of a Bhīla woman; Her mind was changed according to the decree of fate and the maid-servant was pleased to find her plan succeed. (1) She replied, “While you persist in questioning me, I am afraid to open my mouth, since you have given me the name of a mischief-maker.” Thus working up the queen’s faith and manipulating her according to her own liking in everyway, Mantharā, who spelt disaster for Ayodhyā like the evil influence exerted by the planet Saturn for a period of seven and a half years (according to Indian Astrology), then spoke: (2) “You said just now, O queen, that Sītā and Rāma are dear to you and that you have endeared yourself to Rāma; this assertion of yours is true. This is, however, a thing of the past; those days have now gone by. When the tide turns even friends become foes. (3) “The sun fosters the family of lotuses; but in the absence of water it burns them to ashes. Your co-wife Kausalyā would strike at your very root; protect it by means of a good fence in the form of a remedy. (4)
तुम्हहि न सोचु सोहाग बल निज बस जानहु राउ। मन मलीन मुह मीठ नृपु राउर सरल सुभाउ॥१७॥
Meaning
“You are free from anxiety on the strength of your husband’s love and know him to be under your control. The king, however, is malicious of mind, though sweet of tongue; while you possess a guileless nature. (17)
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