Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 7

Meaning

A maid-servant of Kaikeyī’s parents*, of unknown birth, who had actually lived with her ever since she came to Ayodhyā, ascended by chance the roof of her palace, which shone like the moon because of its white colour. (1)

Meaning

From that palace Mantharā, as the maid-servant was called, looked round the whole of Ayodhyā, whose main road had been watered, nay, which had been strewn with lotuses and lilies here and there. (2)

Meaning

It had been fully decorated with costly buntings and flags and sprinkled with sandal-water and was crowded with men that had gone through a ceremonial bath (by washing their head as well, which was ordinarily left out apparently because of their growing long hair). (3)

Meaning

The city was rendered noisy on all sides by the chief of the Brāhmaṇas moving hither and thither with flowers and balls of sweets (for being offered as an auspicious present to Śrī Rāma on the occasion of his installation) in their hands. It contained temples with white doorways made of crystal and was resonant with the sound of all sorts of musical instruments. (4)

Meaning

Nay, Ayodhyā was thronged with excessively delighted men, echoed with the loud chanting of the Vedas and was distinguished by excellent and overjoyed elephants and horses as well as by roaring bulls and cows. (5)

Meaning

Mantharā was seized with great wonder to see Ayodhyā brimming over with citizens thrilled and overjoyed at the news of Śrī Rāma’s installation, and decked with rows of tall flags. (6)

Meaning

Seeing Śrī Rāma’s former nurse standing not very far from her, dressed in white silk, her eyes blooming with joy, the said Mantharā inquired of her : (7)

Meaning

“How is it that Empress Kausalyā (Śrī Rāma’s mother), full of supreme joy, is freely giving away riches to men, though devoted to wealth herself? (8)

Meaning

“Please also tell me wherefore such excessive rapture is being felt by these people of Ayodhyā? And what is the overjoyed Emperor going to get done?” (9)

Meaning

Bursting with joy the nurse for her part forthwith spoke to the hunchbacked maid-servant with supreme delight of immense fortune in the shape of sovereignty being conferred by the Emperor on Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu. (10)

Meaning

“Tomorrow under the asterism Puṣya, (she added) will Emperor Daśaratha positively install in the office of Prince Regent the sinless Rāma (a scion of Raghu), who has conquered wrath.” (11)

Meaning

Filled with indignation to hear the report of the nurse, the hunchbacked maid-servant for her part got down at once from the roof of the palace, which resembled in shape a peak of Kailāsa. (12)

Meaning

Burning with anger, Mantharā, who scented foul play in the move of the Emperor, spoke as follows to Kaikeyī even while she was reposing in bed : (13)

Meaning

“Get up, O deluded one! How can you keep lying down? Peril stares you in the face! You do not perceive yourself threatened by a flood of misery ! (14)

Meaning

“Though loathed by the king, you boast of your good luck in the shape of the goodwill of your husband, endowed as you are with a graceful appearance ! Like the current of a river in hot weather, your good luck is but evanescent.” (15)

Meaning

Addressed in a harsh language as aforesaid by the enraged hunchback, who suspected foul play in the installation of Śrī Rāma as Prince Regent, Kaikeyī for her part gave way to great sorrow. (16)

Meaning

Kaikeyī in her turn replied to the hunchback as follows : “Is not all well, O Mantharā? For I find you dejected in appearance and sore afflicted.” (17)

Meaning

Incensed to hear the question of Kaikeyī, which was couched in sweet accents, Mantharā, for her part, who was a master of expression, spoke as follows: (18)

Meaning

Nay, getting all the more dejected to hear the nonchalant question of Kaikeyī, the hunchback, who posed to be her great well-wisher, replied as follows, inspiring dejection into Kaikeyī’s mind and estranging her from Śrī Rāma, a scion of Raghu : (19)

Meaning

“The very great work of ruining you, against which there is no remedy, has commenced, O queen ! King Daśaratha is going to install Rāma in the office of Prince Regent. (20)

Meaning

“Plunged in fathomless fear on your score, nay, full of agony and grief and burning as it were with fire, I as such have come here to make known to you your best interest in the matter. (21)

Meaning

“Great suffering is sure to come to me due to your suffering, O Kaikeyī! And my advancement is sure to follow in the wake of your advancement: there is no doubt about it. (22)

Meaning

“You were born in the race of kings and are the favourite consort of a king. How is it that you do not know the sternness of kingly duties, O royal lady? (23)

Meaning

“Your husband is deceitful, though professing piety, and hard-hearted, though using sweet expressions. Still you consider him as blessed with a guileless heart and in this way stand deceived by him. (24)

Meaning

“Standing by your side, speaking kind words that have no meaning, your spouse is going this very day to invest Kausalyā alone with fortune (in the shape of sovereign powers for her son) ! (25)

Meaning

“Having sent away Bharata to (the kingdom of) your kinsfolk, the evil-minded king for his part will install Rāma next morning on the throne of Ayodhyā, now that all the thorns have been completely removed. (26)

Meaning

“Like a venomous serpent reared by a mother on her own person with intent to do good to it, O puerile lady, an enemy under the appellation of spouse has been held by you close to your bosom. (27)

Meaning

“Alongwith your son, Bharata, you have been dealt with by Emperor Daśaratha quite in the same way today as an enemy or a serpent would behave if ignored. (28)

Meaning

“Ever fond of ease you have indeed been ruined with your friends and relations, O young (inexperienced) lady, by the wicked king, uttering falsely kind words, by going to install Rāma on the throne of Ayodhyā. (29)

Meaning

“As such, O Kaikeyī, promptly accomplish what is opportune in your interest and protect your son, your own self and me too, O lady of marvellous insight !” (30)

Meaning

Flooded with joy to hear the report of Mantharā, that lady of charming appearance rose from her bed like the orb of the autumnal full moon. (31)

Meaning

Full of amazement and extremely gratified, the celebrated Kaikeyī for her part gave away to the aforesaid hunchback a wonderful and shining jewel. (32)

Meaning

Feeling positively rejoiced on having bestowed the jewel on that hunchback, Kaikeyī, the foremost of young ladies, once more spoke to Mantharā as follows : (33)

Meaning

“This is indeed a most welcome news broken to me by you, O Mantharā ! This is a delightful tidings to me. What more, for that matter, shall I do for you? (34)

Meaning

“I perceive no difference between Rāma, on the one hand, and Bharata, on the other. I am, therefore, pleased to know that the Emperor is going to install Śrī Rāma on the throne. (35)

Meaning

“No exquisite and agreeable nectar-like expression other than this could, of course, have been easily addressed to me, O woman deserving kindness ! Since, however, you have spoken as aforesaid to me, I therefore offer to you another dearest boon; please ask it of me.” (36)