Summary
Manthara feels very sad after hearing about anointment of Rama for the princely kingdom. She tells Kaikeyi about the coronation of Rama. Kaikeyi becomes delighted and gives Manthara one of her jewels.
Chapter [Sarga] 7 in Detail
gyatidasi yato jata kaikeyya tu sahoshita |
prasada.n chandrasankashamaruroha yadrichchhaya || 2-7-1
Manthara, a housemaid who was residing with Kaikeyi since her birth, accidentally ascended the balcony of Kaikeyi's white palace, which resembled the full moon.
siktarajapatha.n kritsnam prakirnakusumotkaram |
ayodhyam manthara tasmatprasadadanvavaikshata || 2-7-2
Manthara, from that balcony, saw the entire city of Ayodhya, with all its principal roads being sprinkled with water and strewn with heaps of flowers.
patakabhirvararhabhirdhvajaishcha samalankritam |
vritam chamdapathaishchaapi shirahsnatajanairvritam || 2-7-3
maalyamodakahastaishcha dvijendrairabhinaaditaam |
shukladevagrihadvaaraam sarvavaaditranisvanaam|| 2-7-4
samprahrishhtajanaakiirnaam brahmaghoshhaabhinaaditaam |
prahrishhtavarahastyashvaam sampranardhitagovrishaam ||2-7-5
prahriushhtamuditaih paurairuchchri tadvajamaaliniim |
ayodhyaam vantharaa tasmaatpraasaadaadanvavaikshata|| 2-7-6
Manthara further saw from that balcony the city decorated with the best of flags and banners. The roads were cleared for uninterrupted traffic. All the people took head-bath. Brahmans with flowers and sweets in their hands were chanting Mantras. The gateways of temples were white washed. There were sounds of all musical instruments. The city was filled with rejoicing people and resounding chant of Vedas. The elephants and horses were also merry. The bulls were making roaring noise. The highly delighted citizens hoisted rows of flags on their housetops.
praharshhotphullanayanaam paandurakshaumavaasiniim |
aviduure sthitaam drishhtvaa dhaatriim paprachchha mantharaa || 2-7-7
Manthara asked a house maid with bright pleasing eyes and wearing white silk clothes standing nearby, as follows: -
uttamenaabhisamyuktaa harshhenaarthaparaa satii |
raamamaataa dhanam kim nu janebhyah samprayachchhati | 2-7-8
"Why is Kausalya giving away money to people so delightfully today in charity, even though she is badly lured of money?"
atimaatrapraharshho.ayam kim janasya cha shamsa me |
kaarayishhyati kim vaapi samprahrishhto mahiipatih || 2-7-9
"Why are people so happy today? Is the king duly pleased with something, doing any great act? Tell me."
vidiiryamaanaa harshhena dhaatrii tu parayaa mudaa |
aachachakshe.atha kubjaayai bhuuyasiim raaghavashriyam || 2-7-10
That housemaid, bursting with joy, told Manthara in a great gladdening tone about the great honor to be conferred upon Rama.
shvah pushhyena jitakrodham yauvaraajyena raaghavam |
raajaa dasharatho raamamabhishhechayitaanagham || 2-7-11
"Tomorrow on the day of Pushyami star, king Dasaratha is going to anoint the fault-less Rama for the princely kingdom."
dhaatryaastu vachanam shrutvaa kubjaa kshipramamarshhitaa |
kailaasashikharaakaaraatpraasaadaadavarohata || 2-7-12
After hearing the words of that maid, Manthara quickly with wrath walked down from the roof of the palace, which was in the shape of mount Kailasa.
saa dahyamaanaa kopena manatharaa paapadarshinii |
shayanaametya kaikeyiimidam vachana mabraviit || 2-7-13
Manthara of sinful thought; burning with anger, approached Kaikeyi who was lying on a bed and spoke these words:
uttishhtha muudhe kim sheshhe bhayam tvaamabhivartate |
upaplutamaghaughena kimaatmaanam na budhyase || 2-7-14
"O, fool! Get up. Why are you sleeping? A dreadful situation is befalling you. A flood of troubles submerges you. Why are you not knowing this yourself?"
anishhte subhagaakaare saubhagyena vikatthase |
chalam hi tava saubhaagyam nadyaah srota ivoshhnage ||2-7-15
"Oh, Kaikeyi ! You appear to be a beloved wife for your husband, but in reality he does not like you. You boast of your fortune. Like the flow of a stream in summer; your fortune is unsteady".
evamuktaa tu kaikeyii rushhtayaa parushham vachah |
kubjayaa paapadarshinyaa vishhaadamagamatparam || 2-7-16
Kaikeyi was very much worried after hearing hard words spoken with anger by Manthara of sinful thoughts.
kaikeyi tvabraviitkubhaam kachchitkshemam na manathare |
vishhaNNavadanaaM hi tvaaM lakshaye bhRi shaduHkhitaam || 2-7-17
Kaikeyi asked the hunch-backed Manthara as follows; "O, Manthara! Are you not safe? You appear to be very sorrowful with your worried face".
mantharaa tu vachah shrutvaa kaikeyyaa madhuraaksharam |
uvaacha krodhasamyuktaa vaakyam vaakyavishaaradaa || 2-7-18
After hearing Kaikeyi's sweet words, Manthara who was an expert in talking, spoke with anger.
saa vishhannataraa bhuutvaa kubjaa tasyaa hitaishhinii |
vishhadayantii provaacha bhedayantii cha raaghavam || 2-7-19
That Manthara, who was full of cunning, feigning to be seeking Kaikeyi's welfare, appeared more worried, and making Kaikeyi sorrowful, spoke the following, to create hostility between Rama and Kaikeyi.
akshayyam sumahaddevi pravrittam dvadvinaashanam |
raamam dasharatho raajaa yauvaraajye.abhishhekshyati || 2-7-20
"Oh, queen! An unending great ruin has encircled you. King Dasaratha is going to anoint Rama for the princely kingdom".
saasmyagaadhe bhaye magnaa duhkhashokasamanvitaa |
dahyamaanaa.a naleneva tvaddhitaarthamihaagataa || 2-7-21
"I am immersed in a bottomless pit of fear. I am in distress and my mind is burning as if by fire. I hastened here to seek you out."
tava duhkhena kaikeyi mama duhkham mahadbhavet |
tvadvriddhau mama vriddhishcha bhavedatra na samshayah || 2-7-22
"Kaikeyi! If Rama becomes king, his son will become king after him. Thus, Bharata's name itself will be removed from the royal clan."
naradhipakule jata mahishi tvam mahipateh |
ugratva.n rajadharmana.n katham devi na budhyase || 2-7-23
"Oh, Kaikeyi! Having born in a royal family and being an emperor's wife, how is it that you are not knowing about the cruelty in kingly duties?"
dharmavadi shatho bharta shlakshnavadi cha darunah |
shuddhabhave na janishe tenaivamatisandhita || 2-7-24
"Your husband talks about righteousness, but does harm secretly. He says sweet words but behaves cruelly. Because of your clean thinking; you are not able to know that he is cheating you thus."
upasthitam payunjanastvayi santvamanarthakam |
arthenaivadya te bharta kausalya.n yojayishyati || 2-7-25
"Your husband approaches you and talks good words, which are useless. But he passes on benefit today to Kausalya only."
apavahya sa dushtatma bharata.n tava bandhushu |
kalya.n sthapayita ramam rajye nihatakantake || 2-7-26
"The evil minded Dasaratha sent Bharata to the house of his relatives and at dawn, is going to install Rama on the throne without hindrance."
shatruh patipravadena matreva hitakamyaya |
ashivisha ivankena bale paridhritastvaya || 2-7-27
"O, childish one! Like a mother, you wish for his well being. But he is an enemy, and is called husband for a namesake. He is like a poisonous serpent in your bosom."
yatha hi kuryatsarpo va shatrurva pratyupekshitah |
ragya dasharathenadya saputra tva.n tatha krita || 2-7-28
"King Dasaratha has acted towards you and your son today in the same way as an enemy or a serpent would behave if ignored."
papenanritasaantvena bale nitya.n sukhochite |
rama.n sthapayata rajye sanubandha hata hyasi || 2-7-29
"O, stupid one! With his untruthful sweet words to you, who are ever deserving of ease, the evil minded king is installing Rama on the throne and is thus ruining you along with your son."
sa praptakala.n kaikeyi kshipram kuru hitam tava |
trayasva putramatmanam ma.n cha vismayadarshane || 2-7-30
"O, Kaikeyi, of amazing beauty! You have to take timely action immediately, so as to save yourself, your son and me too."
mantharaya vachah shrutva shayanatsa shubhanana |
uttasthau harshhasampuurnaa chandralekheva shaaradii || 2-7-31
Hearing Manthara's words, that Kaikeyi of charming countenance who was lying in bed, rose from her coach full of delight like unto the crescent moon in autumn.
atiiva saa tu samhrishhtaaa kaikeyii vismayaanvitaa |
ekamaabharanam tasyai kubjaayai pradadau shubham || 2-7-32
That Kaikeyi in the midst of her astonishment and joy gave a graceful jewel to the hunch-backed Manthara.
dattva tvabharana.n tasyai kubjayai pramadottama |
kaikeyi manthara.n hrishta punarevabravididam || 2-7-33
Kaikeyi, the best among women, gave a jewel to Manthara and spoke to her as follows:
ida.n tu manthare mahyamakhyasi paramam priyam |
etanme priyamakhyatuh ki.n va bhuyah karomi te || 2-7-34
"Oh, Manthara! You informed much gladdening news to me. What else can I do for you, who informed such a good news?"
rame va bharate vaha.n vishesham nopalakshaye |
tasmattushtasmi yadraja rama.n rajye.abhishekshyati || 2-7-35
"I do not see any difference between Rama and Bharata. That is why, I am happy that Rama is being anointed for crown by the king."
na me param kijnchi ditastvayapi na |
priyam priyarhe suvacham vacho param |
tatha hyavochastvamatah priyottaram |
varam varam te pradadami ta.n vrinu || 2-7-36
"O, Manthara! You do merit every favor. I have no other pleasant news than this. Hence, you cannot ever again inform a better loving news than this. I shall give you a good boon. Ask for it!"
|| ityaarshhe sriimadraamaayane aadikaavye ayodhyakaande shastah sargah ||
Thus completes 7th Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate